Mr. M. J. COLDWELL (Rosetown-Biggar):

Mr. Speaker, can the government give the house any information concerning the progress of the wheat committee which has been conferring in London with regard to the matter of calling a conference on the international wheat situation? I have been asked what progress has been made, and I should be glad if before prorogation we could get some statement from the Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. Euler).

Hon. CHARLES A. DUNNING (Minister of Finance): Mr. Speaker, I have not seen the latest messages. The efforts of the committee, which has been mentioned in the house before, are still continuing, but the government is not aware of the present state of its work. It is a preparatory committee and is endeavouring to iron out certain difficulties in advance. Messages pass constantly with regard to the difficulties and problems raised by the various nations, but the government has no accurate information as to the present state of the committee's work.

Mr. GORDON GRAYDON (Peel):

I

should like to address an inquiry to the Minister of Mines and Resources (Mr. Crerar). In view of the seriously depressed condition of the shoe manufacturing industry in many parts of Canada to-day, will the government give an assurance to the house that no relaxation of -the immigration regulations is con-

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templated for the purpose of allowing shoe workers from foreign countries to enter Canada to find employment in the proposed Bata shoe manufacturing plant, which formerly operated in Czechoslovakia?

Hon. T. A. CRERAR (Minister of Mines and Resources):

Mr. Speaker, it is rather a lengthy question but I can say that no relaxation of the immigration regulations is contemplated for the purpose mentioned.

Hon. C. H. CAHAN (St. Lawrence-St. George):

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Justice (Mr. Lapointe), who is leading the house, whether if the commission investigating and reporting upon the relations between the provinces and the dominion makes its report before the next session of parliament, the report will be made available to the members for study as soon as it is received, or approximately so?

Right Hon. ERNEST LAPOINTE (Minister of Justice):

The suggestion of my hon. friend will certainly be considered. Personally I see no objection; I think his suggestion has great merit.

Hon. H. A. STEWART (Leeds):

I should like to direct a question to the acting leader of the government (Mr. Lapointe) and possibly to the Minister of Public Works (Mr. Cardin). In the votes and proceedings of Wednesday last appears the report from the joint committee of both houses on the library of parliament. The report recommends extensive alterations and changes in the library, involving adjustments in the lighting, the removal of the present flooring and the laying of an altogether different kind of floor. The present flooring is, of course one of the interesting architectural features of the library. Has any decision been made with regard to the adoption of these recommendations? I do not recall any item in the estimates, except possibly a general one, under which this matter could have been considered or discussed. I do ask that in view of the peculiar structure of the building, the floor and all the settings, nothing be done to impair the architectural beauty of the library.

Hon. P. J. A. CARDIN (Minister of Public Works):

No final decision has been reached, but I can assure my hon. friend that the beauty of the floor will be preserved if any alterations are made.

Mr. POULIOT:

May I say to the hon. member for Leeds (Mr. Stewart) that in my opinion the report is excellent and that the library should be made fire-proof by all means. It is not the floor that counts, but the valuable books that are in the library.