I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if the Government will propose to the House that Mr. Merriman and Mr. Sauer he heard upon the policy of the settlement in South Africa, pursuant to their petition.

The Government do not think that the course which the hon. and learned Member suggests would be a proper one.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult the House on the question?

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government now accept the laws and usages of war settled at the Hague Conference as forming the usages which distinguish civilised from barbarous warfare.

Of course this Government accepts the principle to which it gave its assent at the Hague Conference.

But not the practice.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he can state what steps the Government have taken or propose to take to redeem their pledge of an inquiry into the causes of our failures during the South African War.

I have more than once stated to the House that we do not propose that this Commission should begin its work until the war has finished, or very nearly reached its finish.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of Commandant Botha's objection to negotiate with Sir Alfred Milner, he will consider the expediency whenever negotiations may he renewed of requesting the Premiers of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to act with Lord Kitchener as an advising council.

No, Sir; His Majesty's Government have no intention of superseding Sir Alfred Milner as suggested by the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give any information as to the meaning of General Botha's statement, in his letter of 16th March, to the effect that Lord Kitchener would certainly not be surprised that he was unable to accept the terms offered, because they differed from those which had been discussed in the interview of 28th February, and if he can state in what respect they differed, and what were the points on which the negotiations consequently broke down.

I have no information beyond what is contained in the published Papers.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the negotiations between the German Foreign Office and the British Government as to the claims made for indemnity by Germans expelled from the Transvaal at the outbreak of the war have been concluded; and, if so, whether he is in a position to state what the financial arrangement arrived at is.

A Commission will shortly be appointed for the purpose of investigating the claims to compensation which have been made by the subjects of various friendly Powers in consequence of their expulsion from South Africa by the British military authorities.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state approximately the number of women and children at present confined in each of the detention camps in South Africa, and whether there is any reason why such of them as desire to return to their homes or to friends in Cape Colony who are willing to receive them should not be permitted to do so; whether he can state the number of children who have been born in these camps since they were established, and the number who have died; and whether he has received, or will procure, full information as to the sanitary conditions of the camps, and as to the supply of food and clothing.

Lord Kitchener has been requested to forward full information on these matters.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many of the reinforcement of 30,000 men last asked for by the War Office have been secured, and what number have been actually despatched to South Africa; whether any application, has been received by the Government from Lord Kitchener for reinforcements over and above the 30,000 men, and to what extent; and have the Government in, contemplation any further reinforcements over and above the 30,000 men.

The number of 30,000 mounted troops which the Government undertook on 7th February last to send to South Africa has been exceeded. Up to date 28,560 men have been despatched, and 6,000 more are ready to embark as transports are provided. Of these, Regular Cavalry drafts are, 3,860; Mounted Infantry, 4,400; Imperial Yeomanry, 16,600; South African Constabulary, 4,700; Colonials, 5,000–34,560. Two battalions of Militia and thirty-eight Volunteer companies and some other drafts have been sent during the same period to relieve similar units at the front. Lord Kitchener has asked for drafts for certain battalions which are being prepared. No other application has been made to me by Lord Kitchener, and after the South African Constabulary is completed it is not at present proposed to raise any further force.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if four new forts are to be erected for the better defence of Cape Town; whether the Imperial Government will bear the cost; and, if so, what is the estimated amount.

No, Sir. Nothing is known of the four new forts at Cape Town alluded to.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state approximately the number of Boer prisoners of war, how many Boers capable of bearing arms are in the British laagers, and the number of fighting Boers still in arms against us in South Africa.

The number of Boer prisoners of war is approximately 16,000. I do not know how many Boers capable of bearing arms are in the British laagers, or how many Boers are still in arms.

Can you not give us the total approximately?

I have no recent data.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if the military authorities are providing sufficient warm over and under clothing for all the troops, Regular, Militia, Volunteer, Yeomanry, Colonial, in the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies during the coming winter, or if they are in any way dependent upon private supplies; and in respect of the latter, if there is a Government officer at Cape Town and Durban whose duty it is to be posted as far as possible as to the whereabouts of the several corps and companies in the field, or detached posts, or in garrison, and with power to forward parcels to them by any available means.

The military authorities are providing warm underclothing, and the troops will receive the authorised issues; but special consignments of such things and other luxuries are much appreciated. An Army Service Corps officer at Cape Town is in, charge of the distribution of parcels, and either has the latest information of the locality of the troops at his disposal, or can readily obtain it. The telegraphic address of the information bureau is, "Casualty, Cape Town."

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to make any provision for the widows and orphans not on the establishment of the various classes of combatants who have fought and fallen, or who may fall, in the British ranks in South Africa.

His Majesty's Government can only deal with the claims or widows and orphans of men on the strength. Widows and families not on the strength will be assisted from the funds at the disposal of the Patriotic Fund Commissioners.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the widow, married on the strength of the regiment, and two young children of Private Harry Hasler, Reservist, of the 2nd Somerset Light Infantry, who died of enteric fever at Kimberley on 9th November last, have been unable, in spite of repeated efforts, to obtain any pension or allowance from the War Office, and if it had not been for private assistance would have been compelled to enter the workhouse; and, seeing that unless some provision be made this soldier's widow and children will shortly have to apply for parish relief, will he instruct the proper authorities to make an immediate allowance, taking into consideration also the fact that nearly five months have passed without any grant being made.

I am afraid that my hon. friend has been misinformed. As soon as Private Hasler's death was reported from South Africa, the case was notified to the Patriotic Fund and the Daily Telegraph Fund. The former made an initial grant of £7, and a weekly allowance of eight shillings, and the latter fund made an initial grant of £26, and an annuity of £10. The widow will come under the new Government pension scheme, though some of the assistance referred to will possibly then cease. I must point out to my hon. friend that, as I have already stated, the new scheme will only come into effect on the 1st July, and that therefore the War Office was not in a position to make any grant from Government funds.

