Hon. S. C. MEWBURN (East Hamilton):

I desire to direct the attention of the Acting Postmaster General to the following communication which I have received and which speaks for itself:

League oj Nations

Don't you think that something should be done to prevent publications such as the Evening Graphic, the Daily Mirror and the Detroit Times coming into Canada? I am informed that the sale of the Miaror in Hamilton is no less than 5,000 copies daily, and they charge two cents for the dirty sheet. Spend a few minutes in looking over these publications. All publishers of decent Canadian newspapers would be glad to have such salacious sheets suppressed.

Will the Acting Postmaster General be good enough to look into this matter and see whether something cannot be done to suppress this obscene literature?

Hon. GEORGE H. DOIVIN (Minister of Customs): We have already received several complaints concerning the Daily Mirror. These complaints have been investigated by our censor and an order goes from the department this afternoon banning this newspaper in Canada. As regards the others, an investigation will be made and if the censor deems it advisable the same action will be taken.

Hon. R. J. MANION (Fort William):

I

wish to lay before the government a short telegram which I have received with reference to the tariff on automobiles. I realize of course that no statement can be made on the matter at this stage but I want to bring it to the attention of the government. The telegram reads:

Rumours of reduction in tariff on automobiles seriously hindering sales here. Our members anxious to learn if any truth in report and desire to point out disastrous effect if dealers are not protected on cars in stock and if tariff is reduced on used cars allowing Americans to flood market.

This telegram is dated Fort William, March 1, and is signed by 0. G. Sturdy, secretary, Lakes Head Motor Trades Association. I simply submit it to the government for consideration at the proper time.

Sir GEORGE PERLEY (Argenteuil):

Next week there is to be a meeting of the council of the League of Nations at Geneva and a special meeting of the assembly for the purpose of making Germany a permanent member of the council of the league. At present the council consists of four permanent members and six other members selected by the assembly from time to time. I see by the press that an effort may be made at this meeting in Geneva to further increase the permanent members of the council, but this cannot be

fMr. New-bum.]

done without the approval of the assembly. I should like to ask the acting head of the government the names of the delegates who will represent Canada on this occasion, whether any, and if so, what instructions have been given them regarding the admission ot Germany to the council and also regarding the question of further increasing the permanent members of the council in case it comes up for discussion in the assembly.

Hon. ERNEST LAPOINTE (Leader of the House):

As my hon. friend has said, the

Secretary General of the League of Nations has requested the various members of the league to send delegates to a special meeting of the assembly to be held on March 8 for the purpose of considering the request of Germany for admission to the council of the league. The Canadian delegates are Senator Dandurand, leader in the Senate, who was president of the assembly last fall, the High Commissioner for Canada in London and the Commissioner for Canada in Paris, with Dr. Riddell, who is already in Geneva, as a substitute. It seems to be the general opinion everywhere that Germany should be admitted as a member of the league, and even given a seat on the council. As my hon. friend has said, proposals have been made for the appointment, as permanent members of the council, of two or three other nations, Spain, Brazil and Poland having been suggested. The matter was discussed with Senator Dandurand prior to his departure for Geneva, but of course whatever may be my opinion or the opinion of other hon. members it is preferable that the formal applications of these nations be placed before the assembly before any private views are expressed in regard to them. It is understood that communications will be exchanged between our representatives there and this government, but the'matter of making public all the information that may come to the government is, I think, somewhat delicate. I have noticed, as hon. gentlemen may have noticed also, that both in England and in France the government have declined to state their opinion on the matter at the present time. My hon. friend may be sure that the views expressed in Canada by those who are especially interested in questions appertaining to the League of Nations, the views of such organizations, for example, as the League of Nations Association, as well as of private individuals, will be given the most serious consideration. If I were free I might say that my opinion coincides with that of my hon. friend, but I am not free to say so. However, everything will be submitted to the delegates there and the views of Canada will be represented.

Excessive Moisture in Grain

Mr. JOHN MILLAR (Qu'Appelle):

On

January 22 I drew the attention of the Acting Minister of Trade and Commerce to the fact that owing to congestion in the elevator at Fort William a considerable quantity of damp grain was likely to spoil. I want to ask now what special measures have been adopted by the department to prevent loss of western gyain because of excessive moisture, and what progress has been made.

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

This morning my hon.

friend advised me that he would ask this question, so that I am in a position to put on Hansard a statement of the measures which the government have taken to take care of damp and tough grain in elevators and in transit. After my hon. friend on January 22 had directed our attention to the serious situation on account of the large amount of tough and damp grain on hand, and following the statement I then made, I obtained a report from the chairman of the grain commission, dated January 28, who advised me that a statement prepared that day showed that of 5,000 cars in the yards at the head of the lakes the Canadian Pacific Railway had 87 with damp and 1,177 with tough grain; and the Canadian National 170 with damp and 923 with tough grain. He further advised me that the terminal elevators were picking [DOT]out the damp cars billed to them so that they might be taken in and dried. He assured me that every effort was being made to take care of tough and damp grain so as to minimize the danger of loss.

