Hon. Mr. TARTE.

Well, it is to a large extent due to the fact that the tariff on cotton has been kept all right. I may say that I am responsible for the choice of the site.

Mr. MONK.

When was the site decided upon by the department ?

Hon. Mr. TARTE.

I paid a visit to the place with one of my officers, and chose the site without telling anybody. I then instructed Mr. Dandurand, who is the agent of the Canadian Pacific Railway for land purchases, to purchase the site. Let me say immediately that the site formerly belonged to the sitting member, but it was not bought from him. It was the only site available for a public building there, all other available sites having been bought in the rush of business. I instructed Mr. Dandurand not to say a word to the sitting member, but to take an option on the site. It had been sold previously by the sitting member to a man named Johnston, if I remember rightly. Mr. Dandurand took every possible precaution to secure the site at a reasonable price.

Mr. SPROULE.

What price did he pay ?

Hon. Mr. TARTE.

I do not remember exactly ; I lost sight of the transaction. But it was conducted all through by one of the ablest real estate agents in Montreal, and I think everything was done uprightly-

Mr. MONK.

When did Mr. Dandurand close this transaction ?

Hon. Mr. TARTE.

I think it was closed after I left office. But I gave instructions and was responsible.

Mr. MONK.

The hon. minister might tell us at what date the transaction was closed ?

The Order in Council was passed on the 22nd of November, 1902, authorizing the purchase from R. B. Johnston for the sum of $10,000. The land is 77* feet by 160 feet deep.

Hon. Mr. TARTE.

The Bank of Hoche-laga has bought a property there which is not worth half as much as this property' and has paid a great deal more. I know we have made a good bargain.

Mr. MACLEAN.

Speaking of this question of sites, I would like to throw out this suggestion. If the policy is to be continued

of giving public buildings to all these small places, at least put the onus upon them of supplying the sites. That will be a buffer between the government and the demand of these small places for public buildings.

I believe it would often have the effect of preventing their construction ; and in cases where it did not, the country would at least be saved the cost of the site.

Mr. CASGRAIN.

Who is this R.W. Johnston ? Is he in the employ of the government.

He certainly is not in the employ of the Public Works Department. I am not acquainted with him.

Mr. MONK.

When was the money paid ?

It was paid on the joint order of the agent of the government at Valleyfleld and Mr. R. B. Johnston.

Mr. CASGRAIN.

Is it R. B. Johnston or It. W. Johnston ? In the answer given by the minister the other day it was R. W.

The memorandum of the deputy says R. B. Johnston.

Mr. MONK.

When was the money paid ?

The date of the cheque is not stated here. There was some delay in the Department of Justice after the Order in Council was passed ; but so far as the deputy minister can remember, it was about the end of January.

Hon. Mr. TARTE.

I instructed Mr. Dan-durand to secure the site without the knowledge of the sitting member. I suppose Mr. Dandurand arranged with Mr. Johnston so that he might purchase the site from Mr. Loy without Mr. Loy knowing that it was being purchased for the government. Mr. Dandurand did not let anybody know for whom the site was purchased. All who know Valleyfleld know that my hon. friend could have sold the site at a greater price than we paid. Property is going up there by leaps and bounds.

Some resolutions reported.

On motion of the Minister of Finance, House adjourned at 11.05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 25, 1903.