said he wished to raise a matter of very considerable importance with regard to this Bill. The reason they had to watch matters of this kind with some jealousy was that there was a prospect that later on the private Bill procedure now obtaining in Scotland would be extended to Ireland. This Bill passed the Scotch Committee unopposed, but the proposal now was—with, he believed, the consent of the promoters—to put in a new clause dealing with the price of water. This, however, was being done under pressure from the Treasury. Section 7, Sub-section 2 of the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act provided that where there was no opposition to an order, or where the opposition had been withdrawn before the inquiry had been held, the Secretary for Scotland might forthwith make the order as proposed, or with such modifications as might appear to be necessary, having regard to the recommendations of the Chairman of Committees or the Treasury or such other department as might be prescribed. Now, this clause was based on a Treasury recommendation, and he submitted that that recommendation should have been made before the local Committee.

Order, order! The hon. Member cannot deal with that question now. He had better wait till the new clause is proposed.

I will do so.

submitted that a very grave step had been taken by the Government in assenting to the introduction of such a clause at this stage of the Bill. The intention of the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act was, he took it, that all questions should be dealt with locally in Scotland, and that when the Bill came before the House small or pettifogging clauses should not be introduced, and certainly not "after-thought" clauses. If this practice were tolerated the result would be to deprive the Scotch people of all the advantages which the Act was supposed to confer on them by giving them local tribunals. What made this matter far worse was that it was a Treasury clause. They had experience of the Treasury when the Dublin Water Bill was before the House, and when the Treasury, under a threat of stopping the Bill altogether, insisted on the promoters inserting a clause by which water was to be supplied to the troops in Dublin at a cheaper rate than to private consumers. Now the township of Hamilton was being treated in the same way. His point was that the clause should have been laid before the local committee, when every ratepayer would have been in a position to object if he so desired. But instead of that the Treasury waited until the Bill reached the House, and suddenly, at its final stage, forced the township to give Government troops water on cheaper and better terms than the rest of the citizens were to be entitled to. The clause, too, placed the township in the ridiculous position of having it suggested that it was not willing to supply water to a Government Department on as fair terms as to the rest of His Majesty's subjects. He could not understand why the Scotch Office or the Chairman of Committees had consented to action of this nature. The Irish Members would never forget the insolence with which the Treasury treated the Dublin Corporation in a similar matter, threatening to stop their Bill unless a like clause was inserted. He could only say, in conclusion, that if this conduct was to be allowed it might, when the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act was extended to Ireland, place them in a very disadvantageous position, by enabling objectionable clauses to be inserted behind their backs. They would, in fact, never know where they were.

said he was rather taken by surprise by the hon. Member's objection, and he was sure, too, that the Lord Advocate had not expected this question to be raised, or he would have attended to explain why the clause was prepared to be inserted. He quite agreed that as this was an entirely new procedure it ought to be watched very carefully, especially as it might become a precedent if the procedure were extended to Ireland. Personally he had never been consulted, and he could say nothing on the matter. He moved that the debate should be adjourned.

said he was quite satisfied with that, for he was sure their interests were perfectly safe in the hands of the right hon. Gentleman.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state how many members of Cambridge University volunteered for active service at the front; whether he is aware that the War Office subsequently offered eighty-three commissions in the line to members of the University, which were distributed among members of the University who stayed at home, to the exclusion of those who volunteered; whether it is the intention of the War Office that those on active service should lose by having volunteered; and whether steps will be taken to put them on an equivalent footing with the recipients of the commissions already distributed, who stayed at home.

I am not aware how many volunteered for active service. The War Office placed eighty-three commissions at the disposal of the Vice-Chancellor, who selected and sent in the names. Of those nominated by him at least five were serving in South Africa, and were granted commissions. Any cases of hardship will receive the most favourable consideration possible.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet received information as to the condition of the camps in Cape Colony.

