Legislative Assembly Now a year ago we were discussing potato markets, low prices and surplus stocks in the splendid commodity. At the early stages this government seemed sing¬ ularly unready to deal with these problems. We recall that one member on the government side of the House, in commenting on the obvious delay, had this to say, "That because the situation was so serious and so urgent we decided to defer action for a week." However as a result of pressures and presentations the Federal Agri¬ cultural Stabilization Board eventually mailed cheques to 1,336 farmers and these I understand totalled $670,345 for the surplus potatoes which were diverted to live¬ stock feed. And, as I said in another connection last night, it appears to me that although applications were received during April, May and June and some I believe in July, yet not one cheque was received by the farmers until October. Mr. Speaker , most of this undue procrastination occurred in Charlottetown and not in Ottawa. The farmers suffered as they waited, in some cases more than five months, for their money. Hon . Robert E. Campbell : Mr. Speaker , would my good friend permit a question? Lloyd G. MacPhail : Certainly. Hon . Robert Campbell : Could he inform the House what he is paying per bushel for potatoes today. Lloyd G. MacPhail : Mr. Speaker , what I am paying for potatoes today is also small but certainly the very highest price warranted under the distressed situation that we find, indeed that the government has allowed this province and this market to drift into. (Applause) Hon . Robert E. Campbell : How much is the farmer getting? Hon . Alex B. Campbell : What are you paying the farmers today? Lloyd G. MacPhail : Anyway, these farmers suffered in some cases for more than five months for their money, and there is no practical reason why applications re¬ ceived in April could not be processed in May, and have the cheques in the farmers hands, at the latest, on June first, and so on for later ones. It is always a little hard for us to tell whether the Premier is the Assistant Minister of Agriculture or whether the Minister is really the assistant. Hon . Daniel J. MacDonald : Are you sure it is not yourself. Lloyd G. MacPhail : That is something I certainly would not take the responsibility for at the present time. Mr. Speaker , you remember last September when the Russian land and machin¬ ery technologists and officials of the Russian embassy were received by the Premier, and in fact, they were with them in this picture in the press on September 25, 1967. On September 27___ Hon . Alex B. Campbell : Pass it around in the back row too, please. Pass it around. Lloyd G. MacPhail : On September 27, the press, in dealing with the story of the Russian visit, reported that "it was learned reliably that the distributor here will in all probability be Mr. H. B. Willis who lives at Kingston ." And it further states that " Mr. MacCarthy said he expected the machinery distribution centre maybe in operation sometime next month." Now the Russians apparently were very much impressed with their meeting with the Premier, and later with the Cabinet. They gave the visitors a reception and a dinner. Whether this Russian group met any other Islanders or not the report does not say. Anyway when Mr. A. P. Kononov , the the speaker for the group, said, "He and his associates had enjoyed thoroughly their visit to the Province," and he said further "that the people here reminded him of the best type of people in Siberia , strong, simple, direct and cheerful." So it is nice to know that the Premier and the Cabinet impressed the Russians so well. (Applause) Hon . Daniel J. MacDonald : Was he up to New Haven at that time? —152—