I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the labourers in the Deptford Victual ling Yard have been employed since Thursday, October 12, continuously, from 4 a.m. till 12 midnight, without any time being allowed for meals, except half an hour for dinner; and whether it is with his authority that these men are being supplied with rum in place of being allowed time or opportunity for meals; and if he will cause an inquiry to be made into such practices, and in the meantime take steps to ensure them being at once discontinued.

The pressure of work involved in the rapid despatch of the stores required for victualling simultaneously the transports for the Cape, a process which has been carried out without any hitch, has rendered overtime necessary. Only a limited number of men were so employed during the full period of overtime, and only those who volunteered for the duty. As many additional labourers as could with advantage be employed were taken on to meet the extreme pressure of work. Arrangements were made by which the men had breaks for meals and rest, averaging from one to two and a half hours. A small allowance of rum was issued to some of the men employed on the wharf on three nights, the work being of a very fatiguing character. The quantity issued to each man was fractionally below the ration which is issued in the Navy, namely, half a gill per man. In every instance the rum was diluted in the same proportion as on issue in the Navy, namely, with three times the quantity of water.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War what was the number of recruits enlisted up to October 1, as compared with the number enlisted in the same months of 1898; and what is the extent of the present deficiency on the establishments.

Up to October 1, 29,451 recruits joined the regular Army as against 29,577 during the same period last year, but this includes recruits for colonial corps. British recruits numbered 27,144 as against 27,766 in the same period of last year. On October 1 the Army was 13,343 men below its establishment as against 13,768 last year; but the establishment for this year is 4,269 more than that for last, so that this means an increase in actual strength of 4,694.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, in view of this country being at war with the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State, in South Africa, and that a large number of steamships, comprising a portion of our mercantile marine, are employed by the Government and taken up as transports to carry troops, war material, and stores to South Africa, whether all ships engaged for such purposes are manned by British subjects.

All the transports taken up have shipped crews at British ports with the exception of two mule ships, whose crews had been shipped at Antwerp. The crews of all the remainder are substantially in all cases, and exclusively, I believe, in most cases, British. The absolute exclusion of all foreigners, such as Scandinavians, who may have been for years in the employment of the companies, would have led to endless delay, possibly to the refusal of many shipowners to charter their ships. But where there are such foreigners their number is quite insignificant, and their characters are well known to their employers.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if the swift armed cruisers, which have for many years received subsidies from the Government, have been employed in any way to convey reinforcements to South Africa; or if any are now available for the rapid transport of officers to fill the places of those who have fallen in the service of their country.

The steamers referred to are fitted and intended for use only as armed cruisers, and in the agreement with the Government no reference is made to their being taken up for use as transports. With reference to the second question, no difficulty would be found in providing for the rapid transport of any additional officers or men whom the military authorities might desire to send.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the great anxiety for the latest news from the seat of war, and to the impossibility of obtaining information in country districts on Sundays, it is possible, with the co-operation of the Postmaster General, to send any important news that may be received on Sunday mornings to the postal telegraph offices throughout the country which are open from 8 to 10 a.m.

I have ascertained that this proposal involves a considerable tax upon the Sunday staff of the Post Office. But the Secretary of State will confer with the Postmaster General with a view to meeting the suggestion, at any rate during any critical phases of our operations in South Africa.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if any portion of the Supplementary Estimate in Vote 1 of the Army Estimates is to be applied to the maintenance of the families of married men, whether of those serving with the colours or of the Reserve now called upon for active service; if not, is it intended to ask Parliament for a grant sufficient to maintain the families of the married men during their absence in South Africa; and is he aware that in some places organisations are being formed for the purpose of appealing to the public for subscriptions on behalf of the families of the Reserve.

The separation allowance for the families of men serving in the field is provided in Vote 7—the wife has eightpence a day, and for each child, under sixteen if a girl, or fourteen if a boy, twopence. In addition there is an allotment from the man's pay in Vote 1 of fourpence for the wife and a penny for each child up to sixpence in all. The soldier may, at his option, agree to a higher stoppage being made for the benefit of his family.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he can state what arrangements he has made for the treatment of the wounded in the South African campaign by the employment of civilian medical aid to assist the officers and men of the Royal Army Medical Corps, and the conditions of service of such civilian medical officers and nurses.

Will the hon. Gentleman at the same time kindly make his promised statement in reference to the treatment of the wounded generally, especially at Natal? Will he also state what provision has been made for the troops in South Africa in the way of the Catholic chaplains?

