I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government have yet come to any decision in reference to the recommendations contained in Sir David Barbour's Report, and, if so, can he state when it will be communicated to the House.

The Report deals with a very large number of complicated and important details, and it will be evident to the hon. Member that an immediate decision is not required in the majority of cases. His Majesty's Government agree with the general principles laid down, and their application will be confided to Lord Milner, who will deal with them as opportunity arises. I cannot give a pledge that he will follow the Report in all particulars, and there are, of course, many points on which further information is required which can only be gained on the spot.

Can the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that we shall have the particulars of the decisions on the points as they arise?

No, Sir. If the hon. Gentleman wishes information on any particular point I shall be glad to give it to him as far as it is in my power to do so. As I have pointed out before, in reference to resettlement in South Africa, it is a matter which is most involved, and which cannot be settled all at once.

Will the House have an opportunity of discussing this Report?

Certainly, Sir. The hon. Gentleman can discuss it on my salary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman in a position to inform the House as to whether the Government are in agreement with that portion of Sir David Barbour's Report which recommends that the tax on the mines shall be increased from five to ten per cent., and, if so, will that be done soon?

We are in general agreement, as I have said, with the principle laid down that an increased tax on the profits of the mines should be imposed. But as the hon. Gentleman is aware, Sir David Barbour also recommends that a decrease of taxation should take place upon other articles.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, now that the Report of Sir David Barbour on the financial position of the Transvaal has been issued, he will proceed to complete the facts laid before Parliament by issuing also the Report of the South African Land Settlement Commission.

The hon. Member does not appear to be aware that the Report in question was laid on the 7th instant.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can now inform the House as to the number and situation of the camps of concentration formed in Cape Colony, and how many men, women, and children are confined therein, and what have been the figures of mortality therein.

The places where the camps have been formed are:—Kimberley, Orange River Camp (near Hopetown), Vryburg, Warrenton, and Boer Exile Camp at Port Elizabeth. Lord Kitchener has promised me some figures by telegraph as to the numbers and mortality,

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the numbers of white persons now or recently in the concentration camps in Natal and the Transvaal, Orange River, and Cape Colonies respectively; also the dietary for adults and for children in force in these several districts. I beg also to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can state what regulations are now in force in the various concentration camps in South Africa as to the detention of the women and children confined in them; and whether he will consider the desirability of permitting at least those women and children who have no male person with them in the camps, and who have friends or relatives in Cape Colony willing to receive them, to leave the camps and go to these friends.

The numbers are approximately as follow:—Transvaal, 37,739; Natal, 2,524; Orange River Colony, 20,374; Cape Colony, 2,490; Of these a large number are natives. The dietary of free issues consists of meat, bread or flour, meal, coffee, sugar, salt, and condensed milk. As the proportions vary somewhat in the different colonies, it is not possible to give full details in reply to a question. The supply of meat is from two to four pounds, and of bread, flour, or meal about seven pounds per week. To children under five, four tins milk and meal. The women and children have been in most instances brought into the camps because they cannot be fed at isolated stations, or because it was necessary to clear the districts in which they were living. I am communicating with Lord Kitchener respecting the release of those who may have friends willing to receive them.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the rate of mortality among the women and children?

I have had notice or a question in the name of the hon. Member for Flint Boroughs, and I can answer it with regard to Johannesburg if he wishes to put it.

Perhaps it will be convenient if I read the question, of which I gave private notice two days ago:—Whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that for three weeks ending the 13th May there were 80 deaths out of a total of 3,125 persons in the refugee camp on the racecourse at Johannesburg, and that 220 are reported sick in the camp; whether he can state what medical provision there is for treatment of the sick in this camp, and whether the sanitary and other arrangements for the health of the refugees in this and other camps are satisfactory; between what dates did the deaths take place of 41 men, 80 women, and 261 children in the camps in the Orange River Colony reported on the 7th May; how many deaths of men, women, and children took place in such camps before and after those dates; and what is the total number of deaths of men, women, and children respectively which have taken place in the refugee camps up to the present time.

The deaths at Johannesburg camp from the 1st to the 31st May amounted to six men, six women, and 68 children, and are accounted for by an epidemic of measles. There is an experienced medical officer in charge, assisted by a qualified matron and a large staff of nurses. The hospital is a well-suited, commodious brick building. The deaths for the first week in June were one woman and three children. There is no reason to suppose that the medical arrangements in this or other camps are unsatisfactory. As to the third and fourth paragraphs of the question I have no information. The deaths in the Transvaal camps for May were 39 men, 47 women, and 250 children. Further statistics have been promised me as to the other three colonies.

Are these persons regarded as prisoners, or are they at liberty to leave the camp if they think fit?

