1. Is Calixte Vandal in the employ of the Government at its shipyard at Sorel?

2. Is it the same Calixte Vandal who was dismissed in 1914 after an inquiry held hy Mr. J. G. Desbarats?

Mr. GERVAIS.

I think I am in duty bound to endorse the remarks of the hon. member for St. Anne (Mr. Doherty), as to the salary which is proposed to be paid to the collector of customs at Montreal. The importance of that port cannot be compared with any other port, and the efficiency of the services of the present incumbent is too well known for me to venture .to add anything to what has been said of the character of the work which has been performed for years past by the present incumbent. On account of the importance of the port of Montreal, on account of the efficiency of the service which has been done, and which is being done by Mr. White, the present incumbent, and on account of the cost of living in Montreal, I think that a salary of $6,000 should be considered the least which should be paid to the present collector. It is all very well to Propose general rules and general schedules of salaries for all over the country, but I think that the case of the port of Montreal is a very exceptional one, and the general schedule should not be made applicable to that port. There should be a proviso added to the resolution under which by way of order in council, the government could, after due consideration, in some way increase the remuneration of the present collector of customs at Montreal to at least $6,000. This view is held by all the people of Montreal, especially by the large importers. It is well known that the imports entered at the port of Montreal exceed $16,000,000 per year, which certainly warrants our paying a salary to the collector of that port of at least $6,000.

On that question, I would ask the Minister of Customs if he intends this session introducing legislation for the purpose of creating the office of deputy or assistant-collector. The creation of such an office has been asked for by quite a number of the large importers of Montreal, and it would go a long way to expedite the business of the port, and meet the convenience of the city. I think that a petition was sent to the Department of Customs asking the minister to create such an office, and I would like to know if he proposes doing so this Mr. DOHERTY.

session. I would again urge on the hon. minister to add another resolution to those proposed which would enable the government by order in council to grant to the collector of customs in the port of Montreal a salary somewhat adequate to the important position he holds, the efficient service he is rendering, and the increased cost of living. Such increase, I am sure, would prove to be fair and popular.

Mr. GERVAIS.

I desire to call the attention of the Minister of Customs to the lew salary proposed to be paid to the appraisers. The increase of salaries to the appraisers is proposed to be made $4Q0 per year. I think the appraisers for the port of Montreal should have a salary of at least $3,500. If I had time to quote from the statistics of American ports. I should be able to show that ports of less importance in the United States of no greater importance than Montreal have collectors who receive salaries as high as $10,000 a year, and some of these American ports have appraisers whose salaries are as high as $6,000 per year. I repeat, then, that the salaries of the appraisers of the port of Montreal should be made at least $3,500.

At six o'clock, committee took Tecess.

' After Recess.

Committee resumed at eight o'clock.

Mr. SfKOULfci. wnat X desired to ascertain was how far this measure was bringing the outside service under the Civil Service Act.

Mr. GERVAIS.

The Bill is entitled: ' An Act to incorporate the Grain Growers' Grain Company, Limited.' If the committee looks at sections 14 and 15 of the Bill it will find that grain growing is the least of the occupations that is being sought to be pursued by this incorporation. I beg leave to be allowed to read a few lines of sections 14 and 15 to show that the promoters of this Bill should have called themselves, not ' The Grain Growers' Grain Company, Limited,' but the 'The General Promoters and Schemers' Company, Limited.'

Mr. GERVAIS.

It is not all right. It is against the sound parliamentary Tule of the British parliament to grant charters right and left of that kind, because such a charter tends to create all kinds of conflicts with individuals and with ether companies.