asked the President of the Local Government Board whether any of the officers of the Local Government Board have stated that they were strongly inclined to recommend the Grant of £15,000, the full cost of an addition of 100 beds, to the Nayland Sanatorium; whether they advised the managing director of the sanatorium to apply for that Grant accordingly in February last; and whether any decision has been come to in the matter?

I understand that the managing director of the sanatorium was informed in February last that if an application was made to the Board for a capital Grant of the full cost of the proposed addition of 100 beds it would receive careful consideration. The application is at present under consideration.

asked the number of persons insured in the different trades insurable under the National Insurance Act, and the number of persons in each trade who have applied for unemployment benefit under the Act?

I am circulating a statement printed with the Votes showing the number of unemployment books issued to workpeople in each of the insured trades up to and including 3rd May. The number of persons in each trade who have applied for unemployment benefit under the Act cannot be given until the annual satistics are ready, but I am including in the printed statement figures showing the number of unemployment books remaining lodged at 25th April by workmen in each of the insured trades. The statement referred to is as follows:—Statement showing the number of unemployment books issued to workpeople in the insured trades up to and including the 3rd May, 1913, and the number of books of unemployed workmen remaining lodged at local offices of the Unemployment Fund on 25th April, 1913.

	Unemployed Books Issued up to 3rd May; 1913.	Books of Unemployed workmen remaining Lodged on 26th April, 1913
Building Trades	832,721	38,154
Works of Construction	173,976
Shipbuilding	265,305	8,015
Engineering and Ironfounding	839,714	16,966
Construction of Vehicles	209,271	3,728
Saw Milling	18,893	466
Other Industries	83,622	822
Total	2,423,502	68,151

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the practice of the Commissioners to refuse to allow returns of principal value for Estate Duty at a different figure to that arrived at for total value in the provisional valuation, in cases where the death of the owner has taken place after the date of the passing of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and the provisional valuations have become settled by effluxion of time; and, if so, if he will state under what Section of the Act this is being done?

There is no rigid rule such as that indicated in the first part of the question, and the second part does not therefore arise. I would, however, point out that, where there are no circumstances which differentiate total value from principal value, and there has been no change in value since 30th April, 1909, there will generally be no justification for a valuer agreeing to two different values of the same property.

asked the Chancellor whether he has seen the warrant given on appointment to each of the permanent valuers of the General Valuation Office, Ireland, appointed in pursuance of the provisions of the Irish Valuation and Boundary Survey Acts; on what grounds he has stated it to be only an authorisation to inspect lands for valuation purposes under these Statutes, and not a document limiting the duties of the valuers to work in pursuance of the provisions of those Statutes; and what authority the Treasury have for ordering these valuers to make valuations under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the remainder of the question, the fact that valuers have received a special authority to inspect lands for the purposes of certain Statutes does not imply that their duties as officers of the Department are limited to work under those Statutes, and, as stated in reply to the hon. Member for South Tyrone on 11th July last, valuation under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, is not outside the general scope of the officers' duties.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) how many stallions, bulls, boars, and rams are owned and subsidised, respectively, by the Board; and what is the cost per annum for each class of animal?

The following are the numbers asked for in respect of last year, the figures for the present season not being complete: Stallions, 396; bulls, 1,170; boars, 592; rams, 127. These animals are only in exceptional cases owned by the Department. The subsidies in the case of stallions are proportional to the number of mares served, and may vary from a few pounds up to £150. The subsidies for bulls vary from £10 to £15, for boars from £3 to £5, and for rams from one-half to two-thirds of their value. Full particulars will be found in the Twelfth Annual General Report of the Department. The figures for the present season will not differ materially.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board is now in a position to state what definite steps will be taken to provide a proper slip at Cooscroom, to mark the sunken rocks in the fairway of the Portmagee Channel, and to construct a slip at the Cahirciveen Quay?

