I beg to ask the Under

We have very little in the way of news from China, but perhaps the House would like to hear the statements made to us with regard to the safety of the Legations at Peking. A communication has been received at the Foreign Office from the Chinese Minister to the effect that the Legations were un- harmed, and we have received from Shanghai a translation of an Imperial Decree, dated July 18th, as follows—

"In the Confucian work ' Spring and f Autumn,' it is written that Envoys shall not be killed. How can it then be supposed that the Throne's policy is to connive at allowing the troops and populace to vent their wrath upon the foreign Ministers? Excepting the murder of the German Minister by the riotous people, which offence is being vigorously investigated, the other Ministers are being protected for a month past by the Throne with a ceaseless energy, and fortunately have suffered (group omitted) harm."

A telegram was received on Friday at Shanghai from the Governor of Shantung transmitting a cypher message from the United States Minister to his Govern- merit, which purported to have loft Peking on July 18th. This message was undated and was to the effect that the United States Minister was in the British Legation under fire from shot and shell. The date given by the Chinese to the United States Minister's telegram is the same as that of the above decree, and the assurances of safety contained in the decree are not borne out by the latter. The Consul General telegraphed to the Governor of Shantung asking how it was that a message from Peking could reach Chinan-Fu in two days, and why we had had no message from Sir Claude MacDonald. The reply was as follows—

"The United States Minister's telegram was sent by Tsung-li Yamen by a messenger travelling 600 li (roughly 200 miles) a day. I assure you there is no telegraphic communication. I cannot explain why Her Majesty's Minister has not telegraphed. But J. beg you not to be anxious, for the Ministers and others are all living and unharmed; of this I have already had several reliable messages."

Seeing that over a month has elapsed since any communication has reached Her Majesty's Government from the Peking Legation, and that the Tsung-li Yamen are communicating by messenger with various Chinese authorities, Her Majesty's Government feel that they cannot attach credence to any statements or decrees attributed to the Emperor or the Chinese Government unless fortified by letters signed and dated by Sir Claude MacDonald or other British official, or by telegrams in our cypher.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the foreign Office have received a letter from the China Association urging that what the position in the Yang-tsze region requires is not only promise of help to the great provincial officials in putting down possible disturbance, but a clear and explicit expression of the intention of Her Majesty's Government to uphold and protect in their persons, properties, and offices those who have ventured to range themselves on the side of order and loyalty to their obligations; and whether, in view of this expression of opinion, and the pressure which is notoriously being brought to bear upon the great Viceroys of the Yang-tsze region and others, Her Majesty's Government are now prepared to give them the explicit assurances required.

Her Majesty's representatives have been in constant communication with the Yang-tsze Viceroys, and the assurances they have asked for have been given.

Has the Foreign Office received the letter from, the China, Association?

I believe the letter has been received.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is in accordance with ordinary diplomatic usages that, while our countrymen are being. massacred in China, the representatives of the Government of China in this country should be invited to, and received as honoured guests at, State and official functions; and whether Her Majesty's Government intend to take any steps to- indicate to the representatives of China in this country their views with regard to recent events in China.

The answer to the hon. Member's question depends on the state of facts at Peking, with which, as I have already told the House, we are imperfectly acquainted. Her Majesty's Government have not failed to take every measure in their power to bring home to the Chinese Government their views as to. recent events in China.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the Government have come to any decision with regard to stopping the export of arms and ammunition from this country to China for the use of the Chinese; and, if so, whether he will communicate the nature of such decision to the House; and whether any ironclads, torpedo boats, or other vessels of war are now being constructed for the Chinese by British firms, or are in course of transit from British builders to the Chinese; and, if so, whether the Government intend to stop these vessels, either on the water or in the building yards.

This question should be addressed to the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs. My hon. and gallant friend must be aware that a Bill has been introduced in another place to effect this object.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a list of non-commissioned officers and men of the German Marines, under Count Goben, who wore sent up to Peking to guard the German Legation, was published some days ago in Germany; and if he can explain why this cannot be done in the case of British Marines, under Captain Halli-day, who were sent up to Peking to guard the British Legation.

The Commander-in-Chief has not up till now reported the names of the men forming the Marine Guard at Peking; we have telegraphed to him to do so. He has not yet sent the information.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been done to provide for the proper care of the British wounded at Tientsin and Ta-ku; and whether there is. any hospital accommodation at Wei-hai-wei.

Her Majesty's Government have no special information as to the arrangements made at the front for the wounded in the recent engagements; but there were available the medical staffs of the various British men-of-war under Admiral Seymour, and General Dorward took with him other medical officers and appliances. As regards hospital accommodation at Wei-hai-wei, there is a good hospital on the island, and good stone barracks convertible to hospital use if wanted. General Gaselee has telegraphed that as soon as he reaches Wei-hai-wei, he will report on its suitability for the location of base hospitals. The water supply in the island is good and ample. To this I have to add that the Government of India have already provided a hospital ship, and are prepared to supplement this accommodation by converting three transports into hospital ships. The American hospital ship "Maine" has also been placed at the disposal of Her Majesty's Government, and I am glad to take this opportunity of expressing our gratitude for this great act of generosity to the Atlantic Transport Company, which has furnished the ship, and to the American ladies who have provided the funds for equipping and maintaining it. I have also to inform the House that I have received from the Maharajah Sindhia of Gwalior the offer of a fully equipped hospital ship for China, upon which he is willing to spend twenty lakhs. This princely offer is made on behalf of himself, his mother, and his wife, to testify their loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen Empress. Her Majesty's Government have expressed their acceptance of this most munificent offer, and their deep appreciation of the motives which actuated His Highness to make it.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the instructions to the Commission of Inquiry into the medical arrangements in South Africa will include the making of a thorough inquiry on the spot by the medical members of the Com- mission into the results of inoculation for enteric fever, in preventing the disease, or lessening its effects.

