I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the teaching of navigation to the cadets at Osborne is controlled by civilians, and that landsmen who have never practised any sort of navigation of the sea are daily teaching the cadets this branch of a naval officer's profession; and whether the Admiralty have sanctioned this method as the one best adapted for imparting the practical knowledge.

Mathematical teaching is given by civilian masters with a view to preparing the cadets for the future instruction in navigation which they will receive from naval officers. It is not, however, the case that the teaching of navigation is undertaken or controlled by civilians, and it would appear that the hon. Member has been misled by the difficulty of drawing a hard and fast line between trigonometry and theoretical navigation.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has any confirmation of the unanimous Report of a recent Committee presided over by Admiral Sir A. Douglas, and of which the Director of Naval Education, Professor Ewing, was a member, to the effect that a few of the Osborne cadets manifest a disinclination to study engineering subjects, and it is suspected that this has been encouraged by the parents; whether the Admiralty agree with the conclusion of the Committee that the development of such feelings or prejudices must have a deletrious effect on the system of training as a whole; and, if so, what steps do the Admiralty propose to take to eradicate this feeling.

In reply to the first part of the Question, since the report of the Committee no complaints of this nature have reached the Admiralty. The remainder of the Question accordingly does not arise.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty; if supplementary lieutenants in the Royal Navy are to have a chance to be promoted the same as other lieutenants in the Royal Navy.

The regulations under which these officers entered (which were established by Order in Council June 29th, 1895,) do not provide for promotion above rank of lieutenant on the active list except for distinguished war service.

May I ask why it is that to-day the Union Jack is not flying over the Admiralty, as well as other public buildings?

Order, order. That does not arise out of the Question on the Paper.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can conveniently communicate to the House the series of questions which he has put before the Committee appointed to advise the Army Council on the formation of a new Army; whether he can also communicate the series of questions submitted to the Committee by the chairman; and whether the two sets of questions are identical or supplementary to one another.

I not think that any good purpose would be served by communicating to the House at the present time the series of questions now being put to the Committee to which the hon. and gallant Member alludes. The questions now being submitted by the Chairman are identical with those which I put before the Committee.

Am I to understand that the questions being put bear upon a scheme formulated by the right hon. Gentleman himself or by the Army Council, or by some irresponsible reformer?

They specifically refer to matters which were outlined when I addressed the House in presenting the Army Estimates.

Is my right hon. friend aware that in two newspapers long accounts have been published recently of what has got out, and, that being so, does he not think it would be better to make a real publication?

As it appears that these questions have been communicated to, at least two newspapers, and are moreover in the possession of some hon. Members, would it not be more convenient that the whole House should have the advantage of seeing the documents?

I certainly do not think so. The House will be furnished with full information when the work is done. It is very inconvenient to make partial statements now. As to what has appeared in the newspapers I know nothing, nor do I know how it got there. I think it is very likely that, like many other things in newspapers, it is inaccurate.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if there are at present ten or eleven companies vacant in the Army Service Corps, and, if so, why are they not filled at once by those officers who have successfully passed the necessary examinations held last November; and if it is intended to keep these companies vacant until the results of the new examinations, just commenced, shall be made known, so that officers now qualified for promotion may be then passed over by others not at present qualified. And further may I ask how it is that on Empire Day the Union Jack is not flying at the War Office?

That has nothing to do with the Question on the Paper.

It is not intended to defer the promotions to the vacancies in question until the result of the next examination is known. The delay has been occasioned by necessary references to India and South Africa.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the increase in the number of prisoners committed to military prisons at home and abroad (excluding India), as shown on page 8 of [Cd. 2699] the Report on Military Prisons, 1905; and if he will explain this increase, seeing that the number of committals has gone up from 11,414 in 1901, when the average Army strength at home and abroad (excluding India) was 335,910 to 19,461 in 1905, when the average strength was only 188,570.

The strength given in 1901 included the mobilised reserve and auxiliary forces. In that year the troops in South Africa were on active service and offences committed there were as a rule dealt with by field imprisonment and not by committal to military prisons. No comparison therefore between the figures for 1901 and 1905 can properly be made.

I want the right hon. Gentleman to compare the figures with those for eight years ago.

The hon. Member is not entitled to make a speech.

put a further Question as to the increase in the number of court martials.

asked for notice.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any of the Chinese indentured labourers in the Transvaal have up to the present applied to be repatriated under the terms of the proclamation recently posted; and, if so, how many.

Lord Selborne has informed us that he will report fully regarding the working of the repatriation notices next week, when the notices will have been posted for a fortnight. No advantage will be gained by anticipating his report either with partial and imperfect information or premature conclusions.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman if he can define Chinese public opinion?

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the determination of His Majesty's Government not to permit further recruiting of Chinese indentured labourers for the Transvaal will lead to a disturbance of the existing system, voluntarily carried on by the Mines Labour Agency, of distributing the portion of the coolies' wages allotted to the support of their families in China; and, if so, what arrangements are being made for carrying on this work.

