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

Mr. Speaker, I beg to

lay on the table of the house:

Copy of the slavery convention adopted by the League of Nations at Geneva on September 25, 1926.

Copy of the second opium conference convention protocol of the League of Nations, signed at Geneva on February 19, 1925.

Copy of international sanitary conference, signed at Paris on June 21, 1926.

These copies are in both French and English.

Mr. NEILL:

Whereas order in council No. 439, approved 16th March, 1928, for reasons stated therein provides for a test movement of coal in full trainloads from Alberta to Ontario, the difference between the set rate of $6.75 per ton and what the Board of Railway Commissioners may determine to be a reasonable rate, to be paid by a vote in the estimates, and

Whereas the reasons stated in said order in council apply equally to coal mined in the province of British Columbia;

1. Will the government extend the provisions of said order in council to coal mined in British Columbia at the same rate as above mentioned, subject to a pro rata increase for the extra distance?

2. Whereas a number of British Columbia coal mines are situated on Vancouver island, and not in a position to readily ship by rail but well situated to ship by water, would the government grant them the same possible advantages as offered to railway shippers, by providing an equivalently proportionately low set rate for the transportation of coal in shiploads from Vancouver island to Montreal in the boats of the Canadian Government Merchant Marine?

Mr. STEWART (Edmonton) :

An order in council was passed on the 13th February, 1926, (P.C. 225) referring to the Board of Railway Commissioners certain questions relating to costs and rates for transportation of Alberta coal. To assist in definitely determining the questions so submitted with a view to ascertaining the possibility of Alberta domestic coal supplanting foreign household fuel in the Ontario market, it has been deemed necessary, as provided by order in council of March 16th, 1928, (P.C. 439) to carry out an actual test movement. Those engaged in coal operations in British Columbia have not made representation as to getting into the eastern market.

1. Are penitentiary guards classified as civil servants under the Civil Service Act and as civil servants under civil service jurisdiction?

2. Has the government or the department having the matters in charge, or the Civil Service Commission, prohibited penitentiary guards from becoming members of the Amalgamated Civil Servants of Canada or any other civil service organization?

3. If such prohibition does exist, what are the grounds for the decision?

1. (a) Yes, for purposes of appointment, salary and promotion.

(b) For all other purposes they are governed by Penitentiary Act.

2. Yes, by department.

Questions

3. Duties of penitentiary officers are semimilitary, semi-police and purely confidential, and under regulations they are not permitted to make the affairs of the penitentiaries the subject of conversation beyond the precincts of the prison nor make them known to any person outside. These regulations they have sworn to obey.

1. What is the minimum and maximum salary of a penitentiary guard?

2. Did not Colonel II. W. Cooper, late warden of the British Columbia penitentiary, recommend in his annual report, that the minimum salary of a penitentiary guard should be $100 per month?

3. What is the schedule of hours that a penitentiary guard is required to be on duty oc-eording to the regulations?

4. What is the total number of hours that a penitentiary guard is required to be on duty in one week, including the Sunday duty?

5. Is it a fact that inspector Jackson, now in charge of the British Columbia penitentiary, has only allowed the guards 10 minutes off duty for the noonday meal?

6. Is it true that penitentiary guards have been punished or reprimanded for not saluting the superintendent of penitentiaries or an in-peetor when on a visit to a penitentiary?

7. How many penitentiary guards have (a) resigned; (b) been dismissed from the British Columbia penitentiary during the fiscal year 1927-28?

8. How many penitentiary guards have been appointed to the British Columbia penitentiary during the fiscal year 1927-28?

1. $1,200 and $1,500.

2. Yes.

3. From opening to closing of the prison. Average daily hours served-seven and a half.

4. About forty-five hours.

5. No.

6. No.

7. (a) Permanent officers resigned, one; temporary officers resigned, two; temporary officers let go at expiration of employment period, two.

(b) Permanent officers dismissed, one; temporary officers dismissed, one.

8. 'Ten (temporary).

1. What were the imports of hens' eggs, by dozens, into Canada, (a) from the United States; (b) from all other countries combined, during each month in the year 1127, and for the months of 1928 on which the department may have information?

2. What wore the total imports of hens' eggs, by dozens, from the United States, (a) to the port of Montreal; (b) to the port of Toronto, during the same period?

3. How many dozens of hens' eggs have been exported from Canada, (a) to the United States; (b) to the United Kingdom; (c) to all other countries combined, during the above period?

4. What was the production and consumption of hens' eggs in each province of Canada during the year 1927?

1. Imports into Canada of eggs in the shell (a) from the United State, (b) from all other countries, by months, from January, 1927, to February, 1928, inclusive.

(a) (b)

Imports Imports

from from all

United Other

Months States Countries1927- Dozen DozenJanuary.. ..

622,966 10.254February.. .

1,123,466 4,611March.. ..

958.719 6,774April

2,384 4,198May

4.S75 2,551June

2,798 5,817July

2,169 1,495August.. ..

87,600 1.575September..

134,757 1,588October.. ..

2,232 2,269November..

28,353 6,768December..

200,797 7,6291928- January.. ..

22,234 7,276February.. .

26,567 93322. Statement of imports from the United

States of eggs in the shell entered for consumption at Montreal and Toronto each month from January, 1927, to February, 1928.

Months Montreal Toronto1927- Dozen DozenJanuary.. ..

292,154 184,446February.. .

437,130 421,048March

435.420 204,515April

21 123May

1 109June 132July -August

60,000 11,400September.. .

47,520 60,000October.. .. -November.. .

173 24,960December.. . 1928-

113,853 32,970January.. ..

16,740 -February.. .

45 23,4303. Exports of eggs (Canadian produce) to(a) the United States, (b) the United King-

Questions

dom, (c) all other countries, by months, from January, 1927, to February, 1928, inclusive.

(a) (b) (c)

Exports Exports Exports to all

to to otherUnited United coun-Months States Kingdom tries1927- Dozen Dozen DozenJanuary.. .. .. 36 - 14,075February.. .. .. 48 - 5,260March .. 24 - 10,395April .. 135 52 5.767May .. 181 300 4,840June .. 108 - 4.080July . . - 7,230August . . - 19.063September... .. 330 210 9.860October.. .. .. 231 22,500 10,515November... .. 456 90,000 17.340December... ... 162 193,500 31,5081928- January.. .. .. 14,250 30,000 7,670February.. .. .. 2,484 - 12,6604. Production of " farm eggs " in Canada,

by provinces, 1927.

Province Quantity

Prince Edward Island 4,104,160

Nova Scotia 4,391,537

New Brunswick 4.591,884

Quebec 37,054,000

Ontario 102,099,079

Manitoba 18.693,055

Saskatchewan 34,433,633

Alberta 26,749,466

British Columbia 20,629,854

Indian Reserves 530,559

Total 253 277,227