I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to a statement with reference to certain irregularities at Woolwich Arsenal in connection with the payments to principal foremen under the head of exertion money, and whether he will consider the advisability in the public interest of exercising increased supervision in order that sufficient money may be saved to raise the wages of the lowest paid Government labourers.

†See page 32.

I have seen no statement of the kind, and those responsible in the Arsenal report that there are no grounds for the allegations in question in their respective departments. Special payments of exertion money will cease in the Ordnance Factories on the 31st instant.

What is "exertion money"?

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the contractor for extensive works at Ashurst Hill Barracks, Dublin, has subcontractors who do not carry out the Fair Wages Resolution or observe the hours of labour in preparing cut granite required for the work; and whether he will inquire into the complaint.

The contractor for the works at Arbor Hill Barracks— which are presumably those referred to by the hon. Member—buys his granite direct from a quarry in County Wicklow. On reference to the quarry in question, the General Commanding in Ireland is informed that the rate of wages current in the district where the stone is cut and dressed is duly paid.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, if a man offers himself as a recruit for the Royal Army Medical Staff Corps, he cannot be accepted if over 5 feet 5 inches in height, although he may be eligible in all other respects; and whether he is eligible for the Militia Medical Staff Corps and the St. John Ambulance Brigade if above that height.

A man if over 5 feet 5 inches in height could be accepted as a special recruit for the Royal Army Medical Corps, and, if he was a good and desirable man in every other way, would probably be accepted. A man of 5 feet 6 inches is not over standard for the Militia Medical Staff Corps, and would be accepted if found fit. I am not aware of the standards required for the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Adjutant General, who by Orders in Council of 29th November, 1895, and 7th March, 1899, has been charged with the military education and training of the officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Regular and Reserve Forces and Militia of the United Kingdom, is responsible for the due performance of those duties direct to the Secretary of State, and whether general and other officers are forbidden to practise any system of training which has not received the sanction of the War Office.

The Adjutant General is charged with the military training of all ranks subject to the supervision of the Commander-in-Chief, who signs all orders regulating exercises. It is essential that one system of training should be in force throughout the Army. If, therefore, general or other officers consider that any change from the existing system is desirable, it is their duty to submit it for the consideration of the Commander-in-Chief, and not to put it into practice until it has received his sanction.

Then am I right in understanding that the responsibility of the Adjutant-General is through the Commander-in-Chief, and not direct from the Secretary for War?

My hon. and gallant friend is fond of propounding questions in a debateable manner. The responsibility of the Adjutant-Ceneral in the performance of his duties is, no doubt, direct to the Secretary of State, but he acts under the supervision of the Commander-in-Chief in such military questions, and, of course, carries out the directions of the Commander-in-Chief.

May I ask whether, as a matter of fact, such a plan for the training of officers as has been indicated was submitted by the Adjutant-General to the Secretary of State for War; and whether that plan has been neglected both by the right hon. Gentleman and his predecessor?

No, Sir; I am not aware of anything of the kind. Any plan submitted by the Adjutant-General through the Commander-in-Chief would be carefully considered.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in the event of the proceedings of courts-martial or courts of inquiry on surrenders in South Africa, showing those surrenders to have resulted from defective or ineffectual training of officers and men despatched from the United Kingdom, steps will be taken to fully judge the system of training, and to hold those who have laid it down as sharing equally with the officers and men who have had to put it in practice the responsibility for those surrenders.

It would be very difficult to draw any conclusions such as the hon. and gallant Member suggests from the courts-martial or courts of inquiry which have reported. The question of the training of the troops is being carefully considered by the Commander-in-Chief.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a man's regimental savings bank account is shown in his non-effective account, and has this item been rendered by the battery in the case of Sergeant-Major Garner; and whether the savings bank account of the battery has been submitted for audit since 1899. At the same time, may I ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the remainder of Sergeant-Major Garner's estate has been issued, as stated by the Financial Secretary; and, if so, has the non-effective account also been received, and on what date was the remainder of the estate issued; and, considering that eighteen months have elapsed since Sergeant-Major Garner's death, in justice to his widow, can inquiries be made by telegraph at the battery which is in standing camp at Natal.

It appears that at the end of June, 1899, Sergeant-Major Garner had about £135 to his credit in his savings bank account. His non-effective account has not been received owing to the fact of his battery, which was engaged at Dundee, being unable to furnish the details. Enquiry has been made by telegram and every endeavour is being made to clear up the matter. The balance of money due to the Sergeant Major, with his war and discharge gratuities, has been provisionally issued, and although it is against all regulations I have authorised the payment of half the amount shown to be in the savings bank according to our last return.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at a recent meeting of the linen merchants of Belfast disappointment was expressed because the Government would not take linen khaki for the making of soldiers' clothing, and that linen is only one farthing per yard more than cotton khaki, although linen wears three times as long as cotton; and whether he will see that Irish linen gets the preference from this time forward for making soldiers' uniforms.

