I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he could call the attention of the Railway Companies running to London, and of the London County Council, to the sittings of the Agricultural Commission, and inquire whether they had any proposals to lay before that body, or suggestions to make to it, of affording increased market facilities in London for country produce likely in their judgment to alleviate the existing agricultural depression?

It is fully within the competence of the Agricultural Commission to call for any evidence or to ask for any suggestions which they may deem necessary, and it is for the Commission to consider the suggestion of my hon. Friend, and my right hon. Friend the Chairman of the Commission has promised to do this.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Clerk of the Peace for the County of Leitrim invited tenders for the printing of the register of Parliamentary voters in the county for the year 1894; in what papers and on what dates did the notice inviting tenders appear; when was a tender accepted, and by whom; will he direct the Clerk of the Peace for the County of Leitrim to issue in due time each year in future advertisements calling for tenders for the printing of the Register of Parliamentary voters for the county; and will he also direct that the tenders be opened in public?

The Clerk of the Peace reports that he did not invite tenders for the year 1894, as he could not find any statute compelling or authorising him to do so. He states that an application will be submitted to the next Presentment Sessions, and, if passed, the Secretary to the Grand Jury will take steps to insert notices in the newspapers in which county advertisements usually appear inviting tenders, which will be dealt with in open Court, in the same manner as tenders for other works.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state how many accounts remain unclaimed for 10 years in the seamen's savings banks, and the amount so unclaimed?

It is more convenient to give the information as to these accounts for the last 13 years. The number of accounts in the Seamen's Savings Banks which have not been operated on for 13 years is 537. The total amount of balances with interest to 20th November last is £11,866 6s. 9d.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of soldiers' billets during the last six months, the total amount paid, and the average payment per man per day, and per horse per day, to the licensed victuallers on whom the troops were billeted?

This information would have to he collected from a great many accounts and would take some time to compile. If the hon. Member sees any public advantage in the Return, and will move for it, I shall be happy to give him the information up to the latest date for which accounts have been received—probably the 30th of September.

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education if he can state whether there has been a substantial increase in the number of evening schools this winter in consequence of the new Regulations?

The number of evening schools claiming grant has risen this winter from just under 2,000 to considerably over 8,000.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether the Agricultural Commission proposes to inquire into the practicability of the establishment of district markets in London for agricultural produce by the Railway Companies and the Local Authorities conjointly, and to consider what legislation is necessary to effect that purpose if found desirable; if not, whether he will ask the Commission to consider the propriety of making such inquiry, as also as to the possibility and utility of establishing between each such district market and particular country markets telephonic communication?

The Agricultural Commission has not yet considered the question raised by my hon. and learned Friend, but I will undertake to bring it before them.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether arrangements have yet been made for the hoisting of a flag on the Tower of the Houses of Parliament during the daylight?

I beg leave to refer the hon. Member to the statement upon this subject which I made in the House on the 12th of September last, in reply to a question of the hon. Member for West Belfast.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on page 183 of The Labour Gazette of December it is stated that the wages of the miners of West Scotland increased in August by an amount Equal to 50 per cent, of that paid to them in July, and that in November a strike took place for a further increase; and whether this statement is correct?

Yes, Sir; it is correct.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Return for alternate months of the year of Railways (Times of Trains), issued by command for the year 1891, will be continued; and whether the Board of Trade has any power to compel the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company to keep better time with the trains on that railway?

I do not, as at present advised, propose to continue the Return of 1891. Lack of punctuality is not a matter with regard to which the Board of Trade have any powers of compulsion, but if any definite and reasonable complaint in reference to specific cases is brought under my notice I will communicate with the company concerned.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the new third-class carriages on the District Railway, in which the space allowed for passengers has been reduced so as to make it impossible for them to move with either comfort or decency; and whether he will use all the powers of his Department to compel the Railway Companies to secure better accommodation for third-class passengers?

No, Sir; I am not aware of any such alteration. The Company inform me that they have had no new third-class carriages since November, 1891; that the transverse space has not been reduced, but that the carriages are all constructed up to the extreme limit of the maximum dimensions for safe travelling in the tunnels. The width of the gangways of the compartments was increased in 1891 from 1 foot 8 inches to 1 foot 9½ inches. I have had no complaints on the subject.

On behalf of the hon. Member for West Cavan, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in estimating the security to the Treasury of the lands of Bernard Reilly and other purchasers, near Belturbet, the Laud Commission took into account the probable charge for the Lough Erne Drainage Scheme; and, if so, what estimate did they make of the probable amount of that charge?

The Irish Land Commissioners, when sanctioning in 1887 the advances in the cases referred to, had not before them the possible future liability of the lands in respect to the works indicated in the subsequent awards of the Commissioners of Public Works. The holdings were reported to be very ample security for the advances applied for, and it does not appear to the Commissioners that that security is in any way imperilled by reason of the liability in question.