I am informed that in Cape Colony the numbers of refugees in camp on the 14th instant amounted to 365, and up to date four children had died. I have no other information.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman obtain the same information with regard to the camps in Cape Colony as those in the Orange Free State and the Transvaal?

Yes; but I am afraid I have given the hon. Member all the information I possess. I am expecting more by mail.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can now give the information as to number of farms burned by the Boers in Cape Colony.

No information has yet been forwarded from South Africa as to the number of farms burned by the Boers in Cape Colony.

But on the 26th April the right hon. Gentleman told me, in reply to a similar question, that information had been received, and was now in the printers' hands.

Not as regards Cape Colony. The hon. Member must have misunderstood. I was referring to the general question of farm burning.

I have looked up the Papers. The question dealt distinctly with the burning of farms in Cape Colony by the Boers, and the right hon. Gentleman's answer was distinctly that the information had been received, and was in the printers' hands.†

If I did make that reply I must have intended it to apply to the general question, and to refer to the Return which is now before the House.

Will the right hon. Gentleman now obtain the information, which he has frequently promised?

I suppose the hon. Member is referring to the burning of farms by the Boers. I do not know that Lord Kitchener can give that information.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for

† See Debates [Fourth Series], Vol. xcii., page 1428.

I must refer the hon. Member to a reply I gave to a similar question put by the hon. Member for South Donegal on the 9th instant, and to the supplementary information I gave at the same time.‡

But you have promised it on two or three different occasions.

Order, order! It is quite irregular thus to refer to answers to previous questions.

But I have received a distinct promise on two separate occasions that the information shall be given. Am I to understand that the right hon. Gentleman retracts that promise?

Order, order! The question on the Paper has been fully answered.

I say it has not been answered at all.

Yes; the right hon. Gentleman says he is not in a position to add anything to the information previously given.

I shall repeat the question.

Did the Boers burn any farms at all?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a speech made by Lord Roberts to the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars at Badminton on 20th May, and whether it is to be understood that the Imperial Yeomanry are to be trained to act for the future as cavalry or as mounted infantry.

‡ See preceding volume, page 1138.

I have fully explained the future position of the Imperial Yeomanry. It is probable that cavalry drill will undergo some modifications in the future.

Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly say whether the Yeomanry will be armed with swords?

No; they will, as I have explained, not carry swords, but rifles.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of cattle at present in the Government stock farms in South Africa, and the number and locality of such stock farms.

No information on this subject has been forwarded from South Africa.

Can the right hon. Gentleman send for the information? We were told a month ago that the stock farms had been established.

I am perfectly willing to get information as to the number of farms established, but in view of the enormous labour involved in getting details, such as the number of cattle on them, I do not think I ought to trouble the military authorities.

Can we have the number of farms and localities? It is very important.

I am quite willing to get certain information, as I have said, but I cannot get the number of cattle.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any record exists by which a computation can be made of the number of Outlanders in the Transvaal signatories to the petition to the Queen who afterwards joined the military forces of the Crown in the war against the Boers.

I am afraid it would be impossible to make any reliable computation from the material at the disposal of His Majesty's Government. It is within our knowledge that a very large number of Outlanders are serving in the field.

Can you not give us some date which will enable us to acquire the knowledge?

No, Sir; I cannot give any precise data.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the taxes imposed by the late Transvaal Government are being at present collected from the mines of the Rand, and whether any tax, in addition to any that may have been imposed by the late Transvaal Government, is being imposed either on the mines or on the produce of the mines now being re-opened towards the cost of the war or towards the cost of government of the new colonies.

The taxes are in force, but in the case of mining licences permission has been given from 1st January, 1901, for payment to be deferred. No additional tax is being imposed for the present.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will explain why the reporters of the South African News have been excluded from the trial of alleged rebels before the special statutory court now sitting in Cape Colony; and will he state whether this has been done with the sanction of the three judges who form the court; if not, by what authority.

