reported the Royal assent to a number of Bills [see page 1329].

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that a Bill to give effect to the Brussels Sugar Convention has passed the Belgian Legislature, and has been read a second time in the German Reichsrath, he will at once introduce a Bill to give effect to the penal clause enabling the prohibition of bounty-fed sugar, or the levying of countervailing duties upon it, similar to that recently passed by the Indian Government. (Answer.) It is the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill to enable them to give effect to the Sugar Convention. The penal clause in the Bill would not apply until the 1st of September, 1903, the date fixed for the coming into operation of the Convention.—(Treasury.)

To ask the First Commissioner of Works if he will give the most strict orders that no workman employed on the stand outside the National Gallery shall be allowed to smoke there, in view of the information sent him by the Member for the Chorley Division of Lancashire, that, on the 18th instant, at 12.58 p.m., he saw an artizan smoking while seated upon a pile of rubbish and dry wood in the most westerly gangway of the stand. (Answer.) Strict orders against smoking had been given, and have been reiterated with strong cautions. I am assured that the police are vigilant in enforcing them, and that a man could not escape detection for more than a very short time, but I am much obliged to my noble friend for bringing this case to my notice. I at once made inquiries and found that on the occasion referred to the regular watchman of the workmen was temporarily absent, and that the man in charge during his absence, who should have prevented such an offence, had been dismissed by the contractors.—(Office of Works.)

To ask the hon. Member for the Tonbridge Division of Kent, as a Charity Commissioner, if, when the draft Order in Council, now upon the Table of the House, becomes law, the Charity Commissioners will of their own motion, and for England and Wales generally, divide mixed charities into educa- tional and non-educational, or whether such divisions will only be made from time to time on the special application of the trustees or governors of any charity or otherwise; and whether, until such division is made, the trustees of mixed charities will have to make applications to two Government Departments, and if any regulations or directions will be issued to guide them and prevent unnecessary correspondence and delay. (Answer.) The Charity Commissioners do not propose to determine forthwith the educational part of every mixed endowment in England and Wales, but to proceed to such a determination in each case where circumstances render such a determination necessary or desirable. Fending such determination, a mixed endowment remains within the jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioners, to whom any application relating to such endowment should be addressed.—(Charity Commission.)

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he is aware that the inhabitants of South Ambersham, Sussex, have no means of posting letters within a mile and a half of them; and if he will reconsider the memorial addressed to him in March last, with a view to seeing if, by a re-arrangement of the letter carriers' rounds in the Midhurst Postal District, he could give the inhabitants the same facilities as are enjoyed by residents in other places of the same size in the district. (Answer.) The question of erecting a letter box at South Ambersham and affording an evening collection of letters therefrom was recently considered, and the result was communicated to the honourable Member in a letter sent to him from the Post Office on the 2nd of last month. The Postmaster General regrets that he is unable to afford the desired accommodation, as the expense involved would be greater than he would be warranted in sanctioning—. (Post Office.)

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he can state under what conditions and obligations the mail contract has been settled between the Postmaster General and the Campbeltown Steam Packet Company, so as to provide and maintain a daily and efficient postal service all the year round from Greenock to West Coast of Arran, the Cantyre District of Argyll, and the burgh of Campbeltown. (Answer.) The Campbeltown Steam Packet Company have undertaken to perform a regular mail service to and from Campbeltown every week day all the year round. The steamers will call at Lochranza, Pirnmill, and Carradale. There is to be no deviation or delay, though reasonable time is to be allowed for discharging cargo at the ports of call. Time bills showing the hours of working are to be furnished by the company. A contract is being prepared.—(Post Office.)