The Secretary of State has been in communication with Lord Selborne for some time with a view of placing the allotment system on a more satisfactory footing, but he has had no intimation that it is proposed to discontinue it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is any censorship of telegrams between this country and Natal; whether if he can say if the resolutions of sympathy with the Zulus now in rebellion, adopted at a recent labour demonstration at Woolwich, have been telegraphed to the Natal Government and Bambaata, or have been published in Natal newspapers; whether the Natal Government has declined Imperial aid in suppressing the Zulu revolt.

There is no censorship of telegrams between this country and Natal. The Secretary of State has no official information in regard to the resolutions referred to being transmitted to Natal. The Natal Government has not declined Imperial aid. Members of the Natal Government have publicly stated that they do not desire to ask for Imperial troops to be actively employed in suppressing the revolt. The battalion which is now stationed at Maritzburg was sent on the representations of Ministers in February that its moral effect upon the native community would be incalculable. H.M.S. "Terpsichore" was also for a short time moved to Durban.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the fact that a petition has been presented to the Lieutenant Governor of the Transvaal, Sir Richard Solomon, K.C.M.G., on behalf of the prisoners of the Leinster Regiment, convicted in 1903 for a mutinous offence and sentenced in one case to imprisonment for life, and in the other four cases to long terms of imprisonment; and whether, taking all the circumstances into account and the length of time those men have been in prison, he can now say that an inquiry will be held with a view to extending the clemency of the Crown to those prisoners.

The Secretary of State has no information as to the presentation of such a petition, and has received no official information whatever on the subject since his predecessor stated in the House of Commons on 19th July, 1904, that no grounds had been submitted to him on which he would be justified in intervening in the administration of justice in this case.

Will the Secretary of State himself inquire into this matter.

I am afraid my noble friend cannot depart from the position taken up by his predecessor.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, if it has been decided what penalty or punishment will be inflicted upon a Chinaman who, after having been repatriated, returned t to South Africa.

The penalty to be imposed is one of the points still under consideration and on which the proposals of the High Commissioner are awaited; but it is obvious that when the licences now currant expire shortly, there will be no opportunity for a coolie to return.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he has any official information showing that one thousand unemployed workmen of the Transvaal have recently sought enlistment in the forces now operating in Natal; and that this dearth of employment and this state of things is attributable to the introduction of Chinese labour into the Colony?

I have no official information as yet on this point. The dearth of employment must be due to a variety of causes, the effect of each of which it is difficult to gauge without full inquiry.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the two circulars issued by the Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam on the 8th November, 1905, have been completely or only partially withdrawn, and especially whether that portion of the second circular which relates to the prohibition of political or quasi-political meetings in public places has been withdrawn; and whether the circular of the Government of Bengal No. 1679 P—D, dated the 10th October, 1905, directed against schoolboys and authorising the enrolment as special constables of headmasters and teachers of schools and those connected with their management, has been withdrawn.

The Lieutenant-Governor of Eastern Bengal and Assam has withdrawn all restrictions on public meetings and processions imposed by previous orders. The other circular of the Government of Bengal is of a completely different character. It was directed against acts of violence and breaches of the peace in connection with the boycotting of British goods, and the instructions were to have effect only in cases where mischief had actually occurred. One object of the circular was to induce the educational authorities to enforce discipline upon schoolboys and students, instead of leaving them to be dealt with by policemen and magistrates. So far as I know it has not been formally withdrawn.

Has it been enforced? Have the teachers and others concerned in the management of the schools been enrolled as special constables for the control of the schoolboys?

I believe there was some circular inviting them to be enrolled as special constables. As far as I understand it, they were not enrolled as special constables because they were heads of schools and colleges; but they were invited as the heads of these institutions to deal with their students rather than allow them to continue unruly—a course which must have brought them into conflict with the police.

Special constables are not invited to enrol, but are compelled to serve, under an order of the magistrate.

Special constables were enrolled in the event of disorders taking place and being persisted in. The magistrates were directed to enrol schoolmasters as special constables so that they might identify the boys and deal with them as schoolboys instead of as criminals. That was a very sensible provision.

Were not the headmasters competent to control the boys without that?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether any action has been taken or is intended to be taken by the Government of India with regard to the alleged unprovoked assaults by the police on the delegates to the Bengal Provincial Conference at Barisal, and the dispersal of the conference by force during last Easter.

As those proceedings, are, I believe, now before the courts of law, I can hardly say anything as to any administrative action in the matter. Meanwhile, as my hon. friend is aware, all the circulars and proclamations are now withdrawn.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, having regard to the fact that a memorial signed by Lord Hobhouse, Sir Richard Garth, Sir Richard Couch, Sir Charles Sargent, Sir William Markby, Sir John Phear, Sir John Scott, Sir William Wedderburn, and others, praying for the separation of judicial and executive functions in India, was addressed to his predecessor, Lord George Hamilton, in July, 1899, and that the opinions of all the local governments and administrations in India on the subject of that memorial were submitted to the Government of India before the close of the year 1901, and that the Government of India, notwithstanding repeated promises, have not yet submitted any Report in regard to that memorial, he will now issue such instructions to the Government of India as shall ensure that no further delay is allowed to occur in dealing with this memorial.

