I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will procure from the several colonies in Australia and New Zealand Reports on the various methods of regulating the liquor traffic in those colonies similar to the Foreign Office Reports Nos. 78 and 154 on Liquor Traffic Legislation in the United States?

The Secretary of State called for this information in August last from Canada, the Australian Colonies, and New Zealand, and reminded the Colonial Governments last March. So far, Queensland is the only colony from which a reply has been received.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is the fact that three subaltern officers of the 2nd Dragoon Guards were rejected in their A and B examination, at Rawul Pindi, in November last, although the Board and President agreed that they were well qualified to pass, and exceptionally fitted for their work; whether their rejection arose from the fact that the President refused to sign a clause certifying that the candidates were qualified to command a regiment in the field, it being his opinion that no subaltern officer, however able and industrious, could possibly be so qualified; and why the President of an Examining Board is required to sign such a clause, seeing that no subaltern officer can be expected to comply with its conditions?

All the examinations, both at home and abroad, are intended to be under the rules laid down in the Queen's Regulations, and they do not require that a subaltern officer should be qualified to command a regiment in the field. No Report has been received from India on the subject, but I will make inquiry about it.

I bog to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether any new policy regarding the raising of funds for the construction of Indian railways has been brought before the Government of India by the Secretary of State; and whether he will lay upon the Table any correspondence connected therewith?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question I should like to ask him another arising out of it, of which I have given him private notice, namely, whether he is aware that representations have been made to the Government of India by local Chambers of Commerce and other Representative Bodies, strongly urging the paramount importance, in the interests alike of the native population and of the English merchants, manufacturers, and workmen, of the opening up of the country by the extension of railway communication, and that the desire of these Bodies is for that policy, whether new or old, which will most rapidly and effectually attain that end?

In reply to the question of the hon. Member which appears upon the Paper I can only say that communications as to the policy regarding the raising of funds for the construction of Indian Railways have passed between the Secretary of State and the Government of India, but the correspondence is not yet complete; and, therefore, I cannot make any statement on the subject. With regard to the question of my hon. Friend the Member for North Kensington (Sir R. Lethbridge), I can only state that the Secretary of State is aware that representations of the character mentioned have been made, and that he will adhere to the policy so often advocated of promoting the extension of Indian Railways as fast as the circumstances will permit.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that, in consequence of the regulations which will presently come into action in regard to the limits of age for candidates for the higher branch of the Indian Civil Service, there have been strong expressions of opinion in the scientific Press and at the Universities that the conditions of the examinations for this Service ought no longer to continue to be relatively so unfavourable to candidates whose studies have been chiefly in science as has hitherto been the case; whether he is aware that a Memorial, signed by 50 distinguished graduates of the University of Cambridge, including several heads of houses, many professors, and a large number of fellows of colleges, has been presented to the Civil Service Commissioners, in which it is pointed out that the position of the science tripos in their University is now practically on an equal footing with the classical or the mathematical tripos, both from its numbers and from the awards assigned by the colleges to those of their members who distinguish themselves therein; and whether he will endeavour to secure that changes shall be made for admission to the Indian Civil Service such as shall secure more equal prospects of success for those whose chief studies have been in science than are at present accorded in these competitions?

I have to thank the hon. Member for postponing this question the other day. The answer to paragraph I and 2 of the question is in the affirmative. Such opinions have been expressed, and such a Memorial addressed to the Civil Service Commissioners, although not to the Secretary of State. The answer to the third paragraph is that the new regulations will shortly be issued, and the Secretary of State believes they will satisfy the object which the hon. Member desires.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India if he can explain why the control of the Salt Revenue in Orissa has been made over to the Government of Madras, which differs in essential points from that of Bengal, which rules in Orissa; whether he is aware that although the manufacture of salt in Orissa was till recent years one of the staple industries of the districts of Cuttack and Balasore, the possession of salt earth, its manufacture or use has been made a criminal offence in those districts, even though the people wishing to use or manufacture it are willing to pay the duty; and whether, in view of the fact that this prohibition has thrown some 20,000 parsons out of employment, and left large tracts of land teeming with salt earth utterly valueless, and that the price of salt has since the introduction of the Madras system increased in Orissa, the whole of what is used being now imported from Liverpool and elsewhere, he will consider the advisability of re-introducing the system under which the salt industry flourished in Orissa, and again allowing-the manufacture of Punga salt, subject to the usual duties?

The hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension as to the first paragraph of the question. The control of the Salt Revenue in Orissa has not been made over to the Government of Madras—only the administration. The control continues under the Government of Bengal. The manufacture of salt from salt earth has been prohibited, because it cannot be carried on without a great amount of smuggling. It is expected that the introduction of the Madras system will make salt cheaper and more plentiful, as it has done in Madras; and until the new system has been fully tried the Government will not revert to the old one.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department in how m any prisons in England and Wales is the labour of prisoners let out to tender for matmaking, and will he state the names of the prisons and of the firms who hire such labour?

I am informed by the Prison Commissioners that there are 23 prisons in which the mats made are sold at a contract price to the person who furnishes the material and carriage. The list is too long to read in reply to a question, but I will show it to the hon. Member if he will confer with me. With regard to the rest of the question, I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which was given on the 24th of February last.

Arising out of the answer, may I ask the hon. Gentleman if it is not the fact that there is one firm (Messrs. Goodacre & Co.) who contract for the labour of six of Her Majesty's Prisons?

I think the hon. Member had better give me notice of that question.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will consent to furnish a Return showing the various grades of Civil employes under the Ordnance Survey, with the number in each grade, the rate or rates of pay as at present allowed, and the terms or conditions and periods of increase of pay in each grade?

There are no grades of Civil employe's on the Ordnance Survey. The men are engaged on day wages and employed upon a variety of duties in much the same manner as the men employed in the Arsenal and other Government factories. The employes are observers, surveyors, clerks, draughtsmen, photographers, engravers, smiths, carpenters, bookbinders, type and lithographic printers, colourists, and others, who could not well be graded. As there are no grades, it is not possible to give the number in each grade, the rate or rates of pay at present allowed, and the terms or conditions and periods of increase of pay in each grade. A Return could be prepared showing the numbers employed on each of the several duties of the Survey, with their present rates of pay, and the maximum rate for highly-skilled labour in each of those duties. It would, however, involve much clerical labour, and I doubt if it would be of much practical value.

Can the right hon. Gentleman lay on the Table a statement showing the different ranks or classes of the men employed under the Ordnance Survey, whether the employment is permanent or temporary, and the rates of pay?

