asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the solicitors and inspectors prosecuting in the county of Cork under the provisions of the National Insurance Act are or were members of the Hibernian (Board of Erin) Society; whether it was with his knowledge or consent that these officials prosecuted none but members of a rival organisation in the towns of Mallow, Youghal, Bandon, and Kinsale; whether he is aware that in the latter town the only persons proceeded against were the president, treasurer, secretary, and ex-secretary of the All-for-Ireland League; and, in view of the purposes for which the present officials are instituting these proceedings, he will take steps to have the Act more impartially worked?

The Irish Commissioners do not inquire into the political or religious views either of their inspectors or of any solicitor who may give evidence in connection with any prosecution or of the persons prosecuted. The inspectors report all cases which they discover of resistance to the Act. Prosecutions are instituted, not by the inspectors, but by the Commissioners, who have regard only to the circumstances of the offence and neither ask, nor consider, what are the political views of the offender. It is not the fault of the Commissioners or their servants if a large proportion of resisters to the Act belong to any particular organisation.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether any inspectors of pharmacies have been appointed; if not, whether it is proposed to appoint any; and, if so, whether those appointed will be fully qualified chemists?

The question of appointment of inspectors of the kind referred to in the question is under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make any announcement.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, although three out of the four Scottish universities have agreed to fulfil the conditions attached to the payment of the additional Grants, no part of these Grants has yet been paid; and whether these Grants will now be paid in full to these three universities?

The answer is in the affirmative. Payment is being made immediately.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will explain why the Local Government Board values the income of claimants for old age pensions upon the area and carrying power of farms assigned away by them, as in the case of Cornelius Dinneen, of Rathduane, Millstreet; why the Local Government Board disregards totally the actual sources of maintenance specifically reserved by them in the deed of conveyance; whether he is aware that this is a valuation upon assumptions rather than upon the positive value of the income enjoyed by claimants; is he aware that representations have been made by pension sub-committees in all parts of Ireland protesting against, the assessments made by pension officers and sanctioned by the Local Government Board; and what steps, if any, does he propose to take to set up a more reasonable standard of assessment for maintenance in Ireland?

The Local Government Board have to take into consideration, not only the nominal "income," both in money and in kind, of claimants, but also the yearly value of any benefits or privileges enjoyed by them. When satisfied that the assignment of a farm does not come within the prohibition of Section 4 (3) of the Act of 1908, they have regard, among other considerations, to the area and carrying power of the farm, as these factors appear to afford the best indication of the means, including benefits and privileges, of the claimants. As regards the claim of Cornelius Dinneen referred to, the evidence in this case showed that he transferred to his son on marriage a well-tilled farm of sixty-three acres, carrying twenty-two head of cattle in addition to a horse, pigs and fowl. The Board do not sanction the assessments made by the pension officers; they make their own calculations in each case. Representations against these decisions have from time to time been received. There is no power to interfere with the exercise of the discretion vested in the Board by Statute.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Killarney old age pensions sub-committee at their meeting on the 8th March allowed the claim of Mrs. Julia Coakley, of Rath-more, and held that she is entitled to a pension of 5s. per week; whether any appeal has been entered by the pension officer, if so, upon what grounds; and whether the Local Government Board will consider the actual sources of income possessed by Mrs. Coakley and not entertain assumptions of value which have no foundation in fact?

An appeal has been received in this case on the grounds that Mrs. Coakley's means exceed the statutory limit. When the necessary documents are received the Local Government Board will duly consider all the evidence submitted as to the claimant's means.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the Estates Commissioners have refused to vest J. M'Goldrick's holding, on the estate of C. H. Jessop, in the sub-tenant, seeing that she is willing to pay the tenant fair compensation for doing so; and whether, in such cases, the Commissioners have powers to vest the holding and retain the price in their own hands pending an agreement?

If the hon. Member refers to lands held by Winifred McGoldrick, as sub-tenant to William McGoldrick on the estate of G. H. Jessop, county Longford, the Estates Commissioners have not refused to vest the lands in her. She has, with the consent of William McGoldrick, signed an agreement to purchase the lands, and the Commissioners have decided to deem them a separate holding for the purposes of sale under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary how many pensioners and how many men serving at present are subscribing to the Constabulary Force Fund; the exact amount now in the fund; how much it would take to pay off all the members' families if all of the men were dead; and will he take a vote of the subscribers to the fund as to winding it up or not?

