Hon. WM. PUGSLEY (Minister of Public Works).

Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to lay on the table a copy of the notice sent to all the officers of the Department of Public Works charged with the purchase of materials and supplies and the certifying of accounts for the same, under the different branches of the chief architect, the chief engineer and the superintendent of telegraphs. One of these notices was sent to the chief engineer's staff on September 16, 1908, one to the chief architect's staff on December 18, and one to the superintendent of telegraphs' stall on December 18. As the notices are all in the same language, I need read only one:

Sir,-I am directed by the hon. the Minister of Public Works to call your attention in a special manner to the question of purchase

of materials and supplies required for the use of the Department of Public Works, and which are obtained either by yourself personally or under your supervision, and to impress upon you the necessity of exercising the greatest care and caution in obtaining same at the very best possible prices, and that the most careful scrutiny should be given to all accounts before certification.

I am also to caution you emphatically regarding the acceptance of any gifts or favours of any kind at the hands of contractors or merchants with whom you may have dealings on behalf of the department and, further, if any such transaction should come to your knowledge, that it is your duty as an official of the department to report same at once to the minister or deputy minister, in order that such investigation may be made and action taken as may be deemed proper.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

1. What is the present amount of Grand Trunk consolidated debenture stock now outstanding?

2. What is the present amount of Grand Trunk 4 per cent guaranteed stock outstanding?

3. What is the amount of Grand Trunk first preferred stock, second preferred stock, third preferred stock, and ordinary stock, respectively, now outstanding?

4. Which of the above stock is a charge or lien on the property of the Grand Trunk Railway, and which will have precedence, or will rank as a prior lien or charge on the road over the proposed guarantee by the Grand Trunk Railway of the proposed loan by the government of ten million dollars to the Grand Trunk Pacific ?

5. What are the total liabilities or obligations of the Grand Trunk Railway, and what amount of such will be a prior lien or charge on the assets of the said company over the liability of the Grand Trunk Railway in respect of said proposed guarantee?

1. Is the government aware of the great variety and unsuitability of the railway mail couches now in use on Canadian railways, and the consequent danger, inconvenience and hardships suffered by railway mail clerks in the performance of their duty, and of the recommendation of the Royal Commission to the effect that the Railway Commission be

authorized and requested to have plans prepared for proper standard mail cars, to he placed on the several lines of railway carrying or to carry His Majesty's mails?

2. If so, is it the' intention of the government to carry out the (Royal Commission recommendation at an early date?

Hon. RODOLPHE LEMIEUX (Postmaster General).

The attention of the department has been directed to the varying standards of cars used for the conveyance of mails, and the matter is now the subject of consideration.

1. 238,826 cubic yards were excavated during the season of 1908; the sum of $57,459.45 was paid in 1908, leaving a balance for work done in that year, but still unpaid, of $50,012.25.

2. The Great Lakes Dredging Company, Limited, under contract dated 9th October, 1908.

3. (a) Work commenced 8th September, 1908; (b) Petition from residents of Nipigon dated 30th April, 1908; petition from vessel-men of Thunder bay sent in May, 1908.

4. Price per cubic yard, scow measurement, rock, $3; other materials, 45 cents. Material cast over, rock $3; other mater-

*j q To PiPTlfcj

5. ' (a) Yes.' (b) One. (c) The Great

Lakes Dredging Company, Limited, (d) Yes.

6. $15,750.

7. (a) Dredge ' No. 6.' (b) W. Stuart Mc-Kirdy.

8. Nothing by this department.

1. What was the total amount received by the Post Office Department from the sale of the special Tercentenary stamps?

2. What part of this sum would probably have been received as ordinary revenue if there had been no special issue of stamps?

Hon. RODOLPHE LEMIEUX (Postmaster General).

The following was the issue to postmasters of the tercentenary postage stamps :

Denominations. Quantities. Value.1 cent .. 2,000,000 $ 10,000 001 " .. 22,530,000 225,300 002 " .. 35,100,000 702,000 005 " .. 1,200,000 60,000 007 " .. 700,000 49,000 0010 " .. 500,000 50,000 0015 " .. 300,000 45,000 0020 " .. 304,200 60,840 00Totals.. .. .. 62,634,200 $1,202,140 00

The department has no knowledge whether the stamps in question have all been sold, as during their issue the ordinary postage stamps were also on sale, both issues being in use as preferred by the public. The proceeds derived from the sale of stamps of the two issues were not kept separately, but treated as arising from a common source. It is, therefore, impossible to state to what extent the issue of the Tercentenary postage stamps may have affected the ordinary revenue. At the ordinary period fixed by the department for squaring these accounts, we may be able to give the approximate value.