I will consider the question.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether it is true that a builder, who had a Government contract for building repairs in Manchester, is an absconding bankrupt, and had been paying a lower rate of wages to the workmen engaged than was customary in Manchester; and what steps are taken to ascertain the respectability of firms before giving them contracts?

It is true that the builder, who held the contract for the Board's ordinary works and repairs in Manchester, has become a bankrupt and is understood to have absconded. The rates of wages paid by him to his workmen did not come under the cognisance of the Board. No representation on the subject was ever made to the Board by the men. Full inquiries are made locally by the Board's officers as to the position of firms before any tender is accepted. In this case such inquiries were made two years ago, and the result appeared at the time satisfactory.

Am I to infer that the Government allow their contractors to occupy the position of sweaters?

I do not think the hon. Gentleman has a right to infer anything of the kind.

Did I not understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that no inquiry is made as to the rate of wages, but only as to the respectability of the firm?

The contractor sends in a tender for certain work as a whole.

Is the tender the sole thing looked to, and not the position of the men who do the work for the Government?

The whole question of contracts has been referred to a Departmental Committee.

When are we likely to have the Report of the Committee?

I cannot say exactly.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to a recent election of Way-Wardens to the Pontefract Highway Board, when two ratepayers were duly-elected for the Ackworth district; whether it is true, as stated, that they can lawfully sit, but are not entitled to exercise voting power; and whether he will take steps to rectify this anomaly in the constitution of these Boards by a Bill to abolish any property qualification that may exist?

I have no information as to the facts with regard to the election of Way-Wardens in the case of the highway district to which reference is made in the question. I communicated with the clerk to the Highway Board when notice of the question was given, but have not as yet received any reply. I infer from the question that the two ratepayers alluded to were not qualified for election, as required by the Statute. Any person living in the parish, or any adjoining-parish, and having an estate in houses or lands within the parish, in his own right, or in right of his wife, of the annual value of £10, or a personal estate of the value of £100, or being the occupying tenant of houses or lands of the annual value of £20, whether resident within the parish or in any adjoining parish, is eligible for election. I cannot hold out any expectation that the Government will be able to introduce a Bill during the present Session dealing with the property qualification in these cases.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been called to the fact that, in view of the proposed abolition of the duties in the?United States on sugar below No. 16, Dutch standard, considerable opposition on the part of the sugar refiners of that country has arisen, because the intended protective duty of nearly £2 per ton against refined sugar imported from abroad would probably be insufficient to allow the American refiners to compete on equal terms with such imported refined sugar from European countries where State bounties are granted; and whether, under the circumstances, Her Majesty's Government would again invite the Government of the United States to join the Sugar Convention?

No Reports relative to this alleged opposition have been received at the Foreign Office. It is not by any means certain in what shape the provisions of the Tariff Bill now under discussion will finally be settled by Congress. We have no ground for thinking that a renewed invitation to the United States Government to join in a Convention on this subject would be successful.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to carry out the recommendations of the Immigration Committee of 1889; and what measures have been taken to ensure the Return by the masters of incoming vessels of the number of aliens on board, as provided by the Act 6 Will. 4, c. 11, s. 2?

The hon. Member is aware that a somewhat similar question was answered on the 16th inst. by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, who explained what steps were being taken to procure statistical information at the ports, both at home and abroad, under the powers given by the Alien Act. The Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs have given instructions to their officers at all ports where alien steerage and deck passengers are likely to arrive to require from the masters of vessels declarations of aliens, as provided by the Act. The officers of Customs have also been instructed to send monthly to the Board of Trade a Return of the number of aliens arriving here, as shown by the Ships' Reports. The Foreign Office has also been requested to instruct Her Majesty's Consuls resident on the Continent to report any information they may obtain as to the emigration of destitute persons to the United Kingdom.

Do they send in Reports?

Yes; I believe they do.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware whether any steps are being taken to enforce the other provisions of the Alien Act in reference to steerage and deck passengers?

No, Sir.

Why do the Government enforce one part of the Statute, and dispense with the rest?

There is no dispensation that I am aware of. The information which the House and the public desire is being collected.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the mining rights, with easements of wood, water, and grazing-, west of the Limpopo River, from the Transvaal border to a boundary five miles west of the Notwane, its tributary, over an area extending 20 miles north and south, have been conceded by Sechele, Chief of the Bakwenas and Barkatlas, to a Mr. James Arthur Nicolls, a British subject; and whether such concession was registered in the office of the Administrator of British Bechuanaland in March or April, 1888?

Sechele, the Chief of the Bakwenas, gave a concession to Mr. Nicolls in the country of his neighbour Lenchwe, the Chief of the Bakhatla. The latter refused to recognise the concession, or allow any work to be done under it. Sir Sidney Shippard intimated to the concessionaires that no pressure would be brought to bear on Lenchwe in their favour, and that, if the Chief persisted in his refusal to allow gold-prospecting in his county, the concessionaires would have no alternative but to abandon their enterprise. A copy of the concession may be in Sir S. Shippard's office, but it has not been "registered" there, if that phrase is intended to imply any recognition of it. Sir S. Shippard's action has been approved by the Secretary of State.

Has such a concession been registered?

No, Sir; it could not be registered if it was not granted by a person who had a right to grant it.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a concession of mineral rights over an area of 20 miles square, adjoining the Southern boundary of and within his territory adjacent to Reitfontein, South-West of Lake Ngami, was made by Moremi, Chief of the Western Bamangwelos, at De Nokane, Tonke River, to certain British subjects in August, 1888; whether the said concession was notified in September, 1888, to Sir Sydney Shippard, Administrator of British Bechuanaland, or to any other British officer; whether the Colonial Office recognise the said concession; and whether any negotiations already completed or now pending with the German Government will directly or indirectly affect this and similar concessions by Moremi or other African Chiefs North of Bechuanaland?

It is believed that some concession of this nature was obtained in 1888, but, if such be the case, it has not been communicated to the Colonial Office, or, so far as is known, to the Bechuanaland Government, and it follows that no recognition has been given by the Colonial Office. As regards the last paragraph of the question, I am unable to give the hon. Member any further answer than that given on Tuesday by my right hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Do the Government adhere to the answer given in this House on the 9th of June, 1888, that the sphere of British influence in that latitude extends to 20 deg. East longitude?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will give notice of that question.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he can state how many poor rate defaulters there were in the combination of Govan, Scotland, on the 20th June, 1889; how many of them subsequently paid their rates; what was the amount due on the said date; and what was the amount ultimately lost to the funds of the combination through defaulters during the year; and also the same particulars with regard to the barony and city parishes of Glasgow respectively?

