1. Agreements entered into with the provinces respecting relief projects provide inter alia that "No resident of Canada shall, with relation to his employment or eligibility for employment be discriminated against nor favoured by reason of his race, religious views or political affiliations."

2. Employment agencies and the engagement of workers and supervisory staff under agreements referred to are within the jurisdiction of the provincial governments. Any complaints as to discrimination are promptly brought to the attention of the provincial government for investigation.

1. Upon what date was the reciprocal tax convention between Canada and the United States, effective as from January 1, 1936, and

passed by the parliament of Canada at its last session, ratified by the United States Senate?

2. Is the government aware that although this convention reduces the rate of deduction, at source, on all income received from the United States, by residents in Canada, from 10 per cent to 5 per cent, no refunds of the two over-deductions in 1936, so far as is known, have been made to Canadians interested?

3. Has the government knowledge of the fact that the United States government requires that Canadians claiming a refund of the two 1936 over-deduetions must make application therefor to the collector of internal revenue at Baltimore, Maryland?

4. Has the government any knowledge of the number of claims so filed at Baltimore by Canadians?

5. Is the government aware that many requests have been made by Canadians to the treasury department, interna] revenue service, at Baltimore, for the refund cheques, and that the invariable reply is that the claims have been forwarded to Washington for review?

6. Will the government take steps through the Canadian minister at Washington, to move the United States government to expedite the settlement of this matter by forwarding the refund cheques due on account of the 1936 over-deductions ?

1. August 13, 1937.

2. No.

3. Yes.

4. No.

5. No.

6. Compliance with United States regulations involves certain mechanical procedure and statements which would take time before refunds can be made. The procedure having been determined, the delay occasioned thereby would not appear to call for steps to be taken through the Canadian minister at Washington.

Mr. LENNARD:

Is it the intention of the government to have tubercular war veterans receive home treatment instead of treatment in sanitariums as at present?

Mr. POWER:

No change is contemplated in present procedure of treatment of tuberculous pensioners under Department of Pensions and National Health.

1. How many certificates of service for captain or master of a steamship have been issued hy the minister of transport in the Province of British Columbia since the change in the shipping act and up to the end of 1937?

2. How many of these have been issued to those other than white Canadian seamen?

Questions

1. 191.

2. Sixty-one; all but one being restricted to the fishing industry.

naming NEW CANADIAN DESTROYERS

Mr. PURDY:

Will the government consider the selection of maritime provinces names for the two destroyers which, according to press reports, are to be purchased?

Mr. MACKENZIE (Vancouver):

The

matter is now receiving consideration.

Mr. CHURCH:

Will the government take steps to remedy the dangerous condition of the roads and sidewalks on parliament hill, due to ice thereon?

Mr. DUNNING:

The federal district commission furnished the following facts:

The maintenanace of the sidewalks and roads on parliament hill is the responsibility of the federal district commission. One foreman and twelve men are on duty each day from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and one man daily from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. It is their duty in the winter time to see that all walks, steps, and roads are kept clear of snow and maintained in a safe condition for the use of the public. A truck is in constant use to make available sand, cinders, and salt. During the last ten days eighty tons of sand and cinders and more than a ton of salt have been applied in this maintenance work.

The unseasonable climatic conditions of the past three weeks-rain, sleet, thawing and freezing-have added considerably to the usual difficulties of winter maintenance work, but the commission has done everything possible and has spared no exipense in its efforts to make all the thoroughfares on parliament hill safe for public use.

The commission finds that there has been no negligence on the part of any of its employees engaged in this work and that all possible steps have been taken to keep the sidewalks and roads on parliament hill in a safe condition at all times. No reports were received during this recent icy period of any accidents occurring from slippery sidewalks or roads in this area.

credit EXTENSION ON INDUSTRIAL WORKERS' HOMES

Mr. CHURCH:

AVill any action be taken to extend to industrial workers who are losing their homes through foreclosure or otherwise, such relief

as that afforded in the Farmers' Creditors Arrangement Act for the benefit of farmers and fishermen ?

Mr. DUNNING:

This question relates to a matter of policy and it is not usual for the government to make statements on matters of policy in giving replies to questions.

1. Were tenders called for mail service on proposed rural route No. 1, Whonnoek, British Columbia, during 1937?

2. Who tendered, and what was the amount of each tender?

3. Has the contract been awarded?

4. If so, to whom; if not, for what reason?

1. Yes-In April, 1937, and again in August, 1937.

2. (a) In April:

F. Parker, Whonnoek $ 800

Arvid Pearson, Whonnoek.. .. 936

Frederick Stevenson, Whonnoek 960

A. T. MacBryer, Whonnoek.. .. 987

H. J. Byrnes, Whonnoek 1,047

B. A. Whiting, Whonnoek.. .. 1,050 Patrick Hertslet, Whonnoek.. .. 1,080

W. R. Young, Whonnoek 1,175

Enoch Jones, Whonnoek 1,200

C. A. Black, Ruskin 1,200

These tenders being considered high, each tenderer was given an opportunity to modify his tender, with the following result:

F. Parker reduced to $ 775

Arvid Pearson reduced to 925

Frederick Stevenson reduced to 875

A. T. MacBryer reduced to.. .. 840

H. J. Byrnes reduced to 998

Patrick Hertslet reduced to.. .. 1,000

W. R. Young reduced to 1,100

Chas. A. Black reduced to.. .. 1,100 Enoch Jones would not reduce.

B. A. Whiting would not reduce.

(b) These offers still being considered high, tenders were again invited in August, 1937, and the following were received:

M. R. Charlton, Whonnoek.. . .$ 650

R. S. Whiting, W'honnock.. .. 660

F. Parker, Whonnoek 720

Frederick Stevenson, Whonnoek 780 F. W. Phillips, Whonnoek.. .. 850

A. G. Grant, Whonnoek 899

W. R. Young, Whonnoek 990

C. Wicks, Vancouver 1,100

Edgar Rakewind, Whonnoek,

late 800

3. Yes.

4. M. R. Charlton.

Questions