Mr. HEPBURN:

I was paired with the hon. member for North Huron (Mr. Spotton). Had I voted I would have voted against the motion.

Mr. HEPBURN:

On the point of order,

the document which I was refused permission to read contained information obtained from the report of the Superintendent of Insurance of the recent development in the Chicago courts in respect to the Insull investigation and as to the connection of the Insulls with the Sun Life Assurance Company. The matter in the Quebec courts is one between two individuals. It is a libel case that arose out of a statement to the effect that Mr. Macaulay, in the opinion of Mr. Harpell, was a crook. It has no relation to this matter at all. This is a reference to the Chicago courts and the report of the Department of Insurance a copy of which was laid on the table by the Minister of Finance only a few moments ago.

Mr. M. F. HEPBURN (West Elgin):

Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of privilege. A few days ago I visited your office along with the hon. member for Bow River (Mr. Garland) and showed you a document on the strength of which I proposed to move the adjournment of this house in order to debate a question of urgent public importance. This matter concerned the financial position of the Sun Life Assurance Company and the conduct of a senior official. Your Honour told me that I would have your permission to make use of the document in full, and when I again visited your office accompanied by the hon. member for Battle River (Mr. Spencer), Your Honour repeated that I would have permission to make a statement on the floor of the house but that you would then rule against my proceeding with the motion as the matter was not one of recent occurrence. I then asked if I could have permission to treat it as a notice of motion, and you told me there was nothing in the rules to prevent that, I could put the entire

document on the order paper by way of a notice of motion. After the vote in this house on your ruling I sent the document to the clerk of the house by way of notice of motion. I was asked to modify it slightly, which I did, and I was then informed that the matter would appear in votes and proceedings of Thursday. When I received my copy of votes and proceedings on Thursday I found that it did not contain my notice of motion. Upon getting in touch with the clerk's office I was informed that through some mistake this notice had not been put in, but that it would be in today's votes and proceedings. Upon receiving my copy today I find that my notice is not included. Is some official of this house exceeding his authority or is there some powerful influence at work to conceal from the people of Canada the true situation in connection with the Sun Life? I make that statement because on Wednesday Your Honour stated that the rules of the house provided other opportunities for discussing this matter but my endeavours to avail myself of those opportunities have not been successful. I have been denied that privilege and I ask for some explanation.

Mr. HEPBURN:

I am not through with my comments on this matter.

Mr. HEPBURN:

That is not correct,