To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will state what steps will be taken to carry into effect the rider of the jury in the case of the inquest held on 25th February upon the four female patients in Portsmouth Lunatic Asylum who died from the effects of careless dispensing; and whether the Local Government Board will cause regulations to be made requiring all dispensaries in public institutions to be in charge of persons registered under the Pharmacy Acts. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) I have been asked by my right hon. friend to take this Question. There are several difficult points involved in this case, and for the present I can only say that I am in communication with the Lunacy Commissioners, and that the matter shall be thoroughly considered.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that sick persons have recently been molested on their way to, and on leaving, the temporary hospital of the Macedonian Relief Fund at Castoria; and whether instructions will be sent to His Majesty's Consul-General at Salonika to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. (Answered by Earl Percy.) His Majesty's Government have not received any information to the effect stated in the Question; but His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople will be instructed to make inquiries, and to take any steps which may be possible to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what vessels are to be repaired and refitted for which £247,000 is asked in the Navy Estimates for 1904–5; what was the total first cost of each vessel; and what amount is estimated to be spent on each. (Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The vessels in question are the following:—First Cost (including Direct Charges and Incidental Expenditure):—"Goliath," £866,006; "Canopus," £866,516; "Argonaut," £545,756; "Crescent," £392,453; "St. George," £399,755; "Terrible," £708,619; "Highflyer," £280,182; "Rainbow," £187,740; "Pique," £188,589; "Warrior," £389,394; "Triumph," £274,121. All these vessels except the last four are already in hand, the refits having been commenced under previous programmes. In view of the special j character of the arrangement under which these repairs are being carried out, it would probably not tend to economy to publish beforehand the estimated expenditure on each ship.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the "Circe," "Leda," and "Jason" were repaired in private dockyards on the time and material basis; and whether the same basis is being, and will be, adopted in the case of the "Halcyon." (Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The re-engining and re-boilering of these four vessels was contracted for at a fixed price, but the subsequent work of completing them for sea (which work it was originally intended to execute in His Majesty's dockyards) was contracted for on the system of "net cost plus percentage."

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, is view of the supply of boys willing to go to sea if effective means for their doing so can be provided, he will state what steps he proposes to take to give effect to the eleventh recommendation of the Board of Trade Committee to the effect that every encouragement should be given to training ships and to the training of boys on merchant vessels with the object of increasing the number of British seamen in the mercantile marine; what will be the total number of boy sailors carried under the reduced lights dues clause of the Merchant Shipping Mercantile Marine Fund Act of 1898, as compared with the number, 16,150, mentioned by the Member for Croydon as the number of boys which would be carried if his proposal were accepted. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) The Board of Trade have commended to the consideration of the principal associations representing British shipowners the recommendation of the Mercantile Marine Committee referred to, and with the co-operation of the other Departments of the Government interested in educational matters in the United Kingdom they have arranged for the circulation of a Memorandum inviting local educational authorities to give their assistance and encouragement to training ships. The number of boy sailors enrolled as probationers in the Royal Naval Reserve up to the end of last month is 3,217. A steady increase in the annual numbers is shown, and is especially noticeable in the figures for last year. If the same rate of progression is maintained, some 4,000 or 5,000 boys will have been enrolled by the 31st March, 1905, when the section of the Merchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act, under which the scheme was established, ceases to be in force. The number mentioned by my right hon. friend the Member for Croydon was the possible maximum.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that whales along with wreck of the sea belong to the King, due precautions will be insisted on that persons killing whales shall bury, burn, or in some manner dispose of the carcases so that they shall not float about the sea or drift back ashore, causing danger and discomfort. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I understand that the whales referred to are killed outside the territorial limits of the United Kingdom. If this is so, it would appear that they do not become the property of the King as Fishes Royal, even if, after being killed, they are brought within the territorial limits. In these circumstances the Board of Trade are not aware that they have power to give any directions on the subject.

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 Ireland, during the last five years, from France.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he is aware that revenue officials with the; knowledge that a false description is taking place do not prevent grain and foreign spirits being mixed with malt and whisky and labelled as pure malt whisky in warehouses under Government supervision; and, if so, will he state what steps he proposes to take in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) There are many reasons which make it undesirable to employ revenue officials in an attempt to regulate the trade descriptions that are placed upon goods in bond, the strongest of all being that any such

^*Information, not yet available.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the quantities of coal, culm, coke, and patent fuel exported from Germany to France in the years 1901, 1902. and 1903, distinguishing between railway-borne and sea-borne exports of such commodities. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) The German Trade Accounts do not distinguish between rail-borne and sea-borne exports The French Trade Accounts, however, give the following figures as to the imports into France from Germany of the commodities referred to in the years mentioned:—

To ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the telephone directories in many of the post offices in Ireland are three years old, and if he can state how many directories for 1904 for the trunk lines and of those of exchanges with the National Telephone Company have been provided this year for Irish offices, and at what cost per directory. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) A copy of the latest directory of the National Telephone Company, containing a complete list of their subscribers, and a copy of the supplementary directory since issued, has been supplied for use at every post office exchange and call office in Ireland, as well as in other parts of the United Kingdom. Copies of the latest editions of the Post Office Telephone Directories have also been supplied. Instructions have from time to time been given that all obsolete directories shall be withdrawn from use; and I shall be glad if the hon. Member will give me the names of any offices at which these instructions would appear to have been disregarded. The National Telephone Company's complete list of subscribers in the United Kingdom is published by the company at the price of 10s. per copy.

To ask the Postmaster-General if he will state how much of the underground telegraph cable between London and Edinburgh and Glasgow has been actually laid; what further progress will be made with it during the present year; and when he expects that the work will be completed. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) The line of pipes for the underground cable now runs continuously from London to Carlisle, and a section of nineteen miles has also been laid over the Beattock incline in Scotland. By the end of the financial year a double line of pipes will also have been laid from Manchester to Leeds. The permanent cable will be ready for use as far as Warrington. I cannot at present state when the underground line will be completed, but I fully appreciate the importance of pushing on the work as rapidly as possible, and a large sum has been included in next year's Estimates to provide for the extension of the line.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, in analogy with the rule that all names of towns and villages which are denoted by more than one word are counted as one word each in a telegraphic message, he intends to issue instructions that the names of districts in the metropolis which are expressed by more than one word, such as Charing Cross, Bethnal Green, etc., should be counted as one word in telegrams. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) I am sorry that I do not see my way to propose any change in the method of counting in telegrams the names of districts in the metropolis which are expressed by more than one word, such as Charing Cross, Bethnal Green, etc.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland, if, in view of the fact that the destruction of whales has been prohibited for ten years by the Norwegian Government, and that an influx of Norwegian whalers is expected in Shetland and the Hebrides, measures will be considered by which the danger to fishermen from floating carcases, the nuisance to crofters and others caused by decaying carcases drifting ashore, and the poisoning of mussel-beds, will for the future be prevented. (Answered by Mr. A. Graham Murray.) The whole matter is having my attention, and the proceedings and methods of those engaged in the industry are being carefully studied, with a view to preventing any serious cause for complaint. The Secretary for Scotland has no jurisdiction over floating carcases. With respect to the question of nuisance on shore the Local Government Board have communicated with the local sanitary authority, and directed their attention to the provisions of The Public Health Act, 1897, Section 32, which will enable them to impose suitable restrictions. No evidence of damage to mussel-beds by the industry has as yet been adduced, and there have only been two complaints in general terms: these are to be inquired into at as early a date as possible.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland, having regard to the fact that the unexpended balances surrendered to the Exchequer on Scottish Votes in the last ten years-amounted to £204,013 15s. 6d., will he. specify the Votes from which this sum was derived. (Answered by Mr. A. Graham Murray.) I can only refer the hon. Member to the Appropriation Accounts, where the information he desires is given in detail.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been directed to the increase of smallpox in Greenock; whether he is aware that the hospital accommodation is insufficient and the buildings overcrowded; can he state whether patients are detained sufficiently long to avert danger of their spreading the disease after discharge; whether the reception house is well situated and sufficiently commodious for the proper isolation of all contacts; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure the provision of adequate hospital and reception house accommodation by the local authority. (Answered by Mr. A. Graham Murray.) The hospital accommodation for smallpox in Greenock has been extended from time to time during the progress of the epidemic, and steps are being taken for the erection of another additional pavilion. The circumstances attending the occurrence of every case are reported to the Board, and there is nothing in these reports to suggest that patients are prematurely discharged. The existing reception house is suitable for the purpose, but has not been equal to the demands arising from the epidemic. The Board have called upon the local authority to provide additional accommodation. They understand that great difficulty is experienced in acquiring proper premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Prison Commissioners have again given a contract for Post Office mail bag cloth to a middleman who in former years has supplied foreign instead of home made canvas; and, if so, will he state whether any security has been taken that this year's supply shall be home made; whether he is aware that the leading canvas manufacturers in this country have storage accommodation in London and other large cities so that they can deliver even small quantities promptly if required; and, if so, will he say if the Prison Commissioners have ever proposed to make this one of the conditions for such contracts. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) The contract for mail bag canvas has been divided between seven competitors, the lowest tender having been accepted (in accordance with the regular practice) for each description of canvas required. The competitors, it is believed, include both manufacturers and middlemen, and it is not known to the Commissioners whether any of them have supplied foreign canvas in previous years. The form of contract is the same as in previous years, and contains no stipulation as to the source or district from which material must be obtained. There is no condition in the contract requiring "storage," but the mode of delivery is governed by Clause 3 of the general conditions of contract, i.e., "the supplies shall be delivered at the contractor's expense at such time and place as the Governors, or other officers acting on their behalf, shall from time to time direct."

