Mr. ROBB:

The information with respect to the Board of Audit which my hon. friend asked for is as follows:

Board of Audit Remuneration-Annual

Chairman, Gordon W. Scott, $4,000.

Members, L. E. Potvin, $3,000; E. J. Howson, $3,000. ,

The rates of compensation for skilled assistance, authorized by the treasury board, are:

Partners, not over $50 per diem.

Senior clerks, not over $35 per diem.

Assistant clerks, not over $15 per diem.

In addition to these rates both the members of the board and their assistants are allowed actual travelling and living expenses.

Work authorized and completed

Treasury board minute of February 21, 1927 authorized inquiry and investigation into certain branches and accounts of the Department of Finance. The report of the board was completed on December 16, 1927 and tabled during the session of 1928.

Treasury board minute of March 24, 1927 authorized the board to inquire into and report on the financial affairs of the Quebec harbour commission. The report of the board was completed on January 16, 1928 and tabled during the session of 1928.

[Mr. Coote.l

Treasury board minute * of March 24, 1927 authorized an audit of the affairs in connection with the enemy property and debt accounts. The report of the board was completed and laid before parliament during the present session.

Work authorized but not yet completed

Treasury board minute of November 16, 1928 authorized the board to inquire into and report on the accounts and records of the Canadian government elevators and the western and eastern grain inspection divisions.

Treasury board minutes of January 25, 1929 authorized the board to inquire into and report on the financial affairs of the following harbour commissions:

Halifax harbour commission.

St. John harbour commission.

Montreal harbour commission.

Quebec harbour commission.

Chicoutimi harbour commission.

Three Rivers harbour commission.

Vancouver harbour commission.

New Westminster harbour commission.

Treasury board minute of January 25, 1929 authorized the board to inquire into and report with regard to the loaning operations of the Soldier Settlement Board of Canada.

Treasury board minute of January 25, 1929 authorized the board to inquire into payments to the Canadian National Railways under the Maritime Freight Rates Act.

Treasury Board minute of January 25, 1929 directed the board to inquire into and report in regard to collection of naturalization fees by the clerks of courts.

Expenditures of the government in connection with the board to March 31, 1929 were:

Fiscal Compensation Other

Year to Members Expenses Total

1927- 28.. .. $10,000 $61,317 64 $71,317 641928- 29.. .. 10,000 59,851 71 69,851 71

Mr. ROBB:

The question raised by my

hon. friend is on a parallel with the criticism made of the Minister of Agriculture the other night in connection with delay in the payment of compensation for cattle and swine destroyed under the act. It is only fair to the Minister of Agriculture to say that when he was preparing his estimates for last year, the treasury board reduced the estimate that he put in. In August or September the

Department of Agriculture represented to the treasury board that they wanted an additional $200,000 to meet compensation payments owing to an epidemic. AVe compromised by giving them $100,000.

Hon. J. A. ROBB (Minister of Finance):

I beg to move:

That the resolutions adopted in committee of supply on April 24, 25, 26, 29, May 3, 6, 10, 20, 28, 29, 30, 31, and June 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, be now read the second time and concurred in.

Mr. ROBB:

So far as this government is

concerned that is not the case.

Mr. ROBB:

It is a phrase that has been used for many years in the estimates. Generally speaking, it applies to ministers who may be absent from the country on public duty. The ministers in the administration of their departments may be absent from Ottawa.