said, that amongst the parties concerned it had been agreed that the Motion standing in his name should be withdrawn, and he would then move an Amended Motion which had been agreed to, and which covered all the points of the case. He asked leave to withdraw the following Motion:—

"That any County Council and any of the London Water Companies be entitled to be heard before the Select Committee on the above Bill on any Petitions praying to be heard by Counsel, presented by them on or before 14th March next, and that such Petitions be referred to the said Committee."

said, he did not want to oppose in any way the right hon. Gentleman's Motion, but he would point out to the House that it placed the various county councils in a totally different position to that of the local authorities in the metropolitan area and also in London. The county councils had a locus standi before this Committee, whereas the local authorities had simply the permission to ask the Committee if they might appear. He should like to know why the local authorities had not an equal right to a locus standi.

said, the only local authorities who had petitioned in London would have a locus standi at present. Every part who had acted for these local authorities had agreed to the Motion, and the method proposed was the ordinary way in which the business of the House was conducted.

thought it was very much better to have the matter arranged as was proposed by the Motion, as it would prevent unnecessary Debates.

asked if the local authorities had agreed to the matter.

said, he could not mention the exact local authorities, but he knew that very much more than half of the local authorities, through their representatives, had agreed to the matter.

asked leave to withdraw the following Motion standing upon the Paper:—

"That any County Council and any of the London Water Companies be entitled to be heard before the Select Committee on the above Bill on any Petitions praying to lie heard by Counsel, presented by them on or before 14th March next, and that such Petitions be referred to the said Committee."

On behalf of the hon. Member for Leicester, (Mr. H. Broadhurst), I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, whether he is now in a position to inform the House as to the decision of the Government in respect to the appointment of a Committee of experts for the purpose of recommending some rules to deal with the constant recurring differences arising in Her Majesty's dockyards between fitters and shipwrights as to their respective branches of work?

No, Sir. I am not yet in a position to make any statement, but the matter is engaging our attention.

On behalf of the hon. Member for Dublin, St. Patrick (Mr. W. Field), I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware of the fact that within the period during which the, Bovine Tuberculosis Commission has been sitting the fleshers of Belfast have lost over £2000 from confiscation without compensation; whether the medical and scientific experts have arrived at any conclusion; and, whether the present practice will be modified in Belfast until the Report is issued?

:The Local Government Board are informed by the Sanitary Authority of Belfast, that seizures of carcasses affected with tuberculosis are made under the provisions of Local Acts and because the carcasses appear to be unsound, unwholesome, and unfit for human food. The Local Government Board have no authority to interfere with the local authority in this matter, or to give any directions as suggested at the end of the question.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman had seen the Report of a meeting on the subject; and whether he could hold out any prospect of a remedy?

I am sorry to say I have not seen a report of the meeting.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board when the Report of the Committee on Tuberculosis may be expected?

? I am not able to add anything to the answer I gave to questions on this subject on February 9th, but I trust that the labours of the Commission may soon be concluded.

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will explain why Naval pensioners who have reached the age of 55 have not received their augmentation, which they were led to expect, on leaving the service?

The number of Greenwich age pensions which can be in force at one time is governed by the amount of money at the disposal of the Admiralty for that purpose. There is not sufficient to give an age pension to every man at the age of 55, although 10,100 of such pensions are being drawn, at a cost of £100,000 a year. I must demur to the hon. Member's statement that the men were led to expect that every one of them should receive the age pension at 55.

On behalf of the hon. Member for Dublin, St. Patrick's (Mr. W. Field): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware of the fact that, with a view to develope the fishing industry of the north-west coast of Ireland, the Great Northern Railway Company, along with the Donegal Company, brought over a number of English and Scotch fish buyers who promised to send over boats if the Killybegs Pier was erected; and, whether he will now advise the Government to make the necessary expenditure upon this undertaking?

The facts appear to be substantially as stated in the first paragraph. With regard to the question of the erection of a pier at Killybegs, I have nothing to add to my reply to a similar inquiry which was addressed to me on the 21st February by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for South Donegal.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether he will state whether he has received a Resolution passed by the Local Government Committee of the County Council of Denbighshire, in favour of the formation of a rural district council for sanitary and highway purposes, known as the Llansilin District Council; and, whether, as the ratepayers in the locality are strongly in favour of the proposed new district council, he will make an order for such a district?

The Local Government Board have not received a copy of any such Resolution as that referred to in the question. I may remind my hon. Friend that the Local Government Board are not themselves empowered to alter a rural district. This is a matter to be dealt with by the County Council, subject to an appeal to the Board.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether any modification of the policy of the Government in regard to the proposal for the minting of a British dollar at Bombay, suggested by the hon. Member for Canterbury in the House of Commons on the 15th December, 1893, has been made; and, whether the Government statement on that occasion, that the idea of a British dollar does not appear to have found much favour in the Straits Settlements, and at Hong Kong it has been abandoned, is still adhered to?

There has been some variation of opinion in the Colonies on this subject. The idea of coining a British dollar, after being dropped in Hong Kong at the end of 1893, was revived last year, and Her Majesty's Government have now approved the proposal. Arrangements have been made for issuing the new dollar from the Indian mint for circulation in the Straits Settlements, Hong Kong, Labuan, and North Borneo concurrently with the Mexican dollar. I may add that the question of the coinage of a British dollar has for some years engaged the attention of the Goverment. but until the Indian Government last year signified their willingness to coin at a uniform rate of 1 per cent. the scheme appeared impracticable.

:I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the month of January last, a Boer field cornet, of the name of Bodenstein, expelled the representatives of the trading firm of Messrs. E. Harvey from the town of Krugersdorp; whether the ground of such expulsion was stated to be that the persons expelled were Asiatics; whether the persons expelled were British subjects; and whether the law of the Boer Republic permits the forcible expulsion of British subjects on no other ground than that of their nationality?

We have not received any information nor complaint in regard to the subject of the alleged expulsion of the representatives of Messrs. Harvey and Co. from Krudersdorp.

May I ask whether the hon. Member will answer the last portion of my question?

I have said that we have received no information or complaint. If we receive any complaint we will carefully look into it.

:Does the Boer law permit of acts of this kind?

I am afraid I cannot say, but an arbitration is just about to proceed, and we shall probably receive more information in regard to the subject.

Will the hon. Gentleman make inquiry into the matter?

If we receive a definite complaint, of course inquiry will be made.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of The Times' correspondent of 4th March, giving details concerning the preparation and packing of diseased meat at Chicago for export to England; whether he has reason to believe (as stated in The Times) that, although a bullock at Chicago may be condemned as diseased and unfit for food, yet its tongue is preserved and exported, whilst the fat is made into oleo-margarine; whether it is a fact that in many instances the diseased meat which has been condemned is, nevertheless, taken out of the condemned tanks after the inspector has left, and is then preserved and exported to England; and, whether he will endeavour to prevent such meat being used in England as food?

