, who had given notice of a motion for the rejection of the measure, said he had no desire to place obstacles in the way of the construction of the new dock and other improvements at Swansea which were contemplated by the Bill, nor did he and those who were acting with him intend to interfere with the discretion of the Swansea Har- bour trustees to charge what rates they thought fit on shipping entering that port; but what they did say was that those rates ought to be charged on the legal tonnage of the ships, and not upon the arbitrary tonnage basis proposed in the Bill. This endeavour to substitute an arbitrary tonnage basis for the tonnage basis laid down by the Merchant Shipping Act was an endeavour to interfere with a public Act by means of a private Bill, and was opposed to public policy. Every British ship had to be measured under the Merchant Shipping Act, and her tonnage had to be ascertained in accordance with a system of measurement laid down by that Act. When the tonnage of the ship had been thus ascertained it was cut into the ship's beam, and that then became for all purposes the tonnage of the ship. That tonnage was the tonnage on which rates had to be charged, and in point of fact this system was uniform all through the country with one or two exceptions. In all ports, with one or two exceptions, where the tonnage dues were charged they were charged on the legal tonnage of the ship. This Bill proposed to establish a new system of tonnage. It proposed that in the case of steam vessels other than steam tugs the net registered tonnage on which dues should be charged should in no case be less than 50 per cent. of the gross tonnage, and that in the case of tugs the net registered tonnage should in no case be less than 18 per cent, of the gross tonnage. If Swansea were to have this power of making her own tonnage basis tile same liberty would have to be conceded to other ports, and the uniformity established by the Merchant Shipping Act would be destroyed, and a state of chaos would be brought about. There was an additional advantage of the present system, inasmuch as when the British system of measurement was adopted by foreign countries the tonnage of the ship ascertained in the foreign country was her tonnage for all purposes in Great Britain, He did not see why a provision of that kind should be overridden by the proposals of a private Bill. He thought the reason on the part of the Swansea trustees for asking for this power was that there were some vessels which were so constructed that they obtained a net registered tonnage much less than they ought to have, and on that account it was desired to correct the anomaly by means of this proposal. But if it was desired to correct an anomaly arising out of the general law it should be done by an amendment of the general law, or by an alteration in the instructions given by the Beard of Trade to their surveyors. He understood that the Beard of Trade had this very matter under their consideration at the present time, and it that were so, surely it was a very inopportune time for any particular port to rectify the matter by means of a private Bill. He would remind the House that in 1899 a Bill was brought, before the House of Lords in which this proposal was contained in reference to Bristol and other ports, and when the matter was brought under the notice of Lord Morley, as Chairman of Committees, he said it was not one that ought to be proposed in a private Bill, and the Bill was withdrawn. He did not wish that this Bill should be withdrawn, for it contained many very useful and beneficial matters, but he hoped the promoters would give an undertaking that this particular clause would not be pressed. If it were not pressed he would withdraw his opposition to the Bill. If, on the other hand, the clause came down from the Committee in the shape in which it now stood, the opposition to the Bill would be renewed, and he should press it to a division.

remarked that this Bill proposed an expenditure of £2,000,000 for the benefit of a. densely-populated district and of the commerce of the country, and the clause to which objection had been taken by the hon. Member for the Exchange Division of Liverpool was, after all, only a subsidiary matter. He should have pleasure in accepting the offer of the hon. Member and in acceding to his terms.

said that in these circumstances he would not oppose the Second Reading.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to propose a grant of money to Earl Roberts in respect of his services in South Africa; and, if so, on or about what date the Vote may be expected to be taken.

I have nothing to say on the subject at the present time.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any arrangements have been made by the Colonial Office to ascertain the value of property in land taken under the Chartered Company in South Africa before the breaking out of the war; and whether he can state how these allotments have been affected by the war; and, in case of death of grantees before the war, the property is now vested in any court or officer to whom inquiries as to particular estates can be addressed.

The Master of the High Court of Southern Rhodesia is the official who has charge of the estates of all persons deceased in Southern Rhodesia to whom inquiries should be addressed. I have no information as to the value of the land in question nor as to how it has been affected by the war.

If particular cases are brought under the notice of the Colonial Office will inquiries be made?

If the hon. Gentleman wishes for information as to any particular case and will communicate with me privately, I will endeavour to get it for him.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General if his attention has been drawn to proceedings taken by the Attorney General of the Cape Colony against the editor of the South African News for publishing a defamatory and seditious libel; if he is aware that the matter in question originally appeared in the Freeman's Journal of 15th January, being reprinted in The Time 16th January; whether it is his intention to take similar proceedings against those papers; and, if not, if he can explain on what grounds does the action of those papers differ from that of the South African News; and whether he has considered the desirability of such a prosecution, so that by a discovery order being made the name of the writer of the original matter may be disclosed.

