I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government has considered the position of a number of British merchants carrying on business at Pretoria and Johannesburg, who shut up their premises and abstained from further dealing with the enemy after the beginning of the war; whether these merchants will receive compensation for their losses, where their stores of goods have been commandeered without payment by the Boers, or where losses have been caused otherwise than by their default; and whether permits will now be given on an adequate scale for these merchants to send trustworthy agents up the country to fully restart their businesses.

Yes, sir. I have considered the position of the merchants referred to, and am aware that in many cases they have suffered unmerited loss, but such loss has been suffered by other classes as a consequence of the war, and no pledge can be given to pay compensation. With regard to permits, the issue is entirely in the hands of the local authorities, with whose discretion I cannot interfere, but I am informed that the number of permits granted has been largely increased lately.

Seeing that this question of compensation affects other classes as well as those indicated in the Question, may I take it that the matter is not absolutely closed in the view of the Government?

I really cannot add anything to the answer I have already given.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he is able to state when the Papers containing the communication of the Dutch Government will be laid upon the Table.

I am unable to name the date on which these Papers shall be laid. I do not imagine that the Dutch Government are in possession, or will be in possession until to-morrow, of the reply of His Majesty's Government, and, therefore, it is quite impossible to lay them this week. I hope, however, there will be no long delay.

Is it the right hon. Gentleman's intention to publish the communication received and the reply, without waiting for further communications?

No, Sir; I do not know that I can answer that question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether, in view of the statement made by Lord Kitchener to the Burgher Police Committee, as reported in an enclosure of Lord Milner's despatch to the Colonial Secretary of 22nd January, 1901, to the effect that the Secretary for the Colonies had foreshadowed an enlightened progressive Government in which the burghers themselves would take a prominent share, and which would ensure to them and their children all their rights of property as well as their ancient laws and customs, it is intended to defer any legislative interference with such rights of property and ancient laws and customs until such time as the body of the burgher population of the Transvaal can at least have cognizance of such new legislation, and can be consulted whether directly or indirectly.

I can give no pledge, but it is not intended to interfere by legislation more than is absolutely necessary for the proper administration of the country.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether, in few of the facts that, as stated by Lord Milner in his despatch of 14th December, 1901, permanent laws of a fundamental character were at that time already drafted by the legal adviser to the Transvaal Administration for submission to the Legislative Council when it should have been called into existence, and that, in particular, an ordinance relating to the mining of gold and other precious metals was stated by the legal adviser to be in course of preparation, it has been decided to create a Legislative Council for the Transvaal to whom these matters shall be referred, or whether they will be determined by the Executive Council consisting of the Administrator and Heads of Departments only.

It is proposed to create a Legislative Council as soon as practicable, but I cannot fix any time for this which must depend on the state of the country and the progress of military operations.

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that no "laws of a fundamental character" shall be passed?

I have already said that I cannot give any pledge.

On behalf of the hon. Member for Morpeth, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether, when martial law was proclaimed in Cape Town on the 9th of October last, any acts of war had taken place near that city; and, if so, can he state within what distance and where; whether he is aware that on that day the private house of Mrs. Koopman, and the professional offices of Messrs. Sauer and Standen, and of Messrs. Van der Byl and Van der Horst were taken possession of, and searched by soldiers or detectives; is he aware of the position of Mrs. Koopman, who is a widow lady in Cape Town, and of Messrs. Sauer and Standen and Messrs. Van der Byl and Van der Horst who are solicitors there; whether the house of Mrs. Koopman is still watched by detectives; whether any incriminating documents were found either in her house or in the offices of the gentlemen named; if not, whether he will say upon what ground and by whose orders these British subjects were subjected to this treatment?

Martial law was declared in the Cape ports to prevent assistance being given to the enemy through the medium of those ports and the landing of undesirable persons. The offices of Messrs. Van der Byl and Van der Horst were searched as stated, and certain documents were discovered. I have no information about the other points raised in the Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, what portion of the pay of Colonial troops employed in South Africa is borne by the respective colonies where those troops were raised; and what portion of the expense of equipping those troops and of transporting them to the theatre of war is borne by the colonies.

Approximately, the cost of the purely local troops employed locally is borne by the colonies. The cost of the other troops, including the oversea contingents, is borne by Imperial funds. In the case of some of the latter corps, which were raised in the early part of the war, the cost of raising, equipping, and transporting them was borne by the colonies. It is impossible at present to give any figures.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, if Major Burnham, late chief scout on the staff of Earl Roberts in South Africa, was an applicant for the post of instructor of scouting at Aldershot; and, if so, can he state why, taking into consideration this officer's experience in that department of warfare, his claims were not favourably entertained.

I am afraid my hon. friend is under a misapprehension. There is no such post at Aldershot.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether any other colonies than that of New South Wales, and, if so, which have asked for a commission on money expended by them at the request and on account of the British War Office, and whether such commission is to be paid to all the colonies who have made disbursements, or only to New South Wales; and can he state what precedent there is for the payment of such a commission to New South Wales.

The Colony of New South Wales was the only colony which raised the question, but the commission will be granted to all the colonies who made such disbursements, and their Governments have been so notified. The commission was recently given to the Government of Tasmania. As regards precedent, 3 per cent. is the rate of commission allowed on all payments of Army pensions made by Colonial Governments on behalf of the Imperial Government.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether there exists any Army or general order in South Africa by which members of the Royal Army Medical Corps are debarred from applying for permanent civil employmemt in South Africa, and if no disability exists would he cause the fact to he communicated to commanding officers in South Africa, in order that they may not place limitations on the Medical Corps, some of whom have served for longer periods in that country during the present war than similar officers in the other branches of the Army, such as time-serving soldiers, yeomanry, or militia, &c.

