laid upon the Table—

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury if his attention has been called to the refusal by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia of permission to six English hat-makers to land at Sydney, on the ground that under the existing law it had no discretion; and whether, seeing that such law appears contrary to the Imperial spirit shown in the resolutions passed at the recent Conference of Colonial Premiers, he will suggest its modification, and also that in all future legislation directed towards the consolidation of the Empire equal treatment shall be reserved for the Mother Country. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) It will be seen, on reference to the reply made to the honourable Member for Ross and Cromarty yesterday, that the six hatters have been allowed to land. The law makes no discrimination against the Mother Country; and as the policy of excluding contract labour is entirely a matter for the Australian Parliament, His Majesty's Government are not in a position to suggest any modification of it.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will be able to announce before the prorogation any decision which may have been reached with regard to the readjustment of the Greenwich Old Age Pensions Fund. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) I am afraid I am not in a position at the present moment to make any announcement on this subject: but I hope shortly to be able to advise my honourable friend of the decision at which the Government has arrived.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury, in view of the statement by the Secretary of State for the Home Department that the grant of decorations and orders rests solely with His Majesty the King, will he state whether his Majesty's Ministers hold themselves as having no duty to advise His Majesty on such matters, and no responsibility for such grants. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balour.) There are certain decorations—for example, the Royal Victorian Order—which are absolutely at the personal disposition of the Sovereign. As regards others, there seems to be nothing to add to what I have already said in answer to the lion. Member on the same subject.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the plan of operations against Venezuela agreed upon with Germany was that recommended by Vice Admiral Douglas, viz., that all the Venezuelan gunboats should be seized until our demands are complied with; whether, in view of the destruction of the two gunboats seized by the German naval force, and the consequent impossibility of holding them as pledges until our demands are complied with, His Majesty's Government propose to continue joint action with Germany; whether it is now proposed to establish a blockade of the Venezuelan ports; whether the objections to such a blockade, alluded to by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his communication to the Admiralty of 22nd October, 1902, have been considered and removed; whether any intimation has been received from the Government of the United States that it will object to American shipping being interfered with; and, if so, how is it proposed to conduct the blockade. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) The answer to the first three Questions is in the affirmative, and to the fifth in the negative. The objections to a blockade have been carefully considered. They cannot, however, be altogether removed, as some of them are inherent in that particular class of naval operations.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, under Clause 21 (b) of the Education Bill, any agreement between a council of a non-county borough or urban district with the council of a county will be irrevocable, or whether it will be possible to enter into a provisional agreement for a limited period. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) Relinquishment under paragraph (b) of Clause 21 is necessarily permanent; but arrangements between non-county boroughs and County Councils, which need not be of a permanent character, can be made under sub-Section (5) of the Clause relating to educational committees.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether His Majesty's Government will present to Parliament copies of all correspondence with other Powers regarding the interpretation of the Sugar Bounties Convention recently discussed in this House, and especially of the bearing of its provisions upon the so-called most-favoured-nation Clause contained in various treaties to which this country is a party. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) The only correspondence with respect to the most-favoured-nation Clause which has taken place with foreign Governments is that which has passed with the Russian Government; and that will be laid. It will be considered whether further Papers can properly be published at the present stage.

To ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland if he will explain on what grounds the police have refused to prosecute licence holders in Dublin for continuing to trade pending the usual confirmation of their licence. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) I am not aware to what particular case the hon. Member refers. The police Report they have never refused to prosecute in cases of the kind mentioned.

To ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at the Winter Assizes recently held in Cork; whether he is aware that in two Macroom bankruptcy cases thirty-nine jurors and thirty-three respectively were ordered by the Crown representative to stand aside; in the Passage criminal assault case twenty-four jurors, and in the Clare manslaughter case fifty-three jurors were similarly treated: and was the action of the Crown representative taken with the knowledge and approval of the Irish Law Officers. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) The number of jurors set aside in the bankruptcy cases is correctly stated. The Crown Solicitor reports that it was imperatively necessary to set them aside, as canvassing of the jurors on the panel on behalf of the prisoner extensively prevailed for several days before the trial, and influence was used in other ways upon the jurors in the interests of the accused. The number set aside in the second trial of the assault case was twenty-three. The jury disagreed on the first- trial, although the evidence was perfectly plain and convincing. The friends of the prisoner were numerous and influential and the Crown Solicitor believes they would have succeeded in defeating justice on the second, as they did on the first, occasion if he had not taken the course he did. In the Clare case the jury had disagreed at the Summer Assizes in Clare. Fifty-three jurors were set aside by the Crown, and twenty challenged by the prisoner. The case was perfectly clear. No special directions were given to the Crown Solicitors, but having regard to the circumstances mentioned, I entirely approve of their action.

To ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, if he will state how many special jurors were told to stand by on behalf of the Crown in the ease of the King v. Kilbride heard at the late winter assizes at Maryborough; to what religious persuasion did those jurors belong; and what was the creed and politics of the accused and of the jury empanelled in the case. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) I have no information on the matters referred to beyond that contained in my reply to the similar inquiries addressed to me on Monday last by the hon. Member for South Leitrim, save that I have since been informed that the jurors on the panel have been extensively canvassed on behalf of the prisoner.

To ask Mr. Attorney; General for Ireland whether, seeing that the jury by whom Mr. Denis Kilbride was convicted at the recent winter assizes at Maryborough was a special jury secured under the provisions of the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, and that forty-five jurors were ordered by the Crown to stand aside before the jury was empanelled, he will state what number of Protestants and Roman Catholics respectively constituted the jury which convicted Mr. Kilbride. (Answered by Mr. Alkinson.) I have no information on the matters referred to beyond that contained in my reply to the Question put to me on Monday last by the hon. Member for South Leitrim, save that I have since been informed that the jurors on the panel had been extensively canvassed on behalf of the prisoner.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the fact that difficulty is experienced by owners of property in Ireland in checking the assessments of income-tax on houses and lands in consequence of the numbers of the assessments not corresponding with the numbers in either the valuation books or rate books, the Inland Revenue authorities will cause the numbers of assessments to be revised so as to correspond with either the numbers in the valuation books or rate books, which are locally available for inspection, and consequently a basis and means for the purpose of identification. (Answered by Mr. Ritchie.) I understand that the Board of Inland Revenue will be glad to do what they can to obviate the difficulty referred to in the first part of the Question, but they fear that the remedy suggested in the second part would not be practicable if only for the reason that the numbering of the Poor Law Valuation List varies from year to year, whereas the Income-Tax (Schedule A) assessment remains unaltered for five years. In any case it is too late now to make any change as regards the current year (1902-3). The Board propose, however, that next year (1903-4), which happens to be a year of new assessment under Schedule A, the number of the Poor Law Assessment in 1902 shall be entered on the Income-Tax Demand Notes, as well as the number of the Income-Tax Assessment itself, the same plan being followed in the first year of every subsequent quinquennial period. It would not be possible (except at a cost out of proportion to the advantage to be gained) to show the new Poor Law numbers in the intervening years. But it is thought that, if they retain the demand note for the first year of the period, landlords will be able, by reference to it, to identify the property without difficulty in any of the four succeeding years.

To ask Mr. Attorney General if consideration has been given to the supplementary documents laid before him in respect of the case of the London and Globe Corporation; whether it is intended to take criminal proceedings thereon; and, if not, whether he will state the grounds of such determination. (Answered by Sir Robert Finlay.) The documents referred to are now under consideration.

To ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a member of the personal staff of the Controller, Central Telegraph Office, has been promoted to the superintending staff of the Instrument Gallery by reason of his superior abilities; and whether, seeing that for twenty-eight years he has had no experience of this work, and that an officer who was passed over has been asked to instruct this officer in the duties pertaining to the post of superintendent, he will state why a man qualified to instruct his superior was not held to be qualified for the vacant post. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on the 3rd instant.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the Board of Works have recently examined the agreement under which a subsidy has been paid to the Shannon Development Company, and have made inquiries as to the manner in which this agreement has been observed by the company, he will state what steps they propose to take in this case. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Perhaps I may be permitted to reply to this Question. The services have beet worked in accordance with the agreement between the Board and the Company and, as stated in my reply to the hon Member's previous Question of the 25th November, no steps are contemplated under the agreement.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is prepared to give a Return of the names and addresses of the officials of branches of the United Irish League who are now in occupation of evicted farms and eleven months grazing lands. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) No, Sir. I must adhere to the rule which has been invariably adopted on all previous occasions of refusing to identify in this manner the occupants of such lands.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will lay upon the Table the names of the 184 officials and members of the United Irish League who purchased and rented boycotted farms. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) No, Sir. I must adhere to the rule which has been invariably adopted on all previous occasions of refusing to identify in this manner the occupants of such lands.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to Mr. Justice Kenny's address to the Grand Jury at the opening of the Winter Assizes for the Province of Leinster, in which he describes the several counties as in a peaceable and orderly condition; and whether, in view of this statement and of the fact that there were only twenty-eight cases from the thirteen counties comprising the Winter Assize County, the Government will consider the advisability of withdrawing the provisions of the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act from the districts where they are now in force. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The learned judge stated he had been informed by the police authorities that, with some exceptions, the several counties were in a peaceable and orderly condition. The reply to the latter part of the Question is in the negative.

