Mr. ANDREW KNOX (Prince Albert):

As the session is pretty well advanced, will the Minister of Railways tell us when we may expect something in the shape of a supplementary estimate for the Hudson Bay railway?

Hon. GEORGE P. GRAHAM (Minister of Railways and Canals): The estimates, so

far as the government has considered the Hudson Bay project further than has been disclosed, are now before the House in the estimates of the Canadian National Railway.

Hon. T. A. CRERAR (Marquette):

Can

the Acting Minister of Finance tell us when the supplementary estimates will be brought down?

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

They are now in course of preparation.

Mr. J. S. WOODSWORTH (Centre Winnipeg) :

With regard to the matter referred

fMr. Robb.]

to yesterday by the hon. member for East Calgary (Mr. Irvine), will the Prime Minister tell us whether Canada is party to any security pact with France in regard to the Rhineland?

Right Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Prime Minister):

The answer is, no.

Mr. ROBERT FORKE (Brandon):

Has

the Minister of Justice any information to give the House as to when the Alternative Vote bill will be brought down?

Hon. ERNEST LAPOINTE (Minister of Justice):

I have no information to give my

hon. friend, except that the House has all the work that it can attend to just now. That has been the position for the last few days. The Alternative vote measure is on the order paper.

Mr. GOOD:

We might have some explanation from the minister as to the purport of this resolution.

Mr. ROBB:

The House will recall that in 1924 legislation was passed giving the government a special lien on account of income taxes. Since that time the income tax collecting branches have been consolidated with the customs and excise ports, so that there are now a great many offices throughout Canada. It is estimated that there are over 300,000 taxpayers, and as the number of defaulting taxpayers is comparatively small, it has been decided that the remedies which the crown may exercise now without this lien are sufficient. We feel 'that the crown has sufficient guarantees and this interferes somewhat with business.

Sir HENRY DRAYTON:

The minister is quite right in bringing in this resolution and it is proper legislation. It is proper not merely by reason of the fact that there has been an amalgamation of the departments; that has not changed the situation at all; it is proper

Proposed Loan

to do this because what we did in 1924 was improper and mistaken. What we were there doing was in connection with the income tax, placing a statutory lien or encumbrance upon real estate, never mind where situated, tieing the hands of ratepayers in the handling of their property, making it difficult for them to get loans, mortgages and the like. It was a retrograde step, entirely too high-handed. It was going beyond the ordinary legitimate business practices. I think my hon. friend is to be commended for now seeing the error that was committed in 1924 and putting it right.

Resolution reported, read the second time and concurred in. Mr. Robb thereupon moved for leave to introduce Bill No. 183, to amend the Income War Tax Act, 1917.

Mo: ion agreed to and bill read the first time.