Legislative Assembly

Hon. Alexander B. Campbell: The only policy he could raise was an insur— ance policy, Mr. Speaker, because it is the unfortunate trying and telling truth that it is the consumer that sets the price, the consuming system, it’s the consumer. It’s the method of transport, it’s the methods of changing and dealing in agricultural products, the hands they go through, all these things that establish the price. We, as' suppliers, have to produce at the greatest efficiency possible if we are to make some profit in this arrangement. This is a condition of agriculture, not only in Prince Edward Island, it’s the condition of agriculture wherever you go in the world. This is the squeeze in which the farmer finds himself and this is the area where the Government can help the farmer, to help him know the cost of his pro- duction to the point where he can turn over his production to the market as a reasonable profit. But to go to Toronto and tell the housewife that she should be paying twice as much as she is for potatoes or three times as much for her car rots, I’m afraid that that is beyond the power of this present Government, Mr. Speaker.

Walter R. Shaw: It certainly is.

Hon. Alexander B. Campbell: But not beyond the power of the former Gov- ernment.

Walter R. Shaw: No.

Hon. Alexander B. Campbell: The former Government can do anything now, Mr. Speaker. They can accomplish any errands or any tasks no matter how

impossible.

L. George Dewar: Like the present Government thought they could do before the election.

Hon. Alexander B. Campbell: Really. Walter R. Shaw: You seem to be terribly excited about this thing.

Keith S. Harrington: I was wondering if the Honourable Premier would per- mit a question on that grain matter.

Hon. Alexander B. Campbell: All right, Sir.

Keith S. Harrington: Sir, in View of the statements that you just made, I was wondering what explanation you could give that, when ten pound bags of

P.E.I. potatoes are delivered to Toronto for 32¢“, the housewife up there is paying 794,"?

Hon. Alexander 8. Campbell: That’s right. Walter R. Shaw: What about that '.’

Hon. .\lexander B. Campbell: The Leader of the Opposition wants her to pay a dollar. The Leader of the Opposition says he’ll get that price up.

\Yaltcr R. Shaw: Now, just hear the Leader of the Opposition and answer this question. Just do that.

Hon. Alexander B. Campbell: The Leader of the Opposition wants to estab— lish a policy here that would get the present price of potatoes up from 79¢ to a $1.00 and I would . . . .

Walter R. Shaw: I never said any such thing. Why not tell the truth. I never made that statement.

Hon. Alexander R. Campbell: You did. Walter R. Shaw: I did not. I did not and you can’t find that in my statement.

Hon. Alexander B. Campbell: The Leader of the Opposition says that price is the problem and if he were in Government he’d raise the price.

'Walter R. Shaw: That’s right. Hon. Alexander B. Campbell: And he’d raise the price by establishing policies.

Walter R. Shaw: That’s right. --64——