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

I have two motions that

were moved and passed the other evening, but which have been sinced expunged from the Votes and Proceedings. I beg to move:

That 800 copies in English and 200 copies in French, of the report of W. T. R. Preston in respect to the North Atlantic steamship combine, laid on the table of the House on the ninth instant, be printed forthwith for distribution to Senators and Members; and that rule 74 be suspended in relation thereto.

Mr. STEVENS:

Does this report, as tabled, contain all of the report of Mr. Preston, or is there a supplementary report or recommendations not included in the one that was tabled?

186 COMMONS

The Address-Mr. Garland (Carleton)

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

My impression is that this is the report in full. I will ask the Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. Low) when he comes in, and if I am incorrect, I will inform the hon. member.

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

That 425 copies in the English language and 75 copies in the French language of the report of the Royal Grain Inquiry Commission, laid on the table of the House on Monday, the ninth of February, 1925, be printed forthwith for distribution to Senators and Members; and that rule 74 be suspended in relation thereto.

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

That on Wednesday, the 18th of February instant, and every subsequent Wednesday until the end of the session, the House shall meet at three o'clock in the afternoon.

Mr. W. F. GARLAND (Carleton):

Mr. Speaker, in rising to address the House, I must first congratulate the mover of the Address on his speech and also on his being restored to health. The declared policy of the government since it took office has been one of economy and retrenchment, but the policy that has been carried out has fallen far short of that. In each year since the present government took office, the national debt has increased. Members on this side of the House have often been told that they should offer some concrete suggestions that would put an end to some of these deficits that we are being confronted with from time to time. We have in power to-day a government that is preaching economy, but not practising it. In the first place we have a large number of civil servants, and at every session of parliament we are told that the number is being reduced. The number is being reduced in this way, that the underpaid civil servants are being let go and heads of departments and others who are drawing the larger salaries, are in nearly every case being retained. In some cases departments are being depleted, perhaps two stenographers doing the work, but the heads being still kept on.

Last session a Superannuation Act was passed in regard to the civil service, and some changes could be made to it during this session-for instance, that a civil servant who has been restored to health should lose his superannuation. This, I think, would be a very appropriate session in which to introduce legislation of that character. We also have government officials from time to time travelling around the country doing work for the government, going short distances, such as from here to Toronto, and, instead of sitting in first class passenger cars, being accommodated with chairs in parlour cars. This may not seem very much, but when you add all these small items together the grand total represents a large sum of money which could be saved to the country. Certainly, in my opinion, these civil servants should be required to travel in ordinary first class cars just as other people do.

Another item of unnecessary expenditure which the government should look into, and which comes nearer home, is the money spent in the use of motor cars that go driving around for ministerial purposes at the expense of the public treasury. This is an ideal opportunity for some economy. It is true that there are ministers of the crown who run their own cars, supplying their own gasoline, but no

The Address-Mr. Sutherland

doubt this particular item could afford some means of retrenchment. As I say, these various items may not appear to amount to much but in the aggregate they certainly account for a large sum. I might mention one other matter in connection with which I think there has been bad management. The headquarters of the Public Works department in this city were formerly on Queen street. The government bought a property on York street and remodelled it, and that new building houses the employees of the department a half mile away from the centre of things. This entails a gi-eat deal of inconvenience especially when any of the employees are needed in a hurry. This is one respect in which the government showed poor judgment. If they had wanted to do something to relieve unemployment conditions, instead of buying the new property which is so remote from the centre of activities, they could have made use of the property which they already had on Wellington street. That building could have been remodelled. Economy would have been effected and also employment given to those in the city who need work. The Canadian people are not looking for doles; they are anxious to secure employment; and it does seem to me that the government should take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself to provide such employment.

Now the government are handing out to the people statistics in regard to the cost of living; these figures they have placed on Hansard. I am sure the Canadian housewife will be glad to receive the information which is contained in these statistics; it will no doubt enable her to manage her affairs more economically, especially when these statistics have been supplied by experienced housekeepers. But, Mr. Speaker, 'this is not the sort of thing that the people are looking for from any government, irrespective of the party in power; the people want a government which will take advantage, as I have suggested, of available opportunities for providing employment. Once let the people secure work and they will look after the cost of living themselves. The Canadian to-day is bringing up his family, in nearly every case, ultimately to supply the country to the south of us with labour. We heard a good deal in this House last year about stability; that word was used considerably. I think that it is in the interests of this country to raise its tariff on a par with that of the United States. It seems to me that if anybody in Canada desires cucumbers, strawberries and things of that kind out of season, he ought to be prepared to pay a proper duty on them.

Something has been said- about immigration, which to my mind is a wide subject. No one is more pleased than I am to see immigrants coming into this country, but the important proviso, I .think, should be, that every immigrant contemplating coming to Canada should be given clearly to understand that this is no land of milk and honey but a place in which he must take off his coat and settle down to work if he expects to be successful. The government in its endeavours to bring immigrants into Canada should see to it that those who come in will remain on the land a reasonable time. People come into this country and after about a month's stay on the land they flock to the cities to well the ranks of the unemployed. I would go so far as to suggest that before any man left his native land to come to Canada he ought to be told that unless he remained two years, say, on the land in this country he would be deported.

I know that the agents in the countries from which the immigrants come are only too ready to help themselves. Not long ago I saw in a newspaper a skit which is not without its significance: A good Canadian housewife had sprinkled crumbs on the doorstep to feed the sparrows and a sparrow came along with a dollar bill. By this time in the countries overseas I suppose people will have gained the impression that it is just as easy as this for anyone to pick up money here.

I do not intend to take up the time of the House further. I have spoken very briefly, because I believe that we ought to get down to practical business. Every small leak which is stopped is so much gained, and in the long run all the small economies which are practised will represent an appreciable saving. The shorter our speeches are, therefore, the sooner we shall be able to get down to business and the more time we shall save.