To ask the Secretary for Scotland if the Bill providing for the more efficacious punishment of offending trawlers, which was under the consideration of the Secretary for Scotland and the Lord Advocate last year, will shortly be presented. (Answered by Mr. A. Graham Murray.) I may refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar Question on Monday last.†

† See page 309.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland if the Scotch Education Department has granted a special modern group leaving certificate for Glasgow High School for Girls; and whether this group will under similar conditions be extended to all other schools. (Answered by Mr. A. Graham Murray.) Upon the application of the School Board and upon the basis of a curriculum arranged by conference with the school authorities the Department has agreed to grant a special group leaving certificate for the Glasgow High School for Girls. It is open to any other school to make such an application, and if a satisfactory arrangement can be made as to curriculum, a similar group certificate would be granted.

To ask the Postmaster-General if he can state when ho expects to receive the Report of the Committee appointed last session to inquire into the grievances of the postal employees; and if he will lay the Report upon the Table of the House before the Post Office Vote is taken. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) The Committee appointed in August last to inquire into the scales of pay of certain classes of established post office servants has taken evidence on the matters referred to it, but I am unable to say when the Committee will present its Report.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is yet in a position to give any further information as to the reorganisation of the gendarmerie in Macedonia, in particular the names of the British officers appointed; whether they have started from England; what are the areas to which the different gendarmerie battalions are to be allocated; and whether any British non-commissioned officers have been appointed to this service. (Answered by Earl Percy.) As soon as the demands submitted to the Porte by the Austro-Hungarian and Russian Ambassadors have been accepted, and the General charged with the reorganisation of the gendarmerie leaves Constantinople for the purpose of taking up his duties, he will be met at Salonica by ten officers and eleven non-commissioned officers from England. The names of the officers and areas to which the several battalions are to be allocated cannot yet be given.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can say whether Holland has decided to reform her fiscal system, by the adoption of a retaliatory policy and a protective tariff; and, if so, whether he can lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the Netherlands Government's proposals; and if he wall state the remaining countries, if any, which impose no duties apart from purposes of revenue. (Answered by Earl Percy.) Copies of the Netherlands Tariff Bill have been received and forwarded to the Board of Trade for examination in concert with the Chambers of Commerce. Pending the result of the examination, I am not able to make any statement as to the character and objects of the proposed tariff, which has still to receive legislative sanction. We have no official information of the object with which Customs duties are imposed by foreign countries. The question of laying a translation of the proposed tariff upon the Table of the House will be considered.

To ask the secretary of state for the Home Department what number of punlic-house licences have this year been refused renewal on the ground that they were not required; and what number were refused renewal on that and other grounds; and if he can state what proportion such number bear to the number refused last year, and also to the average number of refusals during the five years prior to that year. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Dunglas.) The information necessary to answer this Question is not yet available. Adjournments of the General Annual Licensing Meeting may take place up to the 14th of the present month, and it may be that in some places the business is not yet completed.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education if he will state what is the total sum received in Parliamentary Grants of all kinds, since the year 1870, by the Halsall Girls' School, Great Crosby, Lancashire. (Answered by Sir William Anson.) The total sum which has been received in Parliamentary Grants by this school is £3,378 11. 7d.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education if he will state whether it is a common practice in mixed elementary schools for girls to be caned by male teachers; whether such a practice has been prohibited as unseemly by the London School Board and other great School Boards; and whether the Board of Education are taking any steps to discourage or prohibit it in all schools. (Answered by Sir William Anson.) So I far as I am aware the reply to the first paragraph is in the negative. In reply to the second paragraph, I have no official knowledge that such Boards have found it necessary to pass such a resolution. In: reply to the last paragraph I have no reason to believe that any such action on the part of the Board is necessary at present or is likely to become so in the future.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education if he will state what are the terms of reference to the Departmental Committee now sitting on physical degeneration. (Answered by Sir William Anson.) The original reference charged the Committee with a preliminary inquiry into the allegations concerning the deterioration of certain classes of the population as shown by the large percentage of rejections for physical causes of recruits for the Army and by other evidence, especially the Report of the Commission on Physical Instruction in Scotland, and to consider in what manner the medical profession can best be consulted on the subject with a view to the appointment of a Royal Commission, and the terms of reference to such a Commission, if appointed, but this reference was subsequently explained to imply the duty (1) to determine, with the aid of such counsel as the medical profession are able to give, the steps that should be taken to furnish the Government and the nation at large with periodical data for an accurate comparative estimate of the health and physique of the people; (2) to indicate generally the causes of such physical deterioration as does exist in certain classes; and (3) to point out the means by which it can be most effectually diminished.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether the system still prevails under which the attendances of children under three years old are to be separately registered so as to be taken into account in calculating accommodation and also in determining the teaching staff' required, but are not to be taken into account in calculating the grant; and, if so, whether he will now consider an adjustment of the grant to meet the case. (Answered by Sir William Anson.) Children under three years of age are allowed to attend school, but their attendances are not registered for any purpose. Under' these circumstances the Question put in the last paragraph does not appear to arise.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether there is any obligation upon admirals commanding squadrons to conduct manoeuvres which provide sufficient training for the handling of fleets in war; and, if not, whether such manoeuvres as will contribute to the fighting efficiency of the Fleet will be made compulsory and reports sent to the Admiralty upon the capacity or otherwise of the officers engaged in them. (Answered by Mr Pretyman.) The orders issued to admirals carry the obligation named in the Question. It is well understood by all admirals in command that their first and principal duty is to make their squadrons efficient for war, and that it is for this purpose that they are appointed.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the number of churches belonging to the Admiralty in which any religious service other than that of the Church of England is at present used, and if any applications from other religious bodies have been made for the use of such churches and have been refused. (Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) There is no case in which a church belonging to the Admiralty is used for any religious service other than that of the Church of England. Only one application has been made for the use of a church for such services, and in that case other suitable accommodation was provided.

