Mr. Archibald:

Every time I listen to a discussion concerning the Department of Transport on matters dealing with lighthouse keepers, buoys and so on I notice that we always come back to what the lawyers say about it. But if it is about farmers, we get social legislation right across the board. Out on the west coast the lighthouse keepers are not getting a square deal in the salaries they receive, the conditions under which they work or the services that are given to them in the way of ships calling at various times, and it all wound up in the disaster of that Egg Island lighthouse which I outlined in the debate on the speech from the throne.

I should like to see a rise in salary for the lighthouse keepers, more adequate services to the lighthouses, and better and stronger buildings built in and around these lighthouse structures.

Mr. Archibald:

Events might develop as a result of which discussions of a more vital nature would ensue. I believe the Department of Fisheries should have played a stronger hand in connection with what might be called the decentralization of the halibut fishing season on the Pacific coast, or breaking it down to cover a greater portion of the year. At the present time the process of going halibut fishing is like taking part in a stampede or a gold rush. The season extends for only thirty days. Men have to work all hours, and any breakdown of equipment is vital, so far as making the season pay is concerned. I realize there are certain international features in connection with this matter, but I believe the department should give more consideration to the halibut fishermen on the coast than they have in the past. In the main the present situation is due to the difficulties in marketing, but I shall not go into that any further.

One of these days we will have a marketing crisis in connection with our fish generally and things may reach the point where the prices support board will have to take on the task of the handling and marketing of fish just as the wheat board does with wheat. If there is another glut in this industry, such as was caused last year when there was a washout on the main lines of the Canadian National and the Canadian Pacific, a serious situation will arise.

Supply-Fisheries

If the government is interested in staving off a general crisis in the halibut fishing industry it should step into the picture now. I realize that the government is opposed to the principle of the state-handling of products, but if this crisis develops any further that is the position they will be driven into.

Mr. Archibald:

I have sat back listening, and had accepted the minister's explanation that actually this is not the time for a general discussion. However, there seems to be a general nervousness in the air that we might not have an opportunity for this discussion at a later date.

Mr. H. G. Archibald (Skeena):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct to the Postmaster General a question of which I have given notice. Does the Post Office Department intend to make any changes in the rental system that it has inaugurated for mail boxes in rural post offices?

Mr. Archibald:

I should like to see something more constructive come out of British Columbia than this mugging about with something which the hon. member does not know anything about. He did not advance one idea in his whole speech.