Mr. DUBOIS (Translation):
I think the hon. Solicitor General will regret these words, just as he will regret the last ones he uttered when he said that he did not want to see any further Liberal bloc in the province of Quebec.
Mr. GOBEIL (Translation):
Liberal or Conservative.
Mr. DUBOIS (Translation):
Or Conservative, if you wish. You do not want a solid Liberal bloc or a solid Conservative bloc, and you have taken this means to achieve your ends. Let me say to the hon. members opposite that neither they nor I control any solid bloc in the province, that it is the people who decide on polling day whether or not there shall be a solid Conservative bloc or a solid Liberal bloc. Let us respect the rights and privileges of the people instead of violating them.
I shall close my remarks. I hope my recommendations will be considered. I have submitted them in all possible sincerity and once more I ask the hon. member for Quebec-Montmorency (Mr. Dorion), the hon. member for Compton (Mr. Gobeil) and especially the hon. Minister of Marine to put themselves for a moment in the place of the people of the parishes they seek to remove from the
Redistribution-Mr. Verville
counties of Nicolet and Yamaska. They will understand, for I think I may truthfully say that they are men with a sense of feeling, that these parishes should not be thus expelled. I do not say they will not find good friends in the counties to which it is proposed to attach them, but I do most energetically protest against their separation from the county to which they have belonged ever since confederation.
Mr. J. A. VERVILLE (Lotbiniere) (Translation) :
Mir. Chairman, the bill submitted
to us will be carried by the vote of the majority in this house. We have been told it would be and we are certain of it. In so far as the county of Lotbiniere is concerned, I wish to register my humble protest. If the members of the redistribution committee, actuated by a feeling of generosity, have sought to make a present to Lotbiniere county by inordinately enlarging it, I have at least the right to protest, and I intend to do so. Since confederation, the boundaries of the county of Lotbiniere have never been touched by any political party, whether Liberal or Conservative. Since 1867, the two great political parties have several times succeeded each other in the administration of the country and never at any time has a Liberal government or a Conservative government dared to lay hands on that county. We had to live in the present era, an era of depression-
Mr. BARRETTE (Translation):
Is it a crime to touch your county?
Mr. VERVILLE (Translation):
Perhaps it is, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. POULIOT (Translation):
Its name is Touch-me-not.
Mr. VERVILLE (Translation) :
We had to live in the present era to see such things.
Mr. BARRETTE (Translation):
We have given you some beautiful Liberal parishes.
Mr. VERVILLE (Translation):
This year, actuated by a very special zeal, animated by a blue flame, they have said: We must lay hands on every county that has not elected a Conservative in the past. By the way, I thank the members of the committee, especially my excellent friend the member for Quebec-Montmorency (Mr. Dorion), my university confrere, for the beautiful gift he wishes to make the county of Lotbiniere, of which I am to-day the representative.
Mr. BARRETTE (Translation):
If you are
satisfied, why do you protest?
Mr. CHEVRIER (Translation):
Come,
come, senator.
Mr. VERVILLE (Translation):
Have you not understood? I said that I was protesting. Lotbiniere has to-day a population of 23,034, living in 22 parishes and 11 villages. The bill now before us would add to it six parishes and one village, with a population of 5,336, taken from the constituency of my friend from Nicolet (Mr. Dubois). On the south side it would get, from Megantic, six parishes with a population of 4,532. From Levis there would be added to it five parishes with 3,943 souls.
Mr. FORTIN (Translation):
Will you
please state that the parishes from Levis were given to you at your own request, made in November, 1932, when I did not yet know there would be a redistribution?
Mr. VERVILLE (Translation):
Mr. Chairman, I shall have to insert a parenthesis here. One day, when the enlargement of Lotbiniere county was in question, I happened to meet my good friend Dr. Fortin, now member for Levis, and I said to him that in the event of my county being enlarged, three parishes from his county; St-Nicholas, St-Etienne and St-Lambert, would quite naturally be transferred to it. There was not mention of St-Redempteur. We met several times since and the three parishes I have just named were the ones in question. How is it that St-Redemp-teur figures in this bill? Did you ever mention it to me?
The CHAIRMAN (Translation):
Order.
Mr. VERVILLE (Translation):
I know
that I should address the Chair. I ask my hon. friend to state whether St-Redempteur was ever mentioned.
Mr. BARRETTE (Translation):
It ha?
been given to you in addition.
Mr. FORTIN (Translation):
Unfortunately, I have to contradict my hon. colleague from Lotbiniere and to state on my honour that on three different occasions you told me that the Ohaudiere river would form the dividing line between Lotbiniere and Levis. On the first occasion when mention was made of giving me the parishes you named I had witnesses who are not very far away, for the deputy-speaker of the house was there. It is fear that prompted you to make the offer you did make to me, as there was talk at the time of annexing Lotbiniere to Nicolet or. .
Mr. BARRETTE (Translation):
That is a good idea.
Redistribution-Mr. Verville