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Questions In The House

Volume 175: debated on Thursday 30 May 1907

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

Royal Yacht "Alexandra"

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what the total estimated cost of the royal yacht "Alexandra" is, and to what service or use the yacht is to be put.

The estimated first cost of the "Alexandra" is £136,688, as shown on page 211 of the Navy Estimates for the current financial year. The new yacht is primarily intended to replace the "Osborne" and "Alberta," which are now worn out, and will be for His Majesty's general use, if he should require to visit any port of his Dominions or any Continental port into which the "Victoria and Albert" cannot enter.

Naval Manœuvres

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is now in a position to answer the question whether the usual naval Manœuvres, which take place annually in June and July, will be held this year.

The naval Manœuvres will not take place in the summer, but at a later date not yet definitely decided on.

This Answer also applied to the following Question:—

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether summer naval Manœuvres will be held this year in order to test the new distribution scheme, or whether only the ordinary Fleet exercises will take place.

Hms "Dreadnought"

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can state the extent of the damage recently sustained by H.M.S. "Dreadnought," and how long the necessary repairs will take.

The damage done to "Dreadnought" was confined to the plating of the port rudder. This plating became partly detached owing to the loosening of some of the rivets, and in consequence some of the wood filling pieces were lost. The main casting of the rudder itself is not impaired. The repairs will take from four to five days.

Sirocco Works, Belfast

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the firm of Davidson and Co., Limited, Sirocco Works, Belfast, insist upon all men when entering their employment signing an agreement to cancel membership with any labourers' society or any union of which they are members, and that they shall not join any trade union while employed by this firm; can he say what is the class and the amount of work Davidson and Co., Limited, do as contractors to the Admiralty; and whether the refusal to their workmen of the right to combine in legal organisation disqualifies the firm to remain on the Admiralty list as a contractor to His Majesty's Government.

No information to the effect stated in the first part of the Question has reached me. The firm in question holds contracts for the supply of ventilating fans, but only to a comparatively small extent. In accordance with the Resolution of the House all Admiralty contractors are required to pay the wages current in the district for competent workmen. The Admiralty have no power to go beyond this.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Davidson and Co. pay skilled labourers trades union rates, and that the unskilled labourers earn from 40s. to 50s. a week, often more than skilled labourers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the men went out on strike because—

"The Truth About The Navy"

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many copies of the pamphlet entitled The Truth About the Navy have been distributed in the Fleet under the auspices of the Admiralty; and what is the cost to the nation of the production and circulation thereof.

Six hundred copies of this pamphlet were distributed, the exact cost being £21 18s. 7d.

The Royal Marines

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will undertake that no action affecting the officers or men of the Royal Marines shall be taken by the Admiralty until the Report upon the Royal Marines, which is now under consideration, has been laid upon the Table of the House and opportunity has been given for full discussion of such Report.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Peterborough on the 9th April.†

Artillery Bogus Quick-Firers

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether thirty batteries of field artillery are to be supplied with bogus quick-firers at a cost of £1,000 per battery; whether the cost of the real article would be £20,000 per battery; and, if so, what explanation is there for this discrepancy in cost; and why is not the real article supplied, seeing Parliament has voted £700,000 for this purpose.

All the field batteries in the Regular Army armed with guns have been supplied with 18-pounder Q.F. guns of the latest pattern; a few batteries have not yet received the full equipment of six guns, but it will shortly be completed. There is no intention of arming the Royal Field Artillery with any other gun than that referred to above, and full provision has been made for equipping all the batteries.

Military Drill In Schools

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War is he aware that compulsory military drill exists in many public and preparatory schools; is public money to be paid, under the Bill now passing through the House, for this compulsory military training, or will he exempt from those provisions of the Bill which propose to establish and assist rifle clubs, such clubs, corps, and battalions as have in them the element of compulsion.

The Question put by my hon. friend is similar in purport to one put by him on the 9th instant, The reply which I gave on that date would apparently need no amplification The substance of that reply was that the Government has not the least intention of introducing compulsion anywhere or of granting money with that end in view With the internal discipline of private schools, whether as regards drill or foot ball, or any other kind of exercise, the Government, of course, cannot inter meddle.

† See (4) Debates, clxxi., 79.

Is the Government paying money to private schools where compulsion obtains?

Territorial Force And The Compensation Act

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if men serving in the Territorial Forces, ordinarily in civil employment, will be included in the Compensation Act, 1906, in cases of accidents when such men are employed in marking on rifle ranges, and if the funds of the county associations will be liable for payment of compensation under the Act; and if such is the case, will he consider the advisability of refunding the amounts of any claims awarded under the Act.

The question of the application of the Compensation Act, 1906, to the cases alluded to is now being carefully considered.

Tinned Meats For The Troops

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what instructions, if any, have recently been issued by the War Office as to the supply of American corned beef or other tinned, meats to the British Army. I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a Report has been sent from the War Office to officers commanding depots, stations, or establishments, stating that the American tinned meats supplied to the Army are prepared from carefully selected cattle in a thoroughly satisfactory manner and under good sanitary conditions, or in any other way guaranteeing the quality of American tinned meats.

No particular instructions have recently been issued with regard to the supply of American canned meats. But, as regards such meat now being issued to the troops, the general officer commanding-in-chief, Aldershot, was informed that the establishments in which this meat was prepared had been carefully inspected by officers specially sent to America for the purpose, and that the Army Council, in view of the reports of these officers, were of opinion that the quality and preparation of this food were in every way satisfactory.

asked whether, in consequence of the frequent cases of ptomaine poisoning from eating tinned meat, the right hon. Gentleman would give instructions that fresh meat should be obtained wherever practicable.

We do give fresh meat in the majority of cases, but in war time tinned meat has to be supplied, and consequently we are making careful arrangements.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of avoiding the expense of sending out British officers to make inspections in America by providing the British Army with British meat?

said a great deal of British meat was used, and it had every chance; but they were not able to give it on all occasions.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that during the late war in South Africa large quantities of British tinned meat, to the extent of £80,000 or £100,000, had to be destroyed, because it was proved to be rotten?

[No Answer was returned.]

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware there is an adequate supply of fresh meat in the North of Ireland?