May I ask the Government to take this matter into their most favourable consideration, as it is one which excites great interest in Belfast?

The attention of the Secretary of State has been drawn to this matter. The preference for cotton over linen khaki is due not only to the fact that the latter is more expensive, but also colder and less absorbent than the former. In view of the recent adoption of woollen drab serge for the service dress of the Army, it is very improbable that any large quantity of either cotton or linen khaki will be required hereafter by the War Department.

Is it a fact that if Irish linen were used in the manufacture of soldiers' uniforms the constituents of the First Lord of the Treasury at Manchester would suffer?

Order, order!

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether portions of the work for the furnishing and upholstering of the four ships building at Barrow-in-Furness for the Government has been sub-let, whether any of the work executed by some of these sub-contractors is of an unsatisfactory character, whether he is aware that the work have been carried out by boys and under-paid labour, and whether he will appoint an inspector to supervise and pass the work before paying for it; and whether subcontracting is allowed by Government Departments in view of the Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons.

The work of furnishing on these ships has not been sub-let. The upholstering work, included in the contract, comprises only a few cushions and curtains, and is sub-let to a local firm who have previously done similar work for His Majesty's ships. The answer to the second and third questions is in the negative. All such work is invariably supervised and passed by Admiralty overseers before it is paid for. Subcontracting is allowed subject to Admiralty approval, and on condition that the responsibility of carrying out the work in a satisfactory manner, and that the wages paid shall be those generally accepted as current in each trade for competent workmen, remains with the principal contractor.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is yet in a position to say what arrangements are made for the accommodation of representatives of the press on the ships of war that will accompany the Royal Mission to Australia, and to state what news agencies or newspapers will be allowed to send representatives.

The First Lord much regrets that it was not possible to find accommodation for all applicants; but careful inquiry showed that five berths at the utmost could be made available on the two cruisers. These places have accordingly been apportioned among the applicants. A decision could not be postponed, as the cruisers sail on Thursday next.

Will you kindly say what agencies or papers are to get places?

Perhaps the lion. Gentleman will allow me to answer that question on the Supplementary Navy Estimate. I may, however, say that combinations have been arranged.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the sanction of His Majesty's Government has been given to a scheme by which it is proposed to join four or five provinces peopled with Pathan tribes, all outside the Indian border, under the same military, political, and revenue administration as now obtains in four of our own British districts within the borders of India; and will the full Papers relating to this scheme be laid before Parliament at an early date.

The Papers relating to this subject will be in the hands of Members in a few days, and they will show that the assumptions in the first question of the hon. Gentleman are erroneous.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Governments of Great Britain, Germany, and Japan have protested against the ratification by the Chinese Government of the agreement lately concluded between the representatives of Russia and China in Manchuria; whether that agreement, if carried out, would give Russia control of Manchuria to the exclusion of all other nations, would prevent the subjects of any other Power from obtaining concessions in Manchuria, and would place the trade and customs there under Russian control.

The question to which the hon. Member refers is engaging the earnest attention of His Majesty's Government, and has been the subject of diplomatic communications between the Powers. In the opinion of His Majesty's Government, any statement or discussion on the subject at the present moment would be inexpedient.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give to the House any information as to the British steamer "Kowshing," sunk by the Japanese in their war with China; whether the Chinese offered to refer the case to arbitration; whether arbitration was accepted, and, if so, whether anything came of it before the commencement of the present hostilities; and whether he can give the House any assurance that the case will not be lost sight of, but that it will be included in the Bill of Indemnity to be paid at the end of the present war by the Chinese Government to this country.

The Chinese Government accepted the offer of Her Majesty's Government to refer the case to arbitration, and the terms of reference to the arbitrator were under discussion when the disturbances broke out in China. In the actual circumstances further delay is inevitable, but the case will certainly not be lost sight of. As it is to be decided by arbitration it is clear that there can be no question of payment until the arbitrator has given a decision.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Arabi Pasha is to be allowed to return to Egypt from Ceylon.

No petition has recently been received from Arabi Pasha for leave to return to Egypt. If he were to make such a request the matter would be referred to the Egyptian Government for consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will explain why he does not act upon the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee of his predecessor in office and appoint an additional magistrate for the North London and South Western Police Courts; and whether he is aware that, as a consequence of there being only one magistrate appointed to these police courts instead of two, as in all other Metropolitan police courts, justice is frequently delayed by reason of the frequent demands that are made, consequent on the necessity of the same case having to be heard by a magistrate who can only attend the court occasionally.

