I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty—(1) whether he is aware that in the Naval Ordnance Department at Woolwich the present system of checking the workmen's hours and wages is giving rise to much dissatisfaction; (2) whether he is aware that if any workman, by accident or any other cause, loses an afternoon's work he only receives the sum of 1s. 8d. for the morning worked on the same day, which is only equivalent to 4d. per hour, whereas the average for the 48 hours per week is 5d. per hour; and that if a workman loses his morning's employment from circumstances over which he has no control, he only receives for 3 hours and 40 minutes the sum of 10d. instead of 1s. 6d., which means a loss for the half-day's work of 8d.; and (3) whether he will cause an inquiry into this system of checking with a view of giving satisfaction to the workmen employed?

I find that the system of checking is correctly described in the second paragraph of the hon. Member's question. I am obliged to him for calling my attention to it, and I have caused the inquiry which he suggests to be set on foot.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can inform the House what precautionary measures, if any, are adopted by Holland, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, or other foreign or colonial countries for the disinfecting of dairy produce imported into this country; and what security this country has for immunity from disease from receiving such produce?

I have no information that any measures of disinfection are applied to dairy produce either in any of the countries specified or in this country, nor am I aware how disinfection could be applied to many articles of dairy produce. In some countries, however, milk is at times sterilised before distribution and use.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman proposed to make inquiries into this important matter, and whether the Government proposed to introduce any measure upon the subject?

said, that the Government had no present intention of introducing such a measure as the hon. Gentleman suggested.

asked whether the Government would not extend the same protection to the people of this country which was given to the countries mentioned in the question on the Paper?

said, that that was a matter of argument.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, whether the use of the Galleries on the Mound, in Edinburgh, can be given for an Exhibition by the Society of Scottish Artists this autumn, or in the course of next year?

I am informed by the Board of Manufactures that they kept the whole of this summer and autumn free as regards the use of the Royal Scottish Academy Galleries, in order to enable the North British Railway Commissioners to carry out the repairs of the damages to the National Gallery buildings caused by the recent tunnelling operations under the Mound, and also to enable the Board to reorganise and re-arrange the interior of the National Gallery proper. The arrangement, however, which the Board has just concluded with the North British Railway Commissioners to postpone further operations until after 1st October next, leaves the Royal Scottish Academy Galleries free during the months of July, August, and September this year, and the Board would be in a position, if application is made to them, to consider whether they should exercise their power of permitting the Society of Scottish Artists to hold an exhibition in their Galleries during these months. I hope no time will be lost in making the application.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, whether he is aware that an intimation has been conveyed to a representative of the Indian Press to the effect that the proceedings of the Royal Commission on Indian Financial Expenditure will be private; whether this decision has been arrived at by the Commissioners themselves, or has been imposed upon them by Her Majesty's Government; whether he is aware that the principal Indian newspapers have already made arrangements for publishing full reports of the proceedings; whether there exists any special reason why the Press should not be admitted, as has been done in the case of the Anglo-Irish Financial Relations Commission, the Welsh Land Commission, the Labour Commission, and the Opium Commission; and whether, in view of the great interest taken in India in the proceedings of the Commission on Indian Financial Expenditure, Her Majesty's Government will take steps to secure that the Press should be admitted?

The question as to the publicity of the proceedings of the Royal Commission on Indian Expenditure is one for the Commissioners themselves to decide. The Secretary of State is informed that as yet no decision has been arrived at. Any intimation on the subject must, therefore, have been made without authority. The first meeting of the Commission will be held on the 26th instant.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what are the charges upon which the Government have ordered the prosecution of certain tenants on the Massereene estate in Ireland?

The proceedings in question have been directed against four persons for unlawfully preventing other persons from dealing with and purchasing cattle in the ordinary course of their trade; endeavouring to injure certain persons in their trade and business; and unlawfully using threats and intimidation.

asked if these proceedings were taken under the famous statute of Edward III.?

said, these proceedings were taken partly under the statute of Edward III. and partly also under the ordinary commission of the peace.

asked, if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the President of the Local Government Board visited this Massereene estate, and advised the tenants to stick by their organisation and the Plan of Campaign.