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the grievances of the engine-room artificers of the Royal Navy in respect of pensions; and whether provision will be made in the Navy Estimates for their receiving a higher rate of pension than at present, or superannuation proportionate to their rank and pay for the time they have been in the service?

My attention has not been called to this matter, but in view of the high average pension (£54 15s.) a year already enjoyed by engine-room artificers, I am not prepared to admit that they have any grievance in regard to pension.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Admiralty adhere in all cases to Article 1402 of the Queen's Regulations, which prescribes that Staff-Commanders, Lieutenants, Sub-Lieutenants, Chief Gunners, Chief Boatswains, dinners and Boatswains are, after service on foreign stations, to be allowed one week's leave with the full pay of their respective ranks for every complete six months' service abroad, provided the absence shall not have been less than one year; and, if this Article is not in all cases adhered to and carried out, whether the Admiralty will consider the propriety of rescinding it?

(who replied) said: The Regulation is adhered to except in rare cases, where for strong Service reasons it is necessary to withhold the leave in question. It is not proposed to alter the practice heretofore followed.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can see his way to offer the services of his Department with the view of appointing a mediator in connection with the serious strike that has been going on amongst the steel-workers in Pontymister for some weeks, and which is not only causing great suffering in Pontymister itself but also affecting others?

This is a very regrettable dispute affecting the employés of a single firm. I have no reason to believe that intervention on the part of the Board of Trade would be acceptable, and in the absence of the necessary powers I cannot intervene.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if the War Department is prepared to cooperate with and assist the Local Authorities as regards the necessary drainage works at Sandgate?

Yes, Sir; the War Department will give, subject to a nominal acknowledgment, way-leave to the Sandgate Local Board to carry their drainage works across lands belonging to the War Department.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the complaints made with regard to the analysis of samples of milk submitted to the Government analysts at Somerset House; and what steps the Department of Agriculture are taking to protect dairy farmers against the injury done to them by the low standard of quality thus officially laid down?

The matter is not one in regard to which I possess any statutory powers, but I have from time to time brought under the notice of the Local Government Board and the Board of Inland Revenue the representations made to me on the subject. It is with those Departments that the decision in the matter must rest.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the heavy cost and annual tax which will fall on the Native landholders, British planters, and ryots of the thickly populated Province of Behar by the Cadastral Survey; and whether it is intended to educe this in any way by legislation?

The Secretary of State is aware that the cost of the Survey and Record of Rights in North Behar may reach about eight annas (or nearly 8d.) per acre. This cost will be incurred once for all; but it has not yet been finally decided what share of the cost will fall upon the landholders and ryots and what upon the Government. The cost of maintaining the Survey and Record of Rights, under the scheme now put forward, is limited to one-quarter anna per rupee of the annual value, that is to about 3¾d. in the £1 of the rental. Half of this (or less than 2d. in the £1) will fall on the landlords and half on the tenants. The charge is not considered heavy in proportion to the benefits secured; and no legislation is at present contemplated on the subject.

Then do I understand that that implies there will be a permanent extra 2d. in the £1 tax in this part of India?

Yes, Sir. A tax of 2d. in the £1 on the rental of laud is proposed.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland when the Report of the Census of Scotland (1891) was completed; whether the extra work done in connection therewith by the permanent officials engaged in its preparation was greater upon this occasion than was the case in connection with the Census of 1881; and whether such officials have all been paid for their extra labour and additional time expended by them on this work?

The Report of the Census of Scotland, 1891, was completed last September. The amount of extra work in connection with its preparation was, I am informed by the Registrar General, greater than on any previous occasion. It has been arranged that the officials, with the exception of the Registrar General himself, shall be paid for the extra labour and additional time expended by them on the work, but I am still in communication with the Treasury on certain points.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many tenants have been evicted in Ireland since the Evicted Tenants Commission sat last year; and whether the cases of these tenants will be included in the Bill promised to be brought in next Session?

Since January 1, 1893, the date on which the Evicted Tenants Commission ceased to entertain applications, 738 tenants and 250 sub-tenants have been actually turned out of their holdings. Of the former 11 were re-admitted as tenants on the day of eviction, and of the latter 80 were readmitted either as tenants or sub-tenants. There is no information as to the number which may have afterwards been readmitted. It is impossible at the present moment to discuss the scope of the Bill to be brought in next Session to deal with the evicted tenants case.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the correspondence concerning the annual "Thieves' Slipper"; and whether, seeing the opinion of Sir E. DuCane and others is so much opposed to the gathering in the interests of the prevention of crime, he can take steps to prevent or discourage them?

