§ The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. Gordon-Walker)With permission. I should like to make a further statement about assistance for those who have suffered in the Manitoba floods.
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 18th May, we informed the Canadian authorities of our eagerness to give any practical help in our power. Our High Commissioner reported that the resources at the disposal of the Canadian authorities were fully adequate to meet the immediate requirements of the flood crisis but that the people of Winnipeg and the surrounding districts would face a heavy task in putting their homes and farms in order after the floods. It is clearly in this direction that we can most speedily and effectively assist the victims of this great flood disaster.
We have, therefore, after consultation with the Canadian Government and the Government of Manitoba, arranged for a fully loaded aeroplane to leave for Winnipeg tomorrow morning. It will carry about eight tons of sheets and pillowcases, towels, curtain material, hospital and children's blankets, elastoplast dressings, and some toys for the younger children. Further shipments covering a wider range of goods will be made by sea when we have more detailed information of the aid that will be most useful.
I am sure that the House would wish some of these additional supplies to be 2249 used to help as well those who have suffered in the recent disastrous fires in Quebec, at Rimouski and Cabano, in which large parts of the two towns were destroyed. We shall make every effort to give any further help which may prove to be needed, and to this end the Government have set aside a sum of £100,000—that is, the equivalent of about 300,000 Canadian dollars.
I should add that in order to help overcome exchange difficulties, my office will be prepared to use any sums of money that may be raised by public subscription for the purchase and shipment of additional supplies.
§ Mr. EdenI am sure that the whole House will welcome and endorse these proposals—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] May I ask one or two supplementary points? As I understand from the government, in the event of its being found desirable to do so, they are perfectly ready to send a second aircraft with a second consignment without waiting for the sea shipment. My second question is this: at the end of his statement, the right hon. Gentleman referred to the readiness of the Government to use money subscribed by public subscription for the purchase and shipment of supplies. I presume that the right hon. Gentleman would not wish the money to be sent to his Department as that, I should imagine, would involve him in considerable correspondence. Have the Government any proposals in that respect, because the public write to many of us in this House saying that they want to send subscriptions, and some guidance would be very valuable?
§ Mr. Gordon-WalkerOn the question of a second aircraft, we are, of course, in continuous touch with the Canadian authorities about what is of use to them and the speed with which it should go. If it is felt that a second aircraft loaded in this way would be desirable, we would, of course, give the matter urgent and very sympathetic consideration. I certainly do not want subscriptions to be sent to my office, because that is not what my office is designed to deal with. A number of funds have been started, I understand, in different parts of the country. It is very hard for me to answer this question, because the Government must not have anything to do with voluntary contribu- 2250 tions of this sort, but it may be that after this statement, other funds will be organised. The purpose of my office is merely to overcome the exchange difficulties which exist in this particular case.