Hon. CHAS. HYMAN (for the Postmaster General).

The question doubtless refers to the assessment system inaugurated in 1898 by the department. It does not apply to all civil servants in the outside service of the Post Office Department, but only to employees in city post offices and to railway mail clerks, porters, transfer agents and other civil service employees who are actually engaged in the work of handling the mails. The rate of assessment is forty cents on each one hundred dollars of insurance required. The amount of such insurance is in accordance with the following scale: Every accounting postmaster, the

revenue of whose office is under $2,000 a year, is required to give security to the extent of $800. Where the revenue exceeds $2,000 a year, but is less than $5,000. the insurance required is $1,200. Where it exceeds $5,000 but is less than $10,000 a year, the insurance required is $1,600. Where it exceeds $10,000 a year but is less than $15,000. the insurance required is $2,000. Where it exceeds $15,000 a year but is less than $25,000, the insurance required is $2,500. Where the revenue exceeds $25,000,

except in the cities of Montreal and Toronto, the insurance required is $3,000. In the case of the cities of Montreal and Toronto the insurance required is $5,000. Each postmaster of a non-accounting post office is required to give $200 security, and if the estimated revenue of his office does not exceed $100 a year, it is optional with him to give bonds or to accept the. assessment system. The assessments since the inauguration of the system have amounted to the following :-

For the year ended 30th June,

1899.. $12,773 48For the 1900 . year ended 30th June, 8,479 93For the 1901.. year ended 30th June, 8,930 02For the 1902.. year ended 30th June, 10,OSS 52For the 1903. . year ended 30th June, 11.970 25For the 1904.. year ended 30th June, 10,891 71For the seven months to 31st January, 1905 215 25

Out of this sum the department has paid in re-insurance and ascertained losses the sum of $19,909.51, leaving a balance of $45,992.68 to the credit of profit and loss account.

Mr. SINCLAIR asked :

What proportion of the binder twine consumed in Canada is manufactured (a) in Can-ade ; (b) in the United States ; (c) in other

countries ?

Hon. WILLIAM PATERSON (Minister of Customs).

The only way I can answer the question is as follows : The imported binder twine entered for consumption in Canada during the year ended 30th June, 1904, was :

Lbs. Value.

From United States 12,623,608 $1,459,113

From other countries 4,380 591

The binder twine manufactured in Canada, according to the returns for bounty purposes, from 1st September, 1902, to 30tb June, 1904, was 16,165,048 pounds.

1. How much was expended last year for the deepening of a harbour at St'. Angel, in the county of Nicolet ?

2. At the request of whom were those works undertaken ?

3. Does the government purpose to continue those w-orks ?

4. What additional amount would be needed to complete the harbour in question ?

1. $11,723.18.

2. On the report of the assistant engineer of the department.

3. Yes.

4. $12,000 will be required to complete the deepening of the channel to 8 feet at low water across the Lake St. Peter's flats, at the mouth of the Nicolet river into Nicolet harbour, and for rip-rapping the jetty protecting the channel through the flats.

1. Who is the inspector of gas and electricity at Three Rivers ?

2. What salary is attached to that office ?

3. During the past year how much was the cost of that office, including the expenses of travel ?

4. To what sum did the receipts during the same period amount ?

5. Is the inspector supplied with an office and its accessories ?

1. Joseph Ulric Dufresne.

2. $500.

3. $65.95.

4. $128.25.

5. He has an office in the public buildings at Three Rivers, which is provided with the necessary accessories.

1. On the 23rd of October the contract for the erection of the building was completed. The building is expected to be ready for occupation about the 1st of May.

2. Yes ; the 15th October, 1904.

3. The delay is due to the contractor. No rent is being paid by this department for post office premises.

4. Joseph Bourque.

1. No.

2. Yes.

3 & 4. Several tenders were received, but as the contract is not yet awarded, it is considered not in the public interest to disclose the amount of the tenders at present.

CDONELL-by Mr. Ingram-asked :

1 Has the harbour work at Rondeau been let? If so. when, and to whom ?

2. Were tenders called for ?

3. If so, from whom were tenders received, and what were their amounts ?

4. Was the lowest tender accepted ?

1. No.

2. Yes.

3. Several tenders were received, but as the contract is not yet awarded, it is not considered in the public interest to disclose the amount of the tenders at present.