Mr. D. G. ROSS (St. Paul's) moved:

That the petition of the Premier Trust Company, presented on the eleventh of March, praying for an act to authorize an increase of capital stock, together with the report of the clerk of petitions thereon, be referred to the standing committee on standing orders for the purpose of considering the suspension of standing orders 92 and 93(3) (a) and (b).

1. During the present fiscal year, did the weights and measures inspection service inspect for shortweight on loads of coal delivered in the city of Ottawa?

2. If so, how many loads were delivered: (a) overweight; (b) correct weight; (c) short-weight ?

3. If any delivery was shortweight, what was the greatest individual case of shortage, and also the total shortage on all inspected loads?

4. Referring to the above paragraphs, what action, if any, was taken by the weights and measures service as a result of this test, against companies or individuals selling shortweight coal?

5. Over what scale or scales are the weight deliveries of coal on government contracts or purchases ascertained in the city of Ottawa?

6. How recently have these scales been inspected?

7. Was there any error found on the scale or scales used to weigh the government coal, and, if so, what was it?

8. Were any scales: (a) rejected; (b) condemned; or (c) sealed, as a result of any inspection?

9. If so, when, how many, and where are they located?

10. Did the government take action to secure the reimbursement for shortweight deliveries ascertained over any scale found defective on an inspection during the period mentioned in paragraph 1?

1. Are the scales used in weighing coal purchased for government buildings in the city of Ottawa suitable for size and nature of loads weighed on same?

2. How are weights obtained for truck loads of coal when the truck is larger than the scale platform?

1. Yes, but there have been occasions when these scales were used to weigh loads for which they were not suitable.

2. Three methods are practised to obtain the weight of truck loads of coal when the truck is larger than the scale platform, as follows:

A. To weigh the load in two drafts, the first draft by placing the front end of the load on the scale, and the second draft by placing the rear end of the load on the scale, and taking the total of the two drafts as the gross weight of the load.

B. To extend the platform of the scale on each end to accommodate the increased length of the truck.

C. To attach extension skids to one side of the scale platform and run the front wheels of the truck on these skids until the rear wheels rest on the scale platform, and thus clear the load.

TOBACCO CULTURE, i/ASSOMPTION, QUEBEC

1. Did the Department of Agriculture attempt to grow cigarette tobacco at the experimental station at L'Assomption, province of Quebec, during the past years?

2. If so, what were the results?

1. Yes.

2. Good yields were obtained but the quality of the tobacco was not high. The results obtained in the year 1936 were fairly satisfactory both from the standpoint of yield and quality, but this may possibly have been due to the fact that the tobacco was grown on stronger soil than is customarily used.

1. When was the original survey of the meridian between Alberta and Saskatchewan completed ?

2. Has the government any immediate plans for the resurvey of the portion of the meridian between Alberta and Saskatchewan within the Cambrian Shield?

1. The survey of the meridian between Alberta and Saskatchewan was completed to the south shore of lake Athabasca in 1913. The balance of the meridian is unsurveyed.

2. No.