To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Mr. George Bickham, of Capstone Road, Bournemouth, has applied twice this year to the Bournemouth police magistrates for a certificate of exemption under Section 2 of The Vaccination Act, 1893, and that when he applied on 15th February, 1904, one of the magistrates declined to allow the certificate to be granted, although the applicant had satisfied two other justices, and announced that the whole of the Bench must be satisfied; and whether, under these and similar circumstances constantly occurring, he will circularise the magistrates, stating that certificates of exemption cannot be withheld where the applicant satisfies two justices as required by the Act. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) This is not a matter in which I have any authority to take action. But I have made inquiry, and am informed that, as a fact, the Court in this case consisted of four magistrates, two of whom were in favour of, and two opposed to, the grant of the certificate.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the estimated average incidence of the import duties levied by Denmark and the Argentine Republic, respectively, on the principal articles of British export from the United Kingdom, and the relative position this would assign to each of them in the scale of incidence given in the Blue-book for various Continental and other countries. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) The figures for Denmark and the Argentine

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that British goods have been admitted into Canada since 1897 with a rebate of 25 per cent., which was increased in 1901 to 33⅓ per cent., he can state the total value of United States, German, and Belgian goods respectively imported into the North American Colonies in 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1903.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the weight and value in sterling of flax line yarns and flax tow yarns imported into England, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, during the last five years from France and Belgium. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) No distinction is made in the import list between flax line yarns and flax tow yarns, both being classified as linen yarns. The following statement shows the imports of linen yarns from Belgium and France into England, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, during the five years ended 31st December, 1903:—

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to proceed with the Port of London Bill. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) The Government hope to proceed with this Bill as soon as the state of public business permits.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether the suggestion of the Scottish Arboriculture Society has been brought under his notice that the Government should acquire an estate for afforestation; and whether he will consider the practicability of combining with the proposal the acquisition of ground for a national park in a mountainous district within easy reach of the great centres of population in Scotland. (Answered by Mr. A. Graham Murray.) I have received a resolution from the Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society to which I suppose the hon. Member refers. I am unable to entertain any such proposal as that made by the hon. Member in the latter part of his Question.

To ask the Postmaster-General

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will explain why the postmastership of Chirk has been given to a person not previously employed in the postal service, and without knowledge of the duties to be performed; and will he state whether the vacancy was advertised in the usual way. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) When the vacancy for a sub-postmaster at Chirk occurred, several applications were received, and after due consideration of the qualifications of the several candidates, an appointment was made in the usual manner. The vacancy was not advertised, nor is it usual to do this in respect of offices of this class.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to a recent case of a telegram which was addressed to General McCalmont on the message itself but to Colonel McCalmont on the envelope; and whether, in view of the delay in the delivery of the telegram and consequent loss to the addressee, he will state what action he proposes to take in the matter; and also what punishment was awarded in a case some time ago in which a clerk altered or changed a figure in a telegram from 7½d. to 8½d., in which case all compensation was refused to the sender for the loss incurred. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) The first case mentioned by the hon. Member has just been brought to my notice, and I am making inquiry. I fear that the second case cannot be identified without further particulars.

To ask the hon. Member for North Huntingdonshire, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board of Agriculture is in a position to offer State aid to the project for establishing an experimental area, or Forst-garten, in connection with the system of forestry instruction at Edinburgh. (Answered by Mr. Ailywn Fellowes.) We have been in communication with the Scottish Education Department on this subject and I am in a position to say that if any educational institution, such, for example, as the East of Scotland Agricultural College, were to lay itself out to provide education in forestry and to establish an experimental area or Forst-garten in connection therewith, the Department would take such an item of equipment into consideration in determining the amount of any grant that they might give. There would, in fact, be no more difficulty about supporting an institution with a Forst-garten attached than there would be in supporting an instituton with a chemical laboratory or a botanic garden.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the total estimated Naval Expenditure of this country in each of the financial years 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903. 1901–5, including Supplementary Votes and expenditure under Works Bills. (Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The actual total Naval Expenditure, including Supplementary Votes and Naval Works Acts, during the years 1900–1901,1901–2, and 1902–3, was as follows:—1900–1901: Navy Votes, £29,998,529 4s. 7d; Naval Works Acts, £9,132,533 2s. 8d.; Total £32,131,062 7s. 3d. 1901–2: Navy Votes, £30,981,315 2s. 8d. (a); Naval Works Acts, £2,745,176 8s. 3d.; Total £33,726,491 10s. 11. 1902–3: Navy Votes, £31,003,977 9s. 11d. (b); Naval Works Acts, £3,198,016 14s. 9d.; Total £34,201,994 4s. 8d. The estimated Naval Expenditure during 1903–4 and 1904–5, is as follows:—1903–4, Navy Votes, £35,727,500 (c); Naval Works Acts, £3,493,500; Total £39,221,000. 1904–5: Navy Votes, £36,889,500 (d); Naval Works Acts £5,111,900; Total £42,001,400. The undermentioned Annuties in repayment of Advances in connection with the Naval Works Acts, 1895– 1903, are included in the foregoing figures;—(a) £122,255; (b) £297,895; (c) £502,010; (d) £634,238.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the total naval expenditure of France, Russia, Germany, and America in the years 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903. (Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The following table shows the total naval

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the amount of the revenue derived during the nine months ending the 31stDecember, 1903. from the levying of the coal duty on exports of patent fuel. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The net amount of duty received during the nine months ended 31st December, 1903, in respect of patent fuel exported, was £11,799.