[No Answer was returned.]

Old War Office

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War to what use it is intended to put the old War Office headquarters buildings.

This is not a matter for my Department, but I may refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar Question put by the hon. Member for the Barkston Ash Division on the 23rd ultimo.†

† See (4) Debates, elxxii., 1570.

Roscrea Barracks

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the disused military barracks at Roscrea were sold at the auction which was to be held on the 17th instant; and, if not, whether it is intended to invite tenders for the buildings.

The Answer to the first part of this Question is in the negative. As regards the second, I may say that any offers to purchase the buildings and land will be considered.

Factory Life In Bombay

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has received the Report of Sir Hamilton Smith regarding his inquiry into the hours of labour and conditions of factory life in Bombay; and, if so, will such Report be laid upon the Table of the House.

The Secretary of State has received informally from the Viceroy an advance copy of the Report. It will be published at a very early date by the Government of India, to whom it was made. I shall take steps to lay copies upon the Table of the House.

Illegal Church Practices In India

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that in a charge delivered in a recent visitation of his diocese the Bishop of Bombay has drawn public attention to the practice of the reservation of the Holy Sacrament for adoration, or of the adoration of the Blessed Virgin, or children's Eucharists, or any rites or ceremonies which have been pronounced by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to be contrary to the law of the Church of England; and will he say whether any of such practices have occurred in churches belonging to the Government of India, or supported out of the public revenues, or have been followed by chaplains or others under the superintendence, direction, and control of the Governor-General of India in Council.

I have seen the charge delivered by the Bishop of Bombay, but I am not aware whether any of the practices prohibited in it had been customary in churches served by Government chaplains or supported out of public revenues. The Bishops in India have the authority required to deal with them wherever they prevail.

Ceylon Opium Trade

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the result of the inquiry made by the Acting Colonial Secretary of Ceylon in regard to the licences or rents paid for the sale of opium; and whether the system of high licensing has now been adopted, and with what results to the Colonial revenue and the consumption of opium by the people of Ceylon.

The Secretary of State has received no official information on the subject of the first Question. During the last two years I understand the imports of opium into Ceylon have decreased and the estimated receipts from opium licences have increased.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether at the end of last century there were no licensed opium shops in the northern parts of Ceylon nor in the towns of Jaffna, Manaar, and Trincomalee ; and whether the system of licensing shops for the sale of opium has lately been introduced there.

The Secretary of State has not received any information on the subject.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that at a recent meeting of the Ceylon Legislative Council most of the non-official members voted in favour of a resolution for closing all the licensed opium shops and confining the sale of opium to medical dispensaries, on the ground that there are practically no Chinese residents in Ceylon; and whether these proposals are approved by the Government of Ceylon.

The Secretary of State has not received any communication from the governor on the subject, but his attention shall be directed to the point raised by my hon. friend.

German Canadian Mail Service

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any official information to the effect that, as soon as the pending tariff negotiations between Germany and Canada take a satisfactory course, the Hamburg-American shipping line intends to start a weekly service to Canada.

Forced Labour In Fiji

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Report of the Government of Fiji on forced labour in the group of islands has now been received by the Colonial Office; and, if so, when the Report will be published.

The Report as to the alleged employment of forced labour in Fiji has been received from the Governor, and will be laid before Parliament if the hon. Member desires.

The Transvaal Loan

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what portion of the £35,000,000 Transvaal Loan has been exclusively devoted to the British population and what portion exclusively to the Boer population; and what are the purposes for which the further loan proposed to be guaranteed by His Majesty's Government is destined.

The various headings of the loan were given in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 16th May,† but I do not think that it is possible to make the division suggested in the first part of the Question. I cannot at present add anything with regard to the new loan to my Answer to a Question on the subject on 9th May.‡

† See (4) Debates, clxxiv., 1080.
‡ See (4) Debates, clxxiv., 355.

May I ask why the right hon. Gentleman cannot answer my Question and specify the different headings which were not specified in his reply to my former Question?

I have already said I do not think it possible to make the division suggested in the first part of the Question with regard to the allocation of the moneys included in the £35,0000,000 loan. With regard to the £5,000,000 I have said I cannot add anything to what has been already stated.

But is not the right hon. Gentleman in possession of information as to the exact way in which this £35,000,000 was applied, and if so, why not give it?

Very full accounts are of course preserved of the expenditure of the £35,000,000 loan, an expenditure for which the present Government is in no degree responsible, but I am informed it would be very difficult to pick out exactly what sums were spent upon Boers and what sums on British, out of that great sum of money. Although it is difficult, I am not sure if it were easy it would be very desirable.

May I ask whether these accounts do not show that certain sums were paid for the repatriation of Boer farmers, for restocking farms, for concentration camps, and for other purposes, and what is the objection to giving the information which has been asked for, and which in my opinion is perfectly available?

As I have said, they are not matters of which we have had cognisance during our term of office. I understand that very full information as to the expenditure of the £35,000,000 loan has already been laid before Parliament, and if that is not the case it is the right hon. Gentleman who is to blame and not we. With regard to the special classification he now recommends us to make, I have said it would be difficult and I think undesirable.

I will repeat my Question this day week in order to give the right hon. Gentleman time to obtain the information. I do not care which side is responsible.

When the hon. Gentleman repeats his Question I shall only be able to repent my Answer.

Now that there is a Transvaal Government is there any distinction of population: are they not all British subjects?

[No Answer was given.]

The Rand Riots

asked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies a Question of which he had given him private notice, namely, whether he could now state to the House what were the nature and extent of the disturbances, if any, to suppress which British soldiers had been employed on the Rand; whether the Transvaal authorities had themselves taken any steps to prevent or suppress the disorder, and whether the High Commissioner despatched the military before the ordinary means of preserving order had proved inadequate?

