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

I beg to move:

That 1,000 copies in English and 400 copies in French of the report of the royal commission appointed to investigate charges of political partisanship in the service of the Department of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment at Toronto, London and Ottawa be printed forthwith, and that standing order 64 be suspended in relation thereto.

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

I beg to move:

That 1,000 copies in English and 400 copies in French of the report of Gordon W. Scott, Esq., chartered accountant, of Montreal, on the activities and "modus operandi" of the Department of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment be printed forthwith, and that standing order 64 be suspended in relation thereto.

1. What was the total amount paid for pensions in each of the years 1925, 1926, and 1927?

2. What was the cost of administration of the Pension department in each of the years 1925, 1926, and 1927?

1. Net disbursements on account of pensions-

Fiscal year Fiscal Year Fiscal Year 1924-25 1925-26 1926-27

European War $ 33,630,189 78 $ 35,822,629 11 $ 36,614,989 52

Northwest Rebellion

34,796 36 33,961 34 35,264 16Fenian Raid

466 25 662 91Militia Long Service

695,249 27 697.215 79 743,626 44Civil Flying ,, .. 144 05 240 00 240 00

$ 34,360,845 71 % 36,554,709 15 $ 37,394,120 12

Questions

2. Cost of administration-

Total turnover of Department of S. C. R.

and Pensions

Cost of administration including B.P.C.

commissioners and Medical advisers.. .. Percentage of administration

2,049,835 40 1,714,442 50 1,546,891 643.816 3.086 3.142

The cost of administration indudes cost of administering all activities of the department, as work of treatment and pensions, etc., is so inter-related that accurate determination of cost of administering pensions only cannot be made.

1. When will the investigation of the reparations commissioner be completed and final report made? . , , ,

2. How many claims have been made:

3. How many claims have been fully investigated?

4. What amount was claimed by all claimants?

5. What amount is represented by claims not yet fully investigated?

6. What amount has the commissioner recommended should be paid in cases in which investigation is complete?

7. How many claims have been paid (a) in

full, (b) partially? ,

8. How much has been paid under 7 (a), and 7 (b), respectively?

9. Has any provision been made for dependents of the civil population who lost their lives as a result of illegal warfare of the enemy?

10. What is nature of provision, if any, referred to in paragraph 9?

11. What amount has been collected by Canada for reparations?

12. What amount is payable to Canada for reparations and how is it payable?

1. The investigation has been completed. The report of Commisisoner Friel has been made and is in the hands of the printer.

2. 1615.

3. 1613.

4. 856 039,893.42.

5. Approximately 850,000. (There are two claims, one for 850,000 and the other for an unstated amount.)

6. 84,246,868.76 plus 5 per cent interest on all awards, calculated to March 10, 1928, 82,042,520.59, making a total of 86,289.389.34.

7. Nothing whatever has been paid either in part or in full of any claim whatever.

8. Answered by 7.

9. In case of loss of life, claims were allowed only when on behalf of dependents, and the extent of the dependency was considered in making the awards.

10. Answered by 9.

11. $10,175,071.44.

12. Subject to certain priorities. Canada receives 4.35 per cent of the reparations receipts

allotted to the British Empire and payments are made quarterly to Canada by the British treasury. The British Empire's allotment is 22 per cent of the whole. The amount payable depends upon the operation of the Dawes plan, under which the annuity is fixed at 1,750,000.000 gold marks for the year 1927-8 and 2.500,000,000 gold marks for 1928-9 and subsequently.

1. When and how were reparation claimants

first advised to submit their claims to the government? . .

2. Who was the first reparation commissioner, what was the date of his appointment and what was the scope of his duties?

3. Who was the second reparation commissioner, what was the date of his appointment and what was the scope of his duties?

4. Who was the third reparation commissioner, what was the date of his appointment and what was the scope of his duties?

5. What procedure was adopted to bring to the commissioner's attention the evidence in each case?

6. Did not the claimants appear personally before the commission and at^ their own expense try to substantiate their claims?

7. Were not a large number of claimants represented at their own expense by counsel?

8. What article of the treaty deals with reparation?

9. Have not Canadian claimants under other articles of the treaty of Versailles been already compensated?

10. If so, what were the total number of claims and the total amounts paid under and by virtue of such articles, and can any reason be given for such preferential treatment?