I have no information; the matter is one for the administration of the Cape Colony alone.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, with the British occupation of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, the various regulations by which the Boer administrations had sought to impose disabilities on British Indian subjects residing in that region are invalidated; and, if not, having regard to the fact that such regulations were in breach of the Pretoria Convention, will he authorise the administrators in those colonies to publicly declare that all such regulations would have no effect from the date of their passing under British domination.

(1) The legislation of the late Government of the South African Republic remains in force until modified; (2) I have not yet learnt the views of the new administration as to the changes to be made in regard to the regulations in question, and I propose to discuss the matter with Sir A. Milner now that he has arrived.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Captain C J. Maxwell, whilst serving in the Royal Scots Greys, was almost mortally wounded at Nitrals Nek on 11th July, 1900; was treated by Sir W. Thompson and Dr. Stokes; sent by them to Cape Town recommended for immediate invaliding home; that an Army Medical Board, on 24th August, invalided him; that as no passage on a hospital ship was given, and no transport sailed for three weeks, he applied for a certificate for a passage on a mail steamer, was refused it, and had to pay his own way; whether he is aware that an unwounded officer returned by the same boat to take up a home appointment, having been granted a free passage; and whether he will cause the cost of the passage to be refunded to Captain Maxwell, seeing that free passages by mail steamers have been granted at the Cape to wounded and unwounded.

The Medical Board of the 24th August reported this officer as "fit for duty on board ship"; if he had been classed as an invalid any one of the three hospital ships would have been available to convey him. A passage could have been given him in a transport proceeding home in about ten days after his arrival; he would not however await this opportunity, and proceeded home in a mail steamer at his own expense. Return passages by mail steamer are only granted on production of a medical certificate stating urgency, and this the medical authorities at Claremont Hospital, to whom he applied, did not feel justified in granting. The officer referred to in the second paragraph is presumably an officer who was sent home to take command of the 2nd battalion of his regiment. I have carefully considered Captain Maxwell's case, and am unable to consent to a refund of the cost of passage.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, if non-commissioned officers of Volunteers are permitted to retire with their rank and to wear their uniform on retirement after ten years service, he will consider the advisability of granting a similar privilege to officers of command rank in the Volunteer force on completing ten years service.

No, Sir. There is no reason why Volunteer officers should be treated differently to other officers in this respect.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the privilege of honorary rank now granted to officers of Volunteers after fifteen years service or on retirement at the expiration of that period will also be conferred on command officers of cadet corps; whether the Volunteer decoration conferred on officers of Volunteers after twenty years good and efficient service will be granted to officers of cadet corps under like conditions; and whether, in the event of these concessions being granted, ex-officers of Volunteers subsequently becoming officers of cadet corps will be allowed to count their past service in the Volunteers towards the qualifying period for such honorary rank and the Volunteer Decoration.

Officers of cadet corps and battalions are treated as regards honorary rank and Volunteer Decoration as Volunteer officers, but they will not be allowed to reckon any service below the age of seventeen.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the success which has attended the holding of night schools of instruction for Militia and Volunteer infantry Officers in the home district at Wellington and Chelsea Barracks, he will arrange for similar schools during winter months for Militia and Volunteer artillery officers at the Tower, where armament and stores are available for instructional purposes.

There would be no advantage in instituting schools for Auxiliary artillery officers at the Tower, where armament and stores of modern type are not available. The only adequate instruction for such officers quartered in the Home District is obtainable at Sheerness.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Wicklow Artillery Militia are under orders to proceed to Cork for the purpose of being trained there; and, if so, can he explain why they are not trained in Wicklow.

The regiment will not train as a regiment this year, but about 160 men who have expressed a desire to be trained will be attached to a regular unit of Garrison Artillery at Fort Carlisle. No units of Garrison Artillery are quartered in Wicklow, so that it is out of the question to train them there.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now received and considered the report of the meeting held in Malta on 5th May to protest against the increase of taxation and the substitution of the English for the Italian languages, and has considered other evidences of dissatisfaction in Malta at these changes; and whether he will now consider the advisability of withdrawing or modifying the proposals of His Majesty's Government as to Maltese administration.

