Public Health Bill
:To ask the Prime Minister if, in consequence of the importance to local authorities in framing their Bills for next session, he will facilitate the passing into law as speedily as possible of the Public Health Bill [No. 66]. (Answered by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman.) No undertaking can be given at present about this Bill; but the. Government are quite alive to its importance.
Shortage Of Engine-Room Artificers
To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can state the total number of engine-room artificers short of those required for manning the ships of the various Fleets, and the reason those returning from foreign service are being asked to give up part of the leave usually granted to such men for recuperation. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) There is no shortage of engine-room artificers, the numbers now borne being sufficient to man the present war Fleet. Nothing is known of any engine-room artificers having been asked to give up their leave on return from foreign service. Two engine-room artificers in H.M.S. "Drake," of the second cruiser squadron, on that ship paying off recently, were asked if they would like to give up their leave for instruction in turbines, for which two engine-room artificers were required at the time, and for which these two men were specially suitable The inquiry was made in the interests of the chief petty officers themselves as well as of the service, and they voluntarily accepted the offer, naming their own date for commencing instruction.
Salmon Fisheries Sold By Woods And Forests Department
To ask the Secretary for Scotland if he can state the number, if any, of salmon fishings that have been sold in Scotland by the Woods and Forests Department, and the prices obtained for such fishings. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I am informed that the total number of sales is forty-nine, and the total purchase money £32,550.
Pension Of Sir J Bampfylde Fuller
To ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state at what ago Sir Joseph Bampfylde Fuller retired, how many years ho was in the service, and the pension he receives. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.)Sir J. Bampfylde Fuller retired at the age of fifty two, after a service of upwards of thirty years. He receives the ordinary annuity of a member of the Indian Civil Service who resigns after twenty-five years' service, viz., £1,000.
Report On Riots At Comilla
To ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Report of the second inquiry into the riots at Comilla is yet completed; and, if so, will the Report be laid upon the Table of the House (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) I have received a Report on the riot which took place at Comilla on the 6th March last. The riot resulted in several cases, which were tried in open court and the proceedings published in the Press. I do not think it necessary to lay the Report on the Table.
Sale Of The Estate Of The Misses Cooper
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieu-tenant of Ireland is ho aware that negotiations for sale and purchase as between the Misses Cooper and the tenants on the Knocklong property, in county Limerick, have boon for a long time in progress; have the results of those negotiations been placed before the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, with what results; have Thomas Barry and John M'Grath, evicted tenants on this estate, been as yet reinstated in their farms, or have the Estates Commissioners sent an inspector to make inquiries in regard to their rein-statement; and what wore the recommendations of the inspector, if he has carried out his mission. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that proceedings for the sale of this estate were instituted before them in March last, but the case will not reach its turn to be dealt with for a considerable time. The Commissioners have directed their inspector to inquire into the applications of the two evicted tenants referred to, but the inspector's report has not yet been received.
Sale Of Estate Of Mr Stafford Delmege
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland can he say how matters in regard to sale and purchase stand at present between Mr. Stafford Delmege and his tenants on the lands of Garryspillane, Glenbrohane, and the other townlands adjacent to Knocklong, county Limerick; can he say does any person hold from the agents, the Messrs. Sanders, of Charleville, a tenancy on the 145 acres on the Garryspillane side of the property, apparently untenanted, and, if so, what is his name and what is the nature of his tenancy, whether judicial or on the eleven months' system are the smaller tenancies, about eleven in number, established about two years since, merely tentative and conditional, or are they on judicial rents; and how are matters in general between the owners and the tenants.
Purchase agreements in respect of thirty holdings on this estate wore lodged with the Estates Commissioners in April last. The estate includes forty-eight acres of land described as being in the owner's hands, which it is proposed to sell as parcels. No purchase agreement has been lodged in respect of any holding of 145 acres. Twenty-five of the agreements lodged relate to judicial tenancies, and of these twelve were created since January, 1901. The Commissioners will inquire into all the circumstances of the estate before sanctioning the advances applied for.
Intimidation Of Mr Byrne, Of Lusmagh
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the stock belonging to Mr. Byrne, of Lusmagh, Banagher, King's County, was driven oft' his farm on Friday, 31st May, by order of the local branch of the United Irish League; and whether the Government are taking any, and, if so, what steps to protect farmers in the. King's County against intimidation. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The police authorities inform me that Mr. Byrne's cattle were driven off his farm on the date mentioned, but they have no knowledge that United Irish League were concerned in the matter. The evidence in possession of the police is being examined with the view of considering whether a prosecution can be instituted for driving off' the cattle. An extra force of police is stationed in King's County for the purpose of assisting in the preservation of the peace.
Disturbances In The Kilmore Districts
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, following up the recent prosecutions at Hillstreet, county Roscommon, for unlawful assembly and intimidation, for which eight Nationalists have been imprisoned, the magistrates who constituted the tribunal on that occasion are now subject to the most rigorous boycott; whether ho is aware that all the servants of Mr. G. Kelly, B.L., who was chairman, have loft his employment, Mr. H. Hamilton is subject to similar boycott, and Mr. R. N. Ffrench, who did not attend the court, is similarly treated, all his servants having left him; and whether, seeing that the Kilmore district is in a very disturbed state, ho will say what precautions, if any, the Government are taking to preserve law and order.
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received information to the effect that certain magistrates who attended the court at Hillstreet, county Roscommon, when there was a trial for unlawful assembly and intimidation, have been boycotted; under which class of boycott are these justices of the peace suffering, and what steps does he propose to take against the offenders. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I will at the same time answer the Question of the hon. Member for the Rye Division. The police authorities inform mo that one of Mr. Kelly's indoor servants has left his employment and that several labourers have refused to work for him. One labourer has also left Mr. Hamilton's employment, but neither in his case nor in that of Mr. French, have the domestic servants left, as stated in the Question. One of these magistrates has been refused supplies in a local shop, but no other act of boycotting has occurred. Extra police are stationed in the districts in which these gentlemen reside, and every possible measure is being taken to preserve the peace and to protect the magistrates from loss and annoyance.
Shooting Outrage At Broadford, County Clare
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received any information from the police as to a shooting outrage at Broad-ford, in East Glare, which occurred on 23 rd May, when the house of a farmer named Molony, living at Fermoyle, was fired into; whether any reason has been assigned for this crime; and whether the fanner has any police protection. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I beg to refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave yesterday to a similar Question relating to the same case. †
Disturbances In Ireland
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the publication of resolutions passed by branches of the United Irish League in Galway, Sligo, and Roscommon, naming certain persons as worthy of censure; whether such publication is calculated to intimidate those of His Majesty's subjects specified in the resolutions; and whether he will take immediate steps to prevent the publication of such resolutions in future.
( Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The publication of resolutions such as the hon. Baronet refers to is a very old story in Ireland. Opinion differs considerably as to the amount of intimidatory effect produced by such publication, which, however, is none the less to be deprecated. It is not proposed to take any steps in the matter at present.
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on 27th May three farms on the Ryan Estate at Thomastown were raided by a crowd consisting of several hundreds of persons, whether he will state the amount of damage then done, and how many constables were on duty to protect these estates; whether traders in the district who have hitherto supplied the police with goods have been threatened with the boycott; and whether any traders have on this account refused to supply goods to the police. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) It is the fact that a crowd of persons drove the
cattle off the three farms mentioned, and took them in each case to the owners residence. No injury was done to the cattle or the farms. The acts were witnessed by two policemen. Twelve persons have been prosecuted for the offence and returned for trial at the assizes. It is the case that several local traders have refused to supply the police with goods.† See page 087.
Outdoor Relief To Tenants Of Union Cottages In Ireland
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that labourers in occupation of union cottages in Ireland are debarred from obtaining outdoor relief, even when incapacited by illness; and whether, in view of the suffering which the operation of this system sometimes inflicts upon labourers and their families, stops will be taken to enable boards of guardians to grant outdoor relief to the tenants of union cottages when necessity arises. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Occupiers of more than a quarter of an acre of land are debarred by statute from. receiving poor law relief otherwise than in the workhouse. Labourers who occupy cottages with allotments come within the j prohibitions. The relieving officer may, however, afford such persons relief in case of sudden and urgent necessity, and the guardians may admit them to the union hospital in cases of illness. The Local Government Board have been advised that the prohibition referred to applies only to the landholder himself, and there-fore the members of such person's family, if sick and destitute, may be afforded outdoor relief. No amendment of the law of relief in favour of labourers is in contemplation.