To ash the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will say whether the fort at Shankhaiwan, lately occupied by the Russians, was, on their vacation of it, occupied by the French and the tricolour hoisted; and whether he has any information as to what power at present occupies the position. (Answered by Earl Percy.) The portion of the fort at Shankhaiwan, previously occupied by the Russians was, on its evacuation by them, for a time occupied by a French officer with a corporal's guard, and the French flag was hoisted. The French troops have, however, now left, and a party of Russian soldiers from Tientsin are at present in occupation.

† Represents one-fifth of a sum of £11,500,000 which was a special grant sanctioned in 1897 for new construction, to be spread over a period of five years. The details of this expenditure have not been published.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that a clause in the Public Health (Prevention of Diseases) Bill, 1888, seeking to give the medical officer of health powers to demand a full list of a dairyman's customers whose milk supply might come under suspicion, was struck out of the Bill; and that an identical clause, introduced in the Infectious Diseases (Prevention) Bill, 1890, was eliminated from that Bill; and whether the Board will in the present session make their recommendation to the Police and Sanitary Committee that the clause in question be omitted from the various Bills dealing with the milk supply. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I was not aware that the clause referred to was struck out of the Public Health (Prevention of Diseases) Bill, 1888. That Bill did not, I think, proceed beyond First Reading. The clause was, no doubt, eliminated from the Bill of 1890, and it was the practice of the Local Government Board for some years afterwards to draw attention to this circumstance in their Reports on Bills for local Acts. It was found, however, that, notwithstanding this, the clause was, in a large number of cases, allowed by Committees. Moreover, a similar provision was made for Scotland in The Public Health (Scotland) Act, 1897. In these circumstances the Board in 1899 discontinued the practice of drawing attention in their Reports to the action of Parliament in 1890, and I do not propose to resume that practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will grant the Return relating to actions for conspiracy in County Courts, England, appearing on the Notice Paper for to-day. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) I do not think this Return can be granted. I am not aware of any materials from which it could be compiled. The Return referred to is as follows:—Address for Return for five years ended 31st day of December, 1903, showing the number of civil actions for conspiracy which have come before County Court Judges in England and the result in each case.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will give the names of the local papers in which tenders for the coal supplies for the model schools and other public buildings at Enniscorthy have been invited by advertisement. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Waterford News of 29th May, and the Waterford Chronicle of 30th May, 1903.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state what steps are about to be taken to develop the local traffic in county Wexford, and in particular in the Enniscorthy and Newtownbarry districts, under the proposed transit schemes. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) It is proposed, as I have already pointed out, to establish, experimentally, a motor-car service between Enniscorthy, Kilmuckridge, and Wexford.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will explain on what grounds a Roman Catholic constable of the Royal Irish Constabulary was substituted for a Protestant constable in Ballynahinch in January last, who recommended the transfer, and was the county inspectorship temporarily vacant at the time. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The transfer was recommended and carried out by the acting county inspector in the interests of the public service. There are now three Protestants and two Roman Catholic constables at this station.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will explain why the corporation gas accounts of the Belfast County Borough for the year ending 31st March, 1903, have not yet been audited, and why the Local Government Board for Ireland has demanded the sum of £50 from the corporation for audit fees for examining the corporation gas accounts, the work not having been performed. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The audit of the general accounts of the corporation for the year ended 31st March 1903 was completed last December. The gas accounts are not included in the general accounts, and are always audited independently of the latter. The audit of the gas accounts will be undertaken as soon as possible. No demand has been made for the sum mentioned in respect of the audit of the gas accounts. This sum represents the balance of the fees due for the audit of the general accounts of the borough council.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state how many officials, male and female, are employed in Belfast Prison; their rank; and how many of them are Roman Catholics, and how many are Protestants. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The following is a statement of the religious denominations of officers employed in the Belfast Prison, so far as officially known and recorded: Male officers—Roman Catholics: 1 Chaplain, 1 chief warder, 1 store keeper, 2 clerks, 1 trades warder, 1 hospital warder, 1 schoolmaster warder, 1 clerk warder, 19 ordinary warders. Female officers—Roman Catholics: 1 matron, 1 trade instructress, 1 store keeper, 6 assistant matrons, 1 servant. Male officers—Protestants: 2 Chaplains, 4 trades warders, 1 gardening instructor, 9 ordinary warders. Female officers—Protestants: I hospital nurse, 1 schoolmistress, 4 assistant matrons, 1 servant.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will grant the Return relating to actions for conspiracy in County Courts, Ireland, appearing on the Notice Paper for to-day. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The information will be procured and communicated to the hon. Member. It is not, however, considered to be of sufficient importance to lay on the Table in the form of a Parliamentary Paper. The Return referred to is as follows:—Return for five years ended 31st day of December, 1903, showing the number of civil actions for conspiracy which have come before County Court Judges in Ireland and the result in each case.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the estate of the representatives of the late Captain Annesley, situated at and near Island, Ballyhaunis, county Mayo, has been offered to the Congested Districts Board for sale, and that an offer has been made by that Board; and whether, if there is any material difference between the demand and offer, he will advise the Congested Districts Board to make a further offer with a view to purchasing the estate for the purpose of enlarging holdings in that district. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Negotiations for the purchase of this estate were contemplated by the Congested Districts Board three years ago, but they were not proceeded with. The Board has no proposal before it at present in respect of the property. If a such proposal be made it will be considered.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the evidence given by two policemen against a publican named Faby, at the Ballinrobe Petty Sessions, quite recently, who was charged with a breach of the Licensing Acts, when the magistrates, having a doubt about the case, left the bench and proceeded to the spot; that on their return they declared it was impossible for the police to have seen what they swore to, and unanimously dismissed the case; and, if so, whether, in view of these facts, he will order a prosecution for perjury to be instituted forthwith. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Papers in the case have been laid before the Attorney-General, who is considering the matter. A decision will be come to by the Government as soon as some further information, which has been called for, is forthcoming.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether in view of the fact that there are now two vacancies of lieutenant-colonels and six of majors commanding depot companies, R.G.A., he will say whether it is his intention to fill these vacancies by the promotion of junior officers of the service in the course of the next month or so. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) These two vacancies for lieutenant-colonels will be filled by the promotion of two majors in the Gazette of 1st March. There is only one depot company Royal Garrison Artillery short of a major, and not six. When the two majors mentioned have been promoted there will be five vacancies for majors in the Royal Garrison Artillery, and these will be kept open for the absorption of five majors of Royal Garrison Artillery whose terms of staff employment will expire early in April.

