John George Diefenbaker
Progressive Conservative
Mr. J. G. DIEFENBAKER (Lake Centre):
I wish to direct some questions to the Minister of Labour concerning the lengthy statement given yesterday, as reported in the Canadian press, by Mr. MacNamara, the director of national selective service. No doubt the interview or statement is known to the minister. In the statement it is said that having regard to Canada's position to-day the number in the armed forces or gainfully employed " is just about as high as we can expect to go." Then it goes on to state that certain things are to be done by the department shortly. The questions I would ask the minister are these: In view of the declaration of Mr. MacNamara, do the surveys of the department indicate that there is any hoarding of labour on a large scale? Mr. MacNamara says that measures are to be taken in order to comb out those who have been hoarding labour. What industries are to be affected by further compulsory orders about to be issued, as stated by Mr. MacNamara? Does the statement I quoted a moment ago indicate that it is the intention of the government-