:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Justices of the Petty Sessional Division of Hare-wood End, near Ross, in the County of Hereford, have recently appointed Mr. Arthur Blomfield Morling to be Justices' clerk for that division in place of Mr. Piddocke, solicitor, deceased; is he aware that Mr. A. B. Morling is not a solicitor of the Supreme Court, and will he inquire what were the special circumstances within the meaning of the Statute, 40 & 41 Vic, c. 43, s. 7, which justified the Bench in dispensing with the qualifications for the office of Justices' clerk usually required under that Statute; and whether he is aware that eight duly-qualified solicitors applied for the office?

:Yes; but I am informed by the Justices that the special circumstances which, in their opinion, rendered the appointment desirable were that Mr. Morling had for 15 years fulfilled the duties of the situation under the clerk to the Justices, to the entire satisfaction of the Bench.

Sheffield, Central):I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Sir Charles Mansfield, Her Majesty's Minister in Peru, has yet recovered sufficiently from his accident to resume the charge of the British Legation, or is it still under Mr. Mallet, Her Majesty's Consul at Panama; and if Her Majesty's Government will bear in mind in the present crisis the vast interests Great Britain has at stake in that Republic, and the fact that the Peruvian Corporation took over the whole of the External Debt of Peru in exchange for the Railways?

^* :I am glad to say that Sir C. Mansfield has recovered from his accident, and has resumed charge of Her Majesty's Legation at Lima. Her Majesty's Government are aware of the important interests which British subjects have at stake in Peru, and are confident that they will receive every attention from Her Majesty's Representative.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state whether a Volunteer officer, who may shortly receive the new decoration as a Volunteer of 20 years' service, will hereafter be able to receive the Volunteer officer's decoration on the completion of 20 years' service as a Volunteer officer?

^* :The answer is in the affirmative.

:I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state what the intentions of the Canadian Government are with reference to the alteration of the Tea Duties; whether teas blended in bond in Great Britain will be subject to any and what duty in the new tariff; and whether the Canadian Government can legally differentiate against this country and home labour in favour of China and other tea-exporting countries?

:The Secretary of State has telegraphed to the Governor General of Canada for full information on the point, and if the hon. Member will repeat his question on Monday I hope then to be in a position to answer it fully.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will direct that the statutory powers for compulsorily taking land be put into immediate operation, for the purpose of acquiring a site for the new Londonderry Barracks; and when may the building operations be expected to commence?

:Steps are being taken for the compulsory purchase of the necessary land; but the process requires some time for its completion. Very little building can take place till the additional land is acquired.

:I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if the Government propose to take any steps for the relief of the cesspayers of West Kerry from the taxation brought upon them by the Tralee and Dingle Railway; and whether any proposal has been made for the reconstruction and further working of the line?

locus standi for making arrangements for the future working of the line. These are matters for the consideration of the Grand Jury of Kerry, and the Treasury has stated that such arrangements are an essential condition of the Government's assisting in any way the improvement of the line.

:I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Bomford, who is now acting as valuer for the Land Commission in County Cavan, was formerly agent to a large landlord in the county; that he is related to that landlord and to several other landlords in the county, and to Mr. Barnes, the principal valuer for the landlords in the county in fair rent cases; that he was formerly a member of a Sub-Commission in the county, and removed to another county on account of his close connection with the landed interest there; and whether these facts were known to Mr. Wrench and other members of the Commission when Mr. Bomford was sent as valuer to Cavan?

:I am in communication with the Land Commission on the subject of this question, and will thank my hon. and learned Friend to defer it until next week.

:I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will favourably consider the propriety of reducing the rateable qualification of co-opted members of Dispensary Committees in Ireland to the same figure to which he has already reduced the qualification of the elected Guardians of the Poor Law Boards?

:Under the Poor Relief (Ireland) Act, 1851, sec. 7, elective members of the Dispensary Committees must be liable to pay rates in respect of property of the annual value of £30 at least, and legislation will be necessary in order to alter this qualification. I certainly think it anomalous that the qualification of the elective members of a Committee should be fixed at £30, while that of the Guardians, who are ex officio members, is only £8, and I am in favour of legislation with a view to dealing with the matter.

:I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a recent resolution of the Afrikander Bund, asking that British Bechuanaland and the Bechuanaland Protectorate should be incorporated in Cape Colony; whether such incorporation would save the Imperial Exchequer £100,000 a year; whether it has also been called for by residents in Bechuanaland other than the Border Police Force; and whether the Secretary of State will propose to meet the wishes of the Colony by facilitating the incorporation?

:The attention of the Secretary of State has been called to the resolution in question; but no action has been taken in regard to it.

:I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware that the Trustees of the Dinder Charity Lands, one-half of which come under the provisions of "The Allotments Act, 1882," after having avoided compliance with its provisions by only offering for allotments the portion of the property unsuitable for the purpose, were allowed by the Charity Commissioners without any previous public inquiry to dispose of the greater part of their property by private sale; and whether he can provide some method of controlling the discretion of the Charity Commissioners?

:Notice of their intention to let in allotments one-half of the Charity Land decribed in the questions as unsuitable for the purpose, was given by the Trustees in 1890, without eliciting any applications. In 1892 public notices of a proposed sale of the property were given by advertisement and the other usual modes in the locality. No objections were received, and no request was made for any public inquiry. In these circumstances, the sale was approved by the Commissioners in July of that year. The question of bringing the action of the Charity Commission more directly under the control of Parliament, and of giving it more effectual means of dealing with the business which will come before it, is now under the consideration of a Select Committee of this House.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the propriety of supplying the police with lighter clothing during warm weather, as is done in provincial towns; and will he also consider the propriety of giving the police the money allowing them to supply themselves with boots?

:I must give my hon. Friend the same reply with regard to the first part of his question as I did in August last—namely, that the question has been frequently under consideration, and that it is the opinion of the Commissioner, after consultation with the chief surgeon of the police, that having regard to the variable nature of the Metropolitan climate, and to all the conditions of the case, it would not be advisable to provide the Metropolitan Police with light clothing during the summer months. With regard to the second part of the question, I understand the matter was carefully gone into in 1887, and the change was not considered advisable. There are difficulties in the way, but I am in consultation with the Commissioner on the subject.

:I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if the cutlery and hardware purchased for Her Majesty's Fleet is examined prior to acceptance by competent experts skilled in the trade, and capable of telling Sheffield workmanship from foreign imitation?

