I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what law or regulations and by what authorities (labour inspectors or others) matters relating to native labour in the gold mines of the Transvaal are at the present time being administered, and whether penalties of imprisonment with hard labour or lashes are now applicable as under the Pass Law and the Gold Law of 1896, which are enacted for the purpose of facilitating and promoting the supply of native labour in the gold diggings and for the better controlling and regulating of the natives employed.

The law in force is that of the late South African Republic, which has been modified in favour of the natives by proclamation of the High Commissioner, under which magistrates' courts and special criminal courts have been established. Any sentence imposed by a magistrate whereby a penalty exceeding a fine of £10, or imprisonment for three months with or without hard labour, or twelve lashes is ordered must be forwarded to the legal adviser of the Government (Mr. Solomon) for confirmation, reduction, or quashing. As I have already stated in reply to a question on the subject, a circular has been issued by the legal adviser to the Transvaal Government, warning magistrates to be sparing in the use of the lash.

Do I understand from the answer of the right hon. Gentleman that contracts can be enforced by imprisonment with hard labour and with lashes at the discretion of the magistrate, subject to the reference which he has mentioned—that is to say, that forced labour is insisted on under these conditions?

No, Sir; that is not the question the right hon. Gentleman has put on the Paper. If he wishes information as to what is contained in that law in detail, I must ask him to give me notice of the question. Meantime, I will only say that the new law as affecting natives is much more favourable than the Gold Law under which they were regulated by the late Government.

That I understand, but, unfortunately, the inverted commas were omitted in the question as it appears upon the Paper. I quoted the preamble of the Gold Act, the provisions of which are for the purpose of facilitating and promoting the supply of native labour in the gold diggings and for the better controlling and regulating of the natives employed. Do I understand that, though modified, the "promoting and facilitating of the supply of labour in the goldfields" is still enforced by imprisonment with hard labour and with lashes, though less in degree than under the former Act?

I do not object to the way in which the question has been put down. I can only say that I did not understand that the right hon. Gentleman was quoting verbatim from any particular Act, and under these circumstances I must, I fear, ask the right hon. Gentleman for further notice.

I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for having mentioned that, because I am informed that there is a law against inverted commas at the Table. When I put the question I quoted from the Act, but the quotation is made to appear as if they were my own words.

^* : The rule has been a very necessary one, as the right hon. Gentleman would find if he had to deal with notices; but I am sure that if the right hon. Gentleman had been aware of the rule his ingenuity would have enabled him to avoid the difficulty.

I am obliged to you for that information, and, in future, when inverted commas are struck out I will say, "You will observe these are not my words."

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, with the view of preventing the Boers from obtaining remounts, any systematic plan has been formed for compulsorily purchasing all workable horses in Cape Colony; and, if so, whether he has any information to the effect that this plan is being systematically and exhaustively carried out.

Yes, Sir; a systematic plan with this object has been carried out for six months past.

Does that extend to all horses?

All horses that are serviceable.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the medical officer's report upon the state of health of the children in Bloemfontein camp has yet been received at the War Office; and, if so, will it be published in extenso , and will he say when.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the doctor's report on the state of health of the children confined in the Bloemfontein concentration camp has been received, and will be laid before Parliament.

Lord Kitchener has been asked by telegraph if such a report has been received, and to ask for it if it has been received. The Secretary of State cannot pledge himself to lay a Paper until it is received.

asked when the War Office expected to receive the report.

I really cannot tell that, but judging from the length of time required for letters I should say in about a month.

When the report is received will it be published in extenso?

The Secretary of State cannot pledge himself until he has received and read it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state, or will obtain information and at a subsequent date state, what has been the number of children born in the concentration camps, and what has been the mortality among such children.

I think this information can be obtained, and I will inquire.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a gentleman named Adrian Hofmeyr visited the camps of concentration in the Transvaal and the Orange River Colony with the permission of the Government or of the military authorities; and, if so, under what circumstances and for what purposes such permission was given, and in what capacity he was acting.

I have no information on the matter. In no case have the military authorities been guided from here as to permits given to visit the camps.

Can the noble Lord obtain any information on the subject of this question?

We can, of course; but the matter is entirely in the hands of the military authorities in South Africa, and the Secretary for War does not intend to interfere in any way with their discretion.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state what reply he has received to his inquiry as to the reason for the conferring in last September on the Bank of Africa, by a proclamation issued by the Governor of Johannesburg dealing with the conduct of banking business in that city, the privilege of having its notes accepted as cash at all the Government offices within the town and district of Johannesburg; and will he say at what date this inquiry was made and to whom it was directed.

