Mr. FOURNIER:

I request from the hon. member the withdrawal of that part of his remarks.

Mr. FOURNIER:

With your permission, Mr. Chairman, and with the consent of the hon. member, I wish to point out that in my speech, as reported in Hansard of the 24th March, page 263, I said the following:

It is said that the unemployment situation has improved, thanks to the grant ot $20,000,000. I think so. Everybody will admit that it helped.

The hon. member should withdraw that part of his speech in which he states that I said that the grant caused harm.

Mr. ALPHONSE FOURNIER (Hull) (Translation):

Mr. Speaker, I shall deliver my first speech in the house, in French. I first owe it to the riding that I represent and which is composed of a mixed population, the very large majority, of which, however, speak the French language. Moreover, I owe it to the province of Quebec, three-fourths of whose inhabitants are of French origin, and lastly I owe it to my country, one-third of whose people are of French descent. Furthermore, I am only following in the footsteps of my predecessors speaking the same tongue and belonging to the same race when I assert in this house the privileges and rights we possess. My aim is at the same (time that the French language be better respected by our English-speaking fellow-citizens and to induce them to learn and speak French. For some time past the harmony which exists among the various races in our country has been debated as well as that existing between the various provinces, the Dominion and provincial governments. Hardly were the speeches of the right hon. Prime Minister (Mr. Bennett), the member for Regina (Mr. Turnbull) and the member for Dauphin (Mr. Bowman) delivered, than we read in the local papers that this harmony is not so general as it was contended in the house, and that even, certain of these gentlemen were responsible for the existence of dissensions among us. I took the trouble to cut out from the Ottawa newspapers clippings with reference to certain remarks made by some citizens who are not particularly fond of our language and race. In the Droit of March 18, 1931 we read under the heading:

The Orangemen of Ontario score French teaching in public schools.

At a meeting on Tuesday, the Grand Black Chapter of Ontario East, of the Royal Black Knights of Ireland, at to-day's session protested against the teaching of French in public schools in Russell county and northern Ontario, and decided to petition the Ontario government to have this discontinued.

The chapter also objected to any proposals for the establishment of Roman Catholic

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institutional schools for boys, the upkeep of which is to be a charge on the funds of the public for education.

This clipping is published in another newspaper The Evening Journal of the same date, March 18, 1931. A few days later, March 20, we again witness our good friends begin anew in North Bay: La Presse of

March 20, publishes the following news: "The Orangemen demand the repeal of the separate school privileges."

North Bay, Ont., 20 (P.C.).-The delegates to the meeting of the Grand Lodge of western Ontario, Orangemen, adopted yesterday, at their closing session, a resolution requesting the repeal of all the amendments to the Separate School Act since 1863, which grant additional privileges to the separate schools of the province, and also requesting that all possible efforts be made to oppose other amendments having in view the granting of special privileges.

The French-Canadians, especially those in the district of Montreal, according to newspapers, thought fit to also protest against the action taken by the Prime Minister of Saskatchewan who had the crucifix or all religious emblems removed from the schools, and forbade priests and nuns teaching in the province, to wear their religious garb. The St. John the Baptist Society of Montreal adopted a resolution protesting against such action on the part of the Prime Minister of that province. I did not think it-it is true I lack experience-that hon. members of this house took part in suoh movements. I even was unaware that the member for Regina (Mr. Turnbull), during the elections of July,

1930, had also personally taken part in the struggle against the French language and the Quebec province. I was in error. In the Regina Star, of May 29 last, certain remarks of Mr. Turnbull were published, they were not very flattering for his colleagues of Quebec. May I quote the Droit of March 20,

1931. This newspaper publishes and comments on the following article taken from the Regina Star of March 29 last:

Mr. Turnbull stated that the French influence of Quebec was thrown in the scale against the Conservatives because of the measures taken by the provincial government to free the schools of influences which are inconsistent with the public school system, and in support of this proof, Mr. Turnbull in a dramatic flourish, waves above his head a copy of the Patriote de l'Ouest published in Prince Albert. This newspaper, he states, advertises that an examination in French will be held in the schools of all French-speaking districts of the province. Prizes will be offered for the best papers following the examination, with the idea of propagating our beautiful language.

This newspaper, he continues, publishes a list of donations of these prizes, and many of them are residents of the province of Quebec.