:The officers who examine cutlery and hardware for the Fleet and compare them with the patterns are believed to be capable of detecting foreign imitations. Contracts are only entrusted to home manufacturers who make the goods themselves.

:In all these contracts is the Resolution of the House of the 9th February as to wages, &c, strictly observed?

:Yes, Sir; it is set out in all contracts.

:I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if the cutlery and hardware purchased for Her Majesty's Army is examined prior to acceptance by competent experts skilled in the trade, and capable of distinguishing good Sheffield work from foreign forgeries?

:Cutlery and hardware for Army services are inspected by artizan experts, who, it is believed, are as capable of distinguishing British from foreign manufacture as any men can be.

:I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he could state how many of the Irish Poor Law Unions are at present in a state of financial embarrassment; in how many Unions have Vice Guardians been appointed; and has he received a Memorial extensively signed by the ratepayers of the Tralee Union, praying him not to dismiss the Vice Guardians?

:I am informed by the Local Government Board that the accounts of Poor Law Unions in Ireland for the half-year ended March 25 last have not yet been audited, and that it is not, therefore, possible for them to say what Unions can be regarded as being in the position mentioned. There are no Unions in Ireland at the present time under the management of Vice Guardians. A Memorial was received last year by the Local Government Board asking that the services of the Vice Guardians of the Tralee Union might be retained. These gentlemen were continued in office till March last, and I am informed they could not legally retain their positions for a longer period.

:On the Estimates I will call attention to the management of Irish Poor Law Unions.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the Debate, consider the advisability of giving us a Return showing the financial position of Irish Poor Law Unions, that especially of Listowel Union, on which an attack was made the other day? Is it not the fact that the Listowel Guardians have at the present moment £2,000 to their credit at the bank?

:As I put that question may I explain that it was directed at the system of outdoor relief, not at the financial position of the Union.

:I have not before me the details as to Listowel Union; but in answer to the general question of my hon. Friend, I think the request is a reasonable one, and I will see how it can be granted.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the gentleman named Robert Buckell, who has recently been made a Justice of the Peace for the City of Oxford, is the same person as Robert Buckell whose name appears twice in the Schedules to the Report of the Oxford Election Commission, 1881, as having been guility of corrupt practices at the elections in that city in April and May, 1880; and whether he is aware that two Justices of the Peace for the City of Oxford were scheduled by the Commissioners for offences of the same nature as were proved against Mr. Buckell, and were forthwith removed from the bench by the then Lord Chancellor?

:It is the case that Mr. Buckell, who was recently made a Magistrate, was reported as having been quilty in 1880 of corrupt practices. Since thae time he has been twice in recent years elected Mayor of the city, and as such has acted as Chief Magistrate. His appointment appeared to the Lord Chancellor to be desirable on public grounds, unless the fact of his being scheduled was to be regarded as a bar to the appointment. Having regard to the length of time which has elapsed since the corrupt practices referred to, and to the public services since rendered by Mr. Buckell, and in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Lord Chancellor thought the appointment expedient. It is to be observed that the Corrupt Practices Act now in force renders a person convicted on indictment of a corrupt practice incapable of holding a judicial office only for a term of seven years. The question of appointing a person scheduled by Commissioners must, therefore, in each case be determined on a consideration of all the circumstances. As regards the last paragraph, the only record which the Lord Chancellor has is that two Justices were removed from the Commission of the Peace for the City of Oxford in August, 1881, at their own request.

:May I ask whether this gentleman was a Gladstonian candidate at the General Election?

:I have not the slightest knowledge on that subject.

:Is there any doubt whatever that the two gentlemen referred to were removed by the Lord Chancellor in consequence of having been scheduled for practices corresponding to those of which Mr. Buckell has been guilty; also was not Mr. Buckell a member of the Town Council at the time he was scheduled?

:I have no information on the subject beyond what I have stated.

:Is it the rule to strike off the Commission the names of gentlemen directly they are scheduled, or to wait until they have been convicted on indictment?

:That is a question which cannot be answered without notice. It is not within my Department.

:I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that in certain counties in Scotland it is the custom for the Clerks of the Peace to demand a fee from each Justice on administration of the oath; and if this is a legal charge?

^* :I believe that it is the custom for Clerks of the Peace to charge such a fee, in some counties at least; but, in regard to the legality of such a charge, I cannot add to what was stated by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and the Secretary for Scotland in answer to similar questions on July 28, December 12, and Tuesday last.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether steps have been taken by the War Department to obviate the pollution occasioned to the public bathing place at Devonport by the sewage outfall from the Raglan Barracks?

^* :Provision for this service is made in the present Army Estimates, and the work will be commenced as soon as possible.

:I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that the form of precept annually issued by the Clerk of the Peace to the clerks of the Dublin Unions has this year been altered by striking out so much of paragraph 2 as related to objections to the names of inhabitant occupiers; and if he will 6tate by what authority, or under what circumstances, this alteration came to be made?

:The form of precept was amended by the Lord Lieutenant in Council, in pursuance of the powers given him by the Parliamentary Registration (Ireland) Act, 1885, Section 8. The amendment was considered necessary in order to draw the attention of the clerks of Unions and other officers to the rights of rated occupiers and householders who had occupied different premises of the requisite value in immediate succession during the 12 months preceding the 20th July in each year. In some of the forms hitherto used in Ireland—namely, in relation to the supplemental list of householders and in the form of precept for boroughs, there was no reference made to the rights acquired by occupation of premises in immediate succession. This omission appears to have led to injustice in the case of such classes of voters. In the corresponding English forms there had not been any such omission. The note at foot of amended form is in the same terms as in the form No. 1 in the Schedule to the Statute, directing the paragraphs as to the existing Register to be modified by making them apply, so far as regards the marginal additions "ob- jected" or "dead," to householders in the then existing Register.

:I beg to ask the Postmaster General when it is proposed to commence the building of the new post office at Portadown?

:This is a matter which is under the control of the Board of Public Works in Ireland, and I am informed that no provision for building the new post office at Portadown has been made in the Estimates for the current financial year. Consequently, the work cannot be begun until next year.

:I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the fact that the annual increments of salary of Second Division clerks in the Civil Service are so regulated as to provide for those clerks reaching a certain maximum of £190 per annum after 19 years' service, and of the fact that the annual increments of the new class of assistant clerks have been so regulated as to necessitate a service of 28 years before the attainment of the maximum of £150 per annum, whether, having regard to the ages of the men constituting this class, he will consider the advisability of adjusting the annual increments of salary so as to enable these clerks to attain their maximum at an earlier period of life?

