Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform the house that I have received the following communication:

Ottawa, January 31, 1958.

Sir:

I have the honour to inform you that the Honourable Patrick Kerwin, Chief Justice of Canada, acting as Deputy of His Excellency the Governor General, will proceed to the Senate chamber today, the 31st January, at 5.45 p.m., for the purpose of giving royal assent to certain bills.

I have the honour to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

J. F. Delaute

Secretary to the Governor General (Administrative)

Mr. Speaker:

May I say that during the recess some improvements and alterations are expected to be made in the sound amplification system; and to determine whether the loudspeakers are better as they are now placed, with the sound coming from the front of the members, or whether they would be better reversed with the sound coming from behind hon. members, we have instituted an experiment in the farthest two rows. The loudspeakers have been turned around, and I hope hon. members sitting in those rows will co-operate in forming a conclusion as to whether or not the loudspeakers are better in that position than in the position they formerly occupied.

On a question of privilege, Mr. Speaker, I should like to say a word about the rearrangement of the loudspeakers on these desks. As the man who is farthest from you in this house I can say, on behalf of myself and my three colleagues here, that it is a vast improvement. For example, the Leader of the Opposition sounded much better this morning than he did on some previous occasions.

Hon. Donald M. Fleming (Minister of Finance) moved

the second reading of and concurrence in an amendment made by the Senate to Bill No. 170, to implement an agreement between Canada and Australia for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to income tax.

He said: The amendment is a very slight one. The bill, in clause 1, provided that the title should be as follows: "The Canada-Australia Income Tax Agreement Act, 1957". The agreement was signed in 1957. The bill was introduced in this house in 1957, but it received second and third reading in this house and was passed in the other place in 1958. Therefore the Senate has amended clause 1 to change 1957 to read 1958.

Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, if I may have unanimous consent I move, seconded by Mr. Churchill, that the amendment made by the Senate be now read a second time and concurred in.

Hon. Gordon Churchill (Minisier of Trade and Commerce):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to make this announcement. An inquiry into the distribution of box cars for the movement of grain in western Canada will be undertaken immediately. Hon. John Bracken has agreed to conduct this inquiry. The terms of reference will be announced in due course.

Mr. G. H. Casileden (Yorkton):

I should like to ask the minister a question. Will the inquiry include an investigation into the allocation of shipping permits by the wheat board as among the various grain companies?

Mr. Churchill:

Yes, that will be part of the inquiry.

On the orders of the day:

Mr. W. A. Tucker (Rosihern):

May I direct a question to the Minister of Trade and Commerce. Has the appointment of Mr. HOUSE OF

Grain-Allocation of Box Cars Bracken to look into the box car situation been made by order in council and, if so, will the order in council be tabled and when is it expected that he will make his report?

Mr. Churchill:

The appointment of Hon. John Bracken to conduct this inquiry has been approved. The inquiry will start just as soon as possible. No date has been set at the moment for the report to be completed, and the appropriate order in council will be tabled in due course.

Mr. Tucker:

I did not hear the answer. Has the order in council been passed, and is Mr. Bracken being given the power of a royal commission?

Mr. Churchill:

This will be indicated when the order in council is tabled.

Mr. Tucker:

Has it been passed, Mr. Speaker? I asked if the order in council had been passed. The minister announced that the appointment had been made, and I wanted him to say if the order in council appointing this gentleman has been passed.

Mr. Churchill:

I do not think I am obliged to inform the hon. member as to all the transactions of the cabinet.

Oh, oh.