To ask the Iron. Member for Chorley, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that the wood and concrete of the now road in the Mall and the pathway between the freshly planted trees, which have only just been laid, are already being picked up to place telephone or other wires; whether he is aware that similar destruction of the road has already happened twice since September; whether he can say who is responsible for this, what is the extra cost involved, and out of what funds it is defrayed; and whether steps can be taken to lay all wires and pipes that are likely to he required for some time before the road is again reinstated. (Answered by Lord Balrarres.) The cables of the Electric Supply Company for lighting the Mall, now being laid, are in positions quite clear of the main roadway between the Queen Victoria Memorial and the present termination of the wood paving near the Duke of York's Column. As originally arranged, they are passing along the footways, which were specially left unfinished in view of this work. Where the Marlborough Gate roadway joins the new Mall, the taking up of a narrow strip of wood-block paving, and the forming of a chase in the concrete is unavoidable, because the high-tension mains of the company can only be laid upon what is known as the "solid" system, and this necessitates an open iron casing for filling in bitumen. No earlier facilities to meet this contingency could have been provided, pending a settlement with the company, nor could the work have been undertaken at the same time as the roadwork without postponing the latter, as the mains on the "solid" system take a long time to prepare, and are not kept in stock. The disturbance incidental to crossing the branch roadway is reduced to a minimum, and the expense is in-eluded in the cost of the cables as agreed upon with the company. This part of the work is chargeable to the Supplementary Vote passed for the works on the Mall. The First Commissioner is not aware of any telephone wires being required. As regards the roadway around the Queen Victoria Memorial, it was necessary to cross to the centre of the ring after the roadway was laid, and, for the reasons before explained, this had to be executed upon the "solid" system. All wires and pipes likely to be required will have been laid upon the completion of the present work.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state if it is the intention of the Tuberculosis Commission to issue an Interim Report; and, if so, how soon it may be expected. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I understand that the Commission do not propose to issue an Interim Report.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the sum of £3,000,000 sterling advanced by way of loan to the Transvaal and Orange River Colony has been repaid to the Exchequer in terms of The South African Loan and War Contribution Act, 1903. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The answer is in the affirmative.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the sum paid in addition to the £3,000,000 advanced by way of loan on account of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, and estimated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1903 at £4,000,000 sterling, has been paid to the National Debt Commissioners, and applied by them towards the discharge of any Exchequer bonds or Treasury bills falling due during the financial year ending the 31st of March, 1904, in terms of The South African Loan and War Contribution Act, 1903. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) A sum of £3,000,000 (apart from the £3,000,000 repaid to the Exchequer) has been paid to the National Debt Commissioners and applied towards the discharge of Exchequer bonds which fell due on the 7th August, 1903.

To ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state the number of persons who died of plague in Central India and Rajputana respectively during the month of January last, and how the figures compare with the month of January, 1903. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The numbers are: — January, 1903, Central India, 92; Rajputana, 10. January, 1904, Central India, 3,721; Rajputana, 716.

To ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state what percentage of persons inoculated with plague serum in India subsequently died of plague. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) Calculated on the figures of inoculations and deaths in the several provinces given by my predecessor in office in reply to a Question asked by the hon. Member on 11th June, 1903,† the percentage of deaths is 24. I have no later information on the subject, but the Government of India have lately taken steps to secure a more accurate record for the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for India, having regard to the fact that the Indian Financial Statement for 1903–4 shows that the Johapore Rifle Factory is expected to be in a position to commence the manufacture of rifles during the present year, will arrangements be made for the manufacture at that factorey of some of the new Army rifles required for the troops in India. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) It is not expected that under the most favourable circumstances manufacture can commence before December next. There is therefore, little probability of any out-turn of importance during the next financial year. The supply of rifles for Indian requirements will then be carried on from the factory as far as it is able to produce them.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is now in a position to give the names of the rural district councils in Ireland which have adopted the Public Libraries Act. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) It has been necessary to address inquiries to 213 rural district councils, and replies have not yet been received from all. The desired information will be communicated to the hon. Member as soon as it is complete.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the amount realised since the last Return of Irish quit and Crown rents redeemed; whether he will have these funds set aside and attributed

†See (4) Debates,, cxxiii., 629.

