Bill (No. 233) respecting the manufacture of binder twine in Canada.-The Minister of Finance. .
Ocean and mail service between Great Britain and Canada, $150,000.
Mr. BLAIN.
At the last meeting the Minister of Trade and Commerce gave us the quantity of mail matter that went by tlie Canadian route. Would he be good enough to give us the quantity that goes by the New York route ?
Probably about six or seven times as much. That would rather come under the Postmaster General's department.
I could not carry those figures in my memory. Some time ago tlie question was asked from the other side by, I think, the senior member for West Toronto (Mr. Clarke), and I gave the figures of the quantity of mail that went via New York and via Halifax.
Mr. BLAIN.
Is the quantity of mail matter going by the Canadian route increasing or decreasing ?
I think it is about stationary, that is to say, relatively.
Mr. TAYLOR.
I think the minister was to bring down a statement showing the amounts we paid to the American boats and to the Canadian boats.
What we pay to the Canadian boats does not come in my department. What is paid to the American boats, I understand, is so much per pound. It is fixed by the Postal Convention.
Mr. TAYLOR.
Some one ought to know how much we pay per year for carrying the mails via New York.
If my hon. friend wants that information, I will ask the Postmaster General to make a note of it and bring it down. For what year does the hon. gentleman want the information ?
Mr. TAYLOR.
For this year or any year.
The weight of letters despatched via New York was 92,530 pounds. The weight of other matter was 663,000 pounds. About one-seventh part goes by the Canadian route and about seven times as much goes by way of New York.
Mr. BLAIN.
Has the mail matter going by way of New York increased or decreased in volume ?
Speaking from recollection, I think they maintain about the same ratio from time to time.
Mr. TAYLOR.
The right hon. gentleman has not got the cost ?
No, that is wholly a matter concerning the Post Office Department.