I have already given the hon. Member this information, as regards the combination of Govan. In the barony parishes the number of defaulters was 12,621, of whom G26 subsequently paid. The amount due was £1,155 2s. 5½d., and the amount ultimately lost was £1,059 13s. 4½d. In the city parish the figures are respectively 8,780, 228, £879 0s. 3d. and £857 7s. 6d.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether there is any rule in the Postal Service prohibiting a postmaster from being a member of a Town Council?

In reply to the hon. Baronet I have to state that there is no rule prohibiting a postmaster from being a member of a Town Council in a borough in which he resides, provided his official duties are not interfered with thereby.

Does the same rule apply to Town Councils that have become County Councils under the Local Government Act?

There is a general rule prohibiting all Civil servants from becoming members of County Councils.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the admitted preference of the great majority of Militia commanding officers for the old system of preliminary drill, he will consider the question of allowing the Regulations to be elastic, so thatbattalions which are unable to obtain recruits under present arrangements may resort to the former plan?

In February last I presented to this House a very valuable Report on the Militia, and at pages 17 to 19 my hon. Friend will find the question of preliminary drill fully discussed. The Regulations allow of preliminary drill when a minimum number of recruits elect to be so drilled; but it is held to be of great importance for recruiting that the option should rest with the men, and from the Report it appears that 80 per cent. of them prefer to drill at the depôt at a time when work is slack and their wage-earning power at its lowest.

I beg to give notice that, as this question affects very much the interests of recruiting for the Militia in my county, I will direct attention to the question upon the Vote.

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many seizures of smuggled goods were made by Customs officials in the year 1879 and the year 1889; also the number of seizures made by the Excise officials in the latter year after the smuggled goods had run the gauntlet of the Customs; and what steps he proposes to take to check smuggling, in the interests of legitimate trade and the revenues of the country?

The number of seizures of smuggled goods made by Customs officials in 1879 and 1889 were 1,307 and 4,756 respectively, while 157 seizures were further effected by the Excise officials in the latter year, consisting principally of small quantities of tobacco taken from sailors in Liverpool public houses. The increase in the number of seizures is due chiefly to the introduction of new arrangements in 1888 for checking petty smuggling, and it does not appear necessary to add to the measures which have produced so satisfactory a result.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has yet received any Report from Admiral Sir W. Dowell, K.C.B., as to the inquiry held into the conduct of Commander Annesley on board the Icarus; and whether he can state the result of such inquiry?

The Report of the Court of Inquiry has been carefully considered by the Admiralty. The investigation was a full one, and both officers and men had every opportunity of giving evidence upon the charges formulated in a letter written by the hon. Gentleman, which placed in a tangible and compact form the various allegations made by certain newspapers against Commander Annesley. Evidence was produced in support of the charge, that a punishment not recognised in the Service had been inflicted upon a writer named Cecil Dean, though it was asserted that the writer had been guilty of grossly insubordinate and mutinous conduct. I have therefore directed a charge to be made on this count against Commander Annesley, to he tried by Court Martial, in order that the whole facts of the case may be elicited. The other charges were either not supported by reliable evidence or were of such a trivial character as not to call for further action.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will lay upon the Table the two telegrams of 23rd January and 1st February, 1889, referred to in Sir A. E. Havelock's Despatch of 11th February of that year, on Zulu affairs; and whether he can state exactly what proposal is referred to in the following paragraph of Lord Knutsford's telegram to Sir A. Havelock of 5th February, 1889, which paragraph has been omitted from that telegram as printed in the Blue Book, but appears incidentally elsewhere:—

"In answer to your telegram of the 1st February proposed removal of Dinizulu, by force or surreptitiously undesirable,"

and by whom such a proposal was made?

Dinizulu had appealed to the Privy Council against the validity of the Warrant by which, under Colonial Law, he had been removed for trial in Znlnland from Natal, where he was in legal custody. The Secretary of State, by the telegram of January 23, suggested that, under the circumstances, he should be sent back to the custody of the Natal Police. The Governor, in reply, stated in the telegram of February 1st that there "was no way of sending him back except by force or surreptitiously, and asked whether it was wished that that course should be taken. It is fair to the Governor to state that he did not advocate this step; and the answer to his question was given in the negative, as quoted by my hon. Friend. The telegrams contained other confidential matters, and were not intended for publication. No action was taken upon the suggestion I have mentioned, which was in any event unnecessary; for as Her Majesty's Government were subsequently advised a Warrant, in substance the same asthat under which Dinizulu was removed, might lawfully have been made under Section 35 of the Fugitive Offenders Act, so that his grievance was technical and his injury (if any) only nominal. I shall be happy to show the telegrams to my hon. Friend, but it seems unnecessary to publish them.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, since Her Majesty's Government has decided that Admiral Colomb's claims in respect of his invention of Hashing signals were barred by a document in the following terms which he signed in January, 1870, and gave to the then Under Secretary of State for War, Lord Northbrook, in receipt for £500 paid him—

"In discharge of all claims on account of signal arrangements for land service and for joint Naval and Military use,"

the First Lord has had submitted to him a letter from Lord Northbrook stating that the document was. not intended to have the effect attributed to it, and a copy of a legal opinion of Sir H. James, dated February, 1890, in the following terms:—

"Admiral Colomb had not, in either letter or spirit, accepted the sums received by him in full satisfaction of all his claims;"

and whether the question referred to the Treasury for consideration is still the validity of Admiral Colomb's claim for compensation, or solely the amount of such compensation?

AdmiralColomb has submitted to the Admiralty the Papers referred to; but, as the question of this officer's claims is still under consideration, I must decline to make any statement as to the action taken by the Admiralty in the matter.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been drawn to an article in the New York Herald, London edition, of 13th May, on "The Post Office and Betting;" whether he could have a Return prepared showing the proportion of betting telegrams to the rest of the messages conveyed through the Post Office telegraphs; whether it is true that at a great many offices more than half the business done is betting busi- ness, and on the days of great races the more legitimate messages are greatly delayed by the mass of telegrams which come pouring into and from betting agencies; and whether he sees his way to prevent this use of the Telegraph Department?

I do not think it would be desirable or proper for me to discriminate between the different classes of telegrams intrusted to the Post Office for transmission, and I could not, therefore, undertake to prepare such a Return as that asked for. I have no reason to think that what the hon. Member terms "legitimate messages" are delayed by "betting telegrams." Every endeavour is made by the Telegraph Department to meet any pressure of business; but I shall be glad to consider any suggestions which the hon. Member may wish to make to the Department in connection with this subject.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the third paragraph of the question, as to the character of the business at many of the offices, and the delay of the more legitimate business.