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether, in order to make provision against the prolongation of the present famine in India, which began in July, 1899, he will consider the advisability of inviting Parliament to make an inquiry into the condition of the people affected by the famine, and to ascertain whether more effective means can be employed to deal with it, and also to ascertain whether it is possible to take better preventive measures against future famine; whether he has any official information showing what the supply of food in India has been during the present famine. (Answer.) The relief given in India to mitigate the distress to which the hon. Gentleman refers has, during the last two years, partaken very much of the character of poor law relief such as prevails in this country; and the numbers in India in receipt of such relief, in proportion to the population, are much less than those at the present moment in Great Britain receiving similar help. The most effective means of dealing with drought in India, which is the origin of the distress, has been exhaustively inquired into and reported on by the recent Famine Commission, and Railway and Irrigation Commissions are dealing separately with the preventive measures which their respective branches of inquiry suggest. I do not propose to order further inquiries. During the recent famine the supply of food has proved sufficient.—(India Office.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can say what is the cause of the delay in the sale of the Creagh Estate at Lyre Banteer, County Cork; is he aware that the first steps towards purchase were taken in 1898, and that the tenants have since made repeated applications for purchase; can he state who are the mortgagees of the estate; and whether steps will be taken to facilitate the sale through the Land Judges' Court. (Answer.) This appears to be the same property to which the hon. Member referred in a Question addressed by him on the 23rd March, 1900. As stated in reply to that Question, no petition has ever been presented to the Land Judges Court for the sale of the lands at Lyre. No order for sale has been made by any Court, and certainly none has been made by the Land Judge affecting these lands.—(Irish Office.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Local Government Board can state why the application of a labourer, named John Ring, of Glen-collins, King william stown, County Cork, for a cottage and acre plot, and which was included in the scheme put forward by the Kanturk District Council, has been rejected; and seeing that this man's application has been for many years under the notice of the local authorities, and having regard to the condition of his present cottage, the Board will favourably consider the case of this man. (Answer.) The Local Government Board was prepared to sanction this application, provided the consent of the occupier to the acquisition of the site selected was forthcoming. In the absence of such consent the case has fallen through, and as the Provisional Order has been issued, there is no power now to take further action in the matter. It will be open to the Council to include the application in any fresh scheme that may be proposed hereafter, in which event it will be necessary to select another site for the cottage.—(Irish Office.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that a number of tenants residing in Altmore, County Tyrone, derive no benefits from the Land Acts because their landlord had granted reversionary leases of their holdings, a fact of which they were unaware till the said leases were produced in Court to bar their claim; will he cause inquiries to be made, and state how many tenants are similarly affected (by such leases throughout the country; and whether he will consider the advisability of promoting a short Bill to remedy this state of things. (Answer.) By Section 21 of The Land Law Act, 1881, a statutory tenancy does not arise in the case of a reversionary lease made bona fide before the passing of that Act. I am unable to say how many tenants are affected by such leases, and have no effective means at my disposal of ascertaining the number. I cannot undertake to introduce legislation dealing with the matter.—(Irish Office.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Patrick O'Reilly, after filling the position, without complaint, of teacher of mathematics and land surveying at the Albert Model Farm, was in October, 1901, discharged from the post; and seeing that in March last a mathematical teacher was appointed, and Mr. O'Reilly applied for the post, offering to compete for it by examination, and that a teacher named Stephenson was appointed without competition or advertisement whether he will explain why Mr. O'Reilly's claim to the position was passed over.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state who has been appointed teacher of mathematics and land surveying at the Albert Model Farm, Glasnevin; what are his qualifications, previous experience, and salary; whether, seeing that the young man who taught in the institution till December of last year applied and offered to submit himself to any test competitive or otherwise, he can say why his application was rejected and the position given to another person. (Answer.) The teaching of agricultural chemistry was formerly supplied at the institution by means of lectures only, and there was no teaching of physics, both being subjects which the new Department considers most essential to have taught practically. Mr. Stephenson, who has hitherto been Lecturer in Agricultural Chemistry and Physics in the Agricultural Department of the Yorkshire College, Leeds, and is a highly trained agricultural scientist, is now teaching these subjects at the Albert Institution as well as mathematics. In the opinion of the Department Mr. O'Reilly was not qualified to give the new instruction required by the Department.—(Irish Office.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the deputy returning officer for the Temple bredin Division, of the No. 2 Tipperary District Council, on the evening of the 4th June, when taking the ballot box, after the voting in Temple bredin, into the town of Tipperary, did not, as required by statute, deposit the box in the board room of the workhouse, but took it to his hotel during the night, although the workhouse porter kept the door open to receive it; and will he cause inquiry to be made into the circumstances of the case, and take proceedings to prevent a repetition of such conduct. (Answer.) The Government has no knowledge of and no control over the matters alleged in the Question. If an illegality has been committed the parties aggrieved can seek redress by petition.—(Irish Office.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state under what authority the inspectors under the Food and Drugs Acts take samples of milk delivered under contract at Irish creameries, seeing that the milk is for the purpose of having its cream extracted and not for human consumption. (Answer.) Under the authority conferred by Section 3 of The Sale of Food and Drugs Act Amendment Act, 1879.—(Irish Office.)

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether any steps have been taken towards the reorganisation of the Jersey Militia since the letter of the Committee of Council dated 12th May, in which the refusal of the Royal approval of the Organic Act of the 27th February was communicated to the States of Jersey; whether, pending any action to be taken by the States on the Report of the fresh Committee appointed on 9th June, the old Militia Law will be enforced. (Answer.) No further steps have been taken at present. In the meantime the existing law remains in force.—(War Office.)

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the proposal to furnish officers' quarters will extend to the furnishing of the official houses of the general officers commanding large stations, such as Aldershot, having regard to the expense attending the taking over of such a command. (Answer.) No final decision has been given on this question, and each case will be taken on its merits.—(War Office.)

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he can inform the House when a clip cartridge will be adopted for the Lee-Metford magazine rifle; and whether he has any information with regard to the relative value of the Mauser clip and single loading magazine in the late war. (Answer.) Trials with chargers are-being carried out, and, until reports on these trials have been received, it is impossible to say whether they will be adopted. Reports on the different points in connection with small arms have been received from South Africa.—(War Office.)

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that in June, 1901, a boy of the age of thirteen years eight months, viz., 11,748, Private John Simpson, Royal Marines, Forton Barracks, Gosport, was permitted to enlist, during the absence of his father from home and without the knowledge of his mother; and that upon this boy going home on a short pass in May last, he refused to rejoin, was arrested for desertion by the police, and sent to the common gaol pending sentence; whether he is aware that at the date of the enlistment the boy's parents were liable to prosecution for his non-attendance at school; and whether, under the circumstances, he will procure the boy's discharge from the Army. (Answer.) The Admiralty are not aware that the facts are as stated in the Question. The marine referred to enlisted at Nottingham on the 18th June, 1901, when he stated that his age was seventeen years ten months. As he was apparently over seventeen years of age, the consent of his parents was not necessary to his entry. He absented himself from Portsmouth headquarters on the 12th May last, was apprehended at Nottingham on the 17th idem, and conducted to his headquarters, where he was dealt with for his military offence. If the hon. Member will send me the evidence upon which the statements in his Question are based, the case will be inquired into.—(Admiralty.)

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether a medical officer who retired after thirty years service on the full pension of the old brigade surgeon, lieutenant colonel's rank, becomes eligible on re-employment for a period above two years for increased rank and pension; and, if not, how is it proposed to reward such officers, who came forward during the South African war when not liable to recall. (Answer.) Will the hon. Member be kind enough to forward me particulars of the case or cases to which he refers.—(War Office.)

