Mr. SPEAKER:

With reference to the question of privilege raised yesterday by the hon. member for Peace River (Mr. Pelletier) as to his right to introduce a bill to repeal the Military Service Act, 1917, I beg to state that I have looked into the matter most carefully and have read the statute in question and have examined also the revised statutes of Canada, 1927.

The main contention of the hon. member for Peace River is that since it was possible for the Minister of Finance (Mr. Dunning) to introduce a bill to revive and amend a statute which is listed as spent, then he has the right to introduce a bill to repeal a similar statute. Reviving a dead law is possible and permissible. If the hon. member's bill provided that the Military Service Act be revived, it would be in order, but he proposes to repeal it after it has been actually repealed by this house. It is listed in schedule A of the revised statutes of Canada, 1927, which is entitled: "Acts and parts of acts repealed, from the date of coming into force of the revised statutes of Canada, 1927."

When the hon. member for Winnipeg North Centre (Mr. Woodsworth) asked for leave to introduce his bill in 1922, the Military Service Act was spent but it had not yet been repealed by statute. This is the reason why the bill was placed on the order paper, but Mr. Speaker Lemieux ruled it out because the act, although still on the statute books, was spent.

If that decision were right, and I am sure it was, there is a better reason this year to rule out the bill of the hon. member for Peace River. That reason is that the Military Service Act has disappeared from the statute book.

1. How much money has been allowed by the imperial government for the assistance of imperial men in Canada since October 14, 1935, what money was in hand before that date, and what was the cost of administration?

2. How much money has been allowed in Alberta, and to whom should a man apply for assistance?

3. How many of such men have received assistance in Alberta, and how much? What are their names and addresses, and the name of their respective regiment, together with their regimental number?

4. What is the allowance for man and wife, and how much is allowed for each child under 16 years of age?

5. If a man is unemployed and has no other means, does he qualify for assistance such as food, clothing and shelter, dental treatment or other necessities, and to whom should he apply?

6. What grant is made to each branch of Canadian legion, if any, out ot imperial funds, and by whose authority was the grant made?

7. What are the names of the members of the said administration, and are they imperial men or Canadians?

Mr. POWER:

1. When was a post office first established at Rock Springs, Leeds county, Ontario?

2. When was the location of said post office changed from Rock Springs?

3. How far from Rock Springs is said post office now located?

4. Why was said change made?

5. Who requested the change in location?

6. Who recommended the change?

1. 1st June, 1883.

2. On the 17th August, 1936. The Rock Springs post office was closed and a new office established at Bell Crossing.

3. Bell Crossing is 2J miles east of Rock Springs.

4. In the interest of the boxholders on the former Rock Springs R.R. No. 1 and No. 2.

5. D. E. Lewis of Brockville.

6. District director of postal services, Ottawa.

Mr. CHURCH:

Has any action been taken by the government to assure His Majesty's government of Great Britain of Canada's moral support, interest, cooperation and aid in the present foreign situation, and will any papers relating thereto be tabled?

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

Mr. Speaker,

the answer to the question as drafted is in the negative. As already indicated in answer to a question by the member for Rosetown-Biggar (Mr. Coldwell) on March 1, the government has been receiving from the United Kingdom government certain communications relating to the international situation. Such communications are continuing. As indicated in that answer and in answer to a question by the member for Winnipeg North Centre (Mr. Woodsworth), on February 25, these communications are in the nature of information rather than consultation upon policies. As such, they are helpful to the Canadian government in assisting it to understand the actual facts of the current situation.

1. Is the government yet in a position to review the reply given here last week and the week before in the light of Germany's action as it relates to Canadian foreign policy?

2. Will any papers or correspondence be tabled?

1. The questions to which reference is apparently made dealt with the policy of the government of the United Kingdom in respect to the League of Nations and to Italy. The

Petitions of Right

action to which the present question refers does not appear to call for any revision of the answers then made.

2. Answered by No. 1.

1. What is the total population of the province of New Brunswick?

2. How many persons of French extraction are there in such province?

3. How many federal employees are there at the experimental farm, at Fredericton, New Brunswick?

4. How many of these are of French extraction?

5. How many of them can speak French, if any?

6. How many graduates in agricultural sciences does the federal Department of Agriculture employ in the province of New Brunswick?

7. How many of these are of French extraction ?

8. How many of them can speak the French language ?