to Crown or other purposes in Ireland, and no longer, as hitherto, invested in Great Britain. (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) The last return extended to 31st March, 1902. The amount realised between that date and 31st March. 1903 (the latest date to which the accounts have been made up), is £17,379. The Crown Lands Act, 1829, Section 52, provides that these moneys shall be invested in the purchase of land or other hereditaments, or the redemption of charges or encumbrances on land already belonging to the Crown, and under Section 109 of that Act and certain other Crown Lands Acts sums not immediately wanted for these purposes may be invested in trustee securities. A sum of £15,636 has been invested in Bank of Ireland Stock, and other Irish investments are under consideration.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Great Southern and Western Railway Company are not carrying into effect their amalgamation agreements; whether he will make inquiries respecting a case of eggs handed in to be forwarded at through rates from Clonmel to Birmingham by the new route via Wexford and New Ross, the consignment of which was charged the high local rate to Wexford where the case was detained one day before handing it over to the Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford Railway Company; and whether he will arrange that consignors of Irish produce shall receive the facilities promised at the time of amalgamation. (Answered' by Mr. Wyndham.) A representation in the sense referred to has been received by the Department and will be inquired into.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will arrange to have a Return to date of Private Bills (Ireland) (Expenses) (in continuation of No. 356, of Session 1892, and (from 1892 to 1898) of No. 344, of Session 1900), to be prepared and printed for the information of the House. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) My right hon. friend has asked me to answer this Question, as the Returns to which it refers and which it is desired to continue include, not Ireland only, but the whole of the United Kingdom. The Return is a very heavy one, and it has not been usual to give it except at longer intervals than that which has elapsed since the last one was given. I will, however, communicate with the Departments on whom the work of preparing the Return chiefly falls, before coming to a decision in the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what rules the Estates Commissioners have made to ensure that bogus new tenancies are not created when estates are being sold so as to prevent advances being granted to persons who are not bona fide, tenants, evicted tenants, or proper cases so recognised by the Purchase Act. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) If a tenancy has been created since 1st January, 1901, the forms prescribed by the rules of the Estates Commissioners require the fact to be disclosed, and the inspectors are instructed in such cases to specially report whether they are of opinion that the limit of £500 advance imposed by Section 53 should be exceeded and to state their reasons, having regard to the wants and circumstances of other persons residing in the neighbourhood. For that purpose all information available in the office as to evicted tenants or otherwise is placed at their disposal.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, is it proposed by the Treasury to continue any longer to spend on the Irish model schools, in the majority of which there is a very scanty attendance of pupils, large sums of public money; have the Government considered whether this expenditure would be better devoted to the requirements of well-attended ordinary national schools; whether many of the latter are much in need of general repair or reconstruction; whether several of the model school buildings could be at once advantageously transferred for the purposes of technical and industrial education to county councils and other local bodies; and will he inquire whether such bodies would be willing to maintain the fabrics. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Report of the recent inquiry into primary education in Ireland which has been presented to Parliament, deals at some length with the Irish model schools and contains suggestions in respect of the matters mentioned in the second part of the Question. The Report is at present engaging the consideration of Government.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will furnish a Return showing the names and official titles of the employees of the Irish Agricultural Department, respecting whom proposals for increase of salary have been made to the Treasury in connection with the Estimates for 1904–5, indicating at the same time such as are recurrent applications. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Such a Return would be wholly without precedent, and I am unable, therefore, to grant it.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if District Inspector Hetreed is still receiving his allowance as police instructor at the depot; and if he can say why no recruits are at present receiving instruction. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Yes, Sir. The services of this officer as police instructor are retained for the reasons mentioned in the reply to my hon. friend's previous Question of the 18th February† on the subject.

†See (4) Debates,, exxx, 237.

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 Carlow have been received by the Estates Commissioners; and what steps, if any, have been taken to make provision for them. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Forty-five. Inquiries are being made on all estates coming before the Commissioners from the county with a view to the reinstatement of evicted tenants.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that several sergeants of the Royal Irish Constabulary in Belfast having over thirty years service are being compelled to retire on pension, while in the same town there are head constables and constables having the same number of years service who are being retained; and if he can explain why this compulsory retirement is not universal. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The power invested in the Inspector-General by Statute of compulsorily retiring members of the force throughout the country is exercised only in cases of inefficiency, or for some other similar reason, and not on account of length of service alone. Six sergeants of the Belfast force were thus compulsorily retired during the past three years, but, at the present time, there is no case of a sergeant in Belfast being under notice to be compulsorily retired on pension.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland who is the representative of the guaranteeing area that audits the accounts of the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway, when was the last audit made, and was the result published. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) There is no baronial audit of the Lough Swilly Company's accounts as no guarantee applies to that line, but the company works three lines, namely: the Letter-kenny, the Carndonagh Extension, and the Burtonport Extension, to which guarantees do apply; and if the hon. Member will state to which of these three lines he refers, I will make further inquiry in the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if, under the Labourers Bill, the accumulated funds now lying to the respective credits of the counties of Antrim and Down for the purposes of the Labourers (Ireland) Acts will be redistributed amongst other counties where the Acts have to a greater extent been availed of, or if such accumulated funds will be taken from the counties named for' any object. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Labourers Bill, as introduced, makes no change so far as the existing reserve is concerned, but it will prevent the accumulation of any further reserve, as the full amount of the Exchequer grant available each year will be distributed.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, looking to the inconvenience and loss sustained by hotel keepers in the border counties of Scotland, by the billeting of soldiers and horses upon them en route to and from Stobbs Camp, especially in the tourist season, he will make arrangements whereby, at all events in the summer months, cavalry on the march will carry their own transport and thus avoid the alleged grievance. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) If the troops were not billeted camping grounds would have to be hired, and this, added to the expense of trans porting camp equipment, would add considerably to the cost. It is therefore hold that, though the hotelkeepers may suffer some slight inconvenience, this large increase to the public charges could not be justified.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing among members of the Imperial Yeomanry who served in the late Boer War at the delay in the issue of their medals; and whether he will take steps to expedite the delivery of the medals. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The whole of the Yeomanry rolls have been dealt with except in two cases. Of these one roll goes to Woolwich to-day and the other is being checked.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government intend to recoup the Standard and other South African banks the amount of money lost to them by their following the advice of Lord Milner in refusing security for the commandeered specie. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) I refer the hon. Member to my reply on the 25th February last.† The circumstance to which he refers was not lost sight of.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any correspondence has passed between him and Lord Milner or the Chartered Company in regard to the admission of Chinese indentured labour into Rhodesia; and whether, if so, it will be laid on the Table of the House before assent be given to any Ordinance permitting the introduction of the said labour; whether, before that assent be given, the House will have an opportunity to express its opinion upon the matter; and whether he can state how many British subjects are now domiciled in Rhodesia, exclusive of officials of the Chartered Company or of the railroads that have obtained their capital through that Company. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) (1.) (2.) There has been correspondence, and Papers will be laid before assent is given to the necessary notice permitting the introduction of Chinese labourers into Southern Rhodesia. (3.) This Question must be addressed to the First Lord. (4.)

† See (4) Debate,, exxx., 972.