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the fact that a sentence of death passed upon a woman convicted of infanticide is rarely, if ever, executed, he will introduce a Bill giving the Judge presiding at the trial and conviction of a female prisoner for this crime power in his discretion to record sentence of death against her, instead of actually pronouncing such sentence in open Court. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) I presume my hon. and learned friend refers only to cases of women who have killed their own infant children, not to other cases, e.g., murders by "baby-farmers." It is true that in the former cases the capital sentence is scarcely ever carried out; but, on the other hand, the objections to the practice of "recording" death sentences are serious, and I do not, at the present time, see my way to proposing new legislation on this very difficult subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can say how many public houses and beer houses, licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquors for consumption on the premises in England and Wales, are owned by brewers or brewing companies; and if be will grant a Return showing the number of such premises in each licensing district which are so owned. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) I have no accurate information on this subject, but there is reason to believe that the figures for which the hon. Member asks would represent about 75 per cent, of the total. I am not aware of any means by which a Return could be made with accuracy, and do not think that the labour involved in any attempt to get the figures would be justified.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the possibility of making some concession to professional and business men enabling them to put aside a certain portion of their annual income towards making a provision for the future without including such portion in their annual return for Income-Tax. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) Under the existing Income-Tax Act a person who insures his life or that of his wife, or who contracts for a deferred annuity for himself or his wife with an insurance company registered in the United Kingdom, is allowed a deduction from his assessment in respect of the annual premiums up to one-sixth of his total income; and no further concession in this direction seems to be called for.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been c lied to the fact that Major General Ventris has charged the editor of the China Times (Pekin) with inciting to a breach of the peace in an article comdemning Russian ill-usage of defenceless Japanese, and that, in default of his giving security for good behaviour, his deportation is pending; will he state whether there is any British authority in China with power to deport a British subject under such circumstances; and, if not, under what authority the Court is acting before which the editor has been brought. (Answered by Earl Percy.) The attention of His Majesty's Minister at Pekin having been called by the General-Officer-Commanding, China, to certain virulent and defamatory articles against Russia, published at Tientsin by the China Times, Sir E. Satow directed that an information should be laid against the editor in His Majesty's Consular Court at Tientsin under Article 106 of the China and Japan Order in Council, 1865. Under this Article, should it be shown on oath, to the satisfaction of any of His Majesty's Courts in China, that there is reasonable ground to apprehend that the acts or conduct of any British subject in China are or is likely to produce or excite to a breach of the public peace, the Court within the jurisdiction whereof he happens to be may cause him to be brought before it and require him to give security to the satisfaction of the Court to keep the peace or for his future good behaviour as the case may require; and if the person required to give security should fail to do so, the Court may order that he be deported from China to such place as the Court directs. His Majesty's Government have approved Sir E. Satow's action in the matter.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether the privilege hitherto I granted to National scholars to secure an associateship of the Royal School of Mines in mining and metallurgy has been withdrawn; and, if so, on what grounds. (Answered by Sir William Anson.) The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in supposing that it is no longer possible for National scholars to secure an associateship of the Royal College of Mines. It is merely required that they should, as a rule, take the division corresponding to the group in which they obtained their scholarships. The change in the regulations, to which the hon. Member refers, was made in 1902, with the object of enabling the Board to control the extent to which the tenure of these scholarships may be transferred to the courses for the associateship of the Royal School of Mines.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education if he will explain why the Board have recently reduced the value of the National Scholarship from 30s. per week to 25s. per week, and the value of a Research Scholarship from 30s. to 25s. per week; and whether, having regard to the desirability of keeping the scholarships open to students unable to supplement them by private means, he will advise the Board to reconsider their decision. (Answered by Sir William Anson.) The change to which reference is made in the Question formed part of a readjustment of the amounts paid as allowances to students in the Royal College of Science, and was decided upon not recently, but in 1901. The allowances then were: to Royal Exhibitioners £50 a session of about forty weeks; to National scholars 30s. a week; and to students in training 21s. a week. The Board were of opinion that it was desirable to equalise these rates, and decided that for National scholarships and studentships in training alike, the rate should be 25s. a week. The new rates were duly announced in 1901, but did not take effect until 1902, and then only in the case of new scholars. The students to whom these awards are made receive also railway fares for one journey to and fro each session between their homes and London, and are admitted free to the lectures and laboratories of the Royal College of Science. There is no separate class of research scholarships, but exhibitions or scholarships vacated by the resignation of the holders are awarded for the residue of the time during which they run to former students who desire to prosecute research in the college. These awards are necessarily of the same amounts as the original scholarships. The Board have never intended that these scholarships should be of an eleemosynary character. They believe that the amount of the scholarships is sufficient to attract good candidates, and that in the majority of cases they provide an adequate supplement to the other resources of the students, and they consider that in any cases where more is needed the assistance should be provided under the supervision of local authorities rather than from funds administered by the Board. The students who gain these scholarships have as a rule been for a period of years under the direct observation of local school authorities, who thus necessarily possess, or can readily obtain, a more intimate knowledge of the circumstances of each student than can the Board. The scholarships now provided by local authorities offer in many places the further assistance required. In these circumstances I do not consider it desirable that the decision of the Board be reconsidered.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education what financial liability under the Education Act of 1902 attaches to a publicly-appointed manager of a non-provided school; whether such manager is personally liable for any expenditure incurred by the general body of managers, even though he was not present at the meeting when such expenditure was determined upon, or, if present, had voted against it; and also whether such manager is in any case personally liable for expenditure incurred by the managers in the upkeep of the school building. (Answered by Sir William Anson.) A publicly-appointed manager of a voluntary school can only incur personal liability for expenditure incurred by the general body of managers if he makes himself a party to a contract. Managers appointed by local authorities would therefore incur liability only if they joined in giving orders for repairs or other expenditure, or if they allowed the general body of managers to be regarded as their agents for the purpose. They can communicate through the local Press, and record on the minutes of the managers' meeting the fact that they repudiate all such liability, and do not recognise their colleagues as their agents. If they do this it would seem that they might safely attend a meeting at which expenditure on repairs was voted, or might even vote in favour of a resolution that such expenditure was desirable.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will grant a Return of all changes in the regulations affecting the dress and equipment of officers in the Indian Staff Corps and Indian Army during the ten years ending 31st December 1903, showing the approximate cost of the changes in each rank to the officers concerned. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The Government of India will be requested to furnish the particulars asked for.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have had under consideration any suggestion or proposal for the abolition of tunics for officers in the Bengal Cavalry Regiments and the substitution of kurtas in their places; and, if so, whether, in the interest of economy, he will veto a change which would entail considerable expenditure on every officer of the Indian Army affected. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) No proposal to the effect described in the Question has been brought before the Government of India. If it should hereafter come forward for consideration the expense which it would entail upon the officers will be duly taken into account.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, if he will state what circulation the Waterford News and the Waterford Chronicle have in the Enniscorthy district of county Wexford; and if in future the Board of Works will advertise for the supplies for the Enniscorthy public buildings in the county Wexford newspapers. (Answered by Mr. Wyndhnm.) The two newspapers mentioned circulate generally in the county Wexford and other counties adjoining. I am unaware of the extent of their circulation in Enniscorthy district. The Board of Works will consider the suggestion of the hon. Baronet before inviting tenders on the next occasion.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, on the 27th ultimo, in the neighbourhood of Loughbrickland, a hunting match was held in connection with the local Irish Hunting Club and the County Antrim Harriers; that as a result of excessive drinking two men have since died; and if he can state how many received hospital treatment as the result of the day's proceedings; if he can say who supplied the drink; and what action, if any, he intends taking in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) I have received a report of the occurrences referred to. So far as the police have been able to ascertain there has been one death due to the effects of excessive drinking, and no person received hospital treatment on the occasion. I am making further inquiry into the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the standard numbers laid down by the National Board for the different grades of teachers, and whether the Board has the right to increase or decrease these numbers; whether, in view of the fact that the Board has awarded increments for continued good service to some teachers who held a certain classification and received certain reports from inspectors for the past three years, he will explain why they have so far disallowed increments to other teachers holding the same classification, having the requisite average attendance, and having as good, and in some cases better, reports from inspectors. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The number of teachers that may be recognised in each grade above third grade and in each section of the first grade is fixed from time to time by the Commissioners. They do not publish these numbers, nor do they consider it desirable that they should be made public. The standard numbers fixed at present, however, are in excess of the actual number of teachers in the second and first grades, and no teacher has been deprived of promotion on account of these "standard" numbers. The Commissioners have full power, with the concurrence of the Treasury, to change the "standard" numbers from time to time. The Commissioners have not treated any body of teachers exceptionally in regard to increments. If any specific case of alleged grievance is submitted it will be inquired into.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that, previous to 1900, scholars in the Irish training colleges who had obtained over 65 per cent. at their final (col. 3) examination were ranked as second-class teachers on obtaining appointments as principals of schools; and if the Commissioners of National Education will consider the advisability of reverting to the old system and place in the second grade those teachers who are now principals of schools who obtained more than this percentage at their final examination since 1900, more especially those who have the advantage of having passed through the full course of science as laid down in the new programme. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) I am informed by the Commissioners that, prior to 1900, teachers on leaving training colleges and having passed their final examinations successfully were placed in the second class. Classification of teachers was abolished, however, from the 1st April, 1900, along with the system of promotion by examination. After the 1st April, 1900, all National teachers were divided into three grades These grades do not correspond to the old classes. The class of a teacher was an indication of his attainments as tested by examination, and his class salary did not indicate what his full income from State sources was, but only represented a small portion of his total income. The grade a teacher ranks in indicates the rank to which he has attained by good service and seniority, and his grade salary represents the greater portion of his income from State sources. Under the new system all teachers have to commence work at the lowest step of the ladder—the third grade, and work their way up by good service and efficiency. To act on the suggestion in the Question would be a departure from the principle of the new arrangements, and would entail a very large increase in the Vote for Public Education.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say when the chief Land Commissioners will sit to hear appeals against the decisions of the sub-Commissioners in cases heard in the Midleton (county Cork) district over a year and a-half ago. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) A sitting will be held at Cork on 10th May.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a portion of the Gully River (Queen's County) was drained in 1902 at a cost of something like £1,400, and, in view of the fact that this outlay has been completely ineffective in consequence of the obstruction in the lower portion of the river, whether ho can state what steps it is proposed to take to complete this work. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Drainage Board of the Lower Gully district having refused to repair their works, the Commissioners of Public Works have instructed their engineer to arrange for the execution of the necessary repairs.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the salary of the teacher of Lissey-casey National School, Roll number 10,321, Circuit 17, Section A, which has an average attendance of 104·8 pupils the inspector's report for past year good, and the teacher trained with special distinction, is only at the rate of £56 per annum; and, if so, will he say if this teacher has received the special consideration promised to such teachers when the new scheme of paying teachers was issued; and what approximately would be his salary under the superseded rules. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) I am informed by the Board of National Education that this teacher was appointed for the first time as a recognised teacher of a National School on the 9th October. 1902, and that, like all teachers on first appointment, he was granted £56 per annum consolidated salary and residual capitation grant, or a total of about £72 per annum. He will not be eligible for an increase of salary under the rules until he has served for three years from the date mentioned. No special consideration was promised to such teachers when the new scheme was issued. He might have earned £110 per annum had the old rules remained in force, but that would have been practically maximum and was liable to serious fluctuation, whereas his present income is progressive by triennial increments and promotion, and may reach over £200 per annum.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will consider the advisability of allowing the salaries of National school teachers to be paid monthly instead of quarterly as they are at present. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) I would refer to my reply, to which I have nothing to add, to the similar Question of my hon. friend the Member for North Down, dated 17th November, 1902†.

