Mr. J. S. ROY (Gaspe):

Before the orders of the day are called I wish to direct a question to the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King). My question is based upon a news item published in yesterday's Le Canada, Montreal Liberal paper, wherein it is reported that the hon. member for Mercier (Mr. Jean) stated at a public banquet that Liberal members of this house, at a secret caucus of the party, have been given the assurance by the leaders of the party that conscription will not be enforced and that no national government will be formed. Is the hon. member's statement based on truth?

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

Those of us who have been in parliament for some time have been accustomed to regard the proceedings of caucus as matters wholly confidential to the parties concerned. If it once became the custom to disclose what had been said at a caucus, or to deny or confirm what it is alleged to have been there stated, I am afraid that very erroneous impressions might readily get abroad. I will say to my hon. friend that proceedings of caucus are private and I intend to set an example to members of all parties by doing my utmost to keep them so.

Hon. H. A. BRUCE (Parkdale):

Before

the orders of the day are called I wish to direct a question to the Minister of Justice (Mr. Lapointe). In view of the arrest and internment in England a few days ago of Sir Oswald Mosley and his lieutenant Captain Ramsay, a member of the British House of Commons, may I ask if any steps have been taken to apprehend and deal with the leader of the fascist movement in Canada, Mr. Arcand, of Montreal, and his lieutenant, Mr. Joseph Farr, of Toronto?

Yukon Act-Fur Export

Right Hon. ERNEST LAPOINTE (Minister of Justice):

A number of papers and

documents have been seized by the police at the office of that organization and in other places. The representatives of the attorney general of the province of Quebec and the crown prosecutor are at present looking into all these papers and material with a view to taking the necessary proceedings.

Mr. G. S. WHITE (Hastings-Peterborough):

I wish to ask the Minister of Justice (Mr. Lapointe) a question with reference to the employees of the Bata Shoe Company at Frankford, Ontario, in view of the peculiar situation of this plant. It is only a matter of five miles from an airport, and it is located immediately beside very important hydroelectric plants and quite close to many large railway bridges. The question is this: Will the Minister of Justice consider the immediate reinvestigation and reexamination of all the aliens brought in by the Bata Shoe Company during the last three years?

Right Hon. ERNEST LAPOINTE (Minister of Justice):

The question will stand as

a notice for the consideration of both the immigration department and myself.

Mr. CRERAR:

There is little I can add to the observations I made on this measure when it was in the resolution stage. I might however say that so long ago as 1919 the Yukon territorial council imposed an export tax on fur taken out of the Yukon territory to other parts of Canada or to other parts of the world. Generally speaking that tax corresponded to the royalty imposed in the various provincial jurisdictions throughout Canada. It was imposed for purposes of revenue. It placed no disability upon the trapper or exporter of furs from the Yukon that was not imposed by the royalties levied in the various provinces. It is rather curious that recently the question arose as to the power of the Yukon territorial council at that time

to impose the tax. This amendment to the Yukon Act simply makes it clear beyond any doubt that they have the power to impose such a tax, and should there be any doubt about their power in the past, what they have done in the interval since 1919 is regularized and made effective.

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

This seems to be an innocent and harmless bill. I am surprised that in the present circumstances the minister should take the time of parliament to bring forward such a bill, but it should not take long to pass it. According to the explanatory note and the explanation given by the minister on a previous occasion as well as to-day it would appear that there is some doubt as to the legal validity of an ordinance passed some years ago by the Yukon territorial council. He has omitted to say what the legal doubt is. I should like to know what the doubt is, what it is based upon.

Mr. CRERAR:

The doubt, as I understand it, is as to the legal power of the Yukon territorial council to impose such an export tax.

Mr. BLACK (Yukon):

In principle the bill is quite proper and desirable, but I do not think it should be made retroactive to May, 1919, and when we come to section 2 I propose to offer an amendment in that regard. I shall send a copy of it to the minister now. As to section 1, I think it is quite proper.

Mr. BLACK (Yukon):

I understand that this matter has arisen because of litigation now pending, or possibly a prosecution which has been attempted under the ordinance passed by the territorial council. At the bottom of this amendment I believe is the desire to bring such prosecution or litigation within the powers of the council. That may be correct as to litigation that may arise in the future, but as to the litigation now pending, I hardly think it fair for this parliament to legislate a man out of court. I suggest that this amendment be added to section 2 as subsection 2 (a):

This amendment does not affect litigation or prosecutions now pending under the ordinance passed May 20, 1919, by the Yukon territorial council, entitled " An ordinance to provide for a tax on raw furs exported from the Yukon territory" and in respect of such litigation or prosecutions section 1 of this act shall not be retroactive.

I hope the minister will not have any objection to that. It is merely to protect the people of whom I speak.

Yukon Act-Fur Export