Sir THOMAS WHITE (Minister of Finance) :

Mr. Speaker, I beg to lay on the table of the House the report of the Federal Plan Commission on a general plan for the cities bf Ottawa and Hull. The members of the House will be supplied with copies by the Distribution Office, and I have inscribed copies for the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition. The commissioners, are: Sir Herbert S. Holt, chairman; Sir Alexander Lacoste, P.C.; Mr. Frank Darling, F.R.I.C.A.; Mr. R. Home Smith; the Mayor of Ottawa; and the Mayor of Hull. It was the intention to 1011

accompany the report with plans and drawings which it was proposed to exhibit in a room in this building, but no such room is available. We have therefore arranged that the plans and drawings shall he exhibited in the City Hall of Ottawa, on and after Mbnday of next week, and I sincerely hope that members will avail themselves of the oportunity of seeing them.

Mr. PUGSLEY:

Before my hon. friend

the Minister of Marine and Fisheries asks the committee to go into the consideration of this resolution, I would like to call his attention to the fact that last evening at the close of business, when the hon. Minister of Public Works (Mr. Rogers) was leading the House, he was asked what would be the business taken to-morrow, and the reply was: " We will go into Supply,

taking up the Estimates of the Department of Labour, Marine and Fisheries," etc. If I had known this resolution was coming up to-day I would have asked my hon. friend to be prepared to give the committee a full statement with regard to the work the Vancouver Harbour Commissioners are

carrying on. I understand that there is a good deal of dissatisfaction in the minds of the people of Vancouver in regard to this work, and I think it is desirable that the reclamation and other work which the commissioners are doing should be fully explained to the committee.

Mr. HAZEN:

We could let the resolution pass, -and I would be prepared to give a full statement on the first reading of the Bill.

Mr. PUGSLEY:

All right, on that understanding. /

Mr. HAZfiN: I do not wish to enter into a discussion just now, hut my information with regard to the work the commissioners are doing in Vancouver is diametrically opposed to that of my hon. friend.

Mr. PUGSLEY:

There have been some

differences of opinion among the people of Vancouver recently, as instanced by the election there a few days -ago, and perhaps my hon. friend is not correctly informed as to public sentiment with regard to the work of the Harbour Commission.

Mr. HAZEN:

I do not think my hon.

friend wishes to question the competency of the Vancouver Harbour Commission. If this resolution p,asses, the Bill founded thereon will provide an amendment to the present Act by striking out a few words. The Vancouver Harbour Commission was created by Act of tins Parliament in 19x3, and among other powers conferred upon the commissioners was the power to make bylaws for various purposes. Subsection " t " of section 19 of the Act deals with the power of the commissioners to impose tolls, and is as follows:

(t) The imposition of such tolls, rates, fees and dues, other than pilotage dues, sick mariners' fees, and steamboat inspection fees, as would be payable in the case of a harbour to which the Canada Shipping Act applies.

The amendment strikes out this subsection, and substitutes another, which is exactly the same in every respect, except that the words " as would be payable in the case of a harbour to which the Canada Shipping Act applies " are stricken out. The reason is that the words which it is proposed to strike out preclude the commissioners from making any charges for harbour dues, other than those provided in the Canada Shipping Act; or, in other words, tonnage dues in Vancouver harbour should not exceed the rates prescribed by

the Canada Shipping Act, or a maximum of $5 per entry for two entries, hut not payable more than twice in any calendar year.

It is necessary that further revenues should be obtained if the Victoria Harbour Commissioners are to carry on their work efficiently, and the amendment will enable the commissioners to raise more revenue. Of course, whatever by-laws the commissioners pqss are subject to the approval of the Governor in Council. My information is that this matter has been taken up with the shipping companies whose ships use Vancouver harbour, and who are interested in its development and proper maintenance, and that the amendment meets with their approval. They are anxious that the commissioners should have funds to maintain the harbour properly, and are willing to pay their proper contribution, in order that proper appliances may be obtained for fighting fire along the wharves and docks at the water-front, and that the harbour may be well managed and up-to-date. I shall be very glad to give my hon. friend the information which he desires on the first reading of the Bill.

Mr. PUGSLEY:

I shall be glad if my hon. friend will give the committee that information on the first reading of the Bill, and also, some information with regard to the work at False creek. I am told that instead of enlarging the facilities for shipping there, the commission are really engaged in filling in False creek, for the benefit, I suppose, of some of the railway companies. Another point on which I should like some information, because it' is allied with harbour development work, is the contract which has been1 given to the Amalgamated Dry Dock Construction Company, for the erection of a dry dock, I am told. I am informed that the company has been allowed to take in the real estate for the building of that dry dock, for what seems to be the enormous sum of something over $500,000, and that they will receive interest from the Government upon that sum in the way of subsidy.

Mr. HAZEN:

That does not come under my department, but under Public Works.

Mr. PUGSLEY:

It is a Government matter and closely connected with the harbour development. I am told that upon these two matters there is very, very strong feeling among the people of, Vancouver,

and I have been asked to get all the in- 1 formation I possibly could upon the subject.