May 25, 1931 (17th Parliament, 2nd Session)

Right Hon. R. B. BENNETT (Prime Minister) :

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's
statements are not quite accurate. The question is not a few weeks old, it is years old. It has been before the house, to my certain knowledge, for many years during the time I have been a member. The provisions of the Canada Shipping Act permit of certain amendments to be made without reference to the shipping act passed in Great Britain. We are now in a position to ask this house to petition the parliament at Westminster to enact such legislation as will permit this parliament to deal with the question the hon. member refers to. During the last nine years I have not heard of its having been dealt with by the previous government, and long before the hon. member was in this house the question was raised and discussed. But inasmuch as an order in council of the Imperial government would be required to give validity to any legislation that we might pass, the position, I am unofficially advised, is that such order in council would not be passed in view of the fact that legislation is
pending that would confer upon us the necessary powers to deal with it without reference to the Imperial government. That is the position at the moment. I will look further at the hon. member's question when it appears in Hansard, and if any additional statement is necessary I will make it.