Does this Bill affect Ireland?

No, Sir.

Then you may go ahead with it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state the number of eases of typhoid fever, and the number of deaths, among the forces in South Africa during the month of April, and also the number of cases of plague, and the number of deaths from that disease, up to the latest advices, among the soldiers and others engaged in the campaign.

The returns for April only take up to the 19th; there had been then 1,052 admissions for enteric and 140 deaths. The number of cases of plague have, according to latest advices, been as follows:—Fourteen soldiers, twenty native drivers, and eight other employes; of seven deaths reported none are stated to have occurred among soldiers.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of sick in the Second Worcesters at Bloemfontein between 4th and 27th April, 1900, what were the total of enteric cases, and what the ratio of mortality was up to 31st May.

The numder of sick admitted to hospital between the 4th and 27th April, 1900, was ninety-four. It is not possible to differentiate the cases of enteric fever from the information at the disposal of the War Office but up to the 31st May there were fifteen deaths from enteric.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state what Department is responsible for the issue of the Return of Buildings Burnt by the Troops in South Africa; and on what authority the statement id made that the houses burnt in Ventersburg, in the Orange Free State, were destroyed because the district was being used as a military base for the enemy's operations; and can he explain why the official reason alleged in the Return mentioned is that the owners were on commando.

The information given in the Return is as received from South Africa. As stated in the Return, the district of Ventersburg (including, of course, the town of Ventersburg) was laid waste because it was being used as a base by the enemy.

Is not that reason a mere after-thought? Is not the reason given in the Return, "that the owners are on commando"?

No, Sir; the reasons are given under different headings.

On behalf of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Aberdeen, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the statements made by Mr. Brunner, member for the Eshowe district of Zululand in the Legislative Assembly of Natal, as to the raiding of cattle by Zulus under the instructions of military officers in the Vryheid districts of the Transvaal, and in particular to the statement that thousands of head of Boer cattle were brought in and handed to one officer, the Zulus being allowed ten per cent. of all the plunder; whether the Prime Minister of Natal has protested to the military authorities against the action taken by British officers in this matter; and whether he is now in a position to produce the correspondence between the military authorities in Natal and the Natal Administrator and Natal Government upon this subject; and, if not, whether that correspondence has been asked for and when it may be expected to arrive.

I have seen the telegram addressed by Mr. Brunner to the Prime Minister of Natal, and the reply to it, dated 3rd April, in which the Prime Minister said that he believed Colonel Bottomley had exceeded the instructions given in his original orders dated 25th March, and that the matter was in course of being put right. The Prime Minister of Natal protested specially against Colonel Bottomley and his agents acting without reference to the magistrates of the districts, and against the idea of allowing armed Zulus to cross the border on their own account, but after the receipt of Lord Kitchener's telegram of 5th April, which I read to the House on the 13th instant, the Prime Minister, though still objecting to Zulus from Zululand being permitted to loot cattle within or without Zululand, accepted the course of proceeding indicated in Lord Kitchener's telegram, which appeared to remove the principal matters of protest. My latest information is that since the completion of General French's operations the attention of Lord Kitchener has again been called by the Governor of Natal to the views of the Natal Ministers, to which I am sure he will give due weight. The complete correspondence on the subject has not yet been received, and I am not therefore at present able to make any statement as to publication.

On behalf of the noble Lord the Member for South Kensington, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can say what is the present strength in the field of the 2nd Scots Guards, 2nd Grenadier Guards, 1st Leinster Regiment, 2nd Manchester Regiment, 1st South Staffordshire Regiment, 2nd Hampshire Regiment, and 1st Yorkshire Regiment; and whether any of them exceed 700 men fit for service.

The 2nd Scots Guards at the time of the last report had 912 men in South Africa and 200 on passage; 2nd Grenadiers, 1,067; 1st. Leinster, 1,237; 2nd Manchester, 1,166; 1st Staffordshire, 1,479; 2nd Hampshire, 1,163; 1st Yorkshire, 927 and 113 on passage. The total number of the seven regiments was 8,264, and of these 1,349 were sick by last Return. This would leave, if correct, on the average, 988 fit for service per regiment.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in the new Army scheme, the officers commanding army corps in Scotland and Ireland will merely replace the present officers commanding, inasmuch as the latter already command the whole of the troops in those countries; whether the army corps commander at Aldershot will replace the general commanding the division; whether the army corps at Salisbury will include the south-western district; and whether the London garrison, with the Militia and Volunteers, will be included in the command of the general commanding the army corps at Colchester, or of the officer commanding the home district.

The details of the scheme are not quite complete. When completed they will be published in the usual manner. In any case, the officers who command the army corps will be given far more extended powers than those they replace.

May I ask whether there will be commanders-in-chief in Scotland and Ireland besides the officers commanding army corps?

No, Sir. Of course the post of commander-in-chief will be superseded, or rather merged in that of the commander of the army corps.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether Militiamen have been and are being sent out to serve in South Africa at the age of eighteen years, whereas linesmen are not sent until the age of twenty years; and if this is so, is it because the Militia recruits are stronger men than the linesmen, or for what other reason.

Militiamen are sent out at the age of eighteen and linesmen at twenty, though in some cases the latter limit has been reduced to nineteen and a half. Militiamen are intended primarily for the lines of communication, and have been for the most part so employed; no question of physique is involved.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been directed to the case of Private William Hannah, late 91st Foot, who has been recommended for some form of compassionate allowance by the officer commanding the 91st Regimental District and the officer commanding the Aberdeen district; and whether, in consideration of the fact that this veteran is over sixty-one years of age, is partially paralysed, and subject to rheumatism and bronchitis, that he has almost entirely to support a wife and four children on sixpence a day of deferred pension, some means can be found for relieving his present destitute state.