The Secretary of State for the Colonies has to-day received the following telegram from the Governor of the Transvaal:—"May 29.—Rand strike all quiet along Reef now. Miners waiting for result of ballot of engine-drivers, which will not be declared till Friday. Evidence furnished to Attorney-General was conclusive as to necessity of calling out military. You must remember the Reef is fifty miles long, and that when every town of Transvaal has been denuded of police, there were under 600 available to deal with conditions created by strike along whole Reef. It was absolutely necessary to employ either Volunteers or Regulars. It was most inadvisable to employ Volunteers, partly because many of the Volunteers are minors, and partly because Volunteers necessarily have not the discipline to stand up and be stoned without individually retaliating. I fear that if Volunteers had been used there would already have been bloodshed. Following are instances of evidences of acts of violence. On 15th May party of Afrikanders going to mine attacked by strikers, and they and police severely stoned. Wagon containing effects and bedding of these men burnt. Constant assaults on individual men who had either refused to strike or had taken place of strikers. At one time life of a miner named Botha, who had been badly injured, was despaired of, but I am glad to say that it is now believed he will recover. On 22nd May complete destruction of fencing round shafts of the Robinson Mine. On 23rd May, at Robinson Deep, strikers broke down fences round head gear, and broke into the quarters of the miners who had not joined strike, and absolutely wrecked them. The small body of police who were there were overpowered, and some of them seriously injured by the blows which they received. On 24th May there would have been a very serious affair at the Consolidated Langlaagte Mine had it not been for the fact that soldiers arrived in nick of time. Commissioner of Police, who was present, described attitude of strikers to have been most violent. They were armed with pick handles and other such weapons, and openly talked of showing violence against the police if they took any decisive action, and declared that they would tear the men working on the mine to pieces if they would not go on strike. One of the foremost men drew revolver. Police just held mob, but only just, till the cavalry appeared. The cavalry and police together were able to drive away and disperse mob without injuring any one. Commissioner of Police reports that in respect of this mob there was a large number of men who had been drinking heavily, and also that there was a large number of foreigners belonging to a distinctly dangerous class. Attorney-General has not trusted only to the reports of police, but he has himself been amongst the mines on these occasions, and could judge for himself what the temper of the strikers was, and the risk that was being run."

Turkish Customs

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he expects to be able to present the Papers relating to the recent negotiations for the increase in the Turkish customs duties; when will there be an opportunity of discussing them; and at what date the new duties are to come into force.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(Sir EDWARD GREY, Northumberland, Berwick)

I hope to lay Papers by the end of next week, and they can of course be discussed on the usual opportunities. The increased duties will come into force after 25th June.

In view of the protracted negotiations will the right hon. Baronet see that reasonable time is given for considering the Papers before the Foreign Office Vote is discussed?

I can make no statement as to the course of business, but I will represent to the Prime Minister the desire of the hon. Member.

Persia

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information concerning the present state of affairs in Persia.

A recent telegram from His Majesty's Minister at Tehran reports that the situation in the provinces, which has been somewhat unsettled, is now better, and that all is quiet in the south. A popular demonstration occurred on the 25th instant at Tehran, but stops were taken to allay the excitement, which subsided.

Is it the case that the brother of the Shah is raising troops in the South, and is marching on the capital?

Congo Free State

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information as to the approximate number of officers, non-commissioned officers, regular and irregular armed forces, in the service of the Congo Free State.

I can only refer the hon. Member to such statements as have been published in the Almanac de Gotha; it is impossible to give official information on such questions beyond what is given by the State concerned.

British Subjects And Most-Favoured Nation Treatment In The United States

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the most-favoured-nation treatment enables British subjects to claim the same advantages in regard to Treasury and consular regulations for their exports to the United States of America as are accorded to Germany or other nations.

As I stated in reply to a Question on the 23rd instant, we understand that the concessions in respect of these matters will be for the benefit of all nations.

Agricultural Education

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the amount to be expended in the United Kingdom for 1907–8 in respect of agricultural and dairy education is,£85,140, and that of this sum the percentage to England is 14 per cent., to Scotland 9 per cent., and to Ireland 77 per cent., and that their populations are to that of the United Kingdom as 78, 11, and 11 to 100, he will see his way next year to provide a sum which shall place England and Scotland in a position as favourable as that of Ireland.

No, Sir; I am not aware of any reason for making the change suggested.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that England and Scotland only receive 23 per cent. of the total money expended, whereas their proportion of the agricultural population is 61 per cent.?

That may be so, but it is not the province of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to suggest to heads of other Departments that they should make expenditure of public money for which they have not asked.

May I ask whether the Board of Agriculture have not repeatedly pressed for a larger grant of money?

Tobacco

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if, before presenting to the House another Budget, he will take into consideration the desirability of increasing the amount of moisture allowed to be present in low-priced tobaccos, seeing that under present conditions small manufacturers are being driven out of the trade by syndicates who rely only upon high priced and fancy tobaccos for their profits.

The present legal limit of moisture in tobacco was settled as recently as 1904 by the Act 4, Edward VII., Chapter 7, Section 3 (2), and, as at present advised, I am strongly of opinion that, quite apart from the unsettlement caused to trade by frequent alterations, it would be undesirable, in the interests both of consumers and of the Exchequer, to increase it.

Female Inebriates

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that more than half the women now under detention in Holloway Prison could have been dealt with under the Inebriates Acts and sent to reformatories; and whether, in these circumstances, he will consider the advisability of calling the attention of magistrates to the provisions of the Inebriates Acts.

I am aware that a good many women in Holloway Prison have qualified for committal to an inebriate reformatory. It is, of course, for the Court to decide what is the best way of dealing with each case; but I have specially drawn the attention of magistrates to the working of the reformatory system, and have recently taken steps to ensure metropolitan Courts being made acquainted with a prisoner's previous convictions of drunkenness. I do not see that I can with advantage take any further action at present., but I think it would be well if more use were made of the powers given by the Inebriates Act.

Time Cribbing

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number of towns in Lancashire and Cheshire have agreed to allow police to assist in the checking of time cribbing, and which are the towns that have so agreed.

Four local authorities have now agreed to allow the police to assist in the checking of time cribbing, namely, Oldham, Accrington, Rochdale, and Hyde. I am in hopes that one or two others will also give their consent.

Dock Regulations

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any prosecutions have been taken in respect to the 4,563 irregularities, under the dock regulations made in October 1904, discovered during the year 1906 by dock inspectors; and, if so, with what results.