The Inspector-General informs me that there are no statistics of the exact number of pensioners and men serving who are subscribers to the fund. With regard to the second paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question asked on this subject by the hon. Member for South Tyrone on 27th November last. It is impossible to state what the liabilities of the fund would amount to if all the subscribers were deceased by a given date and the amount which would ultimately be required to pay off all contingent liabilities could only be ascertained after a long actuarial investigation. To close the fund in any other way than by paying all its liabilities to widows and orphans (as is being done) would require legislation.

asked the Chief Secretary when the last Return was made giving the names of all persons holding the commission of the peace in Ireland; and if he will have a Return prepared giving the names, addresses, and occupations, with the date of their appointment, of all persons in Ireland who are at the present time in the commission of the peace?

The last complete Return giving the names, occupations, and dates of appointments of all persons holding the ordinary commission of the peace for the several counties and boroughs in Ireland was made in December, 1893. Since then there have been several continuation Returns bringing the information down to 30th November last which contain all that the hon. Member asks for except the addresses of the magistrates, which can be found in the ordinary books of reference. No further Return appears to be required.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will give a Return of the names, addresses, and description of all persons who have been appointed in Ireland to the commission of the peace since the 1st day of January, 1906, without the recommendation of the lieutenant of the county and upon the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, with the dates of their appointment?

This Return cannot be granted. The Lord Chancellor is the person responsible for the appointment of the ordinary county magistrates, whether the persons so appointed were recommended to him by the lieutenant of the county or not, and it would be undesirable and not in the interest of the administration of justice in the Petty Sessions Courts that any distinction should be publicly drawn between those magistrates whose appointment was recommended by the lieutenant of the county, and those in whose cases such recommendation was dispensed with by the Lord Chancellor in the exercise of the discretion vested in him by law.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, in consequence of the removal of residence of the local justice of the peace from Lanesborough, county Longford, there is no justice of the peace to sign summonses and generally act magisterially there; whether the name of Mr. John Rhatigan, Clonbonny House, Lanesborough, has been submitted for appointment; and whether Mr. Rhatigan will be appointed to fill the vacancy?

The Lord Chancellor's Secretary informs me that there is no magistrate actually residing in Lanesborough, but there are four ordinary magistrates, in addition to the resident magistrate, and three ex officio magistrates, empowered to act in the Petty Sessions district in which Lanesborough is situated. Mr. John Rhatigan's name has been submitted to the Lord Chancellor for appointment to the commission of the peace, and will be considered.

asked the Chief Secretary the amount of deductions under the different heads made out of Grants to the Cavan County Council for the last thirteen years, owing to the insolvency of the local taxation account?

presented the following statement showing, for the past thirteen years, the abatements made under Section 6 (1) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1902, and Section 58 (5) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, from the Grants payable to the Cavan County Council:—

Year.			Abatements under Section 6 (1) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1902.									Abatements under Section 58 (5) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898.
			Medical and Educational Expenditure in Unions.			Salaries of Sanitary Officers in Rural Districts.			Medical and Educational Expenditure in Unions.			Salaries of Sanitary Officers in Rural Districts.			Pauper Lunatic Grant.			Total.
			£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
1901	…	…	—			—			—			—			—			—
1902	…	…	—			—			—			—			—			—
1903	…	…	—			—			—			—			—			—
1904	…	…	26	12	9	3	12	6	—			—			—			30	5	3
1905	…	…	18	13	9	8	4	6	—			—			—			26	18	3
1906	…	…	15	15	6	8	4	6	—			—			—			24	0	0
1907	…	…	78	5	0	6	4	6	—			—			—			84	9	6
1908	…	…	23	11	0	9	6	2	—			—			—			32	17	2
1909	…	…	82	2	0	9	6	2	—			—			—			91	8	2
1910	…	…	72	17	7	9	3	11	—			—			—			82	1	6
1911	…	…	81	3	8	12	1	11	304	1	3	49	9	6	679	7	6	1,126	3	10
1912	…	…	70	0	8	10	14	10	161	6	6	26	7	10	704	16	6	973	6	4
1913	…	…	121	14	9	12	2	1	175	0	6	28	7	8	535	6	4	872	11	4
	Total	£	590	16	8	89	1	1	640	8	3	104	5	0	1,919	10	4	3,344	1	4
No sum was payable to County Cavan in respect of Railway and Harbour Charges.