Tenant Purchasers In County Meath
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have, in the exercise of the discretion vested in them under the Land Act of 1903, decided not to make any advance in excess of £3,000 to tenant purchasers; and how many applications for a greater amount have been refused to tenant purchasers in the county of Meath.
( Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have not come to any general decision on the subject. Each application for an advance of more than £3,000 is dealt with upon its merits. One such application has been refused in county Meath.
Kilmeedy National Schools
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say on what grounds the approval which the Commissioners of National Education gave by letter, on 20th December, 1905, to the proposal of the manager of the national schools at Kilmeedy, county Limerick, for a building grant, has not been sanctioned by the Treasury; and whether, in view of the fact that the manager and parents of the children procured building materials at considerable expense on receipt of the Commissioners' approval of their proposals, and also in view of the fact that the average attendance in the boys' school is over forty, and in the girls' nearly sixty, he will take steps to acquire the grant for them without making it a condition that the schools be amalgamated. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of the National Education inform me that this case was not submitted to the Treasury, nor did they inform the manager that it would be submitted to that Department. Under the Commissioners' rules, in the case of applications for building grants for adjoining boys' and girls' schools, grants for separate schools cannot be made unless there is an average attendance of at least fifty pupils in each school. This condition is not fulfilled in the case in question, and the Commissioners are, therefore, unable to sanction a building grant for a new school-house except on condition that the schools shall be amalgamated.
Boycotting Of Michael Brady
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the language used by His Honour Judge Drummond at Manorhamilton, on 21st May, when he said that Michael Brady, a. person who is rigorously boycotted and has been the object of intimidation, was a nuisance and a pest to the country; and whether, having regard to the disturbed condition of the country whore Brady lives, and to the effect which such a statement coming from a Judge on the Bench must have, he will endeavour to obtain an early day for the discussion of the Motion on the subject which stands in the name of the hon. Member for South Antrim, or, if not, what steps he proposes to take in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I have communicated with the learned Judge upon the subject. He informs me that the matter which came before him on 21st May was an application for a special order to substitute service of a process. He refused that application, not upon the ground of the character of the plaintiffs or their father, but simply upon the ground that certain legal requirements had not been satisfied. In the course of the discussion between the Judge and the barrister who made the application the Judge referred to certain criminal proceedings which had come before him on a previous occasion, in the course of which proceedings it was shown that Brady was not a man of good character. The Judge informs me that ho cannot recall the precise words which ho used on the occasion, but he does not deny that they may have been to the general effect stated in the Question. There appears to be no doubt as to the fact that Brady's character is not satisfactory, but the police will continue to afford him full protection in the exercise of his legal rights, as they have done for some years past. the Government do not see any sufficient reason for taking special stops in regard to the Notice of Motion which stands in the hon. Member's name.
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a person named Brady, who lives near Dowra, in the county of Leitrim, where he enjoys the privilege of police protection, is the cause of disturbance in
that part of Leitrim; that Brady has been described by His Honour Judge Drummond, K.C., as a public nuisance, who is causing annoyance in a hitherto quiet and peaceful district; that, although he is frequently intoxicated, and has, in fact, been prosecuted for drunkenness by a policeman who is protecting him, yet he is allowed to carry firearms; that he has been recently convicted of driving his car while intoxicated over an old man, who was seriously injured; and whether steps will be taken by the Government to prevent Brady from continuing to disturb the peace in the county Leitrim. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) It is the fact that Brady, who is a bailiff and the caretaker of evicted farms, receives police protection, and in the opinion of the police authorities this protection is necessary. I have just answered a Question relating to Judge Drummond's remarks about this man. It is the case that Brady has been convicted of drunkenness, and that the police who wore protecting him were the prosecutors. He was also convicted of driving his car over an old man, but this conviction was reversed on appeal. The fact that Brady's character is not satisfactory would not justify the police authorities in withholding from him any protection that may be necessary.† A Motion of the appointment of a Select Committee "to inquire into the conduct of His Honour Judge Drummond in respect of he use by him, at Manorhamilton Quarter Session on Tuesday, 21st May, of language unbecoming in a Judge on the Bench."
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the statement made by His Honour Judge Drummond, K.C, at Manorhamilton quarter sessions on 12th March, 1907, in which he described as wild exaggerations the accounts appearing in certain newspapers regarding the state of the county Leitrim, and said that, during the two years and a half that ho had been Judge at eleven quarter sessions in Leitrim, there had been altogether only five criminal cases, and (hose of the most trivial character, white gloves being presented to him at each of the four sessions in 1905, and in January and March, 1907, and that he was not aware of any other county in the United Kingdom that is so free from crime; and whether, in view of this statement of the learned Judge regarding the peace of the county Leitrim, he will have the extra police stationed in the county withdrawn.
( Answered by Mr. Birrell.) According to the local newspapers the learned Judge made the statement attributed to him in the Question, but prefaced it by saying that he confined his observations to North Leitrim. It is the fact that a considerable part of the county is in a satisfactory condition, but there are other parts of it to which that remark would hardly apply, and in the opinion of the police authorities who are responsible for the preservation of the peace, the presence of extra police is necessary in those parts.
Yeomanry At Political Demonstrations
To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the regulations for Yeomanry permit them giving military displays at political demonstrations; if so, are the troopers and non-commissioned officers paid, and by whom; and whether, in the event of any member refusing to attend, he can be penalised directly or indirectly by the commanding officer.
( Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The Yeomanry regulations do not permit military displays at political demonstrations.
Small-Bore Bullets
To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the investigation into the relative efficiency of small-bore bullets of various shapes and patterns, with regard to muzzle velocity, low trajectory, and stopping power, is yet concluded; and whether, as a result of such inquiry, he proposes to adopt for the British service rifle a bullet different from that now in use. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The investigation referred to is not yet completed.
Lee Enfield Rifle
To ask the Secretary of State for War whether experiments have recently been made to test the action of various explosives, giving high muzzle velocities, on the rifling of the Lee-Enfield rifle; and whether he is able to announce the results of such experiments. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Trials with ammunition to give high velocities from various manufacturers are now in progress, and the effects of the explosives on the rifling of the Lee-Enfield rifle will in due course be ascertained. No results of experiments can at present be announced.
Ammunition For The Auxiliary Forces
To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the issue to the auxiliary forces of ammunition of mixed sources of manufacture and date have been discontinued. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Since August last the various sources of manufacture have been kept separate. Ammunition completed prior to that date would be of mixed sources, and may have been recently issued to the troops.
Supernumerary Majors
To ask the Secretary of State for War how many appointments in provisional battalions have been offered to supernumerary majors who have hitherto served in infantry battalions now disbanded. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) One vacancy has occurred for a major. This was offered to all the majors of reduced battalions, who, with two exceptions, refused it. The two officers referred to made, however, certain conditions for accepting the appointment which could net be agreed to by this Department
Rifle Back Sights
To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the converted Lee-Enfield rifles, to be issued to the Auxiliary Forces, will be provided with back sights having screw adjustment for elevation and wind gauge.
( Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The back sights of the converted long rifles will not have any screw adjustment for elevation. The pattern of adjustable wind gauge is still under trial.
War Department Land At Bexhill-On-Sea
To ask the Secretary of State for War what has been the result of the negotiations for the sale of War Department land at Bexhill-on-Sea.
( Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) This matter is about to be referred to arbitration.
War Department Mortgages
To ask the Secretary of State for War when the Bill will be introduced to confer statutory authority upon the War Office to vest mortgages transferred to that Department in the Secretary of State for War. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The legislation necessary to effect the purpose set forth in the Question will be secured by the inclusion of a clause in the annual Public Works Loan Bill. I am not aware of the date on which it may be proposed to introduce the Bill.
Cordite In India
To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state what proportion of the cordite now in possession of the War Office, exclusive of that in India, has been manufactured by Messrs. Kynoch, Limited. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I doubt whether it would be in the public interest to give this information.
