Mr. Stanley Knowles (Winnipeg North Centre):

Will the Minister of Trade and

Commerce state whether Steep Rock Iron Mines have now delivered the first five million tons of ore referred to in the agreement of 1942? If so, may we assume that the freight subsidy in connection therewith has ceased?

Right Hon. C. D. Howe (Minister of Trade and Commerce):

Yes, Mr. Speaker, the

delivery of the five million tons was completed last autumn, and there is no government subsidy in connection with the operation of the Steep Rock mine at the moment.

Mr. Knowles:

In view of the minister's

statement, will he indicate whether representations have been made to the government that the subsidy be continued or reinstated?

Mr. Howe:

No such representations have

been made.

Mr. Rinfret:

The discussion on section 1 has been along two lines. One branch of the discussion has been concerned with the operating details of the department, while the other branch has been concerned with the increased rates on newspapers. In connection with this latter branch, I should like to say that when we reach section 11 I propose to ask one of my colleagues to move an amendment to that section. This might simplify the discussion of section 1, and we can discuss the amendment on section 11.

Mr. Drew:

Will the effect of the amendment be a reduction in the postal rates now indicated in that section?

Post Office Act

Mr. Rinfrel:

That will be the effect of it.

Mr. McLure:

Paragraph (c) of subsection 1 reads:

"Deposit at a post office" means to leave in a post office or with a person authorized by the Postmaster General to receive mailable matter.

Then paragraph (d) says that "mail" means mailable matter from the time of its deposit at a post office to the time of its delivery. How soon after it is received is it postmarked?

Mr. Rinfret:

The postmark is put on as soon as it reaches the post office.

Mr. McLure:

Paragraph (g) deals with

"mail conveyance". This paragraph does not include motor trucks, so I presume that tenders will not include the provision that the tenderer must give assurance that he has a half-top truck to carry the mail?

Mr. Rinfret:

This is only a definition, and it brings the definition in fine with existing methods of transportation now used by the post office.

Mr. McLure:

The old tenders for contracts included a paragraph stating that no tender would be considered unless the person tendering had a half-ton truck in which to carry the mail. Now, that is no longer included?

Paragraph (k) says:

"Postage stamp" means any stamp or impression authorized by the Postmaster General for the purpose of paying postage.

I presume that would include postage meters. How are these machines operated? Are they owned by the post office, or by the firm putting them in, and what do they cost?

Mr. Rinfret:

On the first question, the

stipulations that are put in the demand for tender depend, of course, on the condition of the road. I do not believe there is any condition in any of our contracts that call for a truck of so many tons. A snowmobile might be called for if the circumstances of the road required it during the wintertime. I do not believe we put any restriction or qualification on the truck itself.

As to the second question, paragraph (k) covers postage stamps and postage impressions of all kinds, including those made by postage meters, postage registers and like mechanical devices. The meters are rented by the firm. The firm goes to the post office, deposits a certain amount of money, and the meter is wound up to the amount that has been deposited. When the meter is used it decreases down to zero; then the firm goes back to

[Mr. Drew.J

the post office and deposits a further sum of money, and the meter is again wound up to the amount of money deposited.

Mr. McLure:

The firm does not get any commission on these machines?

Mr. Rinfret:

No.

Mr. Hatfield:

Who rents the machines, the Post Office Department or some outside firm?