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

Mr. Speaker, I wish to

table copies of proposals for expansion of world trade and employment which were communicated by' the United States government, together with the text of a financial agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States, as signed at Washington on December 6, 1945, and related documents. These are in printed forms.

In connection with the tabling of these documents there is a brief statement I should like to make.

Trade and Employment

These proposals have been prepared for consideration by an international conference on trade and employment, which the United States government suggests should be convened by the united nations organization for the summer of 1946.

The government of the United States has proposed that all countries should concert their efforts in the sphere of their international economic relations, with a view to expanding the volume of world trade and maintaining high and stable levels of national employment. The specific suggestions for achieving these ends, set forth in the document which is now being tabled for the consideration of members of parliament, deserve our most careful study, for no country has a greater interest than Canada in the realization of these objectives.

Members of the house will recall that in withdrawing, on November 12 last, such tariff changes as had been incorporated in the budget resolutions the Minister of Finance stated that "within the last few days we have been given substantial ground for believing that the prospects of early international action for the reduction of tariffs and other barriers to world trade are considerably improved." The documents I am tabling to-day indicate that in the four weeks that have intervened, material progress has been made and that what was then a mere hope or expectation has become, to quote from the joint statement by President Truman and Prime Minister Attlee, "agreement on the broad principles of commercial policy for which the two governments will seek international support."

Hon. HUMPHREY MITCHELL (Minister of Labour):

I have just dispatched the following wire to the management and employees of the Ford Motor Company of Canada, also to Mr. Addes, international secretary treasurer of the union at Detroit:

The reply of the Ford Motor Company to the formula proposed by the union was received this morning. I have asked Mr. Greig to furnish a copy to Mr. Burt at Windsor this morning. In its reply the company pointed out the difficulties in the way of adopting the formula presented by the union including the fact that it would be impossible to find an arbitrator who could accept the responsibility on a time limit basis and particularly when it is the company's view that the selection should be made from the membership of the Supreme Court of Canada. Both the Honourable Mr. Daley and myself do believe that it would be difficult to bring about arbitration on a time limit basis and after giving the situation very serious consideration and because of the urgent and imperative necessity of getting the

employees back to work we urge that the proposal made by the Honourable Mr. Daley and myself in our letter of November 27 be again put before your membership by referendum vote.

Both sides have now agreed that in calling men back to work seniority rules shall prevail as far as this is possible under the circumstances. If the Departments of Labour of the dominion and Ontario governments can be of assistance in the supervision of such vote we shall be very willing to arrange such assistance.

Mr. NICHOLSON:

How many employees of the Department of Agriculture holding: (a) Bachelor's degree;

(b) Master's degree; (c) Ph.D., are found in each of the following salary classifications- (1) less than $1,000; (2) $1,000-$2,000; (3) $2,000-$3,000; (4) over $3,000?

Mr. GARDINER:

(a) Bachelor's degree-1. Less than $1,000, 1; 2. $1,00042,000, 287; 3. $2,00043,000, 358; 4. Over $3,000, 96.

(b) Master's degree-1. Less than $1,000, nil;

2. $1,00042,000, 60 ; 3. $2,00043,000, 113; 4. Over $3,000, 47.

(c) Ph.D.-1. Less than $1,000, nil; 2. $1,00042.000, 10 ; 3. $2,00043,000, 41; 4. Over $3,000, 62.

1. Yes.

2. During the period that raw materials were under strict control all farm machinery manufacturers submitted their requirements of iron and steel to the administrator of farm and road machinery and municipal service equipment who in turn arranged with the steel controller of the Department of Munitions and Supply to approve the orders on the steel producers. Under this arrangement all requests for allotments of iron and steel made by Co-operative Implement Company Ltd., Winnipeg, were pro-rated along with all other implement manufacturers and supplied by the steel producers.

Questions

With the termination of the war certain restrictions were removed and the steel controller was no longer obliged to approve steel mill schedules.

Malleable castings are currently produced for the farm implement industry under the direction of the priorities officer of the Department of Munitions and Supply on recommendation of the administrator of farm and road machinery and municipal service equipment of the wartime prices and trade board. Requests made by the Co-operative Implement company are pro-rated on an equitable basis with all other implement manufacturers and are being produced and delivered.

1. Were any subsidies paid by the government on imported coal consumed at the Globe and Mail Newspaper Publishing Company of Toronto from 1940 to the end of 1944?

2. If so, to what amount?

3. Were any such payments stopped, and why?

1. Under the definition of "consumer goods", authorized by wartime prices and trade board during the period from April 1. 1943 to April 30, 1945, imports of United States bituminous coal and coke used for the heating of buildings or to provide customary and necessary service for such buildings (with certain exceptions) were eligible for subsidy consideration. As subsidies were paid to the dealer importing the coal and not to the end-user, Commodity Prices Stabilization Corporation Ltd. has no record as to what subsidies were paid on coal consumed by individual concerns. Furthermore, were the information available, it would necessarily be withheld on the grounds that, in accordance with government policy as stated from time to time in the House of Commons by the Minister of Finance, it is not considered to be in the public interest to give information as to subsidies paid by Commodity Prices Stabilization Corporation Ltd. to individual concerns. (Ref. House of Commons Debates No. 47, dated April 24, 1944, page 2281.)

2 and 3. Answered in one above.

1. Has the government purchased property on or near Summit drive immediately north of Loretto abbey and east of Yonge boulevard, just outside the city of Toronto?

2. If so, from whom was the property purchased?

3. What is the area of the property and w'hat buildings are located on it?

4. What price was paid for the property?

5. What use is intended for the property?

1. Purchase has been authorized and is now being completed.

2. A. L. Ellsworth, Esq., Toronto, Ontario.

3. (a) 23 acres, (b) Buildings on property comprise one large, three-storey, brick and stone residence; one "H" shaped, two-storey structure used for classrooms, offices and staff accommodation; greenhouse; one small summer house; and one pumphouse.

4. S100.000.

5. Permanent R.C.A.F. staff college.