Mr. BENOIT MICHAUD (Restigouche-Madavvaska):

I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Agriculture. In view of an item appearing in the Ottawa Journal of this day under the heading "Britain Must Cut Potato Consumption", is the Minister of Agriculture in a position to make a statement as to the possibilities of Canada's selling potatoes to the United Kingdom?

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

The possibility of selling potatoes to the United Kingdom has been rMr. Michaud.]

under discussion for the past two or three weeks. Only yesterday, as suggested in the statement of Mr. Strachey, an arrangement was entered into under which a very considerable part of the surplus potatoes of the eastern provinces is to be delivered to Great Britain at a price which, I think, will be satisfactory both to the British government and to the potato producers in that area. The full details with regard to the arrangement will be published within the next twenty-four hours.

Mr. A. J. BROOKS (Royal):

May I ask the minister from what province in the east most of those potatoes will be shipped? I understand that Prince Edward Island is to ship practically one hundred per cent of them.

Mr. GARDINER:

The potatoes will require to be those which meet certain conditions which are being set up by the purchaser of the potatoes. Wherever they may be taken from, I am sure that it will be of great assistance to all the potato producers in the eastern part of Canada. The present situation is that there is a considerable surplus over and above what is required on the local market, and any quantity that will be taken off by the British at this time should be of help to all those who have potatoes to sell.

Mr. A. J. BROOKS (Royal):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to ask a question of the Prime Minister. It arises out of yesterday's discussion in connection with the National Emergency Transitional Powers Act. He referred to "orders regarding veterans preference in the civil service which remain in the schedule pending examination of this subject by a parliamentary committee with a view to later introduction of legislation." My question is this. Are we to understand from this statement that the special committee on veterans' affairs will be set up again this session?

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

On the matter

of the preference only.

Mr. ANGUS MacINNIS (Vancouver East):

I should like to ask the Minister of Labour whether the Steel Company of Canada has accepted the recommendation of the special

_________________Inquiries of the Ministry

commissioner, Judge Macdonell, with regard to the reinstatement of certain employees at the 'works in Hamilton. If the company is not accepting the findings of the commissioner, is there anything further the minister can do to bring about harmony at this plant?

Hon. HUMPHREY MITCHELL (Minister of Labour):

My hon. friend spoke to me about this matter the day before yesterday, I think in the evening, and I told him I would look into it. I was away yesterday and the trains were late this morning, circumstances over which I had no control whatever. If my hon. friend will let the question stand until tomorrow afternoon I will give him an answer.

Mr. MacINNIS:

I shall be glad to do that. COOPERATIVES

request for interpretation of amendment

RESPECTING INCOME TAX On the orders of the day:

Mr. G. S. WHITE (Hastings-Peterborough):

Will the Minister of National Revenue in the near future make a statement in the house outlining the interpretation of the deputy minister of taxation of the 1946 amendment to the Income War Tax Act in regard to cooperatives, in so far as the amendment applies to cheese factories in the province of Ontario, which operate more or less on a cooperative basis?

Hon. J. J. McCANN (Minister of National Revenue):

Mr. Speaker, I received no notice of this question, but I shall take this as notice and give the hon. gentleman an answer later