To ask the Secretary of State for War what are the sums already voted for the Somaliland Expedition and at what dates were they respectively voted, and what sum, if any, will appear in the Estimates for 1904–5 for the purposes of this war. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster). The sums are as follows:—Supplementary Army Estimates (1902–3), dated 27th February, 1903, £50,100. (It was anticipated that £250,000 would be spent in the year 1902–3, but that of this sum £200,000 could be found out of savings on other Votes, so that it was only necessary to take £50,100 on Supplementary Estimate.) Army Estimates (1903–4), dated 27th February, 1903, £250,000. Supplementary Army Estimates (1903–4), £1,600,000. Total, £1,900,100. As explained in the Memorandum for Army Estimates, 1904–5, issued to-day, no provision for Somaliland has been included in the original Army Estimates.

To ask the Secretary of State for War, when the Army Estimates will be in the hands of Members. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The Army Estimates will be distributed to-morrow morning. I have to-day circulated a Memorandum which is already in the hands of Members.

To ask the Secretary of State for War, if he will state the place of origin of the huts and cantonments sent out to South Africa for the accommodation of the troops. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold Forster.) The place of origin of these huts for South Africa and their fittings was the United Kingdom.

TO ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state what is the nature of the provision for the religious observances of the Chinese imported into the Transvaal which will be secured to them; whether the inquiry that is to be made by a British Officer in China, before he certifies that the contract between the Chinese labourer and the importer has been made voluntarily and with full knowledge of its terms by the labourer, will include an inquiry into whether he has been induced to make it, either by the pressure of some secret society or by the local authorities who wish to get rid of him as an idle or criminal person; and whether the wives and children, who may come with the Chinese labourers to the Transvaal, will be subjected to the same restrictions as to their place of residence as the labourers, and as to the obligation not to engage in any manual labour except mining, and not to trade. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttlelton.) Lord Milner will, no doubt, avail himself of the advice of Mr. Evans, the Protector of Chinese of the Straits Settlements, whose services have been placed at his disposal, in dealing with the arrangements to be made for the religious observances of the Chinese, but I am not at present in a position to state what those arrangements will be. Special care will be taken to secure the contract being made voluntarily and to prevent the engagement of undesirable labourers. The Lieutenant-Governor will make suitable regulations; precisely the same restrictions cannot, of course, be applied to the women and children as to the labourers.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the new battleship "Prince of Wales," which has just completed her gun trials at Chatham, and is to be ready for commission by the end of March, has armour plates around her foremost barbette which are developing fissures and cracks, and scaling off in patches of considerable size and thickness; and, if so, whether she will be allowed to go to sea with defective protection, or whether it will be necessary to unbuild, to remove the defective plates; and, in such case, whether the manufacturers of the armour plates will be called upon to bear the entire expense incurred.

One of the armour plates of the forward barbette of H.M.S. "Prince of Wales" has developed defects on its face since being worked into the ship, but these defects are not of such a serious character as the hon. Member's Question implies, and unless they should prove to be progressive, it will not be necessary to remove and replace the plate. It has been decided to keep the plate under observation for a time, but should an extension of the defects occur, it may be necessary to call upon the manufacturers to provide a new plate.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it will be necessary to provide new guns for the two Chilian vessels recently purchased by the Government; and, if so, at what cost.

It will not be necessary to supply new guns for the "Triumph" and "Swiftsure." The guns already provided are suitable, and do not require to be replaced.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what is the amount that will be spent by 31st March of the present year under the Naval Works Act.

The estimated expenditure up to 31st March next under the Naval Works Act of 1903 is £3,493,500.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War when a further Report from the War Office (Reconstitution) Committee will be presented; and whether it will deal with the sanitary administration of the Army, to which no reference is made in the Report recently issued. The hon. Member said that the first part Question had been practically answered already by the official publication of the second part of the Report of the War Office (Reconstitution) Committee. He would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it was convenient to give any information as to the second part of the Question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why this Report appears in the morning papers to-day before it has been delivered to Members of the House?

This Report was not made to me. I am exceedingly sorry it is not in the hands of hon. Members. I thought it was. It certainly ought to have been, and I will see that it is put into their hands at the earliest possible moment. I think the point of sanitary administration will be dealt with in the third part of the Report, which is not yet presented. It is stated in the earlier part of the Report that that is the intention of the Committee.

Will the third part of the Report be presented in time for its discussion upon the Army Estimates?

I think not; but I hope this Report will not be debated upon the Army Estimates, but will be dealt with by itself. I think, in view of the importance of the questions raised, that would be more satisfactory to the House.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that in the list of firms recommended to young officers in Ireland from whom they should order their uniforms and other necessaries there are several firms who do not pay trade-union labour; and that there are several who do not manufacture the work in their own workshops but give it out to be done by outworkers; and whether, in view of the recommendations of the Commission appointed to inquire into the conditions of labour in the tailoring trade, he will see that such goods are manufactured in sanitary workshops and free from underpaid conditions.