I have received a report of the meeting referred to, which will be considered, together with all other matters bearing upon the question. As at present advised, I see no reason for departing from the decision already arrived at.

On behalf of the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil (Mr. D. A. THOMAS) I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a report of the Rev. D. Richards, Chaplain of H.M.S. "Flora," on the condition of Welshmen in Patagonia has been received in his Department; and, if so, whether he can state the nature of it, and if it will be laid before Parliament.

The report in question would have been addressed to the Admiralty. I am not aware if it has been received.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the rate or rates of interest at which Deficiency and Ways and Means Advances were repaid by the Treasury to the Bank of England or Ireland during the financial years ending 31st March, 1899, 1900, and 1901, respectively.

; The rates of interest paid to the Bank of England for Deficiency and Ways and Means Advances were as follows:—

On behalf of the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil (Mr. D. A. THOMAS) I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can now make any statement as to the remission of duty he proposes to allow on coal shipped since 19th April last under contracts entered Into prior to that date; and whether this remission will be confined to coal delivered on contracts made by merchants with foreign subjects which the merchants have covered by purchases and on which the margin of profit is less than the duty, or whether all coal shipped under contracts made before 18th April will be subject to the remission of the full shilling.

I am not yet able to make any general statement on this subject, as the contracts, which are very numerous, and vary greatly from one another, must be first carefully examined. But I may say that I do not think it will be desirable to make the grant of this concession dependent on the margin of profit exceeding the duty.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the retail purchaser of a bottle of wine fortified in bond has any means of knowing how much spirit the bottle contains and how much wine.

It is not possible for the retail purchaser to distinguish in the case of a bottle of wine fortified in bond between the alcohol belonging to the wine and that belonging to the spirits. But, as I stated yesterday, the percentage of spirit which may be used in bond in such a way is strictly limited.

Would it not be reasonable to provide, under the Merchandise Marks Act, that when a person buys a bottle of wine he shall not be served with fusil oil?

I do not believe they get fusil oil. The hon. and learned Gentleman is mistaken.

Why do the Treasury permit a transaction out of which it gets no profit, seeing that no duty is charged on the spirit thus mixed with the wine?

The practice is allowed for the convenience of the trade, and I am quite sure that if it were stopped considerable trouble would be the result.

Do the Custom House authorities keep a list of the merchants who are permitted to—

Order, order!

I beg to ask the Home Secretary if he can give the House any information as to the deplorable colliery accident in Glamorganshire.

I am sorry to say I cannot add anything to the information which has already appeared in the public press. I am expecting further news almost every moment, and when it arrives will take care to communicate it to the House.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has fixed the standard for milk under the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act; if so, can he state what are the standards fixed.

The answer is in the negative. I hope, however, to fix the standard very soon now.

Will it be fixed by 6th June if I postpone the question till then?

No, but I hope to have fixed it within a week after the close of the holidays.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of a cyclist, of Moseley, whose cycle, although in perfect order when booked by the London and North Western Railway Company to Ireland, was delivered with the gear-case torn off, the wheels buckled, tyres off, and the frame badly damaged; whether he is aware that the cyclist was non-suited in a claim for compensation on the ground that there was no evidence of wilful misconduct, although the state of the machine made it obvious that there had been negligence, and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the present inequitable condition of things as between railway companies and cyclists.

My attention has been directed to this case by the Cyclists Touring Club and the National Cyclists Union. An amendment of the law would be necessary to meet the point to which the hon. Member refers. I have already stated that I am not at present prepared to introduce legislation, but I am still in communication with the railway companies on the subject generally.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any hope of getting a satisfactory answer from the railway company shortly?

