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

Mr. Speaker, I wish to make a brief statement regarding the chairmanship of the -wartime prices and trade board which, because of its importance and interest, I have felt should be given in the first instance to parliament.

After five and a half years of service as chairman of the wartime prices and trade board, Mr. Donald Gordon has asked to be relieved of his duties in order to return on a full time basis to his position as deputy governor of the Bank of Canada. The recent appointment of Mr. Graham F. Towers as Canadian executive director of the international bank for reconstruction and development lends a certain urgency to Mr. Gordon's request.

The government, after careful consideration, has reached the conclusion that plans for the orderly decontrol of prices are sufficiently

Wartime Prices and Trade Board

advanced to make it possible to meet Mr. Gordon's wishes without the public interest being adversely affected. Mr. Gordon's resignation has accordingly been accepted to take effect on April 15. He will be succeeded as chairman of the wartime prices and trade board by the now deputy chairman, Mr. Kenneth W. Taylor. Mr. Taylor has been with the board since its establishment in 1939.

I should not like the acceptance of Mr. Donald Gordon's resignation to pass without expressing the government's deep appreciation -which I am sure will be shared by hon. members of both Houses of Parliament-of the exceptional contribution made by Mr. Gordon, as chairman of the prices board, to the effective economic mobilization of Canada's resources during the war and, since the termination of hostilities, to an orderly transition to a peacetime economy in our country.

The success of Canada's campaign against inflation during the war and in its subsequent control owes very much to the untiring devotion. integrity and courage displayed by Mr. Donald Gordon in the discharge of the arduous duties of chairman of the wartime prices and trade board. I -feel I may speak for the Canadian people as a whole when, at this moment of his retirement, I express to Mr. Gordon our thanks for the invaluable service he has rendered our country at a time of its greatest need.

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

Mr. Speaker, I do not think this occasion should be allowed to pass without someone on this side of the house associating us with what the Prime Minister (Mr. Mackenzie King) has said. I feel that Mr. Donald Gordon has been subjected to a great deal of criticism and sometimes we felt that the criticism might have some basis. However I believe (he whole country has been well served by the job Mr. Gordon has done, and I am pleased to associate this group with the expression of appreciation voiced by the Prime Minister.

1. The records of the sugar administrator are not set up to supply the information in the manner in which the question is asked. The records are not segregated according to countries from which importations are made, nor ports in Canada where shipments are landed. .

The total purchase price in Canadian funds paid by the sugar administrator during the period September 1, 1945 to August 31, 1946, was $30,447,828.11.

2. The same statement made in the first part of answer No. 1 also applies to this question.

The average price per 100 lbs. c.i.f. Canadian ports during the period September 1, 1945 to August 31, 1946, was $4.2301. It is impossible to give the average f.o.b. price for each country but roughly, sugars coming under the British preferential tariff cost approximately $3.47 per 100 lbs., f.o.b.; full duty sugars (Cuba and Santo Domingo) $3.67^ per 100 lbs., f.o.b.

1. The sugar administration sold to Canadian sugar refineries during the period September 1, 1945 to August 31, 1946, 705,191,534 lbs.

2. The Canadian sugar refineries paid during the year September 1, 1945 to August 31. 1946:

(a) a total of $29,743,860.41;

(b) an average of $4-2178 per 100 lbs.

3. The operating loss in sugar for the period September 1, 1945 to August 31, 1946, was:

(a) a total of $233,834.90;

(b) an average of -0325 cents per 100 lbs.

Other revenues resulted in the sugar administration operating at a profit of $287,951.35.

Questions

1. How many homes were built under the Y.LA. in the county of Hastings?

2. What is the total cost of each home constructed under the V.L.A. in this area?

3. Who was the contractor or contractors for this area?

4. What is the present proposed sale price of each home in this area?

5. What was the original price asked in each case?

6. How many homes have been sold to date and what is the price in each ease?

7. What was the cost per unit of project overhead and how was the same made up?

8. Have any veterans made deposits on proposed purchases and later declined to proceed with the purchase of such holdings? If so, by whom and why were said deals not completed?

1. Eight.

Subdivision Project

Individual Contracts Seven (under construction)

Construction contract prices

2. Final costs cannot be determined until completion of $5,999

audit by cost audit division of treasury dept. Sale prices 4,800

have been fixed under section 21 of the Veterans' Land Act 4,700

and order in council P.C. 1278 of April 2, 1946, which 5,200

authorized an adjustment to reasonable sale value. 4,900

4,900

6,000

3. Frontenac Construction Company. Five by the veterans concerned.

One by White Lumber Company, Belleville, Ont.

One by J. Goodfellow, R.R. No. 7, Belleville, Ont.

4. Two at $6,120; two at $5,880; two at $5,796; one at Contract prices plus cost of

$5,396; one at $5,256. land.

These prices do not include the following charges:

Roads, $35 per house; drainage, $50 per house; water,

$250 per house; drives, $75 per house; land, $43.50 or $60 per house depending on location.

5. Same as selling price.

6. All sold at prices indicated in No. 4. No houses completed

7. $586.21 made up as follows

Pro-rata supt. salary .

Office staff

Watchman's salary ....

Temporary building ..

Less material reclaimed

8. No. No

$ 381 25

1,350 80

2,782 80

175 001 174 85

1. The records of the sugar administrator are not set up to supply the information in the manner in which the question is asked. The records are not segregated according to

Questions

countries from which importations are made, nor ports in Canada where shipments are landed.

The total transportation cost paid by the sugar administrator in Canadian funds, during the period September 1, 1945 to August 31, 1946, was as follows:

Freight

Ocean $3,326,750 62

Rail 569,056 00

Insurance 59,111 61

2. The statement made in the first part or answer No. 1 also applies to this question. The average transportation cost per 100

lbs., paid by the sugar administrator in Canadian funds, during the period September 1, 1945 to August 31, 1946, was as follows:

Freight-

Ocean '46218

Rail -07905

Insurance -00821

1. What was the date of the last stock taking in each vocabulary section at the special distribution depot, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, Halifax, Nova Scotia?

2. Were any shortages found and, if so, what was the total number of items found short and the value of same?