I am not in a position to answer the question. I have already pointed out that it is not in accordance with the duties of the Department to discriminate between business of one kind and another.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the recent establishment in Lancashire, and elsewhere, of an important manufacturing process for the extraction of sulphur from the tank-waste of alkali works, steps will be taken to include this and similar operations involving the production of noxious gases under the provisions of the Alkali Act?

This matter has been receiving my attention, and I have given directions for the preparation of a Bill on the subject.

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education if any stops have as yet been taken to create the body of 43 by which the new and much enlarged Christ's Hospital will in future be administered; and whether it has been arranged that the two Members, each representing the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and London respectively, shall be named before the commencement of their long vacations?

My right hon. Friend will see that, until the scheme has received Her Majesty's assent in Council, it would be premature to take any such steps or to make any such arrangements as those suggested by the question.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he will give his consent to the issue of a Return of the names of all Railway Stations in the United Kingdom at which the Railway Companies undertake to receive telegrams for transmission from the public; and, if not, whether he will give instructions that a list of all such Railway Stations shall be published in future editions of the Postal Guide?

I do not think such a Return as that asked for by the hon. Member would be of public utility; but I shall be happy to consider whether the information already given in pages 33 to 122 of the Post Office Guide cannot be made more complete in this respect. I may mention that the Index to Brad-shaw's Guide shows all the stations at which public telegraph business is transacted on behalf of the Postmaster General.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether information has reached him that the Mission Stations of the Free Church of Scotland and the London Missionary Society at Bandawe and other stations northward on Lake Nyassa have received no mails or letters since October 1889; whether those mails have been detained by the Portuguese Authorities at Quilimane; and whether representations will be made to the Portuguese Government to prevent the detention of mails in the future?

Owing to the recent disturbed condition of certain portions of territory in the regions mentioned postal irregularities must have occurred; but Her Majesty's Government have no information directly bearing out the statement made in the hon. Member's question. The matter will, however, be inquired into.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the fiscal changes which have been arranged for in the Convention with the Kingdom of Greece will come into operation; and whether the reductions in the tariff on imported articles, conceded by the Greek Government, as explained in the Budget speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will be limited to British productions, or whether the like advantages will be enjoyed by any other countries under the "most favoured nation" conditions?

The British duty on currants was reduced on May I. I believe that the reciprocal reductions in the Greek tariff came into force a day or two later. Those reductions will apply also to the importations from other countries which have a right under Treaty to the privileges of the most favoured nation, and which do not enjoy similar terms by separate Conventions. But the articles in the Greek tariff selected for reduction were those which are imported in the largest measure from this country, and upon which, according to those best informed, the greatest benefit would be conferred on British trade.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether it has been brought to his notice that, last Monday night, a heavy piece of a stone heraldic animal suddenly fell from the exterior of this building close to the entrance to Westminster Hall, in Old Palace Yard; that, not many days ago, a portion of the ornamental stonework fell close to the Members' Entrance; and that another portion of the stonework was detached in New Palace Yard; and whether, in view of the danger to the lives and limbs of Members and others from such accidents, he will cause an investigation to be made into the condition of the exterior ornamental stonework?

It is true that a piece of stone which formed the shoulder of the Unicorn at St. Stephen's Entrance fell on Monday night last. An examination shows that there had been a, defect (technically called a "vent") in the stone which would not be easily seen when in position. This portion of the building was examined and repaired from top to bottom in 1878, and is in good condition with the exception of the two heraldic figures, which have a weather-worn appearance and have evidently been carved out of soft stone. These figures will be renewed within the present year. It is also the fact that a piece of the ornamental stonework at the entrance of the Star Chamber Court fell a few days since. Steps have already been taken for an examination and repair of these portions of the building during the Whitsuntide Recess. A complete examination and repair of the whole of the stone work of the Palace is in progress, and upwards of three-fourths-of it has been finished, the workmen being at present engaged on the Victoria Tower. I may, however, observe that in a highly ornamental structure, such as the Houses of Parliament, it is impossible to discover every defect that may exist in the carved stonework, however carefully the examination may be made.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the architect of this extremely ugly new building has been retained for the science and art building in Dublin?

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there have been complaints of the annoyance caused by the firing, by the Naval Reserve, of heavy guns on the shore at New Brighton, Liverpool; whether he is aware that as the result of the firing serious damage has been done to property in the neighbourhood; and whether, if on inquiry ho finds these complaints to be well founded, he will take steps to have the firing carried on further westward on the coast, where no annoyance would result?

The Royal Naval Reserve are in the habit of practising from a nine pounder field gun from the beach at New Brighton, but no complaints on the subject have reached the Admiralty. It seems improbable that the firing of a gun of this size, whoso maximum charge of powder is under 2 lbs., could inflict serious damage to property in the vicinity, but I have directed an inquiry to be made into the circumstances.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the evidence of the Chairman of the Board of Customs before the Commission on Civil Establishments, that three Surveyor Generals of Customs were necessary to carry out the duties of that Department, and provision for this number is made in the Estimates, in filling up the vacant office, due regard will be given to the practical experience in Custom House work of the officers in the out-door department of that Service?

My hon. Friend may rely that if it be found necessary to make an appointment to the post mentioned the Commissioners of Customs will give due regard to all the qualifications necessary to ensure the selection of the most efficient officers.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make inquiries into alleged breaches of the Factory Acts in the West Drayton and Tver brickfields, whereby men are compelled to work without meal hours?

I am informed by the Chief Inspector of Factories that no complaints have reached him. If the matter complained of relates to the employment of men only, it would not be within the scope of the Factory Act, which in no way interferes with the labour of men, and their hours of meals.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that during the last few months, in the greater number of the cities and towns in the country, the carcasses of animals found to have been affected, however slightly, with tuberculosis are now condemned as unfit for human food, although the scientific inquiry which the Government is now instituting will probably occupy many months; and whether, in view of the fact that under this system the loss to the butchers is the same as if it had been already determined that such meat is harmful as food, the Government will consider the question of compensating the butchers whose carcasses are destroyed before the inquiry has been completed?

Has the inquiry mentioned in the question yet been held, and on what lines is it to be carried on?

I am aware that it has been stated that carcasses of animals affected by tuberculosis are condemned as unfit for human food, although I have no official information on the subject. I am afraid I cannot come under any engagement such as that asked for in the latter portion of the question. As the hon. Gentleman is no doubt aware, the Government are not empowered to award compensation in such cases.