The propriety of proceedings for libel must depend upon the circumstances under which the publication has taken place. I may remind the hon. and gallant Member that such libels upon our officers and soldiers ate in this country generally appreciated at their true value, while in the peculiar circumstances of South Africa their circulation there may do infinite mischief. The procedure suggested in the last paragraph of the question is quite unknown to our criminal law, and the proposal that a criminal prosecution should be instituted merely to obtain information is not one which commends itself lo my mind.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state when he will be prepared to grant the Return asked for as to the Members of both Houses of Parliament who volunteered for active service in South Africa.

The hon. Member's proposed Return will involve a reference on various points to South Africa. I hope the hon. Member will not press just now for such a Return, the preparation of which will involve a great deal of correspondence, to the detriment of work of a more pressing and important character.

I beg to give notice that I shall press for the Return.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to state when the London Scottish and other Volunteers who have been on active service for upwards of a year in South Africa will be allowed to return to this country, so that they may no longer risk the loss of the situations which have been so long kept open for them.

As I have recently explained to the House, we are endeavouring to relieve as many as possible of the Volunteers, but it is not possible to say exactly when Lord Kitchener will be able to spare them.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the total amount of money spent since October, 1899, on the transport of horses and mules to South Africa from Great Britain and elsewhere.

I have already stated to the House on a previous occasion that the cost cannot be given.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if ho will state the amount of soldiers' unclaimed balances for the last year, and what portion of these ascertainable has been handed over to the Patriotic Fund Commissioners.

I have nothing to add to the reply which was given to the hon. Member on Friday last, the 8th instant.^*

See page 1028.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War on what grounds the War Office withhold payment of the estate of the late Private James Meehan, 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who was killed in action at Amerfoot on 29th June last, from his widowed mother; whether he is aware that she has taken out letters of administration so as to safeguard the War Department in case of any other claims; and whether, as this poor woman is living in destitution in Longford, the money will now be ordered to be paid to her.

Instructions wore given on the 6th instant to issue the estate, amounting to £17 0s. 4d., to the man's mother. The delay arose through inability to obtain proof of the father's death, on whom, if alive, the estate devolved, as the soldier died intestate and unmarried.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether ho can state who is responsible for advising the purchase of eighteen batteries of field guns from Germany; were they delivered according to contract, and inspected previously to acceptance; did the manufacturers supply projectiles, and what percentage of premature bursts have occurred; and have any other points of weakness developed in the mountings beyond the axle-trees.

The Secretary of State, under the advice of the responsible officers, is responsible for the purchase of all artillery guns, and of these as well as others. They were delivered according to contract and inspected previously to acceptance. The manufacturers supplied projectiles and fuses. No premature bursts have occurred. Some defects have been discovered, which will be remedied.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the parents of a lad just over eighteen years of age, who enlisted in the Cameron Highlanders as recently as January last, have been unable to secure his discharge although they have offered to make the usual payment of £10; and will he consider the expediency of arranging for discharge by indulgence in cases such as this without awaiting the order for demobilisation.

The rule against the grant of discharges during mobilisation has been strictly enforced, and an exception in an individual case could not be made without injustice to the many who have been refused their discharge.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, under the new reforms of our Army system, the regulations for enlistment will be so altered by the requirement from the proposed recruit of the production of actual proof of age by birth or baptismal certificate or otherwise so as to preclude for good the possibility of a recruit, whether for Regulars, Militia, or Volunteers, being enlisted under a false or apparent age, and so remaining all through his military career, and nullifying the true efficacy of any age regulations of time at which he may become available for increase of pay or pension.

As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, an experiment was made a few years ago to test the possibility of introducing a system of verification of soldiers' ages. The results of the experiment were such as to show that it would be impracticable to require the production of a birth or baptismal certificate from every recruit.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can state the nature of the examinations for the position of the master tailor cutters at Pimlico Clothing Department; whether the competition is open to young men; how many of them are Roman Catholics; what are their salaries; and whether a similar; clothing department will be established in Ireland either at Dublin, Belfast, or Cork.

There are no "master tailor cutters" at the Army Clothing Department. Cutters are accepted on the strength of testimonials and characters received from former employers. Subject to age limits, anyone may apply, and no inquiry is made as to the religion of those employed. It is not proposed to establish a clothing department in Ireland.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can say when the new Naval College to replace H M.S. "Britannia" will be ready for occupation, and whether in the meantime temporary accommodation for the Naval cadets could be secured elsewhere.

The contract for the completion of the sick quarters terminates on 12th May, 1902, and for the College Buildings on 12th November, 1904, and at present no reason is seen for supposing that the work will not be completed by the contract time. The question of temporary accommodation is being considered in case it may be found necessary to remove the cadets from H.M.S. "Britannia" before the completion of the new buildings.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, in the case of single ships or squadrons of His Majesty's Navy at sea, if he can state what provision is made for the administration of the last sacraments which are of obligation to Roman Catholic sailors when dying.