The European population of Southern Rhodesia according to a census taken on 31st May, 1901, was 11,032. I have no accurate figures as to the officials of the Chartered Company or of the railroads.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will undertake to insert a clause in the proposed Chinese Ordinance to enable any Chinese labourer to refuse, if he so wishes, being transferred to a mine where the conditions of mining are distasteful to him; whether he is aware that the temperature of the deep level mines is very high; and whether, seeing that mechanical ventilation has not been generally adopted at these mines, he will so regulate the Ordinance as to prevent a Chinese labourer working in these mines unless he consents to do so, as also in mines where the workings are wet or in any other way distasteful to the labourer. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The answer is in the negative. The provision for the consent of the labourer to transfer can be better made by regulation than by amendment of the Ordinance, and the regulation will provide that the Lieutenant-Governor shall not sanction any transfer except on the production of a certificate signed by the Government Superintendent that the agreement as to transfer has been explained to the labourer and that he consents thereto and has signed the same. The labourer will then have the opportunity of declining to be transferred to an employer whose service; is distasteful to him.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, under the proposed Ordinance regulating Chinese labour in the Transvaal, Chinese labourers will be given free access to the Law Courts, or whether they will be deprived of those rights which the natives in the Transvaal possess. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) Chinese labourers have the same rights of access to the Courts as all other inhabitants of His Majesty's territories.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what were the dates of the appointments of the Director and Assistant Director of Army Contracts.

The Assistant Director of Contracts, Mr. Bull, was appointed on the 10th Novmember, 1903. The Director of Contracts, Mr. de la Bere, has been officiating since 14th December. He would, under ordinary circumstances, have received the pay of such appointment from the 11th instant.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state what number of improved pattern of rifle approved in 1903 are on order from Government factories and private contractcrs respectively; and when deliveries of the new rifle are expected to commence.

The details of orders given to private firms cannot be published. Deliveries are expected to commence early in April.

I beg; to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state what conditions of service the Volunteers will be under this year; and whether, under the rules of their corps, Volunteers are required to send in their resignation before 31st March, or be liable to serve another year or pay a fine.

The conditions of service will be the same as last year. The rules of the corps and dates for resignation vary so considerably that it is not possible to give any reply to the latter part of the Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state what is the sum taken in all votes combined for manoeuvres in the year 1904–5, as compared with that taken in 1903–4.

The amount allotted for manoeuvres (apart from ordinary field training) in 1903–4 was £130,000. The corresponding amount provided in 1904–5 is £100,000.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state what has been the result in numbers and efficiency of the increase of Militia Field Artillery by two brigade divisions.

Only one brigade of Militia Field Artillery has been formed. The reports on this brigade have been most satisfactory and the numbers are complete.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, in view of the fact that the new War Office in Whitehall will accommodate a larger staff than required if effect be given to the proposed scheme of decentralisation, will he state whether the building is too far advanced to admit of the structure and internal fittings being so altered as to effect economy in its cost, and will he state the contract price, and by what date the contractors have undertaken to complete the work.

I am afraid that the hon. Member is mistaken in his fact. The accommodation in the new building would have proved insufficient for properly housing the present staff which is an increase on the establishment existing when the final plans were approved. The reductions following on the scheme of decentralisation will probably still leave the building none too large for the future staff. The date for completion of the work is the 25th June, 1906.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state what provision is made for the care and maintenance of a soldier on the active list who, although in the opinion of the medical officer he is not a fit subject to be sent straight into a lunatic asylum, shows such weakness of mind that his discharge from the Army is considered expedient; is it usual in such cases to send a discharged soldier to his home in charge of a non-commissioned officer; and, if so, will he explain the reason.

If the hon. Member will kindly refer to paragraphs 1820 and 1822 of the King's Regulations, he will find that harmless lunatic soldiers are handed over to their friends, if they are willing to receive them, or to the parish authorities if they decline. They are conducted by an unarmed party, the strength of which is determined by the local military authorities.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will explain why there is no commissioned Presbyterian chaplain at Edinburgh or at any of the military stations in Scotland.

The need of the services of the Presbyterian chaplains is more urgent at other stations at home and abroad than at those in Scotland, and these considerations govern the postings.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mr. Robert Creen, late Lieutenant in the 6th Volunteer Battalion (King's Liverpool Regiment), has been deprived of his commission on a charge of insubordination, consisting in his asking the commanding officer of the regiment to direct that the officers be periodically furnished with information as to, and allowed a voice in, the expenditure and management of the moneys subscribed by them to the private funds of the corps; whether he will explain why Mr. Creen was not furnished before the inquiry with information as ho the charges to be brought against him, or allowed at the inquiry to call or put in evidence on his own behalf or to cross-examine the witnesses against him; and whether he proposes to take any further action in the matter.

My hon. friend's Question has already been answered in official and semi-official correspondence to which I have nothing to add. But as he asks the Question I will repeat that a Court of Inquiry of three Volunteer commanding officers found Lieutenant Creen guilty of insubordination to his commanding officer. On the advice of the military authorities it was decided to call on Lieutenant Creen to resign; he has not done so and steps will now be taken for his removal. As regards the other points it appears that Lieutenant Creen had all the information at his disposal as to the scope of the inquiry, and that he called a witness on his behalf; the Court only refused to receive certain letters and evidence which it considered irrelevant.

Having regard to the fact that it is alleged that this officer has been unfairly treated, will the right hon. Gentleman lay on the Table the Report of the Court of Inquiry or other correspondence?

No, Sir. I should be very unwilling to go behind the Report of a properly constituted Court on a matter of discipline.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that in addition to the price of £122,500 paid for the surface of the land purchased by the Department for the Naval Base on the Firth of Forth a sum of £12,250 has been paid in name of compensation for minerals, he will state the rental of the minerals so acquired.

These minerals have not at present been worked and there is, therefore, no rental in respect of them.

Has the money been paid out of the Vote for Naval Works?

was understood to reply in the affirmative.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state what annual grants have been given by his Department to the various religious denominations respectively during the last five years.

