Mr. GARLAND (Bow River):

Hear, hear.

Mr. GORDON:

The hon. member for Bow River says, "hear, hear." But I think the history of hard times is also the history of the back-to-the-land movement. Since last fall, after several long conferences with the presidents of the two railway systems, with their colonization organizations which theretofore had turned their attention to the encouragement of migrants from Europe, they agreed with me that we had in Canada a problem largely in connection with the very people who had been induced to come to this country through the efforts of the railways themselves, and who either had not gone on farms or, if they had done so, had not stayed there. A concerted effort is being made to bring such people back to the land. I hope that effort will continue between the department and the two railways and that it will be participated in by the numerous societies and organizations which, inspired by one purpose or another, in the past sought to bring people to Canada. While many of those efforts were laudable ones, on the other hand in many instances I am afraid once they got the people into this country they thought they had accomplished their purpose and there was nothing more for them to do. The policy lo which I have just referred will be continued.

The gentleman who occupies the position of director of publicity is also misnamed. He

Questions

is working very hard carrying out this policy of finding positions on farms for people. I can assure the hon. member for Bow River I was rather surprised to learn how many farmers like to have a good hired man around and how many of these men we have been able to place. Strange to say, many of the men placed were from Winnipeg, in the province of Manitoba. It was also a surprise to me. because I confess I have had no experience at all with respect to farming, to learn how many families who had had a farming background in Canada, had moved into the cities, had saved anywhere from S500 to $1,000, but were now out of employment, continuing to pay rent, seeing that fund dwindle and wondering what was going to happen to them. Hundreds of such families were anxious to take advantage not of financial help, but of a return to the land on locations selected either by the two railway companies or by my department. They are going back to the land of their own volition, courageously, knowing, because of their previous experience on farms, that they can at least maintain themselves in certain sections of Canada, which sections are waiting for them. In that respect, we are achieving a great deal of success.

Item stands.

Progress reported.

Right Hon. R. B. BENNETT (Prime Minister) :

I wonder if the house would be good

enough to revert to motions in order that I may move a motion with respect to the estimates for the Canadian National Steamships and Maritime Freight Rates Act, presented to the house on the 13th of April, which were not included in the motion to-day.

Mr. SPEAKER:

By consent the house

will revert to motions.

The house having reverted to the order for motions:

Mr. BENNETT moved:

That the estimates respecting the Canadian National Steamships and the Maritime Freight Rates Act, presented to the house on the 13th April, be referred to the select standing committee on railways and shipping owned, operated, and controlled by the government, and that the order referring the same to the committee of supply be discharged.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

That is purely a pro forma motion, I take it?

Mr. BENNETT:

Purely. I thought it

had been included in the motion to-day, but

I am informed that it was not, and I have been asked to present it.

Sir EUGENE FISET:

Does this refer to

the estimates contained in Bill No. 79, presented by the Minister of Railways?

Mr. BENNETT:

I cannot say whether it

does or not. The chairman of the committee came to me this afternoon and said that it had not been included in the motion as made, and asked me if I would bring it to the attention of the house to-night. The bill in any event will be before the committee, of which the hon. member is a member.