Thursday, February 29, 1968

pleased to see the Junior Member from First Prince and the Senior Member from Fourth Kings back in their seats after being indisposed, looking quite recovered and we’ll hope that they remain in that condition. This has been a wonderful year in a lot of ways as far as festivities are concerned. We had our Centennial cele— brations and I think the Provincial Secretary deserves credit for the interesting and smooth way in which these celebrations took place on Prince Edward Island. (Applause) We had a visit from the Caravan which visited our own community in O’Leary and I’m very pleased to say that we had the largest attendance that day at the Caravan of any place, with one exception, in the Atlantic Provinces which, I think, bears tribute to the interest that the people took in their Confeden ation Centennial celebrations. We had a beautiful day and we were honored with the presence of His Honor, The Lieutenant—Governor, and the Premier and many other distinguished gentlemen whom we were quite pleased to see present. I also had the pleasure of attending the opening of the Centennial Train here. I sort of “crashed” the opening that day. I didn’t realize that I probably was in the right church but the wrong pew but, anyway, I got away with it and enjoyed the open- ing of the Centennial Train which was also worth seeing. Then later in the summer I had the privilege of attending Expo in Montreal which was certainly a wonderful national extravaganza. A great tribute to those who planned and built it and made such an outstanding success of this international world’s fair, that took place in Montreal. For anybody that didn’t see it, I might say that you certainly missed an opportunity of a lifetime because I do not think we will ever have a chance to see anything like it again, not for a hundred years in Canada, anyway. In connec- tion with Centennial celebrations I should also mention the performance of our own Anne of Green Gables across Canada. I think this is something that gave Prince Edward Island a great deal of publicity. It was a wonderfully active per- formance and it had the highest percentage of attendance of any other performance that was put on by the Centennial people in drama across the country with perhaps one exception for one performance, perhaps the New York Symphony Orchestra for one night or two nights performance. It is hard to estimate the value of publicity like this for our Island and we should all be very proud of the success of this per- formance of Anne of Green Gables. Of course, probably the most important func— tion and the highlight of the year and the most dramatic of all was the National Progressive Conservative Convention that took place in Toronto (applause) in September. Thaht, I think, was the most important occasion because there was a new leader for a great party which means that there is still hope in the future for Canada, and for the Atlantic Provinces in particular. (Applause) I might say God speed the day that the Honourable gentleman becomes Prime Minister of Can- ada and the Atlantic Provinces (Applause) will once again return to the main stream. We had an announcement, of course, later on in the year which, I am sure, filled a lot of us with disappointment and that is that our own Leader, the Leader of the Conservative Party on Prince Edward Island, has intimated his desire to re— tire. We regret this very much and I am sure that I can say that we will all miss his parting, and that this Legislature and the people of this Province and the country in general will be much the poorer when he relinguishes office. (Applause)

Hon. Alexander B. Campbell: He’s not gone yet.

L. George Dewar: I didn’t say he was. Hon. Alexander B. Campbell: He might be around that Convention Hall!

L. George Dewar: I am sure that he will be around for a long time yet and that his influence will be felt in many ways whatever happens.

Hon. Alexander B. Campbell: Draft Shaw.

L. George Dewar: I wanted to make a few remarks with respect to the kind of a Province that I represent. The western part of Prince County, West Prince, along with the Honourable Members that are here with me from that area, I would recommend to you that you would get a book that was published this fall by Mr. Basil Greenhill concerning a history of the Second District of Prince and West Prince in general. It is certainly the most interesting book that I have read for a long time and one that anybody interested in Prince Edward Island history

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