Mr. BENNETT:

May I interrupt the 'hon. gentleman?

Mr. MITCHELL:

Certainly.

Mr. BENNETT:

Mr. NEILL:

I wonder if the minister

would allow me to draw his attention to a matter that applies to nearly all the departments. I have here the reports for the Department of Labour and also for the Department of Mines, both under the minister's charge, and both these reports cover the fiscal year ending March 31, 1934. I notice that they are signed by the respective deputy ministers, one on April 6, 1934, and the other on May 31, 1934. The point I

want to make is this: If these reports are

in the hands of the minister on these dates, shortly after the end of the fiscal year ending March, 1934, why cannot they be in our hands before nearly a year later? It is a long time to wait until February, 1935, to get a report which closed in March, 1934. I always understood that it was the delay in getting the material put together, but I find it is ready within a month or two after the date given. Why could not these things be printed and distributed to members in September? On one occasion when the house was called in the fall we did get these reports early, in October if I remember correctly. H they are obtainable in one year why not ordinarily? It would relieve the pressure on printing at this time of the year. I would ask the minister and the Prime Minister as well why these returns cannot be available in the fall.

Mr. BENNETT:

The matter, I understand, was not brought to the attention of the minister but I have looked into it. Away back in 1887, I am informed, provision was made whereby the reports might be placed in the distribution office without being laid on the table when the house was not in session, and the Secretary of State has arranged to facilitate the printing of these reports just as soon as the year has ended and the material has been completed. It is proposed to avail ourselves, or I assume that some government will avail itself, of the provisions of the order in council of 1887 to enable the reports to be sent to the distribution office when printed without waiting for the opening of parliament. My attention was directed to the matter some weeks ago, and had it not been that parliament was meeting so soon after that time, the reports would have been sent to the distribution office before being laid on the table.

Mr. NEILL:

Will that apply to all reports?

Mr. BENNETT:

All that can be made available. The order in council was passed to meet the very situation to which the hon. gentleman refers. The fiscal year at one time ended on October 31.

Mr. NEILL:

It will be of great convenience to the public.

Mr. BENNETT:

Very great.

Mr. MACKENZIE (Vancouver):

Is the

Minister of Labour prepared to give any information in regard to his policy this year with reference to the unemployment situation, or does he intend to discuss the matter under some other item?

Supply-Labour

COMMON!)

Mr. GORDON:

That will be taken up under another item later.

Mr. MACKENZIE (Vancouver):

Under

which item of the estimates? We are passing now the labour vote, No. 14.

Mr. GORDON:

Yes, civil government.

Mr. MACKENZIE (Vancouver):

Under which item shall we have an opportunity of discussing the government policy with respect to unemployment relief?

Mr. GORDON:

With respect to unemployment relief, the whole problem is under consideration by the government and has been and is constantly under consideration, and it is more likely to be brought before parliament in the form of specific legislation than by way of items in the supply of the Labour department.

Mr. ELLIOTT:

When is the unemployment policy likely to come before the house? A good many hon. members are very anxious to know what it is and when we may expect it.

Mr. GORDON:

The policy or plan of immediate relief will be largely determined by the position in which the provinces find themselves and by the representations that they may make to the dominion government for help. Upon their representations will largely depend the course of the government with respect to assistance to them. With regard to works that are purely federal, the plans are under consideration by the government and are not yet in such shape that they can be submitted to the house.

Mr. ELLIOTT:

My question was as to whether it was possible for the minister to give us some idea when they would likely be submitted to the house. I assume that at the present time matters are being carried on with the provinces without any definite arrangement for any length of time. Is that correct?