†See (4) Debates, exiv, 1127.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the intern warders of Tullamore Prison have to sleep in a damp room without fire or heating pipes; that the dampness has been caused by the stoppage of rain-water on the roof; that these warders are locked up in this room at 10 o'clock each night until roll-call the next morning without any means of communication with the governor or chief warder in case of emergency; that the same warders are compelled to sleep in a room in the invalid ward when they are off duty, both before and after night duty, thereby depriving them of the comfort of the beds they had to procure at their own expense when joining the service; that the officer on night duty has to perform nine hours' duty, viz., from 9.45 p.m. till 6.45 a.m. on the following morning, having during that time to mark tell-tale clock every fifteen minutes and fire two furnaces during that period without any relief or the means of preparing food; and, if so, whether he will make inquiries into these matters with a view to having them remedied. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Prisons Board reports that the room in which the intern warders sleep is perfectly dry and comfortable; that on grounds of health fires are not allowed in warders' bedrooms except in severe weather; that on no occasion have the warders been locked up in this room, and that the means of communication with the night guard in case of emergency are adequate; that warders returning off night duty are allowed to rest in a room specially furnished for the purpose, an arrangement of which they have never complained and which was made in order to conduce to their own comfort; that the hours and duties of the night guard are common to all prisons and entail no grievance or hardship; that the night guard at Tullamore Prison has access to the kitchen and every facility for preparing food.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he will state what is the amount of the accumulated funds in the hands of the Crown Agents for the Colonies, whether it is a constantly growing amount, and whether it is under the control of the Colonial Office; and, if not, of whom. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) About £350,000. Yes. Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he will state what Ordinances and regulations are now in force in self-governing or Crown Colonies respecting the introduction therein of coolie labour from India, and the dates of such Ordinances; and whether the Ordinance and regulations now under consideration for the Transvaal Colony have been submitted to the Indian Government. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The dates of the Ordinances and Laws are as follows:—British Guiana 1825/1891 16/94 6/95 11/95 27/00 19/01; Jamaica 23/79 1/81 3/83 18/86 4/89 14/91 2/91 22/96 12/97 13/97 2/99 13/03; Fiji 2/91 3/92 4/92 6/92 8/92 14/93 4/94 12/95 1/96 6/98 7/98; Trinidad 19/99 2/02 33/02; Saint Vincent 24/80 9/86; Saint Lucia 4/91 2/95 8/96 1/97; Natal 20/74 1/76 15/80 25/91 37/94 17/95 34/95 14/97 28/97 19/98 21/98 1/00 48/01 17/02 2/03; Mauritius 12/78 1/79 21/82 6/84 51/99 26/03. The Colonial Governments are being requested to supply information as to regulations under these enactments, and a Return will be laid before the House in accordance with the promise given to the hon. Member for Central Sheffield. In reply to the last part of the right hon. Member's Question, I have to refer to the answer given on 11th February by the Secretary of State for India to the Member for East Perthshire†