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Pat Dolan, now resident at Cortobber, Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland, enlisted on 20th January, 1857 in the 3rd Battalion 60th Regiment of Foot (regimental number 1,313); that he was discharged, after serving twelve years and 278 days on sixpence a day pension for three years; and that he was eighteen years of age at the time of enlistment; and will he say whether this man became entitled under the Chelsea Gift to a pension of sixpence per day on attaining the age of fifty years; and will he inquire into his case. (Answer.) This man was discharged as medically unfit owing to a self-inflicted wound. The temporary pension was granted as an act of grace, the regulations then in force giving him no claim to any deferred pension.—(War Office.)

To ask the Secretary of State for War if the authorities have yet decided what is to be done with the eight regiments of Provisional Cavalry; and whether the expediency of retaining some of them, as they are at present organised, will be duly considered. (Answer.) No decision has as yet been made concerning these Provisional Regiments.—(War Office.)

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state when the application of martial law and the existing Press censorship will cease in Cape Colony and in Natal. (Answer.) The stringency of martial law regulations is being relaxed, but I am not prepared to give any definite date for their complete abolition, which will, however, be hastened as far as is practicable. As regards censorship, will the right hon. Member kindly refer to the reply given to my right hon. friend to the Question put by the hon. Member for East Mayo. [First of the Questions asked in the House this day.]—(War Office.)

To ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will say why some of the Yeomanry officers attached as instructors to the Imperial Yeomanry, who were training for South Africa at Aldershot, have not yet received their pay, which in some cases is three months overdue. (Answer.) It appears that the Imperial Yeomanry Depot at Aldershot failed to put in a claim for the pay of these officers; the causes of the delay are being investigated. The officers have, all but one, been settled with, and his case is being inquired into.—(War Office.)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state whether the provisions contained in Sections 73 to 80 of the Public Health Ordinance, No. 13, of 1901, relative to overcrowding in the city of Hong Kong, are enforced; and, if so, will he say how many persons have been deputed by the Hong Kong Government to enforce this Public Health Ordinance. (Answer.) The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. In answer to the second part, I can only say that the total number of the sanitary Staff of the colony is about 140.—(Colonial Office.)

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can state the effect of the Education Bill upon endowments now applied to elementary education; whether these endowments will be diverted; if so, to what purpose. (Answer.) The Government propose to deal with the question of endowments in a new clause, which will be put on the Paper in due course.—(Treasury.)

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that agitation is now going on in Cape Colony with a view to the continued suspension of the constitution of the Colony, the Government will use their influence with the civil and military authorities there to induce them to abrogate the restrictions imposed under Martial Law to the exercise of the right of free discussion in the Press and otherwise. (Answer.) The Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Secretary of State for War are in communication with the civil and military authorities on the subject of the relaxation of the restrictions imposed under Martial Law.—(Treasury.)

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that the Report of the Royal Commission on the Port of London appeared in a London newspaper on the 19th instant; and if be will explain how this occurred before the Report was in the hands of Members of this House. (Answer.) I have satisfied myself that no blame whatever attaches to the the printers in this matter. I have this morning received a letter from one of the Assistant Commissioners to the effect that, under a misapprehension that the complete Report had been laid—when in fact it was only the dummy—he wrote the article which is the subject of the Question.—(Treasury.)

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that the Estimate placed upon the Table of the House of the probable expense of the approaching Coronation exceeds by £55,000 the expense incidental to the Coronation of William IV., and by £30,000 the expense incidental to the Coronation of Queen Victoria, any assurance will be given that the sum so estimated shall not be exceeded. And what precautions, if any, have been taken to control that expenditure, having regard to the fact that the expense of George IV.'s Coronation exceeded by £138,000 the sum voted for that solemnity. (Answer.) Every care is being taken that no unnecessary expenditure shall be incurred, and every effort is being made to make the expenditure fall within the Estimate of £100,000, though it was necessarily an Estimate framed on many-unknown considerations.—(Treasury.)

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is intended that the seal of a county or borough council (as the case may be) shall be attached to contracts and other undertakings into which the education committee of such council, acting in behalf of such council, may enter in pursuance of the powers delegated to them in that behalf. (Answer.) Where a contract in respect of education requires the seal of the Council, the seal will have to be affixed to it in the usual way.—(Treasury.)

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in the event of the failure of any of the local education authorities which it is proposed to constitute by the Bill now before this House to provide sufficient school accommodation for the children of its area, the Board of Education will be enabled, under the provisions of the Bill, to apply for a mandamus; and if so, whether such mandamus will issue against the Education Committee to which the oversight of education is delegated, or against the local education authority. (Answer.) It is intended that a mandamus will lie against the local education authority in the case mentioned. The mandamus will be directed to the authority, not to the committee, as the authority are the persons responsible. If necessary, it may be made clear by verbal amendment that the authority can act in obedience to a mandamus without acting through the education committee.—(Treasury.)

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the periods for winch the Education Committees of County and Borough Councils are to be appointed will be specified in the schemes which, under Clause 12 of the Education Bill, are to be framed by the Councils and approved by the Board of Education; and, if not, whether he will propose an Amendment stating the time for which these Committees are to be constituted; and whether it is intended that all the Members shall retire in a body at the expiration of their office or that a certain number shall retire each year. (Answer.) It is intended that all these matters should be provided for by the schemes.—(Treasury.)

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the proceedings of Education Committees appointed under Clause 12 of the Education Bill are to be reported to and will require confirmation by the local education authority. (Answer.) I have already said that the Committee will have great weight with the Council, but the ultimate control will be in the hands of the Council and not of the Committee of the Council.—(Treasury.)

