Mr. ILSLEY:

This is answered; but, Mr. Speaker, I want to say that the answer is a reference to a return which I tabled to-day in response to a motion of the hon. member for Kootenay East. The answers are:

1. Yes.

2 and 3. Answered by reply to Mr. MacKinnon's question appearing in Votes and Proceedings, 29th January, 1943, page ii, and which covers the fiscal year 1942-43, and the limited payments made between December 24, 1941, and March 31, 1942.

1. Have any payments been made by way of subsidies on soap and shortening sales to, (a) soap manufacturers; (b) shortening manufacturers, during the calendar year 1942?

2. If so, what are the amounts for each month during the year 1942, paid to, (a) soap manufacturers; (b) shortening manufacturers?

Questions

1. (a) Yes. (b) No.

2. (a) January to June, inclusive, none; July, 813,685; August, $171,788; September, $8,918; October, $194,458; November, $7,374; December, $101,134-8497,357.

(b) Answered by 1 (b).

national defence headquarters staff-

1. Are officers or men, medically fit, 30 to 35 years of age, employed on the headquarters staff of the Department of National Defence, (a) in Ottawa; (b) overseas?

2. If so, how many?

3. What are their names, and their ranks?

Mr. RALSTON:

I ask the hon. member to drop the third .part of this question. There can be only one reason for that question, namely to draw some inference that these men are not doing their duty. The Department of National Defence and the officers responsible take full responsibility for these men being at their posts. We are quite willing to give the number of men and to take whatever responsibility or criticism there may be for having men of that age at headquarters; but to give the names of these men is quite a different thing. It seems to me that in fairness to them one would have to give opposite their names the reasons why they are in these posts; therefore I will ask my hon. friend to drop the question. That reason applies doubly or trebly to men overseas. I do not think it lies in the mouth of any of us to question what the men are doing there, whether they happen to be in Canada or in England. They are posted there by their superior officers and they are prepared to go and serve wherever required. I would ask that the question be dropped.

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

I think the minister is right on the. question of names, but would it be possible to answer that part of No. 3 which would indicate the rank?

Mr. RALSTON:

That is the. only thing the hon. member has not asked for.

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

Yes, he asked for ranks.

Mr. ROSS (St. Paul's):

I should like to have the question stand and in the meantime I will take it up with the minister.

Question stands.

1. Is there a sub-experimental farm located at Iron Springs, Alberta?

2. If so, who is at present operating this farm?

3. What has been the cost of same to the dominion treasury in each of the years 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, and 1942?

4. What benefits, if any, have been derived from this farm in each of the above years?

5. Is this farm to continue in operation during 1943?

1. An illustration station was operated at Iron Springs, Alberta, from 1938 to the end of 1942.

2. Not in operation at present. The owner recently sold the property.

3. $425 per annum.

4. This station farm has been organized on a six year rotation basis, aiming to give community leadership by contributing to a better understanding of the best cultural methods, fertilizer practices and cropping procedures to associate with the efficient utilization of irrigation water. Cereal varieties have been tested and some 500 bushels of certified seed have been disposed of locally. At the request of local sugar beet growers, an extensive experiment was laid down to determine the most economical rate of application and chemical fertilizer formulae for the growing of sugar beets. Fibre flax of the Stormont Gossamer variety was produced as a source of certified seed for distribution. The straw was processed and sold as green tow. Six varieties of peas and six of beans were compared in growing tests in 1942. These were varieties in which farmers were interested as the seed companies were endeavouring to get growers to contract for their production in the district.

5. No arrangements have as yet been possible for the reestablishment of illustration station work in the Iron Springs district for 1943.

Mr. MATTHEWS:

What action, if any, does the government propose taking in the case of shippers who, having wood for sale, refuse to dispose of it at a price within the regulations of the price ceiling?

Mr. HOWE:

The coal controller has authority to direct that wood fuel be sold in a specific market or to a designated purchaser. With the concurrence of the wartime prices and trade board, he may also set the price at which such

Questions

wood shall be sold. Or, if considered necessary, the coal controller may take possession of wood fuel and dispose of it as in his judgment the public interest may demand.

In practice, each individual case will be considered on its merits and the action to be taken, if any, will be determined on the basis of the particular circumstances of that case.