I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether Mr. George Sandes, late J.P. for the County of Kerry, is Receiver, under an order of Judges Monro and Boyd, for the estates of The Fitz-Maurice, G. E. Collis, esquire, The O'Donohue, and of other gentlemen; and whether it is contemplated to remove him from these Receiverships, in view of the fact that he has been removed from the Magistracy?

The appointment and removal of Receivers under the Land Judges' Court is vested in the Court, and the Executive Government have no right to make any communication to the Judges with regard to the exercise of their judicial functions.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on the 24th April last the Land Commissioners (No. 6 Sub-Commission), whilst inspecting holdings on the Greaves Cathrew Estate at Dunard, Baltinglass Union, County Wicklow, drove the landlord and his bailiff from holding to holding on the Commissioners' car, although they were visiting the lands in their judicial and official capacity; that, although the tenant gave evidence as to value and produced an experienced valuer, the landlord elected not to do so; whether the judicial rents fixed by Land Commissioners on the holdings of Francis and Thomas Redding were 22½ and 47½ per cent. over the Government valuation; whether the rents on the Bookey estate, adjoining Reddings' land, were reduced to from 35 to 50 per cent. below the Government valuation; and, if he can explain this difference in the judicial rents on adjoining estates?

The Land Commissioners report that the Assistant Commissioners who inspected the holdings on Mr. Graves Cathrew's property at Donard state that as Mr. Cathrew had no conveyance they, after inspecting one holding, asked him to accept a seat on their car to the other holdings, which were some distance off. They did so it order to save the time which would have been lost by driving on and waiting for Mr. Cathrew. It was getting' late' and they' had other holdings to inspect. The Commissioners think that the Assistant Commissioners, under the circumstances, acted properly in giving Mr. Cathrew a seat on the car. The Assistant Commissioners, having heard the evidence in Court, and inspected the holdings, and considered all the circumstances of the case, fixed what they considered fair rents. The Commissioners cannot enter into any statement concerning the judicial rents fixed by the Assistant Commissioners or by themselves in Court in the exercise of judicial functions.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the proceeding of the Commissioners was a proper one?Acting as they were as Judges, was it right that they should favour either one side or the other?

Order, order! The hon. Member is asking for an expression of opinion which is not within the limits of a question.

Is it not usual on such occasions for the landlord to provide himself with a car?Is it upon record that the Sub-Commissioners ever gave a tenant such a ride upon a car?

I am not aware that such questions are made a matter of record.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Commission appointed by the Board of Works to inquire into schemes for light railways in County Donegal agreed to a unanimous Report; and, if not, whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a Copy of the minority Report?

I must ask the hon. Member to defer the question until tomorrow.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the fact that, on the 21st April last, when Father Humphry stood talking to Mr. Gill, of Nenagh (in streets of New Tipperary), the policeman, who is alleged to have told them rudely to "move on," and was asked his name, gave the name of Moran, though his true name is Leonard; did he refuse to say where he was stationed, and why; what are the regulations of the Force as to giving their name and address when asked; is it the fact that, on the 22nd April, a policeman followed Father Humphry and whistled after him in an insulting manner, and refused to give his name, but on another occasion gave it as Wilson Williams, though in a prosecution in Court swore his name was William Welsh; has the duty been especially assigned to this constable, William Welsh, to walk by Father Humphry's side and keep step with him, whilst another constable walks a few feet behind keeping step with them; and, what is the name of the second constable?

On April 22nd Constable Leonard told the rev. gentleman to move away, he having spoken to the constable in an insulting manner when he was in the discharge of his duty. The clergyman did not ask the constable for his name, nor did the latter give a false name, nor refuse to state where he was stationed. There is no rule requiring a constable to give his name and address when asked, but it is customary to do so when a reasonable request is made for it. The statement in paragraph 4 of the question is not a fact. On the 21st April Constable Wilson was spoken to by Father Humphry for, as alleged, whistling after him, and on that occasion when the rev. gentleman asked him for his name he declined to give it, stating that the allegation was not the case. On that occasion the constable was engaged on duty unconnected with the rev. gentleman. On another occasion when he was on engaged on duty connected with the rev. gentleman he gave his proper name. He never swore in any Court that his name was Walsh. The rev. gentleman was watched by the police because he was believed to be engaged in promoting the illegal practice of boycotting in Tipperary. The constable referred to in the last paragraph appeared to be Dempsey.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to assert that Father Humphry is taking active steps to incite the tenants against the payment of rent in Ireland?

The rev. gentleman has written a letter to the papers admitting it.

If a constable refuses to give his name, will steps be taken to require him to do so?

I imagine that if a case were brought before the Police Authorities, in which a constable refused to give his name when asked to do so, under reasonable circumstances, they would deal with it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consent to the Irish Constabulary being numbered as they are in Belfast and Dublin?MB. A. J. BALFOUR: A similar question was put to me the other day, and I said the matter had often come on for discussion in this House without a decision being arrived at. It is impossible to discuss it now at question time.

If Father Humphry is engaged in illegal proceedings, why has he not been prosecuted?

Father Humphry will, no doubt, be prosecuted if sufficient evidence is laid before the Attorney General.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the first para-praph of my question.

I understand that on the 22nd, not 21st, April, the constable concerned was Constable Leonard, who, as I have already stated, was not asked his name. On 24th April Constable Moran was asked his name and gave it. He does not appear to have been asked his name on the 21st or 22nd April.

I beg to give notice that in the course of the evening I will call attsntion to the whole of these proceedings.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what is the cause of the delay on the part of the Local Government Board in sanctioning the appointment made, so far back as the 26th of March last, by the Athy Board of Guardians, of a sub-sanitary officer for Castledermot?

The delay arose owing to a subsequent proposal from the Board of Guardians to constitute Castledermot a relief district, in which case, according to the usual practice, the relief officer would probably have become the sanitary sub-officer. The Local Government Board having decided that the proposed change in the relief districts should not be made, the question of the appointment of the sanitary sub-officer for Castledermot is now being proceeded with.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will take steps to procure and place in the new Science and Art Buildings in Dublin a work of national and historical interest, namely, the statute in white marble of Thomas Davis, executed by Foley, formerly in the custody of the Royal Dublin Society, and at present suffering great injury from exposure to the weather in the grounds of the Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin?

I understand that this statue is at present in the charge of the authorities of Mount Jerome Cemetery; if they are willing to hand it over to the Science and Art Museum, my right hon. Friend the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education informs me that he will be glad to provide a place for it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence in endeavouring to obtain this statue in order to preserve it?