:As £190 is far below the maximum salary of the Second Division, there is no parallel between the cases quoted. The scale of salary of assistant clerks or abstracters was fixed after careful consideration with reference to the nature of their duties, and I cannot see any reason for reconsidering it.

:I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether any complaints have reached him of the insufficiency of the amount of sick leave on full pay allowed in any one year to the new class of assistant clerks—namely, six weeks less the amount of holiday leave which may already have been taken; and whether he has any objection to allowing responsible Heads of Departments to exercise discretionary powers in such cases within the limits of sick leave allowed to all other classes of clerks in the Civil Service?

:Two representations from assistant or supplementary clerks respecting sick leave have been transmitted to the Treasury. All officers so classed were formerly temporary copyists, who were as such entitled to a maximum absence of 28 working days for ordinary leave and sick leave combined. On the promotion of temporary copyists to abstracterships, supplementary or assistant clerkships, their maximum of absence has been increased from 28 to 36 days in Departments under the control of the Treasury, and this appears to me a reasonable arrangement.

:I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury under what circumstances and for what reasons were the initial salaries of assistant clerks in the Colonial and India Offices calculated on a different basis from those of other assistant clerks in other Offices whose status was in every respect identical with theirs; and what number of recommendations have been received by the Treasury from Heads of Departments for the promotion of meritorious assistant clerks to the Second Division, and how many of these recommendations have been acceded to?

:The organisation of the India Office is not subject to the Regulations governing the ordinary Civil Service, and is, therefore, not within my province. The case of the Colonial Office was an exceptional one, in that the action taken was the only means by which a desirable and economical reorganisation in one of their subordinate Departments could be effected. There is no ground for reopening the settlement in other Departments. As I stated last year, the Second Division is recruited by open competition, and it is not proposed to admit to it men who have only passed the rudimentary examination required of temporary copyists. Proposals for the appointment of assistant clerks to the Second Division have, therefore, not been entertained.

:I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that all the large rooms on one side of the new Admiralty buildings on the ground, first, second, and third floors, which were specially designed as large rooms on the recommendation of a Committee of this House to promote the efficiency of the Public Service, have been made into small rooms as shown on the revised plans just put into the Tea Room; whether he can state how many small rooms have been substituted for large rooms, and who are to occupy these small rooms; what has been the cost of the alterations; why these alterations have been made without the authority of Parliament; and whether the Government propose to set aside the strong recommendation of the Committee which urged in the interests of the efficient conduct of the Public Service that in all future buildings for Public Offices arrangements should be made for the staff to work collectively in large rooms rather than singly in small rooms?

:The plans exhibited in the Tea Room show the changes that have been made on the first draft exhibited in 1888, and a comparison between the two sets of plans will show that (excluding the sub-ground floor, which is practically an addition since 1888) the number of rooms in the plans of 1888 was 112, as against 134 in the present plans—an increase of 22, or one in five. The appropriation of the various rooms can be indicated on the plans if desired. The cost of the change may be taken at £12,000. The change is one of executive detail, on which it would hardly be possible to refer to Parliament for authority. There is no intention on the part of the Government to set aside the recommendation of the Committee of 1887. The Admiralty is divided into 20 different departments, and the usefulness of large rooms is consequently restricted. It is in the accounting branch that the large rooms will be most serviceable, and they will be provided in the north block.

:I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Canon Morrissey, P. P., Banteer, County Cork, complained to the Commissioners of Education in July, 1891, of the insanitary condition of the out-offices attached to the Clonmeen National Schools; that the Commissioners referred the matter to the Board of Works, who sent plans and specifications to the very reverend manager; that the latter objected to the plans on the ground that closets were to be erected on a site most objectionable from a sanitary point of view; and that the sanitary officer, Dr. O'Leary, condemned the proposed site as most objectionable and insanitary; and whether, in view of the fact that a large number of children are attending these schools, proper plans will be prepared so as to comply with the sanitary requirements of the place?

:The facts are substantially as stated in the first paragraph of the question. The site of the out-offices proposed by the Board of Works is 49 feet distant from the school. The proposal of the manager is to build two distinct out-offices, one 57 feet and the other 194 feet from the school; but the latter scheme would involve considerable additional expenditure on dividing walls to which the Board are unable to consent, having regard to the safe character of the site proposed by them. Pending the erection of new offices, the Board have given special directions for the cleaning and maintenance of those now in use.

:I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the total value of forfeited fees accruing to the Patent Office between the 1st July, 1852, and the 31st December, 1893, from the refusal of applications for patents, and from the voiding of patents by renewal fees and other causes before their full term; and will he also state the total number of applications for patents refused, the total number of patents voided under their full time, and the average lifetime of patents during the time named?

:The number of applications refused by the Law Officers between 1st July, 1852, and 31st December, 1883, cannot be given, no record of such refusals having been kept. The number refused by the Comptroller of Patents between 1st January, 1884, and 31st December, 1893, was only 146, and the value of the fees accruing to the Patent Office therefrom about £500. The number of patents voided, at one stage or another, through non-payment of renewal fees between 1st July, 1852, and 31st December, 1893, was 121, 242, but no fees accrued to the Patent Office by reason of their expiry. The average life of a patent during the period named was about five years.

:I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the want of proper accommodation for inmates at the Richmond Lunatic Asylum, Dublin, the public asylum for the City and County of Dublin and the Counties of Wicklow and Louth; if he is aware that the inmates number about 1,500, while there is proper accommodation for only 1,000; whether steps have been taken to acquire a site for an auxiliary asylum at Malahide, in the County of Dublin, and for the erection of the necessary buildings; and if he can state when the works will be commenced, and the present congested state of Richmond Asylum relieved?

:The reply to each of the first three paragraphs of the question of the hon. and learned Gentleman is in the affirmative. With regard to the concluding paragraph, I understand that the apportionment of the expenditure necessary for providing additional asylum accommodation at Malahide will come before a special meeting of the Privy Council convened for to-day. When a decision on this question shall have been arrived at, no unnecessary delay will take place in the commencement of the works.

:I wish to ask whether the proposed scheme will create any extra charge upon the County of Louth, and whether the Chief Secretary has received any complaints or remonstrances from the Grand Jury of the County of Wicklow, respecting the matter?

