Mr. KING (Kootenay) :
I do not admit anything of the kind. I think it was unfair that the commutation should have been made some years ago.
Item agreed to. Relief of pensioners (governor general's warrant of February 20, 1930), $300,000.
Mr. KING (Kootenay):
This is to cover
the over-expenditure on relief. There is an item each year. It is very hard to estimate the amount.
Mr. MANION:
Is this vote for unemployment relief?
Mr. KING (Kootenay):
No, for relief to
pensioners.
Mr. MANION:
I thought by mistake
something had been given to relieve unemployment.
Mr. KING (Kootenay):
Undoubtedly
some of the men were out of employment.
Mr. MANION:
Yes, a lot of them.
Mr. ROSS (Kingston):
What is this?
Mr. KING (Kootenay):
This is a relief
fund for pensioners who are in distress during the winter months or at other seasons of the year.
Mr. ARTHURS:
How much has been distributed in the last two years?
2842 COMMONS
Supply-Pensions and National Health
Mr. KING (Kootenay):
Last year we
distributed $378,000; this year, $517,000.
Mr. PECK:
What is the item for Bill 19?
Mr. KING (Kootenay):
Vote 451, war
veterans' allowances, $1,000,000. .
Mr. MANION:
The increase of this relief from $300,000 last year to nearly $600,000 this year is one of the evidences, I suppose, of the prosperity which the ministers talk so much about throughout the country?
Mr. KING (Kootenay):
No.
Mr. ROSS (Kingston):
The total amount
of money spent on this relief, is $550,000. Is this partly the reason why Bill 19 was put through?
Mr. KING (Kootenay):
We hope Bill 19
will relieve many cases of distress during the winter months. These men will have a steady allowance throughout the year if they are unemployable and have reached the age of sixty. At present they accept odd jobs during the summer months and come into the cities during the winter. Some provision has to be made for this item.
Mr. ROSS (Kingston):
This $550,000 is
not paid to unemployable .pensioners. These men are actually out of work, no-job men.
Mr. KING (Kootenay) Some of them.
Mr. ROSS (Kingston):
Then there is a
large amount of unemployment.