(Cork Co., N.E.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on Sunday, 14th December, Sergeant Farrell and a constable named Slattery posted themselves in front of the chapel gate at Bartlemy, County Cork, prior to the holding of the 9.30 a.m. mass, and marched up and down there, and that, when remonstrated with by the curate of the parish, they stated they were only obeying instructions; and will he say who gave the orders to these policemen to act in this manner; and is it the intention of the Irish administration to place police in front of Roman Catholic churches in Ireland on Sundays in future. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The action of the police on this occasion is lot correctly represented in the Question. A public meeting of a local organisation had been advertised to be held on the date mentioned at Bartlemy at eleven o'clock. The sergeant and constable were ordered to attend the meeting. Before acting on this instruction, however, they properly availed them selves of the opportunity of being present at divine service in the local Roman Catholic church. While waiting outside the church for the arrival of the officiating clergyman they were interrogated as to their motives in standing in this position. There was no disrespect shown by the police, and none was intended. The inquiry put in the concluding part of the Question is consequently based on a misapprehension.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Bawnboy Rural District Council has called the attention of the Local Government Board to the character of the award made by the arbitrator and to the compensation payable to the landlords under the Provisional Order obtained by the Council to erect labourers' cottages; and, seeing that the Bawnboy Rural District Council has decided to abandon the erection of the cottages in consequence of the compensation allowed under this award, will he explain why the Local Government Board appointed as arbitrator a local landlord; and will the Local Government Board take any steps to have this award set aside, seeing that the District Council has no right to appeal. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Council considers the award excessive. It has frequently happened, I am afraid, that the awards of arbitrators do not satisfy both parties concerned. The Council has no power to abandon the erection of the cottages on the ground stated. The professional qualifications of the arbitrator are of the highest character and the Local Government Board does not consider there are any grounds for the objections raised by the Council. The arbitrator is part owner of a townland which yields him a profit rent of £2 5s. a year.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will explain why the Department of Agriculture sent down their own veterinary surgeon to examine mares awarded premiums at shows in Queen's County at a cost of £30, seeing that the services of competent professional men could be obtained locally at less cost. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Department on such occasions invariably employs veterinary surgeons who are not resident in the county in order to obviate any ground for the suspicion which might be entertained that local practitioners would favour their clients.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state upon what grounds the Irish Land Commission declined to approve of the sale of a farm of seventeen acres, held by Mr. John Walker, Towlerton (Edge Estate), Queen's County, the farm having been sold by public auction to Mrs. Dooge, also a tenant purchaser under the Land Commission, whose holding adjoins Walker's; and whether the Land Commission demanded a fine of £50 from the purchaser as a condition to their approving of the sale. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) In this case an attempt was made to subdivide a holding purchased under the Purchase Acts while a portion of the purchase money remained unpaid. This cannot be done without the consent of the Land Commission, and that body exercised the powers conferred upon it by Section 30 of the Land Act of 1881, and declined to sanction the transaction unless a sum of £50 was paid by the purchaser to be applied to the reduction of the portion of the original loan still outstanding.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the members of the Royal Irish Constabulary employed in protection duty upon a farm in the occupation of Robert Owen, at Kilbride, near Tullamore, have been engaged in husbandry operations upon the farm; and will he state whether the occupier remunerates them for their labour, and whether the cost of those policemen is charged to the local rates. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) I am informed that there is no foundation for the statement in the first part of the Question. The cost of the police employed in protecting Robert Owen is defrayed from the Constabulary Vote.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has considered what will be the effect in Ireland of giving contracts to the lowest tender as provided under the provisions of Clauses 18, Sections (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), of the Local Government (Ireland) Amending Bill; and whether he has taken steps to secure the observance of the provisions of the Fair Wages Resolution as regards wages and conditions of labour; or, if not, in what way does he propose to safeguard the interests and prevent the sweating of workmen and boys employed on such contracts. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The effect of the Clause is not correctly stated in the first part of the Question. Its object is to safeguard the interests of the ratepayers. There is no reason whatever to apprehend that the Clause will militate against the observance of the Fair Wages Resolution, which has been communicated to the local authorities. The Local Government Hoard has not, however, and never had, power to insist on the observance of the Resolution in contracts entered into by local bodies.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the; contractors to whom the Limerick County Council have given the contract for their printing; and whether steps will be taken to secure that the provisions of the Fair Wages Resolution of this House are given effect to in the carrying out of the contract. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The County Council accepted the tenders of Mr. Quinnell, of Tralee, for the printing contracts. The Local Government Board has no power to take the steps suggested in the latter part of the Question.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state why the Local Government Board have endeavoured to have a lady medical officer appointed to the vacant Carrigbyrne dispensary district, when the medical men have refused to become candidates at the salary sanctioned by the Local Government Board. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Guardians have appointed a medical gentleman to the post of dispensary doctor at Carrickbyrne. Ladies are not disqualified from holding this position if professionally qualified, but the Local Government Board has never taken any steps to promote their candidature.

