Mr. J. M. Macdonnell (Greenwood):

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a question of privilege. Speaking in the budget debate on Monday I said, among other things, as reported at page 2051 of Hansard:

I understand that the taxes on chocolates were reduced two cents a bar, but the price came down only one cent a bar.

It has been brought to my attention by the confectionery industry of Canada that that was a mistake. I wish to read a brief extract from a letter I received:

Before the interim budget was brought down last September, candy bars were selling at seven cents, with popular acceptance, as evidenced by sales.

The reimposition of the excise tax of 30 per cent meant an increase in cost to the manufacturers of 29 cents a box of 24 bars, or 1-21 cents per bar. The candy manufacturers passed on to the consumer 24 cents per box, or one cent a bar, making bars eight cents, thus absorbing five cents per box.

Due to public resistance to this tax increase and subsequent alarming decrease in sales, manufacturers reduced bars to seven cents, thus absorbing the entire tax.

The relief given the industry in the present budget is half a cent a bar, which the manufacturers cannot pass along, having absorbed the tax already.

I wish, Mr. Speaker, to express my regrets to the house and to the confectionery industry for this mistake.

Hon. Lionel Chevrier (Minister of Transport) moved:

That votes 493, 495 and 501 of the estimates approved and reported upon this day by the sessional committee on railways and shipping owned, operated and controlled by the government be referred back to the committee of supply.

Mr. R. R. Knight (Saskatoon) moved:

That the petition to incorporate the Ukrainian Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Saskatchewan, presented on April 17, 1951, together with the report made thereon by the clerk of petitions on April 18, 1951, be referred1 to the standing committee on standing orders for such recommendations as may be deemed advisable.

1. Are installations being made by the United States at Goose airport?

2. If so, what installations, and when are they to be made?

3. What is the amount of the proposed expenditures for same?

1. Yes.

2 and 3. From time to time the U.S. air force does work on existing buildings or adds to accommodation as required in accordance with arrangements agreed to by the Canadian government. It is not considered necessary or desirable to obtain or give detailed information including amounts of proposed expenditures being made by another friendly country in accordance with these arrangements.

1. What amount has been paid in each one of the constituencies of the city of Winnipeg, for (a) old age pensions; (b) pensions to the blind; (c) family allowances?

2. For the last twelve months, what was the number of recipients, of (a) old age pensions; (b) pensions to the blind; (e) family allowances, in each one of the constituencies of the city of Winnipeg?

Mr. McCusker:

1 (a) and (b); 2 (a) and (b). The only recorua in connection with old age pensions and pensions for blind persons furnished to federal authorities by the provinces are the monthly

Questions

paylists and related accounting and statistical information. These records are provided solely for the purpose of enabling federal auditors to determine the amounts of federal contributions at the end of each quarter.

The Manitoba paylists show the names of persons receiving pensions from the provincial pension authority arranged in numerical order. The information requested cannot therefore be obtained from the records furnished federal authorities by the Manitoba authorities.

1 (c) and 2 (c). Family allowances statistics are maintained on a province-wide basis only. The information requested therefore is not available.