Case Of William Emberson
To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that William Emberson, a private, was on Friday, 31st May, committed for trial at Portsmouth for shooting Charles Fred Beard, a private in the 2nd Middlesex Regiment; whether, at the inquest, Emberson admitted that he had been drinking heavily; whether the jury censured the military authorities for allowing cartridges in the barrack store-room, and also for serving drink from the canteen to soldiers in an intoxicated condition; and whether the War Office propose to take any, and, if so, what, steps to prevent such occurrences in future. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) My attention has been drawn to this case; but, having regard to the fact that Private Emberson has been committed for trial on a capital charge, it would not be proper for me to make any statement about the circumstances of the case at the present time. The case is being closely watched.
Official History Of The South African War
To ask the Secretary of State for War whether it has been decided to proceed no further with the preparation and publication of the official history of the war in South Africa beyond the volume now in the Press; and, if so, whether he will state the reasons for abandoning a work of so much public interest and importance. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The responsibility for the publication of the history has been transferred to the Committee of Imperial Defence, and the work is steadily proceeding
Commercial Treaties
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affair when the Return, giving particulars of the most-favoured-nation treaties of foreign countries, moved for last session, will be issued.
( Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) The work involved in the preparation of this Return is very considerable, owing to the large number of treaties of this nature, all of which have to be checked. No time will be lost, but I am afraid I cannot at present specify any date at which it will be possible to complete it.
Medical Officers At Embassies
:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state to how many of His Majesty's embassies and consulates medical officers or advisers are attached; what are the medical and surgical qualifications required of candidates for such posts; and what are the salaries and condition of service attached to each of them. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) The salaries and allowances provided for medical officers are given in the Estimate for Diplomatic and Consular Services under the names of the various posts. The officers are duly qualified practitioners, and those who receive allowances are usually selected on the spot. The following are the principal medical posts: —
Constantinople | £700 |
Peking | £650 to £700 |
Alexandria | £500 |
Tokio | £350 |
Tehran | £600 |
Bangkok | £250 |
Zanzibar | £400 |
Quarters are provided at Peking and Tehran. Officers who take private practices are not pensionable.
Transvaal Land Settlement Schemes
To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the total expenditure charged against the British Exchequer for land settlement schemes in the Transvaal up to the moment of responsible government being established there; and what was the number of cultivating settlers, of holdings, and the total acreage of land so occupied. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The expenditure on land settlement in the Transvaal has been charged against the proceeds of the guaranteed loan and not against the British Exchequer. No later statistics have been received than those which are printed at page 91 of Cd. 3028, of which Paper I am sending a conveniently-marked copy to my right hon. friend.
Slavery On The Zanzibar Strip
To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the approximate estimate of cost submitted to the Treasury for the abolition of the legal status of slavery on the Zanzibar strip. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) An approximate estimate of £40,000 has been received by telegram from the Governor of the East African Protectorate, but, pending the receipt of his full Report by mail, this sum can only be regarded as provisional.
State-Aided Land Purchase In Scotland
To ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state whether it is the general practice in Scotland, before sanctioning the purchase of holdings with State aid, to fix the then fair rents of the holdings and calculate the purchase prices on those rents; the total number of holdings purchased in Scotland with State aid down to 31st March, 1907; the average number of years purchase of rent agreed to be paid for them; the number of these holdings in respect of which arrears of purchase annuities were then due; the total amount of the annuities; and the total amount of the arrears. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair) The general practice is as the hon. Member indicates. The total number of holdings purchased in Scotland with State aid down to 31st March, 1907, was eighty-seven. The number of years purchase of rent runs from seventeen and-a-half to twenty, according to price paid by the Board. The number of holdings in respect of which the arrears of purchase annuities were due at 31st March, 1907, is eighty-two. The total amount of the annuities payable up to that date is 824£2,958 2s 5d., and the total amount of the arrears £753 11s. 6d.
Board Of Trade Labour Correspondent
To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether Mr. Burnett, chief labour correspondent to the Board, is retiring from that position; and, if so, what steps have been taken to fill the vacancy caused by his retirement. (Answered by Mr. Kearley.) I regret to say that Mr. Burnett will shortly retire from the service of the Board of Trade. The question of appointing a successor is receiving careful consideration.
Bankruptcy Delays
To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the practice of the registrars in bankruptcy in repeatedly postponing applications for receiving orders in the case of persons against whom petitions in bankruptcy have been presented, and to the fact that the interval between the bankruptcy petition and the receiving order has, in recent cases, often amounted to many months and sometimes to more than a year; and, in view of the inconvenience caused by this delay, not only to creditors but to third persons with whom the respondent to the bankruptcy petition may carry on business and against whom he may institute litigation, he can see his way to take steps to ensure in such cases a more prompt administration of justice. (Answered by Mr. Kearley.) I understand that the practice of adjourning the hearing of petitions in bankruptcy from time to time is still very common, not withstanding Rules 168 and 169 of the Bankruptcy Rules, 1886 and 1890. The question of further restricting such adjournments will be considered when the opportunity occurs.
Westbourne Park Railway Service
To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the direct service from Westbourne Park Station to Victoria was discontinued long before the electric service was installed; and whether he will state why through booking was discontinued, as it is possible to complete the journey between the two points by changing carriages and rebooking at Addison Road. (Answered by Mr. Kearley.) The Board of Trade have invited the observations of the railway companies concerned upon the points raised by my hon. friend, and will Communicate with him upon receipt of the companies' replies.
To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether ho can induce the Great Western and other railways interested to establish a through service of trains between j Paddington, Westbourne Park, etc., and Battersea, Chelsea, Clapham Junction, and Victoria, for the convenience of workmen and other members of the public.
( Answered by Mr. Kearley.) The Board of Trade are in communication with the railway companies concerned in this matter, and will inform my hon. friend of the result.
Belfast Post Office Boy Messengers
To ask the Postmaster-General whether ho is aware that eighteen boy messengers in the Belfast post office have been informed by the Postmaster-General that they must quit the service on 1st July next; that these boys are all of exemplary character, and have served from five to seven years us messengers; and whether, in view of the hardship which their dismissal will entail on the boys and their parents, he will endeavour to arrange that they shall be continued in some capacity in the employment of the post office. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I dealt with this matter on the 4th instant in replying to a Question asked by the hon. Member for North Armagh† I regret that, after reviewing all available courses, I cannot but conclude that it is to the interest of these boys to seek other employment.
Belfast Post Office —Messenger Room
To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the unsanitary condition of the premises in which the messenger boys employed at the Belfast post office are given military drill; whether the boys have been given to understand that they cannot receive promotion to the rank of postman until they have first served in the Army; if so, whether this is due to a determination on the part of the Government to make the Post Office a recruiting ground for the Army; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I have made inquiry in regard to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, and cannot learn that any suggestion has ever been made to the effect that the premises in which the boy messengers at Belfast are drilled are in an unsanitary condition. None of the messengers have been advised to enlist in the Army, and it is certainly not my intention to make the post office a recruiting ground for the Army. At the same time the boys know, no doubt, under a long-standing arrangement with the War Office, that ex-soldiers obtain nearly half the vacant places for postmen.
Strabane Telegraph Clerk's Illness
To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware
that a sorting clerk and telegraphist at Strabane, Ireland, who was seized with serious illness on 16th April last, was accused of malingering by the postmaster of that town, who absolutely refused to allow him to enter a hospital to which his family desired to send him; if ho can say under what circumstances the postmaster and medical officer insisted on the man remaining in lodgings in Strabane till the 27th of April, when the surveyor had to be communicated with by wire by the friends of the patient, who is still lying seriously ill in hospital at Belfast; and whether, in view of these facts, he will have full inquiry made into the whole circumstances of the case.† See pp. 491–2
( Answered by Mr. Sydney Burton.) I am making inquiry, and will communicate with the hon. Member.
