Mr. LACROIX (Beauce):

Mr. Chairman, I had risen-[DOT]

Mr. LACROIX (Beauce) (Translation):

Mr. Chairman, allow me, on this important matter of a war budget, to raise my voice and express my opinion.

War appropriations are being asked for:

(a) the security, defence, peace, order and welfare of Canada;

(b) the conduct of naval, military and air operations in or beyond Canada.

On September 8, the right hon. the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) made in -this house the following statement, reported on page 35 of Hansard.

The question of an expeditionary force or units of service overseas is particularly one of wide-reaching significance which will require the iullest examination. I note that Sir Henry Gullett, Australian minister for external affairs, told the Australian house of representatives on Wednesday that his government had not yet seriously considered dispatching an expeditionary force overseas. He declared that when the commonwealth had discharged its first duty to the empire, which was to ensure its own safety, and when it was better able to assess the strength of its enemies and the nature of the conflict, it would evolve proposals for further participation in the war for submission to the people. That statement indicates the Australian government are making the same general IMr. Lacroix.]

approach to the consideration of this problem as the government of Canada.

I understood from the statement of the right hon. the Prime Minister that Canada would not send overseas volunteer forces financed by this country without first giving the matter serious consideration.

Now, on the morrow of that declaration, we are being asked to include in the war appropriations a sum of $100,000,000 for military, naval and air operations in or beyond Canada, which means overseas.

I do not agree with the right hon. the Minister of Justice (Mr. Lapointe) when he says that it would be a dishonourable thing for Canada if our volunteer forces were raised at the expense of England.

No, no, Mr. Chairman, there is nothing dishonourable for Canada in trying to remain solvent during a conflict which is not directly our own war.

We bled our country white from 1914 to 1918. We made lavish expenditures. Canada lost 60,000 human lives. We have nearly

40,000 men crippled for life, to whom we are paying pensions. We are paying yearly for interest $114,000,000 more than in 1914 and the pensions to veterans of the great war are costing us $40,774,880.80 a year.

From 1930 to the present day, our country has not been able to collect from the ratepayers enough taxes to meet her obligations. Our working class is living in slavery. Our farmers have abandoned and are still abandoning their lands through the lack of the necessary income or credit.

I have always been willing to vote and I have always voted in favour of the military appropriations required for the defence of the country. But when I am asked to vote this appropriation to maintain an army outside the country, I say that we cannot afford it, while England can very well afford it if she wishes. And if we have volunteers ready to go to help her she should refund to Canada the expenditure involved.

England has financial facilities and financial experts which a young country has not. Only recently, she bought on the Canadian market nearly 100.000,000 bushels of wheat at about 55 cents a bushel, knowing very well that two years ago we had guaranteed to our farmers 70 and 80 cents a bushel. There would be no dishonour in England's using these 25 millions of dollars towards refunding to Canada the expense of supplying her with volunteers, and there would be no dishonour in Canada accepting it. I should feel no embarrassment nor shame if England used these 25 million dollars for that purpose.

War Appropriation Bill

Moreover, should we maintain one or two army corps of volunteers in England and then find ourselves short of men to keep them up to strength, would we not soon be on the way to compulsory service?

Another compelling reason for not embarking upon a war overseas lies in our geographical situation. More than ever is it time for this country to endeavour to remain Canada. The French Canadian particularly, who holds fast to his religion, his language and his schools, should give serious thought to the matter at this juncture. Our forefathers fought to preserve their liberties in that regard.

What would become of a Canada fallen into complete bankruptcy? The debtor belongs to his creditor; he falls under the latter's thumb when he is no longer able to finance himself. Is there not danger of us falling under the dependency of the United States, our principal creditor, in the event of our becoming bankrupt?

In order to remain what we are we shall have to look to our finances and to our outside expenditures. We went to extremes from 1914 to 1918 in giving unto the last man and the last dollar.

For these reasons I feel in duty bound to vote for the amendment which has just been moved.

Mr. LACROIX (Quebec-Montmorency) (Translation):

Mr. Chairman, I request that the vote be recorded.

War Appropriation Bill

Mr. LACROIX (Beauce):

But Roosevelt is dead.

Mr. DOUGLAS (Weyburn)-: Has the hon. member just found that out?

1. Have the Royal Canadian Mounted Police made any searches or investigations on the property of Mr. C. Aug. Cadrin, or of Mr. J. B. Cadrin, merchants at St. Anselme, county of Dorchester, province of Quebec?

2. How many such visits were made to the said property?

3. Did the Royal Canadian Mounted Police constables proceed by virtue of search warrants or not?

4. If not, by what authorization?

5. Were any complaints made that intoxicating liquor was stored in warehouses or other property of the said C. Aug. Cadrin or of the said J. B. Cadrin?

6. If so, by whom?

7. What were the results of such investigation?

8. Is there a limit to the number of such searches that can be made on private property?

9. Can such investigations be conducted at any hour of the day or night?

10. Will steps be taken to prevent unfair and unwarranted annoyance and persecution of peaceful citizens from taking place?