Hon. ERNEST BERTRAND (Acting Minister of Agriculture):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to answer a question asked yesterday by the

hon. member for Brant (Mr. Charlton) in respect to the advertising of Canadian cheese in Great Britain.

During the war and since, the sale in the United Kingdom of cheese and other strictly rationed products as national products has not been permitted. Advertising generally has not been considered desirable and certain types of advertising have been prohibited. The dominions, including Canada, accordingly discontinued all advertising. Recently some general forms of advertising have been undertaken, and in this regard Canada has required by regulation that all Canadian cheese exported be marked "Canada". Every Canadian cheddar cheese weighing more than sixty pounds now exported bears the word "Canada" fifty-eight times.

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

Mr. Speaker, hon. members will be aware that this day marks an important anniversary. On June 26, 1945, at the city of San Francisco, the charter of the united nations was signed in the name of the peoples of fifty nations. These nations, which had fought together successfully in war, now resolved to combine their efforts to accomplish the noble aims which they had written into the charter.

The organization which they thus created was to have within its purview every aspect of international action. In the important field of international economic and social cooperation Canada has had a particular interest. Export trade is the basis of this country's employment and prosperity, and Canada has therefore a real stake in the economic well-being of the world. It is in our own interest for us to do all we can to assist in its restoration and maintenance. Economic isolation is for Canada, as for all nations, as impractical a policy as political isolation.

The importance of this aspect of the work of the united nations is recognized in the preamble of the charter in the resolution "to employ international machinery for the promotion of economic and social advancement of all peoples" and thus "to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom." For the achievement of these ends the economic and social council was created. It was given responsibility, under the author-

Wheat

ity of the general assembly, for the solution of international economic, social, health and related problems.

In the discharge of this extensive task the economic and social council supervises and controls the subordinate machinery of commissions and subcommissions and coordinates the activities of the various specialized agencies with which it has entered into relationship. This important work is less spectacular and less well known than that of other united nations organs. It is, however, the real foundation of international cooperation and of lasting peace.

The united nations and its organs have given us the opportunity of cooperating to rebuild a world economic system. It is too easy, in the midst of the difficulties and risks involved in this great task, to surrender to impatience and dissatisfaction with the measure of progress which has been made in these two short years. We must, however, Temember that the aims of the charter cannot be lightly won. Every effort is required to make the work of the economic and social council a success and Canada has, I think, a particular contribution to make.

I am particularly pleased to announce on this day the Canadian delegation which will attend the fifth session of the economic and social council, scheduled to commence in New York on July 19. My colleague, the Minister of National Health and Welfare (Mr. Martin), will head the delegation. Doctor George F. Davidson, the deputy minister of welfare, will be the minister's alternate, and officers of the departments of External Affairs and of National Health and Welfare will serve as advisers. I am sure hon. members will join with me in wishing our delegation every success in its endeavour.

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

I am very glad the Prime Minister has brought this before the house. I have always felt that despite the difficulties that confront the nations which form the united nations, they should not deter us. When we think that we have been a confederation for eighty years and yet have not achieved complete unity throughout the country, we should not be alarmed at the difficulties which have arisen in connection with the united nations.

I am glad the Prime Minister emphasized the work of the specialized agencies of the economic and social council; for I believe, in spite of the fact that the glare of public opinion is on the security council, the greatest hope for world peace lies in laying the foundation of an economic and social order which will bring justice to all peoples.

Hon. DOUGLAS ABBOTT (Minister of Finance):

On behalf of my colleague the Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. MacKinnon) who is primarily responsible in the matter of wheat marketing, and in my own capacity as the minister responsible for price control, I wish to advise the house of the government's 1947-48 programme for Ontario winter wheat.