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the joiners in the Naval Ordnance Depot have now been granted a similar increase of pay to that

†See (4) Debates, cxxix., 1020

given to the joiners in Devonport Dockyard, a like concession will now be made to the joiners in the Royal William Victualling Yard. (Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The question of granting an increase of pay to the carpenters in the Victualling Yards (to whom the hon. Member probably refers) is now under consideration, and I shall be very glad to inform him of the decision as soon as it is arrived at.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury, having regard to the fact that a communication was made to him asking whether there was any objection to the publication of the Report of the War Office Reconstruction Committee, and that in response to that communication that Report was published by him, by whom was that communication made. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) I have no statement to make as to a proceeding which was quite regular, and for which I have already accepted full responsibility.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he is prepared to give the House an assurance that His Majesty's Government will abstain from proposing to Parliament any measure involving protective duties or the taxation of food. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) It is not proposed to deal with the fiscal question during the currency of the present Parliament, and the declared policy of His Majesty's Government does not, as the hon. Member is well aware, include the taxation of food.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the use which has recently or is now being made of the ports of Candia (Crete), Suez, and Port Said, by Russian warships, he will consider the des rability of communicating to neutral Powers possessing territory upon the seaboard of the trade routes between Great Britain and the East, particularly upon the Mediterranean and Red Sea, the views of His Majesty's Government in reference to the duties of neutrals in regard to the treatment of ships of war of belligerent States which may seek to use neutral ports in connection with the operation of intercepting the trading ships of neutral Powers. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) The hon. Member's Question raises points of great international importance which are receiving the attention of His Majesty's Government.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will state when the Bill regulating the immigration of aliens, referred to in the King's Speech as the first Government measure of the session, will be introduced. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) I hope the Bill may be introduced without any great delay.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state what are the numbers of gun carriages, ammunition and transport wagons, in South Africa; and how many of them are in such a condition of repair as to render them available for immediate service.

It is not usual or expedient to give detailed information of the nature alluded to in the Question. I can, however, assure the House that all necessary steps have been taken to make the equipments mentioned available for immediate service.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state how many of the officers and men who died in South Africa from enteric fever had been inoculated against that disease; and what is the purport of the reports of the Medical Army Corps as to the success, or otherwise, of the process.

The examination of the medical records of the South African war has involved enormous labour, and is not sufficiently advanced to enable me to give the statistics asked for. The question of anti-enteric inoculation has been referred to a special Committee. It is one of great interest and will on no account be neglected. If at a later stage I can give the hon. Member the information he asks for I will do so.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what was the strength of the Volunteer Force on 1st January, 1903, on 31st October, 1903, and 1st January, 1904; what was the strength of Volunteer officers (combatant) on 31st October, 1903, and 1st February, 1904; and how many vacant commissions are there in the force.

The figures are as follows: All ranks, 1st January, 1903, 250,990; 31st October, 1903, 253,284; 1st January, 1904, 241,280. Officers, 31st October. 1903, 7,215; 1st February, 1904, 7,097. At the present date there are 2,385 vacant commissions (combatant), including 182 seconded and supernumerary officers.

On behalf of the hon. Member for Hythe, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the nature and amount of the expenditure sanctioned by the Treasury to which reference is made in Section 3, paragraph 15, War Office (Reconstitution) Report, Part II.; and whether such expenditure was disapproved of by the military advisers of the War Office.

There is no Report of the evidence taken by the War Office (Reconstitution) Committee, but I understand that the statement in the Report refers to the erection of a central office at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, which was recommended by an independent Committee, concurred in by the Director-General of Ordnance and approved by the Secretary of State. It appears that there was a difference of opinion between the Military and the Finance Departments as to the source from which the funds should be provided. The Secretary of State, after carefully j considering the question, accepted the view of the Finance Branch. The amount involved was £55,000.

Are we to understand that the military authorities approved of the erection of these buildings?

said that the erection or non-erection of the buildings was not the question. The point was the source from which the money could be obtained and the account in which it could be charged.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the patent constituting the new War Office Council was issued upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Committee of Defence and with the Cabinet; and what was the date when the Cabinet approved of the appointment of the Council.

The patent was issued in accordance with the advice of His Majesty's Government. It would not be usual, nor do I consider it desirable, to state in detail, the preliminary steps that were taken. The War Office Council was appointed with the full approval of His Majesty's Government.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, do His Majesty's Government propose to adopt the financial system recommended by the Report, Part II., of the War Office (Reconstitution) Committee, under which, subject to the control of the Army Council, the military members of the Council will be responsible for the administration of their respective Votes, and similar responsibility will be vested in General Officers for the administration of all sums allocated to their respective commands.

As the House has recently been informed, Part II. of the Report is under the consideration of the Government.

Do I understand that no decision has yet been arrived at?

Yes, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Director of Operations and the Director of Military Training at headquarters, recently appointed, hold the offices recommended under Part II. of the War Office (Reorganisation) scheme, and how much of Part II. has been adopted by His Majesty's Government; and are the salaries of the above officers borne on the Estimates of the ensuing year.

The officers in question hold the offices recommended under Part II. of the War Office (Reconstitution) scheme, though pending the formal adoption of the Report, or such parts of it as may be finally accepted the exact allocation of duties to the respective officers is liable to review. The salaries of these officers will be met out of the salaries voted for the officers whose appointments they replace.

Are the salaries of either of these officers included in the present Vote?

It has been explained in the course of the debates that the salaries will be provided from the sums voted for the officers they replaced.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what is the reason of the omission from his Memorandum on the Army Estimates of all mention of the important changes and new charges placed on the Estimates for the salaries of the Army Council, the Inspector General, and other officers appointed in consequence of the adoption of Part I. of the War Office (Reconstitution) scheme by the Government.

The Memorandum was what it purported to be—merely an explanation of the figures given in the Estimates. I think I shall be able during the course of my explanation this afternoon to give an answer to the hon. Member which he will regard as satisfactory.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, having regard to the fact that, under a War Office letter dated the 14th October, 1902, the Treasury was induced to assent to £1,321 10s. being paid as compensation for the cancellation of contracts for telegraph poles for South Africa, valued at £4,644, will he state whether, before suggesting the cancellation of the contracts at this cost, any efforts were made to ascertain whether the poles would be of service to the Post Office Telegraphs with a view to the transfer of the contracts to that Department.

The poles were specially provided for the field telegraph, and were not suitable for the purposes of the General Post Office.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the total number of battleships actually laid down from and including the year 1889 to the end of February in this year by Great Britain, counting in the Chilian ships, is fifty, by France twenty-two, by Russia twenty-six, by Germany twenty-seven; is he aware that while we propose a programme of two battleships the Russian programme embraces four battleships, and the German programme two battleships; and whether the Admiralty, for the purposes of the two-Power standard, takes into account any ships other than battleships.

The numbers stated in my hon. friend's Question are correct. The two-Power standard has reference to battleships only, whether of this or foreign countries.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state whether any evidence has been obtained from the experiences of naval manœuvres subsequent to those of 1888 which tends to establish the general correctness of the opinion expressed by Admirals Sir W. Dowell, Sir R. Vesey Hamilton, and Sir F. Richards, in their Report on the 1888 manœuvres, that to maintain an effective blockade of an enemy's squadrons in strongly fortified ports the blockading battleships must be in proportion of five to three, and that the proportion of fast cruisers employed in blockading should not be less than two to one of the blockaded.

