Mr. SPEAKER:

I have the honour to lay on the table the usual report of the organization of the staff of the House of Commons.

Right Hon. GEORGE P. GRAHAM (Minister of Railways and Canals) moved:

That the House doth concur in the report of the organization of the staff of the House of Commons.

Mr. SPENCER:

We did not hear what

this was.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Every year at the beginning of the session the Speaker tables the report of the Internal Economy Commission, and it is more regular that at the end of the session the report of the organization of the staff of the House of Commons be tabled. It contains nothing except what is statutory.

1. How much freight, in pounds, was forwarded from Anxiui Station, county of Matapedia, in thes years 1922, 1923 and 1924, respectively?

Inquiry for Returns

2. What revenue did the Canadian National derive

from above shipments?

3. How much freight, in pounds, was forwarded C.O.D. to said station, and what revenue did the Canadian National Railways derive from said freight?

4. How much freight, in pounds, was received C.O.D. at said station, and what revenue did the Canadian National Railways derive from said freight?

5. What revenue did the Canadian National Railways derive from, (a) goods by express, (b) telegrams, (ci sale of express orders, for the above years, respectively ?

6. What was the revenue of the Canadian National Railways on the sale of tickets, at said station?

7. How many freight cars were forwarded and how many received during said years?

S. How many sidings are there at Amqui?

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

Some time ago the Canadian National Railways entered into an arrangement with the government .of Ontario to carry 25,000 tons of Alberta coal to Ontario for $7 per ton, as an experiment and demonstration. I have in my hand a copy of a telegram from the acting premier of Ontario and the mayor of Toronto, Mr. Foster, that this arrangement has been withdrawn. The railway in question promised a similar demonstration to the Coal committee of this House to aid a national coal supply. Has the arrangement referred to been cancelled? If so, by whom, and why?

Right Hon. GEORGE P. GRAHAM (Minister of Railways and Canals): Reference was made to that the other day. It is an arrangement between the railways and other parties. A hitch seems to have occurred in some way. I am not familiar with the particulars.

Right Hon. ARTHUR MEIGHEN (Leader of the Opposition):

I notice that the order " motions " has passed to-day and nothing i3 down. It really looks as if the government were deliberately flouting the orders of the House. Motions that passed three and a half months ago entailing very little work are called attention to time after time, and nothing follows at all. It really means this, that the government do not want to bring them down and are going to defy parliament. I call attention also to a question which I have had on the order paper since the 10th June. One would think if any question ever was simple, this is:

What sums in addition to the estimates has the government requested parliament to authorize pay-

ment of in government measures during the session of 1925?

The government apparently have kept track so little of their own measures that in fifteen days they cannot compile an answer to that question.

Hon. ERNEST LAPOINTE (Minister of Justice):

Will my right hon. friend not see that for himself in the Votes and Proceedings?

Mr. MEIGHEN:

I am not in the government. I have not a horde of officials at my back to do this work.

Mr. LAPOINTE:

Anybody can get that

from the Votes and Proceedings.

Right Hon. GEORGE P. GRAHAM (Minister of Railways and Canals): My right

hon. friend should not say a " horde " of officials. The same officials serve the present government as served his, only they are not so big a "horde." I will call the attention of the ministers to these returns. I think they ought to be brought down. Of Course, some very innocent looking returns on paper, when you come to have to chase all over Canada in the different ramifications of t department inside and outside, mean a good deal more than they appear to mean. As to the expenditure in bills, I should think an answer could not really be compiled until we discover what is going to be done in regard to the Home Bank.

Mr. MEIGHEN:

It is the government's

requests I ask for, not what goes through.

Mr. GRAHAM:

Then my right hon. friend would speak up rather glibly, as he did in regard to Carillon, and say, that these requests having been made they would also be granted.