Following that, on February 20, the secretary of the grain commission, in a letter directed to the Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce, advised the department on the situation. In order that the House and the country may have the benefit of this information, I crave indulgence to place the letter on Hansard:

Dear Sir:

Tough and Damp Grain

Owing to the large amount of tough and damp grain now in store in public and private elevators throughout the western grain inspection division, as well as considerable quantities in transit railway yards, country elevators and in farmers' hands, the board had several meetings with interested parties regarding the drying of this grain.

The drying facilities throughout the western inspection division are practically all operating to their full capacity in the drying of damp grain, with the result that most of the damp grain now in store in the elevators will be dried before the opening of navigation.

Under the provisions of the tariff governing the public terminal elevators operating in the western inspection division, tough grain is received from November 1 to April 1 under the same terms and conditions applying to straight grade grains. Such tough grain, therefore, as may be in store at the present time-must be allowed to remain in store in its present, condition, unless it should become heated, in which event sections of the act relating to out-of-condition* grain (130 to 139) must be complied with.

After reviewing the whole situation very carefully the board is of the opinion that all tough and damp grain now in store in the elevators can be taken care of, providing the drying of same is proceeded with immediately, the elevators equipped with drying facilities utilizing same to their full capacity, but there is a danger of the grain now in box cars, both in transit and in railway yards, and that yet to be marketed, going out of condition, if we should experience an early spring.

At the present time the elevators have sufficient tough and damp grain in store to keep their drying facilities working to full capacity continuously from March 1 to the opening of navigation.

The only way in which the drying facilities can be used to the best advantage is to allow the public and private elevators to dry, with the least possible delay, all tough 3 northern and lower grades of wheat now in store, and in addition all tough, coarse grains as may be advisable, so that these facilities will be available at the opening of navigation to take care of grain which is in danger of going out of condition and which cannot be unloaded at the present time.

The board's reason for recommending the drying of only 3 northern and lower grades of wheat is that under section 96 of the Canada Grain Act, the last paragraph under the heading, "Spring Wheat", 3 northern and lower grades which may be dried, may be graded in such regular grades as the inspector determines, whereas, in the drying of 1 and 2 northern, the inspector, in his discretion, issues a certificate for dried 1 or 2 northern, which only commands the price of 3 northern wheat.

Then, on the recommendation of the Board of Grain Commissioners, this order in council was passed on February 26:

The following regulations made by the Board of Grain Commissioners for Canada, pursuant to sections 20, 87 and 140 of the Canada Grain Act, chapter 33, 15-16 George V, are hereby approved:

(1) All public and private elevators in the western grain inspection division, except those public and private elevators situated at Vancouver, shall proceed to dry, according to the drying facilities in the elevators in which such grain may be stored, all tough 3 northern and lower grades of tough wheat, and, in addition, all tough, coarse grains as may be advisable.

(2) On all tough grain dried, the elevator^ shall be entitled to deduct 4 per cent from the amount as shown on the outstanding warehouse receipt to cover loss in drying.

(3) This order in council shall be effective the Jirst day of March, 1926, and shall be subject to such regulations as the board may provide under subsection 1 of section 87 of the Canada Grain Act, to ensure the proper carrying out of this order.

(4) The Board of Grain Commissioners, owing to the urgency of the situation, is empowered to make regulations for the handling of such tough and damp grain, under the provisions of section 87, effective on the publication of such regulations, without requiring to submit such regulations for the approval of the Governor in Council.

Motion for Closure

In addition to that we have, at an expense of S942, provided additional drying facilities at Moose Jaw.

GERMAN REPARATIONS On the Orders of the Day:

Sir HENRY DRAYTON (West York):

Mr. Speaker, may I ask whatever hon. gentleman now represents the Secretary of State what progress is being made in the payment of claims for German reparations? I have had complaints recently from people whose situation is serious. They seem to think that no progress is being made at all in securing payment of their claims. I am emboldened now to make my request because during the latter days of the last session of the late parliament the government, we understood, were in a position to deal with the matter and were talking of introducing a bill.

Hon. ERNEST LAPOINTE (Leader of the House):

Mr. Speaker, the Acting Secretary of State at the present time is the Postmaster General (Hon. Mr. Murphy) who is a member of the second chamber. I shall be pleased to call his attention to the remarks of my hon. friend, and I am sure the latter will receive all the information he needs.