Although the opinion of the Admirals quoted was well founded at the time it was formulated, the subsequent development of torpedo craft of all sorts, including submarines, renders it necessary to regard the whole question of blockade from a different standpoint to that on which they based their calculation. Blockades, if conducted at all in the future, must be arranged on other principles than those then advocated. The figures quoted by my hon. friend can no longer be regarded as applicable.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state what was the strength of the German Navy in first and second-class battleships completed and building in 1895; what is its present strength; at what date the current shipbuilding programme of Germany will be completed; and what will then be the strength of its Navy in the said ships.

The strength of the German Navy in battleships in 1898 was five first-class battleships, four second-class, and twelve third-class, or I twenty-one battleships in all. Its present strength is fourteen first-class battleships, four second-class, and twelve third-class, or thirty battleships in all. The current German shipbuilding programme will be completed in 1920, when the total number of battleships will be fifty-five, including seventeen which will then be twenty-five years old or upwards.

My Question was I as to 1895. I will accept the figures for 1898, however.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government have any information in regard to the suitability of British North Borneo for the cultivation of cotton.

I have ascertained from the British North Borneo Company that no Europeans have so far grown cotton in North Borneo, but that favourable reports on samples of native cotton lave been received. The company consider that the soil and climate of North Borneo are well suited for the cultivation of cotton; and they state that plenty of cheap labour is available, and that the directors are willing to do all in their power to encourage its growth. For further particulars I must refer the hon. Member to the company.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, before sanctioning the Ordinance for the introduction of Chinese indentured labour into the Transvaal, ha will insert a clause naming a date at which such importation shall cease.

No, Sir.

Am I to understand that the Government have abandoned their intention of making this importation of a temporary nature as promised in the course of the debate on the subject?

That Question is irregular, inasmuch as it has reference to a debate of the present session, and, therefore, cannot be asked.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that more than half of the total annual production of gold in the world is produced by white labour only, he will cause inquiry to be instituted into the possibility of the further employment of white labour in the gold mines of the Transvaal before sanctioning the Ordinance for the introduction of Chinese indentured labour into that colony.

I do not know whether the fact alleged as to the world at large by my gallant friend is accurate or inaccurate, but I am convinced by the evidence which I have received from South Africa, where, in the words of the right hon. Member for Aberdeen, "all unskilled work is done by black people," it is not practicable to employ white labour on unskilled work in the mines. I must therefore decline to give the undertaking suggested.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what course the Government is to pursue with reference to children of Chinese or mixed white and black and Chinese parentage born in the Transvaal; are they to be allowed to remain in South Africa, or are they to be sent to China; and, can he form any estimate as to the probable number of such children per thousand of the adult male Chinese introduced.

In answer to the first and second Questions I do not anticipate that under the conditions proposed children of mixed parentage will be born. As to the third I am quite unable to follow the hon. Member into the bewildering speculation suggested by his imagination.

T beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of Despatch 21, of 21st February, from Viscount Milner to the Colonial Secretary, published in a Blue-book just presented to Parliament, and to the statement in paragraph 4 of said Despatch that if the consent of the Chinese labourer to a transfer of his services were insisted on this might make the Ordinance in regard to the introduction of Chinese labour into the Transvaal of little value, coupled with the fact that the draft Ordinance received 27th February and published in the same Blue-book contains no obligation to obtain this assent from the labourer, and also, in view of Despatch 23, of 23rd February, from the Colonial Secretary to Viscount Milner, in which he states that His Majesty's Government has undertaken to secure that transfer from one employer to another shall be with the consent of the labourer, any reply from Viscount Milner has been received to this intimation; and if the assent of His Majesty's Government will not be given to the Ordinance until it has been altered in this respect, or, if not, how is the pledge given by His Majesty's Government to be carried out.

Though the matter was not wholly free from doubt I do not read the Despatch of Lord Milner referred to in the sense which the hon. Member has placed on it. I understand Lord Milner to mean that the contract should be made in China between the labourer and the Labour Association of the Witwatersrand; and that the Association should apportion the labourers to the several mines on their arrival in the Transvaal. I think that subsequent allocations into which no element of pecuniary consideration was to be permitted to enter would have been adequately safeguarded by the statutory supervision of the Lieutenant-Governor, a precaution which reflects the recent precedents in Colonial Ordinances dealing with coolie immigration which have been sanctioned by both Parties of the State. But to make quite certain I gave the definite pledge referred to; Lord Milner has fully responded to it, and it will be embodied in the regulations before assent is given to the Ordinance.

Will Lord Milner's Despatch be laid on the Table.

I think not.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the fact that the alteration made in Section 11 of the Transvaal Labour Ordinance was intended to enable Chinese labourers to be transferred to an employer without their own consent on payment of a money consideration; and will he state what stops he proposes to take to ensure that the Transvaal Legislative Council shall not be allowed to carry out this intention, and whether he intends to allow the administration of the Ordinance to be entirely in the hands of the Transvaal authorities.

I would refer my hon. friend to my Answer to the hon. Member for Northampton.

asked if it were not the fact that the sum to be paid had been stated at something over £20?

referred the hon. Member to the Blue-book, and repeated that he had satisfactory assurances from Lord Milner on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what would be the position of an indentured Chinese labourer in the Transvaal, with a wife or wives and children, who declared his wish to return to China before the expiration of his term of servitude, if he had not the means to return with or without his family; would he and they be obliged to remain in the Transvaal and to work in the mines.

The labourer will have to carry out his contract, and continue to work to obtain the means of defraying the return passage of himself and family. It is not intended that the wife and children should be employed on work in the mines.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a statement of the Attorney-General of the Transvaal Colony that the children of Chinese subjects imported into the Transvaal Colony, under the provisions of the Transvaal Labour Importation Ordinance, 1904, born in the Transvaal Colony will be British subjects; and, if so, will he take steps to secure that such children can be repatriated under the above-mentioned Ordinance, or under the Transvaal Peace Preservation Ordinance; and will he lay the Transvaal Peace Preservation Ordinance, referred to on page 81 of Further Correspondence regarding the Transvaal Labour Question [Cd. 1941] upon the Table.

My attention has been drawn to the statement referred to, and as a question of law it is no doubt correct, but inasmuch as no child can be older than six at the time when the question of repatriation arises, I do not see how any practical difficulty is likely to arise under Section 33 (2) of the Ordinance, which will apply. The Peace Preservation Ordinance will be included in the next Parliamentary Paper on the subject. Meanwhile, I will cause a copy to be placed in the Library.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Legislative Council of Southern Rhodesia has within the last two or three years passed any legislation dealing with the admission of alien labour into Rhodesia; whether such legislation received the sanction of the Colonial Office; and, if so, whether, under it, Chinese labour Can be introduced into Rhodesia.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Ordinance No. 18 of 1901, printed at page 113 of Cd. 1200, which was amended by an Ordinance No. 3 of 1902 in accordance with the pledges given at page 128 of the same Blue-book. Chinese labour can be introduced into Southern Rhodesia as soon as the necessary notice has been issued with the consent and approval of the High Commissioner, and with the sanction of the Secretary of State.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can lay upon the Table a copy of the Order in Council issued by Lord Glenelg, Liberal Secretary of State in 1837, permitting West Indian planters to ship coolies from India, together with the Reports on the subject referred to in the Resolution of the late right hon. W. E. Gladstone, in 1840, and mentioned in the "Life of Gladstone" by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Montrose Burghs; and if he can inform the House how many similar Ordinances have been sanctioned with regard to indentured labour, and in what years they were passed.

As the hon. Member has already moved for a Return of the Orders in Council as regards indentured labour from India now in force in British colonies, and I hope soon to be able to lay it on the Table, I do not think it is necessary to give a transcript of the Orders on the subject at so remote a date as 1837. With regard to the second part of the Question, I am unable to trace the Resolution in the records of the Colonial Office.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Lord Northcote, Governor-General of the Australian Commonwealth, in opening the Federal Parliament on Wednesday, declared that preferential tariffs would secure to Australia an immense and stable market; and, if so, will he say if the Governor-General made this declaration with the consent and approval of His Majesty's Government; and, if not, what communication will the Government address to Lord Northcote.

