Mr. George A. Drew (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, in joining with the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent) in paying respect to the memory of one of the truly great of our time, I should like also to emphasize the fact, which has been referred to by the Prime Minister, that in his life Jan Christiaan Smuts demonstrated the very thing that all of us hope may be possible in the years ahead. I doubt if there is a more dramatic story in the whole history of free men than the record of a one-time enemy who engaged our own forces in the field of battle becoming the strongest advocate of the very system which he had sought to destroy by force of arms. It was probably a unique experience for men in similar positions for both Field Marshal Smuts and Mr. Churchill to sit down at the council table together during the last war as prime ministers of two of the partner nations within this fellowship

of ours, and recall the time when Mr. Churchill has been interrogated as a prisoner of war by Field Marshal Smuts, then a junior officer in the Boer army. He fought gallantly with the Boers for the things in which he believed. He accepted the situation which resulted after that war, and from then on not only became one of the great advocates of our parliamentary system, but also gave leadership, perhaps unequalled, in the formation of those two great international bodies which have sought to play their part in preserving peace.

I believe it is a matter of record that the name "League of Nations" was in fact suggested by Field Marshal Smuts. Furthermore, he had some thought of the dangers inherent in such an organization when he went further and suggested at one time that it might be called the "League of Free Nations." In that very suggestion there perhaps may be a thought worthy of consideration today. Again, because of his own vast experience and personal recollections of the great hopes and the tragic failures of the league, he was one whose views were regarded most highly at San Francisco, in 1945, because, out of the hope and then the discouragement, along with his great experience, he was in a position to warn of the weaknesses of the earlier covenant.

Field Marshal Smuts was a great leader in his own country, and a leader amongst men. No man has contributed more to the strength of the commonwealth of which we are a partner. I think all of us today will not only wish to join in expressing the sympathy that is being extended to his family, but will hope that in South Africa and throughout the rest of the world his life, and the friendship which grew out of strife, may be an example to all mankind.

Mr. George A. Drew (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, on this occasion I wish to join with the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent), and with the other members of the house, in extending to you our very best wishes for a pleasant and profitable visit to the mother of parliaments. Might I add that this will be an occasion of special significance for all of us, and for the whole free world at this time, in the fact that this formal opening of the reconstructed House of Commons is in some ways symbolic of the surviving strength of that freedom which we are seeking to preserve. Therefore we wish you well on your trip, and our thoughts will be with the gathering that takes place there as a symbol of the strength of a free parliament.

Mr. M. J. Coldwell (Roselown-Biggar):

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that all of us join in the expression of good will, and hope that you will enjoy your trip across the seas. I have a vivid recollection of a former occasion on which I had the privilege of going with you, sir, to a commonwealth conference in Britain when you acted as chairman of the Canadian delegation. I know that you will bring added dignity to the proceedings, and I can assure you that we shall look forward to hearing your report.

We also concur in the statement of the leader of the opposition (Mr. Drew) that this

Business of the House occasion has significance not only to the commonwealth but to the whole world. We hope you will enjoy your trip, and that the parliament which you will honour by your presence will long remain the basic institution of our common freedoms.

Mr. Solon E. Low (Peace River):

Mr. Speaker, there are only two things left for me to say. One is, "we too", and the other is that we hope, sir, you will not be seasick.

Mr. Speaker:

I should like to thank the

Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Drew), and the leaders of the other two groups for the very generous words which they have uttered, and for their expression of good will toward me which was accepted generally by all members of this house.

I can assure you I am looking forward to being present at the opening on Thursday, October 26, of the new House of Commons chamber in London. You will recall that the former chamber was destroyed by enemy action during the last war. It will be an historic occasion. When I am there I shall at all times remember that I am representing the members of the Canadian House of Commons, and I shall take great pride in being your representative.

Motion agreed to and the house adjourned at 11.45 o'clock a.m. until Wednesday, February 14, 1951, at three o'clock p.m., unless otherwise ordered pursuant to the provisions of the special order made Thursday, September 14, 1950.

Monday, January 29, 1951

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform the house that under and by virtue of a resolution passed by the house on Thursday, September 14, 1950 (Votes and Proceedings, pages 71-72), dealing with the adjournment of the house, I caused to be published in the Canada Gazette of Saturday, January 6, 1951, a notice, calling the house to meet this day, which is as follows:

In pursuance of the order of the House of Commons passed on Thursday, September 14, 1950, I am satisfied, after consultation with the government, that the public interest requires that the House of Commons, which was adjourned on Friday, September 15, 1950, until Wednesday, February 14, 1951, should meet at an earlier time, and I hereby give notice that it shall meet on Monday, January 29, 1951, at three o'clock p.m. and transact its business as if it had been duly adjourned to that day.

