Sir HENRY DRAYTON:

The item we have here, as I understand, is item 288. My hon. friend is addressin-g his remarks more to one phase of the activities in the cities, where you have these committees of employers who are co-operating, -and very properly so, with each other, for the purpose of doing what everybody ought to be pleased to do, and th-a-t is to see that the returned -man gets the first chance of employment and of rehabilitating himself if at all possible. My hon. friend mentioned three cities where that arrangement has been made. I hope that during the present year we shall no longer be left in that position, but that these activities will be extended to every place in the -country where -there is considerable employment. We should n-ot have the three cities my hon. friend refers to standing ou-t by themselves. At the same time, this work of organization and of getting employers interested in this most necessary movement is going along very slowly, if we

Supply-Re-establishment

have it started in only three cities. But that, after all, is only one branch of the work. I said I thought the vote was too small, and my hon. friend agreed with me. What amount does my hon. friend think would be fair to take charge of soldier unemployment for the year?

Mr. BELAND:

We have provided $150,000 in the supplementaries. We thought we would require more money especially on account of the strike in Nova Scotia. As a rule this unemployment among pensioners ceases almost entirely during the month of May, but this year in the strike area we have been spending a large amount each week, maintaining all the pensioners there.

Sir HENRY DRAYTON:

I am sure the country will not begrudge, and certainly the opposition will not withhold any support, in looking properly after unemployment among the soldiers.

Mr. BELAND:

This is always a big item It is to provide for pensions in connection with the European war and the active militia. There is an increase of $1,000,000 over last year, but it must be remembered that the time within which claims had to be presented for pensions expired on the 1st of September, 1924, and naturaily a large number of claims were filed before that date with the pension board, and as a consequence, more awards have been made than in the usual course. In addition to that, the appeal board has also reversed a certain number of decisions, 190, I think, up to the 1st of April, and arrears have had to be adjusted, and still are being adjusted.

Mr. ROS8 (Kingston): Has the minister considered making any change in the regulations in regard to a pensioner in the active militia who, having secured his pension, deserts his wife and family? According to the regulations the pensioner is entitled to keep all his pension and leave his wife and children behind without support. Several have deserted their *wives and families in Canada and are now over in the Old Country, retaining their full pension, and leaving the wife and family to be supported by public charity.

Mr. BELAND:

Does my hon. friend refer to the active militia or to the expeditionary force?

Mr. ROSS (Kingston):

The permanent

force. There "was some suggestion that the law

should be changed. Has anything been done in that regard?

Mr. BELAND:

As my hon. friend is aware, the Militia Act is not in my department. I do not know that any change has taken place.

Mr. ROSS (Kingston):

The payment of the pension is in your department.

Mr. BELAND:

Yes.

Mr. ROSS (Kingston):

And the minister still has to continue paying that pension, while the man's wife and family are supported by public charity.

Mr. BELAND:

All that is at the discretion of the board, which examines into each individual case.

Mr. ROSS (Kingston):

Several cases of this kind have been brought to the attention of the board, and they have ruled that they cannot interfere.

Mr. BELAND:

They refuse to pay any part of the pension to the wife and children?

Mr. ROSS (Kingston):

Yes, till the law is changed.

Mr. MACDONALD (Pictou):

The question of militia pensions has been dealt with by the Department of National Defence. The point my hon. (friend mentions has been brought to our attention, and we were considering introducing an amendment to the pension law this session to deal with that and some other points, but it has been decided not to do so until next year. I hope we shall be able to deal with the matter next session.

Mr. BELAND:

This amount is for the

purchase of land and the cost of the erection of houses at Kamloops, British Columbia, for tuberculous ex-members of the forces. This is in pursuance of a recommendation of the

Supply-Interior

parliamentary committee. It is more or less an experiment and is recommended by the royal commission and by several parliamentary committees. It is a very small amount and provides for 5,000 men who will be afforded the opportunity of living in these houses. The amount will be placed at the disposal of the Red Cross at Kamloops. They are going to supervise the building of the houses and they will also administer the rent and insurance. The amount that will be paid as rent will be sufficient to cover the interest on capital expenditure, the insurance and the depreciation, the total amount being met in twenty-five years. .

Mr. SHAW:

Will the minister explain

this item?