The terms "Thieves' Supper" appears to be a misnomer. I am informed that of the 150 boys present on the last occasion, only about 10 had been convicted, and all were gaining a livelihood by honest work, some Inning been in their situations for long periods. The matter is beyond my province. The object to be sought with regard to those who have fallen into ways of dishonesty and crime is to make them once more respectable members of society, but opinions differ as to the means to be adopted. My personal opinion is that large festive gatherings of a public character are not favourable to the end in view.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether, as now envelopes of all sizes can go through the post with circulars for one halfpenny stamp affixed to them, he will reconsider his decision and allow cards of certain dimensions to pass with a halfpenny adhesive stamp?

This matter was very carefully considered by the late Government, and I cannot depart from the decision then arrived at. The proper time to raise the question is when new contracts are required.

When will that be?

About three years hence.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate what steps are being taken to obtain the payment of the first instalment of the advances made to the Killarney Settlement of Crofters, who, according to the Report of the Colonisation Board, are prospering, and which was due in September, 1892; whether he can state the total amount advanced and the total amount due and unpaid; and whether it is proposed to arrange for any emigration in the spring of 1894?

The total amount of advances is approximately £12,050, none of which have practically been repaid. The agent of the Colonisation Board has been directed, if necessary, to take proceedings to recover the advances, but in connection with the Report recently received from Sir Charles Tupper, I am considering the desirability or otherwise of granting an extension of time for repayment. Having regard to what I have previously stated in this House, it is not at present proposed to carry out a further scheme of colonisation.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in several of the cases against persons charged before the Justices of the West Biding of Yorkshire, sitting at Barnsley, with rioting at Rockingham and Elscar, and subsequently sent by such Justices for trial at the recent Assizes at Leeds, the Justices refused to bind over material witnesses for the accused persons to appear and give evidence at such Assizes, so that the cost of such witnesses attending the Assizes could not be allowed or ordered to be paid out of the county or other public funds; and whether he will call the attention of the Lord Chancellor to the above facts if found to be as suggested, and to the Report of the Featherstone Inquiry Commission, with a view to strengthening the Barnsley Bench by fresh appointments, and also call the attention of such Bench to the law enabling accused persons to call material witnesses in their defence at the public cost?

It is the clear duty of Justices under 30 & 31 Vict., c. 35, s. 3, to bind over all witnesses called for the defence, not being witnesses merely to character, as have, in their opinion, given evidence in any way material or tending to prove the innocence of the accused person. This is, in my opinion, a duty of great importance in the administration of justice, and it can only be in a case where the evidence is obviously immaterial that the Magistrates are entitled to refuse to bind over the witness. The matter is, however, left by the statute in their discretion, and the Justices referred to inform me that, in case of certain of the prisoners, they did not consider the evidence of such a kind as would warrant them in binding over the witnesses. I cannot interfere with their discretion, and I have no materials before me which would enable mo to say whether it was wisely exercised. The Report of the Featherstone Commission will be duly considered by the Lord Chancellor, so far as it bears on the state of the Magistracy in the West Riding.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether it is not a fact that the Magistrates refused in this case to bind the witnesses over even before they heard them, saying they were immaterial because they were to be called to prove an alibi?

If my hon. Friend will put before me any facts I will carefully consider them.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the vacancy which has been created in the lieutenancy of Kildare by the death of the Duke of Leinster, whether, in view of the fact that the Bench in Kildare is mainly composed of landlords and Conservatives, while there are practically no men on the Bench in sympathy with the general body of the population, it is intended, in filling up the lieutenancy, to appoint some person whose views are in sympathy with the majority of the people of Kildare?

The question of filling the vacancy which has been created in the lieutenancy of Kildare is at present receiving the consideration of the Chief Secretary. He will give the matter careful attention before any recommendation is made.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has seen, in The Daily News of 18th December, a letter of the Rev. W. Urwick, of St. Albans, stating that whereas for many years Nonconformist ministers were allowed, without payment of fees, special facilities for inspecting the Nonconformist Registers of Births, Marriages, and Deaths which in 1837 were deposited with the Registrar General at Somerset House, such facilities are now denied, and the payment of fees is required; whether, as they were so deposited at the special request of the Registration Authorities, he will make such representations to the Registrar General as will secure for those who are specially interested in them the means of referring to these Registers without payment and without inconvenience; and whether the catalogue of Non-Parochial Registers, having been long out of print, can be reprinted and sold at a moderate price?

I have communicated with the Registrar General on the subject of the question, and he states that the Non-Parochial Registers were deposited in the General Register Office under authority given by the Non-Parochial Registers Acts, 3 & 4 Vict., c. 92, and 21 & 22 Vict., c. 25, and under the provisions of those Acts the Registrar General is directed to cause lists to be made of all the registers and records, and any person is entitled, on payment of the statutory fees, to make searches and to have certified copies of the entries in those registers and records, the sinus so received by or on account of the Registrar General being paid to the Treasury. The Registrar General states that it is true that in the early days of the formation of his Department facilities were given to properly introduced persons to inspect and take copies of Non-Parochial Registers for literary purposes only. But of late years he has had neither the necessary space at his command, nor the requisite staff to enable him to give those facilities, and he is obliged therefore to refuse all such applications, and to enforce strict compliance with the statutory regulations under which certified copies are given. The Registrar General further states that the lists of Non-Parochial Registers, which are prepared for official purposes only, are sufficient and in perfect order.

