Hon. L. B. Pearson (Secretary of Stale for External Affairs):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to

table twenty-seven documents, which are agreements, exchanges of notes and other diplomatic instruments published in the Canada treaty series. Perhaps the list might appear in Votes and Proceedings, unless hon. members wish me to read it now. It is rather long.

Mr. J. L. MacDougall (Vancouver-Burrard) moved

for leave to introduce Bill No. 2, to amend the Dominion Day Act and the Victoria Day Act.

Explain.

Mr. MacDougall:

Very little explanation is required on the introduction of this bill. No money is involved, naturally; otherwise I should not be able to introduce it. That, however, is not the main feature. The principal aim of the bill is that the ordinary man, with his wife and family, may have a better opportunity to celebrate statutory holidays by having those statutory holidays observed at the beginning of the week, wherever possible, rather than in the middle of the week, if and when they occur on such days. It is very easy for a man of affluence to take his holidays, either in Canada or abroad, at any time of the year that may suit him, but for the people generally, whom we all represent here, in my opinion it would be a distinct advantage to have this bill go through.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

Mr. Wilfrid LaCroix (Quebec-Monlmorency) moved

for leave to introduce Bill No. 3, to amend the Criminal Code (subversive activities.

Explain.

Mr. LaCroix:

The purpose of this bill is to make it a criminal offence for any person to participate in subversive activities with a view to establishing in Canada a totalitarian dictatorship contrary to our democratic way of life.

Following numerous demands from other members and myself, according to the speech from the throne the government has decided to present a bill with an objective which may be similar. If that is done, of course, I much prefer that the government itself go through with it, in which event I might later withdraw my bill. Certainly I would favour deporting to Russia all the communists we have in Canada, in order to give them the opportunity of seeing for themselves what is going on over there.

Mr. Speaker:

May I take this opportunity to point out that when an hon. member introducing a bill is asked to explain it, he should merely explain the provisions of the bill. He should not discuss the merits of the bill nor advance reasons why it should be supported.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

Mr. H. P. Cavers (Lincoln):

Mr. Speaker, hon. members of this house no doubt will be interested to learn that Principal Gordon E. Price, of the St. Catharines collegiate institute and vocational schools, five members of his teaching staff and one hundred students of that institution are in the galleries of this chamber today.

Under the auspices of Mr. Price, for the past few months a series of non-partisan addresses on various public matters have been delivered to the students of this school. On October 26 last the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent) spoke to those students. Last month the leader of the C.C.F. group (Mr. Coldwell) addressed the student body, and I am informed that the leader of the opposition (Mr. Drew) will speak there this month.

Today, in order to further their interest in citizenship, these students are attending in the galleries of this chamber. The visit

Inquiries of the Ministry is made also in appreciation of the fact that the leaders of the three major political parties have come or are to come to their school. Further, they wish by their presence to extend felicitations to the Prime Minister on the anniversary of his birthday, which he is celebrating today. We feel that visits of this kind do much to further an interest in public affairs on the part of the students of our collegiate institute, and that they in turn will be better citizens as a result of having attended here and having heard the leaders of the political parties in this country. We hope other cities will follow the lead of St. Catharines in carrying on activities of this kind.