Poor Law Expenditure
To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that the inspector of Poor Law District No. 3 has recently issued to the Boards of Guardians in his district a paper headed, Table showing the number of paupers on 1st January 1897 and 1907, and the expenditure upon relief for the year ended Michaelmas 1906, and that instead of showing the expenditure on relief it only shows the expenditure on the two items, out-relief and in-maintenance, and omits altogether the salaries, rations, and superannuations of the officers and servants, principal of loans repaid arid interest thereon, cost of furniture, repairs to building and furniture, and some other items of the cost of relief; if so, will he state what is the expenditure on the omitted items for the Birmingham Union in the above district; whether it has been usual for the Poor Law inspector's half-yearly returns to make the same omissions as the above-mentioned return does; and whether the President will, in future, either arrange that these returns shall give the true cost of relief or discontinue them altogether. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have seen the table referred to, which I understand is in the form which the inspector has been accustomed to use. It is intended to give particulars as to the cost of the maintenance of indoor paupers and of outdoor relief, and not the total expenditure of the guardians as a poor law authority. The expenditure of the guardians of the parish of Birmingham in respect of all poor law purposes in the year ended at Michaelmas 1906 was as follows: —
£ | |
Maintenance of indoor paupers | 42,393 |
Outdoor relief | 7,151 |
Maintenance of lunatics in asylums, etc. | 28,169 |
Salaries, etc., and superannuation allowances of officers and servants | 33,436 |
Principal of loans and interest thereon | 14,491 |
Other expenditure connected with the relief of the poor | 15,141 |
Some of this information was not in the possession of the inspector at the time the table was issued, and it will be observed that much of the expenditure shown is not of a character which can be controlled by the present guardians. Provided that it is understood that, as regards expenditure, the table only gives particulars relative to the maintenance of indoor paupers and out-relief, I see no objection to it. It may be well that the heading of the table should be so framed as to leave no possible room for doubt as to the nature of its contents, and I will communicate with the inspector on his Point.
Criminal Appeals—Shorthand Notes
To ask Mr. Attorney-General whether it is intended, under the. Criminal Appeal Bill, that a shorthand report of all evidence in the trial of indictable offences shall be taken, and also a shorthand report of the summing up of the Judges and chairmen in such cases; and, if so, whether any estimate has been made of the probable cost. (Answered by Sir John Walton.) Yes. It is intended that a shorthand note shall be taken in all cases; but that such parts only of such note be transcribed as may be ordered by the Court of Criminal Appeal. No estimate of cost has been made
Artillery In India
To ask the Secretary of Stale for India what is the number of batteries of horse, field, and mountain artillery, respectively, in the Indian Army.
( Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) There are in India eleven batteries of Royal Horse Artillery, forty-five batteries of Royal Field Artillery, and eight batteries of Royal Garrison Artillery, Mountain Division. There are also ten Indian (Native) mountain batteries.
Forestry In Ireland
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the advantages and profit derived in continental countries from State forestry, and to the statement of the Secretary for India as to the forestry of India as a source of national asset and employment: and whether the Government will take up without delay the reafforestation of Ireland. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The attention of the Irish Government has been drawn to the matters referred to, and the question of afforestation in Ireland has received much Consideration. I understand that the question has conic before both the Royal Commission on Congestion and the Committee of Inquiry into the Department of Agriculture, and it would therefore seem desirable to await the Reports of both of these bodies before further considering the matter.
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, in the reign of William the Third, a Bill was passed making it compulsory to plant several thousands of trees annually in Ireland for twenty-one years, and that the local authorities were held responsible that this was carried into effect; and whether he will consider the advisability of re-introducing a similar measure, and provide the necessary funds from the Imperial Exchequer out of the amount due to Ireland from over-taxation and the appropriation to British purposes of the Irish Quit and Crown rents. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) It is the fact that an Act to the effect mentioned was passed in 1698 (10 Will. 3, c. 12), and I understand that during the eighteenth century some twelve further Acts on the subject were passed, but that they failed to prevent a decrease of timber in Ireland. As regards the suggestion contained in the latter part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which the Secretary to the Treasury gave to his Question on this subject on 10th April, 1906. †
Belfast Docks—Inspection Of Imported Provisions
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what arrangements at present exist for the inspection of provisions imported at the Belfast docks; whether any complaints have been received as to the inadequacy of the inspection; and whether ho will cause inquiries to be made in the matter.
( Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board are informed by the local authorities of Belfast that the port sanitary officer on duty each day inspects imported provisions, and frequently makes seizures of unfit provisions, and obtains magistrates' orders for their destruction. The Local Government Board have not received any complaints as to the inadequacy of the inspection. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, a special Commission is inquiring into the general sanitary administration of the city.
Exchequer Contributions For Ireland
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say why it is that the Exchequer contribution under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts is not given direct to the various district councils in Ireland entitled to it, so that it may be applied by them direct towards the repayment of the loans under the Labourers Acts; and whether, if that cannot be done, he will take steps to see that the county councils that receive it use it solely for that purpose. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) All Government contributions to rural district councils are distributed through the county councils, which are the rate-levying authorities, and are placed by them to the credit of the several rural districts entitled to receive them. It would be most inconvenient to adopt a different procedure with regard to the
Exchequer contribution applicable towards repayment of loans under the Labourers Acts. The Local Government Board have no information that county councils divert the sums so remitted to thorn to purposes other than those for which they are intended.† See (4) Debates, elv., 1142
Labourers Cottages Schemes
To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say, when application for a labourer's cottage has been made, under the Labourers (Ireland) Act, by a labourer and rejected by the district councillors of the district at the first meeting of the council to consider applications, without giving the labourer an opportunity of being heard, what is the proper course to adopt that the labourer's application may be considered. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The representation made by a labourer to the rural district council contains the grounds on which his application is made. In the event of its rejection by the rural district council, the labourer may ascertain, either from the clerk or the councillor representing his division, for what reason his application was rejected. If the rejection should be due to some technical informality or to the labourer's omission to state the full grounds for making the application, it would be open to him to make a fresh representation to the rural district council with a view to their reconsidering his case.
Questions In The House
Cordite For The Navy
I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can give approximately the proportion of the whole supply of cordite in the Navy which was manufactured by Kynoch, Limited.
I am informed that no figures are available to enable me to answer this Question with even approximate accuracy.
Will the Government direct the immediate withdrawal of all cordite on board His Majesty's ships which contain mercuric chloride?
I must have notice of that Question.
Totland Coastguard Station
I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is proposed to abolish the Totland coastguard station in October next.
This station comes within the scope of the pledge which I gave to the House on the 7th March†The Admiralty have no intention of closing it.
Naval Victualling
I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Report of the Departmental Committee on Victualling has now been considered; whether it is now proposed to make any, and, if so, what, changes in the naval victualling and canteen system; and whether it is proposed to publish the Report of this Committee.
Navy Vote 2 will be taken first on Tuesday next, and I propose then to make a full statement on this subject.
New Royal Yacht
I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if the upholstery work of the new Royal Yacht was supplied by Warings, of London; if a much lower offer was made by a Glasgow firm of upholsterers of high standing; if the higher offer was accepted by the ship builder on pressure of the Admiralty; and, if so, whether in future he will see that the lowest offer, if from a competent firm, will be countenanced by the Admiralty.
The upholstery of the Yacht generally is being carried out by the shipbuilders or their sub-contractors, except in the case of the apartments intended for the personal use of their Majesties, which are being furnished by Warings. They were selected for this part of the work on account of their experience in fitting up the "Victoria and Albert." No tender
was invited and no offer received by the Admiralty for this work from any other firm of upholsterers. Under the contract the shipbuilders have nothing to do with the supply of upholstery for the Royal apartments.† See (4) Debates, clxx., 1089.
Why take (this exceptional course of not putting the work out to tender)
Because of the special experience of this firm.
Have not other firms had similar experience?
No other firm has had the same experience.
Ships' Magazines
I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether refrigerating machinery has already been ordered sufficient to equip the whole of the magazines of our fifty-one battleships, twenty-eight armoured cruisers, and seventy-six unarmoured cruisers, together with the plant for the ships now building; whether provision was made for all this plant in the Navy Estimates, and, if so, where; and whether he can state the estimated cost of fitting such refrigerating plant in the whole Navy or in the case of one battleship, such as the "Agamemnon."
As regards the first part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Guildford on Tuesday. No provision has been made in the Estimates, but if the expenditure during the current financial year cannot be met from surpluses, it will be provided for by a Supplementary Estimate in the usual way. As regards the last part of the Question, the cost of the plant alone in the case of the" Agamemnon" is £1,900; the cost of fitting cannot at present be stated.
Bengal Taxation
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of Bengal have yet arranged to relieve the Bengal
agriculturists of the chow-kidari tax, a tax levied for the remuneration of village watchmen.‡ See page 470.
I have ascertained from the Government of India that the Bengal Government has submitted to them proposals for improving the administration of the Act and reducing admitted inequalities of taxation. These proposals are under consideration.
Indian Tea Estates—Education Of Children
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state what steps are being taken to secure the education of children on tea estates in the Central Provinces and Madras respectively.
