Mr. Speaker:
Order. On reflection, if the hon. member wants to ask a question on cabinet solidarity I suppose he might ask it.
Mr. Walker:
I have not read the article, and hearing this at second hand from the hon. member for Laurier I would not accept it as a facsimile of what was said.
Why?
Mr. Walker:
In the circumstances I will look into the matter in due course. In any event, I do not think I am called upon to answer a question which is, at best, facetious.
Mr. Chevrier:
May I ask the minister a further question. Would the minister accept the statement as being first hand if I sent it over to him in a press clipping which appeared over the week end?
No.
Mr. Speaker:
Order.
On the orders of the day:
Hon. J. W. Pickersgill (Bonavisfa-Twillin-gate):
Can the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Agriculture say whether the minister is making extensive additions to his public relations and information staff?
Mr. W. H. Jorgenson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture):
will take that question as notice.
Mr. Pickersgill:
Is the hon. gentleman not aware of it?
On the orders of the day:
Mr. Robert Muir (Cape Breton North and Victoria):
Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Minister of National Defence or to his parliamentary secretary, notice of which has been given. This question is prompted by a communication received from the Canadian corps of commissionaires employed at the naval base, and also from the Canadian Legion at Sydney Mines. Can the minister advise whether his department is giving consideration to dispensing with the services of the commissionaires at this base, all of whom of course are veterans?
Mr. Egan Chambers (Parliameniary Secretary io ihe Minister of National Defence):
I should like to thank the hon. member for sending notice of this question to the associate minister, who is unable to be present in the house today. This question arises because of the study that has been going on at some naval stations to see whether a partial integration of security and firefighting services would be beneficial. At some locations this integration has been implemented; at others, one of which is Point Edward naval base, the responsible officers of the department have recommended that no change be made in the present arrangements.