Mr. LUCAS:

Some time ago a statement was made before the committee that a certain gentleman was receiving $5,000 per week upon which he was not paying any income tax. I would be glad1 if the Minister of Finance (Mr. Rhodes) could give us an explanation as to how he evaded the tax and if any amendments are being made to the act to deal with that situation.

Hon. E. N. RHODES Minister of Finance): The hon. member for Camrose (Mr. Lucas) will appreciate the delicacy of the question he submits in so far as it pertains to an individual. I may say to him that assuming there were sums received by an individual by way of instalments on a surplus in a company and which were really in effect an income, I believe the amendments which we have in the present bill will be ample to safeguard the treasury and give assurance that there will be no possibility of evading the proper payment of income tax by calling the payments something other than income.

I will indicate that section when we come to it.

Mr. LUCAS:

Will the provisions be retroactive?

Mr. LUCAS:

I understand that the pensions received by constables or their dependents come entirely from contributions made by the constables themselves, the state not contributing anything. I should like to know why these constables are placed in a different position to the ordinary civil servants, in connection with whom the state makes a contribution?

Mr. LUCAS:

I received a letter from a person in my constituency which is somewhat along the lines of the letter read by the minister. It states that one of the family is afflicted with epilepsy and had been unable to obtain any relief except through the remedy prepared by Doctor James of Chicago. These people were protesting strongly against the passage of this amendment. As I understand the amendment, it will mean that anyone troubled with epilepsy must secure this remedy through a prescription by a medical man. I should like to know if a person could import this remedy from Doctor James so long as it came in without a label?

Mr. LUCAS:

I thank the hon. minister for his statement because I think this instance has created a great deal of ill feeling throughout the country.