As there is no War Department contract of any sort made with these firms the conditions of manufacture do not come within the scope of War Department inquiry.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the inquiry which was instituted into the allegations made against the Excise administration of Assam in a memorandum issued by Mr. James Buckingham, CLE., in 1902, on behalf of the Indian Tea Association, has been concluded; and when the Report will be published.

The inquiry has been concluded by the local authorities, and I hope shortly to receive their Report, together with the views of the Government of India upon it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he can state whether the senior officers of the Indian Army are selected for Major-General's commands by a selection board in India, by the Secretary of State for India, or by the Commander-in-Chief in India or England.

These officers are appointed by the Government of India, on the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief in India.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will lay upon the Table the correspondence between the Government of India and the High Commissioner of South Africa relative to the importation of Indian coolies into the Transvaal.

There has been no correspondence between the Government of India and the High Commissioner on this subject, and it is not proposed to lay any Papers on the Table.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state if a request has been received by His Majesty's Government from the Canadian Government for preferential tariff treatment: and, if so, will he say what answer, if any, was sent.

There is no record in my Department of any such request beyond the statement contained in the memorandum of the Canadian Ministers printed in Parliamentary Paper Cd. 1299 of October, 1902.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will, without prejudice to the power of making further regulations from time to time, cause to be forthwith prepared such and so many regulations regarding the Chinese labour which it is proposed to import into the Transvaal as may be, in the first instance, necessary in order to carry out the provisions of the Ordinance and the pledges which he has himself given; and whether he will cause these regulations to be communicated to Parliament before authorising the embarkation of any Chinese for South Africa.

These regulations are being prepared. They will be laid upon the Table as soon as they are completed. I will not sanction the embarkation of any labourers till I am satisfied that the pledges which I have given to' the House are embodied in the regulations. Beyond this I cannot give any further undertaking.

Do I understand that labourers may be embarked before the House has seen the regulations?

No, Sir; that will probably not be the fact. My right hon. friend will see that there must be a very considerable proceeding by way of explanation of the contract, and so forth, in China before any embarkation can take place. The regulations which prescribe that procedure will be laid on the Table immediately they are passed.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the regulations under the Chinese Labour Ordinance will be framed before Chinese labourers are recruited in China, if not, what steps will be taken to enable the superintendent of labourers in China to inform the labourers of the proposed terms of service.

Yes, Sir, the regulations which concern the terms of service as laid down in the contract must obviously be framed before definite contracts are made.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, under the Chinese Labour Ordinance, any steps will be taken by the Government to regulate the prices of goods to be supplied to the coolies by the stores in the compounds; and, if not, how they propose to prevent the coolies being mulcted of their wages.

If the superintendent of labourers finds it necessary, it will be open to the Lieutenant-Governor to make regulations on the subject, but, as I understand, the labourers will be able to go out to make their purchases. I am in communication with Lord Milner on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secreretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that the Sunday Labour Law in the Transvaal prohibits labour in the mines on Sunday, he will use his influence to secure that the coolies shall be allowed to go outside of the compounds on Sundays.

The extent to which it will be convenient and desirable to grant permits under Clause 19 of the Ordinance must be left for settlement in the light of experience.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that agitation existed in the Province of British Columbia, Dominion of Canada, against Chinese and Japanese immigration into that province; that for many years, at every session of the Legislature of the Province of British Columbia, Acts were enacted prohibiting the immigration of Japanese, and were disallowed by the Dominion Government at the request and on the advice of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, will he state whether an Act passed at the last session of the British Columbia Legislature against Japanese immigration has been allowed and is now law.

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave on the 15th instant to the Question put to me on this subject by the hon. Member for Dundee.†

asked if the Bill had now become law and was not to be disallowed.

answer was inaudible.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the Canadian Government impose a tax of $500 per head in the matter of Chinese immigration into Canada, he can state if he has any official information showing the effect of this restriction upon Chinese immigration into Canada.

The capitation tax of $500 was only imposed last year, and I have no information as to its effect on immigration.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will lay upon the Table of the

† See (4) Debate, cxxix., 1320.

House a copy of the resolution in favour of Home Rule for Ireland adopted by the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, within the last two years and of the answer sent.

Yes, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state if any grants of land in the new South African Colonies, and, if any, how many, have been made to Yeomanry or Reservists who took part in the late war.

The hon. Member will see by reference to the Ordinances printed at pages 25 and 69 of Cd. 1463 that no provision is made for free grants of land in the new Colonies, though preference is to be given to those who served in the war. I will request the Governor to report how many Yeomen and Reservists have taken up land under those Ordinances.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Crown Agents for the Colonies are appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies; whether the staff of the Crown Agents is appointed by them; and whether the commission allowed to be levied by the Crown Agents on stores, railways, general business, etc., goes in relief of the general cost of the maintenance of the office or is part of the remuneration allowed to the Crown Agents individually; and, if so, how is it divided amongst them.

(1) The Crown Agents for the Colonies are appointed by the Secretary of State; (2) Their staff is appointed by themselves; (3) All the commissions levied by them, under the authority of the Secretary of State, go into the general fund, out of which the office is maintained and on which the salaries fixed for the Agents individually are charged; and (4) no part of such commissions is divided amongst them, and they receive no remuneration whatever beyond their fixed salaries.

Is there not now a very large balance of that general fund not applied?

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, pending survey and suitable reserves being made for natives, he will assure the House that no further concessions of land in East Africa will be granted to syndicates.

Every application for land must be treated on its merits and every concession granted is subject to the provisions of the Crown Lands Ordinance, 1902, which protects the rights of natives. An extensive tract of country is being reserved as grazing ground for the Masai, and His Majesty's Commissioner has been instructed to make no further grants within this area.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any international undertaking that belligerent ships of war should restrict their stay in neutral ports to twenty-four hours, or whether such instructions are only applicable to British ports.