I propose to go fully into those matters on Thursday, and perhaps the hon. Member will put down for that day his question with regard to the Roman Catholic chaplains. Authority has been given for supplementing the Army Medical Staff in South Africa by the employment of fifty-six civilian surgeons, and eleven nurses of the Army Nursing Service Reserve. The civilian surgeons will receive £1 a day, with a horse and the allowances of a captain. On the conclusion of their service they will be entitled to a gratuity of two months' pay. A nurse will receive £40 a year, with allowances, and a gratuity of £20 on cessation of duty. I am glad to take this opportunity of announcing that Sir W. MacCormac, the distinguished President of the Royal College of Surgeons, has intimated to the Secretary of State his willingness to proceed to South Africa with Sir Redvers Buller's field force, and to place his unrivalled skill and experience at the disposal of the military authorities. We have not hesitated to accept this generous and patriotic offer, and we shall probably arrange that he is to have the assistance of two specially selected civil surgeons.

May I ask the Leader of the House, or the Under Secretary for War, whether the Government have any news from South Africa to communicate to the House.

In reply I have to say that the Commander-in-Chief Lord Wolseley, sums up the situation as follows—

"Forenoon, October 24th, 1899—General Yule has fallen back to effect a junction with General White. He camped yesterday evening about sixteen miles south of Dundee, without seeing, during his march, anything of the enemy, and has since been reported all well on the Waschbank river. General White has fought a successful action with an Orange Free State force to-day on the road between Ladysmith and Newcastle, and should join hands with General Yule this evening. General Yule reports that his wounded are doing well. The Boer wounded in our hands are treated just as our wounded are, and I have every reason to believe that the Boers will treat any of our wounded in their hands in a similarly humane manner."

That, Sir, is Lord Wolseley's communication. Perhaps I may remind the House that the South African Republic is a party to the Geneva Convention. We have the following despatch from General Sir F. Forestier-Walker, general officer commanding at the Cape, received 2.30 p.m., October 24th; at Cape Town, October 24th, 1.5 p.m.—

"Last message from Kimberley, dated October 22nd, 2 p.m., reports 'All well.'"

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the widow of an officer killed in action becomes entitled to a pension; and whether the widow of a private soldier killed in action is also entitled to a pension.

Widows of officers killed in action are awarded a gratuity of a year's pay and pensions unless they are left in wealthy circumstances, but such pensions cannot be claimed as a right. Widows of private soldiers killed in action are awarded either a pension from the Soldiers' Effects Fund or a gratuity of one year's pay. If the soldier's wife be dead a gratuity of one third of a year's pay is awarded to each of the children under the age of sixteen. The Soldiers' Effects Fund is administered by the Royal Commissioners of the Patriotic Fund.

What is given to the wives of non-commissioned officers killed in action?

If the hon. Gentleman will put that question on the Paper I will answer it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision, if any, has been made by the Metropolitan Police authorities for the families of those members of the force who as Reservists have rejoined the colours; and whether, in addition to the voluntary provision made for them by their comrades in the force, he will consider the advisability of following the precedent set by the postal authorities with reference to members of that department detailed for duty in South Africa.

There is no statutory authority to make any provision for the families of members of the Metropolitan Police Force who have been recalled to the colours, and I am not aware of any precedent set by the postal authorities which is in point. But immediately the question of members of the force being called away arose I took into consideration what arrangements could be made in favour of the men, and I hope to be able to secure that men in the police service shall be as well off as others in the service of the Crown.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the Local Government Board will encourage guardians to help liberally the wives and families of Reservists by outdoor relief without offering them the house, and whether he can state what is the maximum weekly amount which can be granted to each wife and child; and whether such grants can be made without involving the recipients in the disabilities of pauperism.

Boards of guardians are empowered to give outdoor relief to the wives and children of Reservists, where required. The maximum amount is in their own discretion according to the circumstances of each case. The answer to the last paragraph is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the wives of the Army Reserve men who have lately been called up will receive half-pay, considering the fact that several railway companies and a number of private firms are making such allowances.

Yes, Sir; certainly.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War what progress has been made with the scheme for providing Fort George with an adequate supply of water.

A considerable amount of excavation and concreting has been completed; and it is expected that the works will be finished by next May.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he could state to the House what was the number of men having over seven years' service at the date of the latest return, and what was the corresponding number on the same day of 1897; what was the number of the Army Reserve at the date of the latest return, and what were the corresponding numbers on the same day of 1897, and on the same day of 1895 and 1894; and what was the enrolled strength of the Militia at the date of the latest return, and what was the corresponding number on the same day of 1894.

