Thursday, March 7, 1968

workers of the soil, they brought a lot on our very important industry, agriculture, and I assure those two gentlemen that the commitments that they made will be given every consideration.

I would also like at this time, Sir, to congratulate the son of the Mover of the Speech from the Throne. This young man has attained a higher office in the Fruit and Vegetable Division. I would like to congratulate this young man, he is a very worthy Island son of very worthy parents. (Applause)

I also would like to sympathize with my good friend, the Minister of Labour on the death of his father. I have known this gentleman for a number of years—knew of him a quarter of a century ago through having the pleasure and the privilege of serving with him while in the Armed Forces. So I would certainly like to extend condolences to the Minister of Labour on the passing of his father.

Reference was made to the potato division program, and I would like to sub- mit to this House that it was introduced last spring and those of us in agriculture are pretty familiar with it. The reason we are not so hasty in having it introduced this year is that it does not alway do what is desired. When you have assistance and get potato prices for livestock diversion and what have you it does not seem to create a better price. We have a lot of dealers, farmers in this province and they were asked to voice their opinion and they were not overly in favour of what was implemented last year. But I must say we endeavoured to do this, we did it for the betterment, and it was a betterment in some respects. I will tell you, Mr. Speaker, why it was a betterment. That is, we did have potatoes produced in this province last year that were not of superior quality. This division program was supposed to be Canada No. 1 and some of those potatoes were not keeping too good and I think it helped our industry greater in that respect. The amount of money received from the division program was in the vicinity of $700,000. (Applause) So it did help a lot of our farmers in that respect. There was a great cry about how late it was in coming — most of the farmers were not crying about this, they got it in time to harvest this year’s crop and they were very thankful and most of the remarks that I heard on it were favourable remarks. We are not very abashed about it at all, we' worked out this agreement with the Federal government and they told us in what manner it would be done. It was to be processed and all sent to Ottawa and this all takes time. It is not an overnight policy that something has been put in, working arrangements are all set up and it all takes time, Mr. Speaker, and it turned out very successfully. This year we hope we will not have to go after it, but if we have to go after it we certainly will, you can rest assured of that. But it is not a desirable program and it never was and furthermore it never will be. It was a must, a very essential thing and this is why we went after it.

I would like to congratulate the Provincial Secretary on the manner, on the performance that was carried out by his Department through the Centennial Year. I had the opportunity of attending a number of those activities representing the Province and they certainly were well conducted, well put on, and it is something that we will certainly cherish for a good number of years.

I would like to submit, Mr. Speaker, before I start my agricultural report that farming activities have changed terrifically in the last number of years. Specializa- tion in farm production, a very desirable way to make a living, but I am afraid its possibilities of being financially sound on a year-to—year basis under present con- ditions leave a lot to be desired. Farmers are being presented with problems, fin- ancial problems, costs received by over-production in or near available market areas.

I strongly feel farming should be diversified not less than the production of two commodities, possibly dairy and hogs, potatoes and beef. Purchasing the required farm machinery by three groups of farmers or so, the cost of procuring the neces- sary equipment for planting and harvesting farm crops is steadily becoming more difficult. When the fact is realized that a $10,000 piece of equipment is used for one month out of twelve in the year. I can cite many instances where farmers are purchasing their equipment on a co-operative basis. It has its inconveniences I must admit, but the fact still remains, when pay day comes, it is much more palatable when payments can be divided two or three ways, or even four ways. I would urge farmers, where an arrangement such as this can be agreed upon by the individuals concerned, it should by all means be exercised.

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