1. What is the total amount of prairie farm assistance payments that have been made or have been passed on favourably or accepted in each of the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba during the year 1948?

2. In how many cases have requests or applications for payment been denied in each of the said provinces?

1. Manitoba, $43,173.75; Saskatchewan, $11,112,671.50; Alberta, $1,637,306.25.

2. Manitoba: 37 townships applied for; 19 found to be ineligible. Saskatchewan: 1592 townships applied for; 249 found to be ineligible. Alberta: 715 townships applied for; 337 found to be ineligible.

1. When was the contract or contracts let for the construction of forty houses under N.H.A. to the Bow River Construction Company of Calgary, Alberta?

2. Who approved the plans and specifications for this contract?

3. Who approved the contractor or contractors for this project?

4. What were the qualifications of these contractors as to building experience and as to financial ability to complete the job?

1. No contract for the construction of houses in Calgary has been let to the Bow River Construction Company by Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The company planned to build houses for sale to prospective home owners. The houses were to be constructed on the company's own account and therefore no contract for the construction of houses was involved. However, as it was intended to finance the project under the National Housing Act, the company entered

into two agreements with the corporation pursuant to section 4B of the National Housing Act. These agreements provided that:-

(a) The company would finance the construction of the houses it planned to build under the provisions of the National Housing Act.

(b) The company would construct the houses for sale at a price not in excess of a price fixed in the agreement.

(c) The corporation would purchase from the company on the expiration of a fixed period after the date of completion, and at a price fixed in the agreement, any house built pursuant to the agreement that remained unsold.

(d) The houses were to be offered for sale in the first instance to veterans.

The agreements mentioned above were dated July 25th, 1947, and November 4th, 1947. All such agreements entered into pursuant to section 4B of the National Housing Act are known as integrated housing agreements and the plan as "The Integrated Housing Plan".

2. The Bow River Construction Company of Calgary obtained mortgage financing in respect of the houses built under the above-mentioned agreements under the National Housing Act, see (a) above, through the Manufacturers Life Insurance Company. The plans and specifications were approved by the Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation as joint mortgagees.

3. The Bow River Construction Company of Calgary was approved as a borrower under the National Housing Act by the Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation as joint mortgagees.

4. Reports obtained on the Bow River Construction Company at the time the Integrated Housing agreements and the National Housing Act loans were approved indicated that the company was in a sound financial position and would be able to carry the project to a successful conclusion.

Questions

1. What is the estimated number of acres of land in each of the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba that have been supplied with potential irrigation through water storage by P.F.R.A. since its inception?

2. What estimated acreages in each of the above provinces have had irrigation facilities authorized to date which are not finally completed?

1. Alberta, 123,097; Saskatchewan, 110,461; Manitoba, 656-5.

2. Alberta, 527,500; Saskatchewan, 18,000; Manitoba, 120.

Includes 500,000 acres at the St. Mary-Milk river project where reservoir and main canal construction is now in progress.

1. Have any requests been made to the Department of Transport concerning the improvement of the railroad, passenger trains and the railway service between Montreal and Cochrane, via Abitibi?

2. If so, from whom and when?

3. Has any action been taken by the department in this connection and what steps are being taken to make such improvements?

1. No.

2. Answered by No. 1.

3. The board of transport commissioners advise that since early last year the board has been dealing with the C.N.R. regarding the conditions in this area, that certain improvements recommended have been effected, and that the situation is being given further study by the board with the object of bringing about satisfactory railway conditions to cope with the rapid development throughout this section of the country.

1. On what date in 1948 were the first increases in freight rates officially authorized?

2. What other increases have taken place since then?

3. What categories do these increases cover?

4. What items are included in express charge increases, and increases in passenger rates on Pullman sleeping car accommodation?

5. What dates did these increases occur?

6. What was the amount of increase in each case?

7. On whose authority were these increases permitted?

1. In 1948 the first and only general freight rate increase was authorized on March 30, 1948, by the board of transport commissioners. The tariffs affected were "standard" and "special."

2. No other increases which required the prior authorization of the board of transport

commissioners. The railways, however, are constantly adjusting their tariffs filed with the board pursuant to the Railway Act to meet changing conditions.

3. Answered by 2.

4. (a) Some express rates to meet competition of highway transport were increased on September 15, 1948, and cover a large variety of commodities.

(b) Sleeping and parlour car fares.

5. (a) Answered by 4 (a).

(b) January 15, 1949.

6. (a) 15 per cent.

(b) Approximately 25 per cent.

7. No authority was required. Such rates and fares are lower than the "standard" rates and fares and, therefore, were filed in accordance with the provisions of sections 332 and 335 of the Railway Act.