1. Upon what date was the resignation of Mr. Elliott Little, director of national selective service, accepted by the government?

2. Upon what dates were the resignations of the following officials or employees of national selective service accepted by the government: S. T. Garside, E. L. Grabill, L. Holland, L. McGillivray, K. McTaggart, Carl Reinke, Robert Taylor, L. A. Wright?

1. Name-Date resignation accepted: Elliott Little, November 18, 1942.

2. Name-Date resignation accepted: S. T. Garside, May 31, 1943; E. L. Grabill. March 15, 1943; L. Holland, January 15, 1943; L. McGillivray, November 30. 1942; K. McTaggart, February 1, 1943; Carl Reinke, December 19, 1942; Robert Taylor, November 30, 1942; L. A. Wright, February 16, 1943.

Mr. PURDY:

What is the approximate number of Canadians. by provinces, now serving and who have served in the merchant marine during the present war?

Canadian Forces-Sicily

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

That on Saturday, the 17th July, 1943, and every Saturday thereafter until the end of the present session, the house shall meet at 11 o'clock a.m., and the order of business and procedure shall be the same as on Fridays.

Mr. GORDON GRAYDON (Leader of the Opposition):

I should like to direct a question to the parliamentary assistant to the President of the Privy Council. I intended to ask this question yesterday, but I do not think the hon. gentleman was in the house at the time, and I do not want to delay the matter further. It is in connection with a point he made in his defence of the wartime information board the day before yesterday, when at page 4722 of Hansard he stated:

The events of the last few days indicate how useful has been the cooperation of the press relations officers, the press associations, the correspondents of newspapers overseas, with the wartime information board at various points in the background, in seeing that the people of this continent got early news of the landing in Sicily, and also that the statements which were made have afterwards received early and favourable notice in the United States both in the press and over the radio.

I am informed that in the dissemination of the news of the landing in Sicily the wartime information board did not play a part, that the news came from the military press relations branches and then was disseminated in the usual way through the Associated Press and United Press and their Canadian associates, the Canadian Press and the British United Press, and other official news channels. The statement of the parliamentary assistant has caused considerable speculation, and I have noticed since preparing this question that there have been numerous editorials dealing with the matter-I see one in this morning's paper-as to what was actually meant by the phraseology the hon. gentleman used, as above mentioned. I should be glad if he would clarify his statement and indicate in what way the wartime information board played a part in the news of the landing in Sicily. I sent him notice of this question, and I should be glad to have this clarification whenever it is convenient to him.

Mr. GRAYDON:

A few moments ago I directed a question to the parliamentary assistant to the President of the Privy Council. I did not notice at that time that he was not in his seat. Perhaps he could now give me an answer.

Mr. BROOKE CLAXTON (Parliamentary Assistant to the President of the Privy Council):

Unfortunately I did not receive my hon. friend's notice of the question before I came into the house, and I should like to take this as notice and give him an answer to-morrow.

Mr. GRAYDON:

I sent my hon. friend notice of my question.

Mr. CHURCH:

That department ought to be abolished.