As stated in reply to previous questions, it is not possible to carry Roman Catholic chaplains on beard His Majesty's ships. Full provision is made for ministering to the wants of Roman Catholic sailors on shore. The cruises are as a rule now of short duration, but during their continuance Roman Catholics on beard His Majesty's ships are in the same position, as regards the administration of the sacraments, as sailors on other seagoing vessels during a voyage.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether a number of men-of-war's men now serving on the "Barfleur," the "Centurion," and other war shops stationed in the Chinese waters expired men; whether they detained against their will; they may be expected to be come home.

The King's Regulations direct that time-expired men are to be sent home in time to admit of their receiving their discharge when the term of their engagement expires, unless the exigencies of the Service are such as to render their detention for a time necessary. It is possible that owing to the recent troubles in China some men may have been detained, but the cases must be few and their detention would not be continued when the existence of the necessity was removed.

Will the hon. Gentleman call the attention of the responsible authority to the desire of the men to be immediately released?

I have no doubt that the attention of the Commander-in-Chief has been called to the fact that the men are time-expired.

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state how many labourers are employed in the Naval Ordnance Department of Woolwich Arsenal, and what rates of pay they receive, distinguishing the number of men employed and the rate of wages paid in each separate class.

There are 365 labourers employed at rates of pay varying from 21s. to 27s. per week. I shall be glad to give the hon. Member further details if he will speak to me after Questions.

How many are employed under 24s. a week?

About 325.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for foreign Affairs whether the Government have any information to show that looting and pillage have been committed by British or other European troops in or near Peking or Tientsin, and that valuable property thus plundered has been publicly sold under the direction of British officers; whether such conduct is contrary to the modern usages of war as declared by the Hague Convention; and whether the Government intend to adopt any means for the restitution of the property so taken, and for the punishment of the offenders as their conduct may deserve.

So far as I know there has not been any pillage or plunder by British troops in China in the sense implied by the question. General Gaselee reported in August last that "looting was openly tolerated among certain of the allied troops," and every effort was made by him to prevent our soldiers from participating in the indiscriminate plunder and wanton destruction of property which was prevalent elsewhere. In the areas assigned to British occupation there were a number of derelict houses. General Gaselee directed that the ownerless property so left should be taken charge of by authorised search parties, and where the legal owner could not be found sold by public auction for the benefit of all. There has not been any violation of the Hague Convention.

Would it be possible to have General Gaselee's report presented to the House?

Is it not a fact that at actually selling loot taken in China?

Possibly that may be so, but it does not necessarily follow that the things were looted by British troops. As to the question of the hon. Member for Dundee, I am rather doubtful, as General Gaselee's report referred not only to British but to other troops.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, in view of the importance of the projected Cape-Australian cable as con- stituting a link in the All-British system, he would lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the agreement with the contracting company; and whether permission has been granted for landing rights on each and all of the intervening mid-ocean stations, and what terms and conditions have been attached thereto in the protection of the public interests.

No formal agreement has been signed between His Majesty's Government and the Eastern and Eastern Extension Cable Companies in regard to the Cape-Australian cable, but I have informed the company that landing rights at Mauritius, Rodriguez, and Cocos Islands will be granted on condition that the sliding scale rates in regard to the traffic between England and South Africa are extended to these places. It is intended that the landing licences shall contain the same conditions and stipulations in favour of the Government and the public as the licence about to be issued by the Board of Trade to the same Company for the new cable from Madeira to Porth Curnow.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the delay in the rebuilding of the Central Criminal Court is due to the action of any Government Department; whether he is aware that the Corporation of the City of London have duly approved plans for the rebuilding but are unable to proceed owing to the difficulties placed in their way by the Government; and, seeing two judges have recently been indisposed in consequence of having to preside at trials under the present insanitary conditions of the Old Bailey, whether any steps can be taken to temporarily avoid such a state of affairs pending the erection of the new Courts. The following question also appeared on the Paper:—

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the attention of the Government has been directed to the insanitary condition of the Central Criminal Court, which has injuriously affected the health of the Lord Chief Justice and other Judges who have had occasion to sit there; and whether they are in a position to do anything to remedy such a dangerous state of matters.

I beg to ask the same right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the Corporation of London have already paid £25,000 to his Majesty's Commissioners of Prisons in part payment of the £40,000 agreed upon between the Corporation and the Government for the purchase of the male wing of Newgate, and that the City Lands Committee, who have the matter in hand, are quite prepared to start the work of rebuilding the Central Criminal Court as soon as they gain possession of this land from the Government.