I understand that until a very recent date, the Government of India did not regard the time as opportune for pressing this question rapidly to a decision. I will draw the attention of the Government of India to the subject, and they will no doubt let me know their views at an early date.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the explanation offered by the Chinese Government in regard to the Imperial edict placing the maritime customs under the control of a Chinese administrator is regarded by His Majesty's Government as adequate; and whether a request has been made for further and more definite assurances.

I have nothing to add to the answer given on the 22nd instant.† We have asked for more definite, assurances: the reply has not yet been received.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if; he has considered the effect likely to be I caused on Chinese public opinion by the stoppage of further recruiting of indentured labour in China for the Transvaal; and whether he is taking any precautionary measures to prevent the Chinese placing retaliatory restrictions upon the importation of British manufactures.

His Majesty's Government are under no obligation to avail themselves of the facilities for recruiting coolies which were granted by the Convention of May 13th, 1904, and I have no reason to think that the cessation of recruiting will have any effect on Chinese public opinion.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement as to the alleged agreement arrived at between His Majesty's Government and Russia.

I cannot make any statement about the alleged agreement as described in the Press, because such an agreement does not exist. But I may add that there has been an increasing tendency for England and Russia to deal in a friendly way with questions concerning them both as they arise. This has on more than one occasion lately led the two Governments to find themselves in co-operation. It is a tendency which we shall be very glad to encourage and which, if it continues, will naturally result in the progressive settlement of questions in which each country has an interest, and in strengthening friendly relations between them.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, with reference to the entry in the Registrar-General's 67th Report for 1904 of 104 deaths from chicken-pox, whether he will order the transfer of the majority of these cases from the heading of chicken-pox to the heading of smallpox in the Registrar-General's corrected Returns, in accordance with the remarks made in Dr. Tatham's annual letter to the Registrar-General, analysing the causes of death.

I have communicated with the Registrar-General on this subject, and he informs mo that it would not be practicable that the suggested transfers should be made, as he has no means of ascertaining how many of the cases referred to were in fact cases of small-pox.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the advancement of the session, and the extent of Parliamentary business to be dealt with, he can now inform the House that proposals will be placed before it sufficiently early to assure legislation which will this year make better provision for dealing with the distress and difficulties due to the unemployment still prevailing.

The Prime Minister has already intimated that this Bill cannot be introduced before Whitsuntide, and I do not think that I can at present add anything to that statement.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that legislation in fulfilment of the Government's promises will be introduced to deal with what is a serious and urgent matter of public importance, namely, the starvation and distress of thousands of men and women?

I have nothing to add to the statements I have previously made on this subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the figures published in the May issue of the Labour Gazette as to the building trade show that what I stated yesterday was correct?

That does not arise out of the question.

I am not answering yesterday's questions.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will issue a Return giving the number of local distress committees and the cost of working the same up to March 31st, 1906.

There are eighty-nine distress committees in England and Wales outside London. I am obtaining particulars as to their expenditure, and I will then consider the question of the issue of a return on the subject.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will put pressure upon the central (unemployed) body to present the Report for which he is waiting; and, if he does not see his way to do so, will he assure the House that the delay will not retard the introduction of his proposed amending Bill to the Unemployed Workmen Act.

I am in communication with the chairman of the central (unemployed) body with a view of obtaining their preliminary report at the earliest date practicable.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received a Report of the working of the Unemployed Act from the Sunderland Distress Committee; and what action he proposes to take in regard to such Report.

I have not at present seen the Report, but I have written to the Distress Committee for a copy of it.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can explain the delay which has occurred in the presentation of the Report of the Royal Commission on motor cars; and whether he will undertake that the Vote for his salary shall not be put down until this House is in possession of such Report,.and has had an opportunity of studying it.

I understand that the Report is still under discussion, but that its preparation is being proceeded with as rapidly as practicable. I fear I could not give the undertaking asked for in the last part of the Question.

Shall we be able to discuss the Report before the end of the session?

I trust that the Report of the Royal Commission will be laid on the table of the House before the close of the session. Personally, I do not object to my salary being reduced, if an adequate discussion of the Report takes place.

Shall we have an opportunity of discussing the Bill before it is extended?

I hope so; I will place no difficulty in the way.

Can the measure not be included in the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill?

Certainly.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a postman employed at Calverton, Nottinghamshire, at a wage of only 9s. per week, has been ordered to be vaccinated at his own expense; and will he say if this is the usual custom in the Post Office service.

