Mr. GORDON GRAYDON (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct the attention of the government, and

particularly of the Minister of Mines and Resources (Mr. Crerar), under whose department I think this matter would come, to a Canadian Press dispatch from Vancouver which appeared in the morning papers. -This relates to a matter which was referred to in the house on a previous occasion, namely, the report that certain stores and commodities used in the construction of the Alaska highway by the United States government have been destroyed.

On July 10, as reported on page 4648 of Hansard, the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) gave an answer to a question asked by the hon. member for Rosetown-Biggar (Mr. Coldwell). His answer was as follows:

Since notice of the question was given, inquiries have been made through the special commissioner for defence projects in northwest Canada. The special commissioner has informed the government that investigations do not reveal that usable stores and equipment are being destroyed or abandoned as reported.

I think the house took that as a final answer in connection with the matter. But to-day the matter breaks out afresh. I want to ask the government if they will provide an answer-I do not suggest that it can be done to-day-to this question. First of all, it appears in the press dispatch that the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States is now threatening to prosecute some Canadian nationals or citizens in the Alaska highway area. I would like to know whether or not that is possible, or whether it is by arrangement between this government and the United States government.

Mr. CRERAR:

What is that based on?

Mr. GRAYDON:

Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, if you would allow' me to transgress the rules sufficiently to read a paragraph or so of this news dispatch, I could do so. It is very important.

We have all read it.

Mr. GRAYDON:

Some hon. members may have read it, but there are two hundred or so members, and perhaps my hon. friend would not mind my reading it for their benefit. He does not need to listen. The article reads:

The Vancouver Xews-Herald said to-day in a newspaper story date-lined Dawson Creek, British Columbia, that residents of the Peace River district who have been combing United States army dumps to recovek stores allegedly discarded, "face the threat of prosecution by the United States federal bureau of investigation."

"Prosecution of settlers for having American made goods in their possession was launched in two instances," the New-IIerald said, "but it failed for lack of evidence the goods were stolen."

Farm Prices

Then it goes on to say:

"The amount of usable stores here is tremendous. The American authorities want to get rid of them, but Ottawa says no," the paper said, quoting a sworn statement.

And again:

American authorities are bound by an agreement under which the goods were brought in duty free for the highway construction, it added. Lack of transportation and high costs prohibited removal of most of the goods back to .the United States.

I bring this matter to the attention of the government in order that they may be able to provide a satisfactory answer to the points I have raised.

Mr. M. J. COLDWELL (Rosetown-Biggar):

May I just say this one word? This matter should be investigated. I have just come back from that area, and some ugly stories are being told of the destruction not only of equipment of this type but of tractors, bulldozers and all kinds of things. As this dispatch states, the onus has been placed on Canada because of our refusal to allow these goods to remain here because no duty was paid, and the cost of shipping them out of the country being too great. That is the story that is told, and I think it should be investigated.

Mr. CRERAR:

Who is placing the onus on Canada?

Mr. SPEAKER:

Order. The hon. leader

of the opposition (Mr. Graydon) has, as he himself has said, transgressed the rules in asking his questions regarding a newspaper statement. If any member asking a question on the orders of the day based on a newspaper statement wished to identify himself with the truth or accuracy of the report, then of course he would be in order, but simply to read reports from newspapers and make statements aoout them is clearly outside what is permissible on the orders of the day. I would suggest that hon. members paraphrase what is contained in a newspaper statement or give whatever information they may have regarding it or whatever authority they have for its accuracy. But the minister may reply if he wishes to.

Mr. GRA\DON: Mr. Speaker, I asked for

the consent of the house to transgress the rules, and I did not transgress without that consent.

Mr. SPEAKER:

The house has recognized, and I have always recognized, that the leader of the opposition should be allowed more latitude than is accorded probably to any other member because of the very fact of his position. But when the leader of the opposition takes upon himself the responsibility of transgressing the rules, even with the consent of the house, I would draw to the attention of all hon. members the fact that no member is allowed to transgress the rules, and I state that rule now for future guidance.

Hon. T. A. CRERAR (Minister of Mines and Resources):

Mr. Speaker, if I might be

permitted a word, I have just now been handed a document relating to this matter, which I have not yet had a chance to look through, but if I understand the situation aright, the stores mentioned were owned by the United States authorities and were under their control, and I am at a loss to know in what way the Canadian government could have interfered with their disposition. I have just glanced over this document sufficiently to learn that the United States authorities apparently indicate that these stores were either infected goods, blankets and the like, or food that was unusable. Whether that is correct or not I do not know.

Mr. GRAYDON:

Bulldozers would not be infected.

Mr. CRERAR:

Just a moment. I did not interrupt my hon. friend. He is pretty good at. interrupting; I sometimes think he is the official interrupter.

Mr. GRAYDON:

No, I would not like to take that honour from my hon. friend over there.

Mr. CRERAR:

It is well to keep in mind this fact, that these goods were not Canadian goods and were not under the control of the Canadian authorities. It is a question of how far the Canadian authorities would be justified in interfering. I shall bring the facts to the attention of the Prime Minister and perhaps on Thursday he will be able to make a statement.