The total amount of the grants referred to has been as follows—Church of England, including Irish Church and Scotch Episcopalian, £12,278 18s. 9d.; Roman Catholic, £13,434 18s. 8d Other religious bodies, including Presbyterian, Wesleyan, Baptist and Congregational, £11,316 3s. 0d. These grants include fixed allowances, capitation allowances, and building contributions.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will call Lord Milner's attention to the apparent conflict in the circumstances that, whilst on 3rd January he cabled that the opposition to the Chinese Ordinance is now confined to a small minority among Boer and British even in the Cape, and on 28th January that local opposition is now apparently extinct, a Blue-book is issued on 3rd March covering the period from 13th January to 1st March containing many protests and a petition to the King from meetings of the inhabitants of South African towns against the Ordinance.

The hon. Member will find the latest expression of Lord Milner's opinion on this subject at page 14 of Cd. 1941. It is dated the 25th January and is consequently more recent than any of the petitions referred to by the hon. Member, except one. The hon. Member will also notice that all the petitions and resolutions from the Transvaal, with one single exception, are in favour of Asiatic labour. In these circumstances I see no reason for calling Lord Milner's attention to the matter.

It would appear that on other occasions Lord Milner has seriously misunderstood South African opinion.

On behalf of the hon. Member for the Otley District of Yorkshire, I beg to ask the Secretary of state for the colonies if he is now in a position to state whether any payment for licence for recruiting or per capita, on each labourer received will be made to the Chinese Government, or to any Chinese official, by an importer of labourers into south Africa.

I regret that I cannot at present make any statement.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether there has been any importation of Asiatic labour into Southern Rhodesia under the Ordinance of 1902, set out in Paper Cd. 1200 of that year: and, if so, to what extent; whether any condition was imposed that the Ordinance should not apply to the importation of Chinese labour, and should, with regard to other labour, only become operative after sanction of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and what action was taken by the Secretary of State: whether he can see his way to lay upon the Table a continuation of the Correspondence relating to the supply of labour in Rhodesia, Cd. 1200 of 1902; and whether sanction to the proposed Ordinance with regard to imported labour for the Transvaal will be withheld until the Rhodesian Papers have been laid.

(1.) The answer is in the negative. (2.) I have to refer the hon. Member to a letter at page 74 of Cd. 1200 in which the British South Africa Company were informed by Mr. Chamberlain on 26th June, 1901, that any scheme for introducing Chinese labour must be considered separately, and after it has been fully discussed locally. The sanction of the Secretary of State is required under the Ordinance No. 3 of 1902 but has not been given as yet. (3.) The correspondence is not sufficiently complete to be laid upon the Table at present, but I expect to be able to do so at an early date. (4.) I am not prepared to give the pledge asked for.

Will the right hon. Gentleman in this case take a vote of the Colonists?

Order, order! Notice must be given of that.

Will the Papers be laid before the right hon. Gentleman arrives at a final decision?

I have answered that.

Will you answer my Question?

It is not in order.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he proposes at an early date to authorise the importation of Asiatic labourers into Rhodesia under the pro visions of the Ordinances already sanctioned.

I am not prepared at present to make a definite statement on this matter, which is under consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has declined to sanction the importation of Chinese labourers into Rhodesia under any Ordinance or Ordinances.

I have not as yet felt justified in assenting to the issue of the notice which, under the Ordinance No. 3, of 1902, is a condition precedent to the importation of Chinese labourers. The whole matter is receiving my careful consideration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman decline to sanction the Ordinance until the people of the Colonies have been consulted?

Shall we have an opportunity of seeing and debating the Ordinance before sanction is given to it?

Does the Ordinance differ from the Transvaal Ordinance?

Yes, Sir.

(Norfolk, N.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government, as legal successors to the assets of the late South African Republic, will take immediate steps to enforce payment of the indemnity which the Chartered Company of British South Africa undertook to pay on the release of the prisoners after the Jameson Raid, with interest for the last seven years; and will apply the same towards the expense of the late war.

I have to refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the House to a similar Question on 1st April, 1901†, by my predecessor.

Is it a fact that the late Colonial Secretary, in a despatch to Lord Rosmead in April, 1897, stated that the Chartered Company should be compelled to make good all compensation paid for injuries caused by the raid.

I have not had time to look up the documents. I must ask for longer notice.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will grant a Return showing the names of the various companies interested in gold mining in South Africa, the capital of those companies, and the; amount of dividends paid for each year during the last five years, together with the number of persons employed, showing separately the number of British, foreign, and native persons employed.

I have not in my possession the information necessary for the preparation of such a Return, much of which is not of a nature to come before Government. It would probably be impossible to collect now all the information

† See (4) Debates,, xcii, 329.

asked for in the last part of the Question. I am not, therefore, prepared to grant the Return.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if it be his intention to give instructions for the formation of an electoral roll for municipal and parliamentary franchise in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony.

Municipal rolls already exist. In my opinion the time has not yet arrived for incurring the cost of preparing an electoral roll for parliamentary franchise.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will represent to the Australian Government the propriety of repealing the legislation which prohibits British workers from landing in Australia under contracts to perform manual labour.

No, Sir. I cannot undertake to make the representation suggested.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state whether any difficulties have arisen in connection with the mission to Tibet to necessitate an addition to the military escort; and, if so, will he state the nature of the difficulties, and to what extent the escort is to be strengthened.

I have heard nothing of any difficulties necessitating an addition to the military escort with the Tibet mission.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government will now communicate to the House the Reports of His Royal Highness the High Commissioner of Crete upon the administration of that island during the years 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1903.

No such Reports have been received from the High Commissioner.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Ambassador at St.Petersburg has been or will be desired to use his good offices with the Russian Government for the purpose of preventing the confiscation of the funds contributed by British Armenian subjects in Madras, Calcutta, Bombay, and elsewhere, for the support of the Theological Seminary at Etchmiadzin and for educational objects amongst necessitous Armenian congregations in Russia, under the spiritual direction of the See of Etchmiadzin.