This is a question which has been repeatedly under the consideration of my predecessors and of the Treasury. It has not hitherto been considered that the total number of days on which Metropolitan magistrates sit during the year are sufficient to justify the imposing on Imperial funds the cost of two additional magistrates. I am aware that considerable inconvenience arises of the nature referred to in the question. Provision has been made to lessen this as much as possible by an arrangement that the magistrates attached to other courts, who sit in turn at the two courts in question, shall, as far as possible, do so in consecutive weeks, and on the same day in these weeks.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the recent reduction of ten third-class inspectors of the Thames Division of the Metropolitan Police to the rank of constables for a breach of the regulations will affect the pensions of the men, some of whom have been in the service for nearly a quarter of a century; and whether, in view of the severity of the punishment, ho will order a fresh inquiry, with a view to a mitigation of the punishment.

The amount of these men's pensions will, of course, be contingent on the amount of their salary immediately previous to their retire- ment. Having made inquiry into the matter I see no reason at all for a reconsideration of the decision in their case.

What was the actually committed by these men?

Certain constables, on one pretence or another, wont along the river collecting money from various wharfingers. They were punished for it, and in the course of the inquiry it transpired that ten third-class inspectors had connived at the action and shared the spoils. They confessed to it. They were punished, and, I think, not too severely.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the recent increase in allowances to the men of the Metropolitan and other borough police forces is causing dissatisfaction among the men of county police forces serving in many cases actually on the other side of the street, and who, although they have as great expenses and live under practically the same conditions, are yet debarred from the advances that have been made; and further, whether he will recommend county authorities to grant these special allowances to men serving in populous urban areas under the same conditions which prompted an advance to the Metropolitan and borough forces.

The existence of the dissatisfaction indicated has not come to my knowledge. But I may say at once that the matter is not one in which I could take the action suggested.

I beg to ask the President of the Hoard of Trade whether, in case His Majesty's Government propose the appointment of a Committee to consider, in conjunction with a Committee of the other House, the best lines of route for underground railways in London, it will be proposed that all Bills for underground railways introduced in the present session shall be referred to such a Committee and whether, in the case of the appointment of such a Committee, His Majesty's Government will consider the desirability of letting the reference to it be sufficiently wide to allow the Committee to report upon the whole question of so arranging and connecting underground lines as to enable such lines to afford the maximum of relief to surface traffic, and to secure rapid, transit from the central parts of London to the suburbs.

Yes, Sir, I hope that the reference to the Committee will be so framed as to ensure that all the Bills of this session dealing with underground railways in London shall be laid before it, and also that the Committee shall be invited to report whether the lines of route proposed are best calculated to afford facilities for present and probable future traffic, and, if not, what modifications of those lines of route are desirable.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he is aware that a young man named John Kennedy was drowned on the 16th instant while skating on the reservoir known as Compensation Dam, Greenock; that the said reservoir is the property of the Water Trust of Greenock, but is within the police jurisdiction of the authorities of the county of Renfrew; that no police were present; that no life-saving apparatus was available; that those present who gallantly endeavoured to save the young man's life stated that if such apparatus had been available his life could have been saved; and that the said reservoir is largely used in time of frost by the inhabitants of Greenock and district; and if he will give such instructions as may probably prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

As regards the lamentable accident referred to by the hon. Member, I understand, from a report which I have received from the Chief Constable, that two life-belts are kept in a sluice-house adjoining the dam, provided by the Water Trust officials, and there also is a rope. All the employees of the Water Trust have a key to this sluice-house, as also the constable of the district. Although the constable had been in the neighbourhood of the dam on the two previous days, he was unfortunately not there on the day of the accident, having been detailed for special duty at a funeral at Wemyss Bay. As a heavy thaw had set in, he thought no one could possibly venture on the ice, and therefore did not apply for a constable to take his place. It would, as the hon. Member can understand, be impossible for the police to watch all the many reservoirs and dams within their jurisdiction and be responsible for warning persons against their own foolhardiness—a duty which is not imposed on them by any Statute. But the chief constable proposes to communicate with the engineer of the Water Trust of Greenock, to the effect that if he will at any time notify to the county police that in his opinion there is danger of accidents to venturesome people at the reservoirs within their jurisdiction, a police constable will be detailed to warn them of their danger.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he can state how many gunboats have been placed each year for the last five years at the disposal of the Scotch Fishery authorities by the Admiralty, with the view of preventing steam trawling on the Scotch coast in the prescribed waters.