There is no such international undertaking. The rule was adopted by this country in 1862, and, since that date, several foreign States have issued similar rules in connection with their observance of neutrality.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that it is the duty of the permanent bureau set up under the Brussels Sugar Convention to collect, translate, arrange, and publish information of all kinds respecting legislation on and statistics of sugar, not only in the contracting States but in other States as well, he will say if any such information has yet been published by the permanent bureau; and, if so, when it will be laid before Parliament.

The proéh verbaux of the sittings of the Permanent Commission in June and July last, as well as fascicules 1–8 concerning the legislation of various countries, were sent to the Library of the House of Commons on the 26th of November. Fascicules 9 and 10 dealing with the legislation of Denmark and the Danish Antilles were sent to the Library on the 25th instant. Subsequent publications when received will be laid in due course.

Have any statistics been published by the Bureau?

Yes.

Would it be possible to have the procés verbaux laid on the Table, or are they too long?

They are exceedingly bulky.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to the seizure by Russian destroyers in the Red Sea of British steamers laden with coal to Japan; and whether, in view of the fact of coal not having been declared contraband of war by Russia, and that over 15 ships of a total value, including cargo, of over £700,000, have sailed from Cardiff under similar conditions and insured in London in the belief that coal was not declared contraband of war by Russia, he will state whether His Majesty's Government intend to take any action in the matter.

His Majesty's Government have no information respecting the alleged seizures. They have been informed that the Russian Government are at present considering regulations in regard to contraband visits on the high seas, Prize Courts, &c, and that these regulations will shortly be communicated to the Powers.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the Papers promised last session on the result of the experiment of importing Central African Natives into the Transvaal for labour in the mines will be laid upon the Table of the House.

I propose to lay the Papers shortly.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state where copies of the Report furnished by His Majesty's Consuls on the Working of Labour Farms on the Continent can be had.

The Returns asked for have only lately been completed and are now in course of revision for Parliament.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Turkish Government has insisted that General Giorgis, who has been selected for the command of the gendarmerie in Macedonia, shall be subject to the control of Mustapha Pasha, who has been placed as a Turkish officer over that corps or of such other Turkish officer as may be appointed by the Sultan to that post; whether the European Powers, with whom the scheme for the gendarmerie is being arranged, have refused to agree to this demand, and in particular what has been the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards it; and what is the present position of the gendarmerie scheme.

We have received no information that any such demand has been made by the Turkish Government. General de Giorgis and the Committee of Staff Officers of the six Powers have, we understand, drawn up a statement of the conditions which they think necessary for the successful reorganisation of the gendarmerie. It is hoped that its immediate presentation to and acceptance by the Porte will enable the officers to proceed to their posts without further delay.

Do I understand that General de Giorgis will be in supreme command of the gendarmerie and that no Turkish officer will be placed over him?

I must ask for notice of that Question.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has reason to anticipate that the revenue of the current financial year will be sufficient to provide for the new burdens created by the Supplementary Estimates for the Navy, Army, and Civil Services.

No, sir.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he will lay at an early date upon the Table of the House the evidence before the Royal Commission on our Coal Supplies, so far as it relates to the coal tax.

The Coal Commission has already published one volume of Evidence, and another volume, I understand, is in the hands of the printer for press. It will therefore appear shortly. I am informed that it is expected that the final volume of Evidence and the 'Report will be published this year; and that the evidence concerning the coal tax, together with the conclusions respecting it arrived at by the Commission, will appear in these final volumes.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the amount of the revenue which has accrued from the coal tax during the nine months ending 31st December, 1903.

The net amount of Revenue which accrued from the coal tax during the nine months ended 31st December, 1903, was £1,583,903.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the character of some blends of so-called Irish and Scotch malt whiskey; whether he is aware that a blend made up in a bonded warehouse in Scotland, the total amount of which was 2,500 gallons, was composed of about 2,000 gallons of English spirit and about 500 gallons of raw grain patent spirit less than one year old, and was sold to the public as genuine malt whiskey; and, if so, will he state what steps the Treasury intend to take to safeguard the public.

I have no information to confirm the allegations made; but if whiskey which is not made of malt is sold as malt whiskey, it is an offence against the Merchandise Marks Act.

If I send him a sample made from raw grain spirit, will the right hon. Gentleman take the responsibility of sampling it himself?

No, Sir, I cannot pretend to be an authority on the subject.

You might do your best by trying it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will endeavour to arrauge for regulations to be issued in regard to covered vans, so that the extent of view to be provided for the driver under the London County Council bye-law, recently confirmed by the Secretary of State, may be made perfectly clear.

I have no power to make any such regulations; and it seems to me that the terms of the bye-law which I indicated to my hon. friend the other day are sufficiently clear, viz., that the driver must have a full and uninterrupted view in front and abreast of him on each side. Whether in any given case this requirement is satisfied is a question which must be settled according to the facts of the case—by a Court of Law, if necessary.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Alderman O'Connor, of Fulham, recently imprisoned in Chelmsford Gaol for default in payment of rates; and, if so, will he say whether it is customary for such an offence to compel prisoners to pick oakum, to search them every day, and to supply them with ritualistic tracts.

The prisoner in question was treated in the same way as other prisoners who come within the rules for debtors. Such prisoners must be given some employment, and when the term of detention is so short as fourteen days it is sometimes impossible to find any better employment than oakum-picking. Alderman O'Connor was searched on reception, but only once after that. He was supplied with a Bible, Prayer-book, Hymn-book, and a book called "The Narrow Way" (which I am assured cannot be called a ritualistic tract), and a library book. He made no complaints.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to a coroner's inquest, held at Southwark on the 23rd inst., when the jury, in returning a verdict of death by misadventure, added a rider that the sellers of acids and all poisons should be compelled to label the vessel with the name of the substance it contained and the word poison, and that no poison should be sold to young children except in sealed bottles; and, if so, will the question of legislation on the subject receive his consideration.