No such order exists, and in ordinary circumstances there would be no objection to allowing Medical Officers to take up State Civil employment under the usual regulations. At the present moment, however, it would not be possible to spare their services, even temporarily.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether he will state how many horses are to be allotted to each battalion of Imperial Yeomanry at Aldershot for training purposes. I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether he can state what stabling accommodation is at present available at Aldershot for Imperial Yeomanry horses, and whether he proposes to provide more.

The stabling accommodation available at present for the Imperial Yeomanry is for over 900 horses, and further accommodation for about500 more will be available on the 4th February, when the Mounted Infantry proceed to South Africa. The military authorities consider that 1,200 horses will be sufficient for the proper training of these Yeomanry while at Aldershot. The above-mentioned stabling accommodation will, therefore, be ample. The horses are detailed to the battalions as may be required for the daily training

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any distinction has been made between the Volunteer Service Companies at the Cape and the other companies of the battalions to which they have been attached, or whether they have done all duties equally with them.

I am not aware of any such distinction having been made.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the postage on local newspapers, addressed to Commanding Officers or Chaplains for distribution among the soldiers in South Africa, may be reduced from 4d. to 2d. per pound until the war is terminated.

The Postmaster General regrets that he cannot see his way to recommend any exceptional rate of postage for newspapers addressed to Commanding Officers or Chaplains for distribution among the troops in South Africa.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state why officers of Volunteers should not be brought generally under the Act of 1901, together with those of the Militia and Yeomanry, and rank with them, seeing that they become at times subject to military law, and pass the same examinations in drill at the school at Chelsea Barracks and in the five military subjects.

The conditions of service of the Volunteer force are quite distinct from those of the Militia and Yeomanry. The suggested change in the status and legal obligations of the officers certainly can hardly be dealt with on a question of precedence.

I beg to ask the Secretary of States for War if he will be good enough to refer also to the Committee upon the New Volunteer Regulations the question of the new Financial Rules for Mounted Infantry and Cyclists, reducing by fifty per cent and over the conditions under which such companies were raised less than two years ago at the instance of the War Office.

The Committee has been formed for a definite object, and it would not therefore appear expedient to add to their labours by a subsidiary and special reference of the nature proposed.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the total number of recruits raised for the regular Army and for the Militia respectively during the year 1901, specifying in each case the numbers obtained for the infantry arms and the number of specials.

The number of recruits for the regular Army (exclusive of one-year and re-enlisted men) was 45,356, of which 24,446 were for Infantry. The number of recruits for the Militia was 37,644, of which 32,668 were for Infantry. The specials amounted to about 33 per cent.

Will the Report of the Inspector General of Recruiting be got out earlier this year than last year?

I will make inquiries on that point.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the instructions recently issued by the Inspector General of Recruiting, still further lowering the physical standard for recruits below that hitherto allowed for specials, and to the fact that recruiting officers have been authorised to accept individuals whose height does not exceed five feet, but who, as stated in the official instructions, may be of otherwise magnificent physique; and whether any limit has been placed upon the number of these extra specials who may be enlisted under the new order.

The Commander-in-Chief and my other military advisers are in favour of taking men below the present standard of height to a limit of five feet, provided that they are bonâ fide twenty years of age, and fully up to all other standards, including weight and chest measurement. They must be properly proportioned, strong, active, intelligent, and of good character. Recruiting officers have been empowered to submit such applications for special enlistment to the Adjutant General. I have sanctioned this proposal experimentally, and no considerable number of men will be enlisted till the result has been reported on by regimental officers, and carefully considered.

Is there any special merit in five feet? Why establish any standard at all?

How is the bonâ fide age to be ascertained?

A special inquiry will have to be made on that point in each case.

In each individual case?

Yes.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office what was the average age of recruits enlisted last year for the regular Army; act what age are men being sent out to South Africa; and will he state what is the annual cost of a recruit.

The information as to the average age of last year's recruits is not at present available, but the average age for the previous five years was 19. The age at which a soldier may go to South Africa varies according to the work he is expected to undergo—Infantry men are sent out at 20, Artillery at 19, and Militia and young soldiers who are intended for Lines of Communication, at 18. The average cost of a recruit for his first year (including cost of recruiting staff) is as follows:—Infantry, £50, Cavalry and Engineers, £60, Artillery, £54.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the Department of Agriculture in Ireland offered to defray the expense of examining Irish-made brushes for Army, but that this offer was refused. Whether, seeing that there is a receiving depot at Montpelier Hill, Dublin, the staff could be supplemented to enable Irish-made goods being received. And, whether, having regard to the fact, that the Civil Service and Board of Works use Irish goods, he will state why the same rule should not apply in regard to the Army stationed in Ireland.

The reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative, and to the second paragraph in the negative. As regards the third paragraph, any goods made in Ireland are taken into general stock and issued to the Army generally, irrespective of where the units to receive them may be quartered.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can make any statement as to the date when the 3rd Battalion South Wales Borderers, which volunteered for active service in South Africa in February, 1900, will be permitted to return home.

As I have already stated, fresh battalions are proceeding to South Africa in relief of those there, but I cannot yet fix a precise date for the return of those battalions which will be relieved.

Cannot the noble Lord state a date by which this battalion will be relieved?

I am afraid I cannot.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can explain why royal garrison regiments, which are now serving abroad in subtropical stations, are officered in the senior ranks by two classes, and why officers of the same rank are paid at different rates; and will he explain why an officer serving with such garrison regiments is paid, if he is in receipt of a pension, only a portion of the pay of his rank, while other Officers who have commuted their pensions for a lump sum, are paid the full pay of their rank.