I have inquired into this case, and find that the Regulations do not admit of any other grant in addition to his present deferred pension of sixpence a day. It is, however, possible that some slight temporary assistance might be obtained for him from other than public funds, and I will see if he can be recommended.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he could say what the number of desertions from the two Royal Garrison Battalions has been, and what the percentage of desertions has been up to now in the Royal Garrison Regiments.

I am not aware of any desertions having taken place.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can say how many men now serving in South Africa will be entitled to their discharge to the Reserve at the close of the present year.

Excluding mobilised Reservists and Militia Reservists, the total number is estimated at 11,045.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the total number of men now required for the Indian reliefs to set free all men in that country who have completed their period of colour service.

Taking the period up to September next, about 11,000 would be required for all the units not due for relief.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if officers appointed to Lovat's Scouts and other irregular corps for active service in South Africa undergo the usual physical tests required by War Office Regulations.

Officers appointed to Imperial Yeomanry, including those now being appointed to Lovat's Scouts, undergo the usual physical tests. I am not aware what tests officers appointed to other corps undergo.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can furnish to the House the quantity of gold produced in the Transvaal for the years 1897, 1898, and 1899 respectively.

For 1897 the total gold output of the Transvaal was valued at £11,653,000. For 1898 the total output was valued at £16,044,000. For the first nine months of 1899 the total output was about fourteen and a half million pounds in value.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it has been brought to his notice that the Russian Government are now in possession of a cruiser, the "Varyag," with a speed of from 24 to 25 knots, and that two sister ships designed for 18,000 horse power to steam 23 knots for twelve hours continuously are on the point of completion, and that the French Government will shortly have two cruisers of a similar speed also built as commerce destroyers; and whether he can state if we have anything built or building equal to those vessels in point of power, speed, and ability to keep the sea for a considerable length of time.

It is believed that the mean speed attained by the "Varyag" for twelve hours was 23¼ knots. It was after due examination of these and the other ships referred to in the question that the fast cruisers of the "Monmouth" type were approved for the Royal Navy, and it is believed that they will prove adequate for the services required of them.

I beg I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India pursuant to Lord Curzon's wish to extend economically constructed lines in the rural districts, has signified its willingness to accept the co-operation of local Indian capitalists in the promotion of such light railways, and also in the construction of district and village works for water storage and irrigation channels has it been brought to his notice that early in 1899 a company or syndicate applied to the Indian Government for sanction to construct several light railway lines in or adjoining the district of Ganjam in the northern portion of the Madras Presidency, most of which lines would serve as feeders to the East Coast Railway, and, seeing that revised estimates amounting to 14 lakhs for the construction of one of these projected lines, forty-seven miles in length, intended to connect Russeli-coonda with Ganjam near the coast, were submitted many months ago, will he explain why the Government approval or disapproval has been delayed; and, in view of the fact that one such light railway has been laid already by a local zemindar up to the limits of his own domain the syndicate being willing to extend it further, can he say when a decision upon these proposals may be expected.

The Government of India are undoubtedly willing to accept the co-operation of local capitalists for the purposes described in the question. As regards the particular case referred to, I have no recent information as to the position of the negotiations, but I will make inquiry and let the hon. Member know the result.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the number of acres under poppy cultivation in Bengal during 1898–9 was 564,000, being the largest in the decade, and an increase of 24,000 on the previous year; that the number of chests of opium manufactured in the Bengal Government factories in 1898–9 was 54,192 as against 46,834 in 1897–8, being larger than any other year in the decade; and that the payments made to cultivators of the poppy in Bengal by the Indian Government in the same year amounted to Rx. 2,217,786 as against Rx. 2,021,536 in the previous year, being the largest amount in the decade; and, seeing that the pass duty on opium exported from the Malwa States was lowered in 1897 to Rs.500 per chest, being the lowest figure at which it has stood for nearly forty years, in order to overcome the competition of other crops and prevent the poppy from being driven out of cultivation in those States, whether he proposes to take any steps to discourage the increased growth and manufacture of opium in India.

I am aware that the area under poppy cultivation in Bengal in 1898–9 was larger than in any other year of the decade, and that the quantity of opium produced was considerably larger than it was in the preceding year, mainly owing to a good agricultural season. But the production of 1898–9 was greatly below that of several successive years of the preceding decade, nor was the quantity of opium manufactured for export and for internal consumption in 1898–9 as great as the average quantity annually exported during 1898–1890. As the production of opium in India varies greatly from year to year, and has not increased, but diminished on a comparison of the decade ending 1899 with the decade ending 1889, I see no reason for taking such action as is suggested.

On behalf of the hon. Member for West Derbyshire, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has received any official report as to an attack made upon a party of South Waziri Militia on the road between Kajurikach and Khasmir Kar, and whether the attacking party were tribesmen of the same Pathan race as the militia regiment under British officers which was attacked; and whether he can give an assurance that, under the military arrangements for the trans-frontier portion of the new province recently created, care will be taken to avert the danger of these Afghan levies under the Political Department being entangled in tribal and other blood feuds which necessitate military expeditions into these regions.

I have received a report of the incident to which the hon. Member refers. The attacking and the attacked party were of different tribes, but both were Pathans. The hon. Gentleman may be sure that every care is taken to avoid entanglement in tribal warfare, and that the recent military arrangements tend to diminish this danger.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether it has been proposed by any Foreign Government that an International decoration should be granted to the troops of the various nations who have taken part in the recent operations in China, or that a star should be given for the defence of Peking; and whether His Majesty's Government propose to give any medal for Admiral Seymour's march, the defence of the Legations, or relief of Pekin.

