Mr. BRODER.

I now mention it here because I think a case of that kind should not be overlooked.

I would remind my hon. friend (Mr. Broder) that in the despatch of October 10, 1899, under which the contingents were authorized, the British government undertook to deal with pensions and I have no doubt as soon as the war is over, which I hope will be over in a very few days now, that matter will be attended to by the British government and then it will be opportune for the Dominion government to consider what action it should take. I am not prepared myself, to-day, to say, but, the matter will receive consideration.

Mr. BRODER.

Trooper Mulloy is receiving a very moderate stipend now, I think 65 cents a day.

Trooper Mulloy is geting a contribution from the patriotic fund.

Mr. McOARTHY.

I would ask the com-.mittee to reconsider the 17th section of the Bill for the reason that I think there is some ambiguity in the language used and that it does not carry out the evident intention of the preceding sections. You will observe in reading subsection (b) that it is made to apply to :

To every officer now in the force who, within six months from the coming into force of this Act, elects to accept the provisions of this Act in lieu of those of the Civil Service Super-annuntion Act or of the Civil Service_Retire-ment Act.

There are officers in the force who are neither under the Civil Service Superannuation Act or the Civil Service Retirement Act. They, therefore, have nothing which they could give up for the purpose of coming under this Act. I think that section must be amended to make it clear that it is intended to cover these officers. I, therefore, beg to move :

That the words ' instead of the Civil Service Superannuation Act, or the Civil Service Retirement Act,' in section 17, be struck out and that there shall be inserted as subsection (b>

of section 17, the following :

lb) To every officer now on the force who is not subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Superannuation Act or the Civil Service-Retirement Act.

And that the subsection now lettered (b) be lettered (c) and that there be inserted after the word ' who ' in the first line of said subsection the following ' is within the provisions of the Civil Service Superannuation Act or of the Civil Service Retirement Act and who.'

The effect, as you will see, is that it applies to every officer who is now on the force, or who hereafter may come into the force and likewise it is made to apply so that any officer who is now receiving a pension under the Civil Service Superannuation Act or the Civil Service Retirement Act must, within six months, elect whether he will continue under the provisions of either of these Acts or come under this Act. It must apply therefore to all of the officers and it is the obvious intention of the Act that such should be so. As it now stands it is doubtful and this removes any possible doubt about it on that score.

The section would then read :

17. This Act shall apply,-

(a) To every officer hereafter appointed to the force.

(b) To every officer now In the force who is not subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Superannuation Act or the Civil Service Retirement Act.

(c) To every officer now on the force who is within the provisions of the Civil Service Superannuation Act or of the Civil Service Retirement Act, and who within six months from the coming into force of this Act, elects to accept the provisions of this Act in lieu of those of the Civil Service Superannuation Act, or of the Civil Service Retirement Act.

Mr. JOHN CHARLTON (North Norfolk).

Mr. Speaker, before you leave the Chair, I desire to bring to your notice certain matters connected with the motion of which I gave notice yesterday. I have thought proper to vary the language slightly, but the purport of the motion remains unchanged. Before proceeding to discuss this motion I had better perhaps read it, so that the House may be in possession of the features that it contains. It is as follows :

This House is of the opinion that British supremacy should be maintained and firmly established in South Africa, to which end Can-

ada has cheerfully contributed men and money. Having in view the effect of a policy of magnanimity and mercy at the cession of Canada, and at the close of the civil war in the United States, and for other reasons ; this House is also of the opinion that in the interest of peace and of future tranquillity, harmony and homo-geniety in South Africa, the broadest policy of magnanimity and mercy may be extended to a brave foe now opposing British arms, upon condition of submission to British control. And upon this opinion, humbly presented with the prayerful hope that it may aid in securing a favourable and honourable settlement of South African difficulties ; this House invokes the considerate judgment of His Gracious Majesty the King.

The question, Mr. Speaker, is brought before the House in this manner and at this time, for the reason that another opportunity will not be afforded during the present session. It is not offered as a motion of want of confidence ; it is not offered in any sense as a motion having political significance or having anything to do with the policy of the party in power in this country, or with the policy of the opposition. The resolution, it will be noticed, provides expressly for submission and for the establishment and maintenance of British authority in South Africa. It is not a pro-Boer motion ; it is not a motion that in the remotest degree would counsel the' establishing of Boer independence or the establishing of any condition of things in South Africa except British supremacy. At my request the motion will be seconded by a gentleman who, in my opinion, as fully as any other member of this House perhaps, represents French Canadian sentiment. I move the motion as an English representative ; the gentleman who will second the motion,

I have asked to second it because he is a representative French Canadian. I am happy to say, Mr. Speaker, that that gentleman (Mr. Bourassa) is prepared to-day to endorse the assertion, that it is proper and desirable to maintain British supremacy in South Africa, and that the people in arms in that country against British authority should be called upon to submit to British control. This is all that can be required. This lays the foundation for the settlement of this question upon a basis which would be to the interest of all portions of this empire, and this motion deals simply with the character of the settlement that it is hoped may be obtained with the belligerents in South Africa, and obtained for the purpose of establishing in that country unquestioned and unimpaired British authority.

The motion, Sir, is au bumble expression of opinion on the part of this House. It may be asserted that it will be considered an act of impertinence to offer such a motion here.

Hear, hear.

Mr. CHARLTON.

Some hon. gentlemen say ' hear, hear.'

Hear, hear.

Mr. CHARLTON.

The motion says : It is humbly presented with the prayerful hope that it may be conducive to the securing of a settlement. Now, Sir, has this House of Commons of Canada no right to express an opinion upon a great imperial question-a question with reference to which we have been called upon to pour out millions of dollars ; and send thousands of our sons to maintain British supremacy. Have we no right, Sir, to express humbly an opinion as to the proper course to be pursued in securing the settlement of this war in South Africa-

No.

Mr. CHARLTON.

I say yes.

No.

Mr. CHARLTON.

Suppose that my hon. friends on the opposite side of the House were to secure the adoption of their policy for imperial defence ; suppose Canada were called upon to pay annually into a common fund ten per cent of all its duties for imperial defence ; would it be said that Canada would not be allowed to have a voice as to the expenditure of that money ; that Canada would not be permitted even to express an humble opinion as to what course might be taken in regard to the expenditure of the money she had so contributed.