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

That on Monday, the 11th of May, instant, and every Monday thereafter to the end of the session, Government notices of motions and Government orders shall have precedence over all business except questions by members and notices of motions for the production of papers.

Mr. T. L. CHURCH (North Toronto):

I

desire to direct the attention of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries (Mr. Cardin) to the drowning of nine Canadian sailors at point Pelee on lake Erie in a great storm, when their sand ship turned over, as reported in the Toronto Globe, May 4. From that report I take the following:

When your correspondent questioned the life-saving crew at point Pelee life-saving station they stated that their life-saving facilities are utterly inadequate, there being no lookout station, no good binoculars, and a condemned rowboat for the lifeboat, any rescue work being done and taken care of for the most part by the Flossie G., a gas fishing launch.

Wil) the government order a thorough inquiry into this disaster, the loss of life, and the lack oi any proper or adequate lifesaving facilities cr up-to-date station at this point, and other inland ports on the Great Lakes?

Mr. CARDIN:

I shall be very glad indeed to cause inquiries to be made into this disaster and the means to prevent such loss of life in future. I will take all necessary means to cope with the situation.

Hon. T. A. LOW (Minister of Trade and Commerce):

I have just instructed the clerk to give notice of the resolution.

Mr. MEIGHEN:

I made some comments on this matter the other day when it was first introduced. I would like the government to explain what alterations have been made; why the protocol at the end; and generally what has been the cause of the many years of delay that have occurred, holding the matter unsettled until this time.

Mr. STEWART (Argenteuil):

The matter is settled on the identical lines proposed by an order in council passed by the government of my right hon. friend (Mr. Meighen) in 1921. The delay since that date was

largely occasioned by the action of the state of Minnesota, who were raising objections of one kind and another, principally urging the objection that it would be well to include Rainy lake and the upper lake levels, and that matter might be settled. We have contended, I think in line with the action of the former government, that the lake of the Woods question be settled first and that, as is provided before in the treaty, the matter of the upper lake levels be a matter of inquiry before the commission. Some attempt was made at one time to ask us to bind ourselves to accept the finding of the commission. My right hon. friend will notice that that has not been done. It is identical, without a change in any particular, so far as I am aware, with the arrangement that was proposed for the consummation of a treaty under the order in council of 1921. The delay was occasioned, as I stated before, by the action of representatives of the state of Minnesota, but they finally agreed to the treaty as it was presented, and it was ratified by congress. It remains for our ratification to put it into effect.

Mr. MEIGHEN:

I understand, then, that

Governor Preus' contentions have been abandoned in so far as they conflict with the original lines of settlement?

Mr. STEWART (Argenteuil):

Yes.