Legislative Assembly Throughout this address, Mr. Speaker , I have constantly repeated the grim realities of our present financial situation. These realities, while both important and significant, should not, however, become the basis for pessimism. Neither should they cause the abandonment of all plans and prospects, which entail the expenditure of public funds. But, they should call incessantly for a common sense approach to spending; for restraint in the face of diverse demands for a close scrutiny of priorities in the face of scarce resources, and for planning to meet the requirements of the future. It is the challenge of these requirements which this Government was elected to meet — and it intends to do so responsibly. But it also must be emphasized that' such challenges come opportunities, and it is these opportunities which the Budget attempts to grasp. Mr. Speaker , I move, seconded by the Honourable Mr. Campbell , that you do now leave the chair and that this Assembly resolve itself into a Committee of Supply for the consideration of sums to be granted to Her Majesty. M. Alban Farmer : Mr. Speaker , I first of all must congratulate the Provincial Treasurer on the Budget which he has presented this evening, especially in the man¬ ner in which it has been delivered. Though not entirely in respect to the contents of ft You know at this time of year, or a little earlier, many of our ancestors had what they called a "borrowing-day". Borrowing days were the days that March borrowed from April especially, when there were storms in the early part of April, and I think March this year has borrowed practically all of April, according to the weather we are having. Now to be consistent, our Provincial Treasurer has brought out a borrowing budget, or, in the way he presented it, you might say a gloomy budget. Before he gets lost in his gloom, ana before the rest of the Ministers- Join him in that unhappy state, I want to bring a little bit of joy. If you will look at page thirty-five of the Estimates provided you will see the Executive Council in the estimate of the expenditures there. If you have last year's, look at page thirty-two These are the estimates of the amount they expect to spend. Last year, Premier's Office for salaries, $9,049.00. This year, salaries are $12,249.00. Several Members: Ohh, ooohhh! M. Alban Farmer : This, I hope, will dispel some of this gloom that has been hanging over the Treasury Seats. Walter R. Shaw : I was wondering why the Premier was smiling so broadly. M. Alban Farmer : Wait now, we are not through. The Premier is really in good humour now, I hope. Let's go to the salaries of the Ministers . Last year on page thirty-two of the Estimates of Expenditures we find salaries for the Ministers , $48,000.00. This year, $60,600.00. Several Members: OOOHHH! My, my! Walter R. Shaw : That's for the Minister -without-Portfolio . M. Alban Farmer : These are the ones, these are the ones who are talking about hard times for everybody else but themselves. Look at the percentage of in¬ creases there considering what the farmers today are getting for their potatoes, and what the people in Georgetown are getting in unemployment. Seveal Members: Hear, hear. M. Alban Farmer : But these people boost their own salaries, and then when they go to the salaries of the members, the indemnity of the members, I notice that it is jacked-up also, to $4,000 this year. Honourable Alexander B. Campbell : Well we will put it right back down again. We will put it down now. What would you like us to put it down to? M. Alban Farmer : In one place the Provincial Treasurer said we would have to tighten our belts. He must mean that he is tightening his money belt with this extra money that he is putting in there for the people of this Government Thafs what they are doing with the money — putting it in their own belts, tightening them up. —396—