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Local Government Board is to exercise its own discretion in making Provisional Orders under Clause 2 of the Education Bill, or whether it is to have regard to the interests of secular instruction, to the wishes of parents as to the education of their children, and to the economy of the rates in accordance with the conditions laid down for the guidance of the Board of Education in Clause 10 of the Bill. (Answer.) The Local Government Board will exercise its own discretion.—(Treasury.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now say when the censorship in South Africa and on letters and news coming to this country from South Africa will be abandoned.

I have received a telegram from Lord Milner today, which is to the following effect:—It has been decided greatly to relax the censorship restrictions on Coronation Day. Private letters will no longer be censored. Press cables will still be liable to censorship for the present, and until the country is more settled, although this power will be sparingly used.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any answer to that part of the Question in reference to the censorship of newspapers and pamphlets?

I have no information beyond that which I have already given. It says, "Private letters will no longer be censored." That means in the Colonies or elsewhere.

I will put another Question in reference to publications such as newspapers.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he will give to the House the latest Returns of the revenue and expenditure in the Transvaal and Orange River Territories, and of the amount received from the taxation of the gold mining companies or of their output.

I will lay Papers at an early date, showing the latest financial Returns of the two new Colonies.

Seeing that the fight hon. Gentleman gave me Returns months ago for November and December, cannot he give me a little more information?

No, Sir, not at present.

May I ask my amiable friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he can state approximately the help afforded to the Empire by each of the Colonies during the recent South African War.

I decline to answer, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker—

Order, order If the hon. Member asks his Question in the usual way, no doubt he will get an answer.

Then I will again ask the right hon. Gentleman to answer the Question on the Paper.

The Question must be put down on the Paper again.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker, I should like to know what I should do. I unwillingly offended the Colonial Secretary and got no reply to my Question.

That is not a point of order. The matter is disposed of.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether a Minute by the Cape Ministers on the subject of a telegram addressed by the Prime Minister of Cape Colony to the resident magistrates and field cornets denying a statement respecting the contemplated suspension of the Cape Constitution, and forwarded by Lord Milner to the Colonial Secretary in a letter, dated 7th November, 1899, and received at the Colonial Office 5th December, 1899, still holds good; and, if not, will he say what is the reason for departure from the terms of Lord Milner's proclamation, dated 23rd November, 1899, that the inhabitants of Cape Colony would not be deprived of their constitutional rights.

As far as I am aware, the present Cape Government adhere to the terms of the minute of their predecessors. There has been no departure from the terms of Lord Milner's proclamation.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the constitutional questions now arising in South Africa, which involve a consideration of the numbers and races of the populations in our various colonies, he will consider the advisability of a census of the whole of South Africa in the next twelve months by the Imperial authorities, with the consent of or in conjunction with the Governments of Cape Colony and Natal.

No census can be taken in the new colonies until the work of repatriation and resettlement is complete, and consequently a census of; the whole of South Africa is not likely to be practicable during the next twelve months.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the fact that by the terms of peace signed some weeks since in South Africa the inhabitants of the late republics there have become British subjects, instructions have been given to relax and mitigate in every possible way the conditions of life of the prisoners of war in various places and especially to afford them unfettered communication, by post and otherwise, with their relatives and friends; and when it is likely that the process of repatriation of the prisoners will commence.

I have no specific information to enable me to reply to the points raised in the question, but every effort is being taken to proceed as rapidly as possible with the repatriation of the prisoners of War. As regards the censorship regulations, may I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. friend has given to the question put by the hon. Member for East Mayo.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of persons now in gaol in Cape Colony who have been arrested under martial law but have not yet had any charge preferred against them or been brought to trial; and whether he can say how many persons have been removed for military reasons from their homes, and, without any actual charge being preferred against them, have been transported to a distance and there been placed under surveillance.

There are no persons incarcerated in Cape Colony against whom a definite charge has not been formulated. I do not know the number of those deported under surveillance, but these persons are being released.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that several Welsh regiments took part in the recent campaigns in South Africa, he will explain why the national flag of Wales, the Red Dragon, is not displayed side by side with the flags of England, Scotland, and Ireland in the decoration of the War Office; and if he will give orders that the omission shall be rectified.

If the hon. Member had waited until the decorations at the War Office were completed, he would have found that the Red Dragon of Wales was not omitted.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state what action he proposes to take with regard to the Report of the Committee on military education.

I am not at present in a position to make any statement on the subject, and seeing the importance of the question, and the immense pressure on the principal officials of the War Office in connection with the withdrawal of troops from South Africa, and the Coronation, I cannot promise that I shall be, at any early date, in a position to give the views of the Government to the House.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will say how many officers in His Majesty's Regular Army have passed the examination qualifying them as interpreters, and what percentage these form of the whole.

384 officers of the Regular Army are qualified interpreters, being a percentage of 2·37.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state what military manœuvres will take place this year.

No general manœuvres will be held this year. The annual course of training concludes with the combined manœuvres of all arms—the time allotted for the latter being decided by the general officers commanding Army corps and districts. A special grant of money has been given to general officers at homo and abroad to meet expenses beyond ordinary expenditure connected with the field training of troops in their command.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of non - commissioned officers and men have been recommended by commanding officers of corps for the medal for meritorious service (peace) who have been waiting for such; and whether he will arrange that at the Coronation such men shall be granted the medal at once, even if they have to wait for the gratuity.

The hon. Member appears to be referring to the grant of a medal for meritorious service which is awarded only to soldiers above the rank of corporal who are selected for an annuity for long, valuable and meritorious service. The grant of the medal is dependent entirely on the grant of the annuity, and the grant of the annuity depends on the occurrence of a vacancy. It is accordingly impossible to accede to the hon. Member's request.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a claim has been lodged by or on behalf of the parents of the late Trooper C. V. Freer, for payment of bounty due to him upon enlistment in the 74th Company Imperial Yeomanry, and also for three months pay due to him at the time of his death, viz. 14th April, 1902, as trooper in the Cape Mounted Specials, to which he was transferred; and, if so, will he say whether such claim has been investigated, and what decision has been arrived at.

