Mr. Claxlon:

I can assure the hon. member that we will make our decision on the basis of tests and trials by Canadians as well as by others working in this partnership.

Mr. Claxion:

They could not get them after.

The hon. member made some remarks about anti-tank activities. Our troops are trained in anti-tank activities, whether they are armour, artillery or infantry, and that is about the biggest single item, the biggest single aspect of the field training that they have to do. How he can say they are not trained in anti-tank activities, I do not know, because he must have known. I have been at exercises at Wainwright and Petawawa and he must have been; I have seen them in Germany and seen them constantly in films that have been taken-there is a major field of continuous anti-tank activities. We try to have the latest types of training work, the latest type of dropping is practised, and they use the best kind of equipment.

Mr. Claxton:

Mr. Chairman, I will answer the hon. member very rapidly. With regard to R.C.A.F. associations grant, if he will look at page 322 of the estimates, he will see provision for grants of $15,000. The reason for the reduction that there is in the air cadet appropriation is that this is more realistically related to what is intended for this year.

With regard to auxiliary squadrons, we expect to begin the equipment of existing

Supply-National Defence squadrons with CF-lOO's in 1955. But preliminary to that we plan this summer to start trying this out with a single squadron on an experimental basis. The problems involved in this operation are extremely complicated. In order to have the squadrons work with CF-lOO's, it will probably be necessary to have about half the strength regular force.

With regard to Mustangs, Mitchells and Vampires, may I say that Mustangs are very good aircraft for catching the kind of bombers that might come over at this particular period. Mitchells are going to continue to be used for the operation of cleaning up any landings that might take place. They are very good aircraft for the purpose. With regard to Brandon having an air station or reserve flight or something of the kind, I think the air force's answer to that would be that it has been found generally desirable to locate these air control and warning units, large or small, at places where active flying is carried on so that they can train on active flying by the R.C.A.F. and where there is not too far away a radar station which they would be mobilized to assist. Those two conditions do not exist at Brandon yet. However, we have to take it into consideration.

Contributions towards the military costs of NATO.

Mr. Claxion:

At each air station they have a service fire-fighter squad which is highly trained and fully equipped. In this case it was on the scene of the fire within a minute of discovery. In addition, there are fire prevention services and patrols. They are arranged in accordance with the regulations laid down by headquarters of the three services and with the work of the fire marshals. If we had men constantly on duty at each of say six hangars it would mean 24 men a day, and would amount to a good deal of money.

Mr. Claxion:

I shall be glad to look into it. If the R.C.A.F. do not carry mail to Europe it may be because their airlift is fully occupied by their own loads. We have hired a good deal of T.C.A. airlift service to Europe to service the R.C.A.F. abroad. There may be something also in connection with licences to carry mail or something of that kind.

Now, with regard to rates, I am very surprised at the complaint. I have never heard the suggestion before that rates were other than reasonable. Ordinary letter rate is 4 cents to the orient.