Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Prime Minister) moved:

That the name of Mr. Shaw be substituted for that of Mr. Leader as a member of the special committee appointed to consider the resolution to give the government of Canada control over certain ocean rates by confirming the agreement between His Majesty and Sir William Petersen, K.C.B.E., as set out in said resolution or by any other method that offers effective control.

Questions

Mr. SPEAKER:

By unanimous consent.

1. Did the special committee appointed by parliament February 28, 1923, to inquire into agricultural conditions, make a report in regard to ocean freight rates during the session of 1923?

2. Did said special committee in their seventh and final report state that, owing to the impossibility of digesting and properly weighing the evidence submitted to them in the time at their disposal before prorogation of parliament, recommend that a similar committee should be appointed at an early period of the next session of parliament?

3. Was the recommendation referred to carried out by the government?

4. What was the date of the appointment by the government of W. T. R. Preston to make an investigation into the alleged discrimination in ocean freight rates covering Canadian shipments from Atlantic seaports referred to by the special committee referred to in question 1?

5. Was parliament in session at the time the appointment was made? If so, was parliament consulted in the matter?

6. What was the date and contents of the order in council authorizing said appointment?

7. From what time did Mr. Preston begin to draw pay and allowances under the order in council referred to?

8. What amount has been paid to him, or is due him in connection with the investigation referred to?

9. Is he still on the pay roll?

1. Yes, the fourth and fifth reports referred to ocean freight rates.

2. Yes.

3. Recommendation referred to was made to parliament and no action has as yet been taken.

4. February 28, 1924.

5. (a) Yes. (b) No.

6. February 28, 1924.

7. February 28, 1924.

8. Expended to January 31, 1925-

Travel $ 864 85

Remuneration (Feb. 28 to June 1, 1924)-(94 days less=87

days at 115) 1,305 00

Living allowance (Feb. 28 to Oct.

24, 1924)-(239 days at $10).. 2,390 00 Sundries 310 23

Accounts on hand, pending supplementary vote-

Travel 208 68

Remuneration (June 2, 1924, to Jan. 23, 1925)-(236 days less 32 = 204 days at $15) 3,060 00

Living allowance (Oct. 25, 1924 to Jan. 23, 1925)-(91 days less

18 = 73 days at $10) 730 00

Stenographic services 216 00

Sundries 17 77

9. For such additional time as he may be actually engaged in the work of the ocean freight rate inquiry.

1. In what year was the payment of subsidies to steamships instituted in Canada?

2. What amount has the government paid in subsidies in each year since that date?

3. What was the total amount so paid up to the present time?

1. The Public Accounts of Cianada show that payments were made on account of mail subsidies and steamship subventions from 1867-68 onwards.

2.

Local Foreign

Services Services

$ 177.349 33

253.746 67

288,999 02

286,098 97

242,107 98

363.447 98

285.882 29

2S7.772 40

261,588 89

314,941 50

257.534 08

257.701 51

235.833 34

1880-81 . 201.503 34

1881-82 . 210,930 00

1882-83 . 237.500 79

18S3-S4 . 238,054 01

1884-85 261,778 S9

1885-86 . 271.457 20

1886-87 . 273.496 65

1887-88 . 342.613 33

1888-89 . 304.254 1?

1889-90 . 286.315 13

1890-91 . 321,117 96

1891-92 . 273,207 37

1892-3 . . .. $ 53,644 26 $ 360,294 33 413.938 591893-4 . . 70,196 00 460.500 66 530,702 661894-5 . . .. 74,934 71 438,333 32 533.268 031895-6 . . .. 73,850 00 461,066 63 534.916 631896-7 . . .. 75,703 76 478,108 32 553 812 OS1897-8 . . .. 85.881 79 503.891 42 589.773 211898-9 . . .. 98,029 58 486,026 73 584.056 311899-1900 . . 83.296 19 516.535 73 599.831 921900-1 .. . . 96,005 33 532,203 85 629.199 181901-2 . . .. 88,102 87 536.853 38 624.956 251902-3 . . .. 102,72030 696,565 69 799.285 991903-4 . . .. 139.983 68 777.464 29 917.447 971904-5 . . .. 146,160 88 880.913 85 1.027.074 731905-6 . .. .. 171.483 77 1,056,076 42 1.227.560 191906.-7 . .. .. 150,679 24 978,197 48 1.128.876 721907-8 . .. .. 181.790 94 1,408,593 02 1.590.383 961908-9 . . .. 189,763 40 1,560,620 04 1.750,383 41

Questions

Local Foreign

Services Services

1909-10

210,325 55 1,591,747 31 1,902.072 861910-11 .. .. 228,356 25 1,756.284 98 1,984,641 231911-12 .. .. 253,671 46 1,667,267 45 1.920,938 911912-13 .. .. 262,744 35 1.687,872 97 1,950,617 321913-14 .. .. 289,754 09 2,091.336 83 2,381,090 021914-15 .. .. 301,506 13 1,858,533 72 2.160,039 851915-16 .. .. 311,322 35 1,454,582 61 1,765,904 961916-17 .. .. 280.904 55 1,707,199 41 1,988,103 961917-18 .. .. 279.518 14 1,572,202 91 1.851.721 05*1918-19 .. .. 243,90637 1,145,686 74 1,389,593 111919-20 .. .. 303,729 49 1,325,664 03 1,629 393 521920-21 .. .. 329,663 87 761,241 34 1.090,905 211921-22 .. .. 379.640 84 722,539 01 1,102,179 861922-23 .. .. 455,077 36 611.716 49 1,066.793 851923-24 .. .. 396,16693 628,774 96 1,024,941 891924-25 to March 20, 1923 448,148 13 348,811 07 796,960 20$ 6,857,653 56 $33,063,712 99 $46,756,599 35

3. $46,756,599.35.