I was not aware that the organisation or the Plan of Campaign had anything to do with the proceedings now before the magistrate.

asked, if the right hon. Gentleman would discontinue the proceedings under the statute of Edward III., in view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman and his friends denounced the late Government for using the statute.

No; I cannot divest myself of any legal weapon because of any language used against it.

asked if a Bill was presented to the Grand Jury and thrown out?

said, this was a different case.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland when the Return granted regarding Irish magistrates will be printed?

I am in communication with the Lord Chancellor's Department in reference to this Return, and have requested that it be completed with the least possible delay.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the case of Richard Parkman, who was the subject of a violent assault committed by one Donald Fletcher, of Tobermory, on the 29th of January last; whether he is aware that Parkman, in consequence of this assault, was confined to bed for several days under medical treatment; whether Parkman lodged a charge with the inspector of police, who reported the case to Mr. Sproat, the procurator fiscal; and if he can state why that official has not prosecuted Fletcher?

My attention has been called to the case referred to by my hon. Friend, and I have caused inquiry to be made. I am informed that the case was not reported to Mr. Sproat, the procurator fiscal, as that official does not take up burgh cases, except where a sentence of more than sixty days' imprisonment might be pronounced. The case was, however, reported to the burgh fiscal, and I am informed that the reason why no proceedings were taken was—that it appeared from the evidence of the witnesses that Parkman was the aggressor. I understand that Parkman, having got a black eye in the scuffle, confined himself to his house for three or four days.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General (1) whether any accounts are kept of the fines, varying from a few pence up to several shillings, levied upon the recipients in this country of insufficiently stamped letters and postcards coming from abroad; (2) whether the amount of such fines is retained by the British Post Office, or whether any payment on account of them is made to the Post Offices of the countries of origin; and (3) whether he will lay upon the Table, or furnish orally, a statement of the amounts received for such fines during the past financial year?

No separate account is kept of the amount collected on the delivery of insufficiently stamped letters and postcards received from abroad. No payment is made on account of them to the Post Offices of the countries of origin, it being one of the primary principles of the Postal Union that each country shall retain the sums it collects. With regard to the last paragraph of the question, I beg leave to state that, as I informed the hon. Member on the 26th of February, it is not possible to give these figures.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that much inconvenience is caused by the want of some conspicuous notice of the existence of a post office at each of the numerous shops where postal and telegraphic business is conducted, it being frequently necessary to search on both sides of the street for the zinc-covered letter-box which is the only indication afforded; and whether he will direct that a projecting notice board, painted with the words "Post Office" (and "Telegraph Office" if required) in white letters on a scarlet ground, shall be affixed on every post office so as to be visible to passengers, and that every letter box on a shop front shall be painted scarlet, with the words "Post Office" or "Telegraph Office" in white, so as to be seen from the opposite side of the way?

I am not aware, nor do the records of the Department show, that much inconvenience is felt through the absence of conspicuous notices to indicate the position of town sub-post offices. In many cases projecting indicators are already in use. To make it compulsory to exhibit such indicators, and to have the letter boxes painted and lettered as suggested, would add to the expense which a sub-postmaster has to incur on taking office, and which, in the absence of any real necessity, I am unwilling to increase.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the complaints which have reached the War Office since the year 1892 in respect of the rations served out to the troops at Home are such as to show that the food has not been so good as before that date; whether there has been, under successive Governments, in recent years, any difference in the arrangement as to food and messing of the troops; and whether it is the duty of the officer in command to prevent any food which is not good from being served out to the messes of the men?