asked the Chief Secretary in view of the prevalent objection in Ireland to sending boys to a girls' school when a boys' school is available, if he will say what Commissioners were present when the Board of National Education adopted Rule 127b, which requires this to be done; whether the managers had been consulted before its adoption; and, since the boys covered by the rule are in practice kept in the boys' schools and given attention, though prevented by the rule from being enrolled or counted to the teachers' credit, if he will state the number of schools so affected and the estimated loss to teachers in capitation payments?

As regards the first paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question asked on this subject on the 13th April, 1905, which gives the names of the Commissioners of National Education who were present on the occasion referred to. I am informed that the principle underlying the rule was freely discussed in connection with Mr. Dale's report on elementary education in Ireland for a consider- able time before the rule was adopted, without any exception being taken to it on the part of the managers. The Commissioners have no statistics which would enable them to reply to the last part of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that where a national school in Ireland is closed by order of a medical officer owing to an epidemic in the district the ordinary vacation is curtailed so as to make the necessary 200 working days according to rule; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The rule requiring a school to be in operation for at least 200 days in the year as a condition for payment of full Grants by the Commissioners of National Education is not enforced in cases where it is shown that the failure to have the school open on this number of days was due to closing directed by the medical officer of health owing to an epidemic in the district. In such cases allowance is always made as provided in Rule 129 of the Commissioners' Code for the closings due to epidemics. When there is a lengthened closing of a school in the earlier part of the year in consequence of an epidemic it is generally suggested to the manager that the duration of the ordinary vacation might be somewhat curtailed.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will explain the fact disclosed in a recent Return of deductions made from the normal annual Grants to local authorities in Ireland, which deductions have to be made good out of the rates, that the deductions under Section 58 (5) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, amounted in 1911 to £48,189 12s. 10d., as compared with no deduction in previous years; and if he will now state the amount of each deduction made in the current financial year from each of the Grants normally due to each of those authorities, and the total for the whole of Ireland?

The deductions in 1910–11 under Section 58 (5) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, amounted to £47,189 12s. 10d., not £48,189 12s. 10d., as stated in the question. There were no similar deductions in previous years, inasmuch as the income of the Local Taxation Account, established under this Section, was sufficient to meet the liabilities of the account.The following statement shows the Abatements, Deductions, or Stoppages during the year ending 31st March, 1913, from Grants payable to Local Authorities in Ireland:—

Estate or Death Duty Grant:	£	s.	d.
Net Deduction for Land Purchase Liability	15,799	17	8
Stoppages under Section 80 (2) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, for police charges	20,236	2	1
	£36,035	19	9

Agricultural Grant:	£	s.	d.
Stoppages under Section 80 (2) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, for police charges	747	1	10
Medical and Educational Expenditure in Unions:
Abatements under Section 6 (1) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1902	9,349	5	10
Abatements under Section 58 (5) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898	8,995	17	10
Stoppages under Section 80 (2) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, for police charges	4,534	2	7
	£22,879	6	3

Salaries paid to Sanitary	£	s.	d.
Officers in Rural and Urban Districts:
Abatements under Section 6 (1) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1902	3,528	14	4
Abatements under Section 58 (5) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898	1,881	10	2
Stoppages under Section 80 (2) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, for police charges	1,635	19	5
	£7,046	3	11

Motor Car Licence Duties:	£	s.	d.
Stoppages under Section 80 (2) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, for police charges	17	13	6

Pauper Lunatic Grant:	£	s.	d.
Abatements under Section 58 (5) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898	21,167	5	2
Stoppages under Section 80 (2) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, for police charges	18,260	10	6
	£39,427	15	8

Excess of Railway or Harbour Charges:
Abatements under Section 58 (5) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898	£1,353	7	4

asked the Chief Secretary if he will give a Return that will show the names and addresses of the persons who made claims under the Malicious Injuries Acts in Ireland, the particulars of the claim for damages, and the amount claimed, from 1st day of January, 1906, to the date of the Return?