I am afraid I am not in a position to say.

I beg, in accordance with private notice, to ask the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the interests of the commercial community both in England and the colonies, whether he will take steps at an early date to deal with the question of a more complete and systematic codification of English commercial law.

I have received the private notice of the hon. Gentleman. I quite recognise the great importance of the matter raised by this question, but I am afraid I am not at present in a position to make any statement with regard to it.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he can state when the Return showing the proceedings of parish and county councils in regard to allotments and common pasture in Scotland will be laid upon the Table of the House.

I am informed by the Local Government Board that the Return is being proceeded, with, but the particulars required have not yet been received from some of the authorities concerned. No time will be lost in having the Return completed and laid before the House.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether, having regard to the results of the experiments made in Ireland in afforestation, similar experiments will be made in the Highlands and islands of Scotland.

It is not proposed to carry out such experiments as are referred to by the hon. Member. I may add that such experiments would not fall within the scope of the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act, 1897.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, whether he is aware of the state of feeling among the landless cottars and fishermen of Bernera, Island of Lewis, Ross-shire, and in the crofting townships of North and South Boisdale, Smerclate, Daliburgh, Kilphedder, Howmore, Inishvale, Howbeg, South Uist, Inverness-shire, in consequence of the delay of the Congested Districts Board in making arrangements for the settlement of the people on the land; and whether, to prevent the danger of these cottars being driven to take the land, he will consider the expediency of taking some steps to provide them with land at an early date.

I have really nothing to add to what I have informed the hon. Member on several occasions in answer to similar questions in this House, namely, that such steps will be taken by the Secretary for Scotland from time to time as he deems expedient.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the present chief clerk in the office of the Surveyor of Taxes in Belfast has been in the service of the department for over eight years, and earned good reports from the surveyors and inspectors under whom he served, and been promoted on account of the efficiency with which he discharged his duties; and, seeing that this gentleman has a certificate from the Civil Service Commissioners which qualifies him to be placed on the permanent staff on the recommendation of the head of his department, can he state what objection there is to giving him the necessary recommendation to be put on the permanent staff of the Civil Service under the Order in Council of the 4th June, 1870.

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension as to the circumstances of this case. In the first place, the clerk referred to is not in the service of the Board of Inland Revenue, but in the personal employ of the Surveyor of Taxes; and in the second place, he does not hold a Civil Service certificate. It is true that he was at one time registered with the Civil Service Commissioners as a temporary boy copyist, but his employment in this capacity does not qualify him to be placed on the permanent staff of the Civil Service under the Order in Council of the 4th June, 1870.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he is aware that there is only a tri-weekly delivery of letters at Swan's Cross, county Monaghan; and, as this causes inconvenience, will he give directions to have the service complained of improved.

The Postmaster General will cause inquiry to be made, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the importance of the fishing industry to the inhabitants of the village of Rosmurrevagh, near Newport, county Mayo, and of the fact that although there are thirty-seven boats employed by the villagers in pursuance of such industry they are in need of a pier on which to land the fish, he will advise the Congested Districts Board to build a pier there.

The question of the erection of a pier at this place will be considered by the Congested Districts Board at its next meeting.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been drawn to the proceedings of the Sligo Asylum Board in connection with the case of attendant Gaffney; whether he is aware that Gaffney admitted having assaulted a lunatic patient under his charge by kicking him in the abdomen, causing serious injuries, but that, notwithstanding this, the asylum board have continued Gaffney as attendant; will he state what steps will be taken to protect the other lunatics from further violence on the part of this attendant; will any representation be made on the part of the Executive Government to the asylum authorities with reference to their inaction in this case; and will he direct the matter to be brought before the Law Officers with a view to considering a prosecution of this attendant.