The bounty was duo on discharge and not on re-enlistment. The claim for its payment is now under investigation and may involve reference to South Africa. The claim for the three months pay can only be adjusted locally, and application should be made to the Master of the High Court at Kimberley.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will say why reserve officers who have been working at depots for the last two years only receive a gratuity of £150 for the two years, i.e. £100 at the end of the first year and £50 at the end of the second year, whilst Militia and Volunteer officers employed in the same duties receive a gratuity, as mess allowance, of 5s. per diem, which in two years amounts to £182 10s.

The difference referred to arises from the different conditions of service in the two cases. The employment of reserve officers is compulsory, that of Militia and Volunteer officers for this duty is voluntary.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, in view of the fact that the Eastern Bengal Railway became vested in the Secretary of State for India in July, 1884, and that the steamers in use at Sara Ghat Ferry are under the control of the railway will he consider the expediency of superseding, the present fifty year old steamers by vessels of modern type.

I have already informed the hon. Member that the matter is one for the consideration of the local authorities, and that any complaints should be addressed to the administration of the railway.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state if the American Minister at Peking is a party to the acceptance with modifications of the conditions made at Tientsin by the commanders of the allied forces.

A final agreement has not yet been come to as to the conditions upon which the provisional Government is to be terminated. I can make no statement, therefore, as to the attitude of the representatives of the Powers.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, having regard to the collapse of a house in Cochrane Street, Hong Kong, in August last, whereby twenty-two persons lost their lives, and seeing that other buildings in the city are built similarly to that which collapsed, will he state what steps are taken to secure the inspection of newly constructed buildings; will he state what sum of money is expended in the colony for this purpose, and to whom it is paid.

There is a special inspector of buildings, and it is contemplated to meet the increase in building in the colony by additional inspectors. I cannot answer the last part of the Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that there is only one physician in charge of the Kennedy Town Plague Hospital, Hong Kong; and, in view of the requirements of the patients, will he consider the expediency of calling for a report on the subject, with a view to a larger and better trained staff being provided for this hospital.

The staff at the Kennedy Town Hospital for infectious diseases, which is, I am told, within easy reach of the civil hospital, includes a resident medical officer, two trained European wardmasters, and two trained sisters. According to the latest returns the total number of beds is twenty-eight, and the daily average of cases in hospital less than five. Under these circumstances, I see no necessity to interfere with the arrangements made by the Colonial Government, with the advice of the principal civil medical officer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman call for a report?

Certainly not. I think the answer complete.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether representations have been made to the Italian Government with a view to secure a modification of the recent regulation which requires all foreign artists who wish to study art in the Italian galleries or museums, to produce an academic diploma and a certificate from the Italian Consul in their native city or town that they are capable and respectable; and, if any such representations have been made, will he state the result.

The regulations to which the hon. Gentleman refers have relation to gratuitous admission to Italian galleries and museums, and for such a privilege the conditions do not seem unreasonable. It is not proposed to make any representations on the subject. A notice giving the provisions of the law as regards foreigners was sent to the papers for publication on the 17th instant. There are no fresh restrictions on visitors to the galleries and museums who are willing to pay the customary fees.

The point of the Question is that it is absolutely impossible to comply with some of the conditions. I hope the Government will look into this matter.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to announcements made by the Great Eastern Railway Company, that the workmen's trains on their lines will be suspended on the 26th and 27th inst.; and, having regard to the provisions of the Companies Act as to a daily service of workmen's trains, whether he can use any influence with the Railway Company to secure the maintenance of the usual facilities for working people on the two days of the Coronation.

The Railway Company concerned do not admit that, having regard to the provisions of the Bank Holidays' Act, they are under legal obligation to run workmen's trains on the days in question; but they state that, having received representations from workpeople residing in the districts served by their railway, they have issued notices announcing that workmen who are bona fide travelling to their work on those days can obtain workmen's twopenny tickets by certain specified trains. They point out that, under the special circumstances affecting their traffic on the days mentioned, they could not maintain the full facilities ordinarily granted to workmen going to and returning from their work.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that the Union Castle Steamship Company, the Clan Steamship Company, Messrs Bucknall, Ellerman, Harrison, and other shipowners trading between the United Kingdom ports and South Africa, have entered into a combine by which 10 per cent. of the primage on freight earned by them is held by the in for twelve to eighteen months and only paid to the shipper at the end of that period, provided that during the period the shippers have not shipped goods outside this combine; and, seeing that the Union Castle Company carry his Majesty's mails, and the other members of the combine are employed to carry Government stores, whether action will be taken to put an end to this combine by not employing the steamers of any company or persons who are connected with it, either for service of his Majesty's mails, or for carriage of Government stores.

I understand that an arrangement substantially, though not exactly, such as the hon. Member describes, has existed for some years between leading merchants and shipping companies not only in the South African Trade, but in that with other distant parts of the world. The latter part of the Question should be addressed to the Ministers in charge of the Departments concerned in the contracts.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can arrange with the Stationery Office to supply Members of Parliament with copies of the official programmes of the Coronation Processions and the police regulations for street traffic on Thursday and Friday 26th and 27th instant, printed in a convenient form for use on those days.

I understand that the order of the processions has not yet been finally settled. As regards the police regulations, the Chief Commissioner of Police has been good enough to supply me with copies of these for the use of Members. They can be obtained at the Vote Office.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that South Govan, containing a population of 6,000, has no telegraphic facilities at the post office there, and that persons desiring to telegraph have to travel to Fairfield, Govan, a distance of nearly a mile; would he therefore arrange to provide telegraphic facilities at the South Govan sub-post office at Linthouse for the convenience of this district.