:The matter has been brought before my notice by both the Counties of Louth and Wicklow, and is receiving my most careful attention.

:Will not this scheme involve a heavy extra charge on Louth?

:I must ask for notice of that question.

:I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a report in The Irish News of the 6th instant, of a meeting of Presbyterian and Unitarian farmers, held in the Presbyterian Lecture Hall at Ballymore, County Antrim, on the 5th instant, from which it appears that two Orange bands paraded round the hall, and an Orange mob threw stones which smashed the windows of the hall during the meeting; that two ministers, the Rev. Mr. Armour and the Rev. Mr. Lyttle, were stoned as they left the meeting; and that the mob had so completely taken possession of Ballymore that an extra detachment of police had to be sent there from Larne; and whether he will make inquiry into the matter, and take steps in the future to protect Protestant farmers, in lawful meeting assembled in County Antrim, from such unprovoked attacks by Orange mobs?

:It appears that one band, and not two, accompanied by a crowd, paraded the village on the occasion referred to, and that four small panes of glass, valued at a couple of shillings, were broken in the lecture hall. The police state that neither of the clergymen named was stoned as alleged, and that it is not the fact that the crowd were at any time in possession of the village. Fearing that some disturbance might ensue on the breaking up of the meeting, the sergeant of police sent to Larne for assistance, but before the arrival of the men the crowd had dispersed and the meeting had broken up quietly.

:May I ask whether, as a fact, any Protestant meetings had been broken up at Ballymore at all; and whether the right hon. Gentleman will make any inquiries as to the truth of the statements of illusage made by the two rev. gentlemen? I wish also for information as to any statements the right hon. Gentleman has received from the police on the matter, and also whether any arrests have been made, and whether he will give the police any instructions as to their duty in making arrests?

:If the hon. Member has received any communication from persons assaulted, I will certainly cause inquiry to be made.

:Was not the meeting composed exclusively of Protestant farmers?

:I cannot answer that.

:I am sorry to intrude, but I hold a letter in my hand from one of the rev. gentlemen who was stoned. There can be no doubt as to the truth of the allegation, and I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will inquire into the matter.

:After being informed of the communication that has been received by the hon. Member from the rev. gentleman, I will have full inquiries made into the circumstances of the ease. I cannot, of course, give the police any special instructions to make arrests, which can be acted on by them generally.

:Am I correct in thinking that the mob marched through the streets throwing stones, and that the police have made no arrest?

:I cannot answer that question offhand, nor can I say whether the police have exceeded their duty on that occasion or otherwise.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any arrests have been made of the parties who stoned the Protestant preachers at Cork?

[No reply was given.]

:I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Foreign Office has received an intimation from the Netherlands Government that they will not grant any compensation in the Costa Rica Packet case, either for the imprisonment of Captain Carpenter in 1891 or the detention of the ship and crew at Ternate; and whether he will lay the Papers in the case before the House?

^* :The answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative, but the decision of the Netherlands Government has not been accepted as final. A reply to it is now under consideration, and the Correspondence is, therefore, not ready to be laid before Parliament.

:Will the Government consider the propriety of suggesting arbitration in this case?

:I hope the difficulty may be settled without resort to that.

:I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to the widespread dissatisfaction which has been aroused amongst proprietors of private schools owing to the entire exclusion from the Royal Commission upon Secondary Education of any representation whatsoever of the important interests with which they are associated; and whether the Government contemplate taking any steps towards rectifying the omission complained of?

:This question, as well as that of the representation of many other interests which desired to be represented, was very carefully considered before the Commission was appointed. I had hoped that the appointment of a member of the Council of the Girls' Public Day School Company, which is on the footing of a private enterprise, and of a Vice President of the College of Preceptors, which is so closely connected with many private schools, would have given satisfaction. The Commission is already a large one, and it is impossible to increase its size.

:I am sorry to press this matter, but I wish to know, in the interests of the Commission itself, whether it is probable that the reply of this Commission will meet with anything like public confidence when such a very large and influential body as the great mass of private teachers has been absolutely excluded from any representation on the Commission? I also desire to know whether it will not be better, considering the widespread feelings of dissatisfaction which have been expressed on this subject, to stretch a point and re-model the Commission in order to secure a more direct representation of the private schools? And I submit that such a step is not without precedent and that the new Commission will not require to sit for any very long period.

:I must demur to the use of the words "entire exclusion." I repeat that a Private Company, unassisted by the State and closely connected with girls' education in various parts of the country, is represented on the Commission. The number of interests represented on the Commission is already enormous, and under the circumstances the representation on behalf of private schools is as large as the Government are able to give.

:Is it not a fact that the Public Day Schools Company—of which I am a director—is not in any sense in the same capacity as a private adventure school?

:It pays 5 per cent. regularly, and receives no assistance from the State.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that those persons most intimately connected with the interests of private schools distinctly repudiate any confidence in the present Commission?

^* :Is it not the case that the Girls' Public Day School Company paid no dividend for some years after it was started?

:I have been a shareholder in that Company for some time, and I have always received some dividends.

:I will call attention to this matter on the Estimates.

:I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade is he aware of the fact that no provision is made at the Spencer Dock, Dublin, by the Midland Great Western Railway Company of Ireland for the reception of goods in course of transmission by the Royal Canal; whether, within the past five weeks or so, notices have been served on the boat-owners by the Railway Company, cautioning them not to store any goods in an old shed which had hitherto been used as a temporary shelter for the property of the traders; and whether he will take any steps to compel the Railway Company to provide suitable storage accommodation for the protection of goods going by the canal?

:I have communicated with the Railway Company, and they inform me that they

"Are not carriers on the Royal Canal, but only toll takers, and do not provide storage for by-traders, and are under no obligation to do so. Provision does exist, and is used, at Spencer Dock for forwarding and receiving goods transmitted by canal. A by-trader recently used without permission a shed which is required by the Company for railway purposes, and was requested not again to do so."

:I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he intends to give a grant to the British School, Sopley, near Ringwood, for the year just closing, as, in the event of no grant being given, the school will be closed at the end of the month, as notified to the Department by letter on the 9th of January, 1894?

:The annual inspection of this school does not take place till next month. Until it has been inspected, and the Inspector's Report considered, it is impossible to answer the hon. Member's question. Should the school be closed before it has been inspected, no grant can, of course, be paid, but I presume it will be kept open till the inspection.

