Mr. E. J. GARLAND (Bow River):

Mr. Speaker, may I direct the attention of the government to a telegram from the west which 1 received to-day? It is as follows:

Whereas there are hundreds of men, women and children in the coal fields of Alberta on the verge of starvation due to lack of employment; and whereas this can be remedied by the Dominion government granting a freight rate of seven ($7) dollars per ton from Alberta to Ontario; therefore be it resolved that we demand immediate action to this end from the Dominion government in order that the acute situation which is growing more serious every day may be alleviated. We, representing the United Mine Workers of America, respectfully request that you use your power and influence to the furthering of the above resolution. This is a matter of urgent necessity. A

copy of this resolution to be sent to the parliamentary leaders for them to take action.

May I ask if the government 'is in receipt of a similar telegram and if so, what action it proposes to take?

Hon. ERNEST LAPOINTE (Leader of the House):

I received a similar telegram this

morning and I will send it over to my friend the Minister of the Interior (Mr. Stewart) in order that he may deal with the matter immediately.

Mr. GARLAND (Bow River):

I trust, Mr. Speaker, that the Minister of the Interior will give us the information I asked for. What is the intention of the government I'-this matter?

Hon. CHARLES STEWART (West Edmonton, Minister of the Interior):

I have

already spoken on this question. There may be a serious emergency so far as the miners of Alberta are concerned, but at the moment there is no emergency at this end. However, this government stands ready to co-operate in any movement of this sort. To say that this government should instruct the railways to reduce their rate fto $7 a ton is to suggest something which is beyond the power of the government, in the first place. There has been a movement of 5,000 of the 25,000 tons w'hich were to be moved at that rate. This movement was delayed until at least ten days ago, but may be completed now. We in Ontario are watching the situation very carefully and, needless to say, so far as I am concerned, I stand ready and willing to move all the coal which can be sold in the province of Ontario coming from the coal fields of Alberta, and the same applies to eastern Canada. I presume this matter will be discussed at some considerable length, and I may say for the information of the House and the hon. member that I have received a telegram from the coal operators of Alberta stating that they could send down 100,000 tons of coal at once. We have continuously put them in touch with any possible market in which they could sell this coal.

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

Would the minister

answer me a question? If it is beyond the power of the government, as he says, to enforce a fixed - rate on coal, how is it that it was within the power of the government to first suspend and then re-enact a fixed rate on wheat?

Mr. STEWART (West Edmonton):

I

think my hon. friend must have misunderstood me. Parliament has full authority to

3S2

Locarno Treaty

do anything it likes in connection with rates, but I question whether the government has authority to fix rates.

Mr. MEIGHEN:

The government can do it the same as in the other case, if it wants to, by initiating legislation.

Mr. STEWART (West Edmonton):

Quite true; I am not denying that for a moment, but in the present case action has to be taken at once.

Mr. GARLAND (Bow River):

I am

encouraged by the attitude of the minister to ask another question. Will the government consider introducing the statutory legislation for a revision of the rates as indicated?

Mr. STEWART (West Edmonton):

As

one member of the government only, I cannot answer that question.

Mr. GARLAND (Bow River):

I did not

ask that the question be settled, but that it be given consideration.

Mr. STEWART (West Edmonton):

Oh yes, but, of course, I cannot announce on behalf of the government that we will fix a rate. That is a matter that would have to be discussed by the government.

Hon. J. A. ROBB (Acting Minister of Trade and Commerce):

I have no knowledge of the matter brought up by my hon. friend from Charlevoix-Saguenay, although I know

{Mr. C. A. Stewart.]

that my hon. friend himself has made certain representations regarding the service along that route, but my recollection is that it does not cover the crossing. However, I can assure him I will have the matter looked into.