I am afraid that I have no influence with the authorities of the cemetery.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutentant of Ireland when the Bann Drainage Bill will be introduced?

I am afraid that, in the present state of public business, I am not in a position to give the hon. and learned Gentleman the information he asks for.

Did not this Bill form part of the remedial policy of the Government?

The Government certainly believed it to be part of a remedial policy. If the hon. and learned Gentleman desires to know why it has not already been passed I think he had batter ask his friends.

Why has it not been introduced?

Experience has shown that there is very little use in introducing Bills unless there is some prospect of passing them. The opposition they meet with usually renders that result impossible.

This Bill was introduced two years ago. Why have the Government brought in later Bills, such as the Land Purchase Bill?

Order, order!

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a Petition has been received by the Secretary of State for the Colonies from landowners and others in the Island of Tobago, praying that an independent Commission of Judges should inquire into grievances which they allege to have arisen in Tobago in consequence of recent judicial decisions in that island, some of which, they complain, are in direct contravention of the Metayer Ordinance of 1888; and, if so, whether any action will be taken in consequence of that Petition; and whether a Copy of the Petition will be laid upon the Table of the House?

No such Petition has been received, but the Secretary of State has received from persons in England connected with Tobago a copy of a Petition from planters and other persons in Tobago to the Queen in Council, complaining of recent judicial decisions in that island, which has not yet been received from the colony. The attention of the Secretary of State has been directed to the great amount of recent litigation in Tobago, in connection with the Metayer system, and he has instructed the Governor of the colony to appoint a Commission to inquire into the working of the system. Until a Petition is received it would be premature to say whether any action will be taken upon it, or whether it will be laid before the House.

I desire to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Select Committee which he undertook on Tuesday should be appointed to inquire into the comparative incidence of taxation in Ireland and Scotland will also be empowered to inquire into such incidence in Wales, so as to have a complete comparison of the incidence of taxation in the four countries which constitute the United Kingdom?

I do not propose to refer any questions to the Committee as to Wales separately from the rest of the Kingdom.

May I ask whether there are any reasons why Wales should not be treated separately?

Wales has never been treated in that manner. But if Wales were, for fiscal purposes, treated as not being a part of England, I should think that Welshmen would very much regret it.

May I ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, under existing arrangements, the country of Bamangwato, in South Africa, is within the sphere of British influence; whether Her Majesty's Government are in possession of information that Moremi, the ruler of that country, has granted concessions to British subjects owing to that fact; and whether Her Majesty's Government have received any communication from Mr. Arthur James Nicolls on the subject; and, if so, what answer have they sent to him?

The country of the Bamangwato, Khama's tribe, is under British protection and influence. Moremi, chief of the Batawana, residing near Lake Ngami, has granted concessions to British subjects. There is no official information as to whether Moremi was influenced by the belief that his country was under British influence when he gave these concessions. Mr. Nicolls and his partners have communicated through their attorneys in South Africa with the High Commissioner on the subject, but no answer has yet been returned to them.

I wish to ask the President of the Local Government Board how many Sanitary Authorities have adopted "The Notification of Infectious Diseases Act, 1889;"and what is the total number of Sanitary Authorities?

The Board have been informed that 469 Urban Sanitary Authorities, 331 Rural Sanitary Authorities, and 18 Port Sanitary Authorities have adopted the Notification of Infectious Diseases Act, 1889. This makes a total of 818 Authorities who have adopted the Act. The total number of urban, rural, and port sanitary districts is 1,624. The population, according to the Census of 1881, of the districts in which the Act is in force, exclusive of the Metropolis, is 15,463,000. There are also 56 towns, with a population of 3,751,000, where, under the provisions of local Acts, the system of notification is in operation. The result is that out of a total population, according to the Census of 1881, of 25,970,000 the population subject to a system of notification is now 19,214,000.

May I ask whether there is any hope that the Act will be made compulsory throughout the country next Session?

No doubt the time-will arrive when it must be considered whether the Act ought not to be made compulsory; but I doubt whether we should be justified in making the system compulsory so soon after the passing of the Act.

I wish to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to a Circular issued by the late Captain Plunkett, Divisional Commissioner for Munster, to District Inspectors Royal Irish Constabulary, of which the following is an extract, as regards publicans:—

"D.I.

Boycotting.

In any prominent case of boycotting in your district, especially in a case where the person boycotted is under police protection, the proper steps to take are:—

I. Get person boycotted to consent to go with police and demand supplies from those who have refused or are likely to refuse him, and more especially if such person refusing is a publican:

II. If he consents send with him one or two intelligent policemen with in. structions to note carefully anything said and done;"

will he inquire from the Irish Office why "publicans" were directed to be singled out for prosecution; and will the special directions as regards licensed traders now be withdrawn?

The hon. and learned Member will realise that the matters referred to in the question are not such as in any way come within the jurisdiction of my Department, and therefore I cannot give him any information with regard to them.

I ask the right hon. Gentleman the question, because of its bearing on the Licensing Bill. Publicans in Ireland are to be singled out for prosecution, according to this circular, and may lose all right to compensation.

As I have frequently said, the Bill makes no alteration what- ever in the position of holders of licences. They may lose their licences under the existing law for offences such as the hon. Member refers to.

Would the right hon. Gentleman have any objection to use his influence with the Irish Government to get a stop put to the special prosecution of publicans referred to in this circular, in view of the introduction of this Bill, which, at any rate, favours the publicans of England and Scotland?Why should publicans in Ireland be singled out for prosecution any more than they are in England?

The Irish publicans will be in no way worse off than the English publicans. In each case, if there was cause of complaint, there would have to be a representation made against renewal of licence.

I desire to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, can he now give, as regards the pay of Ordnance Survey Staff, the percentage of increases to staff employed, and average rate of increase, during the past three years, i.e., 1887, 1888, and 1889, and the same information for 1884, 1885, and 1886?

I have inquired further into this matter, but the headquarters of the Ordnance Survey Office being in Southampton, I have not yet been able to procure the information the hon. Member desires. I have asked, however, for a Return, which I expect to receive shortly, and which I hope will contain all the information he asks for.

I wish to ask the Postmaster General if he can (with the view of saving hon. Members the trouble of affixing postage stamps to the large number of letters which they write in the House of Commons) see his way to authorise the issue, from the Post Office in the House, of envelopes embossed with stamps of the more generally employed values, to be purchaseable by them at the face value of the stamp, the envelope being included without charge?

I am already in communication with the authorities of the House with a view, if possible, to the adoption of some arrangement which would practically meet the wishes of my noble Friend.