Twenty-eight prosecutions were taken, of which one was withdrawn, one dismissed, and the rust resulted in convictions. Detailed information with regard to the irregularities and the action taken by the inspectors will appear in the forthcoming Annual Report of the Chief Inspector.

Aliens

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens were excluded last year under the Aliens Act of 1905, and at what cost.

Four hundred and ninety-three aliens were refused leave to land in 1906. The actual cost of such refusals cannot be given, but the whole of the operations of the Act were covered, as I stated on 14th February last in answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme, by the sum of £11,800.This figure of 493 only relates to exclusion by immigration authorities, and has no reference to the working of the Act as regards returned transmigrants and expulsions.

Russian Delegates In London

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Inspector McCarthy, of Scotland Yard, was instructed to prepare a list of the names of the Russian delegates attending the Russian Conference recently held in London.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to the remarkable statement in a paper the other day that the Inspector had told the correspondent of the Daily News that he was instructed to prepare a list of the Russian delegates attending the Conference?

Prisoners' Weights

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether prisoners are weighed on entering prison with no clothes on and are weighed when leaving prison fully dressed; and, if this is the case, will he, in the interest of accurate statistics, see that in future prisoners are weighed on entering and leaving prison similarly attired.

Prisoners are weighed both on reception and on discharge in the ordinary prison dress without cap or shoes.

Emigration Of Aliens

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why were no figures, showing the emigration of aliens, given in the recently issued Report of the first year's working of the Aliens Act; is it intended to issue the Annual Report on emigration and immigration in continuation of similar previous Reports; whether representations as to the working of the Immigration Boards, set up by the Aliens Act, have been made to the Home Office by members of the boards themselves and by certain organisations; and why there is no information on the subject in the Report of the first year's working of the Act.

My hon. friend refers to two separate sets of statistics—those obtained last year for the first time under the Aliens Act of 1905, and those previously obtained under an Act re pealed in 1905, which had until last year been included in the Annual Report of the Board of Trade on Emigration and Immigration. On page 9 of the Report under the Aliens Act, which I have presented to Parliament, the matter of alien passenger traffic outwards from the United Kingdom is dealt with, and I would refer the hon. Member thereto. He will find that there are some figures. As to the Board of Trade's Report, I understand that it will be continued— subject to the omission of the information which is now to be given in the Report under the Aliens Act—and that the Volume for 1906 is in the press. As regards the last two paragraphs of the question, the Report under the Aliens Act is a Report made by the Inspector under the Act to me as head of the Home Department, and naturally does not treat of any representations which may have been made to me and dealt with by me in that capacity.

Assistant Undersecretary Of State For The Home Department

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Assistant Under Secretary of State was first appointed at a salary of £1,000 per annum; what are the functions and duties of the position; and why the salary appears on the Estimates this year for the first time.

A third Assistant Under-Secretary of State was appointed on the 2nd of May, 1906. His chief functions are to assist in the consideration of petitions in criminal cases, and in administering the Aliens Act. The salary appears on the Estimates for this year for the first time because the creation of the post was not sanctioned until after the Estimates for 1906–7 had been settled and published.

The Edalji Case

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to all the circumstances of the Edalji case, including the anonymous letters, the advisers of the Government will consider the advisability of reconsidering the sentence.

I have advised the grant of a free pardon. No further interference with the sentence is within the power of the Government.

I hardly think that is a proper Question to ask me. It is on a matter of opinion.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long Edalji was detained in prison, what character he bore during his incarceration, how long he was kept under surveillance after his release, and whether the surveillance was of such a character as to be prejudical to his professional prospects.

Mr. Edalji was in prison for three years after his conviction. His prison character was good. From his release in October last until the grant of a free pardon a few days ago he was under police supervision, but he was allowed to report by letter instead of personally, and there was no interference of any sort on the part of police that could be prejudicial to him.

May I ask if a free pardon means a free pardon, and whether, in the opinion of the Home Office, this gentleman is innocent or guilty?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put a Question on the Paper if he wishes a full and detailed Answer.

Will the course which the Government have taken in regard to Mr. Edalji enable the Lord Chancellor to reinstate him as a solicitor.

Will this free pardon entitle Mr. Edalji to be readmitted to the roll of solicitors?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will appoint a committee with the object of further considering the question of the authorship of the anonymous letters in the Edalji case; and whether the committee which has reported upon the matter had specific instructions to conduct an independent inquiry into the authorship of the letters or did conduct such an inquiry.

I asked Sir Arthur Wilson and his colleagues to examine the whole of the material in the possession of the Home Office and give me their opinion on the case. In their Report they say: "We have ourselves carefully examined the letters and compared them with the admitted hand-writing of Edalji." I do not propose to appoint any such committee as the hon. Member suggests.

asked whether, in view of the great similarity between this case and that of Sergeant Sheridan, the right hon. Gentleman would follow the precedent of the Irish case and have the police witnesses examined.

[No Answer was returned.]

Wage Statistics

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of workpeople who had their wages increased and reduced for the year 1906; and what was the computed amount of changes of weekly wages recorded.

About 1,100,000 workpeople were reported to the Board of Trade as being affected by changes in rates of wages in 1906, viz., 1,083,000 by increases and 17,000 by reductions. The net result of all the changes was a rise in the weekly wages of these workpeople of about £60,000.

Irish Trainmen's Hours

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the number of hours worked by trainmen on the Midland Great Western Railway (Ireland); and whether the company have given any and, if any, what explanation why men were kept on duty on goods trains on the 16th and 17th of the present month for a period of over thirty-four hours, with a less interval than eight hours for rest.

Inquiry is being made as to the hours of work to which the hon. Member calls attention, and I will inform him of the result.

Lodging Accommodation For Irish Railway Servants

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the unhealthy conditions of the lodging accommodation provided by the Midland and Great Western Railway Company (Ireland) for their engine drivers and firemen at some of the stations where they are lodged away from home; is he aware that, in the case of Galway, three different sets of men have to sleep in and use the same room and hammocks every twenty-four hours; can he say what inspection, if any, these dormitories are subject to; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take to ensure that such places controlled by the company are kept in a healthy and good sanitary condition.

