To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the rule that all cloth goods supplied to the Admiralty must be dyed with vegetable indigo is still in force; and, if so, whether the attention of the Admiralty has been called to the fact that the chemically produced indigo is identical in composition with the vegetable product, cheaper to dye, enters more intimately into the structure of the yarn or cloth, and is equally permanent.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will explain why the employment of synthetic indigo is still prohibited for Navy contracts, seeing that several other Departments of State, when inviting tenders for the same class of material, leave the employment of either plant or synthetic indigo optional; and in view of the expert evidence and practical experience, extending over several years, showing that synthetic indigo is equal to plant indigo as regards application and dyeing, and in view of the fact that synthetic indigo is decidedly cheaper than plant indigo of equal strength, will he consider the advisability of permitting its use in Navy contracts.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction, both to landlord and tenants, in the operation of the Land Act of 1903 on account of the delays that are taking place in the Land Commissions; whether he is aware that those having charges on their estates, having to meet interest arising, are obliged to meet the difference between the interest in lieu of rent and the amount of the interest on the different charges; whether the Estates Commissioners have money to meet the different estates whose agreements were lodged before September, 1904; and, if so, what is the cause of the delay that has taken place in the proceedings. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) It is, I fear, the case that some inconvenience has been caused, both to landlords and tenants, by the delay which has occurred in making advances. The hon. Member is, I think, mistaken in assuming that this delay is preventable. When the Irish Land Bill of 1903 was introduced the sum of £5,000,000 a year was named as the highest rate at which purchase could take place for the first three years. This rate has been considerably exceeded, and it is estimated that by the end of three years from the commencement of the Act nearly £20,000,000 will have been issued in advances, exclusive of the amount of the bonus.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord- Lieutenant of Ireland whether applications for restoration under the Land Act of 1903 have been received by the Estates Commissioners from the Coolroe evicted tenants; whether the landlord has signified his intention to sell to them; and whether any progress has been made as regards restoring them to their homes. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners have received applications for reinstatement on different estates from six persons in the district in question. It is presumed that the estate specially referred to is that known as the Coolroe Estate, of which the former owner was Mr. James E. Byrne. The Commissioners are negotiating with the present owner, Mr. T. D. Place, for the purchase of the property, and if they should acquire it, the applications of the evicted tenants will receive full consideration.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that there are three schools in Handsworth, near Sheffield, and that whilst the head teacher in the Church of England school draws a salary of £160, the salary of the head teacher in St. Joseph's Catholic School has been cut down to £90, although the number of children in each of these schools is practically the same; and will he have an inquiry made into the action of the local education committee, with a view to equalising these salaries. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I find that the matter referred to came before the Board of Education a year ago, and a letter was then written on the subject. Since then nothing has been heard of it, and the Board supposed the matter had been settled. If the managers renew the subject I will see that it is carefully investigated.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will give an itemised account of the expenditure of the £19,000 paid by the Agricultural Department to the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society up to February 28th last, showing the salary of each individual employed in connection with this grant, expenses of each individual so employed, and to what extent such salaries and expenses were paid out of grant of £19,000; a detailed account of all other purposes to which this £19,000 was devoted; and whether properly audited and vouched accounts of fill moneys paid by the Department to the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society are submitted to the Board. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Department of Agriculture are prepared to give an itemised account showing the salary and expenses paid in respect of each official of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society employed by the Department for each quarter in the period from April 1st, 1900, to February 28th, 1905, and also the amount paid for any other expenses. This Return will, however, take some time to prepare, as it will embrace a large number of items extending over nearly five years. The grant-in-aid of £2,000 for the year from 1st of March, 1905, to 28th February, 1906, was paid to the society in monthly instalments on the certificate of the representative of the Department who investigated the work done, as indicated in the weekly reports of the several organisers employed by the society, and who carefully examined the claims for remuneration and travelling and incidental expenses before giving his certificate. A similar plan has been adopted with regard to the expenditure of the £3,700 estimated for the twelve months ending 28th February, 1907. The accounts of the Department are sent monthly to the Comptroller and Auditor-General in pursuance of Section 25 of The Agricultural and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act, 1899, together with all vouchers, to be audited in accordance with the Treasury regulations. The account of the Department's Endowment Fund is published annually in the Appropriation Account, and is certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General. Statements of all expenditure out of the funds placed at the disposal of the Department, the application of which is subject to the concurrence of the Agricultural Board, are laid periodically before the Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any complaints or evidence that vacancies in the Sultan of Zanzibar's Government have been farmed by His Majesty's officials serving in Zanzibar. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) The Answer to this Question is in the negative.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he will place upon the Table a statement of the reasons which actuated His Majesty's Government to terminate the services of Mr. A. S. Rogers, lately Regent and Prime Minister to the Sultan of Zanzibar; and if such dismissal had the approval or sanction of the Sultan, under whom the Regent was serving. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey) His Majesty's late Government advised the Sultan of Zanzibar to terminate the arrangement under which Mr. Rogers was acting as First Minister, in pursuance of the policy initiated on the death of the late Sultan of strengthening their direct control over the internal administration of the country. The Sultan is bound, by the conditions he agreed to on his accession, to follow loyally and faithfully the advice given him by His Majesty's Agent and Consul-General in all matters relating to the government and administration of the Sultanate. There are no Papers which could usefully be laid on the subject.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether an agreement has been made with the National Bank of South Africa whereby the Transvaal Government account will be kept at that bank until 1909; whether any tenders had previously been asked for from other local banks; whether the National Bank of South Africa is registered under the English Companies Act; and whether the shares are fully paid up, so that creditors have no reserve fund on which to rely in times of financial difficulty. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The Answer is in the affirmative. The bank, as part of the agreement, abandoned any claims which it might have against the Transvaal Government under the old concession with regard to such matters as the issue of notes or coinage of money. Tenders were not called for. The bank is incorporated under the Transvaal Ordinance 16, of 1902, under which the shares were to be deemed to be fully paid up.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he can state whether it is intended to utilise the gift to the Nation by the Crown of Cambridge Cottage at Kew as a forestry museum; and, if so, what steps are being taken to carry this purpose into effect. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) His Majesty having been graciously pleased to devote the house and grounds of Cambridge Cottage to the service of Kew Gardens, it is proposed to utilise the additional accommodation thus made available for the purposes of a museum illustrative of forestry, pomology, and the diseases of farm and garden crops. Steps will be taken for this purpose as soon as the necessary funds are available.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, with the statement of the details of vessels now under construction, which is to be issued prior to the discussion of Votes 8 and 9 of Navy Estimates, there will be included details of the four armoured ships which the House is to be asked to sanction; and whether he can now say how many of these armoured ships are to be battleships. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) I am not in a position to make any statement, as the subject is now under consideration.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that a number of unsuccessful competitors at the examination of second division clerkships, held in October, 1905, have been declared successful since the announcement of the result of the examination, due consideration has been given to the claims of assistant clerks for promotion in those offices where second division vacancies exist; and whether, should a further number of second division clerks be required before the result of another, second division examination is known, he is prepared to grant the appointments to assistant clerks, under the provisions of the Order in Council of the 29th November, 1898, as amended by the Order in Council of 15th September, 1902. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The Treasury can only approve such promotions on the recommendation of the head of a department. When such recommendations are made the Treasury give thorn every consideration, as may be seen from the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Fulham on the 26th March last.† The hon. Member is no doubt aware that the promotion of assistant clerks to the second division is intended to be exceptional and can only be made on the ground of special merit.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give the total of the Customs Vote, the number of those employed on the indoor staff and the outdoor staff respectively, and the amount of the Vote devoted to each branch. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) As shown on page 3 of the Estimates for the Revenue Departments for the current financial year, the total of the Customs Vote is:—