His Majesty's Government do propose to give a medal to all who have been engaged either in the operations leading to the relief of Peking or in its defence. The project of an International decoration is under consideration, but it has not assumed such a form as to enable me to make any statement about it.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that British steamers on arrival at Roumanian ports, although not from any infected place, have recently been placed under quarantine for ten days because they had passed Constantinople without taking sanitary guards on board; and that this new Roumanian regulation was quite unknown to shipping agents at Constantinople; and whether, having regard to the detention of British vessels and to the cost imposed (£14 per steamer) for so-called sanitary fees, he will cause representations to be made to the Roumanian Government with a view to these restrictions being abolished.

Certain British steamers were placed in quarantine at Sulina under the circumstances stated, but were subsequently released on representations being made by His Majesty's Minister, by direction of the Foreign Office. It is not known whether shipping agents at Constantinople were aware of these quarantine regulations. The quarantine at Sulina against Constantinople has now been abolished.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, when wine becomes bad in bond, the trader is allowed to fortify it with proof spirit; if so, is the spirit so used liable to a duty of 11s. per proof gallon; whether the full duty is charged upon it when it is used to fortify deteriorated wine, and, if not, how much duty per gallon is charged; whether he is aware that the wines more liable to become bad in bond are of an inferior class, and can he state to what degree traders are permitted to add alcohol to wines in bond.

Under the Warehousing Code, traders may, on application, fortify wine in a bonded warehouse, by the addition of spirit to an amount not exceeding 10 per cent., provided that the wine, if entered for home consumption, is not raised to a greater strength than 40 per cent. of proof spirit. It is not for the revenue authority to say whether the wine has deteriorated. The operation being performed in bond, no duty is charged on the spirit used, but the wine duty of 1s. 3d. or 3s. a gallon, according to the percentage of proof spirit, is charged on the whole quantity of the fortified wine when it is delivered for home consumption. I believe that the general opinion is that inferior wines are naturally more liable to deterioration, either in or after leaving bond, than those of a superior class.

Is it not the fact that the spirit very often used for this purpose is German spirit, worth about 8d. per gallon?

I think not.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the fact that of the total amount of income-tax, inhabited house duty, and land tax leviable for the year ended 31st March, 1901, only 32 per cent. of the amount levied in England was recovered by 31st January, as against 67 per cent. of the amount levied being recovered in Scotland, and that at 28th February only 53 per cent. had been recovered in England, as against 93 per cent. collected in Scotland, he can state what action he intends to take to remedy this inequality of treatment of the two nationalities, and to prevent in future the loss which the Exchequer has annually sustained.

The comparative slowness of the collection in England is due to the difference in the system of collection, and it could not be assimilated to the system in Scotland without material changes in the law. There is no reason to suppose that the delay in getting in the taxes in England, as compared with Scotland, results in any ultimate loss to the revenue.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the sums accruing to the State from death duties levied on the estates of officers of the Regular and Auxiliary forces who have died on active service, he will so amend the Finance Act that a rebate calculated on an actuarial basis be granted in respect of these duties; and, if so, whether he will consent to make such alteration in the Act retrospective as regards the last two years.

No, Sir, I am not prepared to propose such an Amendment as is suggested in the question. The subject was dealt with only last year by a clause which was unanimously accepted.

said that if the hon. Gentleman would refer back to the debate he would get all the information he required. He was not prepared to propose any amendment to the law.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state what was the amount of royalty first charged by the Government to Mr. Pritchard Morgan when the Gwynfynydd Gold Mine, situated near Dolgelly, North Wales, was first opened; and what is the amount of the royalties paid in the aggregate to Government upon that mine.

The royalty first charged on the Gwynfynydd Gold Mine was one-thirtieth, or 3⅓ per cent. It was subsequently reduced to one-fiftieth, or 2 per cent., in common with all other gold mines on lands within which the Crown does not own the base metals. The aggregate royalties paid to the Crown on that mine since it was opened, being a period of thirteen and a quarter years, amount to £2,242 16s. 5d.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state what is the total amount paid to the Government for fees, take notes, and leases of gold mining properties in North Wales other than the Gwynfynydd Gold Mine, and what is the total product of gold in North Wales.

The total amount paid to the Crown in the year to 31st March last for fees was £141 9s. 6d., and for dead rents and royalties, £2,131 16s. 2d. The total product of gold for that year was 11,609½ ounces. Nothing was received from the Gwynfynydd Mine for the year in question.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been directed to the statement in the annual summary, published by the authority of the Registrar General, that the death rate in Liverpool during 1900 was 25·7, and that in Cardiff 13·8, these places being referred to as having respectively the highest and lowest death rate, and whether he is aware that this statement is contained in a report, dated the 28th March, 1901, although the attention of the Registrar General had previously been called by the Liverpool Corporation to errors in his method of estimating populations; and, seeing that the result of the Census taken three days after the date of the report shows that the Registrar General has made an error of upwards of 30 per cent. in the estimation of the population of the two places, whether he will direct that in making future estimates the Registrar General shall take into consideration information given to him by the Liverpool authorities in order to prevent a recurrence of such mistakes.

I am aware of the facts referred to in the first paragraph of the question. I may observe, however, that the Registrar General gave the estimates of population under reservation. He informs me that he is always willing to give consideration to the representations of local authorities with respect to estimates of population, but that he could not undertake to estimate the population for any particular town on the basis prescribed by the local authority concerned.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he can arrange that, in the Census Reports and in other statistical Returns relating to local government areas, the administrative county of London shall be classified with the large towns rather than with the other administrative counties, so as (as far as possible) to distinguish between urban and rural populations.