I wish to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, now that the station-master at Carrickmacross has surrendered the evicted house, and the boycott has in consequence been removed from the Great Northern Local Railway, the Government will mark their sense of the restoration of peace in the town by releasing the three gentlemen sentenced to six months' imprisonment for boycotting the line?

I understand that it is the case that the railway company having completed the building of the house for their station master he has removed into it from the house which he had temporarily occupied during its construction. The Lord Lieutenant is not aware of anything in the circumstances of the case of the prisoners referred to which would suggest any interference with the course of the law.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, in view of Section 211 (1.) (b.), and Section 230 of "The Public Health Act, 1875,"whereby it is enacted that the

"Occupier of any land used as arable, meadow, or pasture ground only, or as woodlands, market gardens, or nursery grounds,"

shall be assessed to the general district rate in an urban district, or to a separate rate levied in respect of special expenses within the meaning of the said Act in a rural district, in the proportion of one-fourth part only of the net annual value or rateable value of such land, whether allotments are or are not included among the lands to which the aforesaid exemptions apply?

The question whether an allotment should be assessed on a reduced assessment is one of law, and one which can only be determined with reference to the actual circumstances with regard to the particular allotment. Any claim to exemption must depend on whether or not the land is so used as to bring it within the terms of the sections alluded to in the Public Health Act, which confers the exemption on the occupier of any land used as arable, meadow, or pasture ground only, or as woodlands, market gardens, or nursery grounds.

I desire to ask the Lord Advocate when the Secretary for Scotland expects to be able to give an answer to the deputation of Scottish Members who waited on him on 28th March on the subject of the School Board Elections (Scotland) Bill?

Shortly after Whitsuntide.

I would ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is correct that there are to be combined naval and military manoeuvres off Dover during Whitsuntide; if so, will he state how many ships and troops are to be employed, and the intended nature of the tactics; and whether it is true that the Channel and reserve squadrons are to take part in the combined German naval and military manoeuvres which it is reported are to be held in the Baltic in the autumn?LORD G. HAMILTON: Arrangements have been made for carrying out certain manoeuvres in the neighbourhood of Dover at Whitsuntide, in which the Navy will take part; and four of Her Majesty's ships have been ordered to be at Dover on the 26th inst. I am unable to say what the exact nature of the combined operations will be, but the senior naval officer has received directions to communicate with the officer commanding the South-Eastern District as to the part the Navy are to take on the occasion. There is no truth in the rumours alluded to in the second part of the question.

I would ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether it was on the ground of apprehended flight that Colonel Long bourne, R.M., refused bail to Mr. Rice and Mr. Kent at Fermoy, pending the hearing at Petty Sessions of a charge of intimidating an emergency man; and whether Resident Magistrates will be instructed not to refuse bail, under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, except on this ground, especially when the Queen's Bench is not sitting?

The facts are, I am informed, as follows:—The Resident Magistrate offered to accept bail in regard to both the defendants named if they would give an undertaking, pending their trial, not to interfere with the men who were working on certain lands; on their refusing to give this undertaking bail was refused. The Executive Government cannot interfere with the discretion of Magistrates in the manner suggested in the concluding portion of the question.

Why were summonses not issued against these gentlemen, one of whom was a brother of the Local Crown Prosecutor?

That does not arise out of my answer. If the hon. Member desires information on this matter I will obtain it.

I will call attention to this matter on the Vote on Account.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, as Article 11 of the Sugar Convention provides that—

"The Convention shall be ratified and the ratifications exchanged in London on the 1st of August, 1890, or sooner, if possible,"

there is any intention of ratification without the consent of Parliament, as an implied condition in the earlier part of the same. article; and whether the Convention ceases to exist if the ratifications are not interchanged at the specified date?

It is always open to Powers to ratify a Treaty they have made, even though the day fixed for ratification shall have passed by.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether there is any intention on the part of the Government to ratify the Convention without the consent of Parliament?

I think liberty must be reserved by Her Majesty's Government to act as they may think necessary in the event of other Powers ratifying the Convention.

Am I to infer from the answer of the right hon. Gentleman that the Government consider themselves at liberty to ratify the Convention without the consent of Parliament?

I must have notice of that question.

It is on the Paper.

I will look into the matter.

I will put the question down for to-morrow.

I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that Parliament has legislated separately for the Principality in various cases, and also of the importance of obtaining accurate statistical information for such legislation and for other purposes, the Government will take steps to secure that all Returns made to Parliament shall in future, so far as is practicable, give statistics for Wales and Monmouthshire under distinct and separate heads from those for England, as is now done in the cases of Scotland and Ireland?

I am not aware of the statistical information the hon. Member refers to, nor am I aware of any occasion for making a change in the form in which Returns are presented to the House. It is our desire to give the fullest information to the House as to every part of the United Kingdom.

I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can state in what order, and when, the different Classes of Votes will be taken?

Class V. will be taken first after the Recess—that is to say, if there be a Recess. I cannot say more now.

When will the Committee stage of the Local Taxation Bill be taken?

It will not be taken before the Thursday after the House meets—that is, if there should be a holiday.

I would ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the telegram of the 8th of May on the case of Hassan Bey, who outraged a Greek girl, which said,

"That as the Russian Consul has made a protest against the action taken by the Magistrate in the matter, it is highly probable that the Magistrate has dealt with the case in an unsatisfactory manner;"

and whether he will ascertain whether the case has been tried already and judgment given, what that judgment was, and what was the ten our of the protest of the Russian Consul?

The hon. Member has already called my attention to the telegram in question. I must say that Her Majesty's Government cannot undertake to investigate the truth of the Daily News telegrams. Her Majesty's Consul received special instructions to watch the proceedings in the case referred to, and had there been an apparent intention to evade its just examination he would have reported accordingly.

I wish to ask the Postmaster General whether, seeing that the income of the Post Office, according to the Official Statement for the year ended:51st March, 1890, was £9,450,000, and the expenditure only £5,463,204, showing a surplus of £3,986,796, he will, in view of the desirableness of disseminating amongst the constituencies accurate political information, arrange for Members of Parliament sending to their constituents Parliamentary Papers, not exceeding 4oz. weight, without payment of postage?

I have no power to grant any hon. Member the privilege of franking Parliamentary Papers or any other correspondence, the franking privilege having been abrogated by the Penny Postage Act, 3 and 4 Vic, cap. 96. But I shall be willing to consider if any additional facilities can be given for the dissemination of Parliamentary Papers.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary for the Colonies whether, under Article 9 of the Australasian agreement as to the completion for sea of certain men-of-war, it is provided that—

"This agreement shall he considered to become actually binding between the Imperial and the several Colonial Governments so soon as the Colonial Legislatures shall have passed Acts appropriating the necessary funds;"

and whether all, or which, of the Colonial Governments concerned have passed such Acts?

