Mr. JOHN BRACKEN (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, I am sure I shall have the unanimous approval of all present in extending to the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) congratulations upon his recovery and a most cordial welcome in his return to the house. During his absence we watched with some concern the occasional reports on his progress. While I cannot always speak with the unanimous support of hon. members in the house, I am sure that on this occasion I do so when I say we are glad to see him back. We trust he has fully recovered, and we wish for him only the best of health and strength in the strenuous days ahead.

Mr. M. J. COLDWELL (Rosetown-Biggar):

Mr. Speaker, in what the leader of the opposition (Mr. Bracken) has said I am sure he has the unanimous support of all hon. members. We join with all others in the house in expressing our pleasure at seeing the Prime Minister back, and we express the hope that his good health may long continue.

Mr. SOLON E. LOW (Peace River): Mr. Speaker, I am sure I represent the views of all those in this group when I join with the other two hon. members who have spoken to welcome the Prime Minister back to the house after his illness, and to say to him we are happy he has weathered the storm and is back looking as well as he does. Let me hope the Prime Minister will not be able to say, as Sir John A. Macdonald once said, "Those leaders of the opposition, when they speak, always do make me sick".

Mr. JEAN FRANCOIS POULIOT (Temis-couata):

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the

gracious speeches which have been made by the leader of the opposition (Mr. Bracken), the leader of the C.C.F. (Mr. Coldwell) and the leader of the Social Credit group (Mr. Low). On behalf of the rank and file of the Liberal party I am delighted to welcome the Prime Minister to the house. We were told that he was not well-but he looks so well. Perhaps he just wanted to meditate about public policies. But he had us all worried about him. It is a source of satisfaction now to see him looking so hale and hearty, and especially to see him with his good smile. The Prime Minister, when he smiles, is not at

The Prime Minister

all the same man as when he frowns. I prefer him when he is smiling, and I offer him our very best wishes.

Mr. BROOKS:

What group are you speaking for?

Mr. POULIOT:

I am speaking for all men of good will, of whom there must be quite a number in this chamber. Of course the Prime Minister may at times leave the house when he feels like it. I can tell him however that the discussions in the house and the atmosphere of it are quite different from what they are when he is outside the country. When he is within the country the only thing we have to report to him is progress.

Many members of parliament have spoken, and all have made good speeches, worthy of their constituencies. They have tried to make things as smooth as possible for the Prime Minister, so that he would have no trouble when he came back. Now he is here with us and again I extend to him our best wishes. If my hon. friend the leader of the opposition, had not spoken so well, I would have extended wishes also on his behalf.

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

Mr. Speaker, I need

scarcely say how deeply grateful I am to my hon. friend the leader of the opposition, to the leaders of other parties and to the hon. member for Temiscouata for the very kind remarks they have just made. May I say to the entire membership of the house how deeply I appreciate the kindly manner in which hon. members have received my return to my accustomed seat in this chamber. I

I should like also to say how very much I appreciated the kind inquiries and messages which throughout my absence came from hon. members to Laurier House. I assure Your Honour, it has been a matter of deep regret to me to have been unavoidably absent during the past three weeks. I certainly shall do all within my power from now on not to have a repetition of anything of the kind I have recently experienced. May I say that I realize at this moment, perhaps as I never have done before, what it means to be able in health and strength to participate in the proceedings of the House of Commons, and to enjoy the companionship of one's fellow members in parliament.

I do thank hon. members most warmly for the kind welcome which they have just given to me. I shall do my best to be on hand right along, but if I should find it desirable to take things a little easy for a short time I know I may count on the understanding of hon. members of the house.

1. Is the Canadian government holding in storage; tools, machines, equipment, etc., ordered by the Russian government during the war?

2. If so, (a) where are these machines, equipment, etc., stored; (b) what is the value of this equipment, etc.; (e) has equipment been paid for by the Russian government; (d) does Canada pay the cost of storage; (e) what is the cost to Canada for guards, etc., to protect this equipment; (f) when is Russia taking delivery of this equipment?

1. No.

2. Anwered by No. 1.

1. Since last session of parliament, what recommendations contained in the Archambault report on prison reform have been put into effect?

2. Has anything been done to adopt the Borstal system, recommended by this report?

3. What other improvements or changes have been made by the department since the appointment of Major-General Gibson?

1. Since the last session of parliament the recommendations contained in the Aroham-bault report on prison reform have received detailed consideration by the commissioner appointed for that purpose, pursuant to section 4A of the Penitentiary Act, 1939. The commissioner's report which was tabled in the house on February 17th, 1947, gives details of the recommendations which have already been put into effect.

2. No. It has not been feasible to apply the Borstal system to the existing penitentiaries under the jurisdiction of the federal government, The royal commissioners, at page 199 of their report, stated: "Your commissioners are of the opinion that any satisfactory adaptation of the Borstal system is impossible in penitentiary institutions, either in its essential features or in its principles."

3. Answered by No. 1.

1. What was the cost of producing ammonium nitrate by (11 the Alberta Nitrogen Products, at Calgary; (2) the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co., at Trail; (3) the Welland Chemi-

Questions

cal Works Ltd., at Welland, during each of the years that these plants were operated by the government?

2. On what market or markets was ammonium nitrate from each of these three plants sold?

3. Is ammonium nitrate now being produced al a:i.vcf these plants? If so, which of them?

4. What products are IIO'.V being produced at the Welland plant?

5. To whom and/or on what markets are each of these products being sold and in what quantities?

6. In the sale of each of these plants what steps if any were taken to protect Canadian users of ammonium nitrate or other products from undue increases in prices?

7. What was the retail price of nitrate of soda, ammonium sulphate and cyanamid in 1939?

8. Which, if any, of these plants have been closed down; on what dates, and why?

1. The average cost of production per ton during the period 1940-1945 at the following plants was: (1) Alberta Nitrogen Products, $19; (2) Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company, $29; (3) Welland Chemical Works Limited, $39.

2. Chiefly in the United States, although relatively small quantities were sold in Canada and other western hemisphere countries.

3. Yes, all of them.

4. Sulphuric acid, dicyanamid and ammonium nitrate fertilizer.

5. These plants are now privately owned and operated and their transactions are not a matter of government record.

6. None, other than wartime prices and trade board powers to regulate distribution and prices.

7. Retail prices are not available. However, the wholesale price per ton, F.O.B. producers' plants or major distributing centres, in 1939 was as follows: Nitrate of soda, $42.50; Ammonium Sulphate, $38.60; Cyanimid, $43.10.

8. None have been closed.