237 8

. I' ~OUSB OF ASSEMBLY,

March 7th., 1917•

i, .•. . I

1191, MB, §HI.JI tabled regulationsa

l. Made under the Agriculture and

Marketing Act.

2. Made under the Gasoline Licensing Aot.

Both by the Boa1·d ot Public Utilities.

PIUlilER STANFIELD• Pursuant to notice tabled, I hereby move,

seconded by the hon. Provincial Secretary, that the Public

Aooount1 ot the Province or Nova Scotia tor the 12 months ti_scal year ended March 31, 1956, be referred to the

·,

standing committee or the House on Public Accounts.

So referred.

Ppbliq Billp tor Second Readi RI•

Bill 1, -- To amend the Con1tabl11 Aot. (Chapter lt-8, 19~)

HOR, KR, PQNAHQI • . Mr. Speaker, I move that this bill be now

read a second time, and I think that the explanatory n~te

appended is so clear that little explanation is needed.

It•a doing away with a provisibn that at one time might

baYe been considered u1eru1, but that through the years

baa been more honored in the breach than in the observanoem

and it is felt that bo useful purpose can be served by

oontinuing the requirement a, part or th.e statute, which

ia beinc .. ended aooordingly.

Reterred to Lav Allendmenta Committee.

r

" '

237 T Ma.rob ·7th., 19J7 •.

B11J, 12 -- The Bduoat1on ot the Deat Act.

THE PRBMIER • I move the second reading or this bill.

The etteot is to increase the grant to the School tor

the Blind -- School tor the Deat, rather -- trom $4;o. a year to 1;50. a year.

Referred to Law Amendments Committss.

Bill 1§ -- The Bduoa tion or the Blind Act.~·

THB PREMIER • I aove the second reading or this bill which

will increase the grant to the School tor the Blint trom

l't-~O. to $600. a year, making the total payment to the

School tor the Bl.ind --or increasing the total payment

according to the aex or the pupil from 8900. to 81,200

a year.

HB, IUCIS• Mr. Speaker, where does the other portion ot

the increase come trom.

BOMB BPI, MEMBBRS • Inaudible remarka,

Kr, BICKBa

(

The history has been that the aun1c1palit1ee

paid an equal a1110UDt. lly question was intended to clarity'

the section -- as to whether, in raising the provincial

ooatr1but1on we were also raisins the municipal contribution?

DI PREMIER• I'm not sur•• I wouldn't like to mislead 111 hon.

friend. I Id better oheok t bat to •ke ,certain, and meanwhile

let t b.e matter stand.

KB, llIQUa Well, then, the previous aot ought to stand, too.

W1 thout the aot in tront ot me, I oan 't tell, bu.t I would '

think t b.at it would be neoe1aar1 to amend aore than one '

1eot100 to have that • rreot'.J

' . 237 U

Maroh 7th., 19;7.

Both bills ordered to stand.

1111 2Q -- To amend !he Housing and Rentals Act.

HON, MR, LBVY1 I move the 1eoond readl.us or this bill, wh1oh.

extends the lite or certain provisions tor another year.

Referred to Law .Amendments Committss.

Bill 21 -- To amend The Village Service Aot.

HQI, MR. LBVYa . I move the seoohd raadin1 ot this bill.

Clause One makes a· .correction.

Clause Two authorises a village commission to

engage in garbage collection and disposal.

Clauses 3,J+ and ; require no explanation.

Clause Six enables a village commiss~on to

borrow trom banks pending issue or debentures, aa is now authorized tor towns.

Beterred to Law Amendments Committee.

PBIH4P §TAHFIELJ21

,,

Hr. Speaker, I aove tb.e i-esuaption ot the

debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech trom the Throne.

Carried.

\1 Ike 8p1u1t• The hon. aember tor DigbTJ C Applause).

I ,

- 238 -

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY,

March 7th, 1957. ,.

MR, MALCOLM s. LEONARD (PC) DIGBY:

Digby. i~. Speaker; The honourable member from

(Applause.)

Mr. Speaker, in rising to participate in

the debate on the address in reply to His Honour's

speech, I wish first of all to add my words of con­

gratulation to yourself upon your elevation to your high office. I am mindful of the fact that you

represent a constituency which has long been famous,

and has been made more so in recent years by the

excellent literary work of that great Nova Scotian

author, Dr. Thomas Raddall. (hear, hea~ and applause.)

I am minded also that your constituency has

in the past sent many distinguished representatives

to this House, and that you yourself, Sir, are follow­

ing in a line of worthy predecessors. (Applause.)

For a number of years you have practised in the honor­

able profession of law on the South Shore of this

Province, where you have enjoyed an excellent stand­

ing not only with the public but also with the profes­ sion to which you belong.

You have become regarded as a lawyer of

.)

,

great integrity and ability, and as a gentleman of

the first deP.;ree. (Hearl hear?) I am satisfied

that during. your term of office that you do·nonour

not only to yourself, but also to the entire province.

I wish further to add my words of congrat­

ulations t0 the Mover and Seconder of the Address in .. f , I

'••ply to the Speech from the Throne. Both of the

- 239 -

lWJarch 7th, 1957.

MR. LEONARD - cont'di

;-:.,1 - .

members gave 1.. concise and crisply delivered speeches

containing material of a very high degree.

To you, the Honourable Leader of the Oppos­

ition, I wish to say that we both were born in the

same part of the Annapolis Valley. I like to look upon the Honourable Leader of the Opposition as one

of my friends, and I feel confident that in the years

to come •.•••••••••••••

Continued on next page,

,f;

' 'I

, I

I I

- 240 - l{arch 7th 1957.

that he will conduct himself in his high office as

Leader of the Opposition in keeping with the high

stand~rd set for him by his predecessors •• (Heart Hear t)

To the honourable leader of the CCF Party, . I wish to say, fv1r. ,J}x:!aker, I was greatly impres~ed

with the contribution he has made to this debate. It

is apparent that he is a conscientious man .• (Applause).

I would be very remiss in my duties, Mr.

