M. P. from the Forces

CANADA AT WAR

THE SERVICES

When the dark, curly-haired young man in the slate-blue of the Royal Canadian Air Force rose from his bench in the House of Commons, some members did not recognize him. The honorable member for Vancouver North had been excused from the last three sessions because of a more pressing assignment: administrative duty with the City of Windsor Spitfire squadron, which fought in Egypt, Libya, Malta and is now in Italy. He was Flight Lieut. James Sinclair, 35, onetime Rhodes scholar, home on leave.*

Airman Sinclair had come back to warn his fellow members that they had better legislate now to provide for the fighting men against the day that fighting ceases. He had specific complaints: 1) that the allowances now planned for demobilized men in training for civilian jobs are insufficient; 2) that the Canadian system of discharge pay (one month) is unfair and insufficient. The Flight Lieutenant spoke for the ranks:

"The Seaforth private will go back to civilian life with $45 while the major general will get $600. This is a case of: To them that have had, more shall be given, and to them that have had very little, very little shall be given. . . . [The men overseas] know the bitter disillusionment of soldiers in the last war. . . . They know the hungry '30s. They are determined this is not going to happen to them. ... I tell this house if these men return to such conditions, their song will not be 'Land of Hope and Glory'; it may be the 'Red Flag.'"

No member interrupted Sinclair's tough talk. When he sat down, members in every corner of the green chamber lustily banged their desks. Flight Lieut. Sinclair had made the most effective speech since the session started.

* In Canada, as in Britain, memebers of the House of Commons may retain their seats while serving in the armed services, attend sessions whenever leave from military duties permits.

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