November 19, 1945

PRIME MINISTER ATTLEE

ADDRESS TO MEMBERS OF SENATE AND HOUSE OF COMMONS THIS DAY TO BE PRINTED IN OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES


Hon. IAN A. MACKENZIE (for the Prime Minister): Mr. Speaker, we have just had a fine inspirational and constructive address delivered to both houses of parliament by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. I would therefore move on behalf of the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King), seconded by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Bracken), the following resolution: That the address of the Right Honourable Clement R. Attlee, Prime Minister of Great Prime Minister Attlee



Britain, delivered before the members of the Senate and of the House of Commons of Canada in the chamber of the House of Commons on November 19, 1945, 'be included in the House of Commons Debates and form part of the permanent records of this parliament.


?

Mr. M. J. COLD WELL@Rosetown-Biggar

Before the motion is put, I should like to express, on behalf of my colleagues and myself, appreciation of the visit of the Prime Minister of Great Britain. We have listened to a splendid address, one which expresses clearly the aspirations and hopes not only of a political party but also of the common people of Great Britain. It is fitting that this motion should be made and the address in the House of Commons Debates recorded. I am sure that we all join in wishing the Prime Minister and his party a swift and safe journey to-night across the Atlantic.

Topic:   PRIME MINISTER ATTLEE
Subtopic:   ADDRESS TO MEMBERS OF SENATE AND HOUSE OF COMMONS THIS DAY TO BE PRINTED IN OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES
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PC

John Bracken (Leader of the Official Opposition)

Progressive Conservative

Mr. JOHN BRACKEN (Leader of the Opposition):

I wish to express to the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) and to the members of the government my pleasure at having been given the honour of seconding this resolution. I understood when it was proposed that there would be no formal discussion of it to-day. Reference having been made to it, however, may I say that we all felt proud that our distinguished guest of this afternoon should have found it possible to come to Canada on his way home from Washington where he visited the President of the United States.

On behalf of the party I lead I wish to add my word of welcome to that already extended by the Prime Minister of Canada, by this parliament, by the Canadian people, and just a moment ago by the leader of the C.CfF. party, to the Prime Minister of Great Britain. In doing so I wish to say that when the Prime Minister of Britain visits Canada we look upon him not as the leader of a section of that nation, but as the first citizen of his country. We were all thrilled with the message he gave us to-day. I should like to think that I speak for all the members of this parliament when I ask our distinguished guest to take back to his own people our admiration of the way in which they have stood up to the problems of the last six years, and I know we shall equally admire them for the way in which they will face the difficult problems' of the peace.

If I may be permitted to do so, I would ask the Prime Minister of Britain to take a message to our own boys who are still over there; to say to them that we are doing our best to get them back as soon as possible, and to be ready when they do come back to have places for them where they can fit again into our civil life.

I am very happy to associate myself with the Minister of Veterans Affairs and other members of the house in the resolution just moved.

Mr. SOLON E. LOW (Peace River): It gives me great pleasure to express, on behalf of the group I represent, our thanks to the Prime Minister for having arranged for the Right Hon. Mr. Attlee to visit this country and to speak to the houses of parliament. I wish, sir, through you to express' our thanks to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for the splendid speech he gave this afternoon. I feel that Canada has been privileged by this visit of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and this house has been signally honoured by the address which the right hon. gentleman delivered to us to-day. Through his speech and his visit, he has strengthened those invisible ties that bind Canada and the other parts of the British commonwealth into a unity that is unique on the face of this earth. It is the wonder of all mankind that that unity of purpose has been able to endure through the years in the face of the trials and difficulties which have beset us, and notwithstanding the dissimilarity among the parts and peoples that make up the great commonwealth to which Canada belongs.

After what we have heard from the right hon. gentleman, it must be emphasized again that unity does not mean uniformity. In the British commonwealth we have the most effective known demonstration of the type of organization which is requisite for enduring peace. This free association of countries and peoples can lead the way to peace if we continue to work together, and such visits as we have had from prime ministers of Britain will, I am sure, promote this cooperation.

We shall stand together in harmony if we face the future with vision and humility. Our commonwealth can face the world secure in the knowledge that our example will go far towards removing international fears, suspicions and differences. Particularly will this be so if together we work out fundamental changes in financial and trade policies which will make it possible for each member of the commonwealth to draw upon the resources of the others for the things it needs, and if at the same time we so order our affairs that the weak and needy nations may receive, from the various parts of the commonwealth, food, clothing and other materials necessary for the relief and immediate rehabilitation of their peoples.

I wish to assure you, sir, and through you the British Prime Minister and the British people, of our gratitude for what they did for

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us durihg the dark days of the battle of Britain. I ask that the right hon. gentleman be assured also of the understanding and1 sympathy of at least that portion of the Canadian people represented by this group, in the great responsibilities developing upon him and upon his colleagues at this time.