The Postmaster General is aware that the nearest telegraph office to Linthouse, South Govan, is that at Fairfield, nearly half a mile distant, and he will look further into the question of providing telegraphic facilities at the Linthouse office.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether, in view of the fact that the lord mayors of some provincial cities in England, and of some cities in Ireland, are entitled to be addressed as the "right honourable," while the lord provosts of Glasgow and Edinburgh are described as the "honourable," he will endeavour to have the custom in this respect made the same in Scotland as in the rest of the Kingdom.

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh is by custom styled "right honourable," and the Lord Provost of Glasgow "honourable," and it is not proposed to make any change in this custom.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether it is the intention of the Secretary for Scotland to appoint a special Commission to hold a public inquiry respecting the various questions that have arisen in regard to the herring fishing industry in the Firth of Clyde and elsewhere on the West Coast of Scotland; and, if so, can he state the terms of the reference.

The Secretary for Scotland has received from the Fishery Board the following telegram in regard to my hon. friend's Question, which only appeared on the notice Taper on Saturday—

"The Fishery Board propose with reference to a close time for herrings on the West Coast of Scotland to hold a public inquiry in the autumn of this year into the whole question of the regulation of the herring fishing in the Firth of Clyde."

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether, in order to increase the interest taken in horticulture, foreign shrubs, and trees, by the visitors to Kew Gardens and the public parks, he will issue instructions that the practice of labelling flowers, shrubs, and trees in Latin shall be discontinued and English substituted; or if the present method is continued, that side by side with the Latin description the name shall appear in English; and whether he will see that the same rule is applied in our national museums.

Is it not the fact that the great majority of these trees have no English names, and that it would diminish their value to foreign visitors if the practice of naming them in Latin were abandoned?

I understand the desire of the hon. Member is to have the name in both English and Latin. I shall be pleased to consider the hon. Member's suggestion, and have asked for the observations of the Director of Kew Gardens upon it. I have no objection to call the attention of the Trustees of the British Museum to the question, but I have no authority over their management of their museums.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he will grant a Return showing the number of school districts in which a deficiency of school places at present exists, and the extent of such deficiency in each instance.

There are, so far as the Board of Education are aware, eleven such districts, in each of which notices have already been issued with a view to the deficiency being supplied. This can be given in the form of a Return if the hon. Member will move for it.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the recent election for a county councillor in the division of Glenbeigh, County Kerry, a son of one of the candidates acted as personating agent for his father at the polling booth of Rosnoosane, in the electoral division of Dromore; that the candidate in question is land agent for the whole of that electoral division; that a number of the voters are illiterate; and whether, in order to ensure the security afforded by the Ballot Act, he will take steps to prevent the recurrence of this practice.

I have no information on the facts alleged, and no official right to acquire it. Any candidate or elector who may dispute the validity of the election can seek redress by means of a petition; but the Government has no power to take action in the matter.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. William Hastings, editor of the Western News, Ballinasloe, was prosecuted this month under the Act of Edward III. on the charge of inciting certain persons to intimidate other persons; that no witness was produced to prove that any person had been incited or intimidated, or that any one had read the articles; whether he is aware that the articles on which the prosecution was based treated of the grazing question without reference to any persons, and that the case was heard by a Bench of nine magistrates, consisting of landlords and graziers, and two resident magistrates; and, seeing that the Bench stopped the Crown Prosecutor without hearing the accused, and intimated that they had made up their minds to convict, and that the Crown Prosecutor offered no comment, and that the Chairman pronounced a sentence of six months imprisonment in default of bail, he will recommend the Lord Lieutenant to exercise his prerogative and quash the conviction; and will he state what passages in the articles written by the accused were complained of by the Crown.

The particulars set forth in this Question are inaccurate. Mr. Hastings was not convicted of any offence, but, having for months published articles directly inciting to the boycotting and intimidation of persons in the neighbourhood, he was required to enter into recognisances to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. The accused was fully heard. He duly entered into recognisances and is now at large. There was only one dissentient on the Bench consisting of nine magistrates. I am not aware what pursuits may be followed by seven of them. They seem to have acted properly. There is no conviction to quash.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state what passages in the articles were complained of?

Those directly inciting to boycotting.

Who instigated the prosecution?

May I point out that no particular paragraphs were specified? That is what I want to find out.

I do not see how that is relevant to the Question. The accused entered into recognisances, and there the matter ends.

But surely a defendant is entitled to know what is charged against him.

Order, order!

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number of cottages erected and in course of erection under the Labourers' Acts in the Macroom rural district; how many schemes have been formulated by the council of that district; and the amount of the loans sanctioned for providing improved dwellings for the labouring classes.

Loans amounting to £42,980 have been sanctioned for 435 cottages, comprised in three schemes. 389 cottages were erected at the end of March, 1901, later information is not at present available. A fourth scheme authorising the provision of 129 additional cottages has been sanctioned. The District Council has not yet applied for the necessary loan to carry this scheme into effect.

Will the Local Government Board take steps to put the Act in force?

Order, order! Notice must be given of that Question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the circumstances under which Mr. Linnane, chairman of the Ennis District Council; Mr. F. Flanagan, chairman of the Corofin District Council; Mr. Griffy, chairman of the Corofin Guardians; and a number of other gentlemen were recently sent to prison with hard labour in Ennis for three months.