In announcing the 1946-47 policy last July, it was pointed out that the government at that time had in mind an increase in the ceiling price applicable to Ontario wheat, but that, owing to developments in price control last summer, it was necessary to continue the ceiling at $1.26 for the crop year ending June 30, 1947. The position of the Ontario wheat producer, however, was improved by the inclusion of a subsidy of nine cents per bushel and a payment of five cents per bushel at the time of delivery, as a fixed and final payment from the Ontario wheat flour equalization fund. For 1946-47 the Ontario wheat producer, therefore, received the ceiling price of $126 per bushel, Montreal basis, plus an additional 14 cents per bushel, bringing the total price up to $1.40 per bushel.

For the crop year beginning July 1, 1947, the government has decided to increase the ceiling price of Ontario wheat to $1.55 per bushel, Montreal basis, bringing it approximately into line with the domestic price at which the wheat board sells western hard wheat. Appropriate adjustments will be made in ceiling prices applicable to products of Ontario winter wheat. With this increase in the ceiling price, a direct subsidy will not be required during the coming year.

In addition to the increased price authorized by the new ceiling of $1.55 per bushel Montreal basis, producers will receive at time of delivery a payment in respect to equalization fees collected on exports of Ontario winter wheat flour. This payment will be eight cents per bushel. The amount of equalization fees collected by the government will vary depending on the difference between $1.55 and prices on world markets, but it is considered desirable, in order to reduce administrative costs and to give a measure of certainty to producers, to fix the producers' payment at a definite figure, representing the estimated total receipts during the year.

In accordance with government policy, steps will be taken to prevent fortuitous profits in respect of stocks of Ontario winter wheat and flour on June 30.

Criminal Code

Mr. P. E. WRIGHT (Melfort):

On the basis of the statement made by the Minister of Finance with regard to the price of Ontario wheat, I wish to direct a question to him. Can he give the amount of Ontario wheat or wheat flour that is exported under the British contract and the amounts exported as No. 2 wheat? If he has not the answer at hand he can take this question as notice and answer later.

Mr. ABBOTT:

I shall have to take it as notice and get the information and give it to the hon. gentleman.

Mr. GEORGE BLACK (Yukon):

I wish to present to the Honourable the House of Commons of Canada in parliament assembled the petition of a number of Canadians residing in Yukon, petitioning against the addition of the district of Mackenzie and Northwest territories to the Yukon territory as an electoral district and giving very convincing reasons therefor.

Explain.

Mr. ILSLEY:

This bill contains a number of amendments to the criminal code. There are thirty-four sections in it, and it would be difficult to explain the bill on the first reading, since it deals with so many subjects. The various provisions of the bill will speak for themselves. I might mention one important section. It is proposed to add a new part to the criminal code, called part X (A), dealing with habitual criminals. This part has been recommended by the commissioners on uniformity of legislation, and in the main follows United Kingdom legislation on the same subject. The new part will provide for the preventive detention for an indeterminate period of those who, over eighteen years of age, are convicted four times of indictable offences, the first three of which are punishable with at least five years' imprisonment, and who are leading persistently criminal lives.

The preventive detention will not be automatic but will be discretionary with the court. No person will be tried on a charge of being 83166-299

an habitual criminal unless the attorney general of the province in which the accused is to be tried consents. Provision is made for periodic review by the Minister of Justice of the condition, history and circumstances of the person preventively detained, with a view to determining whether he will be placed out on licence, and if so, on what conditions.

While legislation of this kind was recommended by the Archambault commission, the government has no wish to be dogmatic about the necessity for it, and while recommending it, is prepared to give careful consideration to any views which may be expressed by members of the house regarding it.

There are a number of other important provisions but I think they could be explained more properly when I move the second reading of the bill.

Mr. CHURCH:

May I ask the Attorney General, first, whether the bill he has introduced includes all the amendments to the criminal code for this session? Second, have the recommendations of the chief constables association, particularly the one regarding voluntary statements, been taken into consideration?

Mr. ILSLEY:

The bill contains all the amendments which the government proposes to submit to the house this session. With regard to the second part of the question, I am not sure that I know the recommendations of the chief constables association to which my hon. friend refers. A delegation came to see me a while ago and made certain submissions which I do not think we found ourselves able to accept, for reasons which I gave.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.