Jpeaker, if I did not congratulate the Honourable, the

rremier, upon the formation of his government and in

choosing ben tlemen of a very high order • • ( :~ear t Hear t ) I feel tha~ the very realistic manner in

which theJ have apµroached public problems is living proof

that we in ~ova 3cotia are entering upon a bright now era •• (Applau.se).

If I W3re making predictions, I would say that

as future generations come and go, as future history

ia written, the Honourable ;~ remier1 s rood work and

good name will occupy a very prominent place in ~heir history •• (Applause).

T!ds cood name and good work llill be extolled

through the len~th of this province, down through future genera~ions • • ( Hear i Hear ~)

To my honourable friends opposite I wish to

say that we in the back benches are very happy \d th our

tovernment • • ( Hear t Hear t) • v:e think that the Honour­

able Premier has made' excellent choices in re6ard to the

Cabinet of this House •• (Heart Heart and applause).

I will say this, that I may only have an

:I

- 241 -

harch 7th 1957.

Mn. LlONrtRD cont'd : ------ example in this House •• ·(Applause).

Let me say this that I feel my sentiments are

very close to t hoae of the back benctiers when I say

that any word emanating for the opposition ranks •..

that may be construed as intended to divide will fall

here on deaf ears •• (Applause).

I•.r, Speaker, I have the honour of represent­

ing the constituency of the :1ectoral district of Digby.

· This constituency is internationally famous for its

beauty • • ( Hear ~ Hear t ) .• • and the waters bounding

its beautiful coastline, its rivers, its hills and its·

lakes - it is, I think, a most beautiful constituency,

and a beautiful town.

I like to think that when Champlain entered

the Annapolis Basin and likened the scenery they beheld .:,

to a "mirror set in emerald" that he was thinking

particu.la rly of t he placid waters of the Annapolis Basin

from Jear Hiver, now the Svitzerland of r ova Scotia to the wooded shore of Digby, crowned in varied shades of green.

Durin~ the years that have passed since, al­

though much may have altered there along the shore, it

has not in any way detracted from the view.

It is little wonder to me that Admiral Digby

and his followers saw fit to settle alone the shores of

what is now the town of Digby, and it is equally of little

wonder that it ~alled for the loyal Acadian people when

they made their long trek back to Nova .icotia to set · le

in the town of Digby and the region of ...,t. r":ary' s Bay.

In my constituency, we have a fine, hospitable, energetic set of people. lte have people of pure 11cadian

r

·• 242

March 7th, 1957,

f:m •· LEONARD - Cont'd ;

descent, people of An~lo-Saxon descent, and finally

people representating an admixture of the two. I

would be remiss if I did not mention that we have a

fine colored settlemnt at Feymouth Falls of people

who have been there for generations and who are

numbered among our solid citizens.

Big business, as the term is commonly

understood, is unknown in the Digby constituency. ,.

The people of Digby Neck and islands are inshore

fishermen and have been for generations. Their

future and their security rests upon the preservation

and perpetuation of the inshor fishing industry. In

past years, their livelihood has been threatened by

foreign trawlers entering within the three mile limit

and sometimes nearer short. Now, Mr. Speaker, here

if I may pay tribute to our Federal Representative,

hr. George c. Nowlan, (Applause) who in the House 0£

Commons for years has carried on a very arduous fight

to have_ an international fishing treaty whereby foreign

trawlers cannot fish within less than twelve miles from

our Atlantic shores.

Now, 1ir, I was very pleased to read in the

,.__.~.m-"'•···l)resa yesterday, that that matter is now being put I , .

before the United Nations by the govern~ent of Canada

and I also wish to pay tribute to the sane g~ntleman

tor his work in ·securing many, many public works - . ' I

break-waters and other public works beneficial to the

fishermen of that area. 1

I I

•

• 243 -

March 7th, 19S7.

tffl. LEONARO - cggt'd;

In the town of Digby, there is no large

industry. ~~ did have a fairly large industry

under the name of H. T. l•:arne Limited employing ap­

proximately JOO men. It put in circulation in an

average month for labor and raw materials from forty

to fifty thousand dollars every month. An industry

of that type and size though you can well understand

is a vital concern to that whole area.

Last Year, during our bumper month of August,

this industry unfortunately went into voluntary liquid­

ation, and it has not been settled as yet.

You will see by today's edition of the Halifax

Chronicle~Herald that a delegation representating the

Doard of Trade of the town of Digb? plans to call on

the Honourable tlinister of Industry; The obvious

purpose is that these citizens, vitally interested as

we all are in the restoaation of that industry and its

threatened 9isposition, · and realizing that while the

liquidation from a legal standpoint, is a matter of'

precedent, yet the public must have a vital interest

as to whether or not that industry is to keep going and

the purpose of the de Lega.t Lon will be to ask the govern­

ment for its advice and counsel from the point of view

of the province as to whether assistance can be given.

I feel sure that the honourable minister will meet that

delegation and give them all the assistance that he is

able to do. I I

- 244 -

March 7th, 1957.

MR. LEONARD - cont'd;

I want also to pay tribute to an industry

that has been established in the Weymouth area in re­

cent years. This industry is Weymouth Industries Li­

mited. They manufacture a very good grade of furni­

ture and in addition in the last year or two they

have been manufacturing a non-conventional type of

pleasure boat for sale on the American market.

This is a sort of revolutionary type of

boat in great demand in the United States today, and

for which this industry deserves great credit.

During recent weoks, the special edition

of "Tide and Surf", each featured as the "Boat of The

Month", a boat produced by Weymouth Industries Lim:fmd.

(Applause and thumping).

This illustration, Mr. 3peaker, is proof

that by the employment of sound ideas and native

~kills, that industry can progress, and·can make its way in Nova Scotia.

We also have other industries in our con-

stituency. 11rming is a very important industry, al­

though, unfortunately the number of farmers continues I

to diminish.

I would also mention that the naval base at

Cornwallis, situated in Annapolis West, about 11 miles

from Digby, is also of great value to us, with the

employment of approximately 150 civilian personnel,

earning the money which is put into circulation in that area.

"'' .. - 245 -

March 7th, 1957.