The inquiry to which my hon. and gallant friend refers, though doubtless one of very great importance, appears to be outside the scope of reference of the Commission, and it would require some- what different circumstances to investigate a purely scientific medical subject of the kind suggested.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether Mr. Harrison, who has been appointed a member of the South African Hospitals Commission, holds an appointment as member of the Army Railway Council, a body which advises the Army authorities in matters of railway transport and engineering, and has the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Army; and will he state in whom is the appointment to seats in the Army Railway Council vested, and was that council, of which Mr. Harrison is a member, consulted in the matter of railway transport in South Africa, which will form one branch of the subject matter of the inquiries of the South African Hospital Commission, of which Mr. Harrison is also a member.

I believe he is not a lieutenant-colonel in the Army. He is, however, a member of the Army Rail- way Council, an unpaid body called into existence at the request of a Departmental Committee of experts in order to advise the War Office, not on anything connected with South Africa or South African transport, but simply on the question of transports and mobilisation within the four quarters of the United Kingdom.

By whom are the appointments made?

They are made by the War Office, of course. Whom else could they be made by?

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Trea- sury whether he can now state definitely that the South African war despatches already asked for will be in the hands of Members before the House is asked to consider the Supplementary Estimates for war services in South Africa.

I do not myself think that these despatches have any direct connection with the Estimates to be introduced by my hon. friend the Under Secretary for War, but I frankly admit I should be very glad to lay the despatches on the Table, and I had hoped that by the time the Estimates would be discussed we might have considered that the operations of the war were at an end, or practically at an end, in which case it would be possible to lay them at once. That, however, appears to be a sanguine estimate, and I do not quite see how it is possible now to lay the despatches on the Table in view of the opinion expressed by the right hon. Gentleman and others on both sides of the House that anything which contains commentary upon military operations going on or the discretion of officers engaged should not be published while those military operations are in progress.

I cannot enter into a controversy on the subject now, but I must firmly protest against any such sentiment being attributed to me.

On behalf of the hon. Member for North Kerry, I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can state approximately the amount of money to be asked for in the Supplementary Estimate in connection with the war in South Africa; and also approximately what portion of the estimated gross cost of the war in South Africa will Ireland have to contribute.

It is impossible at present, I think, and certainly premature, to give any estimate of the kind asked for. As for the Supplementary Estimate which is to be brought forward, that will be in the hands of Members today or to-morrow, and, probably, it would be better for the House to wait till they have the estimate in their hands than for me to attempt to give any account of its contents. I may, however, say chat some of the rumours I have soon published as to the magnitude of the financial operations contemplated by the Government are altogether fantastic in their proportions.

Why should the Irish people be compelled to contribute towards the cost of a war which they abhor?

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the work of the transport officers at the ports of embarkation will be recognised in collection with any rewards that may be distributed for services during the past year.

I must deprecate Parliamentary questions with regard to rewards and distinctions. The responsibility rests decidedly with the Board of Admiralty, and the grace of conferring any distinction might easily be marred by any appearance of Parliamentary pressure.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether any number of Boer prisoners of war have been or are being sent to Ceylon; and, if so, how many, and to what place.

Yes, Sir. Lord Roberts telegraphed on the 12th inst. that a body of prisoners would leave for Ceylon in a few days, but their number was not stated. Preparations have been made for the reception of about 2,000 prisoners and their guards at Bandarawolla, in the hill country.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary for War whether then; is anything to communicate to the House about South Africa-There is a rumour that there is some news from South Africa.

I think that all the news there is has been published this morning.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of men now in hospital in South Africa from causes other than wounds.

It has already been explained to the House that it is not practicable to give the information required. The numbers vary from day to day and we receive no telegraphic information about them. I can, however, give the admissions at any place, at any date, if that will satisfy the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he can now state whether a proclamation was issued at Pretoria on Wednesday last ordering the wives of all Boers believed to be in the field against us to report themselves to the authorities on the following day in order that they might be sent into the enemy's lines, and whether they and their children have been so sent; and whether among these women are included any who have been rendered destitute through the destruction for military purposes of their farms and crops.

No, Sir. No Report has reached the War Office.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he can state how many men of the 3rd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, stationed at Cowshott Manor Camp, responded to the call made in February last to volunteer for service in South Africa; were any deprivations of privilege made in the case of men who then declined to volunteer; and how many men responded to a further call for volunteers made upon this corps in the present month, and have any of the corps been visited with displeasure for refusal.

As I stated in reply to this question on Thursday, the 3rd Inniskilling Fusiliers was not asked by the Secretary of State for War to volunteer for service abroad, either in February or later.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, in regard to England and Scotland respectively, if he will state how many county and borough councils have exercised the powers given for the purchase of land under the Military Lands Act, 1892; what number of acres has been so purchased; what sum has been so expended; and what proportion of that sum has been borrowed under the powers conferred by the Act.

The War Office has cognisance only of cases where compulsion is required, and only one such case has occurred among purchases made by county or borough councils, viz., at Great Yarmouth. The Local Government Board has cognisance of all sums of money borrowed under the Act; two cases have occurred, a loan of £12,600 to the town council of Nottingham, for the purchase of 120 acres of land for rifle ranges; and a loan of £123 to the town council of Chesterfield, for the purchase of two roods of land for a drill hall. But when the council is able to buy the land by agreement, and without borrowing, the transaction is not reported to any Government department.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can state whether, seeing that the privileges of certain War Office employees computed at 1s. a week, were taken into consideration when their minimum wage was raised to 22s. a week, these men are not entitled to a certain bonus; and whether he will see that a store house man named Wales (Army Clothing Department), who, after serving for seventeen years, was discharged in consequence of an accident, receives the bonus for that number of years service, irrespective of the compensation he received for injuries.

The Superannuation Act directs that gratuities on discharge shall be calculated on wages, and there is no power to vary the basis of assessment. Wales obtained under the Workmen's Compensation Act a weekly allowance which cannot be supplemented by a gratuity. The hon. Member does not accurately state the amount of the minimum wage.

