Mr. DUPUIS:

I am not afraid of being on the spot, but I am sorry for those who have put the country in such a useless position. At any rate, no matter if some of my fellow members in this house are laughing at me, no matter if I am ridiculed, I find the situation too serious, and in such circumstances, when the national soul is disturbed, when the people are unable to discover a solution for these difficult problems, I cannot do better than repeat the words of our King. Early in the beginning of this the greatest of all struggles, before Christmas, 1939, he said to a man who 100-431

stood at the gate of the year: "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown."

The reply was: "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than the known way."

I would like you, Mr. Speaker, and every one of my fellow citizens and fellow members to do likewise. Let us put our hand in the hand of God, and let us have faith, so that this country may pass safely through these difficult times and continue to move forward to that beautiful destiny which has been reserved for it by Divine Providence.

Mr. DUPUIS:

I am talking about the former leader of the opposition.

Mr. DUPUIS:

I should be pleased to do so. The complete figures are as follows: Ontario Quebec Families with-

1 child 228,760 123,0302 children 103,610 92.0203 " 89,910 64,6304 " 48,330 47,4905 " 26,130 33.3406 " 13,950 25,7607 " 8,040 19,8408 " 4,380 13,9309 " 2,380 9,40010 or more children... 2,460 13,220

As hon. members know, under this measure the allowance is $5 for the first child under six years of age, $6 for the child over six and under ten, $7 for the child over ten and under thirteen, and $8 for the child over thirteen and under skteen, provided that for the fifth child the allowance is decreased by $1, for the sixth and seventh children it is decreased by $2 and for the eighth child by S3. So that small families with less than five children benefit more than the larger families. I have made some computations to illustrate what I understand the law to be. I have taken a family with eight children, with the youngest two years old and the others four, six, eight, ten, twelve, fourteen and fifteen. This family will receive 845 a month. This example will illustrate the fairness of the legislation as it is brought down, not only in relation to those in Ontario who criticize it but also in relation to those in Quebec. We are proud to say that in the past many heads of families all over the country have understood their duty to raise large families as God might decide, without interfering. That is their right. These large families are to be found not only in Quebec but in Ontario and all the other provinces. In these families of eight or more children the example I mentioned is followed more or less commonly; if the youngest child

is two years of age, it will receive $5 less $3, so that during the first year this legislation is in force that child will receive 82 a month. When that child reaches the age of six it will receive $6 less 82 or 84 per month, and when it reaches the age of ten it will receive $7. During the years between thirteen and sixteen it will receive $8 per month. So in the years between birth and the age of sixteen this child will have received an average of 85.28 per month.

Mr. DUPUIS:

I take your word.

Mr. DUPUIS:

My hon. friend was very clever to distort his first question.