Mr. J. L. DOUGLAS (Queens):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to address a question to the Minister of Agriculture. Does the government intend to pay freight on feed grains east from Fort William beyond July 31, 1948?

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

The government has decided to extend, from July 31, 1948, to July 31, 1949, the period over which the terms of the order in council apply, providing for the payment of freight on feed grain east from Fort William.

Mr. R. R. KNIGHT (Saskatoon City):

I wish to ask a question of the Minister of Transport. I sent him notice of it, together with a copy of a telegram on which the question is based. Is it correct that the railways are interpreting the order to increase freight rates as covering what are technically known as stop-off, out-of-line and back hauls? If so, does the minister agree with such interpretation?

Inquiries of the Ministry

Hon. LIONEL CHEVRIER (Minister of Transport):

I thank the hon. gentleman for having sent me a copy of the telegram which he received from the commissioner of the Saskatoon board of trade. I received a similar telegram. With reference to what are known as stop-offs, these are not freight rates. They are services which were specifically covered in the application made by the railways to the board and which are specifically mentioned in the order of the board. So far as out-of-line and back hauls are concerned, the question whether the prohibition against increasing rates on grain would apply to back hauls on grain would appear to be a matter of clarification or interpretation by the board, and I am so advising the commissioner of the Saskatoon board of trade. I am informing him that if he wishes to make application I shall facilitate it for him.

The second question was: Does the minister agree with such interpretation? The answer is that since this is a matter for clarification or interpretation by the board, the minister does not express an opinion.

Mr. CLARENCE GILLIS (Cape Breton South):

Mr. Speaker, may I be permitted to address a question to the Minister of Labour? It arises out of a telegram received' from the merchants service guild, communications association, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and it has to do with officers and other personnel who were affected by the strike with the Canadian shipping companies. Has the minister been advised that they have accepted the McNiven report as a basis for settlement of the strike, with the proviso that the officers affected will be returned to the posts they held previous to the strike? Can the minister inform the house whether his department has any statement to make in that connection?

Hon. HUMPHREY MITCHELL (Minister of Labour):

Similar inquiries having been made of myself by the hon. member for Vancouver North (Mr. Sinclair), the senior member for Halifax (Mr. Isnor) and the junior member for Halifax (Mr. Dickey), I would say that the official position has not changed from that outlined in my statement appearing on pages 2668-9 and 2670 of the House of Commons debates of April 6, 1948. That is to say, no settlement of a general nature has been made.

Agreements have been consummated between the Federal Commerce and Navigation Company Limited and the Elder - Dempster Company Limited, and the three unions involved in the strike, and the ships of these two companies are sailing. In both cases the companies have agreed to implement Mr. Justice McNiven's recommendations in full, and in the case of the first-named' company have agreed to arbitrate two points in dispute. In the case of the second-named company, the arrangement is the same except that the two points will be dealt with at a conference between the employers and1 the unions.

Telegrams were received yesterday and this morning which indicate that the parties are in direct negotiation, on both the west and the east coasts, and we are hoping for a. clarification which may lead to a settlement of the entire dispute within a few days. We have proposed that agreements when made provide that officers will be re-employed without discrimination.

Hon. ERNEST BERTRAND (Postmaster General):

Yesterday the hon. member for Regina City (Mr. Probe) asked me a question concerning the mail service to Palestine, and I said I would reply today.

The parcel post service from Canada to Palestine was suspended last February following information received from the British postal service through which this mail service operates. However, gift parcels intended for members of the British armed forces in Palestine and the Palestine police force may still be mailed. Last month it was found necessary to suspend all remaining mail services by surface route to Palestine. Air mail service will be continued for the present.

The air mail service between the United States and Palestine is the only service in operation.

Mr. T. J. BENTLEY (Swift Current):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to address a question to the Minister of Trade and Commerce. Will the minister inform the house whether the government has approached any provincial government with a view to having enabling provincial legislation to make effective clause 29 of part IVA of Bill No. 135?

Business of the House

Right Hon. C. D. HOWE (Minister of Trade and Commerce):

Mr. Speaker, the answer is no.

Mr. BENTLEY:

Just what I thought.