1953-11-12

HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATES


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BEING THE 96™ SESSION FOR THE PERIOD 1867-1954

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queen's printer and controller of stationery OTTAWA, 1954
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House of Commons debates
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Speaker: The Honourable L. Rene Beaudoin

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The twenty-first parliament having been prorogued on the fourteenth day of May, 1953, and dissolved by proclamation on the thirteenth day of June, 1953, and writs having been issued and returned, a new parliament was summoned to meet for the dispatch of business on Thursday, November 12, 1953, and did accordingly meet on that day.
Thursday, November 12, 1953
This being the day on which parliament is convoked by proclamation of His Excellency the Governor General for the dispatch of business, and the members of the house being assembled:
Leon J. Raymond, Esquire, O.B.E., the Clerk of the House, read to the house a letter from the Secretary to the Governor General informing him that the Right Honourable Thibaudeau Rinfret, Chief Justice of Canada, in his capacity as Deputy Governor General, would proceed to the Senate chamber to open the first session of the twenty-second parliament of Canada on Thursday, the twelfth of November, at twelve o'clock noon.
A message was delivered by Major C. R. Lamoureux, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, as follows:
Gentlemen of the House of Commons:
The Right Honourable the Deputy of His Excellency the Governor General desires the immediate attendance of this honourable house in the chamber of the honourable the Senate.
Accordingly the house went up to the Senate chamber, when the Speaker of the Senate said:
Honourable Members of the Senate,
and Members of the House of Commons:
I have it in command to let you know that His Excellency the Governor General does not see fit to declare the causes of his summoning the present parliament of Canada until the Speaker of the House of Commons shall have been chosen according to law, but this afternoon, at the hour of three o'clock, His Excellency will declare the causes of calling this parliament.
And the house being returned to the Commons chamber:


Right Hon. L. S. St. Laurent (Prime Minister):: Mr. Raymond, we the members of this House of Commons who have been elected to form a part of the twenty-second parliament of Canada have just been reminded that His Excellency will disclose the reasons for summoning the members only after they shall have chosen one of their own members to be their Speaker. The position of Speaker is, as has been many times said in this house, one that calls for very high qualities. The holder of this office must possess good judgment, a conciliatory attitude, and a thorough knowledge not only of parliamentary procedures, but of all the matters that come before the house. Another very essential quality is a sense of responsibility toward the Canadian people, for this office is one of the cornerstones of democracy in this country.
I believe that the hon. gentleman whose name I shall have the privilege to nominate possesses in a high degree the qualities necessary to fill this role in the twenty-second parliament. Those of us who have sat with him in the past, and who have seen him fulfil the duties of Deputy Speaker and previously of Deputy Chairman of Committees of the whole house in the last parliament, have had ample assurance of his outstanding ability and his unfailing courtesy to his fellow members. The hon. member whose name I wish to place in nomination is Mr. Louis Rene Beaudoin.

Election of Speaker
Mr. Beaudoin, who has just been re-elected for the second time, is still one of the younger members of this house. Born in 1912, he has already a distinguished record in public life. In 1947 he was a Canadian delegate to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. From September 1949 until he became Deputy Speaker in 1952 he was Deputy Chairman of Committees of the whole House of Commons. As chairman of the executive committee, Canadian branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, he travelled to New Zealand and Australia in 1951 and to Colombo, Ceylon, in 1952.
This very impressive record and our memories of the remarkably efficient manner in which he fulfilled his duties as Deputy Speaker have, I am sure, convinced' the hon. members of our colleague's ability to discharge the heavy responsibilities of this office with fairness and impartiality and in keeping with the highest traditions of this house.
Mr. Raymond, it is with genuine pleasure that I move, and I am glad to have the advantage of having my motion seconded by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Drew):
That Louis Rene Beaudoin, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, do take the chair of this house as Speaker.