I have seen the statement referred to by the hon. Member in the Press. The Ministers of the Crown in Australia are solely responsible for the speech made by the Governor-General at the opening of the Legislature, and I see no reason for addressing any communication to Lord Northcote on the subject.

May I ask whether, in view of the fact that partisan references to controversial topics are never included in the Speech from the Throne in this country, the right hon. Gentleman will call the attention of the Governor-General to that fact.

I have no reason to alter my Answer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer my Question and save me the trouble of bringing the matter up on the Estimates?

All right.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state what was the previous experience in political service of the Bengal civilian who three months ago took up the appointment of British Resident in Mysore; how many officers in the first and second grades of the Government of India's Political Department will be superseded or set back by this appointment from outside that service; is this gentleman, the new Resident at Bengalore, identical with the Bengal revenue officer who in October, 1899, when Commissioner of the Patna Division, sought to interfere with the action of the Sessions Judge in a case then pending in the Court at Chupra; and, if so, what is the explanation for this appointment.

The appointment of a civil servant, without previous service in the Political Department, to the office of Resident in Mysore is in accordance with precedent, and the officers in the Political Department are not thereby superseded. It is the fact that Sir James Bourdillon was Commissioner of the Patna Division in 1899, but his conduct was not reflected on in this matter by his superiors. He has since officiated for more than a year as Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, from which high office he was transferred to the Residentship of Mysore, on the ground that he was the fittest person for the post.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the prohibition by the Government of India Act, 1858, of the application of the revenues of India to defray the expenses of any military operation carried on beyond the external frontiers of India, without the consent of both Houses of Parliament, he will explain why the revenues of India have been applied to defray the expenses of military operations in Tibet without such consent having been obtained; and when do His Majesty's Government intend to ask for that consent.

I informed the hon. Member on the 4th February† that no military operations have been undertaken in connection with the Mission. The fact that an escort accompanies the Mission does not necessitate any action under Section 55 of the Government of India Act of 1858.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in to-day's newspapers it is stated that fighting is imminent? Will not that be a military operation?

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the increased area of land which has been brought into cultivation by means of the Assouan dam; and whether it is proposed to make any alteration in the dam such as will admit of a greater storage of water.

It is understood that up

†See (4) Debates, cxxix., 338.

to the end of last year 170,000 acres of land had been brought under perennial irrigation as a result of the construction o- the dams at Assouan and Assiout. The Egyptian Government have not at present considered any proposal for making alterations in the Assouan dam.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to resume diplomatic relations with Servia in the near future; and whether it has been ascertained whether those responsible for the murder of the late King and Queen have in any way been brought to justice.

We are not aware that any steps have been taken to bring to justice those who were responsible for the murder of the late King and Queen of Servia, or to express public abhorrence of the crime. In these circumstances it is not possible to make any statement as to the prospect of a renewal of diplomatic relations.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he is aware that Lord Milner, in his presidential address to the extraordinary session of the Intercolonial Council for the Transvaal and Orange River States, admitted the claim of Great Britain for £1,250,000 on account of the Imperial military railways of South Africa; and whether, in view of the fact that this House has voted £900,000 in settlement of the account for the repairs of these lines, he will now press the Intercolonial Council for the prompt payment of the £1,250,000 above referred to.

For the reasons which I have already given to the House I do not think it would be desirable or possible to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to lay papers before the House so that we may understand how the matter stands?

I have no Papers to lay.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has observed the statement of his predecessor in introducing the Budget last year that 6·6 millions would be available for the reduction of debt; whether he can now inform the House if, after providing for the capital expenditure involved in the Army, Navy, and Civil Service Estimates, the total indebtedness of the country would be reduced by this sum or by any sum during the present financial year; and, if not, whether he will undertake in the next financial statement to make provision for the expenditure of all kinds, so that official statements made with regard to total I national outlay and indebtedness might be complete and accurate.

The Questions which the hon. Member raises cannot be answered till the close of the financial year, nor do I think that it would in any case be desirable that I should anticipate the financial statement I which it will be my duty to make at the usual time.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has I been called to a recent combination of Scottish steel makers, whereby a minimum price with heavy penalties has been fixed for Scotland, while these makers are delivering steel at lower prices in the Midlands; and, if so, whether the Government intend to take any steps to protect English steel makers against this form of competition.

I am aware of the combination alluded to in the Question. The matter is not one which seems to call for any action on the part of the Government.

This is the Question which on Thursday last the hon. Member complained had been made incomprehensible by an alteration made at the Table without notice to him. I promised at the time to make inquiry. I have done so. I have ascertained that the Clerks at the Table did inform the hon. Member formally of the alteration they were making. I have seen the manuscript, and I find that the Question was rendered incomprehensible, not by any alteration made at the Table, but by the omission on the part of the printers of a certain word. I think when the hon. Member saw the Question on the Notice Paper, and before he made a charge publicly in this House against the Clerks, he should have communicated privately with me, then he would have obtained this explanation.

thanked Mr. Speaker for his courtesy. Of course, he had dealt only with the Question on the Paper, and he hoped the printers would be more careful in future.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any official information showing that the rise in the price of bread is owing to the gambling in futures in the wheat markets; and, if so, whether he will make inquiries with a view to international co-operation to prevent corners in foodstuffs.

The Answer is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he will explain why Longford town and county post offices have been placed under the charge of the surveyors of the Ulster district instead of, as hitherto, under Dublin and Sligo district; and whether any economy was the result of this change.

Longford and other towns served by the Mullingar and Sligo Branch of the Midland Railway were recently transferred from the control of the Surveyor of the Midland District to the control of the Surveyor of the Northern District in order to equalise as far as possible the size of the two Districts with a view to promoting greater efficiency and economy.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether correspondence has taken place between the Board of Education and the Council of the County Borough of Swansea in reference to the making by the council, and the approval by the Board, of a scheme for the establishing of an education committee for the County Borough of Swansea, under the 17th Section of the Education Act, 1902; and whether he will lay the correspondence upon the Table at an early date.

Some correspondence has passed between the Board of Education and the County Borough of Swansea in reference to an Education Committee. This correspondence is in the hands of the Swansea Borough Council, and there seems no occasion for publishing it. I shall be happy to show to the hon. Member any letter which he may desire to see.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether correspondence has taken place between the Board of Education and the education committee of the Glamorgan County Council in reference to the maintenance of the non-provided or voluntary public elementary schools in the county of Glamorgan; and, if so, whether he will lay the correspondence on the Table at an early date.

Correspondence between the Board of Education and the education committee of the Glamorgan County Council has taken place on the subject referred to. As this correspondence is still continuing it would not be desirable to lay it on the Table at the present time at all events.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether the Board of Education have made an Order for an inquiry, under Section 16 of the Education Act, 1902, as to alleged breaches of duty by the County Council of Carmarthenshire in administering the Act; if so, what are the terms of reference to the person or persons appointed or to be appointed to conduct the inquiry; and can he state the name or names of the person or persons who is or are to conduct the inquiry.

I shall have pleasure in handing to the hon. Member a copy of the printed notice which is in course of publication and which contains the answer to all the points in the hon. Member's Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether the proposal to establish a station in Scotland for the preparation of glycerinated calf lymph has yet been considered; and, if so, will he state the nature of the decision arrived at.

So long as the general arrangements now existing between England and Scotland remain as at present, I see no necessity for adopting the course suggested by the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will consider the expediency of introducing legislation at an early date such as will render the penalties for illegal trawling of a more deterrent nature than at present.

The question raised by the hon. Member is receiving my consideration, but the matter is complicated and I am not prepared at present to undertake on behalf of the Government to introduce a Bill in the direction indicated.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings in the Dublin Police Court on Wednesday last, when five cases of window breaking were heard and disposed of; and if the Government intend to give effect to the declaration of the presiding magistrate that something should be done by legislation to abate the mischief.

