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The McNair-Flemming Years, Volume 1
A Public Record of Uncertain Times, New Brunswick 1930-1960
by
James G. Long
The McNair-Flemming Years is a two-volume history of New Brunswick politics and events, from the Depression to the beginning of the 1960s. Based largely on contemporaneous journalistic input from five daily New Brunswick newspapers, it is exactly as the title suggests: A Public Record of Uncertain Times. It is a distillation of the daily events that shaped public opinion and controlled political messaging, and upon which people formed their own bias and interpretation of the news. John B. McNair is featured in Volume 1. He was an athlete, Rhodes Scholar, veteran of the First World War, who filled a prominent leadership role starting in 1935, as the Attorney-General of New Brunswick and as Premier 1940-1952. Under his guidance, New Brunswick embarked on a massive program of infrastructure spending, to pave roads, and to build bridges, hospitals, and schools. He provided calm reassurance to a nervous public during the darkest days of the Second World War. His innovative approach to politics brought professional advertising into election campaigns in the pre-television era. For almost a generation he was this Province’s leading public figure.
James G. Long began his career in the resource industry in New Brunswick, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. Born in Fredericton, he holds degrees in geology and economics from the University of New Brunswick and University of Calgary. He has been a resource consultant and founder of both public and private energy companies, and has written more than 100 specialized technical papers and reports. Detailed study to create The McNair-Flemming Years 1930-1960, includes regional history, biographies, public policy, business development and hyper-partisan politics. It explores long-standing government fiscal challenges created by lack of industry, seasonal employment, demands to solve social problems in a sparsely populated, largely rural society, and the growing dependence on the Federal treasury. The basis of restructuring the role of government, social, educational, and healthcare reform was met with varying success by Premiers J.B. McNair and H.J. Flemming. Their leadership extended throughout the depression era, rationing and blackout drills during WWII, German U-boats in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Coronation of a Young Queen, post-war reconstruction, modernization and economic growth in a culture rooted in the past and resistant to change.
Contributors
- Author
- James G. Long