MR. tEONARD - cont'd;

A great many people now in the area carry

on a certain amount of lumbering. Unfortunately

privately owned stands of timber are becoming scarcer

and scarcer. The production and export of pulp-wood

and pit-props has for years been a source of revenue

not onl,y to the farmers and operators but also to labor.

It is, however, regrettable that in the years when the

wood was plentiful the government did not see fit to

establish an industry that would manufacture it int,o

finished products.

In dealing with our highways - and I don't

know, Mr. Spe~ker - how far I should go - I feel

rather timid - after all the requests that have been

made - but I presume th«:t t the Honourable Minister of

Highways will have something left for Digby County.

But, I want to point out first of all, that

we have a ferry connecting the mainland of Digby Neck

wi t·h Long Island, and a ferry connecting Long Island

with Brier Island, and while I have advocated for years

that these ferries are part and parcel of our highways

system and should be eventually free to the travelling

public, nevertheless I want .co extend thanks on turhalf

of my constituency for having made fares for passen­

gers travelling in motor vehicles free to the people

of these islands. ( Desk thumping. )

This will be of great benefit to the people

of these islands, first because before these steps were:

taken, a motor vehicle owner, carrying four other pas

eengers, travelling across these two ferries, paid a I I

... ·, ....

. - 246 -

~'"arch 7th, 1957.

·l\rtt. · LEOMARD - cont 'g_;

total in ferry charges of six dollars. Now with. the

abolition of passenger tolls, he pays two dollars. -

a saving of 66 2/3%, (Applause.)

On Long Island, there is a road which is a

continuation of the main highway on Digby Neck and

this road, Mr. Speaker, is urgently in need of pre­

paration for paving and subsequent paving. The

people on these islands aro fishermen and this road

is the only avenue by which they can get their fish

to market in the winter. .. great deal of 'money has

been spent in recent years in gravelling this road

but it has not improved. The only solution, I am

satisfied, is a paved road.

I would also like to say that the eooncmy

of our area depends to a great extent upon the pro­

vision of an adequate and proper system of highways

suitable for year round travel. Now our constituency

is compact - it is not very large - the roads that

require to be paved are not extensive. Nevertlieless,

these roads require to be used throughout the year,

not only by the farmers and lumbermen and people tra­

velling to and from markets - but with almost complete

consolidation of our schools at the present time in the

···-""Municipality of Digby ,1 there is travel transporting

'the children to and from school daily, and the paving

of theee·roads would be of material benefit to us all

economically as well as adding to our comfort.

, I I I

/..

- 247 - '

Mal'.'ch 7th, 1957.

j

I feel that there should be a paved high­

·W•y leading from North Range to the heart of the

farming country through Hill :arove, and connecting

with another paved road from Barton to Maxwelton,

should be paved, and to the West. And when that is

done - and I hope Mr. Speaker, that it will be done

during this term of office - I can assure you that

this will be of great material benefit to our con­ stituency.

If

I am very gratified to know that the

bridge at the Grand Joggin is to be rebuilt this

sum.mer. The bridge has been there for many years and

has been a hazard for several years. It is wide enough

only for a single car, and that section of the high­

way, as you know, Mr. Speaker, is very·extensively travelled,

Another subject which I would like the

honourable Minister of Highways to th~nk about_is the

dangerous condition of the Victoria Bridge crossing

the Bear River. This bridge was built. many years ago

before motor vehicle travel was ever considered. A I

fine bridge to accommodate the horse and buggy, but

this bridge is by no means safe for modern traffic,

The approaches to t hi~ bridge are very

curved and hilly, and represent a very dangerous

situation, all through the year, particularly in the wintertime.

I would suggest to the honourable Minister

ot highways, th.at his engineering staff look into the I possibility of construction of a new bridge from the

1

- 248 -

March 7th, 1957.

MB, LEONARD - 9ont1d:

area of Bear River Station directly across the mouth

ot the Bear River where the Colonial Armj Hotel now

.ia situated. This would mean a perfectly straight

road from Smith's Cove to Deep Brook, and would eli­

minate a great deal of the hazards on that present highway.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak very

briefly on the matter of my personal views on the

education position. I want to assure you that my

views are my own. I am reminded that this is Ed­

ucation Week, and I would remind you, Sir, that I

am in favour o~ every boy and girl in this country

having an equal opportunity to receive an education.

(Prolonged Applause). I think my own record justifies that statement.

In my early years, it was my pleasure and

good fortune to be able to finance my own way through

two universities, and also to teach in schools when I

was 16 years of age, and later in town schools. I

reel that all these schools have a place in society

and I have learned to evaluate them and give them the

proper respect which is due. I know that Nova Scotia

has made many great contributions to the cause of

education but I am sure that we have educated many

people who have gone to the· rest of Canada and to the

United States in the past. But I am mindful of the fact I

also that the emphasis in those days, the emphasis' in

t_he past and the emphasis today, should be on the qual­

ity of instructi,on first, rather on the size or luxury I

of our school b~ildings.

- 24,9 -

March 7th, 1957,

.g, l«IPNARD··- oont'd;

I believe in principle in the idea of con­

solidation. I think the consolidation of the High School

grades is an excellent thing. I have always taken that

view. I believe that our High School students should

r,oeive the best education the public are willing to give them.

As for the pupils in the grades - £rom

Grade 1 to Grade 7, I think we should be more cautious.

I think the sensible rule to follow there is this, that

where consolidation is necessary and where it is neces­

sary and economical, and the people are in favour 0£ it,

then there should be consolidation.

Where it is not economical and where it ·is

not practical, and where a reasonable alternative is

available, where the people are not in f'avour of it - -,

that consolidation should not be £orced upon the

people of any municipality.

In dealing with the curriculum, I believe

the curriculum in the schools to-day is good. I have

children of my own e,:,ing to school, and I have taken ·

an interest in their studies throughout the year,

and I am satisfied that the curriculum sets a very high and good standard.

...

I I

.. 250

March ?th1 19S7.

MB• U)N4hD - gont'd.

There is only one suggestion, Lr. Speaker, l hevo to make and thit is this:

At the prosent timo school children travel

to school at the age of five years. They require to

spend one year in primor and one year in Grado l. I don't think that thst is necessary.

