Mr. MONK.

Is that with the improvements mentioned in this map ?

The MINISTER OF MARINE AND

FISHERIES. Yes.

Mr. MONK.

Then, with the improvements mentioned in this map, there will be night navigation between Montreal and Sorel '! .

The MINISTER OF MARINE AND

FISHERIES. There will be safe navigation day and night between Montreal and Sorel.

Mr. MONK.

I think the hon. minister will see Alie advantage in future, in bringing down an estimate of this importance, of giving to us in a little clearer way on the maps, if he chooses to place maps on the Table, exactly what improvements are intended.

The MINISTER OF MARINE AND

FISHERIES. If the hon. member (Mr. Monk) would suggest in what way it could he made clearer. I should be glad to carry out his ideas. I am here to learn.

Mr. MONK.

According to the map. all the gas buoys between Montreal and Sorel are to be established. But the hon. gentleman tells us that half of them have been established. I do not wish to take up the time of the committee in this way. Of course, I might put the hon. minister upon examination, and he will turn to his assistant for information and then will tell me that these are being carried out. The map does not show what is completed and what is contemplated.

If the hon. gentleman (Mr. Monk) leaves my estimates pending for three months, with the work going on during that time, I can hardly keep the information up to date in the form he wishes. I cannot make a new map every day. I have stated that one of these lights was installed as lately as the 18th of this month. If the channel is to be completely lighted between Montreal and Sorel before the 1st of August, the hon. gentleman must suppose that the work is going on.

Mr. MONK.

I see from the map that at Cape Race a syren and quick flashing light have been recommended. Has that been carried out ?

It will be done this year but has not been completed yet.

Mr. MONK.

A syren has been recommended for Cape Pine.

That is a matter to be considered with the imperial government.

Mr. MONK.

I do not wish to take up my hon. friend's (Hon. Mr. Prdfontaine) time in this matter. I can only say that I do not think he has taken as great an interest in transportation as he pretends to have done.

Mr. TAYLOR.

The hon. minister has brought down the papers in reference to Mr. Mullens, and I must say that they go to corroborate the statement of my hon. friend from Grenville (Mr. Reid). In 1899, the former Minister of Marine and Fisheries Sir Louis Davies, called for tenders for this work for three years. The tenders came iu and that of Mr. Mullens was accepted. His contract expired in March, 1902, and without a word, so far as the correspondence shows, that contract was renewed for three years. This was evidence on the face of it that the contract was renewed for a consideration. And that consideration was what my hon. friend from Hastings (Mr. Porter) says-that Mr. Hurley was to secure that contractor a renewal of his contract if he would sign the protest. If that were not the case, no doubt there would Ije correspondence to show it.

I am informed by the officers of the department that it has been the invariable practice to renew a contract of this kind if the work was properly performed. That course was pursued in this case, and Mr. Hurley had nothing whatever to do with it.

Mr. BLAIN.

Has there been any reduction in insurance rates on the St. Lawrence route during last year ?

I am informed that the new Canadian Pacific Railway fleet have been granted better rates than those charged in former years. The reason given was that the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, having acquired the Elder-Dempster and some other boats, were offering more guarantee, it was said, than other companies before them, and also that the insurers believed the representations made to them that the channel was very much improved, and these reductions could be safely made.

Mr. MONK.

When a lighthouse is constructed, is the contract given for the house only ? Is the lighting part installed by the department itself ?

If it is a lighthouse in the water; when a pier has to be constructed, we make a contract for the construction of a pier, or, sometimes, if we think it cheaper, having our own men, we build the pier ourselves. If the superstructure is in wood, 181

it is given by contract. If there are a number to be built and the superstructure is iron or steel, a general contract is 'given for these, tenders being asked for. The lanterns are bought by the department from the best makers in England, and are bought at the market prices which are published in the newspapers.

Mr. LEFURGEY.

What explanation would the minister give of the term ' guaranteed ' there ? What guarantee were they offered ?

Proper equipment, I suppose, and better boats, better captains.

Mr. BLAIN.

When this item was up for consideration last year the minister stated that the large increase in the expenditure for lighting the St. Lawrence would result iu a reduction of the insurance rates. Has the minister any information that because of that large expenditure on the lighting system of the St. Lawrence route, reductions have; been made in insurance rates during the past year ? I may say that it is not possible that those would apply only to the Canadian Pacific Railway steamers.

I reason on this matter as any business man would from the facts. The facts are that the shipping interests for many years have been complaining that the St. Lawrence route was not safe, and that they were charged too high insurance rates. They approached the government four or five years ago, and represented that they could get no reduction in rates unless there were improvements in the lighting and buoying of the St. Lawrence. The government undertook to make improvements, which have been going on since then, and now we find that the navigation companies are satisfied, that the shipping interests are satisfied. We know that the government have made' great efforts to improve the St. Lawrence-route and to put it in proper shape. All these facts of course are reported to the insurance companies daily, and we are justified in concluding that the rates will diminish. The; underwriters will no longer be able to urge that the channel is in a bad condition, that the lighting is insufficient. All these facts tend to convince the underwriters that they should reduce tlieir rates.