Mr. A. H. BENCE (Saskatoon City):

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister of Finance (Mr. Usley) make his promised statement in connection with question No. 3 on the order paper respecting the matter of the application of the housing act to Saskatchewan?

1. Have any lending institutions indicated their intention to the government of participating in the National Housing Act which went into effect on January 18, 1945, with respect to the province of Saskatchewan?

2. If so, how many of such institutions have so indicated?

3. Have any lending institutions indicated that they were not prepared to participate in the said National Housing Act with respect to the province of Saskatchewan?

4. If so, how many of such institutions have so indicated that they are not prepared to participate in the said National Housing Act with respect to the province of Saskatchewan?

Mr. A. H. BENCE (Saskatoon City):

I should like to ask a question of the Minister of Finance. On Tuesday he said he would endeavour before the house closes to have brought down an answer to question No. 3 on to-day's order paper. In view of the fact that we hope to close to-morrow and that questions are not in order after that, and in view of the further fact that this is a very important matter so far as the people of my province are concerned could the minister make a statement in the matter not later than to-morrow? He told me last January that he could not give any information then with respect to the application of the housing act in Saskatchewan. The people out there are wondering what is going on and what is going to happen.

Mr. BENCE:

Why don't you put Ralston back?

Mr. A. H. BENCE (Saskatoon City):

I wish to address a question to the Prime Minister. During the course of this session he and the Minister of National War Services have been good enough to make statements relating to the treatment of prisoners of war. In view of some of the alarming stories which are coming through the press and over the radio with respect to the bad conditions of released prisoners of war, could the Prime Minister, or someone on behalf of the government, if possible before the end of this session, or if not shortly thereafter, make a statement giving the most up-to-date information that can be obtained in connection with the matter? I would also suggest, in view of the difficulties which are being encountered overseas, that the government disclose as promptly as possible over the radio and through the press the official information they receive in this matter, because these stories, which one hopes relate only to isolated cases, are giving a great deal of concern to the next of kin.