And what is going to happen until the 1st July? Are these People to be left destitute?

was understood to reply that no doubt assistance would be forthcoming from private funds.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing the probable difficulty of obtaining a sufficient supply of men for the garrison regiments, he will consider the advisability of altering the conditions contained in Section 1 (a) of the Royal Warrant of 23rd February, 1901, so as to enable men eligible in all respects and under 40 years of age to serve, although more than 20 years have elapsed from the date of first attestation.

The matter has been carefully considered, and it is not intended to make the alteration suggested. The Garrison regiments are not dependent on the enlistment from the Royal Reserve Regiments for their completion.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has made inquiries into the disturbances among the Imperial representative forces at Brisbane and Melbourne, and what answer he has received.

A Report has been called for, but has not yet been received.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, on an officer joining the Army and receiving quarters in barracks, the only furniture supplied by the Government is one small table, two wooden chairs, and a coal scuttle; whether he is aware, that the cost of buying other furniture is a burden upon many young officers; and whether, seeing that on an officer changing his quarters this furniture has to be moved at considerable cost or stored at the officer's expense, he can arrange that in future all necessary furniture will be supplied by the Government to officers' rooms in barracks.

The articles of furniture supplied to an officer's quarters are: Two chairs, one table, one poker, one shovel, one pair of tongs, one scuttle. The question of furnishing officers' quarters in future is under consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what is the number of cruisers at present attached to the Mediterranean Fleet and the Channel Squadron respectively, and what is the normal number supposed to be required in each case.

The number of cruisers belonging to the Mediterranean Fleet is ten, of which one second and one third class are temporarily employed on the Cape Station. The third class cruiser is about to be replaced by another ship. Six cruisers are attached to the Channel Squadron. There is no fixed establishment of cruisers for the two fleets in question.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury what has been up to now the total cost of the new "Victoria and Albert" yacht, and what amount is estimated as still necessary to complete her.

The total net cost of the Royal Yacht, up to the present date is £433,637; the estimated amount required to complete the vessel is £32,146; to those amounts must be added a sum of £46,251, the estimated proportion of incidental charges upon the entire work. Making a total of £512,034.

What was the amount of the original estimate?

I have not the figures with me.

What has caused the great increase?

There are many causes. I cannot detail them in answer to a question.

Has any estimate been formed of the cost of breaking her up?

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, if arrangements will be made for H.M.S. "Northampton" to visit Invergordon during her summer cruise in the North.

It is not proposed to send H.M.S. "Northampton" to Invergordon during her summer cruise. H.M.S. "Cleopatra" visited Invergordon last year, but I am unable to state whether she will repeat her visit during the coming year, as the programme of cruises for the training ships has not yet been finally settled.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a Return of all ordinances, laws, and regulations in force in the Cape Coast Colony and in the Ashanti Protectorate in respect to the labour of natives, including the forced labour ordinance in the former, and all laws, regulations, and ordinances in the colony and the Protectorate in respect to the terms and conditions affecting the ownership and working of mines and the taxes that are levied thereon.

Yes, we have had numerous applications for copies of some of these documents, and it will be convenient to print them in the form of a Blue-book. The compulsory labour ordinance to which the hon. Member refers expired in 1898, and has not been renewed.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give any particulars as to the condition, packing, vendibility, and price realised of the first consignment of fruit from the West Indies by the new subsidised line of steamers.

The only information which I have received on the subject referred to by the hon. Member beyond what has appeared in the press is in a letter from the contractors for the Imperial Direct Jamaica Service, in which they state as follows—

"The fruit by the 'Port Morant' arrived in splendid order and the system of preserving fruit, so far as we can tell, will retain the temperature we require, irrespective of what the temperature may be In Jamaica or this country."

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Mr. Kinder, the chief engineer of the Tientsin Railway, a British subject in the employment of the Chinese railway administration, was entitled to call upon General Barrow to interfere in the recent siding dispute: whether General Barrow had any authority to send the telegram ordering him to proceed with the work by force if necessary; and whether Mr. Kinder, having provoked a misunderstanding with Russia by a display of force, will be permitted to take a similar course in the future on the supposition that he is countenanced by His Majesty's Government.

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension as to the facts of the case. The railway is at present under the control and management of the British military authorities, who are working it for the common benefit of the allied forces. It was Colonel MacDonald, R. E., not Mr. Kinder, who referred for instructions to General Gaselee when the dispute arose as to the ownership of the land upon which the siding was to be built. General Barrow did not at any time order the work to be continued by force.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether lie has any information as to the murder of the Rev. Joseph Stonehouse, of the London Missionary Society, on Saturday last, on the Hun-ho river; whether at the time of the murder Mr. Stonehouse was distributing relief to starving villagers: whether any special reason is assigned for the murder; and whether the British authorities have taken prompt measures to discover the perpetrators of the crime.

His Majesty's Minister at Peking has reported that Mr. Stonehouse was shot by Chinese on the 23rd instant, and died the same evening, but we have no further particulars. Sir E. Satow is no doubt taking the necessary action in the matter.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to the effect that the German Chancellor has expressed the view that the Anglo-German Agreement does not affect Manchuria; and whether he will inquire whether such statement was made.

I will ask the hon. Member to allow me to deal with this question in debate later on in the evening.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to a statement by Count von Bülow denying explicitly that the Anglo-German Agreement applies to Manchuria; and whether His Majesty's Government agrees with the views of Count von Bülow.

