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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-06-28, Page 116Section 1, Page 28 THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE JUNE 28, 1973 Charles MacNaughton with his record number of portfolios Tom Pryde called an outstanding rep Charlie MacNaughtori set portfolio records Jan. 9, 1958 The funeral of the late Thomas Pryde, Huron MLA, who died in Victoria Hospital, London on Sunday, was held Tuesday af- ternoon from Caven Presbyterian Church of which he was an elder for a number of years. Attending the funeral was Premier Leslie M. Frost, and members of his cabinet, together with 20 private members. Members of Huron county council and Exeter Lions Club attended in a body and both the auditorium and the church parlors were filled for the ser- vice. The minister, Rev. Samuel Kerr, paid glowing tribute to the sterling character of Mr. Pryde and of his service to the com- munity and the riding. Assisting Mr. Kerr were Rev. Harold Snell and Rev. A.E. Aldworth of Tillsonburg. Born in Scotland Mr. Pryde, who was 69, was born in Largoward, Scotland and came to Canada in 1910. He was educated in public and high schools at Kirkcaldy and technical school in Toronto. After working in Toronto and London, Mr. Pryde came to Exeter in 1919 and was associated with the late Walter Cunningham having taken over the TOM PRYDE monumental business from W.D. and James Weekes. Of late yeats he has been associated with his son Jack and established bran- ches in Seaforth and Clinton. During his stay in Toronto he worked as a craftsman on the present parliament buildings. Mr. Pryde was a member of Lebanon Forest Lodge, AF & AM and was a past district deputy of the Independent Order of Odd- fellows; past president of the Exeter Branch of the Canadian Legion and a charter member of the Exeter Lions Club. In 1945, Mr. Pryde contested the federal seat in the Huron Perth riding losing out to the Liberal candidate, W.H. Golding. He was elected to represent Huron in the provincial parliament in a by-election in 1948 following the death of the late Dr. Hobbs Taylor and was re- elected as a Progressive Con- servative in the general elections of 1948, '51, '55. During the past two years, he spearheaded a campaign to persuade the government to construct a hospital for retarded children along the Lake Huron shore in Huron county. Mr. Pryde suffered a heart attack in July last year and was taken to Victoria Hospital in London. The following month he suffered a relapse. His first wife, the former Jennie Beswick died in 1947. Interment took place in the Exeter cemetery. The pallbearers were Mayor R.E. Pooley, E.D. Bell, QC, C.S, MacNaughton, Luther J. Penhale, Harry Strang and Frank Taylor. Mr. Pryde was deputy whip of the government party for the past 5 years. His colleagues in the house described him as "a very active member who did considerable work in the committees of agriculture, private bills, lands and forest and in education, He was especially interested in the latter. One colleague described Mr. Pryde as "one of the outstanding members in attending to the responsibilities of his riding." "Tom had an excellent stan- ding among officials in every department of the government. He was highly regarded by cabinet members and civil servants alike." Those who attended the funeral service were notconfined to public officials. People of all ranks, many grateful for personal -services were among the mourners. They included active political friends — as well as opponents — and also those who were not concerned with politics. The crowd indicated his popularity with all walks of life. Jan. 18, 1973 "His impact on public life, on our institutions and on the face of the province will be acknowledged for years to come." Those were the words of Premier William Davis as he paid tribute to the Hon, C.S. MacNaughton who retired Friday from public office. Mr. MacNaughton resigned both his cabinet position and his seat in the Legislature, where he has represented Huron Riding for the Progressive Conservative Party since winning a by-election on May 12, 1958. In paying tribute to the retiring treasurer of Ontario and minister of economics and in- tergovernment affairs, Mr, Davis noted that Mr. MacNaughton had held more cabinet posts than any other minister in the history of Ontario and "has left a lasting imprint on the province." Mr. MacNaughton said the time had come to retire "since I now feel I have completed the major objectives I set for myself in provincial affairs and I want more time to spend with my wife and family." At his Exeter home, Saturday, the former Huron MPP said he would take an active part and interest in politics. "That stuff can't rub off," he mused. For some time now, Mr. MacNaughton has been con- sidered the number two man in Ontario politics behind former Premier John Robarts and subsequently Premier William Davis, for whom he acted as campaign manager in the leadership contest. Mr. MacNaughton was ap- pointed a minister without portfolio in 1961 and since then has been minister of highways, treasurer, minister of economics, minister of revenue, minister of highways and minister of tran- sport, minister of transportation and communications, chairman of the management board of cabinet and most recently treasurer and minister of economics and in - tergovernmental affairs. In his tribute Mr. Davis noted "your record of public service is long and distinguished but that is not the great dimension of Charles MacNaughton. You will be remembered for your humanity and your humility, your sense of honor and of honesty, your vision and your loyalty." When asked about his future plans on Saturday, Mr. Mac- Naughton said "mom and I are going to relax." Mr. MacNaughton's first political win was considered somewhat of an upset when he won the PC nomination in 1958. The late Dr. E.A. McMaster had been considered the favorite of the five candidates to succeed the late Tom Pryde, but Mr. Mac- Naughton won the nomination on the first ballot and went on to defeat the Liberal standard bearer, Dr. Addison of Clinton. He termed the development of Huron Industrial Park and the establishment of the Centralia College of Agriculture at the former CFB Centralia as the greatest achievement for the riding during his tenure. However, he said the greatest satisfaction came in helping the constituents whom he served throughout the riding. "It all starts and stops in your riding, and you can't sit behind a fat desk in Toronto without their (constituents) support," he explained. "I gained great satisfaction from helping people over hu- mps," he recalled,adding that no Huron constituent had ever approached him with anything frivolous. Mr. MacNaughton paid tribute to his children in "keeping me contemporary." He said it was difficult for a politician and a government to be contemporary over a sustained period of time He said this was one of the reasons he felt it important "to move along and give others an opportunity to serve." Two of the major issues in which he was involved were cited as the universal medicare scheme and the financial debates he had with the former feder minister of finance, Edgar Benson. He recalled that universal medicare was forced on Ontario despite the provincial govern- ment's suggestion that costs would escalate, He said this was now proven to be true and he was always of the opinion people should never have subsidized medicare if they could afford it themselves. "Now we are finding it necessary to reduce costs," he noted, Some of the contentions held by Mr. MacNaughton in opposition to Mr. Benson's program are also proving the former to be right. Concerning heated debates in the Legislature, Mrs. Mac- Naughton said her husband was smart and didn't get drawn inttk. too many. "He just smiled," she said in reference to his actions when he or the government were being roasted by the opposition. Mr. MacNaughton recalled having lost his temper only once, telling NDP leader Stephen Lewis to "shut his big, flapping mouth." FIe replied that it was difficult to say which of his many port- folios he enjoyed most. He said he enjoyed the contact with people and the many accomplishments he was able to register while minister of highways, but said the most meaningful was the post as treasurer and minister of economics because it affects more people than any other ministry. What will they miss the most? "Doing things for people." Some of Exeter's finest craftsmen .work here . . • Back row: Bob Read, Wayne Edwards, Byron Herman,Rick Huff, Dennis Steep, Roland McCaffrey Front row: Don McCaffrey, Les Desjardine, Louise Oosterbosch , Charlie Poore, Sue McCaffrey, That's why people from across the country order their church furniture from us. EXETER FURNITURE LIMITED Established in 1956 Don McCaffrey Roland McCaffrey 4.