Mr. Chevrier:

It is a list of Canadian registered ocean-going dry cargo vessels laid up, and to date there are 26.

Mr. Green:

That was only part of the question. I asked the number and tonnage of Canadian ocean-going vessels of 1,000 gross tons and over. The figure is given on page 18 of the report of the Canadian maritime commission for the year 1949 up to March 31, but I asked that that figure be brought down to October.

Mr. Chevrier:

As of October 31 there were 118 deep-sea dry cargo vessels built in Canada for war purposes which are now under Canadian registry. Over and above that, as my hon. friend knows, there are 58 vessels which were put under United Kingdom registration and which are due for delivery in Canada in 1950. At the present time there are 26 such war-built vessels laid up for want of cargoes. There are 92 such ships now actually operating under Canadian registry employing about 3,772 men.

As of March 31, 1949, the tonnage of Canadian ocean-going vessels of 1,000 tons gross and over (excluding vessels operated on the great lakes and in the coastal trade) was 981,255 tons. The number of such vessels was 145. As of October 31, 1949, there were 143 vessels of a gross tonnage of 967,310.

Have I unanimous consent to place the statement on Hansard?

Agreed.

Mr. Chevrier:

The statement is as follows:

Canadian registered ocean-going dry cargo vessels laid up.

Acadia Overseas Freighters Ltd.

Cumberland County, Halifax 9/12, laid up.

Digby County, Halifax 11/26, laid up.

Inverness County, Halifax 10/8, laid up.

Pictou County, Halifax 9/11, laid up.

Shelburne County, Halifax 7/26, laid up.

Victoria County, Halifax 9/5, laid up.

Andros Shipping Co. Ltd.

Cliffside, Halifax 11/20, laid up.

Islandside, Halifax 10/3, laid up.

Rockside, Halifax 9/15, laid up.

Argonaut Shipping Co. Ltd.

Argofax, Vancouver 7/25, laid up.

Argobec, Halifax 11/21, laid up.

Argojohn, Halifax 9/22, laid up.

Argo van, Seattle 10/20, laid up.

Federal Commerce & Navigation Co.

Federal Mariner, Halifax 11/22, laid up.

Federal Pioneer, Halifax 11/30, laid up.

Ivor Shipping Co. Ltd.

Ivor Isobel, Tyne 6/29, laid up.

Ivor Jenny, Tyne 7/15, laid up.

Ivor Rita, Tyne 8/6, laid up.

Laurentian Shipping Co.

Laurentian Hill, Penarth 8/12, laid up.

P. & T. Steamship Co.

L'Alouette, Amsterdam 9/15, laid up.

Seaboard Owners Ltd.

Seaboard Enterprise, Tacoma 5/19, laid up.

Seaboard Pioneer, Vancouver 4/29, laid up.

Seaboard Ranger, Halifax 10/11, laid up.

Seaboard Trader, Montreal 9/13, laid up.

Triton Steamship Co.

Triland, Halifax 9/19, laid up.

Triport, Vancouver 6/6, laid up.- (26)

Mr. Black (Cumberland):

What steps are being taken to renew the ferry service between Parrsboro, Kingsport and Wolfville on Minas Basin? This ferry service was in operation for 50 years but was discontinued during the war. The boat was especially built for the service and was called the Kipawo, the name being made up of the first two letters of the three ports served. The boat was taken over by the navy, used in Newfoundland, sold without loss and the proceeds placed in the consolidated revenue fund of Nova Scotia. Continuous representations have been made to the department and the government to renew this service by boards of trade, town councils, individuals and others. That is the only service in all Canada that was discontinued.

I am sure this was not done for economic reasons, because considerable increases are shown in subsidies paid in connection with other services in Quebec, such as the one between Quebec, Natashquan and Harrington where there is an increase from $127,500 to $448,000. Then there is an increase from $60,000 to $88,000 in connection with the service between Pictou, Nova Scotia, Souris, P.E.I., and the Magdalen islands. In addition there is the large increase of $276,000 in connection with the British Columbia services which we have been discussing.

My views and the views of the different communities that were served are on record and the minister knows what they are. I hope some steps are being taken by the department to renew this service because it saves about 150 miles in travelling between these points. There has been a most unjustifiable denial of a service which has been carried on for 50 years and which was a matter of pride to the people on both sides of the Minas Basin.

Mr. Chevrier:

I think my hon. friend will agree with me when I say that before any consideration can be given to granting a

Supply-Transport

subsidy someone must make an application. After all, the maritime commission do not go around the country seeking applicants for subsidies. In this particular case there has not been an application, and until there is the commission cannot deal with it. If my hon. friend knows of any contractor or group of individuals who want to make application, I can assure him that the maritime commission will give it their best consideration.

Up until now there has been no evidence of anyone intending to apply for the service.

Mr. Black (Cumberland):

So far as I know, there has been no evidence of the government being prepared and willing to renew the subsidy. So far as I know there is also no evidence or record of the government going about the country and attempting to do justice to this community. Under the pretext and stress of war they went about the country and took from them the service that they had been enjoying for fifty years. I think it is only just that they should go about the country and see what they can do to renew the service they took away from this community.

Mr. McLure:

I notice that for the Prince Edward Island-Newfoundland service the vote is the same as last year. There may be something in the supplementaries that I have missed, but the trade will be much greater now since Newfoundland has become the tenth province. I was hoping that a change would be made in this item so that better service could be provided directly to Newfoundland. While I am on my feet, there is another service I should like to mention, the Wood Island-Cariboo ferry, and in this instance also the vote is the same as it was last year. This Northumberland ferry has been giving one of the finest services of any ferry we have. I hope that the Minister of Transport will prevail upon the Minister of Public Works to do the proper dredging that he promised to do last year.

Mr. Fournier (Hull):

I did?

Mr. McLure:

The ferry people will be able to buy a larger boat if it is properly dredged as the minister promised. We will take that up with him when we come to his estimates. I am also grateful for another vote in these estimates, even though it is not so large. I refer to the one for the service to Souris and the Magdalen islands. We only want one more ferry to complete the transportation system on the island. I thought surely there would have been an estimate for it. I refer to a service between West Point and Buctouche. It was the one ferry that had the most advertising during the recent election campaign. I thought the hon. member

Supply-Transport

for Prince would have seen to it that there was a good vote in the estimates for the building of a new ferry.

Mr. Macdonnell (Greenwood):

That will be for the next election.

Mr. Green:

Is the minister in a position yet to make any announcement concerning the negotiations between Canada and the United Kingdom for Canadian ships to carry some portion of the sterling freights?

Mr. Chevrier:

If my hon. friend will only allow me to get through with these estimates, there will be an announcement by the Prime Minister tomorrow.

Mr. Green:

I believe some representations have been made to the minister-

Mr. Chevrier:

The Prime Minister may not make the statement.

Mr. Green:

You cannot bluff me that way. The Prime Minister should have made the statement before now. I believe representations have been made to the minister as to the lack of recreational facilities in certain Canadian ports for British and foreign seamen using those ports. The suggestion is made that the national harbours board could give some assistance with these facilities. It appears that in many of the leading foreign ports, which our own Canadian sailors are visiting from time to time, there are much better facilities than in some of the Canadian harbours. Has the minister given any consideration to the suggestion?

Mr. Chevrier:

I have received no representations at all, and I am not aware of any. The chairman of the national harbours board tells me he is not aware of any.