I would rather postpone my answer to this until I speak on the subject in the debate which I understand is to come on later in the evening.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can, give the House any information as to the acceptance or rejection by the Chinese Government of the Russo-Chinese Agreement regarding Manchuria which the Russian Government has been pressing upon China.

No information has been received that an agreement between Russia and China has been either accepted or rejected.

Can the noble Lord state whether such an agreement has been or is being pressed upon the acceptance of His Majesty's Government?

I have no doubt that my hon. friend will have an opportunity of addressing himself to that question later on.

That is not the point. May I ask—

Order, order! The hon. Member's second question does not arise out of his first. It is quite a separate question.

Will you kindly read the last sentence of my question, Sir? Will the noble Lord be kind enough to promise to give us the information this evening? I will promise to address myself to the question if only he will answer.

On behalf of my hon. and learned and gallant friend [Laughter.] All the gallantry is not on the other side of the House. [More laughter.] Mr. Speaker, am I not entitled to designate my hon. friend as honourable, learned and gallant?

The hon. Member must ask his question, and must not continually obstruct the business of the House in this way.

Well, on behalf of my hon. and learned and gallant friend the Member for East Clare, I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Mr. Brown, the Director of Customs, has been dismissed by the Korean Government; and, if so, whether His Majesty's Government are taking steps to secure his reinstatement.

To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Mr. McLeavy Brown has been dismissed from his position as Director General of Customs in Korea, and, if so, whether His Majesty's Government are taking steps to secure his reinstatement.

Mr. McLeavy Brown has not been dismissed. A difficulty arose with regard to Mr. McLeavy Brown's official residence, which is the property of the Korean Government, and which the latter desired that he should vacate. This led to a demand for his dismissal, but there are reasons for hoping that the matter will be satisfactorily arranged within a brief period.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he can state how many miles of the Uganda Railway have been constructed; and whether he can say when the undertaking will be completed.

The rails have been laid on 481 miles. The line is open for traffic for 448 miles. As soon as Colonel Gracey, R.E., who has recently returned from an inspecting of the line, has reported we shall be in a better position than now to form an idea as to the date when the undertaking will be completed.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will state what was the number of troops stationed at the close of 1898 in the political agencies of Dir, Sivat, the Khyber, the Kurran, Tochi, and Wano, and what was their estimated cost; and whether he will say whether any reduction has been made in the number of these troops during the present Viceroy's period of office; if so, to what extent; and what is the estimated aggregate annual cost of these military and political outposts under the conditions of the new province.

The number of troops stationed on the 1st December. 1898, in the districts referred to was: Malakand Agency, including Dir and Swat. 5,447; the Khyber Brigade. 3,211; the Kurrum, including Samana, 2,489; Tochi, 2,344; Wana, 1,094. The Khyber Brigade has been withdrawn, and the Khyber is now held by Afridi Militia. Half a squadron of Native Cavalry and a half battalion of Native Infantry, numbering about 500, have been transferred from the Kurrum Valley to Kohat. The cost of these several outposts cannot be given without reference to India; nor have I as yet, received any estimate of the cost of the new arrangements which are now contemplated.

Will the information be available before the discussion on the Indian Budget is taken?

I doubt if I shall have it by then.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the inquiry into the proposed dismissals at Cooper's Hill Engineering College which is being held, he will give an assurance that no professors or lecturers will be dismissed until Papers relating to the present inquiry have been laid before the House and an opportunity afforded for discussion.

I undertook that, before effect was given to the proposed educational reforms at Cooper's Hill College, all the teaching staff affected should have a full opportunity of giving their reasons before the Board of Visitors against the proposed reorganisation, and that the Council of India would suspend their decision until they had received the evidence and the Report of the Visitors upon it. Further than this I cannot go. Papers on the subject will be circulated, I understand, on Monday.

Will the noble Lord assure the House that no dismissal will take place until the new representatives of the Universities have taken their places on the Board of Visitors?

No, I cannot.

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that in the Budget proposals of the Government of the Dominion of Canada the Minister of Finance maintained the preference of 33⅓ per cent. granted upon British goods in Canadian markets directly the colonies were freed from the restraining foreign treaties of 1862 and 1865; and can he state for how long he proposes to accept this arrangement without making any efforts to reciprocate towards Canadian products in the markets of the United Kingdom.

I think my hon. friend is well aware that the Canadian tariff differs so completely from our own that, while the action of Canada was confined to a reduction of very high duties in our favour, what he calls reciprocity on our part would involve the imposition of duties by us on imports from other countries for the benefit of Canada. I am not prepared to propose this, and I feel certain that Canada does not expect it. We have shown our sense of the spirit in which the Dominion has acted by the help we give towards the steamship service between Canada and Japan, and the assistance we have promised towards the Pacific cable.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the estimated financial losses, at the present rate, of the abatements of the Income Tax voted in 1894 and in 1899.

It is estimated that at the present rate of Income Tax (1s. in the £) the total financial loss involved by the changes in the scale of abatements introduced by the Finance Acts of 1894 and 1898 amounts to £1,470,000.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to the provision of the increased revenue from taxation, which will be necessary, he will favourably consider the expediency of an ad valorem fiscal duty on certain imported manufactured articles amounting to more than one hundred millions of pounds in value, rather than any new duty on imported food products, whether used for actual food or manufacturing purposes.

My hon. friend asks my opinion on a suggestion for a complete change in the fiscal policy which has been adopted by this country for many years. I feel that I cannot deal with such a matter in answer to a, question.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of raising the £30,000,000 asked for the maintenance of the Navy by a tonnage tax levied on all ships, native and foreign, entering British or Irish ports from oversea ports.