:I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether after the rejection by the Strabane Board of Guardians of a scheme for the erection of labourers' cottages in the East Urney Electoral Division, the Local Government Board directed their Inspector, Mr. Kelly, to report on the state of the labourers' dwellings in that Division; (2)whether the Inspector made a house-to-house inspection of the dwellings of the men who had made the original application; (3) whether the Inspector condemned any, and, if so, how many of the houses in that Division as unfit for human habitation, and recommended the erection of new houses in their stead; (4) what length of time has now elapsed since the Local Government Board Inspector's Report was submitted to the Guardians, and whether they have given effect to it; and (5) whether the Local Government Board have any power in the matter to enforce the recommendations of their Inspector, and what they intend to do?

:The answer to Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this question is in the affirmative. (3.) The Inspector considered that 12 houses were unfit for human habitation, and recommended that a like number of new houses should be provided by the Guardians. (4.) The Report was communicated to the Guardians on the 18th December last, but the Guardians have not taken any steps to give effect to it. (5.) The Local Government Board have power to direct their Inspector under these circumstances to prepare and carry out a scheme for the erection of the labourers' cottages which he recommends, and the matter is now engaging my attention.

:Are the Nationalist or the Conservative Guardians in a majority in this Union?

:I am not in possession of that information.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if his attention has been called to a decision of Justices O'Kenealy and Hill, in the Calcutta High Court last month, on appeal, reversing a sentence of death upon a young lad 10 years of age by the Sessions Judge of Bhagulpore, on the ground of defective evidence, the Judges in their judgment expressing surprise that simple facts appeared to have entirely escaped the Sessions Judge of Bhagulpore; if his attention has been directed to the strong comments of The Amrita Bazar Patrika, The Hindu, and other Indian newspapers, with regard to the frequent reversals on appeal by the various High Courts of decisions by Sessions Judges who have passed severe sentences of death and penal servitude for life—notably in the recent murder trials at Balladhun, Noakhali, and Benares; and if his attention has also been drawn to the almost universally hostile comments of the Indian Press on decisions by District Sessions Judges where Europeans have been charged with murder, especially in the recent trials known as the Dum-Dum, Fulta, and Guntakul cases; and if so, will he consider the desirability of appointing a small Commission of High Court Judges, or other experts in Indian Criminal Law, to inquire into and report upon the administration of Criminal Law in India?

^* :I have no information with respect to the Bhagulpore case referred to in the first part of my hon. Friend's question, I am aware that there have been strong comments made upon the Balladhun case; and as I have already informed my hon. Friend, the fullest inquiry has been instituted. I have no reason to doubt my hon. Friend's statement as to articles which may have appeared with respect to the other two cases referred to in the second part of the question. With regard to the three cases to which he refers in the third part of his question, I must draw his attention to the fact that not one of these cases was tried by any Sessions Judge. The Dum-Dum case was tried before a Judge of the Calcutta High Court and a Calcutta jury in the first instance, but was ultimately adjudicated by a full Bench of the High Court, headed by the Chief Justice. The Fulta case was dismissed by the Chief Justice of Bengal. The Guntakul case was tried before the Chief Justice of Madras. In these circumstances, I see no necessity for appointing such a Commission as my hon. Friend has suggested.

:I beg to give notice that I shall take the earliest opportunity of bringing this matter under the notice of the House.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if an examination is ordered to be held in London some time in June next for the selection of seven candidates for appointment on probation as Assistant Superintendents in the Indian Police Force; and, if so, will he, in view of the embarrassed condition of Indian finance, cancel this Order, and instruct the examination of an equal number of Indians in their own country to fill these vacancies, getting the cost on a silver instead of a gold basis?

:An examination will be held in London in June next for the selection of seven Assistant Superintendents for the Indian Police. This Force is already mainly composed of natives of India, but the Government of India, on the recommendation of the Public Service Commission, decided that a proportion of the superintending staff should be recruited in England.

:Will the gentleman appointed be allowed compensation for the fall in exchange?

:I cannot answer that without notice.

:Will the hon. Gentleman consider the equity of making such an allowance?

:I assume that these seven gentlemen will be placed on the same footing as other Assistant Superintendents.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if it is true that certain Anglo-Indian papers, e.g. The Englishman and the Pioneer, are not charged extra postage when exceeding 10 tolas in weight; that this exemption is specific with regard to these papers, and that Indian papers of equal or greater circulation are denied this exemption?

:I have no information on the subject of my hon. Friend's question beyond that which is given in the Indian Postal Guide. From this it appears that certain privileges are allowed to all newspapers on which the postage is prepaid according to regulations, an extra half-anna being charged when the weight exceeds 10 tolas.

:Will the Secretary of State make some inquiry? If he does, I think he will find that he is wrong and I am right.

:I have made inquiry, and communicated the result to my hon. Friend.

:The right hon. Gentleman has looked at the Postal Guide, but I do not gather he has made inquiry.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if his attention has been called to a recent trial in Bengal, known as the Fulta shooting ease, in which a charge of murder against an Army surgeon was dismissed by the District Sessions Judge on the ground that the witnesses had committed perjury; and, if so, will he order that these witnesses shall be prosecuted?

:The Fulta case was not dismissed by a Sessions Judge, but by the Chief Justice of the High Court of Calcutta on the application of the prosecuting counsel. The prosecution, or otherwise, of the witnesses for perjury is a matter which may, in ray opinion, be safely left in the hands of the authorities in India.

:I beg to ask the Postmaster General when he will give notice to the present contractors for the mail service between London and Dublin that the present contract will be terminated in September, 1895, and when he will send out specifications for new contracts; and whether he will take care that the new contracts will provide that the whole journey shall be performed in two hours less than under the present arrangement; that the route shall be viâ Kingstown; and that the new boats shall be of sufficient draught of water to ensure the greatest possible stability as well as the requisite speed, bearing in mind the existing Treasury Minute, issued in 1855, that they shall be large and commodious, ensuring the greatest comfort, convenience, and speed, so as to keep up the service to the highest point of perfection which any improvements may render practicable?

^* :This important subject is receiving most careful consideration, but I am not at present able to give the hon. Member any pledge in regard to it. I may, however, take this opportunity of pointing out that under any proposed scheme it would be impos- sible to provide for the whole journey between London and Dublin being performed in two hours less time than at present.

:Why is it not possible?