The officers all draw the pay of their rank, except those officers retired with a pension, who may draw such retired pay plus £150 a year in lieu of the pay of their rank if the former be more advantageous to them.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the conviction, on the 22nd instant, of three men of the Worcester regiment stationed in Tipperary, at the Clonmel Quarter Sessions, for window breaking in that town, and to the words used by the County Court Judge, in passing sentence, to the effect that the offence was wilful and must not be permitted to continue; is he aware that three other men of the same regiment were convicted of stealing watches, and that during last year windows were broken and houses damaged by men of the regiment then stationed there; and as the ratepayers have had to pay compensation to the owners of these premises, will he instruct the War Office to recoup the Local Urban Council the amounts so paid, and take steps to prevent a repetition of such offences by the military.

The windows were broken by recently joined recruits. The judge made no remarks in passing sentence. This is the first time the men of this regiment have committed such an offence in the district. The watches were stolen by men of indifferent character with a view to being discharged after conviction for felony. As regards compensation, the remedy is against the individual soldier and not against the State, and would form a matter on which the judge would adjudicate in passing sentence.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a number of men working in Woolwich Arsenal were discharged in December last in consequence of the vote being exhausted, although the orders were not completed; and whether he can state the amount of the reserve small arm ammunition now in stock.

The total number of men discharged on reduction in November and December last was 47; 32 of these were discharged because the work on which they were employed was completed. I am not prepared to publish the reserve stock of small-arm ammunition. It is being amply maintained.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether he can state how many years home service the 1st. Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers have had, and when in the ordinary course their term of Colonial service will commence; and whether, having regard to the distinguished services of the Battalion in the present war, and their losses killed and wounded, it is the intention the War Office to bring the battalion home before proceeding again abroad.

This regiment had been eleven years at home when the war broke out and would, according to the roster, have gone abroad in the season 1907–1908. The disturbance in the roster is too great to enable us to say precisely whether the regiment can be brought home, but all consideration will be given to the claims of the regiment.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admirality, whether arrangements could be made for the issue of an official narrative of the manœuvres of each year as soon as may be after the operations are concluded, and so much of the report of the umpire's as can be issued without prejudice to public interests.

There will be no objection to publishing the narrative of the manœuvres each year, shortly after the operations are concluded. The question as to whether the umpire's report, or any portion of it, shall be appended to the official narrative must be a matter for the decision of the Admiralty in each case.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, can he say, with reference to the statement of the invested assets of the Naval Savings Bank in Parliamentary Paper, No.317, of Session 1901, giving the value of those assets as £311,504 12s. 10d. on 31st March, 1900, whether the investments are taken at the prices current on 31st March, 1900, or at the prices at which the investments had actually been made; if the latter is the case, what would be the value of these assets if taken at the prices current on 31st March, 1900; and, in that case, can he state why the assets on the date in question are valued at a price other than that shown by the prices current to be their apparent market value at that date.

The investments referred to are taken at the prices at which they were actually made. The value of the assets if taken at the prices current on the 31st March, 1900, would have been £337,949, 18s. The account is prepared in accordance with Section 11 of the Naval Savings Bank Act, 1886, which requires the statement to show the investments under this Act, and not the apparent market value at a particular date. I believe this is in accordance with the ordinary practice with respect to Trust investments.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that that is contrary to the practice in the Post Office Savings Bank?

Yes, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, whether he can state the nature of the defects in the boilers or engines of H.M.S. "London" which has prevented the completion of her late trial, and whether these trials are at the contractor's expense.

There were no defects in the boilers of the "London," the completion of her trials has been prevented by injury to the port air pump, two of the bucket valves having been carried away. The contractors for the machinery of the ship have gone into liquidation, and the work has been carried on in the first instance by the Receiver, and recently by the Admiralty. The question as to the apportionment of the expense incurred by the failure of machinery during the trials will be decided on the completion of the accounts as between the various parties concerned.

asked whether there was any truth in the recent rumour that H.M.S. "Condor" had been found.

I have heard no rumour to that effect.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has His Majesty's Government made any agreement in writing with the German Government having reference to the concession or construction of the railway through Anatolia by Bagdad to the Persian Gulf; if so, what is the date of such agreement, and when will it be laid before Parliament.

The answer is in the negative.

Seeing the importance of communication with India, I should like to ask my right hon. friend whether he will give any information as to any alternative railway through Russia, which would be far shorter and more direct?

I can give my hon. friend no information in reference to the very large subject he has opened out.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he has received a copy of the Resolution of the Land Revenue of India recently prepared by the Viceroy, and which, apparently, has been published in India; and whether he will lay the same upon the Table of the House, and have it circulated to hon. Members in time for consideration before the debate on the motion concerning Indian Affairs on the 11th proximo.

I propose to present the Resolution to Parliament, together with the accompanying reports of the local Governments, as soon as they arrive; but I am afraid that they will not do so in time to admit of their publication and circulation by the date named.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, whether he will state the grounds upon which the revision of 10th December last of appointments and salaries in the India Office has been made; what the financial effect of this revision will be; and whether, looking to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Indian Expenditure, the increase, if any, will partly be borne by the Imperial Treasury.

