Mr. SPEAKER:

I wish to inform the

House tljat I have received the following: Barbados, Feb. 24, 1916.

The Speaker,

House of Commons,

Ottawa.

The Barbados Chamber of Commerce in annual session assembled desires to express to the House of Commons and the people of Canada Its profound sympathy and emotion at the destruction of their Parliament Buildings, and the deplorable loss of life caused thereby.

Mr. BLONDIN:

Finance Department, 1; Interior Department, 1; Justice Department, 1; Labour Department, 1; Marine Department, 1; Militia and Defence Department, 260; Railways and Canals Department, 14.

1. How many cars of wheat have been shipped on the 6 cents per bushel rate on the Transcontinental railway, Armstrong to Montreal?

2. How many cars of wheat have been shipped at this rate, Armstrong to Quebec?

3. What is the rate on wheat from Armstrong to St. John, Armstrong to Halifax, and Armstrong to Portland, Me.?

4. What are the rates on wheat for domestic consrmot'on from Armstrong to Montreal and Quebec?

1. Twenty cars.

2. Eighty cars.

3. Armstrong to St. John, for export,

14 -22 cents per bushel; Armstrong to Halifax, for export, 14-22 cents per bushel; Armstrong to Portland, for export, 14 -22 cents per bushel.

4. Armstrong to Montreal, for domestic consumption 12 cents per bushel; to Quebec,

15 cents per bushel.

1. What has been the total cost of the consolidation of the Railway Act?

2. To whom was such amount paid?

1. The work of consolidating the Railway Act is in progress. Besides the work usually incidental to consolidation, thorough inquiries and investigations have been made, involving conferences' with the Railway Commission and other bodies, into the working out of the different sections of the Act, with particular regard to those in respect of which amendments have been offered in recent years. $7,000 has been paid on account of this work.

2. To Mr. Samuel Price, K.C

1. What amount of dutiable goods was entered at the port of Shelburne, N.S., during the month of December, 1915, of the following classes of imports, respectively, and the value of each; rope, pianos and Organs; shipping, sail and steam ; and rough or surfaced lumber?

2. How much duty was paid on each of the above classes of imports at the said port of Shelburne?

Mr. REID:

The answer to this inquiry

would disclose the value of an individual importation. It is not usual to give infor- . mation as to the value of individual importations entered at the custom house.

1. Was a submarine bell established at or near Digby Gap?

2. If so, when was it established and upon whose authority?

3. From whom was the application for the establishment of the bell received?

4. What was the cost of such bell?

5. What vessels navigating those waters carry apparatus for detecting the presence of a submarine bell?

6. By what steamship companies are any such vessels operated?

1. Yes.

2. Established January 7, 1915, by authority of Governor General in Council.

3. Mr. Andrew A. Allen and Mr. F. L. Wanklyn.

4. $2,154.85.

5. When installation of bell was approved the SS. St. George, operated by the Dominion Atlantic railway, equipped with receiving apparatus, was plying on the route between St. John and Digby. The SS. St. George was subsequently withdrawn from the route, and there being no other vessel fitted with receiving apparatus regularly plying on the route, instructions have been issued, on the recommendation of the Lighthouse Board, that the bell be withdrawn.

6. See answer to No. 5.

1. Has the Government been solicited by any one to establish a wage board for munitions? If so, by whom?

2. Has the Government made any demand to the Imperial authorities or to the Munition Board in that respect? If so, to whom?

3. Has the Government received any communication from the Imperial authorities or from the Munition Board respecting a fair wage clause on contracts for munitions? If so, of what nature, and from whom?

4. Has the Government attached a fair wage clause on all contracts to which our Federal authorities are responsible? If not, why not?