I am having inquiry made and will communicate with the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he can state what sum was expended out of the rates on Jewish Schools in London during the last school year; and what proportion of that sum was expended in teaching Judaism.

I have no information on the subject.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works if he can arrange for additional facilities downstairs for refreshments, so that Members may not be compelled to leave the House and thus lose opportunities for taking part in divisions.

I hope shortly to be able to announce the details of new accommodation for refreshments downstairs, which will enable the hon. Member to remain in continuous attendance.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether ho is aware that various patent agents and others describe their places of business, by brass plates and otherwise, as patent offices; whether he is aware that this misdescription is misleading and induces intending patentees to go to these places of business under the impression that they are, or are officially connected with, the Patent Office; and whether he will consider the advisability of promoting legislation on the subject.

I am aware of the existence of the practice referred to, and in the event of the introduction of any legislation by the Government relating to patents, I will certainly consider the desirability of dealing with it.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury what was the amount of the legal fees paid during the last year in the House of Lords; and how, and under what authority, statutory or otherwise, this sum of money is disposed of.

The total amount of legal fees paid during the past financial year in the House of Lords was £2,113 4s. By an arrangement made between the House and the Treasury in 1868, after reserving so much as may be required (together with the interest of the invested Fee Fund) to meet retiring allowances, all fees payable to the House of Lords were paid into the Exchequer. Since 1896–7 the surplus fees have been Appropriated in aid of the annual Vote.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the attention of His Majesty's Commissioner of Woods and Forests has been given to the numerous fires which have recently broken out in the New Forest; if he can state what precautions have been taken by the Crown authorities to guard against and prevent the destruction of this beautiful public property; whether they have any evidence that this wanton waste is the work of incendiaries; and if any persons have been apprehended, convicted, and punished for such offences.

This matter has long been the subject of serious consideration, and there are grave reasons for suspecting that in many instances the fires are spread by incendiaries. Rewards have been offered for information, but without effect. The Commissioners of Woods are considering what further steps can lie taken to check the practice. Two youths were tried at the Winchester Assizes and released on their own recognizances.

replied that he believed not, unless it was the case of the two boys already mentioned.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the date on which Sir Michael Hicks-Beach notified to the Treasury his desire to cease drawing a political pension; and the date on which an application was received from Mr. Gerald Balfour applying to be placed on the pension list.

Sir Michael Hicks-Beach resigned his pension on December 1st, 1905. Mr. Gerald Balfour applied for his on the 5th idem.

Can any arrangement be made whereby Mr. Gerald Balfour's salary as a company director may be deducted from the amount of his pension?

No, Sir; no such arrangement can be made?

Are we to understand that the applicant applied four days after the previous pension had been withdrawn, and is it the case that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach continued to draw his pension on the ground of poverty after he had been paid £100,000 for Salisbury Plain?

I do not think poverty is the ground put forward. It is quite true that Mr. Gerald Balfour applied for his pension four days after Sir Michael Hicks-Beach had resigned his, but I do not think Mr. Gerald Balfour would have been likely to apply for that pension until his Government went out of office.

Was there any understanding in regard to the peerage being granted when this pension was given up?

None, so far as I am aware.

What is the nature of the declaration a Minister has to make when he receives a political pension?

The hon. Member should give notice of that Question.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether he will consider the desirableness of introducing legislation to make barristers, who accept retainers on behalf of litigants and fail to appear on their behalf, liable in damages for broach of contract.

I fear the sort of legislation the hon. Member suggests is not possible, and, in my opinion, if it were possible, it is not necessary or desirable. It is not possible, because there is no contract entered into between a barrister and his client, and damages in respect of a non-existent contract can scarcely be recovered even under the sanction of an Act of Parliament. If there be any breach of faith or duty, the client has a remedy, because the matter can be brought to the notice of the Benchers of the Inn, to which the counsel belongs, who have ample powers to see that reparation is given. The remedy is really in the hands of the client himself, because, in my experience, he prefers the mere chance of the services of a meteoric counsel who ranges over the whole legal firmament to the certainty of the presence of a stationary but less brilliant luminary. I may add that he may also follow the course which has been pursued with such conspicuous success by the hon. Member himself and conduct his own case.

I was not asking the question on my own behalf, but in the public interest. Has the Attorney-General ever known the benchers to order any kind of recompense to be given to a client who had suffered in this way, and what does ho mean by "stationary luminary" so far as the King's Bench Division is concerned?

I am not aware that a case has been submitted to the benchers, but I am quite sure that, if a case was submitted, the counsel would be asked to make the reparation demanded of him. I used the word stationary in a comparative sense with regard to the King's Bench Courts, and in a more absolute sense with regard to the Courts of Chancery.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether, before any final division is made of the funds arising from the sale of Clifford's Inn and New Inn, the claims of the University of Lon- don and other Universities and institutions providing legal education in London and the provinces to share in such funds will be taken into consideration.

