1918-03-20

[Stage Direction]
On motion of Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden (Prime Minister) it was ordered that the Address to His Excellency the Governor General, adopted by the House on the 19th instant, be engrossed and presented to His Excellency by such members of the House as are of the honourable the Privy Council.

[Stage Direction]
Report of Women's War Conference.

Hon. Mr. Rowell.
Annual Report, Department of Marine and Fisheries for the fiscal year 1916-17.- Hon. Mr. Ballantyne.	.
Report of the Auditor General for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1917.-Hon. A- K. Maclean.
Public Accounts for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1917.-Hon. A. K. Maclean.
Statement of Governor General's Warrants.-Hon. A. K. Maclean.
Statement of unforeseen expenditure.- Hon. A. K. Maclean.
Report of the Ottawa Improvement Commission for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1917.-Hon. A. K. Maclean.
Report of the National Battlefields Commission for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1917.-Hon. A. K. Maclean.
Statement of receipts and expenditures of the Royal Society of Canada for the year ended April 30, 1917-Hon. A- K. Maclean.
Statement showing distribution of $25,000,000 advanced by the Dominion Government to the Canadian Northern Railway and its constituent companies as provided for in chapter 24 of the Statutes of 1917.- Hon. A. K. Maclean.
Statement of superannuation and retiring allowances in the Civil Service during the year ended December 31, 1917.-Hon. A. K-Maclean.
Interim report of R. A. Pringle, K.C., commissioner to inquire into the manufacture, sale, price and supply of newsprint in Canada.-Hon. A- K. Maclean.

[Stage Direction]
On motion of Hon. A. K. Maclean (Acting Minister of Finance) it was ordered that this House do on Friday next resolve itself into a committee to consider of ithe Supply to be granted to His Majesty.
REVISED EDI*'tON

[Stage Direction]
On motion of Hon. A. K. Maclean it was ordered that this House do on Friday next resolve itself into a committee to consider of the Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to His Majesty.

[Stage Direction]
Right Hon. Sir ROBERT BORDEN moved for leave to introduce Bill No. 2, to authorize re-arrangments and transfers of duties in the Public Service.
Sir WILFRID LAUIRIER:: Kindly explain.


Sir ROBERT BORDEN:: This Bill authorizes the Governor in Council to change any department or any branch of a department from the direction of one minister to the direction of another. It has become evident that some re-arrangement of certain departments is necessary. It is a short Bill; I will read it for the information of the House:
1.-(1) The Governor in Council shall have power,-
(a)	to transfer any powers, duties or functions or the control or supervision of any part of the public service from orle minister of the Crown to any other minister of the Crown, or from one department or portion of the public service to any other department or portion of the public service; or
(b)	to amalgamate and combine any two or more departments under one minister of the Crown and under one Deputy Minister.
(2) All orders made by the Governor in Council under the provisions of this Act shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament within fifteen days after they are made if Parliament is then sitting, and if not, then within fifteen days from the commencement of the next ensuing session of Parliament.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to, and Bill read the first time.	/
WOMjAN SUFFRAGE.
On motion of Sir Robert Borden, Bill No. 3, to confer the electoral franchise upon women, was introduced and read the first time.

Sir GEORGE FOSTER:: moved for leave to introduce Bill No. 4, to provide for the time in Canada being in advance of the solar mean time during the summer months.


Wilfrid Laurier: Is this the
same Bill as last year?


George Green Foster: It is similar to
,last year's Bill.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to, and Bill read the first time.

[Stage Direction]
On the Order for Questions being called r
Wilfrid Laurier: At this stage may I ask the Government, by your leave Mr. Speaker, if it is expected that the Minister of Finance (Sir Thomas White) will be in his seat this session?


Robert Laird Borden: I will make an announcement with regard to that to-morrow.



QUESTIONS.

[Stage Direction]
(Questions answered orally -are indicated by asterisks).

[Stage Direction]
*Mr. LEM'IEUX:
1.	Has the Government received any petition praying for the removal of duties on farm implements?
2-. What action, if any, does the Government intend- to take with a view to meeting the demands of the western farmers on this question?
Sir ROBERT BORDEN:: 1.	There have been communications on the subject alluded to.
2.	Any necessary announcement will be made in due course.


