Mr. T. F. DONNELLY (Wood Mountain) moved:

That the first report of the standing committee on agriculture and colonization, presented to the house on Wednesday, May 26, be concurred in.

Hon. HUMPHREY MITCHELL (Minister of Labour):

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I promised the hon. member for Vancouver East (Mr. Maclnnis) that I would table a copy of the decision of the national war labour board in the case of the employees of the Montreal Tramways. I now do so.

Mr. GORDON GRAYDON (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Prime Minister. There has come to the desks of members of parliament this morning a publication of the United Steelworkers of America entitled "Crisis in Steel." It contains serious allegations against the government in connection with the settlement of the strike in January of this year. Among the startling allegations made there will be found at page 3 of the publication the following:

There was indeed a settlement solemnly agreed upon by both parties. The steelworkers' leaders had promised to recommend the terms and to urge that work be resumed at once. The government had promised to. implement those terms. The steelworkers * kept their promise; the government did not.

In view of the statement made in the publication, and the rather widespread press comment thereon, I would ask the Prime Minister

(Mr. Mackenzie King) to make a statement to the house, commenting on the allegations the steel workers have made.

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

Mr. Speaker, my recollection is that yesterday the Minister of Labour (Mr. Mitchell) asked that certain questions appearing on the order paper in the name of the hon. member for York South (Mr. Noseworthy) should be passed as an order for return. I suggest that instead of having a return made which might not be immediately available to hon. members, the contents of the return might be placed on Hansard. It would I think constitute a reply to my hon. friend's question. I believe the replies to the questions asked by the hon. member for York South will be found to answer pretty conclusively the statements contained in the pamphlet to which my hon. friend has referred. In other words it would place on record the government's statement of the position. So far as I am aware, the government has implemented to the full every undertaking it gave at the time it had its conferences with the steel workers.

Mr. GRAYDON:

I would ask a supplementary question. I have no knowledge f what was contained in the return, which I understand the Minister of Labour tabled, nor am I sure that it dealt with the matters discussed in the booklet "Crisis in Steel". Does the information which has been tabled represent the full government answer to the questions which have been raised in this booklet?

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

I have not

read the booklet, so that I am unable to say whether or not it is a full answer. I suggest that the house agree to having the documents which have been tabled as a return printed in Votes and Proceedings. I believe the replies as given there will be found pretty well to answer what my hon. friend has in mind.

Mr. GRAYDON:

Perhaps any further

questions I may have to ask with respect to this had better be reserved until such time as I have had an opportunity of seeing what the government's answer is in this other matter.

Labour Conditions

Mr. CLARENCE GILLIS (Cape Breton South):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the Minister of Labour arising out of two telegrams I have received, one from the steelworkers union and the other from the mineworkers union of Nova Scotia. Copies of these telegrams have been forwarded to the Prime Minister. The telegrams express apprehension if the order regarding the transfer of miners from other essential industries is put into effect immediately without due investigation into the physical capabilities of men so transferred. They are requesting an extension of the date at which the order becomes operative and suggest that a representative of the Department of Labour should proceed to the Pictou shipbuilding plant to conduct such an investigation. Will the minister explain to the house the machinery that will be used in applying this order? Are the miners' union and the steelworkers' union and the shipbuilders' union in Nova Scotia being consulted and working with selective service in the application of the order in council? If not, why not?