The Congested Districts Board have already expended a considerable sum in constructing a pier at Cooscroom, and they are not prepared now to incur further expenditure in making a boat-slip at that place. The Board do not contemplate marking the sunken rocks in Portmagee Channel. The Board offered to make a contribution towards the cost of constructing a boat-slip at Cahirciveen Quay, and they are not prepared to do more than this.

asked the purchase price placed by the inspector of the Estates Commissioners on the holding of John J. Shea (rental No. 55), on the D. C. O'Connell estate, near Mastergeehy; and whether, in view of the pressure put on this tenant by civil bill and ejectment process, steps will be taken to secure to this tenant the payment of annuity on the basis fixed by the inspector, and not on that which he was forced to sign by reason of the pressure exercised?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Shea signed an agreement to purchase his holding at £244 in connection with the sale of this estate by the owner direct to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1909, and the annuity on this sum would give him a reduction of 35 per cent. on his rent. The Congested Districts Board have, however, since arranged for the purchase of this property from the owner, and the price at which Shea's holding will be sold to him will be such sum as the Congested Districts Board may fix.

asked whether the owners of the following estates in county Sligo have been approached by the Congested Districts Board with a view to purchase; and, if so, what has been the result of the negotiations, namely, the M'Loghry estate, Cloghogue, electoral division Tamplevanny, Boyle (No. 2) union; Nicholson estate, Cloonmeenaghan, Cloongad, Lake- view division, Sligo (No. 2) union; Moss-man estate, Drumraine and Lissycone, Lakeview division, Sligo union; and Knox estate, Ardlee, Sligo union?

The Congested Districts Board have been in correspondence with the agents of the P. M'Cloughry estate with a view to purchase, but so far it has not been offered for sale to the Board. They have decided to make an offer for the purchase of the Miss M. A. Nicholson estate, Cloonmeenaghan, which has not yet been issued. The Board have no information regarding the lands of Cloongad nor with regard to the other two estates referred to in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary on what grounds the Local Government Board for Ireland sanctioned and allowed the appeals of the pension officer against the decisions of the Strokestown sub-committee in granting a pension of 5s. a week to Patrick M'Grath, of Curcreigh, Cloonyquin, county Roscommon, and by their decision reduced the pension to 3s. a week in July, 1912, and again in April of the present year, although the local sub-committee, after careful investigation, were satisfied that the embarrassed financial circumstances of the said pensioner entitled him to a pension of 5s. a week; is the Local Government Board aware that the said pensioner holds between five and six acres of land at the yearly rent of £3 18s. 10d., Poor Law valuation £6, and that he was in receipt of a full pension from the commencement of the Old Age Pensions Act; and, in view of these facts, will the Local Government Board grant a full pension to this pensioner together with a remission of the money detained?

The facts are as stated, except that the pensioner's farm comprises over nine acres, and not between five and six, as mentioned in the question. He had two cows and two calves, and the Local Government Board estimated his total means to exceed £23 12s. 6d. a year. He was accordingly not entitled to a higher rate of pension than 3s. a week. As the question has been determined, the Board have no power to reopen the case or make the pensioner any refund.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Bridget Coughlan, of Limerick, who made a claim for an old age pension on 2nd September, 1912, which, after full investigation by the pensions committee of the Abbey Ward, was granted; whether the pension officer appealed against this decision on the grounds that the applicant had not produced any evidence of her age; whether he is aware that she could not do this as there was no record of her age; whether a birth certificate of a younger sister was sent to the Irish Local Government Board, which showed that this sister would be sixty-eight years old in June next, and that there was another birth between the two sisters; is he aware that four old age pensioners in the parish of Mungret, county Limerick, have certified that this poor woman is over seventy years of age; and whether, taking all these circumstances into account, further consideration will be given to the claim of Mrs. Bridget Coughlan with the view of granting her the pension?

