Mr. Knowles:

I wish to say something about the subject of grade crossings.

Mr. Fournier (Hull):

That is not new.

Mr. Knowles:

Just a minute; let us maintain our usual good humour.

Mr. Chevrier:

Talk till eleven o'clock. Go ahead; you are doing fine.

Mr. Knowles:

I could have made my statement on the first item, the one dealing with departmental administration, but I thought it was better to wait for the administration item of the board of transport commissioners, under whose jurisdiction this question comes, and it was under that item that we discussed it year in and year out. Therefore I submit it is in order.

Mr. Fournier (Hull):

The chairman says

you are wrong.

Mr. Knowles:

I wish to speak on it under this item because without question it comes under the administration of the board of transport commissioners and is surely in order under the item headed "administration" of the board of transport commissioners.

Eleven o'clock.

The Deputy Chairman:

If the hon. member refers to the railway grade crossing fund, which is included in this item, and if he looks at the detail on page 504, he will see that what is directly relevant to this item when we come to the grade crossing fund is the contribution of $1 million. I do not suppose that he could then discuss that certain railway grade crossings should be built at certain places and not at other places-

Mr. Fournier (Hull):

You do not know the hon. member; he could.

Mr. Knowles:

What was that?

Mr. Chevrier:

I cannot resist that. The Minister of Public Works said: "You do not know the hon. member; he could".

Mr. Knowles:

All I can say to that is, "hear, hear". I draw your attention, Mr. Chairman, to the fact that the item to which you have drawn my attention is a statutory item that we do not discuss at all. We are not permitted to discuss it. The item is put in for our information, but part of the information that it gives us is that the administration of the grade crossing fund is one of the items administered by the board of transport commissioners. I would gladly argue the case of the hon. member for Colchester-Hants or the hon. member for Halifax or the hon.

member for Assiniboia, and I would certainly argue my own case. I suggest, sir, that you look up the record of the previous sessions and I think you will find that we have had these discussions on this item year in and year out. But I see it is eleven o'clock.

The Deputy Chairman:

It looks as if we might be right on a half and half basis. We shall have to consider the matter.

Item stands.

Progress reported.

Mr. Fournier (Hull):

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow we will continue the debate on-

Tomorrow?

Mr. Knowles:

The minister and I will be here.

Mr. Fournier (Hull):

I would not miss you for a lot. On Monday we will continue the debate on the amendment of the leader of the opposition (Mr. Drew) on the motion to go into supply. When we reach the committee of supply stage we will call four departments as announced when the motion was moved, and also an item of external affairs, because so many members wish to have these estimates referred to the standing committee on external affairs. Then we will proceed with the two resolutions in the name of the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent) concerning Laurier house and Kingsmere park. I understand these are not contentious. Then we will take up Bills Nos. 191 and 192.

Mr. Fulton:

May I ask the minister if that means that five departments will be called when we go into committee of supply?