LORD BEAVERBROOK.
Mr. DEVLIN:: 1.	Has the Government of Canada paid any money directly or indirectly to Lord Beaver-brook?
2.	If so, how much, and for what purpose was the money paid?
3., What was the nature of the services rendered by Lord Beaverbrook to Canada?
4.	What was the nature of the campaign of propaganda, if any, and the details of such campaign?
5.	What were the concrete results?


Robert Laird Borden: 
PENSION COMMISSIONERS FOR CANADA.
[Stage Direction]
, *MR. DEVLIN:
1.	Who are the Pension Commissioners for Canada?
2.	What are their salaries?
3.	Do they, or any of them, draw a pension or pensions from the Government?
4.	If so, who, and how much?
5.	If any such Pension Commissioner is in receipt of a pension, or drew a pension, how long did he serve overseas?
6.	What length of time did he serve in France?
Sir ROBERT BORDEN:: 1.	Commander J. K. L. Ross, chairman; Colonel R. H. Labatt, member, and Major J. L. Todd, member.
2.	$5,000 per annum.
3.	Yes. One of them.
4.	Colonel R. H. Labatt draws a full disability pension.
5 and 6. Colonel R. H. Labatt enlisted in August, 1914, and proceeded overseas with the First Contingent .in September, 1914. During training in England he was operated on for duodenal ulcer in February, 1915. Dpon recovery he proceeded to France to command the 4th Battalion on May 13, 1915. Owing to disease diagnosed by the R.A.M.C. at Osborne House as valvular disease of the heart, he was returned from France on June 15, 1915, and recommended for six months' rest and then for light duty. He returned to Canada about the end of July, 1915. Upon arrival in Canada he went upon the staff of the 2nd Military District to lecture and subsequently on the 1st. of July, 1916, was put in command of Niagara Camp, which he relinquished upon taking over his duties as a member of the Board of Pension Commissioners on September 11,' 1916, He was boarded for discharge and recommended io be sent to the hospital for three months, but was subsequently allowed to pass under his own control on the understanding that he was to lay up for three months, which he hopes on the return of the other Commissioners to be able to do.



QUESTIONS PASSED AS ORDERS FOR RETURNS.

Mr. L. A. LAPOINTE:: 1.	When and upon whose recommendation was the office of Food Controller in Canada authorized and established?
2.	To which Ministerial Department does, the Food Controller report, and what member of tihe Cabinet, if any, is responsible for the administration of the office of Pood Controller?
3.	What has been the total amount incurred as salaries for Food Controller and his assistants and staff at Ottawa and throughout Canada from the establishment of the office up to and including end of February, 1918?
4.	What has been the total expense of Food Controller's Office at Ottawa and throughout Canada, including rents, furnishing, equipment, heat, light, salaries, travelling expenses, stationery, printing, advertising, telegrams, telephones, postage, and all other expenses of Food Controller's Office at Ottawa and branch offices throughout Canada, since the establishment of the office, up to. and including February, 1918?
*5,. What was the total cost of administration of Food Controller's Office at Ottawa and throughout Canada, including rents, furnishings, equipments, heat, light, salaries, travelling expenses, stationery, printing, advertising, telegrams, telephones, postage, etc., including all and every expense of Food Controller's Office at Ottawa and branch offices throughout Canada for each of following months, viz.: December, 1917, and February, 1918?
6.	Are there any claims for salary or expenses from the Food Controller's Office outstanding or in dispute; if so, what is the amount involved?
7.	How many employees are there on the Food Controller's staff at Ottawa and throughout Canada?
8.	How many of the employees are returned soldiers who have been on -Active Service since 1914?


Sir WILFRID LAURIER:: 1.	What was the rate of commission paid in connection with the Victory Doan?
2.	How much was paid in such commission, and to whom?



UNOPPOSED MOTIONS FOR PAPERS.

Mr DEVLIN:: For a return showing the number of paymasters or others of the various regiments recruited since August, 19(14, who are short in their funds, giving the names and addresses and! amount of shortage of each one, showing the action the Government has taken in the matter.


