Sir FREDERICK BORDEN.

The government has expressed its willingness on all occasions when such information has been requested to give the same to the leader of the opposition, and sees no objection to following- the same course in the future.

SUB-TARGET RIFLE MACHINES. Mr. WORTHINGTON:

1. How many sub-target rifle machines have been purchased by the government to

date?

2. How many such machines are at present on issue to corps of active militia, military schools of instruction, cadet corps and rifle clubs, respectively ?

3. What is the total cost of such machines to date?

4. Are such machines regularly employed at all military schools in imparting instruction to attending officers and men?

1. 552.

2. The issue of sub-target machines from District Ordnance Depots to units, rifle associations and cadet corps is authorized by the District Officer Commanding, and machines are withdrawn and re-issued in the district as may be considered necessary by that officer. The following is the distribution of these machines:

No.

In Military District No. 1 . . . . 53 " " 2 .... 105" " 3 .... 48" " 4 .... 52" " 5-6. . . . 110" " 7 .... 40" " 8 .... 33" " 9 .... 40" " 10 .... 35" " 11 .... 15" " 12 .... 5" 13 .. .. 14

partment during the five years ended 31st March, 1909?

2. What was the average cost of each pattern of tent?

3. By whom were the same manufactured ?

4. Were tenders called for in all cases ? If so, how?

5. If by public advertisement, in what places

and in what newspapers were such advertisements published ? _

6. From whom were tenders received, and what were the amounts thereof?

7. (a) Do any contracts at present exist for the supply of tents? (b) If so, when do such contracts terminate?

1. See Auditor General's Report for 190405, Part Q, pages 79, 97, 98; 1905-06, Part Q, pages 71, 117; 1906-07, Part Q, pages 67, 68, 101; 1907-08, Part Q, pages 80, 119; 190809. The honourable gentleman will be able to obtain the information required for the year 1908-9 so soon as that portion of the Auditor General's Report for the year dealing with the Department of Militia and Defence has been laid on the table of the House. This, no doubt, will shortly be done.

2. See above references.

3. Woods, Ltd., Ottawa; Merchants Awning Co., Montreal; The War Office.

4. 5 and 6. This information can be supplied on a motion for return of papers.

7. (a) Yes; (b) March 31, 1912.

1. What quantities and descriptions of harness and saddlery hjivo been manufactured for the Militia Department during the five years ended 1st March, 1909?

2. What was the average cost of each set?

3. By whom were the same manufactured?

4. Were tenders called for? If so, how?

5. If by public advertisement, in what places and in what newspapers were such advertisements published ?

6. From whom were tenders received and what were the amounts thereof?

7. Do any contracts at present exist for the supply of harness and saddlery? If so when do such contracts terminate?

Total 550

The remaining two guns are retained as sealed patterns to govern manufacture and inspection.

3. .$137,850.

4. Musketry forms part of the syllabus for attached officers and non-commissioned officers at Schools of Instruction, and subtarget gun machines are used for imparting instruction.

1. What number and description of tents have been manufactured for the Militia De-

1. See Auditor General's Report for 190405, Vol. 2, Part Q, pages 60, 67, 69, 77, 78, 95, 96; 1905-06, Vol. 2, Part Q, pages 69, 70, 72, 117; 1906-07, Vol. 2, Part Q, pages 66, 67; 1907-08, Vol. 2, Part P, pages 75, 77, 87, 119; 1908-09. The honourable gentleman will be able to obtain the information required for the year 1908-09 so soon as that portion of the Auditor General's Report for the year dealing with the Department of Militia and Defence has been laid on the table of the House. This, no doubt, will shortly be done.

2. See references already given.

3. By Adams Bros., Toronto; S. & H. Borbridge, Ottawa; Billington Bros., Winnipeg; Hugh Carson, Ltd., Ottawa; Craig Harness Co., Ltd., Ottawa; Kellys, Ltd., Halifax; Lamontagne, Ltd., Montreal; H. Lamontagne & Co., Montreal; A. Strachan, Kingston; M. J. Wilson & Sons, Ottawa.

Stores of this description were also obtained from the War Office.

4>

5 and 6. A motion should be made for the return of papers.

