Naval Pigeon Service
To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Naval Pigeon Service, organised in May, 1904, is still in existence; and, if so, what is the number of homing pigeon owners who have joined the organisation; and further, whether any practical test of the system has been made, and, if so, with what result. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The Naval Volunteer Pigeon Service is still in existence, and 743 homing pigeon owners are enrolled. The system was tested during the grand manœuvres in 1906, and the results were satisfactory.
Dublin Postal Staff
To ask the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of telegraph messengers dismissed in Dublin since the termination of the South African War, and the cause of their dismissal; the number of telegraph messengers appointed assistant postmen in Dublin since the termination of the South African War; the number appointed town postmen, and the number awaiting appointments; the number of ex-Army men appointed assistant postmen; the number appointed town postmen in Dublin since the termination of the South African War, and how many are awaiting appointments; will he say for what purpose sixty-six dummy muskets have been introduced into the Dublin General Post Office; whether, if smartness is required amongst the boys, he will consider the advisability of employing a gymnasium instructor instead of the present drill instructor; and whether he will state the remuneration received by telegraph messengers for Sunday duties in Dublin. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I will make inquiry on this subject and communicate with the hon. Member.
Closing Of Workshops Of Central Unemployed Body
To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has any intention of closing the workshops now under the control of the London Central Unemployed body; and, if so, could he give the reasons why these women should be deprived of this opportunity of living until some suitable employment can be found for them.
( Answered by Mr. John Burns.) It does not rest with me to determine whether these workshops should be closed. This is a matter for the Central (Unemployed) Body, under whose control, as my hon. friend is aware, they are.
Additional Police In Ireland
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will indicate the districts in Ireland in which additional forces of constabulary are employed, stating the names of districts, counties in which situate, total number of additional police employed, and the circumstances under which, in the case of each such district, it was considered necessary to supplement the ordinary police establishment. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Additional forces of constabulary are employed as follows:—County Clare—Districts of Ennis, Corofin, Tulla, and Six mile bridge: one head constable and sixty-five men of the reserve force. County Cork, E. R.—Districts of Newmarket and Midleton: seven men of the reserve. Counties Leitrim and Cavan—Districts of Carrick-on-Shannon and Manorhamilton: twenty-two men of the Reserve. County Gal-way, E. R.—District of Athenry: thirty-five men of the Reserve. County Roscommon—Districts of Strokestown and Castlerea: one district inspector, two head constables, eighty-three men of the Reserve, and fifty men from other counties. King's County—District of Parsonstown: one district inspector and twenty-five men of the Reserve. In all these cases the augmentation of the local police force was necessitated by the disturbed state of the district.
Pension Of Mr Ashman, Of Gold Coast Service
To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds a pension in respect of service on the Gold Coast, from which service he was invalided, has been refused to Mr. T. A. Ashman on his appointment to a tide-waitership in Jamaica at a much-reduced salary.
( Answered by Mr. Churchill.) Mr. Ashman was transferred without breach of continuity from the Gold Coast to Jamaica. Under the regulations the period of his service in the Gold Coast is pensionable, but he is not qualified to receive a pension in respect of that period until he retires from the Government service.
Rank Of Officers Employed On Customs Checking Duties (Tea Accounts)
To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the rank and rates of salary of the Customs officers engaged at the large outports of Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, and Belfast on checking duties in connection with the tea accounts, and the average length of service of such officers; what was the grade or grades provided with Treasury sanction, in Customs General Order 25/1901, and subsequently, for similar duties in the Tea Accounts Office, London, and the salaries appertaining thereto; and whether lower section port clerks with a total length of service of less than seven years, and of corresponding inexperience, are frequently employed on checking duties in the Tea Accounts Branch of the Long Room, London. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I am informed that the checking duties in connection with the tea accounts kept at the ports of Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow and Belfast are performed by examining officers, first class, whose scale of salary is from £230 to £340. The average service of the officers concerned is twenty-eight and a half years. The duties in question at the four ports named are unimportant in volume, and form only a small portion of the daily work of the officers. In the Tea Accounts Office, London, the more important checking duties are assigned to clerks of the upper section of the second class, whose scale of salary is from £200 to £300, and the less important to clerks of the lower section of the second class (salary £70 to £200), and abstractors (salary £80 to £150), and assistant clerks (salary £55 to £150), the abstractors and assistant clerks having checking allowances of £30 per annum. These allowances were sanctioned by the Treasury, and communicated to the Customs department in the General Order referred to. Lower section clerks of short service are not frequently employed on the more important checking work, such employment being limited to periods of absence by leave or sickness of upper section clerks, or of exceptional pressure.