In any returns of the kind referred to in the question the administrative county of London must, I think, be treated as an administrative county; but in the summary tables of the Census Report particulars with regard to London will be shown separately from those with regard to other administrative counties. This will admit of its being readily classified with the county boroughs. In the statistical Returns issued by the Local Government Board, particulars as to the administrative county of London are also separately given.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the late medical officer of health for the City of London stated in his annual report to the Corporation, 1900, that he would condemn all carcases affected by localised tuberculosis; and, in view of the statement of the Royal Commission on tuberculosis that such meat may be eaten with impunity, and seeing that the late medical officer of health for the City of London was paid part of his salary by the Local Government Board, will he state what steps the Board will take.

I am aware of the statements made on this subject by the late medical officer of health for the City of London in his report for 1899, but I am not responsible for the views which he entertained. I may add that no part of his salary was paid by the Local Government Board.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, with regard to the Paper recently circulated, numbered 179, and entitled Statistics relating to Coal Mining, he can state on what principle of calculation the estimated number of persons employed in coal mining, stated for various years on page 4, is arrived at; whether it is an estimate of the total number of individuals who may have been employed for any period in each year; whether it is an estimate of the number of individuals employed throughout the whole year, or whether it is an estimate of the number of individuals who would have been required if each of them had been employed throughout the whole year.

As stated in the Return, the estimate is based on the statistics published by the Home Office of persons employed under the Coal Mines Regulation Act after making a deduction for those engaged in raising minerals other than coal. I am informed by the Home Office that their statistics are obtained from the coal owners, who are required by the Coal Mines Regulation Act to make an annual return of the number "ordinarily employed during the year."

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to the fact that notice was published in Dover in December last that the Board of Education considered that 950 additional school places were required in that borough; and, seeing that numbers of children are unable to find accommodation in any one of the voluntary schools of the borough, whether he can state what steps are being taken to provide education for these children.

Notice was issued as stated in the question, and the Board of Education are of opinion that the necessary accommodation is being supplied.

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware that it is alleged that in the last statement of accounts made by the managers of St. John's Culvert Schools, Darwen, the salary of the teacher was entered as £25 in excess of that really received by him as teacher, and that this £25 represents the amount paid for services as organist and choirmaster; whether the inclusion of the salary of organist in the school account is contrary to the explicit instructions contained on the form in question and also a misuse of the school income; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made in this case, and also instruct the auditors of school accounts to inquire into the validity of the vouchers submitted to them.

No; the accounts contain no such statement. The answer to the second paragraph is in the affirmative. In reply to the third paragraph, I have to say that there does not appear to be any ground for inquiry. The accounts were audited by a chartered accountant.

May I ask on what the right hon. Gentleman bases his statement as to the first part of the question? Has any attempt been made to verify or otherwise the allegations?

My reply is based on the accounts themselves. They contain no such statement.

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he will state on what grounds the accommodation of the All Saints' School in Bradford is now recognised for 816 by the Board of Education instead of 746 as formerly.

The Bradford All Saints' School has for some years been recognised for 797 children, not 746 as has been alleged by the Bradford School Board. Last February the Scheduled accommodation came up for revision in the ordinary course, and as the numbers were found to have been incorrectly calculated the recognised accommodation was revised accordingly, and the usual formal notification was sent to the Bradford School Board.

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he has now made further inquiry into the refusal of the Board of Education to pay evening school rates for subjects other than chemistry taken at the Bolton Pupil Teachers' Central Classes, notwithstanding that under date 29th September, 1899, the Board of Education sanctioned, under paragraph 14 (a) of the Science and Art Directory, a scheme for payment at evening rates; and, if so, what is the result of that inquiry.

Yes, I have made inquiry; and I find that payment at rates of evening attendance was only allowed, in accordance with the Regulations of the Board of Education, in the case of such teachers and pupil teachers as had received practical instruction in a subject in which they were also receiving theoretical instruction.

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Education Department hold that it is no part of the duty of their consulting architect to grant interviews to persons submitting plans for the approval of the Department, and whether he will arrange that, in future, interviews shall be granted when required to any person or public bodies submitting plans to the department, in order to facilitate the approval of the plans and the erection of schools in accordance therewith.

The arrangement is that persons submitting plans see one of the assistant secretaries, who calls in the architect if his advice is required.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, in view of the fact that the money expended in the purchase of prizes by Scottish school boards for children attending board schools is exigible from the general community in the form of school rates, is it in accordance with the Scottish Education Code that children attending Government inspected denominational schools should be denied a share of these prizes or a proportion of the money annually allocated for that purpose.

While school boards are, so far as I am aware, entitled to provide prizes for children in attendance at schools under their own management, there is nothing in the Education Code or the Acts upon which it is founded which would entitle them to provide such prizes for children in schools not under their management, or to allocate any portion of the school fund for that purpose.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, having regard to the fact that the Departmental Committee which was appointed to inquire into the registration system adopted in the Sasine Office, Register House, Edinburgh, reported in October, 1897, that the Search Sheet, which, when introduced, was estimated to effect an annual saving of £2,405, had actually resulted in an annual loss of £2,700, will he say whether he will take steps to reorganise the work so as to prevent this loss; and will he state the number of deeds annually registered by the public, and consider the advisability of reducing the charge made for registration.