7. Yes. March 31, 1910.

1. (a) What was the total cost of the upkeep ot the permanent army service corps for the financial year ended 31st March. 1909, and (b) what is its numerical strength?

2. (a) What was the total cost of the upkeep of the permanent army pay corps for the financial year ended 31st March, 1909, and vt>>

1 what is its numerical strength?

3. (a) What was the total cost of the upkeep of the permanent army medical corps for the financial year ended 31st March, 1909, and (b) what is its numerical strength ?

/[DOT] was the total cost of the upkeep

of the Canadian ordnance corps for the financial year ended 31st March, 1909, and (b) what is its numerical strength?

5. (a) Vt hat was the cost of administration ot the militia stores branch of the Department of Militia and Defence, outside service, for the financial year ended 30th June, 1903, and (b) what was its numerical strength?

6. (a) What was the total cost of the upkeep of the corps of military staff clerks for the financial year ended 31st March, 1909, and (b) what is its numerical strength?

1. (a) $77,212.

(b) 10 officers, 3 warrant officers, 105 noncommissioned officers and men. In' addition, 31 civilians are employed on water transport and barrack services at Halifax and Esquimalt in lieu of enlisted men at an expenditure of $18,528 for the year ended 31st March, 1909.

2. (a) $38,683.

(b) 10 officers, 6 warrant officers, 20 noncommissioned officers and men.

3. (a) $86,357.

(b) 22 officers, 1 warrant officer, 70 noncommissioned officers and men.

4. (a) $172,781.

(b) 28 officers, 24 warrant officers, 134 non-commissioned officers and men. In addition, 35 civilians are employed, in lieu of enlisted men, at an expenditure of $21,185 for the year ended 31st March, 1909.

5. (a) $53,346.70.

(b) 90 permanent- employees and 8 temporary labourers, &c.

6. (a) $26,823.

(b) 5 warrant officers and 25 non-commissioned officers.

HERRING FISHERY IN CHARLOTTE. Mr. JAMESON:

1. How many barrels of herring were packed in the county of Charlotte, New Brunswick, during the years 1905, 1906, 1907 and 1908, and what was the respective annual value thereof?

2. How many barrels of britt or sardine herring were caught in waters contiguous to the county of Charlotte, New Brunswick, during the years 1905, 1906, 1907 and 1908?

3. To whom were they sold, and at what price per barrel, each year, respectively?

i. Is the Minister of Marine and Fisheries satisfied with the condition of this fishery?

5. If not, have any means been taken to improve it? If so, what means and when were same taken?

Sir WILFRID LAURIER:

Year. Barrels. Value.1. 1905

7,965 $35,842 501906

7,384 29,536 001907

2,210 8,840 001908

2,420 10,890 002. 1905

332,4961906

218,1501907

246,6441908

271,2543. Mainly to United States and Canadian sardine canners, but to some extent to Canadian fishermen for bait.In 1905 at $2 00 per barrel.1906 " 1 50 "1907 " 1 50 "1908 " 1 504. The conditions are peculiar to the particular locality and have obtained for the past thirty years, and it is for the people to deal with it.5. Answered by No. 4.

1. How many licenses were annually issued for deep water weirs in the conuty of Charlotte during the years 1900 to 1909 inclusive, and what license fee was respectively charged during said years?

2. Were licenses issued to other than British subjects? If so, in what years and to whom ?

Sir WILFRID LAURIER:

1- 1900 record not extant.

1901 469

1902 473

1903 453

1904 463

1905 443

1906 432

1907 433

1908 538

1909 557

$5 per weir.

2. No.

1. How many different kinds of rural free mail delivery boxes are offered by the Post Office Department?

2. Has the government changed the design of the rural free mail delivery boxes? If so, why?

3. If any change has been made, what is the difference in the cost to the government in making the change, and can the new design, if any, that has been decided on, be locked?

4. Has the government received a petition asking for a mail route to be established between Dresden and Garville, in the county of Kent, Bentpath, Dawn Valley and Beaver Meadow, in the county of Lambton? If so. has the petition been granted? If not, why not?

5. Have locks to boxes been sent to those applying for same? If not, why not?

1. One.

2. No.

3. Answered by No. 2.

4. There has been a mail route between Bentpath and Dresden since 1st April, 1887.

5. The department has decided that for the present locks are not to be supplied.