With regard to the question of my hon. friend the Member for the City of London, I have no doubt the facts are as he has stated them, but the City Corporation will allow the financial arrangements with the Government are very favourable to themselves, and they have made them on the express understanding that the prison would not be handed over until accommodation elsewhere was provided for the prisoners. With regard to the question of my hon. friend the Member for St. George's, I have to say that the City of London authorities are responsible for the building in which the Central Criminal Court is held. In order to furnish them with a site on which to build a new court, His Majesty's Government have agreed to surrender Newgate Prison, but in order to make this possible extensive alterations have to be made in prison buildings elsewhere. This involves considerable delay, but it is not the case that His Majesty's Government are placing difficulties in the way. As a matter of fact, the Prison Commissioners are doing all they can to complete the arrangements which are a necessary preliminary to the discontinuance of Newgate Prison, and the transfer of its site to the Corporation.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether it is proposed to remove the remaining iron railings inside Hyde Park; and whether he will consider the desirability of lighting the roadway between Victoria Gate and the Marble Arch.

It is proposed ultimately to remove all the iron post and rail fence in Hyde Park except the portion round the ride. I have not at present sufficient funds to meet the heavy expense of lighting the roadway referred to by my hon. and gallant friend. Seeing that there is a public roadway running parallel to it, and within a few yards, it is not so pressing as other changes.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can now give an answer to the petitions of the City of Westminster and other borough councils of London in favour of triennial elections.

I am now in a position to deal with this matter. Subject to its being shown that the conditions prescribed by Subsection 8 of Section 2 of the Local Government Act have been complied with, I propose generally to assent to the applications made to me to direct that the Metropolitan borough councillors shall all retire together on the ordinary day of election in every third year. A few cases in which objections have been received will of course have to be specially considered.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state how many children were born in England and Wales in 1900, or the last year for which the statistics are known, and how many of these were vaccinated.

The latest complete returns are those for the year 1898. The number of children born in that year was 923,059, and of these 562,737 were successfully vaccinated.

Are we to understand, then, that just half the population is now unvaccinated under the new law?

I should not like my hon. friend to draw that deduction at present, because these figures are only for 1898.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these figures are larger than those of preceding years?

I could not really say, as I have not the figures before me.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the unanimous resolution passed by the Carmarthenshire Chamber of Agriculture as to the necessity of a Bill being passed to secure purity in beer, by laying down therein the ingredients of which beer may be composed, and the compelling of brewers at regular intervals to make a return of beer brewed and ingredients used; and, if so, whether he can assure the House of his intention to introduce promptly a Bill carrying out the purport of this resolution.

The President of the Local Government Beard has asked me to answer this question, as the resolution aims, not only at the exclusion of deleterious ingredients from beer, but at limiting the freedom of brewers to use materials which, though wholesome, are not malt and hops. I can give no such assurance on behalf of the Government as is desired by the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he can give the House an assurance that in the future administration of the Higher Elementary Minute local authorities applying to have schools recognised under the Minute will be granted freedom in the preparation of proposed curricula for their schools, so that, as in the terms of the Minute, they may adapt the instruction to the circumstances of the scholars and the neighbourhood; and, further, whether he can hold out any prospect that the recognition of schools on whose account application for grants under the Minute is made will be on a more generous scale in the present year than in the past.

The Board of Education give full freedom to managers in all public elementary schools to submit their own courses of study. The only special conditions as to course of instruction attaching to higher elementary schools are (1) that a certain amount of science, proper to a course of general education, is taken; and (2) that technological subjects are not generally admissible. The recognition of higher elementary schools depends not on the generosity of the Board of Education, but upon the existence in the locality of the conditions specified in the Minute.

Is it a fact that the Board of Education has declined to sanction business training as part of the curriculum for higher grade schools under the London Board?

Yes, Sir. They regard business training as technological.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to the want of school accommodation at New Duston, and whether lie has received a petition from the inhabitants respecting this lack of accommodation; and whether he can see his way to take the necessary steps to secure that the desired accommodation shall be provided.

Yes; the hon. Member presented me with the petition a few days ago. The urban part of the United School District of Duston has been incorporated in the borough of Northampton, and there is, according to our information, ample school accommodation in the rural I part left outside. New Duston as a separate parish is unknown to the Beard of Education.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Council when the new Education Code will be laid on the Table; and whether the new proposals with regard to education in rural schools will become effective under the operation of the Code this year.

I hope to lay the Code on the Table before Easter. The Papers which have been recently issued represent the settled policy of education, and every effort will be made to introduce into the rural schools of this country the system of teaching embodied in those proposals.

I beg to ask whether, having regard to the new curriculum, there will be a more generous system of finance under the new Code in dealing with rural schools.

