George Alexander Drew (Leader of the Official Opposition)
Progressive Conservative
Mr. Drew:
I appreciate the difficulties
which the Prime Minister has pointed out in regard to differentiation between the different types of claims. Without extending the discussion too much I would nevertheless urge that if possible immediate consideration be given to claims such as those by widows of husbands who died from starvation or ill treatment and who themselves have little or no earning power today and are thus in a position of great hardship. I need hardly point out that we are only a month away from Christmas and into the winter season and great encouragement would be given to a number of people who are in most difficult positions if they had some assurance that their cases, as distinguished from claims by large companies in respect to the sinking of ships and things of that kind, would be dealt with in the way of some interim allowance that would at least take care of their immediate requirements.
Subtopic: REQUEST FOR INTERIM PAYMENT TO CANADIANS WHO SUFFERED FROM JAPANESE ACTION