The revision of appointments and salaries was necessitated partly by the increase of work in the India Office, partly by the fact that whenever the conditions of service in the Public Offices generally are improved, similar measures have to be taken at the India Office. The mean increase in expenditure will be £2,886 a year; but in spite of this, and of the constant growth of work, the charge for salaries in the India Office is now about £3,300 a year less, than it was in 1890–1891. It would not be in accordance either with the recommendations of the recent Royal Commission or with the consequent arrangement between the India Office and the Treasury, which was published as a Parliamentary Paper in December, 1900, that any part of the cost of the revision should be borne by the Treasury.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he will lay upon the Table of the House and circulate to members the note by Sir David Barbour, K.C.S.I., entitled "An Inquiry into the Incidence of Taxation in British India, 1881," which is the authority upon which Lord Cromer rests his statement in the Viceroy's Legislative Council, 1882, that the average agricultural income in British India was 18 rupees per head of the population; and, has he yet received a copy of the Official Memorandum prepared for the Viceroy of India from figures collected for the Famine Commission of 1898, showing the latest estimate of the value of agricultural production in India, from which the Viceroy, in a speech to his Council on 28th March 1901, estimated the average agricultural income per head at 20 rupees; and, if so, will he lay it upon the Table of the House, and print it for circulation as a Parliamentary Paper.

To the first part of the hon. Member's Question my answer is that, as has already been stated in answer to a question in this House in the year 1893, the note to which it refers was of a confidential nature, and was based on information which is now from 20 to 30 years old. For these reasons I do not think it expedient to present it to Parliament. In reply to the second Question, I have not received a copy of the Memorandum referred to, and I must consult the Viceroy before I can reply to the Question. There is a long and voluminous report on an inqury instituted by Lord Dufferin in 1888 into the condition of the agricultural population, and I propose to publish this.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the inconvenience to banks and other business houses in the City arising out of the arrangements for receiving applications for the new issue of Ceylon Government £3 per cent. Inscribed Stock; whether he is aware that such applications were receivable only on specified forms; that on application at the Crown Agents' Transfer Office, No. 1, Token house Buildings, E.C., at 10 o'clock on the day of the issue, 23rd inst., information was given that such forms would not be received there until 12 noon; that the applications had to be lodged in Downing Street, and that on the same day the application list was closed at 1 o'clock; whether he can see his way to arrange for a greater interval in future applications for Colonial loans between the actual issue of the application forms and the closing of the lists.

I am informed that no such statement as the hon. Member refers to in the second paragraph of his Question was made at the Crown Agents' city office. The forms of application were available at that office, and at the other offices named in the Prospectus, a few minutes after 10 o'clock on the 23rd inst., and the list was closed at 1.20 on the same day, the loan having been largely over-subscribed by that time. In all cases of subscription at a fixed price the interval between the issue of forms of application and the closing of the list must depend on the response made by the public to the loan; but I may add that, though special forms were issued for the convenience of subscribers, applications were receivable in any form.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the clerk to the County Council of Staffordshire, who receives a salary of £2,000 a year, and in additional allowance of £1,500 a year for clerks, is also allowed to continue his private practice; and whether this is an arrangement which is sanctioned by the Home Office.

When the Secretary of State fixed the salary at the amount recommended by the Standing Joint Committee in 1895, the question of private practice did not arise. Both salary and allowance are subject to reconsideration on the occurrence of a vacancy.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can hold out any hope of steps being taken to prevent the streets in London being taken up by gas, water, electric, and hydraulic power companies and various civic authorities without system, to the inconvenience of the public.

I understand that this matter is engaging the active attention of the Local Authorities, within whose jurisdiction it properly falls in the first instance. The Corporation of the City have deposited a Private Bill, in which they ask for powers to control the breaking up of the streets within their area. For the rest of London, I am informed that the County Council are in communication with the Borough Councils and hope to be in a position shortly to put forward proposals for legislation, giving them the necessary powers as central authority in this matter. Any such proposals will receive the careful consideration of the Government; and, knowing as I do the gravity of the inconvenience caused by the present state of things, I shall be glad, if it lies in my power, to help the matter forward.

Is the London County Council at present in any way responsible for the breaking up of the streets?

I cannot say without inquiry.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the composition of the recently appointed Coal Commission and the terms of reference thereto were communicated to a section of the Press before Royal sanction had been given and before publication had been made in the official gazette; and, if so, whether such is the usual practice.

The Home Office was not responsible for the communication to the Press of information about the Royal Commission on coal supplies, but I understand that no such communication was made before the Royal Assent had been signified. It is not the practice, and it would be obviously inconvenient, to defer publication until after the notice occurs in the gazette. In accordance with the usual practice arrangements had been made for giving the information to all newspapers simultaneously, but as a matter of fact some of them received it earlier than others. This was entirely due to an oversight.

On behalf of the hon. Member for Morpeth, I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state whether the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on the Coal Question empowers the Commissioners to inquire into the operation of the export duty on coal recently imposed, and, if there is any doubt upon that point, whether he will amend the reference with a view to remove the doubt.

I think that there is no doubt that the Commissioners are empowered by the terms of the reference to inquire into this matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to the advertisement of a sale of the Chinese Imperial Seals on Friday next; whether he will cause in- quiry to be made as to whether these seals are stolen or looted property; and whether he will see that they are restored to the Chinese Government.

As soon as the hon. Member drew my attention to it I took steps to investigate and consider the matter and, amongst other things, I had an interview with a representative of the firm of auctioneers concerned in the sale. His statement, which be subsequently put in writing, was to the effect that the seals are the property of a gentleman, not a British subject, who purchased them in Tientsin from a foreign officer who, with the assistance of another person also of foreign nationality, had procured them from Peking. There does not appear to be any ground upon which the Government can take action in the matter; but I may perhaps add that I am sure the House will be glad to learn that, however these seals were obtained, British troops were in no way concerned.