Did not the man in question receive compensation in consequence of injuries sustained? Is he not therefore entitled to a bonus?

No, Sir. The workman in question received what he got under the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act, and he was not entitled to anything beyond that.

Is he not entitled to a bonus?

I do not know what the hon. and gallant Member means by a bonus. If he will speak to me privately I may clear up any misunderstanding.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office when his decision will be announced as to the supplementary grant to be paid to certain Lancashire Volunteer regiments in respect of their travelling expenses, which have been 5s. per head above the usual grant; and whether any special allowance is to be made for the carriage of cycles to and from camp.

The question of the travelling expenses referred to has been decided in favour of the corps, and the necessary instructions have been sent. There is no special grant for the conveyance of cycles; the allowance of £2 is intended to cover all extra incidental charges.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether proceedings are at present pending or contemplated on the part of the War Office to acquire for the purpose of adding it to the Kilworth Rifle Range a large tract of land in the immediate locality; and will he state under what Act these proceedings are being taken, what stage they have reached, what area of land it is proposed to ac- quire, and how many families it is proposed to evict.

No, Sir; there is no such intention.

Then what was the meaning of the communication addressed to the Cork County Council, stating there was such an intention?

That, no doubt, had reference to the schedule of a Bill introduced into another place, and since withdrawn.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the total quantity of Army shirts tendered for and supplied respectively by shirt manufacturers in the United Kingdom for the troops in South Africa during the past twelve months; what proportion was tendered for by manufacturers in the south of Ireland, and were their tenders accepted; what were the conditions of specification as to quality stipulated for by the Government, and were those conditions complied with by south of Ireland manufacturers; and, seeing that the identical quality of shirting previously accepted by the Government was offered at a lower price by one of the largest manufacturers of those goods in the south of Ireland, and that the tender was declined, can he explain why Irish manufacturers have received none of the Government contracts for Army shirts.

The total quantity being supplied is about 700,000; 31,000 were offered by south of Ireland firms and were not accepted. The material was to be flannel or union mixture containing not less than 50 per cent. of wool. In some cases the supply was to be to War Office pattern; in others the contractors were allowed to submit their own patterns. If there had been great emergency at the time the orders referred to were placed, some samples submitted by south of Ireland firms might have been accepted, but there was then no difficulty in meeting the requirements from the more suitable samples submitted by other firms. Nothing is known as to the particular case referred to in the second paragraph, but nine Irish manufacturers received orders, and a considerable number of other shirts were manufactured in Ireland by firms whose head offices are in Great Britain.

Out of the many millions spent on these matters, has threepence gone to Ireland?

On behalf of the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty, I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether arrangements will be made for the Channel Fleet to visit Invergordon this summer.

Beyond a visit to Berehaven for the purpose of carrying out certain exercises, the movements of the Channel squadron subsequent to the manéuvres have not yet been decided upon.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty can he say what officer, or officers, and what men have been in charge of H.M.S. "Raleigh" and of the other three ships of the sailing training squadron since this squadron was put out of commission and laid up on 31st October, 1899; have any officers and men lived on board the ships since that date, and, if so, how many on board each ship; are these ships now in sufficiently good condition to enable them to be fitted out again for sea; what other ships besides these four would be available for use as a sailing training squadron; and is it proposed to build any more ships that would be so available; and, if so, when is it expected that these latter will be ready for use.

It is not possible to give all the information asked for by the hon. Gentleman within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question. Generally speaking, the ships forming the recent training squadron have been in the hands of care and maintenance parties at the ports since they were put out of commission last year. Of these a limited number live on board when necessary. The "Cleopatra" is about to replace the "Curaçoa" as a sea-going training ship for boys. The "Raleigh" is fit for service at sea. The "Volage" would need a thorough refit before being commissioned for sea service, and the "Champion" a refit of less extent. The following ships are available for service, but they would require extensive repairs, and re-boilering at once or after a short period:—"Calypso," "Active," "Cordelia," and "Curaçoa." With reference to the last question of the hon. Member, the hon. Gentleman knows the shipbuilding programme for this year, and I am not prepared to anticipate next year's programme.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether foreign war vessels are constantly manœuvring in and out of the harbours of Jersey; and whether there are any regulations limiting such vessels from practising these evolutions.

No recent reports of the proceedings of foreign war vessels, as suggested in the question, have been received by the Admiralty. There are no special regulations as to the limitation of vessels practising evolutions, but attention would be called to any infraction of international usage, should such occur.

What are the rules of "international usage"?

I have said there are no regulations.

Is it not notorious that French men-of-war have been manœuvring in these waters? Is it in accordance with ordinary usage?

My attention has not been called to the fact.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether officers of the Royal Marines serving on board ship in warm climates are compelled by regulation to wear white clothing, and are also compelled by regulation to wear khaki clothing when engaged in active operations ashore; and, if so, whether he will sanction the adoption of one type of hot weather uniform, so as to relieve officers of the Royal Marines of the heavy expense entailed by the present arrangement.

I am informed that officers of the Royal Marines are not compelled by regulation to wear khaki clothing under any circumstances, but that description of uniform has been worn as a matter of convenience and discretion in some recent active operations on shore. I will inquire further into the matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can state the total number of persons on relief in the famine districts, and the number who are still being relieved in famine camps; and whether he will obtain the statistics of deaths from cholera, which are available in India, for the information of the House before the debate takes place on the Indian Budget.

