Mr. EULER:

For a copy of the report submitted by George A. Touche & Company, auditors of Canadian National Railways, amplifying and explaining the recommendation of said auditors in their report of 1934 for the writing off of one billion dollars or more of the capital indebtedness of the Canadian National Railways.

Mr. MANION:

May I just inform the

hon. gentleman and hon. members generally that I have asked the auditors to send me twenty-five copies of this report for the members of the committee. One copy will be tabled and members of the special railway committee of last year will get the others.

Mr. CASGRAIN:

For a statement showing the damages caused to certain wharves and breakwaters under the control of the Department of Public Works, during the month of December, 1934, in the county of Charlevoix-Saguenay. Also a statement showing what repairs have been authorized and to what extent.

Mr. CASGRAIN:

For a statement showing the expenditure authorized in the county of Clialevoix-Saguenay during the year 1934-35: (a) in the regular

estimates; (b) under the Public Works Construction Act, 1934; showing the individual items and the nature of the work in each case.

Mr. CASGRAIN:

For a statement showing, (1) the mail contracts awarded in the county of Charlevoix-Saguenay by the Postmaster General during 1934-35, (a) without tender; (b) by tender;

(c) contracts renewed, the names of contractors and amounts in each case; (2) the new post offices opened, new postmasters appointed, on whose recommendation in each case, the names of postmasters removed, for what reason, in the county of Charlevoix-Saguenay, during the year 1934-35.

Fishing Industry-Mr. Duff

Mr. DESROCHERS:

For a copy of all letters, correspondence, and other documents, exchanged during the year 1934, in connection with the dismissal of the postmaster at Grondines station.

Mr. DESROCHERS:

For a copy of all documents, telegrams and correspondence, exchanged during the year 1934, in connection with the change of lighthouse keeper at Grondines, Portneuf county.

Mr. ROBERGE:

For a copy of all telegrams, letters, correspondence. reports and other documents, exchanged during 1931 and 1932, in connection with the dismissal of Georges Henri Lavoie as harbourmaster at Baie des Ha! Ha!

Mr. OASGRAIN:

For a copy of all correspondence, letters, telegrams and other documents, in the hands of the Post-Office Department, in connection with the appointment and dismissal of Mr. Joseph C. Levesque, former postmaster at Bagotville, during 1932; also the report of the post office inspector for Quebec, pertaining to the dismissal of Mr. Levesque.

Mr. WILLIAM DUFF (Antigonish-Guys-borough) moved:

_ That, in the opinion of this house, the best interests of Canada demand that the burden of customs taxation be lessened on the instruments of production in the fishing industry, and to this end all articles required in said industry be free from customs duties.

He said: Mr. Speaker, this is in my opinion one of the most important motions that have come before parliament for many years. It purports to deal with a matter affecting one of the greatest natural industries in Canada, an industry which perhaps has been more neglected than any other. For that reason I have no apology to make to the house or to the country for taking a few moments to lay certain matters in connection with this resolution before the government and the house generally. A few days ago the hon. member for West Edmonton. (Mr. Stewart) moved a similar resolution with regard to agricultural implements, asking this house to express the opinion that it is in the best interests of the agricultural industry that customs duties should be taken off the instru-

ments required in that great industry. My resolution asks that the burden of customs taxation be lessened on the instruments of production in the fishing industry. The Minister of Finance (Mr. Rhodes) expressed regret that the motion of the hon. member for West Edmonton was moved; he said that while it might be "good party politics" he did not consider it "good national politics." Now, sir, I regret that the finance minister made that statement, because while he, the hon. member for West Edmonton, myself and other hon. members belong to different political parties and while on some occasions we may be termed partisans, yet I think we all come here, being the chosen representatives of the people, to serve not only our own constituency but Canada as a whole. Sir, I mention this because I think perhaps the Minister of Finance on mature consideration will agree with me that a matter of this kind, whether brought up by the hon. member for West Edmonton or by myself, is not a matter of party politics but of national concern, one which we at least consider to be in the interests of the people of this country.

The Minister of Finance in his reply referred also to the fact that negotiations were going on between this country and the United States of America to develop a reciprocal trade arrangement. I do not think I need at this stage dwell long on the fact that for a great many years, not only the thirty or forty years that I have been taking some interest in the public life of this country, but ever since I reached an age of maturity-

Mr. HACKETT:

When was that?