Mr. J. G. Diefenbaker (Prince Albert):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to direct a question to the Minister of Trade and Commerce. Will he tell the house what is being done to channel the necessary box cars for wheat transportation purposes in the prairie provinces, and what are the possibilities of increasing wheat quotas in the next week or ten days?

Right Hon. C. D. Howe (Minister of Trade and Commerce):

Mr. Speaker, the movement of box cars in the west has improved very considerably in the last two weeks, largely as a result of improved weather conditions. I had a letter from the president of the Canadian National Railways this morning in response to continuing correspondence I have had with him. He tells me that he has ordered that 100 new box cars be diverted to western Canada every day in addition to those going out loaded. He also points out that deliveries of new box cars will commence immediately, and all new box cars are for immediate dispatch to western Canada.

Inquiries of the Ministry

I have not the same clear indication from the Canadian Pacific Railway, but I have a general indication given me by the president [DOT]of the Canadian Pacific Railway last Saturday to the effect that they are increasing their supply of box cars in the west, and I may say that unloads at both Vancouver and Fort William indicate that there is a very considerable improvement.

As far as increased quotas are concerned, they are being announced every day. The last report I saw indicated only about one-third of the points are still on initial quota. Other points have one, two or three bushel quotas, and the changes are being made as opportunity presents itself.

Mr. Diefenbaker:

May I ask a supplementary question? I thank the minister for the statement, because it will bring a degree of hope to the western farmers. Approximately what is the extent of the shortage of the necessary cars to transport wheat on the prairies at the present time?

Mr. Howe (Port Arthur):

Mr. Speaker, I have not the figure here. When I spoke in Edmonton I said that there was a shortage of 10,000 box cars on the prairies below the customary number in action on that date.

I know that there are more box cars today, but I cannot say how many more.

Mr. H. W. Herridge (Kootenay West):

Mr. Speaker, to satisfy the curiosity of some members on both sides of the house, I wish to ask the Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources a question. Does the minister intend to introduce a bill to repeal the Yukon Quartz Mining Act this session?

Hon. Jean Lesage (Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources):

Mr. Speaker, if and when a decision is reached it will of [DOT]course appear on the order paper.

Mr. G. R. Pearkes (Esquimali-Saanich):

May I direct a question to the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Fisheries? Does the government propose to enforce closure on the sockeye salmon fishing on the Canadian side of the strait of Juan de Fuca this year? If so, what steps are being taken

to ensure that Canadian fishermen are assured of their fair share of the catch?

Mr. J. Watson MacNaughl (Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Fisheries):

Mr. Speaker, since I was delayed in getting back to Ottawa by the storms in my constituency, I have not had time yet to look into this question, but I assure the hon. member that I shall look into it and bring down the answer as soon as possible.

Mr. O. C. Trainor (Winnipeg South):

I

should like to direct a question to the Prime Minister. Has he received a copy of a resolution passed by the Winnipeg city council protesting the cessation of work on the Winnipeg post office, in addition to the Deer Lodge hospital?

The Minister of Public Works (Mr. Winters) prefers the term slow-down to the term cessation, but in any event can the Prime Minister (Mr. St. Laurent) give assurance as to when the cessation or slow-down may be terminated and full construction resumed?

Right Hon. L. S. St. Laurent (Prime

Minister): I have been informed there has been no cessation and that the work is proceeding just as expeditiously as possible.