Right Hon. ARTHUR MEIGHEN (Prime Minister):

I beg to move-subject, 1 think it must be, to unanimous consent:

That a special committee consisting: of

Messrs: Steele, Blair, Cowan, Keefer, Hocken, Douglas (Cape Breton South and Richmond), Ross, McKenzie, Lemieux and Maharg, be appointed to inquire into all matters pertaining to the future fuel supply of Canada, with power to send for persons, papers and records, to examine witnesses under oath and to report from time to time.

This is in pursuance of a resolution of the House debated a few days ago.

Mr. SPEAKER:

In the absence of notice, this motion, I believe, does require the unanimous consent of the House.

Mr. P. F. CASGRAIN (Charlevoix-Montmoreney):

In the absence of the member for Jacques Cartier (Mr. Lafortune) I beg to move for leave to introduce Bill No. 52. to amend the Criminal Code.

Mr. MEIGHEN:

Explain.

Mr. CASGRAIN:

The folowing section is inserted immediately after Section 229 of the Criminal Code, Chapter 146 of the Revised Statutes of Canada:

229a. Everyone is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to two years imprisonment or a penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars, or both, who

(a) In any premises under his control, to which the public have access, engages in or petmits other persons to engage in the game known as "Three Card Monte" or similar game played with other instruments than cards,

(b) Engages in the game of Three Card Monte, or similar game played with other instruments than cards, in any public place, or any place to which the public have access.

The member for Jacques Cartier himself could explain the Bill more fully than I can. It has for its object,. however, the preventing of the extortion of money from people in the city of Montreal through the carrying on of a crooked confidence game which has been flourishing there for some time. The law does not seem to be very clear on this subject; the courts have had difficulty in finding any authority upon which to base the conviction of- culprits who have been found guilty of engaging in this practice.

Mr. C. A. GAUVREAU (Temiscouata) :

I would like to put a question to the Minister of Railways and Canals (Mr. Reid): On my way to Riviere du Loup during the recess I heard that one man working on a section of the railway had been dismissed. This is a matter of public importance, having regard to the safety of the road.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I hope the hon. gentleman does not, on the Orders of the Day, purpose putting a question in respect to the dismissal of one man on the Intercolonial Railway.

Mr. GAUVREAU:

I think it is in the public interest that we should know,

Mr. SPEAKER:

Everything which takes place in the House of Commons should be in the public interest. There is, however, an opportunity to put a question of this kind on tne Order Paper in the ordinary way.

Mr. GAUVREAU:

I would not take that trouble, Mr. Speaker, because it would take too long, and I want an answer at once. I would like to know if an order has been issued to dispense with the services of one man on every section of the road.

Hon. J. D. REID (Minister of Railways and Canals):

The hon. gentleman knows

that the management of the Canadian National Railways is not under the Department of Railways and Canals, but under the Board of Management; therefore no orders have been given by the Minister of Railways.