I am informed by the Fishery Board that during the last five years H.M.S. "Jackal" or a substitute has been at their disposal for fishery superintendence under the Herring Fisheries (Scotland) Acts. The Board have also received occasional assistance from an Admiralty cruiser for the investigation of certain specific complaints of illegal trawling. It must be borne in mind, however, that the help given by the Admiralty is rendered in connection with the duties imposed upon them by the Sea Fisheries Act, 1883, and that these duties do not wholly refer to waters in which trawling is prohibited.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman last year state distinctly that two or three gunboats had been placed permanently at the disposal of the Fisheries Board?†

I remember giving an exact account of what had been done, and if the hon. Member refers to Hansard he will see what I said, no doubt.

In view of the fact that so much damage is done in Ireland, where so little of the gigantic expenditure on the Navy takes place, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to impress on the Admiralty the desirability of sending a gunboat for the protection of the Irish fisheries?

Have not the Admiralty now a gunboat on loan to the Scottish Fishery Board?

I must ask for notice.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he has received any communication from the inhabitants of New York and Murton, in the township of Murton, Northumberland, praying for further postal facilities; if so, can he state now whether he is able to make any improvement in this respect.

A communication was received on the 20th ultimo from the chairman of a meeting of the inhabitants of the township. The necessary inquiries are not yet completed, but as soon as a decision has been arrived at it will be communicated to the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing

† Refer to The Parliamentary Debates [Fourth Series], Vol. lxxxv., page 871.

the Postmaster General, whether, under the provisions of the Post Office Acts, and particularly of the Post Office Guarantee Act, 1898, any parish is entitled to require the establishment within its limits of a telegraph office, if the parish council considers that it would be for the benefit of the parish to have such an office, and is prepared to furnish the guarantee required by those Acts.

The Post Office Guarantee Acts do not confer on a parish council the right to require the establishment of a telegraph office in the parish. They merely empower the, council to pay to the Postmaster General any loss he may sustain by reason of the establishment of such office. It is left to the Postmaster General to decide whether the office shall lie established, and I need hardly say that ho is always ready to give careful consideration to any case that may be brought before him.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of Roman Catholics, and the number of non-Roman Catholics, in the population of the Parliamentary Division of South Armagh, and their respective representation on the Bench.

There is no official information on the religious distribution of the population, or magistracy, by Parliamentary divisions, but, according to the census returns of 189] there were at that date in the County Armagh 05,900 Roman Catholics and 77,028 Protestants of various denominations. The number of justices of the peace in the county, exclusive of resident magistrates and chairmen of councils, is 108, of whom twenty-three are Roman Catholics and 145 are Protestants.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to get rid of that disproportion?

I have answered that question more than once.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether ho can state how many houses in Ireland have been acquired by workmen under the provisions of the Small Dwellings (Acquisition) Act.

The Local Government Board are unable to say how many purchases have been completed in Ireland under the provisions of this Act. As already stated by me, the Board has sanctioned one loan to enable the Dublin Corporation to make advances for the purchase of five dwellings.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if ho can state how much money has been paid out of Irish estates in respect of the redemption of Crown and quit rents since the passing of the Land Purchase (Ireland) Acts.

Since the passing of the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881, up to 31st March, 1900, the money paid out of Irish estates in respect of the redemption of Crown and quit rents was £156,441.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether Lord Clanricarde's agent refused recently two years rent, offered by the widow M'Doangh, in order to be allowed to enter into possession of her house and farm, in the parish of Woodford, county Galway; whether he is aware that the same house and farm was handed over since to a man named Lyons without any fine or compensation, who was unable to hold his own farm, the interest of which ho sold about six months ago; and whether he will state the number and the cost of the extra police drafted into the district for the purpose of protecting Lyons.

I have no official information as to the accuracy of the statements in the first and second paragraphs, though I am informed that it is true that the holding in question has been taken by a man named Lyons. No extra police have been drafted into the district for the purpose of protecting Lyons, and no extra cost has, therefore, been incurred in his protection.

Will the right lion, gentleman say how many police are actually needed for the protection of this man?

No extra police have been drafted into the district for the purpose, but I cannot say how many of the ordinary force there are engaged on the duty.

Cannot the right hon. gentleman obtain the information asked for in the first paragraph?

I cannot ask what terms have been offered.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the proceedings at the last meeting of the Minister Dairy and Agricultural Institute at Cork on the 26th ultimo; and, in view of the fact that the governors of that institute communicated with the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction some months ago asking for a definite decision as to the establishment of an agricultural school in connection with that institute and the continuation of the system of itinerant dairy instructresses for the province of Munster, whether he can state what is the cause of the delay in sending a definite reply to the governors of the institute; and, seeing that the Cork County Council voted a grant of £1,000 a year in February 1900 in aid of the establishment of an agricultural school, can he say what steps the Department is going to take in this matter, and how soon?