I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether that is simply the account received from the auctioneer, or whether he has taken any steps to satisfy himself of the truth of that story.

I have no reason whatever to believe that the statement made to me by the auctioneer was not accurate. Whether it be accurate or not, I think there is no means of ascertaining the truth of the statement.

Having regard to the fact that no assurance has been given that the property is not stolen property, will the right hon. Gentleman direct that it shall not be sold?

I understand that the hon. Member is a lawyer. If he will point out to me what locus standi I should have in the circumstances I have named, I shall be glad.

If stolen property is publicly sold, has the right hon. Gentleman no right to interfere?

No one has made any claim to the property. How on earth am I to know that the property was stolen? I do not even know that these seals are genuine.

I desire to ask the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the last answer, whether he has read the auctioneer's notice, in which it is stated that these seals are the property of the Empress of China, and were used by her at the time of the sacking of Peking.

I understand that that is the statement in the catalogue, but on my asking the auctioneer the question he said he would distinctly decline to guarantee that they were genuine.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will be able at an early date to relax the regulations as to the movement of swine in the area scheduled round the city of Norwich.

Yes, Sir, on Monday or Tuesday of next week.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether it is the practice of the Board of Agriculture to communicate to County Councils the result of examinations of specimens sent to the Board in suspected cases of anthrax or rabies; whether the results of the examinations of specimens sent by the veterinary surgeons employed under the Carmarthenshire County Council have been communicated either to the senders or to the County Council; and whether, in view of the desire of the County Council to carefully carry out the anthrax order, he will give instructions that the results of every examination of specimens should be forwarded to the County Council.

The County Council itself deals with all questions of anthrax—and the examination is made by their officers. The final diagnosis in cases of rabies is made by the officers of the Board—and the result is usually made known to the Local Authority by one of our Inspectors. There can be no objection to doing this in all cases.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state on what date the last authenticated case of foot and mouth disease of cattle occurred in the Argentine Republic, and whether he will now consider the removal of the prohibition against the slaughter of Argentine cattle at Deptford.

No, Sir, I cannot yet undertake to remove the prohibition. It is still too soon to assume that the disease has entirely disappeared. So recently as October, 3rd, His Majesty's Consul at Buenos Ayres reported the existence of disease in the southern part of the province of Buenos Ayres on the authority of two stockowners of repute in that district. The latest positive reports of disease were made in February, 1901, cases having occurred at that time in Santa Fé and Cordova.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he can state what is the present condition of affairs regarding the new German tariff, and especially as to the increases of the duties upon Sheffield and other British goods.

I understand that the German Tariff Bill is at present under consideration by a special Committee of the Reichstag. A Return, comparing the existing and proposed rates of duty on the principal articles in which British traders are interested, has been prepared by the Board of Trade and presented to this House. Information has since been received of certain modifications of the proposed rates introduced by the Bundesrath, and those modifications have been published in the Board of Trade Journal. They do not, however, materially affect the proposed duties on Sheffield goods. The whole question of the effect of the proposed tariff on British Trade is receiving the careful consideration of the Board of Trade and of their Advisory Committee on Commercial Intelligence.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a Select Committee, to inquire into and report upon the prevailing system of preferential rates for Foreign goods and produce imported into the three Kingdoms.

The Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, prohibits Railway Companies from making any difference in rates for home and foreign merchandise, in respect of the same or similar services. I have no evidence that this law is infringed by any "prevailing system," and I cannot recommend the appointment of a Select Committee, but I shall be quite prepared to inquire into any specific cases in which complaint of preferential rates is made by or on behalf of traders aggrieved.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the difficulty that exists in ascertaining the facts, because of the way in which the books are kept?

I had better have notice of that Question.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether he is aware that the Metropolitan Asylums Board have repeatedly declined to supply information as to the names and addresses, ages, and conditions as to vaccination of all smallpox patients treated in their hospitals, although they are required to give this information by section 8 of The Vaccination Act, 1898, and whether children born in these hospitals, and duly vaccinated, and afterwards dying of smallpox, are included in the statistical tables of the Metropolitans Asylums Board among unvaccinated cases.

The section mentioned by the hon. Member does not apply in the case of a smallpox hospital maintained by the managers of the Metropolitan Asylum District, as the managers are not a sanitary authority within the meaning of the section. I am, however, informed by the managers that a register similar to that described in the section, is in fact kept at the Hospital Ships, but that only two persons have made application to inspect it. The reply of the managers to these applications, which it appeared were made on behalf of the National Anti-Vaccination League, was to the effect that arrangements would be made for the register being produced, assuming that the person wishing to inspect was prepared to comply with the regulations of the managers, and satisfy the Medical Officer before entering the ships, that he was adequately protected against contracting smallpox. With regard to the last part of the question, it is the practice of the managers to classify as unvaccinated any person who was already infected with smallpox before vaccination was performed. I understand that no birth took place in the smallpox hospitals of the managers last year, and that this year there have only been three births.

On behalf of the hon. Member for the St. Patrick Division of Dublin, I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether it is intended at an early date to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the Housing Question, and report thereon this session.

No Sir. As I have previously stated, I intend to ask the House to appoint a Committee to inquire into the period for the repayment of loans raised by Local Authorities, but I do not propose to move for the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the Housing Question generally.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take care to appoint a Member of the Irish party on the Committee?

Care will be taken to make the composition of the Committee thoroughly satisfactory.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether any experiments have been made with the system of wireless telegraphy, with a view to its application in the postal telegraph service, more especially in cases such as prevail in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, where, under present conditions, the Department has in many instances been unable to establish telegraphic communication between the islands and the mainland on account of the cost. And, will he state the nature of the difficulty which at present prevents the adaptation of wireless telegraphy for the purposes of the public telegraph service.

