June 25, 1940

NAT

Richard Burpee Hanson (Leader of the Official Opposition)

National Government

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

Well, I

think if you worked as hard as I do you would think you earned your salary.

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?

An hon. MEMBER:

You get $12,000 a

year.

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NAT

Richard Burpee Hanson (Leader of the Official Opposition)

National Government

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.

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LIB

Thomas Alexander Crerar (Minister of Mines and Resources)

Liberal

Mr. CRERAR:

Not out of this one, anyway.

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NAT

Richard Burpee Hanson (Leader of the Official Opposition)

National Government

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.

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LIB

Pierre-Joseph-Arthur Cardin (Minister of Public Works)

Liberal

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.

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NAT

Richard Burpee Hanson (Leader of the Official Opposition)

National Government

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

I quite agree.

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LIB

Pierre-Joseph-Arthur Cardin (Minister of Public Works)

Liberal

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.

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NAT

Richard Burpee Hanson (Leader of the Official Opposition)

National Government

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

I am going to give you that when the time comes.

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LIB

Pierre-Joseph-Arthur Cardin (Minister of Public Works)

Liberal

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.

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NAT

Richard Burpee Hanson (Leader of the Official Opposition)

National Government

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

I understand that.

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LIB

Thomas Vien (Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole of the House of Commons)

Liberal

The CHAIRMAN:

Shall the item carry?

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NAT

Richard Burpee Hanson (Leader of the Official Opposition)

National Government

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

No.

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LIB

Thomas Alexander Crerar (Minister of Mines and Resources)

Liberal

Mr. CRERAR:

I should like this item to stand and to call an item under the Department of Fisheries.

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NAT

Richard Burpee Hanson (Leader of the Official Opposition)

National Government

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

It is eleven o'clock. I think you have done very well to-night.

1154 COMMONS

House of Commons-Appointments

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DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES


77. Departmental administration, $129,300.


LIB

Thomas Vien (Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole of the House of Commons)

Liberal

The CHAIRMAN:

Shall the item carry?

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NAT

Richard Burpee Hanson (Leader of the Official Opposition)

National Government

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

No, not by any means.

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LIB

Thomas Vien (Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole of the House of Commons)

Liberal

The CHAIRMAN:

Shall I report progress?

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June 25, 1940