On behalf of the hon. Member for West Cavan, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the cases of William McCartan, an old man of 80, and Thomas and Henry Burden, two illiterate fishermen, from the barony of Mourne, who were arrested for taking seaweed below low water near Kilkeel, wading into the sea for the purpose, and who are now in Belfast Gaol, under an attachment issued by leave of the Vice-Chancellor for contempt of an order of the Chancery Division; whether the alleged rights of Lord Kilmorey and his licensees, under grant from the Crown, extend below low water; and whether having regard to the men's ignorance of the nature of proceedings in Chancery, and their inability to obtain legal aid, and to the rights of the Crown in the matter, he will order an inquiry to be made?

I understand that the landlord established in the Superior Courts, both in the interests of himself and his tenants, his absolute right to the seaweed along the Mourne shore. It appears that the three men referred to were, after repeated warnings, proceeded against and a writ of attachment for contempt of an order of the Superior Courts obtained. The matter is one in which the Executive Government has no power to interfere. Any representation on behalf of the men should be made to the committing Court.

So it seems that an ignorant old peasant of 80 is to be imprisoned for a long time for contempt of an order of the Court of Chancery in a very complicated matter! Would it not be possible to make any representations to secure his release?

That is a hardship which often occurs. But I imagine that any representation made should be made on behalf of the men themselves.

As it is an offence to gather seaweed in Ireland, is it equally an offence in England?

What I understand to have happened is this. An order was made by the Court of Chancery in Ireland declaring the rights of certain persons, and these men were arrested for disobedience to that order. The imprisonment has not taken place under the ordinary law.

Is there any means of getting the men released until the Vice-Chancellor consents to let them out?

The powers of the Superior Court are unlimited.

Has any application been made to the Vice-Chancellor on any undertaking by the men that the offence shall not be repeated?

I have no information as to that.

On behalf of the hon. Member for West Cavan, I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he will order, in the interest of the officials, also in the interest of the Public Service, that the revised Book of Rules recently issued to Head Postmasters shall be open to the inspection of the clerks of the Belfast Post Office, including those in the sorting department?

Before notice of this question appeared, I had already directed that a copy of the Book of Rules should be supplied to the staff of the Belfast Post Office.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the copy of the Register of the British South Africa Company, which is shortly to be laid upon the Table, is a complete copy of the entire Register, showing all the transfers which have taken place since the formation of the Company; and by whom the copy is being prepared?

The Return referred to will comprise the list of original shareholders in the British South Africa Company, including the members of the African Lakes Company, to all of whom shares were allotted under the agreement for the absorption of that Company by the Chartered Company; a list of the present shareholders in the Company made up to the 3rd of November last; and lists of the original and present shareholders in the United Concessions and Exploring Companies. The Returns are very voluminous. The list was copied by the Company from their Share Registers.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now say when the Draft Agreement as to the proposed money grant to the Bechuanaland Railway will be brought before the House; and when the promised opportunity will be given to discuss the matter before the grant is allowed?

The question is still in the stage of negotiation, and I cannot say when it will be completed.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Her Majesty's Government has obtained from the Law Officers of the Crown any opinion as to the rights to land (if any) possessed by the South Africa Chartered Company in Matabeleland, and from the concessions-of Lobengula; and whether, if so, he will lay upon the Table of the House the statement of the case submitted to-the Law Officers, together with their opinion thereon?

Her Majesty's Government have not consulted the Law Officers on the question, as it is one which does not appear to involve any difficult point of law.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether he has received any communication from the Mayor of Leeds as-to the warrant taken out by the relieving officer to the Bromley Guardians against Mr. Harrabin; whether he is aware that the clerk to the Guardians offered to give Mr. Harrabin's solicitors the warrant on payment of 27s. 9d.; and whether the-clerk to the Guardians sent a copy of that letter to the Local Government Board?

The Local Government Board have received a communication from the Mayor of Leeds as to the warrant taken out by the relieving officer of the Bramley Union against Mr. Harrabin. It appears to be the case-that in a letter of the clerk to the Guardians to the solicitor of Mr. Harrabin the clerk offered to give up the warrant on payment of 27s. 9d. A copy of this letter was sent to the Local Government Board by the clerk to the Guardians in reply to their inquiry in connection with the previous question of my hon. Friend. The sum of 27s. 9d. referred to, as the Board are informed by the clerk to the Guardians, was made up. of 21s. 9d. in respect of the relief given, by the Guardians to the wife, and 6s. the cost of taking out the warrant.

May I ask whether officers of Boards of Guardians have a right to take out warrants for the purpose of extorting money? Is it not their duty rather simply to take out warrants against persons likely to go away?