Civil Service—Promotion By Selection
To ask the Secretary to the Treasury how many promotions have been made under the paragraph of Treasury Minute, 31st March, 1891, headed promotion by selection; from and to what positions have the appointments been made; and how many such appointments have been made for exceptional merit and how many for special services.
Nature of promotion. | On account of exceptional merit. | On account of special services. | |
From | To | ||
Surveyor, Second Class. | Inspector | 1 | — |
Preventive officer, Lower Section | Chief Preventive officer | — | 1 |
Preventive officer, Lower Section. | Preventive officer, Upper Section | — | 1 |
Preventive man | Preventive officer, Lower Section | 10 | — |
Total | 11 | 2 |
Dublin Revaluation
To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the number of tenements to be dealt with in the revaluation of Dublin; how many of these have been already surveyed and valued respectively; and what increase has been made in the staff of the Commissioner of Valuation to enable the revaluation to be carried out with reasonable expedition. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I am informed that the number of tenements to be dealt with in the revaluation of
( Answered by Mr. Runciman.) A complete Answer to this Question in the form it is put would require, I am informed, an examination of the circumstances of every promotion since the date of the Minute, and I do not think such an exhaustive inquiry would be justified by its results. The Commissioners of Customs inform me, however, that the special promotions to which the Question refers have been few in number throughout, and they have given me the following information concerning special promotions in the outdoor department since the appointment of the present Board in 1904.
Promotions made since the 1st January, 1904, on account of exceptional merit or special services:—
Dublin is estimated at 47,000. The number surveyed and measured to date is about 3,200. In addition to this a set of maps for the whole city, showing every holding, and a complete copy of the valuation lists for the city have been prepared. The present increase in the staff of the office is five surveyors.
Excise Licenses For Sale Of Intoxicating Liquors
To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state the total number of excise licences issued for the years ended 31st March, 1905, 31st March, 1906, and 31st March, 1907, in England and Wales, authorising the sale of intoxicating liquors by retail on the premises, and the numbers in each year authorising such consumption on the premises under the following heads, viz., publicans; retailers of beer, cider, and perry; retailers of beer and wine; retailers of cider and perry; retailers of wine; and sweets retailers (not publicans), excluding in all cases occasional licences;
Licences to Vendors of Intoxicating Liquors. | Year ended 31st March | ||
1905. | 1906. | 1907. | |
Publicans | 66,239 | 65,990 | 65,853 |
Retailers of beer, cider, and perry. | 28,522 | 28,096 | 27,433 |
Retailers of beer and wine | 4,845 | 4,756 | 4,711 |
Retailers of cider and perry | 82 | 78 | 78 |
Retailers of wine | 297 | 288 | 306 |
Sweets retailers (not publicans) | 1,045 | 991 | 934 |
Total number of "on" licences. | 101,030 | 100,199 | 99,315 |
Publicans (part year) included in above figures | 292 | 236 | 206 |
Land Tax Commissioners For The Brixton Division
To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will give a list of the names and addresses of the land tax commissioners in the Brixton division of Lambeth to whom a summons to attend the meeting of 8th and 9th April last was sent. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The names and addresses of land tax commissioners are published at the time of appointment in the London Gazette. The Treasury have no complete list, and the number of commissioners in some divisions is very large. Perhaps my hon. friend will communicate with me if he has in his mind the case of any particular commissioner in the Brixton Division who has not received a summons.
and if he will state the total number of part-year licences issued for publicans in the above-mentioned years.