The matter is under consideration.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General of Ireland, whether he has yet received the necessary information to enable him to prosecute the two policemen whose evidence was of such a character that the magistrates at the Ballinrobe petty sessions recently unanimously dismissed the charges which they brought against a publican named Faby; and, if not, whether he can say at what date he will be able to take proceedings against the e officers of the law.

I have already directed that a prosecution for perjury should be instituted against these policemen.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that repeated applications have been made to the Commissioners of National Education for the erection of a school at Waterville, county Kerry, and that a suitable site has now been obtained; and, if so, in view of the fact that a number of Roman Catholic children in the village cannot be educated through want of the proper facilities, and that the Roman Catholic population is increasing, will the Commissioners now sanction a building grant.

; I am informed that the Commissioners declined to make a grant in this case, because, in their opinion, the educational requirements of Waterville can be effectively met by enlarging the schools at Spunkane in the same district.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in calculating the amount annually contributed to Kerry in relief of railway charges, he included a sum of £4,067, portion of the proceeds of the Limerick and Kerry Railway, money which is not a Government grant; and, if so, whether this county, half of which is congested, is paying for railway guarantees alone about 1s. per £.

The sum mentioned was taken into account in making the calculation. It represents a refund in respect of guarantees paid in the past for the Limerick and Kerry Railway. The poundage rate required to pay the net charge against each guaranteeing area in the county varies, according to the Parliamentary Return No. 376 of 1902, from a fraction of 1d. to 10d.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board has received a proposal for purchase from the tenants of the Rae Estate, Keel, county Kerry; and whether any steps have been taken with a view to have the estate bought.

The Board will make an offer for the purchase of this estate in the Land Judge's Court.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the loss of crops and farm produce generally in consequence of the bad harvest in Ireland; and will he say whether any effort will be made by the Board of Agriculture to introduce new seed into Ireland and assist farmers who may be unable to obtain seeds of a good quality to procure the same on easy terms of repayment.

The Department of Agriculture does not consider it desirable to take the steps suggested. On the 3rd February I stated, in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for North Roscommon,† that having consulted the Local

†See (4) Debates, cxxix, 192.

Government Board on the subject it was not considered that there were sufficient grounds for introducing legislation with the object mentioned.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, can he state whether any complaint has been made to the Board of Works of the choked condition of the River Inny, in the vicinity of the town of Ballymahon; who is the superintendent in charge of the drainage district: how often does he get the outlets of the tributary streams cleaned up, and whether he gives any regular contracts for the work; and whether, as floods are constantly occurring in the district, an inquiry into the management of the drainage will be made.

That portion of the river at Ballymahon is not in a drainage district. No such complaints have been made to the Commissioners of Public-Works, who have no information on the second, third and fourth Questions. The Commissioners have called upon the trustees of the Inny Drainage District to maintain their works in proper condition, and have informed them that in default of their doing so the Commissioners will themselves take action.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the present election of a clerk to the Mohill Loan Fund Board will be sanctioned by the Loan Fund Board in Dublin, having regard to the fact that the election was conducted irregularly, and a formal protest against the action of one of the candidates in presiding during a portion of the proceedings lodged.

No, Sir; a fresh election has been ordered.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland by how many men the police force of county Longford has been reduced since 1st April, 1899; whether the county is now contributing anything for extra police over and above the normal number of former years; how many police barracks have been closed; and whether, in these cases, it is proposed to dispose of the barracks or keep them for further contingencies.

There has been no reduction. There is no extra force in the county at present, consequently no local contribution is payable. One barrack was closed and surrendered to the owner of the premises.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state how many intergrade teachers were in the service of the National Board on the 31st August, 1903; how many were promoted to the second grade, how many to the first grade, and how many to the first division of the first grade; will the National Board consider the claims of National teachers for promotion who in 1901 promoted all their pupils, though it was the year the revised programme took effect, and were awarded fair; will intergrade teachers who have been promoted to a higher grade lose a year's salary by making their promotion date from the 1st April, 1904, instead of the 1st April, 1903, like all other teachers who have got increments; how many intergrade teachers have not been promoted; and will they be given another opportunity of promotion.

One thousand nine hundred and eight, of whom 332 were promoted to the second grade, thirty-eight to the second division of the first grade, and twenty-three to the first division of the first grade. The promotions were made on the recommendations of the inspectors considered in connection with the departmental records and the reports for three years on the schools. The promotion of intergrade teachers will date, as a rule, from 1st April, 1903. One thousand five hundred and fifteen such teachers have not yet been promoted. The cases of those who are eligible will be considered from time to time.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners have received about 200 applications from evicted tenants on the Clanricarde Estate, county Galway, requesting reinstatement, under the Act of 1903, or equivalent holdings; and, if so, will he now state what has been done towards complying with their request.

The number is 117. Inquiries are being made on till estates coming before the Commissioners from the county, 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, as a result of Mr. Justice Ross's decision stopping the sale of the Marquis of Ely's estate in county Fermanagh, the tenants are now being served with ejectments and threatened with eviction unless the full amount of rent, arrears, and costs is forthwith paid; and whether, in view of the amending Bill to be introduced, and the expressed intention of the Marquis of Ely to sell his property to the tenants, he can take steps to delay these proceedings until the amending Bill is passed and negotiations for sale can be renewed.

There are no evictions impending on this estate. Proceedings in ejectment have been taken against six tenants for hearing at the April sessions, and a number of Civil Bill processes have been served for the payment of rents and arrears. The Government; has no power to intervene in the manner indicated. The Court is empowered to put a stay upon the execution of ejectments.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether there are any regulations or orders in addition to the Charters of the Queen's Colleges or any of them dealing with the question of the residence of the presidents of the colleges, and whether continued residence on their part is required.

There are no orders or regulations, so far as I am aware, dealing with the question of the residence of presidents of the Queen's Colleges. No condition as to residence was made on their appointment.

As a matter of fact, do any of these gentlemen reside permanently at the Colleges?

I believe so in the case of Belfast and Gal way, but not in the case of Cork.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state how many applications from evicted tenants in the county of Tipperary have been received by the Estates Commissioners; and what steps, if any, have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to make provision for them in accordance with the assurances given during the passage of the Land Act, 1903.

158 inquiries are being made on estates coming before the Commissioners from the county, with a view to their reinstatement.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the recent Local Government Board inquiry into a labourers' cottage scheme held in Macroom there was an application from Richard Fitzgerald for an additional half-acre on the farm of David Buckley, in the townland of Rylane, electoral division of Mountrivers; and, if so, will he state whether there was any objection advanced to this application; and, if so, on what grounds; what is the extent of the farm in question and how many cottages on it; and will he state the recommendation of the Local Government Board inspector in connection with this application.

This inquiry only concluded on Monday last. The inspector's report on the scheme, which is a very extensive one, has not yet been received.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the Local Government Board inquiry into a labourers' cottage scheme for additional half-acres recently held in the Macroom Rural District, one of the councillors for the Candroma electoral division, Mr. Michael Lucey, appeared before the inspector on Monday, 22nd, and requested that his evidence in favour of the scheme should be heard, stating that he had received no official notification of the inquiry, and could not, owing to illness, attend on the first day of the proceedings; and, if so, will he explain on what grounds the inspector refused the evidence of Mr. Lucey at this inquiry.

Mr. Lucey's application to be examined could not be acceded to on the 22nd February, for good and sufficient reasons, but he was examined on the 29th.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is now in a position to state what action it is proposed to take with reference to the National Library and its staff, in view of the fact that the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into this matter has presented its Report.

The scales of salary of the librarian and his first assistant have been improved; an additional assistant will be appointed; the pay of the attendants has been improved and their number will be increased from twelve to twenty. The arrangements for cataloguing the books are still under consideration.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that ex-convict Patrick Morrisey, discharged from Maryborough Prison on the 17th July, 1903, and sent on the same date to the Mountmellick Workhouse, is at present a patient in the Maryborough District Lunatic Asylum, chargeable to the local rates; and whether he will state what steps the Government is going to take to relieve the ratepayers of the King's and Queen's Counties of the burthen of Morrisey's maintenance.