Yes. They have been and shall be considered.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland when the Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland will be published; and, whether, in view of the condition of some of the Scottish fisheries, he will take steps to expedite the publication of it.

The Report has been presented and is now being printed.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether procurators fiscal are entitled to be elected and sit on Scottish county councils.

Under a regulation by the Lord-Advocate dated 25th November, 1889, procurators fiscal were directed not to allow themselves to be nominated as candidates, nor interfere in any way in the election of county councillors. That regulation is still in force, and I have no intention of in any respect abrogating it.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether procurators fiscal are allowed to carry on private practice or business in the towns or counties for which they act.

The question whether a procurator fiscal is entitled to carry on private practice or business depends on the terms of his commission. In every case where it is possible, the policy has been to restrict the procurators fiscal entirely to their official work.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Widow Lynch and Michael Lynch, tenants on the O'Gready property at Cleagh, New-market-on-Fergas, in the county of Clare, applied several times to the Estates Commissioners to reinstate them in their farms from which they were evicted in.November, 1886 for the non-payment of one year's rent, and that emergency men are in their farm since they were evicted; whether two emergency men and one policeman were shot at and wounded on account of this farm; and will he inquire whether the Estates Commissioners will take up those farms for the tenants.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have received applications for reinstatement from the persons named, and have directed one of their inspectors to inquire into the cases.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of withdrawing the police from these farms?

said that did not arise out of the Question on the Paper.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the specific neglect of duty of which Dr. O'Brien, of Ennistymon, in the county of Clare, was guilty, and for which the Local Government Board called for his resignation; whether all the patients who were the subject of the inquiry left the hospital cured; whether he is aware that the inquiry was held in spite of the repeated protests of the guardians; whether he is aware that the same official who presided at the inquiry collected evidence beforehand; and whether the board of guardians requested the Local Government Board to permit Dr. O'Brien to continue in office.

The cases of specific neglect of duty of which Dr. O'Brien was guilty, could not be properly stated within the limits of an answer to a Question. It is the fact that none of the patients who were the subject of the inquiry died in hospital, but this does not alter the Local Government Board's opinion as to the medical officer's neglect of duty. The inspector who held the formal inquiry on oath had, on the occasion of the previous visit to the workhouse in connection with the complaint of a patient that no proper professional assistance was rendered to him, made certain inquiries regarding some of the cases; and it is the fact that the board of guardians requested the Local Government Board to permit Dr. O'Brien to continue in office. It is the statutory duty of the Local Government Board to hold inquiries on oath in such cases, and they are empowered to remove an officer whom they find to have seriously failed in the discharge of his function; and as they considered that in this case they must, in justice to the sick poor at Ennistymon, exercise their powers, they called on Dr. O'Brien to resign, which he did.

Will the Local Government Board sanction the doctor's re-appointment by the guardians?

No, I will not. I have looked into the case and I am satisfied the Local Government Board could not do otherwise than it has done.

As no serious results followed the alleged neglect, will not the right hon. Gentleman meet the universal feeling of the district by giving the doctor at least another opportunity?

I am sorry to say I do not think I can. Serious results did follow and disease spread among a number of people.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, who, outside the Members of the Bench, claim or have a right to appoint junior or other clerks to positions in the High Courts in Ireland; whether such claim or right, outside the patronage which the judges exercise in their respective courts, has any authority; and to what offices is judicial patronage limited.

I have referred this Question to the Lord Chancellor, who has furnished me with the following reply:" All appointments to junior clerkships in the High Courts in Ireland are made by open competition except in cases in which existing rights of patronage have been preserved by statute to certain judges. There are, however, certain clerks employed in the Central Office under the Local Registration of Title (Ireland) Act, who are not on the permanent official staff of the High Court, and pending the consideration of the requirements of that office and the status of the clerkships, the employment of these clerks is regulated by the registrar of title."

How many clerks have first been temporarily appointed and then forced on the permanent staff?

That does not seem to arise out of the Question on the Paper.

On behalf of the hon. Member for S. Meath, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have asked the assistance of the law officers to find a means by which the commissioners could lease or sell the mineral rights vested in them in properties sold under the Land Act of 1903; and, if not, what steps, if any, they have taken to secure that where minerals may be found or believed to exist, they shall not remain unused, and willing workers in their vicinity compelled to idleness or emigration.

I have already assured the hon. Member that this important matter is receiving the closest attention. I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject.

On be half of the hon. Member for West Kerry, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether in the national schools of Ireland any attempt is I made to give Irish children an insight into the elementary principles of political economy, especially as it affects the welfare of their own country; and whether, seeing the desire that exists amongst all classes in the community to turn to the best account all the available resources of the country, steps will be taken to give the children in the schools a knowledge of the scientific principles of success in commerce and industry.

