Sir THOMAS WHITE (Acting Prime Minister):

Mr. Speaker, since the last session of Parliament another of our members has passed away. I refer to that gallant soldier, Lieut.-Col. Sam Sharpe, D.iS.O. He was elected upon three successive occasions by the people of North Ontario as their representative in this House. Early in his career he had become connected with the Canadian militia and, when the war broke

li

out, he was major of the 34th battalion. After experiencing some difficulty in qualifying as medically fit for active service, 'Major Sharpe undertook to raise the 116th First Ontario County regiment, with which he went overseas in July, 1916. He was deservedly popular with the rank and file as well as with his brother officers, for all of whom he displayed an almost fatherly regard. He served with great distinction at the front being mentioned in dispatches and winning the coveted Distinguished Service Order. In civil life he was held in high esteem among his associates at the Bar and a wide circle of private acquaintances. He was a member who took a valuable part in the discussions in this House and in the work of important committees. His public career was full of promise and II am sure that every member of this House will join in deploring his untimely death and offering assurance of our deep and cordial sympathy to the widow and other members of his family circle.

Mr. .ROBB (Chief Whip of the Opposition) : Temporarily representing, and speaking for, Hfs Majesty's loyal Opposition, I desire to join in paying our tribute of respect to the memory of our deceased friend and colleague, the late Lieut.-Col. Sam Sharpe who as a member of this House had a host of friends. The late Col. Sharpe, as has been so well said by the hon. the Acting Prime Minister (Sir Thomas White) was a most useful member of this House, and one who was remarkable for the industry which he displayed in the performance of his parliamentary duties. Upon the outbreak of war, at the call of his country, he left these legislative halls, unsheathed his sword and went forth to do battle in the cause of freedom and justice.

We, upon this side, deplore his untimely end. We join , with the Acting Prime Minister in the expression of admiration for his gallant conduct, and in offering our sympathy to Mrs. Sharpe and the members of his family.

Sir THOMAS WHITE (Acting Prime Minister):

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken of the losses sustained by the House in the death of two of its members. I now turn to the restoration to this House of a member long known and well liked. I refer to the hon. member for Beauce (Mr. Beland) formerly Postmaster General of Canada. We welcome him back almost as from the tomb; from the living death of

German imprisonment. He was made to bear, vicariously, the deep resentment borne by the Hun, on account of the notable part taken by Canada in the prosecution of this war.

Who, of all who knew him, in the session preceding the war; gentle, kindly, popular as he was with all the members of the House, could have imagined that fate had in store for him such strange adventures and such tragic experiences. The story of his visit to Belgium, of his internment as a political prisoner by the Germans and of the oppressive and calculatedly brutal treatment to which he was subjected is known to all the members of this House and, indeed, to all the people of Canada.

I assure him that we greatly rejoiced at the news of his 'liberation, Sand wholeheartedly we welcome him back to his seat in this House.

Mi. ROBB ('Chief Whip of Hie Opposition) :

Mr. Speaker, may we join with the Acting Prime Minister and his followers on the Government side of the House in offering a welcome home to our good friend, the hon. member for Beauce, formerly Postmaster General. iHis four years captivity in a German prison may have brought wrinkles to his brow and sorrow to his heart but the genial, kindly, Dr. Beland remains and we join with our friends opposite in welcoming him back to this House.

Sir THOMAS WHITE:

Mr. Speaker, I beg to. move, seconded by-Mr. Reid:

That when this House adjourns this day, it shall, out of respect to the memory of the late Right Hon, Sir Wilfrid Lauxier, stand adjourned fill Tuesday next the 24th hist.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I have the honour to inform the 'House that II have received from the Honourable Mr. Justice Walsh and the Honourable Mr. Justice Simmons, two of the Judges selected for the trial of Election Petitions, pursuant to "The Dominion Controverted Elections Act," a report relating to the Election for the Electoral District of Bow River, by which the said Election Petition was dismissed.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I have the honour to inform the House that, during the recess,

I received a communication notifying me of a vacancy having occurred in the representation of Ontario North, by the decease of Samuel Simpson Sharpe, (Esq.

I accordingly issued my warrant to the 'Clerk of the Crown in Chancery to make out a new Writ of Election for the said Electoral District.

On motion of Sir Thomas White, the House adjourned at 3.55 p.m.

Tuesday, February 25, 1919.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I have the honour to inform the House that the Serjeant-at-Arms, with my approval has appointed Louis Charles Panet, Esquire, to be his deputy during the' present session of Parliament.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I beg to present a communication from His Excellency the Governor-General approving of a Minute of the Privy Council appointing Hon. Martin Burrell, Secretary of State; Hon. John * Dowsley Reid, Minister of Railways and Canals; Hon. J. A. Calder, Minister of Immigration and Colonization; and Hon.

A. L. Sifton, Minister of Customs and Inland Revenue, to act with the Speaker of the House of Commons as commissioners for the purpose, and under the provisions, of the eleventh chapter, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1906, entitled, " An Act Respecting The House of Commons."

Sir THOMAS WHITE (Acting Prime Minister) moved:

That a special committee be appointed to . prepare and report with all convenient speed, lists of members to compose the Select Standing Committees of the House under Ruile 10, said Committee to be composed of Messrs. Reid (Grenville), McKenzie, Oarvell, Calder, Middlebro, McCoig and Robb, and that that portion of Rule 10 limiting the number of members of the said Committee be suspended in relation thereto.