Sir EDWARD KEMP (Minister of Militia):

I desire to present an amended return with respect to the pay of Members of Parliament serving in the Overseas Forces. In the return as presented to the House there was a clerical error, the effect of which was to show that Lt.-Col. W. F. Cockshutt was drawing separation allowance and pay. As a matter of fact, he has drawn neither separation allowance nor pay from the Government. The figures should have appeared immediately opposite the name of the officer preceding his, on the return.

Mr. GRAHAM:

What officer was that?

Sir EDWARD KEMP:

Lieut. Carroll.

PUfeLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE.

Mr. MIDDLEBRO moved:

That the Public Accounts and the Report of the Auditor General for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1916, be referred* to the Committee on Public Accounts.

Mr. EDWARDS:

Yesterday a question of which I had given notice, relating to National Service cards, was put, and the Minister of Finance (Sir Thomas White) gave what is supposed to be an answer. I do not know who prepared the answer, nor where he got his information. It is given at page 702 of yesterday's Hansard. I would draw the attention of the minister to the fact that in this answer the second part of the question is entirely ignored.

Sir THOMAS WHITE:

The information came from the National Service Commission. I shall draw the attention of the Director of National Service to the observations of my hon. friend. ,

Sir EDWARD KEMP (Minister of Militia and Defence):

The hon. member for Guys-borough (Mr. Sinclair) and the hon. member for St. John (Mr. Pugsley) each asked questions yesterday, the first with regard to Civil Service enlistment and statutory increases of pay, and the second with regard to Civil Service enlistments and separation

allowance. The answer to these questions is as follows:

A civil servant who enlists receives full pay the same as if he were employed doing his civil service duties, provided always that his civil pay is greater than that which he would draw as a soldier.

The Government has undertaken to see that a civil servant receives pay not less than what he would have received had he remained at home and had not enlisted. He does not, therefore, receive separation allowance extra, but it is the intention that he shall receive the regular statutory increases provided he is receiving only one salary.

Mr. PUGSLEY:

I understand that no civil servant who is allowed his pay as a civil servant receives separation allowance?

Sir EDWARD KEMP:

The answer covers that question. The civil servant receives his full pay as a civil servant.

Mr. PUGSLEY:

And no civil servants have been allowed separation allowance?

Sir EDWARD KEMP:

Civil servants are not allowed separation allowance.

Mr. PUGSLEY:

Then, am I to understand that members of Parliament, with the exception of Mr. Cockshutt, have received separation allowance in addition to their sessional indemnity, although they have been absent from Parliament?

Sir EDWARD KEMP:

I am not sure on that point. The return speaks for itself. I am not sure that the hon. gentleman is quite correct in saying that all members of Parliament have received separation allowances.