January 28, 1943 (19th Parliament, 4th Session)

Mr. J. H. BLACKMORE (Lethbridge):

Mr. Speaker, if there is one thing in this country which we can very well afford to get along without from this time forward it is playing politics. I have been favourably impressed, since the hon. member for York-Sunbury (Mr. Hanson) assumed the responsibility of leader of the opposition, with the degree to which it seems to me he was free from ulterior political motive in the things he said. I desire to congratulate him upon that fact. Many times he was frank and sincere in his expressions to the point at which, perhaps, from a political point of view, he may have been described as indiscreet; but anything which he might have lost through any apparent indiscretion as a result of frankness was more than made up, I think, by the respect which was engendered, at least so far as I was concerned, by his frankness, his sincerity, and his sense of honour in carrying out his duties in this house. Everything else that I should like to say in this regard has already been said, and I therefore simply associate myself with those who have already spoken.
May I also congratulate the member for Peel (Mr. Graydon) upon the assumption of duties which he will find anything but pleasant as the days go by. I have no doubt he is public spirited enough to exert himself to the very limit in the discharge of his responsibilities. I doubt that in the whole history of the Anglo-Saxon race there has ever been a time when we needed more than we do to-day men of vision, men of open mind and men of honour, men who are capable of learning new things and learning from the old where that is found necessary. I wish to congratulate the hon. member upon the degree to which I believe he possesses the qualifications which are necessary to enable him to come under the classification which I have indicated. I may say, as I remarked to him this afternoon when I congratulated him personally, I shall be listening most attentively to all that he says.