It means that in the normal courso of events the child will reach Grade 12 at the age of 18. If,

on the oth~r hand ha or she were allowed to take primer

and Gr~de 1 - in one year - a child would finish Grade 12 at seventeGn.

hnother problem is that it means, if thoy

are going on to college. they are gettin6 through

college one yof'r later ·thBn they ought. (Applause).

lv!ore than that , it adds one more classroom by keeping the kinder~arten pupils one year, and adds

to the expense of education.

I feel the.t the honourable the Minister of', .. Education should seriously consider the need to revert

to the old system of allowing pupils starting out at

age five to spend one half of the year in pr~mer and the last half in Gradel.

I tl!ink most of us bore did that-I don't

think we have naed to feel any inferiority complex about our education. (Applause) •

.. l• I , .

.. · 251 -

March 7th, l9S7.

Now, i:ir. -peaker , I Wish to speak on the deer population. (Applauso).

I am reminded that over half a centruy ago Major Daley and his son from Digby - and a great many good things come from Digby - imported a few deer and

turned them loose in the Lake Joli area. That was the

beginning of our present deer herd. That herd in­

creased until early in the 1930's - the government

found it wise to open the season on deer. The herd

apparently continued to increase until some years

after the Second ~iorld war.

The number of hunters during the war years

was not great because so many men wei-o in service or

so many were employed. But after the war the number

of hunters increased, and today there is a great con­

troversy as to whether or not the deer are scarce.

The ·position taken by servants in the De­

partment of Lands and Forests, is that they are so

plentiful that they are in danger of starving.

\o1ell, Mr. opaaker-, I have the great est

admiration and respect for Civil Servants, but may

I eay, respectfully - that the que~tion that always

, I

. I

... 252 -

March 7th, 1957 •

. . '········· •• ,,.,., l'!' ·• •

. occurs to me is: ·~iho ie an expert? ·wijhat qualifies

one to be an expert?

In this case I rather think that the real

'·' ·experts are tha men who 11 ve in the woods the 6reater part of the year. , ( HeE4rl Heart and desk pounding).

And I say, without fear of contradiction, that the

majority of these - trappers and guides and woods­

men who know whereof they speak - have great fears

about the preservation pf our deer population, and

I might eay of our sporting industry.

The guides to whom I have spoken are very

aeriously alarmed over the eituation in the province.

Deer are getting scarcer every year. I have gone

into the woods with experienced 6-uides and helpers,

and I took time to sit down and talk the situation

over, and gentlemen, these men are very seriously

alarmed.

I I

- 25.3 -

March 7th, 1957.

Mh. L4)NARp - cont'd!

I Wt..s pl\Jasod to seo in today's issue of the

Chronicle-Herald, a picture of Joe hogers and a r€port

of an interview on the subject. Joe Rogers is a guide

from Lake KedJemakoogee, .a man w~o knows what he's

talking about, a man who has ev~ry interest in keeping

the deer season healthy to the extent that there will

be a continuing opportunity to have deer.

And l'iir. l~oger s shares the alarm and I think

voices the opinion of the guides, hunters &nd woodsmen

·ot this province when he says that tho deer situation

is reaching the dan6cr point.

It is all very well to form theoretical op­

inions that because 40 or 50 thousand deer were ~hot

last yoar, they must be plentiful. To me, Mr. Speaker,

that doesn't mean a thing except for the .fact th&t 40 · or 50 thousand more doer were killed.

In 1937 the last opon season on moose - in

that year lOJO moose were reported killed in Nova Scotia.

In the preVious year , in 1936, t hor s were only 922 'kill­

ed, and therefore you could argue by statistics that

moose were more plentiful in 1937 than tbey wer e in 1936.

The fact of the matter· remains that after the

season closed and in the year that followed, it was

found that the moose had been'practically exterminated. (Applause).

,, .·•. {• .1,

.. ,

n, • ,) 'l ..............

! .....

l,:.-·:.r

- 254 -

I~Iarch 7th, 1957.

Mh~ L~ONARD - cont'd:

Now I will call on the ·Minister of Lands

and Forests, l'ir. Spe ake r , to take heed of this situ­

ation before it 'is too late.

A sport, or business, or whatever you wish

to call it, that provides 60,000 or thereabout, with~

a means of variation is big business.

It means recreation for so me people, and

' for some ,t>eople their only means of making a li vli­

hood during the :tall season.

Anything that can be done to help the deer

situation in this province should be done. The num­

ber of hunters from outside the province are the

source of great income for guides, and woodsmen

throughout the province.

I say we are in danger of losing our deer

herd, and losing with it one of our most valuable re­

sources. I would suggest that if the Minister of Lands

and li·orests is not as yet prepared to bring legislation

changing the Lands and Forests Act to restrict the

deer kill to one buck for a matter of two or three

• years, that aom~thing definite should be done •

. And if the ~;ovdrnment is not convinced by

the opinions of experienced ~uides and woodsmen, by

all means let them -without delay appoint a Commission

tQ conduct he~rings throu6hout the province to call I

as witnesses men who can be regarded as experts.

Now 1·:r. 5peaker, I wish to thank you and the

~embers of this House for giving me so courteous a

hearing. (Prolonged applause).

- 255 -

March 7th, 1957,

MR,· fliTEH ~1. NICHOLSON - (L)

ANNAPOLIS WEST

Mr. Speaker, I feel that. I ought at once to

compliment my learned and honourable friend from Digby

for the fine speech which ho has just concluded. I

should not like, however, for anyone to run away with

the idea that Digby is the only beauty spot in the west­

ern counties. It must be remembered that before Admiral

Digby was ever heard of, the discerning and adventuresome

Champlain and his associates, Lescarbot and H~bert, sailed

into Digby Gut and we.can presume that they looked into

tne west and not Digby, then turned the1r boats ·to the

east and came up and founded Port Royal in the constit­

uency which is now Annapolis West, the oldest established

settlement in British North America. (applause)

At the outset I should like to emulate the

excellent example set by previous speakers on both sides

of the House in congratulating you upon your appointment

to the high office of Speaker of this Assembly. Others

have referred to the fine reputation you earned here

during former Sessions. The good repute in which you

are held in this connection has been well earned, I am

sure. But my mind goes back to earlier days when we

were fellow students in the great Law School of Dalhousie

University, and I am able to assure the Honourable

Members of this House that there you also earned a re­

putation for fairness, courtesy and industry. It is our

good fortune, Sir, to be answerable here to a man of

your calibre.