No complaints as to the quality of the rations supplied to the troops at Home have reached the War Office, and there is every reason, judging by the ration inspectors' reports, to believe that the rations are of very good quality. Since 1888 there has been a steady progressive improvement in the food of the soldier. This is due partly to a better quality being supplied, owing to a system of surprise visits by export ration inspectors having been adopted, and partly to the instruction which has been given to regimental officers in the inspection of meat in the Army Service Corps School of Instruction at Aldershot. Greater care is also now taken in cooking and in utilising all portions of rations according to a system which was begun in Ireland by Colonel Burnett, and afterwards brought to perfection at the Army School of Cookery at Aldershot. It is the duty of the officer in command to prevent food which is not good from being served out to the men. There has certainly been no difference under successive Governments in respect of the food arrangements beyond the steady improvement to which I have referred.

asked if it was not the case that last week or the week before a very large quantity of refrigerated meat had to be destroyed in Dublin.

said he could not answer that question.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to a letter recently published by Mr. Donald Mackenzie, addressed to the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce of Liverpool, relating to affairs in South Africa; whether his attention has been drawn to the statement therein that, out of a population of 400,000 persons in the two islands of Pemba and Zanzibar, 268,000 are slaves; that all labour in Zanzibar is done by slaves, as free labour does not exist, though solemn engagements were made between England and the Sultan of Zanzibar from 1873 to 1890 for the abolition of the slave trade, while in Aden and Port Said, where labour is free, there is no lack of men; whether the British Agent and Consul General is the official who directs the Sultan and the Zanzibar Government, and is responsible to the British Government for Zanzibar, Pemba, and East Africa; and whether it is with the sanction of Her Majesty's Government that such grave evils continue to exist?

I have not seen the letter, but full reports on the position of slavery in Zanzibar were laid in No. 6 Africa, 1895, and they deal with the points raised in the question. The whole question is now under consideration.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps the Government propose to take upon Mr. Hardinge's report to do away with Her Majesty's servants administering laws which acknowledge the legal status of slavery in the Island of Zanzibar?

I must point out to the hon. Member that the laws of Zanzibar are not administered by Her Majesty's servants. It was not found possible to come to a decision on Mr. Hardinge's reports till the position as to the future of the mainland had been settled. There will be as little further delay as possible in deciding what steps are to be taken.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Ohio steamer, of Hull, lately called Egyptian Monarch, has a Board of Trade certificate for carrying passengers, or were the Belleville boilers, with which she is fitted, with their feed pumps, constructed under the supervision of, and were approved by, the surveyors to the Board of Trade; has his attention been called to the bursting of two boiler tubes of this steamer on her first voyage, to the injury to a fireman from scalding in consequence thereof, to the leakage of the boilers and the breakdown of the feed pumps, leading to the necessity of ceasing to use two of the boilers; and will he cause an official inquiry to be made into the circumstances attending the use of the boilers of this steamer?

The steamer Ohio (lately Egyptian Monarch) does not hold a Board of Trade passenger certificate; but her boilers were constructed under the inspection of the Board's staff with a view to such a certificate. As, however, the boilers were regarded as experimental, and the Board's surveyors were not entirely satisfied with the feed pump arrangements, the declaration was withheld pending the result of a trial voyage. I am informed that during this trial one of the tubes burst, that certain other defects developed themselves, and that a fireman was slightly burnt. Further inquiries are being made into the matter with regard to which the Board of Trade are in communication with the owners, but, as at present advised, I do not think the case is one calling for formal investigation under the Merchant Shipping Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, under Sections 239 and 240 of the Merchant Shipping Acts, it was not necessary that report should be made to the Board of Trade Surveyor, and an entry made in the official log; and, whether it was the fact that no such entry was made on the present occasion.

said, that he had not the Merchant Shipping Acts at hand for reference, and the question had better be put down as a separate one.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that it was an impossibility that these boilers could be in an experimental stage, as they had been told lately that they had been used in the French service for some years.

thought this was rather a matter of argument than of fact.

asked if he was correct in understanding that the Board of Trade had so much doubt about these boilers that they declined to give the usual certificate before she had made her voyage.

said, he had said nothing at all about the Belleville boilers generally; but in this particular case the Board of Trade Surveyor thought that before the certificate could be given a preliminary voyage should be made to test the machinery.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the trial of the master, mate, and part of the crew of the William Manson, for forcibly carrying off some natives from the Solomon Group in the Pacific; whether he is aware that it was shown that seven native women, without husbands, were taken on board, and provided with husbands picked up at other islands to elude the regulation which forbids women being recruited, except married women who volunteer to accompany their husbands; and whether Her Majesty's Government will adopt adequate measures to suppress such evils in connection with the Queensland labour traffic?