There are no tea estates in the Central Provinces. In Madras the area under tea, according to the latest statistics, is only 7,934 acres, and I am not aware that any special measures are necessary to secure the education of children on this area.
Madras Ryots—Land Revenue Defaulters
:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state how many ryots have been evicted in the Madras Presidency in default of payment of land revenue during each of the last five years; and what sum has been realised in each year through the sale of land previously in the occupation of the evicted ryots.
MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSE : —
Number of defaulting ryots whose land was sold. | Amount realised. | |
£ | ||
1901–2 | 10,649 | 10,162 |
1902–3 | 7,750 | 8,912 |
1903–4 | 4,946 | 6,475 |
1904–5 | 4,215 | 6,201 |
1905–6 | 5,761 | 6,540 |
Eastern Bengal And Assam Schools
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if ho will state the nature of the Report made by Captain Kennedy on estate schools for Eastern Bengal and Assam; and the name of the officer deputed to report on Bengal schools.
I have not seen Captain Kennedy's report; I have nothing to add to the Answer given on the 14th March last on the subject, f I do not know the name of the officer (if any) who is inquiring into the matter in Bengal, but nearly all the tea-gardens formerly under the Government of Bengal are now within the jurisdiction of the Lieutenant-Governor of Eastern Bengal and Assam, and have boon dealt with by Captain Kennedy.
Sales Of Evicted Ryots' Holdings
To ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state how many acres of land, the property of evicted ryots, have been put up for auction by Government in the Madras and Bombay Presidencies respectively, in default of payment of land revenues during each of the five years ending 30th June, 1906.
The Madras figures are—
acres. | |
1901–2 | 45,712 |
1902–3 | 30,583 |
1903–4 | 23,383 |
1904–5 | 23,018 |
1905–6 | 26,369 |
The Bombay figures are—
acres. | |
1901–2 | 175 |
1902–3 | 404 |
1903–4 | 3,383 |
1904–5 | 3,744 |
1905–6 | not yet received. |
Bhola District Courts
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that the sub-divisional officer attached to the Bhola district of India is irregular in regard to the holding of courts, and alters arrangements for holding a court without any public notice whatever, much to the inconvenience of suitors and witnesses, he will order an inquiry on the subject, with a view to the adoption of some more satisfactory system of holding courts in this district.
The Secretary of State caused inquiries to be
made into the statements made in the Question asked by the hon. Member on the 21st February last†as to the alleged un- j punctuality of the sub-divisional officer of Bhola in the Backergunj district, and have ascertained that these allegations wore without foundation, and that the magistrate concerned (who is an Indian) is a zealous and hardworking officer.† See(4) Debates, clxxi, 210.
Army Cordite Supply In India
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can inform the House what proportion of the cordite now possessed by the Army in India has been manufactured by Messrs. Kynoch, Limited.
There is no in-formation available as to the proportion of cordite, manufactured by Messrs. Kynoch, now in store in India, but it is probably very small. Cordite is now manufactured at the Indian Cordite Factory, Aruvankad.
Fines In The Punjab
:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether large sums of money were realised by officers of Government in the Cheerab Colony of the Punjab from the colonists on account of unauthorised fines; and whether it was one of the objects of the disallowed Colonisation Bill to legalise these fines and to deprive the civil courts of all jurisdiction in the matter.
The earlier agreements under which lands were granted in the Cheerab Colony made the tenancy liable to forfeiture if a breach of any condition was committed. In practice the colonisation officers allowed tenants to compound infractions of the conditions by payment of fines, and refrained from resorting to the extreme penalty of forfeiture. The later agreements expressly provide for fines as well as! forfeiture I am not aware that large sums have been thus realised. The Bill provided for the enforcement by means of fines of the conditions of tenancy in the Cheerab and other Colonies, in cases in which forfeiture would be an excessive penalty; it excluded the jurisdiction of
the Civil Courts in any matter which the revenue officer was empowered to dispose of, following the analogy of the Tenancy and Land Revenue Acts of the province, and it prescribed the procedure and system of appeal provided by those Acts.† See(4) Debates, clxix, 1015.
asked if the fines had not mounted up to ten lakhs of rupees?
reply was inaudible.
Murder Of Mr Howorth At St Petersburg
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information regarding the death of Mr. Edward Howorth, a British subject, who was shot in St. Petersburg last month; and whether the perpetrator of this outrage has been brought to justice.
According to a report received from His Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg, on 23rd May Mr. Edward Howorth, the manager of a private spinning factory at St. Petersburg, owned by Mr. Gerhardt, was shot from behind while examining some machinery in company with two workmen, on whom no suspicion rests. The wound unfortunately proved fatal. The police proceeded to the factory as soon as the news was communicated to them, and arrested a man who had recently had a disagreement with Mr. Howorth, and who was suspected of having fired the shot.
The Hague Conference
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British delegates at The Hague Conference will have power to adopt, on behalf of the British Government, the principle of the exemption of private property at sea from capture.
I can make no statement on the subject, and would beg to refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave him on the 20th of March last.
It is impossible to anticipate the discussions of the Conference by making public statements beforehand of the line which will be taken or the arguments used by the delegates of individual Powers?‡ See(4) Debates, clxxi, 818.
Is it equally impossible to assure this House that these matters will not be settled at the Conference?
I should think it is one of the matters which will be discussed.
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the sittings of The Hague Conference will be held in public.
If the precedent of the Conference of 1899 is followed, the sittings will not be held in public. But the matter is one for the Conference itself to settle when it meets.
Germany And Persia
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to the effect that the oil concessions made to a German syndicate by the Persian Government were adversely criticised by the Persian Parliament; and whether he can inform hon. Members who are interested in Persia what reliable sources of information, if any, are open to them regarding the important events which are understood to be taking place in that country.
His Majesty's Government have no information that any oil concessions have been granted to a German syndicate by the Persian Government, and that they have been adversely criticised by the Persian Parliament. I am unable to suggest any sources of information open to hon. Members who are interested in Persia beyond those which are well known to everyone and at their disposal.
The Sugar Convention
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, when the next meeting of the Sugar Convention is to take place; whether an opportunity will then be afforded for His Majesty's Government to withdraw from the Convention in 1908; and, if so, whether the Government will consider the desirability of adopting this course.
The Permanent Commission under the Sugar Convention will meet to-day. His Majesty's Government have intimated to the contracting States, through the Belgian Government, that they consider that the limitation of the sources from which sugar may enter the United Kingdom, whether by prohibition or by the imposition of countervailing duties, is inconsistent with their declared policy and incompatible with the interests of British consumers and sugar using manufacturers, and that consequently it will be impossible for them to continue to give effect to the provisions of the Convention requiring them to penalize sugars declared by the Permanent Commission to be bounty-fed. At the same time we have pointed out that we have no desire to give sugar bounties or to see a revival of such bounties, or to differentiate against beet or foreign sugars. Should the Governments of the contracting States consider that our views can only be met by the complete withdrawal of this country from the Convention, we would be prepared to give the necessary notice on the first possible date. We have, however, intimated that if the other contracting States prefer to exempt the United Kingdom by supplementary protocol from the obligation to enforce the penal provisions of the Convention, this would render it unnecessary for us to give notice of withdrawal.
Are we right in understanding that the view of the Government is they disapprove of bounties, but will do nothing whatever to get rid of them?
If the hon. Member will study the Answer I have just given, I must leave him to draw his own inference.
asked when the despatch would be laid on the Table of the House.
said that he could not say when the despatch would be laid on the Table. The future action of the Government would depend on the view taken by other States of the dispatch; but it would be convenient that the despatch should be laid on the Table after some conclusion was arrived at.
asked whether it was not probable that no decision could be arrived at before the end of next year, and whether, in view of the uncertainty created by the right hon. Gentleman's answer, it was not desirable that the views of the Government should be made public promptly?
said that the whole gist of the despatch was contained in the Answer he had given to the Question. If hon. Members wished to receive fuller information after studying the Answer additional questions might be asked.
Murder Of Shanghai Policeman
I beg to ask the (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the claim of the relatives of the late Police Constable Morrow, who was shot dead, in the execution of his duty, at Shanghai, on or about 11th March, by armed Chinese robbers, who ran away into the country; and whether he will instruct His Majesty's Ambassador at Pekin to approach the Chinese Government so that adequate compensation may be granted to the family of Mr. Morrow, who are in necessitous circumstances.