The famine-telegram, dated the 14th July, and published in the daily press, stated that 6,148,000 were in receipt of relief, it added that, "Village relief and advances were replacing relief works." I cannot at present specify how many out of this total were relieved at their villages and how many were on relief works. I can obtain the total figures for cholera deaths. in British districts and in Native States, so far as they are available in India, but they may not be sent in time for the debate on Thursday next.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether in many of the famine districts from 75 to 90 per cent. of the cattle have died; what proportion of the cultivators in the district affected will need advances for seed and cattle; and what proportion of these can be assisted out of the 123 lacs allotted for the purpose, and the charitable funds; and whether he has information to show that there are enough cattle available in India to supply immediate needs; and if not, whether any steps are being taken to make good the deficiency from elsewhere.

I have no trustworthy information about the mor- tality among cattle; nor can I give particulars as to the proportion of cultivators that will be relieved from advances made by Government and from the charitable fund respectively. If the funds already allotted for this purpose prove insufficient more money will be granted. No cattle have been brought into India from outside to meet the present need; but cattle are being moved into the famine districts from more prosperous parts of India.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India what steps, if any, are being taken to assist the Governments of the Native States to obtain the necessary funds for making advances to cultivators for the purchase of plough cattle and seed grains.

The loans to Native States for famine purposes and the grants to chose States from the Charitable Fund are intended to cover the necessary advances and gifts to cultivators in those tracts. In my answer to the hon. Member for Banffshire on Thursday, I stated the amount of those loans. † Up to the end of May 26½ lacs (£177,000) had also been allotted by the Central Committee of the Charitable Fund for expenditure in Native States.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, in calculating the rate of interest under the contract powers for paying off (by annuities) the shareholders of the East Indian Railway Company in 1880, the Eastern Bengal Railway Company in 1884, and the Scinde Railway Company in 1886, the agreed results (namely, £4 6s., £3 17s., and £3 16s. 6d.) were the outcome of the same methods of interpretation as explained before a Committee of the House of Commons in 1879 by Sir Louis Mallet, Mr. Danvers, and Viscount Cranbrook.

The East Indian Railway was bought under a special arrangement outside the contract which the Select Committee of 1879 (of which I was chairman) agreed to, on the

† See page 465 of this volume.

understanding that the rate fixed was not to form a precedent. In determining the terms of subsequent purchases under the Acts of Parliament the other two railways were bought under the contract, and the rate of interest was determined by the governor and the deputy-governor of the Bank as prescribed by contract. I have no knowledge of the view they took of the evidence given before the Select Committee of 1879.

May I ask whether the same method was followed on the three occasions?

I should imagine not, because the Committee of which I was chairman distinctly laid it down that sanction was only given to the exceptional purchase in 1879 on the understanding that it was not to form a precedent.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the rates of interest agreed to by the Indian. Government on the termination of the contracts of the East Indian, Eastern, Bengal, and Scinde Railway Companies during the past twenty years—namely, £4 6s, £3 17s., and £3 16s. 6d. per cent. —represented the average rate of interest received by persons who invested in the three India sterling stocks during the two-year period relating to each of those three contracts.

As I have before said, the purchase of the East Indian Railway stands on quite a different footing from those of the Eastern Bengal and Scinde Railway Companies, and was not based on the average rate of interest received by investors. I have no knowledge of how the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England calculated the rate of interest for the annuities of the other two purchases.

Will the noble Lord make inquiry?

According to. the contract, the Governor and Deputy Governor are given the power of deciding what the rate is. I think it would be most improper for the Secretary of State to interfere with their discretion in any way.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Indian Government to pay due respect to the precedents established during the past twenty years in their policy regarding the determination of any future railway contracts; and, if not, whether he will give due notice of this intention, and an explanation of his policy in the matter.

It is the intention of the Secretary of State in Council to act on all occasions of this kind in strict conformity with the terms prescribed in the contracts with the various Indian railway companies.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can say what was the amount of spirits imported into the Niger Coast Protectorate during the months of March, April, May, and June in the years 1898 and 1899 respectively; and whether any, and, if any, what number of native traders in Opobo and Old Calabar have paid duties on their stocks in store, under the proclamation of 17th May, and the amount of such duty.

I regret that I am unable to say what was the amount of spirits imported into the Niger Coast Protectorate in the months specified, as the Returns received give only the total imports for each year, and no information has been received as to the duties paid on stocks by native traders in Opobo and Old Calabar.

I bog to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he would state to the House the composition of the Departmental Committee on the system of Cable Telegraphs of the Empire, the scope, and the terms of its reference.

The terms of reference are "To inquire into the present system of telegraphic communication between different parts of the Empire, and to consider in what respects it requires to be supplemented. To investigate the relations between private cable companies and the Imperial and Colonial Governments (including the Government of India), the amount of control at present exercised by these Governments, and the policy which should be pursued by them in future, especially when new concessions are sought. To examine existing rates, to report how far they are fair and reasonable; and, if not, how any reduction should be effected." The Committee will consist of Lord Balfour of Burleigh, the Postmaster General, the Secretary to the Treasury, the Under Secretaries for India and the Colonies, and two members from the Intelligence branches of the Admiralty and the War Office.

Will the Committee have power to send for persons and Papers?

Certainly.

Will the evidence and Report be printed?

That I cannot say.

Will the hon. Gentleman undertake to supplement the Committee by two gentlemen of common sense?

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education if he can state how many school attendance authorities have made bye-laws under the Elementary Education Act of 1899, providing for the exemption of school attendance during certain months of the year of children between the ages of eleven and thirteen who are employed in agriculture.

There are thirty-six such bye-laws now ready for sanction.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware that the Association of Technical Institutions has addressed a letter to the President of the Board, asking him to receive a deputation of that body to submit to him their views on the composition of the Consultative Committee appointed by him, and named in the Draft Order in Council now lying upon the Table of this House, and to call his attention to the fact that the Committee as constituted is wholly academic and includes no representative of the scientific, technical, and commercial industries of the country, in which the practical results of our system of national education have to be tested; whether this omission is intended to imply that the Board of Education will not seek from the Consultative Committee any assistance in determining and improving, from time to time, the character and quality of the whole system of our national education; whether it is the intention of the Board of Education to exclude all questions from the matters referred to the Committee by the Board; and whether, if this be the case, the Vice-President of the Board will explain to the House what are the functions and responsibilities (if any) which the Consultative Committee will be required to perform.

