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

I desire to lay on the table a copy of a white paper containing correspondence and documents relating to the St. Lawrence deep waterway treaty, 1932; Niagara convention, 1929, Ogoki river and Kenogami river (Long lake) projects; and export of electrical power. The French translation has been completed, but there has been a slight delay in the printing. I hope to be able to lay it on the table to-morrow.

I received this morning from the Premier of Ontario a communication stating that he is forwarding to me to-day a reply to my letter to him of February 22. My letter is included in the white paper, which was printed and bound for distribution before I received this telegram. If the letter from the Premier of Ontario is received by to-morrow I shall table it in order that the correspondence may be complete. I imagine that would be the wish of the Premier of Ontario.

I desire also to table a photostatic copy of an extract from the Congressional Record of February 16, 1938, containing a letter of February 12, 1938, from the Premier of Ontario to Congressman W. G. Andrews referring to the St. Lawrence waterway, the great lakes and related problems. Seeing that this correspondence has just been brought down, I do not think it will be possible to proceed to-morrow with the second reading of the bill respecting the export of power.

Mr. EULER:

1 and 2.

Imports into Canada of Canned Beef

1. What were the net earnings of the Port Colborne grain elevator for the years 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, and 1937?

2. How many are employed at this plant?

3. When was the superintendent appointed, and by what method was his appointment made?

Mr. HOWE:

The following information is furnished by the National Harbours Board:

1. Net earnings before charges for interest and depreciation have been made.

April 1, 1933-March 31, 1934.. ..$ 61,001 35 April 1, 1934-March 31, 1935.. .. 83.371 41

April 1, 1935- March 31, 1936.. .. 112,781 84 April 1, 1936-December 31, 1936.. 49,829 14

(9 months)

January 1, 1937-December 31, 1937. 27,058 17

2. Permanent (full time) 23

Seasonal (period from April 16 to

December 15) 3

Temporary and casual (for period of navigation season and as required) 85

3. October 1, 1930, by promotion.

Mr. HOWE:

The management of Canadian National Railways advise that the above questions relate to matters of internal management, and it is felt that the answers thereto would not be of public interest.

1. What quantities of canned beef were imported into Canada for each of the last three years?

2. From what countries?

(Calendar years, 1935, 1936 and 1937) 1935(*) 1936 1937Pounds Pounds Pounds

Imported from

All countries

10,363,006 12,056,904United Kingdom

350 498,000United States

10,324Argentina

7,331,904 9,704*990Paraguay Uruguay 3,018,914 1,834,914Australia

11,838 8,640Alaska

36

(*) From April 1, 1935, to December 31, 1935.

11,694,759

50,920

8,721,485

208,265

2,665,139

48,924

Questions

Mr. CAHAN:

By whom, and under what statutory or other authority, was the coronation oath, which was prescribed in 1689 by The Coronation Oath Act (1 Will, and Mary c. 6), and which had been administered at every coronation thereafter, changed in its terms and a new form of oath administered to His Majesty George VI, upon his coronation on May 12, 1937?

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

The coronation oath provided for in 1689 by The Coronation Oath Act (1 Wm. and Mary c. 6) had not been administered at every coronation thereafter in the terms prescribed in the Act. While the form of coronation oath was laid down by statute and could not be altered without statutory authority, it had always been recognized that if a statute was passed altering the constitutional position in such a way as to render words of the original oath no longer applicable, that statute might be treated as impliedly authorizing and indeed requiring a corresponding alteration in the wording of the oath. This procedure was followed in the case of the act of union with Scotland and the act of union with Ireland. The position in Ireland and the enactment of the statute of Westminster altered the constitutional position of the United Kingdom in relation to the dominions, in such a way as to render the existing words of the coronation oath inapplicable. Accordingly, it was necessary that an alteration should be made, and the present form of oath was administered upon the statutory authority of The Coronation Oath Act and the intervening statutes affecting the constitutional position up to and including the statute of Westminster.

The alteration was made by the coronation commission, after consultation with and the concurrence and approval of all the governments of the British commonwealth of nations.

public utterances op governor general

Mr. CAHAN:

Has the constitutional rule ever been abrogated, which was expressed in 1879 by the prime minister of that day, to the effect that the governor general of Canada in his public utterances shall preserve absolute silence on matters of policy or of a public nature?

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

This question I believe is out of order. It would appear to be asked not so much to obtain information, as to supply it. I am not aware that a statement was made in 1879 by the Prime Minister of that day in the terms set forth in the question and I should appreciate information as to where it is to be found.