I have read the statement to which my hon. Friend refers, and I propose to make inquiry through the Foreign Office respecting it, and as to the arrangements in force in the United States for the prevention of the exportation of meat unfit for human food. The prevention of the sale of such meat in this country rests with the sanitary authorities, acting in execution of the powers conferred upon them by the Public Health Act. Those authorities are not in any way subject to the control of the Board of Agriculture, but I shall be very glad to bring under the notice of my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board any information which may reach me as to the existence of danger to human health arising from imported food-products.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether, previous to the slaughter in Australia and other places of sheep and cattle whose flesh is converted into frozen meat and sent to this Country for human food, they are examined by competent inspectors, with a view to ensure that no animals suffering from disease shall be used for that purpose?

I am not in possession of any official information on the subject to which my hon. Friend refers, the protection of the public health, which presumably is the object my hon. Friend has in view, not being a matter which falls within the province of the Board of Agriculture. I shall, however, be happy to make enquiry through the Foreign and Colonial Offices as to the arrangements in force in the various countries and colonies from which frozen meat is exported, for the prevention of the exportation of meat unfit for human food, and to acquaint my hon. Friend with the replies received. So far as the health of live stock is concerned, there is no reason to think that any danger attends the importation of frozen meat into the United Kingdom.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he received in April last a copy of the unanimous resolution passed by the Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture, asking him to give effect to the recommendations of the Select Committee, of the House of Lords on the Marking of Foreign Meat; and whether he is now prepared to introduce a Bill carrying out those recommendations for the purpose of registering dealers in foreign and colonial meat, and of inspecting retail butchers' shops under the Food and Drugs Act by duly qualified Inspectors?

I duly received a copy of the resolution to which the hon. Member refers. Since the Select Committee sat, we have passed the Merchandise Marks (Prosecutions) Act, and until it has been shown that the law as it now stands is insufficient to deal with the evil complained of, I think it would be premature to propose further legislation on the subject. As the hon. Member is aware, I have recently taken steps to make the provisions of the Act of last Session very widely known in agricultural circles.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the 28th Section of the Towns Police Clauses Act, 1847, which prohibits any person standing on the sill of of any window in order to clean, paint, or perform any other operation upon the outside of such window, applies to London; and, if not, whether any similar prohibition exists applicable to London?

No, it does not apply to London, neither is there at at present any similar prohibition with regard to the Metropolis, but I hope it may be made applicable whenever the Metropolitan Police Acts may be amended.

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether, in view of the serious loss which many schools must otherwise suffer in consequence of severe weather in calculating their aver age attendance, he will in the new code arrange that such schools should be allowed to omit from the calculation of the average attendance such a number of the meetings, with their attendances, as will secure such schools against any loss due to the severity of the weather?

I have given directions by a Circular to the inspectors that special allowance is to be made for the recent exceptionally severe weather, in their assessment of the grants and their judgment of the efficiency of schools shortly to be inspected. I am afraid I cannot undertake to go further. To allow schools to count only the best-attended meetings in calculating their average attendance would place the scale of grants on a new footing, and add seriously to the burden on the Exechequer.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of inspectors has yet been called to the desirability of leniency in examining schools, owing to the recent severe weather; and, if so, what was the date of the National Board's circular; and whether he will say what are the objections to including among the rules of the National Board a rule similar to rule 101 in the English code, giving to schools where the average attendance has been greatly reduced by the prevalence of an epidemic, or other exceptional cause of the like nature, a special grant making up the loss in the ordinary grant?

I am inquiring further into this matter, and perhaps my hon. and learned Friend will repeat the question next Thursday.

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he will make more clear in the text of the Code that Schedule 7 does not apply to schools which have been already approved by the Department, or the plans for which have been passed, but only to new schools; and whether he will also secure further modification of Section 7 in the same schedule, with a view of not recommending so large a number of class rooms in all cases?

If the hon. Baronet will refer to Article 85 (a) of the Code, he will see that it is there explicitly stated that the rules of Schedule 7 apply to new schools and enlargements, and this statement is repeated at the head of the schedule itself. I do not see how this can be made more clear, but I shall be glad to consider any suggestion which the hon. Baronet may make to me. As regards the paragraph in the schedule as to the number of class rooms, this is not a compulsory requirement, but a practical suggestion meant for the help and guidance of local managers and architects. The consulting architect of the Department recommended its insertion on the ground that he knew from experience that managers often needed help in these details of planning. Classes, of course, means classes under separate teachers.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what decision has been come to by the Congested Districts Board upon the subject of improving the landing-place, at Dingle, county Kerry?

I am informed that the consideration of the subject of improving the landing place has been postponed for the present by the Congested Districts Board.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether a tenant in Ireland, whose valuation is £12 or under, is unable to obtain a loan from the Board of Works for the improvement of his farm; and (2) whether with a view to encouraging the smaller occupiers to improve their holdings, it would be possible to revert to the rule under which a tenant could obtain a loan to the amount of five times his poor-law valuation, or else to make it possible for tenant occupiers to obtain a smaller loan than the present minimum of £35?

The statement in the first paragraph of my honourable Friend's question is substantially correct. The risk, expense and loss under this class of loans are at present very serious, partly owing to defects in the legal process of recovery as interpreted by judicial decisions. Until this state of things is remedied, I do not think it would be right to extend the scope of these loans. My honourable Friend may perhaps recollect the failure of the attempt of the late Government to put the security on a more satisfactory basis.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution of the Athlone Board of Guardians protesting against the assessment on the union of the sum of £184 9s. 4d. for the expenses of the Board in Dublin under the provisions of the Prevention of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, over and above the local expenditure under the Act, as it was not apparent that the disease had been materially checked by this expensive administration; and whether he will have the question of this extraordinary expenditure reconsidered with a view to its reduction.

I have been furnished with a copy of the resolution referred to. The assessment complained of was levied off the various Poor Law Unions in proportion to the net annual value of the property in each union, and was rendered necessary by the efforts that are being made to deal effectually with swine fever in Ireland. I am advised that there is no power to alter the amount of the assessment in the case of any particular union.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if the Local Government Board have received complaints of the operation of the swine fever regulations in Gorey Union; what number of swine have been slaughtered, and what number of cases reported there within the past six months; and what have been the fees of the veterinary surgeon, and the total cost to the rates in this union since the Act was passed?

No recent complaints have reached the Veterinary Department of the operations of the swine fever regulations in this Union. During the six months ended 23rd February, 1895, 302 pigs were slaughtered in the Union. Ninety-four cases of supposed swine fever were reported by owners during that period, and in 80 of these the animals were slaughtered by the veterinary inspectors of the local authority as diseased or suspected of disease. The fees paid to the two inspectors in the Union since the passing of the Act in November, 1893, amount to £270. The funds voted by Parliament for the current financial year sufficed to meet the expenditure till the close of the year 1894, and in December an assessment at the rate of ½d. in the 1 was made on the various Poor Law Unions for the purposes of the General Cattle Diseases Fund. The amount assessed on Gorey Union was £167 16s. 6d.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to a statement in the Times of 4th March that in the English colony of Lagos alone, 2,000,000 gallons of spirits go in every year for native consumption, and in the neighbouring colony of Oil Rivers, known now as the Niger Protectorate, 2,000,000 gallons more go in also every year; and what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking, or propose to take, to secure uniformity of action throughout the various West African Colonies, with a view to either prohibit the sale of spirits or place high restrictive duties upon their Importation?

