Mr. GARLAND (Bow River):

That will be all to the good, but I frankly look with a good deal of dread and disappointment at the continuous delays on the part of the administration in this matter. They nave simply passed the thing on from one year to aaofhtr. The Prime Minister's excuse at this moment may be a very legitimate and a very laudable one, that the government desire to give an increase to the technical men'greater than that proposed by the Civil Service Commission. I think perhaps that that is worth while waiting for. In the meantime let us hope that the words of the Prime Minister may be an encouragement to these technical men who are now thinking of leaving their present positions in Canada, and that that encouragement will help them to continue in their present positions.

Mr. COOTE:

My only reason for delaying the committee one minute on this question is that I am credibly informed that we are liable to lose one or two of the most valuable men we have engaged in research * work in connection with rust, which after all, is one of the biggest problems facing agriculture in Canada. If the remarks of the Prime Minister are correct, I am a little surprised that the government did not accept the recommendation of the Civil Service Commission, and if they felt that the technical men were not being adequately compensated by the increases recommended by the Civil Service Commission they could then very well have appointed the royal commission which is now sitting and empowered them to recommend further increases to such of the technical men as they think should receive it. As I said, we are very liable to lose one or two men, particular'y one whom we should find it impossible to replace, and who will likely go to the United States at an initial salary of

Concurrence-Board of Audit

$10,000 whereas we pay him around $3,000. The government should take a little more intelligent interest in what I consider to be some of the most vital questions affecting agriculture in Canada to-day, instead of taking so much interest in these advertising shows.

Progress reported.

Resolution read the second time and concurred in.

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

I beg to move:

That the resolutions adopted in committee of supply on April 24, 25, 26, 29, May 3, 6, 10, 20, 28, 29, 30, 31, and June 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, be now read the second time and concurred in.

Mr. FRASER:

I asked the Minister of

Finance a question just before the committee rose at one o'clock-

Mr. SPEAKER:

There can be no debate

on the motion.

Mr. ROBB:

By unanimous consent; Mr. Speaker, the hon. gentleman might put his question.

Mr. FRASER:

I had asked the Minister

of Finance a question in regard to the audit board and he made the following reply: "Perhaps later on I might let any one item stand and give that information to my hon. friend when I have secured it." I wonder if the minister would put the information on Hansard.

Mr. ROBB:

The information with respect to the Board of Audit which my hon. friend asked for is as follows:

Board of Audit Remuneration-Annual

Chairman, Gordon W. Scott, $4,000.

Members, L. E. Potvin, $3,000; E. J. Howson, $3,000. ,

The rates of compensation for skilled assistance, authorized by the treasury board, are:

Partners, not over $50 per diem.

Senior clerks, not over $35 per diem.

Assistant clerks, not over $15 per diem.

In addition to these rates both the members of the board and their assistants are allowed actual travelling and living expenses.

Work authorized and completed

Treasury board minute of February 21, 1927 authorized inquiry and investigation into certain branches and accounts of the Department of Finance. The report of the board was completed on December 16, 1927 and tabled during the session of 1928.

Treasury board minute of March 24, 1927 authorized the board to inquire into and report on the financial affairs of the Quebec harbour commission. The report of the board was completed on January 16, 1928 and tabled during the session of 1928.

[Mr. Coote.l

Treasury board minute * of March 24, 1927 authorized an audit of the affairs in connection with the enemy property and debt accounts. The report of the board was completed and laid before parliament during the present session.

Work authorized but not yet completed

Treasury board minute of November 16, 1928 authorized the board to inquire into and report on the accounts and records of the Canadian government elevators and the western and eastern grain inspection divisions.

Treasury board minutes of January 25, 1929 authorized the board to inquire into and report on the financial affairs of the following harbour commissions:

Halifax harbour commission.

St. John harbour commission.

Montreal harbour commission.

Quebec harbour commission.

Chicoutimi harbour commission.

Three Rivers harbour commission.

Vancouver harbour commission.

New Westminster harbour commission.

Treasury board minute of January 25, 1929 authorized the board to inquire into and report with regard to the loaning operations of the Soldier Settlement Board of Canada.

Treasury board minute of January 25, 1929 authorized the board to inquire into payments to the Canadian National Railways under the Maritime Freight Rates Act.

Treasury Board minute of January 25, 1929 directed the board to inquire into and report in regard to collection of naturalization fees by the clerks of courts.

Expenditures of the government in connection with the board to March 31, 1929 were:

Fiscal Compensation Other

Year to Members Expenses Total

1927- 28.. .. $10,000 $61,317 64 $71,317 641928- 29.. .. 10,000 59,851 71 69,851 71

Mr. FRASER:

In regard to premium bonds,

I have been reviewing this question considerably during the session, all based on the report of the Auditor General. I do not propose to discuss it at the present time, as I have already spoken about it, but I would suggest' that the minister appoint an inter-departmental commission to review the whole question of indemnity bonds so far as the collection and distribution of the revenue of the country is concerned. As chairman of the commission I would suggest Mr. Finlayson, the superintendent of insurance, and as to the other members, the Minister of Finance knows his officials better than I do.

Mr. ROBB:

My hon. friend1 has already

brought this matter to the attention of t^e house. He may recall that I said some days ago that we had asked the Department of Justice for a ruling as to the legality of the procedure. We have made up our minds to have an inter-departmental inquiry made if the ruling of the Department of Justice is that the present method is not legal. In any

Procedure Respecting Dit>orce

event, I think that it would be profitable to have an inter-departmental inquiry, so that we can report to parliament next session.

Mr. ROBB moved:

Resolved that towards making good the supply granted to His Majesty on account of certain expenses of the public service for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1930, the sum of $243,168,149.17 be granted out of the consolidated revenue fund of Canada.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I have the honour to lay

before the house the hardy annual-the report of the organization of the staff of the House of Commons.

On motion of Mr. Rinfret the report was concurred in.