I have requested that a copy of the proclamation in question may be forwarded, and on its receipt I will give the hon. Member the information he desires

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether Lord Kitchener has made inquiry or demanded explanation from the author of a Reuter telegram, dated Krugersdorp, 2nd February, stating that Dr. Walker, who was among the killed at Modderfontein, was finally despatched by a Boer, who battered in his head with a stone, whereas Captain G. H. Glasson, the officer in command of the post captured at Modderfontein, has stated that Dr. Walker was hit only once by a stray bullet and died from the effects of his wound, that the Boer general expressed his deep regret at the occurrence, and that every possible kindness was shown to the wounded soldiers by the Boers; can he state the explanation, if any, which has been given of this statement; and will the author of the telegram be continued in his position with the sanction of the military authorities.

I am not aware of what action was taken by Lord Kitchener in this matter, or what explanation has been given of this statement, except that it was false. Any disciplinary action rests with Lord Kitchener, and I am not prepared to interfere in the matter.

Has Lord Kitchener been communicated with, and is this man still to be allowed to act as a war correspondent?

I am perfectly certain that Lord Kitchener will take any action that he thinks desirable.

Will the noble Lord communicate with Lord Kitchener with regard to this matter, as he was communicated with with regard to Vlakfontein? I am one who has not unbounded faith in Lord Kitchener.

Lord Kitchener was communicated with, and his answer was that the statement was entirely false.

May I ask whether this war correspondent who has been convicted of shameless falsehood—

Order, order! The hon. Gentleman is repeating the same question over and over again.

The noble Lord will not answer my question.

^* : Order, order!

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War can he state the reason why men of the 6th Battalion Rifle Brigade who were drafted into the South Wales Borderers are being detained in South Africa beyond the term of their enlistment; whether he is aware that a man named Dempsey has been detained for several months beyond the term of his engagement; that this man is the son of a poor shoemaker to whom he was a help at the trade, and will he cause him to be discharged and sent home forthwith.

No Militia Reservists are being detained in South Africa beyond the additional period to which they are liable to serve under the terms of their engagement. I am not aware of the particular case referred to.

Is the noble Lord aware that the terms of the engagement were not explained to this man?

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state whether, seeing that the letter "M" has been removed from the uniform of the rank and file of militia regiments, it is proposed to issue a similar regulation with respect to the uniform of militia officers.

The men wear the name of the regiment on their uniform, and when the "M" was removed the number of the battalion was added to distinguish them from the men of the line battalions. Officers do not wear the name of the regiment on their uniform, and it is for that reason the distinction in dress is maintained.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that time-expired soldiers employed in Woolwich Arsenal are not entitled to pension on discharge, although they are so entitled in other departments, for example, prisons, Army Pay Office, barracks, parks; whether pensions were formerly granted in the Arsenal; and, if so, can he say why they are not granted or have been discontinued.

Time-expired soldiers employed in the various War Department manufacturing and store establishments are paid, like other workmen, at the market rate; and, therefore, like other workmen, are not entitled to superannuation allowances, though in certain cases they are entitled to a gratuity on discharge. Pensions were discontinued by the Superannuation Act of 1859.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the damage caused by the trespass of soldiers, before the last harvest, to the crops on the farms adjoining Salisbury Plain; whether he has decided on what principle compensation shall be paid; and whether, in view of the dissatisfaction that prevails at the compensation awarded by officers with no local or expert knowledge, he can give an assurance that in future when disagreement arises no decision as to the amount of compensation shall be made until the statement of the farmers or their valuers has been heard.

My attention has been called to some cases of the nature mentioned. The following is the procedure adopted for deciding compensation in the Salisbury Plain district:—(1) An inquiry on the spot by a staff officer, referring when necessary to an arbitrator approved by both sides; or (2) in special cases the appointment of a board of officers to inquire into the case; or (3) in the case of artillery, the employment of representatives of local land agents. Any cases not locally settled would be referred to the War Office. This procedure has been found to work well, and I see no reason for disturbing it.

^* : I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can state the percentage of British naval officers—who can converse freely in any one of the languages of the great naval Powers—namely, France, Germany, and Russia; and will he say what facilities or inducements to acquire foreign languages are offered, and whether examinations are held for the granting of certificates of proficiency to naval officers who may qualify in foreign languages; and, if so, how often the examinations are held, and the number of certificates that have been granted.