To ask the Secretary of State for India if he will explain the reason of the delay in promulgating the increased rates of pay for the junior grades of officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps.(Answered by Secretary Lord George Hamilton.) The matter to which the hon. Member rofers required, and has received, the consideration of the Government of India I am now in possession of their views, and have communicated my decision to the War Office, with whom it rests to publish the new rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to the Report of the Select Committee on the Flash Point of Petroleum; and whether he proposes to deal with this matter by legislation or otherwise. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers Douglas.) As regards the latter part of this Question, I cannot add anything to my answer of the 9th instant, or make any statement as to legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state, with regard to the petroleum test in New York, what are the facts as to the test employed in New York State and New York City respectively. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers Douglas.) I will answer this Question at some length, because in my answer of the 9th instant I made a statement with regard to the petroleum test in New York which was not sufficiently explicit, and which was also, I find on further inquiry, in some degree erroneous. My statement that the test was an open fire test should have been limited to the State of Pennsylvania, as regards which it is quite correct. In New York State, on the other hand, I find that a close flash test of 100 by the Elliott Cup test (equivalent to rather less than 100 by the Abel test), has been prescribed by law, but, according to evidence given before the Select Committee in 1896, no machinery had been provided for enforcing it; and, so far as I am aware, the same conditions exist at the present time. As regards New York City the same test is prescribed, and I understand that effective means are taken to enforce it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has inquired into the circumstances under which Anne Spillane, now under sentence of death at Guildford, committed the crime for which she has been condemned to die; and whether, under the circumstances of the case, he will recommend that the Royal clemency be extended to the condemned woman. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers Douglas.) I must decline to answer Questions in Parliament as to the advice which it may be my duty to tender to the King in this case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the London and North Western Railway Company have carried out their undertaking given to the Home Secretary respecting the rebuilding of the workmen's dwellings at Broad Street, E.G., demolished by this Company; and will he state what steps he proposes to take in view of the alleged failure of the Company to carry out the obligations given by them to Parliament. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers Donglas.) I have made inquiries, and am informed that when the Railway Company took steps to carry out their indertaking to rebuild the tenements as they were before, they found that the plans would not comply with the provisions of the London Building Act now in force. New plans had, therefore, to be prepared, and some delay has consequently occurred. I am assured that the new plans have now been approved by the district surveyor under that Act, and that the Company will proceed with the matter with all due speed.

To ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will appoint a Committee, consisting of agriculturists and experts, to consider the advisability of setting up a standard for pure cider, and to consider what steps should be taken to prevent substitutes for cider being sold as cider. (Answered by Mr. Hanbury.) The provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts should be sufficient to prevent the sale of adulterated cider, and I will instruct our inspectors to call the attention of local authorities to the subject as opportunity occurs. Cases of improper marking could be dealt with under the Merchandise Marks Acts. The setting up of a standard for cider would probably be a matter of considerable difficulty, and would certainly require fresh legislation. I hope that we shall obtain assistance in regard to such questions from the proposed Cider Institute, which would in that respect supply the place of the Committee suggested in the Question.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will direct the attention of the Historical Manuscripts Commissioners to the MSS. in charge of the Londonderry Corporation, with a view to having them printed. (Answered by Mr. Hayes Fisher.) The Historical Manuscripts Commissioners tiro always glad to be informed of manuscripts of importance, and will doubtless give due consideration to the manuscripts referred to in the Question if particulars are laid before them; but as they have only limited resources, it will, of course, be understood that they cannot deal simultaneously with the many collections of manuscripts of interest throughout the United Kingdom which have been, or may be, brought to their notice.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will state on what ground the Local Government Board raised the value of the emoluments of the late master of Forehoe Union (after he had quitted the employment of the Guardians at the end of two and a half years' service) for the purpose of raising his pension under the Superannuation Act, thereby throwing an increased burden on the ratepayers of the union. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) In this case a question arose between the Guardians and the late master of the workhouse as to the annual value of the emoluments of his office for the purposes of the superannuation allowance to which he was entitled under the Poor Law Officers' Superannuation Act, 1896, and the matter was referred to the Local Government Board for decision. The Guardians estimated the yearly value at £32 10s., and the officer at £53 15s. It appeared to the Local Government Board that the correct value was £46 5s. per annum, and they decided accordingly. As, however, the amount which had been annually deducted from the late master's salary as a contribution for the purposes of the Act in respect of his emoluments had been based upon the Guardians' estimate, the Board considered that the officer ought to pay to the Guardians the difference, between the amount which would have been deducted had the value of the emoluments been calculated on the sum of £46 5s. and that which was actually deducted. They informed the parties that their decision was given on the understanding that this would be done.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will consider the expediency of introducing legislation early next session with a view to the better protection of lost dogs, and to stop the sale of lost or stolen dogs by the police for vivisectional purposes. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) This is not a matter with which my Department is concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Metropolitan Police are empowered to appropriate for the purposes of a Police Fund money derived from the sale of lost or stolen dogs; and will he consider the expediency of taking such action as may be necessary to prevent the sale of lost or stolen dogs for vivisectional purposes. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers Donglas) I will deal with these points in the further communication which I promised the hon. Member yesterday as to the methods of the police in dealing with lost or stolen dogs.

