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

Mr. Speaker, before the orders of the day are called I should like to ask a question of the Minister of Labour to whom I sent notice of my intention to do so. I have a telegram from the Montreal trades and labour council, signed by J. Gariepy. The trades and labour council protests the dilatoriness of the Department of Labour and urges the appointment of a commission immediately to investigate charges of discrimination againt union members by the Dominion Engineering Company and the Montreal Locomotive Works, which have been brought to the attention of the trades and labour council by responsible officers of the Montreal war labour organization production committee. Will the minister give immediate attention to this matter, in order to prevent serious trouble developing in these war industries?

Hon. HUMPHREY MITCHELL (Minister of Labour):

Mr. Speaker, I received a telegram similar to the one received by the hon. member, and made inquiries. These are the facts. A telegram was received from Paul Fournier, president of the trades and labour council, Montreal, on May 6, complaining that the Dominion Engineering Company, at Longueuil, Quebec, had dismissed an employee because of labour activities. The telegram was acknowledged on the same day and a Montreal conciliation officer immediately dispatched to investigate the situation. The company alleged that the man was discharged because he stayed away from work three nights without giving a satisfactory explanation. This is the first time we have been asked to investigate this matter through the appointment of a commissioner. We have no knowledge of anyone having been discharged by the Montreal Locomotive Works for the reason

Procedure as to Bills

alleged in the telegram just received. I shall be glad, however, to make further inquiries into the matter, and if the circumstances warrant the appointment of a commissioner to investigate the matter I shall be very glad to see that that is done.

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

Yes, it is.

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

Last night the hon. member for Regina City (Mr. McNiven) asked if at an early day it would be possible to consider private bills. There are fifty-two private bills standing on the order paper for second reading, fifty of which are divorce bills. The other two deal with incorporations. I am informed that none of them is controversial. The second readings would in all probability be passed as a matter of course, and the bills would be refefred to the private bills committee. The clerk of the house is of the opinion that the matter could be disposed of in about fifteen minutes, as one motion could be made for the second reading of all of them.

Under the circumstances I suggest it might be understood that these bills be taken up at the first hour on Friday, a week from to-day.

Mr. GEORGE BLACK (Yukon):

May I ask the Prime Minister if a similar arrangement could be made for the consideration of public bills? With all due respect I think some of them are more important than many of those appearing in the list of private bills.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

I am afraid they are in a different class. However I shall be glad to have consideration given to the hon. member's request.

Hon. GROTE STIRLING (Yale):

Has the Prime Minister any observations to make with regard to my suggestion of last night as to Hon. Walter Nash's address?

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING

(Prime Minister): The hon. member's observations have been drawn to my attention, and I have considered them. I believe it would be inadvisable to create a precedent which would involve an adjournment of the house to listen to an address being delivered in another part of the building.