Mr. CRERAR:

It is estimated that mineral rights were acquired with the land in about 1,200 cases where soldier settlers have repaid their loans. In all likelihood, in many instances there will be no minerals involved. For instance, a soldier settler in the Yorkton district of Saskatchewan would probably have no minerals in connection with his land. I cannot inform the committee the number of cases where mineral rights are known to exist.

Mr. SHAW:

What percentage of those

residing upon soldier settler lands are the original soldier settlers?

Mr. CRERAR:

I cannot give that information now. As a matter of fact, it does not arise in connection with a discussion of this resolution. When the estimates of the soldier settlement board are being considered that information will be available to the hon. member.

Mr. GREEN:

Is it the intention that there will be certain cases where the soldier settlement board will own the mineral rights, while the soldier settler or a civilian who may have bought out a soldier settler will own the land?

Mr. CRERAR:

I should say offhand that

if a soldier settler acquired mineral rights, paid for his land and then later sold 'he land

to a civilian after having acquired title, he could reserve the mineral rights if he wished to do so. That would be a matter of contract between the two individuals.

Mr. GREEN:

It hardly seems fair that

the soldier settlement board should have title to the minerals, that they should not be passed on to the soldier settler or to whomever he may have sold his land.

Mr. CRERAR:

The only case where

mineral rights would be reserved would be where a soldier settler had acquired land with the mineral rights, later abandoned it and the land had come back into the hands of the board and then was resold to a civilian. In such a case the mineral rights would not go to the civilian.

Mr. ADAMSON:

Would the original

soldier settler have a right to the minerals on that land?

Mr. COLDWELL:

If he had paid for the

land.

Mr. CRERAR:

I did not get that question.

Mr. ADAMSON:

A case might arise in

Cadillac township in Quebec where men might be settled after this war is over. They would receive the right to the minerals on the land from the crown.

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

Not in

Quebec.

Mr. CRERAR:

If the land was acquired

from some individual or company having mineral rights in the land, and they passed with the land, then we are providing that that shall pass to the soldier. This is assuming that he has paid for the land. If the land is purchased for him and he fails to pay for it; if he abandons it or it is sold to a civilian, we are providing that the mineral rights shall not pass to the civilian purchaser, but shall be reserved by the board.

Mr. GREEN:

In the case of an original soldier settler who dies, will the mineral rights go to his heirs?

Mr. CRERAR:

I assume the hon. member has in mind a case where a soldier settler had made all payments on his land and acquired title. I should think in that case the mineral rights would go to his estate.

Mr. HOMUTH:

Is the minister sure on that? It is an important matter. If a soldier had obtained land by meeting his obligations, is the minister sure that these rights would go to his heirs in the event of his death?

Mr. CRERAR:

I think they would as a matter of common law.

Supply-Trade-Administration

Mr. GREEN:

This resolution states that you are taking power to grant to the original settler the mines and minerals acquired with the land. I want to know if you will also have power to grant those rights to his heirs if he has died in the meantime?

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

Not unless it is in the statutes. I suggest to the minister that he look into that point.

Mr. CRERAR:

I shall get some information upon that before we are in committee on the second reading.