I am not prepared to grant this Return. The information asked for could not be procured without an expenditure of time and labour out of all proportion to its public utility. If the hon. Member will refer to the Judicial Statistics (Civil) published annually and presented to Parliament, he will find Tables giving, by counties, the number of claims for malicious injuries and the amounts claimed in each year.

asked the Chief Secretary the names and addresses of the medical practitioners who were reported by the judges in the North Louth election petition; and if he will also state on what date the Attorney-General for Ireland reported the matter to the proper tribunal, as provided by Sub-section 7 of Section 38 of the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act, 1883?

The medical practitioners reported by the judge who tried the North Louth election petition were Dr. B. A. McGinity, of Louth, in the county of Louth, and Dr. Joseph O'Brien, of Barronstown, in the same county. No report was made under Section 38 (7) of the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Acts, 1883, as in the opinion of the Attorney-General these cases did not come within the Section.

asked the Chief Secretary on what date the Lord Chancellor of Ireland communicated to Mr. James M'Court, of Dundalk, who had been reported by an Election Court for the corrupt practice of bribery, that he had removed his name from the commission of the peace for the county of Louth?

The Lord Chancellor's secretary informs me that there is no record of any communication having been made to Mr. M'Court in reference to his removal from the magistrate, nor does such communication appear to have been necessary, inasmuch as it was judicially determined in the case of Rex (Matthews) against Mr. M'Court himself that his office of magistrate became ipso facto vacated on his being reported for corrupt practices.

asked when the Report of the Local Government Board inquiry into the milk supply to labourers in Ireland may be expected?

The Report of the Irish Milk Commission is in course of preparation, and will, it is expected, be ready in about six weeks' time.

asked the Chief Secretary when the Congested Districts Board will begin operations for the improvement of the holdings on that portion of the Palmer estate situated in the parish of Easky, county Sligo, and which was acquired by the Board about three years ago?

The Congested Districts Board will commence dealing with the estate referred to as promptly as their resources and staff permit. There are many parts of the estate where the holdings need rearrangement and where no work can therefore be commenced pending the vesting of the estate in the Board, which is not expected to take place for some months.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Government propose to include in the proposed Irish Land Bill powers to acquire compulsorily coast estates in county Waterford against the wishes of the owner, without allowing anything for money expended on sea defences, such as groynes or sea walls?

It would be premature to make any statement as to the nature of the provisions which may be included in the Bill referred to.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the shortage of officers and seamen required to man vessels already in commission or to be put in commission in 1913–14; how far will such shortage be made good by men now in training; and if the estimated expenditure on crews for next year is framed on the assumption that full strength will be obtained in that year?

I propose to deal fully with the manning problem when I introduce the Navy Estimates next week.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has received a resolution from the members of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers at His Majesty's dockyard at Devonport, asking for an advance of wages; whether any answer has yet been sent; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take with a view to the serious consideration of this question, with a view to the continuance of the good relations hitherto existing?

We have received a resolution of the character indicated in the question. As to an answer to the communication, I must explain to my hon. Friend the Admiralty practice in the matter of appeals from their employés. Every year each class of workman has a right of petition to the Board through the usual channels. After receipt of the petitions the Board visits the yards—since 1911 the duty has devolved upon me, personally—and hears the men's representations in favour of their respective petitions. Each petition may be put forward for personal presentation, either by two accredited employés from the class petitioning or by one dockyard employé and one accredited outside representative. The greatest care is taken in hearing these petitions and in giving due weight to the representations made in their support. When all the yards have been visited, the Board of Admiralty consider the pleas put forward, formulate their decisions, consult other Departments where necessary, and thereafter promulgate the result. The last replies to the annual petitions were issued on 22nd July, 1912, and the rises in wages granted took place as from 1st August, 1912. Following the usual routine, petitions for the succeeding year were received, and they have been heard by me at Devonport, Portsmouth, Chatham (for Chatham and Sheerness), Deptford, West India Docks, and Dover. I have still to hear the petitions forwarded from Portland, Pembroke Dock, and Haulbowline. These will be heard by me with what expedition may be possible, my recommendations will he submitted to the Board, and its decisions announced as speedily as possible. I think it may interest my hon. Friend to know that, as a result of the annual hearing of petitions since 1906, rates of pay have been increased involving at the present time an addition to the wages sheet of about £141,000 per annum. Of that figure about £42,000 is the result of the increases given in response to last year's petitions.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the event of the mobilisation of the Territorial Force, any provision has been made for suspending during the period of special service the necessity of meeting any monetary obliga- tions on the part of members of the Territorial Army when such obligations have been entered into previous to the issue of a mobilisation order?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that the local education authorities are now about to submit their estimates for expenditure for the year 1913–14, he will immediately issue the Regulations governing the Grants to these local education authorities for training boys for a career at sea in the British merchant service?