This matter is not one within the jurisdiction of the Board of Trade, but I will draw the attention of the railway company to the hon. Member's Question.

Sugar Machinery Exports

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can inform the House what were the amounts and value of the machinery for sugar manufacture exported from the United Kingdom during the years 1898 to 1902 inclusive, and during the years 1903 to 1907 inclusive; and, if he can say what were the figures for such exports to the British West Indies for the same periods.

I am unable to give the information asked for as no separate record is kept by the Customs Department of the exports of machinery for sugar manufacture. As I informed the hon. Member for Darlington on the 23rd instant, the question of the revision of the classification of machinery in the official trade accounts will be considered by a Departmental Committee during the autumn.

Unemployed Bill

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board when he will introduce the Unemployed Bill promised by His Majesty's Government.

It was proposed last year to introduce a Bill on this subject, but, for reasons which I explained to the House, the proposal was not proceeded with. I do not contemplate the introduction of a Bill at the present time.

West Ham Scandals

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, as Mr. Justice Jelf considered it his duty to call public attention to what he described as a very extraordinary state of things, he proposes to make any further inquiries into the circumstances under which Mr. W. G. Ackworth, a manager of the London and Provincial Bank, was appointed treasurer to the West Ham Guardians in 1903, and into the fact that Mr. Ackworth, who admitted having paid nearly £100 in respect of his election and that the money had been all refunded to him by the head office of the bank, was still manager of his branch at an increased salary.

I have informed the West Ham Guardians that I shall consider the position of those officers whose conduct came under notice at the recent trial, and that I have instructed one of the Assistant Secretaries of the Local Government Board to report to me on the subject. One of the cases to be considered is that of the treasurer. I can only deal with it so far as his position as treasurer is concerned. I have no jurisdiction with regard to him as manager of the bank.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland was at the time a director of the bank?

No, Sir; and if I had been it would not have affected my action at all.

Post Offices On Licensed Premises

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if, under the rules and regulations of the Post Office, the business of a district or branch post office may be carried on in licensed premises; and, if so, will he take steps to separate the business of all branch or district post offices from such licensed premises in such a way that the business of the post office can be conducted out of sight of the licensed trade, and that distinct and separate entrances may be provided to the branch or district post offices and that part of the premises where intoxicating liquors are sold.

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 only thirty-three post offices in the United Kingdom in which the Post Office business is not separated from that relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors. Such an arrangement is not sanctioned except where no other is practicable.

May we take it that no exception to the general rule that licensed premises should not be used for post offices will be made when other suitable premises can be found?

Stoke-On-Trent Post Office

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether final arrangements have been made with the North Staffordshire Railway Company for the erection of the proposed new general post office at Stoke-on-Trent; whether there are any special reasons for the delay of over ten years since the proposal took definite shape; have the plans and estimates been arranged, or are there still outstanding questions to be settled; and whether, in case of still further dilatory proceedings by the railway company, he will consider the advisability of scheduling the land in the next Sites Bill with a view to the building being put immediately in hand by his own Department.

The site of the present post office belongs to the railway company, and the fact that the company required the site for their own use was first made known to the Department in November, 1902. The post office must be close to the station, and the orginal proposal was for a new post office to be built by the Department on ground belonging to the railway company. Plans for this scheme were first sent to the company in October, 1903; but the company demurred to the proposals, and after considerable correspondence it was at length agreed that the railway company should build the premises themselves, and let them to the Department. Plans were drawn up, and in January last the scheme was approved by the Treasury. The draft agreement for lease has been settled, and specifications for the building are now being prepared by the company. I have represented to them how important it is that the office should be completed as rapidly as possible.

Norwich Post Office Employes' Grievances

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that at Norwich there are four men who have been assistant postmen for over four years; that there are also a number of telegraph messengers some of whom are about twenty years of age and are regularly employed, with very short intervals, on full-time postmen's duties, and who, by not being given assistant postmen's certificates, are rendered ineligible for established appointments; whether he is also aware that telegraph messengers of seventeen years of age are sometimes employed on night duties contrary to regulation; that, when the assistant postmen desired to petition the surveyor for appointments, they were persuaded to withdraw their appeal by the inspector saying that to do so would prejudice the position of the telegraph messengers; and whether, seeing that the telegraph messengers referred to are employed doing postmen's work at the rate of 4d. an hour, and that this system has been in existence for some years, he will take steps to give these assistant postmen and telegraph messengers appointments at an early date.

I will make inquiry concerning this matter and communicate with the hon. Member.

Postage Of Flowers From Switzerland

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he will inquire into the circumstances which preclude parcels of flowers being sent by post from Switzerland to England, which parcels can be sent to any other European country.

Flowers can be sent to this country from Switzerland either by letter post or by parcel post. On and after 1st October next they will also be admissible by sample post, provided that they have no saleable value and are not sent for a commercial purpose.

South Kensington College Of Science Charter

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that the proposed Charter for the Imperial College of Science at South Kensington contains a special provision retaining the name and the associateship of the Royal School of Mines, it is intended also to retain the title and the associateship of the Royal College of Science.

I do not think the "Associateship of the Royal School of Mines" affords an analogy in this connection. Specialised courses in mining and metallurgy, for which the name "Royal School of Mines" is sufficiently appropriate, will certainly form one of the departments of the work of the Imperial College, and provision can therefore be made in the Charter for this and for the retention of the corresponding associateship, before the governing body is established. It is difficult, however, to anticipate whether there will be any department to which the name "College of Science "or" School of Science "will be equally applicable, and it is desirable that the governing body, when established, should have an opportunity of considering this question, which is bound up with other questions of organisation which it will rest with them to decide. Moreover, the name chosen for the new institution, viz., the Imperial College of Science and Technology, may make the continued use of the comprehensive term "Science" inappropriate as a distinctive term for use in the name of any particular department.

Secondary School Regulations

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is in a position to state when the new regulations of the secondary schools under the Board of Education will be issued; whether all applications must still be sent in at least one month before the school year commences; whether the school year commences 1st August; and, if so, whether, as only one month remains for making the applications, he will consider the advisability of extending the period in which they can be made.