In this case the defendants were prosecuted on the charge of taking part in a criminal conspiracy to compel certain persons not to occupy lands of which they were in legal occupation. The sentences imposed on Messrs. Linnane and Griffy are not accompanied by hard labour, and the latter was committed for two months. The sentences on all the defendants, with one exception, were confirmed on appeal at the recent (Quarter Sessions, at Ennis.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is not a fact that the county of Clare is in a very peaceful condition, and under these circumstances, is not the continued imprisonment of these gentlemen likely to produce a different state of affairs?

Order, order! That does not arise out of the Question. The Question on the Paper is under what circumstances these men were sent to prison.

Then I will ask a Question which does arise out of that on the Paper. It is whether these cases have not arisen out of a difficulty in connection with the taking of a farm in? County Clare, in a case which was recently before the High Court in Dublin, when Mr. Justice Gibson—

Order, order! I do not see how that arises out of the Question.

Is the gentleman who has been sentenced to hard labour a Justice of the Peace?

Order, order! If the hon. Gentleman wishes to attack the action of the Executive, he must do so in Committee of Supply. He cannot do it by means of Questions across the floor of the House.

I will do it in Committee of Supply. I was only asking these Questions in order to save time.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that County Inspector Hamilton, in the west riding of the county of Cork, is compelling members of the force of twenty-five years service to retire on pension, thereby depriving them of then-privilege of attaining their full pensions; and will he say whether such power is vested in county inspectors; and, if not, will steps be taken to prevent this inspector from exercising it in this district.

No such power is vested in county inspectors; but the Inspector General is authorised by the 46 and 47 Vict. cap. 14, Section 3 (6) to require men to retire on pension when they have completed twenty-five years service. This course had been followed in the case of some members of the force in Cork.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the treatment of the prisoners convicted under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act at Roscrea on the 14th May last, who were handcuffed for several hours while being conveyed from Roscrea to Clonmel prison; and will he state on what grounds were they subjected to this treatment.

The prisoners were handcuffed whilst being conveyed by car from Roscrea to Ballybrophy railway station, a distance of ten miles. The handcuffs were then removed and were not again put on. Considerable crowds were assembled along the route, and this course was adopted by the police as a necessary precaution for the custody of the prisoners. If there had been a place where the prisoners could have been properly detained during the night, that would have been the best course to pursue. But I understand that was not so.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman approves of this outrage?

I do not see how that question comes in. I have said it would have been better if the prisoners could have been kept in the place during the night, but the police say it was not possible, and they were quite right in taking all the necessary precautions in view of the large crowds which had assembled.

Then it is the decision of the Executive Government that prisoners under the Crimes Act shall be handcuffed?

Order, order! The Question on the Paper is on what grounds these prisoners were subjected to certain treatment. The right hon. Gentleman has stated those grounds, and the question whether or not they are sufficient must be discussed in another way.

Then at the earliest opportunity I shall call attention to the matter.

IS the right hon. Gentleman aware that these gentlemen—

Older, order!

"Coronation handcuffs."

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that it is proposed to erect a smallpox hospital for Belfast within the asylum grounds at Purdysburn, County Down; that there is an industrial and agricultural population in the immediate neighbourhood, and that objection has been taken to the erection of the hospital; and if he can state what the medical officers of the Irish Local Government Board have decided to be the striking distance of smallpox contagion; and if the asylum itself and the homes of the people are outside the distance.

The site of the temporary smallpox hospital is on lands acquired by the Belfast Corporation for Asylum purposes, but which were subsequently allocated to hospital purposes by the City of Belfast (Hospitals) Act of 1898. The site is 300 yards from the nearest dwelling houses. Some objections have been received by the Corporation to the erection of the hospital. Neither the Local Government Board nor their Inspectors have prescribed any fixed limit as the striking distance of smallpox contagion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the striking distance of smallpox is clearly laid down by the English Local Government Board, and will he state whether two national schools and a large number of cottages are, in this case, within that striking distance?

I am not responsible for the Local Government Board of England, but, on the facts before me, it seems to me the only alternative would have been to continue the hospital at the workhouse, in the centre of a thick population.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, seeing that considerable alarm exists in the locality, whether he will inquire as to the rules adopted by the Local Government Board in England in similar cases.

Yes, Sir. I shall be very glad to do that, if my hon. friend will direct my attention to the facts.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state how many persons are employed by the Irish Board of Works at salaries above 50s. a week, in the departments of Phœnix and Stephen Green Parks, Harbour Works at Kingstown and Howth, River Shannon Navigation Works, and at any other permanent undertaking, subject to the control of the Irish Board of Works; and how many of the persons so employed at salaries of over 50s. a week are Roman Catholics.

The number of persons employed by the Board of Works in these cases at salaries above 50s. a week, is twelve. I have no knowledge of their religious beliefs.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that dissatisfaction prevails in the parish of Ramsgrange, and the surrounding district owing to the postal arrangements; and whether he can arrange that the English mails should go by way of Waterford as at present, and the principal portion of the mails be sent by way of Wexford, with a post ear running between Foulksmill and Fethard, so that the delivery of the latter would be at ten o'clock in the morning instead of three o'clock in the, afternoon, as at present.

In a letter sent to the hon. Member from the Post Office on the 28th of February last, it was explained that it would not be practicable to serve the district in question partly from Waterford and partly from Wexford, and the Postmaster General fears that it will not be feasible to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion but he will have further enquiry made on the subject.

But would it not result in a saving to the Post Office, if my suggestions were carried out?

I am not aware of that. At any rate the Postmaster General considers it would not be feasible. If the hon. Member has any further information, and will communicate it to the Postmaster General, that may be the best way of bringing the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether inquiries have recently been made as to the cost of conveying a second daily mail from Clonakilty to Rosscarbery, a distance of eight miles; and whether a second delivery can be granted to Rosscarbery.