^* :There appears to be an impression that an hour can be saved on the land journey and an hour on the sea passage. As a matter of fact, this mail train between London and Holy-head travels now at the rate of 43·12 miles an hour, a pace which, as compared with the Scotch and other mail trains, leaves very little scope for accelerating.

:I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, with reference to his refusal to allow the Great Northern Railway Company of Ireland to run a mixed train from Drogheda and Balbriggan to Dublin, whether he will reconsider that refusal in view of the fact that a mixed train such as is now asked for was run for many years between the places mentioned without a single accident, that the Railway Company are willing to revert to the old arrangement, and that the public of Balbriggan and Drogheda are greatly inconvenienced without any compensating advantage by the action of the Board of Trade in compelling the abandonment of that arrangement?

:I have answered a similar question put to me by the hon. Member on a previous occasion. The Railway Regulation Act, 1889, entirely altered the position of affairs by imposing on the Board of Trade responsibility in the interest of public safety which did not exist before that date. I have under my consideration the difficult question of mixed trains on Irish railways, but I must impress upon the hon. Member that those who are interested in the locality should rather urge the Railway Company to afford necessary facilities than press the Board of Trade to assume the responsibility for a relaxation of their Rules.

^* :Was not the prohibition of mixed trains intended to apply to England, where traffic was heavy and where accidents with them were numerous, and not for Ireland, where the traffic is light and the accidents are few? And are not mixed trains still allowed in Wales? Does not this decision augment the delay in railway communication?

:We are anxious to meet the wishes of any locality as far as possible, but I do not think it would be safe to withdraw this prohibition.

:I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, referring to his answer on the 12th of December last, he will now grant a Return of the number of allotments under one acre detached from cottages, in continuation of the Return obtained for the Board of Agriculture, and dated the 18th of July, 1890?

:I have been happy to give the suggestion of the hon. Member further consideration, and the conclusion at which I have arrived is that, although I should not be justified in asking the Treasury to provide the somewhat considerable sum which the preparation of the proposed Return entails during the present financial year, I might fairly do so when the Estimates for 1895 are under consideration. A full quinquennial period will then have elapsed since the last Return was made, which is of advantage from a statistical point of view, and we shall, I hope, be in a position to give the information in a somewhat improved form.

:I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland the number of extra police in the County Wexford at present?

:The extra force of the County Wexford at present consists of 18 men. The strength of this force was reduced by seven men in February last.

:What is the cost per man?

:I cannot say without notice.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to have presented the Return, ordered on the 12th of January, 1894, showing the County Magistrates appointed since the Resolution of this House of the 5th May, 1893?

:I am informed that the Return is ready so far as the names are concerned, but it has never been the practice to record in the Crown Office the occupations or addresses of the Magistrates appointed. The particulars have, therefore, to be extracted from a vast heap of correspondence. The Magistrates are often described as living in a district of considerable extent, which, though quite sufficient for the purpose of identification, can scarcely be said to be the address of the Magistrates which the Return requires. This necessitates inquiries in many counties for further information. The work is being pushed on as quickly as possible, and it is hoped that the Return may be laid on the Table by the end of the month.

:May I ask whether the Return will show, in the case of Magistrates appointed in Lancashire, whether they resided in the county or boroughs, and whether they are properly qualified by residence to act?

:That was not included in the scope of the Return as ordered by this House.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman give the best description he can of the addresses and the occupations?

:The hon. Member must take the Return one way or the other.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether an order for the conversion of 27,000 Martini rifles has recently been placed at Enfield; if so, will he state when the jigs, gauges, cutters, and other special tools for the proposed conversion will be finished; whether a large number of the workmen are idle or only partially employed until these special tools are ready; and whether in future the War Office, when issuing orders to the Ordnance Factory, will consider the desirability of allowing time to get the necessary special tools ready for the piece-workers, so that they may not remain thus unemployed?

(who replied) said: The order for converting 27,000 Martini rifles into carbines has been placed at Enfield, and about six weeks will be occupied in the preparation of the gauges and special tools required. Changes of this kind, unfortunately, necessitate a temporary suspension of employment, but in this particular instance arrangements have been made by which other work will be found for the men now suspended or only partially employed.

^* :The hon. Gentleman has not answered the last paragraph of my question.

:Yes, Sir. Of course, it is our desire to expedite the preparation of tools as much as possible, so that the men may not long be unemployed.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether an order for 15,000 or 20,000 Lee-Metford magazine rifles, Mark 2, was recently placed at Sparkbrook; if so, will he state why the order was placed at Sparkbrook instead of at Enfield, seeing that the cost per rifle at Sparkbrook is 2s. 9¾d. more than at Enfield?

(who replied) said: In answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough, I stated on Thursday last that 15,000 rifles required by the Admiralty during the current year had been allocated to Sparkbrook. The hon. Member himself was informed on Monday that the cost per rifle at either factory depends on the quantity produced, and that, while in the years ending March, 1891 and 1893, the cost of production was lowest at Enfield, in the intervening year the advantage was on the side of Sparkbrook.

^* :Surely when the hon. Gentleman placed the order he could not have been aware that there was a difference in the cost in favour of Enfield of, roughly speaking, 3s. a rifle?

:Seeing that considerable pressure has been put on the Government by the right hon. Members for Bordesley and West Birmingham with respect to Sparkbrook, will the hon. Gentleman have any objection to grant a Return showing the relative cost of making these rifles at Sparkbrook and Enfield?

:The hon. Member will in due course of time find the relative cost in the Papers laid before the House.

:I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, considering the frequent complaints made by the masters of ships and steamers as to the insufficiency of the fog signal on Mew Island, at the entrance to Belfast Lough, where there is such a considerable amount of shipping, anything has yet been done with the view of meeting the requirements of the place; and whether telegraphic or telephonic communication has yet been established between Mew Island and Donaghadee?

:As already intimated in my reply to the hon. Member on the 14th of November last, the Commissioners of Irish Lights are engaged in experiments with the view to the improvement of fog sirens, including that at Mew Island. Since the date of that reply the Board of Trade have sanctioned further expenditure for improving the siren at Mew Island Lighthouse. Telegraphic or telephonic communication has not been established between Mew Island and Donaghadee.

:I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is able to give any further information with regard to recent occurrences at Sivas and at Yuzgat; and whether, in view of widespread anxiety felt by the Armenians and their friends in the United Kingdom respecting the fate of the Armenian prisoners in Turkey who are awaiting trial, Her Majesty's Government will give an assurance that the forthcoming trials of Armenian Christians on charges of alleged sedition at Yuzgat and Sivas shall be attended by competent Consular officers?