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will explain why Customs bonded warehouses in Leith are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in charge of the warehouse keeper only, the attendance of the officer depending upon the request of the warehouse keeper, notwithstanding the fact that public-houses are situated in very close proximity. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The Customs bonded warehouses at Leith, as at all other ports, are under the continuous supervision of the Customs staff during the hours within which such warehouses are allowed to be open. At the more important warehouses at Leith one or more officers are constantly present. At the smaller warehouses, some of which are only occasionally open for business, officers are in constant attendance while operations are in progress; at other times these warehouses are visited at frequent and irregular intervals as business may require, and to an extent sufficient to ensure the due protection of the revenue. None of the Customs bonded warehouses in Leith are in closer proximity than the regulations permit to any premises in which duty-paid stocks of wines or spirits are kept.

To ask the (Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the source or sources from which the Department presided over by Sir Horace Plunkett is endowed, and the amount from each source, during the year ended March 31st last. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The Endowment Fund, ordinarily so-called, was created by Section 15 of the Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act, 1899. The sums received under the various sub-sections of the section are as follows:—

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider the desirability of holding direct communication with the duly elected representatives of Civil Service organisations similar to the manner in which His Majesty's Postmaster-General receives the representatives of Post Office employees. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) Any representations from such organisations on matters affecting the interests of civil servants should be addressed to the authorities of the departments in which the officers concerned are employed. In any case in which the Treasury is directly responsible I shall at all times be ready to receive representations from organisations interested in the matter.

To ask the hon. Member of the Elland Division, as a Charity Commissioner, whether he is aware that the governors of the Yardley Charity Estates have neglected and now refuse to furnish the Yardley Rural District Council, East Worcestershire, at the request of the Yardley parish meeting, with the names of the dole beneficiaries, in order that they may publish them in compliance with Section 14 (6) of The Local Government Act, 1894; and that the accounts already furnished are not in the form prescribed by the Charity Commissioners and do not give the necessary details; and whether he will give directions to the charity governors to forthwith furnish the information desired by the parish council in compliance with the statute; and also to furnish detailed accounts for the information of the Yardley parishioners. (Answered by Mr. Trevelyan.) The Commissioners have applied to the Governors of the Yardley Charity Estates for an explanation of the matters mentioned in the hon. Member's Question, and will, if necessary, take steps to ensure compliance with the statutory requirements.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Report of the general inspector on his preliminary inquiry into the financial and industrial conditions of Poplar, recently held; and whether a copy of such Report will be sent to the guardians before the public inquiry opens on June 7th. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) No formal Report has been made to me by the inspector who has been making the preliminary investigation referred to. As a result of that investigation, he prepared a statistical memorandum bearing upon the pauperism in the Poplar Union, and a copy of this memorandum has been sent to the guardians.