Without expressing any opinion with regard to the facts of this particular case, it appears to me that when a warrant is taken out under the Vagrant Act on behalf of a Board of Guardians the circumstances must be very exceptional to justify any unnecessary delay in the execution of the warrant, or such proceedings as those referred to.

This case has caused a great deal of feeling in Leeds. Will the Department hold a local inquiry into the circumstances?

The facts, so far as the proceedings of the Guardians and their officers are concerned, do not appear to be in dispute, and it would not seem that any advantage would result from an inquiry being held by the Board.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is true, as reported, that, owing to the activity of the Continental Governments against the Anarchists, a large number are coming to this country; and whether he proposes to introduce any legislation to put a stop to this country being made the centre of the operations of these dangerous persons?

No information has been received at the Foreign Office to the effect that large numbers of Anarchists are coming to this country, and the question of legislation is not one for the Foreign Office to decide.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the recommendations on reporting the Debates in this House are lo be carried out; and, if so, when?

I am sorry I am as yet unable to give any definite reply to this question, but I hope to fie able to do so before the end of the Session.

I will repeat the question next Wednesday.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any, and what, arrangement have been, or will be, made for the return of Dr. W. E. Grigsby to this country for public examination as a Director of the Solicitors' Government Stock Investment Company (Limited); and when his presence in England may be expected?

The Court has been informed that if Dr. Grigsby's presence was required he would be directed to return; and we have just received a communication from the Official Receiver to the effect that his presence will be required on February 19.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland why Mr. Sadleir, Tipperary, has not been tried at the Cork Assizes for the crime which he has been returned for; how often has his trial been postponed; when was the alleged offence committed; and what instructions as to challenging juries likely to be in sympathy with him have been given in his case?

As this question is down without previous notice, I regret that I have been unable to obtain a specific Report. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put it again next week.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for Merionethshire whether the Charity Commissioners have raised any difficulties in the way of putting the Welsh Intermediate Education Act into operation in the town of Carnarvon; what is the nature of their objections; and whether there is any immediate prospect of such difficulties being removed?

The Commissioners have pointed out that the Local Governing Body have not as yet raised the amount of local contribution required by the scheme to enable that Body on its own initiative to open a temporary school at Carnarvon. The difficulty may be overcome if the County Governing Body decides to waive that condition, and makes such proposals as the Commissioners can approve for permitting the Carnarvon County School to be opened in temporary premises.

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any steps have yet been taken by the Treasury to carry out the Resolution of the House on the subject of granting pensions to teachers in elementary schools?

(who replied) said: The matter is under consideration by a Departmental Committee, but the subject is so complicated that they are not likely to report for some time. The Treasury cannot take any steps until a scheme has been decided upon.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether any, and if so what, arrangement is to be made for the illiterate voter for the Parish Council elections?

It is not proposed to make any alteration in the provisions of the Ballot Act with regard to illiterate voters in their application to Parish Council elections.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies when he will be able to lay further Papers upon the Table on the subject of Matabeleland?

There would be no advantage in presenting further Papers at present. All news of interest in regard to the military operations has appeared in the Press; and with regard to political questions, the correspondence is not yet complete. But I have already undertaken to lay Papers in time for their consideration before any Vote is asked from the House.

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether the following letter (in reply to a communication from the London Trades Council), which appeared in The Star newspaper of 15th December, is authentic:—

"Admiralty, Whitehall.—Sir, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inform you that they have had under their careful consideration your letter of 26th May last, respecting the alleged excessive employment of apprentices by Messrs. Waterman Brothers, of Plymouth, in the execution of Admiralty orders for boats. My Lords find upon investigation that the facts stated in your letter are substantially correct, and being unable to accept the explanations offered in justification, have intimated their views to Messrs. Waterman Brothers as a warning to comply with the spirit of the House of Commons Resolution;"

Yes, Sir; the letter is authentic.

Then I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury a question of which I have given him private notice—namely, whether he will act in a similar manner in regard to Government work in Ireland as the Admiralty have done with regard to their contracts?

I should like to consider first what action the Admiralty have taken.

The question on the Paper shows what the Admiralty have done.

No. I think not. I want to ascertain exactly what the Admiralty have done.

I suppose that we may take it that what the Admiralty have done in regard to their printing contracts the Treasury will do in regard to their contracts?

I will consider what is to be done. I told the hon. Member yesterday that if he would lay before me any cases in which there was cause of complaint I would take them into consideration.