My hon. Friend has correctly interpreted the terms of the article in question. All the Colonial Governments concerned— Queensland excepted—have passed the necessary Acts.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary whether there is any truth in the report that a meeting which is proposed to be held next Sunday at Tipperary, and which is to be addressed by the hon. Members for Cork and East Mayo, is to be proclaimed?

I have no very full details of the objects of the meeting before me yet, but certainly if an open air meeting is to be held in Tipperary in its present condition, and inflammatory speeches are likely to be made, it will, undoubtedly, lead to intimidation, and any such meeting must be stopped.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state what is the difference between a meeting addressed by Irish Members and a meeting addressed by English Members?

I do not know what meeting the hon. Gentleman alludes to. If he alludes, as perhaps he does, to the banquet at New Tipperary, I may remind him that that banquet did not take place in the open air. [An hon. MEMBER: There was a meeting outside.] Two meetings which were to have been addressed by the hon. Member for North-East Cork were stopped for the reason I have just indicated to the House. If the right hon. Gentleman asks me generally what is the difference between meetings addressed by Irish Members and meetings addressed by English Members, I should say that the result in the one case is to produce intimidation, and that in the other the result is nil.

Are we to understand that the deciding consideration is whether a meeting is held in the open air or not?

Undoubtedly that is one of the considerations. The difference between these mass meetings in the open air, at which inflammatory speeches are delivered, and a meeting held in a building is, as the right hon. Gentleman well knows, vital.

I wish to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that before the banquet at New Tipperary a very large open air meeting was held, at which speeches of the usual character were made.

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers I should like to ask him whether detectives were sent from Dublin to attend the open air meeting by orders from the Castle?

No, Sir. My recollection is that the promoters of the new Tipperary demonstration were informed that there was not to be an open air meeting, and that as far as their programme consisted of a banquet, it would not be interfered with.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the open air meeting took place in the public square of New Tipperary, that an address was presented by the people of that town to the English visitors, and to the Irish Members of Parliament there attending,. and that this address was replied to, amongst others, by the hon. Member for Leicester, the hon. Member for North-East Cork, the hon. Member for Mid Tipperary, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and several mayors from other parts of Ireland; and whether, that being the case, the right hon. Gentlemen still persists in denying that a public meeting took place in the open-air in new Tipperary on April 12th?

Before that is answered may I ask whether the same laws apply to public meetings in Ireland as well as England, because, if they do, there will be no difficulty in suppressing the meeting, as we shall have the Front Bench on this side in accord with the Government.

Is it not the case that it is only a short time since this meeting took place, and that since then there has been nothing dangerous in the state of New Tipperary; and is it just to declare that the effect of speeches made there by English ladies and gentlemen was nil?

I have no ground for thinking that the speeches referred to ought to be described by a more complimentary term than that which fell from me. So far as I can recollect the meeting referred to was very subsidiary to the main feature of the demonstration, which was the banquet.

I rise to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether I am to be allowed to address my constituents on Sunday or not?

The right hon. Gentleman has not yet said whether the proclamation of the meeting has, or has not, been determined upon. I may say that not only my hon. Friend below me, but the four Members for Tipperary County intend to use this meeting for the purpose of discussing public affairs with their constituents.

I think the hon. Gentleman must be well aware that there is no objection whatever to hon. Members addressing their constituents on public affairs. There is an objection, however, to large open air demonstrations in a town where intimidation has existed, and does exist to a large extent, where vile crimes are constantly perpetrated, and where there is reasonable ground for supposing that such a meeting would add to the evils I have indicated. I am afraid that an open air meeting held at the time mentioned, even though it might be addressed by the hon. Member for Tipperary, could not be permitted.

One more question. Did the great open air meeting held lately have any bad consequences?

I have already told the hon. Gentleman that what he describes as an open air meeting was not represented to me as such at all. The authorities distinctly gave notice that if the programme of the demonstration, the chief item of which was a banquet, was adhered to it would not be interfered with.

I wish to know whether the intimidation to which the right hon. Gentleman alludes consists of a peaceable surrender to the Member for Hunts of his property, and a peaceable taking possession of property which had been legally acquired?

The surrender-referred to was not necessarily an act of intimidation, but may have been the result of an act of intimidation.

I wish to ask the President of the Local Government Board a question, of which I have given him private notice, Can he give us any further particulars as to the public meeting at Bridgeton, Glasgow, at which he yesterday informed the House, a Resolution in favour of his proposals was passed, as no Report of such meeting appears in any of the Glasgow newspapers, and as inquiries at the police offices and the public halls have failed to elicit any information regarding it?

I received a telegram in the House shortly before I rose. I have no information beyond that which was conveyed to me in that telegram, which is as follows:—

"At public meeting in Bridgeton Division of Glasgow, held in Mechanics' Hall to day, it was unanimously resolved that this meeting heartily support the Government proposals as contained in Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Duties Bill as it now stands.

WILLIAM BROWN,

88, John Street,

Bridgeton."

I suppose we can understand that no business will be taken to-morrow, except the adjournment?

I am afraid I must ask the House to do some business. We must take the Inland Revenue Bill and the Report of the Committee on the Vote on Account, and in the event of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill not having been passed, and the Allotments Bill not having been completed, we shall ask the House to take those measures before we proceed with further business. We shall also have to ask the House to consent to a Motion for giving up the whole of Tuesdays and Fridays after Whitsuntide for Government business.

Assuming that all this be got through, the right hon. Gentleman's apprehensions as to our not having a holiday, I suppose, will fall through.

I hope I may not be supposed to be seeking to impose conditions on the House; I am rather seeking to further business, and to meet the convenience of the House. In the event of the Motion of which I have given notice being accepted, I shall move for an adjournment until Monday, the 2nd of June.

With regard to the Contagious Diseases Bill I would appeal to the right, hon. Gentleman not to take it before Whitsuntide.

I am sanguine enough to hope that a very few minutes' discussion will be enough for that Bill, and I must ask the House, if possible, to take it. It cannot come into operation for a considerable time, and it is of great importance that we should get it passed.

Is it intended to take the Savings Banks Bill to-night?

I hope it may be possible to take the Second Reading, and to refer the Bill to a Committee; but, of course, I will not ask the House to read it a second time unless there is a general disposition to do so.