Mr. CARRUTHERS:

Blind River is on

the steamboat course between Owen Sound and the Soo; it is a regular shipping place. The warehouse there was blown down and this vote is to replace the structure which is intended to protect the goods that are shipped in there until the merchants can take them away.

Mr. CRERAR:

I understand, then, that

the government maintains this warehouse for the convenience of the people who are shipping goods?

Mr. KING (Kootenay):

That is right.

Mr. CRERAR:

Is any charge made for

its use?

Mr. KING (Kootenay):

Not at this point, I think. The work is of a public character, and it is necessary to keep the wharf structure in proper shape in order to handle the traffic. That traffic consists of about 600 tons of general merchandise and 200 tons of fish. Before the war there was a much larger traffic at that point. As I said earlier in the discussion, at the larger points where considerable tonnage is being handled, the

wharves are administered by the Department of Marine and tolls are charged for their use. At this small, outlying place it would not pay to appoint a wharfinger to collect tolls; there would not be enough revenue collected to pay his salary.

Mr. CRERAR:

But wharves and warehouses are two different things. Why cannot the people who ship the goods provide the warehouse?

Mr. KING (Kootenay):

They might, but

it has not been done.

Mr. GARLAND (Bow River):

What has

been the total amount of money spent on warehouse construction at Blind River? The minister, I think, has already informed the House that this will be the third warehouse to be constructed by the government-at least the third; there may have been others that I do not know of.

Mr. KING (Kootenay):

I stated before

that the original warehouse was built in 1905, and its dimensions were 40 by 70 feet. In 1908, due to heavy traffic originating from lumbering activities, it became necessary to make an addition of 70 feet, so that the dimensions of the building are now 40 by 140 feet. We are making good damage done by a storm some months ago that blew down a portion of the warehouse.

Mr. GARLAND (Bow River):

I take it

then the minister is not in a position to give the total cost of warehouse construction at Blind River?

Mr. KING (Kootenay):

I have not the

expenditure itemized or separated. I gave the total cost of construction at Blind River and the repairs made at this point from time to time. I have not the total cost of the warehouse itself, but the total cost for the construction of wharf and warehouse was $48,855.86.

Mr. GARLAND (Bow River):

I just

wanted the cost of the construction of the warehouse.

Mr. KING (Kootenay):

I have not got

that separated from the other I am sorry to say.

Mr. GARLAND (Bow River):

Well, really I think the minister might provide the committee with information of this kind.

Mr. KING (Kootenay):

There is no objection to that but it would expand our notes tremendously if we had to have on hand details of expenditure from the beginning. I have given the total for repairs, $4,843 41

Supply-Public Works

These warehouses are not unduly expensive. Taking the estimate I have for this new structure of $2,100 I would imagine that the total expenditure for the years 1905 and 1908 would be in the vicinity of $1,200-probably not more than that when you compare present costs with what they were then.

Mr. CRERAR:

I do not at all like the

practice that appears to have developed in the case of this warehouse, and I dare say there are others that are in the same position. I do not see why the taxpayers of Canada should be called upon to provide the money to build a warehouse at Blind River, or at any other point, that is solely for the benefit of private business interests in the locality. I know the customary thing is for wholesale houses, or shipping and business concerns, to provide their own warehouses, and I should like to have an expression of opinion from the minister as to the soundness of the policy involved.

Mr. KING (Kootenay):

For the information of my hon. friend, and to corroborate what I said a few moments ago, may I state that at these smaller points it would cost more to collect the tolls than you would get in the way of revenue. Take the case of Amherstburg. In 1922 we collected only $2.25 and in 1923 but $7.50.

Mr. CRERAR:

Was that from a wharf

or a warehouse?

Mr. K),NG (Kootenay): From warehouse

and wharf.

Mr. CRERAR:

I am not talking about

wharves.

Mr. KING (Kootenay) :

The practice is

not a new one; it has been observed, I think, since confederation.