The facts are as stated. There was no evidence, however, to show whether Bridget Coughlan was older or younger than the sister referred by the hon. Member, and there was no information as to the alleged birth of another sister between these two sisters. Uncorroborated statements by other old persons cannot be regarded as evidence of age, and in any case, as the Local Government Board have decided the claim, they have no authority to reopen consideration of this case.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the medical officer of the Lettermore dispensary district of the Oughterard Union reported to the district council on the 10th ultimo that several cases of typhus and typhoid fever had broken out in his district; that he could not remove some of the patients thirty or forty miles to hospital without endangering their lives; that the doctor offered his own residence to the council as a temporary hospital; that the council ordered the said residence to be fitted up as a hospital and trained nurses procured; whether he is aware that the Local Government Board countermanded the order, and as a result some of the patients have since died, and that further outbreaks of typhus have since occurred in the district; and whether, in view of the fact that this district has frequently been visited by repeated outbreaks of fever, he will now see his way to recommend the necessary expenditure on the building of a fever hospital?

The facts appear to be generally as stated in the first four paragraphs of the question, but the outbreak was not so serious as the medical officer reported. The statement that the Local Government Board countermanded the order of the board of guardians with regard to the fitting up of the medical officer's house as a temporary hospital is not correct. The Board's inspector, having thoroughly investigated all the reported cases, attended at the meeting of the guardians on the 24th ultimo and discussed the whole circumstances of the outbreak with them, when the guardians placed on record their pleasure at learning that there was no necessity to establish a temporary fever hospital at Bealadangan (in the Lettermore dispensary district), and they gave directions that the arrangements for doing so were not to be carried out.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Commissioners of National Education have proposed to close the schools in Largy and Tully, Killasnet, county Leitrim, and build one school instead; and whether, having regard to the inconvenience which would be caused to the children of the district and the fact that both schools have maintained a high standard and fair average attendance, and that the parents of the children have petitioned against such a change, the schools will be allowed to remain as they are?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the schools referred to are probably Leckanerainey and Largy national schools, county Leitrim. Neither school is satisfactory as regards repair or accomodation, and the Leckanerainey school house has been described by the inspector as quite unsuitable for school purposes. The average attendance at the Leckanerainey school for the year ended 31st December, 1912, was only seventeen, and at Largy school for the same period it was thirty-nine. In 1909 the attention of the manager was directed to the unsuitableness of the schoolhouses, and the erection of a central school to replace both was suggested to him. No protest against the proposed change by the parents of the children has been received by the Commissioners, and the manager has expressed his assent to the proposed arrangement. He has now obtained a suitable site midway between the two schools, which are only one and three-quarter miles apart by road, and the Commissioners await his application for a Grant towards the cost of the erection of the new schoolhouse.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he intends to introduce a Bill early next Session to regulate and restrain the over-netting of Irish salmon rivers; and whether he will arrange with the Government to have facilities given to have the legislation recommended by the Commission passed into law?

I cannot commit myself to a promise for any legislation on this subject next Session.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that Mr. Larkin publicly asserts that on the occasion of the carters' strike in 1908 the Lord Lieutenant sent for him, entered into an agreement with him that the authorities should refuse to grant the employers further military aid, placed a special motor car at his disposal during negotiations, and agreed to the release of every person arrested or sentenced in connection with the dispute, of which latter fact he, Mr. Larkin, has proof in an official communication from the Board of Trade; and whether, in order that due respect for the administration should be maintained, he will consider the desirability of such allegations receiving official public contradiction?

The first statement referred to in the question was made by James Larkin in a speech at the Mansion House on the 1st of April, and was distinctly and emphatically denied by the Lord Lieutenant on the 3rd of April in a letter which was published in the "Times." The further statements quoted by the hon. Member with others equally false and malicious were published in a scurrilous article in the "Irish Worker" of the 5th of April. I consider it both unnecessary and undesirable to take any notice whatever of such statements.

asked the Chief Secretary whether all names of Royal Irish Constabulary pensions appearing on pay lists up to 31st March last, and who were appointed to the force before 18th June, 1883, and from whom no deductions were made in collections for the Constabulary Force Fund, are lapsed subscribers on these pay lists; and whether he will state what obstacle is made to furnish a Return of the number on these pay lists?