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second and third paragraphs in the negative. The functions of the Consultative Committee are defined in the fourth Section of the Board of Education Act, 1899; they are:— (a) to frame regulations for a register of teachers and (b) to advise the Board of Education on any matter referred to the Committee by the Board.

Will Section 4 cover such questions as the improvement of our system of national education?

Yes, if referred to the Committee by the Board.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to the limited sales of maps prepared by the Geological Survey; can he explain how it is that while the annual cost of the Survey is upwards of £17,000, the receipts from the sale of the maps is less than £1,000; whether he has observed that the maps, being published on the one-inch scale, are too small for many purposes, and that the six-inch maps can only be obtained on special application, and coloured by hand at a high price, and that their existence is but little known; whether similar maps of other countries are printed in colours, and published at a much lower price; and will he look into the question with a view to making them more widely useful.

A Departmental Committee has been appointed by the Lord President of the Council to inquire into various matters regarding the Geological Survey, and no definite answer can be given to the questions asked until the Committee has reported.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware of the cause of the delay in submitting to the Queen's Bench the London School Board audit case, with reference to the alleged illegal expenditure by the Board of ratepayers' money on secondary education; and will he take steps to secure that the case should in the public interest be submitted immediately.

I am not aware of any cause which prevents the London School Board audit case being now submitted to the Queen's Bench Division. The Board of Education is not a party to the record, and has no right to interfere in the case. I do not know what step it is possible for the Board of Education to take to expedite the proceedings, but an immediate decision of the question is of the most urgent importance in the interests of education, both to the school boards and the Government Department.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he can have steps taken to remedy the inconvenience experienced by residents in Sheringham, Norfolk, caused by the alteration in the postal arrangements, the effect of which is that letters coming by the night mail from London and elsewhere are not delivered until the second post instead of in the early morning as heretofore.

The effect of the recent alterations in the postal arrangements at Sheringham will be to accelerate the first delivery of letters at that place, and letters posted in time for the night mail from London should be included in that delivery. The Postmaster General regrets that, owing to mistakes in sorting and to the recent temporary disarrangement of the postal service in London, some letters for Sheringham which should have been included in the first delivery have not been delivered until the second. Proper notice has been taken of the errors in sorting, and the Postmaster General hopes that the Service will be more regularly performed in future.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any date when the confusion at the Post Office will be ended?

I can only give the assurance which the Post Office have repeatedly given me, to the effect that the confusion is over already.

also asked a supplementary question, which was inaudible.

reply was that he had no information, but would find out.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he is aware that quantities of letters are delivered without the ordinary penny stamp being affixed, on which twopence is charged on delivery, and that one London postman on a certain day collected 5s. in this way on his round; and can he say if the percentage of letters so charged has greatly increased since the change was made from the old red stamp, and, if so, does it arise from insufficient gumming or inferior quality of adhesive material used, and can he state the number of unstamped letters posted in a year, and of stamps found in receptacles in which letters are posted, how much the postal authorities gain yearly by stamps thus found, how much from letters unstamped, and whether he will consider the advisability of a reduction of the twopenny fee charged on unstamped letters.

The Postmaster General is not aware how many letters are charged 2d. on delivery because they do not boar a penny stamp. No records of such letters are kept, and it cannot be stated, therefore, whether the number of charges has increased or diminished since the old red stamp was discontinued. The value of stamps found loose in post offices and left on post office counters by the public amounts in one year to about £300. The quality of the gum used is satisfactory, and the Postmaster General believes that postage stamps, which are now made of thinner paper, adhere more firmly than formerly to the covers to which they are affixed. It is not considered desirable to reduce the twopenny fee charged on unstamped letters. The expense of collecting charges for deficient postage is considerable.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reference to deductions for income tax, whether in the past, when the income tax has been lowered, it has been the custom to deduct the tax at the lower rate in respect of income accruing after 5th April upon the class of securities which are now under similar circumstances charged at 1s.

The answer is in the affirmative.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury in how many instances the Prison-made Goods Act has boon put in force, and what has been the value and the nature of the goods that have come under its operation.

There have been six consignments only since the passing of the Act 60 and 61 Vic, chap. 63, in which the Commissioners of Customs were satisfied that goods imported into the United Kingdom were in whole or in part of prison origin. The goods were in each case mats which the Commissioners were satisfied had been, at least, partially manufactured in Belgium by convict labour. The six consignments consisted of 126 bundles of the declared value of £183. The whole of the mats were seized and subsequently destroyed by fire.

May I ask whether it is true that the licence of the District Messengers Company is not to be renewed.

I know nothing officially on the subject. About three years ago, on behalf of the Treasury, I reduced the royalty in connection with this company for the purpose of encouraging it.

On behalf of the hon. Member for the St. Patrick Division of Dublin, I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether during the continuance of this exceptionally hot weather special arrangements could be made by the railway companies in the three kingdoms to enable live stock to obtain water upon journeys of any distance or delays exceeding six hours.

My right hon. friend the President of the Board of Agriculture informs me that the Water Supply on Railways Order of 1895 requires that water shall be provided at about 1,100 railway stations in Great Britain for the use of animals carried by rail. He has received no complaint as to the inadequacy of these arrangements, which he believes to be fully sufficient to meet the object which the hon. Member has in view.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that many of the railway companies running into London, though issuing season tickets to first and second class passengers, refuse to issue season tickets to third-class passengers, and that, in consequence, third-class are compelled to pay in most cases more than first-class, and in all cases more than second-class passengers. Can he explain why first, second, and third class passengers are not treated alike with regard to season tickets, and required to pay an equal proportionate charge for them; and whether he will consider the position of the railway companies towards the poorer classes of suburban travellers, and take steps to secure for them conditions for season tickets similar to those accorded to first and second class passengers.

