Sir SIAM HUGHES:
I most respectfully protest, as one member of the House, against this procedure. Yesterday morning there was a Bill brought in here and not ten members of the House knew what the Bill was about, nor could we hear one word of what transpired in the discussion of it. I speak in ail kindness, and I say it is most painful to have to sit here and
not know what business is being discussed before the House.
Mr. SPEAKER:
The question before the House is a motion for concurrence in certain Orders in Council, notice of which has been on the Votes and Proceedings far some time.
Sir WILFEID LAURIER:
It would appear that most of these Orders in Council are purely technical, and so far as my information goes at the present time, they are unobjectionable. The objection of my hon. friend (Sir Sam Hughes) is well founded. We have to take these rather on trust than anything else. For my part I am satisfied, because I have looked at them, and possibly I am the only man in the House who has done so.
a.nd other soldiers and the dependents of those killed while on active service, and1 any other matters relating thereto or connected therewith, he commended to the consideration of the Government.
Mr. ROBB:
I draw attention to the fact that Mr. Power is not in the House.
Mr. ROWELL:
I have no objection to let the motion stand until Mr. Power comes in. Mr. Power was a member of the Pensions Committee and it was arranged that he should second the motion.
Mr. SPEAKER:
The motion can be seconded by Mr. McCurdy.
Mr. ROWELL:
It was understood it would be seconded by a member of the committee representing the other side of the House.
Sir GEORGE FOSTER:
It is the fault of hon. members themselves if they have not looked at these Orders in Council, because they have been on the table of the House for a considerable time. The statute provides that such Orders in Council shall be laid on the table of the House within a certain number of days after the session opens, and that was complied with, and they have been here for the use of hon. members.
Sir WILFRID LAURIER:
It is the fault of the Government who brought them down so late.
Sir GEORGE FOSTER:
No, no.
Sir WILFRID LAURIER:
Yes, yes.
Mr. BUREAU:
The Order in Council that was brought down yesterday did not lie on the table of the House all session.
Sir GEORGE FOSTER:
I was not speaking of that one; I was speaking of those Orders in Council which have been on the table of the House ever since thirty days after the opening of the session.
Motion agreed to.
Hon. N. W. ROWELL (President of the Privy Council):
Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, seconded by Mr. Power:
That the recommendations contained in the third report of the Special Committee, appointed on the 10th day of April, 1918, to consider and report upon the Pension Board, the Pension Regulations and the sufficiency or otherwise of the relief afforded thereunder, the Pension lists in force in Canada for disabled