I regret that I can add nothing to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Mid. Armagh on the 13th ultimo on this subject. † And much as His Majesty's Government regret the facts disclosed in the Question, they cannot found a claim for compensation on a case which took place in a district policed, not by Chinese, but by the European municipality, and in which it does not appear that any Chinese official was in any way responsible.
Is it not the case that the mob came from Chinese territory outside the European municipality, and retreated into Chinese
territory? Am I right in assuming that it was a Chinese mob?† See(4) Debates, clxxiv, 696.
In this case I think the disturbance was caused by people residing in municipal territory. They were Chinese.
pressed the right hon. Gentleman to make further inquiry.
If the hon. Member will put a Question on the Paper I will inquire.
Mr Abbott's Ransom
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any answer has been received from the Turkish Government in reference to the repayment of the ransom for Mr. Abbott, who was captured by brigands near Salonica.
No answer has yet been received.
Will the right hon. Gentleman press for an answer?
It will be settled in time. These claims always take a certain time to settle.
The Upper Congo
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government has any information as to disquiet among the warlike population of the Upper Congo, and whether he can say to what the disquiet and opposition to the Government are due; if he can say whether the natives are well armed; and whether he has information which will enable him to estimate the number of rifles possessed by the 200,000 warriors of the Upper Congo.
His Majesty's Government have no information as to the alleged state of disquiet in the Upper Congo regions beyond what is contained in a Belgian newspaper. Our attention has been called to the existence of traffic in arms and ammunition, but it is impossible to state with accuracy the number or quality of the weapons which have been imported, or in whose possession they are now.
British Shipowners' Claims Against Russia
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give the particulars of any claims of British shipowners, in respect of ships sunk, damaged, or delayed by the Russian Fleet or volunteer cruisers during the recent Russo-Japanese War, which are still outstanding; and if he will give the names of the ships involved.
The following are the vessels in respect of which compensation has been claimed from the Russian Government:—"Knight Commander," "Hipsang," "St. Kilda," "Ikhona," "Oldhamia." All the above vessels were sunk during the war. "Calchas," "Ardova," "Malacca," "Formosa," "Hsiping," "Chingping," "Fuping." The above seven steamers were seized and detained during hostilities, and subsequently released. Claims for compensation are now pending as regards all these vessels. I cannot without communication with the owners state the exact amounts.
Transvaal Loans
I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what portion of the £35,000,000 Transvaal Loan, whether allocated by the late or the present Government, has been exclusively devoted to the British population and what portion exclusively to the Boer population.
I would refer the hon. Baronet to my written reply to him of the 16th May last, and also to my reply on 30th of May, † to which I am not able to add anything.
I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the special circumstances which distinguish the Trans-
vaal at the present time from the other responsible self-governing Colonies which have induced the Imperial Government to guarantee a loan of £5,000,000 for the Transvaal; and whether it is part of the understanding upon which the guarantee is given that the Chinese coolies whose licences expire this summer shall be repatriated and that no licences shall be renewed.† See(4) Debates, clxxiv, 1080–2, clxxv., 68.
The special circumstances which distinguish the Transvaal from other responsible self-governing Colonies are to a large extent matters of history, but when the proper time comes to introduce the necessary Loan Bill in this House they will be fully examined and explained by the Minister responsible for that measure. For the second part of the Question I must refer the hon. Member to my Answer of Tuesday last and to the conversation which arose upon it. ‡
At what date will the Bill be introduced?
No such Bill can be introduced until a similar measure has passed through both Houses of the Transvaal Legislature.
I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the course of the negotiations with General Botha that led up to the promise that His Majesty's Government would ask Parliament to guarantee a loan of £5,000,000 to the Transvaal Government, any attempt was made to secure from General Botha an undertaking that His Majesty's Indian subjects would be treated at least as well as immigrant aliens from Southern and Central Europe.
The question of the position of British Indians in the Transvaal was one of the matters which were discussed with General Botha; but the discussion had no connection with the promise given by His Majesty's Government that they would invite Parliament to guarantee the Transvaal Loan.
Before the Government pledged themselves to give this
guarantee, had any representations been made to them, orally or in writing, by Members of this House, to the effect that the Chinese must be repatriated?† See pp 483–4.
No representations of a special character that I am aware of were made, other than the statements which have been freely made during the last two years.
What does the right hon. Gentleman mean by representations of a special character? Were representations made in writing, or by deputations or otherwise, by Members of this House?
No, Sir. I have no knowledge of anything that affords the slightest foundation for such a suggestion. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will lot us know the evidence on which he has thought it right to make the suggestion.
This is an Indian question after all. May I ask again whether General Botha gave any assurances in the course of conversation with the Government?
He did give an assurance that, in regard to the regulations to be framed under the Asiatic Ordinance, he and his Government would endeavour to remove from the regulations some of the points on which they have been criticised. But any such changes had better be examined when they are made the subject of public statement in the Transvaal Legislature.
I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the reason for the exceptional course proposed to be taken with regard to the Transvaal loan; and why that Colony, which possesses such wealth and resources, should be favoured more than the other relatively poorer Colonies of South Africa, which are equally suffering from the depression consequent on the cessation of the expenditure of the war.
I have nothing to add to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for York on Tuesday.
I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies if any official record was kept of the discussions and negotiations which took place between the Government and the Premier of the Transvaal relative to the proposed guarantee of the Transvaal loan; and, if so, whether a summary of them will be presented to the House.
The Answer is in the negative.
Are we to understand that before the introduction of this Loan Bill the House is to have no information as to the special reasons which induced the Government to advance, on the credit of the nation, a further £5,000,000 to the Transvaal?
I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will recognise that when a Loan Bill is introduced into the House of Commons substantial arguments must be adduced by the Minister making that proposal, and no doubt the foundation for such an argument would be the publication of Papers. I expect Papers will be laid on the Table before the Bill can be introduced; but in any case the House alone can be the judge.
A moment ago the right hon. Gentleman said that Papers would not be laid.
I stated to the House that no summary of the discussions and negotiations would be laid on the Table; but it is quite possible that, when the Transvaal Government have passed the Loan Bill through both Houses of their Legislature, there will be correspondence between the two Governments of an official character which I should think would very likely be entirely suited for publication.
When will the Loan Bill be introduced in the Transvaal Legislature?
I am not always able to predict the course of business in this House, and still less in the Transvaal Legislature.
I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies, whether, having regard to the Customs Union of the South African Colonies, the Premiers of Cape Colony and of Natal wore consulted in the negotiations which took place with regard to the proposed guarantee of the Transvaal loan.
The Answer is in the negative. The proposed loan has nothing to do with the South African Customs Union.
Crime In The Transvaal
I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any statistics are published by the Transvaal Government showing the amount of criminality in proportion to numbers among the different races inhabiting the Transvaal; and whether the British-Indian community has more or less criminality than other communities.
A Return was prepared by the Transvaal Government showing the number of persons of different nationalities confined in Transvaal prisons on 30th June, 1906. According to this Return the proportions per 1,000 of the population were: European, 2.75; Native, 2.37; Indian, 3.30; Chinese, 18.50. No later figures are available.
Imperial Forces In The Transvaal
I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether General Botha, when expressing a desire on behalf of his Government that the Imperial forces in the Transvaal should be maintained at proper strength, also expressed any desire to pay for those forces out of the revenues of the Transvaal in the same way that the Imperial forces maintained in India are paid for out of the revenues of India.
My hon. friend will, no doubt, be surprised to learn that the Answer is in the negative.
Zulu Prisoners For St Helena
I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is intended to send a party of Zulu prisoners to St. Helena for detention; whether it is intended to make this island a penal settlement; and, if so, what steps will be taken to ensure the peace and safety of the island.
Twenty-five Zulu, prisoners have been sent from Natal to St. Helena under the provisions of the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act. There is no intention of making the island into a penal settlement. Warders accompany the prisoners from Natal, and there is no reason to anticipate that the presence of the prisoners will in any way endanger the peace or safety of the island.
How many I warders will be sent?
I have no know-' ledge as to that.
Panama Canal Labour
I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to lay upon the Table a copy of the contracts under which Trinidad labourers have been recruited to work on the Panama Canal.
I will lay the Paper very shortly.
