Mr. Rene N. Jutras (Provencher):

Mr. Speaker, on a question of privilege I should like to draw to the attention of the house for a few minutes the very informative and highly enjoyable trip a group of us were privileged to make to the city of Saint John.

We live in a wide and large country indeed. In our younger days we all had to memorize facts and figures about the other cities and provinces of our great country. During the last war some of us were able to pay short visits to, or at least go through most of, the provinces of Canada, but of course we saw them only in the dark and sombre attire of war. The need of first-hand knowledge, the need to know better our sister cities and provinces, is constant.

Our short stay in Saint John was indeed a revelation to many and a most enjoyable experience to all. To be shown the actual efforts, to see for ourselves the concrete achievements, to witness the possibilities of the future, and to hear the enthusiastic and genuine professions of faith of the people of Saint John in their proud city which their meticulous and gracious hospitality has so endeared' to us, is certainly an occasion worthy of mention in this house. I know I speak for the entire group when I say we are genuinely grateful to our congenial and devoted friend and fellow member for Saint John-Albert (Mr. Riley) for his kind invitation to visit his city. We and our wives were very proud to be part of the Dan Riley flock for the week end. More attentive and efficient direction I am sure would not have been possible.

Our sincere and deep gratitude is also unreservedly extended to the Saint John board of trade, our gracious host in the city. With complete disregard of themselves, the members of that organization made available generous accommodation and carried out elaborate arrangements to ensure to us a most enjoyable stay, giving us the opportunity to learn a great deal about them and get to know them better. We are particularly indebted to the president and his charming wife, Mr. and Mrs. Wasson. We wish to

thank His Honour Lieutenant Governor MacLaren for his highly appreciated hospitality and his spirited and most enjoyable company; also the government of New Brunswick and its popular premier, Mr. McNair, for their complimentary entertainment and kind hospitality, as well as His Worship Mayor George E. Howard and his lady. Our gratitude is also extended to Mr. Crump and his company for the 'concern and courtesy shown us all through the trip and particularly for their grand and unique hospitality on the proud Empress of Canada. We salute Captain Dobson.

Our thanks also go to the Saint John Dry-dock Company Limited and Saint John Marine Transport Limited for the opportunity they gave us to view the city and the harbour from the sea. We also extend our thanks to Senator McLean and Mr. Brennan, to the various industries of Saint John, to the various devoted committees and all those who made their facilities available to us, and finally to all the citizens of that city. It was with a deep sense of gratitude that we said au revoir, and it is with the same feeling that we say thank you.

Mr. H. W. Winkler (Lisgar) moved

that the first report of the standing committee on miscellaneous private bills, presented to the house on Thursday, March 1, be concurred in.

Mr. M. J. Coldwell (Roseiown-Biggar):

Mr. Speaker, I believe this is the correct place for me to ask for leave to move, seconded

Wheat

by the member for Melfort (Mr. Wright), the adjournment of the house under standing order 31 for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the failure of the government to meet the legitimate demands of wheat producers by announcing a final payment of 8.3 cents per bushel for wheat in the five-year pool, when farmers are entitled to a final payment of not less than 25 cents.

In view of a meeting being held in Regina tomorrow by representatives of western agriculture, I believe that this is a matter of urgent importance.

Mr. Speaker:

Standing order No. 31 reads: Leave to make a motion for the adjournment of the house (when made for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance) must be asked after the ordinary daily routine of business (standing order 15) has been concluded and before notices of motions or orders of the day are entered upon.

I have a recollection that last year I made a ruling that the motion should be made after questions and before the orders of the day are entered upon. However, without deciding definitely upon that, I shall go on with the second paragraph:

The member desiring to make such a motion rises in his place, asks leave to move the adjournment of the house for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, and states the matter.

The hon. member has done that.

He then hands a written statement of the matter proposed to be discussed to the speaker, who, if he thinks it in order and of urgent public importance, reads it out and asks whether the member has the leave of the house. If objection is taken, the Speaker requests those members who support the motion to rise in their places and if more than twenty members rise accordingly, the Speaker calls upon the member who has asked for leave.

I must decide whether the motion is in order. There is some doubt as to whether this is the proper time to make such a motion. Without deciding that point I shall allow the motion to stand on this occasion as being in order. I must also decide whether the question is of urgent public importance. My recollection is that when the announcement was made concerning this payment, the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent) stated there would be ample opportunity to debate this matter when the house went into committee of supply on the supplementary estimates, which he stated would be brought down shortly. If my memory serves me correctly,

I understood the Minister of Finance to say that would be within about ten days, which would be the end of this week or the beginning of next.

The member moving the motion has stated there is to be a meeting in Regina tomorrow.

I do not know the nature of the meeting, but

even so, it would seem to me this question can be fully discussed in the near future, so it would not come within the rule concerning urgency. I cannot allow the motion to stand.

1. What are the names of the present members of the board of governors of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation?

2. What are the present addresses of these members and what geographical areas and/or occupations respectively do they represent?

3. Have any of these members been engaged in organized political activity? If so, which members, at what times, and on whose behalf?

4. What are the qualifications of the members for their positions on the board of governors?

1. Messrs. A. Davidson Dunton, Rene Morin, Adrien Pouliot, F. J. Crawford, G. Douglas Steele, W. H. Phillips, J. A. Corry, Jesse P. Tripp and Mrs. Mary E. Farr.

2. Mr. A. Davidson Dunton, Ottawa, Ont., full-time chairman of the board of governors of the C.B.C.

Province of Quebec: Mr. Rene Morin,

Montreal, P.Q.; Mr. Adrien Pouliot, Quebec, P.Q.

Province of Ontario: Mr. F. J. Crawford, Toronto, Ont.; Dr. J. A. Corry, Kingston, Ont.; Mr. W. H. Phillips, Ottawa, Ont.

Maritime provinces: Dr. G. Douglas Steele, Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Prairie provinces: Mr. Jesse P. Tripp,

Oxbow, Sask.

British Columbia: Mrs. Mary E. Farr, Victoria, B.C.

3. No information is available concerning the political activities of the members of the board of governors prior to or since their appointment.

4. Mr. Dunton: full-time member of the board, a newspaper editor, general manager of the wartime information board.

Dr. J. A. Corry: LL.B., B.C.L. (Oxford), LL.M., F.R.S.C., professor of political science dept., Queen's university.

finance and business.

Mrs. Mary E. Farr:

graduate of Toronto university in home economics.

Mr. Rene Morin:

president, General Trusts of Canada, financier; originally connected with radio commission of 1936.

Questions