Mr. LALOR.

What is the length of this timber ? That makes a considerable difference.

Mr. LALOR.

$30 would be a pretty steep price for hemlock timber. I have taken contracts where I got it at a much better price than that.

Mr. LALOR.

Of what nature is the agricultural information to be obtained from the farmers ?

Mr. LABOR.

Did the hon. minister not say that that would be liable to increase every year?

Mr. LALOR.

But let me call the minister's attention to the fact that the information for Ontario is not collected as he proposes to collect it elsewhere. The information for Ontario is collected by the assessors, whereas the minister proposes to collect it. by sending circulars indiscriminately to the farmers in the different localities. In the one case the information is authentic and reliable, and in tlie other it will not be.

Mr. BARR, it is tlie fact not only that the statistics in Ontario are carefuliy collected, but also that they are sent broadcast to the farmers. Every member of the agricultural society in the province of Ontario, and, I believe in tlie province of Manitoba as well, receives, week by week or month by month, the bulletins containing this complete and accurate information. And not only farmers but business men and men of all classes, have that information. And I cannot see in what way tlie minister proposes to increase the volume of our knowledge by the information he proposes to gather.