My attention has been drawn to the article in question. I fear that so long as other countries have contiguous possessions through which spirits can be imported it is impossible for us to suppress the traffic We already levy in our colonies duties on spirits generally in excess of those imposed in the neighbouring French and German colonies, and also higher than the tariff laid down in the Act of the Brussels Conference.

asked whether the hon. Gentleman would negotiate with the other Powers with a view to the adoption of a uniform system?

said they had endeavoured more than once to do that, but at the present moment there was very little prospect of an agreement being arrived at.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether he is aware that, the county of Cavan being divided into two Civil Bill Divisions, the entire equity business of the county is required by the existing arrangements to be transacted at Cavan, causing inconvenience and loss to persons in the Cootehill Civil Bill Division by requiring them and their witnesses to travel long distances to Cavan to the several equity sittings both before the Judge and the Registrar; (2) whether there is any reason why the equity business arising in the Cootehill Civil Bill District could not be transacted at Cootehill in the same manner as the ordinary Civil Bill business for the district, and will a representation be made in the proper quarter to have the necessary change made; (3) could he explain why the Crown business arising in the Cootehill Civil Bill District is all brought to Cavan instead of being disposed of at Cootehill, occasioning inconvenience and loss of time to magistrates, grand jurors, and jurors, and the public generally living in the Cootehill Civil Bill Division; (4) and whether, if a memorial be, influentially signed and presented to the Lord Lieutenant by the people of the Cootehill Division praying for the necessary changes, the Lord Lieutenant will favourably consider the matter?

In reply to paragraphs (1) and (2), I am informed that the equity business of the county is carried on at Cavan in accordance with an Order in Council dated the 11th February, 1878, made to suit the convenience of suitors, and that the arrangement does not, so I am advised, cause the inconvenience and loss mentioned in the question. In reply to paragraph (3), I am informed that the Crown business of the County is carried on at Cavan in accordance with an Order in Council dated the 4th October, 1876, made to suit the convenience of jurors and the public generally. In reply to paragraph (4), such a memorial as is suggested in the question would of course receive the consideration of the Lord Lieutenant.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he proposes, and if so when, to introduce a Bill to amend the Metalliferous Mines Acts?

I am not without hope of being able to introduce this Bill, but I cannot at the present moment give a definite pledge.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, whether his attention has been drawn to the statement that it is proposed by a public company to destroy the Falls of Foyers on Loch Ness; and, if so, will he take prompt measures to prevent the destruction of what is of national interest, especially to tourists?

wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman, as these Falls were in his constituency, whether there were not two sides to the question? Whilst he should deprecate the destruction of such grand and beautiful Falls just as much as anybody else would, he could not help asking the right hon. Gentleman to consider whether, especially as public works and factories were so scarce in this part of Scotland, it was more desirable to encourage work of this kind than to discourage it, so that some employment might be found for the people in the locality?

My hon. Friend has given me a serious problem to solve, but it is one which lies rather with the County Council than with me. I am afraid, however, that the County Council have not yet met to consider the question referred to; but a meeting of the County Road Board, preparatory to holding a meeting of the Council, is called for Friday next to consider whether the Aluminium Company can be allowed to submerge roads near Foyers in carrying out their proposed works. The Company deny that the Falls will be destroyed, but the volume of water will no doubt be lessened at certain seasons of the year. The question, however, is receiving the attention of the County Council, who are, it appears to me, the proper authorities to deal with the matter.

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether the seamen of Her Majesty's Fleet are, supplied with two kinds of cocoa, manufactured by the Admiralty at Deptford, neither of which are pure according to the strict legal interpretation of the word; whether the cocoa issued for breakfast is compounded of 20 to 25 per cent. of sugar and 80 per cent. of cocoa; whether the cocoa issued in bad weather in middle watch, at option of commanding officer, and called "optional cocoa," is compounded of 25 per cent. of sugar, 25 per cent. of sago flour, and 50 per cent. of cocoa, in order to make it soluble in boiling water; if these figures are not correct, will he please give the correct percentages of sugar and starch and cocoa used in the manufacture of what is considered of excellent quality as a ration for the Fleet, and as such approved by the medical department of the Navy; and, at what price per pound, free of duty, is Admiralty cocoa supplied to the War Department when required for issue to tro ops?

Cocoa is no issued in the Navy, but two kinds of chocolate are issued: (1) the ordinary, consisting of 16 per cent. of sugar and 84 per cent. of cocoa nibs (pure); (2) soluble, consisting of 18 per cent. ofsugar, 18 per cent. of sago flour or arrowroot, and 64 per cent. of cocoa nibs (pure), the last being so mixed in order to allow of its being quickly prepared for use. Ordinary chocolate only is supplied to the War Office by the Admiralty for use in military prisons, and is charged for at rate book prices namely 64s. 5d. per 100 lbs., plus 5 per cent.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can say approximately what is the total interest of all the counties in Ireland in the Land Purchase Guarantee Fund, within the meaning of Section 9 of The Land Purchase (Ireland) Act, 1891, taking as the basis of his calculation the Estimates for 1894–5: and what, according to this calculation, is the total balance available for advance under the Act?

In round figures, the approximate estimate of the total sum which may still be advanced under the Purchase Act of 1891, on the basis of the present figures of the Guarantee Fund, may be put at £30,000,000. This sum is arrived at after making allowance for the amount of stock issued up to date namely, £1,600,000.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the many important British interests connected with that part of Africa, he can now state what is to be the precise scope of the proposed Inquiry into the recent troubles in the Brass neighbourhood, and by whom will the Inquiry be conducted?

:The Inquiry will be made to ascertain what were the causes and character of the attack on the British Settlements; in what manner the natives became, in contravention of the Brussels Act, possessed of guns and arms of precision; what has been the cause and what the extent of the loss by the natives of legitimate trade; and whether measures can be taken for improving their position when peace is definitely restored. The person who will conduct the Inquiry has not been selected.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether there is any necessity for a parish which has a Parish Council, to hold an annual assembly on or about the 25th day of March this year; whether, if the annual assembly were held, there would be any statutory business to transact; and, whether overseers and, if necessary, assistant overseers, are to be appointed at the meeting of the Parish Council on or about the 15th day of April next?

The Local Government Act, 1894, requires that an annual assembly of the parish meeting shall be held in each year in every rural parish, on March 29, or within seven days before or after that day, although the parish may have a Parish Council. The Act does not prescribe the business to be transacted at the meeting; but it will be competent for the meeting to discuss parish affairs, and to pass resolutions thereon. Overseers and, where necessary, assistant overseers, should be appointed at the annual meeting of the Parish Council, to be held on April 15 next, or within 15 days afterwards.

said, the right hon. Gentleman had not answered the second part of his Question, namely, whether there would be any statutory business to transact this year?

said, that was a matter for the assistant overseers.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether, inasmuch as extra School grants are given to Highland parishes which have largely reduced the local rates, one half of which reduction goes directly to the landlord, and the greater portion of the other half to the deer forest and other large tenants, he will make it a condition of such extra school grants in future that the Local Authorities provide suitable footpaths, to enable the children to attend the schools in safety and with comfort?