The hon. Member has been good enough to send me a newspaper report of the meeting referred to in the question. I am advised that the governors of the Munster Institute have been fully informed of the views of the Department of Agriculture, which were to the effect that the Department would recommend no change in the position of the Munster Institute until all the county councils of the province had had time to consider the question adequately, pending which consideration the work of the institute would continue as heretofore. It is true the county council of Cork passed a vote of £1,000 for the purposes of the Munster Dairy School, but the schemes of the Cork County Council under the Agriculture and Technical Instruction Act are as yet in a very immature state, and the other county councils of Minister are equally interested in the question involved. It would be most undesirable for the Department, by precipitate action, to take any steps which might adversely influence the character of agricultural education in the country generally.

Cannot the right hon. gentleman, out of last year's grant, now lying idle, do something to help this matter forward?

I would do nothing against the advice of the Department of Agriculture for Ireland.

:I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will grant the two Returns entitled Wexford County v. Local Government Board and Local Government (Ireland) Officials standing on to-day's Paper.

†The following are the Returns referred to in the question—Wexford County v. Local Government Board.—Return giving the Report of the Judgment delivered in the Irish Court of Appeal on Monday, 25th February last, together with the Pleadings and Affidavits on both sides, in the ease of the County Wexford County Council against the Local Government Board for Ireland.

Local Government (Ireland) Officials—Return giving the cases in which the Salaries of County Council, District Council, Urban Council, and Union Officials have been increased or attempted to be increased by the Local Government Board for Ireland since the pissing of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, together with the amount of the former Salary and of the increased Salary in each case, and the total addition to Irish Local Taxation consequent upon these increases; and giving also Copies of the protests of the local bodies concerned against these increases or attempted increases.

At the same time may I ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the comments of the Judges of the Court of Appeal in Ireland on the letter of the 30th April, 1 900, addressed by the Irish Local Government Board to the County Council of Wexford; and whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the letter referred to and the affidavits of Sir Henry Robinson, Vice-President of the Local Government Board, in reply to the case made by the Wexford Council against the sealed orders of the Board which have been quashed by the Court of Appeal.

In respect of the first of these Returns there is no objection to giving the report of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, with the affidavits attached. I do not quite gather what is meant by the pleadings. It would be impossible to give, officially, reports of speeches made by counsel. There is no objection to giving the information asked for in the second Return, excepting only the protests of local bodies. There are, in all probability, protests upon minutes which have not been communicated to the Local Government Board in the form of resolutions. I should be unwilling, by publishing those received, to expose the Board to the charge of having withheld any protests. On the other hand the task of obtaining access to, and of searching all the records of all the bodies concerned over so long a period, would involve a greater labour than I feel could fairly be thrown on a heavily worked Department. The form of this Return is now under consideration in connection with a somewhat similar notice recently moved for by the hon. Member for North Donegal, and I will communicate with the hon. Baronet on the subject in the course of a couple of days.

The right hon. Gentleman speaks of the great labour which would be thrown on the Department in searching the records for protests. Could he not issue a three line, circular to each council, asking if any such protest has been made, and thus get the information?

I have no objection to taking any reasonable steps, but there might be some difficulty in following this plan. We might be charged with omitting some.

That would not be your fault.

Have the Local Government Board any objection to giving county councils a copy of the judgment?

No; perhaps the best plan would be to print it as a Parliamentary Paper.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to the case of the Crown v. Boyan, in which the Gorey bench of magistrates refused to convict the proprietress of the Railway Hotel, Gorey, of a breach of the licensing law for allowing money to be played for on her billiard tabic; whether this case has been returned from the King's Bench to the justices of Gorey for rehearing with a view to a conviction, and with what remit; and if he will instruct the police in Ireland to prevent the playing for money on billiard tables in hotels in Ireland in future.

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. The case has been returned to the justices, who have convicted the proprietress of the hotel, fining her one penny and costs, with a direction in conformity with the suggestion of the Queen's Bench Division that the conviction should not be endorsed on the licence. The police are aware of their duty in such matters. No special directions are necessary.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings against three Clare county councillors, Messrs. Halpin, Lynch, and M'Inerney, in reference to a matter arising out of the direct labour question, and whether, as the Irish Government has drafted a Provisional Order dealing with that question, he will take steps to have the defendants released from the order to enter into sureties to be of good behaviour.

The answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative and to the second in the negative. The Provisional Order can have no bearing on the prosecution to which the hon. Member refers.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland if his attention has been drawn to the decision of the judge of the King's Bench in Ireland in the case of Halpin v. Rice, and to the observation of the Lord Chief Justice as to the difference in the law affecting persons in England and Ireland on application before the magistrates for sureties to keep the peace and be of good behaviour, and if, in view of the opinion of the judge that persons in Ireland called upon to give sureties to be of good behaviour have a grievance in being precluded from giving evidence on their behalf, he will introduce a Bill assimilating the law on the subject in both countries.

