Hon. Alphonse Fournier (for fhe Minister of Transport) moved

the first reading of Bill No. 76 (from the Senate) to amend the Radio Act, 1938.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

Mr. E. D. Fulton (Kamloops):

I wish to direct a question to the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Agriculture. Will he say whether it is a fact that the dairy products board has permitted an increase in the selling price of butter in the province of Alberta, based on an increase in the price per pound of butterfat, but has refused to authorize a corresponding increase in British Columbia? If so, will the parliamentary assistant look into the reasons and give us an explanation at the first opportunity?

Mr. Robert McCubbin (Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture):

This, Mr. Speaker, is something we have not heard of in our department. We are offering butter at 57 cents, basis Montreal. A spread of four cents is allowed to take care of handling, making into prints, and so on, bringing the figure to 61 cents. But neither I nor the department have heard that any ceiling has been placed upon the current make of butter. It is of course understood that the current production may be sold for whatever the trade likes. But the butter that is placed out by the government is 61 cents a pound, and I do not think you will find there is any difference between Alberta and British Columbia in this respect.

Mr. Jones:

I should like to direct a supplementary question to the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Agriculture. The answer given by him was not very satisfactory, in view of the fact that I was in touch with British Columbia this morning and there is a variation of ten cents in the price of butterfat between Alberta and British Columbia. Will the parliamentary assistant investigate the matter and see that something is done?

Mr. McCubbin:

Yes; that is being done now.

Mr. G. A. Cruickshank (Fraser Valley):

I should like to direct two questions to the Minister of National Defence, of which I have given notice. What steps are being taken to have all members of the permanent force elect to contribute to the pension fund under the Defence Services Pension Act, form 1 and form 1A? When a soldier does not have the information required, will this be supplied by the paymaster or other officials?

Hon. Brooke Claxion (Minisier of National Defence):

In answer to the first question, last year the three services called the attention of all units to a general order to give effect to the amendments adopted at the last session; and required commanding officers to give a certificate that every member of the unit under his command was, by December 1, 1950, advised of the additional opportunities presented as a result of the amendments to the Defence Services Pension Act. In addition, follow-ups have been sent by the chairman of the personnel members' committee to the officers commanding commands and formations both in Canada and outside, calling this to their attention.

With regard to the second question, the form, as the hon. member has pointed out to me privately, is necessarily complicated, and every man is given assistance in filling it out. It is quite unlikely that any man would have the information necessary to fill it out without access to the regimental and other records. The usual practice is for the form to be filled out by the paymaster or other appropriate officer working with the man, who then reads the form, makes his election, and signs the form.

Inquiries of the Ministry

Mr. Cruickshank:

I would like to ask a supplementary question. The minister gave me some of the information before. A soldier this morning in Ottawa signed the form but it was refused acceptance by his officer unless it was completed, even if not correctly filled out, on the assumption that it would be corrected later. What protection does the member of the forces have? It is directly contrary to the information given by the minister.

Mr. Claxion:

I should be very glad to see that that is followed up, of course; orders have already been issued, and, apart from this one exception, I have not heard of any cases in which they have not been carried out.

Mr. Cruickshank:

Will the member of the permanent force be protected when his own officer probably has not this information?

Mr. Claxion:

The man has to make his election by a certain date. If he has not the information, it is available in the recprds of the service. When the form is not properly filled out, it will be the responsibility of the service to see that it is properly filled out in time for the man to make an election.