Mr. SPEAKER:

On Friday, April 7, the right hon. the leader of the opposition raised the point that the house having control of its own records, the house should, before any statements are expunged from the official report of the debates, pass a resolution to that effect, and he submitted that the Speaker

being the servant of the house in this, as in all matters, the house itself should determine whether anything is to be deleted from any of its records.

In the case in point, the first opportunity I had of fully understanding the words complained of was when I saw the official report, and since I should have ruled them out when they were uttered I consider I was justified in ruling them out from the chair as soon as the house sat again. I agree that in dealing with Hansard the Speaker's authority is subject to the approval of the house.

Instructions for any alteration in the official report of the debates should not be given without communicating them to the house in session, and for this reason, whenever I have deemed it advisable to direct that certain statements be expunged, I have done so from the chair, thus giving a ruling which, under standing order 12, is subject to an appeal to the house. I have followed the precedent established by one of my predecessors who, on April 6, 1925, decided that an answer given by the government should be expunged, and he did so in the following words:

I therefore rule that the answer be expunged from Hansard, and if the question is put again, a distinct answer should be given.

I have dealt with all such cases as questions of order subject to the ordinary rules of parliamentary procedure.

Hon. W. A. GORDON (Minister of Labour) :

Mr. Speaker, I desire to lay on the table of the house certain orders in council passed pursuant to the relief legislation.

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Leader of the Opposition):

As a matter of

public interest, if the Prime Minister would not regard me as unduly inquisitive, may I ask if he has received an invitation from the President of the United States to meet him in Washington to discuss international problems, and if so, whether he intends to accept the invitation in person?

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

Mr. Speaker, the answer to both questions is in the affirmative.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

May I ask

my right hon. friend one further question? Does he intend to pay the visit during the Easter recess, if that is not asking too much?

Mr. BENNETT:

I am not in a position

to answer that question definitely, but at the moment I would say no.

Hon. IAN MACKENZIE (Vancouver Centre):

In view of the extensive and somewhat conflicting press references to the speech delivered at Geneva by the Secretary of State, may I ask if the house will be given a definite statement of policy with regard to that question at an early date?

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

I do not think there is any necessity

of saying anything further than has already been said with respect to that particular matter. I had no notice that such a question was going to be asked, but I might add that when the estimates are under consideration an ample opportunity for discussing the matter will be given in fairness to the Secretary of State, who has not yet had the opportunity, and I trust that he will avail himself of it.