Mr. DOHERTY (Minister of Justice):

If any of these questions are urgent I will be very glad to see that as soon as the information is gathered it shall be furnished, to the members in whose names the questions 'stand. Of course, as to the intimation that those questions will be asked again next session, that is a dire threat and

we will have to brace up our courage to meet. it.

Mr. J. A. CURRIE (Simcoe North):

Might.I ask that question No. 12 standing in iny name be treated as an order for return? .

Mr. D. D. McKENZIE (Cape Breton North and Victoria):

Might I suggest to the leader of the Government that if he would consent to make all the questions now remaining on the Order Paper orders for returns, then the work of gathering the information could proceed and the results could be sent to hon. members in due course. It would not involve any more labour to answer those questions as orders for returns, and it would save the necessity of again placing them on the Order Paper next session.

Mr. DOHERTY:

I have no substantial objection to adopting my hon. friend's suggestion if any useful purpose will be served; but it does seem to me that all practical purposes will be served if answers are sent to the members who ask the questions, and I have no objection to undertake to request my colleagues who are concerned to see that that is done, and I will also undertake to do so in respect to my own department.

Mr. F. S. CAHILL:

Sometimes other members are interested in the questions.

Mr. DOHERTY:

If an hon. member receives an answer he can give it to the public.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Of course, we have

passed the stage when orders for returns can be had, but it seems to me that at this period of the session there can be no objection to our facilitating hon. members as much as possible. The hon. member for Simcoe (Mr. Currie) requests that question No. 12 be passed as an- order for return. It will be so entered in the record.

Air. W. L. MACKENZIE KING:

It is understood that answers will be sent to the members in whose names the questions stand?

Mr. DOHERTY:

That will be done as far as possible. .

Mr. JOHN HAROLD (Brant):

May I ask what is the policy of the Government in connection with the purchasing of supplies? Do they purpose to continue such purchas-

ing through the War Purchasing Commission? And is it the intention to bring in a Bill similar to that dropped last session, to consolidate the purchasing?

Mr. DOHERTY:

The purchasing at the present time is being carried on through the Purchasing Commission. As to the question of bringing in a Bill next session, that would depend upon whether legislation be considered necessary in order to continue the present system. I cannot give any decided answer as to what action may be taken in that regard.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I have the honour to

inform the House that a message has been received from the Senate:

That a special committee of the Senate composed of the Honourable Sir James Dougheed. the Honourable Messieurs Bostock, Ross (Middleton) and Belcourt, be appointed for the purpose of conferring with the Honourable Members of the House of Commons in order that all Bills which purport to amend any Act of Parliament upon being submitted for first reading shall have printed therein in full and in italics, in English and French, the section or sections purported to be amended.

Air. DOHERTY:

It would be quite impossible at the present time to announce when the next session would be called. We cannot judge what the requirements of the future will be.

Air. E. LAPOINTE:

Not before the New Year.

Mr. CAHILL:

Does the Government intend to buy any more railways?

Mr. JEAN J. DENIS (Joliette): While

on this subject, may I ask the Government if they realize the great inconvenience of having the House of Commons in session during the summer, and if they are making it a point to avoid that as much as possible in the future?