Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
Well, I
think if you worked as hard as I do you would think you earned your salary.
You get $12,000 a
year.
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
I have
not got it yet. I hope I will earn it. In any case, the salary of the leader of the opposition was fixed by statute after the most careful consideration, and it has been agreed to by both parties. But nobody was ever consulted when it was decided to set up a public relations officer, or whatever it may be, and pay him $9,000 a year. I should like to know out of what vote that salary is being paid.
Mr. CRERAR:
Not out of this one, anyway.
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
I am sure it is not, but I am taking this opportunity to serve notice-and I think I am justified in
doing so-that expenditures of this sort will be questioned in this house, and justifiably so. I am sure in his heart the minister will agree with me.
Mr. CARDIN:
I feel that the Department of Public Works cannot accept the criticism of the leader of the opposition and cannot agree to the idea that we are not doing everything we can to reduce expenditures. If hon. members will look at the estimates for this year they will see that my department has submitted itself to a very substantial reduction. If they compare the figures for this year with those for last year, they will see that the decrease amounts to about $17,000,000.
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
I quite agree.
Mr. CARDIN:
That is a good reduction, and I think I deserve the commendation of the leader of the opposition for having submitted myself to such a reduction.
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
I am going to give you that when the time comes.
Mr. CARDIN:
All possible reductions are being made, but we must retain the services of our employees and officers to protect the properties in our charge. Numerous repairs must be made to wharves and buildings all over the country, and we need our officers to look after these. We are not doing any new work, but as I explained a moment ago we need the services of these officials to gather all the information necessary to close out the contracts, pay the. compensation which may be due the contractors and pay for the material already on the sites, although it may not have been used. All this takes time, and we mu9t gather all this information before we make settlements and definitely close the contracts. As far as the Halifax office is concerned, that may be discussed under another item. As I have stated, the item under consideration covers only what we may call the central office at Ottawa.
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
I understand that.
The CHAIRMAN:
Shall the item carry?
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
No.
Mr. CRERAR:
I should like this item to stand and to call an item under the Department of Fisheries.
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
It is eleven o'clock. I think you have done very well to-night.
1154 COMMONS
House of Commons-Appointments
77. Departmental administration, $129,300.
The CHAIRMAN:
Shall the item carry?
Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):
No, not by any means.
The CHAIRMAN:
Shall I report progress?