Mr. GUTHRIE:

The policy decided upon by the Government in regard to the use of these Armoury bulidings for the purposes of public meetings is briefly this: Any reputable body of citizens may have the privilege of using the buildings providing

they comply with the terms I have just stated. That for the last ten months, at all events, has been the policy of the department. I know nothing about the meeting of the man who is known as "Pussyfoot" Johnson, whose name was not drawn to my attention. I knew nothing of the alleged refusal at Windsor, but I gave orders yesterday morning and the telegram went to military headquarters at London. The news will go to Windsor, so I assume the meeting will take place in due course.

CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS On the Orders of the Day:

Mr. F. S. CAHILL (Pontiac):

I should like to ask the Minister of Railways whether it is his intention to lay on the Table of the House this year a report of the Canadian National Railways, and, if so, when?

Hon. J. D. REID (Minister of Railways and Canals) :

I have not yet received a

report from the management. I expect it shortly and will lay it on the Table immediately on receipt of it.

CANADIAN MERCANTILE MARINE On the Orders of the Day:

Mr. J. H. SINCLAIR (Antigonish and Guysborough) :

With reference to the question asked by my hon. friend, I might say to the Minister of Railways that there is a general desire, not only on the part of members on this side of the House, but in the country as well, to have some information regarding the expenditures and the financial operations of the Canadian Mercantile Marine. Does the minister intend to give to the House a detailed statement of the financial operations of the Mercantile Marine showing the business for the year ended December 31 last?

Hon. Mr. REID:

I intend within a very few days to give to the House my annual statement with reference to the railways. So far as the Canadian Mercantile Marine is concerned, I may inform my hon. friend that it is the intention of the Minister of Marine (Hon. Mr. Ballantyne) to make a statement regarding the operations of that branch of the public service. I understand that he will have that statement ready within a few days.

Hon. A. K. MACLEAN (Halifax) :

May I ask the Minister of Railways to state precisely on what date he and the Minister of Marine purpose presenting the statements to which reference has been made. If he cannot do that, will he tell the House

whether those statements will he made before or after the Easter holidays?

Hon. Mr. REID:

I am sorry I am not in a position to answer my hon. friend, for the reason that the Minister of Marine (Mr. Ball'antyne) is ill just now and I do not know how long he may he confined to his house.

Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (leader of the Opposition) :

I notice in the press the statement that the Government intends to issue the writ for the by-election in York-Sunbury, but that the issuance of the writ for the by-election in Yamaska will be deferred to a later date. Is that report correct? If not, will the Government inform the House when we may expect the writs for the several vacancies now existing?

Rt. Hon. ARTHUR MEIGHEN (Prime Minister) :

I did not authorize the report in question and know not how it reached the press. The matter stands in exactly the same position as when inquiry was last made, and my answer must be the same.

Mr. S. W. JACOBS (George Etienne Cartier) :

One of the Government Organs

this morning states that there will probably be no general tariff revision this session. Will the Minister of Finance affirm or deny that statement? *

I am afraid I must deny it.

I can very truthfully say that I had nothing to do with the publication of that report. However, I may say that the work is going on not only day by day, but by day and night.

Mr. JACOBS:

May I ask the Minister

of Finance, notwithstanding the statement he now makes, whether there will be a general tariff revision this session?

Sir HENRY DRAYTON:

The work is

in progress-

Mr. LAPOINTE:

Tedious.

Sir HENRY DRAYTON:

It is not so tedious, perhaps, as the hon. gentleman may think; there are several very interesting facts in connection with it. For example, there are very strong demands

from Quebec for a very heavy protection on tobacco, and I am sure that is something that must interest my hon. friend. It gives room for a great deal of anxious thought. The time at which the tariff will be completed depends very largely, not only on the amount of detail work there is, but on the frequency of demands made for consideration of different items.