I trust that, in complete and unselfish support, Canada will stand with Britain in the years to come in the attempt to find solutions for the wide problems that now confront us. I trust that the Prime Minister and his colleagues will enjoy continued health and vigour, so that they may successfully meet the challenge to their powers. May I also express the hope that through divine guidance they may enter upon the secure road to enduring peace. Finally, let me express, on behalf of my group, the sincere hope that their journey homeward may be pleasing, and that it may not be long before we again welcome them to Canada.

Hon. LOUIS S. ST. LAURENT (Minister of Justice): Mr. Speaker, I wish to say a few words in French to endorse the remarks of the hon. members who have spoken before me, in order to tender our thanks to the Right Honourable Mr. Attlee. I especially desire to say how grateful we are that he should have emphasized the bilingual character of this house by using the language of our forefathers for a part of his speech.

Topic:   PRIME MINISTER ATTLEE
Subtopic:   ADDRESS TO MEMBERS OF SENATE AND HOUSE OF COMMONS THIS DAY TO BE PRINTED IN OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES
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LIB

Thomas Reid

Liberal

Mr. THOMAS REID (New Westminster):

The motion just made in the name of the Prime Minister is that the speech delivered by the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr. Attlee, be included in the House of Commons Debates. I trust that this includes the speech made by our own Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) and the speeches delivered by the Speakers of the two houses.

Topic:   PRIME MINISTER ATTLEE
Subtopic:   ADDRESS TO MEMBERS OF SENATE AND HOUSE OF COMMONS THIS DAY TO BE PRINTED IN OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES
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LIB

Ian Alistair Mackenzie (Minister of Veterans Affairs; Leader of the Government in the House of Commons; Liberal Party House Leader)

Liberal

Mr. MACKENZIE:

I believe that has been the custom on previous occasions, Mr. Speaker, but perhaps, by gracious consent of the house, you might direct that the speech of introduction delivered by the Prime Minister of Canada and the speeches delivered by the Speakers of the Senate and of the House of Commons be included.

Topic:   PRIME MINISTER ATTLEE
Subtopic:   ADDRESS TO MEMBERS OF SENATE AND HOUSE OF COMMONS THIS DAY TO BE PRINTED IN OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES
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PC

John Bracken (Leader of the Official Opposition)

Progressive Conservative

Mr. BRACKEN:

The suggestion made by the hon. member for New Westminster meets with our entire approval.

Topic:   PRIME MINISTER ATTLEE
Subtopic:   ADDRESS TO MEMBERS OF SENATE AND HOUSE OF COMMONS THIS DAY TO BE PRINTED IN OFFICIAL REPORT OF DEBATES
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Motion agreed to. (For text of address oj Prime Minister Attlee, with speeches of welcome and thanks, see page 2275).


STANDING ORDERS

CONCURRENCE IN FIRST REPORT


Mr. MATTHEW MacLEAN (Cape Breton North-Victoria) moved that the first report of the standing committee on standing orders, presented on November 16, be concurred in. Motion agreed to.


QUESTIONS


(Question® answered orally are indicated by an asterisk.) H. M.C.S. "CORNWALLIS"-STORES ASSISTANTS


PC

Winfield Chester Scott McLure

Progressive Conservative

Mr. McLURE:

I. How many stores assistants are at H.M.C.S. Cornicallis naval station, Deep Brook, Nova Scotia?

2. How many stores assistants from the Cornwallis have been granted discharges or releases since the cessation of hostilities?

3. Are stores assistants being refused releases? If so, on what grounds?

4. How many R.C.N. trainees are being given field and small arms training theTe at the present time?

Topic:   QUESTIONS
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SWIFT CURRENT, SASK., AIR TRAINING SCHOOL.

CCF

Mr. BENTLEY:

Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (C.C.F.)

1. Has the air training school at Swift Current. Saskatchewan, been declared surplus by the Department of National Defence for Air?

2. Has any application for the purchase of the site, buildings, equipment and/or other materials of the Swift Current air training school been received by the government or by War Assets Corporation?

Topic:   QUESTIONS
Subtopic:   SWIFT CURRENT, SASK., AIR TRAINING SCHOOL.
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LIB

Mr. ABBOTT: (Minister of National Defence; Minister of National Defence for Naval Services)

Liberal

1. Two portions only of this property have been declared surplus as follows:

(a) The aerodrome and two buildings (watch office, No. 32 and W.T. station, No. 44) as of 17th May, 1945. This portion was subsequently transferred to the Department of Transport.

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(b) Two buildings (both O.R. quarters, Nos. 35 and 45), as of 1st October, 1945. These were subsequently turned over to the province of Saskatchewan to meet em. ergency shelter requirements of the city of Swift Current.

2. Yes. Inquiries regarding the possible sale of the site, buildings and/or equipment were received from the following:

Town of Herbert, Sask.

Department of Agriculture (Central Experimental Farm), Ottawa, Ontario.

Walter Smith. Box 551, Swift Current, Sask.

R. T. Graham, Swift Current, Sask.

Note: The Department of National Defence (army) have expressed a definite interest in this property for ordnance services.

Topic:   QUESTIONS
Subtopic:   SWIFT CURRENT, SASK., AIR TRAINING SCHOOL.
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November 19, 1945