Yesterday the hon. member for Temiscouata (Mr. Pouliot) asked me a question in regard to the page numbers in connection with the journal of the League of Nations which he had before him. I think perhaps the hon. gentleman had the wrong publication. The information which he seeks is as follows:

In reply to Mr. Pouliot's question on the 11th March, Hansard, page 1704, it might be explained to him that the texts of draft conventions and recommendations adopted by international labour conferences are not printed in the official journal of the League of Nations but are to be found in the official bulletin of the international labour office where, on page 121 of the issue of the 31st July, 1928, he will find the text of the convention concerning the creation of minimum wage fixing machinery.

Hon. ROBERT WEIR (Minister of Agriculture) :

Hon. ROBERT WEIR (Minister of Agriculture) :

In reply to a question asked by the nun. member for 'Macdonald (Mr. Weir) on March 6, I have the following information with reference to the vote on the poultry scheme in the three prairie provinces:

Alberta

In favour- Per cent Total votesVotes. . . . 12,635 62.5 Poultry. . . 958,064 63.0 Against- Votes. . . . 7,587 37.5 20,222Poultry. . . 563,367 37.0

Saskatchewan

In favour- Per cent Total votesVotes. . . . 27,749 63.4 Poultry. . . 1,828,692 62.8 Against- Votes. . . . 16,012 36.6 43,761Poultry. . . 1,081,884 37.2

Manitoba

In favour- Per cent Total votesVotes. . . . 6.070 24.3 Poultry. . . 433,800 24.7 Against- Votes. . . . 18,931 75.7 25,001Poultry. . . 1,324,688 75.3

88,984

In addition to the above ballots the following were received which due to some deficiency cannot be considered valid:

Alberta. . . . 1,407

Saskatchewan.. 2,582

Manitoba. . . 1,264 5,253

94,237

Due to the remoteness of certain small post offices it is possible that a few ballots may still be received, but we have estimated that this number should not exceed 100.

Based upon the number of producers as estimated from the census returns for 1931, the percentage of producers who voted is as

follows:

Alberta 33.3

Saskatchewan 48.3

Manitoba 64.2

In reply to the other question by the hon. member for Macdonald, as to whether or not the scheme would be put into effect I should like to say that in view of the fact that the supporters of the scheme appealed for support on the basis that the plan would not be put into effect unless carried by at least 66J per cent of the voters, the scheme will not be put into effect in any of the three provinces.

RAILWAYS AND SHIPPING On the orders of the day:

Mr. R. W. GRAY (West Lambton):

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister of Railways and Canals indicate when the special committee on railways and shipping will be convened?

Hon. R. J. MAlNIIO'N (Minister of Railways and Canals): Mr. Speaker, in order that it would not be thought that we were in any way holding up the proceedings of the committee I discussed the matter only a few days ago with some hon. members opposite, asking them when they would like to have the committee meet. As a matter of fact there is not much with which it could deal at the present time. The report of the Cana-

Civil Service-Dismissals

dian National Railways has not yet come down, and I was informed this morning that it will not 'be down for another ten days. Until that report arrives there is not very much with which the committee could deal. However I shall be glad to call it or to see that it is called at the desire of the members of the committee themselves, for that matter.

Mr. Speaker, one day last .week the hon, member for New Westminster (Mr. Reid) asked a question regarding a press dispatch which made reference to a bill in the United States Senate regarding the proposed Alaskan highway. The information I have gained indicates that a bill to the effect mentioned was passed by the United States Senate on February 25. It requested the president to negotiate with Canada an agreement for the survey, location and construction of the highway, and to make a survey of the route in cooperation with the dominion government. The bill has not yet been passed by the House of Representatives. The President of the United States has not yet made any representations on the subject.

Mr. STEWART (Leeds):

As the hon.

member knows, no provision has been made in the main estimates for this work, and the supplementary estimates are not yet prepared. No bill has been drafted under which any provision would be made for this work.

Mr. G. W. McPHEE (Yorkton):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to refer to a question asked by me on March 6, and appearing at page 1464 of Hansard, referring to the removal of civil servants. My question was:

How many civil servants have been removed from their positions since the present government came into office by: (a) dismissal; (b) superannuation; (c) death; (d) other causes?

The Secretary of State indicated on that occasion that the term "civil servant" was defined in the Civil Service Superannuation Act, and upon that occasion he quoted the definition appearing in chapter 24 of the revised statutes. I find, however, upon looking into the statutes that while "civil servant" is defined in chapter 24, the Civil Sendee Superannuation Act, a further definition is given in chapter 22 of the revised statutes of Canada, namely The Civil Service Act. In chapter 22, "civil sendee" is defined as follows:

(a) "civil service" means the civil positions and' employees in and under the several departments of the government of Canada, and in the offices of the Auditor General, the Clerk of the Privy Council, the Governor General's Secretary, the Public Archives, the Board of Railway Commissioners for Canada, the Civil Service Commission, and all other civil positions under and persons in the civil employ of His Majesty, but not including the members of any commission or board appointed by the governor in council.

I should like the Secretary of State to give a return based upon the definition appearing in the interpretation clause of chapter 22 of the Civil Service Act.

Hon. C. H. CAHAN (Secretary of State):

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows that the definition he has quoted would include all temporary employees, whether they be employed only a few days, or otherwise. That is why I called his attention to the section quoted, because I wanted to know whether he wished temporary employees to be enumerated in the return he desired. However, I shall see the return is tabled according to his present request.