1. Has the government received representations from the Quebec government and the Montreal municipal authorities relative to the help the government could grant the city of Montreal to facilitate the solution of its financial difficulties?

2. If so, by whom, and to whom were such representations made?

3. What were such representations, and what was the government's reply?

Questions

1. Yes.

2 and 3. On May 14 a telegram was addressed to the Minister of Finance by Mr. J. M. Savignac, chairman of the executive committee of the city of Montreal, reading as follows:

"May 15 city has to meet maturities of six million dollars. City needs help from superior governments to meet emergency pending publication and enforcing of recommendations of Rowell-Sirois reports. Expecting immediate action on your part with the banks or otherwise in order to prevent default."

On May 14, the Minister of Finance replied to this telegram as follows:

"Acknowledging your telegram May 14, as the matter referred to is one which is and always has been regarded as entirely outside sphere of dominion jurisdiction and administration I am referring your telegram to the honourable provincial treasurer of Quebec."

1. Do the chartered banks report the amounts of unclaimed daily overages to the department?

2. If so, what amounts have been reported during the last fifteen years?

3. How frequently are these overages disposed of and in what manner?

1. If this question relates to tellers' overages, the answer is that there is no requirement in the Bank Act or otherwise that tellers' "overages" and "shortages" should be reported to the Minister of Finance.

2 and 3. Answered by No. 1.

1. What were the limits agreed upon between the British and dominion governments regarding British child evacuees?

_ 2. In view of the minister's statement regarding the unreliability of the radio, will he state whether his announcement as given over the radio on Saturday last, that Canada would take all the children that England would send, is true or not?

_ 3. Has the government extended a definite invitation for (a) a limited number of British children, or (b) a general unlimited invitation to all children the British government cares to send; (c) if neither, what is the nature of the invitation?

Mr. CRERAR:

I have looked at these

questions, and also the statement I made on June 27. At the moment I believe there is nothing that can be usefully added to that statement.

[Mr. Roy.)

In regard to the second part of the question I may say that I made no announcement over the radio respecting this matter, on the date mentioned or on any other date. Under the circumstances I believe the question might be dropped.

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury); Could it stand for a day or two until I have an opportunity to consult with the hon. member?

Mr. CRERAR:

I have no objection.

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

Certain

parts of the minister's statement might bear further examination. I do not say he is wrong, but I should like to go into the matter further.

Question stands.

1. How much wheat of the 1939 crop, from the 1st August to date, was sold direct by the Canada wheat board to the representatives of the United Kingdom and France?

2. How much of such wheat was sold through the board's agents or members of the grain exchange, to the representatives of the United Kingdom and France?

1. Cash wheat 3,994,000 bushels, futures

29,620,000 bushels.

2. These sales were made direct by the Canadian Wheat Board to the purchasing committee of the British Ministry of Food by direct cable negotiations.

(Mr. Howe.]

1. How much money did the western farmer receive in the fiscal year 1939-40 under the Prairie Farm Assistance Act and the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act?

2. What was the total cost, including administration, of each of the above acts?

3. What was the total cost to the government as the result of the fixed price for wheat on the 1937-38 crop and the 1938-39 crop?

4. What material aid and assistance was given to the western farmer in the dried-out areas in 1936-37, 1937-38, and 1938-39?

5. Were any moneys paid under the Cooperative Marketing Act during the year ending March 31, 1940, and, if so, how much?

6. What was the total amount of wheat produced in the three western provinces, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, in the years 1937-38 and 1938-39?