Hon. GROTE STIRLING (Yale):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to ask the Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. Euler) a question in reference to the accuracy of a statement appearing in a London paper which reached me last night, to the effect that Canada has submitted an extended list of articles which will be considered for tariff reduction during the negotiations in connection with the revision of the Canada-United States agreement. It goes on to say that the list includes certain specified kinds of grain, fruits, vegetables, fish, furs, paper and pulp boards, cattle and timber. Is that an accurate report, and if so have the industries affected been made aware of the fact?

Hon. W. D. EULER (Minister of Trade and Commerce):

Mr. Speaker, I had not known that the question was to be asked. We have information that a list of commodities has been published by the government of the United States upon which they are willing to negotiate. I assume that is the list referred to in the article. While I do not at the moment recollect all the commodities contained in the list or enumerated therein, I presume they are correct.

Mr. STIRLING:

The point of my question is that it is stated that Canada has submitted a list on which Canada is willing to consider reductions in duties, and I want to know if that is correct.

Mr. EULER:

No, it is not correct; it is quite inaccurate. Canada submitted a list on which they desire the United States to make concessions, and then the United States submitted a list on which they agree to negotiate. As yet however we have not received any request from the United States for concessions from Canada. I think probably that is the information the bon. member wants.

' COST OF LIVING

Mr. T. L. CHURCH (Broadview):

I should like to ask the Minister of Labour (Mr. Rogers) a question, of which he has been given notice. Hon. members from Toronto have been receiving batches of letters from

what is known as the Housewives' Association of Toronto with regard to the high cost of food and all other necessities. Will the minister consider setting up a committee during the life of this parliament to study the question? I know there are limitations under the decisions, and this matter may be considered to be partly under the jurisdiction of the provinces, but we have the provisions of our criminal code with respect to restraint of trade and combines; and the various groups which I have described are holding meetings to fix prices. I do not ask the minister to reply to-day, but perhaps he will take this as notice.

Hon. NORMAN McL. ROGERS (Minister of Labour): Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Broadview (Mr. Church) was kind enough to give me notice of this question, but as I received it only a short time ago I do not think he will expect a final answer at this time. I shall be very glad to bring this matter of increased prices of commodities, particularly those entering into domestic budgets, to the attention of the commissioner under the Combines Investigation Act and inform the hon. member as soon as possible as to what action, if any, can be taken under dominion jurisdiction to deal with the complaints to which he has referred.

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

The hon. member for

Winnipeg North (Mr. Heaps) inquired yesterday as to the distribution of the Parliamentary Guide. He said that he would like to know who gave instructions this year to have the Parliamentary Guide distributed free to members of the house. In answer I may say that the Parliamentary Guide for the year 1938 was purchased from the king's printer on a requisition signed by the Clerk on instructions from Mr. Speaker. Payment will be charged against the item "contingencies" in vote 31 of the House of Commons' estimates for the year 1938. It is usual to purchase the guide when it is published.

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

The hon. member for

Grey-Bruce (Miss Macphail) asked a question yesterday with respect to the provision of additional space on boats for the shipment to Great Britain of cattle which were shipped

Corrupt Electoral Practices

from western Canada to Ontario and are now ready for the British market. Her question was as to whether sufficient cargo space would be provided and what steps the government were taking toward that end. The answer is that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Commerce have been actively exploring the possibilities of securing additional space for the export of cattle to the United Kingdom. It is expected that further accommodation for export cattle will be made available.