Mr. GORDON GRAYDON (Leader of the Opposition):

I -should like to ask the Minister of Munitions and Supply if he will give the house a statement in respect to the threatened strike in the Arvida plant, so that the house may be fully informed thereon.

Hon. C. D. HOWE (Minister of Munitions and Supply):

My information about

the situation at Ajrvida is that I was advised by the company yesterday that the company had received a telegram from the secretary of the American Federation of Labour affiliate at Arvida to say that unless the company opened negotiations with that union within seventy-two hours the members of the union would be withdrawn from the plant. The company has a sole bargaining agreement with the Catholic Syndicate, a rival union, due to expire at the end of December, 1943. No steps have been taken other than that the government has considered ways and means of maintaining law and order in the event of a walkout.

I saw an unfortunate reference in a Montreal newspaper this morning to the effect that sabotage had occurred in the last strike at Arvida and that the government have taken steps to prevent a similar occurrence this time. It was clearly proved by a commission following the last stoppage of work at Arvida that no sabotage occurred,

and any steps the government are considering now have nothing to do with the situation that occurred before. We are simply considering ways and means of maintaining law and order in case anything does occur.

I iuay say that the aluminum plant is the most important single operation in Canada's munitions programme. There are some eleven thousand employees engaged in manufacturing aluminum. The demand for aluminum for the manufacture of aeroplanes exceeds the supply and will continue to do so for some time. The government therefore feel that they must take unusual precautions to see that no interruption occurs at the aluminum company's plant.

Mr. MacINNlS: Does the minister know whether the Department of Labour has sent an investigator into the area?

Mr. HOWE:

I understand that the Minister of Labour is ill. and I have not been able to consult with him on the matter, but I believe the Department of Labour has had a conciliator in the district for some considerable time.

Hon. R. B. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

I should like to direct a question to the Minister of National Defence. I regret that owing to pressure I was not able to get any notice to him. It arises out of a report in the newspapers to-day of a decision in the Exchequer Court by Mr. Justice Thorson to the effect that a soldier is not an officer or servant of the crown within the meaning of section 19(c) of the Exchequer Court Act, and that the crown is not liable for damages caused to persons by negligence on the part of a soldier in the performance of his duties. I am not rising to question in any way the legal decision, but if that is the law I think it is an unfortunate state of affairs. We all know that accidents occui, sometimes through no negligence, sometimes through negligence on the part of one party and sometimes through negligence on the part of another party, and in a clear case of negligence on the part of a member of the armed forces, we will say in the driving of a motor vehicle, as a result of which a citizen loses his life or sustains damage to his property, apparently there is no redress. I suggest to the minister that he ought to reconsider that position and would

Farm Debt

ask him if he would be good enough to look into it, because I can see that _ great injustice may be done to the civilian population of this country. In making that statement I do not wish to be considered as casting any reflection upon any member of the armed forces.

Hon. J. L. RALSTON (Minister of National Defence):

I can assure my hon. friend and the house that the matter is already under consideration with a view to taking the steps which may seem to be necessary in order to regularize the position with regard to certain claims which already have been paid, and also with regard to the future.

Mr. J. A. ROSS (Souris):

May I ask the Minister of Munitions and Supply if it would not be possible to have the ordinary AA category gasoline ration books issued by the local licence offices, where automobile licence plates are secured, as was done in 1942? The present system is very inconvenient and causes a great deal of delay throughout the rural areas, particularly at this time of year. It takes from ten days to two weeks to obtain the ration books, and since many farmers do not apply for their licences until after April 1, they are caused a great deal of inconvenience.

Hon. C. D. HOWE (Minister of Munitions and Supply):

I do not know the practice

followed in the province from which the hon. member comes. In Ontario the ration book is issued by the same office that issues the licence for the car. However, I shall be glad to look into the matter and see whether or not the situation of which the hon. member speaks can be remedied.

Mr. ROSS (Souris):

We have to send

ro your office in Winnipeg, and sometimes it takes weeks.

Hon. C. D. HOWE (Minister of Munitions and Supply):

I will indeed.