That is the second question the hon. Member has asked appealing to the generosity of the Beard of Education in this country. Public Departments are never generous. They have to act in accordance with settled rules of law which leave no place for such a sentiment as generosity.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state how many persons, at one time employed in the Government service upon a temporary footing, have since 1884 been placed upon the permanent establishment, and of these in how many eases is the continuous temporary service rendered prior to establishment counted towards pension, as if the entire service had been upon the establishment.

No, Sir I regret that I have no means of ascertaining the numbers.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether it is in contemplation to reduce the age at which abstracters, sorters, and boy copyists in the Post Office may compete for higher civil service appointments: and, if so, whether those at present in the service will be exempted from the operation of the new rule.

It was decided last year in the interests of the public service to diminish the age deduction which may be made by civil servants competing for the second division and for assistantships of Customs and Excise. To prevent any possible hardship I have now arranged that the new Regulations shall only apply to persons who entered the service subsequent to its announcement in the spring of last year.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been drawn to the fact that quantities of inferior Ceylon and other teas alleged to contain microbial products dangerous to health are being sold in bend in London at prices ranging below 4d. per 1b.; if the Customs officers have taken and analysed any samples of such teas, and with what results; and what amount has been seized and destroyed during the past twelve months; and if, in the interests of public health, he is willing to consent to an inquiry into the best methods of checking the sale of such unwholesome teas by determining some minimum standard of purity, and by securing a proper analysis of such teas before they are blended with other teas.

The Hoard of Customs have no knowledge of sales in bond of tea containing microbial products dangerous to health. They have power to forbid the introduction of tea that is found on analysis "to be mixed with other substances or exhausted tea," or is declared by the analyst to be "unfit for human food." During the past twelve months 2,055 packages were refused admission for home consumption or for use as ship stores. The second paragraph of the question should be addressed In the Local Government Board, which is the authority specially charged by statute with the protection of the public health.

Were the rejected packages destroyed?

I cannot answer that without notice.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he can state what steps are being taken to issue new postage stamps; will he take care that a clearly visible mark of the value; of the stamp, such as that on the 2d. stamp, be impressed on each new stamp; and will he give the public an opportunity of seeing the designs of the proposed stamps; and will he provide for the issue of the new penny stamp in royal scarlet, or red colour, in place of the present mauve colour.

The necessary steps are being taken for the issue of new postage stamps, but it is not expected that they will be ready for some months to come. The Postmaster General would point out to the hon. Member that, with the exception of the halfpenny, penny, and shilling stamps, all the adhesive stamps now in use do hear figures clearly indicating their value, and the same plan will probably lie continued. In the case of the three stamps particularised they are of so distinctive a character that it was not thought necessary to print on them the value, in figures as well as in words, and the Postmaster General is not aware of any inconvenience having resulted. He does not think it desirable to submit the designs of the proposed stamps to the public. The Postmaster General is not satisfied that any sufficient reason exists for altering the colour of the penny stamp as suggested by the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he will arrange; with the present contractors to issue the new postal orders with a counterfoil to be torn off by the senders; and whether, if the present con tractors decline to do this without extra charge, he will give an opportunity to other printers to print and supply the new postal orders at even a reduced price and with the counterfoil desired by the public.

The Postmaster General has for some time past had the question of issuing postal orders with counterfoils under his consideration, but there are many practical difficulties in the way, and he has not yet been able to arrive at a conclusion.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that more than 100 examining officers of Customs will become redundant by the substitution of clerks for officers of this class in the Tea and Dry Goods Accounts Offices in the London Custom House, he will give an undertaking that the existing officers of the classes affected shall suffer no retardation of promotion as a result of the contemplated changes: and can he state what objection there is, if any, to inform the officers in advance of the exact measures which will be taken to safeguard their legitimate interests.

I regret that I am at present unable to add anything to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on the 28th February.*The new arrangements will be communicated to the Customs Services as soon as they are finally settled.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Post master General, whether his official information shows that the post office building at Lerwick is in an insanitary condition, having little light and ventilation, and only lavatory accommodation consisting of an apartment about three feet square for the use of a mixed staff of persons; and, whether steps can be taken to make the necessary alterations.

The post office at Lerwick, which was provided in 1878 and enlarged in 1889, is now too small for the work, and as the building is not capable of adequate enlargement in quiries are being made for a, suitable site for the erection of a new building. The Postmaster General is not aware that the present office is insanitary; but inquiry shall be made.

^* See page 58.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will state what progress has been made with the negotiations with the North British Railway Company for the conveyance of the Stornoway mails via Mallaig; and will care betaken that tenders are invited for the steamer service between Mallaig and Stornoway.