The Regulations will not come into force until the 1st August this year. They are at present the subject of discussion between the Board and other Government Departments and the institutions concerned, and they will be issued shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether those appointed to the new class of assistant inspectors of schools will be for the first year taken only from the rank of elementary teachers; whether their operations will extend to all parts of England and Wales; and whether they will be eligible for appointment as inspectors and senior inspectors?

Appointments to vacancies announced for assistant inspectors during 1913 will be confined to men who have not had less than eight years' experience in teaching in elementary schools; assistant inspectors will at present be recruited for service in England only, but may be assigned to any district in England at the discretion of the Board; they will be eligible, with others, for appointment in due course as inspectors of schools. There is no grade of "senior inspector" in the Board's service.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the managers of the Billingshurst Church of England school proposed to hand over their non-provided school to the local education authority on a long lease, but reserving the premises for five days a week till 9.45 a.m. for the purpose of giving denominational instruction; and whether the proposal was submitted to the Board for approval; and, if so, with what result?

The managers of the Billingshurst Church of England school executed a transfer of the school to the local education authority in November of 1909. It did not contain any such reservation as that referred to by the hon. Member, and my right hon. Friend does not find that any such proposal was submitted to the Board for approval.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that proposals are being made to local education authorities by managers of non-provided schools whereby the schools would become provided schools in every respect save that on one or more days in the week the premises will be reserved from 9 to 9.45 a.m. for the purpose of giving denominational instruction; and whether, with the object of preventing the school hours of any elementary school being partly under one body of managers and partly under another body of managers, he will make it known that no such proposals will be sanctioned by the Board?

Such proposals as the hon. Member refers to have not infrequently been made in connection with the transfer of non-provided schools under Section 23 of the Act of 1870, but my right hon. Friend is not aware of any recent cases. He has to consider each case on its merits and cannot undertake to give any general ruling.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours per day the motor-omnibus drivers work on the omnibuses which run from Dulwich to Shoreditch; whether, having regard to the number of accidents in connection with motor-omnibus driving, the Home Office will take whatever steps are necessary to fix a daily limit of time during which an omnibus driver shall work; and, in the interest of public safety, will the Home Office take some steps to secure that motor-omnibus drivers are not penalised in time, dinner time, or money through the opening of Tower Bridge causing a delay in the journey which the omnibus is performing?

According to the information in possession of the police, the omnibus drivers upon the particular route mentioned work the following number of hours per day:—

• Those on early duty, 8 hours 58 minutes.
• Those on relief duty, 9 hours 3 minutes.
• Those on late duty, 13 hours.

The tours of duty are changed weekly, and there is no work on Sundays. An interval of twenty minutes is allowed between each journey. I have no information as to whether drivers suffer loss in time or money in consequence of delays occasioned by the opening of the Tower Bridge. I have no power to take any action of the nature suggested, but the whole question of motor traffic is at the present time under the consideration of a Select Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction that is felt at the present practice of allowing full publications of the reports of cases heard in Juvenile Courts; and whether he can see his way to make any regulations on the subject?

I have received resolutions from three benches of magistrates. I agree with the view expressed by my predecessor, Lord Gladstone, who, in replying to a question in the House of Commons on the 28th July, 1909, said: "The Act expressly provides for the admission of Press representatives in Juvenile Courts. A certain measure of publicity for the proceedings of Courts of Justice seems to me desirable, and this no less for Juvenile Courts than for others. I should view with considerable apprehension a state of things in which no notice was taken in the public Press of the mode in which delinquent children were dealt with by the Courts of Summary Jurisdiction; but I am sure the Press would generally refrain from publishing the names of children in special cases where the magistrates might express an opinion that it was unnecessary and undesirable."