May I also compliment the mover and seconder I

· of the 'Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne,

and the previous speakers in this Debate whose style

and substance has, I am sure, lived up to the high I

' traditions of this Assembly. I,

.¥ \}¥:

! 1.;·.· !! :i .. ;,

- 256 -

March 7th, 1957.

tm. NICHOLSON - ·cont'd:

May I also add a word of congratulation to The

Honourable the Premier upon his elevation to. that hf.gh'

office. He will at all times, I am sure, strive to sup­

press pure partisanship in favour _of the common ~ood.

In this connection, however, I was rather puzzled over

· the remarks of The Honourable the Premier on Monday last

when he said; and I quote from page 109 of Hansard:

"Now the third general problem has been

our endeavour to create a good public

~ervice with a good morale. Our aim has

been to achieve a change of governm~nt

without disruption of government services.

I --- remind the Legislature that the

only grDund, except inefficiency, upon

which full-time employees of the govern­

ment have been dismissed, the only

ground has been political activity in

the last election."

Two questions immediate.ly came to my mind: First, re­

calling other remarks of the Premier to the effect that

the Department of Highways was being and would be oper­

ated by the Minister and his staff and not by "field

men", I wondeFed who in that Department determined what

constituted political activity and who decided upon the

...

" .

L guilt of the individuals who were relieved of their

positions. Surely this information and these decisions

must have come from sources closely connected with the

grass roots of political life in the various constit­

uencies throughout tne Province.

Secondly, I was at a loss to see the logic in

relieving people of their jobs because of political

activity because tuos e who replaced them, certainly in I

my cdnstituency, were people who were extremely active.

politically in October last, anct indeed were no doubt

257 -

. March 7th, 1957.

lv.iR. NICHOLSON - cont'd:

appointed to their positions by the present government

as a reward for and in recognition of such activity. I

suppose they are now sad and sorry to learn that their

political days are over. 11,,,. :~

.1 .. i,1,._,,,,~., .. MR •. HICKS:

'./le shall see what the future may bring.

r~Jl.. NICHOldON:

The matter of new appointments, particularly to

local Highway positions, was surely a task of the local

Conservative political organization. I am speaking now

of the local hi: .hways situation. I know that in my con­

stituency, shortly after the last Election, the local

Highways Superintendent was accompanied by and directed

upon a tour of the road sections by the local President

of the Conservative Association and I am advised that

this tour was made in order to carry out the replacement

of road foreman. If this is the stuff of which the new

policy is made, we could do with less of it. (laughter)

Now, Mr. Speaker, I would ask your indulgence

while I deal with a matter of great importance to my

constituency of Annapolis West, and to other constit­

encies in the western counties. It was gratifying to

learn from paragraph 26 of the Throne Speech that the

government proposes to enter an agreement with the gov- \ ernement of Canada regarding the construction of a dam

and roadway across the Annapolis River.

For the benefit of honourable members not al-

ready familiar with the scope of this project it may be

well to say a few words about the type of structure hither­

to proposed, and the advantages which will result from its

construction.

At the present aoment the Annapolis River is I

spanned by a steel bridge C?nstructed between Granville

- 258 - March 7th, 1957.

~~. NICHOLSON - cont'd:

Ferry and the Town of Annapolis Royal I believe in the

year 1921 and I am told is the longest bridge in Nova

Scotia maintained by the Department of Highways. There

is no evidence tnat this structure is unsafe at all but

it is only logical to assume, ~r. Speaker, that its re­

placement would become a necessity within the matter of

another ten years.

Apart from the age of the structure, by reason

of its narrow width, it is completely inadequate to

handle the large volume of traffic which resulted from

the reconstruction and paving of Route No. lA from the

Town of Bridgetown to Annapolis Royal.

Now as I understand it, the proposal concerning

the Annapolis River dam •nd roadway involves the con­

struction of a rock-filled causeway just east of the ex­

isting bridge. This structure would, of course com­

pletely shut off the flow of tidal water from the Anna­

polis Basin into the Annapolis River.

The structure, of course, will have to be one

of some magnitude because the tides in that location

riee to a height of more than 20 feet. The dam will

have to be equipped with a large sluice or gateway in

order to let out at low tide into the Annapolis Basdn

the natural build-up of fresh water from the River. I

understand plans also call for the construction of a

permanent roadway across tne top of this dam.

Having given a brief outline of tho situation

as it is today, and of the type of new structure re­

quired, I should like to say~ few.words about the ad­

vantages which we would hope-will be derived from this

undertaking when completed. As I have already said, one

of the main advantages will be the replacement of .an

inadequate bridge with a permanent structure. /,

- 25g - March 7th, 1957 ..

hfi• NIQHOLSON - cont'd:

Ferry and the Town of Annapolis Royal I believe in the

year 1921 and I am told ls.the longest bridge in Nova

Scotia maintained by the Department of Highways. There

is no evidence that this structure is unsafe at all but

it is only logical to assume, ~,.r. Speaker, that its re­

placement would become a necessity within the matter of ~

another ten years.

Apart from the age of the structure, by reason

of its narrow width, it is completely inadequate to

handle the large volume of traffic which resulted from

the reconstruction and paving of Route No. lA from the

Town of Bridgetown to Annapolis Royal.

Now as I understand it, the proposal concerning

the Annapolis River dam and roadway involves the con­

struction of a rock-filled qauseway just east of the ex­

isting bridge. This structure would, of course com­

pletely shut off the flow of tidal water from the Anna­

polis Basin into the Annapolis River.

The structure, of course, will have to be one

of some magnitude because the tides in that location

rise to a height of more than 20 feet. The dam will

have to be equipped with a large sluice or gateway in

order to let out at low tide into the Annapolis Basin

the natural build-up of fresh water from the River. I

understand plans also call for the construction of a

permanent roadway across tne top of this dam.