The pension pay lists do not contain particulars showing when pensioners entered the force, consequently those who joined the force before 18th June, 1883, are not distinguishable thereon from those who joined subsequently. The number of "lapsed subscribers" to the Constabulary Force Fund cannot therefore be ascertained from an examination of the pension pay lists.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will ask the Estates Commissioners to inquire into the application of Mrs. Margaret Carmody, of Carrigane, Asdee, an evicted tenant on the Wren and Stokes estate, who has made several applications for reinstatement?

The Estates Commissioners inquired into and considered Mrs. Carmody's application for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by her mother, and now in the possession of her uncle, and decided not to take any action in the matter, and they are not prepared to alter their decision.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in further reference to the case of James Lynch, late a pensioner clerk in the War Office, York, whether, considering the fact that Mr. Lynch had a record of twenty-four years' efficient service in the Army, followed by nine years as an Army clerk, and taking into consideration the serious consequences resulting from his dismissal, he will state the reasons why he was not given an opportunity of defending himself at the inquiry from the complaints that his work in the office was unsatisfactory?

Officers commanding Cavalry record offices are empowered to dismiss clerks who fail to perform their duties satisfactorily. In this case the clerk in question complained to the War Office, and the Army Council called for a special report in order to ascertain that the responsible officer had personally considered the case. The Army Council, on receipt of the report, were satisfied that this officer had personally dealt with the case, that the man had been treated with great consideration in view of his previous service, and that he had no grounds for complaint. There were, therefore, no reasons for requesting him to come to the War Office in order to state his case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the firm of Sanderson, Brothers, and Newbould, of Sheffield, some years ago, at the request of the Government, arranged their plant so as to enable them to produce 2,000 bayonets per week; whether there is an understanding that orders for bayonets shall be equally divided between the Government factories and private firms; whether an order for 30,000 bayonets has recently been placed with the Enfield factory; and whether a similar order will be placed with the above or other private firms?

When the programme of rearmament with the long bayonet was under consideration in 1907 the trade were asked to state their probable capacity of output. Messrs. Sanderson and Newbould gave the figure mentioned. There has been no understanding as to an equal division of orders between the trade and Enfield. As regards current work, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to-day to a question put by the hon. Member for the Central Division of Sheffield.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state, for each year since 1905–6, the number of children under five years on which estimates were based for the ordinary annual elementary school Grant voted by Parliament, and the exact amount actually paid under the same Grant for children of those years?

The estimates for annual Grants are based upon the total number of children in respect of whom Grant will be payable, and are not sub- divided according to the ages of the children. The first complete financial year in which Grants paid on children under five years of age are distinguishable from those paid on children over five years of age was that ending 31st March, 1912. The number of children under five years of age in respect of whom Grants became payable in that year was 270,294, and in the following year 257,507.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether prison doctors are allowed extra remuneration for all operations performed in His Majesty's prisons; if so, what such remuneration amounts to; and if forcible feeding is included in the term operation?

The answer to the first question is in the negative. The other questions do not arise.

asked the Home Secretary whether the police intend to forbid the holding of the anti-militarist meeting in Trafalgar Square on 25th May; and, if not, why they have so far refused to sanction such meeting in spite of repeated applications?

My hon. Friend has been entirely misinformed. Only one application has been made to the Commissioner of Police respecting the meeting in question, and the applicant has been informed that the necessary police arrangements would be made.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether, in view of the fact that the Ahmedabad Municipal Commission, as at present constituted, is not an elected body, and therefore cannot be said to be representative of the general population of the district, he will request the Government of Bombay to refrain from complying with the suggestion of the Commission that compulsory vaccination be established in Ahmedabad and delay the matter until the people of Ahmedabad are directly represented by an elected authority?

The application of the Ahmedabad Municipality to the Bombay Government for the extension of the compulsory Vaccination Act to the municipal district was made on the ground of continuous heavy mortality from small-pox. The Bombay Government have extended the Act, and the Secretary of State is not prepared to take any action in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has received a reply from the Treasury respecting the complaint of the labourers and stokers employed at the Royal Gardens, Kew, regarding their position under the National Insurance Act; and, if so, will he state the nature of the reply?