^* :Her Majesty's Government have been informed that there are a number of political prisoners at Sivas, who are being gradually brought to trial. Her Majesty's Chargé d' Affaires called the attention of the Grand Vizier two months ago to their long detention in prison. As regards Yuzgat, Her Majesty's Ambassador did not consider it expedient to send a Consular Officer to attend the sittings of the Special Commission there. But constant Reports are received from Her Majesty's Consul at Angora as to the proceedings. We are informed that the Vali and the Commissioners sent to investigate these disturbances released a number of prisoners on their arrival at Yuzgat, but that 17 Armenians had been condemned to various long terms of imprisonment for participation in the disturbances, and had been sent to Sinope. Her Majesty's Consul telegraphed on the 9th instant to Her Majesty's Embassy that 15 Armenians had been condemned to death by the Special Commission at Yuzgat, and that the sentences were being referred to Constantinople for confirmation. Her Majesty's Ambassador has, however, received an assurance from the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs that these sentences will be carefully considered at Constantinople before authority is given to carry them out.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will insert in the tender forms about to be issued for Ireland a similar clause to that inserted for the commissary batteries at Aldershot, Shorncliffe, &c, in England, that tenders would be only accepted from millers, thereby ensuring the supply of home manufactured flour?

^* :The forms for the next contracts for flour in Ireland have already gone out, but the suggestion shall be considered for future occasions.

:Are we to understand the tenders in Ireland are different to those issued for England?

^* :There is a certain form used in Ireland and a certain form in use in England, and as the forms have now gone out we cannot see our way to amend them this year.

:Why should not the forms be alike?

[No answer was given.]

:I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the Uganda Papers just issued contain no reference to the question of the compensation claimed by the White Fathers for the destruction of their property by Captain Lugard; whether the British Government admitted in principle to the French Government the right of these missionaries to compensation in event of the complaint they made being well founded; was Sir Gerald Portal or any officer charged with any instructions to inquire into the subject; if so, why are the Despatches silent thereon; do any further Despatches on this subject exist; and, if so, will they be circulated; and whether, as Sir Gerald Portal admits (page 16) that the Catholics were defeated by the troops of the Imperial British East Africa Company, and driven into Buddu, Her Majesty's Government have arrived at any conclusion as to the justice of the French missionaries' claim to compensation and the amount thereof?

^* :Sir Gerald Portal's instructions contained no reference to the question of compensation claimed by the Catholic Fathers for the destruction of the property of their mission. His Despatches, therefore, do not deal with the subject, nor did he make any inquiry with regard to it. This question of compensation is now being discussed with the French Government in a friendly spirit, and I can, therefore, make no further statement about it at present.

:My question referred to instructions given to any officer, and not Sir G. Portal alone. Did Captain Williams have any instructions?

:We have received some information on the question of the claim, but it cannot be regarded as finally disposing of the questions either of fact or of principle. The Government, however, desire that a complaint of this kind should be dealt with in a generous spirit, and it is in that spirit that it is being discussed with the French Government.

:I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now lay before the House the actual terms in which the Agreement of the Canadian Government to the Behring Sea Arbitration Award Bill was conveyed; and whether any condition was attached by the Canadian Government to that Agreement regarding compensation to Canadian sealers?

:AS regards the first question, the Foreign Office will at the proper time decide what correspondence can be given. As regards the second question, the Canadian Government have attached considerable importance to the question of compensation for the illegal seizures made in past years. But in regard to this matter, the United States Government have intimated that as soon as the legislation for enforcing the Award has been completed they will be prepared to enter into a Convention with Her Majesty's Government providing for the assessment and settlement of the British claims. I would desire to add, in reference to this matter, that the answer I gave to the hon. Gentleman on Thursday last, in reply to a some what similar question, was misreported.

:Will the hon. Gentleman try and give me something like an answer to the last paragraph of the question? I wish to know if the Canadian Government attached any conditions as to compensation before entering into the Agreement?

:They attach considerable importance to the matter, which is now being carefully considered.

:I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether Article 682 of the Queen's Regulations, which forbids all persons belonging to the Fleet from writing for any newspaper on subjects connected with the Naval Service, or from publishing or causing to be published directly or indirectly in a newspaper or other periodical any matter or thing relating to the Public Service, is held to apply to the reading of papers at the United Service Institution; whether this Article is applied always and without exception to all persons belonging to the Fleet, or to some of such persons only and not to others; and, if so, on what grounds are exceptions made; and whether the Admiralty claim and exercise a dispensing power with regard to all the Articles of the Queen's Regulations, or with regard to some of them only; and, if so, with regard to which?

:The Article, if strictly interpreted, debars officers on full pay from lecturing on subjects connected with the Naval Service. While the Admiralty do not, as a general rule, sanction departures from the Regulations by those who are subject to them, applications to read papers at the United Service Institution are considered on their merits, and would be granted when, in the exercise of their discretion, the Admiralty are of opinion that such a relaxation of the Rule is for the advantage of the Public Service.

^* :Is the right hon. Baronet aware of a statement made by the Admiralty that they could not sanction any departure from the Regulation?

:As I made the statement myself I am aware of it. I have just stated under what circumstances the Admiralty would allow, in the public interest, such papers to be read.

:Then does the right hon. Baronet appreciate the absolute contradiction between his two answers?

[No answer was given.]

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the case of Peter Corcoran, who enlisted in the 56th Foot on the 17th of March, 1847, served in the trenches before Sebastopol, and assisted in the final assault and capture of the fortress, for which services he received medal and clasp; also served in India during the Sepoy Mutiny in 1860, when he lost his leg from the severity of the military service re-acting on his general health; is he aware that, though this man obtained the good-conduct badge, and was discharged with a good character, he was only allowed a pension of 9d. a day; that Corcoran is prevented by disablement and broken health from doing anything to supplement his pension by his own exertions; and that he is now living in absolute destitution in the County of Roscommon; and will he kindly again urge the matter on the favourable consideration of the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, with the view of obtaining for Corcoran one of the special campaign pensions for war service available for destitute men?

^* :As I have already informed my hon. Friend by letter, the case of Peter Corcoran has been fully investigated by the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, who, I am sorry to say, find themselves unable to increase Corcoran's pension under the Warrant, in virtue of which it was granted. At the same time, the Rule which excludes a man who is already a pensioner from the grant of one of the special campaign pensions for Crimean and Indian service prevents him from obtaining relief in that direction.

