1. What lands have been purchased for the construction of houses for veterans under the Veterans' Land Act in the vicinity of, (a) Ottawa; (b) Toronto; (c) Hamilton; (d) London; (e) Windsor; (f) St. Catharines; (g) Cornwall; (h) Kingston?

2. As to each parcel, what is the, (a) short description; (b) nearest town; (c) acreage; (d) distance to schools; (e) number of lots into which the parcel is being divided; (f) number of houses under actual construction; (g) type of contract entered into with the builder; (h) name of the contractor; (i) planned water supply; (j) planned sewage disposal; (k) date when the construction of houses actually commenced; (1) estimated completion date of construction; (m) total of progress payments made to the contractor to date; (n) purchase price paid; (o) assessed value price to purchase?

1. What is the quantity of construction lumber produced in Canada for each year from 1939 to 1944 and in 1945?

2. What quantity of such lumber was exported in each year?

3. What has been the increase in the retail price of lumber for house construction permitted by the lumber controller since the operation of price control?

4. What steps have been taken to maintain-the standards of No. 1 lumber in the retail yards ?

1. By years, since 1930, how many diesel engines have been imported into Canada?

2. By years, since 1930. how many diesel engines were manufactured in Canada?

3. At which year did the diesel engine manufacturers approximately fulfil the requirements of the io per cent clause of P.C. 1618? -

4. What is the tariff rate on diesel engines allowed by P.C. 1618, tariff item 440G?

Mr. CASSELMAN:

* 1. What applications, if any have been made to the government seeking subsidies by way of compensation for the failure of the apple crop?

2. What action has been taken by the government with respect to said applications?

3. If a subsidy is granted, will it be of general application throughout Canada?

1. What expenditures have been made by the various departments of government and associated boards and corporations from April 1 to November 1, 1945, on public relations, publicity and information?

2. (a) To what persons outside the government service were such payments made; (b) how much did each receive and for what services?

3. How many persons are employed by the various departments of government and associated boards and corporations in public relations, publicity and information?

1. How many employees of the Post Office Department in the Winnipeg postal district were granted the status of "on leave without pay" in connection with their absence from work during the time of the general strike in Winnipeg in 1919?

2. How many of these employees were granted restoration of the salary rates they had previous to the absence noted above? How many were granted their normal annual salary increases?

3. Were these employees permitted to make contributions for superannuation purposes covering the time they had served previous to said absence? If so, how many of these employees have done so?

4. Has consideration been given to permitting these employees to make contributions for superannuation purposes covering the period in 1919 when they were "on leave of absence without pay"? If so, what was the result of such consideration? If not, will such consideration be given?

5. Has consideration been given to permitting returned soldiers of World War I who became employees of the Post Office Department after the last war to make contributions for superannuation purposes covering the period of time they spent overseas with the Canadian forces during World War I? If so. what was the result of such consideration? If not, will such consideration be given?

Canadian Flag

Mr. ISNOR:

For a copy of all correspondence passed between the mayor or clerk of the city of Halifax and the minister or any official of the Department of National Defence, or any other department, concerning tile return- of the Halifax forum or the whole, or any portion, of the exhibition grounds, during the years 1944 and 1945.

Mr. T. L. CHURCH (Broadview):

I should like to ask the mover of this resolution the meaning of the words "appointed to act". The committee is appointed to act. It consists of members of both houses and they are to report upon a suitable design for a distinctive national flag. I understood the minister, when introducing this motion for the Prime Minister, to say in a speech the other day when he made this reference to a committee that the principle' of a new Canadian flag had been adopted. Is that right? If this motion is passed, all that the committee will have to do, as I understand it, is to pick a flag out of fifty or sixty designs or crazy quilts, as many of them are. I want to find out the powers of the committee. What are the powers of the House of Commons when the report is presented? I might say to the master of ceremonies, the learned member for Vancouver Centre (Mr. Mackenzie), that I do not agree with him. Sometimes I do; a great many times I do not. Will the House of Commons have power, as they have under our rules and citations, to revise what the committee does, and decide on retaining the present flag, or another flag, or the flag that is flying to-day on the building? I noticed three distinct flags flying on the various buildings on parliament hill to-day. One the red ensign over the tower, one a union jack by Sir John A. Macdonald's monument, and the other at the other front end of this building.

The minister distinctly said in his speech the other day that when this committee is appointed it will have no power to decide whether we should retain the present flag or the flag that is now flying on the peace tower, the flag with the union jack in one top corner, the size of a postage stamp-that is all it is. Those who haul down the union jack will have to answer for it. I should like to find out the powers of the committee under this reference. When the committee meets, the chairman must first of all read the text of the reference. Under the rule by which a committee of parliament is appointed it must stick to the terms of the resolution. It must stay in the pond; it cannot wander out into the lake.

I can tell the house that the majority of the people of Ontario will not put up with this sort of thing. This debate is going to be carried on in the Ontario legislature, and the battle fought all over the province. You will have a union jack election; do not worry about that.

Dominion Elections

So far as this motion goes I am absolutely opposed to the appointment of the committee.

I stand against it; I appeal to my colleagues of the Toronto district to record a vote on this motion to appoint a committee.

I consider this is a matter for the provinces entirely; it is a matter of "property and civil rights", which come within the legislative authority of the province. This is a matter of property and civil rights in the provinces, because definite promises were given to the maritime provinces, Ontario and Quebec, when they entered confederatic n on a definite charter and understanding. The flag was the union jack, and we have no power to change it.

There is a large representation in this chamber from Ontario. In fact, one newspaper has said that the party to which I belong has become an Ontario party. I do not admit that, because in my view we are and always have been a national party. But under this resolution there, should be power to make investigations and hear deputations. It would seem that this committee can do nothing but pick a design from among fifty or sixty designs for a new Canadian flag. In doing that, it is to represent the House of Commons. But, according to what the minister has said, the house having decided on the principle of a national flag, we can do nothing further when that report comes back but decide on the new design solely.