The issue of season tickets by railway companies is a voluntary act on their part. They are not under legal obligation to do anything of the kind, and it follows that the Board of Trade are not in a position to intervene. If, however, the hon. Member is prepared and desires to give me a specific case, or cases, of hardship, the Board will be happy to use their good offices to obtain a fair consideration of the matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Reservists have been taken from the prison warders and civil guards in Her Majesty's convict prisons, and to what extent have their places been filled up; will he explain why at the present time only six warders are now employed at the West Quarries of the Portland convict establishment to supervise 170 convicts, whereas the recognised proportion is one warder for every ten convicts; and whether the absence of a larger staff has tended to produce insubordination; and how many cases at Portland of flogging for prison offences have there been during the last six months.

Fifty-three Reservists have been taken from the prison warders and convict guards in convict prisons. Their places have been filled with one exception. The number of convicts employed in the West Quarries is on the average 201, and the number of officers employed to supervise them is seventeen. This is one to twelve. The proportion of one warder to every ten convicts includes officers sick, on leave, and on escort, and is a fixed proportion of staff to cover all contingencies. The percentage of staff at Portland and other convict prisons has, in fact, been increased, and is over 10 per cent. There is no foundation for the suggestion that the absence of a larger staff has tended to produce insubordination. The number of cases of corporal punishment at Portland during the last six months was five.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the warders at the four convict prisons petitioned last year for an increase in their pensions, and what reply, if any, has been sent to them.

I may refer the hon. Member to an answer which I gave to the hon. Member for the Rich-mond Division of Yorkshire on 12th March last, to the effect that such petitions have been received, but that the question of pensions is primarily one for the Treasury, and that I am not at present prepared to propose the legislation which would be necessary in order to carry the prayer of petition into effect.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Victoria Laundries, Limited, of Howard Street, Sheffield, who have been recently prosecuted and fined for breaches of the Factory Acts, are, as they assert, contractors to Her Majesty's Government; and, if so, to what Department.

I have ascertained that the firm in question have a contract with the War Office to wash for Sheffield Barracks.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General whether his attention has been called to the statements of Mr. Justice Wright in charging the grand jury at the Derbyshire Assizes on the 11th instant, in reference to the detention of persons awaiting trial; whether he is aware that it appeared from the calendar before the Court that accused persons had been detained for periods amounting in the aggregate to three years; that this was mainly due to justice's clerks being; ignorant of recent legislation which removed difficulties once existing with regard to bail; and that, in particular, a man was brought before Mr. Justice Wright charged with perjury, who had been ten weeks in prison awaiting trial, and the jury found him innocent; while in two other charges where persons were convicted of manslaughter they wore discharged because they had been three months in prison awaiting trial; and what action does the Government propose: to take to prevent similar occurrences in future.

My attention has been called to the remarks of Mr. Justice Wright at the Derbyshire Assizes. I understand that in discharging the grand jury the learned Judge modified these remarks in respect of two or three prisoners who had been offered bail before the magistrates and had refused it. There appears to be no doubt that there had been a good deal of detention before trial which might have been prevented, by the exercise of the power of the magistrates to grant bail, but I have not, been able to verify all the details stated in the second paragraph of the question. The Bail Act of 1898 was passed with the object of preventing unnecessary detention, and the Government have under consideration the propriety of taking steps to call the attention of justices' clerks to the provisions of this Act.

On behalf of the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty, I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the construction of the road between Cromore and Graver, in the Park District of the Island of Lewis, is now being proceeded with; and, if not, will he state the cause of the delay.

I am informed by the Congested Districts Board that they are still awaiting the information from the district committee referred to in the answer given to the. hon. Member on 1st May last.

On behalf of the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the Secretary for Scotland is aware that the medical officer of health for Ross and Cromarty reports that the water supply of the village of Inver, in the parish of Tain, about which complaints were made last year, is still unsatisfactory; and will he state what steps have been taken by the Local Government Board in the matter.

I am informed by the Local Government Board that they have been in constant communication during last year with East Ross District Committee and on 26th April last received from the local medical officer an assurance that the local authority had agreed to protect the wells, cover them up, and put pumps in them, and that the works were to be proceeded with immediately. As an excuse for delay in completing these measures the local authority now plead the ignorance and prejudice of the people, who are said to be quite satisfied with the present state of matters, and have accordingly broken a pump which had been put up by a private benefactor. I am to add that the Local Government Board will lose no opportunity of pressing the local authority to do their duty in the matter.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, at the recent assizes in the county Monaghan, the judge said that he interviewed the county inspector of police, who reported the county to be in a most satisfactory state and almost free from crime; and whether, under these circumstances, he will advise the removal of the operation of the Peace Preservation Act from the county of Monaghan.

The reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The Government do not consider it desirable to revoke the proclamation of the county Monaghan under the provisions of the Peace Preservation Act.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state where the batons and handcuffs used by the police, in Ireland are made, and what is the capital cost of those now employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police.

The batons and handcuffs used by the Irish police were obtained many years ago from a firm in Dublin; it is not known where they were made. The estimated cost of these articles was about £1,900.

Were they made in Germany?

They were obtained in Dublin, many years ago.

I beg to. ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will arrange., with a view to the passing next year of the County Courts (Ireland) Bill, to prepare and circulate a draft of the rules, orders, and forms proposed to be made under it, including the scale of court fees proposed to be charged to litigants.

I cannot, without consulting the Lord Chancellor, for Ireland, undertake to act on the suggestion of the hon. Member, but the matter will be considered.

I will repeat the question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will grant a Return showing the population, local government electorate, and poor law valuation of each county, county district (rural and urban), and electoral division or ward in each such district in Ireland, and of the number of county and district councillors for each such county, county district, electoral division, or ward.

