1. How many file clerks are employed in the House of Commons?

2. What are their names, and what salary does each draw?

1. 4.

2. Miss D. Bond, S3 per day; Mrs. M. Kloclc, $3 per day; Mrs. M. Lett, S3 per day; Miss A. Parizeau, $3 per day.

CMr^ Speaker.]

1. Has J. R. McLeod, Esq., M.D., C.M., of Port Hawkesbury, in the province of Nova Scotia, been dismissed from his position as port physician?

2. When was he appointed to said position and how long was he in the service of the government?

3. What, is the reason for his dismissal?

4. Who recommended said dismissal?

5. Was an investigation held and by whom?

1. Yes.

2. 16th August, 1911. From 16th August, 1911, to 13th July, 1912. From 1st November, 1916, to 15th May, 1931.

3. Political partisanship.

4. Dr. McLeod was dismissed by authority of an order in council which was adapted on the recommendation of the Minister of Pensions and National Health.

5. No, the established practice was followed of accepting the statement in writing of the member representing the constituency of Inverness that to his personal knowledge Dr. McLeod was guilty of political partisanship.

Mr. MANION:

In reply to the inquiry, Sir Henry Thornton writes the minister as follows:-

"We did lay off eighteen employees in the locomotive department and one in the ear department at New Carlisle on April 30th. This was on account of the reduction in traffic and general repairs to engines being made at Moncton. Regular train service on the Gaspe lines is daily passenger and tri-weekly wayfreight service between Gaspe and Matapedia. We originally had thirty employees in the locomotive department, and three in the car department, and the fourteen that we have retained on the force are all that are required under the present conditions.

"I might say for your information that whatever facilities there are at New Carlisle for the repair of locomotives and cars are obsolete

Quebec Harbour Commission

and inefficient, and arrangements were therefore made to transfer general repair work to Moncton where an efficient and up-to-date plant exists. We cannot transfer the surplus employees from New Carlisle to displace other men in the employ as they do not hold seniority, and the additional work which will have to be taken care of in Moncton will be done without increased staff.

"Following the taking over of the Gaspe lines, some of these men were engaged in dismantling old equipment and other temporary work, but the time has arrived when there is no work for them to do, and therefore it has been necessary to reduce the staff as indicated above." :

Mr. SAUVE:

Not until economic conditions improve to such an extent as to warrant the department making extensions of this expensive service, and then only when and to that portion where local conditions under which such a service is given are satisfactory to the department.

Hon. IAN MACKENZIE (Vancouver Centre) :

Mr. Speaker, would the hon. Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. Stevens) be good enough to indicate to the house when he expects to be in a position to make an announcement with regard to the new Australian treaty.

Hon. H. H. STEVENS (Minister of Trade and Commerce):

Mr. Speaker, this treaty is under negotiation at the present time; as soon as it has been completed and it is proper to do so, prompt announcement will be made.

Hon. ERNEST LAPOINTE (Quebec East):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to put a question to the hon. Minister of Marine (Mr. Duranleau). The newspapers publish an interview given by the Chairman of the Quebec Harbour Commission, Mr. O'Meara, to the effect that the

question of salaries paid to employees of the Harbour Commission is under the control of the Minister of Marine, and that he has,, no knowledge of the Minister's intentions. I wish to inquire whether that is the case and whether there is any truth in the rumour' that salaries are to be reduced.

Hon. ALFRED DURANLEAU (Minister of Marine):

Mr. Speaker,. I have not read the report of the interview to which the exMinister of Justice (Mr. Lapointe), refers. Although I intend to exercise a reasonable control over the harbour commissions, as regards salaries, I have not so far received from the Quebec Harbour Commission any request to determine or help to determine the salaries of the employees of that commission.

Mr. LAPOINTE:

Any action taken should originate with the commission itself?