Hon. George A. Drew (Leader of the Opposition):: In seconding this motion, as I do with great pleasure, I recognize that a tradition is being established in this house. I am very happy in seconding the motion. I do indicate the fact that we all welcome the tradition that has been established in this house of the impartiality of the Speaker who presides over its affairs. As the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent) has said, Mr. Raymond, the office is not only one of great importance to the members of this house, but one of the utmost importance to the people of Canada because, in great part, the conduct of debates, and the manner in which the business of the people of Canada is conducted, are measured by the judgment and the understanding displayed by the Speaker.
This office carries with it great traditions and a great history, one that is emphasized by the fact that there is at present in the house no mace which will subsequently be the symbol of his authority. There were times when the mace perhaps was used as a symbol of authority in a more direct manner than has of recent years ever been needed. The authority today is the evidence of the symbolic position of the crown in relation to the conduct of our affairs which the mace itself expresses.
In seconding this motion I do so with particular pleasure because Mr. Beaudoin comes

to this office with experience. I know that all of us in the house who have sat here on earlier occasions share the same opinion, that in the conduct of his duties as Deputy Speaker he sought at all times to perform that task with impartiality and good judgment. He has had experience that has carried his contacts beyond the affairs of this house; and in his relations with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association he has established those wider associations that mean much in the conduct of this office.
In seconding this motion I do so also with the belief that Mr. Beaudoin will carry to this office an understanding of the need for a balance between too great severity and too great freedom. We have passed from the days of the very rugged experiences that are recorded even in our own history; nevertheless, it would not be desirable, in avoiding too rugged debate, to prevent that free cut and thrust of discussion which is an essential of the parliamentary exchange of ideas. I second this motion confident that he will do his utmost to be impartial in the decisions that he makes. I wish Mr. Beaudoin well in the occupancy of this high office.


Mr. M. J. Coldwell (Roselown-Biggar):: Mr. Raymond, I rise to support the motion. I am indeed happy that a new precedent has been set and that unanimity has been indicated this morning by the fact that the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Drew) have respectively moved and seconded the nomination.
I think that the nearer the election of Speaker is to the members of the House of Commons on all sides, the better it is for his authority. In the mother of parliaments, of course, the nomination and its seconding are both made by rank and file members of the House of Commons, a gesture which indicates that the Speaker is not the servant of the government but is the servant and choice of the entire house. It is indeed with a great deal of pleasure that I witnessed a significant precedent this morning.
I have seen five Speakers elected; and every time we are summoned to the Senate chamber and are returned with instructions, my mind goes back over the pages of a long history; for the Speaker of a house of parliament in a commonwealth country occupies no mean position historically. I saw the other day a statement by a British parliamentarian which is worth recording. He wrote these words:
The Speaker of the House of Commons is no mere chairman elected for the convenient supervision of debate; he is the champion of the legislature against the executive; he is the custodian of

rights and liberties acquired in a long history; he is one of the main pillars of our constitution.
That was said in effect this morning by both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. That great parliamentarian, Gladstone, once said that the Speaker's job was to give the house protection against itself. As we all know, years ago the position of Speaker was a dangerous one. I recall how Charles I went to parliament in 1642 and demanded the arrest of five members of the House of Commons. At that time Speaker Lenthall replied:
I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the house is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here.
In other words, "I am the servant of the members of the House of Commons and of none other."
This morning we have appointed a new Speaker, one who follows a long line of distinguished Speakers of this House of Commons, none of whom, may I say, was more distinguished and fairer than the gentleman who retired at the end of the last parliament. In Mr. Rene Beaudoin we have a Speaker who has demonstrated, as has already been said, his fairness from time to time, and I have little doubt that when this parliament ends he too will be remembered as a distinguished occupant of this historic chair. I have very great pleasure on behalf of those associated with me, and particularly of those who were here before when Mr. Beaudoin was Deputy Speaker, in supporting the motion moved by the Prime Minister and seconded by the Leader of the Opposition.


