Hon. H. A. STEWART (Leeds):

Mr. Speaker, in the ordinary course I presume that without unanimous consent the motion to debate this report cannot be proceeded with to-day.

Mr. SPEAKER:

The point is well taken.

The motion stands as a notice for to-morrow. Forty-eight hours' notice of motion is required.

Motion stands.

Hon. H. H. STEVENS (Kootenay East):

I was not in the committee during the last few moments when, apparently, this report was agreed upon, but I am opposed to the suggestion that this committee should now sit while the house is in session. I do not think there is any need for it. I think it is unwise, unless in cases of absolute urgency, that committees should sit while the house is in session. Had I been in the committee I should have voiced my objection there, but I left just before the committee rose, and I assume that the report was agreed upon afterwards.

Mr. BEAUBIEN:

May I say to my hon.

friend that it is not the intention of the committee to abuse the privilege. It is merely that members of the committee thought it would be advisable to have it, and they could then decide whether or not they wished to exercise it.

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

That the name of Mr. Deslauriers be substituted for that of Mr. Dussault on the special committee appointed to study and report on matters pertaining to elections and electoral districts of Canada.

That the name of Mr. McNevin (Victoria, Ont.) be substituted for that of Mr. Wood on the special committee appointed to study and report on matters pertaining to elections and electoral districts of Canada.

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

My attention has been drawn to the remarks of my hon. friend the leader of the opposition (Mr. Manion) at the close of yesterday's session, in which he suggested that the government should bring on to-day a motion to go into committee of supply, rather than proceed with the bill with respect to the defence purchasing board. My hon. friend further mentioned that he thought the government ought to bring in a motion to go into supply on Mondays and Tuesdays, and he made some other suggestions.

May I say to my hon. friend that he will doubtless recall the little discussion we had in this house a month ago, and again a week ago, with reference to the business of the house and the government getting along with the public business. At that time my hon. friend felt that supply was not a very important matter, that it was brought before the house when nothing else was available, and he alleged that we had not brought in measures of public importance and sought to chastise us on that account.

Mr. MANION:

It was merely a return chastisement.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

No. There was a good deal said in the preliminary part of my hon. friend's remarks. Perhaps the house would be interested in hearing them as they bear upon his request of last night. They will be found in Hansard, page 1617:

Here is a list of matters called public business dealt with so far this session; let us see how important they are. There was of course the speech from the throne. Then, supply. Supply comes in as a sort of filler-in; it is one of the measures brought in when we have not anything else to proceed with. When the government runs out of its regular business it brings on supply. While the estimates are in a sense public business, they are not important enough or urgent enough to have everything else sidetracked in order that they may he dealt with.

Now, I wonder what my hon. friend would say to me if, after having had this advice, I were instead of going on with other important legislation, to proceed with supply.

Mr. MANION:

The government has been proceeding with it on Thursdays and Fridays.