The Post Office has made many experiments with various systems of wireless telegraphy, and communication has already been established in more than one instance. The Postmaster General is not aware of any case in the Highlands which would be suitable for wireless telegraphy; and as regards the Islands of Scotland, where there is any demand for telegraphic communication, it does not appear that in present circumstances the annual expense of a wireless system would differ materially from the expense of submarine cables; and in any case a guarantee could not he dispensed with. The Postmaster General will, however, continue to keep the matter under review.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can say when the Report of the Committee on Local Records will be presented.

The Report of the Committee is in course of preparation, but it is impossible for me at present to say when it will be presented.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the Postmaster General has had his attention drawn to the Report of the Association of British Postal Medical Officers on the prevalence of tubercle among postal employées, and to the summary of preventive measures drawn up; and whether the Postmaster General is prepared to adopt the measures therein set forth for the more effective prevention of tuberculosis among the staff of the Post Office.

The Postmaster General received the report referred to in due course. Some of the preventive measures suggested in it were already in operation, and others that have been found practicable have been adopted. Statistics supplied by the Registrar-General show that the rate of mortality from phthisis and cognate diseases between the ages of 15 and 65 is much greater in the country at large than amongst the established employéesof the Post Office; and there is no reason to think that persons in the Post Office service are more subject to these diseases than others.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that all London telegraphists entering the service between the years 1881 and 1889 were informed by the Civil Service Commissioners that they had a prospect of receiving £190 per annum; and that during these years operating telegraphists received this salary the senior class being classed in the Estimates as among the general body. Will he explain why some London telegraphists are now in receipt of £160 per annum with no reasonable prospect of advancement; and, whether the Postmaster General will state what steps are to be taken in order to carry out the promise of the Civil Service Commission in the case of all men included in the promise.

The Postmaster General is aware that London telegraphists entering the service at the period referred to had a prospect of rising to £190 a year by promotion to the class of Senior Telegraphists, now styled Overseers and Senior Telegraphists; and they have that prospect still. The class still exists and access to it is obtained in the same manner as heretofore, namely by promotion on the occurrence of vacancies.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the sanitary condition of the sorting office at Ilford has been reported as satisfactory; whether there is any water laid on; and, whether, seeing there is no lavatory there, nor a retiring room, the new premises can be proceeded with immediately.

The sorting work at Ilford is being performed in a large room hired temporarily for the purpose, in order to relieve the head Post Office; and no report has been received that the accommodation is otherwise than sufficient for such temporary use. The arrangements for the purchase of a site for the new office are in hand, and the building will be proceeded with as soon as possible.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he can give the amount of risk allowance paid weekly to counter officers attending to the paid charge duty at the Lombard Street Branch Office for the quarter of a century prior to the publication of the Tweedmouth Committee's Report; whether that report secured to all employees, receiving risk allowances at the date of its publication, such allowances unaltered; and whether there is a risk allowance paid weekly to the counter officer who now performs the paid charge duty at Lombard Street Branch Office; and, if so, what allowance.

Down to May, 1897, a risk allowance of 3s. a week was paid to the officer performing the duty referred to at the Lombard Street Branch Office, but on an examination of the duties early in that year, it was found that there was no such risk attached to the duty as would justify the payment of an allowance, and it was consequently discontinued. The Tweedmouth Committee's recommendation was not intended to apply to a case of this kind. Subsequently in 1900, the duty was revised and the sale of stamps added to it, and as this addition involved a certain risk, a small allowance of 2s. a week was granted; and this is now being paid to those officers performing the duty in question who are properly entitled to receive it.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state when it is proposed to nominate the Select Committee on Valuation in Ireland as promised last session.

The pledge given by the Government on 14th August, was explicit, and will be redeemed forthwith if the hon. Member so desires after weighing the facts which I submit for his consideration. (1.) The Report of the Royal Commission on Local Taxation in Ireland will contain a chapter on Valuation. (2.) The principal witness whom such a Committee would probably wish to call at the outset, Mr. Barton, would not, owing to his official duties, be in a position to prepare a statement, still less to appear, until after March 1st. The complete Report of the Commission cannot be issued until after Easter, but the chapter on Valuation could be published separately within a fortnight, or at most, three weeks. The selection of the Committee and drafting of the reference would, I submit, be facilitated if we had the Report before us. If the hon. Member shares that view, the Report will be separately published.

The position taken up in the answer is a reasonable one, but inasmuch as valuation proceedings are under the arrangements of last year, suspended until after this Committee has reported, I hope there will be no unnecessary delay.

Hear, hear!

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, at a Petty Sessions Court recently held at Bantry, Co. Cork, the magistrates refused to commit a boy named Healy to an industrial school, until a police constable, after enquiry, made an information, and that all the magistrates present considered, on the evidence before them, that Healy was a fit subject for committal, but that the resident magistrates stated that, owing to the circular issued by the Lord Lieutenant and not withdrawn, a postponement was necessary. Whether, seeing that pending the inquiries Healy absconded from the house of a relative and is now a vagrant, he will, pursuant to his promise of 7th May, 1901, facilitate the committal of children to industrial schools.

This case came before the magistrates for the first time on the 9th December, when the resident magistrate very properly observed that as there was no evidence in support of the application to commit the boy the case should be adjourned to enable the police to obtain evidence. On the 20th January, the boy was brought before the Court and duly committed to an industrial school upon the evidence of the police.

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that he is entirely misinformed as to the facts of this case.

Order, order!