The report of the trial of the captain, Government agent, and others on board the William Manson has now been received from the Governor of Queensland. The charge upon which these men were tried was the taking by force from an island of the Solomon Group of three natives and carrying them on board the vessel, and on this charge, after a careful trial, they were acquitted by the jury, who had been locked up all night. It is stated that the prisoners have been remanded on other charges. Hon. Members will shortly have the opportunity of judging for themselves as regards the conduct of the case, as it is proposed to present papers on the subject. The Government agent has, however, been dismissed by the Queensland Government, and, with the others concerned, debarred from ever taking part in the labour traffic again. The traffic is being carefully watched, and it will be seen by the prompt action taken by the Queensland Government that they are as fully alive as Her Majesty's Government to the importance of preventing abuses.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works if the military bands will now be paid for the special duties performed in the Royal Parks.

There are certain technical difficulties which have not yet been settled, and I am not able for the present to give a definite answer. But an arrangement is being made, which I hope and think will be satisfactory to the Guards' bands concerned.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, with reference to his reply to a deputation of the East of Scotland Tactical Society in Edinburgh on 2nd February 1894, he has it in contemplation to prepare and introduce a Bill revising and codifying the 18 or more Statutes at present regulating Volunteers.

It is obviously desirable to consolidate these Statutes, but I fear it is equally obvious that there is no time to do it this Session. The Committee which last year considered the question of the working of the Volunteer Acts made no recommendation on the subject.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been called to the great inconvenience which at present exists in connection with the condition of the Naas Post Office, and to the resolution on this subject recently passed by the Town Commissioners of that town; and whether he can promise to make better provision for the needs of the public in this matter?

Attention has for some time past been directed to the need for a better post office at Naas, and the resolution of the Town Commissioners on the subject, which the hon. Member mentions, has been brought to my notice. It is now being considered how improved accommodation can best be provided, and I hope to be able to come to a decision before long.

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether notice of dismissal has been given to the inspectors of drawing in elementary schools who are over 45 years of age, stationed in the districts of Cumberland, Westmorland, and North Lancashire; whether this is part of a general notice to all inspectors of drawing over 45 years of age throughout the country, or whether it is personal to the inspectors in the districts mentioned, and, if general, what is the reason for the adoption of so low a figure as 45 for the age of superannuation; and to how many individuals does such notice apply?

In the district referred to notice has been given to one temporary local inspector, who is 47 years of age, that his appointment, which is from year to year, will not be renewed after August next. This is part of a general arrangement by which the temporary local inspectors are being replaced by a permanent inspectorate, most of the local inspectors who are under 45 years of age being put on the new permanent staff if they wish it. The notice of non-renewal of the local inspectorships after August next applies to 21 gentlemen, of whom 8 will be offered sub-inspectorships. The remaining 17 local inspectors will not have their appointments renewed after August 1896. It has always been made clear to all these gentlemen that their appointments were only for 12 months, renewable each year. They have been thanked by the Department for their work, but it is not possible to continue them consistently with the arrangements now being carried out.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Treaty of Shimonoseki has now been officially communicated to Her Majesty's Government; whether it can be formally laid upon the Table of the House; and, whether the subsequent arrangement between China and Japan relating to the Liao Tung Peninsula and other matters can be similarly communicated; and, whether it is the intention of the Foreign Office to publish a general Blue Book dealing with British interests in the Japanese and Chinese war, which has just come to a conclusion?

