Hon. R. J. MANION (Minister of Railways and Canals):

Mr. Speaker, I desire to lay on the table of the house the report of the Chignecto canal commission. This is made up of part one, the commission's findings; part two, the surveys and estimates; part three, the extent and scope of the commission's investigation and also a number of appendices and maps which are applicable to the findings.

Hon. D. M. SUTHERLAND (Minister of National Defence):

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the right hon. leader of the opposition (Mr. Mackenzie King) asked me a question regarding the camps. I have been endeavouring to obtain some information on this subject but have not succeeded as yet. By to-morrow I shall be able to give a definite answer.

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING

(Leader of the Opposition): The minister

states that he has not been able to obtain the necessary information but will give an answer to-morrow. I ask the minister if the matter of holding political meetings in construction camps under the control of the Department of National Defence is not a matter of policy which the minister himself must determine rather than anyone else? Could he not say now that within certain limits it will be permissible to hold meetings in the camps in an orderly and proper manner?

Mr. SUTHERLAND:

The question has several sides to it and I want to go into the matter very thoroughly. By to-morrow I shall be able to give a definite answer.

Hon. PETER HEENAN (Kenora-Rainy River):

Mr. Speaker, during my absence from the house on April 24 the hon. member for South Essex (Mr. Gott) made a statement which will be found on page 2513 of Hansard. In referring to myself he said:

In the month of March of that year-

Fuel Oil Charges

That is, 1930-

-he drew $520 sessional indemnity, $700 for expenses, and as Minister of Labour he drew $1,200, making a total of over $2,500 for that one month in 1930.

I have waited for nearly three weeks to try to catch the hon. member in his seat, but I have not been successful. I had hoped to make a correction while the hon. member was present, but I do not think the matter should go any further. I just want to say that that statement is not true.

Hon. IAN MACKENZIE (Vancouver Centre):

Mr. Speaker, further to the question asked yesterday of the Minister of Finance (Mr. Rhodes) by the hon. member for New Westminster (Mr. Reid), I should like to direct a question to the Prime Minister (Mr. Bennett) as head of the Department of External Affairs. I should like to know if any negotiations have been carried on between this government and the President of the United States.

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

I take it the hon. member is

quite familiar with what transpired at the economic conference held in London and with the agreement which was signed by Canada, the United States and other silver producing countries. The action now being taken by the United States affects its domestic policy and what action may be taken by this country, if, as and when that policy is made effective by legislation, is a matter I cannot anticipate. At the present moment we are following with great care the action which has been taken but obviously I can take no further steps at this time.

Hon. R. J. MANION (Minister of Railways and Canals):

A few days ago the hon.

member for Quebec South (Mr. Power) asked me if I would obtain a ruling supposedly put out by the board of railway commissioners dealing with freight rates on lumber coming east from British Columbia. I made inquiries and the board informed me by letter that they had issued no such ruling. However, having seen several references in the press to lower rates I made further inquiry of the board and I find that they neglected to inform me that the railways had already filed a reduced rate with the board. In fact, I think that rate was in effect at the time they

told me they had made no ruling. They were technically correct in saying that they had made no ruling but I am at a loss to know why they did not inform me that lower rates had already been put into effect. I did not wish to be accused later of misleading either my hon. friend or the house.

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

The

minister will correct me if I am wrong but I understand that under the act the railways have authority to make a rate similar to the water rate without consultation with or application to the board. Technically the board of railway commissioners were correct in the statement they made.

Mr. MANION:

The railways have to file

it with the board but they do not have to get a ruling. I did not know of their decision to lower the rates and I did not want to give any misleading information.