Right Hon. L. S. St. Laurent (Prime Minister):

Mr. Raymond, now that we who have been elected to this house to form a part of the twenty-first parliament of Canada have made our first formal bow to His Majesty's representative, and have been duly reminded of our obligations under the British North America Act, the moment has arrived for us to comply with the section of the act which requires the members elected to form a parliament after a general election, and, at the first opportune moment, to choose one of their number to be their Speaker.

Four years ago my predecessor, Right Hon. W. L. Mackenzie King, as prime minister, gave an interesting resume of the provisions of the law and the requirements of practice and tradition in the selection of a Speaker, together with a precise enumeration of the qualifications it was fitting to find in the member chosen for that high office. I shall not take time today to repeat what was said on that occasion, but any hon. member who wishes to have his memory refreshed will find that interesting review in the first issue of Hansard of the twentieth parliament.

I hope and believe that the nomination it will be my privilege to make for this high office will meet with the approval of all members of the house. I am quite sure it will meet with the hearty approval of all hon. members who in previous years had the privilege of sitting with the hon. member who

Election of Speaker

is to be nominated, especially those of us who were here during the last parliament and were able to observe with what ability and distinction he fulfilled the office of Deputy Speaker and chairman of committees.

Hon. members will have understood from my last remark that it is my intention to move that Mr. W. Ross Macdonald, member-elect for the constituency of Brantford, be chosen to preside over our deliberations during this parliament.

Mr. Macdonald is still a young man. He was born not earlier than 1891, and for several years has been a distinguished member of the House of Commons. As we all know, Mr. Macdonald has had a distinguished career at the bar; his legal attainments and objective view of questions of order and procedure that might arise in the course of our deliberations cannot but commend themselves to those who know him. I am sure it is also an added pleasure to his colleagues in this house, in choosing him for this high office, to honour one who had such a distinguished career in the service of our country during the first world war.

The position of Speaker is of course a difficult one, but I am sure the qualifications of our colleague will enable him to discharge the responsibilities of that office not only with fairness and impartiality, but in such a manner as to add to the dignity of the proceedings of this parliament.

It is with a feeling of great satisfaction, Mr. Raymond, that I move, seconded by the Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. Howe): That William Ross Macdonald, Esquire, member for the electoral district of Brantford, do take the chair of this house as Speaker.

Mr. George A. Drew (Leader of ihe Opposition):

Mr. Raymond, there will be

wholehearted approval in all parts of this house of the name that has been mentioned in connection with this motion, which I am sure will be supported unanimously. I have not had the extended experience others have had of sitting in this house with Mr. Macdonald, but it happens that I had the privilege of knowing him for many years before I came here. It is a fortunate thing for this house, and for the people of Canada whom this house serves, that a man of his distinction and ability should have occupied already the position of Deputy Speaker with satisfaction to all hon. members.

As has been pointed out by the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent), Mr. Macdonald has had long years of public service in the legal profession, in the military forces and in local public service. He has been a member of this house for many years, and I feel sure there will be no more distinguished part of his service than that which he will

give as Speaker of this house, where, as the one in whose hands lies the authority of the house itself, his judicial qualities and wide experience will guide the discussions in the Commons, which have so much to do with the welfare of everyone in Canada. I wish simply to add my words of hearty approval of this motion, and to express my confidence that Mr. Macdonald will be a worthy successor to the distinguished men who have preceded him. I feel sure I speak for all those sitting with me when I wish him health and happiness in the occupancy of the office to which he will be chosen.

Mr. M. J. Coldwell (Roseiown-Biggar):

Mr. Raymond, it gives me personally a great deal of pleasure to support the motion of the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent), as well as to do so on behalf of the party we represent in this house.

As the Prime Minister has said, Mr. Ross Macdonald was elected to parliament in 1935, and some of us have been associated with him ever since. We respect him, and we have grown to have an affection for him, not only because of his unfailing courtesy in all matters having to do with the business of the house, but because in many respects he is a man -of modesty. I am quite sure the high honour and dignity attached to the office of Speaker of the house will be maintained by him, and that his occupancy of the office will be worthy of the best among those who have presided over the business of the house in the past.

