Right Hon. L. S. St. Laurent (Prime Minister):

The last government notice of motion on today's order paper, with respect to the general agreement on tariffs and trade, is inscribed in the name of the Secretary of State for External Affairs. It was intended to be in the name of the Prime Minister, in accordance with the practice of former years. I would ask that the necessary change be made.

Mr. Gordon Graydon (Peel):

On previous occasions questions have been directed to the Secretary of State for External Affairs (Mr. Pearson), who at the moment is not in his seat, with respect to the proposed conference of commonwealth prime ministers. I should like to ask the Prime Minister when the conference is to take place, and who will represent Canada. I ask this question because of the news items which have persistently

appeared in the papers. There was a further reference to it in the press this morning.

Right Hon. L. S. St. Laurent (Prime Minister):

I hope to be able to make an announcement in that regard on Monday, and I understand that an announcement will also be made on Monday in the House of Commons at Westminster.

Mr. Graydon:

There is to be a conference?

Mr. St. Laurent:

The question of the desirability of holding a conference is being considered, and I hope that an announcement can be made on Monday.

Mr. J. G. Diefenbaker (Lake Centre):

should like to direct a question to the Minister of Agriculture with regard to the threatened grasshopper infestation this summer in Saskatchewan; according to the dominion entomological branch at Saskatoon it will be the worst since 1939. As the matter is urgent and inquiries have been received from rural municipalities, will the Department of Agriculture not depart from its usual stand, in view of the danger which threatens three-quarters of the Saskatchewan crop? The province seems to be having difficulty in meeting the situation, and I should like to ask if assistance can be given.

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

As has been intimated by the hon. member for Lake Centre, according to long-standing practice, infestations of grasshoppers are dealt with directly by the municipalities, which are under the control of the province. We have an understanding with all provinces that we will follow the flights of grasshoppers from down in the United States until they cross the Canadian border, and supply all information about their movements. We also supply technical information with regard to any new means that may have been developed elsewhere to deal with grasshoppers. But the actual dealing with the grasshoppers is a provincial matter, and it has always been handled satisfactorily in that way. We see no reason for any change in that regard.

Mr. Coldwell:

May I ask a supplementary question on the technical side? Has the minister any knowledge of the success of the use of aeroplanes in preventing grasshopper infestation?

Inquiries of the Ministry

Mr. Gardiner:

The reports up until recently are to the effect that that is not too satisfactory a method of dealing with grasshoppers. Some of the older and some of the new methods of spraying are more satisfactory- but not spraying from aeroplanes.

Mr. Smith (Calgary West):

The minister might have our customs officers stop them when they attempt to cross the border.

Mr. Stanley Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre):

Yesterday the Secretary of State answered a question which I asked with respect to wages paid at the printing bureau. The minister said:

The wages are then put in line with the wages being paid in those cities.

The reference was to Montreal and Toronto. In view of complaints I have received since that statement was made, as to its accuracy, may I ask the Secretary of State if he will obtain specific information as to the scale of wages paid to printers, day side and night side, job and newspaper, in Toronto and Montreal, and let us have a comparison with the scale paid at the bureau?