(Kerry, W.) To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken to define the high-water line on the Strand at Inch, county Kerry; whether an inquiry has been held, and, if so, when and by whom, and with what result; and whether, seeing that expense has already been incurred and injury done to the people of the district because they are prevented taking sand and seaweeds, the only manure for their crops, he will take steps at once to define this boundary line. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) The inquiries which are being made are not yet complete. Until a report is received I can express no opinion as to the action which will be taken.

To ask the Postmaster General whether he will state what are the rules governing the selection and appointment of examining mechanics at the Holloway Postal Telegraph instrument factory and depot; and if he will direct that, for the future, seniority and merit shall govern these appointments. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) Appointments to the Class of Examining Mechanics, second class at the Post Office Instrument Factory, Holloway, are filled by men selected from the unestablished mechanics at that factory who can be recommended as having shown aptitude for the work and whose conduct has been satisfactory. In considering the relative merits of the men seniority is taken into account.

To ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware that over 90 percent, of the continuously-employed officers at the Holloway and Mount Pleasant postal telegraph factories and stores, with from two to thirty years service, are still unestablished; and will he say if there is any probability of their being placed on the established staff. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) It is the fact that the bulk of the men employed at the Post Office factories are unestablished, and there is no intention of placing thorn on the establishment.

To ask the Postmaster General whether any Commission or Committee is at present sitting, or is contemplated, to inquire into matters connected with the staffs of the Postal and Telegraphic Departments; what is the scope of the reference to the Committee or Commission; and who are the Members acting upon it. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) No such Committee is sitting or contemplated.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, with a view to preventing men from being disfranchised who are compelled through lack of employment to go upon relief works, he will recommend that Poor Law authorities, instead of opening stone yards and the like under their own auspices, will subsidise such works as may be started by urban and borough councils. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I understand the object which the hon. Member has in view, but it does not appear to me that the Poor Law authorities would be empowered to carry out such an arrangement as that contemplated by him.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a grant in aid from public funds to aid local authorities in meeting the distress now prevailing due to lack of employment. (Answered by Mr. Ritchie.) I can add nothing to the answer given yesterday by my right hon. friend the President of the Local Government Board.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that during the years 1900 and 1901 the agricultural portion of the Lane Fox estate, situate in the barony of Dromahaire, county Leitrim, was sold through the Irish Land Commission Court to the tenants in occupation for a sum exceeding £110,000; and that during this sale the landlord represented Mr. George Hewson, J.P., as an agricultural tenant and, as such, obtained the sale of his holding, consisting of demesne land, mansion, rights of fishing, game woods; will he state whether any official of the Land Commission inspected the holding before the purchase money was advanced; and, if so, will he state the nature of this report and say what further action, if any, will be taken in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) A sum exceeding the amount stated was advanced to enable 693 tenants on this estate to purchase their holdings. Mr. Hewson obtained two advances, and the holdings, the subject of sale to him, were duly inspected and reported upon by one of the Land Commission inspectors before the advances were sanctioned.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in July last the non-agricultural portion of the Lane Fox estate, County Leitrim, consisting of portions of the demesne land and of the houses and plots in and adjoining the village of Drornahaire, in that county, was offered for sale by public auction by the landlord; that Mr. Stewart Gillmour, merchant, of Dromahaire, has purchased his own holding in the village through the Land Commission Court; that Mr. Gillmour's holding consists of a commercial establishment, with steam bakery, electric light plant, with three and a half statute acres of con-acre grazing land attached; and that the landlord has represented to the Irish Land Commission that this holding is agricultural, and has supported that representation by affidavit, and will he state whether this sale has been sanctioned by the Land Commission: and will he say what is the amount applied for by Mr. Gillmour, and will an inquiry be instituted into the circumstances surrounding the sale. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Land Commission has no knowledge of the matter referred to in the first part of the Question. The purchase agreement in Mr. Gillmour's case is dated the 24th July, 1902, and the advance of £48O applied for was made on the 2nd December, 1902. In the agreement for purchase he is stated to have been in occupation of the holding since 1880.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Board of Agriculture promised to give a grant for a technical school in Wexford; and if he can state why the promise has not been carried out. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Department promised to make a contribution to the Technical Instruction Scheme, which includes the proposed erection of a school building out of funds to be borrowed by the District Council, with the sanction of the Local Government Board. The latter Department is in correspondence with the Council on the subject.