Explain.

Mr. GUTHRIE:

Mr. Speaker, this bill proposes to make four amendments to the Dominion Elections Act. The first and the most important is to introduce by way of experiment the system of the alternative vote in the province of Saskatchewan, a system which has been commended in many quarters of this house on former occasions, as I shall be able to demonstrate I hope at a later stage of the discussion.

The second amendment is to keep the advance polls open on the Thursday and Friday preceding the election from seven in the evening until ten o'clock in the evening, and on Saturdays from two in the afternoon until ten o'clock in the evening. This amendment is made at the suggestion of the Trades and Labour Congress.

The next amendment is to waive the necessity of printing lists under the present Dominion Elections Act which is cast upon the chief electoral officer in respect of byelections which are not to be held until the nineteenth of August. That is a matter of saving expense.

Then there are some provisions for some changes in the forms.

Mr. LAPOINTE:

It is a painful death.

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to protest at once against any proposal to introduce amendments to the elections act, to introduce what is practically a sectional election act at this time more than five years after the dissolution of the last parliament and immediately before a general election takes place. I do not think the minister should be permitted to introduce such a bill at this time.

Mr. GEARY:

I was paired with the hon. member for Laurier-Outremont (Mr. Mercier). Had I voted, I would have voted for the motion.

Mr. SENN:

I was paired with the hon. member for South Perth (Mr. Sanderson). Had I voted I would have voted for the motion.

Mr. TOTZKE:

I regret very much I was paired with the hon. member for Fraser Valley (Mr. Barber). Had I voted, I would have been delighted to vote against the motion.

Mr. BOUCHARD:

I was paired with the hon. member for Welland (Mr. Pettit). Had I voted, I would have voted against the motion.

Mr. MioINTOSH: I was paired with the hon.

member for Winnipeg South Centre (Mr. Kennedy). Had I voted, I would have voted against this undemocratic and disgraceful motion.

Mr. COWAN:

I was paired with the ho-n. meimbeT for Hants-Kings (Mr. Ilsley). Had I voted, I would have voted for the motion.

Mr. MULOCK:

I was paired with the hon. member for Toronto-High Park (Mr. Anderson). Had I voted, I would have voted against, the motion.

Mr. MacMILLAN (Mackenzie):

I was

paired with the hon. member for North Huron (Mr. Spotton). Had I voted, I would have voted against the motion.

Mr. ST. PERE: I was paired with the hon. member for South Hastings (Mr. Tummon). Had I voted, I would have voted against the motion.

Mr. ELLIOTT:

I was paired with the hon. member for South Waterloo (Mr. Edwards). Had I voted, I would have voted against the motion.

M,r. MERCIER (St. Henri): I was paired with the hon. member for West Hamilton (Mr. Bell). Had I voted, I would hlave voted against the motion.

Mr. GERSHAW:

I was paired with the hon. member for London (Mr. White). Had I voted, I would have voted against the motion.

Mr. ANDERSON (Halton):

I was paired with the hiOn. member for Toronto Wedt Centre (Mr. Factor). Had I voted, I would have voted for the motion.

Mr. CHARTERS:

I was paired with the hon. member for North Welljngjton (Mr. Blair). Had I voted, I would have voted for the motion.

Mr. STEWART (Edlmonton):

I was paired Mr. SIMPSON: I was paired with the hon. with the Minister of the Interior (Mr. member for Gharlevoix-Sauguenay (Mr. Cas-

Murphy). Had I voted., I would have cheer- grain). Had I voted, I would have voted for fully voted against the motion. the motion.