The Treasury have agreed to make arrangements which will secure that in the future labourers promoted to be constables will not suffer any loss of sick leave privileges.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether it is possible to secure, in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 (1) of the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act of 1899, that inquiries held in Scotland in connection with Scottish Provisional Orders shall be held at the nearest centre to the districts affected, so as to avoid unnecessary inconvenience and expense to the parties interested?

The present practice is to ascertain the views of all the parties as to what would be the most convenient place of inquiry, and, in the event of difference of opinion, to submit the matter to the Chairman of the Commissioners, with whom the decision rests. This practice is in accordance with the Section referred to, and I have no reason to believe that it has failed to secure the object desired by my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, as the Second Reading of the Scottish Mental Deficiency Bill is to be taken immediately after the Whitsuntide Recess, he will arrange to print the Bill before the House adjourns for the Recess?

The Bill is being introduced to-day and will be printed as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs if a claim for compensation has been made to the Brazilian Government on behalf of the relatives of the late Mr. A. N. Romany, a British subject, an accountant in the employ of Messrs. Griffith, Williams, and Johnson, Pernambuco, who was shot by soldiers during an election riot on 28th November, 1911; and, if so, with what result?

His Majesty's Minister at Rio in a Note dated 24th April, 1912, presented to the Brazilian Government the claim of Messrs. Griffith, Williams, and Johnson for compensation for the death of Mr. Romany. No reply has at present been received from the Brazilian Government, but their attention will be again drawn to the matter.

asked the Prime Minister if it is the intention of the Government to bring in an Indemnity Bill to relieve Sir Stuart Samuel from the penalties incurred through voting in this House?

A Bill will be presented to-morrow.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the flogging of boys who are convalescent in the Camberwell workhouse infirmary; if so, whether he is aware that the punishment is administered with a whip on the bare flesh for trivial offences, and that in four recent cases the ages of the boys were thirteen, eleven, nine, and seven years, respectively; and whether, having regard to the indignation of the public locally respecting these practices and the discussions at the meeting of the Camberwell guardians, he will cause a public inquiry to be made into the matter?

My attention has been called to this matter. The punishment does not seem to have been excessive and I see no necessity for a public inquiry.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that the partner of a medical man, who is a member of the Bermondsey Board of Guardians, holds the position of district medical officer to the same board; and whether he proposes to take steps to, prevent guardians allowing persons to sit on a board whose partners are under contract with it?

The situation is, I believe, as described in the question. It is no doubt open to criticism, but is not illegal, and I have no authority to take the course suggested.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the vaccination officer for the Strand district is issuing a notice to parents which is not in accordance with the Regulations of the Board; and whether he will instruct the officer to discontinue the circulation of such notices?

My attention has been drawn to the fact that the notice referred to is in use in the Strand district. It is not a notice prescribed by my Department for the use of vaccination officers, and in my opinion it ought not to be so printed as to convey the impression that it is an officially authorised notice. I am communicating with the guardians in this sense.

asked the President of the Local Government Board when his proposed Bill for dealing with the question of sewage and trade effluents will be introduced?

I hope to be able to introduce the Bill during the present Session.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state the number and names of the counties in which guardians have formed, or propose to form, joint committees for the purpose of administration to relieve the casual paupers by the way-ticket system?

Seven schemes of combination for this purpose have been approved. These relate to the counties of Berkshire with some unions in Bucks and Oxford, Devon, Lincolnshire, including unions in Leicester, Northants and Nottingham, Hampshire, Suffolk, Surrey, and Sussex. I understand that proposals for committees are under consideration in some twenty-five other counties.

asked the names of the counties in which guardians have made application to the Local Government Beard for Orders for the formation of joint committees of boards of guardians for the purpose of provision and special accommodation for, or special treatment of, the feeble-minded or epileptic poor?

An Order has been issued for a joint committee of guardians in the county of Wiltshire. Orders are in preparation for the counties of Cornwall, Essex, Glamorgan, Salop, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire, and applications are before me from the counties of Kent, Suffolk, and Surrey. I understand that schemes of combination are also under consideration in several other counties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the increase in the wages of the various grades of miners in Scotland since the year 1880, both in percentages and money value?