Having given a brief outlin~ of tho situation

" as it is today, and of the type of new"$tructure re-

quired, I should like to say a few words about the ad­

vantages which we would hope will be derived from this ...

undertaking when completed. As I have already said, one

of the main advantages will be· the replacement of an

inadequate bridge with a permanent structure. I

- 259 -

March 7th, 1957.

ti~-: NICHOLSQN - cont'd;

Further than that, however, the completion of

this project will rehabilitate and salvage approximately

51000 acres of fertile and lush marshlands lying on both

sides of the Annapolis River from Annapolis Royal to

Bridgetown. This .will enable the farmers in that dis­

trict to diversify the.ir activitie.d to undertake tho

raising of beef cattle on a large scale.

It is generally recognized that such diversi­

fication in agriculture is sorely needed in Nova Scotia

and particularly in t.i.e f.nnapolis Valley region.

Finally, the completion of this dam and road­

way will have a third ef'f'e ct perhaps just as important /

as those already mentioned. Lying to the east of the

proposed site of the dam is a large body of water,

popularly known as the "French Basin". This body of

water measures approximately three miles by one and one­

half miles and at present the level of the water in this

basin rises and falls with the tide to the extent of

about 15 feet.

With a dam constructed across tho River the

level of water in this Basin will be maintained at a

constant heignt, and in my view the area around this

basin will become a mecca for tourists, summer dwellers,

and will be an excellent body of water for aquatic sports.

You realize, Mr. Speaker, that at the moment ... such aquatic sports and swimming in the western county

are limited to favourable tide conditions - I'm speak­

ing now with,the exception of the lakes.-

All along western Nova Scotia, the swimmer or

the man who is interested in boating is the servant of

the Gods when it comes to enjoying his sport. And the

result of this, the tourist industry certainly in my

own constituency, has suffere1d.. lie have no substantial '

colony of summer dwellers along that beautiful stretch

260

March 7th, 1957. , • •.. . ,. .

"" ..... '"'_ .. MR. NICHOLS(ll -· , cont! d;

of water, we have no shore-side resort in my county where I

one can take advantage of this large body of water.

Let us hope, ther~fore, that this government will

with all dispatch do what is necessary to conclude this

agreement with the Federal Governmant at an early dato

and proceed with this worthwhile project.

It was very disappointing to note that in the

Throne Speech the ~:overnment did not even commit itself

to enter this agreement at an early_date. Press reports

in the newspapers last fall indicated that an informal

agreement had already been made between the provincial

and Federal governments whereby the Federal government

would contribute tl,750,000. to the project, the Pro-

4 vincial government would contribute .,,il,000,000., and the

balance would be shared by the Federal ~overnment and the

Progincial government on the ratio of 1. 75 to one. As I

understand it, the estimated cost of the structure will

· be something in the nature of vJ,000,000. I cannot

leave this subject·without acknowledging the fact that

tnese advantageous financial arrangements were the re­

sult of planning and negotiations conducted by the

Honourable reader of the Opposition, who was then Premier.

(Applause) • .. I should like to think, ~r. Speaker, that my

constituency will enjoy a fair share of the vigorous

highway program to which this governmant has commi t ted

its~lf.

HON • ~&lB~R :

.. f

When were the plans or arrangements made be­

tween the provincial and federal governments for the

work on the canal?

l\lR. NICHOLSON: I I believe it waJ3 the 10th of September - I

nave the hews paper clippin€:_ here, which I will read to· ·you A (laughter).

, •• 1, ••••.• -

: --....... . .. ' "

f

- 261 -

l\Iaroh 7th, 1957.

' ' t.B' rn:cHQLSQN . .... 09nt' ~: I '

' THE PREMIER:

- What else does it have on that date?

l~.;R. NICHOLSON: ·

No, it was the 13th of September - the date of

the newspaper clipping I have.

Going on with the h~·ghway problem, it is my

hope that the government will proceed with its policy

ot hardsurfacing without delay all roads all ready or

nearly ready for paving, proceed with the completion of

the paving of the h*ghway running between Bear River and

the Village of Clementsport, of which approximately five

miles remains unpaved.

This work was commenced last year and the recon-

1truction was completed and the paving plant was, I be­

lieve, set up in the village of Bear River as the paving

proceeded until weather conditions made it impossible to

continue with it. But the remainder of this road is now

ready for paving and I hope the government will live up

to its commitments and proceed with this paving in the

spring.

I would also urge that t'he paving the road

runni?l(; south to the head of the tide in the village of

Bear River be completed - a portion of this road was also

paved last year. A very short section remains unpaved

and ._'"'. .. the completion of this work would be of great

benefit in this densely populated section. I wish to

make it very clear, however, that the road to which I

refer is on the Annapolis County side of the Bear Rive~,

the Village of Bear River being a part in Annapolis

County and a part in Digby, the line of division being

the Bear River. There are two roads to the head of the

tide,' one on each side of the riv~r. The road to which

,, ,, :• -..,.....~ .

........ .•.•. , .. ,u, .....

,,.,, Ii•

............

..

' \

- 262 -

March 7th, 1957.

MB• NICHOLSON - cont'd:

I refer is the road in Annapolis' County.

i!ay I also urge the Government to continue with

the reconstruction of Route #8 from Greywood to Maitland Bridge, (Hearl Hearl) a seven mile section of this road

has been under construction for the past two years from

Annapolis Royal to Greywood. I would advise that this

reconstruction has been completed and we have every

right to hope that the government will, in line with its

vigorous highway program, complete this work.

I know that it has been the source of great

embarnassment and discontent to the p~ople in Annapolis

County to know that on Route 8 we had a highway that was

unimproved from the town of Annapolis Royal to the Queens

County line, and from Queens County line to Liverpool

there was a beautiful paved highway. And I am quite

sure, Y1I'. Speaker, you sympathize with my remarks in

that connection.