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the application of the Harbour Board, Dingle, County Kerry, for a grant under the Marine Works (Ireland) Act has yet been considered; and, if so, when will the Board know the result.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what grant, if will be made under the Marine Works (Ireland) Act to improve the harbour of Kenmare, County Kerry.(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) I hope to settle these and kindred questions during the month of January, when I shall be better able to confer with private and public bodies who may be interested locally.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the fact that the Privy Council rejected the application of the Oldcastle Rural District Council No. 2 to give additional allotments to six labourers in occupation of cottages in that district, on the grounds that the proposed plots were on the opposite side of the road and detached from the plots attached to the labourers' cottages; and, seeing that the Local Government Board Inspector approved of these additional plots, and in view of the practice in England, will the Local Government Board take steps to get this decision set aside or to amend the Labourers' (Ireland) Acts. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) There has been no such application before the Privy Council from the District Council mentioned in the Question, but the Privy Council recently decided in a case from Limerick that the additional half-acre must immediately adjoin the existing half-acre, and this decision will govern all future schemes of the kind. I am unable to speak as to the English practice, but the law on the subject is very different in the two countries.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state what length of time a man or woman should be working during any season of the year at agricultural work to be con stitutcd an agricultural labourer within the meaning of the Labourers' (Ireland) Acts. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The expression "agricultural labourer" is defined by the 4th Section of 49 and 50 Vict., cap. 59. There is no period of time, such as suggested, prescribed by statute.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Commissioners of National Education have ordered the Technical Committee of Cork to withdraw from the Model School, the partial use of which was allowed them; and whether, seeing that a considerable sum bad been spent to meet the Commissioners' requirements, he will consent that the corres pondence relating to this matter shall be laid upon the Table of the House. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) In February last the Commissioners granted to the committee, as a temporary arrangement, the use of a portion of the Model School building at Cork. Some minor alterations, necessary for the temporary occupation of the premises, were carried out with the approval of the Commissioners. It appears, however, that extensive structural alterations to the building are now contemplated by the committee, which clearly point to an intention to permanently occupy the premises. The Commissioners, in the circumstances, have given to the committee the notice referred to in the first part of the Question. It is understood that the committee has acquired commodious premises in another part of the city. I do not propose to lay upon the Table the correspondence that has taken place in the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Department of Agriculture in Ireland has been called to the inconvenience caused at Roscommon Railway Station, at the cattle fair held there on the 5th of December, by the failure of the railway company to provide the supply of waggons necessary to carry away the cattle; whether the Department was represented at this fair by an inspector; and, if so, has he reported on the circumstances; and whether the Department has established a railway section; and, if so, will he state its duties. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The answer to the first two queries is in the negative. The inspectors have attended a large number of fairs throughout the country during the past year, but it is impossible for them to be present at every fair. The Department is aware that, owing to the exceptionally heavy trafficin animals which has occurred in Ireland this year, some railway companies have had difficulty in meeting the largely-increased demand for cattle trucks on different occasions and at different places. The Department has established a branch in connection with the transit of animals. Details of the work performed through the medium of this branch will be found in the first and second Annual Reports issued by the Department and presented to Parliament.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Commissioners of National Education are prepared to publish for the year ending 31st August, 1902, all the Reports of their district and head inspectors as to their districts, giving in each case the name of the district and of the inspector making the Report; and can he explain why the Resident Commissioner has published only some of these Reports, and has omitted the names. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Reports of the senior and district inspectors as to their respective districts were for the year ended 31st August, 1901, and not for the year ended 31st August, 1902 These Reports are not published by the Commissioners in their entirety. The chief inspectors have embodied, however, in their General Reports for the year ended 31st December, 1901, extracts from the Reports for that year of the senior and district inspectors, and those extracts bear the names of the inspectors from whose Reports they are taken. The chief inspectors Reports will be found in Section 1 of the Appendix to the last Report of the Commissioners, recently presented to Parliament. As will be seen on reference to this appendix, the Commissioners desire it to be distinctly understood that they do not hold themselves responsible for the opinions expressed in these Reports, nor do they feel called upon to adopt any suggestions they may contain.