No, Sir; I cannot make any promise as to when the Blue Books will be published. A despatch has just been received from Her Majesty's Chargé d' Affaires at Tokio forwarding copies of the Treaty and of an Imperial Proclamation, which announces the arrangement made with the French, German, and Russian Governments as to the Liao Tung Peninsula.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether he is aware that the cattle belonging to a man named Larkin, on the Templemore Estate, were seized and placed in the Arthurstown pound before One o'clock a.m on the 23rd May (Ascension Morning); (2) whether it is legal to make seizures in the night; (3) whether he is aware that 200 police, drafted from other counties, were present at the auction of the tenants' cattle; and that the police of Wexford town and the surrounding baronies have little or nothing to do owing to the almost crimeless state of the county and (4), whether some of these surplus police could be spared to the Templemore Estate, thereby saving expense to the county?

The fact is as stated in the first paragraph. The seizure was made under a writ of fi. fa., directed to the Sheriff, and in the absence of police. It is legal to carry out a seizure under such a writ at any hour. There were two sales of cattle on the 24th May, one at Arthurstown and the other at Saltmills, and the number of police present on each occasion was 50. The assembling of this force will not, however, entail any expense to the county, as the men were not drawn from outside the county. The police of Wexford town and surrounding baronies perform the ordinary duties, and there is no extra force chargeable to the county.

I beg to ask whether it is not the fact that seizures under Civil Bill decrees cannot by statute be carried out at at night, and whether it is not the practice of the Government to discountenance seizures at night as being calculated to lead to disturbance?

said, that as the hon. and learned Member would probably remember, he got into some trouble in the Queen's Bench in reference to a matter of the kind.

Very honourable trouble.

said, he was aware that a Civil Bill was a very different thing from a writ of fi. fa.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a memorial has been received from the Parliamentary representatives of the central division of Queensland affirming the urgent necessity for the creation of that portion of Queensland into a separate Colony, and citing evidence to show that the inhabitants are practically unanimous in that desire; whether consideration has been given to their representations, and, if so, whether any decision has been, arrived at; and, whether the Governor of Queensland has forwarded a despatch respecting an interview he had on the subject with an influential deputation that waited upon him at Rockhampton on 1st April?

A memorial affirming the necessity for the creation of the central division of Queensland into a separate Colony, and signed by the members for the electoral districts of Central Queensland, was received in February last, and the representations of the memorialists have been duly considered. A despatch has now been received from the Governor enclosing a copy of an address on this subject presented to him on the occasion referred to, which has also received the Secretary of State's consideration. Her Majesty's Government, however, remain of opinion that the present is an inopportune moment for dealing with the separation question, and a reply to this effect has been addressed to the Governor in both cases.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State, for War—(1) whether his attention has been called to the destitute condition of the widow of Thomas Donnelly, of Moyne, county Tipperary; (2) whether he is aware that Donnelly served in the 86th Foot for 21 years and 112 days, was engaged in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny, took part in 14 engagements, received three good conduct badges, medal and clasp, and was invalided on a pension of 11d. per day; and (3) whether, in view of this record, it is possible to afford some pecuniary relief to his widow?

Pensioner Thomas Donnelly died on 4th June 1893, after having been in receipt of a pension of 11d. a day for 30 years. It is not known whether he was in 14 engagements; and he was not invalided, but went to pension at his own request; in all other respects paragraph 2 appears to be correct. The widow now asks to be treated as the widows of men killed in the Crimea, whereas her husband drew his pension for 30 years. I am afraid there is no Regulation under which anything can be done for her from Army Funds.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can give the names of the Haul-bowline Inquiry Committee?

The gentlemen who have been invited to serve on the Committee have not all signified their assent, and the hon. and gallant Gentleman will, perhaps, repeat his question on Monday.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information as to the Russian Religious Mission to Abyssinia; whether the head of that mission was a Russian colonel; whether it is true that an Abyssinian Embassy has gone to St. Petersburg to ask for the Czar's protection against the Italians; and whether several Russian retired officers have gone to take service with the Abyssinian Army?

