Hon. E. D. Fulion (Minisier of Justice):

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. gentleman for notice of his question. In reply I would advise him that no complaints have been received by the combines branch concerning the matter to which he refers, but if he or other parties have information which is relevant to the Combines Investigation Act I should be glad to receive it in order that I may refer it to the director under the act for consideration as to whether it merits an inquiry.

Mr. Samuel Boulanger (Drummond-Arlhabaska):

Mr. Speaker, notice of motion No. 7 for production of papers was passed by the house on October 25. I would ask the Secretary of State when I can expect the return to be tabled.

Hon. Ellen L. Fairclough (Secretary of State):

Mr. Speaker, I apologize to the hon. member. My attention was momentarily diverted. Will he repeat his question?

Mr. Boulanger:

Notice of motion No. 7 for production of papers was passed on October 25 and I should like to have the report tabled.

Mrs. Fairclough:

Mr. Speaker, the motion which was on the order paper for production of papers involves several departments. I will do what I can to have it produced shortly.

Mr. F. G. J. Hahn (New Westminsier):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Agriculture. I sent him notice, as well as pertinent information

respecting the question. In view of the distressed financial condition in which the apple growers of the Okanagan find themselves, would the minister have an immediate examination into and announce what immediate action, if any, his department intends to take to prevent the flooding of the lower mainland region of British Columbia with Japanese solid packed apples at this time, in the light of the fact that Okanagan packed apples can be had in sufficient supply to look after this market?

Hon. D. S. Harkness (Minister of Agriculture):

Mr. Speaker, imports of processed apples are not segregated in trade statistics; therefore, the quantity of canned apples imported from Japan is not available. As a result we do not know whether or not they are flooding the market. The department is aware, however, that canned apples have been imported from Japan. These apples have met Canadian grade or quality standards for import, as specified in the processed fruit and vegetables regulations, and are subject to the tariff of 1 cent per pound. Since these imports have met the standards established there is no basis for prohibiting their entry. However, I am having the officials of the department look into the question further.

Mr. Hahn:

Mr. Speaker, in view of the fact that the minister is having the question looked into, I would also ask him to examine an advertisement by one of the major stores in the area affecting fancy Okanagan Jonathans, which were said to be Canada grade, while inside the box there was a typewritten slip with the words "produced in the United States".

Mr. Harkness:

If the hon. member would send me all the details he has in connection with this matter I shall certainly be glad to have it investigated.

Mr. Stanley Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre):

Mr. Speaker, may I direct a question to the Minister of Justice. Has the minister any comment to make on the letter which Mr. Lewis Duncan, Q.C., of Toronto wrote to him under date of November 23? In particular, has he any comment to make on Mr. Duncan's request that a certain question of law be brought before the Supreme Court of Canada or that, if necessary, it be dealt with by legislation presented to this parliament?

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Inquiries of the Ministry

Hon. E. D. Fulton (Minister of Justice):

In

reply to the hon. gentleman's question and with particular reference to the second part of it, I should like to advise him that the issue is being studied in the department now, and I hope to be in a position to reach a decision fairly soon.

With regard to the question in general, I wish to take the opportunity to clear up a misapprehension resulting from some of the reports in the press. I have not had the opportunity to consider the full implications of the letter in detail, but I should like to say that I can find in the text itself absolutely no foundation for a charge or suggestion of impropriety in connection with the conduct of Mr. Justice Locke; and there can be and is no suggestion whatsoever of impropriety in connection with the conduct of that distinguished judge.