The negotiations with the North British Railway Company for the use of the new railway to Mallaig have not yet been completed, and no decision has been arrived at in regard to the question of sending mails to Stornoway over this new line. As any steamer service from Mallaig must in the first instance be experimental in character, the Postmaster General thinks that it would not be expedient at present to invite tenders as the hon. Member suggests.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether, having regard to the fact that the "Jackal" is the gunboat more directly charged with the duty of preventing illegal trawling in the close vicinity of Aberdeen, he can state how often during the months of December, January, and February, respectively, this boat has been berthed in Aberdeen harbour, and no how many of such occasions she has taken up her mooring inside the dock gates of the harbour; what is the number of officers on board her, and since when has the present officer in charge of her held the appointment; and where arc the gunboats "Brenda" and "Niger" at the present moment.

As regards the first part of the Member's question, I must refer him to the Admiralty, within whose jurisdiction the matter rests. As regards the second part, I presume, the hon. Member refers to the Fishery Board cruisers "Brenda" and "Norna," and, if so the answer is that the waters patrolled by the "Brenda" are Berwick on-Tweed to Rattray Head, and by the "Nona" the Moray Firth.

I beg, to ask the Lord Advocate if the Secretary for Scotland will grant a Return (Fishery Harbours, Scotland) showing the name of each fishery harbour on the coast of Scotland, the name of the county in which it is situated, the date of its construction, the area, the name of the proprietor or authority responsible for its upkeep, its present condition, and the funds derived from the harbour in dues or otherwise for each year since 1890.

There are no materials at the disposal of the Secretary for Scotland to enable such a Return to be framed. There would have to be a special inquiry, and the Secretary for Scotland is unable to see any such public purpose to be served by the Return as to justify ordering such an inquiry to be made.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state what is the amount of purchase money paid for lands sold by the Judge of the Land Court since the Act of 1896 came into force, under Section 40 and under other powers.

The amount advanced under orders made pursuant to the 40th section of the Act of 1896 is £351,729, and the amount realised by sales to tenants pursuant to agreements sanctioned by the Land Judge is £628,385, making in all £980,114. Those figures are brought down to the end of October last, the latest date to which they are at present available.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many estates have been sold under Section 40 of the Act?

No, the holdings are sold separately and the estates are not sold en bloc.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in consequence of the injury inflicted by the floods on the Bann, he will consider the expediency of reintroducing the Bann Drainage Bill or other remedial measures.

As already stated, I am not prepared to introduce in the present session legislation in this matter.

On behalf of the hon. Member for East Clare, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the fact that a sum of £934 16s. 2d. has been certified by the Government Auditor as duo to the Ennis District Lunatic Asylum for the capitation grant towards the support of the asylum for the three months ending 21st March, 1899, and to the fact that this debt was acknowledged by the then Secretary to the Treasury, and whether this sum will now be paid immediately.

At the request of my hon. friend, I will reply to this question. This matter has already formed the subject of correspondence between the Irish Government and the Committee of Management of the Ennis Asylum, and I have nothing to add to the views of the Government has already expressed. The hon. Member has not correctly interpreted the statement made by the late Secretary to the Treasury. For an accurate report of what he did say I would refer to The Parliamentary Debates of 30th April, 1900 [Fourth Series], vol. lxxxii., page 285.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will lay upon the Table a manual of the various Irish statutes and bye laws regarding sea fishing, similar to the volume issued last week to Members of the House regarding Scotland.

Yes, this will be done.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Kilfee burial ground, in the Ballycullen electoral Division of the Rathdrum rural district, county Wicklow, which is under the Rathdrum Rural District Council, is at present unprotected by any fence, and is consequently over run with cattle and sheep, which injure the graves and memorials; and that this cemetery was originally twice its present size, but has been reduced by the owner of the land in which it is situate converting it into a cattle walk; and whether the Local Government Beard will take steps to have this cemetery restored to its original size, and have it properly protected.

The clerk of the rural council states that the fencing of this burial ground, which had been broken in places, has now been restored. It is possible that the cemetery was originally larger, but in regard to that matter the Local Government Beard has no information and no jurisdiction.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, having regard to the fact that the Congested Districts Board, in connection with the fish curing industry, require a considerable number of barrels, the Board will ask for tenders from Cork cooperage works, seeing that some coopering firms in that city have special facilities for turning out this class of work.

Cooperages were opened by the Board for the purpose of imparting instruction in barrel making in congested districts, and until the industry has been firmly established I do not think it would be prudent for the Board to withdraw its support from these cooperages.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the teacher of Douglas National School, Roll No. 12,875, District 54, sent early in January an order for books to the Beard's stores, and has since got no reply; and that the manager of the school, who wrote more than three weeks since, complaining of the matter, has not yet got a reply; and whether, seeing that on 19th February, a second order was sent from the same and no reply has yet been sent, steps will be taken to place this department on a business-like footing.

I have called for a Report on this question; but as I have not yet received it, I will ask the hon. Member to repeat the question to-morrow.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his statement made recently in Dublin to the effect that only one case was left unfinished by the Educational Endowments Commission was accurate; and can he say what is the position of the Roxboro Road School at Limerick.