To ask the hon. Member for East Bristol, as Church Estates Commissioner, whether he is in a position to state the approximate value to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners of the 336 public houses which were on their estates in 1905; the total annual rental of the sixty-four leases or tenancies for public houses which have been renewed or extended by the Commissioners since December 31st, 1899; the annual rental of the two new public houses for which leases have been granted by the Commissioners during that period; and whether he can state the names and localities in which they are situated of the public houses whose licences will expire before Christmas, 1910, and which the Commissioners do not intend to suppress. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) The Ecclesiastical Commissioners feel that some of the information desired could not be made public without embarrassing them in the management of their estates, and some could not be procured without great labour and expense. I regret, I therefore, that I am unable to supply all the particulars for which the hon. Member asks; but I am able to state that,—(1) the annual rents reserved to the Commissioners on the sixty-four renewed leases of public houses (in which are included hotels as, for instance, the Westminster Palace Hotel) amount to £11,158 19s. 10d, but other properties are in a few cases comprised with the public houses in the same leases; and (2) the rents reserved in the leases of the two new public houses are ground rents only, the buildings being erected by the lessees, and amount to £34 6s. per annum.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether in view of the criticisms passed upon the proposed constitution of the new Technological-Institute at South Kensington, and of the bearing which the establishment of such an institute may have upon postgraduate training in science, he is prepared to arrange for the adequate representation of other universities besides London on the governing body. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The question presents many difficulties in view of the large number of universities now in existence in the United Kingdom, between whose claims for representation it would be difficult justly to differentiate. But the matter is having my careful consideration.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that the total amount of stock issued under the Irish Land Act, 1903, is stated in the London Stock Exchange daily official list as £11,000,000, whereas the correct amount at March 31st last was £13,201,444 8s. 9d.; and whether he can say how this discrepancy arises, and give a statement showing when and in what manner the

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will consider the advisability of restoring the explanatory memorandum

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will give the names of the Irish Harbour Boards whose expenses fall, either partly or wholly, on the local rates, the actual amount borne in each case by the local rates, the valuation on which the cost falls, rate per pound paid, the total number of members on each Board, the number representing the ratepayers, and the manner in which the ratepayers' representatives are selected. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) With the exception of those cases in which the Board of Works are themselves the harbour authorities, the harbour authorities in Ireland are bodies constituted by Statute or Provisional Order prescribing the manner of their selection, and are not under the control of any public department in Ireland. I have no information as to the expenses of harbour boards which fall on the local rates beyond that which the hon. Member will find in the Local Taxation (Ireland) Returns annually laid upon the Table of the House. I am, however, informed by the Board of Works that, in the case of five harbours, loans which have been made by the Board, are secured on local rates in addition to the security of the harbour revenue; and the loan charges either actually or potentially involve a charge on the rates. The amount borne by the local rates in each of these cases during the last year was as follows:—

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received in connection with the small estate of Richard Thompson, in county Fermanagh, any application for an allotment of unoccupied land on behalf of John Thompson, of Cantytrindle, Ballinamallard; and if the Estates Commissioners will accede to the application. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they received the application mentioned, and have referred it to one of their inspectors for inquiry and report. They are unable to say whether they will accede to the application until they have received and considered their inspector's report.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the fishing on Lough Erne is open to all His Majesty's subjects, the bed and soil of the lake being vested in the Crown; and whether, seeing that the salmon and trout fishing therein has seriously declined in recent years owing to want of preservation, illegal netting, and destruction of spawning fish in the rivers flowing into the lake, he will consider the expediency of having the fishery laws in the Erne district enforced by the Royal Irish Constabulary, under 7 and 8 Vic, c. 108, s. 1. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The hon. Member is mistaken in assuming that the public have the right to fish in Lough Erne. The bed and soil are vested in the Crown and are under the management of His Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests; and I am informed that the fishing of the lough is also vested in the Crown, subject to certain ancient rights of fishery conveyed by Crown grants, and is under the like management. The duty of protecting the fisheries rests primarily with boards of conservators. The constabulary enforce the fishery laws so far as the public interests are concerned and their other and paramount duties permit.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say how the unions in Ireland, as in the county of Limerick, where the one shilling in the £ limit is reached, or nearly so, will be affected by the Labourers (Ireland) Bill; and whether, without increasing the rate limit, more cottages can be built within the unions under it. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) It is expected that in rural districts in which the existing limit is nearly reached, many additional cottages can be built without exceeding that limit. It is not possible at such short notice to make accurate calculations as regards a given district, but it is estimated that the rural districts in the county Limerick would, by reason of the facilities offered in the Labourers Bill, be able to borrow further sums, amounting to from £20,000 to £25,000 without exceeding the existing limit. I may also refer the hon. Member to Clause 12 of the Bill.