103 officers have certificates as interpreters; their names and the languages in which they are qualified are given on page 343 of the Navy List. This list does not of course exhaust the number of officers who have a knowledge of European and other foreign languages, but who have not presented themselves for examination. For the instruction of officers in squadrons, where no French instructors are borne, officers qualified as interpreters are granted an allowance. Allowances are granted to officers on foreign stations qualified to act as interpreters in languages spoken within the limits of the command. No particular dates are fixed for the examination for interpreterships, but candidates are allowed to apply for examination when they please, opportunities being given to candidates to improve their colloquial knowledge by the grant of four months leave on full pay to study on the Continent. Officers who, on examination in Russian, obtain certificates of the 1st and 2nd class, receive gratuities of £150 and £75 respectively.

^* : To increase the knowledge of foreign languages. Could not the Admiralty undertake to give higher marks in the examination of cadets for French, German, and Russian than for Greek and Latin?

said he was entirely in sympathy with the view that the study of foreign languages should be encouraged, but there were difficulties in the way. It was hoped, however, that these might be overcome.

Is it not the case that in other navies—the Swedish, for instance—the officers are required to know several foreign languages?

I am not aware of that.

rose to put a supplementary question.

^* : Order, order! The question has been fully answered.

May I ask this question. The hon. Gentleman has stated that four months leave given to officers to qualify themselves in foreign languages. All I wish to ask as a supplementary question is whether the hon. Gentleman can say how many officers have availed themselves of that tour months leave.

I shall be happy to answer that question with notice.

Some hon. Members appear to think that when a question seems naturally to occur to the mind upon hearing an answer, it necessarily arises out of the answer. Strictly speaking, a supplementary question is only in order when it is asked in order to elucidate some ambiguity or to supply some omission in the original answer.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, when inviting tenders for supplies of meat for the Navy, he will require that home-grown beef be supplied.

There is no objection to stipulating for the supply of home-bred cattle in places where arrangements can be made for the slaughtering to be effected under proper supervision, but otherwise the Admiralty are not prepared to change the present system.

Do the present contracts contain any provision prohibiting or even limiting the supply of foreign meat?

I have quoted the actual terms of the present contracts three times recently, and will repeat them, again for the hon. Member's information if he will give me notice.

Am I to understand that they contain no such stipulation?

[No answer was returned.]

That is too hard a question.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if arrangements can be made for the Channel Fleet to visit Orkney and Shetland during their next autumnal cruise.

Arrangements for the autumnal cruise of the Channel Fleet cannot be taken into consideration till after the manœuvres.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, seeing that fifty-four torpedo boat destroyers are required on the Mediterranean Station, he can explain why the squadron under Admiral Fisher's command contains only twelve efficient vessels of this description.

The number of destroyers in the Mediterranean at present is sixteen, of which two or three are usually under repair. The number fifty-four given by the hon. Member does not correspond with any standard of numbers established by the Admiralty. It is proposed to increase the number of destroyers in the Mediterranean as soon as vessels are available for the purpose.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it has been decided to erect a fourth wing to the Admiralty buildings fronting the Horse Guards Parade, if so, can he state what the cost of it will be, and whether any opportunity will be afforded of judging of the new building.

Yes, Sir; this new wing is about to be erected at an estimated cost of £150,000. The design was exhibited for some time in the tearoom for the inspection of hon. Members. If the hon. Member desires to see the design I shall be happy to show it him.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the yearly allowance Arabi Pasha received while in Ceylon, and whether such or any allowance is to be continued to him.

^* : Arabi Pasha has been in receipt of an allowance of £600 a year from the Egyptian Government while in Ceylon. His Majesty's Government have not yet been informed what arrangements the Egyptian Government propose to make for the future.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that it is a common practice to ship mixed cargoes of coal of varying qualities, or partly large and partly small, at one price per ton for the whole cargo; whether, in such cases, when the price is below 6s. per ton, the duty will be remitted on the whole cargo, though the market price of some of the cargo, if sold independently, might at the time be above the limit of remission; and, if not, will he say who will determine the prices of the various qualities in cases of dispute.

I am afraid that permission to average prices f.o.b. would give a very serious extension to the concession I have made. That concession is "that a rebate of duty shall be allowed on any coal the value of which f.o.b. is proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioners of Customs not to exceed 6s. per ton." Therefore, when an exporter claims this rebate in respect of a mixed cargo of coal, he must prove to the satisfaction of the Customs how much of that cargo consisted of coal of a value f.o.b. not exceeding 6s. a ton.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if any accurate estimate can be arrived at of the loss to the revenue by the remission of the duty in respect of the cheaper coals without forecasting the course of the market and of prices during the remainder of the financial year; and if he will state, in arriving at the estimated loss of £100,000 to the revenue, what quantities of coal he anticipates will be exported at a price below 6s. per ton in the three months ending 30th September, 31st December, and 31st March next, respectively.

