Legislative Assembly

league. And then that colleague, sitting where you now sit. compiled a rules book for the Legislature called “Myer’s Grunts and Groans”. In his reply to the Throne Speech, the Leader of the Opposition stated, “I do not intend to go into the matter of the rail strike in this province. That was so badly bungled that we don’t wish to hear about it.” I am sure neither he nor his colleagues want to hear about it. There is a very valid reason why they do not want to hear about it. Mr. Speaker, I am sure we recall that strike and the part layed by the Government of the day, the Premier and the new Minister of Labour. eir efforts finally met with success. We all recall the interviews given the press by the Opposition Leader, the criticisms he made, how he stated with his knowledge of such matters,” if only the Liberals would seek his assistance and take him to Ottawa, then the strike would be settled in short order." We have heard that statement from time to time, Mr. speaker, very recently we heard such a state- ment from the Opposition Leader concerning the potato situation, — also the George- town situation. After making such a mess of the latter he and his party, now old stags, want to crawl into bed with the young virgin. We each recall the tears he wept for all segments of society for the tremendous financial loss we were taking due to that rail strike, millions of dollars lost. The press was full of his pleadings, his sug- gestions, his demands, his warnings, his weepings and pleadings. It is a rare occasion when any Captain takes a player on his team who uses every opportunity to score against that team.

When all this was going on while he was giving untold assurances to the press, to the general public, he was calling one of the leaders of the union who were on strike at Borden and adding gasoline to an already large fire by continuously stating “remember your democratic rights; remember your democratic rights".

We who are old enough to remember the last War will recall a man by the name of Quisling, in Norway, who, while lulling his own people into a sense of false security, was plotting and planning the downfall of his own country. Mr. Speaker, it would ap- pear that in matters where political gain has been at stake we did have a political

Quisling within our province.

Mr. speaker, the present Government has been accused ‘by the Leader of the Opposition of bringing into this province many people from outside, giving them pos- itions of great importance and at high salaries. Such is not the case. Not over three or four individuals in the high salary range have been added to government payrolls since we took office, and in each case the groundwork for the establishment of such a posit- ion was prepared by the Previous Government. I have in my hand a list from the civil semce commission 0 the people taken on by the previous government in the salary bracket ranging from $6,000.00 to $13,000.00 annually. There are sixteen per- sons on this list, all brought in from outside by the previous Government; and many others who were brought in by the previous government prior to the establishment of the Civil Service Act and Regulations.

Mr. speaker, the op sition leader has been lost and befuddled by his own ver- bosity. Now, let us take a ook at one of his many famous acts. On June 2nd., 1966, by Executive Council Minute No. 424/66 the then Honourable Premier informed Council of the resi tion of the Honourable J. Philip Matheson as Minister of Highways and Public Wor s as of June 2nd, 1966, Mr. Speaker, resigned from what? He had been de- feated at the polls. He was there in the capacity of care-taker until the official take- over by a new Government. So, Mr. Speaker, he resigned, and once again I ask, from what? He was beaten at the polls, the people said we no longer need you. Very kind of him eizlnd a most gentlemanly act indeed, to resign from that which he no longer possess .

Then on June 7th., 1966, the Executive Council under Minute No. 425/66 ap int- ed one Keith MacKenzie of Souris, P.E.I., to be Minister of Public Works and igh- ways, effective from June 3rd, 1966. Then on June 14th., 1966, under Minute-in-Council No. 486/66 be appointed one, J. Philip Matheson, as Executive Assistant in the De- partment of Highways and Public Works, at a salary of $8,000.00 per annum effective

une 3rd., 1966, and the Leader of the Opposition has the gall to even mention executive

assistants.

Then he utilized the outstanding services of many others and cast them aside as new faces appeared upon the scene. I recall one in particular who proved to be a king-maker. He almost single-handedly created in the minds of the general public the picture of a man who did not or could not live up to the greatness bestowed upon him y this clever public relations man. 4 8— 5