Mr. Solon E. Low (Peace River):: Mr. Raymond, I have great pleasure at this time on behalf of my colleagues in supporting the motion moved by the Prime Minister and seconded by the Leader of the Opposition. I also express satisfaction that the precedent has been established of having the Leader of the Opposition join with the Prime Minister in this motion.
Over the past few years we have witnessed the demonstrations of ability, the impartiality and the fairness of Mr. Rene Beaudoin, and therefore we want to express our confidence in him at this time and congratulate the Prime Minister upon the selection he has made for the position of Speaker of the house. We also want to assure Mr. Beaudoin of our sincere desire at all times to assist him in maintaining a high standard of decorum in the house, and in his efforts to achieve dispatch and efficiency in the business of the country. We are very glad to support the motion.
The Clerk of Ihe House declared the motion carried in the affirmative, nemine con-83276-It
Election of Speaker
tradicente, and L. Rene Beaudoin, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, duly elected to the chair of the house.
Mr. Beaudoin was conducted from his seat in the house to the Speaker's chair by Right Hon. L. S. St. Laurent and Hon. George A. Drew.


Mr. Speaker:: Hon. members of the House of Commons, deeply moved as I am, no words of mine could adequately express my feelings at this time. To have been elected your Speaker unanimously today, the highest and most honourable position in the gift of the Commons, is more than I could have foreseen when, eight years ago, I became a member of this house. I stand here humble, grateful. (Translation):
My dear fellow members, I wish to thank you for the confidence you have just shown me in electing me Speaker of this house.
The right hon. the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent), the hon. Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Drew), the hon. leader of the C.C.F. party (Mr. Coldwell), and the hon. leader of the Social Credit party (Mr. Low) have been most kind to me and I wish to express to them my most heartfelt thanks.
May I be permitted to express my gratitude to all those, relatives and friends, who have helped me attain such a high post. They, much more than myself, deserve the compliments which were addressed to me.
The honour which is being bestowed upon me is high indeed, but greater still are the responsibilities. I beseech Divine Providence to grant me all the help necessary for the fulfilment of my duties, in accordance with our noble traditions.
(Text):
My dear colleagues, it is my duty to maintain decorum and order in debate, to preserve our traditions, privileges, liberties, usages and customs and, in particular, to exercise impartiality and fairness and protect the rights of every individual member. My experience as Deputy Speaker has amply shown me that only with your advice, counsel and co-operation can I succeed in my new task. I shall, I assure you, strive to deserve your effective support, and endeavour at all times to prove myself worthy of your trust.
It is, I believe, true to say that the eyes of other nations, more than ever before, are turned towards Canada. Therefore I realize that the dignity of this high office and the reputation of our parliament must be most carefully safeguarded, and I shall govern myself accordingly.
I pray to Divine Providence for all assistance necessary so that I shall be able to

Opening of the Session fulfil my duties in a manner that will do justice to you and this house, whose servant I am.



SITTING SUSPENDED

Louis Stephen St-Laurent: Mr. Speaker, I wish to assure you that it is a great pleasure for me to have the privilege of being the first to address you in your new official capacity, and I do so only to make the suggestion that you declare the sitting of this house suspended until three o'clock this afternoon, when we shall be delighted to have you communicate the information of your appointment to this office to His Excellency the Governor General, and to claim and obtain from him the traditional rights that the holders of this office have always enjoyed throughout the centuries.
At 12.45 p.m. the sitting was suspended until 3 p.m. this day.



SITTING RESUMED

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The house resumed at three o'clock.

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Mr. Speaker read a communication from the Governor General's Secretary, announcing that His Excellency the Governor General would proceed to the Senate chamber at three o'clock on this day, for the purpose of formally opening the session of the dominion parliament.
A message was delivered by Major C. R. Lamoureux, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, as follows:
Mr. Speaker, His Excellency the Governor General desires the immediate attendance of this honourable house in the chamber of the honourable the Senate.
Accordingly Mr. Speaker with the house went up to the Senate chamber. Then the Hon. L. Rene Beaudoin, Speaker of the House of Commons, said:
May it please Your Excellency,
The House of Commons have elected me their Speaker, though I am but little able to fulfil the important duties thus assigned to me.
If in the performance of those duties I should at any time fall into error, I pray that the fault may be imputed to me, and not to the Commons, whose servant I am, and who, through me, the better to enable them to discharge their duty to their Queen and country, humbly claim all their undoubted rights and privileges, especially that they may have freedom of speech in their debates, access to Your Excellency's person at all seasonable times, and that their proceedings may receive from Your Excellency the most favourable construction.
The Honourable the Speaker of the Senate, addressing the Honourable the Speaker of the House of Commons, then said:
Mr. Speaker, I am commanded by His Excellency the Governor General to declare to you that he freely confides in the duty and attachment of the House of Commons to Her Majesty's person and