At the same time may I ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, in reference to the judgment in the King's Bench on the 2Gth ult. in the case of Deputy-Inspector H. Rice, Royal Irish Constabulary, v. Halpin, and in connection with his promise to bring in legislation with a view to carry into effect the recommendation of the learned judges, whether he will undertake to introduce a Bill before Easter.

In answer to the question of the hon. Member for East Donegal, I must refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question put to me on Friday last, when I stated that if the Members for Ireland would be good enough to give me an assurance that they would facilitate the assimilation of the law in the two countries in this respect I would forthwith introduce a short Bill for the purpose. The hon. Member for North Cork asks me if I will introduce the Bill before Easter. I can only repeat that, provided I receive the assurance I have asked for, the Bill will at once be introduced.

How can we give the assurance until we see the Bill?

I have said that the Bill will assimilate the law in the two countries.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how many fair rent applications are pending in the union of Naas, county Kildare; when will they be listed for hearing; what was the date of the last sittings of the sub-commissioners there; and when the next sittings may be expected to take place.

The hearing of a list containing eighteen fair-rent applications from the Naas Union will be commenced at Naas on the 19th inst. The list includes all applications received from the union save two. A sub-commission last sat at Naas in January, 1900.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Government intend to compensate the traders of Roundwood and Lara for the loss they sustained in their business in consequence of the police order to keep their shops closed on Saturday, 2nd February; if not, what remedy have the traders for the injury done to their business by the illegal action of the police.

The reply to this question is in the negative. I am unable to advise the hon. Member upon the point raised at the conclusion of the question.

Then am I to understand that the people who have suffered by the illegal action of the police have no remedy?

The hon. Member must understand that I cannot advise whether they have a remedy or what it is

If they institute legal proceedings against the inspector will the right hon. Gentleman take care that—

Order, order! The right hon. Gentleman has already said he cannot advise a remedy.

On behalf of my hon. friend the Member for East Galway I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, as the International Railway Corporation, Limited, London, have agreed to comply with conditions laid down by the Irish Office in reference to the restoration and reopening of the Birr and Portumna line of railway, he will state what is the cause of any further delay.

The proposals of the International Railway Corporation were brought by the Irish Government before the Treasury, who did not sec their way to hold out any expectation that they will consent to a grant of £12,000 in aid of the reconstruction of the line.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state when the Code of Instruction for Irish National Schools, an extract from which was presented to this House last July, will be ready, and what is the special scale of salaries for each grade which this extract states is arranged.

The Commissioners of National Education cannot, at present, fix a date for the issue of the Code, as they are still in correspondence with the Treasury. It will, however, be issued without avoidable delay, and will include the special scale of salaries.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieu- tenant of Ireland if he can state whether the Agent of the Commissioners of Education has taken, or is instructed to take, proceedings to evict a tenant named Joseph Magennis, who resides in Derry-trisk, near Coalisland, county Tyrone, for a techuical breach of one of the provisions of the Land Act, which took place in ignorance of the law two years ago; and what steps, if any, it is proposed to take in this matter.

In this case I am informed that the tenant committed a breach of one of the statutory conditions of his tenancy by opening a house for the sale of intoxicating liquors without the consent of the Commissioners. The Commissioners, in consequence, have directed proceedings to be taken for the determination of the tenancy. They are willing to waive proceedings if the tenant surrenders his licence as required by them.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether effect will be given to the suggestion of the Deputy Keeper of Public Records in Ireland in the last Report, and the publication of the original statutes of the Irish Parliament in Norman French be carried out.

I am informed that the Treasury are in communication with the Statute Law Revision Committee on this subject. In the meantime the actual work of editing and preparing the statutes for press is being proceeded with.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how many Roman Catholics and how many Protestants there are in the county of Westmeath; how many Roman Catholic magistrates and how many Protestant magistrates there are in that county; and how many Roman Catholics and how many Protestant grand jurors have been summoned by the present High Sheriff of that county to serve as grand jurors at the spring assizes.

The number of Roman Catholics and Protestants of various denominations in the county of Westmeath at the time of the Census of 1891 was 59,904 and 5,123, respectively. The number of justices of the peace in the county, exclusive of resident magistrates and chairmen of councils, is 146, of whom ninety-six are Protestants, forty-eight Roman Catholics, and there are two whose religions are unknown. There are no official statistics of the religious denominations of gentlemen summoned by the High Sheriff to act as grand jurors.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the series of outrages in the shape of house wrecking, robberies, and burglaries recently committed in Tipperary by soldiers of the Shropshire Light Infantry stationed there; whether any action was taken by the officer in command to prevent such conduct; and whether the persons suffering loss will be compensated by the Army Department.