The additional assistance granted to certain insular parishes in the Highlands, to which the hon. Member refers, is paid lo School Boards for educational purposes, and I have no authority to make any condition about it, other than of an educational character. The Government are very desirous that the children in the Highlands should have facilities for attending schools, and that is one of the reasons which has induced them, in the County Government Bill of this Session, to introduce provisions empowering Local Authorities to make footpaths.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he can state when he can distribute to Members further Correspondence relating to the Swaziland settlement; and, whether it will be possible to append to the Correspondence, for convenience of reference, copies of all five conventions and agreements which have been made with the Transvaal State or South African Republic which affect our relations with Swaziland?

I hope the Papers will be distributed to-morrow; they were laid some time ago. It had already struck me that it would be a convenience to Members to have the five conventions printed together; and we had, therefore, some time ago, arranged that they should appear as an appendix to the new Blue Book, together with two or three other papers, which will be useful for reference.

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, whether the Admiralty have refused to allow Captain Lord Charles Beresford to count as service time 315 days during which he was borne on the books of the flagship at Alexandria for service on Lord Wolseley's Staff in the Nile Expedition, or in command of the Naval Brigade; whether any, and if so how many, Naval Officers junior to Lord Charles Beresford have been allowed to count this as sea time; whether there art any precedents for allowing Lord Charles Beresford to count this time; and, will the effect of refusing Lord Charles Beresford leave to count this time possibly be to compel him to leave the Service without having attained flag rank?

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, whether it is true the 315 days during which Lord Charles Beresford was in command of a Naval force in the Soudan Expedition are not counted by the Admiralty as active service; whether, if the same period had been spent in command of a harbour ship, it would have been counted as active service; and, whether the Admiralty will establish a precedent whereby war service of an important and distinguished character, when performed by a Naval Officer, may be reckoned as active service in Her Majesty's Navy?

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, if he will explain why Captain Lord Charles Beresford, R.N., has, contrary to the usual practice in such cases, neither been appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Queen nor given a good service pension, and also that, while his junior officers have been allowed to count as service time the time they spent in the Nile Campaign undertaken for the rescue of General Gordon, he has been refused permission so to count the time he spent in that campaign; whether the Admiralty have consulted and received any advice from Naval or Military Officers of superior rank, and especially from Lord Wolseley, with regard to this matter; and, whether he can inform the House what reasons, if any, exist for thus passing over and refusing time to Lord Charles Beresford?

The usual practice has not been departed from in regard to Lord Charles Beresford's claims to the two appointments referred to in the question of the hon. Member for Lynn. With regard to the appointment of Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, the First Lord asks me to say-that he must decline to give reasons for his submitting or not submitting names of Officers for a personal appointment by Her Majesty. It would be manifestly prejudicial to the interests of the service for an officer to assume that he has a right to receive such an appointment. The Good Service Pension to Captains on the Active List, has in practice, been awarded by seniority to Officers (not being Aides-de-Camp) who have had a certain number of years' service. It is thus not given to distinguished, as distinct from long service. Of the five Captains, junior to Lord Charles Beresford, who have received the Good Service Pension, the Officer with the least service has four-and-a-half more years' service, and the one with the longest service has ten more years' service than Lord Charles. Lord Charles would undoubtedly have received the Good Service Pension, had he served for the usual qualifying time. In regard to whether the Admiralty have refused to allow Lord Charles Beresford to count as service the 315 days when he was on Lord Wolseley's staff, I have to say that the Board of Admiralty of the late Government decided that Lord Charles' service in Egypt, viz.: 53 days in command of the Naval Brigade, and 262 days on the staff, should count as sea-service, but not as service in command of a ship of war at sea. Sea-service allowed by the Regulation reckons for all purposes, but in the case of Captains it must be combined with certain service in command of a ship of war at sea in order to count for promotion. It is an essential rule, and one to which the Admiralty attach great importance for the efficiency of the service—that a Captain should serve the first three years of his qualifying sea-service in command of a ship of war at sea. Service during this period in command of a harbour ship would not count for this purpose. The only Officer serving in Egypt, of the same rank but junior to Lord Charles Beresford, and to whom these regulations apply, viz.: Captain Boardman, was refused by the Board of Admiralty of the late Government, to count this service as that in a ship of war at sea. Lord Charles Beresford will be able to qualify for flag rank by serving in his present appointment until the 11th March, 1896. It is not, however, possible to say the exact time when Lord Charles will attain flag rank, as it depends upon seniority and certain contingencies which cannot be foreseen; but it will probably not be for a considerable time after having completed his qualifying service. The present Board decided, and so informed Lord Charles Beresford, that if for any unavoidable cause beyond his own control he is rendered unable to complete the qualifying service, the Admiralty will reconsider his case, so that the services of this gallant officer should not be lost to the Navy and the State. The Board of Admiralty see no reason to consult Naval and Military officers on matters relating to the administration of Her Majesty's Navy, for which they are responsible. They are not prepared to alter the existing Regulations. This refusal to allow Lord Charles Beresford to count this time in Egypt as in command of a ship of war at sea affects neither his seniority, his pay, or his retirement. It simply means that the Admiralty expect Lord Charles to continue serving until he has completed the minimum service required by the Regulations to qualify for the high position of British Admiral, a minimum which few officers are content not to greatly exceed.

May I be allowed to say that I put my question on the paper neither at Lord Charles Beresford's request nor in his interest; but it is my intention on the Naval Estimates to call attention to the Regulations?

May I say that I have received no communication from Lord Charles Beresford? I put the question down entirely in consequence of what I saw in the public Press.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he can now say whether he will be able to start relief works, and especially to make some much needed roads, to relieve the distress in Glengelvin and Killinagh parishes, County Cavan?

The Local Government Boards Inspector has visited the districts referred to in the question, and made careful inquiry as to the condition of the people there. There appears to be no doubt that a number of families in these localities are very poor, compared with other parts of the union, and have suffered from the failure of the potato crop; but as the Enniskillen union is very well circumstanced, with a high valuation per head of population, and as the poor rates are very low, and the numbers on relief are normal, the Board do not consider that for the present at all events any necessity exists for adopting exceptional measures of relief.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, whether, in the event of the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme recommended by the Departmental Committee for England being adopted, a similar scheme of superannuation will be instituted for the teachers of Scotland.

On p. 18 of the Report of the Departmental Committee the hon. Member will find a reference to Scotland, which is differently situated from England in regard to the matter. But I have made representations to the Treasury in regard to the financial claim which might arise for Scotland, in the event of a system of pensions being established for England from Imperial funds.

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, whether dredgings from Sheerness are still being deposited in the estuary of the Thames or in the Barrow Deeps?

All dredgings from Sheerness and Chatham are being deposited in the Barrow Deeps.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, whether the scheme which has recently been applied to the clerical staff of the Accountant General's Department will be extended to all the other Departments of the Admiralty, and at what date; and, whether the promotions to be made will be antedated so as to rank with those recently given?

