CANADA’S POLITICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18501, 24 February 1930, Page 12

CANADA’S POLITICS.

ACTIVITY OF OPPOSITION. (United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright.) OTTAWA, February 21. The attitude of Canada regarding the Geneva Protocol, prohibiting the j use of poison gas in war time, was the ! subject of questions in the House of ! Commons by Mr C. H. Cahan (Opposi- | tion), who asked if the Protocol had ■ been signed by the Prime Minister, Mr : King, and if so would a Bill be intro- | duced confirming the Protocol and j authorising Canada to sign. He asked | similar questions regarding the Geneva I opium convention. • Mr R. F. Donnelly (Liberal) asked j if the House of Commons would sup- ! port the view that the time had j arrived when Canada should no longer | financially assist immigrants with the ! exception of domestics, owing to the fact that unemployment was general throughout the Dominion. Mr C. R. Mclntosh (Liberal) will advocate the appointment of a special committee to consider the adoption of a distinctively Canadian flag, with- the Union Jack included, the whole to symbolise Canada’s status as an equal partner in the Empire. The naval policy debate was of more , than passing importance, in view of the forthcoming Dominion election within a year. The debate was initiated in the House of Commons to-day with a question by Mr Church (Conservative, I Toronto), who asked: “Will the Government, for the sake of promoting world peace, sink Canada’s Navy?” He asks what the Navy costs annually—- ! what it consists of, and where it is j located. | Mr Church for many years had been j a strong advocate of a substantial j Canadian contribution to the British ! Navy, and an ardent Imperialist. On a ! number of occasions in the House of Commons he has ridiculed the Canadian Navy, declaring it n6t adei quate either to defend Canada or to i be of material assistance to the Empire i Fleet.