Mr. MITCHELL:
No, you take it; I do not want it. You may have it. My hon. friend knows there was a recent case of ill treatment of a Polish soldier in Saskatchewan.
Mr. COLDWELL:
I do, yes.
Mr. MITCHELL:
Fortunately it is the only instance that has come to my attention since the movement of these men to Canada.
Labour Conditions
but we have some responsibility to that young Polish soldier to see that he is placed on another farm where he will be assimilated into the life of this country.
Mr. COLDWELL:
He was not under a contract to stay where he was.
Mr. MITCHELL:
You cannot blow hot and cold on this thing; you have to assume some responsibility. How did these people come into Canada under the terms of the order jn council? It is perfectly clear that they came here under the minimum wage laws existing in Quebec. Let me say this about wages. I do not know what it costs to live in this town of St. Georges in Quebec. Do not forget this: I have been a high wage man all my life: I think that is well known in the house.
Mr. KNOWLES:
Did the minister say "highway"?
Mr. MITCHELL:
I want to say this to my hon. friend-
Mr. COLDWELL:
I thought better of the minister than that.
Mr. MITCHELL:
I wish to say to my reverend friends and school teachers across the tray that at least I worked in industry for my living.
Mr. COLDWELL:
The rest of us did.
Mr. MITCHELL:
When I left Hamilton I belonged to an organization that was the highest paid of its class in the trade in the dominion. I have always been a high wages man; I believe in it. But do not forget that wages are relative, as I shall indicate before I get much farther. I do not know what it costs to live in St. Georges. I am not defending the minimum wage laws of the province of Quebec, not for one minute. But I would guarantee that the cost of living in that community is somewhat different from what it is in New York city or in the city of Montreal.
Mr. MACKENZIE:
Or in Ottawa.
Mr. MITCHELL:
Or even in Ottawa, as my hon. friend know-3 quite well. What is the policy? My hon. friend talked about precedents. What, is the policy of the British government in this regard? It is not any different from our own.
Mr. COLDWELL:
Yes, it is; the trades unions are helping to bring these people in.
Mr. MITCHELL:
Wait a minute.
Mr. COLDWELL:
No one comes in without the consent of the trades unions.
Mr. MITCHELL:
Let the record speak for itself. May I say this about the trade unions
and the criticism which has been directed to my department and the department of immigration in connection with this matter, and about some of the statements made over the air by a half-wit who sits in this gallery. What was said yesterday afternoon does not add anything to the problem.
Which gallery?
Mr. MITCHELL:
Let. us take the question of a contract.
Mr. COLDWELL:
Why attack a man who cannot reply?