My attention has been drawn to this very painful case. The assault was committed on the 2nd April, and on the 4th April a sworn inquiry was held at the asylum by the Inspectors of Lunatic Asylums, as a result of which they strongly urged the asylum committee to dismiss attendant Gaffney. The committee, however, merely reprimanded him and warned him against a repetition of the offence. Proceedings were taken by the police against the man for assault, and on the 13th inst. he was convicted and sentenced to two months imprisonment. It is for the committee to decide whether Gaffney will be retained in the service of the asylum; the Executive has no power to remove him.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can explain the cause of delay in the progress of schemes for the erection of labourers' cottages in the Mitchelstown Union, concerning which an inquiry was held by a Local Government Board inspector in January last; and whether he will take steps to accelerate the production of the report on these schemes, and can he state when such report may be expected.

There has been no avoidable delay on the part of the Local Government Board in dealing with these schemes. The result of the inquiry into one of the two schemes will, it is hoped, be communicated to the district council next week. The report on the second scheme is daily expected by the Board, and no time will be lost in dealing with it when received.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can grant a Parliamentary Return giving the details of rent reductions for the year ended March last, the Return to be made out per estate.

No, Sir. All the information apparently desired by the hon. Member will be found in the Returns of judicial rents laid on the Table of the House at short intervals.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the receiver and solicitor on the estate of the late David Finlay, in the county of Cavan, have been asked for any explanation as to why they did not lodge the agreements that they entered into with the tenants to purchase their holdings with the Irish Land Commission; whether he is aware that the result of these agreements not having been lodged in court has been that the tenants on this estate have had to pay 25 per cent. more in rent than they would have had to pay in interest, and prevented them making an application under the fortieth section of the Land Act of 1896, and can he explain the cause of the delay in Judge Ross's court in disposing to the tenants of this and other estates that have been in that court for sale for the past ten years.

This is not a sale under the fortieth section, as the hon. Member has been already informed. The tenants three years ago signed provisional agreements to purchase. Subsequently disputes arose amongst them in reference to rights of turbary. These disputes have not been settled, and until they have been no progress can be made. The delay is entirely attributable to the tenants themselves, and not to the land judge or Land Commission.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Constable John Freeman, stationed at Laragh, county Wicklow, who was in November last convicted of an assault upon a Dublin policeman, which arose out of a remonstrance addressed to Freeman by the Dublin policeman for following a young woman through the streets and insulting her; whether he is aware that Freeman is the son of a man who shot an evicted tenant named Kinsella at Coolgreany; and that the clergy and residents of Laragh strongly object to Freeman being stationed in their district, and whether he will consider the desirability of having Freeman transferred to some other county.

The facts are as stated in the first paragraph. I have no information, and at such short notice cannot procure information, as to the matters alleged in the second paragraph. The question of the removal of a particular constable from a particular district is one for determination by the constabulary authorities themselves, to whom any representations on the subject should be addressed.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of a man named Thomas Kearon, who was recently sentenced at the Arklow Petty Sessions to a month's imprisonment for an assault upon a policeman, which arose out of a disturbance caused by the attempt to hold an open-air service in the main thoroughfare of Arklow near a public meeting which was held there on 5th of May; whether he is aware that the evidence given at the hearing of the charge disclosed the fact that the police under District Inspector Hughes formed a cordon across the street to prevent any person proceeding in the direction of the service, and that people were thus prevented from going home or to their church at the hour of divine service; also that the police in evidence gave Kearon a good character, and stated he was a peaceable man; and whether, having regard to the excitement of the occasion, he will consider the case with a view to recommending the shortening of the term of Kearon's imprisonment.

Any representations in favour of mitigation of the sen- of imprisonment imposed upon this man should be addressed, in the usual way, to the Lord Lieutenant, by whom the matter will be considered.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the circumstances of this particular case? Will he make some inquiry so that he may be in a position to give advice to the Lord Lieutenant? Is he aware that the disturbance arose from the acts of the Rev. Mr. Hallowes, who has been conducting the street preaching in Arklow, and whose attempt to interfere with a public meeting caused a disturbance which gave rise to a great deal of excitement?