As I have explained, the women and children have been brought in because in most cases they required relief or they were in parts of the country which for military reasons it was necessary to clear. As to the point of their leaving, in no case will the Government permit them to go, or will Lord Kitchener permit them to go, unless they have got places to go to in which they can be fed. The Government cannot undertake to feed a large body of people in isolated positions. As regards permission to quit the camp to those who have friends I am in communication with Lord Kitchener.

In regard to these figures for the Transvaal, and in regard to the 336 deaths for May, do they cover the native as well as the white camps?

My impression is that these figures cover the whole of the camps.

As this is a very serious matter, I wish to ask the Government whether they do not consider that it would be infinitely more humane if these women were to be kept prisoners—

Order, order! The hon. Member cannot enter into a debate on this question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state whether the figures given in reply to my question include natives as well as white persons?

The figures include a large number of natives.

Is the death-rate from measles as high for any hospital in the United Kingdom?

rising—

Order, order! Any further questions must be given notice of. The question on the Paper has been fully answered.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that, in the view of the Government, there is nothing in Major Sir F. Carrington's recent service in South Africa to call for special report, it is now intended to restore that officer to his command of the Belfast district, which will be vacated in the ordinary course by Major-General Leach in September next, or if it is intended to again employ him; and, if not, can he say why this officer will not be again employed; and whether the appointment of this officer to command troops in Rhodesia was made in direct opposition to the advice of members of the Army Board at the War Office.

I must decline in this and all other cases to give reasons for the employment or non-employment of a particular officer. All recommendations for command are made to the Secretary of State, both in war and peace, by the Commander-in-Chief, and Sir Frederick Carrington is no exception to the rule.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the decision of the Army Board was unanimous?

I shall entirely decline to give an answer to that or any other question addressed to me of similar import. The proceedings of the Army Board are private. The recommendations of the Commander-in-Chief are made to the Secretary of State, and on these recommendations officers are either appointed or not appointed to commands.

Was General Carrington relieved of his command—

If the hon. Member wants to put any further questions he must give notice.

I will give notice.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, having regard to the fact that Volunteer officers receive an allowance of 11s. 6d. per diem when attending manœuvres or camps of instruction, will he say whether any additional allowance will be made to field officers, who have to provide and feed a horse.

The mounted officer will, in addition to the allowance mentioned, draw an allowance to cover forage at the rate of 1s. 6d. a day.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the Wolverton detachment of the 1st Bucks Rifle Volunteer Corps, recently returned from South Africa, was discharged within seven days of its arrival, and as other Volunteer detachments returning under the same circumstances, having completed their term of service in South Africa, have received up to thirty days furlough, he will provide that the Bucks Volunteers should receive the same treatment as others have had, and will he say whether the gratuity in lieu of furlough is granted to all branches of the service, or only to Volunteers.

As I have already informed the House, a furlough of thirty days with pay will be granted to all members of Volunteer service companies. It will also be granted to all Imperial Yeomen discharged before the higher rates of pay came into operation.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will present a return of the recommendations of the Decentralisation Committee of 1898, showing how far these recommendations have been carried out, wholly or partially, and where only partially adopted in what manner they differ from the original recommendations of the Committee.

The hon. Member will find the principal changes approved in consequence of the recommendations of the Committee of 1898 on page 460 of the Evidence of the War Office Organisation Committee of 1901; and the minor changes on pages xii. to xxiv. of the Report of 1898.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a scheme of Army reform was prepared by Lord Wolseley for Mr. Cardwell, of which a portion, including short service, was adopted by the Ministry of the day and by Parliament; and, if so, if he will lay upon the Table of the House the original draft of such scheme.

It is not clear to what the hon. Member refers. When Mr. Cardwell introduced his scheme to this House in 1870 Lord Wolseley was serving in Canada. He afterwards served on a Committee which worked out the detailed reorganisation required by Mr. Cardwell's scheme and reported in 1872, but he does not appear to have drafted any separate scheme.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any further inquiry has been made in reference to the subject of a letter from Mr. John Curtin, of Tallow, county Waterford, dated 8th October, 1900, to the Under Secretary of State for War, relative to the affairs of Private Patrick Curtin, No. 4,255, deceased, of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment; if not, whether an effort will be made, by due inquiry on the spot, to ascertain whether the colour sergeant or the coffee contractor referred to therein are unlawfully retaining possession of moneys of the deceased soldier.

I have nothing to add to the reply communicated to the hon. Member by letter on 21st November last, after exhaustive inquiries. The transaction was entirely a private one, with which the War Office is in no way concerned. I am, however, satisfied that the full amount of the money deposited with the contractor by the deceased soldier was duly returned either to him or to his representatives.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the poisoning of about fifteen soldiers of the York and Lancaster Regiment at Fermoy Barracks through eating tinned beef served out for breakfast rations; can he state the name of the contractor who supplied this tinned beef and the name of manufacturer and place of manufacture; and will he explain why tinned meat is still being issued to the troops on home stations instead of home-grown meat.