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any Report has been received by the India Office on the working of the Factory Act in India; and, if so, whether he will communicate it to the House?

The local Governments publish annual reports on the working of the Factories Act in the various provinces. The Secretary of State has received the Reports for the year 1911, and a set will be placed in the Library.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that five cases of small-pox were reported amongst the crew of the steamship "Gloucestershire," which arrived at Tilbury Docks from Rangoon on 8th March; and whether he will state the vaccinal condition of these patients?

I am aware of the occurrence of the cases referred to, but I have no information at present as to the vaccinal condition of the patients.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that the men employed at the Royal Gardens, Kew, who are called upon to work overtime or do patrol duty on Sundays have had no increase in their rate of pay for doing this work for eighteen years; and whether, in view of the increased cost of living, he can see his way to increase the present rate?

The labourers who are called upon to do patrol duty on Sundays have had no increase in their rate of remuneration for doing this work since the existing rates were sanctioned by the Treasury on 6th March, 1893. The young gardeners who are called upon to work overtime on Sundays, and who, until a year ago, received as remuneration for doing this work a daily rate of 3s. 6d., have during the current financial year been allowed remuneration at the rate of 6d. per hour, making 4s. 3d. for the maximum Sunday duty of 8½ hours. The case of the labourers was taken into consideration by the Treasury when this concession to the young gardeners was agreed upon, but it was not deemed advisable to increase the present rate.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will give particulars as to the administration of the Small Holdings Act in the East Riding of Yorkshire up to the end of last year, namely, total number of applications received, applications approved, the amount of land required, and number of applicants for whom provision has been made?

The answer is as follows:—

Number of applications received, *816.

Number of applications approved, 210.

Amount of land acquired, 3,223 acres.

Number of tenants actually in occupation on 31st December, 1912, 149 (occupying 2,414 acres).

*In addition 85 applications were received for holdings advertised as being to let.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether leprosy is spreading in this country; and whether he proposes to institute the compulsory segregation in this country of persons suffering from the disease?

There are only a few cases of leprosy in this country, and, so far as I am aware, the disease is not spreading here. I am advised that measures for the compulsory segregation of persons suffering from leprosy in this country would not be justified at present. I may add that the whole question is under the careful consideration of my Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will include in the Schedule of trades under the Trade Boards Act the girls, women, and men employed in the tin keg and drum ware manufacturing trades; and is he aware that the wages paid in these trades by many firms are lower than in those trades which he intends to include in the Schedule?

The question of the definition of the trades to be brought under the Trade Boards Act is at present receiving careful consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a scheme is now under consideration for the extension of the hours of female telephonists whereby those now employed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. will be liable for duty between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.; and whether, in view of the recommendations of the Hobhouse Committee and the fact that a Select Committee is now sitting on the conditions of postal servants, he will direct that any such scheme shall be withdrawn pending the decisions of the latter Committee?

As I have already stated in this House, in consequence of difficulties to which the rigid application of the Hobhouse recommendations respecting the employment of women would have given rise, it was decided as far back as 1908 that, where circumstances were favourable and the arrangement generally convenient, the hours of women's attendance might be extended to 9.15 p.m. The Hobhouse Committee specifically refrained from making any recommendations as to early morning duties, and it has long been the practice to employ women in the Post Office before 8 a.m. in a small number of cases where circumstances point to that course. There is no fresh scheme in contemplation.

asked the Postmaster-General the weight of mails, in pounds, carried both ways between England and Japan and China, of letters and of other matter viâ the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Suez Canal, Canada, and San Francisco, respectively?

The estimated weights of the mails exchanged annually between the United Kingdom on the one hand and China and Japan on the other hand, are given in the following table:—

Route.		Weight in pounds of Letters and Postcards.	Weight in pounds of other Articles of Correspondence
Viâ Siberia	…	261,000	88,000
Viâ Suez	…	5,000	831,000
Viâ Canada	…	1,700	171,700
Viâ San Francisco	…	1,900	54,000