Mr. SPEAKER:

I have the honour to

inform the house that the Clerk of the House has received from the Chief Electoral Officer certificate of the election and return of the following member, viz:

Of Mrs. Cora T. Casselman, for the electoral district of Edmonton East.

1. Is Mr. Lawrence Jack, referred to on page 3352 of Hansard, Monday, June 2, the same Lawrence Jack who lias been writing a series of articles, published in Saturday Night?

2. Have the said articles the sanction of the superintendent of insurance, under the rules, regulations, and statutes regulating life assurance companies?

1. No information beyond the statement on page 34 of the issue of the said publication for April 26 last that the contributor of the articles in question is a statistical expert in the investment department of the company.

2. The consideration of such articles for the purpose of sanction, approval or disapproval thereof is not one of the duties placed upon the superintendent of insurance by the statute.

1. Have tenders been recently called by the Post Office Department for the carrying of mails on rural route No. 1, Thorburn, Pictou county, Nova Scotia?

2. If so, when, what were the names of those who tendered and the amount of their respective tenders?

3. Has contract been let?

4. If so, to whom, for what amount and of what term is the contract?

5. If not, what are the reasons for delay?

6. Was the contract awarded to the lowest tenderer? If not, why?

7. Were tenders previously called for this contract?

8. If so, what are the names of those who tendered and the amount of each tender?

1. Yes.

2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Tenders were due at the Post Office Department, Ottawa, on the 21st March, 1941. The awarding of contract was delayed by investigations into competency of tenderers. While action has been taken to award contract to lowest competent tenderer, it is not considered to be in the public interest to furnish information concerning the tenders submitted until such time as the contract has been executed.

7. Yes-in January 1937.

8. R. A. McDougall, $594.60; Chas. A. MacLean, $800; Collingwood Grant Ross, $840.

The tender of R. A. McDougall was set aside for cause, and contract was awarded to Chas. A. McLean at $725 per annum.

Mr. CHURCH:

At what loss, from the commercial aspect, does the Post Office Department carry second class and other mail of the newspapers of Canada, per annum?

Mr. MULOCK:

The estimated loss to the Post Office Department in the carriage of newspapers is $4,595,300 per annum.

The department has no information respecting a possible loss in the carriage of other classes of publishers' mail, as it is not practicable to keep a record of the revenue derived from such mail and the cost of handling same.

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

Mr. Speaker, I intimated some few days ago that before parliament

The Ministry

adjourned I would have an announcement to make with respect to one or more changes in, or additions to, the ministry. I wish to state that the Hon. Mr. Gardiner has resigned as Minister of National War Services, in' order that he may give his time exclusively to the work of the Department of Agriculture, of which for some years past he has also been the head.

This morning His Excellency the Governor General has approved of the appointment of Mr. Joseph T. Thorson as a member of His Majesty's Privy Council for Canada and as Minister of National War Services. Mr. Thorson will be sworn into office some time this morning. I need not remind the house that not in point of years but in time of service, the hon. member for Selkirk is one of the oldest members of the House of Commons, having been returned to parliament first in 1926, and again at the elections of 1935 and 1940. Hon. members, I believe, are also aware that in the last war Mr. Thorson served with the British expeditionary force overseas. He was in France for some time, and distinguished himself in service in that country.

The Department of National War Services Act, 1940, provides that the minister may, with the consent of the Governor in Council, coordinate the existing public information services of the government, and originate or employ other means in order that the same may be used in the most efficient way for the obtaining of the utmost aid from the people of Canada in the national emergency which has arisen.

An order in council has been passed under the act I have just mentioned, setting forth that it is expedient to provide for more effective coordination of radio broadcasting, film activities, and the promotion of tourist business in Canada, with other public information services of the government. Therefore, with the concurrence of the Minister of Munitions and Supply (Mr. Howe), the Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. MacKinnon), and the Minister of Transport (Mr. Cardin), provision has been made under this act, and under the War Measures Act, for the transfer of some of these several activities to the Department of National War Services.

The powers, duties and functions conferred under the Canadian Broadcasting Act, 1936, with respect to broadcasting, and recently transferred to the Minister of Munitions and Supply, have been now transferred to the Minister of National War Services.

The powers, duties and functions of the Minister of Trade and Commerce, with respect to film activities, under the National Film Act, 1939, have been transferred to the Minister of National War Services.

The powers, duties and functions of the Minister of Transport, with respect to the promotion of tourist business in Canada, have been transferred to the Minister of National War Services.

The control and supervision of that branch of the Department of Transport known as the Canadian travel bureau have been transferred to the Department of National War Services.

Reorganization of the work of the Department of National War Services in the directions indicated will be entered upon actively and immediately as soon as parliament has adjourned.

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

Mr. Speaker, may I preface my question to the ministry by expressing a word of congratulation to the hon. member for Selkirk (Mr. Thorson) on behalf of this group. We wish him every success in the office to which he has been elevated.

My question is this: In view of the general war situation and disturbing stories of prevailing dissatisfaction in the forces and across the country with the progress of our war effort, will the government place before the house, before adjournment, a full and complete statement regarding recruiting, by percentages of provincial quotas already filled; also a complete statement regarding the provision of equipment, particularly as to whether we are maintaining schedules, and what the position is regarding aircraft, tanks, anti-aircraft guns, et cetera? If this information cannot be given publicly, then will the government arrange for a closed session of this house so that a complete understanding of the situation can be obtained by the members before we adjourn?

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

The Minister of National Defence (Mr. Ralston) is keeping another engagement this morning, but he will be in the house this afternoon at three o'clock. I would prefer to delay a reply until the minister returns, but I will seek to see that an answer is given early this afternoon.