Of course any estimate might be considerably affected by any great rise or fall in present prices; but I must decline to give the figures for which the hon. Member asks. I have never known such a request made with regard to any estimate before.

But how did you arrive at the estimate?

That is a question such as has never before been addressed to me since I became Chancellor of the Exchequer six years ago.

^* : I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is possible to give a Return of the accidents which occurred through cleaning under machinery in motion, and cleaning machinery in motion, during the last year, or other recent period for which figures are available.

^* : As regards accidents through cleaning machinery in motion the right hon. Baronet will find a table with reference to the year 1899 in the Chief Inspector of Factories' Report for that year. The figures for 1900, which will appear in the forthcoming Report, are six fatal and 1,635 non-fatal accidents. I am afraid that it is not possible to give figures as to accidents caused by cleaning under machinery in motion.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state when the rules made under the Railways (Prevention of Accidents) Act will be ready and put into operation, and what is being done to promote the adoption of automatic couplings.

A large number of objections, to the draft rules have been received from railway companies and others, and as the hon. Member is, no doubt, aware if these objections are not removed the objectors have, under the statute, a right of appeal to the Railway and Canal Commissioners. Lord James of Hereford has kindly consented to deal with the objections, and I hope that they may be removed without incurring the delay which appeals would necessarily cause. It is obvious that I cannot say when the rules will come into operation, but every step consistent with the procedure under the Act will be taken to expedite matters. As to the other part of the hon. Member's question, I understand experiments are being made by the railway companies which will prepare the way for any action the Board may take hereafter. I can assure the hon. Member that the question will not be lost sight of.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, whether he is aware that, under the present system of railway valuation in Scotland, the Highland Railway Company will this year escape liability to assessment for poor and school purposes in respect of many parishes through which the railway passes, and in which it has railway stations; and, seeing that these conditions impose difficulties on many parishes in the Highlands, will he consider the expediency of introducing legislation with a view to amend the system of railway valuation in Scotland.

^* : There is no possibility of legislating on the subject suggested in the question of the hon. Member at present. I must not be held as accepting in all respects the accuracy of the assumptions made by the hon. Member in the first paragraph of his question.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received no communication from the Ross-shire County Council bearing out the statement in my question?

^* : Facts are one thing and assumption another.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware that two scholars, aged twelve and seven respectively, attending the Holy Trinity Church day school at Southport were required to attend the service at Holy Trinity on Ascension Day, and that the mother of the scholars in question, Mrs. Pickavant, of 11, Kensington Road, Southport, had given instructions to her children not to attend such service, and had formally withdrawn them under the Conscience Clause from the teaching of the Church Catechism in the school, and whether the Vice-President will take steps to prevent the recurrence of such irregularity.

No. The Board of Education have received no complaint from Mrs. Pickavant on the subject, and there is no reason to think that the provisions of the Elementary Education Act are not observed in the school.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education, having regard to the fact that the Burnley School Board has asked permission to transform its higher grade school into a higher elementary school, and that the Board of Education has refused to allow the school to be continued either as a higher grade or as a higher elementary school, whether he can state what provision he suggests should be made for the 3,000 children at present in the upper standards and above, many of whom are receiving and desire to receive instruction beyond the ordinary day school code.

The children in the upper standards can be legally instructed in the schools of the Burnley School Board. There is, as the Board of Education are advised, ample accommodation in Burnley for all scholars desiring instruction higher than elementary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the grammar school accommodation, to which his answer presumably refers, is already filled with children of the middle class, and that a fee of eight guineas per year is charged?

I am not aware of that, but I am informed that there is ample accommodation for those who wish to go to a higher school. If, however, the hon. Gentleman can give me any information to the contrary I will inquire.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in a memorandum of county at large charges towards which urban districts are liable to contribute, recently issued to local authorities in Ireland by the Local Government Board, the cost of audit of county at large accounts was omitted, and that rural districts are now obliged to pay not only for their own district audit but also for the county at large which embraces accounts with the urban districts; and, seeing these accounts are proportionate to their contribution on rateable valuation, whether he will cause the Local Government Board to issue a revised memorandum.

The memorandum was issued not as an instruction, but with the object of eliciting the opinions of local authorities. Various modifications have been suggested, and these, together with the hon. Member's proposal, will be carefully considered by the Board before definite action is taken.

When may we expect a definite decision?

