Mr. BLACK (Yukon):

Many of these are civilian aerodromes; they are used by Trans-Canada Air Lines and other civilian organizations operating civilian planes. The government has spent large sums of money on them, and surely the public is entitled to know what those sums amount to.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Stand, in the meantime.

Mr. POWER:

I do not see why it should stand, because I do not believe I could change the position arrived at by my officers. I am forced to the position where I say it is not in the public interest to answer the question in

Questions as Orders jor Returns

the manner in which it has been put. I will give such information as I can to my hon. friend.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Dropped.

Mr. POWER:

No; it should stand, but with the understanding that the answer will be given in the manner in which I have indicated.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Stands as amended.

Mr. POWER:

Perhaps it might best pass as an order for return.

Mr. BLACK (Yukon):

What amounts has the government expended to date on each of the airports at Prince George and at Grande Prairie?

Mr. POWER:

I should like to make the same answer as I made to the previous question of the hon. member. Perhaps this question should be passed as an order for return.

1. How many of the following persons, appointed to the staff of the national film board under authority of the National Film Act, to wit: Ross McLean, Allan G. McLean, Annette Allard, Alan II. Adamson, Irene Baird, Gudrun ,J. Bjerring, Maurice Blackburn, Lois M. Bright, Kathleen F. Brooks, Donald W. Buchanan, James A. Beveridge, F. Elizabeth Bertram, Edward Buckman, Henry C. Campbell, Marguerite C. Chestnutt, May Kathleen Corp, Doreen Curry, A. P. Cote, Thomas C. Daly, R. J. Edmonds, Donald G. D. Fraser, Herbert G. Glover, Dorothy R. Hazel, Alice Heggtveit, Robert J. Humble, Margaret Humble, Charles C. Hyndman, Richard J. Jarvis, Mrs. S. Josie, Anne MacDonnell, Graham B. Mclnnes, Robinson F. MacLean, W. A. Macdonald, C. Grant McLean, Jane Marsh, L. G. Marcotte, Sydney C. Newman, R. K. Nevers, John A. O'Meara, Vincent Paquette, Margaret M. Palmer, Nicholas C. Read, Roger Racine, Lois Rae, Leon M. Shaw, Douglas Sinclair, Janet C. Scellen, Edwin W. Scythes, Hazen E. Sise, D'Arcy Sheard, Katharine P. Symons, Fay Thomson, Gordon Weisenborn, Pamela Wilcox, have had any technical or professional experience in motion picture production and laboratory work, prior to their appointment, indicating in each ease the experience which such person has had?

2. How many of the above persons have been continuously employed for more than three months, indicating which persons?

3. How many of the above noted persons have been in receipt of a regular weekly or monthly salary, honorarium or fee from the national film board since the date of their appointment?

4. Before each of the above noted persons were appointed to the position he or she now fills, what steps, if any, were taken by the national film board or its executive officers to advertise the positions or to provide so that other Canadian citizens, including the heads of

families and wrar veterans, with equal or better qualifications and experience, especially in film production, distribution and laboratory processing work, might have an equal opportunity to make application and receive equal consideration for appointment to the positions now filled by the above noted persons?

5. How, upon what basis and by whom was each of the above persons selected for and upon whose recommendation was each of them appointed to the position he or she now fills?

6. Prior to the appointment of each of the above persons were any recommendations submitted to the national film board for approval or were the appointments, in each case, made by officers of the national film board on their own initiative and responsibility and the board then asked to confirm them?

7. Has treasury board at any time ruled that the National Film Act should be interpreted as applying to persons employed casually for the duration of individual projects and not to any person continuously employed?

8. If so, when, and what was the full import of such ruling?

9. Has the treasury board at any time ruled that the authority of the National Film Act for the employment of staff without prior approval of the establishment by treasury board could not be accepted?

10. If so. when and what was the full import of such ruling?

1. Has the national film board any (a) production contracts; (b) distribution contracts with Warwick Films or Warwick Pictures of New York?

2. If so, how many in each category?

3. What is the total number of feet of film which have been acquired by Warwick FilmB or Warwick Pictures of New York from the national film board since March 31, 1941?

4. Upon what arrangement or ai-rangements was such film acquired by Warwick Films or Warwick Pictures of New York from the national film board?

5. Has the national film board sold to Warwick Films or Warwick Pictures of New York any seized German films that have come into the board's possession or any copies or reproductions thereof other than that contained in completed films produced and released by the national film board?

6. If so, how many feet of (a) negative, (b) duplicate negative, (c) duplicate positive and/or (d) positive has been sold to Warwick Films or Warwick Pictures of New York, and on what terms and conditions?

7. Has the national film board, at any time since the outbreak of war, made available to Warwick Films or Warwick Pictures of New York any seized German films that have come into its possession or any copies thereof in order that the latter might duplicate or reproduce all or any portion of such films or copies thereof ?

8. If so, who authorized such loan and upon what terms and conditions were the films or copies thereof loaned to Warwick Films or Warwick Pictures of New York.

Questions as Orders jor Returns

Mr. THORSON:

Subject to the reservation, in the first place, that it might not be in the public interest to indicate the extent to which German films have been seized, and likewise reserving the giving of information which may be helpful to competitors, this might pass as an order for return.

1. What are the names of all films produced by the national film board since January 1, 1941?

2. What was the total number of feet of film used in each such film which was purchased or acquired in any other manner from any British film company or organization?

3. What was the total number of feet of film which was seized from German or other enemy sources?

4. What was the total number of feet of film used in each such film which was actually taken in Canada?

5. What was the total cost of each such film?

6. By whom was each such film distributed (a) in Canada, (b) in the United States?

7. Upon what arrangement was each such film distributed by each such organization or organizations ?

Mr. THORSON:

Subject to the same reservation as to the giving of information which may be helpful to competitors, and likewise as to information with respect to the supply of German films which have been seized, this might be passed as an order for return.

1. How many contracts in connection with the production of films have been awarded by the national film board since March 31, 1941?

2. Of these, how many were for amounts in excess of $5,000?

3. How many were approved by the Minister of Trade and Commerce or the Minister of National War Services in his capacity of chairman of the national film board prior to being awarded?

4. How many were approved by the treasury board and/or the governor in council prior to being awarded?

5. How many were awarded after tenders had been called or on a competitive basis where two or more companies or individuals had been given an equal opportunity to submit tenders or proposals?

6. Of those for total amounts in excess of $5,000, how many were awarded to, (a) companies owned and operated by Canadians in Canada; (b) foreign controlled companies operating in Canada; (c) British companies; (d) companies owned and operated in the United States of America?