It is intended to fix an establishment for each Department under the Admiralty, and the scheme lately applied to the Accountant General's Department will be accepted as a model. The needs of each Department have been received and are being considered, and, later on, a fixed normal Establishment will be submitted to the Treasury. The date cannot exactly be fixed, but it may be assumed that a settlement will be arrived at very shortly. Should any advantages accrue to individual members of the staff, the date from which such advantages will accrue will be a matter for consideration. It is very doubtful, however, whether any benefits will be antedated.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) Whether he is aware that Thomas Briceland, Labourer, of Feddyglas, in the union of Strabane, made due application for a cottage under the Labourers Acts, and attended the investigation held by the Local Government Board's Inspector at Strabane; (2) Whether he has since forwarded to the Local Government Board a notice to quit, served on him by the landlord in consequence of his application; and (3) whether the Local Government Board will direct their Inspector to deal with the case promptly, so that the man may not lose his claim by being compelled to leave the district for want of a habitation?

The reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. It is also the fact that this man was served with a notice to quit, and the Local Government Board's Inspector states, that when the man made application for a cottage under the Labourers Acts, he had a very good house with five or six rooms in it, together with a small plot of ground. The Inspector, when making a scheme, will have regard to the general requirements of the district.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that Peter M'Brearty filled a representation form under the Labourers Acts, and attended the Inspector's inquiry at Strabane, and that the Inspector condemned the man's house as unfit for habitation; whether he is aware that the house has since been nearly destroyed by a storm; and, whether the Inspector will be authorised to make provision for the case?

I regret to have to ask my hon. and learned Friend to postpone this question until Monday.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, can he state what is the reason of the long delay that has occurred in holding the usual Local Government Board inquiry as to the propriety of a scheme for the erection of labourers' cottages in the vicinity of Kells, county of Meath?

I am informed by the Local Government Board that the inquiry in this case has already been fixed for the 18th instant, and that notice to this effect has been publicly given. The date fixed was the earliest the Board could fix, having regard to the other engagements of their Inspectors.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can now see his way to increase the number of Inspectors of Mines for Scotland; and, whether he will take care that the appointments in Scotland shall be given to Scotsmen?

I should be glad, in view of the heavy and constantly growing burdens which are laid upon the Inspectors by the Legislature and by public opinion, to see the staff increased in numbers, both in Scotland and elsewhere. I fear, however, that I shall not be able to make any further additions to it during the coming financial year. I cannot assent to the assumption which appears to underlie the second question, that appointments in each of the countries which make up the United Kingdom should be confined to natives of that country. There is no part of the Empire which would suffer more from a logical and rigorous application of that principle than Scotland.

asked, were they to assume that Scotchmen were incapable?

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he will inquire of Her Majesty's Consul General at Erzeroum if it is possible for a courier to go from Moush to Kars at this season in three days (72 hours).

May I ask whether the Under-Secretary is aware that the distance from Mush to Kars, via Kagisvan, is only 155 miles, via Alashgert and Khinis only 145 miles; that there are other ways even shorter; and that the journey has been often performed, even in winter, in less than three days?

The particular point raised by the hon. Member is hardly one for a separate official inquiry. The reports published in the Daily Telegraph, will be referred, through Her Majesty's Embassy, to the Delegate on the spot, in order that the whole question of their accuracy or credibility may be considered there.

Arising out of the hon. Baronet's answer' may I ask whether he is aware that the country between Moush and Kars, is exceedingly difficult; that the roads are exercable, and at this season blocked with snow; and that travelling by night is impossible?

I have no knowledge of the conditions of the journey between Moush and Kars.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affaire, whether the despach contained in the Daily Telegraph of 5th March, from its correspondent at Moush, will be brought to the notice of the British Ambassador at Constantinople, and of the European Delegates attending the Sasun Commission of Inquiry; and what steps are being taken, in view of the imminent danger of massacre at Bitlis and at other places mentioned, for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the Christian population?

The report in question will be sent, like the previous one, to Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople, for communication to the British Delagate on the Commission. Her Majesty's Ambassador is in constant communication with his French and Russian colleague and will take such action as may be necessary and possible in concert with them, for ensuring the safety of the Christian population.

Will the hon. Member make specific inquiries as to the accuracy of the dates?

I think it would be impossible for the Delegates to take into account the accuracy or otherwise of the reports without going into the question of where they were written. The reports are being referred to the Delegates through Her Majesty's Ambassador, and one of the points to be taken notice of is where the reports are or have been, written.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, considering that the Turkish Commission of Inquiry in the Sassoun District of Armenia is a purely local one, and that grave anxiety is felt concerning the fate of Christian prisoners in Turkish prisons, Her Majesty's Government will propose to the Powers who signed the Treaty of Berlin the appointment of International Consular Commissioners to secure the safety and ultimate release of the Christians now confined in Turkish gaols without satisfactory proof of their guilt?

I can only repeat my reply on the 21st ult. to the hon. Member for the Tyneside Division of Northumberland. Any cases which appear to deserve consideration will receive the attention of Her Majesty's Embassy at Constantinople, but in the opinion of Her Majesty s Government it would not be expedient to make proposals under present circumstances for joint international action of the nature described.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that, at the recent London County Council Elections, after the first counting of the votes in North and South St. Pancras and Central Finsbury, recounts were called for, which on each occasion showed a grave divergence from the figures previously arrived at; and whether he proposes to introduce a measure to amend the law in the direction of providing further safeguards for the proper counting of the votes at elections?

I have observed from the reports in the Press that the votes at the election of County Councillors in Central Finsbury were counted twice; but I have no other information on the subject. The difference in the numbers at the two countings does not appear in this instance to have exceeded 16 in the case of any candidate, although nearly 9,000 votes were polled. It appears to me that the possibility of a recount is a sufficient and the only remedy for errors in the previous count.

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Admiralty to discharge any, and, if so, how many, labourers now employed in Deptford Victualling Yard; whether some of these men have 13 years' service, and would shortly become entitled to a bonus or pension; and whether they will lose this on their present dismissal.

No discharges properly so called are contemplated at Deptford. Certain retirements take place from time to time under the rules of the Admiralty Service.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General, will he explain why he has refused to extend the business of the post office at Fairview, County of Dublin, in the manner suggested to him some time since by the ratepayers of the locality?

I understand that the suggestion alluded to was that a new Branch Post Office, to be erected in front of the Postmen's Sorting Office and to be worked by an Established Staff, should be substituted for the Sub Post Office at Fairview. At present the amount of the Post Office business at Fairview is too small to warrant me complying with the suggestion.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education if he will state upon what clause or clauses in the Education Act of 1870 is based the practice of the department in always refusing to recognise additional school accommodation in any voluntary school in a school board area without the support of the school board of that district; and whether, in view of the strong and unanimous opinion of the Royal Commission on Education and the strong desire of the supporters of voluntary schools, he will consider the advisability of endeavouring to alter the law on the subject?

The law on this matter is contained in Clauses 18 and 98 of the Elementary Education Act of 1870. The Government are not prepared to introduce legislation with a view of amending the Act of 1870 in regard to these matters. It should be borne in mind that no proposal in this sense was made by the late Government during the four years after the Royal Commission reported.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has any objection to state the number of Officers of the Royal Engineers who would be required for military purposes in the event of the mobilisation of the whole Indian Army?