It shall be given without any undue delay.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland who is the gentleman in charge of the approval or otherwise of schemes made under the Agricultural Act by local authorities; will he explain why the scheme made by the Longford County Committee on 26th January was only sanctioned on 26th April, after three months delay; and will the organisation of the Department be altered so as not to have such delays.

The approval of the Department is given to these schemes after examination, inspection, and report by its expert officers. No undue delay has taken place in the consideration of these schemes, which involve in all instances the organisation of a system of education new to Ireland and the coordination of that system with the work of other educational authorities.

The right hon. Gentleman has not given me the name of the gentleman I asked for.

There is no particular officer in charge of that work.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give me the names of the several officers who have to do with it?

I think the assistant secretary is the person who, perhaps, attends to it more closely than anyone else.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state when the balance of the residual grant usually paid in March will be paid to the Irish national teachers.

I am informed by the Commissioners that, with the payments made in April the full payment of residual grant to all teachers was completed.

What decision has the right hon. Gentleman come to in regard to the particular case presented to him?

Of course the hon. Member knows I have to refer these questions to the Commissioners. That has been done, and they tell me that where there are exceptional circumstances they will be exceptionally considered. I have had no reply from them as to the particular case referred to.

When will you have a reply?

I will communicate again with the Commissioners.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the numbers of Roman Catholic and Protestant constables respectively stationed at Ballyshannon before the transfer thereto of the present head constable, the numbers at present, and if any reason can be assigned for the increase of Protestant constables in a district where over 90 per cent. of the people are Roman Catholics.

The numbers are nine and three, respectively, before the transfer, and eight and five at present. The variations are due to the exigencies of the public service and are merely ordinary fluctuations.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can say when judgment will be delivered in the fair rent applications heard by Sub-Commission No. 1 at Dunfanaghy, county Donegal, on 11th December, 1900, and what is the cause of the great delay.

Judgment was delivered in the cases referred to at the end of March.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is within his knowledge and with his sanction that the Local Government Board for Ireland have reversed the practice, which after full consideration they have followed for two successive half-years, of sanctioning the cancelling of rates which the Longford County Council had carefully considered and found to be irrecoverable; and whether he is prepared to receive a deputation consisting of two members of the council and the secretary to discuss this matter, and put forward the claim of the council for a reversal of the Board's present action.

The Board has not reversed the practice adopted on former occasions. It has no power to sanction the striking off of rates which are legally recoverable, even though at the time they are practically uncollectible, and the county council has been so informed. The Board has applied to the council for a statement showing what steps have been taken by the collectors to recover the arrears; when this statement is received the matter will be further considered.

Will the right hon. Gentleman receive a deputation from the county council on this subject?

The Board have applied for certain facts, and on receiving them they will further consider them.

Does the right hon. Gentleman then refuse to receive the deputation?

It would be useless for me to see it until the statement had been received and considered.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state approximately when the sale of the White Estate, near Bantry, county Cork, will take place.

I cannot at present assign a date, even approximately. The land judge issued a request for an inspection under the 40th section on the 11th instant. The inspection will be carried out as soon as possible.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, at the recent inquiry into an improvement scheme under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, promoted by the Cork Rural District Council, several cottages were rejected by the Local Government Board inspector for the reason, as specified by him, that the cottages were apparently not required; and, whether an inspector is empowered on these grounds to reject applications for labourers' cottages when those applications are supported by sworn evidence as to unsanitary conditions, and the necessity for the cottages proved by the medical officers and the rural district councillors representing the electoral divisions concerned.

The reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The opinion of the inspector was arrived at after a careful examination of the evidence. The suggestion that new cottages should be passed as a matter of course where the existing houses are condemned and the rural district council support the application, cannot be acceded to, as there may be other houses available in the district, or labourers may not be required at the place selected.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Local Government Board Inspector recently rejected a number of applications in the Middleton district?

I was not aware, but I imagine that if so there were good reasons.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of cases in the west riding of Cork in which, during the last ten years, landlords exercised the right of preemption under the Land Acts; and, seeing that when this right is exercised the true value as assessed in the courts is invariably but one-third of the selling value in the open market, will he, for the protection of Irish tenant farmers, recommend to His Majesty's Government the advisability of introducing a Bill to secure to the occupiers an absolute right of free sale.