Political economy is not a subject of instruction in national schools, but the Commissioners of National Education inform me that lessons on some of the elements of branches of that science, such as banks, commerce, and kindred matters, are contained in the reading books of the fifth and sixth standards.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received any communication relative to the sale of the Hutchins estate, situate near Allihies, Castletown, Berehaven, county Cork; and, if so, whether they have been informed that there are evicted tenants on it; and, seeing a. so that there is a large tract of grazing land in the possession of the landlord, will the Estates Commissioners see that the evicted tenants are restored to their holdings, or to a portion of this grazing land, the remaining portion to be used for the purpose of enlarging small adjacent holdings.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that no originating application or request in respect of the sale of this estate has yet been lodged with them. Applications from five persons claiming reinstatement as evicted tenants upon the estate have been referred to an inspector for inquiry and report.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board made an offer to purchase Mr. Kearney's farm at Rossmore, Durrus; and, if so, with what result.

The reply is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have yet inquired into the eviction of Mary Evans, at Rossmore, Durrus, county Cork; and, if so, what was the result of the inquiry.

The Estates Commissioners have directed one of their inspectors to inquire into this case, but the inspector's report has not yet boon received.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Baleragh, on the Bird estate, Kilcrohane parish, near Bantry, was offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board; whether the Congested Districts Board made an offer of purchase; whether they are aware that in purchasing this farm, they, in addition to improving two migratory tenants, would give twice as much land to each of the four Forlbeg tenants and would also improve the condition of the Escraha and Tooreen tenants; what are the dates on which their inspectors valued this farm; and when may a definite offer be made.

The Congested Districts Board have arranged to purchase the portion of the Bird estate referred to, namely, Baleragh.

On behalf of the hon. Member for Longford, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the proposed appointment of assistant female teachers in Irish national schools after the 1st July, is voluntary or compulsory on the part of Catholic managers; and whether, in the case of managers who object to the arrangement, there will be special inquiries held before any compulsory order is made.

the Commissioners of National Education inform me that the appointment of junior assistant mistresses will be made only in cases in which the local managers apply for them. There is no distinction in the case of religion.

On behalf of the hon. Member for North Longford I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any inspection has been ordered in the case of the sale of the O'Grady Estate at Carn, in North Longford; whether he is aware that several important questions will arise for ruling; and will he undertake to see that a full report is received before any rulings are made.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they are finable to trace any proceedings as having been instituted before them in respect of the sale of the estate mentioned.

On behalf of the hon. Member for North Longford I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether in the case of James McCann, convicted at the Longford March assizes, and sentenced to three years' penal servitude, the Lord-Lieutenant or Lords Justices, before deciding that the law should take its course, called for a Report from Mr. Justice Kenny; whether they also had a Report from the local police authorities; and on which report they based their decision.

The decision in this matter was given by the Lords Justices. It would be contrary to the established practice to state the grounds upon which such decision was based, but the hon. Member may, I think, rest assured that the Lords Justices did not act without having full information before them.

On behalf of the hon. Member for North Longford I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether ho is aware of the complaints made as to damage to crops, etc., by the floods caused in wet weather by the overflowing of the River Riffey; and whether he will direct that one or two witnesses from this portion of county Longford be heard by the Commission on Drainage now sitting, with a view to the present state of things being remedied there.

I understand that two witnesses from county Longford, including the chairman of the county council, will probably be examined before the Arterial Drainage Commission; but I would remind the hon. Member that the Commission was appointed to consider what amendments of the law are necessary to enable arterial drainage works to be carried out, and not to inquire into the needs of particular localities.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether the Land Commission have recently obtained judgment against a tenant named Reidy for non-payment of an annuity due under a purchase agreement signed eighteen years ago; whether this annuity has been shown to the Land Commission to be excessive; whether, after an inspection of the lands, it has been declared by an inspector of another Government department that the occupier is paying too high a rent in the form of an annuity; and if he can take any steps to save this occupier from eviction and prevent other occupiers from placing themselves in a similar position by the payment of excessive prices for their lands.

I am informed by the Land Commission that the sale to the tenant purchaser in this case took place twenty years ago. The Commissioners recently obtained judgment for a half year's annuity due on May 1st, 1905. Further proceedings in the matter were deferred at the request of the tenant purchaser, who expressed the wish to dispose of his interest in the holding, and has since advertised a sale by auction. The Commissioners have no information that the annuity is excessive, or that the holding has been inspected on behalf of another Government department.

As the farm was not sold when put up will the right hon. Gentleman recommend the Land Commissioners to comply with the tenant's request for a remission?

