TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1972

The House met at 2:00 p.m.

Prayers.

MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable the Premier.

HON. W.A.C. BENNETT (Premier): Today it is my pleasure as Premier on behalf of all the Members of the Legislature to pay tribute to the youngest man in the Legislature — our clerk, Mr. DeBeck.

This is Mr. DeBeck's 89th birthday and as the years have come and gone I have noticed over all these years that he's been an inspiration to all the M.L.A.'s on all sides of the House and all who go to him for advice. He's seen a lot of them come and go but he's treated every one of us as if we're going to last for ever and we all appreciate his wonderful spirit.

His service in this Legislature as well as his life is something that inspires me and I'm sure inspires all the Members of the House and is an inspiration to all the people who know him.

I could say a lot of things about Mr. DeBeck today but I will not do that. But the Members thought that as they see him at his desk always writing, always writing, they thought they would present him with a little pen and ink-well set, a little inscription from the Members of the Legislature, that he'll remember this day and all the days to come.

MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable the Leader of the Opposition.

MR. D. BARRETT (Leader of the Opposition): Mr. Speaker, I join the Premier in extending our very best wishes to Mr. DeBeck on his 89th birthday.

When I arrived in this House he and I were both young men. The problem has been that he's remained young and I've lost my youth. But I have not lost my sense of humour or understanding of this House and that's mainly because of the service Mr. DeBeck has given all of us. He has made us acquainted with the very little known book in this House, known as Standing Orders. On occasion it's been difficult for us to even realise that such a book existed. I want to share with the House a small secret that I've had over eight years now. I was given my first book of standing orders by Mr. DeBeck and inscribed inside in 1963, three years after I'd been in the House was the little comment: "Given to the young Member for Dewdney on the occasion of his showing for the first time some interest in the rules of this House."

MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable the first Member for Vancouver-Point Gray.

MR. P.L. McGEER (Vancouver–Point Grey): Mr. Speaker, I don't know whether the time has come for the Leader of the Opposition to receive another set of rules. But I would also like to extend the very, very warmest greetings of our Liberal Party Members to Mr. DeBeck on the occasion of his 89th birthday, because he's now a living legend, and each year when we wish him many happy returns the legend grows. He's a unique figure in Canadian parliamentary history and we're so very, very proud of him. He sits and listens and listens and listens as the years go by and we know how much wisdom is stored away beneath that white-thatched crown.

And, Mr. DeBeck, from us many, many happy returns and our hopes to be back here with you on future occasions, to wish you the happy birthday that you deserve.

MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Vancouver South.

MRS. A. KRIPPS (Vancouver South): Mr. Speaker, we have in the gallery today 55 Grade 11 students from the Sir Winston Churchill School in Vancouver South and I would ask the House to join me in welcoming them, on this special occasion when we are celebrating Mr. Ned DeBeck's birthday.

MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable the Leader of the Opposition.

MR. BARRETT: Mr. Speaker, I would ask the House to welcome a group of high school students from Centennial High School in Coquitlam.

MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Member for Yale Lillooet.

MR. W.L. HARTLEY (Yale-Lillooet): Mr. Speaker, I would ask the House to welcome a group of students from Hope. They haven't all been able to get in here as yet, some will get in at 3:30 p.m. but Mr. Glen Weager is the teacher and I believe there are two students in with him now.

Introduction of bills.

MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable the Provincial Secretary.

HON. W.D. BLACK (Provincial Secretary): I have the honour to present a message from His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC SITES
PROTECTION ACT

MR. SPEAKER: The Lieutenant-Governor transmits herewith a bill intituled Archaeological and Historic Sites Protection Act, and recommends the same to the legislative assembly. Dated at Government House March 6, 1972.

House in committee on Bill No. 60. On the recommendation of the committee, Bill No. 60 intituled Archaeological and Historic Sites Protection Act introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

HON. MR. BLACK: Mr. Speaker, I would ask leave of the House, knowing that my estimates will probably be coming before the House this afternoon, to as always to file with the House the log of the government aircraft with sufficient copies for most.

Leave granted.

MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable second Member for Vancouver–Point Grey.

MR. G.B. GARDOM (Vancouver–Point Grey): Mr. Speaker, I ask leave to introduce a bill intituled An Act to

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Amend the Coroners Act.

Motion approved. Bill No. 73, An Act to Amend the Coroners Act introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

Orders of the day.

House in committee of supply. The committee rose, reported progress and asked leave to sit again.

Hon. Mr. Bennett moves adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 6 p.m.

The House met at 8 p.m.

HON. D.L. BROTHERS (Minister of Education) ; Mr. Speaker, we have 20 students from the Rossland Trail area who are attending University of Victoria and dropped into the Legislature to watch the Members in action this evening. And I hope the Members will bid them welcome.

Introduction of bills.

HON. W.D. BLACK (Provincial Secretary): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a message from His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.

AN ACT TO AMEND
THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT

MR. SPEAKER: The Lieutenant-Governor transmits herewith a bill intituled An Act to Amend the Public Libraries Act, and recommends the same to the legislative assembly. Dated at Government House March 7, 1972.

House in committee on Bill No. 71. On the recommendation of the committee, Bill No. 71, An Act to Amend the Public Libraries Act, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

HON. MR. BLACK: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a message from His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor.

AN ACT TO AMEND
THE PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS ACT

MR. SPEAKER: The Lieutenant-Governor transmits herewith a bill intituled An Act to Amend the Provincial Elections Act, and recommends the same to the legislative assembly. Dated at Government House March 7, 1972.

House in committee on Bill No. 48. On the recommendation of the committee, Bill No. 48, An Act to Amend the Provincial Elections Act, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting after today.

Orders of the day.

House in committee of supply. The committee rose, reported progress and asked leave to sit again.

Hon. Mr. Williston files the annual report of the forest service of the Department of Lands and Water Resources for 1971.

HON. MR. BENNETT: Mr. Speaker, tomorrow I hope we will precede with the estimates of the Provincial Secretary and then if there's time in the afternoon the Minister of Industrial Development, Trade and Commerce.

Hon. Mr. Bennett moves adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

The House adjourned at 11:25 p.m.