The Land Commissioners have only cognisance of cases such as the question refers to where under Section 1 (3) of the Land Law Act, 1881, the parties having disagreed they apply to the court to fix the true value. The number of such cases in the past ten years, in the district referred to, is six. Two applications are pending. The reply to the second paragraph is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether Sergeant Sheridan and Constable Mahony, recently discharged from the Royal Irish Constabulary, were charged with putting a threatening notice into the pocket of a man named Ryan; whether he will explain why a public sworn inquiry was refused; and, whether any inquiry has been held in connection with the discharge of these two policemen, what has been the result of such inquiry, and what has become of the man Ryan in connection with whose arrest the policemen have been discharged.

These men were not tried by a disciplinary court of inquiry or any description of sworn inquiry, and it was decided by the Crown that there was not evidence to prefer a criminal charge of conspiracy against them. The Lord Lieutenant, however, was so satisfied that their conduct had been improper in the case, that he exercised his statutory authority in discharging them from the force. I have no knowledge of the movements of the man Ryan and do not propose to make inquiry.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered my question as to whether a public inquiry was refused these men, and what has become of Ryan?

The case against Ryan broke down, and Ryan was at once discharged, and walked away. I believe Sheridan asked for an inquiry, but the Lord Lieutenant, in the exercise of his discretion, refused to grant it.

In view of the fact that the charge has been made, and that it is commonly believed to be true, that these policemen planted a threatening notice on the person of the man Ryan, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of having that charge investigated?

No, Sir; in consequence of the nature of the evidence given by the officers, the charge broke down altogether, and there, so far as the Irish Government is concerned, is an end of the matter.

Then are we to understand there has been no investigation into this charge of planting a threatening notice in the pocket of the man Ryan?

The hon. Gentleman must not understand that. The officers brought forward their case in court, and their evidence was found not to be trustworthy.

Then may I ask the right hon. Gentleman—

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

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Local Government Board are prepared to sanction the appointment of two additional assistant surveyors for the county Roscommon at £50 a year each, on the condition that the salaries of the three existing assistant surveyors remain the same as when they were under the grand jury—namely, £80 a year each.

The Local Government Board propose to hold a local inquiry to determine, under the provisions of the statute, the increase of remuneration in proportion to the increase of duties payable to these officers, and at this inquiry the question of the alteration of the assistant surveyors' districts and the necessity for the appointment of additional surveyors will be fully considered by the inspector.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what steps the Local Government Board have taken to have the townlands of Townparks fixed as the area of charge for the Carrick-on-Shannon Waterworks in accordance with the original sealed order made by the Local Government Board when the waterworks were constructed.

As stated by me yesterday, the question of the areas of charge for special sanitary expenses is still under consideration.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he would state the number of Protestant and the number of Roman Catholic constables stationed at the village of Belleek, county Fermanagh, and how far that place is from Ballyshannon.

Is it in order to put a merely geographical question?

Five of the six constables stationed at Belleek are Roman Catholics. The village is five miles from Ballyshannon.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has yet received the Report from the Commissioners of Education in Ireland as to the complaints sent by him to them from the Bookbinders' Society; and, if so, what steps he purposes to take to meet the claims of these men.

No, Sir; I am still in correspondence with the Commissioners on this subject.

May I remind the right hon. Gentleman that he asked me to put this question down a fortnight ago? Ought we not to have a reply by now?

I am disappointed that none is ready.

Do these Commissioners ever sit and do any work?

^* : Order, order! The right hon. Gentleman has said that he cannot possibly answer the question on the Paper.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the eviction campaign now proceeding on the Tottenham estate at Kiltyclogher, county Leitrim; whether he is aware that 100 police are engaged in the campaign, and that the first person evicted was an old woman aged over eighty years, who was left in a ditch, and on what grounds a number of people who were looking on were batoned by the police.

The Sheriff of Leitrim requisitioned protection in the execution of sixteen ejectment decrees on this estate. A force of 100 police was ordered to protect him and his assistants. Two evictions were carried out on the 25th instant; in one case a woman of the age stated was put out, and in two other cases the ejectments were postponed as there was a sick person in each house. No evictions were carried out on the 26th instant. Yesterday two evictions were carried out, and two were abandoned on account of sickness in the houses. There is no truth whatever in the statement in the last paragraph; the police did not draw their batons.

Why were so many police drafted into the district?

No more were sent than were necessary.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a wooden hall for Gospel services was erected at the village of Camolin, county Wexford, on the 21st instant, by Mr. A. H. Robb, of the Evangelistic and Missionary Alliance; that on the same night, at 9.30, an attack was made on the hall, in which no service was being held, by a crowd of about 300 Roman Catholics, and the hall knocked down and the woodwork broken; and that the two policemen present were utterly powerless to protect the place, and the men who were in charge chased into the police barracks; and whether any persons have been made amenable for this outrage.