Transvaal Civil Servants' Leave
I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Government of the Transvaal have abolished the system of allowing leave to accumulate, by which Englishmen in the Civil Service of the Transvaal may be able to visit England once in three or four years.
No information has reached the Secretary of State of any recent alteration in the Transvaal Leave Regulations.
New Hebrides Convention
I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the terms of reference to the Anglo-French Commission which has been considering subjects connected with the New Hebrides Convention; who the members of this Commission were; and when the Report will be published.
I have to refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Answers given yesterday, on behalf of my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to the hon. Member for the Ecclesall Division of Sheffield. †
† See page 669.
New Hebrides
I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether nations other than France and England are entitled to recruit natives of the Now Hebrides to serve outside the islands.
So far as I am aware there is at the present moment no power to control persons belonging to any nationality recruiting natives in the New Hebrides for service outside the group. If, however, as seems probable, the hon. Member is inquiring whether nations other than France or Great Britain will be entitled to recruit when the Anglo-French Convention of 20th October, 1906, comes into force, I would point out that under Article 31 the two High Commissioners will have the power to refuse a licence to recruit to any vessel not sailing under the flag of one of the signatory Powers.
Pacific Islanders' Protection Act
I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Bill amending The Pacific Islanders' Protection Act, 1872, will be introduced.
I have to refer the hon. Member to the Answer given yesterday by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for North West Lanark. †
Income Tax
I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average rate of income-tax paid by persons having incomes of £160 to £700 each.
It is roughly estimated that the average rate of income-tax now paid by persons having incomes of £160 to £700 is 6d. in the £.
Transvaal Loans
I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if the proposed guarantee by the Home Government of the Transvaal loan for £5,000,000 will entail the creation of a further issue of stock returning to the purchaser a higher
rate of interest than that now paid on Consols, thus competing with Consols in the market.† See page 694.
The manner of raising the proposed loan is still under consideration, and I am not at present in a position to say what precise form the security will take, or what rate of interest it will bear.
Will not the issue of the loan have the effect of prejudicing the increase of the Sinking Fund arranged for this year?
That is a matter of opinion.
Workmen's Compensation Insurance
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Workmen's Compensation Act will be followed by the establishment of a combined tariff by the insurance offices concerned; and if, in view of the amount of increased premium demanded and the absence of competition, he will consider the possibility of action by the Government.
I have no official information on the subject, but the matter is one of importance, which shall be carefully watched. The question whether the Post Office should undertake insurance against liability arising under the Act is being considered by a Departmental Committee, whose report has not yet been presented.
The Home Office And Messrs Kynoch
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state why the proceedings against Messrs. Kynoch were taken under Section 74 of the Explosives Act, whereby a charge of breaking a highly technical regulation had to be heard by a local bench of magistrates; is he aware that Section 56 of the same Act gives the alternative of proceeding before a tribunal competent to decide a case involving chemical questions of great difficulty, viz., a legal umpire and two expert arbitrators; whether the Home Office inspectors have admitted, in regard to Messrs. Kynoch's Arklow explosive, the purity of the explosive, that the admitted percentage of mercury would have an antiseptic effect, that it did not alter the character of the explosive as an explosive, the use of mercury with nitro-cotton in Germany and elsewhere, and that it had no deleterious effect upon the explosive; whether, in view of these admissions, he will state why exceptional treatment has been given to Messrs. Kynoch; and will he give instructions that in cases of this kind the special tribunal contemplated by the Act will in future be resorted to.
I laid the whole of the papers in this case before the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the proceedings were taken by him under Section 9 of the Explosives Act, which provides that in the manufacture of explosives the terms of the licence shall be duly observed. The explosive was seized by the inspectors under Section 74. Arbitration, even if admissible in view of the terms of Section 56 of the Act, does not, as I have already pointed out, carry the necessary power to seize, and, if need be, obtain the forfeiture of explosives which may be a source of danger. The inspectors have not admitted the purity of the explosive seized, but have repeatedly stated that this cannot be determined owing to the presence of mercury. The fact that there has occurred a spontaneous ignition of some of Messrs. Kynoch's explosive containing mercury does not bear out the contention as to purity. The inspectors consider it unnecessary and absurd to add antiseptics to gelatinised explosives, and they consider, further, that mercuric chloride is likely to have a detrimental effect upon the explosive. Messrs. Kynoch have not received exceptional treatment; as I have already explained, proceedings were taken against them because it was their explosive which, by spontaneous ignition, first drew attention to the matter. I should like to point out, further, that there is no foundation whatever for the charge of hostility to Ireland and Irish industries which has been freely made against myself and my Department. Messrs. Kynoch have three factories in Great Britain and one in Ireland, and they employ many more people in the former country than in the latter. Proceedings were taken against the firm without regard to the locality of their different factories, and as a matter of fact no seizure has been made and no proceedings taken at Arklow. Nothing whatever has been done or will be done to interfere with the manufacture by Messrs. Kynoch's at Arklow of lawful explosives.
said the right hon. Gentleman had not answered the last paragraph of his Question.
I think I have. I have already pointed out that the arbitration clause does not give the necessary power of seizing explosives made illegally.
asked whether it was not the fact that the explosives which were seized were explosives which were manufactured at Arklow, and was it, therefore, correct to say that there had been no interference with Messrs. Kynoch's works; also, how was it, if the inspectors of the Department seized the explosives on the ground that they were dangerous to the public, the case was taken before a tribunal which had only authority to decide whether a technical breach of a Home Office licence had been committed?
The technical breach obviously involves the question of public danger. As to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's Question, the explosive seized was an explosive which contained an unauthorised ingredient, and any such explosive, whoever makes it and wherever it is found, will be so dealt with by the officials of my Department.
Are we to understand that manufacturers in England who were manufacturing explosives containing the same ingredients as were those of Messrs. Kynoch had their manufactures passed by the Home Office inspectors, and that they only stopped passing thorn when Messrs. Kynoch's explosives had been seized?
I dealt with that question fully yesterday, and I repeat that, whenever it comes to the notice and knowledge of the inspectors that explosives are being manufactured with this ingredient, they will take action similar to the action which has been taken against Messrs. Kynoch.
asked whether it was not within the right hon. Gentleman's own knowledge that the inspectors of his Department had passed explosives containing this ingredient which were manufactured by English manufacturers, and only stopped doing so when Messrs. Kynoch were attacked?
I give to that the most emphatic negative in my power.
asked the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention had been drawn to the fact that in certain circumstances there was a likelihood of the Arklow works of Messrs. Kynoch being closed; whether if that should take place, it must result in the throwing out of employment of several hundreds of men and of causing considerable distress there; and whether, having regard to the great necessity there was of employment, particularly in a place like Arklow, the Government would take steps to prevent any necessity arising for the closing of these works?
I should be extremely sorry if any unnecessary action on the part of my Department led to any interference with the works at Arklow. I can give that assurance to the hon. Member quite cordially. But I cannot see why the prosperity of the works at Arklow should depend upon the manufacture of an explosive which contains an unauthorised ingredient and which constitutes a public danger.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as representing the Prime Minister, whether, in view of the very evasive Answers they had received from the Home Secretary in connection with this matter, he would consider the advisability of putting down the Home Office Vote for an early date, so that the matter might be fully discussed.
No, Sir, certainly not. The Answers given by the Home Secretary, so far from being evasive, have been explicit in the extreme.
asked the Home Secretary whether samples of this dangerous explosive were discovered at the recent convention in Dublin.
asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he was in a position to state the name of the English firm against which he was proceeding.
The National.
asked whether the policy of destroying Irish industries was one of the new policies of the Liberal Imperialists in the Cabinet?
[No Answer was given.]
It is because Chamberlain's in it.
Vivisection
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in addition to the two inspectors, Dr. Thane and Sir James Russell, and the Association for Research mentioned in the Appendix to the First Report of the Royal Commission now sitting, he has any other expert advisers in the matter of vivisection licences; and, if so, whether, in accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission of 1876 (top of page 17 of Report) to the effect that the names of these advisors should be made known to the public, he will inform the House of the names of these other expert advisers. I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, if his export advisers in the matter of vivisection licences consist solely of the Association for Research and the two inspectors, he will, in view of the opinions and advice tendered by the Royal Commission of 1876 in pages 16 and 17 of their Report, add to his advisers some independent persons whose interests are not bound up with those of the vivisectors.