I have to say, in addition to the information given to the hon. Member on the subject on the 28th of February, that the expedition arrived at Obokh on the 22nd of January, and consisted of a colonel, a captain, a doctor, and a priest, with two servants. After staying there a few days they went to Jibuti, and eventually proceeded with a native escort to Harrar, which they reached in a fortnight. From an account by one of the members of the Mission, published in the Russian newspaper Novoe Vremya early in March, there seems to have been a question of sending a Mission of Abyssinian Priests to St. Petersburg to establish regular relations with the Russian Church, but Her Majesty's Government have no definite information on the subject, nor have they heard of retired Russian officers taking service with the Abyssinian army.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General—(1) whether he is aware that on the 6th instant a large number of letters, each bearing a United States two cent stamp, which had arrived from New York, were delivered in London, a fine of 8d. being exacted from the recipient in each case, being twice the amount of deficient postage, and that on being opened each envelope was found to contain circulars of an offensive description; (2) whether the fine for an inland letter of the same weight on which no postage whatever had been paid would have been 2d. only; and (3) whether he will endeavour to arrange with the other Governments belonging to the Postal Union that in the case of the posting of a large number in identical terms from one country to another the deficient postage should be recoverable from the sender instead of the innocent addressee?

The facts are as stated in the first and second paragraphs of the hon. Member's questions. The letters arrived in this country marked in America as insufficiently paid, and it was the duty of this Department to double the deficiency and to collect the amount. There would be practical difficulties in making any such arrangement as that suggested in the last paragraph; but in the present case, which is one of a very exceptional nature, representations will be made to the Postmaster General of the United States.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that the Government of Ceylon has introduced a reply letter-card for the inland service of the island, so that a person writing a letter to another may enclose a letter-card for a reply; whether the French Government supplies a similar reply letter-card for inland use; whether the Ceylonese Government was the first British Government to adopt an international postcard and an inland cash on delivery parcel post; and whether he will direct that a reply letter-card, similar to the French and Ceylonese, shall be sold for the inland service of the United Kingdom, or, in the alternative, that two sizes of letter-card shall be issued, one of which can be enclosed in the other?

It is the fact, that the Government of Ceylon has introduced a reply letter-card for the inland service of the island, and that a similar reply letter-card for inland use is supplied by the French Post Office. In this country letter-cards do not find much favour with the public, and lately there has been no increase in the demand for them. I do not think, therefore, that there would be such a demand for a reply letter-card as would warrant its issue by the Department. The public are, of course, at liberty to use privately manufactured letter-cards with a penny adhesive stamp. I do not know whether Ceylon was the first British Possession to adopt an international postcard and an inland cash-on-delivery parcel post.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Article 9, Article 33, and Article 42 of the Berlin Treaty 1878, whereby the Powers Signatory of the Treaty enacted that Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Servia should each bear a portion of the public debt of Turkey, to be fixed by the Powers, in proportion to the territory obtained by each, have been carried into execution; what portion of the public debt of Turkey was fixed by the Powers to be borne respectively by Bulgaria, by Montenegro, and by Servia; and has such portion, or any portion, of the debt been borne, and is it still borne, by those three countries?

The articles referred to have not been carried into execution, owing to the fact that the Powers have been unable to come to an agreement.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any, and what changes are contemplated in the entry examinations for the Royal Military Academy and the Royal Military College; and, if so, when it is proposed to bring them into force?

The changes contemplated are—in the Royal Military Academy, to make "chemistry and heat" an obligatory subject, and to make "Latin" a voluntary subject; to divide "higher mathematics" into two subjects (and include the calculus), and to increase the number of marks given for colloquial knowledge of French and German. In the Royal Military College the only change proposed is to increase the number of marks given for colloquial knowledge of modern languages. For both the Royal Military Academy and the Royal Military College, to revise the regulations concerning the medical examination in the direction recommended by the Committee on Entrance Examinations which reported last year. The regulations necessary to give effect to the proposed changes are now in course of preparation, and those changes which affect the programme of examination will not be given effect to without due and sufficient notice.

asked whether the preponderance of evidence before the Departmental Committee recently appointed by him was hostile to the first of these changes; whether the present regulations to which the public schools had had to adapt themselves were only of two years' standing; and whether he had received a protest from the Head Masters' Conference, representing 85 public schools of the first grade, against the change.

