Legislative Assembly- Walter R. Shaw : Don't go too far now. G. Max Thompson : Mr. Speaker , the Speech from the Throne is an excellent docu¬ ment, and proves that the present government will continue to be a government of action. It proposes a great deal of very forward looking legislation and I am sure when this legislation is enacted it will be a great benefit to the people of this Province. Several Members: Here, here! G. Max Thompson : It is difficult to limit one's remarks on an occasion such as this. There are a great many items in the Speech on other matters on which I would like to speak. However, I will confine my remarks to four or five items which I consider of particular importance. There will be other opportunities for myself and other hon¬ ourable members to bring these pressing matters to the attention of the House of this Province. The paving of roads is without doubt the most pressing matter that confronts us in our District. This is certainly the case in my District, and I am sure most honourable members on both sides of the House have much the same experience. I noticed that the Mover of the Address referred to highway construction and paving as the most frequent request from his district. The government and the Minister of Highways are to be congratulated for the extensive provincial paving program that was carried out last year. I am happy to note that this program will be continued this year, and I urge the government to make a very special effort to expand this program. I know they are severely hampered by the limited amount of money available for this work, but I hope they will explore other sources of financing such as A.D.B ., F. R. E. D . or through some arrangement with the Federal Government in the development plan. In this day and age, when we are about to travel to the moon, when on the same day we can have breakfast in Charlottetown and dinner in Hawaii , I think it is important that a farmer in P.E.I , be able to do his necessary travelling in spring, fall and winter as well as in summer. I believe that paved highways which can be travelled throughout the year will do a great deal to attract and keep farmers in the rural areas of this Province. Roads of this kind will enable farmers to get their produce to market when they want to and get their farm supplies when they are needed. The value of farms and rural properties will increase very considerably when served by paved roads so I ask the Government to give this matter the priority and attention it deserves. Last year the Select Standing Committee on Transporta¬ tion, of which I had the honor to be chairman, recommended that the Government help our hard-pressed trucking industry. I am pleased to note from the speech that the Government has increased the rates paid to truckers that are doing our Gov¬ ernment work through the Province. I want to commend the Government for the various steps they have taken and the measures proposed to improve housing in this Province. During the past year two more homes for special care, at Montague and in Alberton , were completed and are now fully occupied. With in Summerside we now have three of these homes which provide such excellent care for those who need it. In addition a number of senior citizens homes were built and four more units will be constructed. This brings to 206 the number of apartments that have been provided throughout the Province for our senior citizens. I need not tell any member of this house what a valuable service this has been to our older people. Mr. Speaker , I am pleased to know that tenders will be called for the first low rental homes which will be built in Char¬ lottetown and Summerside . These are intended, I understand, to be an experiment in this type of housing for people of low income. These 30 units will certainly not meet the pressing need for adequate housing that families face, not only in Charlottetown and Summerside . but throughout the Province. I urge the Government and the Minis¬ ter responsible for housing to consider an extension of this program of low income rental housing for other communities throughout the Province. I realize that it may require some changes in the present program but I would hope that this plan could be adapted to meet some of the housing needs in all parts of the Island. I'm espec¬ ially pleased that the Government plans to re-activate and encourage the co-operative housing program. This is an ideal way for people of average income to get a home. This plan is very suitable for people with incomes between three thousand and six thousand dollars per annum. Not only does it provide a means of financing which would not be avilable elsewhere but by buying materials and working co-operatively —10—