11. It is not a fact that the United States of America adopted corresponding provisions dealing with debts, property and reparations in the treaty of Berlin

12. Is it not a fact that American claims for (a) debts, (b) property sequestrated in Germany and (c) reparations are receiving equal consideration, and that no preference is being shown to any one class of claims?

13. Has not legislation been prepared to pay all such American claimants?

14. Have not some of the claimants in other allied countries already received compensation?

15. Has the reparation commissioner's report been printed?

16. When will it be brought before the house for consideration?

17. How much has Canada received to date on account of reparations?

18. Is not a large reparation payment from the British government expected soon and what will the amount be?

Questions

1. By order in council, P.C. 2822, dated the 15th November, 1918, Thomas Mulvey, Under Seeretaiy of State, rvas appointed an officer to take such steps as may be necessary to make a complete list of:

(a) Claims of persons residing or carrying on business in Canada who have been subjected to loss and pecuniary damage, arising from the destruction of life and property through the illegal warfare of the enemy, and

(b) Claims for damages to which persons residing or carrying on business in Canada have been subjected for breaches of contracts, which contracts were prevented from being carried out owing to the operation of the statutory list of persons in neutral countries with whom such contracts were declared illegal, and to examine and report upon all such claims as aforesaid.

A notice appeared in the Canada Gazette, dated 30th November, 1918, asking claimants to submit their claims.

2. The Hon. Sir John Douglas Hazen. K.C.M.G., was appointed on the 31st October, 1921, " to be a commissioner to conduct an enquiry under the provisions of part I of the Inquiries Act, Chapter 104 of the revised statutes of Canada, 1906, and to investigate the following claims:

(a) Claims of persons residing or carrying on business in Canada who have been subjected to loss and pecuniary damages arising through the destruction of life and property through the illegal warfare of the enemy, and

(b) Claims for damages to which persons residing or carrying on business in Canada have been subjected for breaches of contracts, which contracts were prevented from being carried out owing to the operation of the statutory list of persons in neutral countries with whom such contracts were declared illegal for the purpose of determining whether they are within the categories set forth in annex I of part VIII (reparation) section I of the treaty of Peace between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany, signed at Versailles, June 28, 1919, and the fair amounts of such claims and to make such findings as may be of assistance to the government of Canada in determining which, if any, of such claims should be paid and the extent of payment thereof".

3. The Hon. William Pugsley, K.C., LL.D., was appointed on the 13th March, 1923. The duties are' set out in the answer to question 2.

4. James Friel, K.C., was appointed on the 19th June, 1925. The duties are set out in the answer to question 2.

5. All claimants were called upon to submit by declaration full particulars of their claims and to substantiate such by all documentary evidence in their possession. Subsequently the claimants were notified to appear before the commissioner at various centres nearest to their places of residence in order to give evidence before him upon oath, and to produce such witnesses that may be necessary to substantiate their claims.

6. Yes, but in some cases claimants submitted travelling expense claims, which were paid by the Department of the Secretary of State out of the appropriation for the adjustment of war claims.

7. Yes.

8. Articles, 231 to 244, and the annexes thereto.

9. Yes.

10. 1,009 claims were filed of which 686 were paid amounting to $7,849,824.81. Special provisions were made in the treaty for the payment of claims under articles 296 and 297.

11. Yes.

12. Yes.

13. It is understood that a bill for this purpose is now under consideration by the Senate of the United States having been passed by the House of Representatives.

14. No information.

15. It is in the hands of the printer.

16. Under consideration.

17. $10,175,071.44.

18. Subject to certain priorities. Canada receives 4.35 per cent of the reparations receipts allotted to the British Empire and payments are made quarterly to Canada by the British treasury. The British Empire's allotment is 22 per cent of the whole. The amount payable depends upon the operation of the Dawes plan, under which the annuity is fixed at 1,750,000,000 gold marks for the year 1927-8 and 2,500,000 000 gold marks for 1928-9 and subsequently. The payments to which Canada was entitled for amounts paid for reparation prior to the Dawes plan have been received.