In this house, constituted as it is following the election, it is essential that the Speaker show impartiality and fairness to all hon. members, regardless of the party to which they belong and regardless of where they sit in this chamber. I am reminded of statements made by Speakers of the British house from time to time, that it is the duty of the Speaker to protect individuals or groups who find themselves in a minority position. I have no doubt that Mr. Macdonald will do that.

It is therefore with the greatest pleasure that, on behalf of those who sit with me, as well as on my own behalf, I support the motion presented by the Prime Minister.

Mr. Solon E. Low (Peace River):

Mr. Raymond, I should like to indicate, on behalf of the group for which I speak, approval of the motion moved by the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent). We believe that Mr. Macdonald is well fitted for the very high office for which he has been nominated. We shall support the Prime Minister's motion.

The Clerk of the House declared the motion carried in the affirmative, nemine contradi-cente, and the Hon. W. Ross Macdonald,

member for the electoral district of Brantford, duly elected to the chair of the house.

Hon. Mr. Macdonald was conducted from his seat in the house to the Speaker's chair by Right Hon. L. S. St. Laurent and Right Hon. C. D. Howe.

Mr. Speaker:

Gentlemen of the House of Commons, may I express to the house my humble acknowledgment of the great honour which you have conferred upon me by choosing me to be your Speaker.

Messieurs de la Chambre des communes, je desire remercier tous les membres de la Chambre du grand honneur qu'il leur a plu de me conferer. Je suis vraiment honore d'avoir ete choisi comme votre Orateur.

The unanimity of approval with which my name was received by the members on both sides of the house, and the all too flattering references made to me, are deeply appreciated and will ever be cherished in my memory. But above all, they will serve to remind me of my great obligations to you who have entrusted so much to me.

It is true, as some hon. members have mentioned, that the experience which I gained as Deputy Speaker in the last parliament will be of assistance to me in solving the problems which will arise in this parliament. May I, however, remind hon. members that any little success I had in carrying out the duties of Deputy Speaker was due entirely to the assistance, advice and cooperation which I received at all times from all hon. members.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons, Messieurs de la Chambre des communes: You have entrusted to me the honour, the rights, the privileges and the prerogatives of the Commons. I assure you I shall endeavour to be worthy of this great trust and at all times to be fair and impartial as between parties and as between members, and with your co-operation I shall strive to maintain order and decorum in this house, whose servant I am.

Right Hon. L. S. Si. Laurent (Prime Minister):

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to be the first to have the privilege of addressing you in that capacity. On this occasion I do so merely to suggest to you that you declare the sitting of this house suspended until three o'clock this afternoon.

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to report that, the house having attended on His Excellency the Governor General in the Senate chamber, I informed His Excellency that the choice of Speaker had fallen upon me, and, in your names, and on your behalf, I made the usual claim for your privileges, which His Excellency was pleased to confirm to you.

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to

inform the house that since the general election held on June 27, 1949, communications have been received from several members notifying the chief electoral officer, in accordance with chapter 145, section 2, of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1927, that the following vacancies have occurred in the representation, viz.:

Of Hon. Ernest Bertrand, member for the electoral district of Laurier, conse-

Speech from the Throne quent upon his acceptance of an office of emolument under the crown.

Of Hon. Joseph Jean, member for the electoral district of Mercier, consequent upon his acceptance of an office of emolument under the crown.

Of Eugene Marquis, member for the electoral district of Kamouraska, consequent upon his acceptance of an office of emolument under the crown.

Of Elphege Marier, member for the electoral district of Jacques Cartier, consequent upon his acceptance of an office of emolument under the crown.

Of Leon J. Raymond, member for the electoral district of Gatineau, consequent upon his acceptance of an office of emolument under the crown.

Of Thomas Reid, member for the electoral district of New Westminster, consequent upon his being summoned to the Senate.

Of Benoit Michaud, member for the electoral district of Restigouche-Madawaska, by decease.

Of J. E. McMillin, member for the electoral district of Greenwood, by decease.

Accordingly new writs of election were issued for the said electoral districts respectively.