Further inquiry has recently been made, as to the possibility of establishing a second post to Rosscarbery, but it is found that the expense of providing such a service is still not warranted. The question will not be lost sight of, but will be again considered next year.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that, owing to the introduction of women in the Armagh Post Office, and the withdrawal of a junior member who, has for some weeks been engaged in the duty of rearranging rural postmen's walks, the number of men available for work has been considerably reduced. Whether he is aware that, in consequence of this reduction, the remainder of the staff have been obliged to perform extra duty, so that men have had to work fourteen or fifteen hours per day, sometimes coming on at 2 a.m. after their work of the previous day; whether it is customary to attach such work to an ordinary officer such as the aforesaid junior member; and whether he will see that there is some redistribution of the work among the staff at Armagh.

The duties of the Armagh Post Office have not been prejudiced by the introduction of the three women clerks who now, with eight men, make up the established indoor staff, but recently some extra duty has been necessary in consequence of sick and other absences. This extra duty, of which the woman have generally taken a share, has been of very-moderate amount, except during one week when five men in rotation each worked overtime for six hours one night in the week. The circumstances were quite exceptional, and instructions have been given for such a distribution of the work as will not in future involve any officer in a prolonged night attendance in addition to his ordinary day duty. The junior officer referred to, as withdrawn for temporary special duty was considered the best qualified for that duty. Supplementary Questions were put by Mr. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.) and Mr. JOHN CAMPBELL, but were not audible.

Order, order! It being now five minutes to three o'clock, it is my duty, under the new Rule, to interrupt Questions.

As this is the first occasion on which Questions have been interrupted under the new Rule, I wish to ask what becomes of the starred Questions on the Paper which have not been reached. Will they be postponed till tomorrow, and then have precedence?

That is provided for in the Rule.

May I, as a point of order, call attention to the fact that Mr. Speaker has been called to the Bar of the House of Lords, and that, as a consequence, Question time has been encroached upon for several minutes.

That is not a point of order. I am quite aware of the fact that I was called to the Bar of the House of Lords. I may say that Questions not answered by reason of the absence of Ministers can now be put.

On the point of order, according to my recollection, this case was considered in the discussion of the Rule. It was felt that, at all hazards, we should avoid an accumulation of Questions carried over from day to day, and that each day should dispose of the day's starred Questions, either by oral answers or by printed answers in the Votes.

I think I must correct my previous statement. I had not looked at the Rule when the Question was addressed to me, but having done so now, I must say I think the right hon. Gentleman is right in his interpretation of the Rule, and that the answers to Questions not reached by five minutes to three must be printed and circulated with the Votes.

I beg most respectfully to differ from the right hon. Gentleman as to his interpretation of the intention of the House.

Order, order! The question is not whether the right hon. Gentleman is right in his interpretation of the intention of the House, but whether I am right in the construction of the Rule.

Seeing, Sir, that you gave a different ruling in the first place, would it not be reasonable under the circumstances to give hon. Members the privilege of postponing starred Questions till to-morrow? Your interpretation comes as a complete surprise to many of us. Evidently it will be necessary to give notice at the Table before Questions are called.

I am bound by the Standing Orders; but, if I had discretion in the matter, and as this is the first time the difficulty has arisen, I would be glad to say that these Questions might, on this occasion, as the hon. Member suggested, be put down for tomorrow. But that cannot be done under the Standing Order.

said he would like to call attention to the wording of the Rule. It was to the effect that in certain circumstance the Minister should cause the answer to be printed, unless the Member had signified his desire otherwise. The point was, when must that desire be intimated?

I can only adhere to the view I have already expressed.

asked whether a Member when giving notice of a Question at the Table could not intimate to the Clerks that if it were not reached it should be postponed instead of the answer being printed. Further, he inquired whether the Questions to the First Lord could not be taken.

No, that cannot be done. The Questions must be taken in their order until five minutes to three.

With great respect to you, Sir, the Standing Order does not prescribe any order for the Questions, and those addressed to the First Lord are put last as a matter of convenience.

The fact remains that the time allotted for Questions having expired, those addressed to the First Lord must be dealt with in the same manner as the other Questions. I can make no exception.

I wish to ask you whether there was any warning given on behalf of the properly constituted authorities, whoever they may be, that the presence of this House would be required in the House of Lords, and if it would be possible to arrange so that such a step should not be taken on a day when there are a number of important Questions which might be prevented from being answered.

The usual practice has been followed in this case—that is to say, a notice is sent to me, either on the day or the day before—I received it in the present case this morning—that there would be a Commission at two o'clock. I should hope that those who make the arrangements would endeavour as far as possible to arrange that a Commission should be taken on a day when it is likely that only a few Questions will be set down.

I desire to ask for information on this question. May I inquire whether, if an hon. Member puts down a Question and by starring it thereby indicates that he requires a verbal answer to it, and it is not reached by five minutes to three, he is precluded from putting down that question as a starred Question for any other day? I would also ask whether an hon. Member is not at liberty, by giving notice when he puts the Question down, that if it is not reached by five minutes to three he prefers to have it answered verbally the next day, to have that done?

Certainly an hon. Member cannot get round the Standing Order in that way. As to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, I can only repeat that the answer will be printed, and, if it is printed, the Question will be in exactly the same position as if it had already been asked and answered in this House. It cannot be put down again.

But what I want to know is this. There may be a particular Question, which for sufficient reasons an hon. Member may desire to have verbally answered. Is he prevented for ever from getting that verbal answer if the Question does not happen to be reached before five minutes to three on the day on which he puts it down?

"For ever" is a long time. I cannot add anything to what I have already said, viz., that if the answer is printed with the Papers, the Question will be in exactly the same position as one which has been answered in the House. †