Mr. Gardiner:

We pay on a somewhat different basis in New Brunswick. The New Brunswick people did not desire to go on operating on the same basis as we operate in the other provinces. There were special situations existing there.

Mr. Brooks:

Is it commensurate?

Mr. Gardiner:

I think so. It works out at just about the same as they would get if they classified their fairs 'as "A" and "B." But they have a different classification, and we have accepted it as being similar to what is being followed in other provinces. The show mentioned here is the New Brunswick cattle show at Frederiction.

Mr. Black (Cumberland):

I am pleased that the cattle show at Fredericton has a grant of $10,000. I believe it was increased a year or two ago. It seems to me the subsidy being paid the maritime winter fair at Amherst is entirely inadequate, having regard to present-day costs. The amount is only $5,500. It is probably by far the most important agricultural fair in all the maritime provinces, and the oldest fair of

its kind in Canada. It has done more than any other organization to improve the quality of livestock.

Some of the directors have spoken to me with regard to their costs, and the difficulties they are having in operating this fair which serves Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and in an even greater measure serves Prince Edward Island. Each of those provinces draws prizes in almost equal amounts from the maritime winter fair. It seems to me it should be given a much larger grant than is provided in the estimates. People who are interested in agriculture attend this show in large numbers. They come from the three maritime provinces, and they look forward to the minister's making a special visit. However, in recent years they have been disappointed when he has not been able to be present. I presume he has other functions to perform that he considers are more important than his presence at the maritime winter fair. Could not arrangements be made to give a larger grant to that fair than is provided in the estimates?

Mr. McLure:

I notice that the provincial cattle show at Fredericton is in receipt of a grant of $10,000. I have no complaint against that; they deserve it. But there is no special grant for Prince Edward Island, because it is in with the other maritime provinces, and is included with the maritime winter fair at Amherst. As the hon. member for Cumberland has said, that winter fair has done a great deal to improve the livestock of this country. From time to time this matter has been discussed by breeders. They have appealed to the hon. member for Cumberland and to me to see if they could get something additional for the maritime winter fair. I hope the minister will give consideration to this suggestion in his supplementary estimates.

Mr. Brooks:

I should like to express my appreciation of the maritime winter fair at Amherst. I know our people in New Brunswick look forward to it every year, and it is known as one of the big events in the agricultural world.

The hon. member for Queens seemed to question the $10,000 granted to the provincial cattle show at Fredericton. As I understood from the minister a moment ago, New Brunswick is in a position different from the other provinces. The only grant we receive is this $10,000, whereas the other provinces are receiving grants for "A" and "B" fairs and provincial summer fairs. I think it will be seen that Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick have received grants for fairs in addition to those at

Amherst and Charlottetown, or wherever they may be. On the other hand we receive a grant only for the one at Fredericton in compensation for not being allowed grants for other fairs.

Mr. Gardiner:

That is right. We were

paying on one "A" fair and three "B" fairs to a total amount of $11,000 in New Brunswick. We made an arrangement with them whereby we would pay $10,000 on one fair.

Mr. Brooks:

We lost money.

Mr. Gardiner:

We saved a thousand

dollars on the transaction. But it suited them better in New Brunswick than any other arrangement, and we agreed to the suggestion. We saved around $1,000 in doing it.

Mr. Brooks:

And, to complete the picture, would you tell us what they received, in the aggregate?

Mr. Gardiner:

I gave the figures a moment ago. For Bridgewater fair in Nova Scotia the amount is $2,500; Oxford fair, $2,187.75; Sydney, $901.12; Truro, $2,500; Amherst winter fair, $5,500. If they are added up it is about $3,000 more.

Mr. Black (Cumberland):

Why is Oxford fair, which is considered the best county fair in the maritime provinces, if not in the whole of Canada, receiving only $2,187.75, while these other fairs which are not as large or not as important receive $2,500? This would not appear to me to be a large grant for Oxford fair.

Mr. Gardiner:

It is on the basis of improvements. We pay 50 per cent of improvements.

Mr. Black (Cumberland):

Does that mean improvements to quarters?

Mr. Gardiner:

Improvements and repairs

to buildings, including the putting up of new buildings and the repairing of buildings already in existence.

Mr. Riley:

Which fair in New Brunswick had the department been previously subsidizing, or paying a grant to, as a 1-A fair?

Mr. Gardiner:

Saint John.

Mr. Riley:

As the minister probably

realizes, Saint John fair was interrupted by the second world war. Plans are under way to have it resume some time in the future. I am wondering if the present allocation to the provincial exhibition at Fredericton will in any way prejudice the chances of the Saint John fair receiving a further grant in future as a class 1-A fair.

Mr. Gardiner:

The arrangement at present is that we accept the approval of the province.

Supply-Agriculture

I presume that if the province withdraws its approval we might talk about something else.