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

Mr. Speaker, I should like to table an exchange of notes between the United States of America and Canada constituting an agreement on the subject of war surpluses and related matters. In relation thereto I should like to make the following statement.

Both the United States government and our own have found it advantageous to simplify the procedure followed hitherto in disposing of defence facilities and equipment provided in Canada by the United States. They have therefore agreed that Canada shall pay the United States $12,000,000 (U.S.) in return for which there is transferred to the Canadian government a long list of defence facilities and equipment, the original cost of which was approximately $59,000,000 (U.S.).

These installations and materials include items related to the Alaska highway and the northwest staging route, to weather stations in northeastern Canada, movable property reported to War Assets Corporation under an earlier agreement, but not sold, and certain naval and air equipment which had been provided by the United States to the United Kingdom under lend-lease and which, when returned to United States account, remained in Canada. The price paid is a reasonable one, in view of the usefulness of many of these installations and materials to the armed forces and other agencies of government, and the agreement is regarded by both governments as a satisfactory settlement of a property disposal problem which otherwise might have been long drawn out and complicated.

There is an additional aspect of the exchange of notes which is important.

In order to provide equipment necessary for the training programmes of the Canadian armed forces, the United States government will endeavour to make available, surplus military type equipment up to a maximum value of $7,000,000 (U.S.). The agreement calls for negotiation between the two governments as to quantities and prices and will enable the Canadian armed forces to obtain much of the training equipment that they will require at figures considerably less than would be the case if orders had to be placed with manufacturers for new equipment.

Questions

Mr. BRACKEN:

In connection with this adjustment, I understood the Prime Minister to say that there were included therein certain items relating to the Alaska highway. I was under the impression that that matter had been closed some time previously. Perhaps the Prime Minister would clear up the point.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

"Items related to the Alaska highway" are the words I used: "These installations and materials include items related to the Alaska highway and the northwest staging route." I cannot give my hon. friend further particulars at the moment. I will look into his question and if there is additional information I will give it later.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

I have just been informed by the Minister of Justice that what is referred to as matters related to the Alaska highway is in the nature of building equipment and the like. The highway was to be turned over to the Canadian system of highways but the Americans were to have the right to take away building equipment and other materials they have been using.

1. Has !C. 0. Mollberg been an employee of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board a>t any time since 1943, and to date?

2. If so, is he now so employed?

3. What was his salary?

4. If not now employed, when did his employment cease, and for what reason?

Cal. Barbados Jamaica Trinidadyear cwt. cwt. cwt.1927 ... ..- 1,042,061 769,632 371.0291928 ... .. 1,132,149 797,114 723.3491929 ... .. 1,250,264 765,331 867,3531930 ... .. 1,083,257 1,018,376 773,5461931 ... .. 760,010 867,369 1,282,9781933 ... .. 787.067 332,345 413,3601934 ... .. 1,478,051 1,006,149 429,1671935 ... .. 770,938 1,269.969 1,124,0511936 ... .. 1,222,400 1,397,138 1,366,4681937 ... .. 807,126 1,349,716 397,6441940 ... .. 610,847 853,662 671.5781941 ... .. 875,608 1,008,381 1,131,7691942 ... .. 172,860 1,305,801 678.2151943 ... .. 1,435.569 2.725,587 157,0441944 ... .. 1,811,760 2,687,343 248,938

1. Yes. Appointed May 5, 1942 as an investigator, Prince Albert local office, Saskatchewan.

2. Yes.

3. $1,860 per annum, plus $221.04 cost of living bonus.

4. See answer to question No. 2.

1. What was the overall cost to the government of the Curran-Knowles Coke and Gas plant at Hamilton, Ontario?

2. Are any moneys still owing the contractors who erected this plant?

3. If so, what are the amounts?

4. What disposition is the government making of the plant?

1. The capital cost of the plant, including additions to December 31, 1945, was $4,084,717.60.

2. No. The contractor is making a claim but the department denies liability.

3. Answered by No. 2.

4. The disposition of the plant is a matter of government policy to be made known in due course.

1. What quantity of sugar was imported from the West Indies in each of the years, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1944?

2. What quantity of sugar was imported from Cuba in the same years?

Mr. MacKINNON:

Br. West Indies other Hayti San Domingo Cubacwt. cwt. cwt. cwt.674,720 101,745 1,446,863 1,262,598409.985 141,614 522.945 1,446,333158,012 35,358 865,732 1,129,490777,235 278,692 739,218431,806 408,553 235,133371.436 94,517 734,078302,348 1,369,482 573.241521,512 37,941478,070 57,971294,497 330,092250,957 58,944 1,993,603 508.288458.580 12,003 2,350,208 1,320,71167,766 184,842 1,800,782114.240 41,600 2.601.470111,420 490,820 1,603,893 437,563

Questions

Mr. COLDWELL:

How many Canadian troops were in Jamaica on or about February 20, 1946?

Mr. ABBOTT:

722.