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Commissioners of National Education can explain in the case of the principal teacher of school, Roll No. 13,141, District 21, why the amount added to his consolidated salary, paid on 5th September, 1901, has been since denied to him; and whether he will have the balance forwarded to this teacher. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The additional payment made to this teacher in September, 1901, was an equivalent grant in lieu of results fees for his services as an extra teacher in a neighbouring girls' school, where he taught algebra and book-keeping as extra subjects to the girls prior to the introduction of the new system. Algebra and book-keeping are no longer extra subjects for which special fees can be paid, and the Commissioners are now considering whether they can continue an equivalent grant in this and other cases for work which the teachers are no longer required to perform.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what proportion of the shell now on board His Majesty's ships is capped shell; whether he has any information showing that the newerform of cap now adopted for foreign navies has been proved by experiment to increase the penetrating power of projectiles striking at all angles; and what steps are being taken to provide all His Majesty's ships with these caps without delay. (Answered by Mr. Arnold-Forster.) The matter referred to is regarded as of a confidential nature, and in the public interests it is undesirable to supply the information asked for.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can state what was the condition of the boilersof the cruisers "Niobe," "Furious" and "Pactolous" after taking part in the recent manoeuvres in the Mediterranean? (Answered by Mr. Aenold-Forster.) The "Niobe," has been four years in commission and requires a complete refit, which is now proceeding. The boilers of the "Furious" are in need of considerable repair, and will shortly be put in hand for thorough refit. A portion of the tubes of the "Pactolus" were renewed some months ago, and it has now been necessary to renew a portion of the remaining tubes, and to effect other repairs in connection with the boilers.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state when the lease of the land known as Old Dean Common, lying between Bagshot and Camberley, Surrey, granted by His Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests to the War Department, will expire; whether, notwithstanding such lease, it is in contemplation to let the portion of Old Dean having a frontage to the London and Southampton Road for building purposes; whether any rights of common or other rights of a public nature (or privileges analogous thereto) exist over the land in question; and whether, before such letting is finally decided on, consideration will be given to the views of residents in Bagshot, Camberley, and other adjoining places who will be affected thereby. (Answered by Mr. Hayes Fisher.) The lease of the heath and woodland, including Old Dean Common, granted to the War Department, is for a term of 21 years, to expire on the 5th January, 1923, determinable by either party at the end of the first seven or fourteen years on giving six months notice, and determinable also as to a strip half a mile in depth from the Bagshot Road, by the Commissioner of Woods at any time on giving one month's notice. This latter stipulation was made in order that the Commissioner of Woods might be in a position to let the land for building purposes. There are no rights of common or public rights over the land, which was purchased by the Crown upwards of 40 years ago. In making the purchase, consideration was given to the availability of the land for building. A good deal of land fronting the road and belonging to other owners has been appropriated for building purposes, and the Commissioner of Woods does not propose to consult the residents as to the disposal of the Crown lands in his charge.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is in a position to give any further information with regard to orders for the armour required for the dockyard-built battleship and cruiser included in the naval programme of the current financial year. (Answered by Mr. Arnold-Forsfer.) Tenders have been invited, and are now under consideration, in respect of the greater part of the armour for the dockyard-built battleship. Tenders for the remainder of this armour, and also for the armour for the dockyard-built cruiser, will be invited shortly.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the crew of H.M.S. "Empress of India "is mainly composed of men who live either in Ireland or in the counties of Devon and Cornwall, it would be possible to allow this ship to return to Devonport for the purpose of giving the crew Christmas leave, instead of Portland, to save expense to the men in reaching their respective homes. (Answered by Mr. Arnold-Forster.) I think the hon. Member must have been misinformed, as the decision to retain the "Empress of India" at Portland for the Christmas leave was only arrived at in consequence of detailed information from the ship showing that the bulk of the ship's company do not belong to Devon and Cornwall, but to other parts of the United Kingdom in readier communication with Weymouth than with Devonport.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the seamen and Marines engaged in South Africa up to February, 1901, are entitled to receive the King's medal for their services similar to the Army. (Answered by Mr. Arnold-Forster.) I am not quite clear as to the meaning of the hon. Member's Question, as the Army Order on the subject of the King's medal provides that service in South Africa in the earlier stages of the war shall not qualify for the award of the King's medal in the case of the Army, unless combined with subsequent service on or after the 1st January, 1902. If the hon. Member will communicate with me privately, and will explain why he refers to the date February, 1901, which is not mentioned in the Army Order, I shall be glad to give him any information that I can.

