Hon. H. H. STEVENS (Vancouver Centre):

Mr. Speaker, this is a rather extraordinary procedure. I presume it is possible and in order to move that the report be concurred in. Personally, I have not had time to read the report, and if we are to insist on going forward with this report to-day I shall ask that Your Honour order the report read. There is another point, Mr. Speaker. Is it competent for a committee that has made a final report -which I understand the committee had made previous to the report now before us-to come back to the house and amend that final re-ipont? As I understand it, a committee is discharged when it makes its final report.

It is a standing committee.

Mr. STEVENS:

It is suggested that it is

a standing oommittee, but if a standing committee makes a final report surely it is not in order again to meet and offer an amendment to that final report without having been instructed by the house. It may appear that this point is rather finely drawn, but it is an extraordinary and unusual procedure. This report is one of considerable importance and I do not think the house should be asked to concur in it blindly, particularly in view of the rather unusual course which is being pursued.

Mr. McINTOSH:

The report, as stated by the hon. member for Vancouver Centre (Mr. Stevens) was presented to the house over a week ago. All the amendment proposes is a change in a very unimportant part of the report, that is, in the number of copies of the report to be issued. There is no amendment to any of the important items in the report, and the report has been before the house for almost two weeks.

Mr. A. W. NEILL (Comox-Albemi):

The amendment to the report is not moved by the

committee. Private members have asked that the report be adopted, and anyone can move an amendment to it. The committee has not asked for the amendment of the report, and it is always open to any private member to move concurrence in the report.

Mr. STEVENS:

I think I now find myself on fairly sure ground, and I raise this as a point of order. It is not competent for two hon. members of this house, acting in their private capacity, to present an amendment to a committee's report; that, I submit is out of order. I suggest that the only procedure that can be followed is to revive the committee and refer any measure back to them for their consideration.

Mr. NEILL:

The hon. member is taking a stand the very opposite of that he took a few minutes ago.

Mr. STEVENS:

Not- at all.

Mr. NEILL:

It is well known that it is in order for a member to move concurrence in a report, and any motion of that character is subject to amendment.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I think the point of order raised by the hon. member for Vancouver Centre (Mr. Stevens), regarding the amendment to the third and final report of the committee is well taken. The most practical way to amend this report is to refer it back to the committee with instructions that they have the power to reduce the number of printed copies from 10,000 to 1.000. I suggest to the mover (Mr. McIntosh) that he amend his motion-I do not think he will have any difficulty in getting the unanimous consent of the house, because it is an unimportant point-on the lines above indicated. The committee can be reconvened and can bring in a report with a view to reducing the number of printed copies from 10,000 to 1,000. The following ruling is given in Bourinot, page 480, and Beauchesne, paragraph 661:

When the motion is proposed the report may he referred back to the committee for further consideration or with instruction to amend the same in any respect. It is not competent for a committee to reconsider and reverse its own decision, but if the house resolves that such reconsideration is necessary, the correct procedure is for the house to give the committee instructions which will enable it to consider the whole question again.

Motion stands.