Mr. MEIGHEN:

At some time

Forke, Mercier (Laurier-

Fournier, Outremont),

Gardiner, Mercier (St. Henri),

Garland (Bow River), Millar,

Gervais. Morin (Bagot),

Girouard, Morin (St. Hyacinthe-

Goodison, Rouville),

Goulet, Motherwell,

Guerin, Neill,

Hall, Parent,

Heaps, Perras,

Heenan, Pouliot,

Howard, Provost,

Howden, Rh6aume,

Jacobs, Rinfret,

Jelliff, Robb,

Johnston (Long Lake), Roberge,

Kay, Robichaud,

Kennedy (Peace River), Robitaille,

King (Huron North), Ross (Moose Jaw),

King (Kootenay East), St-P&re,

Lacombe, Sanderson,

Lanctot, Seguin,

Langlois, Spence (Maple Creek),

La pierre, Spencer,

Lapointe, Steedsman,

Lavigueur, Stewart (Edmonton West),

Letellier, Stork,

Lovie, Sylvestre,

Lucas, Tobin (Richmond-Wolfe),

MacLean (Prince), Tobin (Wetaskiwin),

McLean (Melfort), Totzke,

MacPhail (Miss), Vallance,

McIntosh, Verville,

McKenzie, Ward,

McPhee, Woodsworth,

Malcolm, Young (Saskatoon),

Marcil, Young (Weyburn).-108.

Hon. ERNEST LAPOINTE (Leader of the House):

Mr. Speaker, I beg to move, seconded by Mr. Robb:

That the debate on the proposed motion of Mr. Elliott for an Address to His Excellency the Governor General in answer to his Speech at the opening of the session, and the proposed motion of Mr. Bird,

Anderson (Toronto High Park),

Anderson (Halton), Armstrong

(Timiskaming South), Armstrong (Lambton East),

NAYS Messrs: Esling,

Fish,

Fraser,

Garland (Carleton), Geary,

Gott,

Grimmer,

"that this question be now put", shall not be fur- Baker, Hamilton,ther adjourned. Bell (Hamilton West), Hannesson,The House divided on the motion (Mr. Boll (St. Antoine), Bennett, Hay, Johnstone (Cape BretonLapointe) which was agreed to on the fol- Black (Yukon), North-Victoria),lowing division: Black (Halifax), Kaiser,YEAS Bowen, Kennedy (WinnipegBristol, South Centre),Messrs: Bury, Ladner,Cahan, Lennox,Baldwin, Delisle, Casselman, MacDonald (Cape BretonBeaubiefi, Denis (St. Denis), Chabot, South),Benoit, Denis (Joliette), Chaplin (Kent, O.), Macdonald (Richmond-Bettez, Desaulniers, Ohaplin (Lincoln), West Cape Breton),Bird, Descoteaux, Charters, MacLaren,Boivin, Deslauriers, Church, Maclean (York South),Both well, Dionne, Clark, MacNutt,Bouchard, Donaghy, Cotnam, McClenaghan,Boucher, Dubuc, Cuiligan, Macdougall,Bourassa, Dussault, Dickie, McGJbbon,Boutillier, Elliott, Doucet, McQuarrie,Brown, Evans, Drayton (Sir Henry), Maloney,Cahill, Evanturel, Duncan, Man ion,Cannon, Fafard, Edwards (Waterloo South), Maybee, Cardin, Fansher, Edwards (Frontenac- Meighen,Carmichael, Fiset (Sir Eugene), Addington), Messervy,Coote, Fontaine, Embury, Morand,

The Address-Mr. Lapointe

Mullins,

Murphy,

Nicholson,

O'Neill,

Peck.

Perley (Sir George), Pettit.

Preston,

Price,

Quinn,

Rogers,

Ross (Kingston City), Rowe,

Ryckman,

Ryerson,

Senn,

Short,

Simpson,

Sinclair,

Smith,

Smoke,

Spence (Parkdale), Stansell,

Stevens,

Stewart (Leeds),

Stinson,

Stirling,

Sutherland (Oxford South),

Sutherland (Oxford North),

Thompson,

Tunamon,

White (Mount Royal), Wilson (Wentworth).-95.

(The list of pairs is furnished by the chief whips.) Messrs:

Macdonald (Antigonish-Guysborough),

Jenkins,

Raymond,

Casgrain,'

Hatfield,

Donnelly,

Lacroix,

Gershaw,

Cross,

Wilson (Vaudreuil-Soulanges),

Laflamme,

Power,

McMillan,

Macdonald (Glengarry), Euler.

Hanson,

Macdonald (Kings), Bell (St. John-Albert), Boys,

Flemming,

Barber,

Robinson,

Foster

Davis,

Tolmie,

White (London),

Langworthy,

Mewburn,

Wright,

Harris,

Hocken.