Mr. PEARKES:

If I remember my history correctly, I think it was in 1906. I am not certain but, if it was 1906, I can hardly imagine that the streamlined active force of today would enlist a man of at least fifty-eight y'ears of age into the force. I suggest that this paragraph is quite unnecessary.

Mr. CLAXTON:

There are a lot of subsections in the act which are unnecessary and will be taken out when we make a full revision of the act, but I would submit that it is possible that this provision may have a bearing on a pension that might be payable to such a man who is a pensioner. That is at least possible.

Mr. PEARKES:

Would he not have been enlisted in the permanent force? I do not think you have any ex-regulars in the active force.

Mr. FULTON:

Have the army authorities yet arrived at a firm policy with regard to efficiency pay? Is it contemplated that any such pay w'ill be included in the Canadian army pay regulations?

Mr. CLAXTON:

There is a provision for

trades pay, for privates training, privates first-class, 'and so forth, already in the pay and allowance regulations brought into effect in 1946.

Wheat

Mr. FULTON:

There was a great deal

of controversy as to whether a soldier after the expiry of a certain length of time should not be granted efficiency pay. I am not clear whether that is dealt with in the regulations to which the minister referred.

Mr. CLAXTON:

Yes.

Mr. FULTON:

Has the minister the

figures to show how many years and how the pay goes up?

Mr. CLAXTON:

It depends on the rank.

If he is a private he gets an extra three dollars a month after three years, three dollars more after another three years, and so on.

Mr. MASSEY:

Under subsection 1 of section 56 will not the minister be running foul of War Assets Corporation in disposing of this land?

Mr. CLAXTON:

Even if we have power

to dispose of land under this subsection, we would do it through War Assets Corporation. The only change made here is the provision by which a lease may be made by the minister for a period not exceeding one year. That has reference to summer properties in the neighbourhood of Royal Military College at Kingston and also at Camp Borden and Valcartier, where people lease property from the crown land, which the crown is unwilling to sell as it may need it in the future.

Mr. MASSEY:

The restriction of one year places a handicap on the minister because somebody might want to lease the land for three years. In that case would he have to declare it surplus?

Mr. CLAXTON:

We would then have to have an order in council.

Mr. MASSEY:

Mr. Chairman, I feel that this is one of the most important clauses of the bill, for in dealing with the cadet corps we are dealing with the very foundation of the army as we hope to have it. I know that some other hon. members wish to speak on this section and I have a few remarks to make on it myself, so that perhaps you might call it eleven o'clock.

Section stands.

Progress reported.

On motion of Mr. Mackenzie the house adjourned at 10,55 p.m.

Monday, February 17, 1947