Legislative Assembly

L. George Dewar: There was an expenditure last year of $6,010,249.00 and this year you are estimating an expenditure of $5,772,880.00 which is $800,000.00 less than you spent last year.

Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell: Oh; I can answer that for you. L. George Dewar: Simple arithmetic.

Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell: But you see you people only estimated three million eight, we are estimating five million seven.

L. George Dewar: Oh yes; but you spent over six million. Now exalfn that aged: you can. Now you are going to spend less and going to do more. is can’t ne.

Walter R. Shaw: Now, Mr. Speaker, I think we should definitely let this gentle- man go on with his address without so much interruption. It is continuous and I don’t think it is fair.

L. George Dewar: Well, I think it is hard for the gentlemen across to under- stand the arithmetic that is going on in the Budget and therefore they need to ask questions, but . . .

Honourable Alexander B. Campbell: You are doing a masterful job, sir; carry on.

Walter R. Shaw: He is doing a good job. Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell: We won't interrupt you any more. L. George Dewar: Very good. Thank you.

Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell: I didn’t know the Leader of the Opposition felt so bad about being interrupted, but since he does I will not say another word.

Walter R. Shaw: Well, I don’t do it myself! (Laughter) Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell: I know you don’t, you set such a good example.

Walter R. Shaw: You get up, I will keep a running fire every minute of the time you stand to object to it.

L. George Dewar: Very good, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, I have the floor and we have in capital highways another under-expenditure of $700,000.00 and total capi- tal under-estimated by $400,000.00. Let us examine the highway expenditures a little more fully, and I am concerned about the way this appropriation is being resented, because on Provincial highways you are estimating $1,200,000.00 less ex end ture than last year on Provincial highways. Now I think this is not good, I th nk the people that deserve consideration are those people that have no paved roads to live on Pro- vincial Highways, travel through the mud in the firing and the fall, and wear their cars out, and lose time, unable to get out unless ey go on a tractor or somethinz like that. We find that the expenditure on this type of highway is $1,200,000.00 less than last year. That is not an adequate figure Mr. Provincial Treasurer, and if the Minister of Highways was here I would repeat it again, but then there is a tremen- dous increase in the amount that is budgeted for the Trans Canada Highway which is almost a million more, and $1,500,000.00 more on these A.D.B. roads. These are roads that are already paved, roads which are fairly passable all the year round. There is no doubt that many parts of the Province would like to have an all‘weather road, but I don't think that programme should be allowed to take money away from the Provincial Highway Program which it no doubt is doing, because you have 2.4 million more of an estimate for this type of highway and 1.2 million less on Provincial

paving.

The Western Road is the one that most needs doing on the Island as far as an all-weather road is concerned. It is in a serious situation and I know that in this large sum of money which is voted that there will be full consideration given to look-

ing after the Western Road. Now, I am going to skip most of the departmental estimates, I am just

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