Mr. BENNETT:

On May 27 the hon member for Antigonish-GuySborough (Mr. Duff) moved for the production of papers. These papers subject to the limitation which I then expressed, are now presented. A number of the dispatches are of a confidential character,

Mr. SPEAKER:

I will now give a decision on the motion of the hon. member for New Westminster (Mr. Reid) for leave to introduce a bill. When the hon. member for New Westminster moved on Thursday last for leave to introduce the bill standing on the order paper in his name-an act to amend the Bank of Canada Act-he stated in part, as Deported at page 3338 of Hansard, that "There are two changes contemplated in the proposed bill; the first is to amend paragraph (lb), subsection 3 of section 25, and would empower the minister to purchase silver for the redemption of dominion notes."

If it is true that the bill will do what its sponsor states, empower the minister to purchase silver, then it will be generally agreed that it is out of order on the ground that a private member cannot introduce a measure which involves the expenditure of public moneys.

Upon looking up original section 25, I find that paragraph (b) of subsection 3 of the Bank of Canada Act, reads as follows:

3. On the day on which the bank is authorized to commence business the minister shall transfer to the bank-

(b) silver held by the minister for the redemption of dominion notes valued at the market price of the fine silver content thereof.

Bank oj Canada

Mr. Reid's amendment proposes to add to subsection (b) just referred to the following words:

and at any time thereafter the minister may transfer to the bank silver held by him for the redemption of dominion notes or hereafter purchased for the redemption of dominion notes valued at the market price of the fine silver content.

The original section as just quoted provides that "on the day on which the bank is authorized to commence business, the minister shall transfer to the bank silver held by him for the redemption of dominion notes." The amendment provides that "any time thereafter the minister may transfer to the bank silver held by him for the redemption of dominion notes or hereafter purchased for the redemption of dominion notes," etcetera.

While I do not think the amendment goes as far as the hon. member suggests, that is "empowers" the minister to purchase silver, it certainly -contemplates the purchase of further silver by the minister and does empower the transfer of silver held by him to the bank.

The purchase of silver by the government certainly involves the expenditures of government moneys. Speaking of silver in the narrow sense as " money," its transfer from the minister to the bank, as authorized by the proposed amendment, involves the expenditure of public moneys. It is quite clear that legislation involving the expenditure of public moneys can only be introduced by a responsible minister of the crown upon the recommendation of His Excellency the Governor General. On the ground that the expenditure of public moneys is involved the amending motion is out of order.

It is, in my opinion, also out of order on a second ground. Giving silver the wider meaning of "property" its transfer as proposed by the amendment involves the disposal or alienation of crown property. No private member may introduce a measure for this purpose without first having asked the house to agree to an address for leave to proceed thereon, such leave to be obtained prior to the introduction of the bill. (See Bourinot 4th edition, page 414.) No such leave has been obtained.

I therefore rule that the motion to introduce the bill in question is out of order.

Mr. THOMAS REID (New Westminster) :

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the thought and the great care you have given the matter, and also the fairness with which you have dealt with it. But I must say I am disappointed at being prohibited from introducing this bill.

Mr. REID:

According to a treaty entered into in 1846 between the United States of America and Her Majesty on behalf of Canada for the settlement of the Oregon boundary, in clause 2 thereof, it was expressly agreed that the Columbia river and its branches were to be kept open for the free use and navigation of all British subjects from the 49th parallel of north latitude to the Pacific ocean,-[DOT]

1. Is the government aware that the provisions of this clause have been violated?

2. If so, what steps have been taken to protect the interests of the Canadian people so as to keep inviolate the provisions of the treaty and particularly clause 2 of tile agreement?

3. If not, will steps be taken to see that the terms of the treaty are lived up to in every particular?

Mr. BENNETT:

We are obtaining further information in respect to Question No. 4. It is, as I said the other day, a matter of some difficulty from the international standpoint.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Shall the question stand?

Mr. BENNETT:

Stands.

1. Have any automobiles been purchased by the radio commission for the use of any of the commissioners?

2. If so, what makes and at what prices?

3. Have any automobiles been rented by the commission for the use of any of the commissioners?

4. If so. what makes of ears, and at what

rental? [DOT]

5. Has an automobile been purchased in Ottawa and shipped to Vancouver for the use of one of the commission's inspectors?

6. If so. what was make of car, price of purchase and cost of transportation ?

Mr. DURANLEAU:

Mr. FOURNIER:

What was the total sum expended by the government in tlie county of Hull under authority of the various unemployment relief measures in each of the fiscal years covering the period from March 31, 1930, to March 31, 1935, inclusive?

Mr. GORDON:

The following are the amounts paid to the province of Quebec under the legislation indicated for relief in the federal constituency of Hull in accordance with certificates of expenditure rendered by the province:

The Unemployment Relief Act,

1930 $ 134,123 46

The Unemployment and Farm Relief Act, 1931, and Continuance Act, 1932 182,487 49

The Relief Act. 1932 90.492 84

The Relief Act, 1933 140,168 80

(1) The Relief Act, 1934 36,823 72

(1) On July 31. 1934, the dominion ceased contributing to the province's expenditures on a percentage basis and since that date has paid to the province a monthly grant-in-aid to assist the province in discharging its responsibilities connected with the relief of necessitous persons within its borders. The amount of the grant-in-aid allocated to the different sections by the province is not however a matter of record with the dominion.