On behalf of the hon. Members for the Northern Division of the County of Dublin, I bog to ask the Postmaster General if it is a fact that the Second Division clerks of the Secretary's Office, General Dost Office, Dublin, have presented several Memorials since the year 1890 to the head of their Department praying for an improvement in their position, to which no reply has been given: whether the subject of these Memorials has been considered, and what is the cause of the great delay in replying; whether the work in the Secretary's Department, General Dost Office, Dublin, has considerably increased during the past six years, and whether if, is a fact that during that period no addition has been made to the staff; whether the Second Division clerks in the Secretary's Office, General Post Office, London, have recently been placed on an improved scale of salary with enhanced prospects; whether the Second Division clerks in the Dublin Secretary's Office perform duties of an analogous and a superior character to those performed by the London clerks heretofore classed as Second Division; and whether it is intended to apply the London scheme to the Dublin Secretary's Office?

The Second Division clerks in the Secretary's Office of the Dublin Post Office form part of a classification which is not confined to the Post Office, but is common to the whole of the Civil Service. The whole question of the status and scales of salary of the Second Division clerks was carefully considered and settled by Order in Council about three years ago, and I have no power to alter them. The Memorials in question have been received, and now that the revision in the Secretary's Office in London has been settled, I hope to be able shortly to deal with the corresponding Office in Dublin.

On behalf of the hon. Member for West, Belfast, I bog to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the statement that our position in the Mediterranean was secured by our possessing a preponderance of first-class battleships in the proportion of 19 to 10, whether such preponderance actually exists in the Mediterranean; whether he is aware that, of the 19 ironclads referred to, 4 wore on the 19th December at Arosa Bay, 600 miles from Gibraltar, and six others were lying incompleted at Portsmouth and Chatham Dockyards, 1,100 and 1,300 miles respectively from Gibraltar; and whether any steps will be taken to strengthen the Naval Forces in the Mediterranean?

It is a matter of policy for the Admiralty to decide how the ships of England can be distributed and where they shall be placed. Any other information it would be injurious to give; and I therefore cannot make a more particular statement on this subject.

Was the statement that the proportion was 19 to 10 intended to refer to the state of affairs in the Mediterranean at present or to the Navy as a whole?

To the Navy as a whole.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that the steamship Paris, which left Southampton on Saturday, the 9th instant, delivered her mails at the New York Post Office at 30 minutes past midnight on Saturday, the 16th instant, in Philadelphia at 9 a.m. on Sunday, the 17th, and in Chicago on Monday, the 18th, at 9.30 a.m.; and that the Cunard steamship Aurania, which sailed from Liverpool on the same day that the Paris sailed from Southampton, only arrived at, Sandy Hook at 5 o'clock on the 19th instant, whence it would take probably four hours to deliver the mails at the New York Post Office; and whether, having regard to the great, saving in time of delivery of United States mails in New York when sent by the Paris and New York from Southampton, he would consider whether the Southampton route could be frequently used for the conveyance of Her Majesty's mails to the United States?

The official Returns of the voyages in question have not yet been received from the United States Post Office; but, according to Lloyd's List, the Paris reached New York at 6 p.m. on the 16th instant, and the Aurania at 5 a.m. on The 19th. My hon. Friend has probably overlooked the fact that the mails carried by the Aurania left Loudon at 8 p.m. on the 9th, while the mails for the Paris left at 9.5 a.m. on the same day. An isolated case of this kind does not, in my opinion, show that the contract service viâ Queenstown is unsatisfactory; but persons desirous of sending letters by way of Southampton can attain that object by special superscription.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that the American mail is despatched from Queenstown and not from Liverpool, and that, therefore, no fair comparison can be drawn as between Southampton and Queenstown without giving the time of sailing from Liverpool; also, whether comparing the performances of one of the fastest vessels on the American line with those of one of the slowest vessels on the Cunard line is a reasonable comparison in testing the superiority of the Southampton route; further, is it not a fact that the Great South Western Railway Company of Ireland have just taken further steps to facilitate the service between Queenstown and Kingstown?

I think I have already sufficiently answered the first part of the question. As to the last question, negotiations are pending for an improvement of the railway service.

I should like to say that the Aurania does not happen to be a slow boat; it is, on the contrary, one of the fastest boats belonging to the Company?

I beg to ask the; Attorney General whether it is proposed to introduce any legislation on the subject of the responsibility of Directors next Session?

On the part of the Attorney General I have to say that it is not at present proposed to introduce any legislation on the subject of the responsibility of Directors next Session. It is a difficult question which requires very long consideration.

I beg to ask the Attorney General whether H.R.H. the Duke of Saxe-Coburg is legally a British subject, and whether he has ceased to owe allegiance to this country?

I will ask the hon. Member to postpone that question until the Attorney General returns.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, seeing that the finances of the Government of India require a large loan, he still intends that part of the cost of the Opium Commission shall fall on India; and, if so, whether he will afford facilities for a Debate on the subject this Session?

Yes, Sir. The present arrangement as to the cost of the Opium Commission is divided between the Indian and the British Exchequer. That arrangement was arrived at by the Secretary of State in strict conference with the Indian Government; and that being so, I do not think that the fact of passing the Indian Loan Bill has any bearing on the question.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if, early next Session, he will appoint a Commission or a Committee to consider and report upon the question of our Naval Expenditure; and whether it would not be possible to obtain greater results from the amount now expended?

