Mr. G. G. COOTE (Macleod):

I rise to a question of privilege, Mr. Speaker, arising out of an inaccurate report appearing in the Ottawa Citizen this morning under the heading "Glimpses of Parliament." The portion to which I refer is as follows:

The division saw the United Kingdom treaty ratified 84 to 42, with all the Conservatives voting for it and all the Liberals against it. The third group split up,

Kennedy, Speakman, Luchkovioh, Campbell, Lucas and Carmichael voting with the government, and Bourassa, Neill. Woodsworth and Miss Maephail against it. The rest didn't vote at all.

I was present in the house yesterday when all the votes were taken, and I announced the fact that I was paired with the hon. member for East Calgary. That statement is recorded in Hansard, I think, in connection with every vote. If it is accurate to say that all the Conservatives voted for the agreement and all the Liberals voted against it when we know that many of them were paired following the usual custom, it is not accurate to suggest that those in this corner

who were paired did not vote. I should like to say also that so far as I am aware all the members in this corner of the house who were not recorded as voting were paired, and those pairs were recorded in Hansard. I simply suggest to the Ottawa Citizen that this apparent inaccuracy in all fairness might be corrected.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Is the hon. member speaking on a question of privilege? He knows what is meant by a question of privilege.

Mr. GOTT:

On a question of privilege I should like to say that I was in the house for every vote yesterday, but there is a possibility that I was not recorded as having voted because I did not announce my pair.

1. How many employees are engaged in the centre block when parliament is not in session, and what is the total cost per annum to the government ?

2. How many additional employees are engaged during the time parliament is in session, and what is the cost to the government per day of such additional employees?

Sir GEORGE PERLEY:

House of Commons-

1. As at September 30, 1932: permanent, 88 -annual salary $237,618; temporary, 120- annual salary, $139,787.70.

2. As at October 31, 1932: sessional, 292-salary rate per day, $956.37.

Department of Public Works-

1. (a) 17; (b) $25,244.88 (after ten per cent deduction made).

2. (a) 21; (b) $84.33 (after ten per cent deduction made).

Note.-The information applied for in so far as it applies to the Senate, should be asked in the Senate.

1. Was Mr. Barthelmy Pelletier in the employ of the Quebec Harbour Commission in the month of April, 1931?

2. If so, what were his office hours?

3. Did he devote his full time to the duties devolving upon him as an employee of the commission during the month of April, 1931?

Questions

Mr. BENNETT:

This question, together

with questions 5, 6 and 7, is a question that it is not within the ability of the government to answer. Clearly not one of these questions could be regarded under any circumstances as a question which the government would answer if it had the ability to do so, notably question No. 6. I remember this matter being discussed in the house some years ago. The government finds itself in rather a difficult position; this is an independent corporation created by statute, and it is impossible to ask whether or not a man was absent from his work for an hour or so, and who recommended that he be allowed to absent himself. Those are not questions Which can be answered by this government. The affairs of the Quebec Harbour Commission, of course, are under survey; the accounts are audited and a report is provided. The matter might be taken up, I conceive, in the public accounts committee, where payments to that corporation are examined. I think an agreement was made by the late Minister of Finance that the accounts of the harbour commissioners could be considered in the public accounts committee. Obviously these questions cannot be answered by the government, and I do not think some of them could be answered by the commission itself.

Mr. SPEAKER:

The information sought

by questions 4, 5, 6 and 7 not being available to the government, the questions will be dropped.

Questions dropped.

1. Upon whose recommendation did the Department of National Revenue retain the services of Messrs. Nicol, Lazure and Couture, solicitors of Sherbrooke?

2. How long have they been in the employ of the Department of National Revenue?

3. In connection with what cases were their services utilized?

4. What sum was paid to the above named solicitors?

1. When legal services are required the Department of Justice nominates the legal agents to be employed.

2. Application is made to the Department of Justice in each case.

3. R. and G. Manufacturing Company (in liquidation), Rock Island, Que.

4. $1,373.50.

1. What is the name of the present, postmaster at Beadle, Saskatchewan?

2. On what date was he appointed?

3. Who recommended him for the appointment ?

4. Did other persons apply for the said position?

5. Was the Canadian Legion British Empire Service League asked to recommend a great war veteran for this position?

6. If so, did they recommend one as requested ?

7. Was he appointed? If not, why?

8. Did the department receive applications from veterans of the great war? If so, on whiat dates and what are their names?