Mr. MACDONNELL (Muskoka-Ontario):

What coordination is there between the dominion and the provinces in advertising the tourist business? My riding is extremely interested in the tourist trade and the Ontario government is doing a good deal to that end. I should like to know something about the coordination between the two governments

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Supply-Trade and Commerce

Hon. J. A. MacKINNON (Minister of Trade and Commerce):

The tourist branch of the department realizes the importance of the closest cooperation with the various tourist agencies in the provinces and tries to maintain the closest contact with them. As Minister of Trade and Commerce I have called a meeting for Ottawa for the month of October, and all the provincial ministers in charge of the tourist business have responded one hundred per cent. In each case they have stated that they heartily approve our plans for coordination and have assured us that they will be present with their officials.

Mr. MACDONNELL (Muskoka-Ontario):

That seems wise and right. In what has actually been done up to the moment, has there been any consultation with the provinces? Take Ontario, for example. Have there been any conversations with the Ontario department?

Mr. MacKINNON:

I understand the

director of this department maintains close contact with similar organizations doing this work not only in Ontario but in the other provinces.

Mr. HANSELL:

This morning I received a letter from the secretary of the Alberta boards cf trade. This organization coordinates the work of all the boards of trade of the province. The letter urged me to press for action in respect to the building of landing strips for tourists coming into the country. I know that this is not directly under the minister's department, but the letter suggested that air strips should be built at such places as Banff and Lake Louise. I do not know whether there would be any place at Lake Louise, because it is mountainous, but the suggestion would apply to Jasper and other parks. A good deal of the tourist traffic in the future will be earned by air. I call this to the attention of the minister because it might be discussed at the future conference. I would ask him to take the matter up with his colleague the Minister of Mines and Resources and canvass the possibilities in that direction, because it deserves consideration.

Mr. MacKINNON:

It does deserve the closest attention and support, and I am in close touch with it. I shall be glad to carry out the hon. gentleman's suggestion.

Mr. McLURE:

I would remind the minister that in March last I pointed out to him that in the advertising of the tourist business, so far as maps are concerned, Prince Edward Island appeared to be entirely omitted. He kindly stated that he would give the matter

his attention. I would once more remind him of it and ask him to make a note of this so that our province will not be left out again.

Mr. MacKINNON:

The information that I had was that the map in question was not the product of any Canadian department of government or any Canadian institution, but was published by private individuals in the United States. I believe I pointed that out to the hon. member on a former occasion. However, I will make a note of the question.

Mr. FRASER:

The map which the tourist bureau sends to Americans giving information about Canada does not show this country to good advantage. Accompanying the map should be a letter informing the recipients that maps of various sections would be sent to them. I also suggest that w'hen the conference is held the provinces be asked to indicate on their maps the different highways to available camping sites, because many Americans come here in trailers with camp equipment and go hundreds of miles without being able to find a camp.

Mr. MacINNIS:

I have some questions on the order paper respecting the export of lumber. How does the minister's department ascertain whether any company is shipping more than fifty per cent of its lumber? My information respecting one company is that it is shipping practically one hundred per cent of the lumber it produces, and ignores representations made to it by the Department of Trade and Commerce.

Mr. MacKINNON:

The operations to which the hon. member has referred are under the direction of the timber controller, in another department of government. However he maintains a close check, and it would be difficult for me to believe that any one company is allowed to ship anything like its total production, or a quantity which would be out of line with the amount shipped by other companies seeking the export field.

Mr. MacINNIS:

That may be so, but I should like to have some factual information on it. As the minister will have observed from my questions on the order paper, this company is also a producer of pulp and paper. All the lumber produced is of first-class quality, the poorer parts going into the pulp and

Supply-Trade and Commerce

paper mill. The people in Vancouver are having great difficulty in obtaining first-class lumber, my information being that the lumber offered for sale is of third or perhaps fourth quality, and that that is all that is left for the smaller dealers. It may be that we have already dealt with the item respecting the timber controller. I suggest however, that this matter should be checked further so that British Columbia builders may have at least a fair share of the lumber produced in that province.

Mr. STEPHENSON:

I should like to ask a question respecting the checking of weights and measures. My understanding is that inspectors are appointed to check weights and measures throughout the country, for which they charge a fee. For instance, when a check is made on gasoline pumps a fee is charged for each pump. What is the revenue derived from these fees?

Mr. MacKINNON:

This item was passed yesterday but I shall be glad to get the information and let the hon. member have it later to-day.

Mr. STEPHENSON:

If an operator has three or four pumps it costs him S15 or S20 every time an inspector comes around. That inspector can check perhaps eight or ten places each day, and it would seem to me the fees charged would bring in considerable revenue. Yet this department asks for about $1,800,000 for the purpose. Would the revenue not cover the costa in the department?

Mr. MacKINNON:

This is a self-supporting service, the fees taking care of the expenses. The revenue goes into the consolidated revenue fund ffbcount.

Mr. STEPHENSON:

These inspectors when checking scales use weights running up to 500 pounds. I have in mind an instance in which scales were checked, but after several years it was found that because of wear in the scales, when a weight passed over them, near the weighing capacity of the scale, the mechanism would lower to the point that it was resting on the foundation. The weights were entirely wrong; yet these people had paid over a number of years for having the scales checked. When inspectors check the scales I suggest they should use a weight equalling the capacity of the scale, if they wish to ascertain whether or not the scale is operating efficiently.

In the instance I have in mind it cost several hundred dollars to have the necessary repairs made, and it was the weighman who found the mistake. This scale would probably weigh a load from ten to twelve tons, but the check would be made with a weight of only 100 or 200 pounds. This does not give a true indication of the weighing capacity of the scale.

Mr. MacKINNON:

I shall see that that is brought to the attention of the department.