I am not aware-of the facts of the case, and it is for those who have knowledge of the circumstances to place them before the Lord Lieutenant, by whom the matter is usually remitted to me for comments and inquiry. It would not do for me to make a representation to the Lord. Lieutenant in the first instance.

I will ask the right hon. Gentleman to make personal inquiry into the facts, so that when the representations laid before the Lord Lieutenant are sent to him he will be in a position to give advice.

Certainly.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of. Ireland whether he is aware that inconvenience and some trouble exist in several parts of Ireland owing to the state of affairs in connection with the repairing and maintenance of the public roads by contract labour; and will he, without delay, introduce before Parliament for ratification the proposed Order in Council dealing with this state of things so as to put them on a better footing.

The Bill confirming this Order was introduced on the 10th of May.

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 7½ 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 any instructions are given by the magistrate to the petty sessions clerk to guide him in making the calculation ordered in the Act; if so, whether he can give a copy of such instructions.

No general instructions such as are mentioned in the last paragraph have been given by the resident or other magistrates of the Dromore bench, each case being dealt with on its merits. Overcharges are invariably deducted in ascertaining the amount due. These magistrates have almost invariably refused to order payment by instalments. This is a matter entirely in their discretion. They have also decided judicially that in most, if not all, of these cases the loan societies are entitled to interest at the rate of 7½ per cent. If they are in error the aggrieved party can appeal.

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. Chancellor of the Ex- chequer whether he is aware that the Supreme Court of Judicature in Ireland have at their credit in the Bank of Ireland a cash balance of £350,000 and securities to the amount of £6,000,000, and whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a paymaster general in Ireland who would be authorised to advance from this £350,000 sums towards the assistance of Irish industries and technical institutions upon proper security being given.

I cannot say, without further inquiry, whether the figures quoted by the hon. Member are correct; the matter is not under my control. But whatever the amount may be, it could not be locked up in loans in the manner the hon. Member suggests, for it is liable to be called on at any time for payments to those to whom it belongs. Loans for purposes of the kind suggested might be made from funds at the disposal of the Board of Agriculture or the Congested Districts Board.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Commissioners of Irish Lights have recommended that second-class clerks in their department should be put on the same footing as second-class clerks in Trinity House; and, if so, what are the objections to this arrangement.

The Commissioners of Irish Lights have during the present month applied to the Board of Trade for their sanction to an improved rate of pay for second-class clerks in their Department. The application is receiving careful consideration, but, as various matters have to be taken into account, I am not yet in a position to state the views of the Board as to the proposed arrangement.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Great Southern and Western Railway Company of Ireland have failed to provide through rates to certain towns in the South according to statutory requirements; and whether he will take steps to have the company fulfil their legal obligations, seeing that, owing to the absence of these through rates, the Port of Dublin will suffer.

If the hon. Member refers to through rates within the meaning of Section 34 of 63 and 64 Vict., chapter 247, I may point out to him that in case of default a special remedy is provided by the section. If, however, the question refers to through rates not subject to that provision, the jurisdiction to grant reasonable through rates is vested in the Railway and Canal Commissioners, and not the Board of Trade.

I wish to ask the Chief Secretary by whose authority a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary in Kerry, on Sunday, the 19th instant, attended while members were being enrolled in a local branch of the United Irish League and took down their names, refusing to desist when asked to do so. I gave notice of this to the clerk at the Table, who found it necessary to cut out some portion of the question, so now I have simply read the substance of it. It is a very important matter to my constituency, but I do not see the Chief Secretary in his place, although I wrote him a letter—

Order, order!

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is yet in a position to name the Members of the Royal Commission on Irish University Education.

I beg also to ask the First Lord of the Treasury when he can give the House any information as to the composition or appointment of the Royal Commission on University Education in Ireland.