I hope the new regulations will be issued early next month, but I am not yet in a position to fix the date. The present regulations require that applications should be sent in not one month before the school year commences, but one month before the school session commences, which is generally towards the end of September. The possibility of making a change in this regulation is under consideration.

West Ham Education Dispute

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if his attention has been called to a dispute between the West Ham educational authorities and their teachers, which has caused the resignation of a very large number of teachers, and, owing to the educational authority not being able to obtain a sufficient number of teachers to fill the vacancies, the teachers have in many instances had their classes increased to 100 children or more; and whether he intends to take any action in the matter.

I understand that a certain number of teachers have left the service of the local education authority. His Majesty's Inspector informs me that, so far as regards schools he has visited in the last week or two, he is not aware of any case where a class habitually consists of as many as 100 children.

Stoke-On-Trent Catholic Schools

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the Stoke-on-Trent Catholic Schools, where the correspondent has failed to call a meeting of managers for more than six months, whilst he sends in accounts and recommendations to the education committee which have never been before the managers; and whether he will call attention to this breach of regulations.

I am causing inquiries to be made into this case, and I will let my hon. friend know the result.

West Ham Schools — Alleged Overcrowding

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the overcrowding at a number of West Ham schools, viz., Carpenters Road Girls' School: class-room accommodation, 170; number on roll, 224; Drew Road Boys' School: class accommodation, seventy; number on roll, 105; Hermit Road Girls' School: class accommodation, sixty; number on roll, 105; Holborn Road Boys' School: class accommodation, sixty; number on roll, 11S; S. Hallsville Girls' School: class accommodation, sixty-two; number on roll, 102; St. Paul's Girls' School: class accommodation, 125; number on roll, 154; Water Lane Boys' School: class accommodation, sixty; number on roll, 101; and whether he proposes to take any, and, if any, what, action in the matter.

Only one of the schools mentioned has recently been visited by His Majesty's inspector, viz. the Water Lane Boys' School, where there were 472 children present, formed into nine classes. The staff consists of nine certificated teachers. I am not aware of any requirements of the Code having been broken. I hope His Majesty's inspector will be able to visit the other schools very shortly.

New Schools

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education when he will introduce the Bill to authorise the expenditure of public money upon the creation of new public elementary schools.

I propose to ask Parliament in the Appropriation Bill to authorise this expenditure, but I cannot say upon what date that Bill will be introduced.

Does not that involve the repealing of a clause in the Act of 1870 which forbids the payment of public funds for erecting school buildings?

No, it does not involve a general repeal of the clause in the Act of 1870, but it will obviously lead to a repeal for the expenditure during the current year.

Parliament Buildings—Old Oak Panelling

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether his attention has been drawn to the damage which has been done to the old oak panelling and decorations in one of the dining-rooms in the process of restoration; and if, in any further work to be executed, he will take precautions to preserve the natural richness of the oak acquired by age, and also maintain the general decorative character of the original design of the interior of the House.

No damage or restoration has been done to the oak panelling of the dining-room. The oak has never acquired any natural richness by age. It was originally stained and then varnished. The varnish has been removed in order to allow the oak to acquire the fine tone which arises from age and waxing. There has been no interference with the decorative character of the original design of the interior of the House. Some old and dirty flock papers have been removed or replaced with the general approval of those best qualified to judge of such matters.

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to scrape the oak work of this Chamber and whitewash the ceiling, or does he regard the House as national property?

I regard the House as national property, and I have not in the past, and I do not intend in the future, to scrape any of the oak.

Small Holdings Bill

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he will lay upon the Table a statement showing the various, provisions and enactments adapted in and modified by the Small Holdings and Allotment Bill, similar to those provided in connection with the Territorial Forces and other Bills.

I will consider whether it is desirable or necessary to do this—which will, of course, entail cost —but if it is desirable I will see that it is done.

Norwich Licences

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that seventeen licences referred by the Licensing Bench of the city of Norwich to the Inland Revenue, authorities for compensation on 9th August last have not yet been reported upon; and whether he can take steps to expedite the award.

I hope that a decision on these cases will be arrived at in a few days.

Land Tax Commissioners

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will take steps to abolish or modify the existing property qualification at present necessary for the position of Income Tax Commissioners, in order that the Land Tax Commissioners may have a more extended choice in making these appointments.

Some qualification for Income Tax Com missioners is clearly necessary, as it would not be desirable, for instance, that persons who do not themselves contribute to Income Tax should be made eligible. I am not aware, however, that the existing qualification is a cause of difficulty in securing a satisfactory body of Commissioners.

Holme Lacy Charities

I beg to ask the hon. Member for the Elland Division of Yorkshire, as representing the Charity Commissioners, when the inquiry into the various charities connected with Holme Lacy, promised by the Commissioners in October last, and again in the early part of April of this year, will be held.

The inquiry has been fixed for the 3rd or 4th of July, as the chairman of the parish council may arrange.

Irish Department Of Agriculture

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) when the Report of the proceedings of the Department during 1906 will be presented.

THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OR AGRICULTURE FOR IRELAND
(Mr. T. W. Russell, Tyrone, S.)

The sixth annual Report of the Department, which covers the greater part of 1906, has now been submitted to the Lord-Lieutenant, and will be presented to Parliament in a day or two.

Irish Rates Return

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will grant the Return standing in the name of the Member for Mid Armagh on the Paper to-day, †

I cannot see that any useful purpose would be served by giving the Return in Question. I am not aware of any precedent for inquiring as to the amount of rates which may be paid by members of local bodies or any other class.

Roscommon Disturbances

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a conflict which occurred on 13th May at Four Mile House, near Roscommon, between the police and a crowd who assembled to drive the cattle of a farmer, named Owens, of his land, when the police were stoned and the head constable was injured; were any arrests made or have any persons been prosecuted; and, if so, is it proposed to try them in county Roscommon?

On the evening of the 13th May a crowd which had assembled near a farm occupied by Mr. Owen was dispersed by the police. No stones were thrown at this time, but subsequently when some of the police were returning from duty, stones were thrown at them at a place a mile from the scene of the disturbance. The head constable was slightly injured by a stone. Owing to the darkness the police were unable to identify the offenders, and consequently no arrests were made.

