Explain.

Mr. LACROIX (Quebec-Montmorency):

This bill is introduced to clarify the jurisdiction of the board of railway commissioners in connection with telephone tolls and services, and to fix the limits within which such tolls shall be applicable. A case was submitted to the board of railway commissioners when sitting in Quebec and the chairman, the Hon. Mr. Guthrie, declared that the board was without authority to act therein and suggested that the law be amended.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

1. What is the total indebtedness of the Canadian National Railways to the public?

What is the total annual interest on this indebtedness?

3. What is_ the total indebtedness of the Canadian National Railways to the consolidated revenue fund of Canada?

I- (a) On what portion of the indebtedness to the consolidated revenue fund is the Cana-d*an National Railways obligated for interest; lb) what amount, if any, of this obligation is paid annually?

1. SI.184.612,248.59 at December 31, 1936

2. $49,184,622.87 (1936).

3. Of the total cash expenditures by the dominion, amounting to $1,468,611,114.00 (not including interest on loans) as shown on page 7 of the Department of Railways and Canals report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1936, the following are the amounts that may be considered as charged against the Canadian National Railways:

Loans to C.N.R. (includes loans to former privately-owned roads) on which interest is accrued but not Paid $645,527,455.83*

31111-14J

Investment in Canadian government railways

Stores and open accounts of Canadian government railways

The following amounts are in suspense: Temporary loans (interest

paid currently)

Expenditures under supplementary public works construction act, 1935 (unemployment relief)

Balance covering all deficits, subsidies, and all other items which have been absorbed in the net debt of the dominion

388,880,002.78

15,748,921.60

36,390,204.25

5,068,081.85

376,996,447.69

Total $1,468,611,114.00

* Interest on $645,527,455.83 accrued and unpaid, to March 31, 1936, is $536,585,117.10, as shown in Auditor General's report, Volume 1, page 161, fiscal year 1935-36.

4. (a) $645,527,455.85 C.N.R. loans (nonactive).

(b) Nil.

1. Has the recommendation, made by the industrial and international relations committee and passed by the House of Commons at the last session, relative to the employment of a greater number of Canadians by the Canadian national steamships, as applying particularly to the Atlantic coast, been acted upon by the said Canadian National Steamship Company?

2. If so, to what extent?

3. If not, why?

Mr. HOWE:

1. The answers supplied by the Canadian National (West Indies) steamship management are as follows:

The Canadian National steamships are employing as many Canadians as possible on board all ships, and this policy has always been in effect, and at all times preference is given Canadians who have the necessary qualifications to handle the various positions involved.

2. At the present time, the number of employees afloat is as follows:

Masters and officers, 45. (All of whom are Canadian residents and British subjects; 96 per cent are Canadian born).

Pursers' department, 24. (All of whom are British subjects).

Doctors, 7. (All of whom are British subjects, the majority being Canadians).

Questions

Engineers, 85. (All of whom are British subjects, 79 of which are domiciled in Canada and 6 in the British isles).

Plumbers and electricians, 16. (All of whom are British subjects and Canadian residents; 86 per cent of whom are Canadian-born).

Carpenters, boatswains, sailors, etc., 197. (All of whom are British subjects and Canadian residents; 97 per cent are Canadian-born).

Firemen and oilers, 138. (Twenty-six are Canadian residents, 112 West Indians; II are white and 124 coloured).

Stewards' department, 632. (Of this number 335 are West Indians, the balance are British subjects domiciled in Canada, 90 per cent of whom are Canadian-born).

The total number of employees afloat is 1,144.

3. Answered by No. 2.

1. Were tenders called for during the past year by the Canadian National Railways in connection with the sale of a parcel of land situated in Halifax, Nova Scotia?

2. If so, what were the names and addresses af tenderers, and the amounts of respective tenders?

3. Was said land sold; if so, to whom, for what amount, and what are the names and addresses of purchasers?

4. Has deed been given for said land?

5. If so, to whom, and what is the date of such deed?

1. Yes; by public advertisement in August, 1936, for 7-174 acres, fronting on Quinpool road, Halifax, expropriated by the crown in 1913, and found not to be required for railway

purposes.

2. F. J. Crooks, Halifax, N.S.. .. $12,500 H. V. Cleveland, Dartmouth,

N.S 12,055

Fred C. Manning, Halifax, N.S. 10,200

The Melvin S. Clarke Company,

Halifax, N.S 7,800

J. E. Rutledge, Halifax, N.S.. 5,500

H. Hemming, Halifax, N.S.. .. 5,200

3. The board of trustees of Canadian National Railways by resolution of date September 4, 1936, recommended acceptance of the highest tender, that of F. J. Crooks, at $12,500. This offer was accepted and sale authorized by order in council, P.C. 2481, of September 24, 1936.

4. Yes; by letters patent, No. 30219.

5. Norwood Realties, Limited; November 27. 1936.

1. How are appointments made to the staff at Prince Albert National park?

2. Was one Arthur Campbell employed there?

3. Is he a British citizen?

4. Are numerous unemployed ex-service men

resident in the Emma Lake district denied employment when others obtain work there? If so, why? _

5. On whose recommendation is such employment given?

1. The civil service commission or the minister depending on the nature of employment.

2. Yes, fourteen days from October 22nd to November 7, 1936, on telephone work and 193 hours during summer fighting fires.

3. Not known.

4. Park superintendent reports he is not aware that any ex-service men resident in Emma Lake district denied employment. Five men from Emma Lake district employed last season, of which one was ex-service man.

5. Superintendent and park engineer pass on qualifications of men employed.

1. What disposition is made of imperfectly printed air mail and other types of postage stamps?

2. Is it true that they are offered for sale to stamp collectors in England, and not offered for sale to stamp collectors in Canada?

3. If so, why are Canadian stamp collectors not given an opportunity to purchase these stamps?

4. What is the financial income to the government annually, from the sale of imperfectly-printed postage stamps?