- AAAB3547
- Item
- 1978-06 [date recorded]
Part of Provincial Archives of British Columbia audio interviews, 1974-1992
CALL NUMBER: T3235:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Early life PERIOD COVERED: 1923-1952 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Donald Brothers discusses his family background and his early years; copper smelters in B.C.; his first interests and involvement in Social Credit; his religious upbringing and beliefs; religion in the Social Credit Party; early influences upon his character; the Depression of the 1930s; WW II; his education; his law career; his first jobs; and his military service. TRACK 2: Brothers discusses his interests in enlisting in the RCAF; his first interests in the public service; his membership in various service organizations; his first law practice; his increasing interest in Social Credit; his opinions of other political parties in B.C.; his perception of the differences between socialism and communism; his first meeting with W.A.C. Bennett in 1952; and his first political aspirations in 1952. CALL NUMBER: T3235:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Early political life PERIOD COVERED: 1957-1962 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Donald Brothers discusses the government take-over of the B.C. Electric Company; his first nomination in the 1957 federal election; the federal Social Credit Party; the nature of Social Credit Membership and support; the 1958 by-election in Rossland-Trail; and the Sommers case. TRACK 2: Donald Brothers discusses the 1958 by-election in Rossland-Trail; highway construction in B.C.; the press coverage of the 1958 by-election; the part he played in Robert Sommers' election campaign in 1956; the Sommers case; his maiden speech in the Legislature; and the Doukhobor issue. CALL NUMBER: T3235:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Early political life and first cabinet post PERIOD COVERED: 1960-1968 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Donald Brothers discusses the provincial election of 1960; some financial consequences of the take-over of B.C. Electric Co.; the provincial election of 1963; progress and the physical environment; his appointment to the cabinet as Minister of Mines and Petroleum Resources in 1964; Robert Strachan as critic; his goals, priorities and accomplishments as minister; the relationships between provincial departments; and the offshore mineral rights issue. TRACK 2: Donald Brothers discusses the offshore mineral rights issue; private enterprise and crown corporations; the 1966 provincial election; the relative importance of mining in B.C.; efforts to promote the mining and forest industries; the creation of a new mining act; foreign investment in the mining industry; efforts to establish secondary industries in B.C.; and the Supreme Court decision on offshore mineral rights. CALL NUMBER: T3235:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Time as Minister of Education PERIOD COVERED: 1968-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Donald Brothers discusses: mining policies in B.C.; assuming the Education portfolio; his priorities as Education minister; the creation of regional colleges; the nature of the Education portfolio and its main difficulties; interdepartmental and intradepartmental rivalry in the government; the nature of bureaucracy within the Department of Education; his accomplishments as Minister of Education; his department's relationship with the Department of Health and Labour; problems between teachers and government; the financing of education; the concept of core curriculum; and his perceptions of the nature of education. TRACK 2: Donald Brothers discusses: the problems of finance in the Department of Education; the development of post-secondary education; the Perry committee report; policy objectives as Education minister; outside criticism of the Department of Education; the nature of problems in policy implementation; Robert Sommers' attempt to regain the Social Credit nomination in 1969; the 1969 provincial election; the value of educational conferences; the purpose of a university education; legislation affecting the BCTF; and his perceptions of teachers. CALL NUMBER: T3235:0005 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Education, government and B.C. politics PERIOD COVERED: 1968-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Donald Brothers discusses: government-organized group relations; policy-making power in the Department of Education; press criticism by the Vancouver Sun and other newspapers; the provincial election of 1972; efforts by members of BCTF to dislodge him from his seat; the possible reasons for the Social Credit loss in 1972; his decision to retire from politics; the relationship between W.A.C. Bennett and Brothers; his travels with Bennett; his and Bennett's reaction to the defeat of Social Credit in 1972; his perception of W.A.C. Bennett as a leader; internal relations within the Social Credit government; the nature of cabinet meetings. TRACK 2: Donald Brothers discusses: the nature of cabinet meetings; his assessment of W.A.C. Bennett as premier; questionable policy decisions; power development and homeowner grants; the relationship between government and bureaucracies; decision making in his ministries; coming before Treasury Board; all night sittings of the Legislature; federal-provincial relations; offshore mineral rights; comparison between federal and provincial Social Credit parties; and his relationship with the press. CALL NUMBER: T3235:0006 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Perceptions of Social Credit and politics in general PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1978 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Donald Brothers discusses: government-press relations; government-organized group relations; his perceptions of relations within other parties; his opinion of the NDP; his opinions of various; prominent Social Credit members; the Sommers affair; observations about the present Social Credit government; suggestions regarding education policy; his appointment as Queen's Council; his success as a politician; his present activities; the appeal of Social Credit to B.C. voters. TRACK 2: Donald Brothers discusses: the original appeal of Social Credit in B.C.; the nature of Social Credit and comparisons with other parties; reasons for the Social Credit loss in 1972; religion in the Social Credit Party; the role of the MLA; suggested amendments to legislative procedure; his general perceptions of government, government authority and government priorities; the government's role in society and in economic development. (End of interview)