I will convey the suggestion of the hon. Member to the Commission, but I have no right to make any recommendations.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, in reference to negotiations for the sale of the Hunger-ford and Cloran Estate, barony of Duhallow, county Cork, whether the Estates Commissioners are now in a position to say whether pressure to sign a purchase agreement has been brought to bear on Denis Breen, the present occupant of two evicted farms, with a view to exclude the two evicted tenants, in the shape of a writ for one year's arrears of rent; whether the Commissioners will instruct their inspector to inquire into this alleged pressure, and, if such is found to be the case, will the Commissioners decline to sanction the purchase under existing circumstances?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have referred this case to one of their inspectors for inquiry, but until the inspector's report has been received they are unable to say what action they may take in the matter.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state how many elected members of boards of conservators of fisheries there are in Ireland; the number of persons eligible to act on such boards because of their being owners of fisheries valued at £100 or over; the number of persons eligible to act on such boards because of their being justices of the peace whose holdings are bordering on rivers or lakes, and having paid one pound licence duty; and also the number, elected or otherwise, of fishermen who earn their living by fishing who act as members of such boards?

I am informed that there are 254 elected members of boards of conservators in Ireland, half of whom are elected by licence holders in tidal divisions of the districts, and half by those in fresh water divisions. The number of fisheries valued at £100 yearly or upwards is sixty-five. There is a variation from year to year in the number of persons eligible to act on such boards by reason of their being magistrates paying licence duty and being owners of land abutting on rivers or lakes. The Department are, however, willing, if desired, to ascertain the number of such persons who acted as ex-officio members of the different boards during 1905. In the largest district (Limerick) the number was about ten. The Department are not aware of the number of members of such boards who earn their livelihood by fishing.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the strong language and resolution used and adopted by the Westport, county Mayo, guardians, on the 17th May, towards the Reverend Mr. Hannay, rector of Westport, and workhouse Protestant chaplain, because of opinions expressed and characters and types portrayed in the novels of which the guardians allege that the reverend gentleman is author; whether, in view of the speech of one of the guardians advising that Mr. Hannay should be dragged through the streets of Westport and pitched into the river, the police will be directed to be watchful to prevent this suggestion from being carried out; and whether the Local Government Board intend, as demanded by the guardians, to dismiss the Reverend Mr. Hannay from the chaplaincy, on the charge of having written two very readable novels.

Is it in order to use the notice paper of this House in order to describe novels as "very readable"? I have tried to read one of these novels and failed miserably.

I have seen, since this Question appeared, a newspaper account of the meeting referred to. Some rather pointed criticism appears to have been passed upon newspaper extracts from works of which the reverend gentleman is conjectured to be the author, but there does not appear to be reason to apprehend that any more direct form of disapproval will be manifested. It sometimes happens that critics do not themselves read the books on which they pass judgment, and I gather that this was the case in the present instance. The Local Government Board do not intend to dismiss the Reverend Mr. Hannay from the workhouse chaplaincy.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of the question which says that these novels are "very readable," and say whether he has read them?

The novels are not mentioned by name, and I do not know that I am entitled to assume what they are. But if one of them is the one I believe it to be, I am bound to say I found it very readable.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Department of Agriculture has been drawn to the fact that on the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) the rate per ton for conveying grass seed from Derry to Dublin (162 miles) is 6s. 8d., whilst from Banbridge to Dublin (86 miles) the rate is 9s. 2d.; and, if so, whether steps will be taken to induce the company to reduce the rates from Banbridge to figures proportionate to the rate from Derry.

The attention of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction has not been drawn by any communication from agriculturists or traders to the rates referred to. They will now make inquiry into the matter with a view to such action as the circumstances may require.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the grazing farm of Annagheur, comprising a portion of the Miss Nicholson estate, situate at Castlebawldin, near Riverstown, county Sligo, and at present in the equity court, has been leased for a term of years under a court letting, to one James Murrin, a former herd of the farm; and, if so, will he state the circumstances under which this letting took place, and explain why the demands of the uneconomic landholders of the district to have this farm utilised for the enlargement of their holdings, were not acceded to.

The registrar of the Land Judge's Court informs me that the estate in question is being administered by the land judge as receiver judge in a Chancery action of Gorman v. Gately. The letting to Murrin, under a court tenancy, of part of the lands in question, was made in accordance with the usual practice of the Court and after full consideration by the learned judge; and as the acceptance of Murrin's proposal was a judicial act, the judge is not prepared to discuss the circumstances of the case or the reasons that actuated him in making the letting.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Board of Control prior to the year £9,000 had plans and specifications prepared involving an expenditure of about £9,000 for the alteration of certain buildings in the Richmond District Lunatic Asylum, to provide accommodation for private patients whose friends wished to have treated in that institution, and that the Joint Committee of Management on coming into office under The Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, continued the operations begun by the Board and the necessary alterations made; that under the powers given to them by the above-named Act the Joint Committee drew up regulations for the reception and management of private patients and submitted them to the Lord-Lieutenant for his sanction, and that His Excellency withheld his sanction thereby refusing to allow the Joint Committee to use the buildings; and will he say whether such refusal was based on the plea that there are a number of harmless pauper lunatics in workhouses in the district; and whether, pending the publication and consideration of the Report of the Poor Law Commission, the Lord-Lieutenant will allow these buildings to be used having regard to the sum of public money spent upon them.

