Mr. Knowles:

Has there been any discussion between the federal government and the government of Manitoba with respect to the position of homes in Winnipeg behind the dikes? I refer to homes between the dikes that have been or are being built, and the river.

Mr. Howe:

Those are not matters for the federal government. The agreement between the federal government and the province provides that the federal government will build dikes on land provided by the province -which we have done. The federal government does not have anything to do with houses or property outside the dikes.

Mr. Knowles:

I asked the question because I had understood, subject to correction, that Premier Campbell indicated to the Manitoba legislature last fall that consideration would be given to discussing this matter with the municipal governments concerned and also with the federal government. I take it there has been no request by Manitoba for any such discussion.

Mr. Howe:

I would not say that I positively remember that; but in any event considerations of that sort are excluded from the responsibilities of the Winnipeg diking board, to which this government is a contributor.

Hon. Hugues Lapointe (Minister of Veierans Affairs):

Mr. Chairman, these two items are to authorize compensation for what might be called medical accidents which occurred in hospitals of the department, in the course of treatment of the veterans whose names appear in this and the following item. Although it was not established that the injuries suffered by these two veterans while being treated were the result of negligence of the department, nevertheless the director general of the treatment services considered there was reasonable doubt, and recommended that these men be awarded the same amount of compensation as would have been awarded to them for similar disability suffered in the service. This was done last year, and payment was made last year by order in council. However, it was observed that a long established practice of paying lifelong pensions should be done under a statute or by special appropriation under the act, and that is what we are doing this year.

Mr. Cardiff:

I was not objecting to it at all. I was trying to get consideration for a case that I had brought to the minister's attention some time ago. I have always claimed that no law can operate without some flexibility given to those who are operating it. That is why I wanted to know what this particular item was for.

Mr. Knight:

I am interested in votes for education. The other day I was pleased to note a vote for education for the town of Rimouski, and I am glad to support a grant for education in any place in the dominion.

I see some money here being given to the Indian schools. When I was speaking on the Indian bill the other day I paid some tribute to the work of those institutions, and I am glad to repeat it. I do want to repeat also that I think that it is best where possible, and particularly for Indian children, that they should, where such schools are available, attend schools in their own districts, whether these schools are run on a denominational or on a public school basis.

My reason of course is simply this, as I said before, that contact can be constantly maintained as between the child and its parents, and that the educational process which goes on in the school can be conveyed daily to the home.

I know the very fine work that these residential schools are doing. I had an opportunity not very long ago to look over one of the residential schools in the constituency of the hon. member for Rosthern. It was the school at Duck Lake. The gentleman who was in charge then-and he was the principal-* said to me-it may be the same man today- that where there was inefficiency in many schools of that type, that inefficiency was due to the lack of money available. He asked me at that time-and I know he has asked other hon. members of parliament-to make a plea so that these residential schools could have the money with which they may proceed to do even better work than they are doing now.

Mr. St. Laurent:

Before you leave the chair, Mr. Speaker, may I have the unanimous consent of the house to suggest that as soon as we dispose of this you leave the chair until eight o'clock so that we may be available at eight o'clock to attend in the other place for royal assent to such legislation as will have been passed by that time.

Mr. Coldwell:

Mr. Speaker, last night I made protest about the long speech that was made, but I am very happy that the agricultural estimates are through, and I shall be very glad to be here at eight o'clock.

Mr. St. Laurent:

Unless we put the bill

through we would have to wait on the pleasure of the hon. [DOT] gentlemen.

Mr. Abbott:

I take it that Mr. Speaker will not be required to look at the clock for perhaps five minutes or so.

Hon. Douglas Abbott (Minister of Finance) moved

that the house go into committee of ways and means.

Motion agreed to and the house went into committee, Mr. Beaudoin in the chair.