Mr. DEVLIN:: For a return showing the names of the Staff of the Hospital Commission, the number of persons employed, their names, duties, salaries, former occupation and amounts paid to each for travelling expenses.


Emmanuel Berchmans Devlin: For a return showing the names of all persons employed in Ottawa in the Military Service Council, their salaries and former occupations.
CSv Robert Borden.]


Mr DEVLIN:: For a copy of the Order in Council recently passed making provisions for the staff,'the number of persons to be employed and their salaries, in the Food Controller's Office. Also a list of the names of those at present employed, showing their respective salaries and duties, former occupations, where formerly employed and salary received in former occupation.


Wilfrid Laurier: For a statement in detail showing the expenditure in connection with the National Ssrvice Board for salaries, newspaper advertisements, travelling expenses, and all other expenses, respectively.



MILITARY SERVICE.


Right Hon.   S@: For a copy of any treaty between Great Britain and the United States, permitting the conscription of British subjects in the United States for military service and of American citizens residing in British Dominions.
He saiid: The subject which is involved in this motion is certainly one of very great importance. The matter was yesterday referred to casually in the observations of the Prime Minister, and in answer to a question of my hon. friend from Three Rivers (Mr. Bureau), my right hon. friend did not seem to give precise information as to the nature of the convention which had bean made (between Great Britain and the United States; but I understand, at all events-and it has been so understood by the press-that 'a convention has been adopted (by Great Britain and the United States permitting the Canadian authorities to recruit British subjects residing in the United States and permitting the American authorities also to recruit in Canada.


Robert Laird Borden: That is, their own subjects?


Wilfrid Laurier: doubt, but at- all events it is a fact that tractors up to a certain price have been put on the free list. But there is some-Ithing imore important than .that. Was there euch an agreement as is mentioned by the Toronto News which, after stating that there was this agreement to have no tariff changes during the war, says:
No room for doubt was left upon this issue.-


Mr. SPEAKER:: I hope the right hon.
gentleman will not proceed too far with hie argument on the tariff unless he does it by way of analogy, because he is now quite far afield from the subject of his motion.


Wilfrid Laurier: I will not go very far afield. I will juet conclude this quotation and then I am done. I am asking for information on a subject connected with what I am reading; that is all. The Toronto News says:
No room for doubt was left upon' this issue. Independent agricultural candidates In prairie constituencies signed an undertaking to this effect before they obtained the government en-dorsation.
Is it or is it not a fact, that eonne of my old friends whom I see on the other side of the House signed such an agreement as is mentioned here? Did they agree, before they got their endorsation, that there should be no tariff changes during the war? If so, Mr. Dunning ought to be advised, because he evidently wants to have not only tractors but all agricultural implements put on the free list. He wants to have cheap production; we all want that; and it will strike everybody that if we are to have cheaper production one of the best things we can do is to have cheaper implements. Now, Mr. Speaker, I bow to your ruling.


Robert Laird Borden: I think it was hardly worth while to interrupt my right hon. friend, because it was perfectly evident that in the course of his discussion of Motion No. 13 'he had unfortunately picked up his notes on No. 16, and so he went on to discuss farm tractors on a motion concerning a military convention with the United States. His observations with regard to farm tractors do not seem to be very closely relevant to the question of the Military Convention, and I shall merely say a few words about the convention itself. My right 'hon. friend's time-worn joke about .having " no -trade or truck with the Yankees" has done service on a great many occasions. It must be tired by this time, and my right hon- friend might give it a rest for a while. As far as the military con-

vention is concerned, it has been entered into, but I do not think it can be laid on the Taible until it is ratified. It is very much along the line which is to be adopted in the convention between Great Britain and the United States, if I understand i! aright. In fact, the convention between the United States and Canada was the first one agreed to, and it will probably form the basis of the conventions which will be entered into between the United States and Great Britain, and between the United States and other European nations. There is no objection to the motion, but I do not think the document can be1 brought down until it has- been ratified.


Wilfrid Laurier: By the Senate?


Robert Laird Borden: Yes, and by the British Government.


