Mr. RICHARDSON:

What is the fuel

value of peat as compared, with coal?

Mr. RICHARDSON:

Yes, and I do not take the position that the newspapers should not pay a fair proportion of the costs? and perhaps at some future time they may pay all the cost of carrying these newspapers throughout the country. But if you treble the cost at one time, then I say that you are instituting an unwise policy, denying the wisdom of the policy followed in this country for the last thirty years. I agree with my confrere from St. James (Mr. Rinfret) that the cost might be increased gradually. If you doubled it tonight by this Bill and instead of a quarter of a cent you made it half a cent, an increase of one hundred per cent, with a little later on an increase of fifty per cent, and so on, you would give the newspapers an opportunity to adjust their position. But if you pile on 300 per cent at one stroke then you will place the newspaper in a very precarious position.

238J

Mr. RICHARDSON:

I do not think so.

Mr. RICHARDSON:

They preach different doctrines, though.

Mr. RICHARDSON:

Why discriminate if you are going to make an increase of three hundred per cent for the daily papers?