Hon. C. D. HOWE (Minister of Railways and Canals):

Hon. C. H. CAHAN (St. Lawrence-St. George):

I would ask the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) if he will be so kind as to lay on the table of the house a copy of an agreement with respect to copyright which, to the best of my memory, was made between Canada and the United States in or about December, 1923. I think it may become important in the discussion of the copyright bill. I have looked carefully and I cannot find that it is published in the statutes or elsewhere, but I am quite clear in my mind that such an agreement was made.

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Prime Minister):

Mr. Speaker, my hon. friend has a good memory and I assure him that if he is right as to the date I will do my utmost to get the agreement and have it tabled.

Right Hon. R. B. BENNETT (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance (Mr. Dunning) spoke to me with reference to this matter before the house met and I intimated to him that so far as we were concerned there was no reason why he should not proceed at once. On the other hand, I should like to point out that by giving our consent to these appropriations we reserve our rights as though we had not given it, so far as the items are concerned.

Mr. DUNNING:

Quite.

Mr. BENNETT:

It also raises a question of some seriousness, to which I directed attention the other day. We are giving our approval to the passing for the second time by this parliament of estimates dealing with items contained in the supplementary estimates as well as in the Public Works Construction Act, 1934, and the supplementary act of 1935. In this regard I would direct the attention of the minister to the fact that the statute requires that the Minister of Finance should file within thirty days of the opening of the house a report showing what expenditures have been made under the appropriations of 1934-35. I do not know for certain, but my memory is that such a report has not yet been filed. In the multiplicity of duties that fall upon the minister, I can quite understand why that has not been done. Subject to our right to discuss the items as though this consent were not given and without prejudice to our position with respect to the other point I mentioned the other evening and speaking only for those with whom I am associated, I see no reason why the minister should not proceed at once with his interim supply bill.

12739-157*

Mr. DUNNING:

I wish to thank my right hon. friend and to say by way of explanation that from the accounting point of view the expenditures which are now made and have been made under the authority of the Public Works Construction Act are being transferred to these appropriations as fast as possible. Naturally when that is completed and the authority for these estimates has been given by the house, it will be possible to repeal entirely the Public Works Construction Act. This is just a transition procedure but it does produce the situation to which my right hon. friend referred. In dealing with these estimates we are dealing with amounts which have been authorized by parliament in a different way and in a different form but which are now to be authorized by direct appropriations, following which measures will have to be taken to repeal the former authority. I can assure the house that there certainly will not be double expenditures by virtue of proceeding in this manner.

Mr. BENNETT:

The effect of making an appropriation against the fiscal year ending March, 1937, is to repeat a picture that might

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not be in accordance with what was intended by parliament when the Public Works Construction Act was passed. When we were considering the supplementary estimates we were told that they were the same amounts as had been contained in the Public Works Construction Act, that some of them had been expended and that the balance would be available for finishing the work, although not necessarily this year. Many of the works could not be finished this year. The result of this procedure is that the fiscal year 1937 will be charged for the whole sum, notwithstanding the fact that $30,000,000 was authorized previously, not by a blank cheque but by item after item passed through this committee. Every separate item was the subject matter of a separate discussion. I think it is a very dangerous precedent for an incoming government to repeal an act under which appropriations were made in detail and under which expenditures were made. However, that matter can be discussed later.

Mr. DUNNING:

I shall not enter into

a debate with my right hon. friend as to provisions for future years. I may tell him that the plan of the special supplementary estimates, to which my colleagues were requested to adhere, was to make provision for such portions as would be spent during this fiscal year.

Mr. BENNETT:

In many instances the

whole sum has been appropriated.

Mr. DUNNING:

In cases where it is

expected to finish the work this year, so I am advised. I may tell my right hon. friend that I shall be very pleased if the aggregate stated to be required is not required. From the point of view of a minister of finance that will be an advantage rather than otherwise.

.Resolution agreed to.

3. Resolved, that a sum not exceeding $315,G83.33, being one-sixth of the amount of [DOT]each of the several following items to be voted, as set forth in the special supplementary estimates for the fiscal year ending 31st March, 1937, laid before the House of Commons at the present session of parliament, be granted to His Majesty, on account, for the fiscal year ending the 31st March, 1937, namely: -

Vote No. 379 (6th item), Public Works.

Vote No. 380 (10th, 15th and 17th items), Public Works.

Vote No. 418, Railways and Canals.