The suggestion appears to be that the whole cost of the Navy should be paid by a tax which would mainly fall on the mercantile marine of this country in addition to other taxation to which it is now liable, and which would probably involve reprisals from foreign countries on our ships in foreign ports. I do not think this would be a feasible proposal.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the statement made by the prosecuting counsel on Thursday last at Clerken well Sessions, in the case of persons indicted for keeping a disorderly house, to the effect that for the tenth time at least he had to bring to the notice of the Court that Bouillon Fleet, Limited, and Heinekens Lager Brewery Company were connected with the house, and to the statement made by Mr. M'Connell, K.C., in giving judgment, that he regretted that the directors were not present, and that they were the responsible persons who would probably pay the fines; and whether he will ascertain the names of the directors of the two companies, and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.

My attention has not previously been called to this matter, but I will look into it and see whether any action is called for on my part.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a case at the petty sessional court, Grays, Essex, in which Inspector Buckingham stated that a horse suffering badly from canker and with large sores had been sold and sent to Rotterdam for sausage meat, to be subsequently re-imported to England; and whether he can impose some limit on this description of traffic.

From inquiry which I have caused to be made it appears to be true that a horse with canker in the foot and some sore places in the skin caused by harness was shipped to Rotterdam a few days ago. But I find no evidence that the carcase would afterwards be prepared for human food, or that, if it were, it would be re-imported to England. Nor have I any power to check the traffic indicated in the question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the report on the methods of preventing falls of roof adopted at the Courrieres collieries, in which it is shown that the death rate from falls of roof and sides per 1,000 persons employed below ground for the ten years 1890 to 1899 is only 0½15, and the death rate per million tons of coal raised is only 0·39, while for the United Kingdom the average death rates are 0·78 per 1,000 persons employed below ground and 2·05 per million tons of mineral raised for the five years ending 1899; and whether he has taken or will take steps to bring about in the collieries of this country the adoption of methods of preventing falls of roof and sides similar to those which have produced such results at the Courrieres collieries.

As long ago as September last the Home Office communicated with all the coal-mine owners in this country with regard to the methods of preventing, falls of ground adopted at the Courrières collieries and called their attention to the figures quoted in the hon. Member's question. On receiving the further special report to which he refers, I sent a second circular letter to the owners, enclosing a copy and pressing upon them the importance of studying the methods adopted in France. The Homo Office has long been in communication with the Mining Association with a view to steps being taken to reduce the number of accidents from falls of ground, and I have arranged for a conference next month between the inspectors of mines and the representatives of the association on the subject.

Is this system applicable to mines generally?

I think only to coal mines.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state when he proposes to move for the appointment of a Select Committee on Police and Sanitary Regulation Bills.

It is not certain whether the motion for the appointment of this Committee will be made this session. The matter is under consideration, and a decision will be arrived at shortly.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been directed to a complaint from one of the crew of the s.s. "Orona," who alleges that this vessel signed on eight able seamen, which provides an effective crew of four men for each watch, but that the captain of this vessel has by the system he has adopted reduced the number of men in each watch to two, namely, one man on the look-out and one man at the wheel, which is in contravention of the Board of Trade manning scale, which provides that there shall be three effective hands in each watch; whether, seeing that this may endanger the lives of the crew of this vessel, he will call the attention of the owners to the captain's conduct and request that they will give instructions to stop this reduction of the effective number of hands in each watch; and whether he can state if this steamship has been engaged by the Admiralty for the conveyance of stores to His Majesty's troops in South Africa.

Yes, Sir; my attention has been called to the complaint referred to in the question, and I have been in communication with the owners of the "Orona." I find that the vessel carried eight A.B.'s, besides a boatswain, a carpenter, and four deck officers. This was in excess of the requirements of the Board of Trade, and I am advised that the vessel was certainly not undermanned. The Department has no power to interfere, with the disposition of the hands by the master when at sea. I am informed that the "Orona" was engaged by the Admiralty, as stated in the question.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on the 14th October last a cattle wagon without brake was detached at Munlochy from the passenger train leaving Muir of Ord at 8–38 a.m., and that on the 15th October a cattle wagon without brake was detached at Munlochy from the passenger train leaving Avoch at 9–26 a.m.; and, will he ascertain why the Highland Railway Company failed to provide these mixed trains with the continuous brake through-out, as required by the Board of Trade regulations.

The railway company point out that the 14th October last was a Sunday, and that no trains are run on Sundays on the branch in question. They add that on the 15th October no cattle wagon was detached at Munlochy, but that one was attached there, and that it was fitted with a continuous vacuum brake pipe in conformity with the requirements of the Board of Trade.

I am sorry I made a mistake in the date, but as this question is based on my personal experiences, will the right hon. Gentleman inquire further?

replied in the negative.

I will put another question.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, considering the expiration at the end of the present year of the powers of the Light Railway Commissioners, he will grant a Return showing the number of applications for Orders and the number of Orders which have been passed by the Commissioners and confirmed by the Board of Trade in each year since the passing of the Light Railway Act, 1896; and also the number and amount of the loans which the Treasury has agreed to advance in each year under Section 4, and of the special advances under Section 5.

This information is contained in Reports presented annually to Parliament in accordance with Section 13 (5) of the Act referred to.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether it has been brought to his notice that creditors in bankruptcy cases suffer loss through delay in dealing with these cases, seeing that the interest goes to the Government and not to the creditors; whether he is aware of a case where from £40,000 to £50,000 was received by the Official Receiver in January, February, and March of 1900, and that no dividend has as yet been paid to the creditors, who thus, in addition to the loss of their money, are kept out of what remains, and also out of what these sums have earned as interest; and whether he can see his way to ameliorating this state of affairs.