Perhaps the hon. Member would kindly refer to the full answer given by me on Friday last to the hon. Member for the Partick Division of Lanarkshire.^*

But that is not an answer to my question.

Will orders be issued prohibiting the further issue of tinned meats to the troops?

It was not a question of issuing them. They were drawn by the men from the canteen and paid for. I am not prepared to interfere with the discretion of the commanding officer in this matter.

Have the officers anything to do with the running of the canteen in this particular place?

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed at the meeting of the Irish Trades Congress at Sligo protesting against the contract for beer and porter for the troops in Ireland being withdrawn from Irish firms; whether any complaint has ever been made as to the quality or purity of the beer or porter supplied by the Irish

^* See page 412.

brewers; and whether, seeing that an influential authority has stated that all articles for barrack necessaries should be obtained in the districts where the troops are stationed, he will see that the old system be reverted to.

A copy of this resolution was sent to the War Office. Nothing is known there of any such complaint, nor would be, as this is purely a matter for the local military authorities to deal with. There has been no change of system, as the local military authorities have power to place orders for malt liquor with the firms they consider most desirable.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the Report of the evidence of the Commander-in-Chief for Ireland on War Office organisation, in which he complained of the practice of sending to Woolwich for articles such as ladders, brushes, brooms, and other barrack stores, which he alleges could be more readily and cheaply got in Ireland; and will he take such steps as will give effect to the statement and views of his Royal Highness by the establishment of works for their manufacture in that country.

The General Officer commanding the forces in Ireland has already been instructed to use his discretion in regard to such local purchases. The supply, however, is too small to justify the creation of any local factory.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can state who applied for the aid of the military at the Penrhyn quarries, when the application was received, and whether any disturbances have arisen in the district which the police are unable to cope with; and, if so, when these disturbances occurred.

The chief constable of the county asked that the troops might be held in readiness. The application was received by the general officer commanding the district on the 4th June. The nature and period of the disturbances are not questions which come within the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State for War.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that under the provisions of Section 31 of the London Government Act, 1899, borough councils in the Metropolis have no power of proceeding under the Military Lands Act, 1892, towards assisting and co-operating with the Volunteers of London in the provision of drill sheds, drill grounds, and rifle ranges; and if, having regard to the importance of the question, he will consider the advisability of taking steps to grant London borough councils analogous facilities in this matter to those enjoyed by provincial municipalities.

I am aware of the disability of the metropolitan borough councils in this respect. I do not, however, consider that any good purpose would be served by legislation in the direction proposed, as the powers already possessed by the London County Council appear to be ample.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can inform the House what portion of the £370,895 18s. 7d., proceeds of Naval Prize Money, Bounty and Salvage, referred to in the Return to an Order of the House of Commons, dated 3rd March, 1863, has been paid out to the persons entitled, and what is the balance remaining unpaid; and whether any list of the several persons entitled to this unpaid balance has ever been put up at the Admiralty and notified to claimants; if not, whether any attempts have been made to trace out and inform the persons respectively entitled to receive the same.

The balance of Naval Prize Money remaining unpaid and payable, if applied for, on the 31st March, 1900, was £50,353. The account for the present year will be published next month. Announcements are made from time to time in the London Gazette, when funds become available for distribution, and there is reason to believe that these notices are largely copied in other newspapers. A Return showing the names of the several persons who became entitled and have yet to be paid, with the amounts due to them respectively, is in course of preparation, and will be published when completed.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that in the original design for the construction of Haulbowline Dockyard it was proposed to build two dry docks; and whether, in view of the increasing necessity for additional dock accommodation, the Admiralty will consider the desirability of carrying out the original plan and constructing a second dry dock at Haulbowline.

The original design for the extension of Haulbowline Dockyard allotted a portion of the available space for the construction of two dry docks, but it was recommended that only one should be proceeded with at the time, and this dock has been completed. In 1895 a Committee appointed to investigate the question reported that the construction of a slipway on a portion of the ground allotted to the second dock was desirable in the interests of the service, and the slipway was accordingly constructed. There is still space available if it should be necessary at a future date to construct a second dry dock, but it is not proposed to commence this work at present.

Is it not the fact that all the work executed in this dockyard has given complete satisfaction?

Undoubtedly it has.

Then will the hon. Gentleman suggest that this matter be reconsidered?

No, Sir. The question is one for the naval authorities, who have to decide what are the most pressing needs of the naval service.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state what troops will constitute the permanent British garrison in China, in addition to the troops at Peking, and at what points they will be stationed.

I am not in a position now to state exactly what troops will be left, or the composition of the force to be left at specific points; but the permanent garrison will only form a comparatively small proportion of those who constituted the expeditionary force.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any communications have passed between the British Foreign Office and the German Government as to the decision of the latter to leave a German garrison at Shanghai.

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the difference of a sixteenth of a penny ordinarily made by the India Council between the sale of bills and telegraphic transfers represents a charge of 9½ per cent. per annum; and whether, in view of this impost upon banking and commercial transactions, he will give instructions for reducing the difference by one moiety, except on occasions when conditions of financial stringency prevail in India.

