Hon. Stuart S. Garson (Minister of Justice):

Mr. Speaker, when I made a statement concerning Dr. James G. Endicott in this house on Wednesday last I was under the impression-as I think most people are-that he was an ordained minister of the gospel; and I referred to him as such. I have now received a communication from the Reverend J. A. C. Kell, M.A., secretary of the Toronto conference of the United Church of Canada, stating that:

. . . James G. Endicott has not been a minister of the United Church of Canada since his resignation from our ministry under date of May 5, 1946, and has not appeared on our rolls since that time. The degree which he received prior to his break with the church carries with it no legal status and hence it has never been the custom of the church to withdraw such degrees except in the case of extreme moral disgrace.

The Reverend Mr. Kell also informs me that Dr. Endicott's letter of resignation was written from Chengtu, Szechwan, China, May 5, 1946, to the president of the Toronto conference of the United Church of Canada, Toronto, and reads as follows:

Dear Mr. President and Brethren,

I regret very much that I feel it is now necessary for me to resign from the ministry of the United Church of Canada. I will not attempt to go into any detailed explanation of how I gradually arrived at the necessity for making this decision. It has come after long and painful deliberations and travail of spirit. It is due primarily, of course, to a change in my own experience, understanding and explanation in regard to such matters as creeds, sacraments, especially orders and ordinations. It is also due to the fact that I now feel called to take an active part in the struggle for human betterment in the field of social and political movement, areas of life that are considered unsuitable for ministers to be active in unless possibly they happen to be on the "right" side.

I hope it will be possible for my resignation to take place without any undue publicity, especially of such a nature as would discourage people in their support of the overseas work of the church. It is not necessary for me to assure you that this decision on my part has been arrived at only after long and painful deliberations.

Yours very sincerely,

James G. Endicott

Hon. George Prudham (Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys):

I desire to lay on the

table the fourth annual report of the dominion coal board for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1952.

Mr. P. C. Black (Cumberland):

May I ask

the minister if the report he has just tabled has been printed and is available to the members?

Mr. Prudham:

It has now gone to the printers, and will be available very soon.

1. Since 1941, has any construction or repair work been done to a protection wall at Lac Megantic, county of Compton-Frontenac?

2. If so, was the work done by contract or by day labour?

3. If by contract, what was the amount for each year, and to whom were the contracts awarded?

4. If by day labour, what was the amount spent each year, and who were the foremen?

5. What is the purpose of said protection wall?

1. Yes.

2. By day labour.

3. Answered by No. 2.

4. 1949-50 (a) $27,922.42; (b) J. A. Fillion.

1950- 51 (a) $33,680.97; (b) J. A. Fillion.

1951- 52 (a) $19,660.88; (b) J. A. Fillion.

5. To protect shore against erosion.

1. Is the R. E. Welch company, of Port Arthur, doing construction work for the Canadian National Railways in the region of Canora, Saskatchewan?

2. If so, how many men are being employed by this company as an extra gang on the Canadian National tracks in the said area?

3. What wages are paid to these men by this company?

4. How much does this company collect from the Canadian National Railways for the work these men are doing?

5. Does this company collect from the Canadian National any amount for board for these men? If so, how much?

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Questions

6. Are Canadian National personnel used for foremen in connection with this work?

7. If so, does the R. E. Welch company pay their wages, or pay for their services in any way?

Mr. Fournier (Hull):

The Canadian National Railways advise as follows:

1. Certain track work is being carried on between mileages 53 and 54 of the Yorkton subdivision under a contract with the R. F. Welch Limited.

2. Forty-nine men are employed by the R. F. Welch Limited in the performance of the said contract.

3 to 7-concern the details of a current contract between the railway and a private company. It is not the policy of the railway to disclose the details of such contracts.

Mr. Balcom:

What is the sea-shore ratio of officers and men in the Royal Canadian Navy?

Mr. Blanchette:

As of May 31, 1952, the sea-shore ratio was as follows:

Officers

Afloat Ashore Total % Afloat % Ashore390 1,505 1895 20-5 79-5Men % %Afloat Ashore Total Afloat Ashore4,905 7,127 12,032 40-7 59-3