There is no. objection, in principle, to a Return such as indicated, but it would take consider- able time and labour to prepare, and could not in any case be ready before October. Under all the circumstances I think it would be better to postpone the preparation of the Return until after the approaching census, as the population and valuation of the altered areas can then be stated with a degree of accuracy which could not be shown if the Return were prepared now.

Would not that involve postponement for another year?

If the hon. Gentleman will communicate with the Local Government Board, I think it would serve his purpose much better.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will explain why the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland will mot pay the equivalent for results fees now due to teachers in whose schools the results period terminated on 30th June, such as the presentation convent school in Kilkenny and the Castle comer Convent School, sooner than the middle of next October, whereas the teachers of schools in which the results period terminated on 31st May are to be paid these equivalents in the middle of this month. And can he state when will the old arrears of the Education Grant, due to Irish National school teachers for 1892 and subsequent years, be paid to them.

Schools examined for results in former years in the June quarter will be paid the equivalent grant, as far as possible, with the June quarterly payments, and schools, including the two specially referred to in the question, whose results examinations took place in the September quarter will be paid the grant with the salary payments for that quarter. A Supplementary Estimate for the payments mentioned in the second paragraph has already been introduced, but the payments cannot be made until the Vote has been passed.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will arrange for an annual Return of the number of new public-house licences granted and extinguished in each quarter sessions division in Ireland, showing in each case whether the new licence was granted in substitution for an existing licence.

I am making inquiry into this matter, and will ask the hon. Member to repeat the question on Thursday next.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the allowance made for house rent to all married members of the Royal Irish Constabulary below the rank of district inspector is only 1s. per week; and can he state what allowance is made for the same purpose to district and county inspectors, and at what date the amount in question was first fixed, and on want principle it was arrived at.

The fact is as stated in the first paragraph; but married members of the force below the rank of district inspector are also exempt from a statutory deduction of 1s. per week from their pay, which exemption practically raises the lodging allowance to £5 4s. per annum. A lodging allowance at the rate of £21 5s. l0d. per annum was fixed in 1870 in the case of a district inspector of the third class. The allowances payable to district inspectors of the second and first class vary, according to the length of service, from £27 10s. to £40, and a county inspector receives an allowance of £50. These allowances were fixed in 1882. The allowances to officers and men were fixed on a consideration of the class of house or lodging accommodation which, having regard to their rank in the force, they would be expected to occupy.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on Sunday, 6th May, when the Kilteevan (county Roscommon) fife and drum band was returning from Roscommon to Kilteevan the members were accosted by District Inspector Rogers in insulting language, and that he further stated that if he had sufficient force he would disperse them, while, upon that and the following Sunday, Sergeant Higgins interfered to prevent the leader of the band addressing his comrades; and can he state by what authority these officials acted in such a manner.

I am informed there is no foundation for the statements in the question so far as the district inspector is concerned. It is true that the sergeant prevented one of the leaders of the band from addressing a meeting. The band, accompanied by a large crowd, had been demonstrating at certain grazing farms in the locality with the evident object of intimidating the persons who hold these farms. The sergeant had warned the ringleaders that their conduct was illegal.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Great Northern (Ireland) Company dispute that the construction of their tramway from Sutton to Howth is illegal; and, if it is not in accordance with the Act, will he state whether the Board of Trade have ever previously sanctioned a line made contrary to statutory provisions; and, if so, where.

I understand that the answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. As to the second paragraph the Board have no powers either to sanction or not to sanction the line. They cannot determine the legal questions at issue, they are merely prepared to certify the line as fit for traffic on the understanding that the company will at an early date apply for such further Parliamentary powers as may be found to be necessary.

Will the right hon. Gentleman's inspector ascertain by reference to the Act the condition of the line, and whether the line is now in a legal state?

It is no part of our duty, nor have we inspectors qualified to determine the law on matters of that kind. All that the Board of Trade have to do is to certify that the line is fit to be opened for public traffic. We have to look after matters of safety and nothing more.

Is it not part of the function of the Board of Trade, where the Act of Parliament states that the line shall be laid on a level with the road, and when it is laid one foot and a half above that level, to state whether the line is legal or illegal?

No; our functions are confined to questions of safety.

Then I will ask the Attorney General whether he will consider whether an indictment should not be presented in regard to this line.

Order, order! If the hon. Member wishes to put a question of that kind he must give notice.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that all trains run on the Sligo and Northern Counties Railway are not made up of passenger carriages, but mainly of heavily laden goods wagons; that on some parts of the line the engines are unable to do the haulage except at a slow pace; and that, at all the stations except two, passengers are detained at the risk of accidents and to their inconvenience while the shunting is being carried on, and about which the travelling public complain; and seeing that, owing to this practice, it takes about three hours at the present rate of sixteen miles an hour to run from Sligo to Enniskillen and vice versa, whether steps will be taken to improve the present system of working this line.

No, Sir; but I shall be happy to communicate with the railway company and direct their attention to the allegation made in the hon. Member's question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Patrick O'Donnell, of Doochary, county Donegal, was recently fined £5 and £2 costs at Dungloe Petty Sessions for a breach of the Truck Act; and that the Queen's Bench has since ruled on appeal, in another case heard from the same petty sessions, that the Truck Act does not apply to such persons as those supplied with goods by the defendant; and whether the Government will order the amount of fine and costs to be remitted to Mr. O'Donnell.

