Hon. W. D. EULER (Minister of Trade and Commerce):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to

make a statement in correction of one made on Saturday and again yesterday by the hon. member for Rosetown-Biggar (Mr. Coldwell). On September 9 he said the following, as reported at page 56 of Hansard:

The price of flour has risen without warrant, because the Canadian carry-over of wheat was all disposed of to the millers, exporters _ or speculators at least a month before this crisis developed, and at a very low price. The 100,000,000 bushels or so, speaking in round figures, of our carry-over of wheat was still mainly in Canada. Neither our government nor our farmers who produced it will reap any gain from that wheat. Only those who to-day stand between us and those who need it will make rich gains.

Then, yesterday he is reported at page 110 of Hansard to have said:

On Saturday I drew to the attention of the house the fact that a little more than a month ago it was reported that there was a carryover of nearly one hundred million bushels of wheat. Most of that wheat had been bought from the wheat board at a very low price. We saw a few days later in the newspaper that the board stated that it had disposed of its holdings of wheat and that this large quantity of grain had passed out of its hands. Since that time the price of wheat on the market has gone up by leaps and by bounds until to-day-I have not checked to-day's price -it is in the neighbourhood of thirty cents

a bushel higher than it was a few weeks ago. This means that during this period of tension, which for not a few of us has been something of an .agony, some persons in this dominion or elsewhere have made or can make out of that wheat about $30,000,000.

I called up the chairman of the wheat board with regard to this matter, and he has assured me that this is the fact: that the great proportion of the carry-over of 1938 is still under the control of the board and that the increase in price will inure to the benefit of the government so far as the 1938 crop is concerned, because much of the 1938 crop was sold below the present price; that any increase in price on the 1939 crop will inure to the benefit of the producers of that wheat, and that no speculators have had an opportunity of making a profit of some $30,000,000.

While I am speaking perhaps I might correct an impression that seems to be in the minds of western producers and say, that the profits that may be made or the receipts that may be had from sales of the 1939 crop at high prices will not be used to reduce the losses of the government on the 1938 crop, but will go to the benefit of the producers of the 1939 crop.

Mr. COLDWELL:

I am glad to get that correction.

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

I think perhaps it might expedite matters a little if we considered order No. 3 before having the Minister of National Revenue (Mr. Ilsley) bring down the budget on behalf of the Minister of Finance, as the Minister of Labour (Mr. Rogers) has a statement to make in regard to the Combines Investigation Act which I think will be acceptable to all parts of the house.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Is it the pleasure of the house that the hon. Minister of Labour shall have leave to withdraw the bill?

Mr. A. A. HEAPS (Winnipeg North):

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Labour (Mr. Rogers) has stated that because of certain representations made last evening he now proposes to withdraw this bill. Some members of the house are not in favour of that course being followed. Personally, I think that when the house is in session all the legislation which the government seeks to put into effect should be brought down and passed upon by the house. In years gone by, objections were raised, particularly by hon. members to my right, to the government proceeding by order in council at a time when the house was in session.

There is strong resentment throughout the country against the increase in prices of everyday commodities of life. It is possible that in this proposed legislation is to be found the means of curbing those who would attempt to profit by the existing war prices. We are given the impression that by withdrawing these amendments to the Combines Investigation Act the government are weakening in their effort or desire to put a stop to war profiteering. If the house were not in session I could well understand the desire of the government or the desire of the opposition to see that action was taken under the War Measures Act, but I contend that the democratic method of procedure is to proceed by way of legislation when the house is in session. There is no excuse for the government's withdrawing legislation of this kind simply because some hon. members happen to be opposed to it. It may be that this legislation can be described as contentious, but if there is to be a real effort on the part of the government to curb profiteering I cannot see why such a

measure as this can be called contentious. I doubt if there is a single member in this house who does not desire that profiteering be curbed with the least possible delay.

Mr. SPEAKER:

Order. I thought the hon. member intended to make only a few remarks. I had put the motion and I thought it was carried.

Mr. HEAPS:

It was not carried. I have every desire to expedite the business of the house, but-

Mr. SPEAKER:

The motion is not debatable.

Mr. HEAPS:

If the motion is not debat* able, then I must bow to your ruling.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I allowed the hon. member to speak because I thought he had only a few remarks to make. If he is going on to make a lengthy speech, then I must call him to order.

Mr. HEAPS:

I should like to know whether it is debatable or not debatable.

Mr. SPEAKER:

It is not debatable.

Mr. HEAPS:

If it is not debatable, then I am out of order. I do want to say that I protest against the withdrawal of this bill.

Mr. ROGERS:

With the consent of the house, I really believe the point raised by my hon. friend ought to be answered immediately. Let me assure him that the matter at issue is simply one of procedure and not one of intention. We are advised by the law officers of the crown that under the War Measures Act we have the power to proceed with the amendments which are necessary to make the Combines Investigation Act effective in time of war. Let me assure my hon. friend that this is our intention, to make the Combines Investigation Act effective in time of war and to take whatever steps may be necessary to curb profiteering at this time.

Bill withdrawn.