Mr. SENN:

Has any consideration been

given to a change in the hours during which gasoline may be purchased? A great many farmers work until seven'o'clock at night and then go to town to get their supplies. Sometimes they are under a hardship because the gasoline stations are closed at seven o'clock and on Sunday, and they have no opportunity of purchasing what they require.

Mr. HOWE:

I do not think any change in that regard is contemplated, but the farmer is granted a special privilege in that he may have gasoline on his farm.

Mr. SENN:

Only if he has a truck.

Mr. HOWE:

Last year I think some provision was also made for keeping open one gasoline station in a community, where there was any necessity for it. I know it is the intention of the controller to administer the regulations without causing undue hardship, and I am sure if a hardship develops he will be prepared to deal with it.

Mr. FRASER (Peterborough West):

Is any provision being made by the government to reimburse garage owners for the financial loss they are suffering as a result of these regulations?

Mr. HOWE:

No.

Mr. FRASER (Peterborough West):

I know some garage men have had to go out of business already, and because of their age they have been unable to find work in munitions plants.

Mr. HAZEN:

When the minister makes a statement on the tar sands will he also make a statement on the New Brunswick shales? I understood him to say last session that some investigations were being made into the shale situation there. Will he give us the results of those investigations?

LMr. R. B. Hanson.]

Mr. HOWE:

I shall be glad to include that, and the results of any other explorations we have been making.

Mr. ROY:

Will the different controllers of the scheme have the power to grant more gasoline in special cases? There are certain sections of the country, like that part of my constituency between Matane and Gaspe, where there is no railroad transportation available. I should like to know if additional gasoline will be granted in special cases.

Mr. HOWE:

Each owner of an automobile is entitled to present his case to the controller for requirements of gasoline for necessary or vocational purposes. It will all depend upon what the purpose is regarding travel between those two points. If a man is travelling for a purpose having to do with the earning of his livelihood, his need will be assessed and a proper ration will be given him, but once the ration is given it will not be changed.

Mr. GORDON GRAYDON (Leader of the Opposition):

I should like to direct an inquiry to the Prime Minister based upon a news item appearing in the Ottawa Citizen of this morning, as follows:

Lionel Chevrier, Liberal M.P. for Stormont, was on the job yesterday as parliamentary secretary to Hon. C. D. Howe, Minister of Munitions and Supply, according to authoritative government sources. D. C. Abbott, Liberal M.P. for St. Antoine-Westmount, has also been appointed to a similar post with Hon. J. L. Ilsley, Minister oi Finance. Both men have been familiarizing themselves with the various aspects of the work of these two departments.

It is understood that Hon. Cyrus Macmillan, Liberal M.P. for Queens, P.E.I., is being appointed parliamentary secretary to Hon. C. G. Power, Minister of National Defence for Air. It is said that Mr. Macmillan's services were sought by Hon. Mr. Power.

On that point I congratulate the hon. member. Will the Prime Minister explain why these appointments were not announced to parliament before the new parliamentary secretaries entered upon their duties?-and of course the bill providing for the appointment of these secretaries has not yet been introduced into the house. I should like the Prime Minister to clarify the situation, so that we may understand how it happened that this news item appeared.

Procedure in Questions on Orders of the Day

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

I could not begin to give my hon. friend the reasons for the news item having appeared as it did; on that I must say I have no information. With respect to why appointments have not been announced in the house, I would say that no appointments have been made, and therefore there was no announcement to make. May I add that as soon as appointments are made I shall see that they are immediately announced in the house. I believe it is true that one or two hon. members have been kind enough to assist certain of the ministers in some pressing matters in which they are at present engaged. At a later time I may have reason to express appreciation of that assistance. But I hope it will not be held that any hon. member of the house is performing a function he should not perform if during this war time he lends his services-

Mr. HOMUTH:

Oh, now, now.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

What is my hon. friend worrying about? I say I hope it will not in any way prejudice any hon. member or be held against him if he lends whatever assistance he is asked by a minister to lend to him at any time in connection with the discharge of his duties.