, answering in the absence of Mr. H. H. FOWLER, said: The Secretary of State for India does not consider it would be desirable in the public interests to state the number of officers required on the mobilisation of the army in India.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will agree to the motion for a copy of the Report of the Committee on Military Works and Public Works Department, which stands on this day's paper?

Neither the Report of the Committee referred to in the hon. Member's motion which stands on this day's paper, nor the evidence taken before that Committee have yet been received. The Secretary of State is, therefore, unable to agree to the motion.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will have a return prepared giving the number of ladies who have exercised their power of voting at the recent County Council Election?

I presume that the question refers to the recent election of the County Councillors in London, and I have communicated on the subject with the Clerk to the London County Council, who has the custody of the documents from which alone the information desired could be obtained. He informs me that the copies of the register are sealed up with the other papers connected with the ballot, and the packets can only be opened in accordance with the regulations of the Council under the Ballot Act, and that there would be very great practical difficulty in making such a return.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General if he has received a memorial from the inhabitants of the districts of Staffin and Kilmaluag in Skye, praying that the steamboat service hitherto available should not be discontinued; and, whether he can give assurances to that effect?

I have received the memorial in question and am making some inquiry in reference thereto. The contract provides for a call at both places, and the Contractor will be required to observe the obligation during the continuance of the contract.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated value of the endownments now held by Noncomformist Churches in Wales which they held prior to 1703?

I have no official information on this subject. As a matter of history, I believe that there were not more than about 50 Nonconformist Chapels in Wales at the date mentioned, and no doubt the great bulk of such endowments as the Nonconformist Churches in Wales enjoy are of a considerably later origin.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea of the amount of Nonconformist Endowments since 1703?

I cannot give that information.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether Her Majesty's Government have any recent information as to the present position of the negotiations for the settlement of the claims made by the British sealers in respect of the seizure of their vessels in Behring Sea by the United States Government prior to the Behring Sea Arbitration; whether he is aware that every legal ground upon which such seizures were attempted to be justified were decided adversely to the United States Government, by the Award of the tribunal at Paris; and that since the date of that Award, the only question in difference has been one of the amount of compensation to be paid; whether, in order to avoid further disputes and delay, the Canadian Government, many months ago, agreed to accept from the Government of the United States the sum of 425,000 dollars, in settlement of all claims; whether it has come to the knowledge of Her Majesty's Government, that great and growing dissatisfaction has arisen among Her Majesty's subjects in Canada, by reason of the delay in payment or settlement of their claims; and, whether Her Majesty's Government propose any, and what, steps, to bring the matter to a conclusion, by obtaining payment of the agreed amount, or if necessary by arbitration?

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what was the date of the agreement come to between the Government of the United States and the Government of Great Britain, that the United States should pay 425,000 dollars as compensation to sealers, under the Behring Sea Arbitration Award: what conditions were attached to the agreement to enable the Award to be carried out, in the event of any failure to appropriate the necessary moneys during the Session of Congress, which has now come to an end; and, in the event of the United States Government not being in a position to pay the sum for some time to come, whether Her Majesty's Government will take steps to advance the said sum to the sealers, many of whom are in serious want, owing to the long deferred payment of their acknowledged claims for just compensation?

I think the last point should be put to the Colonial Office. As to the questions on the Paper, I have to state that, on February 25th, the United States House of Representatives rejected the proposed appropriation for the payment of a lump sum in settlement of the claims for compensation on account of the seizure of British sealing vessels by United States cruisers prior to the Behring Sea Arbitration. The legal questions submitted to the Tribunal of Arbitration were determined by a ma-majority of the Arbitrators in a sense adverse to the contentions of the United States Government. The Canadian Government in order to avoid delay, and secure a prompt settlement, consented to accept 45,000 dollars in settlement of the claims. No representation has as yet been received from the Government of the Dominion with regard to the present position of the question, but the delay in the payment of the claims, which are consequent upon the Award of the Arbitrators, must necessarily be felt to be a cause of disappointment and loss. Negotiations were originally in progress for the reference to a commission of all claims of British subjects for injuries sustained by them in the Behring Sea, for which compensation was claimed to be due from the United States under the Award of the Tribunal by Arbitration. These negotiations were suspended when the offer of payment by a lump sum was made by the United States Government. On learning that the House of Representatives had rejected the proposal, Her Majesty's Ambassador at Washington was instructed by telegraph to urge strongly the necessity of an immediate settlement, and to inquire whether the United States Secretary of State would at once resume the negotiations for a Convention. Sir J. Pauncefote replied that Mr. Gresham was quite prepared to resume negotiations at once. The Convention, however, when signed, would have to be submitted to the Senate for confirmation by a two-thirds majority, and unless a special Session were called, which appeared unlikely, this could not be done until December next. The Secretary of State (Mr. Gresham) has expressed to Her Majesty's Ambassador his deep regret, and that of the President, at this unexpected position of affairs, and at the impossibility of preventing the unfortunate delay which must now occur in discharging the national obligations of the United States in regard to these claims.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, on what grounds he refused the application of the Landward School Board of the Parish of Campbeltown for separation of the landward from the burghal portion of the parish for rating purposes; and if, in arriving at his decision, due consideration was given to the unanimous recommendations of the district committee, and also of the Argyleshire County Council, on the subject; and, will he make renewed investigation into the equity of the request.

Full consideration was given to the representations of the Landward School Board and the County Council in favour of the application, and to the representations of Campbeltown burgh School Board, the Parochial Board and Town Council against the proposal. My decision was very carefully considered. In my opinion no substantial grounds were put forward which would have justified the division of the parish into two parts. I can hold out no hope of any different decision being arrived at.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether his attention has been called to a letter in the Pall Mall Gazette of 4th March, which states that in December last a Brass chief called Karemma made a statement to the Vice Consul, to the effect that his canoes had been seized and four of his boys shot by the crew of one of the Royal Niger Company's launches; and, whether the Government intend to take steps to prevent such occurrences in future.

asked whether the House was to understand that the action of the Royal Niger Company was to be inquired into by the Commission.

said he had already answered the question. If it was required he would state the purport of it again—namely, that the inquiry would be of a wide scope, and certainly it ought to include such a point as that mentioned.

But will the inquiry include the action of the Royal Niger Company itself?

Will it be an open inquiry?

The inquiry is to be made by an official selected to inquire into the whole of the causes. It is not possible to make a wider statement than that.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether, in view of the time of the year fast approaching for the appointment of overseers and assistant overseers, the Local Government Board will expedite their decisions on applications from urban district councils to have conferred upon the councils the powers mentioned in Section 33 of the Local Government Act, 1894.

There are upwards of 500 applications from urban district councils relating to the transfer to them of the power to appoint overseers, and the Local Government Board are using every effort to deal with them before the time when new overseers must be appointed.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether an Order has been prepared or issued annexing the village, church, manse, and glebe of St. Ninians to the parish of Stirling; whether he is aware that a petition has been numerously signed by the inhabitants of St. Ninians protesting against the said Order as injurious to their interests and those of the poor; and, what grounds exist for interfering with the traditional and historical independence of this parish?

