Mr. WOODSWORTH:

May I ask what

the decision of the department has been in regard to an application for an inquiry in reference to the combine in the city of Winnipeg?

Mr. GORDON:

I assume that the hon.

member has reference to an alleged combine in connection with the coal industry in Winnipeg. The distribution of coal in Winnipeg has been under review by the officials of the department. An interim report has been received. I expect to have the matter investigated further.

Mr. RALSTON:

In that connection may

I ask a further question? While it is true that the imperative section of the act with regard to publicity refers to a commissioner, I understand there is nothing in the act which prohibits the minister from making public the report of the registrar; in fact there is no suggestion that it shall not be made public'... Will the minister lay the report on the table -of the house?

Mr. GORDON:

The hon. member is quite right in saying that the act is silent with, respect to making public a report of the.' registrar. As I have already indicated, having regard to the fact that I am transmitting the report of the registrar and the evidence and exhibits upon which it is founded to the provincial authorities affected, in order that they may take such action as they deem advisable, in my view it would not be desirable to make the report or the evidence public.

Mr. YOUNG:

Why not?

Mr. GORDON:

Because it might defeat

any action which the attorney general of the province to whom the report is submitted might take.

Mr. YOUNG:

In what way?

Mr. GORDON:

If there should be a prosecution the evidence would be in the hands of anyone who might be subjected to that prosecution. That has not been the practice in the past, and I think the practice that has been followed is sound.

Mr. SPENCER:

May I ask to what provinces the report will be submitted?

Mr. GORDON:

The only provinces affected would be Quebec and Ontario, and Ontario would be affected much less than Quebec.

Race Track Employees

Mr. SAMUEL FACTOR (Toronto West Centre):

I should like to ask the Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. Stevens) if the trade agreement between Canada and Germany, which I understand expired last month, has been renewed by the government and, if so, when it was renewed and for what term.

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

The understanding with

Germany-it is not a trade agreement-was extended about a month ago, and some statement in that connection was made in the house. I think it has been extended for a period of six months.

RACE TRACK EMPLOYEES On the orders of the day:

Mr. ECCLES J. GOTT (South Essex): Mr. Speaker, according to press reports of yesterday the Minister of Immigration (Mr. Gordon) is expected to modify the restrictions against United States citizens entering Canada to work on Canadian Racing Association tracks as pari-mutuel operators. I should like to ask the minister what is the intention of the government with regard to the employment in Canada of United States citizens in this connection, in view of the fact that Canadian citizens are barred from employment on the tracks in the United States.

Hon. W. A. GORDON (Acting Minister of Immigration):

Mr. Speaker, the question of the interchange of labour between Canada and the United States, as I think every hon. member knows, has come up with respect to many industries and activities. It is difficult to adopt any course that will not at times give rise to irritation or cause some people to feel that the division is not fair as between the two countries. With respect to the employment of people on race tracks-and I may tell hon. members that I am not at all acquainted with race tracks and their operation-I had this question before me last year and again this year. I am not prepared to subscribe to what my hon. friend says with regard to the exclusion of Canadians from United States tracks, though I would not care to deny that there has been some restriction in that regard. There are many more tracks in the United States than there are in Canada, and Canadians are employed on United States tracks. The number of United States citizens employed on Canadian tracks the year before last was about one hundred. Last year that

number was greatly reduced, and this year a further reduction has been made, so that there will not be more than fifteen such officials employed.

Hon. members must realize that the operation of a race track is a highly specialized business, and one cannot become acquainted with all its complexities in the course of a few weeks. For instance, a steward is a very special man, and so also is a starter; these men are trained for their work. An assistant starter does dangerous work at times, I am told, and it has been suggested to me also that sometimes the finisher finds himself in a very precarious situation. I can assure my hon. friend, however, that the whole subject has been given very careful review, having regard to the possibility of employing Canadian labour and also having regard to the fact that huge sums of money have been invested in race tracks in this country. I do not think it would be advisable for the government to adopt such a course as would be likely to render impossible the carrying on of the sport, so called. Yesterday I did take some action; it was indicated to me that a special man was necessary, and I allowed that man to enter on condition that the race track employ at once four unemployed Canadians who would be taught how to do the work. We must take action such as this at times, and as each case arises the responsibility is mine to see that the best course is followed, having regard to the interests of everyone concerned and particularly the interests of those unemployed in Canada who are capable of carrying on the work.

Mr. F. G. SANDERSON (South Perth):

I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Finance (Mr. Rhodes) in regard to the new tariff board. Could the minister tell the house what applications for hearings have been received from Canadian and British firms? If the minister has not the information before him perhaps he would give me an answer to-morrow.

Hon. E. N. RHODES (Minister of Finance):

Obviously I will have to ask that my hon. friend's question stand as a notice, and I will give an answer to-morrow.