1. When will a decision be reached by the law officers of the crown regarding the action to be taken concerning allegations against Miss Agatha Chapman made by the royal commissioners appointed by order in council P.C. 411 of 1946 in their final report?

2. Why has no action been taken similar to that against other persons accused by the royal commission?

3. If a decision regarding Miss Chapman's case has already been reached (a) what is that decision; (b) what action does the minister propose to take on the basis of that decision;

(c) when will that action be taken?

Mr. ST. LAURENT: Perhaps I might be allowed to answer this question orally. With regard to the first part of the question I cannot say just on what date final decision will be taken. I discussed the matter again yesterday with the deputy minister of justice. There has been no difference between the course followed in this case and the course followed in other cases. Before charges are laid the deputy minister of justice wishes to have the opinion of outside counsel who will, if a prosecution is instituted, conduct the proceedings. Three of the senior counsel who had been retained for other prosecutions were sought to take charge of this one, or at least their offices were communicated with. It so happened that all three were away on holidays. Then there was a canvass made and it was found that many more lawyers are away at this time than members of parliament. It was with some difficulty that we were able to select a junior counsel to whom the whole of the papers were referred. The day before yesterday the deputy minister received a report from him which is a complete analysis of the facts and which it is desired to have checked by senior counsel The deputy min-

ister told me that the senior counsel he had in mind, who had been spoken to some time ago about this case, would foe back from his vacation on Labour day. No time will be lost in taking such action as may be appropriate, as soon as the ordinary procedure followed by the department can be carried out.

I think that answers the other two paragraphs as well. The second asks why no action has been taken similar to that taken against other persons accused by the royal commission. I believe the explanation I have given answers that. The third paragraph asks if a decision has been made and, if so, what that decision is. A definite decision has not yet been reached, for the reasons I have given, but I can assure my hon. friend that I am as anxious as anyone can be that all these matters be disposed of promptly and in the regular way.

Mr. NICHOLSON:

What were the per capita sales for liquor by provinces for the last fiscal year?

Mr. MacKINNON:

Note.-The figures below based on sales as reported by the provincial liquor boards or commissions, are. not comparable figures of liquor consumption by residents of the various provinces for the reasons stated below:

Per Capita Sales of Alcoholic Beverages in Provincial Fiscal Years ending in 1945 (Computed from sales by provincial liquor control boards and extra liquor board sales (i.e., by Breweries, etc.) where permitted)

Sales per Head of

Population

Nova Scotia

$30 80New Brunswick

23 34Quebec

21 27Ontario

25 70Manitoba

20 79Saskatchewan

16 12Alberta

24 90British Columbia

30 941. The consumption of liquor by tourists is considerable and is heavier in some provinces than others.2. The figures for certain provinces, e.g., Nova Scotia and British Columbia are inflated because of the accumulation of service personnel in these provinces in 1945.3. The methods of accounting are not uniform as between the various provincial liquor boards.

Motor Vehicles

4. There is considerable variation in methods of sale in the different provinces. In some provinces the figures represent sales to final consumers only; in others they represent sales to intermediaries as well.

5. The provincial fiscal years vary, hence the figures do not refer to identical periods of time.

1. Under what authority was Kosho Matano sent to Japan?

_ 2. Of the fifteen persons of Japanese origin in mental hospital in British Columbia who were sent to Japan at their own request, how many were (a) Japanese nationals; (b) naturalized Canadians; (c) Canadian born?

3. How was the request for repatriation obtained from these fifteen mental hospital patients?

1. Upon his own request for repatriation under the provisions of P.C. 7355 of December 15, 1945.

2. (a) 12; (b) 3; (c) nil.

3. A request was made to the provincial mental hospital authorities in each case by the repatriate and subsequently affirmed to officers of the Department of Labour and the said hospital authorities.

Mr. DANIEL:

What is the total amount paid by government-owned companies since their inception for (a) advertising; (b) publicity, including publicity personnel ?

Mr. GORDON GRAYDON (Peel):

I

should like to ask the Acting Secretary of State for External Affairs if any invitation has yet come to the Canadian government to attend the sessions of the second part of the general assembly at New York, which I understand is called for September 23. At the same time may I ask if any suggestion has come to the government from that organization that the sittings of the general assembly be postponed until such time as the Paris peace conference has reached some degree of finality?

Right Hon. L. S. ST. LAURENT (Acting Secretary of State for External Affairs): To the first part of the question I think the answer should be in the affirmative. What has been received by the Canadian government is official notification from the secretary general that the second part of the general assembly will convene in New York on September 23. It is not couched in the terms of an invitation, but it is an official notification to members of the general assembly of the date for the resumption of the meeting. To the second part of the question the answer is no; no suggestion of postponement has been made to the Canadian government.

Mr. GRAYDON:

May I express the hope that if the general assembly is to convene on the date indicated, it will not follow the example of the early days of the Paris peace conference, because I do not think a world which is seeking peace could stand two performances of that kind going on at the same time.

Mr. ST. LAURENT: I am sure publicity will be given to the views expressed by the hon. member, and I hope proper notice will be taken of them.