The difference of a sixteenth of a penny per rupee between the price of bills on India and that of telegraphic transfers represents a charge of 9½ per cent. per annum if it can be assumed that all such bills, whether drawn on Calcutta, Madras, or Bombay, can be presented in fifteen days; but this is not the case. To give the telegraphic transfers at only one-thirty-secondth of a penny more than the bills would, with the present rate of discount, be in effect to lend the money at cheaper rates than that at which the Presidency Banks are lending it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state what progress has been made in reference to the establishment of the proposed Imperial Court of Appeal; and whether the colonies have intimated their approval of the establishment of such a court.

Arrangements have been made for holding towards the end of this month a Conference on the subject at which all the colonies will be represented. The object of this Conference is to elicit an expression of the opinion of the colonies on this subject, and pending the conclusion of its labours I am unable to make any further statement.

Have the Government abandoned the intention mentioned in the King's Speech of introducing legislation this year on the subject?

Well, Sir, I think that, owing to the time which has been taken by the negotiations with the colonies, it would be impossible to hold out much hope, even if the Conference should prove unanimous, of giving effect this session to any conclusion which may be arrived at.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a Return recently issued shows that a number of aliens, mainly from Russia, Roumania, and Poland, came to this country last year under the impression that they would find in London either an organisation prepared with plans and funds to equip and forward all applicants to Canada, or an assured career in England; and having regard to the fact that pauper aliens of these nationalities have increased in the East End of London during the year, will he consider the advisability of instructing the British representatives in the countries indicated to take such steps as may be necessary to correct any false statement which may be circulated in regard to the prospects of pauper aliens arriving in London.

The statement alluded to was derived from the Report of the Jewish Board of Guardians, and rests upon the authority of that body. Until the Census Returns are completed it cannot be said whether the numbers of aliens in East London have increased. Warnings in regard to the prospects of pauper aliens in London were circulated by Her Majesty's Consuls in 1891 and 1893.

Is there any prospect of the introduction of the Government Bill prohibiting the importation of aliens?

That question should be addressed to my right hon. friend.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Report of the Gibraltar Committee in reply to the questions addressed to it made at Gibraltar on 30th March, and also the subsequent Report made by some members on 15th May; and, if so, when; and will he say when and how he proposes to afford the House an opportunity of discussing these Reports.

Yes, Sir. There are, as the hon. Member says, two Reports in question. There is the Interim Report—(laughter)—avowedly an Interim Report—of 30th March, and there is a Report of 15th May, signed by all the members of the Committee except the Member for King's Lynn. There are parts of these Reports which, by universal consent, ought not to be laid on the Table of the House; but I see no reason why the greater part of both Reports should not be textually laid on the Table, and I propose to do that.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any diplomatic protest or representation has been made by the Spanish Government against the carrying out of the Naval works at Gibraltar.

No, Sir. No such representation has been made.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether His Majesty's Government will open negotiations with the Government of Spain with a view to obtaining the cession of the western shore of Gibraltar Bay and sufficient of the adjacent territory to enable the port to be securely fortified, and whether any offer to purchase the Spanish side of Gibraltar Bay has ever been made by His Majesty's Government.

May I respectfully ask whether, considering the mischievous excitement already created in Spain, the right hon. Gentleman will decline to answer such a question?

I agree with my hon. friend that no great public advantage is served by putting such questions, but as this question has been put it is as well to answer it. I will say that the Government have never made any proposal to purchase, and do not propose to make any proposal to purchase, any part of Spanish territory.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, with respect to the reduction in the duty on low grade molasses imported chiefly for cattle-feeding purposes, whether the importers of such molasses between 18th April and 10th June, who have been charged with the higher duty imposed during that interval, and who have warehoused the article pending a final decision as to the duty, will be refunded to the extent of the excess of the amount paid by them over the rates as finally settled.

I do not think that the suggestion of the hon. Member could be adopted. In the first place, various importers who have paid the 2s. duty must, under Section 20 of the Customs Consolidation Act of 1876, have added it to their prices and recovered it from their customers, so that it would be most difficult to repay the extra duty to those who have actually paid it; and, in the second place, this particular reduction is only one item in an amended scale for molasses and glucose, and there is no reason for making the reductions retrospective unless the increases are to be treated similarly, and this would not be practicable. My intention is therefore to ask Parliament to sanction the duty on the scale originally proposed up to the 10th instant, and the new scale from that date. It must be remembered that these importers must have known that a reduction of the duty was under consideration, and might have placed their molasses in bond until required. If no bonded premises were vacant for these purposes, temporary bonding privileges would have been granted to their private premises on application to the Customs.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of introducing into the Finance Bill a clause repealing the proviso to Rule Fifth of No. 2, Schedule A., s. 60, 5 and 6 Vic, c. 35, by which, contrary to the principles dealing with all other kinds of income, fines received in consideration of any demise of land or tenements are, if applied to productive capital, exempted from income tax, and whether he can state the amount so exempted for the year 1900–1901.