I stated correctly that the Judicial Commissioners arrived at the unanimous decision imposed by the Educational Endowments Act of 1885 in all but one case. This is so. In answer to the second paragraph the House has on two separate occasions disapproved of the schemes approved of by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The powers of the Commissioners lapsed on the 31st December, 1897, and Mr. Gregg remains in occupation as a tenant from year to year. There is now no power to frame a new scheme.

I shall put a further question on this matter.

The hon. Member will do better to raise it on the Estimates. The matter can hardly be debated by way of question and answer.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on 29th March, 1897, the then Chief Secretary for Ireland stated in the House of Commons that if a responsible railway-company, such as the Great Southern and Western Company, were got to restore the Parsonstown and Portumna Derelict Railway at a cost of £24,000, and maintain it when restored, the Government would be prepared to advance one-half this sum, £12,000, for that purpose: and that an offer has been made by the International Railway Corporation, Limited, to spend £12,000 on restoring the line, and working and equipping it thereafter; and will he accordingly carry out the promise of his predecessor in office and accept the offer of the International Company.

I am aware of the statement made by my predecessor on the date mentioned. In answer to the second paragraph, I must refer the hon. Member to my replies to previous questions of the 4th and 7th instant on the same subject.^*

Am I to understand the Government refuse the otter of the International Railway Corporation?

The Treasury do not see their way to accept the proposals of the Corporation.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland will he explain by whose order County Inspector M'Dermott, with District Inspectors Rodwell and Millar, attended by 100 policemen armed with rifles, proceeded to Ballinalee on Sunday last to prevent the East Collumbkille fife and drum band from playing outside the League rooms in Ballinalee, in which the North Longford executive of the United Irish League was holding its monthly meeting; is he aware that these policemen kept following the band up and down the village of Ballinalee, and refused to allow them to stand for a moment at any house; can he explain what was the meaning of such conduct considering that the band had come a long distance merely to exercise; whether he is aware that no public meeting of any kind was intended or attempted, and no person or persons were boycotted or in any way interfered with in the neighbourhood; and whether the County Inspector ordered this display contrary to the advice and wish of his subordinate officers; and will an inquiry be made into all the circumstances of the case.

Fifty, not 100, police were assembled at Ballinalee on the occasion referred to; none of these men were armed with rifles. No attempt was made to prevent the two bands present from playing outside the place of meeting or from parading the streets. A few police only accompanied the bands through

^* See pages 392 and 824.

Was any information sworn that would lead the Government to believe a breach of the peace was expected on that occasion?

No, Sir. No in formation was sworn. The precautions taken were proper police precautions, which would be taken anywhere in Ireland or elsewhere when a large crowd was expected to assemble.

Will the cost of this police display fall on the county?

I cannot say without notice, but I should say the mere concentration of police would not involve any charge.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that Dr. White, surgeon at the City Hospital for Diseases of the Skin, Beresford Place, Dublin, tried to induce Mrs. M'Ginley, a poor Roman Catholic widow, to enter the Protestant ward of the hospital of the South Dublin Union, which would haw meant the registration as Protestants of herself and her four orphan children; whether he will institute an inquiry into the case; and whether he will endeavour to ascertain whether there are in the Protestant ward of the South Dublin Union any Roman Catholics brought there by similar inducements.

The hospital referred to is not subject in any way to the jurisdiction of the Local Government Board, and that Department has no authority to institute an inquiry as suggested. The Guardians of the South Dublin Union are perfectly competent to make the inquiry suggested in the last paragraph, if they think it expedient to do so.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether complaints from Newtownstewart, North Tyrone, have reached him to the effect that the police barrack there is occupied exclusively by the head constable and his grown-up family, thereby necessitating the other members of the force to reside out of barracks; and whether it is against the regulations of the force that the grown-up families of constables should live in barracks; and, if so, will he be pleased to have such regulations put in force.

The right hon. Gentleman has, I think, been misinformed. The head constable has six children residing with him in the barrack, and no breach of the regulations has been committed in this respect. The barrack is not exclusively occupied by the family of this officer, and no other members of the force are obliged to live outside the barrack for the reason stated.

As a matter of fact, is not the head constable the only officer residing in the barracks?

I do not gather that from the information I have received. Anyway there has been no breach of the regulations and therefore there is no need for interference.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that the three senior officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary stationed at Newtownstewart—namely, the head constable, the senior sergeant, and one acting sergeant are Protestants, although Newtownstewart is a place where party disturbances are liable to occur; and whether he will take steps that one of the senior officers at least should be a Roman Catholic.

