Legislative Assembly

And that brings me to a point on which I have been solely distressd to keep myself silent. Apparently it has become synonymous with second class dtiaens to be holding a job of any public nature, unless you were born on Prints Edward Island. Well Mr. Speaker we think that this is an absolute poisonous philtsolflly for any member of the Opposition to even mention. We have not, as have our nppoaition, attempted to go into the pedigree of all of the Civil Servants or publis officials concerned with the province. We have not even asked ourselves if all of the mem- brs of the opposition were born on Prince Edward. I can immediately think of one member who was not. I believe at least one member came to us fron another land, brought with him his skills and his energies, and has made a grat contri- bution in his profession, and as a member of this House. We are gratefd. We are grateful for having had many people of many nationalities come to settle imong us. I number among my valuable acquaintances people who have come from England, from Holland, from Poland, from Germany, and from other lands. in all eases they have been an asset to their various communities. Whether they nade their way as ordinary farmers or fishermen or as public servants. Thank God that other provinces of this great nation are at least more tolerant than some of onr opposi- tion. Otherwise what would our sons and daughters do who go forth fron our own hamlets to make their way in this country. Mr. Speaker 1 am sure I am speaking for most members of this House when I say I have nothing but absolute iigust for a mentality so miserably small as to field the questions that have bem fielded in respect to some of our public servants.

Yes and I am going to cite an exact case. And may I say again, Mr Speaker, that I am disgusted that any member should use this rostrum, should use this House, should lurk beneath the protection of the parliamentary process to endeavour to blacken through the inferences of calculated questions the character «f a dedi- cated public servant, Mr. Baisley, the acting chairman of the Loan Board.

Having reviewed the files I find it difficult indeed to ascertain tlte concern of the member from Fifth Kings, the learned doctor. The diaison betweei he and his senior partner, the member from Second Kings is too obvious throughout this whole session to presume that it should be lacking on this particdar point. For the benefit of the House, Mr. Speaker, I will briefly relate the iacts. Mr. Baisley was hired as a result of an investigation of his abilities, and a: a result of an interview for which he presented himself on January 22nd, 1965 The de- cision to hire Mr. Baisley was made immediately following this interview by three Cabinet ministers and the Chairman of the Civil Service Commissim. These three honourable gentlemen were: The Honourable Leo F. Rossiter, Minister of Industry and Natural Resources and of Fisheries; the Honourable A. B. MacRae. Minister of Agriculture; Honourable J. D. Stewart, Provincial Secretary: and the then chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Mr. Lorne Monkley. the three Cabinet ministers acted in their capacity as President and as Directors of the P.E.I. Industry Corporation. They desired the services of a port engneer and shore captain, who would be familiar with the supervision of construction contracts for steel boats and who would be useful in improving the position of the dragger fleet operating from Prince Edward Island. He was directed to file an mplication with the Civil Service Commission dated January 22nd. 1965, and was lired with effect from February 1st immediately following. Among his testimonials he pre- sented a letter from his previous employer, Booth Fisheries Canadian Iim'ted writ- ten by C. D. Gordon the General Manager and I read the letter. I want ya: to take particular note of the final paragraph of this letter.

“TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: 11th January 1966

The Bearer, Mr. Leonard Baisley, was Chief Engineer at Booth Fisher‘es Phat, Petit De Grat, for the Past tweIVe years.

In this position he was in complete charge and responsible for all share mainten- ance of a frozen fish processing plant, cold storage and fish meal plant.

In addition he was in complete charge of maintaining and refitting a fleet of large fishing trawlers. He is the most knowledgeable and practical man in th field that I know of and is the most dependable, conscientious, hard-working and sober man

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