I am not aware of any undue delay in the official administration of bankruptcy cases resulting in loss to creditors. The investment of funds which cannot immediately be distributed is made pursuant to Section 76 of the Bankruptcy Act, 1883, and the dividends thus derived are applied solely to meeting the expenses of bankruptcy administration, and are taken into account in fixing the fees payable in respect of the bankruptcy proceedings. I cannot identify the case referred to, which I should probably have been able to do had it been in the hands of an official receiver.

But will not the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ameliorate this state of things?

I will have any specific cases inquired into.

But I am raising the cases as a whole, of the long detention of these funds.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that British patents are taken out at the risk of the applicants, it being left to every person to protect his own rights, and that Great Britain is the only country which issues patents without satisfactory proof that the inventions described have not been previously patented, and without examining specifications before they are filed; and whether, in view of the importance to British trade of encouraging invention, the Government will take the necessary steps to place the British inventor in a more satisfactory position in this respect.

I do not think the first paragraph of the hon. Member's question accurately states the position as regards the issue of patents, and certainly there are countries other than Great Britain which make no search for novelty. The subject of search among prior specifications has, however, engaged the attention of the Board of Trade, and I would refer the hon. Member to the Report of a Departmental Committee presented to Parliament this session. At present I am unable to make any statement as to legislative action on that Report.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the prevalence of foot-and-mouth disease in South Africa, adequate precautions have been and are being taken to prevent the disease from being conveyed from that country to the British Isles.

We have no confirmation of the statement that foot-and-mouth disease is prevalent in South Africa. Even if it were, there is the fact that no cattle, sheep, or swine have been imported from South Africa during the last three years, and we have no reason to believe that such importation is probable. The danger of infection by hides and skins is, as I explained the other day, very small, and is guarded against in the same way as in the case of similar imports from the Continent.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the disease is easily conveyed with clothing?

Yes. I know that.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, beyond appointing officers of Inland Revenue, under Section 13 of the Corn Returns Act, 1882, to be inspectors of corn returns, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue exercise any supervision over such inspectors in the performance of their duties under that Act.

The Commissioners of Inland Revenue retain the sole control over Excise officers appointed to act as inspectors of corn returns. The inspectors are responsible to the Commissioners for their due attendance at the markets, for seeing that all the requirements of the Corn Returns Act are strictly complied with, and for the accuracy and punctuality of the returns and summaries which they send to the Board of Agriculture.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether any and what steps are from time to time taken by the Board of Agriculture to ascertain whether the inspectors of corn returns receive, under the Corn Returns Act, 1882, complete and accurate returns of the prices at which British corn is sold in each of the towns specified by Order in Council.

The inspectors of corn returns are, of course, directly responsible to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. But after the returns collected by them have been sent to the Board of Agriculture, they are examined at once, and if any point arises which seems to call for further explanation the inspector is at once consulted. Such points are the possible inclusion of foreign corn, or considerable variations in price from one week to another, or errors in calculation. Any complaints received from outside sources, as, for instance, complaints of the omission of particular sales, are referred to the Board of Inland Revenue for investigation.

Is any distinction made in the Return between purchases from growers and purchases from dealers?

I think not.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether any, and what, steps are from time to time taken by the Board of Trade to ascertain whether the inspectors of corn returns, under the Corn Returns Act, 1882, receive complete and accurate returns of the prices at which British corn is sold in each of the towns specified by Order in Council; can he state how many convictions have taken place since the commencement of the Act, 1st January, 1883, for failure to make return, and for making a false return; and in how many instances has the Board of Trade caused a return, or any particular in a return, to be omitted in the computation of the average prices on the ground that the Board had reason to believe such return or particular to be incorrect.

The whole of the functions of the Board of Trade under the Corn Returns Act have now been transferred to the Board of Agriculture. Twenty-three prosecutions and twenty-two convictions have taken place since the commencement of the Act for failure to make returns, but none for making a false return. Since 1892, when the Board of Agriculture took over the duty, there have been two or three cases in which returns or particulars in them have been omitted in the compilation of the averages.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will place the text of his proposals respecting London water before the House before the close of the present session, so that they may be duly considered by the people of London and the extra municipal areas affected during the Parliamentary recess.

No, Sir; I am unable to assent to the suggestion.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for Tunbridge, as representing the Charity Commission, whether the Bill now before the House of Lords for the sale of the site of Christ's Hospital has been sanctioned by the Commission: whether the Commissioners have suggested any restrictions on the sale of the site, and whether it is within the powers of the Governors to remove the ancient schoolrooms, including the dining-room and other historical buildings, pending the passage of their Bill through Parliament; whether the girls' day school and science school, contemplated in the Scheme of 1890, have been erected; and whether negotiations are still proceeding on the subject.

The Commissioners received from the Council of Almoners a copy of the Christ's Hospital Bill on 11th December, 1900, and informed them in reply on the 14th of that month that the Commissioners had no objection to offer to the Bill as regards form or otherwise. They have not suggested that any part of the site should be excepted from sale. It is within the powers of the Governors, acting under the authority of the Commissioners, to remove at any time the buildings referred to or any part of them, but there could be no intention to remove them pending the passing of the Bill, as they are required for carrying on the school temporarily under Section 66 of the Scheme of 1890. No buildings for the girls' day school and day science school for boys have been erected. No negotiations on the subject of the Bill are proceeding.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education if he has any objection to lay upon the Table of the House a precis of the address he recently delivered to His Majesty's Inspectors of Schools.

I am unable to do this. What I said was confidential, and no record of it has been kept.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to the lack of trained female teachers for elementary schools; and whether the Board of Education propose to take steps to provide for such deficiency by increased training college accommodation or by other measures.