( Answered by Mr. Runciman.) Total number of Excise Licences issued in England and Wales authorising the sale of Intoxicating Liquors by retail on the premises (exclusive of occasional licences for the years ended 31st March, 1905, 1906, and 1907, respectively:—
Irish Land Act—Treasury Advances
To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether there are any financial transactions under the control or cognisance of the Treasury, other than those under the Irish Land Act of 1903, in which public money is advanced to one of two joint owners in excess of the gross value of the joint property, and the other joint owner made liable directly, and the ratepayers of the county contingently, for the repayment of this advance with interest; and can he state any other cases in which losses have arisen equal to the losses known to the Treasury to have arisen under the Act of 1903. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) As I indicated in answer to a similar Question on the 23rd May last year, I am not aware of any cases such as described in the Question, either under the Irish Land Act, 1903, or any other Act.
Irish Post Offices On Licensed Premises
To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in many towns in Ireland the business of the Post Office is carried on upon licensed premises, even in considerable towns where there is a choice of suitable premises; has he taken any steps to put an end to this state of things; and, if not, will he give the matter his early attention. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) As I have before stated, when questioned on this subject by hon. Members, it is the rule that sub-postmasters should not be persons licensed for the sale of drink; and it is only when no other arrangement is practicable that exceptions to the rule are allowed. There are very few cases in which the licensed business is not completely separated from the post office business.
Postal Deliveries In Bar Of Slattenagh
To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is no daily delivery of letters in the townland of Bar of Slattenagh, near Kiltyclogher, county Leitrim, and that the rural postman who daily delivers letters in the adjacent townland of Towerbeg passes on his rounds by the doors of the houses in Bar of Slattenagh; and will he arrange that this postman shall deliver letters in Bar of Slattenagh, or otherwise provide daily delivery of letters there.
( Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I have called for a report on this subject, and on its receipt I will send the hon. Member a reply.
Castleblayney Post Office Site
To ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the present post office premises in Castleblayney were recently bought by a Protestant named Gray in competition with the chairman of the local branch of the United Irish League; that the League has now brought pressure on the postal authorities to change the site of the post office and to purchase a site belonging to a Roman Catholic and in the occupation of a Protestant watchmaker called Flemming; that Flemming has now received notice to quit; will he say, in view of the fact that the postmistress is the wife of the chairman of the branch of the league in question, if her reports on the matter were acted on by the postal authorities; and if, having regard to the fact that Flemming can get no other premises in Castleblayney adequate for his business, the postal authorities will see that he is compensated for the loss of his business if the proposed purchase is carried out. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I am not aware of the circumstances, but I will have inquiry made and inform the hon. Member of the result.
Employment Of Midwives
To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he can state the number of midwives who were employed during the last or any recent period of twelve months as parish midwives; whether midwives so employed are regarded as poor law officers; and whether any order of the Board has been issued with regard to their appointment. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am not in a position to give the information desired by my hon. friend. The midwives referred to would not usually be regarded as Poor Law officers. There is no order of the Local Government Board with regard to their appointment.
Inquests On Deceased Inmates Of London Workhouses
To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state the number of inquests held on persons who died in London workhouses and infirmaries during the latest year for which the figures are available; the proportion of inquests held to the total number of deaths in such institutions, and the number of inquests held on persons over sixty years of age, and the proportion to the total number of deaths over that age; whether he can say what is the general practice in regard to the holding of inquests; and what are the fees paid to medical officers and coroners in connection therewith. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have made inquiry, but I do not find that any official Returns give the particulars desired by the hon. Member. The subject of coroners and inquests is not within my province, but I may state that the London coroners are paid fixed salaries, and that a medical man who attends an inquest on a summons from the coroner is entitled under the Coroners Act, 1887, to a fee of one guinea for attending to give evidence at an inquest at which he has made no post mortem examination, and of two guineas for making a post mortem examination and attending to give evidence thereon.
