Mr. J. H. BLACKMORE (Lethbridge):

Mr. Speaker, I ask leave of the house to introduce the following motion:

That the standing committee on standing orders be instructed to inquire and report on the advisability of accepting as sufficient for this session the proceedings taken last session in respect of the presentation of a petition, the filing of a bill, and the publication of notice relative to the proposed incorporation of the Alberta Provincial bank.

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

Mr. Speaker, as perhaps

my hon. friend is aware, the committees have not yet been set up. The committee therefore to which his motion refers does not now exist. As soon as the present debate is concluded the committees will be set up. May I say to my hon. friend that I believe there should at that time be no difficulty in meeting his request. I believe however that the matter should stand until that time.

Motion stands.

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

Mr. Speaker, I should like to address a question to the Prime Minister. Having regard to the fact that many of the questions and motions for returns now on the order paper relate to Canada's war effort, will the Prime Minister seek the consent of the house for a temporary suspension of the present debate, in order that questions may be answered and returns made?

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

My hon. friend was kind enough to notify me of his question. I have

had just a moment to consider it. If the house is in agreement I cannot see why there would be any objection to our proceeding to the order for questions on, let us say, Wednesday, to have such questions answered and such returns brought down as may be ready. Hon. members would thereby have in their possession at an earlier stage than would otherwise be possible much of the information they may wish to secure. If the house is agreeable to receiving answers to questions on Wednesday next, I believe the government will be prepared to give answers at that time.

Mr. CLARENCE GILLIS (Cape Breton South):

Mr. Speaker, I have a question I should like to direct to the Minister of Labour (Mr. McLarty). Has the Department of Labour been notified that the situation at No. 1-B colliery in the Glace Bay area, affecting 122 employees, classified as aliens by the native-born miners, has taken on serious proportions, the native miners refusing to accept the union executive board's decision to agree to the reemployment of foreign miners in that colliery, and threatening to use force to restrain so-called aliens from entering the mine? Is the Department of Labour contemplating any action to avoid what might become a serious situation?

Hon. N. A. McLARTY (Minister of Labour):

Mr. Speaker, the matter has been brought to my attention but, I must say, not as completely or fully as has been done by the hon. member for Cape Breton South (Mr. Gillis). It is one that is receiving the active attention of the department at the present time.

Mr. A. M. NICHOLSON (Mackenzie):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Minister of National Defence for Air (Mr. Power). In the Regina Leader of November 15 there is a dispatch from Saskatoon referring to the inadequate heating facilities and the lack of medical services for the

The Address-Mr. Adamson

guards at the Dafoe bombing and gunnery school. A dispatch from Ottawa, appearing in the same paper, states that the Minister of National Defence for Air had ordered an investigation. Has the minister any information to give the house as to the results of such investigation?

Hon. C. G. POWER (Minister of National Defence for Air):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to

thank my hon. friend for his courtesy in giving me notice of this question and in not pressing for an answer last Friday when the news item first appeared in the paper. As a matter of fact there has been some difficulty in providing heating and water at the bombing and gunnery school at Dafoe, Saskatchewan. This school is not to be opened for several months to come, but in view of the fact that construction has been going on for some weeks and substantial progress made it was thought advisable to place a guard, composed of eighteen men and a non-commissioned officer, as a measure of security against fire and sabotage.

I have two reports from the officers of the department. The first, which is dated November 16, states:

The chief works officer at Winnipeg reports that he gave definite instructions to the senior assistant engineer in charge of the construction of the buildings that he was to secure locally a supply of sufficient stoves for the airmen's building to be used for housing of guard. This was done and the senior assistant engineer in charge reports that this building is comfortably heated and there should be no complaint whatsoever from any of the airmen presently housed in this building, and there is no lack of heating in any way.

The question of water is rather difficult in that water has to be hauled for their use and the guard for washing, cooking and drinking. This, however, does not entail any hardship on any of the men at present stationed there.

The report then goes on to say that the contractors who are building this station have several hundred men on the ground who are provided with water and heat. It would not be very difficult for eighteen men to join these civilians should an emergency occur, such as the blizzard which struck the prairies last week.

I have also a report from the inspector general of the air force, Air Vice-Marshal Croil, who states:

Inspected Dafoe to-day and investigated alleged complaints security guard. Men of guard upset by report and are not complaining. Their accommodation is temporary and during the blizzard of last week was not warm but temperature did not go to freezing. Hiring

of car for emergency transport was normal and claim for reimbursement has been made in usual way. No transport is provided to small detachments of this kind as usual thing. Water is very hard and unsuitable for washing but adequate supply of drinking water provided by contractor. Messing arrangements with contractors' men said to be satisfactory. Doctor available in half an hour for emergency.

This is all the information I am able to give my hon. friend.