Mr. McLure:

May I ask the minister one

question?

Mr. McLure:

Will this create a monopoly?

Mr. McLure:

I am going to take hardly any time at all. I would have liked to speak on the first item, but I know that time is rather precious and it is getting late. I want to ask one favour of the Minister of Labour. In Charlottetown we have machine shops. Recently I have had telegrams, as I believe the Prime Minister, the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Labour have had, stating that the machine shops are closed because no work was given them by the Department of Defence Production. Without elaborating on the matter at all, I want to ask the Minister of Labour to urge the Minister of Defence Production and other ministers that something be done to provide work for the 200 men who have been laid off. It would be a good idea to do a little decentralizing and give our machine shops an opportunity. They have qualified men who can do all kinds of repairs. What we have done in the past is proof that we have the men to do the work. I ask that favour of the Minister of Labour.

Mr. McLure:

I should like to say a word on behalf of the fishermen of my constituency. I can say to the minister and to the officers of his department that this scheme will give to our fishermen some protection similar to that which farmers and other are getting. Representations have been made on this from

Supply-Fisheries

time to time. While we cannot expect every detail of this scheme to be worked out to the entire satisfaction of all at this time, I do believe that the scheme which is outlined by the minister will be a real start on something that will be of great interest to the small liner and to the larger fishermen as well.

As I said at the beginning, I wish to congratulate the minister and his officers for putting this scheme on trial, and I am sure that hon. members who are interested in the fisheries of their constituencies will give every support and co-operation to the minister in working out the details.

Mr. McLure:

May I interrupt for a

moment? Will the minister look at this contract and read it some day? You will find that you are absolutely wrong. He has a contract with the Post Office Department. It may be to sell stamps, but that does not make

Supply-Post Office

any difference. The contract specifies that he is to get a 2 per cent commission on all stamps sold in that zone, not that he sells.