On January 1, 1899, the latest date for which this return is obtainable, there were 47,844 men over seven years' service, against 41,780 on January 1, 1897. The strength of the Army Reserve on September 1, on the eve, that is, of the recent mobilisation, was 81,244; on the same date in 1897, 81,162; in 1895, 80,736; and in 1894, 82,460. The Militia, by the latest return, had 105,312 men enrolled, as against 113,079 in 1894.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he will agree to the return relating to the purchase of property on Salisbury Plain, which stands on the Paper this day.

It is impossible to give the return as it appears on the Paper, but if the hon. Member will confer with me I will settle a form in which the information asked for could be granted.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the results of the recent conferences between the Lieutenant Governor of British New Guinea and the Premiers of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria; have the Governments of these colonies consented to continue their subsidies; and is it in contemplation to place British New Guinea under the direct supervision of the Australian Federal Government of the early future.

They have agreed to continue to allow the Accumulated Fund to be drawn upon for the expenses of the administration of New Guinea, pending federation. It is contemplated that New Guinea is to be under the supervision of the Federal Government when federation is accomplished.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any agreement has yet been arrived at with the Government of the United States in connection with the Alaskan boundary.

Yes. An agreement for a provisional boundary between Canada and Alaska in the neighbourhood of the Lynn Canal has been arrived at with the Government of the United States, and its text will be laid on the Table of the House, so soon as the terms of the notes recording it have been received from Washington.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it has been brought to his knowledge that considerable damage was done to Roman Catholic mission stations in Samoa when the British war vessels recently shelled villages supposed to be occupied by adherents of Mataafa; and whether any compensation will be awarded for the loss and injury thus inflicted.

One case of slight damage has been incidentally brought to the knowledge of Her Majesty's Government. Any claim for compensation on account of such damage will, of course, receive due consideration if presented. But according to the general principles of international law there is no liability to make compensation for losses caused by the necessary operations of war.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture why it is that in the Report of the Ordnance Survey Department issued in 1898 the map showing the progress of the survey in Ireland as regards the 25-inch map shows that in the case of the city of Cork the 25-inch map had been prepared and issued, whereas the map in the Report for 1899 shows that the map for Cork is neither ready nor issued; what the real facts are as regards the 25-inch map for the city of Cork; and why the system of colouring the map in the Report, showing the progress of the survey as regards the 25-inch map, has been altered in the year 1899.

By reason of an error, the occurrence of which I much regret, the map issued with the Annual Report for 1897–8 to show the progress of the re-survey of Ireland on the 25-inch scale made it appear that the work in the city of Cork and its immediate neighbourhood had been completed. This, however, was not the case, the district in question being at the present time in process of revision. The error was corrected in the Annual Report for 1898–9. The colouring of the map referred to was altered in the latter in order to diminish the cost of printing.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can state when the Muzzling Order will be taken off in the Metropolis.

had a similiar question on the Paper.

I am glad to be in a position to state, in reply to the hon. Member and to my hon. friend the Member for East Islington, that an Order for the revocation of the Muzzling Order now in force in the Metropolitan Police District has been made and gazetted. It will come into operation on Friday next, the 27th inst.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the discharge of his statutory duty of approving schemes for providing new dwellings for persons of the labouring class evicted by railway companies in the exercise of their compulsory powers, he has regard to the rents to be charged for such dwellings; and whether he is aware that the scheme of the South-Eastern Railway Company for the erection of dwellings near Abbey Street, Bermondsey, authorises the charge of rents of 3s. 3d. per room per week, and that it is impossible for the persons displaced to pay such rents, whereas the rents charged by the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company for their workmen's dwellings in Bermondsey New Road are only 2s. 6d. per room per week.

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second paragraph the arrangement made with the South-Eastern Railway Company as to the rents of tenements on the Abbey Street site is not as stated. The maximum rental for the best rooms is to be 2s. 9d., lower amounts being charged for inferior accommodation.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he will state the number of rated inhabitants in each of the six Highland crofting counties whose names were omitted from the Parliamentary Register in the year 1891 in respect of non-payment of rates.

In reply to the hon. Member, I beg to refer him to Parliamentary Return No. 155 of 1893, in which he will find the information he desires.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he will state what progress has been made with the construction of the Carloway Road, Island of Lewis; and will he say whether the unspent balance under the grant is now exhausted.