government, and not doubting that their proceedings will be conducted with wisdom, temper and prudence, he grants, and upon all occasions will recognize and allow their constitutional privileges.
I am commanded also to assure you, that the Commons shall have ready access to His Excellency upon all seasonable occasions, and that their proceedings, as well as your words and actions, will constantly receive from him the most favourable construction.
Then His Excellency the Governor General was pleased to open parliament by a speech from the throne.
And the house being returned to the Commons chamber:
Mr. Speaker:: I have the honour to report that, the house having attended on His Excellency the Governor General in the Senate chamber, I informed His Excellency that the choice of Speaker had fallen upon me, and, in your names, and on your behalf, I made the usual claim for your privileges, which His Excellency was pleased to confirm to you.



VACANCY

Mr. Speaker:: I have the honour to inform the house that I have received a communication from two members notifying me that the following vacancy has occurred in the representation:
Of Gordon Graydon, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Peel, by decease.
Accordingly I have issued my warrant to the chief electoral officer to make out a new writ of election for the said electoral district.



OATHS OF OFFICE

Louis Stephen St-Laurent: for leave to introduce Bill No. 1, respecting the administration of oaths of office.
Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.



SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

Mr. Speaker:: I have the honour to inform the house that when the house did attend His Excellency the Governor General this day in the Senate chamber, His Excellency was pleased to make a speech to both houses of parliament. To prevent mistakes, I have obtained a copy, which is as follows:
Honourable Members of the Senate:
Members of the House of Commons:
It is a pleasure for me to welcome you to the opening of the twenty-second parliament. This is a time when, if peace is maintained, we have every reason to look forward to the continuing development of this prosperous and happy nation.
The coronation of our beloved Queen was an occasion for universal rejoicing. Her devotion to duty, her personal charm and her happy family life have assured Her Majesty of a warm place in the hearts of all her subjects and have strengthened