The proviso does not appear to be "contrary to the principles dealing with all other kinds of income." It provides that fines (which may arise in many different ways and circumstances) should be chargeable as income when, as a matter of fact, they are treated by the recipient as income, but should be exempted when treated as capital. In the case of Settled Estates, for instance, fines must by law be treated as capital, and the life tenant is not entitled to anything more than the interest arising from their investment. It would be manifestly unjust to require that in such circumstances the amount of the fine should be subject to income tax. Moreover, it must not be overlooked that the property from which fines issue is taxed on its full annual value, irrespective of actual rent, so that in a sense there is a double assessment where fines are charged with income tax. It is not possible to give the amounts exempted under the proviso.

Seeing that the exemption of building lease fines is totally different to the state of affairs contemplated when the Act was passed, cannot the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the matter?

I can add nothing to the answer I have given. It explains the reason for the exemption.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give any explanation of the absence of the police for over twenty minutes while a disturbance was taking place in St. George's Street, Wapping, over the breaking into of a house by an under tenant, who alleged his landlord had illegally evicted him early on Saturday, 8th June, 1901, and whether any proceedings were taken by the police against the under tenant, who was arrested by them; if so, can he state what punishment was inflicted on him.

This case was one of assault preferred by a private person, and the prisoners were arrested on his charging them. They duly appeared before the magistrate, and were discharged. Nothing was said as to the absence of police during the disturbance, which occurred chiefly inside the house, but constables were there at 7·40 and again at 8 on the night in question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I was a witness myself of the absence of the police?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can afford any explanation of the fact that the death rate from accident of persons of sixteen years of age and under employed in collieries in the South Wales district has latterly increased, and that it was higher in 1900 than in any previous year in the decade; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, whereas in each of the five years of 1891 to 1895 inclusive, the death rate was less than that among persons of over sixteen years of age, in each of the years 1896 to 1900 it was higher, and that in the last five years it was forty-five per cent. greater than in the previous five years.

It is true that there has been a rise in the death rate among persons under sixteen in mines in South Wales, and that for the last five years it is higher than the death rate among persons over sixteen, whereas in the preceding five years it was lower. In the preceding five years, however, the death rate among persons over sixteen was abnormally heavy, and the rate has declined from 3·50 during those years to 2 during the last five years. A large proportion of the accidents to boys occur in connection with haulage underground, and the reasons for the increase in the death rate among them are perhaps to be found in the greater amount of haulage done in the mines now as compared with previous years, the increased use of machinery, and the greater number of boys employed in connection with machinery.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the disparity in the death rate from falls of roof and side during the last seven years in collieries in the South Wales district employing over 1,000 persons, as shown in Mr. Robson's report for 1900, and that the highest annual average death rate in these collieries was three times that of the lowest; and whether he can give any reason for this.

Yes, I have seen the figures which appear in the report recently made by Mr. Robson. The hon. Member will have observed that the figures show disparities not only between different mines, but also between different years at the same mine; and where, as in the case of these collieries, the numbers involved are comparatively small, fluctuations in the death rate from year to year are sure to occur. On the other hand, some mines are shown by the figures over the whole seven years to be safer than others; and the reason of this may possibly be that the roof in these mines is of a better quality, while something is also to be attributed to differences of management and supervision.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether any measures have been taken by the Board of Trade in order to co-operate with Germany and other nations which have introduced legislation with the purpose of preventing gambling in futures or options in grain, for the purpose of discouraging corners in foodstuffs, as opposed to the interests of producers and consumers.

No such measures have been taken.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the advisability of introducing regulations which will ensure a uniform proportion of registered tonnage of vessels engaged in the cross Channel and coasting trade of the United Kingdom.

The matter to which the hon. Member refers is receiving careful consideration, and so far as reasonable uniformity can be obtained by Board of Trade regulations I shall endeavour to secure it.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps other than publication in the London Gazette were taken by his Department, as required by the Railway Employment (Prevention of Accidents) Act, 1900, to inform the persons affected of the place where the draft of the Prevention of Accidents Rules, 1901, recently issued, might be obtained, and of the time within which objections or suggestions might be lodged with the Board of Trade; whether he is aware that in many cases owners of wagons received the information indirectly and some time after the draft rules were issued; and whether, having regard to the interchange of traffic that takes place between the various railway systems, and the fact that no wagon constructed or reconstructed after twelve months from the coming into operation of the rules may be received or used for traffic on any railway without brake levers that can be conveniently operated upon from either side of the wagons, he will, with a view to securing uniformity, consider the advisability of indicating a standard brake to which all brakes should conform in order to meet the minimum of convenience required by the Board of Trade.