If this road is going to be a main part of the

system, surely the completion of this reconstruction has

to be proceeded with. I am riot quite familiar with the

date on which the other sections were completed from

Kemp into Liverpool but it was somG years ago, and I

think we in Annapolis ~/est have every right to expect

that tne government will go ahead with this necessary

work,

Now may I also urge the government to devote

attention to some other work which was in hand last year

in Annapolis West. I refer particularly to the improve- 1 '

I ments or the highway from the "Habitation" at Port Royal

to the fishing community at Victoria Beach.

~e have there at Victoria. Beach,a prosperous,

growing, small fish plant and there is a 1-_~ood deal of

trucking ove~ this road and certainly if this fine

- 263 -

March 7th, 1957.

MR. NICH\)l;§ON - . cont'd;

industry is to be encouraged, the government wants to

continue on with the worth-while work which has already

been done to improving this highway.

There is also, of course, the important,,cross­

road from Route lA at Granville Ferry to the Parker's

Cove on the Bay of Fundy, - it is known as the Parker

Mountain Road. Work again had been started on that road

and proceeded last year up until weather conditions made

it impossible to continue.

The honourable minister will, I am sure,

appreciate the thin{;s which I have mentioned - tho ex­

tension of work already undertaken. I haven't asked at

this session the government to undertake anything of

absolutely new nature. I would just ask for now that

the good work which was started in the past be carried

on in the future. (Applause and desk pounding).

If I may be permitted to have a word about the

Provincial Electoral Franchise Act - now this is a

statute which I think is in need~of further amendment,

and I believe that now is the time to amend an Act - such

as the Franchise Act - rather than at a later stage when,

perhaps, some ulterior motive might be assigned to the

person who was proposing the amendment of it.

Honourable members will recall that last year

th~ Provincial Electoral Rranchise Act was substantially

amended in so far as the right of service men to vote

was concerned, and as I understand it, there was a '

r general section in the Provincial Electoral Franchise Act

which practically disfranchised service men and that the

~action provided that service people were deemed to re­

side in the plade in which they resided at the time they

join~d the services, unless they otherwise acquired a

new residence in Nova Scotia. ,/

- 264 -

March 7th, 1957.

?-;ft. NICHOL;;;ON - cont'd:

Now the harsh effect of that section was re­

lieved some what by the amendment in 1956.in Chapter. 36, and it was amended substantially to this extent that, a

person who was serving in the province on full time sor­

vice, in the Navy, Army or Air Force of Canada, and who

was living in a dwelling house, apartments, flats or

other self-contained housing units, shall be deemed to

reside at the place in the province where he is so liv­

ing.

Now, that was certainly of a great benefit to

service personnel who were living, for example, in

Federal housine places like Shannon Park here in

Halifax County, and the Cornwallis Camp in my constit­

uency, and all the peop l.e in Greenwood and in my vie~,

'this legislation has not gone far enough yet.

Hardships can still be worked. let us take,

for example, now, a service man who is over twenty-one

ye~rs of age , who was born and br-ought, up in, say, the

town of North Sydney, and he joined the naval service at

Sydney or North Sydney. By the statute he is deemed to

continue to reside at the place he was when he joined

.. I

the service. Now, let us say, he is unmarried and he

goes to Cornwallis, the Naval establishment in Anna­

polis 11/est, to under-go this~1hitla1"'·t!"Aihtrig·"wh1ch· ·

takes a period of five months.

And let us say after he has been there two and

one-half months, an election is called. That man pn

election day, as I understand the Act as it is now, that

man in order to vote - if he is living in barracks which

he would be - would have to L;o all the way back to North

Sydney to poll a vote and there is a native Nova Scotian

who loses his franchise simply because he couldn't get the I

leave to go, in the first plape, and in the second place, . he probably couldntt afford to provide himself with the

- 265 -

J.iarch 7th, 1957.

~:R1, NICHOLSON cont'd: ,,, I

' transportation.

I think that feature is unfair, and in the

election there were several cases like that where

people just could not get the leave to go·to their

homes in Nova Scotia. I would urge that this Act be

amended to remedy the situation as it now stands.

Now before closing, Sir, I should like to say

a word about prison farms. In the Conservative.Manifesto

issued in October of 1956 the Government committed it­

self to establish a model prison farm, and it ·was Bis­

appointing to discover that no reference whatsoever was

made thereto in the Throne Speech. At the present

moment the affilia.ted Boards of Trade of the Annapolis

Valley are making a study of existing prison and jail

facilities and will make a report in three or four

months time concerning the need for a model prison farm.

A copy of this report will no doubt be submitted to the

government, and I shall not belabour the subject at this

stage oth~r than to observe that the need for improvement

in our jail facilities is a most pressing one. Prisoners·

in our local jail find themselve~ in an appalling envir-

onment •••

MR. DONAHOE:

Will the honourable gentleman permit a question?

Do you refer to local jails generally or to local )ails

in your constituency?

t&• NICHOLSON:

I . . I

I refer to local jails generally. Now, these I

prisoners are also subjected to the .greatest of all

degenerative influences, namely, enforced idleness. If

we are to live up to our reputation of having a civilized

community in this Province, rto time should be lost in re­

moving this blot from our society as it is today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your kind indulgence,

and through you I wish to thank the Honourable Members for their kind an? patient attention~ (Applause).

J:

. -· .. '~·--·-···~. ~ ...

... '-·".: .. ~ ' .

..

\

... 266 -

March 7th, 1957.

·MR. HIRAM THOMAS - (PC) -KINGS WBST: ' _.;

{

Mr. ~peaker, I rise with much pleasure to

give this, my first address in this historic Chamber,

and I join with the previous speakers who have taken

part in this debate in congratulating you upon

your election to the high office which you now hold.

It is gratifying to me to see the way in

which you carry on your duties ~nd I beg to say

that I feel that you are not only a credit to the

constituency that you represent, but a credit to the

province of Nova Scotia as well. (Applause).

If I may digress for a moment, Mr. Speaker,

I would like to say that we have with us at this

moment in the gallery of this Chamber an honourable

gentleman who in the past has been a member of this

House of Assembly, has held a portfolio in the govern­

ment of this province, is now the representative

in another place from Nova Scotia, and one whom I

consider to be one of our illustrious sons from Kings

County. (Applause).

