Mr. P. E. Wright (Melfort):

I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Justice, of which I have given him notice. Will the minister have an immediate investigation made under the Combines Investigation Act as to, first, whether there was collusion, understanding or agreement among firms engaged in the packing industry in bringing about the drastic reduction of 25 per cent in hog prices between July and October of this year? And, second, was there collusion, understanding or agreement among these firms preventing or delaying those declines being reflected in lower prices to the consumer?

Hon. Stuart S. Garson (Minister of Justice):

I wish to thank the hon. member for having given me notice of his question. When I received that notice I discussed the matter referred to in his question with the commissioner under the Combines Investigation Act. The commissioner informed me that he had already had this matter under consideration and although he had so far obtained no evidence of collusion or illegal activities, he was seeking further information. If the hon member, or if any hon. member for that matter, knows of any facts that might be of assistance to the commissioner, I hope he will place them before the commissioner.

If the preliminary inquiries now being made indicate that a formal investigation is warranted, the commissioner has ample powers under the act to undertake that inquiry and would do so in the ordinary course of events without necessarily having any direction from myself as minister.

Mr. Wright:

I have a letter here setting out certain facts-

Give it to the commissioner.

Mr. Wright:

-and asking for an investigation on five points. I will send it to the minister. The five points I wish to have investigated are, first-

Order.

Mr. Speaker:

I would ask the hon. member to send the letter to the commissioner or to the Minister of Justice.

Mr. Jean Lesage (Monlmagny-L'Islei):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Minister of National Revenue, of which I have sent him notice. It has been alleged that the considerable reduction in the production of textiles and nylon goods-

Order.

Mr. Speaker:

Perhaps the parliamentary assistant to the Secretary of State for External Affairs would set a good example to the house by asking his questions without introductory comments.

Mr. Lesage:

I thank you for your advice, Mr. Speaker, and I shall follow it. I should like to ask the Minister of National Revenue whether the allegations to the effect that there has been some dumping of textiles and nylon goods in Canada are true. If so, has anything been done to prevent such dumping in the future?

Put it on the order paper.

Hon. J. J. McCann (Minister of National Revenue):

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Sherbrooke (Mr. Gingues), the hon. member for Shefford (Mr. Boivin), and the hon. member for Drummond-Arthabaska (Mr. Cloutier) and others have also spoken to me respecting this matter. From an examination of invoices in the department no evidence has been disclosed up to the present time that imported goods are being offered at prices lower than the fair market value thereof in the United States at the time of shipment. Special instructions have been issued to collectors at some of the larger ports to have the imported goods carefully appraised and the entries taken subject to amendment pending investigation.

Mr. Cruickshank:

Is the same attention being paid to the importation at unfair prices of oils to manufacture margarine?

Mr. McCann:

The answer to that question, is that the same attention is given to all goods which come into this country.