Mr. BRASSET:

For a copy of Department of Public Works

pay lists respecting works carried out by the said department at Grande Entree, Magdalen islands, since August 1, 1930.

Mr. BRASSET:

For a copy of the paylists respecting works carried out by the Department of Public Works at Petite Riviere au Renard, from August 1, 1930, to date.

Mr. MOTHERWELL:

For a copy of all correspondence, memoranda, telegrams and other documents received by the government or any officers thereof, with respect to the establishment of the stabilization fund announced by the Minister of Finance in his recent budget.

Mr. RHODES:

If this motion were taken literally it would involve a tremendous amount of work; it would involve the conning of correspondence in the office of every minister of the crown. Has the hon. member in mind a request for every letter, telegram and communication received and being received from day to day?

Mr. MOTHERWELL:

I will indicate what I have in mind and if my present motion is not proper, I shall be glad to amend it. My motion reads:

For a copy of all correspondence, memoranda, telegrams and other documents received by the government or any officers thereof, with respect to the establishment of the stabilization fund announced by the Minister of Finance in his recent budget.

This would be correspondence received prior to the establishment of the fund, and I would amend my motion by adding after the word *"received" the words "prior to Tuesday, March 21, 1933." I could either drop my motion and redraft it or the government [DOT]could accept my interpretation.

Mr. RHODES:

It would be agreeable if the motion woTe amended as suggested by my hon. friend.

Mr. BENNETT:

I am sure my hon. friend realizes that the difficulty is that since September, 1931, every minister has been receiving correspondence with respect to the effect upon business of a depreciated exchange. This action is the result of the accumulative effect of all that correspondence. In my office alone there must be thousands of letters and it would be most difficult to trace them. If the correspondence being asked for is that re-53719-230

lating to the fund as such, then there could be no objection.

Mr. MOTHERWELL:

I want to be accommodating and not cause unnecessary work and perhaps the better way would be to withdraw my motion.

Motion withdrawn.

Mr. BRASSET (for Mr. Rheaume):

For a copy of all letters, correspondence, telegrams, and other documents in possession of the government with reference to order in council (P.C. 420) passed under section 43 of the Customs Act, in which the value for duty purposes of Timothy seed was fixed at a minimum value of 6 cents per pound in Canadian funds, together with a copy of said order in council and all rules and regulations and instructions issued thereunder and the correspondence if any received by the government since the adoption of the said order in council.

Mr. RYCIvMAN: There is no objection to this motion if it is accepted with the usual reservation as to confidential correspondence.

Mr. NEILL:

For a copy of all correspondence, telegrams, orders in council and other documents exchanged between any member of the government, or departmental official, and any other individual, corporation or association, since September 1, 1930, relating to the following subjects: (a)

duty on fuel oil imported into Canada; (b) bonus, subsidy or subvention on the production of coal from the coal mines of Vancouver island, British Columbia; (c) importation of British coal into British Columbia, and steps to deal with the situation thereby created; (d) proposed sale or leasing of the Canadian National railway docks at Vancouver.

Mr. RYCIvMAN: So far as this motion relates to the Department of National Revenue, there is no objection provided it is accepted with the usual reservation as to confidential correspondence.

Mr. BENNETT:

I would direct attention to the fact that a compliance literally with this motion would impose upon the clerical staffs responsible for the production of documents a burden which cannot be over-stated in words. It would necessitate the searching of the files in all departments for the purpose of obtaining letters relating to the duty on fuel oil imported into Canada, the prevention of British coal coming into British Columbia, and other matters. This would impose an almost intolerable burden upon the staffs and the return could not be completed for weeks or months.

Easter Recess

Mr. NEILL:

Perhaps fihe first part of the motion could be amended by substituting the words "British Columbia" for the word "Canada." That would narrow down immensely that part of the motion. It will be noted that the other questions are limited to British Columbia.

Mr. BENNETT:

The work will be the

same.

Mr. NEILL:

I move that the word

"Canada" in the fifth line be struck out and the words "British Columbia" substituted therefor.

Motion as amended agreed to.