I have been asked by my right hon. friend to answer this Question. I am not aware of the facts of this particular case, but as to further legislation with regard to the sale of poisons I would refer my hon. friend to the statement made by the Prime Minister on the 4th March last,† indicating that the matter only awaited a favourable opportunity.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the nature of the matter to be brought before the Permanent Commission, established under the Brussels Sugar Convention, in March next, with reference to the limitation of the surtax laid down in Article III. of the Convention, the Government propose to take the advice of experts in the trades interested.

I have taken steps to learn the views of those interested in the trades referred to, and I shall be glad to consult further with any expert who may be suggested by the Association representing these trades.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the attention of the Board of Trade has been directed to the percentage of British merchant crews who desert their ships at San Francisco, forfeiting their wages and effects, in contrast with those of French ships, whose owners have a pecuniary interest in retaining them; and whether he will confer with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with a view to amending the Merchant Shipping Act, Section 232, so as to assimilate the procedure in regard to unpaid

† See (4) Debates, exviii., 1344.

wages of deserters to that provided in the case of seamen deceased, or will otherwise deal with the matter.

My attention has been called to the percentage of British merchant seamen who desert at San Francisco, forfeiting their wages and effects, as compared with the percentage of deserters from French vessels at the same port, and the matter has been referred to in official documents which I have received from the United States. The question of amending Section 232 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, is under my consideration, and the Board of Trade are in communication with various bodies representing British shipowners on the subject.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the £50,000 a year for four years, reserved out of the Irish Development Grant Fund for expenses connected with the loan for the purposes of the Irish Land Act, of last year, will be available to meet the discount at which the stock may have to be floated; and, if not, will he explain exactly to what expenses that sum is to be devoted.

The four sums of £50,000 to which the hon. Member refers will not be available for meeting the charges occasioned by the issue of stock at a discount. It is provided by the Act that these charges are to be paid out of the Guarantee Fund. The sums in question are intended to form a working balance of the Land Purchase Fund to meet temporarily the charges upon that fund which may arise before moneys applicable to them are received. For instance, dividends on the Stock will accrue for payment before annuities are in hand for paying them; and cash will be needed out of which immediate advances can be made in anticipation of issues of Stock.

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that the discounts will have to be paid out of the Guarantee Fund?

Yes.

This £50,000 is part of the Guarantee Fund. Does it mean that no part of the £50,000 is to be set aside year by year for four years to meet the expenses of the flotation, and that the discounts at which the stock may be issued will have to be paid out of the Development Grant?

Do I understand that the £50,000 set aside will not be sufficient to meet the expenses?

No Sir. I had better repeat the first sentence of my answer—

"The four sums of £50,000 to which the hon. Member refers will not be available for meeting the charges occasioned by the issue of stock at a discount. It is provided by the Act that those charges are to be paid out of the Guarantee Fund."

This is a matter of vital importance. It was clearly understood by all of us that the £50,000 were to be set aside for the cost of flotation, including the discounts. Are we to understand now that the cost of discounts is to be paid out of the Development Grant in addition to the sum taken from that fund for the cost of flotation?

I quite agree that the matter is an important one. Possibly if the hon. Gentleman wishes to pursue the subject he will be good enough to put a further Question on the Paper, because I ought not to speak without having time for consideration. But the four sums of £50,000 were not intended on either side of the House to pay the cost of flotation.

It was so understood by us.

Yes.

We may possibly be using language in a different sense. I should like any further Question put down.

If the right hon. Gentleman is right every one of us who supported the Bill were under an entire misapprehension. I will certainly put down a further Question.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state on what Votes the unexpended balance of £718,136 7s. 11d. arose on Irish Votes during the last ten years; whether this sum is placed to the credit of any Irish account so that it may be available for Irish purposes, and if not, what has become of this money; and whether, beyond the above amount during the last ten years, there have been any savings from the Votes for the Post Office, Revenue Departments, or other Votes of a general character on the amounts stated in the annual Returns as having been expended in Ireland; and, if so, what is the additional amount of these savings and to what purposes have they been applied.

The aggregate surrender includes surpluses on all the Irish Votes. The unexpended balances on Irish Votes are treated in the same way as similar balances on English and Scotch Votes—that is to say, they go in reduction of the total charge against revenue, and if, as the result, the revenue exceeds the expenditure for the year, the surplus is by statute applied to the Old Sinking Fund in reduction of debt. The amounts shown in the Financial Relations Returns as expended on Irish Account are not based on the voted grants, but on the issues made from the Exchequer to meet actual expenditure, so far as it can be ascertained.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his predecessor said that any savings effected in these Irish Votes would be applied solely to Irish purposes?

I am not aware of anything in that direction at all. Which predecessor does my hon. friend mean?

The last but one.

I do not think he could have made a statement in such wide general terms. Ireland is treated in this matter exactly as England and Scotland are.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will grant a Return showing how the amount of £718,136 7s. 11d. returned by him as the amount of unexpended balances surrendered to the Imperial Exchequer by the Irish Government in the last ten years is made up, giving the various heads and the amount under each head.

These figures are published every year. They appear in the column headed "Surpluses" in the "Abstract Statement showing the Appropriation of Grants" which is appended to the annual Reports of the Public Accounts Committee.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will grant a Return of the names of the persons who have been appointed inspectors, auditors, and arbitrators of the Local Government Board for Ireland since the Local Government Act of 1898 was passed, giving in each case the tenure of the appointment, the date on which the appointment was made, the qualifications of the persons appointed, and stating what test, if any, such qualifications were subjected to.