W. Ross Macdonald

Speaker

Ottawa, January 2, 1951.

In addition, on Saturday, January 6, 1951, the Clerk of the House of Commons, under my direction, sent by air mail a letter to each member enclosing an extract from the Canada Gazette containing the above notice.

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform the house that I have received a message from His Excellency the Governor General, signed by his own hand, reading as follows: Government House, Ottawa, September 15, 1950

Members of the House of Commons:

I have received with great pleasure the address that you have voted in reply to my speech at the opening of parliament. I thank you sincerely for this address.

Alexander of Tunis

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform the house that I have received the following communication:

Ottawa, January 26, 1951

Sir,

I have the honour to inform you that the Right Honourable Thibaudeau Rinfret, acting as Deputy

of His Excellency the Governor General, will proceed to the Senate chamber at 3.45 o'clock on the afternoon of Monday, the 29th January, for the purpose of proroguing the special session of the twenty-first parliament.

I have the honour to be, sir.

Your obedient servant,

J. F. Delaute,

Assistant Secretary to the Governor General NEW MEMBERS

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform the house that during the adjournment the Clerk of the House has received from the chief electoral officer certificates of the election and return of the following members, viz.:

Of Maurice Breton, Esquire, for the electoral district of Joliette - L'Assomption-Montcalm.

Of Hector Dupuis, Esquire, for the electoral district of St. Mary.

Of William H. McMillan, Esquire, for the electoral district of Welland.

Of Joseph Herve Rousseau, Esquire, for the electoral district of Rimouski.

Right Hon. L. S. St. Laurent (Prime Minister):

Mr. Speaker, since the last session of parliament two of the members of this house have passed away. I refer, of course, to the hon. members for Brandon, Manitoba, and Queens, Prince Edward Island.

Tributes to Deceased Members

It was with deep regret that we all learned of the passing of Mr. J. E. Matthews, the oldest in point of years and one of the most esteemed members of this house. On account of ill health he had been unable to attend the special session last fall, but most of us had hoped that his recovery had been sufficiently complete to enable him to be back with us at this time.

While Mr. J. L. Douglas, the member for Queens, Prince Edward Island, was also getting on in years, his passing came as a distinct shock to his many friends, who I think were under the impression that he enjoyed rather good health.

Both Mr. Matthews and Mr. Douglas were Prince Edward Islanders, the former having been born at Albany on August 17, 1869, and the latter at Head of Hillsborough on November 29, 1881. Each received a public school education, which in the case of Mr. Matthews was followed by graduation from Prince of Wales college in Charlottetown and, in the case of Mr. Douglas, by attendance at the Charlottetown business college. Both entered the House of Commons in 1938 as a result of by-elections in their respective constituencies, and both were re-elected in the general elections of 1940, 1945 and 1949. You will remember that in the fall of 1949 Mr. Matthews was chosen to represent the Canadian government at the meeting of the international labour organization in Geneva.

I know I am safe in saying that both Mr. Matthews and Mr. Douglas had the respect and friendship of their colleagues of all parties in this house. There was never any doubt among us as to the high integrity of their motives or the sincerity of their statements. They made few formal speeches, but when they did speak they were listened to with deep interest and close attention. They were scrupulously faithful to their parliamentary duties, and even during busy sessions found time to keep in close touch with those whom they represented here.

Prior to their election to the House of Commons in 1938 both Mr. Matthews and Mr. Douglas had already made names for themselves in the business world. After teaching for some time Mr. Matthews spent eight years in the field of journalism. In 1902 he joined the staff of the North American Life Assurance Company in Charlottetown, and in 1911 was transferred to Brandon as branch manager for western Manitoba, which position he occupied until 1935. Prior to his removal to Brandon Mr. Matthews had served as an alderman on the Charlottetown city council. During his many years of residence in Brandon he was at different times president of the Life Underwriters Association of Canada, president of the Brandon board of trade and

president of the Brandon Kiwanis club. He was also a member of the Canadian club, and an active member of the Brandon curling club.

Mr. Douglas had entered the service of the Prince Edward Island railway in 1901. After serving as an engineer for several years he retired from the railway and took up farming on the old homestead and on an adjoining farm at Head of Hillsborough. He later served as dominion fruit and vegetable inspector, and for some time prior to his entry into politics was in business at Charlottetown. In his later years his chief occupation, apart from his political duties, was that of a produce exporter.

During their many years of useful service Mr. Matthews and Mr. Douglas won widespread respect for their sincerity, steadfast purpose and uprightness of character. I am sure that in this chamber all the friends of our lamented colleagues would wish to be personally associated with me in this expression of our most sincere condolences to Mrs. Matthews and Mrs. Douglas and their families.