Item AAAB1331 - Percy Richards interview : [Reimer, 1977]

CALL NUMBER: T1203:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): B.C. Premiers : Brewster, Oliver, MacLean, Tolmie, Pattullo and Hart PERIOD COVERED: 1912-1960 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1977-03-16 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Percival Charles Richards discusses background: born 1904 in England; moved to Victoria, 1912; early career as a journalist in Victoria and California. Richards' experiences in Ethiopia ca. 1955-59 as the editor of that country's first free press newspaper. Richards' recollections of Premiers H.C. Brewster, John Oliver, John D. MacLean. TRACK 2: Richards' reminiscences of Premier Dr. S.F. Tolmie. Political consequences of the Depression of the 1930s. John Hart's problems as Minister of Finance in the Pattullo government. Anecdotes about John Hart and Duff Pattullo. The firing of Hart by Pattullo and the formation of the Coalition in 1941. Details about the formation of the Coalition government. Discussion of Richards' position on Hart's staff as a secretary cum executive assistant. More about the formation of the Coalition. Details about Richards' dismissal by the Bennett government. CALL NUMBER: T1203:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Personal reminiscence of Premier John Hart PERIOD COVERED: 1936-1952 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1977-03-16 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Richards discusses: his dismissal by the Bennett government; more on the formation of the Coalition, 1941; negotiations between Hart of the Liberals and Maitland of the Conservatives; the deluge of work for the new provincial government, 1941-42. Hart goes through a depressed period shortly after becoming Premier. Hart's dealings with the Eastern financial community. How Richards' came to; work for Hart in 1936. Personal reminiscences and anecdotes about John Hart. Hart's appearance. Hart's athletic abilities. TRACK 2: Hart was a perfectionist. Hart's generosity toward people around him. Hart's regular poker games at the Union Club. Hart was a voracious reader, especially about economics. Richards arranged many private dinners for Hart. Hart's personal background. CALL NUMBER: T1203:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): A political reminiscence, 1936-1952 PERIOD COVERED: 1936-1952 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1977-04-21 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: The generosity of Premier John Hart as revealed in anecdotes. The civil service role of political secretaries. Anecdotes about protocol. Royal visits, 1951 and 1939. More on protocol. Pattullo government and the Rowell-Sirois Commission. Role of G. Neil Perry as a financial advisor. TRACK 2: Story about political relations between John Hart and W.L.M. King. Antagonism of the federal Liberals to the Coalition government. Duff Pattullo, John Hart and the 1940 federal-provincial conference. Hart cautious in his dealings with the press. Contrasts between Pattullo and Hart. The 1941 provincial election and the formation of the Coalition. CALL NUMBER: T1203:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The Coalition government, 1941-1952 PERIOD COVERED: 1941-1952 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1977-04-21 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Continuation of the discussion of the formation of the Coalition government, November and December 1941. Problems of Coalition government. Details about compromise within the Coalition. More about the formation of the Coalition, 1941. Pattullo in the period, 1941-45. Incident in which Anscomb criticizes Doug Turnbull, Minister of Health, in the 1951 budget speech. Richards contends that this should have been the end of the Coalition. The break-up of the Coalition, January 1952. Hospital Insurance problems for the Coalition. Hart offers Anscomb the opportunity of making W.A.C. Bennett a cabinet minister, ca. 1945. TRACK 2: More on the 1951 budget speech incident. Comments on Boss Johnson as a political leader. Highways and public works used as a political tool. Ernest Carson as Minister of Public Works. The Coalition against the "patronage" system. CALL NUMBER: T1203:0005 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Anecdotes about British Columbia politics in the 1920s and 1930s PERIOD COVERED: 1933-1947 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1977-05-05 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Description of Premier T.D. Pattullo. Comments on Pattullo's secretary/assistant, Ben Hethey. Richards becomes John Hart's personal secretary, 1936. The press and press gallery reporters in the 1920s and 1930s. Bruce Hutchison. [TRACK 2: blank; end of interview]