I have repeatedly called the attention of the House to the matter, and the Board of Education are giving every encouragement in their power to the establishment of additional training colleges.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether, in estimating deficiencies in school accommodation in the district of the London School Board, the population of each parish as ascertained by the Census of 1891 is taken as the basis of calculation, or whether any attempt is made to ascertain the actual population of the present day.

The basis of calculation is the census of children of the elementary school class taken in the spring of each year by the London School Board.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government some years ago purchased Brompton Cemetery with a view to its being closed; if so, why this has not been done, and whether the accounts and Papers connected with the matter will be granted if a Return is moved.

Perhaps I may be allowed to reply to this question. It is not a fact that Brompton Cemetery was purchased by the Government with a view to its being closed, as the hon. Member will see by referring to 13 and 14 Vic. c. 52. The accounts and Papers covering nearly fifty years are very voluminous and of very little, if any, public interest, and I cannot agree to make such a Return as suggested.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us an account of the annual profit on this investment?

I must ask the hon. Member to give me notice of that question.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he has seen his way to meet the application of the labourers at Kew Gardens for a reduction of hours of labour, and an arrangement as to overtime pay.

I am happy to say that arrangements have been made to give the labourers in Kew Gardens a half-holiday on Saturdays, so that their hours of labour will be practically the same as those employed in the neighbouring Royal parks at Richmond and Hampton Court; and when they are required to stay on some Saturday afternoons they will receive the usual overtime pay.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Retirement Order of the Board of Inland Revenue, No. 10, of 1897 (18th June), is still partially suspended in the Taxes Branch (outdoor department); and, if so, whether the reasons stated by the Secretary to the Treasury on 24th March, 1899, for the retention in the service of officers who had then passed the age limit still exist and to the same extent; and how many officers are at present employed in the Taxes Branch who come within the limits of the Retirement Order, and of what rank in the service; and can he name an approximate date by which it will be possible for the Board to enforce the rule with the strictness and impartiality promised by the Secretary to the Treasury two years since.

The Retirement Order referred to is still partially suspended in the Tax Surveying Branch of the Inland Revenue for the reason given by my predecessor. The Board, however, hope that within a year from the present time it may be practicable to bring the Order again into operation. It is to be observed that, notwithstanding the suspension of the Order, promotion in the Taxes Branch has been exceptionally rapid of recent years. Five officers are at present employed in the Taxes Branch who come within the limits of the Retirement Order.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the Customs General Order 25 of the 20th instant announces that the number of examining officer-ships will gradually be reduced by ninety-six, and that as a consequence the general body of assistants who entered from 1891 to 1895 will not receive the salaries of examining officers until their twelfth year's service; and whether, in view of the fact that before the reorganisation assistants were promoted to examining officerships after nine years service, he will guarantee that this limit shall not be exceeded for the remainder of those at present in the class.

It is true that the number of examining officers will be gradually reduced by ninety-six, but steps have been taken which will have the effect of safeguarding the interests of the assistants who are near their turn for promotion. The general body of assistants will proceed as now in the assistants' scale until they reach the maximum of £105, but after spending a year at the maximum they will, if fully qualified in all respects, be paid on the scale of second-class examining officers, and will be ranked as such as vacancies occur in the class. The assistants who during the last few months have been promoted to the rank of examining officer, second class, have each had, at the time of their promotion, a service (as outdoor officer and assistant) of between nine and ten years. No guaranteed rate of promotion existed prior to the reorganisation, neither can any such guarantee be given for the future; but it is not expected that the interests of assistants generally will be materially affected.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the rule laid down by Mr. Lewin Hill at the Tweedmouth Inquiry, in reply to Question 11,983, to the effect that four or five of the lighter and less bulky parcels per man, of a total weight of not more than eleven pounds, is still in force; and, if so, will he cause it to be included in the postmen's rule book and is he aware that when a postman complained lately of having to carry twenty-two pounds it was ruled that he had no grounds for complaint.

Such a rule was laid down some years ago for observance in London, but it has not been applied to the provinces. The present rule is that a postman delivering letters may also be called upon to deliver some of the lighter and less bulky parcels, provided the total weight of letters and parcels combined does not exceed thirty-five pounds, and it is not considered necessary to make any change. Inquiry will be made with regard to the particular case mentioned by the hon. Member if he will send particulars to the Postmaster General which will enable it to be identified.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he can state why the Eastbourne postmen have been called upon to refund moneys duly earned by them respecting Christmas overtime; and whether he is aware that the times of attendance were altered by the acting postmaster, thus causing men to work considerably over their eight hours, and the suspension of one delivery subsequently causing a double delivery.

The claims for extra duty performed by the Eastbourne postmen to which the hon. Member refers appear to be those for 21st December. As the extra time claimed for was larger than the circumstances seemed to justify, the matter was reserved for special inquiry, and the postmen were called upon to refund provisionally the money paid. The inquiry is proceeding, and if the claims are substantiated they will be paid, including any extra duty owing to altered times of attendance.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will state the custom of the Department regarding the hours of attendance for female sorting clerks and telegraphists, the earliest hour at which they are expected to attend, and up to what period of the evening they can be kept on duty.

As a general rule female sorting clerks and telegraphists are not required to attend for duty before 6 a.m. or later than 10 p.m.; but where local conditions are favourable it is sometimes thought not necessary strictly to adhere to these hours.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, in view of the fact that a telegraphist having been kept at the efficiency barrier for one year and then being permitted to proceed suffers a loss of salary each year until he arrives at the maximum, whether the Postmaster General can state the reasons which led the Department to treat the stoppage of an increment at the efficiency barrier in an exceptional manner; and whether the Postmaster General will consider the advisability of placing it upon the same footing as an ordinary arrestment of increment.

