James Shaver Woodsworth
Labour
Mr. WOODSWORTH:
Do the heads of the shops become the heads of any military organizations?
Topic: BEVISED
LAB
EDITION
Supply-Permanent Force
LIB
Edward Mortimer Macdonald (Minister of National Defence)
Liberal
Mr. MACDONALD (Pictou):
No. Let me illustrate. Everyone has heard of the services of General Jack Stewart of Vancouver in connection with the movement of troops behind the lines, and this organization is intended to serve a similar purpose.
Topic: EDITION
PRO
Thomas Wakem Caldwell
Progressive
Mr. CALDWELL:
With regard to the question raised by my hon. friend (Mr. Brethen), concerning the standard of physical fitness required of men in the non-permanent force, I know that there is a tendency to abuse in this direction. In our own province in some cases it is hard to get men to fill up the camps and very often men are taken on the force who should never be admitted. I am not one of those who think that there should be no military training in this country but I do know that in order to get sufficient men to fill up the temporary camps the officers in command have taken on men of over sixty and boys who are barely out of school. I have in mind the case of an aged man who was seized with an epileptic fit on the parade ground. I do not know whether or not he was retained in the camp for the season but certainly he was unfit when he was taken on. There is little medical examination and in some cases little attention is paid to the fitness of the men. I should like to see the money spent on men who, in the event of military necessity, . would be of actual service. I think the minister might very well direct the attention of the officers of his department to this very point.
Topic: EDITION
LIB
Edward Mortimer Macdonald (Minister of National Defence)
Liberal
Mr. MACDONALD (Pictou):
I shall be
rery glad to make inquiries. This year and last year there was no necessity to take men who were not physically fit, because the few men taken were so far below the number of those anxious to come.
Topic: EDITION
CON
John Arthur Clark
Conservative (1867-1942)
Mr. CLARK:
Is it a fact that on and
after August 1 next the pay of all officers above the rank of lieutenant is to be increased, whereas the pay of lieutenants and private soldiers is to be decreased?
Topic: EDITION
LIB
Edward Mortimer Macdonald (Minister of National Defence)
Liberal
Mr. MACDONALD (Pictou):
There is no truth in the statement. The pay of every man from colonel down to private is to be reduced on August 1.
Topic: EDITION
CON
John Arthur Clark
Conservative (1867-1942)
Mr. CLARK:
What about allowances of
those above the rank of lieutenant; are they to be increased or reduced?
Topic: EDITION
LIB
Edward Mortimer Macdonald (Minister of National Defence)
Liberal
Mr. MACDONALD (Pictou):
My hon.
friend is speaking about the vote for the permanent force.
Topic: EDITION
PRO
Oliver Robert Gould
Progressive
Mr. GOULD:
Does the $283,000 decrease
in the vote represent less men in the nonpermanent force or less training?
Topic: EDITION
LIB
Edward Mortimer Macdonald (Minister of National Defence)
Liberal
Mr. MACDONALD (Pictou):
Both.
Topic: EDITION
PRO
Oliver Robert Gould
Progressive
Mr. GOULD:
The same answer applies to the next item?
Topic: EDITION
LIB
Edward Mortimer Macdonald (Minister of National Defence)
Liberal
Mr. MACDONALD (Pictou):
Yes.
Topic: EDITION
CON
George Black
Conservative (1867-1942)
Mr. BLACK (Yukon):
What proportion
of the non-permanent militia is contained under this vote?
Topic: EDITION
LIB
Edward Mortimer Macdonald (Minister of National Defence)
Liberal
Mr. MACDONALD (Pictou):
The money is divided between each military district, and the training varies according to the corps that may be in the district.
Topic: EDITION
CON
George Black
Conservative (1867-1942)
Mr. BLACK (Yukon):
Is it a third or a quarter or 75 per cent of the establishment?
Topic: EDITION
LIB
Edward Mortimer Macdonald (Minister of National Defence)
Liberal
Mr. MACDONALD (Pictou):
About one-third.
Topic: EDITION
PRO
Thomas Wakem Caldwell
Progressive
Mr. CALDWELL:
I am sorry to hear that there is to be a shorter period of training in the summer camps. I think it is better to train a smaller number for a longer period.
Topic: EDITION
LIB
Edward Mortimer Macdonald (Minister of National Defence)
Liberal
Mr. MACDONALD (Pictou):
It is both
ways.
Topic: EDITION