A copy of the Gazette notice was sent in April to each of forty-six newspapers and reviews, as well as to four press agencies, and to the various companies and persons to whom railway accidents reports are usually sent. Copies of the draft rules were sent on the same date to the Railway Companies' Association, the Association of Private Owners of Railway Rolling Stock, the Railway Carriage and Wagon Builders' Association, and the Mining Association of Great Britain. About 900 copies of the Draft Rules have been supplied, in all, to persons and companies affected. The point raised in the last part of the hon. Member's question is one to be considered in connection with the objections which have been made to the draft rules under Section 2 of the Act. These objections will, in the first instance, be submitted to Lord James of Hereford, who will advise the Board thereon.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are a number of colliery owners, owning considerably over a thousand wagons, who never received any notice at all?

I am not aware of that, but I should imagine it is impossible to directly notify everybody.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, seeing that requests have frequently been made by farmers' clubs and associations interested in agriculture for the daily publication at sub-post offices in agricultural districts of the forecast of the weather, whether, in order to assist farmers during the harvest, he will consider the question of having every evening until the end of September the forecast of the weather for the following day telegraphed to those sub-post offices in agricultural districts to which there is telegraphic communication.

In 1893 arrangements were made by the Board of Agriculture for exhibiting, by way of experiment, at telegraph stations in Northumberland and Essex, the daily weather forecasts issued during the hay and corn harvests by the Meteorological Council. In the following year a similar experiment was tried in the counties of Somerset, Carnarvon, Ayr, Cambridge, the East Riding of Yorkshire, and Haddington. Residents in the counties were invited to record their observations of the weather during the period, and the reports were carefully tabulated and examined. The areas to which the forecasts apply were found to be too wide and varied to allow of anything like close accuracy as regards the weather to be expected at any given place, and it did not appear that the assistance rendered to agriculturists was sufficient to justify the Board in asking the Treasury to sanction the continuance of the experiment or its application to the country generally.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the case of the Stepney Borough Council versus Isaac Simons, grocer, 20, Samuel Street, St. George's-in-the-East, at the Thames Police Court, in which defendant was fined 20s. and costs for selling butter containing 40·6 per cent. of water, according to Somerset House analysis, was brought under his notice; whether, with the view of settling a legal standard of water allowable in butter, he will at once appoint a Committee to inquire into the question; and, if so, will he state whether the evidence of experts in the Irish butter trade will be received, and where will the inquiry be held.

My attention has been called to the case mentioned in the question. I hope to appoint the Committee almost immediately.

Has the right hon. Gentleman read the evidence?

Yes, and the case will be carefully considered.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether any general instructions will be issued by the Local Government Board to the auditors to be appointed under the London Government Act of 1899; and, if so, whether these instructions will be sent to the borough councils for their information and guidance, and, in the event of any auditor making a surcharge on the ground of illegal expenditure, will the council at fault have any right of appeal; and, if so, to whom.

The auditor whom I have appointed to conduct the audit of the accounts of the London Borough Councils is an officer of considerable experience. His duties will in the main be similar to those of other district auditors, and I have not deemed it necessary to issue any general instructions to him. There will be a right of appeal to the Local Government Board or to the High Court against any surcharge made by the auditor.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he can say how many boys have been admitted into the Civil Service as boy copyists for the last three years; how many have left the service or been dismissed during that time; and how many have got permanent employment in the Civil Service.

During the three years 1898–1900 3,189 boys have been added to the register, 956 boy coypists have left the service or been dismissed, and 768 have been appointed to permanent situations in the Civil Service.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will consider the expediency of allowing postmen and porters returning from active service in South Africa the right to wear a good conduct stripe, and will he arrange for the extra pay which the stripe carries to be granted to these men on their resuming duty at the pest office.

A good conduct stripe is awarded as a reward for five years unblemished service. It is not proposed to alter the qualifying period on account of service in South Africa.

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, in respect to the promised Government Bill for affording to teachers in public elementary schools a method of repeal or redress against wrongful dismissal from employment, whether the difficulties which were engaging the attention of the Lord President of the Council have been successfully dealt with; and when the Bill will be introduced.

The Bill is in preparation and will be introduced shortly.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that the present holder of the post of gatekeeper of Ham Gate, in Richmond Park, is a former valet of the Deputy Ranger; and if he would urge upon the Ranger of Richmond Park the propriety of appointing old soldiers of good character to these offices.

I am informed that the man referred to was formerly in the service of Admiral FitzGeorge, the Deputy Ranger, and that he had been previously in the Royal Navy. I have no right to interfere with the Ranger in the exercise of his patronage; but I may say on the best authority that his Royal Highness does give consideration to the claims of old soldiers, but not to the exclusion of old servants.

But is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a Balaclava veteran has been removed from the Kingston Gate and a domestic servant of the Duke appointed in his place by His Royal Highness as Ranger?