To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state what arrangements have been made for British representation at the St. Louis Exposition as regards space for commercial display; and will he explain why a Royal Commission has not been appointed in connection therewith. (Answered by Lord Cranborne.) The question is still under consideration, and I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject at present.

To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he will state the cost per mile up to the present of the Uganda Railway; whether this sum was paid in cash, in debentures, or in ordinary stock of the railway; the cost per mile, excluding re-gauging, of the Beira Railway; whether this sum was paid in cash, in debentures, or stock; and, if in either of the two latter, what was the issue price ot the stock. (Answered by Lord Cranborne.) The cost per mile of the Uganda Railway upto the 1st September, the latest date for which audited accounts have been received, was £8,447. If the hon Member will refer to the Uganda Railway Act,1896, he will see that the money was issued from the Consolidated Fund. The Beira Railway is the property of a private company, and not under the Foreign Office. I am unable, therefore, to give the information asked for.

To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give a Return giving the names of the Crown Agent to whom the £22,778 was paid by way of commission, the amount paid to each Agent, the services rendered by each Agent for said commission, and the salary, in addition to the commission, paid to each such Agent.

To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the sum of £22,778 which has been paid as commission to the Crown Agents by the Uganda Railway Committee was paid as commission on the price of material purchased by them for the railway, or as a commission on the total expenditure on the railway; whether he can state what fixed salaries have been paid to the Crown Agents since the construction of the railway commenced; and whether any, and, if any, what, additions of salary have been allowed to those members of the Uganda Railway Committee who were, at the time of their appointment on the Committee, permanent civil or military servant of the Crown. (Answered by Lord Cranborne.) The names of the Crown Agents are to be found in the Colonial Office List. They are paid fixed salaries sanctioned by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The sum of £22,778 is the amount which has been paid to the Crown Agents under the one per cent. charge which they are authorised to make on all supplies and materials shipped by them. The sum arising from this percentage forms a part of the revenue out of which the office is maintained. The Crown Agents personally receive no commission in addition to their salaries. The question as to the amount of the salaries should be addressed to the Colonial Office. No salary has been paid to any member of the Railway Committee who at the time of appointment was a permanent civil or military servant of the Crown.

To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the number of coolies employed on the work of construction on the Uganda Railway, and the number of natives employed there-on; and will he say whether coolies have been imported before for working on the making of railways in Africa, and the respective cost of the coolie and of the native per head. (Answered by Lord Cranborne.)For the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the Report presented to Parliament in Africa, No. 4, of 1902, at page 2. As far as I am aware, Indian coolies have not been before employed on African railways. Native labourers are paid according to the amount of work done. The Indian coolie is not so paid, and a comparison, therefore, would present considerable difficulties, but the Indian coolie is said to be the more efficient.

To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Beira Railway was constructed under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the engineers of the Beira Company, namely, Sir George Bruce, Sir Douglas Fox, and Sir Charles Metcalfe; and whether, before that railway was taken over from the contractors, the engineers certified as to its efficiency and workmanship. (Answered by Lord Cranborne.) I would suggest that the hon. Member should apply to the Beira Railway Company for this information. with which the Foreign Office is not concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, before again submitting any estimates for the consideration of the House, he will lay upon the Table a Return or statement showing the strength and composition of the military forces at home and on each foreign station, other than South Africa, on the 31st December, 1899, 1900, and 1901 respectively; or whether he will in some other way inform Parliament of the numerical strength and composition of the military forces quartered elsewhere than in South Africa on those dates. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) I do not think that any advantage would be gained by the special Returns propossed in the Question.

To ask the Secretary of State for War, in view of the services rendered by mounted riflemen during the late war in South Africa, will he state whether it is proposed to add to the number of regiments of Mounted Infantry now shown in the Army List, and will those officers and men who have gained experience on this duty during the war, be afforded opportunities for becoming permanently attached to this arm of the service; will he state how many regiments of Mounted Infantry it is proposed to maintain on the permanent establishment, and how many such regiments will be retained in South Africa: and will he consider the expediency of organising a special branch of this arm of the service for scouting purposes. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick). The hon. Member is requested kindly to refer to a reply given to a Question on this subject put by the hon. Member for the Heywood Division of Lancashire on the 10th instant. The number of companies to be maintained in South Africa has not yet been settled.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state for what period no troops have been stationed in the Victoria Barracks, Belfast; and can he explain why troops are being moved from Belfast to Newry and outlying stations. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The Victoria Barracks at Belfast are always in part occupation by the depot of the Royal Irish Rifles. The 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers are now in these barracks, recently returned from South Africa. The general officer commanding Third Army Corps has found it necessary, on a point of accommodation, to send a detachment to Newry.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact of a native arrested in Berbera on suspicion of being a spy of the Mullah, who denied the charge, but eventually, under punishment, confessed that he was a spy; and whether he can say if the punishment was inflicted for the purpose of obtaining the confession, what was the nature of the punishment, and by whose orders it was inflicted. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) No information on this matter has reached the War Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether officers promoted during the South African war were exempted from passing the examination for promotion; and, if so, whether officers promoted to brevet rank, and who performed the duties of Field Officers in South Africa, may be exempted in like manner. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) Officers serving in South Africa have been held to be exempt from examination for promotion up to 30th November, 1902; this rule applies to substantive rank only. They will be considered eligible for selection for provisional promotion up to 31st May, 1903, being required to pass examination at the earliest opportunity. Officers with brevet rank come under Article 21A of the Pay Warrant, under which an officer may be exempted from examination on the recommendation of the Conmmander-inChief, if he has been promoted for distinguished service or shows marked ability and gallantry in the field. Officers who produce certificates that they have satisfactorily commanded a mobile force of not less than 500 men for three months in the face of the enemy between 11th October, 1899, and 31st May, 1902 will be exempted from examination for higher rank.