A Return containing the information desired in the Question is being prepared and will be forwarded to the hon. Member when complete.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state on what data Major Nicholas Gosselin was appointed a resident magistrate for Ireland; the various places in which he has been stationed since the date of his appointment; where he is stationed at the present time; whether he has discharged any duties except those of resident magistrate since the date of his appointment; and, if so, what is the nature of those duties.

Major Gosselin was appointed resident magistrate on the 2nd August, 1882. He was stationed for a short time at Killeshandra, County Cavan, and at Sligo. He was subsequently seconded for employment on special duty and ceased to act under the Irish Executive. He retired on pension on the 12th instant.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will immediately introduce the promised measure dealing with labourers in Ireland, so as to afford ample time for the consideration of its provisions by those specially interested in the matter.

The Prime Minister will answer this Question to-morrow.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board intend to carry out the promised improvements at Cooscroum, county Kerry, without any further delay.

The delay is unavoidable. Work will be commenced on the landing place next month.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Board of Visitors of the Dublin Natural History Museum, in which it it stated, page 414, that the staff has not been increased during the past twenty-five years; whether he is aware that attention has been repeatedly called to this want of additional assistance in previous years; and whether, in view of the fact that catalogues and guides cannot be prepared and that the work of sorting and classifying the specimens is largely at a standstill for want of more skilled help, he will provide permanent Additional assistance as has been done in the case of the British Museum.

The question of the sufficiency of the staff of the Natural History Museum is at present engaging the consideration of the new Department.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been directed to the position under the Land Purchase Act of Amos Palmer Doolan, of Shinrone, King's county, who was evicted in December.1888, by his landlord, John Lloyd, esquire, Gloster; is he aware that Doolan has made application to the Estates Commissioners for reinstatement; that his rent was £143 per annum; that the holding is now let at £90 per eleven months, which expires on the 25th February; and that Llewellyn W. M. Lloyd, the present landlord, proposes to sell this property or is in communication with the Estates Commissioners on the subject; and whether, before the sale is sanctioned, Doolan's case will receive due consideration.

An application for reinstatement has been received on behalf of this evicted tenant. It will be duly considered.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he can state if the young lady who complained of being molested by a police constable in Rostrevor, who stopped her in the street and insisted on giving her readings from the Bible, has been afforded an opportunity of identifying him; whether constable Walsh has denied that he is the constable concerned; and what steps have been taken by the authorities to ascertain the identity of the constable concerned.

The lady in question was interviewed by the district inspector. She stated she was unable to identify the constable who read to her a passage from a book, which she believed was a Bible. Constable Walsh denies that he ever gave, or offered to give, a Bible to any Roman Catholic lady. I am inquiring whether he ever read a portion of the Bible to a young lady. But short of this, however, it is not proposed to take further action in the matter, of which sufficient notice has already been taken.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary has intimated to constable Walsh of Rostrevor his disapproval of the constable's conduct in attending in uniform certain open-air sectarian meetings in that town; whether the Inspector-General has expressed his disapproval of the constable's conduct in entering into religious controversies; and whether the Inspector-General has conveyed his disapproval of the constable's conduct in distributing sectarian newspapers to workmen in the town.

The constable attended in uniform an open-air meeting of the Church Army. The Inspector General informed him that it would be more prudent to attend outdoor religious services in plain clothes. He was also informed that he should avoid entering into religious controversy or distributing copies of the British Workman newspaper.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House on whose authority he informed the House last week that this constable had not been censured at all?

The intimation did not amount to censure, and in any case I think the hon. Member attributes undue importance to the matter.

I think I am entitled to ask the Question.

Order, order! It is not in order, on the answer to one Question, to revert to the answer to a previous Question.

May I point out that if I hand in notice of a Question dealing with a reply to a previous Question the Clerk at the Table at once says I am not entitled to put it?

And quite rightly.

Can I ask this——

I cannot advise the hon. Member what sort of Question will be in order. He must present it at the Table in the ordinary way, and objection will be taken if it is objectionable, and can, if necessary, be dealt with by me.

I do not want to argue the question, but——

Order, order! The hon. Member had better proceed to his next Question.

; I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how long Head Constable Moore has been engaged on temporary duty at Greencastle, county Antrim, and when the temporary duty is likely to come to an end.

Since the 10th August last. There is no intention at present to withdraw this Head Constable from Greencastle.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state in what temporary character this constable is employed and how many years he will be so employed?

I have answered the Question on the Paper, and have stated there is no intention of with drawing him.

Is it a fact that this man has been engaged for twelve months on temporary duty, and will the right hon. Gentleman state how much longer he will be so engaged?

As long as it is considered advisable.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if any sales or transfers of estates have under the provisions of the Land Act of last session been effected in the agricultural districts situate within the limits of the Parliamentary Borough of Galway; whether the attention of the Estates Commissioners has been directed to the uneconomic holdings at Castlegar and other agricultural districts within the limits of the borough; and whether, in view of the fact that tracts of available land now used as grazing farms are in the vicinity of these holdings he will, in order to decrease emigration from this district, direct the attention of the Estates Commissioners and the Congested Districts Board to this part of the nest of Ireland.

No overtures have been made to the Estates Commissioners for the purchase of lands within the area mentioned in the Question. Any representations made to the Commissioners or to the Congested Districts Board in this respect will be duly considered.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state whether any representations have been made by the Department of Agriculture to the Midland and Great Western Railway Company of Ireland with respect to the rates charged for the carriage of goods and agricultural products from Galway to Dublin; and, if so, what answer was received.

