Mr. LAPOINTE (Quebec East):

Where is that stated, that he is a Conservative.

Mr. BENNETT:

I will tell you where it is stated. It is stated right in the document where his tender was refused-not in terms, but that was the reason. I will show you his

'

letter. He did not have a set of the forms sent to him. Oh, no, that was not done. But he wrote to the department:

Sewards Coal,

Kingston, Ontario,

June 26, 1937.

We the undersigned are prepared to supply the department at Kingston and Barriefield with coal and coke at the following prices:

Then follow the prices, and the letter concludes:

We w'ill fill in regular form if supplied with same.

Yours truly,

James Sowards Coal Company, per J. F. Sowards.

There was no objection made to the fact that the tender was not on the regular form. No forms were sent to him to fill in. But the deputy minister, according to this document- the minister says he has no recollection of the circumstances at the moment-advised the minister that the tender of Messrs. Morris Coal Company be accepted, and that:

Acceptance of the lowest tender, that of Messrs. James Sowards Coal Company, is not recommended because of reports received concerning this firm.

The taxpayers of this country have had to pay thousands of dollars more for their coal, and no opportunity was afforded to Mr. Sowards to meet the anonymous assassin who stabs him in the back without giving him a chance to defend himself. And this is typical of the administration. The Minister of Labour is not in his place, but if the Minister of National Defence will apply to him he will get. some information about the matter.

Mr. MACKENZIE (Vancouver):

I shall

be very glad to do so.

Mr. BENNETT:

I have been reading from sessional .paper No. 170A as brought down, and when the minister has ascertained the facts we shall be able to deal with this and other matters of a similar kind that have also to be dealt with.

Mr. MacNEIL:

Does the item stand, Mr. Chairman?

Mr. MACKENZIE (Vancouver):

If my

hen. friend is anxious to have it stand, I have no particular objection.

Mr. MacNEIL:

If you would, please.

Item stands.

Progress reported.

On motion of Mr. Lapointe (Quebec East) the house adjourned at 10.55 p.m.

The Late A. M. Edwards

Monday, June 6, 1938