With regard to the last part of the question of my hon. Friend, it is a rather large demand to make upon me to state in answer to a question whether it is or is not possible for the country to get more for its money—that is, for the £35,000,000, or I know not how many, spent on the Army and Navy. Any opinion on that subject to be of any value ought to be the result of long inquiry, and I should be sorry to give an opinion without that information. With regard to the former part of the question, the circumstances are these—certain administrative subjects connected with the Navy and the Army have recently been referred to a Royal Commission which has made its Report, and as regards these administrative matters I do not suppose my hon. Friend wishes that they should be referred to a, new Royal Commission. I understand that, my hon. Friend refers to the provision made for the scale of expenditure. I do not think that is a matter which ever has been referred to a Royal Commission. It would be, pro tanto, taking the matter which essentially belongs to it a way from the hands of Parliament. But with regard to Committees of this House it is very different. They have repeatedly sat upon Army and Navy Expenditure. A Committee sat on this expenditure so very recently as five years ago, and made its Report, and I would observe that I do not think it is desirable that this Committee which is suggested should be appointed. I think the inquiry of my hon. Friend would be more appropriate to the approaching Session.

Has any Commission ever been appointed for the purpose of taking evidence with regard to the expenditure in the dockyards and naval construction?

Undoubtedly.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he could close the Committee on the Local Go- vernment Bill on some convenient evening an hour or two before midnight, or in some other way could undertake to afford the House an opportunity of discussing the Report and Evidence of the Featherstone Inquiry Committee?

I am told the evidence has just been circulated. [Mr. BYLES: On Saturday.] I think some time should be allowed for its consideration, and if the question is repeated on a future day the Government will consider whether any arrangement for a discussion can be made.

I beg to move:—

"That this House, at its rising, do adjourn till Wednesday next."

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I can hardly allow the present Sitting to pass over without making myself in some sense the mouthpiece for the profound feeling with which I am sure every Member of the House has received the tragic news of the death of Mr. Stanhope. I say nothing about the personal feelings with which his friend and those who were intimately acquainted with him have received the news of this great tragedy. We were bound to him by public as well as by private ties. It is impossible to have been a colleague of a man like Mr. Stanhope for many years, to have joined with him both in counsel and in action without feeling profoundly the loss which his departure necessarily must cause. But it is not on the private aspect of this calamity that I have any right to address the House. I should like to remind hon. Members that Mr. Stanhope was for 20 years a prominent figure in this House; that he upon official duties almost immediately after he became one of ourselves, and that in a great variety of administrative offices he subsequently served his Queen and country. It would be quite out of place were I to attempt an estimate of the work which in those years he has done, but I am sure that everybody will feel—everybody, at all events, who had some personal acquaintance with the work which he did—that in losing him we have lost one of those men who really shed lustre upon the great offices which they are called upon to fill. Mr. Deputy Speaker, I shall add nothing more; but I am sure the House will forgive me for having so far trespassed upon their time, and they will feel that I could hardly allow the occasion to pass without offering this tribute, slight and imperfect as it is, to one whose presence will long be missed from within the walls of this House.

I desire, on the part of the Government and of every gentleman on this side of the House, to associate myself with the regret which the right hon. Gentleman has so well expressed. I have had the advantage of a great many years' personal acquaintance—I may say of friendship—with Mr. Stanhope. He was a man who was brought up in the midst of associations of great historic traditions, and I think the whole of his life showed the influences of those traditions. He was brought up, I believe, and he died in a place that was associated with the great names of Chatham and Stanhope. Everybody recognised in him an accomplished gentleman; everybody recognised in him a conscientious public man; and I think no man in this House will recollect any word that he has said or any sentiment he uttered which has left any feeling of bitterness behind. He has filled with distinction to himself and advantage to the country great public stations, and he was a man whom the House of Commons can ill afford to lose. I am sure that we on this side of the House join with gentlemen opposite in expressing our sympathy with them in the loss of such a Colleague, and with his friends and relatives, to whom I am sure this House will desire to convey the feelings of regret and sympathy.

I wish to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has received any information as to a fresh explosion which is reported to have taken place at Waltham Abbey?

No, Sir; I have received no information whatever, although I have endeavoured to obtain it. There is, I believe, some information to that effect in the newspapers, although I have not received it. I should deeply deplore any such occurrence.

said: I have received through the Financial Secretary to the War Office a telegram from the superintendent of the gunpowder factory at Waltham. It reads—

"I regret to say that at noon to-day there was an explosion at Joyce's cartridge factory in this town: four men injured."

remarked that he was very reluctant to occupy a short space of time; but he wished to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he could render discussion unnecessary by holding out to them the hope that when they returned after the short Recess something would be done for the purpose of abridging the abnormal length of the Committee stage of the Local Government Bill. The Bill had now occupied in Committee stage 23 or 24 days, and the Committee had gone a comparatively short way through the 19th clause. There still remained 52 more clauses to be dealt with. Nobody could suppose that at such a rate of progress they would finish the Committee stage within 20 days. If they could do so it would still be the end of the first or the beginning of the second week of February before that House could expect to part with the Bill; and it would probably occupy three weeks in the other House. The Leader of the Opposition stated the other evening that he anticipated the Committee stage of the Bill would last until the end of February.