No, Sir, I have no knowledge of such fact, and, as I have already reminded my hon. and gallant friend, I have no voice in the appointment of these gatekeepers.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether the National Gallery will be completely isolated from the buildings which now adjoin it by effecting the changes which will be authorised by the passage of the National Gallery (Purchase of Adjacent Land) Bill; and will he state what distance from the National Gallery the nearest buildings will be.

Yes, Sir. The National Gallery will be completely isolated from the buildings which are adjacent to it on the west; the nearest building will be the south-east angle of a stable, which will be 35 feet from the north-west corner of the National Gallery; with this exception the space between the buildings will be about 40 feet.

Will no portion of the barracks be in touch with the National Gallery?

The southern portion of the barracks adjoining the National Gallery will be pulled down at the end of the present year.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will inquire into the position of the fishing industry in the neighbourhood of Ballyvaughan, county Clare; and whether he will see that something is done to assist the fishermen of that district.

The fishing industry in the neighbourhood of Ballyvaughan has been for some time the subject of inquiry by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, and it is hoped that it may be possible materially to develop it.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman hold out some hope that something will soon be done in the matter?

I do hold out that hope.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state why the Commissioners of Intermediate Education in Ireland have not attached marks to the honour subjects in the intermediate programme, and if he can say whether these subjects are of equal value.

In the new Intermediate Programme, as all honour subjects are of equal value it was deemed unnecessary by the Board to attach marks to these subjects.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can say why the Report of the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries for 1900 has not yet been presented to Parliament, and when it will be presented.

The Report is in the printers' hands, and, it is expected, will be ready for presentation about the end of this month.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can give the number, names, and qualifications and emoluments of the persons appointed in connection with the spraying of potatoes in Ireland this season.

Instruction in the spraying of potatoes forms part of the duties of the six Agricultural Instructors in the service of the Congested Districts Board. A statement of the names, qualifications, and emoluments of these persons is being prepared and will be forwarded to the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any appointment has yet been made of a Fishery Commissioner in the place of MR. Cecil Roche, and, if so, will he state who it is; and, if not, can he say whether there is any difficulty in the way of making an appointment, and, if so, what is its nature, or for what other reason the place has not been filled.

Mr. D. H. Lane has been appointed temporarily as Inspector of Fisheries in succession to Mr. Roche.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this gentleman is a brewer, and has spent all his life in brewing?

I am not aware of that.

Well, I am.

I am well aware that he has given great assistance to Mr. Green, one of the Fishery Inspectors, and that he has a practical knowledge of the question.

What is the practical knowledge which this brewer has?

He has held the position of manager of a large salmon fishery, although he is now vacating it in order that he may be quite independent.

Is it not the fact that he was appointed not because of his knowledge of the subject, but because he belongs to a particular political denomination?

Has he any acquaintance with deep sea fisheries?

The right hon. Gentleman says the appointment is temporary. Can he make it permanent without legislation?

Yes. He has been appointed provisionally for one year at a salary of £500. He has an acquaintance with deep sea fisheries, for he assisted Mr. Green in one of his deep sea surveys.

Order, order! The question has been fully answered.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the inhabitants of Mallaranny, county Mayo, are put to inconvenience and expense owing to the conduct of the police in summoning them for allowing their donkeys and goats to wander on the public road; that these people have the right to graze on the adjoining mountain, for which they pay a rent, and that the mountain is not fenced in from the public road; and would he see that, pending the proper fencing of the mountain by the landlord, the inhabitants are saved the expense of repeated prosecutions by the police.

There have been eleven prosecutions at Mallaranny since the 1st January last for the offence mentioned, and fines amounting to 12s., with costs, have been imposed. Cultivated land lies adjacent to the road, and is fenced; the grazing mountain is at the other side of this land. The prosecutions were instituted in respect of offences committed on the fenced portion of the road.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the people living in the village of Tawin, near Oranmore, in the South Galway Parliamentary Division, amounting to close on ninety families, are in need of water; that an application, supported by the parish priest, the medical officer of health, and other residents of Tawin and district, was presented to the Rural District Council of Galway asking that a pump should be constructed in the village, and, seeing that this request was refused, whether he will state what steps he will direct the Local Government Board to take to prevent an outbreak of fever in the neighbourhood owing to the comparative absence of a fresh water supply.

The Local Government Board has been in correspondence with the district council in this matter, but so far the council has taken no action. The Board has no power to take any steps with the view of compelling the council to provide a water supply unless it receives a formal complaint under Section 15 of the Public Health Act, 1896, from the ratepayers. If such a complaint be made to the Board it will receive immediate attention.

I bog to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on 22nd May, 1901, a steam trawler was detected four miles inside the prohibited line in Dingle Bay, name and number being "Goldfinder, G.Y. 526," and that the fisherman who saw this vessel reported the matter to the chief coastguard, asking at the same time that the owner be prosecuted; and, seeing that under existing laws no prosecutions could be entered against such offending vessels except they are boarded by coastguards, whether he will take steps immediately to alter the law so as to enable prosecutions to be made in such cases as that described.