The proposed Order was gazetted on the 25th January. I have received the petition from the inhabitants of St. Ninians protesting against the Order. This will be duly considered before the Order is confirmed. A similar course to that adopted with regard to Stirling burgh has been taken in other cities regarding which I have received applications to place the whole municipal area within a single parish.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has considered the advisability of taking advantage of the present vacancy in the office of Commissioner of Her Majesty's Woods and Forests to place that office under the control of the Board of Agriculture?

No; I do not think that a change of that kind would be practicable or advisable. Out of a gross income of £514,000 the agricultural land contributes £72,000, which is not one-seventh part of the whole estate. The rest of it consists of land and house property in London and elsewhere, and of mines and other properties which are not at all appropriate to the Agricultural Department. Though I have profound confidence in my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, I do not think it proper to hand over six-sevenths of this estate to be dealt with by his Department.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Motion to first go into Committee on the Navy Votes for the coming financial year is likely to be made?

Would the right hon. Gentleman make such arrangements of the business of the House as will allow us to have a very full opportunity of discussing the Navy Votes with the Speaker in the Chair without the plea of urgent public circumstances being brought forward to shorten the discussion, as was done last year?

Will the right hon. Gentleman introduce the Bill with regard to the loan for works before we come to the general discussion of naval policy with the Speaker in the Chair?

The loans for works will depend on the decision of the House on the Estimates; I could not take the Bill for loans separately and before the Estimates. I am in considerable difficulty, but I am doing the best I can to make arrangements. Both the Secretary for War and the Secretary to the Admiralty are disabled, and I certainly recognise that we ought to give to the very important proposals of the Government with reference to the Navy the fullest opportunity of discussing this important matter. I should propose, subject to what I have said, to take the Army Estimates first. I must, however, ask leave to postpone the fixing of the date. I am not able to do so at present.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he has considered the Report of the Departmental Committee on Pensions for Teachers; and, if he is able to say whether, and how far, its recommendations can be carried out.

This is a very interesting and important question. My hon. Friend may be assured that the Government have it under their careful consideration, with a view to arriving at an early decision upon it; but he will feel that, besides the Government, the persons interested—namely, the teachers—ought to have time to consider the proposals of the Departmental Committee. The Government are very desirous to consider and to decide at an early time what action they will be able to take upon this report.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Government propose to introduce their promised Bill on the subject of the Unification of London?

I think I can undertake that the Bill will not be introduced before Easter.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his intention to renew in his next Budget the additional duty on spirits imposed by the Finance Act of last year?

I think the hon. Member, from his experience of the House of Commons, can hardly expect an answer to this question. There is a French saying to the effect that there is no such thing as an indiscreet question, it is only the answer that is indiscreet. Certainly it has never been the practice in this House for a Chancellor of the Exchequer in the middle of March to state what are the arrangements with reference to taxation until the proposal of the Budget.

said, the reason why he asked the question with reference to the date of the Budget was, because last year, the right hon. Gentleman stated as a concession that this tax would only last for one year.

I cannot at present state the exact date of the Budget, whether it will be produced before or after Easter.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is the intention of the Government to take any special steps to secure the passing of the Irish Land Bill through Committee at an early period of the Session, either by referring it to an Irish Grand Committee, or by proceeding with it pari possu with the Established Church (Wales) Bill.

Here, again, I am afraid that I cannot give the hon. Member much satisfaction. Until after the Second Reading of the Bill we could not make any arrangements or statement as to what will be done in Committee.

When will the Second Reading of the Bill be taken?

I have always said after the second reading of the Welsh Disestablishment Bill.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether an owner occupying his own land, who presents properly prepared and audited accounts showing a loss instead of a profit on such land, is entitled to demand relief from Income Tax, under Schedule A, before making payment, or whether he must in every case make payment first and seek for repayment or redress afterwards.

By Section 23 of 53 and 54 Vic., cap. 8, a person occupying lands for the purposes of husbandry only who sustains a loss from such occupation can appeal within six months after the year of assessment to the General Commissioners of Income-Tax for his district, for an adjustment of his liability by reference to the loss and to the aggregate amount of his income for that year, estimated according to the several rules and directions of the Income Tax Acts, which would, of course, include his property assessed under Schedule A. Such a claim would be adjusted by way of repayment only.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would make inquiries with reference to the delay of repayment, of which he was assured that many complaints might be made by persons who claimed?

No doubt the remissions that were granted in the Budget last year have given rise to a much larger number of claims for repayment than existed before, and the pressure on the department is naturally very great. But I will take care to inquire and to urge that as little delay as possible may arise in respect of those claims.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that steps have recently been taken, by advertisement and otherwise, to increase the strength of the Swaziland Mounted Police Force; and whether any portion of the extra expense thus incurred will be paid by the Imperial Treasury, or out of the grant made by the Imperial Treasury towards the expenses of ruling Swaziland?

Her Majesty's Government some little time ago sanctioned an increase of 30 police in the strength of the Swaziland Mounted Police Force; they are not responsible for any part of the cost of these police after February 20 last, but they are responsible for a moiety of the cost up to that date. The cost will be met out of the South African Vote.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what processes or particular descriptions of manual labour have been certified by the Secretary of State, in pursuance of Section 8 of the Factories Act, 1891, to be dangerous or injurious to health or dangerous to life and limb; and whether it is intended by Clause 26 of the Factories and Workshops Bill to empower the Secretary of State to prohibit the employment of women or children, or young persons, in any of these occupations; and, in particular, whether it is intended that the Secretary of State shall have power to order shorter hours in the linen industry than those which prevail in the cotton industry?

The processes which have been dealt with under the enactment referred to are the following:—The manufacturers of white, red, orange, and yellow lead, and lead smelting, tinning and enamelling works, the manufacture of colours, lucifer match factories, the making of earthenware, certain processes in the manufacture of explosives, chemical works, electric accumulator works, flax mills, and linen factories, brass mixing and casting, quarries. The clause in question is directed to the case of trades where, from the nature of the industry itself, whatever precautions may be taken to insure the safety of those concerned, particular processes cannot be carried on by particular classes of workers, from reasons of age or sex, without running exceptional risks to life or health. I may mention, by way of illustration, the white lead industry, in which, as the Report of the Departmental Committee showed, young persons ought not to be employed at all, and there are certain processes in which no women, and others in which no woman under a certain age, can safely engage. At present the Secretary of State is powerless to deal with such cases. There is no intention whatever to exercise the proposed powers, either as to total prohibition or as to limitation of hours, in the case of the linen industry, which is only dangerous or injurious to health if proper and easily practicable safeguards are neglected. Still less is it intended to make any discrimination between the linen and cotton trades.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, when he intends to implement the promise made by him to the House on 22nd August last, viz., that the Government would at the earliest period in their power embody in a Bill the recommendations of the Select Committee on Feus and Building Leases in Scotland, including the recommendation that powers should be granted to elected bodies to provide or acquire land by agreement or compulsorily for the erection of workmen's dwellings?

