Mr. SPROULE.
Is it confined to the three seeds mentioned in the resolution ?
Mr. FISHER.
Oh, no. It is confined to the seeds of cereals and grasses ; timothy, clover, and alsike.
Mr. SPROULE.
It does not take in turnip seed for instance ?
Mr. FISHER.
No.
Mr. BRODER.
Where is this seed to be graded. Who is to grade it ?
Mr. FISHER.
It will be graded by those who deal in it.
Mr. BRODER.
But no two will grade it the same.
Mr. FISHER.
That is what the seedsmen want to be able to do.
Mr. CLANCY.
I would like to ask the minister if he will lay on the table the correspondence and resolutions to which he made reference in order that the committee may have the advantage of carefully going through these papers, so that w'lien the Bill comes up for discussion, we will know the purport of the responses which the hon. gentleman has received from those to whom the Bill was sent out.
Mr. FISHER.
I will be glad to give the House communication of all this correspondence.
Mr. SPROULE.
How is it intended to enforce the Bill ? By inspectors appointed to examine the seeds all over the country or how 1
Mr. FISHER.
That was not the intention ; the intention is to maintain a seed inspection bureau or laboratory as it is called in the department at Ottawa to which samples *of seed that are being sold may be sent for inspection and the report of that laboratory will be held to be evidence in regard to. the quality of the seeds.
Mr. CLANCY.
Did I understand the minister to say he would lay that information on the table at once or when the Bill comes up for discussion ? I of course had reference to the committee having possession of it as early as possible.
Mr. FISHER.
I will try and get copies of the correspondence. It is very voluminous and I do not know if the hon. gentleman would like to have every letter and resolution laid on the table.
Mr. CLANCY.
Every one that is of importance.
Mr. FISHER.
I will try to have a number of representative letters copied and shall lay them on the table.
Mr. CLANCY.
For and against if there are any.
Mr. FISHER.
Certainly, fair representations of the correspondence.
Mr. LENNOX.
I have no objection to the resolution passing, but I would like the minister to look into the question of the distribution of this Bill, and satisfy himself and the committee that there was a general distribution of it to the farmers of the country and to be able to satisfy the committee when we come to deal with the matter that that distribution actually took place. I took occasion last session, when this question was before the House, to call the attention of the minister to the desirability of having a full consultation with the farmers before the Bill was put through. It is important. I am not for a moment questioning the good faith of the hon. minister when he tells the committee that Mr. BROJVER.
there has been communication between the farmers and the department during the recess, but I wish to call the attention of the hon. minister to the fact that in the riding that I represent I have not been able to find any trace of there having been any distribution of the Bill. It is a distinctly agricultural riding and I am inclined to think that my hon. friend the Minister of Agriculture will agree with me that it is a very important agricultural riding.
Mr. FISHER.
Hear, hear.