The Report mentioned does not bear out the allegation made in the first paragraph of the question. I am informed by the keeper of the Sasine Office that the Search Sheet has effected the saving originally contemplated as the four official searchers, with their staff of clerks, have been abolished, and searchers are now issued by means of the Search Sheet by the ordinary established staff, which has also been reduced from ninety-two clerks to seventy-five, notwithstanding a great increase of business. Nor is it accurate to represent as loss the cost of the Search Sheet, which has other valuable advantages beyond its function in facilitating the issue of a search to a private individual. The answer to the first paragraph is therefore in the negative. The number of deeds recorded is published annually in the Judicial Statistics. There is no proposal to revise the charges for registration, which are very moderate, and have been acquiesced in by the legal profession without objection for several years.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, whether the Congested Districts Board has received from the Ross-shire County Council an application for a grant for the construction of a road at Badluachrach, Little Lochbroom and, seeing that the people of the district have already constructed a portion of the road by free labour, will the request for a grant receive the Board's favourable consideration.

I understand from the Congested Districts Board that in November last they received a local application for a grant of the whole cost of the road referred to by the hon. Member, and that they suggested that the case should be laid before the county council. Since then the county council have made no communication to the Board on the subject, and until they do so, no decision can be arrived at, as responsibility for further maintenance cannot be secured otherwise than by co-operation of the county council.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, whether he is aware that the cottars and crofters of the townships of Snishvale, Howbeg, and Howmore held a meeting on the 14th inst. to consider what steps should be taken to secure land from the extensive farms of the South Uist estates, and that on a subsequent date they proceeded to the farm of Bornish, tenanted by a non-resident, which they marked out for crofts and house sites, and expressed their determination to take possession of the land unless otherwise acquired for them; is he aware that this tenant is also tenant of the farm of Ormielate, on the same estate, and that the late proprietor of South Uist had promised to give the people the farm of Bornish prior to his death; will he say whether the Congested Districts Board have made any efforts to acquire any part of these lands for the purpose of settling the landless cottars and crofters of the above townships; and will he consider the expediency of sending a member of the Crofters Commission to the district, as well as to Bernera, Island of Lewis, for the purpose of making inquiry into the condition of the people.

The answer to the first two paragraphs of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative, except that I have no knowledge of the promise by the late proprietor which is referred to. As regards the last two paragraphs, I can only repeat what I have already said in this House, that such steps will be taken by the Secretary for Scotland, in consultation with the Congested Districts Board, as he thinks expedient, but he cannot undertake any exceptional measures for the benefit of those who are either breaking the law or threatening to do so.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that for several years it has been the practice of the Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to visit the congested districts for the purpose of personally inquiring into the condition of the people; and, seeing that good has resulted from these visits, will the Secretary for Scotland visit the western islands of Scotland during the Whitsuntide recess, so that he may become personally acquainted with the conditions of life among the landless cottars, crofters, and fishermen who have for some time past been agitating for land at fair rentals.

I am unable to state what are the personal arrangements of the Secretary for Scotland for the Whitsuntide recess.

Will the Lord Advocate himself go?

Personally, I have made other arrangements.

Is the hon. Member in order in stating in a question that good has resulted from visits of the Chief Secretary to the West of Irelandh?

I beg to ask the Member for Tunbridge, as representing the Charity Commissioners, if he can state how the £530,898 obtained during the year 1900 by the sale of real property of charities is made up, giving the number of acres of land sold and the amount realised by the sale of house property, building land, and agricultural land separately.

The sum of £530,898 referred to by the hon. Member represents the aggregate amount produced by 302 sales of real property in the year 1900. About two-thirds of this total was realised by twenty-four sales, including that of the school for the indigent blind in Southwark for £140,000. The further particulars asked for by the hon. Member could only be ascertained by a detailed analysis of the contents of the files of papers relating to each sale order, the preparation of which would require very considerable time and labour, and the materials for which are not in all cases in the office.

May I ask whether the hon. Member will be willing to have a Return of the matter mentioned in the last paragraph of the question made?

No. The Commissioners cannot assent to such a Return, as it would involve the expenditure of much time and cause a diversion of part of the staff of the office from their regular duties.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether all established officers have the right of applying for vacant postmaster-ships through the medium of their immediate supervisors; and whether, if such supervisors have the power to select the papers of certain candidates and to refuse to forward the others to headquarters, the Postmaster General will direct in future that all candidates' names and qualifications shall be submitted by the local officials.

Any established officer of the Post Office is entitled to apply through his superior officer for any postmastership which is notified to be vacant, and all such applications are forwarded to headquarters for decision.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether telegraphists in the employ of the Post Office are to be granted a day's leave on 24th May, in common with the rest of civil servants; and whether, as telegraph offices cannot be closed, some arrangements will be made so that those operators who are compelled to remain on duty on the day in question may be compensated by receiving a day in lieu during the forthcoming summer.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he can explain why postal telegraph clerks are not to receive the day's leave granted to all Government servants on 24th May, 1901, by the King; and whether the Postmaster General will direct that all operators shall receive a day's leave of absence, either on 24th May or on some subsequent day during the summer of 1901.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, in view of the King's Decree that 24th May is to be observed as a holiday in all public offices, post office servants who are required to attend on that day will be given a day in lieu thereof, instead of receiving payment as was the case on National Mourning Day.

Only those officers of the department will enjoy the privilege of a holiday on the 24th instant who can be spared from their duties without inconvenience to the public service. It has never been possible to grant this privilege to the telegraphists and other members of the operative staff, whose attendance is required on the day in question; nor has it been customary to give them another day's holiday in lieu, and it is not intended to make any change on this occasion.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that during the week ending 11th May a clerk was employed in the Central Telegraph Office, London, on the fourth Dublin wire from 4 p.m. to 11. 45 p.m., during which period he received no relief for meals, having to eat his food whilst engaged in the transmission of messages; and, seeing that this clerk, being away from home from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m., had no proper meal time during this period, whether the Postmaster General will take steps to provide a system of relief clerks, so that men performing duties from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 11.45 p.m. may have an opportunity to eat their meals.