As I said in reply to a previous Question put by my hon. friend on the 15th May, the usual procedure in applications made to me for licences to perform experiments on living animals is set out in the Appendix to the first Report of the Royal Commission now sitting. Occasionally, where questions of great importance have arisen, upon which it was thought advisable to obtain the opinion of the highest authorities, the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons and the Pharmaceutical Society have been consulted. I do not propose to make any change in the existing practice, pending the Report of the Royal Commission now sitting. The Commission of 1876 said that the advisers of the Secretary of State ought to be persons of competent knowledge and experience, and the inspectors satisfy this description. I may add that no licence or certificate is granted without the recommendation of the eminent authorities mentioned in Section 11 of the Act of 1876.
If the Commission recommend additional expert advisers is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to appoint them?
I will wait and see what they recommend.
Edalji Case
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Homo Department whether the presiding magistrate in the Edalji case took notes of the proceedings; if so, whether such notes have been for some time at the disposal of the Home Office; and whether the Committee which reported upon the verdict had the advantage of having the notes before them.
The Deputy Chairman took rough pencil notes of the proceedings in the Edalji case, which were sent up to the Home Office in December, 1903. They were returned to the magistrate at his request in January, 1904. The Committee did not have the notes before them nor did they ask for them. They had before them the two letters from the Deputy Chairman reporting on the case, printed copies of the depositions taken before the committing magistrates; and the newspaper reports of the proceedings in court.
Compensation For Wrongful Conviction
I beg ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many and what cases, and to what amounts, compensation has been recommended by the Home Office in the last twenty years in cases where persons have been convicted of criminal offences, and it has been demonstrated that such convictions were unsatisfactory.
Within the last twenty years there have been twelve cases in which compensation has been recommended on account of the conviction having been found to be unsatisfactory or wrong. In two of such cases the consequences entailed by the conviction were so serious as to justify the payment of substantial sums. In one case the sum of £5,000 was paid, and in the other the sum of £1,600 was divided between two persons. In the remaining ton eases the compensation paid varied from £1 to £40.
Were free pardons granted in these cases?
I am not sure.
Government Contracts In Ireland
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the Irish Trades Congress requesting the Government to appoint a Departmental Committee to sit in Ireland and to inquire into the question of printing and all other Imperial and Local Government contracts in Ireland, and to report on same; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
No such resolution has been brought to my notice.
Inspection Of Factories In Belfast
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the Resolution passed by the Irish Trades Council, reiterating their demand for more effective and systematic inspection of workshops and factories in respect of ventilation and sanitation, particularly in the clothing and textile trades; whether ho has any official information showing that the condition of some of the factories in Belfast is very bad, and that the sanitary authorities are neglecting their duties; whether he is aware that many of the girls complain of the bad air, and that the death rate from consumption of the workers is very high; and what action ho proposes to take in the matter.
I have received no resolution on the subject from the Irish Trades Union Congress, nor have I any official information that the sanitary authorities in Belfast are neglecting their duties. With regard to the last part of the Question, I have already stated in reply to a previous Question of the hon. Member that the conditions in the flax and linen factories of Belfast were recently made the subject of a special inquiry, and new regulations have been issued which should lead to a considerable improvement in the ventilation and generally in the conditions under which work is carried on.
Dangerous Explosives
I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Admiralty and the War Office are in the habit of notifying the Home Office of the rejection of dangerous explosives, such as cordite and guncotton, by reason of impurities; if so, whether the practice has existed for some years; whether the Home Office then take into consideration the destruction or isolation of these rejected explosives; and whether there is any regulation to prevent rejected cordite and guncotton being shipped on board merchant vessels.
The War Office and Admiralty are not in the habit of notifying the Home Office of the rejection of explosives, but would probably do so in any case where they considered the explosive to be dangerous; and the question of what should be done with the rejected explosive would then be taken into consideration. No such case has, however, occurred before the present one. Many of the reasons for rejection are not connected with safety in keeping and conveyance, and would not disqualify an explosive from being legally conveyed in this country. In the case of a dangerous explosive it would be illegal to convey it by rail to a port of exportation, and under the by-laws of most harbour authorities no unauthorised explosive may be brought into the harbour precincts. An explosive which fails to pass the necessary tests or is otherwise dangerous would cease to be an authorised explosive.
What becomes of the explosive?
If a Committee which has been appointed by me in conjunction with the War Office in reference to this matter decide that this particular explosive is, in fact, dangerous to the public, of course it will have to be destroyed; but they will examine and report as to what can safely be done with it.
Motor-Cars
I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if it is intended to introduce any measure dealing with motor cars during the present session.
As I stated yesterday, in reply to my hon. friend the Member for the Reigate Division, there would not seem to be any probability that time could be found for the consideration by the House this year of a measure of the kind referred to in the Question, and hence it does not appear to me that there would be any advantage in its being introduced.
Registrar-General's Report
I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board when the usual decennial Supplement of the Registrar-General, dealing with the vital statistics for the decade 1891–1900, will be published; and whether, in view of the importance of this publication and the loss of utility occasioned by the delay in its appearance, he will take steps to expedite its publication in the future.
I have communicated with the Registrar-General, and find that the first volume of the Supplement is in the press and will be published before the end of the present month, and that the Registrar-General hopes to issue the second about the end of this year. He is fully alive to the desirability of issuing the decennial Supplements as expeditiously as possible, but their value greatly depends on the elaboration of the materials they contain.
Cromford Canal
I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether a Report has been presented by the inspector sent to investigate the condition of the Cromford Canal; and whether the Report will be laid upon the Table.
Sir William Matthews, who has been appointed to inspect this canal, has not completed his inquiry. When his Report is received the question of publication will be considered.
Small Holdings And Allotments Bill
I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works, in reference to the Small Holdings and Allotments Bill, whether the powers conferred under Clause 7 of that Bill include powers for the erection of buildings and the equipment of the holding. I beg also to ask the First Commissioner of Works, in reference to the Small Holdings and Allotments Bill, whether, in Sub-section (2) of Section 19, the word buildings includes a dwelling-house.
The Answers to these two Questions are in the affirmative.
Welsh Education Department
I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if he is now in a position to state how far it will be possible or expedient to assign a clerical staff exclusively to the work of the Welsh Education Department.
It would be impossible to assign a clerical staff exclusively to the Welsh Department while the Board are located in their present offices. When the new building is ready for occupation the question will require further consideration.
Ecclesiastical Commissioners' Estates
I beg to ask the hon. Member for the Crewe Division, as Church Estates Commissioner, whether he is in a position to state if the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are now prepared to make any changes in their policy with regard to public-houses and the sale of beer, wino, or spirits on their estates; and, if so, what those changes will be.
The Commissioners have not in view any change in their policy with regard to public-houses and the sale of beer, wino, or spirits on their estates. That policy has been to reduce the number of licensed houses wherever practicable, and has fully answered the expectations of the Commissioners.
Will the hon. Gentleman say under what circumstances the Commissioners are willing to reduce the number of licences?
I must ask for notice of that Question.
Ecclesiastical Commissioners' Agents
I beg to ask the hon. Member for the Crewe Division, as Church Estates Commissioner, whether he has considered the advisability of substituting for the present centralised agency of Messrs. Clutton and Messrs. Smith-Gore local agents more in touch with the Commissioners' estates and with the needs of the localities.
My experience of the question has been too short to justify an expression of any private opinion of my own, but the Commissioners do not think that a change in the system of management of their estates in the direction of decentralisation of agency would be desirable. They are satisfied, having regard to the nature and distribution of the estates and after an experience of more than fifty years that such a change would not conduce to efficiency, economy, or convenience.
Will the hon. Gentleman consult the Board of Agriculture as to the reasons which led them to discard the Services of Messrs. Clutton? May not those reasons be applicable to this case?
I am quite aware of the circumstances under which the connection between the Board of Agricul-and Messrs. Clutton terminated. It has been and still is matter for consideration.
Scottish Crofter Leaseholders
I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that Mr. William Mackenzie, of Buck, Tarradale, Ross-shire, although not in arrear with his rent, is now, at the termination of his lease, being summarily evicted by Mrs. Mary Fraser, Carna. chlarsair, Muir of Ord; and will he take steps to introduce provisions in the Small Landholders (Scotland) Bill to protect crofter leaseholders from eviction pending the consideration of the Bill.