Mr. Barneii:

I rather hesitate to interject any remarks into this discussion but on listening to it I fail to see why the protection for the accused which my learned friends are apparently seeking is not provided in section 131. I personally would like to have their views as to whether section 131 does not in fact provide the protection they are seeking.

Mr. Barneii:

I was listening to this discussion from the point of view of my learned friends although I am not in that category in any sense of the word. It does appear to me that under the ordinary usage of language the word "seduction" means that a person is wholly or chiefly to blame, and that is the offence which is set forth in this section. Unless the blame is proved, there is no offence. With the saving clause in 131 I feel that the accused is adequately protected in the situation that is described.

Mr. T. S. Barnett (Comox-Alberni):

Supplementary to the question asked by the hon. member for Cape Breton South, in view of the fact that the minister feels the policy being followed in the United States cannot be implemented in this country, can the minister tell the house whether or not the government is considering extending the available unemployment insurance benefits to workers in those areas or in industries such as textiles or farm machinery where unemployment is more than seasonal in nature?

Mr. Barnett:

I would respectfully suggest that it was as a result of the suggestion of the Postmaster General that postage rates are linked to the introduction of the five-day 40-hour week that the discussion took place in the committee this afternoon. This matter was raised and was discussed. I would suggest that if this 40-hour week is going to be taken lightly or brushed aside, then one of the major reasons the minister has advanced for introducing this legislation will go by the board. I wonder if he realizes the significance of the suggestion that employees who are going to receive the benefits of the 40-hour week are going to be encouraged to

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work overtime. I wonder if he realizes just what a hornets' nest may be stirred up by this action.

I would suggest he might ask anyone who has had experience as a chairman of a plant grievance committee or as an industrial personnel officer, as to the nature of one of the major grievances. I suggest that the answer he would receive would be that this question of overtime, and of allowing people who are on a regular 40-hour week to do overtime work, is one of the biggest headaches they have. I must admit I was greatly disturbed to hear the minister suggest that practice was going to be encouraged with the introduction of the 40-hour week in the postal service. I wonder if he is aware of the insidious sort of pressure that can be brought to bear to break down the 40-hour week once it has been established.

Mr. Barnett:

It is not my desire to prolong this discussion unduly. Perhaps I have said enough along this line to indicate my views.

I was going to relate my remarks to the suggestion that was made this afternoon by the hon. member for Vancouver South concerning the hiring of casual employees at what may be lesser wages than would normally be paid. This would affect the cost of operation of the post office. I should like to say that efficient administration and general economy in the post office should cause the Postmaster General to look very carefully at this idea of introducing casual employees.

The minister tried to suggest that where the 40-hour week came into effect in industry everything was shut down on Saturday, so there was no parallel there. I would suggest to the minister that he might look at a good many industries which do not do that, where they have had experience in integrating around the clock operations into the five-day 40-hour week. I suggest that industries such as mining, where the concentrator plants work around the clock, and pulp and paper plants which operate around the clock, are industries into which they do not bring casual employees for the week

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end. There are also the power plants across the country where the same condition applies.

I would agree that in certain limited areas, such as university towns or something of that sort, there might be merit in the suggestion of the hon. member for Vancouver South that bona fide university students be considered for casual work. I would suggest to the minister, however, that the areas where such an arrangement could be efficiently introduced are very few. I believe he should give consideration, just as most industries do when they introduce the shorter work week, to creating an integrated operation with fully qualified employees.