1. How many federal charters were granted by the companies branch during the last fiscal year, 1931-32?

2. What was the revenue of the companies branch during the same year?

3. How many charters were granted: (a) in 1928-29; (b) in 1929-30; (c) in 1931-32?

4. What was the revenue of the companies branch during these same years?

1. Letters patent 760

Supplementary letters patent.. .. 197

Total 957

2. $263,833.

3. (a) Letters patent 1,202

Supplementary letters patent. 328

Total 1,530

(b) Letters patent 1,280

Supplementary letters patent. 328

Total 1,608

to) Letters patent 760

Supplementary letters patent. 197

Total 957

4. (a) $711,314; (b) $651,241; (c) $263,833.

1. Were there some dismissals of federal government employees for political partisanship in the county of Gaspe, Quebec, from October 1, 1926, to October 1, 1927?

2. If so, on whose recommendation were such dismissals made?

1. Yes, 38.

2. 23 on recommendation of Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux; 15 on recommendation of the hon. the Minister of Marine and Fisheries.

1. Are steps now being taken to transfer the natural resources intelligence branch from the Interior department to the Department of Trade and Commerce?

2. If such transfer is to be effected, to what branch of the Department of Trade and Commerce is the transferred branch to be attached?

3. What are the functions of the natural resources intelligence branch?

4. What is the number of persons employed in that branch?

5. Out of the total number of persons employed in that branch, how many have been born in Canada?

1. There is no such branch in the Interior department. The work formerly done by the national resources intelligence branch is now part of the work done by the national development bureau.

2. Answered by No. 1.

3. The national development bureau is a bureau of information on Canada's resources, development, and geography and for the promotion of the sound development of Canada's national estate.

4. 71.

5. 52.

Mr. SPENCER:

What was the amount of money in the central gold reserve on the 31st of October, 1932: (1) in gold; (2) in dominion notes?

Mr. RHODES:

(1) $11,081,733.32; (2) $10,300,000.

Mr. E. J. GARLAND (Bow River) moved:

For return showing the overages of each elevator company operating in the province of Alberta during each of the last ten years.

Radio Commission

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

Mr. Speaker, I spoke to this motion on Monday at which time the hon. member was not in the house. I do not know whether or not he has read my remarks, but I might say that I pointed out that it has not been the practice of my or any other department to disclose the operations of any private concern. In the annual report of the Board of Grain Commissioners most complete statements are given of overages and other matters pertaining to the operation of elevators, but it has not been the practice to disclose what each elevator or each company had on hand. My hon. friend wrote the department some time ago and I think the deputy minister replied in much the same manner in which I am now replying. I would suggest to the house that if my hon. friend is agreeable this resolution be dropped for the time being until it is decided whether or not we should disclose the operations of private companies.

Mr. GARLAND (Bow River):

The attitude of the Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. Stevens) is quite understandable but I would draw his attention to the fact that a few years ago when the Grain Act was under revision a very full list of the names of companies operating and their overages was published and became part of the record. With all due deference to the minister, I fail to see when a company has a certain quantity of goods on hand a.t the end of the year why that information should not be considered as a matter of public concern.

Mr. STEVENS:

If my hon. friend will drop the resolution for the time being and talk this matter over with me I am sure we can reach an agreement. There is no desire on my part to withhold any proper information.

Motion dropped.