our attachment to the crown and to the traditions of our constitutional system of government.
Following the legislation enacted during the last parliament, the changes in the royal style and titles have been proclaimed by Her Majesty.
Much remains to be done before there can be a permanent and durable peace in the world. My ministers therefore consider it would be unwise for the free nations to slacken our efforts to build up and maintain the necessary strength to deter aggression and they intend to continue to work to that end.
We have every reason for satisfaction that through the use for the first time of collective police action the objective of the United Nations in Korea has been substantially achieved. The aggressors have been driven back, the fighting has ceased and an armistice has been concluded. My government earnestly hopes that a political conference will ultimately succeed in restoring peace in Korea.
Canada has continued to contribute to those international projects which will promote human welfare and thereby remove some of the causes of unrest and dislocation. You will be asked to approve further assistance for relief and rehabilitation, for technical assistance and for continued participation in the Colombo plan.
The alliance of the North Atlantic nations has been effective thus far in preventing aggression in Europe. My government continues to regard the treaty as one of the foundation stones of Canada's external policy. The formation of the air division of the Royal Canadian Air Force in Europe is now completed. The brigade group of the Canadian Army is performing its role effectively in the integrated force. Canadian naval strength is increasing.
Canada's total volume of external trade has reached record levels. But dollar shortages in many countries have persisted and continue to create problems for some of our exporters. Another commonwealth conference with respect to financial and economic matters is to be held in Australia early in the new year.
Tariff concessions negotiated at Geneva in 1947, at Annecy in 1949, at Torquay in 1950 and 1951 under the general agreement on tariffs and trade have been extended for an additional period.
My ministers are convinced that nations can best achieve economic strength and security through more liberal trade and overseas investment policies and they are continuing their efforts to bring about the progressive reduction of trade restrictions.
At home we continue to enjoy general prosperity although there are some sectors of our economy which have been faced with difficulties. Our farmers have harvested the second largest wheat crop in Canadian history. Private capital Investment has reached levels never before attained. Employment is at high levels.
While more houses are being built this year than ever before, the growing population of Canada requires a continued expansion of housing. You will be asked to consider measures to increase and broaden the supply of mortgage money so that more people with moderate incomes will be able to find facilities to assist them to build their own homes.
A bill to amend the Animal Contagious Diseases Act to provide for appropriate compensation to farmers whose hogs suffered from cholera, will be placed before you.
The scheme initiated during the last parliament for insuring boats and certain gear has recently been improved and is helping to meet the hazards of the fishing industry. My government is giving particular attention to the development of markets for our fisheries and to the encouragement of more
Speech from the Throne modern methods in the Atlantic coast fisheries, particularly in the province of Newfoundland where the methods are in the greatest need of improvement.
The strategic importance of the northern part of Canada has increased greatly in recent years. Its place in the economy of Canada is steadily growing and will continue to expand in future. You will be asked to consider a bill to change the designation and orientation of the Department of Resources and Development and to define the responsibilities of the government with respect to the affairs of the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, including the Arctic archipelago, and the welfare of the Eskimos.
You will be asked to amend the Pipe Lines Act to give the board of transport commissioners jurisdiction over all companies authorized to construct or operate interprovincial or international oil or gas pipe lines.
The New York state power authority has accepted a licence granted by the federal power commission in the United States for the development of the United States share of power in the international rapids section of the St. Lawrence river. It is hoped that litigation in the United States will not have the effect of delaying the construction of the project.
As further steps in helping to improve social welfare, co-ordinated plans for rehabilitation of disabled persons are being worked out with the provinces and a measure to facilitate the establishment nation-wide of a federal-provincial assistance program for totally disabled persons will be submitted for your consideration.
As provided by law you will be required to consider this year a complete revision of the Bank Act.
The bill for the complete revision of the Criminal Code which was not finally dealt with in the last parliament will be submitted for your consideration.
A committee of penal experts has been appointed to examine and report upon methods of parole and remission of sentences.
Other measures which will be placed before you for consideration include bills respecting the Canadian forces; the United Kingdom financial agreement; the Ontario-Manitoba boundary; the extension for another year of the emergency gold mining assistance: and bills to amend the Bank of Canada Act, the Municipal Grants Act, the Explosives Act. the Opium and Narcotic Drug Act, the Customs Act, the Excise Act, the Excise Tax Act, the Atomic Energy Control Act and certain veterans legislation. Members of the House of Commons:
You will be asked to make provision for all essential services including our national defence and the meeting of our obligations under the United Nations Charter and the North Atlantic Treaty.
Honourable Members of the Senate:
Members of the House of Commons:
May Divine Providence bless your deliberations and help us to come nearer to a true and lasting peace.


Louis Stephen St-Laurent: That the speech of His Excellency the Governor General to both houses of parliament be taken into consideration on Friday next, and that this order have precedence over all other business, unless and until otherwise ordered, except introduction of bills and government notices of motions, until disposed of.


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Motion agreed to.
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The late Gordon Graydon THE LATE GORDON GRAYDON

Right Hon.  L. S.@: Mr. Speaker, unfortunately it is again necessary to inject a note of sadness into the opening proceedings of this new parliament. You have just informed us that since the general election Mr. Gordon Graydon, who had been chosen for the fifth consecutive time to represent the constituency of Peel, has passed away. His death is a great loss not only for his many friends but also for the nation as a whole.
Never defeated at the polls, Mr. Graydon had been a member of parliament since 1935. During that time he had, I think all will agree, been one of the outstanding personalities in the house. He had been chairman of the Progressive Conservative Association of Canada, his party's house leader during the latter part of the war, and as such leader of the opposition.
Gordon Graydon devoted much of his time and attention to foreign affairs. He was a member of the Canadian delegation at the San Francisco conference which drafted the charter of the United Nations. Later he went to Paris and New York on several occasions as a parliamentary adviser to the Canadian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly. In parliament he was his party's spokesman on external affairs and ever since its establishment was vice-chairman of the standing parliamentary committee on external affairs.
Among his many fine qualities, and there were many, Mr. Graydon will perhaps be most remembered for his balanced judgment, his constructive attitude and his warm, friendly personality. His opinions on public affairs were obviously the result of keen insight and deep reflection. Frequently, as is only natural, his political opponents did not agree with his views, but he nevertheless maintained the best of relations with everyone in the house. His cheerful personality won for him a host of friends here, in his own constituency, and in the country as a whole. I was proud to count myself among them. This friendship and confidence was expressed by his constituents in the recent elections only a few weeks before his untimely death. I think the words he spoke himself last year in a splendid tribute to the late King George VI might well be applied to him, for his life was also characterized by a remarkable and genuine devotion to duty, and provided an inspiring example of courage and humanity. I am sure I speak for all members of the house in expressing to Mrs. Graydon and to her daughters our deepest sympathy.
[Mr. St. Laurent.!


