Mr. Speaker:

Dropped.

Inquiries of the Ministry

1. How many bushels of wheat by grade and condition from No. 1 northern to feed wheat were received at local shipping points from farmers for the crop year 1952-53 by Saskatchewan Pool Elevators Limited?

2. How many bushels of wheat by grade and condition from No. 1 northern to feed wheat were in store with this company at (a) the beginning of the crop year 1952-53; (b) the end of the crop year 1952-53?

3. How many bushels of wheat by grade and condition were delivered by this company (a) to fill domestic orders to mills and other customers in Canada; (b) from the terminal elevators owned and operated by this company or diverted or transferred by it to other terminals?

Mr. Speaker:

Dropped.

1. Is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation now reviewing, or has it completed a review of. network radio broadcasting in Canada which has in its ambit the possibility of eliminating the dominion network?

2. In the light of statements made by the Minister of National Revenue from time to time that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is not any agency of government but an independent operating entity, responsible to parliament, would such a decision be a matter of government policy or one to be determined by the corporation?

3. Has a decision in this matter yet been reached?

4. If so, what is the decision?

1. Yes.

2. By the corporation.

3. Yes.

4. To continue the operation of the dominion network to the fullest extent possible.

Mr. J. R. Garland (Nipissing):

Mr. Speaker, may I direct a question to the Acting Minister of Public Works. Has the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation recently issued instructions that pine boards for roofing on houses constructed under the National Housing Act shall not be wider than eight inches? If so, has consideration been given to the adverse effect this order may have on the lumber trade in Canada?

Mr. Maurice Bourgel (Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Public Works):

I wish to thank my hon. friend for having given me notice of this question. I understand that such instructions were contained in a directive

to inspectors which was issued two months ago. The new national building code, which has been under study and preparation for some years, was issued on June 1 by the national research council, providing that such roofing should not be wider than six inches. As the code is adopted by municipalities, Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation will, of course, conform to its provisions.

In the meantime, we shall continue to give consideration to the question as to what effect this directive may have on the lumber trade.

Hon. George A. Drew (Leader of the Opposition):

I wish to direct a question to the Prime Minister. In view of the fact that there is reason to believe that appointments will be made to the St. Lawrence seaway authority before next session, and further, in view of the statement in today's Globe and Mail as well as in other newspapers that Mr. R. A. C. Henry is likely to be appointed to the St. Lawrence seaway authority, can the Prime Minister assure us that such appointment will not take place in view of other positions which would be in conflict with such an appointment?

Righi Hon. L. S. Si. Lauren! (Prime Minister): Mr. Speaker, I have not seen the article or the report in the Globe and Mail. I do not think that I quite appreciate what the hon. gentleman is referring to as something that would make it unwise to have Mr. Henry appointed to that board. I know of no such consideration. However, I can assure the hon. gentleman that no decision has been reached yet and that in making appointments to that board, the government will endeavour to give consideration to every factor that could possibly affect the efficiency and the prestige of the board.

Mr. Drew:

In view of the fact that the Prime Minister has indicated that he is not aware of the reason for caution that I suggested, I would point out that, as of present record, Mr. R. A. C. Henry is shown as being a director of Marine Industries Limited, which is a company whose powers are such that Mr. Henry's position in the case noted would obviously conflict with an appointment such as that to the St. Lawrence seaway authority.

Mr. SI. Lauren!: Mr. Speaker, I am sure that Mr. Henry, if he were to become a member of that authority, would feel that nothing should be left behind that would in any way

reflect upon the complete independence and objectivity of the actions of that authority.

Mr. A. M. Nicholson (Mackenzie):

I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Agriculture. Has the minister received a telegram from Weekes, Saskatchewan, suggesting that a flood disaster area be declared as the result of the flood damage in northeastern Saskatchewan?

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

I have a telegram which I received from a municipality in that area. I may say that when I was passing through Regina last Monday I met the minister of highways of the province of Saskatchewan. He had just been up to Weekes or at least he had been there a short time before and he described to me the condition which exists there. I am quite sure that the hon. member understands that this is a matter which is dealt with by the provincial authorities. Any representations that would be made to us eventually would come from the provincial authorities rather than from elsewhere.