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

That a special committee consisting of Messrs.: Weir, Tremblay, Casselman, Knowles and Shaw be appointed to confer with Mr. Speaker and, with his assistance, to prepare and report a list of members to compose a select committee of the house to consider with Mr. Speaker the procedure of this house for the purpose of suggesting any changes that may be desirable to assure the more expeditious dispatch of public business, with power to send for persons and papers and to report from time to time its findings and recommendations to the house.

He said: Mr. Speaker, the leader of the opposition (Mr. Drew) has kindly consented to be the seconder of this motion.

Hon. Paul Marlin (Minister of National Health and Welfare) moved

that the house go into committee at the next sitting to consider the following resolution:

That it is expedient to bring in a measure respecting old age assistance and to provide for the payment to the provinces out of the consolidated revenue fund of amounts in respect of old age assistance paid by the provinces, to certain persons who have attained the age of sixty-five years and who are in need of such assistance, not exceeding, in respect of any recipient, fifty per centum of forty dollars monthly or of the amount of old age assistance paid by the provinces monthly to the recipients, whichever is the lesser; and to provide for the making of agreements with the provinces in relation thereto and for the conditions and duration of such agreements.

He said: His Excellency the Administrator, having been made acquainted with the subject matter of this resolution, recommends it to the consideration of the house.

Mr. Knowles:

Good for the Administrator.

Hon. Paul Martin (Minister of National Health and Welfare) moved

that the house go into committee at the next sitting to consider the following resolution:

That it is expedient to bring in a measure respecting allowances for blind persons and to provide for the payment to the provinces out of the consolidated revenue fund of amounts in respect of allowances for blind persons paid by the provinces, to certain persons who have attained the age of twenty-one years, and who are blind and in need of such allowances, not exceeding in respect of any recipient, seventy-five per centum of forty dollars monthly or of the amount of the allowance paid by the provinces monthly to the recipients, whichever is the lesser; and to provide for the making of agreements with the provinces in relation thereto and for the conditions and duration of such agreements.

He said: His Excellency the Administrator, having been made acquainted with the subject matter of this resolution, recommends it to the consideration of the house.

Hon. Douglas Abbott (Minister of Finance) moved

that the house go into committee at the next sitting to consider the following resolution:

That it is expedient to introduce a measure to consolidate and revise the Department of Finance and Treasury Board Act and the Consolidated Revenue and Audit Act, 1931, and certain other acts; to provide for the organization and functions of the treasury board and the Department of Finance, and the appointment and functions of the comptroller of the treasury; to regulate the collection, management and disbursement of public money, public borrowing, the management of the public debt, and the acquisition, recording and issue of public stores; to provide for the keeping of adequate public accounts, the audit thereof, and the appointment, salary and functions of the Auditor General of Canada; to provide for the control of the financial affairs of the crown corporations; to regulate the terms and conditions upon which contracts may be made on behalf of His Majesty; to provide a procedure for the write-off of debts owing to His Majesty that have become uncollectible; and to provide for the management of the consolidated revenue fund and for the making of certain payments therefrom.

Inquiries of the Ministry

He said: His Excellency the Governor General and His Excellency the Administrator, having been made acquainted with the subject matter of this resolution, recommend it to the consideration of the house.