My right hon. friend has asked me to reply to this question. The reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The proper course to adopt in all such cases is for the person concerned to petition the Lord Lientenant praying for a remission of the fine and a return of the costs. Any such petition, if forwarded by Mr. O'Donnell, will be considered.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any and what reply has been given to the application on behalf of Major Johnson and the other Donegal Justices to be allowed their expenses in reference to the recent unsuccessful application to attach them; whether he is aware that Chief Baron Palles, in refusing to make the conditional order absolute, stated he regretted he had no power to award costs to the justices, and that he was shocked at the action of Mr. Mackey, the Crown solicitor, who, in order to obtain a conditional order for attachment against the justices, suppressed the fact that the mandamus had been complied with, and pretended that no case had been stated; is he aware that the justices handed him the case at petty sessions, which he declined to take; and they then sent him the case by registered letter, which he refused to lodge; that he detatched a portion of the case thus sent him and affixed it to another document signed by a minority of the justices, and lodged the joint product as if it were a genuine case stated; that the judge of the Queen's Bench to whom the case was finally sent decided that the case originally refused by Mr. Mackey was a good case, and dismissed the attachment on the ground that the mandamus had been complied with; and that the court then heard the appeal on the case, and upheld the decision of the justices; and whether, under these circumstances, the Crown will see fit to recoup to the justices the expenses incurred by them in successfully defending themselves.

A reply has been given to the solicitor's letter to the effect that, as all the costs referred to were incurred by reason of the fact that the justices illegally and improperly refused to state a case for the opinion of the Queen's Bench Division when required so to do, the Crown must refuse to pay them the costs. I believe the Chief Baron did state that he regretted he had no power to award costs to the justices. It is impossible within the proper limits of an answer to a question, to give an epitome of the facts of the intricate litigation referred to. I have read over several times the authorised shorthand notes of the judgment of the court, and do not find that it contains any censure on Mr. Mackey or any other Crown official. No reference is made in this judgment to the other statements contained in the question, but as far as I have been able to ascertain, most of them are without foundation, and others misrepresent the actual facts. I have been informed, however, that the Lord Chief Baron, speaking in ignorance necessarily of the ultimate course contemplated by the Executive should they have been successful in the litigation then at hearing, found some fault with the mode in which the case had been conducted by the counsel. Notwithstanding the observations of the Lord Chief Baron, I am quite prepared, should the occasion offer, to justify in this House the action of the Crown in every particular. The reply to the last paragraph is in the negative.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at the Cork Assizes on the 18th instant, in connection with the trial of a man named Cadogan, charged with the murder of a land agent named Bird; whether he is aware that on the long jury panel being called over, over sixty jurors were ordered by the Crown to stand aside; was this system of jury selection adopted with the sanction of the Law Officers of the Crown; and, if so, what were the reasons; and can he state whether there is any precedent at a criminal assize for ordering such a number of citizens qualified to act as jurors to stand aside.

The answer to the first and second paragraphs is in the affirmative No directions other than those contained in the Circular of 12th February, 1894, addressed to Crown Solicitors, were given. The action of the Crown Solicitor in the present case was due to the fact that he was aware that efforts had been extensively and continuously made to influence the jurors in favour of the accused, and he reasonably believed that the men set aside would not, if sworn, have given an impartial verdict. It is impossible at such short notice to obtain particulars of the many instances in which as many or even a larger number of jurors were set aside. I may, however, mention the case of the Queen v. Morey, tried at the Cork Winter Assizes of 1893, when forty-one out of a panel of seventy-four jurors were ordered to stand aside.

What reward will the Law Officers of the Crown receive for a service of this kind?

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture for Ireland if the Board have received from the fishermen of Arklow a petition praying for the removal of the restrictions upon drift-net fishing between sunrise and sunset; and, if so, whether the Board have come to any decision on the matter.

The petition referred to has been received. No decision can be come to in the matter by the Department until an inquiry shall have been held by the Inspectors of Fisheries into the expediency of making a bye-law permitting the use of drift-nets between sunrise and sunset. This inquiry will be held as soon as possible.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture for Ireland whether the Admiralty have placed at the disposal of the new Department any gunboats to prevent steam trawlers fishing within the proscribed limits.

As I have already stated, the cost of protecting the Irish fisheries from the depredations of trawlers must be defrayed out of the funds at the disposal of the Department for fishery purposes. The Admiralty have decided not to undertake this work.

Have not three gunboats been placed at the disposal of the Board in Scotland for the protection of the country's fisheries?

On behalf of the hon. Member for North Kerry, I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture for Ireland whether he can state who is the lighthouse or local authority in the Cahirciveen and Valentia districts, county Kerry, and whether, in the event of the Kerry County Council,: who have already made a representation on this matter, being the local authority, the Congested Districts Board will accede to their request, which is supported by the local fishermen, by erecting a bell buoy and perch as already requested in the Cahirciveen and Valentia districts, so as to save the lives and property of men engaged in the fishery industry.

I am informed there is no regularly constituted harbour authority at the places mentioned, but that the Irish Lights Board recognise the County Council of Kerry in the matter of local lights. The question whether the Congested Districts Board may make a contribution to the Kerry County Council in respect of the works referred to at Valentia and Cahirciveen will be considered by the board at their next meeting.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he proposes to take steps to give effect to the unanimous Report of the Joint Committee of Lords and Commons on the Dublin Corporation Bill, recommending the Government to bring in a Public Bill for the Equalisation of Rates in the Dublin districts analogous to that passed for London, and also enabling a joint rate for drainage and a Joint Drainage Board to be established for Dublin and the townships of Rathmines and Pembroke.

Any recommendation coming from so important a body deserves and will have the careful consideration of the Government, but, of Course, it would be premature for us to announce any policy on the subject at present.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can state when the Royal Commission on Local Taxation will present its Report.

I am informed that the Commissioners are not in a position yet to state any date.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that, so far back as October, 1882, legislation for the curtailment of the power of arbitrary committal for contempt of court was promised in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister of the day; and whether, having regard to the remarks of the Chief Justice of England in April, 1896, and to the fact that one man has actually suffered imprisonment for 743 days for that offence, the Government will take steps for the introduction of legislation to define the power of Judges to commit for contempt of court, and to render that power subject to appeal.

I am afraid I cannot return any very satisfactory answer to this question. I certainly could not give the opinion of the Government without a much fuller opportunity of consulting my colleagues, and, in any case, it would be impossible to attempt any legislation on the subject in the course of the present session.