Two burglaries and a malicious injury to property were committed last month by soldiers belonging to this battalion in Tipperary. In each case the accused was arrested and committed for trial at assizes. Neither the officer in command nor the police anticipated such conduct, and no special steps were taken, therefore, to prevent it. The inquiry in the last paragraph should be addressed to my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for War.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why the commanding officer took no steps to stop this series of outrages?

One can hardly call two burglaries a series.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the regiment has been transferred to Templemore, and that on arrival there the men smashed windows?

Order, order! That does not arise out of the question.

Are these men acting under the proclamation of Lord Roberts?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if lie can state how many gunboats have been placed by the Admiralty at the disposal of the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries each year for the last five years, with the view of preventing steam trawling in the prescribed waters oft' the Irish coasts.

The number of occasions on which gunboats have been employed for the purpose stated during the past five years was—in 1896, twice; in 1897, twice; in 1898, once; and in 1899, three times. Last year no gunboat was employed. I would refer the lion. Member to my reply on the 21st February† to the question of the hon. Member for Galway as to the special steps now being taken by the Department of Agriculture with a view to the suppression of illegal trawling within the prescribed limits off the Irish coast.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. John M'Philpin, editor and proprietor of the Tuam News, Tuam, county Galway, has been summoned by the Crown to give evidence in respect to resolutions and newspaper reports published in his paper, and alleged to have been furnished to him by persons awaiting their trial at Athenry on 14th March next; and whether, in view of the announcement made recently in respect to similar summonses issued in the city of Waterford, he will direct the immediate withdrawal of the summons against this newspaper editor.

The cases of Mr. Redmond and Mr. M'Philpin are not identical, as the latter has only been summoned to produce reports sent to him for publication. While I cannot admit that he has any special privilege exempting him from the liability to produce these docu-

† See preceding volume of Debates, page 698.

ments, I will undertake that, unless it should be absolutely necessary in the interest of justice to examine him, lie will not be produced as a witness.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how many premiumed stallions (thoroughbred and agricultural) have been allotted to Queen's County under the Royal Dublin Society's scheme; and whether any grant of public money goes in aid of this scheme; and, if so, what amount.

As already stated by me, one-half of the annual grant of £5,000, paid to the Royal Dublin Society under the Probate Duties Act of 1888, is applied in aid of the Society's scheme for thoroughbred stallions. Of the twenty-five premiums paid under this portion of the scheme, one thoroughbred stallion has been allocated to Queen's County. The three premiums of £50 for agricultural stallions are not paid out of public funds, but out of the private funds of the Society.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a resolution passed by the Town Commissioners of Mountmellick in favour of further legislation enabling corporate bodies to provide suitable house accommodation for the labouring classes at reasonable rents, and suggesting that a yearly grant, similar to that made under the Land Purchase Acts of 1891–6 in aid of the erection of labourers' cottages in Ireland, should be made to towns commissioners and urban councils in order to lighten the burthen of the rates and facilitate the removal of hovels; and whether the Government propose dealing with this question during the present session of Parliament.

I have seen the resolution referred to in the question. It is not proposed to introduce legislation on the subject during the present session.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if lie will state the number of appeals from the Sub-Commission now pending for rehearing by the Chief Commission in the county of Fermanagh; and whether he is aware that some of these appeals have been lodged over four years, and will he state how many cases were reheard by the Chief Commission at their last sitting at Enniskillen, and when the Chief Commission will next sit in Fermanagh.

There are 314 cases in county Fermanagh in which appeals are pending for upwards of two years, but there is no case unlisted in which the notice of appeal was lodged prior to June, 1898. One hundred and fifty-one cases were listed for the last sitting of the Commissioners at Enniskillen; of these, only sixty-four cases went to an actual hearing in court, the remainder being either withdrawn or settled by the parties. The date of the next sitting of the Land Commission at Enniskillen for the hearing of appeals has not yet been arranged.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that the Roman Catholics of county Wicklow are three-fourths of the population, and that the Roman Catholic magistrates are twenty-eight and the Protestant magistrates 135 in the county, he will take steps, either by suggestion to the Lord Lieutenant of the county Wicklow, or otherwise, to reduce the preponderance of Protestant over Roman Catholic, magistrates.

I am afraid I can only repeat what I have already stated, that recommendations for appointments to the Commission of the Peace are made by the Lieutenant of the county to the Lord Chancellor, and that it is not within the province of the Executive to intervene in the matter, as suggested.

Is it as necessary to pack the magisterial bench as to pack the jury box?

Order, order!

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been I directed to the practice of the Land Commission of postponing indefinitely the hearing of fair rent applications in cases where negotiations for sale are pending, and whether he will take steps to secure a more speedy hearing of such cases in future.

