Mr. Diefenbaker:

Would it be included in the amount to be given under the Colombo plan?

Mr. Pearson:

No. It would be in addition to anything we might do under the Colombo plan; it would be sent to India as a gift for famine relief and be distributed as famine relief only.

Mr. Graydon:

How many bushels?

Mr. Pearson:

We first inquired whether that procedure would meet with the wishes of the Indian government. I think it was only yesterday, or at least a day or so ago, that we received information from the government of India to the effect that while they greatly appreciated an offer of this kind, they would still prefer to wait until wheat of a better quality might be available. Possibly one reason for the stand they took at this time was an arrangement which they informed us they had been making with neighbouring countries, for the supply of additional quantities of rice which they hoped would tide them over the period of greatest danger. They had also been making arrangements for food supplies of other kinds from neighbouring countries. In the circumstances, therefore, they thought that possibly they would suspend any decision on our offer of a gift of No. 5 or No. 6 wheat. Meanwhile we have been canvassing the situation in Canada as to whether other kinds of food might be available for Indian famine relief, in particular special health foods.

Interim Supply

Mr. Coldwell:

Canned milk or dried milk?

Mr. Pearson:

Dried milk is one of the types of food we have been looking into. That matter is still under active consideration. We have also made some inquiries as to whether it would be possible to divert to India from other customers better grades of wheat which could be replaced to those customers later on when the new crop becomes available in Canada. Those matters are still under consideration.

I therefore think I can say, Mr. Chairman, that we have not lost sight of this matter and that we are attempting to do what is possible to show in a practical way our good will to the people of India in the extremely difficult situation which faces them.

Mr. Graydon:

I should like to ask a supplementary question. Has consideration been given to the sending of medical supplies to India? In addition, I understand that there are a number of organizations in Canada which are anxious to take it upon themselves to send food and supplies of one kind or another as a gift to India. Is the government making any move towards facilitating, by way of collection, transportation or distribution over there, any gifts that may be made from Canada on an individual basis?

Mr. Pearson:

Mr. Chairman, we should

be glad to help in any way we can with respect to private donations or private gifts' for famine relief in India. So far as I know, that question has not yet arisen. Meanwhile, we are concentrating our efforts on trying to do what we can do as a government to help in this situation.

Mr. Coldwell:

In view of the misunderstanding as to why India would not accept low-grade wheat, would it be possible for the minister to tell the committee why it is that flour extracted from these low-grade wheats is unsuitable for the type of bread that is used in rural India? I think there is a misunderstanding in the country. I have heard people ask this question: Why will they not accept No. 5 and No. 6 wheat? I believe the real explanation is that such flour as can be extracted, such as it is, cannot be used in the type of flat cake bread baked over an open fire that is commonly used in the rural parts of India.

Mr. Pearson:

I am not an authority on this matter. Maybe my friend the Minister of Agriculture knows more than I do about baking bread in India. But I am informed that the wheat which we might have sent would have been converted by the consumers in India to a 98 per cent extraction flour, known, I think, as atta, and from that into

Interim Supply

a loaf called chapatti, and that this particular kind of wheat which we would have sent to India would not lend itself to that kind of treatment. We are also

informed that if it had gotten into the ration in the ordinary way, it would have resulted in a kind of product to which the Indians were not accustomed, and this might have created some misunderstanding. There is a technical explanation for the attitude of the Indian government in this matter; and of course we do not criticize them for that attitude.

Hon. Alphonse Fournier (for ihe Minister of Finance) moved

that the house go into committee of ways and means.

Motion agreed to and the house went into committee, Mr. Beaudoin in the chair.

Mr. Abbott moved:

Resolved, that towards making good the supply granted to His Majesty on account of certain expenses of the public service for the fiscal year ending March 31. 1952, the following sums be granted out of the consolidated revenue fund of Canada, namely:

1. The sum of $206,696,711.58, being one-twelfth of the amount of each of the items (with the exception of items 62, 121, 204 and 470) set forth in the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1952; and

2. The sum of $1,578,279.67, being one-twelfth of the amount of items 41. 86, 177, 226, 229, 231, 233, 235, 238, 239 , 328, 394, 426 , 456, of the said estimates, as set forth in the resolution concurred in this day in the commitee of supply.

Mr. Speaker:

When shall the bill be read the second time?

Mr. Abbott:

Now, by leave.

Mr. Knowles:

Yes, by leave.

Mr. Abbott moved

the second reading of the bill.