Wilfrid Laurier: I understand.


Robert Laird Borden: It will have to be ratified by both Governments.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to.

[Stage Direction]
Sir Wilfrid Laurier moved:
For a copy of the Orders in Council creating the War Mission at Washington, appointments to the same, with instructions as to the extent of its powers and scope of its work.
He s-aid: May I ask my right hon- friend if he -can tell me from memory the names of the members of the war mission?
Robert Laird Borden: Mr. Lloyd Harris, Mr. Ross McMa-ster, Mr. A. H. Scott, Montreal, and M,r. Frank Rolph, Toronto. M-r. Lloyd Harris is the Chairman, and the Orders in Council have already been'brought down.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to.

Wilfrid Laurier: For a copy of all Orders in Council creating the War Trade Board, appointments to the same, instructions, and reports from the Board to this date.



ADMISSION FREE OF DUTY OF FARM TRACTORS AND OTHER IMPLEMENTS.

Wilfrid Laurier: For a copy of all Orders in Council, reports and- correspondence with respect to the admission free of duty of farm tractors and other agricultural implements.


Robert Laird Borden: Perhaps my right lion, "friend' may wish to say something aibout the Military Convention on this motion.


Wilfrid Laurier: I am satisfied with what I have said.


[Stage Direction]
Motion agreed to.

Wilfrid Laurier: For a copy of the treaty between Great Britain and the United States concerning fisheries between Canada and the United States.


Robert Laird Borden: It is impossible to 'bring down a copy of the treaty. It has not yet tbeen made. Negotiations are still pending.


Wilfrid Laurier: Dropped. AMENDMENT OF PENITENTIARY ACT.
The Order of the day being called,
The Minister of Justice-In Committee of the Whole-The following proposed resolution:
Resolved, That it is expedient to amend the Penitentiary Act, Chapter 147 of the Revised Statutes, and to provide that the Governor in Council may appoint a Superintendent of Penitentiaries, who shall be an officer of the Department of Justice, and superintend the administration and business of the penitentiaries, and who shall he paid a salary of four thousand dollars per annum; and three Inspectors of Penitentiaries who shall be classified as officers of the Department of Justice, in subdivision B of the First Division of the Civil Service, and shall each receive a minimum salary of twenty-five hundred dollars per annum.


Hon. Mr. DOHERTY:: I beg to be allowed to drop this notice, as an error has crept in it las it is drawn, and, subject to renewing it in the correct form, it will be dropped.
Motion dropped.



DOMINION LANDS ACT AMENDMENT.

[Stage Direction]
Hon. ARTHUR MEIGHEN (Minister of the Interior) moved for leave to introduce Bill No. 5 to amend the Dominion Lands Act.
He said: Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the Bill is to make a variety of amendments to the Dominion Lands Act. Some of the main amendments were before the House in a similar Bill which was introduced, but which did not secure the assent of Parliament, at the last session. When I make that statement I know that most of the hon. members present will understand the main purpose of the Bill. It provides facilities for pre-emption holders to obtain loans upon their pre-emptions prior to the issue of the patents. It provides in various ways for facilitating the working of the Act, but there is no clause in the Bill providing for
anything in the way of a fundamental, important or radical change. But, by way of explanation, I think it well to refer to a matter of some importance particularly to hon. members representing western constituencies. Mainly with a view to meeting the evident requirements of the Soldiers' Settlement Board, in connection with soldiers' settlement, it has been decided to withdraw entirely the privilege of the preemption of purchased homesteads. The clause of the Act which provides for the [DOT] purchase of pre-emption homesteads will cease to have effect from and after tomorrow. From that time the privilege of free homesteading, or the privilege of taking land, will be confined to the ordinary homesteading right. It might also be added that this right is being substantially curtailed as well by a provision for the exclusion from its exercise of very considerable areas of western land within proximity to railways. This is being done at the request of the Soldiers' Settlement Board and under the provisions of the Act of last session establishing that Board.
Motion agreed to and Bill read the first time.
On motion of Sir Robert Borden, the House adjouri^d at 2.55 p.m.
Thursday, March 21, 1918.