Mr. FOURNIER (Translation):

I cannot

recall having read that the leader of the Liberal party had contended that there was no crisis. We even contend that it was a world-wide crisis. Moreover, intelligent people know this to be a fact. One had but to inquire and read so as to verify that this crisis existed throughout the world, but was specially felt among the nations with a high tariff. It was in Australia, in the United States and Germany that the people suffered the most from the economic crisis and, to-day, it is still in Australia that the people suffer the most from the effects of the crisis. If we refer to the newspapers of these last days, we find that in January, in the United States, where high protection existed even before the Conservatives raised our tariff in September, there were six million unemployed. We never contended that there was no crisis, however, we maintained that the Canadian government was not to 'be held entirely responsible for that crisis. During his campaign, for a time at least, the present Prime Minister, contended that this crisis was caused by the Liberal administration; he even stated in one of his speeches:

Nine years of wasted effort, before the great betrayal. Can you permit these men to govern you any longer? There should be no unemployment in Canada with a proper fiscal policy.

Some time later, after the election of July 28, it was necessary for the government to take steps to relieve unemployment. The Minister of Labour called a meeting of all the representatives of the various provinces so as to gather information on the unemployment situation in their respective provinces. In his speech at the opening of the conference, the minister rather changes his views and admits, the elections being over, that the unemployment situation was not due to the bad administration or fiscal policy of the Liberal government. The following is his statement:

"I do not for a moment suggest that the present unemployment is due to any governmental activity or lack of governmental activity. Unemployment is not purely a Canadian problem. It is world-wide."

He therefore tells us after the elections, that it was a world-wide problem. They were in power, it behooved them bo relieve unemployment. Did they do so? Not at all. They have but one remedy which they wish to apply in all circumstances. Did they apply it? Did they decrease unemployment? Did they fulfil their pledges? Any serious-minded man must ask himself whether those who were to perform miraculous cures succeeded, and whether their eight months of administration gave beneficial results to the people.

Did the raising of the tariff in September produce the results expected? I frankly admit that I mingle quite a little with the people. In my riding the working people outnumber the others; the professional class is limited; those in trade are not very numerous, because we deal largely with the capital; there are also manufacturers. Since the raising of the tariff in September I have heard but one manufacturer say that it had had good results. I highly respect Mr. Drury who is the president of the largest industrial company of my city. Some time ago Mr. Drury was present at a banquet of the chamber of commerce in Hull and I had the privilege and pleasure of being seated next to him. I was unaware that politics would be broached at that meeting. However, the last part of his speech was very touching. He also tried to raise the morale of the people of Hull. In closing his remarks he said: "We already feel the beneficial results of the raising of the tariff." The following day, quite upset, and to seek information, I consulted many of the unemployed of the city and not one had found work since the raising of the tariff; they were still among those who needed direct assistance. The upward revision of the tariff has been of benefit to Mr. Drury, I have no doubt. He is a financier, a business man, a manufacturer. I know that he profits by it and I am happy that some of our fellow citizens can reap some advantage from high duties; however, I think that the Conservative government, at the present moment, should also consider the citizens of cities who do not benefit or, if so, very little, from high tariff.

The government would be doing useful work by teaching the people how to make use of business-like methods in their affairs, just as the King government carried on during nine years, that is, spend less than its revenue and economize in order that, when Conservative governments turn up, there may be some savings to face poverty and unemployment which will always be present. Has high tariff increased business? I do not think so. It increases it in the case of some industries which profit by it, but it is not less true that other industries suffer by it. Of late the discount on imported cars was increased. That was to help our manufacturers. All American automobile companies were to establish themselves in Canada. None have come yet that I know. Some seem to forget, notwithstanding the protests of automobile importers, that this legislation or higher tariff is detrimental to a number of our people. Some seem to forget that the automobile importers had invested a capital of $30,000,000, that there were

10,000 employees in that industry and that by

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increasing the tariff their sales would decrease. Many of these automobile importers will have to discontinue business and thereby increase the number of unemployed. We have all received the statement of the Canadian Automobile Importers Association, where much information can be found. The above figures are taken from that statement. In certain circles it was not thought that the automobile importers would have to discontinue their operations. They were in error. In the Droit of March 18, I note the following passage:

W. H. MacIntyre, general manager of the Ottawa Car Garage iand the Ottawa Car Manufacturing, stated this morning to the Droit that his company would discontinue the sale of Marmon and Nash automobiles as well as the Federal trucks. He explained that the sales branch yields no profit owing to the recent tariff restrictions on automobiles of American make sold by the Ottawa Car Garage. Mr. MacIntyre did not wish to further specify.

The rumour spread that the large establishments of the Ottawa Car Garage and the Ottawa Car Manufacturing Company would soon close their doors. Mr. MacIntyre gave out that it was false and that only the Sales Branch of the Ottawa Car Garage, would be discontinued. The garage itself, and the automobile repair shops would carry on. About fifteen men are affected by this decision.

Should this business close, necessarily employees will be thrown out of work, and they will have to wait, in order to get a job, that the American companies establish factories in this country. They must suffer in the meantime. This proves that the tariff, while it helps on the one hand may be on the other detrimental.