The facts are as stated. There is no power to transfer this man to the Central Criminal Lunatic Asylum or to the asylum of the district of which he is a native. Legislation would be necessary to remedy the grievance of which the hon. Member complains, and I cannot give any undertaking in this direction. The usual capitation grant will, of course, be paid in respect of the maintenance of Morrisey in Maryborough Asylum.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what explanation, if any, the solicitor having carriage of the sale of the Gault Estate, Trillick, county Tyrone, has made before the Land Judge in reference to the delay of ten years in the sale of the estate; and if any arrangement has been made to expedite the transfer of the land.

The solicitors having carriage of the proceedings appeared before the Court on the 25th February. They satisfied the Land Judge that they were not in default, and that the delay was occasioned by the complexity of the title and inherent difficulties of the case. The Land Judge at the same time urged upon them the necessity of expediting the proceedings as rapidly as possible.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a copy of a resolution adopted by the Longford County Council calling for such amendment of the Land Act of 1903 as will restore decadal reductions on tenants' instalments; and whether he proposes to give effect to this resolution in his forthcoming Amendment Bill.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the introduction of the Bill. The same remark applies to Questions in the names of the hon. Members for South Sligo and East Cork, as follows:—

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Bill amending the Land Act of 1903, which is to be introduced this session, will contain a clause enabling future tenants to obtain through the Estates Commissioners the right of I having their holdings revalued before being required to sign purchase agreements in the case of sales of estates on which they may reside, though forming a I small minority of the tenantry.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that negotiations for the sale of estates under the Land Purchase (Ireland) Act, 1903, have been retarded owing to the doubts that exist as to whether the middleman is entitled to the bonus on the gross amount of purchase money agreed upon between him and his tenants, or only on the balance after redeeming the head rent; and, if so, whether he will introduce a clause to make this point clear in the proposed amending Bill.

As in many cases negotiations are going on where this point is raised, cannot the right hon. Gentleman give some indication of his intention?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin, have unanimously memorialised the Crown in favour of the appointment of a Roman Catholic to the vacant provostship; if so, will he ascertain whether the governing body would be agreeable to the appointment of a Roman Catholic clergyman as provost, and when will the vacancy be filled.

No, Sir; no such memorial has been presented.

In view of the announced desire of the Fellows of Trinity College to attract Catholic students to the college, cannot the right hon. Gentleman see his way to suggest that a Jesuit be appointed to the office of provost?

I do not know that that would greatly facilitate the object in view.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether a report was forwarded by any person to the Irish Executive of the alleged perjury of two policemen at the Ballinrobe petty sessions recently, until asked for it; whether such a report, if any, was supplied by the resident magistrate who presided, and who dismissed the case on the merits after first investigating the matter on the spot, the clerk of the petty sessions, or if not by any of these officials, by whom was it furnished; and whether he will give the date on which it reached the quarter where such complaints are usually received.

It formed no part of the duty of the resident magistrate, who is a judicial officer, to make a report on this matter to the Executive. That duty devolved upon and was discharged by the district inspector of constabulary who was present and conducted the prosecution. On the 18th February and again on the 3rd instant, the Government, being desirous of supplementing the facts in its possession, invited the resident magistrate to furnish his observations. The case was dismissed on the 1st of February. The district inspector made his report on the 4th of February, since which date the case has received the attention demanded by its importance. The clerk of petty sessions has no duties to perform in this connection.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state in what manner and from what persons the inspectors of the Land Commission make inquiries as to whether accommodation for labourers is needed on any estates for the purchase of which applications were received under the Irish Land Act, 1903; which is the estate on which the accommodation for labourers is reported to be insufficient but for which no scheme has yet been framed by the Estates Commissioners; and will he give the names and rural areas of the five largest estates on which accommodation is reported to be sufficient.

The inspectors inquire whether accommodation is needed for labourers on the estate. If they are of opinion that the existing house accommodation is insufficient having regard to the ordinary requirements of the district, they are instructed to specify how such accommodation may best be supplied. The information is procured locally. On the estate of Louis Perrin-Hatchell, in county Wexford, it has been reported that the accommodation is insufficient. The other five estates referred to are the Duke of Leinster's, counties Kildare and Meath; L. G. Kemmis, Queen's county; H. C. Gillman, Cork; J. H. Edge, Queen's county; and M. H. Hyndman, Tipperary.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the Killaghtee Branch of the United Irish League on the 28th February, urging the claims of South Donegal Bay to a share of the marine grant for the building of boatslips and landing places for the fishermen on the south side of St. Ulin's Point, especially at Cassan Sound, and for repair at Ballyricard and Ballyethuland, and pressing for some share in the allocation of the remainder of the funds of the Donegal portion of the marine grant for this district which has been overlooked in that allocation; and what steps, if any, will the Government take, having regard to the needs of this locality, to secure for it participation in this grant.

The resolution has been received. In the allocation of the grant preference was given to works according to their relative importance and after consultation with representatives of the county council. I cannot hold out any hope that a further allocation will be made in respect of the particular works mentioned in the Question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that there are a number of cases listed for the past four years for the Head Land Commission from the district of North Tipperary, he will say when the Court will again sit to hear these cases.

The Commissioners inform me that no date has been fixed for the next sitting of the Court for the hearing of fair rent appeals from this district. The last list disposed of by the Commissioners comprised all cases in which appeals were lodged prior to the 1st January, 1901.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants of the townland of Derrygoolan, county Galway, on the Clanricarde Estate, who asserted their claims to the sporting rights, have in consequence been processed, some for the hanging gale, being the only rent alleged to be due, and others served with notices to quit; whether, in view of the circumstances of the proceeding and the nature of the past season, he will undertake that the forces of the Crown will not be used in the execution of any decrees thus obtained.

I have no information on the first part of the Question. The Government has no power to give an undertaking such as suggested at the end of the Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state what was the gross amount of licence duty for the year ended 31st March, 1903, obtained from licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors, tobacco, and plate, and to carry on the businesses of pawnbroker, auctioneer, appraiser, hawker, and refreshment house keeper, in England and Scotland, respectively; the net amount paid over to the county and borough councils in respect to such licences in England and Scotland, respectively; the gross amount obtained from similar licences for the same period in the case of Ireland; whether these licence duties are allocated to the county and borough councils in which they accrue in the case of England and Scotland; and, if so, will he explain why the same rule of allocation is not followed in the case of Ireland.

The figures desired by the hon. Member are set out in the Annual Reports of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. An amount equivalent to the net yield of the Local Taxation Licences in Ireland is annually paid out of the Consolidated Fund to the Local Taxation Account at the Bank of Ireland under Section 58 of the Act 61–62, Vict. c. 37.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Board of Works are prepared to receive an offer of purchase from their tenants at Meelick, Eyrecourt, county Galway, under the provisions of the Land Act of 1903.

No, Sir: the Act does not apply to this class of tenancy.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is now in a position to supply the information asked for on the 30th July, 1903, as to how much money was paid to owners of fishery rights since the year 1834 between Castle Connell and the Lax Weir at Limerick, giving the parts of the river claimed for and the names of the claimants, whether for partial or total loss, and the amount given in each case, also the names of those who were compensated for salmon fisheries and those compensated for eel fisheries.

The information is too detailed to be given in the form of a verbal Answer. If the hon. Member will communicate farther with me I will meet his wishes so far as possible.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Government has purchased the estate of Lady Holroyd Smyth, around Kilworth Camp, in the counties of Cork and Tipperary, with the object of establishing cannon and rifle ranges; and, if so, whether this will necessitate the removal of families as well as the closing of public roads within the ranges.

No, Sir. Lady Holroyd Smyth's property, Moore Park, has been purchased for the purpose of erecting barracks thereon, and as an extension to Kilworth training ground.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that many Members of this House would prefer reverting to the former plan of holding the Morning Sitting on Wednesday instead of on Friday and whether he will give the House an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the subject.