Mr. GERVAIS presented the second report of the Committee on Debates as follows: Your committee recommend that Mr. E. L. Desaulniers be appointed to fill the vacancy on the staff of translators of the official report of the debates caused by the death of R. Lafer-riere and that the said E. L. Desaulniers be paid the minimum salary of ibe first division, subdivision ' B.' H. GERVAIS, Chairman.
Hon. MACKENZIE KING (Minister of Labour) presented the second report of the committee to whom was referred Bill (No. 21) respecting the hours of labour on public works as follows: Your committee recommend that leave be granted to them to employ the services of a specialist to assist the committee in its researches into legislation respecting hours of labour existing in other countries. Mr. KING moved that the report be concurred in.
Mr. FOSTER.
I think the report had better be read again; I could not get it.
Sir WILFRID LAURIER.
Explain.
Mr. KING.
The suggestion is that the committee have power to obtain a specialist to assist it in its researches into the
legislation existing in other countries respecting hours of labour on public works. There is a great deal of legislation of a nature somewhat similar to that proposed in the eight hour Bill enacted in other countries and this is to enable the committee to retain some person to go through that legislation and report upon it.
Mr. SPROULE.
What kind of a specialist would he be who would do that kind of work?
Mr. KING.
The intention of the committee was to retain some gentleman associated with one of the ' universities. Professor Skelton of Queen's university is the person desired by the committee as he has given a good deal of attention to this subject.
Mr. FOSTER.
It seems to me that this is rather unusual, and we have not heard anything so far to show us that it is necessary. What in the world do you want done? You want some man to go to work and look into this legislation as it exists in other countries as to hours of labour and make a precis of it. Why in the world do you need a high class specialist to do that? If, after you find out what other countries have done as to hours of labour and the trend of legislation, the committee wants somebody to advise it as to the. results of such legislation then I could see where a specialist would come in. But we do not know that there is any disease, we do not know that at present any medicine is needed, we do not know anything about it, and all this specialist is supposed to do is to make a precis of the legislation in other countries on, the subject of hours of labour. I think it is not necessary to have a specialist. It seems to me that any level headed clerk can do that sort of business and do it as well as any specialist can. The specialist's work comes in after you have a collation of what exists and when you vrant evidence as to the results of that. Then, a specialist, who has made a study of the question, has travelled and has the experience, would be a very great benefit to the committee. I would not be opposed to having the very best wTe can get in that respect but it does not seem to me that the time has arrived for a specialist.
Mr. KING.
The committee has already gone over the preliminary ground mentioned by my hon. friend and it is precisely with the view of having the results of that legislation collated for the committee that the employment of this specialist is suggested.
Mr. BLAIN.
I agree with my hon. friend from North Toronto (Mr. Foster). It seems to me that when we have a large labour bureau that is costing this country a great
deal of money, and as my hon. friend the Minister of Labour himself has been devoting his time for some years to the condition of legislation in other countries with the view of perfecting the labour legislation of this country, the minister and the bureau should be in possession at this moment, without any extra expense to the country, of all the legislation that it would be possible for any expert, I do not care, who the gentleman may be, to procure and would also be able to give the results. It rather suggests that somebody wants a situation.
I do not know who it may be, I have nobody in my mind at all, but I do not think it is in the interests of Canada that we should be farming out from time to time certain work that should be and is performed in the department at a very large cost to this country. I am quite willing that money should be reasonably expended in order that we may have the best information possible in the interests of the country but it seems to me that the effect of this report is to give to some outside person to do, what the department should do itself.
Sir AVILFRID LAURIER.
It is certainly a departure from the practice in the past, and no doubt the reasons may be quite sufficient, but in the meantime I would ask my hon. friend to withdraw the motion so that the House may have an opportunity to look into it.
Motion withdrawn.
Bill (No. 123) respecting the Central Canada Manufacturers Mutual Fire Insurance Company.-Mr. D. A. Gordon. Bill (No. 124) respecting the Eastern Canada Manufacturers Mutual Fire Insurance Company.-Mr. D. A. Gordon.
Mr. STANFIELD:
What supplies, and cost of same, were furnished the pole lights at Bass river, Mass-town and Little Dyke, Colchester county, for the years 1907, 1908 and 1909 respectively?
Sir AVILFRID LAURIER:
The supplies furnished the three lights indicated included oil, lamp accessories, paint, cleaning material, &c. The agent of the Department of Marine and Fisheries at Halifax, advises that the cost of such supplies furnished were as per following
table:
1907 1908 1909
Bass River $34 09 $50 36 $47 29
Masstown 19 07 20 97 16 82
Little Dyke 18 74 20 99 28 83
The light at Bass river is a tower light, not a pole light.