The increase in the general rates of miners' wages since 1880 on the old standard of 1879 has been 62½ per cent. in West Scotland, 29 per cent. in the Lothians, and 42 per cent. in Fife and Clackmannan. The base rates for these three districts differed up to 1888, since which year all districts have increased their percentage above the new standard of 1888 by 81¼ per cent. I regret that there are no statistics enabling me to compare the actual earnings of miners in 1880 and 1913.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the statement contained in the recent annual report of the medical officer of health for Newport, Monmouth, that inadequate attention is frequently given in the designing of crew spaces on new vessels to the elementary principles of domestic hygiene and that the accommodation provided on many new vessels is unsatisfactory and inadequate; and, if so, can he give any further infor- mation as to what steps the Board of Trade are taking in the matter?

I have not seen the report to which the hon. Member refers, but as soon as a copy reaches me I will cause the statements contained in it to be carefully investigated. I may add that the whole question of crew spaces on ships has for some time been receiving the attention of the Board of Trade, and the instructions to surveyors on the subject are now under revision.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any official figures are available for the purpose of comparing the cost of living in London and in provincial centres during recent years; and whether the Report of the Committee on Cost of Living may be expected to contain any pronouncement or supply data from which such comparison may be drawn?

The latest figures available for a comparison of the cost of living in London and the principal provincial towns relate to 1905, and are contained in Cd. 3864. In the forthcoming Report on Cost of Living, this information will be brought up to 1912.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the finding of the formal investigation held at Cardiff on 17th September and following days to inquire into the loss of the steamship "North Briton," involving the loss of twenty lives, was that the primary cause of the loss of the vessel was her insufficient freeboard; whether this was due to violation of the Board of Trade Regulations, and, if so, whether any action has been taken against the owners, or, if the Regulations were complied with, whether, in the interests of safety at sea, he will have the Regulations re the load line and deck cargoes restored to what they were prior to the alterations in 1906?

I am aware of the finding of the Court which inquired into the loss of the "North Briton," and this case will be considered, among others, by the Load Line Committee which has just been appointed. The existing Regulations as to load line were not infringed in this case, and the question of deck loads did not arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the requisite facilities to allow the Press to be present at the meetings of the Committee which he has recently appointed to receive evidence and consider the instructions to be given to the delegates to be appointed to attend the international conference to fix the load line for merchant vessels?

The question of affording facilities for the Press to be present at meetings of the Load Line Committee when evidence is taken is a matter for the Committee to decide, but the almost universal practice in the case of Departmental Committees is that the meetings are not open to the public. I understand that my hon. Friend thinks it especially important, in order to give confidence to the public in the decisions to which the Committee on Load Line may come, that the public should be able to follow the proceedings of the Committee, especially the evidence as given before them. But, on the other hand, I must point out to my hon. Friend that I have received strong representations that masters, officers, and others who are in possession of evidence concerning particular ships—a really valuable form of evidence—would find it difficult, or impossible in certain cases, to tender such evidence in public. Whether any fear that they may entertain has any foundation in fact I am unable to say. But it would certainly be a great misfortune if valuable experiences of the kind I have referred to could not be freely placed at the disposal of the Committee, and it has been represented that, if witnesses could give their evidence in private and be assured that their statements would not be published, they would find it less difficult to assist the Committee in this way. My hon. Friend will see, therefore, that the matter is beset with some difficulties. But I will communicate with the Committee, and inform them of the suggestion made, and ask them to consider how far the desire can be met, consistently with the object we all have in view, namely, to arrive at the truth and facts of the case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the event of a master's certificate being suspended by any Colonial Court pending the decision of the Board of Trade, and the Board returning the certificate and annulling the Colonial Court's decision, the master is entitled to resume his command?