Irish Schools Open On Saturdays
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state how many national schools in Ireland, not including model schools, are open for imparting secular instruction on Saturdays; what is the percentage of children attending model schools on Saturdays; and if he can explain why these schools are kept open for two hours and a half each Saturday. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education have no Return showing how many ordinary schools are open for secular instruction on Saturdays. There is no rule which necessitates the opening of such schools on Saturdays, but managers may keep their schools open on that day if they so desire. The Commissioners themselves are managers of the model schools and these schools have always been kept open for half the day on Saturdays, with, as the Commissioners believe, a beneficial effect.
Attendance At Church Of Pupils Of Killowen Street National School
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the pupils of Killowen Street national school, Coleraine, county Derry, are sometimes marched to church to attend a service after being marked present at school; if such action is carried out by the permission of the Board; and, if so, on what grounds. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that they have no information upon the subject matter of this Question
Marlfield National School, Belfast
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state what were the charges brought against the Reverend J. C. Emerson Doran, in his capacity as manager of Marlfield national school, Belfast, at the inquiry held by Mr. Hynes, Chief Inspector to the National Board; and what action, if any, has been taken in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education are of opinion that no useful purpose would be served by publishing the information asked for in the Question. The Reverend Mr. Doran is not now the manager of a national school.
Amalgamation Of Schools—Retention Of Staff
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if, in the case of amalgamation of two schools, boys' and girls', where the girls' school has an assistant and principal but the boys' a principal teacher only, and if the attendance in the amalgamated school did not maintain an average of ninety-five, he can say whether the three teachers would be retained, or would the assistant in the girls' school in such a case have to go. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that, in the case supposed in the Question, they would continue to recognise the three teachers, provided that an average attendance of the amalgamated school of not less than fifty girls should be maintained.
Templemore Petty Sessions Clerkship Vacancy
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the vacancy for clerk of petty sessions in Templemore, county Tipperary, has been filled; if so, seeing that the voting was even, will he say why there was not a new election; were any of the magistrates disqualified from voting; and, if so, what are their names and what were the grounds for disqualification. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The vacancy referred to was duly filled on 28th February last. Five votes of magistrates were given for each of the two candidates. Of the votes given for one candidate three were found to be invalid, and of the votes given for the other candidate one was invalid. The latter candidate was declared elected by the presiding magistrates and the election was subsequently approved by the Lord-Lieutenant. The votes disallowed in the case of the unsuccessful candidate were those of Messrs. Corcoran, Dwyer, and Hackett, and in the other case the vote disallowed was that of Admiral Fegan. In all four cases the vote was disallowed on the ground of insufficient attendances at petty sessions.
Irish Evicted Tenants—Case Of Edward Blackmore
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from an evicted tenant, Edward Blackmore, Piltown, on the estate of the Earl of Bessborough; whether the local inspector has inquired into this case; and whether any steps have been taken to reinstate. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners received the application in question on the 13th instant only. The case will be inquired into by an inspector in due course.
39Th Brigade Royal Field Artillery—Compensation For Expenses Incurred Under Orders Now Cancelled
To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the 39th Brigade Royal Field Artillery received orders on 5th March, 1907, to leave Shorncliffe, where it had been stationed since March, 1906, and, after completing its practice at Okehampton, to proceed to Edinburgh on 23rd May to relieve the Scots Greys; whether he is aware that the order to go to Edinburgh was suddenly cancelled on 11th May, and the Brigade sent back to Shorncliffe, and whether, in view of the fact that the married officers and non-commissioned officers of the Brigade have been put to expense by this sudden change of order, in the way of changing houses, storing furniture and baggage, or transferring the same from Shorncliffe to Edinburgh, he will consider the advisability of granting reasonable compensation to such officers, non-commissioned officers, and men for the loss they have thus sustained through circumstances beyond their control. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I am prepared to recognise that the circumstances under which the orders were countermanded are of a somewhat exceptional character, and may justify the grant of some assistance where individuals have necessarily incurred out-of-pocket expenditure to no purpose. Any applications which may be put forward through the recognised channels will be carefully considered.