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

moved:

That the petition of Annie Bick Border, of Montreal, Quebec, now residing in London, England. praying for a bill of divorce from Kenneth C. Border, of Montreal, together with the report of the clerk of petitions thereon, be referred to the select standing committee on standing orders for the purpose of considering the suspension of standing order 92 in relation thereto.

Hon. E. B. RYCKMAN (Minister of National Revenue):

Referring to the inquiry on Thursday last of the hon. member for St. Denis (Mr. Denis), concerning return No. 277, the return as brought down includes a copy of all the documents on the official departmental record relative to the retirement of Mr. J. A. Bernier, inspector of customs and excise at Montreal. On making inquiry, however, it has been ascertained that the

chief inspector was advised verbally and confidentially that Inspector Bernier's expense accounts were inaccurate, and in order to ascertain the facts the chief inspector instructed Inspector C. E. Lafontaine by letter to make a confidential investigation. A copy of the chief inspector's letter and of Inspector Lafon-taine's confidential reply are now produced.

The officials who prepared the return had no knowledge of the correspondence on the chief inspector's file.

Hon. C. H. CAHAN (Secretary of State):

As requested by the hon. member for South Essex (Mr. Gott), I now table supplementary answer to question answered on the 4th May, 1931, as it appears in Hansard at pages 1233 and 1234.

1. How many pounds of tobacco, raw leaf, were imported into Canada for the 12 months ending March 31, 1931: (a) from the United States; (b) from other countries?

2. How much manufactured tobacco was imported for the same period from all countries?

3. How much excise tax was collected on cigarettes for the year ending March 31, 1931?

4. How much in excise or other taxes was collected by the government of Canada, all branches, from the tobacco industry, all branches, for the same period?

5. How much tobacco was exported from Canada during the same period?

6. To what countries was it exported?

1. Canada's imports of tobacco, unmanufactured, by countries, for the year ended March 31, i931, were:

Questions

Countries Pounds $(a) United States.. .. 15,092,356 4,335,903(b) Other countries- Argentina 8 4Belgium 15,552 8,232Brazil 157 53Bulgaria 607 273Cuba 1,179,884 923,340Germany 3,109 1,605Greece 10,735 5,155Italy 50,604 18,790Netherlands 68,616 81,501Dutch East Indies. 83,809 76,701Russia 306 105Spain 5 5United Kingdom.. 74,646 37,282(b) Other countries. 1,488,038 1,153,046Total imports. .. 16,580,394 5,488,9492. Canada's imports of tobacco, manufactured, by countries, for the year ended March 31, 1931, were: Countries Pounds $Aden . .. 16 29Alaska . .. 84 101Belgium ... 201 1,011British South Africa . .. 100 57British West Indies- Jamaica . .. 496 2,859Other Br. W. Indies.. 68 288China . .. 7,680 2,562Cuba . .. 12,955 92,429Egypt . .. 513 2,681Finland . .. 54 107France . .. 715 737Germany . .. 5 7Hong Kong . .. 18,451 6,644Irish Free State.. . . .. 25 77Netherlands . .. 64 40Dutch East Indies. . .. 15 25Newfoundland... . . .. 42 24Norway . .. 30 23United Kiijgdom. . . .. 189,450 620,883United States. .. . . .. 176,211 244,214Total imports

407,175 974,7983. There is no excise tax on cigarettes as in the case of cigars. There is a consumption or sales tax of 1 per cent on cigarettes but the amount collected is not available as separate statistics for each commodity are not maintained. Excise duty collected on cigarettes during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1931, $30,499,222.84.4. $631,236.90-Import duty, $42,489,989.38. This amount includes the excise tax on cigars

in addition to the excise duty on all tobacco, including cigars.

5. Canada's domestic exports of tobacco for the year ended March 31, 1931, were:

Classification Pounds $

Unmanufactured tobacco-

Burley 2,357,496 417,661Bright, flue-cured.. .. 1,515,363 660,544Dark, air and fire cured. 2,021,571 403,831Other unmanufactured tobacco 156,889 23,558Stems .and cuttings (tobacco) 576,200 4,840Manufactured tobacco- Cigars 1,556 3,631Cigarettes 282 387Plug and twist 15,343 8,452Other manufactured tdbacco 247,805 50,201Total tobacco. .. 6,892,505 1,573,1056. Canada's domestic exports of tobacco, by countries, for the year ended March 31, 1931, were: Countries Pounds $Unmanufactured tobacco to Belgium 949,829 70,213Canary islands 32,510 1,300China 41,999 4,457Denmark 11,070 941France 110 24Germany 10,203 575Malta 2,418 242Netherlands 133,958 9,371Nigeria 16,435 657St. Pierre & Miquelon. 200 61Switzerland 27,649 1,217United Kingdom. .. 4,820,202 1,415,103United States 4,736 1,433Total exports 6,051,319 1,505,594Stems and cuttings (tobacco) to United Kingdom. .. 20.000 813United States 556,200 4,027Total exports.. .. 576,200 4,840Manufactured tobacco to Australia 28 119Barbados 120 72Belgium.. , 57 77Bermuda 318 200British South Africa.. 17 39Ceylon 7 24China 227,610 33,092

The Budget-Mr. Bennett

Countries Pounds $

Manufactured tobacco to

Denmark 4 9France 4 7Hong Kong 5 9Jamaica 1,041 707Japan

.. 2,525 1,277Newfoundland 26,480 17,506New Zealand 649 905Panama 12 15St. Pierre & Miquelon. 245 263Switzerland 356 488United Kingdom. .. 206 363United States 5,320 7,499Total exports.. .. 264,986 62,671

Right Hon. R. B. BENNETT (Minister of Finance) moved:

That Mr. Speaker do now leave the chair for the house to go into committee of ways and means.

He said: Mr. Speaker, in moving that you

do now leave the chair for the purpose of enabling the house to resolve itself into a committee of ways and means to make good the supply to be granted to His Majesty for the twelve months ending March 31, 1932, I will, follow the traditional practice of making a general survey of the financial and business operations of the Dominion during the last fiscal year. I will also indicate the ways and means which the government proprose to utilize in providing the necessary revenues to meet the appropriations made by Parliament. I shall discuss these matters under five heads:

1. The financial operations of the Dominion for the fiscal year, April 1, 1930, to March 31, 1931.

2. The balance sheet of the Dominion on March 31 last showing assets active and nonactive and liablities direct and indirect.

3. Trade and commerce.

4. The estimated revenue and expenditures for the twelve months ending March 31, 1932.

5. The ways and means which will be adopted for the purpose of providing the necessary revenues to meet the proposed expenditures.