A Bill is now before Parliament which, in the event of its becoming law, will strengthen the hands of the responsible authorities in suppressing illegal steam trawling.

Has the gunboat any orders to assist in preventing illegal trawling?

That does not arise out of the question. But I may say that the authorities have no power under the existing law to make the owners amenable.

I bog to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if it is the intention of the Department of Agriculture in Ireland to take up the work of reafforestation, and whether he can state if a qualified official and special Committee will be appointed, and what amount of money is available for the purpose, or if it is intended to obtain a special grant from the Treasury.

I have already stated that the Department hopes, in due time, to take up the work of reafforestation in conjunction with county councils. The councils are empowered to make provision for tree-planting operations and the necessary expert advice in the schemes they are promoting under the Act. These schemes, if approved, will be subsidised by the Department out of the fund at its disposal. It is not intended to obtain a special grant from the Treasury, as suggested.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland why it is that the teacher of Glengariff National School, Roll No. 2,379, District 58, has not yet been paid results for Irish taught as an extra, though the annual examination was held in July, 1900; and will he explain why no answer has been sent to the letter written by the managers to the Education Office complaining of this delay.

I am informed that payment of the grant referred to has been made, and that the reasons for the delay in payment have been explained to the manager.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the order made by the county court judge in the case of the Crown v. Peterson, heard at the late quarter sessions for King's County, held at Tullamore, on the 28th ultimo.

Perhaps I may be permitted to reply to this question. The order made by the judge was to the effect that the case should be adjourned to the next quarter sessions, the defendant being admitted to bail in his own recognisances. It is not proposed to lay a copy of the order on the Table of the House,

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the police in Belfast have been in the habit of taking shorthand notes, or any notes, of the speeches inciting to disorder that have been delivered for a long time past every Sunday at the Custom House by a man named Trew; and, if so, whether he has any objection to place the reports of those speeches on the Table of the House.

At the request of my right hon. friend, I will reply to this question. Notes in shorthand, or longhand, have been taken for some time past of the speeches made by Mr. Trew; I cannot, however, admit the accuracy of the description applied to these speeches in the question, though, no doubt, they were in many instances reprehensible in character. The reports of the speeches are confidential documents, and it would be contrary to practice to lay them on the Table of the House

In what way were they reprehensible if they did not incite to disorder?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the South Tipperary and other county councils have passed resolutions urging them to have the previsions of the Local Government Provisional Order Bill put in force from the 30th September next so as to enable them to give practical effect to the said provisions in the coming year; and whether he can promise to be able to comply with the expressed request of those councils.

The Provisional Order fixes the 1st April next as the date on which it is to come into operation, that date being the beginning of a new financial year. This date was fixed after consultation with the several county and district councils affected, and current rates have been struck with regard to the liabilities under existing contracts which will expire on that date. For these and other reasons, which it is impossible to state in detail in answer to a question, the suggestion of the hon. Member cannot be adopted.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the salaries of the taxing masters engaged in the Four Courts, Dublin; what are the hours during which they should attend for the transaction of business; and whether it is competent for one of them to strike out cases to leave the court, and thereby put parties interested to inconvenience.

The salary of each of the taxing masters is £1,000 a year. The public business of the department extends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The taxing masters do not strike out cases in order to leave the court. They occasionally adjourn cases owing to the non-attendance of the parties or the non-production of vouchers.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the town of Ballintogher, county Sligo, on the line of the Sligo, Leitrim, and Northern Counties Railway, is at present only accommodated with a flag station, to the inconvenience of the people, merchants, and traders of that town and also the cattle dealers who frequent the fairs held there; and, seeing that this company were bound by the original power granted them by Parliament to erect a passenger and goods station at Ballintogher, whether he can take any steps to induce the company to fulfil their promise by having a station erected.

The company state that there is a suitable passenger platform station with every accommodation at this place. It does not appear that they are under any statutory obligation to construct such a station as the hon. Member suggests, and the company allege that the traffic would not warrant the necessary expenditure.

If I satisfy the right hon. Gentleman that the company are under such statutory obligation, will the matter be reconsidered?

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that at present there is only one daily mail delivery in the town of Ballintogher, county Sligo; that the mails are conveyed from Cullooney by road, arriving at 10 a.m., although a morning mail train from Sligo passes some hours earlier by Ballintogher, and delivers mails along the route at the various towns and villages, performing the same duty on its return at 8.15 p.m.; and will he institute inquiries, with the view of having the same facilities accorded Ballintogher as are enjoyed by smaller towns on the same route of railway

The Postmaster General will cause inquiries to be made with the view of ascertaining whether it is practicable to afford increased postal facilities at Ballintogher, county Sligo, and the hon. Member shall be informed of the result as soon as possible.