Mr. TUCKER:

I should like to point out that in speaking to this bill the right hon. leader of the opposition left the impression that the reason many farmers in western Canada sold their wheat before the minimum price was set was that they would not take advice; that they believed stories that this act would never come into force, and so on. That may be found at page 1617 of Hansard, and I submit that before this bill passes something should be said in regard to such statement which in my opinion is not correct. The right hon. leader of the opposition 6aid:

... but if on the other hand the farmers saw fit not to take advice, and to sell their wheat to the private purchasers, then of course, if they lost money because they sold for less than the fixed price, the blame must attach to the administration of the day.

I have quoted just part of the sentence. The complete sentence can be read in Hansard. I should like to point out to the committee that the farmers were not free agents in this matter. Blanket seizures were placed on farms all over Saskatchewan for taxes and for relief, and these farmers had to sell their wheat before the board fixed the price, and to private purchasers in order to get these seizures released. They had no chance to hold their wheat until they could get the price fixed by the wheat board. Again, many farmers had to sell their wheat in order to carry on threshing operations from day to

Wheat Board.

day, so when the right hon. leader of the opposition suggests that the farmers of western Canada voluntarily elected to sell to private interests rather than wait for the price which was to be announced by the wheat board, I suggest that he is not correctly stating the circumstances as they prevailed in western Canada. I do submit that the people in the west were under the impression that parliament intended the wheat board to fix the minimum price for the entire 1935 wheat crop. Section 8 of the act provides:

It shall be the duty of the board:-

(a) to fix a price to be paid to the producers for wheat delivered to the board as by this act provided, subject to the approval of the governor in council;

Everyone in western Canada understood that parliament had directed that every farmer in western Canada should have a minimum price for his 1935 wheat. Due to the delay of over two months in the late administration announcing, through the wheat board, the minimum price for wheat, the farmers in poorer circumstances financially in western Canada who had no option in the matter, who had their wheat under a seizure for taxes, who had to sell their wheat in order to carry on their threshing operations and so on, were in effect penalized, and I submit to the minister, in very strong support of the last speaker, that the government should seriously consider giving the people who were entitled to it, these farmers of western Canada, the minimum price for that wheat. They are the people who were penalized by the delay in fixing the price, and they are the people who should not be penalized. They are the farmers in poorer circumstances, not those who could afford to wait. So I would strongly urge the minister to give full consideration to what has been urged by the last speaker.

. Mr, PURDY: As regards primary producers entitled to payment under this bill who take advantage of legislation now before the house providing for loans for seed grain or similar purposes by the provinces, will they receive the amount or will it go in reduction of .the loans?

Mr. TUCKER:

I realize that is correct, but when the dominion government appropriates the money surely it can provide that that money shall not go in a certain direction. If such a provision were in the bill there would be less chance of people taking steps to Igarnishee. They will look at the bill, and

without considering that it may possibly be ultra vires in that regard they might not take the steps they otherwise would. It would help to ensure the primary producer getting the money.

Mr. TUCKER:

I rise to a point of order, Mr. Chairman. I should like to know what Chinese immigration has to do with the question before the committee.

Mr. TUCKER:

What has that to do with the resolution under discussion?

Mr. TUCKER:

I accept the suggestion

of the Minister of Finance.