Mr. H. B. ADSHEAD (East Calgary):

I would like to ask the Minister of Labour or the Minister of Immigration if either has received from Mr. Harrington, Minister of Mines of Nova Scotia, any protest against the immigration of miners from Scotland in connection with the British Empire Steel Corporation. The report states that he is protesting to the British Empire Steel Corporation against the immigration of miners when there was so little work to be done, and also because his department had not been consulted, I presume, by the department here in connection with the immigration of those miners. Is it the policy of the government to consult with provincial officials regarding their needs in immigration matters and have they received any protest from Mr. Harrington, Minister of Mines of Nova Scotia?

Hon. ROBERT FORKE (Minister of Immigration and Colonization):

I have received

no protest of any kind in regard to the immigration of those miners. I have however been informed that as regards those miners, about whom complaint was made some time ago, their passage has been paid back to the old country, but that two of them have intimated their intention of staying where they are.

Mr. ADSHEAD:

Will the minister answer my question relative to the policy of the government in regard to consulting with provincial officials?

Mr. FORKE:

We do not do so exactly, although we take every possible precaution to see that no labour field will be flooded with people who cannot secure employment. We find that the provincial governments are quite ready, to cooperate with us as far as possible in that respect.

Mr. A. E. MacLEAN (Prince):

I wish to read this telegram and to ask the Minister of Railways a question based thereon:

.

Will you kindly use your influence with railroad officials to have refrigerator cars rushed here for shipment of seed potatoes? Over fifty wanted this station. We have only received two in two weeks. Must have supply quick or will lose heavily through cancelled contracts. February orders not filled yet. Would appreciate very much your cooperation.

This is signed by Simmons and McFarlane of Freetown, Prince Edward Island. Will the Minister of Railways be good enough to take this matter up and to see that cars are rushed there as quickly as possible?

Hon. CHARLES A. DUNNING (Minister of Railways and Canals): I shall, of course, be glad to bring the matter mentioned by my hon. friend to the attention of the management of the Canadian National Railways. I understand that the matter has been the subject of representations previously, and I am sure the railway management is doing its best to cope with the situation, but I diall be pleased to bring the representations of my hon. friend to their attention.

Sir GEORGE PERLEY (Argenteuil):

I rise to a question of privilege. Yesterday evening the hon. member for Winnipeg North Centre (Mr. Woodsworth) read some extracts from a newspaper giving a list of companies and of men who were directors in them, and he referred to this as interlocking interests. This article went on to say:

The political expression of these interests in the Dominion House of Commons is Sir George Perley and the Hon. R. B. Bennett, both of whom control the E. B. Eddy Paper Company at Hull.

Unfortunately for me, I have no interest nor have I ever had any in the E. B. Eddy Company. Further, I am not a director of the E. B. Eddy Company, nor of any other paper company, nor of any other of the power companies in the Dominion.