If a master's certificate is suspended by a Colonial Court and is returned by the Board of Trade under the powers entrusted to them by Section 474 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, the master is qualified to command any vessel in respect of which his certificate entitles him to act as master.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a sorter who has performed overseers' duties for some years is to be passed over for promotion in favour of a junior officer said to be better qualified; if so, will he say when this latter officer displayed better qualities; and why, in the interest of the public service, has an alleged less capable officer been kept to duties and only set aside when the appointment is about to be made.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to questions asked by him on this subject on the 21st and 28th of last month.

asked the Postmaster-General under what authority he denies liability for damage to the clothing of an officer of his Department caused by a broken basket being used in the sorting office, such accident being attested by witnesses and in no way contributed to by the person suffering such damage?

I am advised that no legal liability would rest on a private employer in similar circumstances; and I should not feel justified in altering the present practice in such cases of not making good the damage out of public funds, unless the failure to detect that the basket was broken was due to the want of ordinary precaution on the part of a supervising officer.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of officers during the past two years in the United Kingdom at which the direct employment of telegraph messengers by the Post Office has been discontinued in favour of an allowance to postmasters and sub-postmasters, established and unestablished, to provide for the delivery of telegrams; and the number of messengers affected?

The figures desired are not available, and they could not be obtained without much labour.

asked the Postmaster-General the reason for declining to receive representations from the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association on behalf of some of their members ranked in the Post Office as female clerical assistants, and formerly employed by the Glasgow Corporation telephone service; and whether he is aware that the Parliamentary Select Committee now sitting raised no objection to receiving evidence from the association on behalf of these officers?

The duties and interest of the clerical assistants are widely different from those of the officers whom the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association represents, and I consider it undesirable on general grounds to discuss with a body which is composed almost entirely of the manipulative classes questions which relate to clerical classes. It is open to the clerical assistants to form a separate association if they so desire; and it is very necessary that the recognised associations should be able to speak with full knowledge of the conditions of the classes they represent. I am aware that the Select Committee on Post Office Servants received evidence from a representative of the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association on behalf of female clerical assistants, but different considerations arise in the day by day administration of the Department.

asked the Postmaster-General the reason for reducing the salaried post office at Preston Road, Brighton, to an unestablished office staffed or to be staffed with unestablished assistants; and why, in view of the statement of the Secretary to the Post Office that he extended employment of women is to be restricted, has the Western Road Post Office, Brighton, been staffed by women to the displacement of men?

The conversion of the Preston Road Sub-Post Office, Brighton, from the salaried to the scale payment class was carried out last year on the retirement of the late sub- postmistress because the business had declined about 30 per cent. since 1909, and was too small to warrant the continuance of the former arrangements. The staff is provided by the sub-postmaster. I am having inquiry made as regards the staffing of the Western Road branch office, and will communicate further with the hon. Member on this point.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the number of His Majesty's war vessels stationed periodically in Castletown Bere harbour, and seeing that Castletown Bere is an important fishery station, he will cause improvements in the postal service connected with that town?

It is not practicable to improve the postal service to Castletown, Berehaven, except at a considerable increase in expense, which would not be warranted in view of the fact that the existing service is conducted at a loss. When His Majesty's ships are stationed in Bantry Bay it is usual for the mails to be conveyed from Bantry to the Fleet by a destroyer or other dispatch boat.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received complaints from the residents of Navan and district that, although they live only about 20 miles from Dublin, they do not receive their morning mail till noon; and whether he will consider the necessity of establishing direct motor service with Dublin in the interests of the business men of the town and adjoining areas?

I have received such representations and I am having inquiry made in the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the creamery and fishing industries in and around Ballyduff, North Kerry, suffer seriously for want of a Sunday delivery of letters from Lixnaw, a distance of only four Irish miles; and whether, seeing that all the surrounding districts have a Sunday delivery, he will give equal facilities to Ballyduff?

I am having inquiry made in the matter, and I will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a memorial containing a protest against the transfer of certain work from sorting clerks and telegraphists in the Manchester post office; and, if so, in view of the reasons set forth, whether he can meet the wish of the memorialists?

The memorial was received. It referred to work known as X listing, which is proper to postmen; and is being done by them at other large towns. It is now being transferred to them at Manchester. I explained the matter yesterday in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Attercliffe Division of Sheffield. I cannot assent to the wish of the memorialists at Manchester that this work should not be transferred to postmen in that city.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received an application from those who rent telephones in Navan, county Meath, that, having regard to the charges levied for trunk calls, local calls to any extent should be free; and whether he will grant their request?

