Mr. N. L. Spencer (Essex West):

Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a question of privilege. Yesterday, following the taking of a vote of the house, your attention was directed by the hon. member for Ottawa West (Mr. Mc-Ilraith) to the fact that one of the members of the house had left the chamber during the taking of the vote. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Pearson) identified him as chairman of the bill of rights committee, and indicated that he was leaving for the purpose of attending a meeting of that committee.

May I be permitted to say, in mitigation of the offence, that I was not leaving for any such purpose but that I had arranged to accept a long distance call at twenty minutes after two and left for the purpose of receiving that call. At the time it was arranged I had no idea that the division bells were going to ring so long that it would not be possible for me to register my vote on that motion and also accept that long distance call.

I extend to you, Mr. Speaker, and to the house my apologies for offending against this rule of the house, and I hope that my apologies will be accepted by the members of the opposition in that respect.

Mr. Speaker:

I thank the hon. member for his explanation and apology.

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

Mr. Speaker, I wish to announce that in accordance with the requirements of the Agricultural Stabilization Act, which provides a mandatory stabilization or prescribed price at a minimum of 80 per cent of the base price for Ontario wheat, oats and barley, the agricultural stabilization board has established the base price for these commodities for the crop year July 1, 1960 to June 30, 1961.

The stabilization board has been authorized to provide a support price of $1.39 per bushel for Ontario wheat No. 2 Canada eastern grade or better quality, sold for milling or export purposes, basis on track at Ontario shipping points. This is the same prescribed price for Ontario wheat as last year, but is at approximately 82 per cent of the 10-year average or base price, which has been established as $1.70 per bushel, on track basis. The board, however, is authorized to determine the amount of any payments to producers on the basis of sales delivered at Ontario elevators, as was requested by the producers' association.

The 10-year average or base price for oats has been established at 71 cents per bushel, No. 2 Canada eastern grade or better quality, on track at Ontario shipping points. The prescribed price for the 1960-61 crop year will be at the 80 per cent mandatory level, which is 57 cents per bushel.

The 10-year average or base price for barley has been established at 99 cents per bushel, No. 2 Canada eastern grade or better quality, on track at Ontario shipping points. The prescribed price for the 1960-61 crop year will be at the 80 per cent mandatory level, which is 79 cents per bushel.

Hon. Paul Marlin (Essex East):

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Agriculture will recall that several times during the past six weeks he has been asked when he would be in a position to announce these prices under the Agricultural Prices Stabilization Act. The Ontario wheat farmers, through their appropriate agency, have been negotiating a price with concerned parties. On this account, it may have been the view of the minister that the announcement should not take place while such negotiations were under way. I am not aware that these negotiations have been completed.

In any event, the price of $1.39 for Ontario wheat, the prescribed price which the minister says is the same as last year, does not represent the price asked by the Ontario wheat grower. That price, I think, was in the neighbourhood of $1.60. There were certain other requests made by the Ontario wheat growers with which the minister has not dealt. However, if these negotiations are not complete one may draw the conclusion that the figure of $1.39 as compared with the asked price is not one calculated to assist the negotiations which are under way.

Proposed Legislation NATIONAL ENERGY BOARD ACT

Mr. W. H. A. Thomas (Middlesex West) moved

for leave to introduce Bill No. C-87, to amend the National Energy Board Act (drainage works).

Explain.

Mr. Thomas:

Mr. Speaker, this bill seeks to amend the National Energy Board Act by incorporating into it section 273 of the Railway Act. When the National Energy Board Act was passed in 1959, sections 207 to 246 and section 248 of the Railway Act, which deal with the acquisition and expropriation of land for purposes of right of way, were included in the National Energy Board Act, but section 273 of the Railway Act which dealt with drainage was not included.

This amendment would make pipe lines operating under federal charter subject to provincial drainage laws in the same way as pipe lines which operate under provincial charter. Pipe lines involved in municipal drainage schemes would be treated like those of any other property owner. They would be subject to assessment for benefit, cost and damage like other properties, and their owners would enjoy the right of appeal to county or district courts for adjustment in such assessments. Owners of pipe lines would be made responsible for any added cost to a municipal drainage scheme caused by their presence.

The provisions contained in the proposed amendment were incorporated into the Railway Act in 1903 after an extended debate in parliament. It is suggested that the arguments which were valid and successful in connection with drainage problems caused by the railways in 1903 are equally valid today in connection with pipe lines.

This amendment is requested by Adelaide township in the constituency of Middlesex West. It is endorsed by Middlesex county council and by the Ontario association of land surveyors.

Mr. Speaker:

Order. The motion is not debatable. The hon. member was asked simply to explain the bill, but it seems to me he is prolonging this information to the point where it has become a debate. Perhaps he is about to finish.

Mr. Thomas:

I have one more statement to make. This amendment would be of substantial assistance to individual farmers and to municipal drainage authorities in the solution of drainage problems caused by pipe lines.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

Mr. Speaker:

When shall this bill be read the second time?

Mr. Pickersgill:

Now.

Mr. Speaker:

Next sitting of the house.