Order.
Mr. GOTT:
I submit what I have said is more in order than the discussion which took place yesterday.
On the orders of the day:
Hon. H. A. STEWART (Minister of Public Works):
Mr. Speaker, before the orders of the day are called may I refer to three articles appearing in the press, to which my attention has been draiwn and which refer to the administration of the Department of Public Works.
One is in the Montreal Gazette of March 21, 1935, and the heading is "Public men flayed in judge's report-Commissioner finds electoral standards in Shefford county depraved-Deserve ban of opinion-Mr. Justice Forest raps former MP. and ML.A. in report on Waterloo post office."
Another appeared in the Montreal Star of March 20, .1935, headed as follows, "Federal and provincial politicians in scandal-Ernest
Post Office Department
Boivin, former M.P. for Shefford, and Robert Bachand, M.L.A. for riding, roundly castigated by Mr. Justice Forest."
The other is in the Ottawa Journal of this morning, and is headed, " Judge denounces acts in building new post office-Says electoral standards at Waterloo and Granby, Quebec, ' absolutely depraved.' "
Then follow quotations from the report of Mr. Justice Forest. I think I should make to the house at this time a brief statement in connection with this matter.
At the earnest request of the present member for Shefford (Mr. Tetreault) an order in council was passed authorizing Mr. Justice Forest to investigate certain charges or allegations in connection with the acquiring of a site and the building of a post office at Waterloo. Mr. Justice Forest was appointed a commissioner to investigate these matters under the provisions of chapter 99, RB.C., the Inquiries Act. His report is dated February 8, 1935. It was translated and forwarded to the Justice department for such action as might appear proper in view of the statements contained in the report.
The articles in the press give no indication as to the date when the post office was constructed or these sites acquired. The sites were acquired in September, 1925, and October, 1927, and the building was completed in the year 1929. I think it proper under the circumstances to table a copy of the report both in English and French.
Hon. W. D. EULER (North Waterloo):
May I ask the Minister of Public Works to state that the Waterloo of which he speaks is not Waterloo, Ontario?
Mr. DUFF:
It was someone's Waterloo.
Mr. STEWART (Leeds):
I think that the articles in the press have sufficiently protected my hon. friend from North Waterloo.
On the orders of the day: Mr. EGOLES J. GOTT (South Essex): On a question of privilege, may I ask the leader of the government to extendi the thanks of this chamber to the hon. members who have recently distributed apples to the members of this chamber?
Mr. SPEAKER:
With very great deference to the hon. member for South Essex, I think he is quite out of order. I called him to order previously with respect to this matter, and I thought that had disposed of it. I do not think it adds to the dignity or decorum of the house to bring up the matter on a question of privilege.
On the orders of the day.
Mr. VINCENT DUPUIS (Laprairie-Napier-ville) (Translation):
Mr. Speaker, may I ask the Postmaster General (Mr. Sauve) if it is true that the air mail service costs his department about $64 for each letter carried?
Hon. ARTHUR SAUVE (Postmaster General) (Translation):
If the hon. member for Laprairie-Napierville will kindly place his question in writing, I will answer it.
Mr. DUPUIS:
I move that my question be passed as an order for return.
On the orders of the day:
Hon. ARTHUR SAUVE (Postmaster General) (Translation):
During the discussion of the estimates of the Post Office Department, the hon. member for Temiscouata (Mr. Pouliot) asked for the following information:
1. A list of the post offices closed since August 7, 19301.
2. A list of the post offices opened since the same date.
3. A list of the post offices the location of which was changed since August 7, 1930.
The hon. member also asked how many postmasters had been appointed sinee August 7, 1930, on a permanent or a temporary basis.
I now have pleasure in laying on the table of the house the information requested regarding post offices closed, post offices opened and changes of location, from August 7, 1930, to February 28, 1935.
As to the list of permanent and temporary postmasters appointed during that period, it cannot be completed before March 30, perhaps later, even by having the staff work at night. That will give the hon. member an idea of the enormous task he is putting us to, involving the examination of 4,300 files.