Hon. E. K. SPINNEY (Yarmouth and Clare):

I beg to present the second report of the Special Committee to whom was referred Bill No. 122, to amend the Civil Service Act, 1918. I move that the report be concurred in.

Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER:

In the

absence of notice, this motion requires unanimous consent.

Hon. RODOLPHE LEMIEUX (Maison-neuve):

May I ask my hon. friend the

Minister of Finance if the conference between representatives of insurance com-

|Mr. Pedlow.]

panies and the superintendent of insurance has taken place, and whether my hon. friend will proceed with his resolution some day this month?

Sir HENRY DRAYTON (Minister of Finance) :

The conference my hon. friend refers to has taken place. There was a long meeting of the various interests, and I think that if the interests desire to be fair,-the differences can be largely composed, and the Bill, I hope, introduced as soon as we are finished with the Budget.

PRIVILEGE-Mr. DENIS

Mr. J. J. DENIS (Joliette) :

I rise to a question of privilege. Speaking in Committee of Supply, on the Estimates of Immigration, on April 26 last, I said that I was in favour of admitting into Canada the immigrants of Europe, the subjects of former enemy nations included, provided these immigrants be morally and physically fit, and of the desirable class that we want in this country. Incidentally, I also made reference to the question of unemployment.

Commenting upon my remarks, some newspapers in the province of Quebec said that I had expressed the view that I would not be adverse to the idea of bringing into this country immigrants who- would eventually take the jobs of our working men. I wish emphatically to protest, Sir, against any such interpretation being given to my remarks. By no means do I want foreigners to come to this country to the detriment of our honest working classes. What I said, and what I still maintain, is that this country is wide enough and has resources enough to allow hundreds of thousands of immigrants to come here without any detriment to any class of the population, but, on the contrary, to the mutual benefit of all classes.

1. Is the Roy Building at Halifax rented by the Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment? If so, for what period, what rental is paid, and for what purpose?

2. (a) How many doctors, nurses and employees are engaged at Halifax by the said department and (b) how many patients were treated from March 1, 1920, to March 1, 1921, and (c) what is the average daily cost per patient?

3. What is the total Government expenditure on account of Department of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment for the above period?

1. No. The Roy building at Halifax was held under lease by the Halifax district office of the Board of Pension Commissioners prior to the amalgamation of that office with the Unit Office of the Department of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment; immediately the amalgamation was effected, the lease of the building was terminated.

2. (a) The department maintains at Halifax, Camp Hill Hospital and Clinic. The medical staff consists of: 7 full-time physicians; 4 part-time physicians; 22 nurses; 88 other employees., (b) During the period from March 1, 1920, to March 1, 1921, 1,331 in-patients were treated at Camp Hill Hospital and 3,728 clinical treatments were given to out-patients, (c) The average daily cost per patient was $3.42.

3. The total expenditure by the Department of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment for the period March 1, 1920, to March 1, 1921, was $38,455,098.01.

1. What was the total amount (a) voted, and (b) paid out, for bonus during the past fiscal year?

2. Have any representations been received from Civil Service organizations on the subject of bonus?

3. Have these been considered by the Government and have the said organizations been given opportunity to support their views?

1. (a) 1920-21, $12,500,000; (b) as

shown by books of Finance Department to April 21, 1921, $9,843,697.07.

2. Yes.

3. Answered by No. 2.