Hon. J. G. GARDINER (Minister of Agriculture):

Mr. Speaker, last week I stated to the house that within a few days a report would be made both in this house and in the House of Commons in Great Britain with regard to the agreements reached for the supplying of food from Canada to Great Britain. That statement is being made in the British house to-day, and I am therefore making it here.

Supplies of food from Canada to the United Kingdom. Joint announcement of understandings reached in discussions between representatives of the United Kingdom and of Canada at the Ministry of Food, London, January, 1946.

The Minister of Trade and Commerce and I, with officials of our departments, visited the United Kingdom in January and had discussions with Sir Ben Smith, the United Kingdom Minister of Food, and officials of the ministry of food regarding British requirements and Canadian supplies of the major foodstuffs. The discussions took account of the recent announcement of the United Kingdom government policy in regard to home agricultural production and ,of the long-term prospects regarding supplies of the different foodstuffs.

2. This exchange of views has resulted in understandings being reached between ^he British Ministry of Food and the meat and dairy boards of the dominion Department of Agriculture on matters which are set out below and are now being put into the form of agreements to be signed on behalf of both governments.

3. Bacon and ham. The United Kingdom is prepared to purchase the maximum supplies which Canada can provide in 1946, 1947 and 1948. Canada has agreed to do its utmost to maintain these supplies at the highest possible level.

4. It was agreed that the present contract for the calendar year 1946 should be extended to cover the import of a minimum of 350 million pounds into the United Kingdom in

1947 and 400 million pounds in 1948. The contract price for the balance of 1946 and for 1947 will be raised to $25 per 100 pounds f.o.b. seaboard for grade A Wiltshires. For

1948 the price will be not less than the current contract price of $22.50, same basis, and will be subject to later review.

5. It was agreed to have further discussions before January, 1947, to consider the possibility of assessing the prospective requirements of the United Kingdom for 1949 and of negotiating a contract for that year. The new price for bacon means an increase of approximately $3 per hog in price. The order in council of 1944 established a premium of $3 on A's and $2 on B's per hog until six months after the war. The premium is to be decreased by $1 to $2 on A's and $1 on B's per hog. This will provide for a net increase of $2 per hog in price and premium combined.

6. Cheese. The present contract for the supply of 125 million pounds of cheese to the United Kingdom each year expires on 31st March, 1947. It was agreed that this should be extended to 31st March, 1948, at the same prices. The contract should cover 125 million pounds.

7. An extension of the contract to cover the season ending 31st March, 1949, has also been agreed with prices to be fixed at a later date, and to this end the United Kingdom and Canadian representatives will review the arrangements before January, 1947.

8. Evapcftated milk. It was agreed that a contract at current basic prices should be concluded to cover a minimum of 600,000 cases per annum for the two seasons ending 31st March, 1947 and 1948.

9. Roller dried skim milk powder. It' was agreed that the United Kingdom should purchase 3,000 tons from the 1946 production of roller dried skim milk powder.

10. Eggs. The United Kingdom desires to obtain increased quantities of Canadian shell eggs during the months from October to April inclusive, and more especially during the months from October to December inclusive. Owing to difficulties in handling supplies in the United Kingdom during the summer months Canada was requested to cease ship-

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ments of shell eggs by 1st May each year diverting the summer surplus to the production of frozen melange and/or sugar dried eggs.

11. It was agreed that the current contract which expires on December 31, 1946, should be extended to cover the supply to the United Kingdom of 1,750,000 cases of shell eggs and

5,000 tons of dried eggs in 194/7 at the current basic prices for the shell eggs.

12. The United Kingdom has agreed to furnish to Canada by the autumn of 1946 (preferably by October) an indication of the requirements of eggs in shell and dried or frozen form during 1948.

13. Meat. In order to maintain the wartime carcass meat ration, the United Kingdom will require all the beef and mutton which Canada can spare in 1946 and, so far as can be foreseen at present, in 1947 and probably in 1948. It was agreed to continue discussions of the extension of the current contract to cover supplies for 1947.

14. The United Kingdom will be ready to purchase all the hog casings which Canada can provide up to 1948. Offals and tongues will also be required and these will be the subject of further discussions.

15. The United Kingdom requested an increase in the export in carcass form of meat suitable for sausage manufacture.

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

That a special committee consisting of Messrs. Adamson, Gladstone, Glen, Golding, Hansell, McGarry, Jean, Maelnnis, Pouldot, Smith (Calgary West) and Stirling be appointed to assist Mr. Speaker in revising the standing orders of the house with a view to simplify, accelerate and expedite its business, and to report .to the house during the present session.

He said: Mr. Speaker, at the close of the last session, on December 17, the leader of the opposition (Mr. Bracken) asked whether it was intended to set up at' this session the committee on the orders and rules of the house. My hon. friend the Minister of Veterans Affairs, (Mr. Mackenzie), who was leading the house at the time, repliedt-Hansard, page 3716

It is the intention to set up that committee as soon as possible after the new session is convened.

The motion which is before the house at the moment is for the purpose of setting up that committee as soon as possible. I would not bring forward this motion at this time if it were likely to be debated. I understand,

however, it is the wish of the house to have this committee established as soon as possible, and that the motion will meet with general acceptance. The personnel of the committee is, I understand!, the same as that of the committee last year, with one exchange, by agreement.

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

That in the opinion of this house, it is expedient that Canada possess a distinctive national flag and that a joint committee of the Senate .and the House of Commons be appointed to consider and report upon a suitable design for such a flag;

That Messrs. Beaudoin, Blanchette, Castleden, Emmerson, Gingues, Gladstone, Hackett, Han-eedl, Harris (Grey-Bruce), Herr-idge, LaCroix, Lafontaine, Maedonnell (Muskoka-Ontario), MacNicol, Martin, Matthews (Brandon)', McCulloch (Pictou), Mclvor, Reid, Smith (Calgary West), Stanfield, Stirling, Thatcher, Warren, Zaplitny, be members of such committee on the part of this house;

That standing order 65 of the House of Commons be suspended in relation thereto;

That the said committee have power to send for persons, papers and records to add in the discharge of its functions; and

T-hat a message be sent .to the iSenate to inform their honours that the House of Commons has appointed this committee and to re-, quest their honours .to appoint members of the Senate to act thereon with the members of the House of Commons as ,a joint committee of both houses.

He said; In the speech from the throne at the close of the last session, the following paragraph appeared-Hansard, page 3755:

My ministers were gratified at the approval given to the proposal that Canada should .possess a distinctive national flag. At the next session, they will propose that the select committee of both houses be reconstituted in order to com-.plete .the task of considering a suitable design for ia Canadian flag.

The motion I am now presenting is to implement that undertaking as given in the speech from the throne. The same remarks I made on the previous motion apply in presenting this motion. I understand that the house is likely to approve it unanimously and will not desire any debate upon it at this time.

Mr. T. A. KIDD (Kingston City):

May I direct a question to the Minister of National Defence (Army) ? It has to do with the Royal Military College at Kingston. Will the minister kindly inform the house when the Royal Military College at Kingston will be opened? How many cadets will be permitted to register in the first class? When will instructions be available as to the academic qualifications required?

Order.

Mr. KIDD:

This is asked in view of the fact that so many parents and ex-cadets across Canada are most anxious to make plans for their sons who will this year reach the age when a decision is necessary.