Right Hon. J. G. Gardiner (Minister of Agriculture):

Before motions are proceeded with, Mr. Speaker, there was a question on the order paper yesterday which I was unable to answer. It is question No. 2 today. I think it would be important in the public interest that the hon. member for Brant-Wentworth (Mr. Charlton) should have the answer to that question. I ask the consent of the house to table it now.

Agreed.

Mr. Gardiner:

The question is:

1. Is vesicular stomatitis a reportable disease under the Animal Contagious Diseases Act?

2. Did Saskatchewan officials of the health of animals branch put the farm of Leonard Waas, McLean, Saskatchewan, under any form of isolation or quarantine? If so, on what date?

3. Were there any test animals injected in the Regina area? If so, what animals were used?

4. If horses were used, were there any positive reactions? If so, on what date, and to whom was it reported?

5. Did any officers of the health of animals branch in Saskatchewan refuse to accept specimens of infected material from private veterinarians? If so, on what date, and for what reason?

6. Have any suspicious clinical symptoms been reported by health of animals branch inspectors at either of the Regina abattoirs? If so, what was the report, and on what date was it received?

The answer is as follows:

1. No.

2. Yes. The federal health of animals branch at Regina put the Waas farm under quarantine on December 3, 1951.

3. Yes: 2 horses on December 3, 1951; 2 cattle,

2 swine, February 18, 1952; 2 horses, 1 steer, February 24, 1952.

4. Yes. In the case of December 3 test, positive to vesicular stomatitis indicating that the disease was not foot-and-mouth.

In the case of February 24 test, negative to stomatitis indicating the possibility of foot-and-mouth disease. Reported to Ottawa.

5. Not to the knowledge of either the Regina or Ottawa offices of health of animals division.

6. Yes. On December 31, 1951, stomatitis was reported in Burns abattoir, Regina.

Mr. Jean Lesage (Parliamentary Assistant to the Secretary of Stale for External Affairs):

On behalf of the Secretary of State for External Affairs I table herewith copies, in English and in French, of the report on Canada's activities in connection with the food and agriculture organization of the United Nations during 1951.

Mr. Gordon Graydon (Peel):

Is the Secretary of State for External Affairs able to give the house the result of his investigation into the question I raised a week ago today, with regard to Canadians who were held at the Buffalo airport surrounded by a cordon of police?

Hon. L. B. Pearson (Secretary of State for External Affairs):

A report on that matter came in yesterday afternoon, and I hope to be able to make a statement on it tomorrow.

Mr. G. R. Pearkes (Nanaimo):

May I ask

the Minister of National Defence whether any British-made Centurion tanks have been acquired by Canada, and, if so, how many have reached this country by now?

Hon. Brooke Claxton (Minister of National Defence):

We have been trying to get all the Centurions we can, and so far have received enough to meet the requirements of the 27th brigade in Germany. In addition we have received a limited number, five, for training purposes in Canada. More are expected.

Mr. Harkness:

Are these Centurion tanks that are coming to Canada to be used entirely for training purposes, or, as reported, are they also to be used as models for their production in Canada?

382 HOUSE OF

Inquiries of the, Ministry

Mr. Claxlon:

No. No consideration is at present being given to the production of tanks in Canada.