April 28, 1947 (20th Parliament, 3rd Session)

Mr. JOHN BRACKEN (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, with your permission I rise to speak on behalf of my associates; indeed, on this occasion I trust I speak for the whole house when I express to the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) a warm welcome upon his return. I am sure we are all pleased to see him looking so well, and we trust that he is as well as he looks. If either now or in the future he should require any further rest, I am sure also that it will be readily given by every section of the house. Judging from his appearance, I gather he does not need one. His ruddy complexion would indicate that the sunshine of Virginia has done him more good than the storms in the House of Commons have done the rest of us.
I am happy to be able to assure him that in his absence the house was most competently led by the Secretary of State for External Affairs (Mr. St. Laurent). Sometimes he and his associates were right in their attitude toward the public questions which came before us; always, when they were right they had the support of those of us on this side of the house. But sometimes both he and his associates were wrong, and on those occasions we did our best to get them back on the right trail.
I am sure I speak for all hon. members when I say we are glad to see the Prime Minister back, and we trust his condition is such that he may carry on his duties here without any danger of further impairment of his health.