I am sorry that it has been impossible to make sufficient progress with the appointment of this Commission to enable me to make a statement to the House. One of the reasons for the delay is the large number of Commissioners, Englishmen and Scotchmen, who have been asked to serve, and it would be unfair to expect such persons engaged in education to take evidence in Ireland after the beginning of the next academic term. We are most anxious to get on with the Commission.

That answer forebodes a long inquiry. How soon does the right hon. Gentleman expect to be able to give us the names?

One of the difficulties arises from the fact that an invitation is sent to a gentleman and he finds he is not able to attend. Then the invitation is sent to someone else, and in such circumstances delays are inevitable.

asked from whom refusals had been received.

I do not think I can answer such a question as that.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can say who is responsible for the form of the prayer used at the daily meetings of the House of Commons.

I have made all the inquiries I can, and I have not been able to obtain any information to satisfy the curiosity of the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury a question of which I have given him private notice, namely, if he is aware that by the ruling of Mr. Speaker on the question of adjournment for the holidays, and by the moving of the closure, a number of Members on both sides of the House were prevented from expressing their regret that no facilities had been offered for discussing a proposal to refer the Beer Bill to the Standing Committee on Trade, in accordance with the memorial addressed to the right hon. Gentleman some weeks ago; secondly, whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that, as there was no other business before that Committee, by the concession asked for the Bill might have passed through the Committee by this time; and whether, in making his promised announcement upon business after the Whitsuntide holidays, the right hon. Gentleman will take into consideration the representations made in the memorial referred to.

I am very well aware that, owing to the course of the debate last night, my right hon. friend and other Members who take great interest in the Bill were prevented from laying their views before the House and the Government. It is also quite true that no facilities have been given for the discussion of a proposal to send the Bill to Grand Committee. But I am sure the House will feel that it was practically impossible for the Government to take time from such matters as the Finance Bill and the Civil List for the debate my right hon. friend naturally wishes to see brought to a conclusion. Nor would it have been possible, without singling out this Bill for special privilege, giving it advantage over other Bills which will come on for discussion after Whitsuntide. I hope that under the circumstances my right hon. friend will see that the course pursued was the only course open to the Government. I am perfectly well aware of the great interest taken in the subject by my right hon. friend and other Members in different parts of the House, and I will bear this in mind when making my statement after Whitsuntide, and asking facilities for the conduct of business.

Arising out of that answer, may I ask my right hon. friend if he is aware that there was no other Bill in a position to be referred to the Standing Committee on Trade before Whitsuntide, and that all that was asked for in the memorial was the sacrifice of a single hour of the time at the disposal of the Government?

Yes, I am aware of that, but that request, modest as it seemed in its character, would have been extremely difficult to comply with in a time of great pressure such as always exists at this time of the session in regard to first-class measures.

Is there an intention to bring in a Naval Works Bill in which the works at Gibraltar will be dealt with?

It is our intention to bring in such a Bill, but I can give no indication of the date.

The right hon. Gentleman has made allusion to the necessity he will be under to make some demand on the House for further facilities for Government business. May I ask when the promised announcement on business will be made and what will be its nature.

The announcement will be made on the Monday or Tuesday, and will be of the usual character made by successive Governments when asking for time to facilitate progress of business.

Does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate the House sitting the full time to-night? Will he insist on finishing the Army Votes? Would it not be wiser to allow the business to come to a conclusion at a comparatively early hour and postpone the Army Votes till the first day after the holidays?

I should not like to make any pledge at the present moment. We do not, however, propose to take Report of Supply.

What Supply is to be taken on the Thursday and Friday after the holidays?

I anticipate that the three Army Votes set down will be taken to-night, but if not they will be taken on the Thursday when the House reassembles. Financial reasons require this. After these, the Revenue Votes, beginning with No. 2, would be taken, followed by classes 6 and 7.

The three Army Votes do not include that for the Secretary of State.

No.