Legislative Assembly

Frank Myers: I know, that is it. Oh, No, who said that? (Laughter) No, indeed. (Laughter) No, I’m very proud indeed that our Premier is marking that down because the Island finances are in quite a situation. Why it was last year according to the Public Accounts this Province got behind $11,775,248. Just im- agine in one year. Is it any wonder, Mr. Speaker, is it any wonder, the Minister, the Provincial Treasurer, is concerned about it. Who shut that book up? I had it open. And he says, the Provincial Treasurer said last, a year ago, unless we slow down, he said. I think the Premier stopped. He not only slowed down, he stopped.

M. Alban Farmer: He put the brakes on too hard.

Frank Myers: “The already overburdened tax payer is going to find it even more difficult.” Now those are true words. He’s a very sincere man indeed, if he would only carry out what he preaches or what he says. “At the level of spend- ing already established requires continual borrowing.” Well, Mr. Speaker, we’ve had, perhaps I should say is this, make no mistake, this Province’s debt will continue to increase for several years. This Province has become adicted to spend- ing and it must be a gradual withdrawal and those are sincere words, at least, that is my interpretation. But year after year we are going behind. Back in 1851 we had responsible Government here in Prince Edward Island, in 1851, and in 1861, just ten years after, the debt was $155,324, and in 1961, a hundred years after, it was $32,000,000. There is a mistake that was made right from the beginning, Mr. Speaker, the debt could have been kept under control if we just could have had a balanced budget down through the years, we would have around five million dollars today instead of going out to pay the interest on our debt to have something to carry on the public services for the people of the Province and which they rightly deserve. It’s very unfortunate that this has happened and there’s another promise you made. I thought you were doing or started to do something about it. I don’t know when it will become reality. You have promised homes in the town and country, the town and country, that will be a wonderful thing. They’re making a start at the present time, at least I hear they are but, with the high cost of material that's going to be a job. Just imagine, Mr. Speaker, a house today costs $18,360 and if an owner would pay $125.00 a month for 25 years he would have paid in $19,300 of interest or, in other words, that home would cost him $37,740. Just beyond the reach of any ordinary person. I think I started to say that so many of our farmers on farms over 55 years of age and that is the reason, the main rea— son, why they are still on the farms. If they sell the farm property they wouldn’t get enough remuneration for it to build a house in the town or city. Now that’s the main reason why so many are staying on the farms and letting the land go just in order to have the house to live in. I am very anxious indeed that something can be rectified along that line. I guess I better stop, that’s a long run. Well, Mr. Speaker, I don’t think I should say any more. I see I’ve gone a little too long on your time, Sir. I intended to touch on education but I’ll leave that to some of the other members who are more qualified than I. I don’t think there’s anything more that I should add at this time. Thank You. (Applause)

1. George Dewar: Second Prince.

Monsieur le President, I hope you will excuse me if I don’t continue in the French language because I certainly couldn’t do it justice. You are a worthy representative of the French speaking Acadian race and we are quite pleased and proud to have you back again in the honourable position that you occupy in this 'House. I would like to congratulate the Mover and the Seconder of the Address. They are two very worthy gentlemen, good farmers, representatives of some of the best farming communities in Prince Edward Island and I am pleased that they presented the case for agriculture in it’s grim realities at the present time. There is no doubt that they realize the danger that agriculture is in in this Province. I would also like to mention a gentleman that has passed away recently. I notice that his son is not in his seat at the present time. I refer to the father of the Minister of Labor and he is another former citizen of this Province of whom, I think, we are all very proud. (Applause) A representative of the French race and one who made a wonderful contribution to this Island, especially in the field of education and in literature. I’m sure we’re all the poorer for his passing and the educational people in the Province are going to miss him a great deal. We are

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