Mr. INGRAM.

If the hon. minister is going to build wharfs and do dredging for the fishermen of Bayfield, I can draw his attention to Port Bruce which is quite as important. We have just as many fishermen at Port Bruce as they have, and I question if we have not more, and the revenue is probably larger.

It is always calm weather at Port Bruce.

Mr. CLANCY.

We all know that a good many works of this kind were commenced under very different conditions from those which prevail now, at a time when there was a considerable shipping business at these points. We must recognize that many of those works have fallen into disuse, and 1 think no more money should be spent on them. I acknowledge that both parties have offended in that respect. But this is a notable case, and I appeal to the hon. gentleman whether we should enter upon a course of that kind in view of the increasing demands from all quarters of Canada for public works far more necessary. It is a question whether we should spend any more money in keeping up breakwaters and docks that were built many years ago, when the original need of constructing those works has entirely ceased to exist. Of course there will always be a pressure to keep them up, and there will always be these recurring accidents of the harbours filling up with sand, and small fishing vessels may still require to come into those harbours. But I submit that we have reached the period when we might consider on both sides of the House whether it is

wise in tlie interest of the country, to continue to build works of that sort. I suppose the hon. gentleman will be prepared to tell the House what it will take to dredge out that pier and make it of some use. What sum will be required in addition to the sum already spent in the construction of this pier ?

I will ask for a report in regard to the dredging of the river.

Mr. CLANCY.

Had not the hon. gentleman better let this stand ?

Wliat is the use of allowing' it to stand ? When you make an appropriation and enter into a solemn contract with a man, and he has done the work, you must pay him for It.

Mr. CLANCY.

It would be better to pay him incidental damages then to commit the country to finish that work and the additional work that will be necessary.

The incidental damages would be a good deal more than the $16,000 that we are now asking to complete.

Mr. INGRAM.

I understood last year that the object of spending this money was to extend the pier so as to accommodate the fishermen, and that the dredging would not be necessary.

Belle Rivi6re-repairs to sheet piling, $1,400.

Mr. BORDEN (Halifax).

How far do you intend to go V

Let us finish this vote for Ontario.

Mr. CLARKE.

We will establish a bad rule if we sit later than eleven o'clock.

Mr. CLANCY.

I think we have made very good progress. It would be unreasonable to expect these items to pass without some information in regard to them.

I desire to furnish all the information it is possible to get. The next vote is a vote which is under contract; the total amount is $9,310.75. This is simply a balance.

Mr. INGRAM.

What is the necessity for Belle Rivi6reY

I think last session a full explanation was given of the necessity for this work. It is a very serviceable work. The contract has been let and the work is nearly completed.

Mr. CLANCY.

We can scarcely be ex-Ijected to carry in our minds just what was said last year. No doubt the hon. gentleman satisfied the House last year that the work was justifiable; but he is asking for an additional sum this year for this work.

Mr. CLANCY.

It may be entirely meritorious. But the hon. gentleman should be patient and give the information that he is asked for, instead of saying: Well, the vote was taken last

year, and that should be an end to it.

1 never said that. I did say that an appropriation was made by parliament, that a contract had been entered into, and the work was almost completed, and under those circumstances we were unable now as a parliament to go back on that work. There may be a difference of opinion as to the expediency of undertaking this work in the beginning, but after the work is done it must be paid for. Of course the Committee is entitled to all the information, and 1 am ready to supply all the information at hand.

Mr. INGRAM.

We are not complaining of the courtesy of the hon. gentleman n1 all. But last session several of these items passed without any discussion or question, the Committee, so to speak, gulped a lo1 of these items down without any explanation, but I do not think that we ought to dc so at this stage of the present session. We ought to get information about this Belle Rivi6re business, I think we are quite within our rights in asking for more information about it.