His Majesty's Government understand that under a law promulgated in Juno of last year, the Russian Government assumed the administration of Armenian Church property and revenues in the Caucasus, including those vested in the schools. The question is one of internal administration with which His Majesty's Government have no concern.

On behalf of the hon. Member for the Otley Division of Yorkshire, I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that a party of eight persons who went out from Yorkshire in September last in the steamship "Commonwealth" were not allowed to land at Boston, but were sent back to this country, though they were met by friends who were prepared to be responsible for them, and though they had not gone out under any contract; and, if so, will he make representations to the Government of the United States in regard to this occurrence.

The only information we have of the circumstances mentioned by the hon. Member is contained in a telegram just received from the Acting British Consul at Boston, who states on the authority of the Immigration Commissioner there that the persons referred to were deported as likely to become a charge to the public, and that this decision was taken after thorough investigation and an appeal to the Department at Washington. We expect to receive in due course a full report of the circumstances of the case.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will say what are the general principles of political economy applicable to commerce recommended by the Committee recently appointed to inquire into the constitution of the Consular service as a compulsory subject of examination for those desiring to enter the service, and approved by the Secretary of State.

I am not aware that the Committee attempted any definition of the general principles of political economy. The course of study to be prescribed for the examination has not yet been finally decided, but there appears to be no reason why it should exclude as inapplicable to commerce any of the general principles of economic science.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that sugar refineries have been placed in bond and that duty is actually paid on the quantity of sugar refined as it is delivered from the factories, he can see his way to abolish the method of collecting the sugar tax in accordance with the polariscopic scale imposed in the Budget of 1901.

The scale of sugar duties imposed by the Finance Act, 1901, is applicable to sugars delivered from British refineries as well as to sugars which are imported and cleared for home consumption without passing through a refinery in this country. All sugar delivered from a refinery is not assessable at the highest rate of 4s. 2d. the cwt. as the Question seems to imply, but considerable quantities are delivered at the various lower rates in the scale referred to. I am not prepared to propose any alteration in the existing system of collection.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of considerable delays in the Estate and Legacy Department of Somerset House; and whether he will take steps to remove impediments by adverting to the former practice of personal attendance, or some other method calculated to expedite the transaction of business.

There have been some delays in the Estate Duty Department since the 1st January, 1904, owing to extension of the office premises and to changes in the distribution of the staff consequent on such extension and on modifications of the methods of transacting business. Every effort is, however, being made to minimise delay whether attributable to these or any other causes, and the Board of Inland Revenue are confident that all ground of complaint will shortly be removed.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the quantity of food exported from Ireland, and to the fact that food forms the largest part of the imports into Great Britain, and in view of the desirability of making the returns of these imports complete and accurate, especially with regard to butter, meat, eggs, and poultry, he would undertake to separate in future editions of the Statistical Abstract and other returns of figures the exports and imports of Ireland from those of Great Britain.

The direct exports from and imports into Irish ports to and from countries abroad are already shown under each port in the second volume of the Annual Statement of Trade. These exports and imports, however, represent only a part of the trade carried on at such ports, the remaining portion of which consists chiefly of movements of goods from and to Great Britain. The Customs have no machinery for taking an account of the quantities or values of such goods, and particulars of them cannot, therefore, be given.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the quantity of raw grain whisky which has been used for mixing with malt whisky in Government warehouses under the supervision of revenue officials during the year ending 31st December, 1903.

I have no means of obtaining the information desired by the hon. Member.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that the revenue officials stand by and allow this process of mixing raw grain spirit with malt spirit to be carried on in Government warehouses, and will he have some inquiry made with a view to stopping it?

The hon. Gentleman is now asking a different Question from that on the Paper, and one which I have already answered in the course of the present session.

Will the right hon. Gentleman cause inquiry to be made, because if information in connection with frauds is given by an Excise official he is immediately dismissed from the service?

That is covered by the answer given.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Lords of the Treasury have sanctioned the appointment of Mr. Henry de la Bere as Director of Army Contracts; whether the announcement of that gentleman's appointment was made by the Secretary of State for War with the concurrence of their Lordships; and whether Mr. Alfred Major had resigned the office of Director of Contracts when the appointment of Mr. de la Bere was officially announced.

The matters referred to concern the War Department only. Treasury sanction was needed neither for the appointment nor for the announcement.

But the Treasury should know. They have to provide the salaries. I will, however, address it to the Secretary for War later. [The opportunity, however, did not recur as the time for Questions had lapsed before this one could be put a second time.]

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that the imports of sugar from the Argentine Republic in 1901 were 666,344, in 1902 808,951, and in eight months of 1903 418,386 cwts., and that since the 1st September, 1903, this trade has been altogether prohibited under the Sugar Convention Act, he can say to what country this sugar has been diverted, and what effects, if any, its diversion has produced on exports to the Argentine Republic on other places.

The quarterly Trade Accounts of the Argentine Government show that n the last quarter of 1903 the export of sugar from the Argentine amounted to 2,586 tons, of which 2,571 tons went to Uruguay. In the corresponding period of 1902 the exports amounted to 14,575 tons, of which 11,335 came to the United Kingdom and 3,180 went to Uruguay. These figures would seem to indicate that the prohibition has so far stopped rather than diverted the trade.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman answer the last paragraph of the Question?

No, Sir, it is quite impossible to tell the effects in so short a period.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will say what, if anything, is being done to ensure the adoption of the rules made by the Board of Trade; and whether he is making any arrangements for testing either-side brakes on waggons as desired by the Railway and Canal Commissioners in July of last year.

