Mr. DAVID SPENCE (Parkdale):

I should like to direct a question to the Secretary of State (Mr. Rinfret). I wish to ask whether the government have given consideration to the resolution introduced some time ago by the hon. member for St. Mary (Mr. Deslauriers) with regard to giving some relief to property owners in urban centres. The minister accepted the resolution at that time and said the government would give consideration to the problems of these people who find themselves in difficult circumstances. I know there are many cases of distress; many people are losing their homes because of high taxation and high interest rates. I assume the government have given consideration to this matter, but I should like to know definitely. I am asking this question to-day because I have a letter from a lady in my own riding telling me that her husband has been sick in bed for the last fifteen months, that she is forced to pay seven per cent on her mortgage, and that she is having some difficulty. I think some consideration should be given these people, and I hope something has been done by the government.

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

The Secretary of State (Mr. Rinfret) is not in his seat at the moment, but I am sure he will take notice of the hon. gentleman's question and reply to it at another sitting.

Mr. SPENCE:

I should be glad to have the Prime Minister give us some assurance in the matter.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a matter

of privilege I desire to say that when I stated that the letter to which reference has been made was shown to my colleagues I was not relying upon my memory. The record of the evidence given before the banking and commerce committee between the 6th of March, 1934, and the 14th of June, 1934, contains a clear statement that the letter was communicated to my colleagues before being written.

Mr. POULIOT:

The right hon. gentleman

does not deserve a prize for his good memory.

Mr. BENNETT:

Mr. Speaker, as a matter

of the privileges of the house, has it really got down to this? Has this to be tolerated?

I put it to you, Mr. Speaker. I think you have done your duty as well as possible under the circumstances, but I ask again, is this sort of thing to be tolerated?

Mr. RALPH MAYBANK (Winnipeg South Centre):

Before the orders of the day are called I wish to ask a question of the Minister of Railways (Mr. Howe). Is the minister aware that the private railway interests which are planning an invasion of the territory now served by Canadian National Railways in northern Quebec are endeavouring to secure public moneys set aside for unemployment relief to carry out their projects? And will the minister state whether funds which come from the dominion treasury can be diverted to such purposes as the creation of facilities which would duplicate railway lines already owned by the dominion?

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

In answer to the hon. member's first question, may I say that the government has no knowledge of that kind. In reply to the second question, there is no item in the federal estimates that can be used for the purpose the hon. member states.