I refer, Sir, to the Honourable Senator,

·John A. MacDonald, f'rom Canning. (Applause) •

I would also like, Sir, to convey my re­

spects and, if agreeable, those of all members of

this House, to his very gracious wife who is seated I

beside him at thjs moment. (Applause).

To the Mover of the Address, Mr. Speaker,

I would like to say that he has, through his ancestors,

a background that would be the envy of all, of any mem­

ber of this Chamber. (Applause).

I I

i! -.267 -

March 7th, 1957.

MR, THOMAS - cont'd:

The older members among us, may recall that

a former Prime Minister of this Dominion of Canada,

who is a direct ancestor of his, was one of the powers

of the then Conservative Party in this Dominion. And

were it not for the fact of his untimely passing,

the history of this Dominion of Canada, may have

been different from what it is today.

I say that with regret, Sir, but I'm not

unmindful of the fact that were it not for his un­

t1m$ly passing we may not have had the benefit of a

great leader of the Liberal party who succeeded, or

who in three years time succeeded him, as the Prime ./

Minister of this country. And that would, I mean

to say without reservation, have been a great loss

to us.

. Now, Mr. Speaker·, while I listened to the hon­

ourable member from Antigonish, I could not help but

be impressed by the fact that those illustrious an­

cestors of his, were they alive .t o day , would feel that

".~.,~ .. ··'"· '"they are well represented in this Assembly. ( Hearl Hearl )

Now, .Sir, I come for a moment to the Seconder

of the Address, and I may say that I was very much im­

pressed with the words that he expressed, the manner

in which he carried on his Speech, and the clarity

which he evidenced.

I have not had the pleasure of knowing the

honourable gentleman very long, but I predict for

him as well a very pleasant future in the affairs of

, this province.

268

March 7th,, 1957.

- MR. ~HOMAS - cont'd;

1··· . " )

The Clerk of this Assembly appears to be

the prime favori-te with all honourable members on

both sides of this House. Mr. Speaker, I would like

to say right now, that I wish him long life, good

health and a long period in the position which he

now holds. Long may he servet (Applause).

To the Assistant Clerk and the Sergeant­

at-Arms, I extend my greetings and my good wishes.

Now, Sir, I would like to say to the hon­

ourable members of the Opposition who have extended

the hand of fellowship to me, without reservation,

and I appreciate that fact ve1y much. I well real­

ize that sometimes, in the heat of debate, relations

are somewhat strained, but it is my sincere hope

that friendships shall not be marred at any time in

our discussions. (Applause).

I thank the honourable members on this side

of the House for accepting me as their colleague and

I hope that our: associations here shall be cemented

into friendship that will be of much benefit, es­

pecially to me,' and I hope to them, in a lesser ex-

tent.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I would like to refer to

the Honourable the Leader of the Canadian Co-operative

Federation. Group in this House. The other day, when

he was taking part in this debate, I was greatly im­

pr~ssed with his sincerity and his apparent honesty, I

and I also had the feeling that here was a man that

could meet his f'ellow men and his electors Qn a

I I

269 ..

. J MaFch 7th, 1957.

Mn, THOMAS - cont'd:

common footing. And I can well understand, Mr.

Speaker, why it is that he has been returned from

time to time as their representative in this House.

(Prolonged Applause).

Now, Mr. Speaker, I come to the Honourable,

the Leader of the Opposition. I never had the pleas­

ure of his acquaintance before I came to Halifax to

attend these sessions. But since my arrival here,

he has very generously greeted me and extended his

friendship to me - th~ hand of fellowship to me. I

full well know, Sir, that as Leader of the Govern­

ment of Nova Scotia, as Leader of Her Majesty's

Official Opposition, in this Chamber, as Leader of

the Liberal party of Nova Scotia, that that in it­

self is an illustration of the great responsibility

which rests upon his shoulders.

Needless to say, Sir, he has risen to posi­

tions in this province, positions to which almost

every citizen may a spire, but to which very few at­

tain. I would like to congratulate the honourable

gentleman, Sir, and I wish him every success, not

only today, but in the future years to come in the

public life of this province and this Dominion. "

(Prolonged Applause). I

Now, Mr. Speaker, just a word with regard '

to the honourable members who sit with the Premier of

this province in the front benches of this Chamber ,"

It was my good fortune to attend the function of the

I I

., . March 7th, 19 57,

MR, THOMAS - cont'd~

swearing-in of these honourable gentlemen, and I

was impressed at that time with the wise choice

thct the honourable Premier has made in his selec­

tion of assistants and fellow members of his Cabinet

Council.

(Applause).

Then, again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to

say a few words to pay my sincere respects to the

Honourable the Premier of this province. It may

be recalled that a few short years ago, when he

was chosen to be the leader of the Progressive

Conservative party in this province, there was very

little notice taken of that at that time.

There was no great spread of publicity

in the newspapers, and notoriety was noticeable by

its absence. Now, Mr. Speaker, may I say, that at

a time when he was chosen to be leader of the Pro­

gressive Conservative Party, in Nova Scotia, the

fortunes of the Progressive Conservative Party were

perhaps at the lowest ebb in history, and if I may.

use the phrase, Sir, they were actually feeding out

of the bottom of the trough.

HON. MR. FIELDING:

They're in· the trough nowt (Laughter).

- 271 -

March 7th, 1957. ·

MR. THOMAS cont'd:

His feat is one that almost stands alone,

not only in the history of the public life of this

province of Nova Scotia, but of Canada as well.

I wish him, Sir, every success, I know he

has a tre~endous burden to bear. I have every idea

that he will be able to carry out those duties and

//bear those burdens. in a very capable manner, and I

may say that we, the present Conservatives, as well

as the many other political breeds in this province

of Nova Scotia are very proud of his prestige and

success. (Prolonged Applause).

Mr. Speaker, it being close to five o'clock,

I would like to move the adjournment of this Debate.

Carried.

PR!t,MIER STANFIELD:

I move that the House do now ri·se to meet

to-morrow afternoon at three o'clock.

Carried.