Yes, Sir, the Postmaster General is aware of the facts stated, and he has under consideration a scheme for providing relief for meals on the late evening duties.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he can state when it is his intention to give his decision upon the points brought under his notice by a deputation of two sorting clerks, representing the United Kingdom Postal Clerks' Association, on the 31st July, 1900; and whether he will take steps to have that decision conveyed to the staff.

A reply will shortly be sent to the members of the deputation.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the designs for the new postage stamps have been entrusted to an Austrian sculptor; and, if so, whether this is due to the fact that there is no British artist competent for the work.

It is the case that the portrait of His Majesty which has been used in the preparation of the designs to appear on the new postage stamps is by a foreign artist, there being in existence an excellent profile portrait executed only last year by an Austrian sculptor, Mr. Fuchs, who is now resident in London. It is not to be inferred that no British artist was considered to be competent for the work.

Who had the right of selecting the artist?

I must have notice of that question.

What form of inquiry or competition took place by which the un-suitability of British artists was determined?

I have expressly stated already that the unsuitability of British artists is not to be inferred from the choice made.

Was the opinion of the president of the Royal Academy or other leaders of the artistic profession taken before the selection was made?

I have already said twice that I must have notice of any further questions.

Do foreign Courts employ British artists?

Order, order !

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether the condition under which the national museums and art galleries in London were opened on Sundays, which was to the effect that no officer shall be required to attend on more than six days per week and that anyone who may have conscientious objections shall be exempt from Sunday duty, has been in practice adhered to.

The condition referred to was communicated to the heads of the several museums and galleries at the time that the Sunday opening was agreed to, and no instance has been brought to my notice of that condition not being observed.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been directed to a memorandum, dated 14th September last, attached by the Civil Service Commissioners to the form of application for female typewriters in the Civil Service, stating that an official nomination is required for these situations, but that the Civil Service Commissioners can give no information as to the persons from whom, or the means by which, such information may be obtained: and will he state the meaning of this statement, and how such nominations are made.

Candidates for the post of female typist are nominated by the head of the particular Department in which a vacancy occurs, and the persons so nominated are then submitted to the Civil Service Commissioners for examination. I am communicating with the Civil Service Commissioners as to the wording of the notices issued by them.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the Return of the number of eviction notices, under Section 7 of the Act of 1887, for the quarter ending 31st March, 1901; whether he is aware that of the total number, 619, 27 were filed in Kerry, 22 in Galway, 51 in Cavan, 43 in Donegal, and 120 in Mayo; and, in view of such figures, whether the Bill recently introduced by the Government will be extended so far as to confer on the Congested Districts Board the right of compulsory purchase in regard to estates which cannot be acquired at reasonable prices under the present law.

No, Sir, I do not think the Bill can be extended in that direction.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the recent Return showing that during the quarter ending 31st March there were 619 eviction notices filed under Section 7 of the Land Act of 1887, he will consider the wisdom of inserting a clause in the new Bill repealing this section.

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the sittings of the Land Court for hearing the land cases listed for hearing from Arranmore Island, county Donegal, have been fixed at Dungloe, and that the tenants will have to come a distance of four miles to the nearest port, Burtonport, and thence have to walk a distance of four miles by road to Dungloe; and whether, seeing the inconvenience and expense this will entail on the tenants, and considering that there is a petty sessions court in the Island of Arranmore for the holding of monthly petty sessions, steps will be taken in the interest of these tenants to have the place for hearing the land cases altered from Dungloe to the Island of Arranmore.

The Land Commissioners inform me that Dungloe has hitherto been found to be, and is, the most convenient place for hearing cases arising in the district mentioned in the question, having regard to the convenience of all parties concerned. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to make any further representation I will look into it.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the sale by Sir William H. M. Style of his land in Cloghan, county Donegal, to his tenants under the Land Acts, the landlord undertook to pay all the tenants' costs in reference to the sale and purchase, and that the Irish Land Commission now seek to charge each tenant a sum of 10s. before issuing a land certificate; and whether, considering that the landlord was to pay all costs, steps will be taken to have these land certificates issued to the tenants, and to have the cost of the same deducted from the purchase money payable to the landlord.

The fee of 10s. is prescribed by the rules issued under the Local Registration of Title Act, 1891, and is not included in the costs and expenses of a sale under the Land Purchase Acts. The fee is only incurred if the tenant purchaser requires a land certificate.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will explain why Mr. M' Clung, a clerk in Galway Gaol, who has had to be cautioned more than once for attending street preaching in Galway which led to riots, and refused to obey the orders of the department, has been removed to Mountjoy Prison, Dublin; will Mr. M'Clung now be allowed to attend similar meetings in the Phoenix Park and elsewhere; and why have the Government overlooked this man's disobedience to orders.

Mr. M'Clung was transferred to Mountjoy Prison because he disobeyed an order to abstain, for obvious reasons, from taking part in such services in Galway. So far as the prison authorities are aware he has not taken part in similar services in Dublin, but any such action must be judged in each case with a regard to the circumstances. It would not be proper to forecast the view the authorities would take.

Why was not this gentleman dismissed?

We considered the punishment of transferring him was quite sufficient for the offence. In other respects he is a very zealous and capable officer.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to an application at the Newtownstewart petty sessions, on 16th May, by the Reverend Peter Tracy, for the committal of Catherine Miller, aged 7, to Strabane Industrial School, on the ground that she was wandering about and under improper guardianship; whether he is aware that the applicant deposed that the child lived alone with her grandfather, who was unable to look after her; that she spent her time wandering about in a filthy state; and that this evidence was corroborated by Constable Burns; and seeing that the magistrates declined to grant the application, whether he will direct the magistrates to formally commit the child at the next petty sessions.