said, he was not aware that a formal protest had been received, but, no doubt, one would be received of the kind referred to. The only change of importance was the introduction of scientific subjects in regard to the Academy; the other changes were of comparatively little importance. He did not know that the preponderance of the evidence before the Committee told against the change referred to; he thought the evidence was much in favour of it.

asked whether each Paper could not in future be considered by two examiners instead of one. Such an arrangement would be more satisfactory.

said that was a matter of administration under the Civil Service Commissioners, but he would give attention to the point. ["Hear, hear."]

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the terms of a resolution, purporting to have been signed by the British Ambassador to the United States, which asserts that the American steamship St. Louis had demonstrated the inauguration, under American auspices, of a new era in the history of ocean traffic; whether he is aware that extracts from this resolution, together with the statement that it bears his signature, have been published in the London newspapers; and whether, in view of the fact that such action on the part of a Minister may be utilised to advertise a foreign company at the expense of British liners, which have invariably proved their superiority both on the outward and homeward passages between this country and New York, he will request Sir Julian Pauncefote either to substantiate the assertions contained in this document or to withdraw his name from it?

The resolution referred to by the hon. Member was only the usual expression of thanks to the captain at the close of a successful voyage, which Sir Julian Pauncefote was invited to sign in his private capacity in common with the other passengers. The statement in the resolution of thanks that the St. Louis has inaugurated, under American auspices, a new era in the history of ocean traffic is substantially correct, and is under stood to mean no more than that the St. Louis is the first American-built liner designed to take part in the passenger traffic between Great Britain and the United States, under the auspices of an American Company. There is nothing in that statement reflecting upon any British shipping interest.

asked who paid the expenses of the passage of Her Majesty's Representatives when they travelled in vessels other than British vessels, and whether Her Majesty's Government provided that the British ships conveying our Ambassadors were equal in character to the St. Louis?

replied that the expenses of the passage of Her Majesty's Representatives were paid by the British taxpayer.

Am I to understand that the statement of the hon. Member is merely intended to convey in diplomatic language that the Ambassador had a pleasant voyage?

The words of the Resolution in question were not drawn up by the Ambassador himself.

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the appointments made in reference to the dispute existing in the Dockyards between the fitters, boiler makers, joiners, and blacksmiths, in regard to the proposed arbitration to lay down lines of demarcation between the said trades, is not giving satisfaction to the workmen concerned; will he explain why, although the First Lord of the Admiralty promised certain deputations that the arbitrators should be independent experts, the arbitrators who have been appointed belong to the official staff of the Government, and no one has been appointed from the ranks of the workmen; whether he is aware that the workmen have already made protests against the present composition of this Board of Arbitrators; and if he is able to extend the appointment of these arbitrators so as to include two representatives from the workmen interested in this arbitration.

We have reason to believe that the scheme suggested and adopted by the Admiralty has given general satisfaction, although some details have been adversely criticised by certain trades. According to the plan (which was originally suggested by representatives of the two principal trades) the question of demarcation is to be settled by the Director of Dockyards, who is to be assisted by four independent experts as assessors. Not one of the four assessors can be described as belonging to the official staff of the Government. Two have been, but are no longer, and will never again be, in the service of the Government; and they were selected on account of their long experience of dockyard business and in response to representations from the dockyards. The other two have never been in the service of the Government. All four are competent and independent experts. It has never been suggested that the assessors should be chosen from the ranks of the workmen, but they will have every opportunity of stating their case before the arbitrator and his assessors.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether he is aware that there is a strong feeling in Ireland in Government printing departments that the terms of reference in respect to the Select Committee to be appointed to inquire into Government printing contracts should extend to Ireland as well as England; and, whether he would be prepared to extend the scope of reference for such a purpose?