The following Question also appeared on the Paper—

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that Mr. A. H. Robb and his associates have been carrying on their operations in county Wextord for some weeks unmolested by the people, and that the reason for the taking down of their structure by the people of Camolin on the 21st instant, when it was attempted to be erected, was that Mr. Robb and his friends erected it in front of the residence of the Roman Catholic curate at Camolin, within three yards of his house, and blocking access to the road; and in view of the fact that Protestants took part in taking Mr. Robb's structure asunder, and of the irritation caused by proceedings like those of Mr., Robb and his associates, the Irish Government will, in order to prevent a breach of the peace, make such representations to the heads of the Evangelistic and Missionary Alliance as will cause them to refrain from such acts.

The facts are generally as stated. The police did not anticipate an attack on the structure. No violence was offered to persons. A prosecution has been directed against seven individuals who were identified by the police on the charge of riot and unlawful assembly.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the first part of my question.

I believe the facts are as stated. The hut was erected on a piece of waste ground under the bedroom window of the Roman Catholic curate's house, and about ten feet distant therefrom. It did not block access to the road. One Protestant was identified as taking part in the attack upon the hut. I doubt the expediency of making representations as suggested at the end of the question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the same facilities for erecting huts for evicted tenants?

What right have those marauders there?

^* : Order, order!

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number of estates at present in the Land Judge's Court in Ireland, the number of officials employed in the court and the amount of salary they receive, the number of receivers acting for the court, and the number of solicitors acting for the several parties concerned in the said estates.

The number of estates pending in the Land Judge's Court on the 1st November last is stated in the Judicial Statistics to have been 2,776. The number of officials employed in the court, with their salaries, will be found at page 300 of the Annual Estimates for the current year. The number of receivers is 396. The number of solicitors employed by the several parties is not known.

^* : The right hon. Gentleman has given the number of receivers at 396. One receiver may act for a number of estates, and the number of estates given last year was 1,290.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how much per annum is the Exchequer contribution to the unions of Carrickmacross and Castleblaney, respectively, for labourers' cottages already built in these unions, and whether he is aware that schemes for the erection of labourers' cottages are in progress in these unions; and can he say how much of the £40,000 grant-in-aid of the building of labourers' cottages in Ireland under the Land Act of 1896 will be available annually in the unions mentioned.

The payments out of this grant are not a fixed annual sum. The share of each county in the grant is distributed annually amongst the rural districts in proportion to the yearly expenditure of each such district on labourers' cottages. When the schemes now in progress in the unions mentioned are carried into effect the expenditure on cottages will be taken into account in determining the share payable to each union.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last part of my question.

The shares of counties and rural districts paid in respect of the financial year 1899–1900 will be found fully set forth in the Board's last annual Report.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received reports on the practice of boarding out harmless lunatics in Belgium and other countries, and whether he will consider the question of introducing legislation to enable Boards of Guardians and lunatic asylum authorities to board out harmless lunatics in Ireland.

I have received information with respect to the practice referred to, and I am considering whether it would be advantageous in Ireland.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the evidence in the case of Ballantine v. the Earl of Gosford, to the effect that it had been the practice on the Gosford estate for sixteen years to treat the Ulster Custom as non-existent where the tenant had gone into the Land Court to have a fair rent fixed, a course of conduct which Mr. Justice Andrews said could not be sustained at law; and, whether, on this evidence and the general effect to defeat the Custom throughout Ulster, he will consider the necessity of legislation to protect the tenants in the exercise of their legal rights.

My attention has been called to a newspaper report of the evidence in this case, which was substantially to the effect stated. The judgment of Mr. Justice Andrews, however, declared the law, and by the publicity given to it the tenants will no doubt be fully informed of their rights. Whether any further legislation is necessary to protect and enforce the Custom, which is the object of the Bill introduced by the hon. Member for North Antrim, will be considered.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether he is aware that, at the last spring assizes held at Trim, the judge was unable to determine a petition presented by the Meath County Council under Section 10 (3) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, owing to the dates prescribed by the rules of court being inconsistent with those prescribed by the Local Government Board; whether those rules have since been so revised as to enable the said petition to be determined at the assizes to be held on the 1st July next; and whether he will advise the Government to recoup the county council the costs of this second application.