I am informed that the hearing of the application to commit this child to an industrial school was adjourned by the magistrates to the next petty sessions to enable the Reverend Mr. Tracy to produce further evidence in support of his application. The Government cannot give any directions to the magistrates, as suggested.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state whether the Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary has any, and, if so, what powers to enable him to compel constables who are of good character and are still able and willing to serve in the force to retire on pensions.

Under Section 3 (b) of the 46 and 47 Vict. cap. 14, the Inspector General may require a constable who has completed a service of twenty-five years to retire on pension, if he considers such retirement necessary in the interests of the service.

But if a man is in good health, has good character, and no charges are made against him, ought he to be compelled to retire?

I cannot interfere with the discretion of the Inspector General in the matter.

Does it not happen that in the case I have in mind the man so retired is a Catholic?

Order, order!

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the action of the Downpatrick Board of Guardians, who, though informed by the medical officer of the Strangford dispensary district that a woman had died after childbirth from want of being attended by a properly qualified midwife, still refuse to make such appointment; and whether the Local Government Board will take steps to prevent a recurrence of such an event by compelling the guardians to provide a properly qualified midwife for the Strangford district.

The reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The Board has frequently urged the guardians to appoint a midwife for this district, but the guardians have not so far complied with that advice. The Board will again insist on the propriety and urgency of making such an appointment.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how many fair rent appeals from the county of Cavan are now pending in the Irish Land Commission Court; when did the Chief Land Commission hold a court in Cavan; and when does it again intend to hold a court there for the purpose of hearing appeals.

The reply to the first inquiry is, 636, and to the second, 24th April, 1900. No date has been fixed for the next appeal sitting at Cavan.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the circumstances attending the arrest and imprisonment of Daniel Morony, of Caher, Feakle, county Clare, on 20th May.

Daniel Morony was arrested in January last for the offence of endeavouring to kill salmon with an illegal instrument. He was convicted at Feakle Petty Sessions on the 18th January and required to pay a fine of £4 with costs, or, in default, to undergo two months imprisonment. He lodged an appeal to quarter sessions, but failed to prosecute it, and, having refused to pay the fine, he has been lodged in prison.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the fact that this man is very poor, and that he has a large family dependent on him? Will he consider the advisability of mitigating this very long sentence?

Any representation put forward will be considered. But the offence is a very serious one.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, seeing that no law at present exists in Ireland for providing allotments for artisans and workers living in towns, he will take steps to place those living in cities and towns in Ireland in as good a position in this matter as those living in cities and towns in Great Britain.

I cannot undertake to introduce legislation on the subject this session.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether auxiliary rural postmen in receipt of the small sum of 2s. 6d. or 3s. per week, but who spend the greater portion of their time at agricultural labour, are entitled to apply for cottages under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts.

A person temporarily employed as a postman, and mainly on agricultural work, would appear to come within the very wide definition of "agricultural labourer" contained in Section 4 of the Labourers Act of 1886.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the Local Government Board scale of fees for medical men attending inquests; whether Dr. Synnott only received one guinea for attending several days at two inquiries regarding the Dodder mystery case; and whether he will cause the matter to be reconsidered.

No scale of fees is prescribed by the Local Government Board in such cases. The fee of one guinea paid to Dr. Synnott for his services at the post-mortem examination is fixed by the Coroners Act of 1847, which expressly charges such fees upon local rates, and any alteration in the scale of fees could only be effected by legislation. The Government has no power to supplement these fees out of public funds.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state by whose authority the receiver and solicitor on the estate of the late David Finlay, in the county of Cavan, entered into provisional agreements with the tenants to purchase their holdings through the Irish Land Commission over four years ago, and under what authority these agreements to purchase were to be carried out; and has the receiver or solicitor been asked for any explanation as to why the sales were not proceeded with, and can he explain the cause of the delay in Judge Ross's Court of bringing this and other estates to the sale during the past ten years.

The receivers in all such cases act on their own initiative, but in accordance with the known desire of the Land Judge to facilitate sales. The tenants on the Finlay Estate signed provisional agreements to purchase their holdings about three years ago, but since these agreements were signed considerable difficulty has been experienced in the equitable distribution of turbary. The receiver and surveyor are at present engaged in endeavouring to carry this through. Every effort is being used to expedite the matter.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether any regulations have been made by the Judges of the High Court in Ireland under the provisions of the Judicature Acts for the distribution of business.

The distribution of business in the high court in Ireland is, where not otherwise regulated by statute, regulated by the rules of court made on the recommendation of the judges in 1891. These rules have been laid before Parliament. Further rules are in course of preparation.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether he is aware that at Dromore, county Tyrone, the resident magistrate in proceedings for recovery of debt under the Charitable Loans (Ireland) Act, 1900, habitually orders the clerk to calculate amount due at seven and a half per cent. interest on amount of bill at last renewal; that in making out account the overcharges for the six years period mentioned in the Act are not deducted from amount of the note; and that the bench refuses in all cases to allow the amount for which decree is given to be paid in instalments as provided in the Act; and whether he can give a copy of the instructions given to the clerk to guide him in making out accounts in these cases.

No instructions have been issued by the Loan Fund Board to the clerks of these societies of the nature indicated in the question. The Board have refused to express any opinion to these clerks as to the interpretation of the statute, this being a matter upon which each society must, if necessary, consult its own legal adviser. If the magistrates in any particular case are considered to have acted illegally or exceeded their jurisdiction, the party aggrieved has his remedy.

The right hon. Gentleman has completely misunderstood my question, which was as to the action of the resident magistrate, and not that of the Loan Board.

Yes; I misapprehended the nature of the question. I am not aware that the magistrate has given any instruction to the clerk in regard to the mode in which he should proceed in making out the accounts.