I am informed that the plans and specifications referred to were prepared in 1900, not by the Board of Control, but by the Joint Committee of Management of the Richmond Asylum. The proposed works were for the purpose of providing further accommodation for the lunatic poor, and not for private patients, and Government approval was given to the scheme as for the first-named purpose. Upon the completion of the works the Committee drew up regulations for the reception and treatment of private patients in the new portion of the asylum. The Lord-Lieutenant's sanction was withheld upon the ground that it would be indefensible to permit asylum space to be appropriated for the benefit of the wealthier class of insane whoso relatives could pay for their maintenance in private asylums, while there were such large numbers of lunatic poor in workhouses of the district who ought to be provided for in asylums. I am informed that there are at present about 600 persons of unsound mind in workhouses in the Richmond Asylum District who stand urgently in need of asylum treatment. The reply to the concluding inquiry is in the negative. The Report of the Trish Poor Law Reform Commission may be expected shortly, but I am not aware that it will have any direct bearing on the Question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are other institutions that can be utilised for the purpose of housing harmless lunatics?

The hon. Member may safely assume that the action taken by the Lord-Lieutenant is in the interest of these poor people.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the president's speech at a meeting of the Incorporated Law Society; will he cause the correspondence that passed between the Incorporated Law Society and the Estates Commissioners to be laid upon the Table; and is it his intention to take steps to increase the staff to enable the Land Act to be worked with more expedition.

Since the Question appeared on the Paper, I have obtained a copy of a newspaper containing a report of the proceedings mentioned. I am informed that the correspondence between the Incorporated Law Society and the Estates Commissioners has already been published in the Dublin newspapers. I should doubt whether in the circumstances it is worth while to have it printed and be laid on the Table as a Parliamentary Paper. The staff of the Estates Commissioners has recently been increased for the purpose mentioned in the Question, and the Commissioners have at present under consideration the question of expediting procedure.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the estate owned by the Cookenden and Carey syndicate in county Cavan is largely composed of uneconomic holdings, and considerable portions of it congested; is he aware that these impoverished tenants are being warned to pay their old rack rents and arrears, and in view of the fact that the sale of this estate has been refused by the Estates Commissioners will some protection be afforded so as to avoid the whole district from being depopulated; and will he say why the Commissioners refused to allow the sale to go through.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the facts are as stated in the first part of the Question; but they have no knowledge as to the tenants being called upon to pay rent and arrears. When the proposed sale of the estate in parts was before the Commissioners they considered the Report of their inspector; and in the exercise of their discretion, and having regard to the economic conditions of the holdings, they refused to declare the lands offered for sale to be separate "estates" for the purposes of the Act of 1903. The Commissioners, however, will be prepared to purchase the entire estate, with a view to the re-sale of the holdings to the tenants, if the owners should be willing to sell under Section 5 of the Act.

And do the Government in the meantime intend to provide troops to evict these tenants? These are the men who broke down the bridges of the Cavan Railway twenty years ago.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state if the Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from Ellen Reilly, daughter of Charles Maguire, deceased, who was evicted in 1884 from his farm in Drumroe, county Cavan, by Lieutenant-Colonel Clifford Lloyd and Mr. W. H. Lloyd, is this estate being sold, and will the untenanted land on this estate in Lossett and Coolbawn be included in the sale.

The Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from Ellen Reilly. Proceedings for the sale of the estate of W. C. Lloyd and others have recently been instituted before the Commissioners, and the lands referred to in the Question appear to be included in the property which is being sold.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutentant of Ireland if he has taken any steps to secure for elementary education in Ireland any equivalent for the annual sum of £1,000,000 estimated as required for elementary education in England and Wales under the present Education Bill; and, if not or in any event, whether he can state what sum Ireland is entitled to as an equivalent for this sum.

The subject mentioned in the Question will not escape the attention of His Majesty's Government, but the time has not arrived for making a statement regarding it. I may refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Question of the hon. Member for North Derry on April 30th.†

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on Sunday the 6th instant an order was issued directing the band of the Royal Irish Constabulary in Dublin to head the procession of Roman Catholic constables to Aughrim Street chapel for mass, and to wait for them and play them back to the Constabulary barracks after the service; and whether, seeing that this band is composed of twenty Protestants and twenty-five Roman Catholics, he will have the order withdrawn.

I am informed by the Inspector-General that the order in question was issued by the Commandant of the Royal Irish Constabulary Depot. It was not intended that the order should apply to the Protestant members of the band, but owing to a misapprehension the full band attended on the first two occasions. The Commandant has already before this Question appeared issued orders that the Catholic members of the band only shall attend in future.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how many of the 1,055 tenants, who have purchased their holdings on the Fitzwilliam estate, county Wicklow, purchased outside the zones; how many years purchase did they pay on first and second term rents, respectively; and what was the total amount of their purchase money.

There has not been sufficient time since the Question was put down to procure the detailed information asked for, but I will forward it to the hon. Member in the course of a day or two, or he can renew the Question if he should desire.