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

Mr. Speaker, I beg to lay on the table a copy of the interim report of Mr. Justice Martin, appointed a commissioner to receive and inquire into the arguments of the government of the province of British Columbia in support of its claim for reconveyance to the province by the government of Canada of the land conveyed by the province to the Dominion following paragraph 2 of the terms of union.

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

I also beg to lay on the

table, Mr. Speaker, a copy of the minutes of the conference at Washington between the customs commission and officers of the United States government on August 29 and 30, 1927. It is part of the proceedings of the Royal Commission on Customs and Excise.

Mr. J. A. CLARK (Vancouver-Burrard):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to draw the attention of the government to the contents of a letter I have just received from the citizens of Vancouver:

Dear Sir,-

We are desirous of going into the Peace River district in the early spring and find upon making enquiries that there is no settlers' rate from here, but at Blaine an American citizen can secure a settlers' rate. There is no reduction on settlers' effects from here but there is from the American side. .

We understand the Canadian government will bring a European in here for about $15, and to go from here costs us each $45 via C.N.R.

I know of at least one dozen good fellows who would go out there and would make good but all feel the big drawback it is to be a Canadian. The European and American has us backed off our own map.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Order. For the information of the hon. member and others who put questions on the orders of the day, I would remind them that it is against the rules of the house to read letters or telegrams. Questions may be based on information so received, but no such communications must be read.

[Mr. Bradet'te.l

Mr. CLARK:

Your Honour, I will put it

this way, that I have received a communication from British Columbia which indicates that the foreigner may and does receive special rates over our railways to our vacant lands, that the foreigner is given special consideration in settling our lands as against Canadians. I do not think I could put it in better language than it is put in this letter.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Order. The hon. member is too well aware of the rules of the house for me to remind him that he must plainly put his question. This is not the time for argument.

Mr. CLARK:

Mr. Speaker, I must base my question upon facts, and the facts are fully stated in the letter. May I put my question in the form in which I have received it: Let us know what our Canadian government has to say about this condition, what they are prepared to do for our own Canadians?

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that the question of my hon. friend stand on the order paper for answer.

Mr. A. A. HEAPS (North Winnipeg):

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire if the Minister of the Interior (Mr. Stewart) has received any request from the province of Manitoba for t.he power site known as Seven Sisters falls? If so, is it the intention of the government to hand over to the provincial government that portion of the natural resources of the province?

Hon. CHARLES A. STEWART (Minister of the Interior): The Minister of the Interior cannot hand over at will the resources of any province. I may say that correspondence has passed between the Premier of Manitoba and myself with respect to Seven Sisters falls, and he has been kept fully informed of every move made.

Mr. J. S. WOODSWORTH (Winnipeg North'Centre):

Do I understand from the Minister of the Interior that no disposition of the Seven Sisters falls will be made without the consent of the provincial government?

Mr. STEWART (Edmonton):

I should not like to say that any disposition would not be made without the consent of the provincial government, but it certainly will not be made without their being fully informed of every detail.

Mr. HEAPS:

That is very unsatisfactory

The Address-Mr. Forke