Mr. BUREAU.

Yes.

Mr. SPROULE.

Were the parties invited to tender for all the penitentiaries ?

Mr. BUREAU.

It was optional for them to tender for one or for all the penitentiaries.

Dorchester penitentiary, $70,000.

Mr. CROCKET.

Does the department still buy its hardware from the firm of Mc-Avity & Sons, of St. John, New Brunswick?

Mr. BUREAU.

Lewis Brothers of Montreal are the contractors for the hardware, both sundries and staples, for the year 1907-8.

Mr. CROCKET.

In the Auditor General's Report, I notice that upwards of $1,000 of hardware was purchased from McAvity & Sons.

Mr. BUREAU.

These were plumber's' supplies and steam fittings, small orders given at different times, when the things were wanted quickly.

Mr. CROCKET.

Without public tender or competition. Is the Solicitor General

aware that the head of this firm is George McAvity, the gentleman who got away with a rake-off of $35,900 in connection with the Mayes contract ? If that firm has any account against the government^ it might be well to set it off, so far as it will go, against that rake-off, seeing that the department is unwilling to take proceedings to recover back the $35,900. In connection with McAvity & Sons, I find that they received $2.45 per barrel for 120 barrels of Portland cement, but I notice that cement was purchased for the St. Vincent de Paul penitentiary at $1.85. It might be interesting to the Department of Justice to know that the Public Accounts Committee of New Brunswick had occasion to investigate the accounts of McAvity & Sons some years ago when the Minister of Public Works (Mr. Pugsley) was in the government of that province, and it was found that they were charging two prices in many instances.

Mr. BUREAU.

The penitentiary at St. Vincent de Paul is right close to the market where they deal in cement, which may account for its being cheaper there. I do not know if there are any cement factories in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick, and the difference in freight may explain the discrepancy. If you buy from Hull, you will have to pay more freight.

Mr. CROCKET.

Would the freight account cause such a difference?

Mr. BUREAU.

The purchase may have been at different times and larger quantities may have been required for St. Vincent de Paul than for Dorchester penitentiary.

Mr. ARTHURS.

I find that 235 barrels of Portland cement were bought from J. H. Hickman at $2.45.

Mr. BUREAU.

Yes, the same price as from McAvity & Co.

Mr. CROTHERS.

The chaplain at this penitentiary receives $200 a year less than at St. Vincent de Paul. Is that by reason of his inferior capacity or less onerous duties?

Mr. BUREAU.

Less onerous duties, on account of the population being less in Dorchester than in St. Vincent de Paul.

Mr. THOBURN.

I find on page L-22 of the Auditor General's Report that the government purchased from T. Prefontaine & Co., Montreal, lumber commencing at $20 and running up to $75 per 1,000 feet. Unless this lumber was made into mahogany chairs or things of that kind, the price seems a fabulous one.

Mr. BUREAU.

The $75 per 1,000 feet was paid for oak.

Mr. URIAH WILSON.

Could the minister say how much of the items for salaries

and retiring allowances at St. Vincent de Paul and Dorchester penitentiaries is for each separately ?

Mr. BUREAU.

Last year there were $38,606.48 for salaries and $2,077.76 for retiring allowances.

Mr. URIAH WILSON.

The retiring allowances ought to be put separately in the estimates so that we might know them.