The facts, I believe, are as stated in the first paragraph. The Local Government Board have drafted a fresh Order rescinding the previous Order of 9th May, 1899, and substituting provisions which will not conflict with the Rules of Court Order of 13th May, 1899. The proposed Order is now before the Lord Chancellor. There is no fund out of which to recoup the county council, as suggested.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the amount of money standing to the credit of suitors in the Supreme Court, Ireland; whether he can state upon what terms this money is allowed to remain in bank; whether, seeing that the fund increases yearly, he will consider the advisability of advancing loans from the accumulations for works in Ireland.

A Return giving full and detailed information on this subject is in proof (House of Commons Paper, 201) and will be issued very shortly. The cash balance, which is about £300,000, is at the Bank of Ireland. No interest is received upon it, but the bank, in consideration of it, keeps accounts of the various funds in court, whether cash or securities. The corresponding cash liability is between £500,000 and £600,000. Apart from other considerations, I do not think it would be prudent to make any draft upon the cash balance, and I can hold out no hope of the legislation which would be necessary for the purpose. The cash balance has been increasing in recent years, but it is less than it was fifteen years ago. I have already pointed out to the hon. Member that, besides the Local Loans Fund, there are other funds available in Ireland from which loans might be made for the purposes in which he is interested.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state what amount of money has been paid into the Treasury under the Purchase Acts (Ireland) as payments to the Woods and Forests Fund; will he state whether this quit rent is the property of the Crown in Ireland; and, if so, how this money has been spent; and whether, in future, it can be made available for re-afforestation purposes in Ireland.

Between the passing of the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881, and the 31st March, 1901, the sum of £171,103 has been paid, not to the Treasury, but to the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, for the redemption of quit rents payable for lands in Ireland, which quit rents were the property of the Crown. The purchase moneys have been merged in the general capital account of the Commissioners, and, under the Crown Lands Act, 1829, must be invested in the purchase of land or other hereditaments, or the redemption of charges or incumbrances on land already belonging to the Crown. It could not, therefore, be used for the purposes suggested.

The right hon. Gentleman has not stated where the moneys have been spent.

The Treasury have nothing to do with that. The money is paid into the Commissioners' account, and they invest it according to law in the purchase of land and other hereditaments.

But where is the money invested—in Great Britain or in Ireland?

I cannot say where.

Has not much been invested in London ground rents?

A considerable sum has been no doubt, but land has also been purchased in various parts of the United Kingdom.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the case of the late Mr. F. W. Egan, of the Geological Survey of Ireland, whose death on 6th January, 1901, was shown by medical evidence to be due to injuries received by his being thrown on 17th July, 1899, through no default of his own, from an Irish car on which he was travelling in discharge of his duty on the survey; and whether, since Mr. Egan's death was due to an injury specifically attributable to the nature of his duty, he is prepared, under the provisions of the Superannuation Act of 1887, to grant to the widow some gratuity or annual allowance.

Yes, Sir, a pension of £65 16s. 8d. per annum has been awarded to Mr. Egan's widow.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state from what source or sources the Irish Pension Fund is drawn, whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Imperial Treasury does not contribute to it, that the premiums paid by the teachers in recent years have been trebled but the pensions lowered, and that the Treasury has recouped itself for the £18,000 given to the general fund by withholding the retiring allowance formerly paid to the Irish teachers; and whether, as the British Teachers' Pension Fund received substantial aid from the Treasury, a similar and proportionate grant will be made to the Irish fund.

The Irish Teachers' Pension Fund is drawn from (1) an endowment of £1,300,000 appropriated to the purpose out of the Irish Church surplus; (2) premiums deducted from the salaries of teachers; (3) grants-in-aid voted by Parliament from time to time. I cannot admit that the Treasury does not contribute to the fund or that the premiums paid by the teachers have of late years been trebled, or that the pensions have on the whole been lowered. No retiring allowances or gratuities have been discontinued, except in the case of teachers who have elected to receive increased allowances from the fund established in 1880. The Vote for teachers in England and Wales is £58,315.The grant-in-aid proposed for the Irish Teachers' Pension Fund is £18,750. This proportion does not appear unfavourable to Ireland.

Is it not the fact that the pensions in the first class have been reduced, and that the contribution—

^* : Order, order! The hon. Member is commenting on the answer.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that letters posted in London for the 8.45 evening mail do not arrive at Rosscarbery until 8 o'clock the second following morning, whether the mails are detained in Clonakilty, a town eight, miles from Rosscarbery, from 2 o'clock the previous day, and, if so, will steps be taken to forward the mails to Rosscarbery on their arrival at Clonakilty.

The Postmaster General will cause. inquiry to be made; the result shall be communicated to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can state what course the Government intend to take in regard to the Irish Land Bill promised to be introduced in the King's Speech.