Hon. J. A. MacKINNON (Minister of Trade and Commerce) moved:

That the reports of the Canadian wheat board, tabled in the House of Commons for the crop

years 1939-40 and 1940-41 be referred to the standing committee on agriculture and colonization and that authority be granted to print from day to day 500 copies in English and 200 copies in French of the minutes of proceedings and evidence to be taken by the said committee on such reports, and that standing order 64 be suspended in relation thereto.

Mr. COTE:

How many government employees are receiving, in addition to pensions or allowances granted for their services in the last war, salaries of (1) $2,000 to $2,999, (2) $3,000 to $3,999, (3) $4,000 to $4,999, (4) $5,000 or over, (a) in the federal civil service, (b) in government-owned companies ?

Mr. COTE:

I wish to withdraw this question, with the reservation that at a later date I may put a new question along more specific lines.

Question dropped.

1. What are the names and addresses of the persons to whom cheques were issued (a) for over $10,000, (b) for $5,000 to $10,000 on wheat acreage reduction bonus?

2. How were the amounts made up?

3. How much did each receive?

Mr. GARDINER:

We have been refusing this type of information to many companies and municipalities and to others who are desirous of knowing what cash is going into the hands of individuals. I do not think it is proper to publish the information that is asked for, and I would ask that the question be dropped.

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

It may be all right to refuse it to companies, but is it to be refused to the House of Commons? Are we not to know where the public moneys are going?

Mr. GARDINER:

I do not think it is in the public interest, when amounts are being paid to a large number of individuals across a certain section of the country, to put all the information with regard to these matters into the hands of the public generally by having it placed on Hansard. I would suggest that the question be dropped.

Mr. COLDWELL:

I want to join in the protest made by the leader of the opposition. Too often it is said in this house that information cannot be given because it would not be in the public interest to give it. When it comes

Questions

to the payment of money under statutes enacted by parliament we should know the persons to whom that money is going. I object strenuously to this manner of dealing with questions of this kind, and I hope in this case the question will not be dropped.

Mr. GARDINER:

If the house is of opinion that questions should be asked and answered, which result in the publication of the names of 186,000 farmers across western Canada, I cannot, of course, object. This is a section of them and if you can publish this group of them you can publish them all. We have appeals made to us by implement companies, mortgage companies and others for lists of these farmers with the amounts that have been paid to them, and we have refused them in all cases. An indirect way to get the information would be to have the names and addresses and amounts published in the records of this house. I have no objection to doing it if the house thinks it fair to do that kind of thing.