Mr. MAXIME RAYMOND (Beauharnois):

I should like to remind the Prime Minister that yesterday I was given to understand that some papers would be laid on the table to-day.

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

I was going to ask the hon.

gentleman if he would be good enough to wait another day. The letter to which I referred is not on file; this subject matter was dealt with in a verbal statement, and I have asked that a letter be sent to show that the moneys received have been used for the purpose of liquidating the obligations mentioned in the order in council. That letter has not arrived as yet, but if the hon. gentleman will accept my word for it I shall be glad to hand the papers to him in the meantime ; otherwise they will be filed in the house on Monday. I have telephoned again to have the letter sent. There are no communications between the railway company and the government.

Mr. C. G. POWER (Quebec South):

I

should like to direct a question to the acting Minister of Fisheries (Mr. Duranleau) and also to the Minister of Pensions and National Health (Mr. MacLaren), because both departments are involved. My question is in connection with an article which appeared in L'Aetion Catholique, of Quebec, on Tuesday, March 6, 1934, as follows:

(Translation)

Inedible fish. We have been informed that, recently, fish practically rotten has been sold in Quebec. Is it necessary to condemn such a practice? WTe trust that the authorities will take the matter up with the owners of cold storage warehouses as soon as they learn the facts.

Supply-Defence-Naval Services

Then an advertisement:

Eels for sale at the cold storage warehouse of the Quebec commission.

I am informed that the fish referred to are a consignment of eels which are being sold for 3 cents a pound either by or from the Quebec cold storage warehouse. The question I should like to ask the acting Minister of Fisheries is whether he will inquire as to whether or not these inedible fish are being sold from this warehouse, and the question I should like to ask the Minister of Pensions and National Health is whether he will take steps to see that fish unfit for food are not sold in Quebec.

Mr. BENNETT:

Eels are a great delicacy in Holland.

Mr. POWER:

That may be so; I did not want to detain the house at any length, but the house will remember what was contained in the advertisement.

Eels, not graded, at $3 per hundredweight, with a reduction of 10 per cent in quantities of five boxes or more. A box contains from 100 to 150 pounds.

The article I read is to the effect that fish unfit for human consumption are being sold in the city of Quebec. I do not place eels in the category of unfit food, but bad eels or, as it is expressed here, rotten eels certainly are not in the category of food fit for consumption, even in the city of Quebec.

Hon. ALFRED DURANLEAU (Acting Minister of Fisheries):

This is the first time I have heard of these facts. I shall be pleased to inquire into the matter as far as it comes under the jurisdiction of my department, but I think these questions should be addressed to the provincial and municipal authorities.

Mr. POWER:

In all probability they

should be, but we will start here.

Hon. MURRAY MacLAREN (Minister of Pensions and National Health):

I should be glad if my hon. friend would hand me the statements to which he has referred, and I shall have inquiries made at once in reference thereto.

Mr. W. G. WEIR (Macdonald):

I should like to ask the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Weir) if it is intended to bring in any amendments to the Seed Act this session.

Hon. ROBERT WEIR (Minister of Agriculture) :

Not in connection with the administration of the Seed Act, so far as I am aware.

Mr. MACKENZIE (Vancouver):

I should like to ask the minister a question, though I am not sure whether or not this is the proper item. It is in connection with the sale of the rifle range on Lulu island in British Columbia. Has the range been sold and, if so, was it sold by tender?

Hon. DONALD M. SUTHERLAND (Minister of National Defence): No, it has not

been sold.

Mr. MACKENZIE (Vancouver):

Have

tenders been called for the sale of the range?

Mr. SUTHERLAND:

No.