The terms of the reference to the Select Committee already include all Stationery Office printing contracts, whether in England or Ireland. I may add that I have received through my hon. Friend the Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin a request from the Dublin branch of the Bookbinders' and Machine Rulers' Consolidated Union that, the printing contract of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland should be included in the forthcoming Inquiry, and I have replied that there is no objection to this proposal.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, if he is now of a position to state if the Chinese or Japanese Government admit liability in the loss of British lives in the Kowshing; if either of these Governments will give compensation for such loss; and what amount of compensation has been demanded?

No claim has yet been preferred on account of the loss of British lives in the Kowshing. The Indo-China Steam Navigation Company were requested to furnish evidence with regard to each of the cases, and communications for the adjustment of these personal claims are now in progress between Her Majesty's Minister at Peking and the Shanghai agents of the company.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state if the advantages of commerce, navigation, and industry, stipulated to be extended by China to Japan under Article VI. of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, will also be enjoyed under existing treaties by Great Britain; and, if not, in what respect the situation of Great Britain will differ from that of Japan in regard to those advantages?

The hon. Member will find the answer to this question in an answer given to the hon. Member for Kingston on the 24th of April.

I would remind the hon. Baronet that at that time he had not the terms of the treaty, but that they are now in his hands. Do they confirm that answer?

Yes.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he has now, in conjunction with the Home Secretary, been able to formulate regulations to prevent the distribution, through the Post Office, of touting circulars from foreign countries, inviting people to take tickets in foreign lotteries, whilst it is illegal to do so in this country?

I have given instructions for stopping such circulars as the hon. Member describes when received from abroad in open covers and for returning them to the country where they were posted.

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government will extend to Great Britain the advantages enjoyed by Ireland under the Ashbourne Acts, and so offer British tenants the opportunity of becoming owners of their holdings upon the same easy terms as Irish tenants have been afforded under the said Acts?

No, Sir, the Government have no such Bill in contemplation.

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the site on which it was intended by the Government to erect the statue to Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, will be granted to a Committee of Members of Parliament and others who desire, by private subscriptions, to raise a statue to his memory?

May I also ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, if a number of admirers of Henry VIII. [laughter] should subscribe a sufficient sum for the erection of a statue to the memory of that monarch, he will grant a site for it in or near the Houses of Parliament, and whether he will make the space large enough to hold statuettes of his wives? [Loud laughter.]

Will the House have an opportunity of pronouncing an opinion on this question of site?

In answer to the question on the Paper, the Government will take the matter into consideration.

May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to show the House sufficient courtesy to answer the other question of the hon. Member for South Roscommon. [Cries of "Order!"]

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether an opportunity would be given to pass an opinion on the site for the statue of Oliver Cromwell.

The hon. Member has already asked that question of one Minister, who has declined to answer; he cannot ask it of another Minister.

Having regard to the assurance we received from him the other night, that the Departments concerned would see what Papers they could lay upon the Table, upon the strength of which I withdrew my Motion for a Select Committee, I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when we shall receive the Papers, and when the opportunity will be afforded to us to look at them, before the discussion on the Bill is resumed.

I am not able to answer the question with reference to the Papers, but certainly I have undertaken that there shall be a time fixed when there can be a discussion on the Bill.

asked the Home Secretary whether he would order a reprint of the Established Church (Wales) Bill?

I hope that substantial progress will justify a reprint of the Bill.

inquired when the Army Estimates would be taken.

desired to know when the War Office Vote would be taken.

There was an understanding that some hon. Members who desired to address themselves to the general question, had not an opportunity of doing so on the last occasion, and that another occasion would be afforded them. It was for this purpose that I propose to put down the War Office Vote as the first Vote to be taken. This will be followed by the Works Vote, as to which there is always pressure of time, the money being required with a view of taking advantage of the good building time in the summer.

pointed out that the proposed order of taking the Votes did not tally with the order in which the Amendments appeared upon the Paper.

That is rather a matter for the Chairman of Committees than for me. One Member may desire to devote his eloquence to one subject and another to another subject, but the War Office Vote enables anything connected with the military administration to be discussed, because it is open to any hon. Member who is dissatisfied with that administration to move a reduction of my salary. [Laughter.]