Mr. P. F. CASGRAIN (Charlevoix-Sague-nay):

I hold in my hand the Montreal Gazette of Thursday, June 13, 1934. On the first page I find this news:

Ottawa relief plan calls for 6 million here. New post office and' custom house in program.

And there follows a report of an interview given by Mayor Camillien Houde to the Montreal trades and labour council and the building trades council in which the mayor is reported as follows:

I understand that most of the items you name are already on the federal program- not the C.N.R. however. In all I think between $5,000,000 and $6,000,000 will be spent here.

Railway Act

I would like to ask the government if the mayor of Montreal had authorization from the government to make such a statement.

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

I think, Mr. Speaker, it is quite apparent from his statement that he had no such authority.

SOCKEYE SALMON TREATY On the orders of the day:

Mr. THOMAS REID (New Westminster):

I would like to direct a question to the Prime Minister (Mr. Bennett) as to whether representations have been made to the United States in regard to the treaty passed here in 1930 relating to salmon. My reason for asking that question is that nothing has been done by United States interests, and there are interests in this country that are in doubt as to what further progress can be made by Canada.

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

I think I intimated to the house already this session that the matter has been the subject of discussion between the state department and the Canadian minister at Washington. It was hoped at one time that some action would be taken by the United States Senate to ratify the treaty, but no action has been taken up to the present.

PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAM On the orders of the day:

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

A day or two ago the Prime Minister mentioned that he was holding back the program of construction of public works until the pending provincial elections are over. Might I ask him if he will arrange to see that the program is presented to the house before the results of the elections are known?

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

Barring accidents I shall ask the Minister of Public Works (Mr. Stewart) to present it on Tuesday.

Mr. P. F. CASGRAIN (Charlevoix-Saguenay):

I would like to ask another question of the government. I was informed some time ago that the representatives of the

employees of various railways in this country have approached the government presenting a brief and memorandum suggesting certain amendments to the Railway Act, in view of the operations as now being carried on under cooperative conditions. I would like to know if it is the intention of the government to bring in amendments to the Railway Act in accordance with the wishes and representations so made, before the end of the session.

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

The hon. gentleman is aware, I think, that at the meeting with the representatives of the railway employees it was intimated that it was not probable that we would open the Railway Act this session. The Minister of Railways is not here at present, I think further representations were made to him recently, and I am not in a position to indicate what conclusion he may have arrived at. If it is necessary to open the Railway Act at all, the matters mentioned by the hon. gentleman would be dealt with. I regret that in the absence of the minister I cannot say definitely whether that will take place.