:Is the special campaign pension, from which Corcoran was excluded, larger than the pension which he now receives?

^* :If they were added together the result would undoubtedly be greater, and I should have been glad if some such result had been possible in this case. But special campaign pensions vary in amount. There is no particular limit put upon them.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the reported insubordination and riot which occurred in the Victoria Barracks, Belfast, on Saturday night; and whether he can state what was the cause of the riot, and what damage was done?

:It is the fact that in the rooms of one company of the Dorset Regiment some windows were broken. The circumstances are being inquired into, and I can only say that, so far as is at present known, the reports in the local news-papers are greatly exaggerated.

:Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to a report in The Irish News of an interview with an officer, according to which the account of the disturbances has been (grossly exaggerated; and can he say whether the relations between the soldiers and the townspeople are not excellent?

^* :I have no information to contradict the last sentence in the hon. Member's question. It is a fact some windows were broken, and the report in the local news paper in that respect, at any rate, was exaggerated.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government have agreed to any scheme for giving immediate effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Mining Royalties and Wayleaves; if so, will he explain to the House the scheme which is proposed; and, if not, when will he be in a position to make a full statement on the question?

:I fear that it will be impossible for the Government, consistently with the claims of other business, to propose legislation on the subject of mining royalties and way-leaves during the present Session.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a distinction is to be made in the form of the decoration given to commissioned officers and that given to other members of the Volunteer Force for similar length of service; whether it has been usual to make this distinction between the different ranks in respect to war medals and the Victoria Cross; and for what reason a difference should be made in this case?

:There is a distinction between the decoration for officers and the new long service medal for Volunteers. The new distinction for long service will be neither a war medal nor a reward for valour, which are common to both officers and men; and it is no departure from the custom of the Service to confine a decoration to the officers' rank.

^* :I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the reported speech made by the Minister of Trade and Commerce in the Dominion Senate, referring to an inquiry whether Canada has given an unconditional assent to the Behring Sea Agreement, and had not asked for any compensation, who stated that he was safe in saying that a large portion of the statement made by the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies was not strictly correct; and whether he is now aware of any such incorrectness?

:Yes, Sir; my attention has been drawn to the reported speech of the Minister of Trade and Commerce in regard to some answers I gave on Thursday last. The misunderstanding, I think, must have arisen from the fact that one of my answers was misreported. The hon. Member for King's Lynn asked me, as a supplementary question, whether the Dominion Government had not asked for compensation for the sealers seized. I am reported to have answered "No," which would have been incorrect; whereas what I really said was "Notice," meaning that notice of the question should be given. This correction appeared in The Times of the following day. As regards my other answers, they were, I believe, substantially correct.

:Have they asked for compensation?

:I stated, in reply to the hon. Member for King's Lynn, that the Canadian Government did attach considerable importance to the request for compensation.

:Does the compensation refer to damage done in previous years?

[No answer was given.]

:I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether, considering the short interval of Parliamentary time which has elapsed since the New Code was laid upon the Table, he will delay its withdrawal from the consideration of the House in order to give time for the expression of opinion upon the important matters raised in it?

:I understand that the interval is longer, and not shorter, than usual between the circulation of the Code and the expiration of the month during which it must lie on the Table. No action will be taken till the 1st of May in any case as regards the conditions for annual grants. I shall be happy to consider any particular objections which the hon. Member may wish to lay before me.

:I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether the addition to Article 73 of the Code requires that the staff is to be settled practically in accordance with the number on the books and not the average attendance, and that the staff is to be settled for each class in the school, and not for the school as a whole; whether the effect of these requirements will be, that in many large schools where the head teacher takes no class, but supervises generally the work of the school, he will no longer count upon the staff in practice; that no pupil teacher will be able to take a class of more than 34 on the Registers; that no certificated assistant will be allowed, unaided, to take a Standard I. if the number of children on the Registers of that standard exceeds 69; and if an untrained certified assistant is in sole charge of Standard T. the number of scholars on the Register must not exceed 57; whether the same Rule is to apply to infants' schools, and also to schools with a large proportion of half-time scholars; and whether, in not a few schools with large lower standards, it will be impossible, on account of the arrangement of the buildings, to organise the schools so as to have two classes in, say, Standard I. and Standard II. respectively?

:The addition to Article 73 is intended to be of the nature of a direction and not of a mandate or a condition of the grant. It is intended to point out the inexpediency of so organising a school that some classes in it are too large to be effectively taught. But I have under my consideration a modification of the Article, which, I think, will avoid the difficulties suggested by the hon. Member.

:I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty have decided upon the site of the new dock at Gibraltar; and, if so, if he can inform the House which is the site chosen?

:The Admiralty are in communication with the War Office as to the early handing over of the New Mole Parade which has been selected as the site for the dock.

:I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the date on which notification was published in British Columbia warning sealing schooners that Behring Sea might be closed for a portion of this year; and about how many sealing schooners had left port before and since that date in quest of seals?

:The Governor General has been asked as to the date by telegraph. I may add that the Award was given in August, and was matter of public notoriety, and the obligation of Her Majesty's Government to enforce it was equally well-known.

:I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Board of Inland Revenue refuse to return Income Tax to minors whose income comes within the limits of exemption; and, is so, why?

:Income Tax deducted from income which has absolutely accrued to a minor, whose income is below the exemption line, can be reclaimed by his trustee or guardian. If the hon. Member has a special case in view I will make further inquiries, if he will furnish me with particulars.

:I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state on what day the Government intend to ask leave of the House to introduce their promised Bill to terminate the Establishment of the Church of England in Wales and Monmouthshire?

:I cannot name a day at this moment, but I expect it will be an early day.

:May I ask whether the Government propose to disesablish and disendow any other Churches in the course of the present Session?

:Will the right hon. Gentleman state whether it would be before or after the Local Veto Bill?

[No answer was given.]

:May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his intention to introduce the Welsh Disestablishment Bill before he proceeds with the remaining stages of the Budget?

:The remaining stages of the Budget are a matter for the future. My hon. Friend must allow me to get over the first fence.

:I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce during this month the promised Bill to amend the Crofters' Act of 1886?

said: The Government have promised a Bill extending; the benefits of the Crofters' Act to crofting leaseholders, and they will introduce the Bill after the Local Government Bill for Scotland has been introduced, as has already been stated in the House.