The head constable and one of the two sergeants are Protestants; the other sergeant is a Roman Catholic. There has been no disturbance of a part nature at Newtownstewart for several years past.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether Dr. Flinn, Local Government Board Inspector, who recently investigated the charges made by Dr. Bolster against Nurse Joyce, received from the nurse the names of witnesses who could give evidence in her defence; and whether he summoned any of them to attend the Inquiry at Shillelagh; and, if so, how many, and were they examined by Dr. Flinn.

The inspector received a list of thirty-four witnesses from Nurse Joyce and of sixteen witnesses from Dr. Bolster. In both instances Dr. Flinn summoned only those witnesses whose evidence related directly to the subject matter of the Inquiry. Eight of the nurse's witnesses were summoned, of whom seven were examined; and nine of Dr. Bolster's witnesses were summoned, of whom six were examined. Those not examined left the Inquiry before it was concluded, and no desire was expressed that they should be recalled and examined.

Is Dr. Flinn a legal expert as to whether evidence is material?

The others were only witnesses as to character.

On the Estimate for the Irish Local Government Beard I shall call attention to the conduct of Dr. Flinn.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Local Government Board have received resolutions from the Leitrim County Council and Mohill District Council asking to have the unions in South Leitrim amalgamated with a view to using one of the workhouses used as an auxiliary asylum; and whether, in consequence of this proposal, the Lord Lieutenant will withhold his sanction from the proposed loan of £40,000 for enlarging Sligo asylum, the chief cost of maintaining which falls on the ratepayer's of Leitrim and Sligo.

The answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The county councils of Sligo and Leitrim, the two counties constituting the Asylum District, have not yet sanctioned the proposed loan of £40,000 for the enlargement of the asylum, and until the proposal has been considered by them the question will not come before the Lord Lieutenant.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether any steps have been taken to expedite the issuing of a loan of £1,800 to the Boyle Town Commissioners for the building of houses under the Housing of the Working Classes Acts, the Act for this purpose having been passed last August, and the loan sanctioned by the Local Government Board.

Yes, Sir; special steps were taken to expedite the preparation of the deed of mortgage which was forwarded on the 6th instant for execution by Boyle Town Commissioners. An issue on account of the loan will be made immediately after the due execution of the deed.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has seen a resolution, passed by the United Trades Council and Labour League of Dublin, which stated that much difficulty is experienced in obtaining particulars relating to Government contracts in Ireland, and in identifying the persons entrusted therewith, and also that complaints have been made as regards the carrying out of the Fair Wages Resolution; and whether, in order to remove these difficulties, he would order that concise particulars of all Government contracts, together with the names of the persons whose tenders are accepted, be set out in the Labour Gazette; that a penalty of not less than five per cent, on the amount of the tender be imposed on all contractors who fail to comply with the Fair Wages Resolution in executing the work; and that the names of all such contractors be published.

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to. I am afraid it would be impossible to arrange for the publication of particulars of all Government contracts in the Labour Gazette. A clause providing for a fine of the nature suggested has been included in certain recent contracts, but before extending it further I think it desirable to have some experience of its working. Up to the present time no case has arisen for imposing penalties under it. When such cases arise, I shall have no objection to giving the particulars asked for.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many complaints have been brought before this House of the way in which the contractors carry out the Fair Wages resolution? Will the hon. Gentleman inquire further?

If the hon. Member has a complaint to make about any particular contract, and will give me such details as will enable me to identify the case, I shall be happy to have it investigated, but I cannot set out on a roving commission on the general statement that there are complaints.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the rules as to registration under the terms of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Acts, 1883–1888, can be purchased in Ireland; and, if so, will he state where they can be obtained.

The rules of 1890 are included in the volume of Statutory Rules for that year, which may be obtained of Messrs. Hodges, Figgis, and Company, of 104, Grafton Street, Dublin, the agents of His Majesty's Stationery Office for the sale of Statutory Rules, Since 1893 rules under the Patent, etc., Act have been treated as Statutory Rules, and as such may be purchased in separate form from Messrs. Hodges. The Patent Agents' Rules for 1899 were printed as a Parliamentary paper, and in that form may also be purchased in Dublin of Messrs. Hodges. When a reprint of the rules of 1890 is required they will be printed as Statutory Rules in separate form and put on sale in Ireland.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the refusal of the Local Government Board to accede to the plea of the London County Council that it may be permitted to spread the repayment of its housing schemes loans over 100 years, the said refusal being based on the fact that a previous Parliament has disagreed with the proposal, the Government will afford facilities for the present Parliament to express an opinion upon the matter.

I am afraid I cannot promise a day for the discussion which the hon. Member suggests.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government will appoint a Commission to inquire into and report upon the military system of Switzerland, such inquiry to be directed not only to the character, efficiency, and cost of the system, but also to its effects upon the industry, physique, and morals of the population.

I do not think much would be gained by the Commission desired by my hon. friend. There is a great deal of information on the subject in the possession of the War Office at the present time.