It is a fact that a telegraphist who has been stopped at the efficiency bar, and who is subsequently allowed to proceed when efficient, has every year, until he reaches his maximum, a less salary than he otherwise would have had. The increment which takes an officer over the efficiency bar is treated in a different manner from ordinary increments, because it was intended to mark the attainment of a definite standard of efficiency at a certain point in the officer's career. The efficiency bar was instituted in order to ensure that no one should proceed to the maximum of the telegraphist's scale of pay without substantial guarantee of his efficiency and of the excellence of his conduct. To pass the efficiency bar is, therefore, equivalent to promotion to a higher class, and a man who fails through his own fault to pass the bar in the first instance has no claim to be relieved of the consequences. It is not in contemplation to alter the system which now prevails.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he can state for what reason the candidates seeking election to the executive of the Fawcett Association and to the Committee of the Refreshment Department at the General Post Office have been called upon to explain why manifestoes bearing their names have been distributed in and allowed to lie on the tables in the sorters' retiring rooms without permission having first been obtained, seeing that in the case of the election to the executive of the Fawcett Association permission had been sought and obtained for the ballot boxes to be placed in the said rooms, and that the election for the Refreshment Department Committee is being conducted by the department itself.

The fact that permission has been given for the election of the executive of the Fawcett Association and the election of the Refreshment Committee to be held in the General Post Office did not carry with it the permission to distribute bills in large numbers inside the building, and it is not desirable that such permission should be given.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of the inhabitants of the Island of Skye at Portree on the 20th February; and, in view of the anxiety therein expressed in regard to the mail steamer, can the Postmaster General say that he does not contemplate any alteration such as would render the mail service less convenient than at present; and is he in a position to say that, in the event of the mails being sent via Mallaig, efforts will be made to secure an improved postal and steamer service.

The Postmaster General has received a copy of the resolution referred to by the hon. Member, passed by the inhabitants of Skye at Portree on the 20th February. He does not contemplate any alteration in the hours of the mail steamer running between Kyle and ports in Skye, or any change which would render the mail service less convenient than at present. Any steamer service to or from Mallaig must, in the first instance, be experimental in character, and the Postmaster General is not in a position to say what service, if any, may ultimately be provided from that port.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate upon how many days between 20th January and 23rd February a Fishery Board cruiser or vessel patrolled the waters between Tarbat Ness and the Ord of Caithness, and on what days.

I am informed by the Fishery Board that between the dates named the Fishery Board cruiser "Norna" patrolled the waters in question on seven days, namely, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 14th, and 18th February.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether, in resolving to retain the words "the Seventh" as an addition to His Most Gracious Majesty's name in writs proceeding from the Crown in Scotland, he has consulted the precedents of the two Sovereigns bearing the name of James who have reigned since the Union of the Crowns, and the cases of William and Mary and William after Mary's death; and if he will inform the House of the practice in Scotland in these cases.

It is the fact that in the cases referred to by the hon. Member the writs passing the Signet in Scotland ran in the name of James, William and Mary, and William. But the present practice follows the more exact precedent under William the Fourth, after the Union of the kingdoms, in whose reign the writs in Scotland ran in the name of William the Fourth; and for this and other reasons it is intended to adhere to it.

Did not the Union take place in the reign of James?

The Union of the Crown then took place.

And is it not because of the Treaty of Union that Scotland is still treated as a separate kingdom?

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he 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, and the name of the proprietor or authority responsible for its upkeep.

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to a somewhat similar question on the 11th instant,† which also applies to this question.

Is the Scottish Office unwilling or unable to give the names?

I shall raise the question on the Estimates.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether reports were furnished by the Londonderry Constabulary authorities to Dublin Castle with reference to the discharge of explosives from the city of Derry Walls into the house or yard of a man named M'Gowan on the occasion of the rejoicing over the relief of Lady-smith; whether the report contained the names of the parties who discharged

† See Debates, Vol. xc, page 1116–7.

the explosives, and can he explain why the Castle authorities refused to allow the police in Londonderry to institute proceedings against these parties; and will he lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the correspondence between the Dublin Castle authorities and the Constabulary authorities, as well as a copy of the Order made thereon by the then Chief Secretary for Ireland.

The reports made by the police disclosed the names of two persons who were believed to have discharged rockets of a dangerous character. One of these rockets was found in the yard of John. McGowan. I have already stated that the organiser of the demonstration, who was unaware that rockets of this character had been used, expressed his regret at the occurrence. It was decided under the circumstances not to institute proceedings against the parties, but to warn them that upon a repetition of the offence proceedings would be taken. It would be contrary to practice to lay departmental correspondence on the Table of the House.

Why did the Castle authorities prevent the Londonderry police from prosecuting for the discharge of firearms in a proclaimed district?

I have answered that question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that John Feore, of Charleville, county Cork, who for forty-six years served as a collector of income tax, retired from his position some two years ago through old age and decrepitude; and, seeing that his petition to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for a grant or allowance was refused, whether a grant or pension could be given to John Feore, who is now in his seventy-fifth year, and otherwise through no fault of his own devoid of means of subsistence.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue that the facts are as stated, except that Mr. Feore retired, not two years ago, but in June last. The Board has no funds at its disposal out of which to award any grant, or pension, to collectors of taxes on their retirement.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Irish Government have considered the necessity of applying to Ireland the Acts at present in force in Scotland with reference to the marking or branding of herrings; whether he is aware that the absence of any official brand for Irish-cured herrings militates against this Irish industry in the English and Continental markets, and gives to Scotch curers an advantage over their Irish brethren; and whether legislation will be introduced this session for the purpose of remedying this grievance.