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that owing to the action of the Local Government Board in declaring that the insolvency or poverty of an occupier of a house is not a sufficient reason for County Councils to strike off items as uncollectable rates, but that the rate collectors should be required to produce a sheriff's return of nulla bona, a double loss to the ratepayers is incurred, namely, the cost of legal proceedings as well as the amount of rates in such cases, whether, in view of this fact, he will take steps to empower the county councillors to adopt the same practice with regard to ascertaining what uncollectable rates are as the grand jurors previous to the passing of the Local Government (Ireland) Act adopted.

The Local Government Board has not declared that the collector should be required to produce a Sheriff's return of nulla bona. On the contrary, the Board is prepared to regard as irrecoverable all sums which have not been collected, provided it is satisfied that all reasonable exertions have been made to enforce payment. The collector is empowered to distrain on his warrant and it is not necessary for him to obtain decrees. The provisions of the Grand Jury Act to which reference is made have been repealed, but the provisions of No. 2 Poor Rate Collectors Order are practically of the same effect, and further legislation is not necessary.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, seeing that the Board of Works engineer inspected Glin Pier during the recess, whether, if his report be satisfactory, the subsidised steamer tourist service between Kilrush and Tarbert will be extended to Glin.

The inspection of the Pier had no connection with the question of the extension of the existing steamer service between Tarbert and Kilrush, respecting which I have nothing to add to the communications already made by me to the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that since the passing of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, occupiers of houses and cottages under £4 valuation are liable for rates, and of the burden consequently entailed on the solvent ratepayers both by the failure of these small occupiers to pay their rates and by the cost of legal proceedings, he will take steps to have the owners of houses and cottages under the said valuation made primarily liable for the rates?

The Local Government Act was based on the principle that the occupier should be rated, and the Agricultural Grant was fixed upon this understanding. The fundamental change suggested is neither practicable nor desirable.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieu- tenant of Ireland whether he can state the grounds on which Sergeant Sheridan was dismissed from the police force in Ireland, and why a public inquiry applied for by Sergeant Sheridan into the grounds of his dismissal was refused; and is he aware that Sergeant Sheridan has publicly stated that he was wrongfully dismissed; and is it the intention of the Irish Government to prosecute Sergeant Sheridan for the offences for which he was dismissed.

The case of ex-Sergeant Sheridan has already been exhaustively discussed in this House. I must refer the hon. Member to the statement made by me on the Appropriation Bill at the end of last session†;to that statement I have nothing to add.

This is a very important question. I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman why Sergeant Sheridan, while under charge of the gravest possible crime, was allowed to go free in Ireland for many months? Is it true he has now been allowed to leave the country for America? If so, why was he not put upon his trial?

I cannot answer the Question put to me without repeating a great portion of a speech I made last year. It was a difficult case, and I have already stated the reasons for coming to the decision we did. If hon. Members are not satisfied, they will no doubt give me another opportunity of justifying my action. I cannot, however, do that in answer to a Question.

Nobody in Ireland is satisfied, and I shall take the earliest opportunity of raising the question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. E. G. Peet, Lay Assistant Commissioner, has been continually engaged in valuing holdings on the estate of Sir George Colthurst, in the Ballyvourney district, since the passing of the Land Act of 1896, and that his valuations have been in some cases cut down by the Chief Land Commission to the extent of 25

†See (4) Debates, xcix, 1316.

There have been several appeals from the decisions of the sub-Commission fixing fair rents on this estate, but it does not appear, I am informed, that the rents so fixed were reduced on appeal to the extent mentioned. In some cases the decisions of the sub-Commission were affirmed, and in some the rents were raised. The qualifications of Mr. Peet are described in Parliamentary Paper, No. 107, of the session of 1897. It is probable that all outstanding appeals from the estate in question will be listed at the next sitting of the Commissioners for the hearing of appeals from Cork.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the number of lunatics sent annually from the county Wicklow to the Richmond Lunatic Asylum since the year 1890 to 31st December, 1901. I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the annual expense of maintaining the Richmond Lunatic Asylum from the year 1890 to the present year; also the annual increase during the same period in the number of lunatics received into the asylum.

The information in answer to these Questions cannot conveniently be compressed within the limits of a reply, and I have communicated the figures to the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say how much money has been expended on the Portrane Branch of the Richmond Lunatic Asylum, and how much more money the Asylum Board propose to spend upon it.

I am informed that the expenditure already incurred on this auxiliary asylum amounts to £317,280, and that the Asylum Board propose to expend a further sum of £45,350 upon it.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, having regard to the contemplated raising of rates by the Great Southern Railway Company, notwithstanding the promise given prior to the passing into law of the Amalgamation Bill, he will have public notice given of the date on which the inquiry will be held by the Railway Commissioners, and permit the parties interested to be represented thereat.

The Railway Company, in December, published a notice of their intention to apply to the Railway Commissioners for their consent to increased rates. The notice required any persons feeling aggrieved by the proposed increase to serve objections upon the Registrar to the Commissioners. Some 80 objections have been received. The Commissioners have fixed February 18th at the Four Courts, Dublin, to hear the application of the Railway Company, and also to hear the objections.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the detailed Return of Appeal Judicial Rents for January, 1901, issued by the Land Commission; is he aware that these rents fixed by the Chief Land Commission show an average increase on the rents fixed by the Sub-Commission of 18s. per tenancy in Antrim, 18s. in Fermanagh, and £1 10s. in Down, an average increase of 14s. for the Province of Leinster, and of 18s 3d. for the whole of Ireland; and, whether, in view of these figures and of the expense and the delay caused, steps will be taken by the Government this session to abolish this practice of appeal from the Sub-Commissioners except where legal questions may arise.