The Department has not received any complaints from traders in respect to this matter. If such are made they will receive the careful consideration of the Department.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Allen Bell, R.M., in presiding at the Ballinrobe Petty Sessions a few days ago, declared that the evidence of two policemen who had preferred a charge against a publican, named Faby, under the Licensing Acts was untrue, and after personally investigating the case dismissed it on the merits; and will he state whether the resident magistrate reported this case to the Attorney-General with a view to a prosecution for perjury; and, if not, will he state what steps he proposes to take in view of his conduct.

The papers in the case have been laid before the Attorney-General, who is considering the matter. A decision will be come to by Government as soon as some further information, which has been called for, is forthcoming.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Congested Districts Board has had under consideration for more than a year an insurance scheme for fishing boats; is he now in a position to say what decision has been arrived at; and, if so, in view of the approach of the spring fishing season, what steps should be taken by the fishermen to avail themselves of the scheme.

The preparation of a scheme has necessitated careful consideration and inquiries. A draft of a proposed scheme will come before the Board at its next meeting, when it is expected that any unsettled questions will be disposed of.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how many applications for reinstatement have been received by the Estates Commissioners from evicted tenants in Cork county since November last; and, if any independent action will be taken by the Estates Commissioners by means of which some of these evicted tenants may be reinstated during the approaching spring.

Four hundred and twenty-nine such applications have been received. Upon the sale of estates in the county the inspectors have instructions to report on these applications with a view to the reinstatement of evicted tenants.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on the 14th and 21st instant attacks were made on street preachers in Cork; that on the latter date a man named Henry Morris, of Jewish per-suasion, was beaten and robbed; and that on mounting a side car the carman refused to drive him; can he state how many arrests were made; and what action, if any, he intends to take to prevent such attacks.

No attack was made on the preachers on either of the dates mentioned. A large hostile crowd had assembled on each occasion, but the preachers were effectually protected by the police from assault or injury. The painful and deplorable assault committed on Mr. Morris, who is not a preacher, was not witnessed by the police, and he is unable to identify his assailants. No arrests have yet been made in connection with the assault, though vigilant inquiries have been, and are still being, made by the police. The police will continue to afford every possible protection to the preachers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the unanimous feelings of all religious denominations in the south of Ireland is that street preaching should not be tolerated.

I cannot reply to that.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Protestants of Cork have strongly protested against this intolerable street preaching nuisance.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any reason to believe that the man Morris was attacked in consequence of his being a Jew? or it was for a political reason?

Is it not a fact that the citizens of Cork who attempted to rescue this man were themselves molested?

I am not aware of the fact. The subject of street preaching has often been discussed in this House and the opinions of the Government are well known.

rose to put further Questions, but the SPEAKER declined to allow the matter to proceed further.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that some 500 tenants on the Murphy and De Freyne estates, in the county Roscommon, have recently served notices to have a fair rent fixed; and, if so, whether he will urge the Land Commission to take steps to expedite the hearing of cases in distressed districts; and whether he will recommend the Land Commission to immediately detach special Sub-Commissioners to deal with the De Freyne and Murphy estates.

All fair rent applications from these districts, lodged before the 1st January, were heard on the 2nd and 3rd instant. Some 200 applications have been received since the 1st January, and a Sub-Commission will be sent down to hear them as soon as arrangements can be made.

In view of the peculiar circumstances connected with this district, will the right hon. Gentleman communicate to the Land Commissioners his desire to have these cases tried as soon as possible?

They will be tried as soon as arrangements can be made.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a resolution, unanimously adopted by the traders and others in Abbeyfeale, in the county of Limerick, complaining of the action of the Great Southern and Western Railway Company in withdrawing the Sunday trains between Limerick and Tralee; whether he is aware that the Waterford and Limerick Railway Company ran these trains continually for years, and that by the amalgamation of this company with the former the public were guaranteed equal facilities to those heretofore enjoyed by them; and, if so, whether, in view of the loss and inconvenience caused by the discontinuance of these trains, he will take steps to have them continued.

The resolution has not been received. I understand, however, that the trains referred to were postal service trains and were discontinued because the receipts from the Post Office authorities, together with receipts from ordinary traffic, did not cover working expenses. This being so, the Department is not in a position usefully to make any representations to the company as suggested.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can say if the money which has accumulated in the hands of the Commissioners of Education in Ireland on account of the Roxboro' Road School, Limerick, has been yet applied, as he last year, in answer to a Question†, stated that it might, to the purposes of technical education in the city of Limerick; and, if not, will he explain how the case now stands.

This matter cannot conveniently be discussed in the form of an answer to a Question. It has formed the subject of correspondence with the Borough Council of Limerick, which the hon. Member has probably seen, and, if not, I shall be happy to supply him with a copy.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can give the dates on which the tourists' services were established between Listowel and Tarbert by car, between Tarbert and Kilrush by

† See (4) Debates, cxix., 358.

steamer, and between Ennistimon and Ballyvaughan by car; and whether he will say if the service was a daily one; and, if not, what portion of the year was covered by the service between Listowel and Tarbert, Tarbert and Kilrush, and Ennistimon and Ballyvaughan.

I have called for but not yet received this information, and must ask the Hon. Member to repeat the Question to-morrow.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that for some time past policemen are in the habit of watching the Roman Catholic church and the congregation at Knockavilla, county Tipperary, during the hours of worship on Sundays; is he aware of the views of the congregation upon the action of the police, and will he state for what purpose they are there.

The hon. Member has not been correctly informed. The police attend service in this church and afterwards remain in the village for the purpose of enforcing the Licensing Laws.