The Department of Agriculture has no evidence that the fact is as alleged in the second paragraph. If the system of herring branding were re-established in Ireland its cost would presumably, as in Scotland, be a tax on the industry; and it is not clear that the imposition of such a tax in Ireland would be attended by any compensating benefits. The whole question is receiving the consideration of the Department. I cannot undertake to give any pledge in the matter of legislation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Congested Districts Board has been already asked by the herring curers of Donegal to have the law in Ireland assimilated with what it is in Scotland in this regard?

That may be so, but I cannot form any opinion until I have looked into the question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to the charge delivered by Mr. Justice Madden to the Donegal grand jury at the spring assizes, whereby he testified to the crimeless state of the county Donegal; and, if so, will the Irish Government give practical effect to his Lordship's utterance by revoking the proclamation under the Peace Preservation (Ireland) Act, 1881, at present in force in that county.

The learned judge in his address to the grand jury referred to the immunity from serious crime of the county Donegal. In reply to the second query, I have nothing to add to my reply to the similar question the hon. Member addressed to me on the 19th February.†

That being so, is the right hon. Gentleman still of opinion that the laws as administered in Ireland are the most just and liberal laws in any constitutionally governed country in the world?

Order, order!

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the name of Mr. Humphrey Sheils, of Ballyhiernan, in the county of Donegal, has been submitted to the Lord Lieutenant for the commission of the peace for the county of Donegal, and seeing that the district in which Mr. Sheils resides is practically exclusively Roman Catholic, and that all the magistrates in the district are Protestants, whether the Irish Government will act on the precedent set by Lord Chancellor Walker, in the event of the Lord Lieutenant of the county refusing to appoint Mr. Sheils to the commission, and will direct the Lord Chancellor to make the appointment.

It is not the intention of the Irish Government to act in the manner suggested in the question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware

† See Debates, Vol. lxxxix., page 487.

that there were no reporters present at the meetings at which the lion. Member for Mid-Tipperary was reported to have made the speeches for which the Lord Chancellor of Ireland removed him from the commission of the peace in the county of Tipperary; will he explain by what authority the Lord Chancellor acted in calling upon the hon. Member to convict himself of the alleged offence by acknowledging that he had made the speeches as reported; and on what grounds the Lord Chancellor came to the conclusion that there was a difference in the case of the hon. Member for Mid-Tipperary and those of the hon. Member for South Sligo and the hon. Member for North Mayo, so that he refused to appoint the hon. Member for Mid-Tipperary on his re-election as chairman of the Tipperary District Council, but appointed the other two hon. Members on their re-election to their respective offices. I wish to point out that very important parts of the original question have been eliminated, and without them the question is useless.

The hon. Member could have appealed to me if necessary. If he cares to postpone it I will consider if anything more should be admitted. I cannot deal with it now.

No; I will put it as it is.

The Lord Chancellor is unable to say whether the fact is as stated in the first paragraph. But the speeches, as reported, were of a character entirely inconsistent with the position of a magistrate, and the hon. Member in question, when furnished by the Lord Chancellor with a report of his speeches, did not repudiate the language attributed to him. The Lord Chancellor considered it his duty, in the exercise of his undoubted disciplinary control over the magistracy, to remove the hon. Member from the commission. This control is extended to ex officio magistrates by Section 95 (2) of the Act of 1898. I replied on Monday to the last paragraph.†

May I ask if the hon. Member for

† See preceding volume, page 1114.

Mid-Tipperary is the Mr. Kendal O'Brien who, when he became an ex officio magistrate, three times refused to take the oath of allegiance to Her late Majesty, and did not do so until he was compelled?

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House the phraseology of the speeches of which he complains?

was understood to decline to do that.

Is it not a fact that the other Members mentioned in the question never apologised or withdrew their words?

Are we to understand that a Member who is entitled to sit in this House and legislate for the Empire at largo is to be deprived of the privilege of sitting on a local bench of magistrates?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether hit attention has been directed to the com merits of Sir Frederick Falkiner, Recorder of Dublin, on the working of the law relating to compensation for criminal injuries, especially in Dublin; and whether, seeing that Sir Frederick Falkiner has expressed the opinion that the law referred to ought to be altered, on the ground that it works injustice to the ratepayers, he will take into consideration the question of acting on Sir Frederick Falkiner's suggestions, and introduce a Bill to carry them out.

Perhaps I may be permitted to answer this question. The reply to the first query is in the affirmative. The observations of the learned Recorder had, I understand, reference to the wanton breaking of plate-glass windows which had been insured by the owners, the application for compensation for which, though nominally made by the owners, was in reality made in the interest of the insurance companies. It is doubtful whether any change in the law is necessary to correct this abuse, and it is not the intention of the Government to introduce legislation dealing with the whole subject of criminal injuries to property, which was discussed and considered at the passing of the Act of 1898 in both Houses of Parliament.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the regulation prohibiting the introduction of dogs from Ireland into Great Britain is still in force; if so, whether there is any prospect of its being rescinded at an early date; and, if not, what is the reason.

There is no prospect of the Order being rescinded so long as rabies unfortunately continues to exist in Ireland. A case of rabies was reported from county Westmeath less than a fortnight ago.

Was this only a solitary instance?

No, there have been several cases.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will explain why or by whose orders the gentlemen having charge of the revision of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland have marked on their revised sheets a venerable Roman Catholic church in the village of Kilteely by the term chapel instead of church; and whether, in view of the fact that the principal place of worship in every parish is by canon law titled church not chapel, he will take steps that all such places of worship are designated as churches on the Ordnance maps.

There are as yet no published revision maps of the village of Kilteely. The Ordnance Survey is not, I presume, bound by the canon law, and they have hitherto followed the name given to buildings by the inhabitants of the district. If the practice of the inhabitants in naming their buildings is in accordance with the canon law as stated by the hon. Member we shall be glad to designate Kilteely Church accordingly on the maps.