George Alexander Drew: In joining with the Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker, in expressing the sorrow that we all feel at the untimely death of Mr. Gordon Graydon I do so with a particular feeling of loss because, as the members of this house will all recall, he had been my closest associate at all times in the House of Commons and had sat beside me on all occasions since I came here. His was truly a life of public service. As a very young man, he accepted responsibility in public office and before he came here in 1935 had already established himself in the confidence of the people in the community in which he lived. Above all, those who knew him will, I believe, always carry in their minds the recollection of a genial, friendly, lovable man who endeared himself to everyone with whom he was associated, regardless of political persuasion or any other characteristic.
As the Prime Minister has pointed out, he had specialized in external affairs. He had spoken for our party on that subject on all occasions for several years, and he had built up a close and intimate knowledge of many of the people who today take their part in the international gatherings where the hope of peace is still very much in the minds of those who meet. I think it was very appropriate, and very much appreciated, that a tribute should have been paid at the United Nations by the Secretary of State for External Affairs (Mr. Pearson). I know the sentiments expressed there were shared by all Canadians.
Truly, he carried friendship to the very highest level and it was typical of him that in a letter which he dictated in hospital to me just five days before he died he closed with the words, "What in the world would we do without our friends?" In those words he summed up his whole attitude towards public life and towards the duties that he carried out. His service to his own community and to his country was a triumph of simple and unselfish devotion. He was dedicated to the task he had undertaken of representing his own people in the House of Commons and serving Canada in this particular field of endeavour.
I know that everyone here will join with the Prime Minister in the sympathy that we feel for his wife and for his three daughters in the great loss that they have sustained in so tragic a manner. He died young, far too young. Perhaps of him these words could be used: "That life is long which answers life's great need." In a very real way he had served the higher purposes of life itself, the service of his fellow man.


Major James William Coldwell: There is little one can add, Mr. Speaker, to the deservedly fine tributes that have been paid already to Gordon Graydon by the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Drew). We wish to join with them, and with all other members of the house, in expressing to Mrs. Graydon and to his daughters the very sincere sympathy we all feel. Gordon Graydon and I came to the house at the same time, and we became very good friends. Indeed, Gordon Graydon's attitude towards everyone was an attitude of spontaneous friendship. He and I were at San Francisco together. Indeed, today the Prime Minister and I are the only ones who remain from that delegation.
At San Francisco and the subsequent meetings of the United Nations, Gordon Graydon was a wonderful public relations man for our country. In a few days he seemed to know people and, indeed, was able to call them by their first names. He had the affection of many people from many lands. When we remarked, as we did at the present assembly, to those who had known him that he had passed away, there was real sorrow at the passing of a man whom so many people, not only in our own country but all across the world, regarded as a friend.
Gordon Graydon's life was well spent. As the Leader of the Opposition said, he performed a service to his fellow men during the whole of his career, and he died a comparatively young man. Those of us who were associated with him in the house will ever remember his cheerful quips from time to time, always good-natured and sometimes very much to the point. Irrespective of the political lines that divide the members of this house, we have lost a friend in the passing of Gordon Graydon. Why these things happen, we cannot know; nor shall we know until "the day breaks and the shadows flee away."


