Mr. BELAND:

So far as I am concerned I have no objection to this item, but I understood the minister to make a proposal a few minutes ago that his vote of $25,000,000 should now carry because it had been discussed by the committee and some one on this side of the House raised objection.

Mr. ROWELL:

The objection was in the form of a suggestion that we should finish the Department of Health Estimates first.

Mr. ROBB:

It is not the policy to exceed this $25,000,000?

The CHAIRMAN:

The item is a re-vote

of $13,310,000.

Mr. ROWELL:

No. The $25,000,000 was

voted last year, but the full amount has not been advanced. If we did not re-vote the balance it would permit the provinves which took advantage last year to get the full benefit and the others would get nothing more.

Mr. SINCLAIR (Guysborough):

Will the money not taken up by any province be advanced to the other provinces?

Mr. ROWELL:

Each province is entitled to its share and no more.

Mr. BELAND:

I understand that one

or two provinces have refused to take advantage of this loan?

Mr. ROWELL:

Alberta is the only one

which so far has not taken advantage of it. .

Mr. CANNON:

Is the money simply

given to the province and distributed as the province sees fit, or have the municipalities anything to do with the scheme?

Mr. ROWELL:

Mr. ROWELL:

The grant would lapse, it would not go to the credit of any other province.

To provide for an increase in the salary of the Director-General of Public Health, from the 1st of April, 1919, $1,0'00.

Mr. ROBB:

Before this item is considered I would suggest that, inasmuch as item 61, Adulteration of Food, was amended during my temporary absence and does not now apply to the Acts respecting feeding stuffs and fertilizers, the minister might very properly reduce the amount of that item.

Mr. ROWELL:

I would be very glad if I could accommodate my hon. friend, but almost all of the expenditure has been under the Adulteration of Food Acts. Inspectors have been appointed under those Acts, and in addition to their duties they have assisted in the enforcement of the provisions of the Commercial Feeding Stuffs Act and the Act respecting fertilizers. That is the reason that the administration of those Acts was transferred to the Department of Health. They are now transferred to the Department of Agriculture on the understanding that that department has the staff to. enforce them without adding to the public expense. It does not reduce the number of employees required in this department. These employees, however, will have important additional duties this year in connection with the enforcement of the Proprietary and Patent Medicines Act and the Opium and Narcotic Drugs Act.

Mr. BELAND:

Does the item we have now reached provide for an increase in salary?

Mr. ROWELL:

Last year, as hon. mein-bes will recall, all deputy ministers and all other officials who held the rank of deputy minister had their salaries increased from $5,000 to $6,000, with the exception of the Director General of Medical Services. He has served the country for some 54 years and is retiring very shortly. We thought it but right-

Mr. BELAND:

Dr. Montizambert?

Mr. ROWELL:

Yes. We thought it but right that he should be put on the same basis as all other public servants who held the same position last year.

Progress reported.

On motion of Right Hon. Mr. Doherty the House adjourned at 12.40 a.m. (Tuesday).

Tuesday, June 15, 1920.