Mr. GORDON GRAYDON (Leader of the Opposition):

I desire to address a question to the Minister of Labour. News dispatches appearing in to-day's press indicate that the Canadian delegation to the international labour organization meeting in Philadelphia yesterday failed to achieve unanimity with respect to a resolution introduced by the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Labour said to be designed to take from the current meeting the authority to define the role of the international labour organization in -the post-war international order. It is stated that one of the Canadian delegation, Percy R. Bengough, indicated his opposition to the proposal, stating that he would fight against its adoption. On April 20. at page 2180 of Hansard, I directed an inquiry to the Prime Minister with respect to this matter, asking him if the government had given consideration to the point -and, if so, what decision had been reached as to Canada's policy. I also asked him if the Canadian delegates to the meeting had received any directions from the government relating to the matter. To this inquiry the Prime Minister stated that no instructions had up to that time been so given. I would like now to ask -the Minister of Labour if the stand taken by his parliamentary assistant was made on the instructions of the government and if the position taken by him at the meeting has the full approval of -the minister and the government.

Hon. HUMPHREY MITCHELL (Minister of Labour):

I would say by way of preface that since the international labour organization is a deliberative assembly like this House of

Wheat

Commons, at times differences of opinions arise in the early stages of discussion and upon particular questions. Further in answer to the leader of the opposition, I would say that the resolution which was submitted in line with the policy expressed by the Canadian government delegate in his speech, far from being a move designed to block or delay progress, is designed to secure the earliest possible and most effective action on four fundamental constitutional problems before the international labour conference. Each of these involves important considerations which cannot, because of the constitution of the organization and the nature of the subject, be finally settled at this conference. The Canadian government delegates fear that the conference might come to an end with no machinery having been set up to continue work on these questions. The resolution provides for consideration of them by the conference now and continued consideration after the conference. They accordingly have proposed that a committee shall sit during and after the conference. Their resolution is intended to help the organization to secure the action which all members of the organization want in the shortest possible time.

The government believe that the I.L.O. has an important role to play and they favour the adoption of a broad declaration of purpose along the lines proposed to the conference by the international labour office. No step must be taken which will interfere with the legitimate and most useful role of the organization, made up of representatives of governments, workers and employers. The main consideration now is to see that the future of the I.L.O. is not jeopardized, and that the

I.L.O. is fitted into its proper place in the emerging international organizations.

Mr. GRAYDON:

I take it from what the minister has said that the stand of the parliamentary assistant was in accordance with government policy.

Mr. J. H. BLACKMORE (Lethbridge):

I desire to direct a question to the Minister of Finance. Inasmuch as it is reported the United States government has promised to allow United States people twenty-five pounds of sugar per member of the family for canning purposes in 1944, while Canada is reported to be allowing only ten pounds per member, will the minister make a statement to the house on

Monday or at some early day setting forth the facts of the situation and the reasons therefor?

Hon. J. L. ILSLEY (Minister of Finance):

I shall have to verify the fact that the United States government has promised twenty-five pounds per person. I had no knowledge of that. I would think that when the wartime prices and trade board estimates are before the house would be soon enough to go into the matter, but if the hon. gentleman wants an answer sooner, and I can do it briefly, I will give it to him. I do not think it would be appropriate to make a long statement on the subject on the orders of the day.

Mr. BLACKMORE:

It need not be long. There is a great deal of uncertainty in the country by reasons of these reports. I am merely stating what is reported.

Mr. ILSLEY:

If I can make a short statement I will do so at an early day.

Mr. E. E. PERLEY (Qu'Appelle):

I desire to direct a question to the Minister of Trade and Commerce. Can he inform the house whether any payments have yet been made on the producer participation certificates for the crops of 1940-41-42. There are a good many million dollars involved and many producers are waiting to see if they can get the money within the next few days to enable them to buy victory bonds. It would help materially in the sale of bonds if payment could be rushed in the next week.

Hon. J. A. MacKINNON (Minister of Trade and Commerce):

The payments referred to will be made immediately, I believe.

Mr. PERLEY:

In time for the farmers to use the money for the purpose I have indicated?

Mr. MacKINNON (Edmonton West):

I wish to amplify the statement I have just made The hon. member for Qu'Appelle knows the extent of the actual physical operations involved in getting out these payments to roughly two hundred thousand farmers in western Canada. The facilities of the wheat board have been stretched to the utmost to get the work under way. They are working practically day and night to get the payments out and I am in continuous touch with them urging that they do what I know they are trying their utmost to do, to get the payments out at the earliest possible date. I expect they will start within a day or two, very soon at any rate.

War Appropriation-Labour