Motion agreed to. (For text of address of Prime Minister Fraser, with speeches of welcome and thanks, see page 44W-

Department of Veterans Affairs

Bill No. 150, for the relief of Eugene Charron.-Mr. Macdonald (Brantford City). Bill No. 151, for the relief of Lillian Bessie Noall Salmon.-Mr. Hill. Bill No. 152, for the relief of Joan Helen Gorham Glover.-Mr. Emmerson. Bill No. 153, for the relief of Elsie Hollingsworth.-Mr. Casselman (Grenville-Dundas). Bill No. 154, for the relief of Louis Joseph Jules Laurencelle.-Mr. Macdonald (Brantford City). Bill No. 155, for the relief of Freda Altman Scheien.-Mr. Factor. Bill No. 156, for the relief of Ivan Walter Moore.-Mr. Mcllraith.

Hon. IAN A. MACKENZIE (Minister of Pensions and National Health) moved the second reading of and concurrence in amendments made by the senate to bill No. 83, to establish a department of veterans affairs. He said: Mr. Speaker, at this stage I would ask the house to deal with two very slight ainendments made by the other house to bill No. S3. These amendments appear at page 513 of Votes and Proceedings for June 29. The first amendment is purely one of drafting, namely, to leave out the word "such" as it appears at page 2, line 34, of the bill. The amendment is of no consequence with the exception of draftsmanship. The second amendment is a new paragraph to be inserted as recommended by the other house. This too is found at page 513 of Votes and Proceedings. The proposed section reads: The minister shall annually lay before parliament, within fifteen days after the meeting thereof, a report and statement of the transactions and affairs of the department during the year then next preceding. This was advocated by several hon. members from the floor of this chamber. Motion agreed to; amendments read the second time and concurred in.

Hon. IAN A. MACKENZIE (Minister of Pensions and National Health) moved the second reading of and concurrence in an amendment made by the senate to bill No. 137, respecting surplus crown assets. He said: Mr. Speaker, this amendment is found at page 514 of Votes and Proceedings for June 29. The amendment is purely one of wording. It is suggested that at page 4, line 9, of the bill the word "has" should be substituted for " had."

Hon. IAN A. MACKENZIE (Minister of Pensions and National Health) moved the second reading of and concurrence in amendments made by the senate to bill No. 82, to establish a department of reconstruction. He said: Mr. Speaker, I ask concurrence in these amendments, because they are non-contentious. Hon. members will find that section 8 as amended would read: 8. Any member of the civil service transferred to the department from some other department shall not forfeit any of the rights and privileges appertaining to a civil servant because of such transfer and, on ceasing to be employed by the department for any reason other than misconduct, shall be eligible, without loss of seniority or pension or other rights, for assignment to a position in the civil service of the class held in the department, or to any other position for which he may have qualified. That is the new wording of the old section 8, prepared this morning, on the advice of legal counsel in my presence. The second amendment has reference to-section 10 of the bill dealing with offences. The suggested section reads: 10. (1) No person who obtains, under or by virtue of this act, information in relation to-the business of any other person, shall, without the consent of such person, disclose or allow to be disclosed to anyone not legally entitled thereto, any information so obtained, in such manner as to be identifiable as being in relation to the business of such person. This is a distinct improvement on the former-phraseology. The purport, however, is exactly the same. [Mr. Crerar.l Housing Programme The next amendment made by the senate affects section 11. It is suggested that after the word "minister" the words "under the provisions of this act" be -added. That limits the effect of the section. Motion agreed to, amendments read the second time and concurred in.