I will repeat the question, because I have not been told if seven and a half per cent. is charged, and whether the allowances mentioned in this particular instance were made.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that the two female telephone operators who were transferred from the National Telephone Company's central office in Dublin to the General Post Office in May, 1897, have since that time received but two increments of salary, and being still without established appointments have no right of pension; and that their work is as important as that in large English towns, where operators, similarly transferred, have received increases of salary, and have therefore been selected for exceptional treatment; and whether, in view of the fact that the salaries of the two operators mentioned are 13s. and 14s. per week respectively, and lower than that received by female telegraphists who entered the service since the date mentioned, and than that of operators who have from time to time assisted them, he will, pending the settlement of the question of pay for telephone operators, at once grant these officers, an increase which shall be retrospective.

The Postmaster General is aware of the position of the two female telephone operators referred to by the hon. Member, but it is not the case that their work is as important as that of operators similarly transferred who have received larger increases of salary. Such larger increases have been granted only to telephone operators—whether in England, Ireland, or Scotland—who are regularly performing supervising duties. As recently stated in this House, the general question of the pay and position of telephone operators is under consideration, and will be settled very shortly. In the meanwhile the Postmaster General cannot deal with the case of the two young women in question apart from the rest of the staff, or make any promise at the present moment regarding their position.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he can state the cause of the delay in the appointment of stamp distributor for Nenagh, North Tipperary; whether he is aware that for several months past stamps can only be obtained from the office of the officer of Excise during two hours of the day, causing inconvenience to traders and professional men, as also the public; whether any application has been received by the Department from a suitable person for the appointment; and if he will take steps to have the vacancy filled without further delay.

This appointment rests with the Treasury. I regret the delay which has unavoidably occurred in making the necessary inquiries, and I hope that the vacancy will be filled up very shortly.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware of the hardship inflicted on Irish girls who succeed in winning places as clerks in the Post Office by being compelled to come to London while the same training and work can be had in Dublin; and, seeing that those girls if they wish to go back to their own country are reduced £10 in their yearly income while they do exactly the same work in Dublin as in London, whether he will take their case into consideration.

The work on which women clerks are employed is of necessity to a great extent performed at headquarters; and Irish candidates who accept such appointments are under no disability which does not apply equally to all those whose home is elsewhere than in London. The appointments for women clerks at Dublin and Edinburgh are filled by transfer from the London establishment; and those who apply to be thus transferred have as a matter of course to accept the Dublin and Edinburgh scale, the maximum of which is slightly lower than in London, in view of the lower cost of living.

By what ingenious method of calculation have the Post Office Authorities ascertained that London air is purer than that of Dublin?

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been called to the delay in the delivery of letters in the Newtown district of Queen's County; whether the alleged grievance has been acknowledged by the postal authorities; and, can he state when arrangements to remove this defective service will be completed.

The Postmaster General has lately authorised an arrangement under which Newtown and the neighbourhood will be served by mail car instead of, as hitherto, by postmen on foot. Under the arrangement, which will be carried out as soon as the contractor has provided a suitable car, the morning de ivery will be made nearly two hours earlier and the afternoon despatch an hour and a half later.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he will explain why the money spent in looking after the business of Irish depositors in the Savings Bank Department of the General Post Office is not spent in Dublin instead of in London; and, whether he will take steps to transfer this Department with its staff of clerks to Dublin in the near future.

By keeping the Irish Post Office Savings Bank accounts in London together with the English and Scotch accounts, it is possible, with very little delay and trouble, to allow money to be deposited in and withdrawn from these accounts in any part of the United Kingdom. The diminution of this facility, which would arise from transferring the Irish accounts to Dublin, would give rise to much dissatisfaction, and the Postmaster General does not propose to take any steps in that direction.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he has received a representation from Members of this House, jointly with the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Council, in favour of an early day being fixed for the Second Reading of the Factory and Workshops Bill, and whether he can now state approximately the date for the Second Reading.

I have received the representation referred to in the question. I should hope that on a comparatively early day an opportunity may be afforded to send this Bill to the Grand Committee, but, of course, it will be quite impossible for the Bill to pass this year if it is to occupy any length of time. As far as I can ascertain, it is not likely to be discussed at length.

In the House?

Yes.

said there was strong objection to the laundry clauses.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is proposed to give facilities for the passing into law of the Bill to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors to children under sixteen years of age.

I have considered whether it would be more convenient to make a statement on this subject now or when I ask for further facilities for Government business, as I shall have to do after the Whitsuntide holidays. I have come to the conclusion that it would be more convenient to follow the latter course, and when I move the motion on an early day after the House reassembles I shall be prepared to make a statement on this and kindred subjects.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can state when he hopes to redeem his partial pledge, given in August, 1900, with respect to the introduction of legislation for giving security of tenure to teachers in public elementary schools, whose grievance has been increased by the passage of the Superannuation Act.

I beg also to ask the right hon. Gentleman a similar question which stands in my name.

As I have said, I can make no statement on this subject now.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can state the reason for the delay in furnishing the Return of the Declarations of Heads of States, ordered by this House 20th February.

Yes, Sir, the information has been received, and I hope the Return will be presented in a very few days.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he has noticed the Report of the Consul of La Rochelle, in which it is said that the neglect of the metric system is a great stumbling block to many branches of trade with the United Kingdom, and whether he will assist to bring about such changes in our system of weights and measures as are suggested in the Report referred to.

The Act of 1897 removes the restrictions which formerly existed on trade weights and measures, and the use in trade of the metric system. A number of metric standards have been already approved by an Order in Council of May, 1898, after being verified by the Board of Trade.