The first part of this inquiry hardly lends itself to reply within the limits of an Answer to a Question in the House. The following general statement will, however, serve to indicate the nature of the steps taken by the Board. The Board have addressed letters of inquiry to the several railway companies as to the action taken by them to carry out the rules dealing with (1) propping and tow-roping, (2) the lighting of stations and sidings, and (3) the protection of permanent-way men. The replies received have been examined by the Board's technical officers, to whom also have been submitted such complaints as have been received from time to time of alleged infractions of the rules. Upon the advice of their officers the Board have, in numerous cases, ordered inspections to be made under Section 13 (1) of the Railway Employment (Prevention of Accidents) Act. Such inspections have been ordered and are in course of being carried out at thirty-six of the places where railway companies have represented that, in their opinion, the operations of propping or tow-roping must be continued for the present. It is satisfactory to note that propping has now, for the most part, been discontinued, and that at numerous places railway companies have provided crossover roads, so as to avoid the necessity of tow-roping. Inspections in regard to alleged insufficiency of lighting at places falling within the rule on the subject have been, or are about to be made, in eighty-three cases, and I am glad to say that where the Board's officers have considered further lighting to be needed, the companies generally have agreed to carry out their recommendations. As further rules become operative, I propose, in the first instance, to make inquiry as to the steps taken by the companies to comply with them. There has been some difficulty in making arrangements for the tests of either-side brakes to which the hon. Member refers. I understand, however, that the tests will be made early next month.

Is it not the fact that the difficulty in testing the either-side brakes has been caused by the Board of Trade itself?

I have no reason to suppose that to be the case.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the assistant overseer of Norden, Lancashire, in refusing to apply for a summons against the Rev. J. T. Wilkins, Congregational Minister of Tenterfield, Norden, and in threatening to strike him off the voters list; and, if so, will he state whether the assistant overseer is acting in accordance with his instructions; and, if not, will he take steps to see that the usual instructions to overseers in these matters are carried out.

I have no information as to the case referred to, nor have I given any instructions with regard to it. It rests with the overseers to determine whether they will enforce payment of any sum which may be due from Mr. Wilkins in respect of poor rate, and I cannot undertake to interfere in the matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether Orders are scaled by the Charity Commissioners, under the Board of Education Act, 1899, in cases in which there is a dispute as to the nature and meaning of the trusts, or as to the apportionment previously made; whether, in such cases the sealing of an Order under the Board of Education Act, 1899, renders inoperative any remedies to which aggrieved persons or public bodies might otherwise have recourse under the Charitable Trusts Acts; and whether, if that be so, he will consider the desirability of taking such steps as may be necessary, by legislation or otherwise, to secure that the existing remedies shall not be lost.

May I be allowed to answer this Question? No Order for determining, under the Board of Education Act, 1899, what part of a charity is educational is ever made by the Charity Commissioners without full consideration of the nature and meaning of the trusts, including the effect of any previous apportionment; but, after consideration, it is their duty to issue such Orders, even in cases where their decisions may be disputed. Where an apportionment Order has previously been made, and no appeal was presented within the statutory period of three months, it has become binding on all parties, including the Commissioners themselves; it is therefore not the fact that the effect of a Determination Order following the previous apportionment is to render inoperative in such cases any remedy otherwise available by those who may raise objections to the apportionment.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for North Huntingdonshire, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether, in view of the anxiety felt in some parts of the country with regard to the nature of the proposal for amending the law relating to sea fisheries mentioned in the King's Speech, he will state in general terms what is the object of the proposed Bill, and when it is likely to be introduced.

The Bill to which the hon. Member refers was introduced in the House of Lords by my noble friend the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries on the 2nd February. It was read a second time on the 16th ult. and referred to a Select Committee, which is now taking evidence on the subject.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the districts in the county Clare which have been inspected, with a view to the establishment of motor-car services.

There were two routes inspected in Clare, namely, between Ennis and Scariff, and Bally-vaughan and Ennistymon.

asked who was responsible for the selection of the services?

said he would supply the name to the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether a decision has been arrived at with respect to the increase of the staff at the Natural History Museum in Dublin; and, if not, will the necessary steps be taken so that provision may be made before the Irish Estimates are presented.

No, Sir; I have nothing to add, at present, to my reply to the hon. Member's previous Question of the 29th February.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the inspector sent down to Waterville, county Kerry, to inquire into the erection of the proposed new school there did not ascertain the opinion of Father O'Reilly, the parish priest, before submitting his report; is he aware that, owing to the distance of the village from the school at Spunkane, a number of Roman Catholic parents have had to provide teaching for thirty-four children in an apartment of the Courthouse, measuring fourteen feet by twelve feet; and whether, in view of the fact that many other Roman Catholic children, whose parents are unable to pay the private teacher employed, are absolutely debarred from education, and that the enlargement of the Spunkane school would not meet the necessities of the case, will steps be taken to avail of the site which has been secured in Waterville?

Two Inspectors reported on the application for this building grant. One had an interview with the reverend gentleman. A private school for Roman Catholic children of the better class, who are charged 5s. a, month, has been in operation in Waterville for some time past. The National School at Spunkane is only a mile distant from Waterville, and the Commissioners adhere to the opinion that its enlargement will effectively meet the requirements of the district.

† See (4) Debates,, cxxx., 1242.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the population of this place has largely extended and that the present school is a mile and a half away from where it is most needed. Will he suggest to the Education Commissioners the desirability of building a new school?

No, Sir, the sums involved in building schools are so large that I do not think I can do that.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a county Wicklow landlord has applied to the Estates Commissioners to define as an estate for the purposes of the Land Purchase Act, 1903, that part of the landlord's property which is occupied by tenants willing to buy on the landlord's terms, and to exclude from the estate a number of holdings in possession of tenants who refuse to agree to the landlord's price; and, if so, will he state what has been the decision of the Estates Commissioners.