Irish Council Bill

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, under the Irish Council Bill, the Lord-Lieutenant, as President of the Local Government Board (Clause 20, Subsection 5), will be controlled by the council under Clause 2 (1) and (2); and whether, as chief of the Executive Government, he will have the power (Clause 3 (2)) to annul or reserve.

† Return giving the names and addresses of each member of all Rural and Urban District Councils, Boards of Guardians, and County Councils in Ireland, with the amount of county rates paid by each member of those Boards.
any Resolution submitted to him concerning the action to he taken by the Local Government Board under the direction of the council.

The Lord-Lieutenant will not, under the Irish Council Bill, become President of the Local Government Board, and therefore the first part of the Question does not arise. The Answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative.

Additional Police In Ireland

I beg 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 situated, 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.

I will furnish with to-night's Votes a statement giving the information for which the right hon. Gentleman asks.†

Extra Police In Roscommon

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what is the number of constabulary stations throughout Ireland from which men have been withdrawn to the extent, respectively, of one, two, three men, and upwards, for the purpose of augmenting the ordinary police establishment of districts which are at present in a state of disturbance; what is the normal strength of the force at the constabulary depot in Dublin; to what extent has such force been depleted owing to the necessity that has arisen of drafting additional men into disturbed districts; and whether there are any trained men now serving at the depot whose services are available for duty elsewhere should the occasion for such employment arise.

Fifty men have been withdrawn from other counties for the purpose of augmenting the ordinary police force of the county Roscommon.

† See Col. 49.
These men have been taken from forty-five stations in five counties. One man was withdrawn from each of forty stations, and two men from each of five stations. The normal strength of the Reserve Force at the depot is 400 men, beside officers and head constables. The number of the reserve at present serving in counties is 228, leaving a balance still available for duty in the country. The men attached to the reserve are all trained men.

United Irish League And Grazing Farm Disputes

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what are the results, as disclosed by recent constabulary reports, of the action of the United Irish League in opposing the letting and the stocking respectively of grazing farms in Ireland under the heads of acreage of eleven months farms unlet owing to United Irish League influence, and acreage of farms unstocked or partly stocked owing to United Irish League influence, respectively; and what were the similar results as shown by the constabulary reports in May of last year.

The constabulary reports upon this matter for the present year have not yet been completed, but in any case it would not be possible to publish the information asked for. The reports are, as the right hon. Gentleman is aware, of a confidential nature, and much of the information contained in them must necessarily, in the nature of the case, be conjectural.

Carrick-On-Shannon Outrage

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the cattle of Mr. C. C. B. Whyte, Carrick-on-Shannon, were on the 18th May driven off his lands and scattered some miles away over the country, and will he say if the farm is guarded by police; and whether seeing that a similar outrage was committed on the same day at Ballina, county Mayo, in reference to the cattle of a man named Kelly, he will say if any person has been arrested for either offence.

I am informed that it is not the fact that Mr. Whyte's cattle were driven off his lands. On the night of the 18th instant a dealer placed some cattle on an unfenced plot belonging to Mr. Whyte, and these wandered away during the night. In the Mayo case referred to, it is not clear whether the cattle wandered or were driven off. No one was soon driving the cattle away, and consequently no one has been arrested.

Rathkeale Union

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to allegations of corruption in the administration of the Rathkeale Union; whether he is aware that at a recent meeting of the Board of Guardians of Rathkeale a motion asking the Local Government Board (Ireland) to dissolve the present board and to appoint paid guardians, in order to put a stop to the alleged corruption, was only lost by two votes, thirteen voting for and fifteen against; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

My attention has been called to this matter. the Local Government Board can only dissolve a board of guardians and appoint paid officers when the guardians have been guilty of default in the discharge of their duties under the Poor Law Acts. In the case in question the guardians were acting in their capacity as rural district councillors, and the alleged irregularities occurred in connection with the administration of the Labourers Acts and not of the Poor Law Acts.

Mr P J Kelly, Jp, And The Chief Secretary

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that, in the course of the hearing of a case dealing with unlawful assembly at Athenry on 10th May, Mr. P. J. Kelly, J.P., of Loughrea, stated that they had it from the Chief Secretary that they ought to agitate, and that it was unfair to condemn men for doing what they were told to do by the Chief Secretary; what steps he has taken with regard to this statement; and whether the Athenry defendants have now been brought before the resident magistrate and returned for trial.

It appears from the newspapers that during the hearing of the case referred to Mr. Kelly made a statement to the effect mentioned in the Question. My attention was not called to the statement until the noble Lord gave notice of the Question, and it did not then appear to me that the statement required any serious notice on my part. I found, however, that the matter had already been brought to the notice of the Lord Chancellor, who has decided that his interference is not called for. There were two cases of unlawful assembly for hearing at Athenry on 10th May. These cases were disposed of by the Bench, which included two resident magistrates, at Athenry Petty Sessions on 24th instant. In one case the defendants were returned for trial: the other case was unanimously dismissed.

May I gather from the right hon. Gentleman's Answer that he repudiates the statement made by this gentleman and other similar statements, to which I privately called his attention, to the effect that he is encouraging agitation and terrorism?

If the noble Lord could think I am capable of encouraging agitation and terrorism, he would not attach any importance to any reply I might give here.

Sligo County Councillor

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, as President of the Irish Local Government Board or otherwise, he is aware that a person named Peter Cawley, though not a member, constantly speaks and votes at meetings of the Sligo County Council; that the Local Government Board recently declined to sanction the election of a county surveyor on the ground of the- invalidity of the vote of this person; whether he is aware that this person has since spoken and voted at meetings of the council; and, as no one in Sligo would venture to prosecute, will the Local Government Board take steps to prosecute Cawley for illegally acting and voting as a county councillor.

I am informed that the person named in the Question occasionally speaks and has voted at meetings of the Sligo County Council. It is the fact that the Local Government Board have declined to sanction the appointment of county surveyor owing to the invalidity of the vote of this gentleman. Inquiry is being made as to the latter part of the Question.

Irish Board Of Agriculture — Commissioner's Report

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland when the Report of the Commission appointed to inquire into the working of the Board of Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) will be presented.

