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

For obvious reasons I

have had placed on the table in advance the evidence taken before the Royal Commission on Customs and Excise. I hope the house will pardon me for not having attempted personally to table the volumes of evidence now tabled. I desire to lay on the table also the ten interim reports of the Royal Commission on Customs and Excise. With respect to the interim reports I move, seconded >by the Minister of Justice (Mr. Lapointe), that twelve hundred copies in English and four hundred copies in French be printed forthwith and that standing order No. 64 be suspended in relation thereto.

Hon. J. A. ROBB (Minister of Finance):

In tabling now a copy of the public accounts may I direct the attention of hon. members and of the press as well to page XIV. In order to secure an independent audit of the balance sheet the treasury board instructed Messrs. P. S. Ross & Sons, of Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg, to perform the task and their certificate will be found on the page indicated.

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

Yesterday the hon. member for Toronto Northwest (Mr. Church) asked whether it was the intention of the government to adjourn parliament during the funeral in the old country of the late Field Marshal Earl Haig. I am at present communicating to ascertain whether or not the British parliament would in such circumstances adjourn and if so we shall do likewise. If there would be no adjournment of the British parliament, there will be no adjournment here. Before the day is over I hope to be able to give a final word to members of the house. In the meantime, I might say that instructions have been given to have-at the time of the funeral in London- the flags flown at half mast on all public buildings in Canada as a token of national respect to the memory of the late Earl Haig.

Unemployment in Nova Scotia

Hon. J. A. ROBB (Minister of Finance):

Yesterday, on the orders of the day the hon. member for Halton (Mr. Anderson) asked the following question:

I would like to ask the Minister of Finance whether the Farmers Bank has been definitely wound up and a financial statement received from the liquidator.

I promised to give the hon. member a reply to-day. This is the memorandum I have received from the department:

On December 20th, 1926, the liquidator G. T. Clarkson, received his discharge from the Supreme Court of Ontario, all assets of the Farmers Bank having been realized upon and accounted for.

Out of assets estimated in 1910 at $2,000,000 odd, the total amount collected by the liquidator was $1,372,829. This included $314,880 collected on account of double liability as against $584,500 capital subscribed.

After providing for note circulation 100 per cent and paying legal and liquidation costs, nothing was left for depositors, the total of whose claims was $1,134,036.

Mr. R. K. SMITH (Cumberland):

I should like to draw the government's attention to the rather startling state of affairs in Nova Scotia in the matter of fuelling of Canadian government boats with American coal, as outlined in part by a telegram received by me this morning which reads as follows: Halifax, N.S., February 2, 1928.

R. K. Smith, M.P.,

Ottawa.

Unemployment in colliery districts. Glace Bay mines, only a few days' work each month. Startling fact that at present time in port of Halifax Canadian government boats being bunkered American coal. This has been going on since 1921. Within past forty-eight hours Lady Laurier and Arleux bunkered American fuel.

In view of the information contained in this telegram and considering the very serious unemployment situation among the miners in Nova Scotia, thousands being out of work and in destitute circumstances-

Mr. SPEAKER:

I would ask the hon.

gentleman not to argue the matter but simply to put a straight question.