Solon Earl Low: Mr. Speaker, the group which I represent, and I, wish to be associated with the tributes that have been paid this day to the deceased member for Peel, Gordon Graydon. Mr. Graydon was one of those who made great personal sacrifices in order to serve his constituents and the people of Canada well. In every way it seems to me Mr. Graydon set the very highest standard amongst members of parliament. I found him always most considerate of those with whom he worked, whether they were members of his own party or members of other parties. For this reason and for the reason of his warm, friendly personality, he was universally respected and admired wherever he happened to be. I
The late Gordon Graydon never knew him to say or do a mean thing and I was quite close to him over rather long periods at the United Nations and in the external affairs committee.
We realize that the House of Commons has lost, in Mr. Graydon, a brilliant member; that the Conservative party has lost a devoted advocate and supporter; and that his family has lost a good husband and father. We wish to be associated with all the good things that have been said here this day or on other days about Gordon Graydon. We take this opportunity of expressing our sorrow at his untimely passing, and our sympathy to all who are left to mourn as a consequence of his untimely death.


Mr. Jean-Frangois Pouliot (Temiscouaia):: Mr. Speaker, in the eloquent and deeply-felt obituary tributes paid by the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Drew) and leaders of the other groups, rarely has it occurred that a departed colleague has been called a friend by all of them. But there was no exaggeration in their unprecedented praise of the late Gordon Graydon. It was well deserved, indeed.
His untimely death was a tragedy and a loss to parliament. In the fulfilment of the difficult task of Leader of the Opposition he firmly held to his views, but in doing so never made enemies.
I had the privilege to know him intimately during the last eight years, when his office was next door to mine under this roof. Although he had held with dignity the high office and dutifully performed the exacting duties of Leader of the Opposition during the crucial years and the hectic wartime sessions of 1943 and 1944, the latter of which was prorogued in 1945, he was one of our most modest and unassuming colleagues.
He then had to speak every day-sometimes many times in a day-and on a multiplicity of contentious matters. He had a quick mind, sound judgment and a bright sense of humour. In the fulfilment of his difficult task he did splendidly, although the references appearing under his name to parliamentary speeches, questions, statements and various interventions in debate cover fourteen pages in the Hansard index for the sessions of 1943 and 1944-45.
He was loyal to his successive leaders and to his party. He was most unassuming and modest, commanding the respect of his countless friends and admirers not only in Canada but in other countries where he had attended international conferences. He was known to be sincere and tactful, and to be endowed with a high sense of duty. He enjoyed also

The late Gordon Graydon the affection of all his colleagues, and all others who met him, because he was big-hearted, broadminded and tolerant. He will be remembered as a fine gentleman, an outstanding parliamentarian, a great Canadian, and as a very dear friend.
I join with other speakers in conveying my deepest sympathy, in the name of private members of the House of Commons, to his mother, to his wife and to her daughters, as well as to the Leader of the Opposition and the late member's other friends.


Mr. J. L. MacDougall (Vancouver-Burrard):: Mr. Speaker, I feel all hon. members, upon this very solemn occasion, would like to pay tribute to our dear, departed friend. Unfortunately I had known Gordon only during the period of the twenty-first parliament. It was my good fortune to have served with him on the committee on external affairs. I believe that on an occasion such as this we might very well apply the old saying: Veni, vidi, vici-"I came, I saw, I conquered."
So far as I, personally, was concerned, and indeed so far as all members of the house are concerned, Gordon was a very dear friend. We kidded each other in a spirit of good humour. While we disagreed on occasions, it was never with malice. The loss of Gordon to the House of Commons and to his party is one it will take a long time to mend. First of all he was a good soldier, and an outstanding parliamentarian. In addition he was a great gentleman. Then, last but by no means least, I believe the best way to describe his many admirable qualities would be to say that he was folksy. He had the ability to be a friend to all people, regardless of whether they disagreed with him politically or not.
When one comes to consider human characteristics, he realizes at once that there is no quality in the human mind or nature more admirable than this one to which I have referred.
Certainly the Lord of the Universe must have had great regard for the common man, because we know that throughout all lands of the world he created so many having that admirable quality of being folksy and friendly to all with whom they come in contact.
On this occasion I speak with a full heart. News of Gordon's illness came to me as a great personal blow. I said to my wife that, at the time of prorogation, anyone in the house would have picked Gordon Graydon as one of the most healthy. I believe that at that time he was.