I am informed that the Commissioners are not unanimous as to the terms of their Report. I understand that the Report of the majority is substantially complete and will be submitted in the course of a few days. A minority Report, however, is to be prepared, and this will not be ready for two or three weeks.

Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to let the House have the Report before we deal with the Estimates concerning this Department?

Maxwell Estate, Londonderry

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that there has been exceptional delay in vesting the Maxwell estate, in county Londonderry, in the tenants, while adjoining estates, sold about the same time, have been vested a year ago; and will he take steps to expedite the vesting of the Maxwell estate.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that there has been no exceptional delay in this case, the purchase agreements in which were lodged in February, 1905. The Commissioners have instructed their surveyor to check the boundaries and occupancy of the holdings, and as soon as this has been done, the inspection will take place.

Sligo County Council And Home Bole

I beg to ask the. Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieu-tenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of a recent meeting of the Sligo County Council, at which a speaker declared, amid applause, that they in Sligo wanted neither Home Rule nor devolution, as the law of the national organisation was supreme there and that the branches of that organisation should visit with their curse everyone, landlord, policeman, or anyone else, who showed the least opposition; and is it intended to allow meetings of county councils to be used for delivery of seditious speeches and incitements to outrage.

I have had the advantage of reading a report of the speech referred to in the Question. This speech was delivered in support of a resolution, unanimously passed by the Sligo County Council, to the effect that nothing short of Home Rule will satisfy the people of Ireland. I do not propose to take any steps in regard to the speech.

Roscommon Meeting

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if 100 police were sent to a meeting at Four Mile Chapel, Roscommon, on Sunday last, what was the object of the meeting, and what was the necessity for the attendance of such a force of police; and if this district is in a peaceful condition.

A force of eighty police was assembled for the purpose of preserving the peace in connection with the meeting in question. The meeting was called for the purpose of promoting the agitation against the grazing system, and the police had reason to apprehend that an attempt might be made to drive the cattle off a certain farm in the locality. The place lies within an area which has lately been somewhat disturbed.

King's County Grazing Farm Dispute

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Mr. Luttrell has, as a result of the intimidation to which he has been subjected, been compelled to surrender his grazing farm at Roscomroe, King's County; and whether the Government intend to permit this farm to be divided amongst the surrounding tenants, in view of the fact that boycotting and other illegal methods have been employed to force the landlords to sell.

I am informed that Mr. Luttrell has not yet surrendered the farm, though he has expressed his intention of surrendering it at the next gale day. In reply to the latter part of the Question, I would refer to my Answer to a similar Question put by the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division on the 14th instant.† I have no information that any proceedings for the sale of the farm have been instituted.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision not to re-enact the rule prohibiting the Estates Commissioners advancing money for the purchase of farms in cases where intimidation has been exercised?

Is it not the fact that Mr. Luttrell was obliged to surrender his farm because of the inadequate police protection afforded him?

[No Answer was returned.]

Corboy (Birr) Outrage

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the gates on the farm of Mr. Patrick Corboy, near Birr, were smashed on a night last week and the cattle driven to a distance of some miles from the farm; whether he has any official information showing that the fact that Corboy had lent his car for the conveyance of the police was the motive of the outrage; and what steps the police have taken with regard to the matter.

The police authorities inform me that the gates of Mr. Corboy's farm were broken at night and his cattle were found a mile from the farm. Mr. Corboy's carts had been employed by the police, but whether this fact furnished the motive for the injury can be a matter of opinion only. The police have taken

† See (4) Debates, clxxiv., 799–800.
steps to prevent further interference with Mr. Corboy.

Labourers Acts In Down And Antrim

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been drawn to the amounts awarded by the inspectors under the Labourers Acts in the counties of Antrim and Down; if he is aware that these amounts are 40 per cent. under the value heretofore given and which the land would fetch in the open market, and considerably below the value put on the same by the promoting councils themselves; if any change has been made in the instructions given to valuers, and will they be instructed to award a market price for the land taken; and has his attention been called to a resolution received from the Ballymoney Rural District Council in this connection.

The Local Government Board have no information to the effect stated in the Question. They have, however, received, a resolution from the Ballymoney Rural District Council requesting that the arbitrator should be instructed to include in his award the sums agreed upon by the council and the parties interested in certain cases. The Local Government Board do not issue instructions to arbitrators as to the basis on which they should assess compensation, and it would be irregular for them to do so.

Time Limits For Speeches

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether the Government will consider the advisability of introducing a time limit to speeches in the Standing Committees.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY
(Sir H. Camp-bell-Bannerman, Stirling Burghs)

I am personally in favour of limiting the time of speeches both in the House and in Standing Committees, but I can see no chance of taking any practical steps in this direction at present.

Sir Antony Macdonnell

I beg to ask the Prime Minister if it is the intention of the Government to transfer Sir Antony MacDonnell from the Under-Secretaryship of Ireland to an Indian appointment.

At the same time may I ask the Prime Minister if Sir Antony MacDonnell has expressed his desire to be relieved of the duties of his office of Under-Secretary.

Control Of Army Expenditure

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government intend to propose any alteration in the settled system of Parliamentary control over Army expenditure or in the powers and responsibilities either of the Public Accounts Committee, the Comptroller and Auditor General, Accounting Officers, or Sub-Accounting Officers, and will he undertake that no such alteration shall be made without being previously submitted to this House; have His Majesty's Government any intention of adopting the proposal of the Secretary of State for War for so altering the present system as to make the soldier the economist, to rely upon him for telling Parliament how to make the money go furthest, and to give him a free hand in doing so; and do His Majesty's Government intend to depart in any way from the declaration and recommendations of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee of 26th May, 1905, which Report received the sanction of this House on 26th July, 1905.

These appear to be Questions which are being considered by the House in Committee on The Territorial and Reserve Forces Bill; and it is in the course of those discussions that an Answer ought to be and will be given to them. I know of no proposal or intention to curtail Parliamentary control over Army expenditure. Any alterations in the control of Parliament over expenditure by way of accounts would have to be proposed with due regard to the constitutional practice, and with due regard also to any Resolution of this House. Questions of economy and of the merit of expenditure would come before it as a matter of estimate rather than of accounting.