Mr. MACLEAN:

Are the postal stations in Winnipeg situated on corner lots or expensive property? I think that sub-post offices in cities might be modest buildings, not comparable to the general post office. In large European cities and American cities the sub-stations are small, modest buildings, and frequently are rented. I doubt if it is good policy, in a large city, for the Government to be buying properties for postal stations.

Mr. ROGERS:

As to the postal stations in Winnipeg, Mr. GeoTge Ross, general inspector of the Post Office Department, came to me some time ago and I told him to pick out whatever site was best in the public interest and his choice would be satisfactory to- me. I really do not know what lot he has purchased, but my deputy tells me that for postal station B he purchased a property costing $18,000.

Mr. NESBITT:

I see there is $150,000 for Winnipeg barracks, and then there is the new drill ball, costing $500,000. ' Is it necessary to have that barracks as well as that big drill hall ?

Mr. ROGERS:

We sold the old -barracks to the Provincial Government, and it was a part of the contract that we should build a new barracks; but we have not started it yet.

Mr. NESBITT:

How many soldiers are

there in Winnipeg and what is the cost of the new north drill hall?

Mr. ROGERS:

We have over 25,000 men there. The north drill hall has cost $103,000.

Public building, Saskatchewan, $725,500.

Mr. McCRANEY:

I notice, in running through the Saskatchewan items, only two changes and those are with regard to the Saskatoon items. The amount in the Estimates for last year was $30,000. This year it is $24,ij>00. Would the minister explain the reduction?

Mr. ROGERS:

That difference is accounted for by the fact that we had to pay the taxes that had accumulated from the time we bought the property.

Mr. McCRANEY:

Have you taken that out of the cost of the building?

Mr. ROGERS:

That has been the practice, just as when buying a site we take the cost out of the building vote.

Mr. McCRANEY:

The next item is the

new public building. Last year the vote was $75,000 and this year it is $74,000. Is the explanation the same?

Mr. ROGERS:

That is -a phrase used in the department, " probable expenditure," but nothing has been spent.

Progress reported.

On motion of Mr. Rogers, the House adjourned at 10.45 p.m.

Thursday, April 13, 1916.