No, no; I beg the hon. Gentleman's pardon. The only statement which I have made which I think could even, through error, convey the impression the hon. Gentleman has expressed is that I recollect saying—"What can the Government expect from a plan which would bring up the discussion of the Lords Amendments to the end of February?"

wits sure he was inaccurate in not understanding the right hon. Gentleman as he no doubt expressed himself, but even that, which was a much less serious state of things than he anticipated, would lead to the destruction of the great hopes many of them had entertained of the coming Session of Parliament. [Opposition laughter.] He could quite understand hon. Members opposite. For himself for two or three weeks he hail been of opinion that there had been a purpose to destroy the Session of 1894 by running the Local Government Bill so long into it as to make it impossible for other work to be done. He had not taken part in the Bill itself by one single sentence, and he was one of those who might serve as an illustration of a class. He was a Scotch Member; they had been there for a year; and, with the exception of one small, uncontested Bill, not a single thing had been done for Scotland. They might as well have forgotten that the country existed. Now they were looking forward to what they were all convinced were the genuine and sincere intentions of the Government to pass laws much needed affecting Scotland in the course of next year. A Government wishing an end ought to will the necessary means. In the absence of some accommodation, he would put it to the plain sense of any gentleman who cared for any of the reforms that were likely to come in the next Session—probably the last Session of this Parliament—was it not obvious that unless some summary and early steps were taken these hopes were doomed to be disappointed? His remarks were dictated by a sincere desire to further the honour and the business of the House, and to enable them to get forward with other business. They had carried patience to the point at which it seemed likely to be mistaken for pusillanimity, and he asked other independent Members of the House who were interested in these matters to use friendly pressure with the Government, whom he heartily supported.

I do not rise for the purpose of continuing this discussion. I do not think this is a moment at which the Government can say, or it would be desirable for the House to discuss, what is to be done in the future. Our holiday is to be a very short one, and I should for the present, at all events, at half-past o o'clock, within so brief a period of the arrival of Christmas, recommend that for this afternoon, at least, we should wish one another a merry Christmas; and when we have passed that merry Christmas and are reaching the happiness of the New Year, I hope we shall make better progress than we have done in the year that has passed.

was afraid the Chancellor of the Exchequer had somewhat misunderstood his supporter who commenced this discussion. He was perfectly certain, from his knowledge of the hon. Gentleman and the country from which he came, that this was intended merely as a Scotch joke for the enlivenment of the Christmas season on which they were about to enter. The hon. Member for Dumfries had observed that his interest in this measure was that of a Scotch Member. But it was more than that; it was the interest of a Scotch borough Member who had not time to attend even now, and who had not attended during the Committee stage of this Bill more than 24 out of the 65 Divisions which had taken place. The Bill, the hon. Member told them, had been in Committee 24 days, so that was one Division a day.

I have not put my appeal to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which I think has been very flippantly dealt with, although very good humouredly, on the ground of my personal convenience at all; I have put it on the ground of interference with Public Business.

said, it certainly was unfortunate that the two Members who had rebuked the Government on this matter should be two Scotch Members, one of whom was in the position in regard to Divisions of the hon. Member opposite, and the other of whom, the Member for Haddingtonshire, had naturally paired till the 10th of January, before he incited the Government to take sterner measures with the Opposition. He, therefore, thought the Chancellor of the Exchequer was entirely justified in treating with flippancy the demand of the hon. Member for Dumfries. He only hoped this would be a lesson to them as to what was the real feeling of the Government and the House upon this matter, which was that such attempts as they had made to coerce Members who were interested in the Local Government Councils Bill deserved no better treatment than the flippancy with which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had treated the present attempt.

said, he had only one remark to make on the subject which had been brought forward by the Member for Dumfries. His hon. Friend had reproached the House with having done no business, but his reproaches came too late. His reproaches and his remonstrances might have been useful if they had been made during the first eight months of the Session, when the Government knew they were wasting the time of the House. But during that time the hon. Member was discreetly silent. Now, when they were called upon to do a little business his hon. Friend thought it was the occasion to speak of it. He would recommend his hon. Friend in future to have the courage to speak at a time when his remonstrances would be useful. In the time of Queen Elizabeth there was a Parliament, which sat six months, and when the Queen asked the Speaker what they had passed, he replied, "Six months." So when the country asked this Parliament at Christmas what they had passed, the reply would be "Ten months."