Mr. HAZEN:

*No, my hon. friend is mistaken.

Mr. HAZEN:

No. All they get is this amount for a period of thirty-five years, and the amount is barely sufficient, if it is sufficient, to pay the interest on the full amount. Thus they must desire a considerable revenue from the operations of the dock. It is very desirable that, at Halifax on the east coast, and at some point on the

west coast, Esquimalt or Vancouver, there should be first-class docks, in the interest of the defence and of the

trade of Canada, and also ' of the

larger interests of the Empire. The matter has been considered by the Government, and no doubt by previous governments, and when the hon. member for Winnipeg (Mr. Rogers) then Minister of Public Works was in England in March and April last, the matter was taken up with the Imperial authorities. He had many interviews with officials of the Admiralty, the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office, and urged the necessity, from the standpoint of the Empire itself, of constructing docks on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, of a size that fwould make them available for the accommodation of the largest war vessels and commercial vessels now afloat. The hon. member for Winnipeg has just informed me that he has some interesting correspondence on that subject which he had with members of the British Government, but that it is impossible for him to lay his hand on it this afternoon; and he has suggested that the matter be allowed to stand until the next sitting so that he may have an opportunity of giving that information to the House in more detail than he can do to-day. Under those circumstances, I suggest that we pass the second reading, with the understanding that we go into committee on the Bill at the next sitting.

Motion agreed to and Bill read the second time.

Mr. HAZEN:

I have a statement from the Board of Pension Commissioners showing the amount that will be required for the year. The total amount required is $8,000,000, made us as follows:

1. Pensions already granted-

Amount paid for pensions in Canada and England for months of

April, May and June, 1917 $1,253,470

Estimate of pensions to be paid from July 1, 1917, to March 31, jgig , 3,021,637

2. New Pensions-

New pensions estimated at $1,800 per month from July 1, 1917, to March 31, 1918, at average of $400 per pension per month $2,700,000

The average of $400 per pension per month Is based on past business; 1,000 pensions for

April, 1917, working out at $450 per annum, and at the same number for May, 1917, working out at $380 (per annum.

3. Gratuities (for disability-Class 6)- Gratuities paid April, May

and June, 1917 $ 29,400

Estimates from July 1,

1917, to March 31, 1918, average $300 per month for 9 months, at $50 per

gratuity 135,000

$ 164,400

4. Estimated expenses of administering pensions-

Salaries, rentals, etc $ 470,000

The total has been put, in round figures, at $8,000,000. The amount of $2,000,000 is further required, in addition to the amount provided in the main estimates, in order to meet expenses up to March 31 next.

Mr. HAZEN:

That is .to carry out the legislation which was passed this year, which, hon. members will remember, gave the $100 increase instead of 'the $50 increase. The original estimates were based on the statutory increase of $50. This is to make up the difference.

Progress reported.

Mr. HAZEN:

I said we had kept that amount in the estimates foi*some years. It is not in this year's main estimates.