The balance of the Parliamentary grant has been spent in embanking the road and otherwise putting it in good repair for two miles from Carloway Harbour, and is now exhausted. A further grant of £500 has been made by the Congested Districts Board, of which £100 yet remains to be spent.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, having regard to the fact that the Auchnashellach Deer Forest, Ross-shire, is assessed at £1,000 yearly, will he explain how the assessor arrives at these figures, seeing that a recent Parliamentary Return shows that no information of a reliable character in regard to the acreage of the forest can be obtained.

I understand that the assessors, in valuing deer forests which are not let, proceed with primary reference to the number of stags the forest in question can carry, and not to acreage. The Valuation Act provides ample Opportunity for disputing the assessor's valuations.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received a memorial from the Highland Railway Company pointing out that the Light Railways Act, 1896, in so far as it applies to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland has proved a failure; and, having regard to the fact that the assistance rendered by the Treasury for the formation of light railways in the poorer districts of Ireland is far more liberal than that given to Scotland, will the Government consider the expediency of placing the districts in each country which come within the operations of the Congested Districts Acts on an equal footing so far as light railways are concerned.

I have read the memorial from the railway company, who naturally approach the question from their own point of view, which is not necessarily the same as that either of local interests or of the community at large. I cannot admit the propriety of comparisons with Ireland; but I may say that the local assistance towards railways in that country has been very considerable, though in a different form from that contemplated in Great Britain. I can hold out no hopes of any amendment in the Light Railways Act.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the difficulties that have hitherto operated to prevent the coinage of silver in the Australian branches of the Royal Mint have been removed.

The Treasury have carefully formulated the difficulties which stand in the way of the arrangement desired; and I understand that their statement has been communicated to all the Australasian Governments. At present, however, the only reply which has reached the Treasury is that of the Government of Victoria.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, what progress, if any, has been made with the erection of the new post office in Clones, resolved upon by the Department a very considerable time ago.

Owing to the strong local feeling displayed it has not yet been possible to obtain a site for a new post office within the limits of expense which the Department would be justified in incurring. The matter is still under inquiry.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the erection of a new post office in Sligo, for which provision was made last session in the Estimates, has been commenced; and if not, can he explain the cause of the delay; has a site been definitely fixed on; and when will the erection of the building be proceeded with.

The purchase of the site at Fish Corner is almost completed. The plans are almost ready for final approval, and it is expected that the building will be commenced during the present financial year.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that the Report on Elementary Education for the Welsh Division for 1899 was out of print by the month of August last, and that no further edition has been published, care will be taken next year that a sufficient number of copies will be printed to meet the demand.

The copies printed of the Report on Elementary Education for the Welsh Division for 1899 were disposed of sooner than was anticipated. Care will be taken next year that a larger number of copies are struck off.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the deportation of the Irish poor from Scotland after they had spent the best of their lives in that country, whether his attention has been drawn to the coroner's inquiry held in the Belfast Lunatic Asylum upon the death of one of the poor men sent over to Belfast from Scotland; whether he will give the name of the deceased; and if something will be done to protect the poor Irishmen in Scotland from enforced removal when worn by work and rendered poor and unfit for further toil.

My attention has been drawn to a report of the coroner's inquest referred to in the first paragraph. The name of the deceased was Samuel French. As regards the third paragraph the hon. Member seems to be unaware of the fact that concessions were made to meet the views of Irish Members in the Poor Law (Scotland) Act of last year in regard to the deportation of poor persons from Scotland to Ireland.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a police barrack or protection post has been placed at the village of Firies, county Kerry; whether, seeing that there are already in the immediate neighbourhood of Firies two permanent police barracks, one at Furranfore and another at Ballybrack, and in view of the peaceable condition of the district, he will explain why the new barracks at Firies is necessary; and what cost, if any, will have to be borne by the people for the Firies barrack and constabulary stationed therein.

A police station was established at Firies upwards of fifteen months ago concurrently with the abolition of the station at Longfield in the immediate vicinity. There is no station at Ballybrack. No portion of the cost will have to be borne by the locality for either barrack or constabulary at Firies.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the order made by the Local Government Board giving dispensary doctors a month's holiday each will cost the ratepayers of Ireland several thousand pounds annually; whether he can state if boards of guardians were consulted before issuing this order; whether he can explain why this order was only made after the Government had fixed a contribution in relief of rates based on the standard year of 1896; and whether he will direct the Local Government Board to pay at least the half of the cost of doctors' substitutes in the future.

The reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative, but the increased charge on each union will be scarcely appreciable. The entire cost would amount, on an average, to something less than one-sixth of a penny in the pound in each case, but in many unions it has always been the practice to make this allowance, and in such cases there is no extra expense on the ratepayers. The new dispensary regulations were not submitted in draft to the guardians. As I have already pointed out, the new regulations had, in any case, to be made in consequence of the abolition of dispensary committees and the transfer of their powers to boards of guardians. The financial arrangements of the Local Government Act had nothing to do with the matter. There is no legal power to comply with the suggestion contained in the fourth paragraph.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a receiver named Hewson, on the Montgomery estate, county Leitrim, recently instructed a bailiff named Hetherington to inform Mrs. O'Donnell, the wife of an evicted tenant now undergoing an unlimited term of imprisonment for alleged contempt of court, that if she does not leave the evicted farm the Land Judge will imprison her; and is a receiver authorised in such a case to use as a threat the anticipated action of a judge.

Mr. Hewson instructed the bailiff to inform the wife of the evicted tenant that unless she gave up possession of the holding the judge would make an order in her case also. The second paragraph does not call for a reply from me; the receiver is in no way under the jurisdiction of the Executive Government.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the Dromahair, county Leitrim, Petty Sessions, on the 18th October instant, Mr. Wray, solicitor, on behalf of the Sooey Branch of the United Irish League, applied to the magistrates for a flag belonging to the branch, which was seized by the police at the proclaimed meeting at Dromahair on September I7, and that the magistrates refused to order the police to deliver it up to the owners; and will he instruct the police authorities at Dromahair to give back the flag to its owners.

I understand that nothing of the flag is left but the poles, and that even these are injured. It is contended that the flag was illegally taken possession of by the police, and under the circumstances I must decline to order that even the remains of it be returned.

Will the right hon. Gentleman instruct the police to compensate the branch for the destruction of their flag?

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a decision reported to have been given by three of the Dublin metropolitan police magistrates a few days ago, whereby, if it is correct in law, it will henceforth be possible for any householder in Ireland, provided his character is good, and his premises are suitable and above a certain low valuation, to convert his house into a beer shop; whether he is aware that for the last seventeen years the law has been differently interpreted throughout Ireland, namely, as giving to magistrates at licensing sessions an unqualified discretion under the Beer Dealers' Licences Amendment Act, 1882 (45 and 46 Vic. c. 34), to grant or refuse beer licences, and that so recently as the year 1894 the then law officers of the Government in Ireland, in a letter to the licensing magistrates at Belfast, expressed their approval of that view of the law; and whether, in consideration of these facts, and of the enactment by which the Executive Government alone can appeal from the decision of the Dublin magistrates referred to, the Government intend either to take that course or to propose legislation on the subject.

My attention has been called to the matters referred to in the first paragraph. I believe the facts are stated in the second paragraph with substantial accuracy. It has recently been decided by the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice in Ireland in effect that the Act of 1882 does not apply to Ireland, and the magistrates, as they were bound to do, followed that decision. It is under consideration whether it may not be desirable for the Crown to take steps to have the point decided in the Court of Appeal.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will lay upon the Table a Return of the names of the assistant commissioners employed by the Irish Land Commission as appeal valuers, showing the length of service and qualification of each.

I am forwarding to the hon. Member a Return containing the information referred to. It is not considered necessary to lay the information on the Table of the House in the form of a Parliamentary Paper.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will lay upon the Table of the House, as a Return, a copy of the examination papers set at the recent test examination for assistant land commissioners.

The papers set at the examination held in April last for the position of lay assistant land commissioner were duly published and may be purchased through any bookseller. The Civil Service Commissioners have not considered it necessary to publish the papers set at the examination more recently held, and it does not appear to them to be desirable, or necessary, to give the papers in the form of a Parliamentary Return.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Third Return of Estates to which Section 40 of the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1896, applies for the period ending in the year 1891 has been laid upon the Table of the House and printed; and, if not, whether this will now be done, as in the case of the previous Returns.

The Return will be laid on the Table in dummy either to-day or to-morrow, and will be ready for circulation in the course of a few weeks.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that great inconvenience is being caused to a large number of tenants in and around North Kerry owing to the Sub-Land Commission not shaving sat at Listowel for over two years to hear fair rent applications; and whether, seeing that tenants' applications. made nearly three years ago are still unheard, representations will be made, with a view of having an immediate sitting of the Sub-Land Commission at Listowel, so as to remedy the congested condition of the fair rent applications awaiting trial.

I am informed that a Sub-Commission Court will sit at Listowel for the hearing of cases from North Kerry in the course of next month.