No such application as is mentioned in the question has yet reached me. I may, however, say at once that I could not accept any suggestion that local telephone service should be given free because charges are made for the use of trunk lines.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has inquired into the necessity of extending the trunk telephone lines from Limerick to Tralee so as to take in the important towns of Listowel, Abbeyfeale, Newcastle West, and Rathkeale; whether he is aware that owing to the business done, including fairs and markets, in these towns the extension of the telephone system would be a great boon; and, if so, what action does he propose to take in the matter?

The necessary inquiries on this subject are not yet completed, but they are being expedited, and I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I am in a position to give him any definite information in the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the number of female telephone operators employed at telephone exchanges in Glasgow; what percentage of them have been absent from duty through illness during the last six months; and what are the corresponding numbers and percentages in the other branches of post office work in Glasgow where female workers are employed?

Seven hundred and ten female telephonists were employed at Glasgow during the six months ended 30th April last, and during that period 48 per cent. of them were once or oftener absent from duty through illness. During the same period, 36 per cent of 237 female sorting clerks and telegraphists, and 41 per cent. of forty-four female clerical assistants were similarly absent.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the parish council of Wickhambreaux, Kent, passed a resolution on the 2nd of May, calling upon the Government to establish telephone facilities in that village; and whether he will take steps to afford such facilities there without delay?

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to and I am causing inquiry to be made to ascertain whether sufficient support is forthcoming to justify an extension of the telephone system to Wickhambreaux.

asked the Attorney-General whether there is any limit, and, if so, what limit to the period during which magistrates may keep persons in prison who refuse to or are unable to find sureties whenever such binding over is considered desirable by the police?

It is for the magistrate and not for the police to determine whether there should be a binding over. The limit to the period during which magistrates may order a defendant to be imprisoned in default of finding sureties to keep the peace, or to be of good behaviour to a particular individual is fixed by Statute to six months. There is no statutory limit for imprisonment in default of finding sureties in other cases. The practice is to limit the period to six months.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the statement made by Mr. Dickinson, stipendiary magistrate at Bow Street Police Court, that his power of demanding sureties from citizens convicted of no crime and of sending them to prison if they could not or did not find such sureties depended not on any Statute, but was his by virtue of his commission; and, if so, whether he will state the precise words in this magistrate's commission which gives him this power; whether all justices of the peace have similar powers; and whether the wording of these commissions is in the hands of the executive alone and based on no Act of the legislature?

As the magistrate has granted an application on behalf of the defendants to state a case for the consideration of the High Court, this matter is sub judice, and it would not be proper that I should give any answer to my hon. Friend's question.

asked the number of persons who have been bound by the Metropolitan magistrates to give sureties to keep the peace without having been indicted for or convicted of any crime during the years 1891–5, 1896–1900, 1901–5, 1906–10, 1911, 1912; and how many of these persons went to prison in default of finding such sureties?

I can only give figures from 1893, and those which I give are for the whole of the Metropolitan Police district. For the years 1893 to 1895 the number ordered to find sureties was 16,793, and the number who went to prison was 1,297. For the following five-year periods the figures are:—

	1896–1900.	1901–1005.	1906–1910.
Ordered to find sureties	28,555	25,419	27,349
Sent to prison	2,216	1,001	834

For the year 1911 the number ordered to find sureties was 6,409, and the number who went to prison was eighty-two. The figures for 1912 are not yet available.

asked the Attorney-General why, in view of the importance of the Lumsden case, it has not been taken in the Court of Appeal in its normal order?

In the present Sittings the Court of Appeal has dealt with some of the revenue appeals, and others will be dealt with next Sittings. The Lumsden case is not overdue, and is one of those standing over. The matter involved in the appeal will be discussed in Committee on the Revenue Bill, and the result of the discussion might render it unnecessary to proceed further with the appeal. If, however, there is any desire on the part of the appellants to have it heard at an early date, I shall offer no objection.