Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Prime Minister) moved:

That the name of W. J. Lovie be taken from the list of members comprising the standing committee of the Library of Parliament and that that of A. L. Beaubien be inserted in lieu thereof, and that the name of A. L Beaubien be taken from the committee on Railways and Canals and that that of W. J. Lovie be inserted in lieu thereof.

That the name of P. Elliott (Dundas) be taken from the list of members comprising the select standing committee on Railways and Canals and that that of M. N. Campbell be inserted in lieu thereof, and that the name of M. N. Campbell be taken from the committee on Marine and Fisheries and that that of P. Elliott (Dundas) be inserted in lieu thereof.

Mr. WILLIAM IRVINE (Calgary East):

Mr. Speaker I have been induced by a number of organizations in my own constituency, as well as by organizations throughout Canada, to introduce this bill. I appreciate the responsibility which devolves upon me as the sponsor of it, but feel somewhat encouraged when I realize that on several occasions the measure has been introduced in this House. Mr. Bickerdike, who was for some time the member for the St. Lawrence division, Montreal, first brought this bill before the Canadian parliament. He set forth the arguments in its favour very forcibly, and I suppose that to-day we may reap some of the fruits of his noble efforts. It shall be my aim in presenting the argument in favour -

Mr. SPEAKER:

I do not wish to interrupt the hon. gentleman but simply to remind him that at this stage of the proceedings the explanation of the bill should be general and brief. It is on the second reading of a bill that a more elaborate explanation of its purpose is given. I would therefore ask the hon. member to state simply and briefly the objects of this bill.

Mr. IRVINE:

Mr. Speaker, having introduced this bill at a previous sitting of the House, I was under the impression that the duty now devolved upon me of moving its second reading.

Mr. SPEAKER:

This is only the first

reading.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

I think the hon. member has made the mistake of thinking we are taking up Item No. 3 under Orders of the Day where Bill No. 8, to amend the Criminal Code is set down for second reading. This appears to be a new bill which the hon. gentleman is introducing.

Mr. IRVINE:

I have no other bill to

introduce, having already introduced a measure for this purpose.

Mr. SPEAKER :

I see on the order paper, under the heading "Introduction of Bills" a bill to amend the criminal code standing in the name of the hon. gentleman. Does the hon. member wish to drop that bill?

Mr. IRVINE:

No, Mr. Speaker, I do not

wish to drop my bill proposing to amend the criminal code.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Is it the pleasure of the

House that the hon. member have leave to introduce the said bill.

Carried.

Mr. RINFRET:

Will the hon. member

please explain.

Mr. IRVINE:

Mr. Speaker, I can explain

the bill in one sentence. It calls for the repeal of the provisions of the criminal code demanding capital punishment, and the substitution of life imprisonment for the death sentence.

Mr. GRAHAM:

Look at page 19 of the order paper.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I must apologize to the

hon. gentleman and to the House. Evidently an error has been made by one of the clerks, -not one of the Clerks of the House but one of the clerks who have charge of the drafting of the order paper. I shall deal accordingly with this clerk. I understand that this bill has already been introduced and that it has reached the stage of the second reading, although it appears on the order paper again under, the heading of "Introduction of Bills." The House will therefore now proceed with the second order under "Introduction of Bills," the bill standing in the name of the Minister of Trade and Commerce.