There is a lesson here for all of us. When one is taken from our midst, one who was so fresh, so rosy, so full of life, one who would have accomplished so much in the future, we must in all humility realize our personal position-that we never know the day or the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh. All of us who enjoy health today would, I am sure, ask that God in His wisdom might give to each and every one of us an understanding and appreciation of the great bounty the Almighty has bestowed upon us. In our daily lives we should act as Gordon did, and thus be worthy recipients of the blessings the Almighty has thus conferred upon us.


Mr. G. J. Tustin (Prince Edward-Lennox):: I should like to concur in the tributes that have been paid to our late beloved friend, Gordon Graydon. I had the privilege of knowing him for many years. We entered this house at the same time. In the eighteenth parliament we were deskmates; for the greater part of the nineteenth parliament we were roommates, and we really became very close friends. I should like to add my voice in sympathy this afternoon to his widow, his dear old mother and his three daughters. They will miss him; we will miss him, and I am sure they will be comforted to have our message of sympathy this afternoon.



STANDING COMMITTEES

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Right	Hon. L.	S.	St.	Laurent	(Prime
Minister) moved:
That a special committee be appointed to prepare and report, with all convenient speed, lists of members to compose the standing committees of this house under standing order 63, said committee to be composed of Messrs. Harris, Lapointe, Cassel-man, Shaw and Weir.
Motion agreed to.

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Right	Hon. L.	S.	St.	Laurent	(Prime
Minister) presented the following message from His Excellency the Governor General:
The Governor General transmits to the House of Commons a certified copy of an approved minute of council appointing the Hon. D. C. Abbott1, Minister of Finance, the Hon. J. J. McCann, Minister of National	Hevenue,	the	Hon.	Hugues	Lapointe,
Minister of Veterans Affairs, and the Hon. Walter Harris, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, to act with the Speaker of the House of Commons as commissioners for the purposes and under the provisions of chapter 143 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1952, intituled: An act respecting the House of Commons.

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Report of the joint librarians of parliament. -Mr. Speaker.

Louis Stephen St-Laurent: As hon. members know, standing order 56 does not require the chairman of the committees of the whole, who is also the Deputy Speaker, to be appointed until after the adoption of the address in reply to the speech from the throne; but in the last several years it has become the practice, for convenience, to make that appointment at one of the early sittings of the house. Therefore I should like to propose, as candidate for that office, a gentleman who I think is eminently qualified to carry out these duties with all the good judgment and sense of justice which have been made a tradition of this office by his predecessors. He is Mr. William Alfred Robinson, member for the electoral district of Simcoe East. Mr. Robinson is a former mayor of his town of residence, Midland, Ontario, and is a lawyer of wide repute. He has served in this house during the last two parliaments, and in addition to his contribution to its debates, he has presided over several committees and has been deputy chairman of the committees of the whole since May of 1952. I think that hon. members who were in the house during that session will agree that his record is such that one should have no hesitation in placing his name before the house for the office of deputy speaker. I would therefore beg leave to move, seconded by the Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. Howe):
Business of the House
That William Alfred Robinson. Esquire, member for the electoral district of Simcoe East, be appointed chairman of committees of the whole house, notwithstanding the provisions of standing order 56.


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Motion agreed to.

Mr. Si. Laurent:: I rise now to move the adjournment of the house. In accordance with the motion adopted today the business for tomorrow will be the consideration of the speech from the throne. In accordance with the practice of recent years, on the opening of the debate on an address in reply to the speech from the throne, after the mover and seconder have been heard the Leader of the Opposition has usually found it more convenient to wait until the following Monday to continue the debate.
If that is agreeable to the Leader of the Opposition there would be no other business tomorrow but the formal routine business and the moving and seconding of the address in reply to the speech from the throne. Then if the Leader of the Opposition saw fit to move the adjournment of the debate I would be glad to move the adjournment of the house. Perhaps it would be convenient for us to know, in arranging our plans for tomorrow and the following day, if that course would be agreeable to the Leader of the Opposition.


George Alexander Drew: I had assumed that we would follow the usual practice, and I shall move the adjournment of the debate tomorrow.


Louis Stephen St-Laurent: I move that the house do now adjourn until tomorrow at 2.30 p.m.
Motion agreed to and the house adjourned at 4.40 p.m.



$3276-2  HOUSE OF COMMONS

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Friday, November 13, 1953