The Commissioners inform me that the hearing of fair rent applications is only postponed in cases of the kind mentioned upon the application, and with the consent of both landlord and tenant, and that either party can apply at any time to have the fair rent applications proceeded with.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been called to the unsuitability of the present post office in Belturbet, both in its position and structural arrangements; and is it the intention of the Department to provide a proper building or build a new post office in Belturbet.

The present post office at Belturbet, to which the business was moved after the late fire, is a, temporary one, and inquiries are being made as to the best means of obtaining better accommodation. A scheme for buying a site and building specially is under consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if lie is aware that the residents of the district in county Tyrone, known as Stewartstown to Aughinderg, which comprises eleven townlands, have petitioned the authorities for a daily delivery of letters, and can he state whether the prayer of that petition will be granted.

Yes, Sir, the residents applied for a more frequent delivery of letters. Some little time ago the frequency of the service was increased from three to four days a week, Mid the Postmaster General has now sanctioned a delivery every weekday. The improved service will be commenced as soon as possible.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can explain why in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales the local authorities are the rating authorities, but the Irish Valuation Commissioner and officials are Government employees; and whether measures will be taken to have the law assimilated for the three kingdoms by amending the Local Government (Ireland) Act.

The difference of practice is the result of a difference in the law in the two cases. I am not prepared to propose any change in the Irish Act in this respect.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that when the Irish Valuation Commissioner issues his valuation it becomes law subject to appeal, he can state whether the new valuation of the county boroughs of Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford will increase local and Imperial taxation; and whether, in view of the Financial Relations Report, care will be taken that the valuation shall be lowered, in order that the Imperial taxation of those county boroughs may be reduced, as the local rates can be met by increased poundage.

I cannot say what will be the result of new valuations if such are applied for in the towns named. But there is no power under the Valuation Acts to lower the valuation as suggested.

Does the valuation occur if the local authorities object?

No valuation can take place unless the local authorities ask for it.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the fact that rating is based on rental, and that rentals include the annual value of the land upon which premises are built whether it has been considered, or will be considered, by the Commissioner of Valuations in Ireland that the payment of taxation by the land-owning class has been transferred to the occupiers, as that which was formerly assessed as land is now assessed under the description of buildings being included in the rent of houses.

I am not quite certain that I understand the hon. Member's question; but I can assure him that, generally speaking, land in county boroughs is valued on its letting value, like other rateable property, and that wherever the amount of land attached to a building is more than a mere curtilage, a separate valuation of it will be made.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state who is responsible for the system of buoying in force on the Irish seaboard, and whether he will inquire as to the buoy at present marking a rock known as the Maiden Rock in Kenmare Bay, which is only an ordinary buoy, with a view to having it replaced by a bell buoy, so that vessels navigating those waters at night may have a means of knowing the situation of this rock.

Except where there are local lighthouse authorities, the superintendence and management of all lighthouses, buoys, and beacons throughout Ireland and the adjacent seas and islands are vested in the Commissioners of Irish Lights. The Commissioners inform me that no application has been received by them for a bell buoy at Maiden Rock, Kenmare, in place of the first class buoy by which the rock is at present marked.

Is it necessary that an application should be made?

I think it very desirable.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a distinct understanding was arrived at between the Kinsale Urban District Council and the War Office, with the approval of the Local Government Board, by which it was arranged that the War Office would advance the money required for providing a supplemental water supply in excess of the sum reached by the borrowing powers of the council and contract to take a water supply for the use of the military, recouping themselves for their outlay by an annual sinking fund covering principle and interest, to be taken credit for by them out of the amount to be annually paid for the water supply. Will he explain on what grounds, after the council had been put to an expense of about £200, the military authorities informed them that they had changed their mind and could not see their way to carry out the arrangement; and, if, under these circumstances, the matter will be re-considered with the object of enabling the district council to carry out the proposed work.

No, Sir. No such understanding was arrived at with the council. The council made a proposal to supply water to the barracks at Kinsale which would have involved an estimated advance of £5,000 from War Department Funds. It was not considered desirable to agree to it, and no arrangement whatever was made with the council.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether His Majesty's Government will open negotiations with the Spanish Government for the cession of Tarifa and the territory adjoining the western shore of Gibraltar Bay before expending any more public money on the harbour works at Gibraltar.

His Majesty's Government have no intention of opening negotiations of the kind proposed.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to a speech in the French Senate by M. Delcassé, and whether in the event of hostilities there is any Anglo-Portuguese treaty which would compel the British (Government to intervene in a dispute between the French and Portuguese Governments.

His Majesty's Government have received the textual report of the speech by M. Delcassé to which reference is made. They do not think its effect is properly described in the question.

Will the Government lay on the Table of the House copies of any communications that have passed between the Government and Portugal?

They are on the Table.