In reply to the hon. Member, the Government have a measure on the lines suggested by the Select Committee on Feus and Building Leases in Scotland, which they hope to lay before Parliament at an early date.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, (1) if he is aware that steamers, carrying Her Majesty's bi-weekly mails and passengers, besides many other vessels, have to navigate the dangerous western coasts of the Orkney and Shetland Islands without a single light to guide them, in latitudes where frequent storms occur, and where, during a great part of the year, there are only about seven hours of daylight; and (2) whether, seeing that there been frequent wrecks on the Veeskerrie reef of rocks, lying three miles out from the Shetland coast, and on the North Shoal, lying nine miles out from the Orkney coast, he will cause a lighthouse to be erected on Noop Head, in the island of Westray, Orkney?

It can hardly be said that the western coasts of the Orkney and Shetland Islands are entirely unlighted, as there are lights at Dunnet Head and Hoy Sound, on the south-western coast of the Orkneys; moreover, a light, which will be of use to trading vessels in those waters, is now being erected at Sule Skerry, and will, I hope, be lit shortly. As regards the second paragraph, a proposal is before me for the erection of a light, either on Mull Head or on Noop Head, both in the Island of Westray, and I have no doubt that the Board of Trade will shortly be able to sanction one or other alternative.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Callaghan, who is undergoing a life sentence for treason felony, is still in Portland Prison; whether his eyesight has been entirely lost to him since he has been in gaol; can he explain why Callaghan's wife has received no letter from or news of him for about 12 months, although he is entitled to write a letter once every three months; and, whether it is the rule to require the full term to be served by prisoners who have lost either wholly or partially their eyesight while in prison?

Callaghan is still in Portland Prison. It is not the fact that his eyesight has been lost to him since he has been in gaol. He was blind in the left eye before conviction, and as he complained of pains in the right eye and in the head, I had him specially examined about 18 months ago by an ophthalmic expert, who advised the removal of the blind eye. Callaghan assented to this being done, and the operation was successfully performed in July 1893, with the result that the right eye has ceased to give him any trouble, that the pain in the head has gone, and that he is able to read with glasses. I have taken great personal interest in his case, and I am satisfied that he could not have been more skilfully or humanely treated in any hospital. I find that he has not availed himself of the opportunities which he has had for writing letters for some time back, but so far as the authorities of the, gaol are concerned, there is no reason why he should not have done so. As Callaghan has not lost his sight while in prison, the last question does not in strictness arise, but I may say that considerations of health are always taken into account in determining how long a prisoner shall serve. In the present case I hope to be very soon in a position to order the prisoner's release.

I had no intention of suggesting that the treatment had not been proper. But with reference to the statement that Callaghan's eyesight was bad from the first, I wish to ask whether it is not a fact that an accident occurred during an operation, and that that accident is supposed to have led to the final obstruction of his sight?

Certainly not in my term of office. I have no knowledge of such an accident.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary, to whom I have given private notice of the question, whether he can say when the necessary arrangements for the establishment of a Training Ship at Queenstown are likely to be completed? A statement on this subject appears in the Memorandum of the First Lord of the Admiralty on the Naval Estimates; and it is a statement which will be received with much satisfaction in the south of Ireland and in my own constituency.

My noble Friend, the First Lord, has made communications to me on the subject from time to time; but all I can say in answer to the specific question is that no time will be lost in establishing a Training Ship in Queenstown Harbour.

I wish, Sir, to call attention to a personal matter, and to offer a word of personal explanation. In the Debate which arose on Tuesday night on the subject of the Supplementary Vote for legal expenses in connection with the extradition of Jabez Spencer Balfour, the hon. Member for Haggerston said:

"There was a strong feeling prevailing out of doors that there was a want of desire on the part of many hon. Members that Jabez Balfour should return to this country."

"The general impression out of doors was that money had been found by the Debenture Corporation."

I have to thank the hon. Member for giving me notice that he intended to raise this question this afternoon. Until yesterday I had not the slightest idea that the hon. Member was directly or indirectly connected with the Debenture Corporation, so that what I stated on the occasion to which he has referred could not have had the slightest reference to him. I was acquainted with the fact that the hon. Member for South Derbyshire was connected with the Debenture Corporation, but the observations which I made the night before last had not the least personal reference to him any more than to the hon. Member for Worcestershire. I never heard it even rumoured that either of the hon. Members had had any specific charge made against them. Before I say anything more in the matter, I should like, if the forms of the House will permit me, to ask a question of the hon. Member for South Derbyshire. There appeared in The Westminster Gazette last night an account headed—

"Debenture Corporation and Jubez—Mr. Cremer's Statement—An Authoritative and Official Denial."

The statement is perfectly correct.

Then I think no explanation is needed from me. The hon. Member admitted to the interviewer that those rumours to which I have referred did exist, and were largely prevalent. He stated that since the departure of Jabez Balfour from this country the directors of the Debenture Corporation had considerably changed, and that one of the new directors, Mr. Hugh Smith, of the Bank of England—a gentleman of the most perfect honour and integrity—had thought it his duty, before he took part in the official transactions of the Corporation, to put a series of questions, concerning the nature and character of the rumours to which I referred the other night, to the old directors. The admission of the hon. Member that this took place is a justification of my statement that such rumours prevailed out of doors. I made no specific charge against the hon. Member. I made no specific charge against any man or any body of men. I simply spoke of a belief that largely prevailed out of doors; and said I thought that it was time these rumours should either be proved or confuted. I think that the hon. Members ought to thank me for having afforded them the opportunity of publicly making their denial. Perhaps I may be permitted to ask one other question before I sit down. It is, whether the two hon. Members can, on behalf of the Debenture Corporation, say whether that company would be willing to have a committee or a commission appointed to inquire into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the whole of these transactions. [Cries of "Order."] As yet, no information is forthcoming as to where these thousands of pounds——

Order, order. Having elicited from the hon. Member for Derbyshire (Mr. Broad) that there is no truth in the rumour referred to, the hon. Member is hardly justified in putting these further questions. I think the statement of the hon. Member for Derbyshire should satisfy all the requirements of the case.

inquired what business would be taken at the Morning Sitting tomorrow, and whether Army and Navy Votes would be taken on Monday; also what business would be set down for Tuesday next?

To-day we hope to be able to finish the Civil Service Supplementary Estimates. I have consulted with my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, and he thinks it would be more convenient to the House if the Navy Supplementary Estimates were taken with the other Navy Estimates, and in that am disposed to agree with him. I think, perhaps, it will be the better way. Then, finishing, as I hope we may, the Civil Service Supplementary Estimates tonight, we hope to take what I call the Government minor Bills to-morrow; the First Readings, I mean, of the Scotch Local Government Bill and the Light Railways Bill. Then I am placed in considerable difficulty about the Army Estimates, for I have just received a note from my right hon. Friend the Secretary for War in which he says it is uncertain whether he will be well enough to be here on Monday. Provisionally, therefore, I must propose to take the Navy Estimates on Monday, in case the Secretary for War should not be here to take the Army Estimates. But I would rather not lend myself, and will make a more definite statement to-morrow.