Explain.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

It has been the practice for some years to pay a part of the salary of the High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom, under the statutory authority given by the High Commissioner's Act, and a part of it as a vote in the estimates of the Department of External Affairs. The principal object of this bill is to repeal the statutory authority contained in the High Commissioner's Act, so that the whole of the high commissioner's salary may, in future, be included in the departmental estimates. This change will establish a uniform practice with respect to the salaries of the representatives of Canada abroad.

As certain other minor amendments to the High Commissioner's Act were also desirable, it was considered advisable to repeal the existing statute and to renact it in the revised form, which would bring it into conformity with present usage and terminology.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

Narcotic Drugs

Mr. FERLAND:

How many persons in Canada are actually forbidden the use of the mails?

Mr. EULER:

It is difficult to furnish a definite figure, as the number fluctuates continuously. Upon evidence being received indicating that the mails are being used for the transmission of illegal matter, mailing facilities are withdrawn from the person or organization concerned. When this action is taken the illegal enterprise is either abandoned, or discontinued in so far as the use of the mails is concerned, or an endeavour is made to circumvent the post office action by use of different or fictitious names. As the new names and addresses connected with illegal uses of the mails are ascertained mailing facilities are withdrawn.

During the twelve months ending May 31, 1938, instructions were issued withdrawing mailing privileges in Canada from approximately 1,450 persons and 50 organizations. During the same period mailing facilities were restored in about 150 cases.

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Secretary of State for External Affairs) moved:

That it is expedient that parliament do approve of the Convention of 1936 for the suppression of the illicit traffic in dangerous drugs (Geneva, June 26, 1936), signed on behalf of Canada by the plenipotentiary named therein, and, that this house do approve of the same.

Right Hon. R. B. BENNETT (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, the convention was brought down only yesterday and I have not had a chance to study its provisions as carefully as I should like. Perhaps it would not be asking too much to have the motion stand for approval until to-morrow.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

I am quite

prepared to have it stand.

Mr. BENNETT:

I did not get a copy

of it, and my colleague says that he did not.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

I may say to

the right hon. leader of the opposition (Mr. Bennett) that the Minister of Pensions and National Health (Mr. Power), at the time

of introducing his bill respecting opium and narcotic drugs in February last explained the convention very fully. The bill was in the nature of legislation to implement Canada's undertakings with respect to the convention. At that time the house, I think, had before it the convention, which I have since tabled.

I shall be pleased, however to see that copies are sent to the leader of the opposition.

Mr. BENNETT:

I do not think it was

printed. It was tabled yesterday, was it not?

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

I formally

tabled it yesterday, but I thought it was before the house at the time the minister introduced his bill.

Mr. BENNETT:

A reference was made to it, because my memory is that the completed document was not before the house until yesterday.