I also found out that the mills of the Ste. Anne Paper Co., at Beaupre, will close their doors at the end of the month for an indefinite time. The superintendent of the mills says that this decision will result in increasing from 300 to 400 the number of unemployed. It is thought that these mills will remain closed for a year.

An hon. MEMBER (Translation): Is that the wish of the hon. member?

Mr. FOURNIER (Translation):

I have but one suggestion to make before I close my remarks, and it is not a personal one. I came to the conclusion, after the election of July 28 last, that I had certain responsibilities to discharge which I had not previously to that date, and I have endeavoured in the

meantime to obtain information. I am one of those new members who have much good will but little knowledge of politics, however, I hope to acquire some before my mandate ends, and I shall fulfil my duties to the best of my ability. I think that, during the period of prosperity that we have enjoyed of late, it would have been wise to teach economy to (the people tundler the influence of manufacturers, industrial firms, speculators, advertisements, by campaigns known as "high pressure salesmanship ' and by other means, conditions were so upset that the people, the workers who had plenty of work did not restrict themselves to their budget but spent extravagantly. I think it behooves men in public life to teach the people to develop in family life the spirit of thrift and to teach them to live according to itheir means. If family life is on a solid foundation in a country or city, you may rest assured that the city itself will have a wise and economic administration. And to carry this a step further the well administered city will help toward improving the administration of the province and so on until we reach the government of the country. However, I do not think that it behooves only men in public life and the government to carry on this education. It behooves the business man to do a little of this education among his employees. I am perhaps wrong, but by what I gather from the newspapers, heads of industries, manufacturers and business men seem to have one aim in view, that of producing and selling so as to draw dividends at ithe end of their financial year-and dividends as large as possible. They endeavour to increase their turn-over, forgetting the human element which enters in their various industries and especially having in mindi-in a selfish manner, their capital, which is to bring them large returns.

I do not know whether Henry Ford is persona grata with the members of this house, however, he sometimes says things which are full of common sense. Some time ago, I cut out the following passage from one of his articles:

The foundation of prosperity is the family. Each family is, or should be, its own business manager. The material affairs of a family are as much a business as the affairs of an industrial corporation.

He added that many families understand this but that the number is not sufficiently large.

And, further on, another passage of this article strongly drew my attention:

The people can be no more extravagant than business reduces them to be; they can go no

The Address-Mr. Fournier

farther into debt than business permits them to go; they can gamble only when business- or something that passes under that name- provides the opportunity.

That is to say that it places on business men the responsibility of not giving the people the necessary education in prevision of. years of depression. I think that this

situation will always exist in the world; periods of depression will follow periods of prosperity, and if the people are well prepared by educational campaigns, we shall have accomplished a great step towards the general welfare of our country.

I do not wish to further delay the house. I have a few words to add in support of the remarks of my colleague from Ottawa (Mr. Chevrier) with reference to the civil servants. During the Liberal government regime, all seemed quiet in this circle of society. The civil employees carried on, assured that their salaries would be paid, and that at the end of the year they would be given their statutory increase. They lived in peace of mind which, of late, seems to have been disturbed. The present government, I do not know whether it is in a spirit of economy or whether with a view of replacing the staffs of some departments-allow certain information to leak out to the effect that three hundred temporary employees in some departments only, will soon be thanked for their services. I do not know whether the government will do so. I openly state that this will in no way help in the good administration of the various departments and in no manner will it help to relieve unemployment existing in our district.

There is also talk of retiring those who have reached the age of 65. It is sometimes among these persons that the most efficient employees are to be found, owing to their long experience. I think that one should move slowly in this connection. I am told-

I have no personal knowledge in this matter -that already a deputy minister who had reached the age of 65, has been retired, and, by the irony of fate, he was replaced, it seems, by a person who has reached 70 years.

I question whether it is for the better administration of that department.

The suppression of the statutory increase for all those who receive more than S2,500, is talked about. I shall point out that the more the salary of an employee is high, the greater his obligations to society, both as regards to his family and himself. I do not think that the time is ripe to economise-in salary increases and especially to retire persons who can still render great services to the country owing to their knowledge and experience. As

long as I have a seat in the house, I shall closely scrutinize whether the dismissals are really justified.

I might, moreover, discuss the threats of dismissals made to postmasters and some employees of my riding, but I think that later on I shall have the opportunity of debating these questions.

In closing my remarks-as my leader so soundly stated last week-I believe that in a government, there is not only the material side, the practical side of affairs to consider, but there is also the brains, the intelligence and things which pertain to the mind. Our aim is to have a country as great and beautiful as any country in the world, composed of two great races which will one day love one another if they learn the two official languages of the country, and all my efforts will be directed in that direction.