The averages quoted in the Question do not afford a proper basis from which to draw conclusions as to the general result of the decisions of the Land Commission Court. The Court decides judicially in each case after hearing the evidence of the parties, upon consideration of the report of the Valuers, and of all the circumstances of the case, holding and district. The reply to the second paragraph is in the negative.

Does not the cost in respect of appeal exceed the entire amount of valuations dealt with? Will the Land Bill to be introduced deal with that question?

I cannot discuss the Irish Land Bill now. The expenses of litigation are very heavy in Ireland.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the Address of Judge O'Connor Morris to the Sligo Grand Jury, on the 24th instant, in the course of which the Government as well as the United Irish League were censured for their encouragement of agrarian agitation in the West; and, seeing that the Grand Jury, composed of fifteen Unionists and five Nationlists, unanimously adopted a resolution dissenting from his Honour's observations, and advocating compulsory land purchase, whether any steps can be taken in the matter.

I have seen a newspaper report of the observations of the learned Judge on the occasion referred to. The Government has on many occasions repudiated the policy of compulsory purchase, and to that repudiation it adheres.

Will the Irish Government take any steps to prevent political harangues being delivered from the bench?

The Irish Government never criticises any remarks made by Irish Judges.

But will the Government take action to prevent a course unknown in England of the judges delivering political speeches from the bench?

I repeat that the Irish Government never takes action in respect of the speeches or addresses made by judges. The only course is to proceed against the judge by Addresses in both Houses of Parliament.

intimated that notice must be given of any further Question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of the tenants whose tenancies were determined pursuant to section 7 of the Land Act in the county of Longford; how many of such tenants were wholly dispossessed and how many readmitted as caretakers; and will he undertake to introduce into his promised Land Bill a clause to suspend the operation of this section.

The number of tenant's served with Notices under Section 7, from 1887 down to the end of last year, was 2,062, of whom only 243 were actually evicted, or less than 18 per annum. In the remaining cases settlements were presumably arrived at, though there is no statistical information of the relative number restored as tenants or as caretakers. As already stated. I cannot by anticipation disclose the contents of the new Bill.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a recent sitting of the Head Land Commission in Longford, the rents which had on inspection been fixed by the Sub-Commission were on appeal raised in almost every case by a majority of the Court by nearly 30 per cent.; and can he hold out any hope that the new Land Bill will provide for inspection of holdings by the Head Commission before accepting the valuation of the Court valuers.

I am informed that the fact is not correctly stated in the first part of the Question. As regards the second part of the Question, I can only repeat that I cannot anticipate the contents of the new Land Bill.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the actual increase in the valuation?

I will give the hon. Member the information.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he has received a resolution from the Enniskillen Rural District Council No. 2, which was passed at a meeting held in Blacklion on the 25th instant, denying the accuracy of the information supplied to him as to the existence of intimidaor boycotting in the Blacklion district, and will he make further inquiries as to the necessity of having extra police in this district.

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to. I am in frequent communication with the local officers responsible for the peace of this district, and, as already stated, the extra police will be removed as soon as the necessity for their presence has passed away.

I wish to to put a question of which I have, I fear in vain, attempted to give private notice to the Chief Secretary. I wish to ask him whether it is the fact that the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland has refused to sanction the appointment, to the position of High Sheriff of Dublin, of the gentleman selected by the Corporation of Dublin; is it not the fact, that the statue under which the Corporation Acts was passed in the year 1876, at the instance of Mr. Butt, and that it gave power to the Corporation to select three names; has it not been the invariable practice of the Irish Government in the past to accept the first name on the list and will the right hon. Gentleman state the reason why this invariable practice has now been departed from.

I have no information on the matter raised by the hon. Gentleman, but if he will give me an opportunity to acquire the information and look up precedents, I shall be able to answer him on another day, say Monday.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland, what is the explanation of the Sheriff's absence from the Courts of Listowel and Killarney at recent Quarter Sessions when white gloves were presented to the Judge.

The Chairman of Quarter Sessions permitted the Sub-Sheriff to be absent from these Sessions. On each occasion the Sub-Sheriff was represented by a deputy.

How often of late have County Court Judges in Kerry been presented with white gloves?

Order, order!

The question does not suit him.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, can he state the qualification required for appointment as Court Valuer to the Head Land Commission; is the person appointed removable at the will of the Executive; and what steps the Government take to determine the fitness of persons appointed for the office.

The Court Valuers are almost invariably selected by the Land Commissioners from amongst those Sub-Commissioners who have by their experience and proved capacity in that position recommended themselves to the confidence of their superiors. Like ordinary members of the Civil Service they are removable at the pleasure of the Crown.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman explain the fact that invariably the Valuers or their agents are gentlemen who have assisted in raising rents in the first instance?

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, if any steps have been taken to provide suitable offices for the Board of Agriculture and Technical Education in Ireland; and, if so, can he state where, and by whom, the plans for the proposed building are being prepared.

Provision will be made for suitable offices for the Board of Agriculture in the bill which as already announced I shall shortly introduce in connection with the erection of a new College of Science in Dublin. I must defer any further statement on the subject till the Bill is introduced.

Have the plans been drawn up?

That is one of the matters I shall deal with in my statement.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that letters arriving at Clonakilty by the mid day mail, instead of being forwarded directly to Rosscarbery, are allowed to remain there until the following morning, and seeing that there is daily a parcel post consignment from Rosscarbery and that tenders for the carriage of these mid-day mails have been invited from car-owners in Rosscarbery and Clonakilty, can he state when the arrangements for this mid-day service will be complete.