No such application has been made to the Commissioners.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners have refused to sanction a sale of holdings to their occupiers, who proposed to buy within the zones, on the ground that the price agreed upon was excessive; and, if so, will he say why this refusal was made.

No, Sir; there is obviously no foundation for the suggestion m the Question.

I may inform the right hon. Gentleman that the reason I put the Question was that a statement was made in a Dublin paper to the effect that the Estates Commissioners would take care that no tenant would be allowed by them to purchase his holding at a usurious price even though he was buying within the zones. That statement was calculated to mislead the tenants, the Commissioners having no power to withhold their sanction from sales made within, the zone limits.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will say when will Liscannor Harbour works be commenced; will the county council or Board of Works carry out the work; what plans have been adopted, and will they be submitted to the county council; and will the tenders for the work be public or private; and what is the exact amount of the grant to be given under the Marina Works Act.

The Treasury have sanctioned an advance under the Act for the works of improvement at Liscannor. The expenditure contemplated is £8,500, a third of which will be provided by the Department of Agriculture and the balance out of the Marine Works Grant. Public tenders will be called for forthwith, and the works will be commenced as quickly as possible. They will be carried out by contract under the supervision of the Board of Works. It is not proposed to submit the plans to the county council. They provide for the construction of two new berths, an extension of the existing groyne, the deepening of the harbour, and certain other repairs and works.

Is it not the fact that the county council have decided to give a guarantee?

I believe so.

Then they ought to see the plans.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will consider the request of the Kiladysert District Council that the Kiladysert Creek should be improved and rendered navigable; and whether, as this matter has been pressed on the attention of the Government many times, he will see that something practical is now done to meet the difficulty complained of.

I have referred the hon. Member's Question to the Department of Agriculture for consideration.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the case of Mr. Patrick Cournane, at present in Maryborough Prison, who has served sixteen years penal servitude for an agrarian crime, has been considered with a view to his release.

The prisoner is undergoing a commuted death sentence. His case was before the Lord-Lieutenant in December, when it was decided that there are no sufficient grounds at present for a remission of the sentence.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not consider that sixteen years penal servitude is long enough?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the rules regulating the supply of books to pupils in Irish National schools compel teachers to send for supplies, through the Commissioners, to the various booksellers from whom they may have to order school requisites; whether he is aware that in the case of small orders they are compelled to send from 10 to 25 per cent. more than cost price, though the books so purchased must afterwards be sold at cost price, and, seeing that there are local agents for the various firms of booksellers from whom those supplies could be got at cost price with no inconvenience or expense to the teacher, whether permission will be given to the teachers to purchase their school supplies from the local agents.

In the case of very small orders some of the contractors charge a small percentage to cover cost of carriage or postage. If a manager desires to purchase these small quantities locally the matter will be considered by the Commissioners.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of his reply to a Question in 1901† that the Department of Agriculture in Ireland was considering the question of the fisheries in the district of Ballyvaughan, Clare, with a view to their development, he can now say if anything in this direction has been done or is about to be done.

The Department is in correspondence with the county council on the subject of the provision of landing facilities for the fishermen at Ballaghaline. It has offered to make a contribution towards the cost of the necessary works. The council has not yet accepted the offer.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will grant a Return, in continuation of the Return moved for by the hon. Member for West Cavan in last session, showing the complete staffing of the Board of Agriculture and Technical Instruction in all its departments up to the 31st of the present month.

The Return in question, which was only circulated last month, is brought down to the 1st May, 1903. There are several objections to the multiplication of Returns of this character at such short intervals, and I am reluctant to impose another on the Department at the present moment unless the hon. Member can satisfy me that he has good reasons for desiring the information. Perhaps he will communicate with me on the subject.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give a Supplementary Return. The present one is six months old, it took so long to prepare.

Perhaps the hon. Member will communicate with me.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, at the

† See (4) Debates,, xev., 504.

instance of the Ballyshannon Board of Guardians, the Congested Districts Board had made representations to the Local Government Board with reference to the necessity of the import of seed potatoes into the district, having regard to the need of the locality for such import, and that the Local Government Board refused to entertain the application; and, if so, whether any, and, if so, what, steps will be taken by requesting the Local Government Board to reconsider their decision, or otherwise to secure for this district the import of seed potatoes which is essential to the sustenance of its inhabitants.

I must refer to my reply to the Question put to me on the 3rd February by the hon. Member for North Roscommon†.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland has been directed to reports from experts and from their inspectors upon the prevalence of foul brood, and the need for compulsory powers for dealing with the disease; and whether, seeing that the subject of the need for compulsory powers in the treatment of foul brood in Ireland has been before the Department since 1901, when the Irish Beekeepers Association submitted statements thereon to the Vice-President, the Department will now take steps to promote legislation to meet the case.

This matter was dealt with in the reply given on the 8th February to a Question of the hon. Member for South Kerry†.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at the last petty sessions held at Athenry, when a bailiff named J. Hansberry was prosecuted and fined for discharging firearms on the public road between nine and ten o'clock at night; whether he is

† See (4) Debates,, cxxix., 192.

† See (4) Debates,, cxxix., 595.

aware that Hansberry lives about 100 yards from the public road in the neighbourhood of which several malicious injuries have taken place, and that at the last quarter session at Gort, Hansberry claimed compensation under the Malicious Injuries Act, and, if so, will he say what was the nature of his claim; can he state the number of times these outrages were reported to the police; whether they were recorded as agrarian outrages in the Return supplied to Parliament; and what action the authorities intend to take in the matter, and whether they will consider the propriety of depriving Hansberry of the licence to carry arms.

I stated yesterday† that Hansberry was prosecuted and fined, on the charge of discharging firearms on the public road. He was awarded £5 compensation at quarter sessions in January for malicious injury to a pony trap at Athenry several miles distant. This case was not recorded as agrarian. There were two other cases of malicious injury in the neighbourhood for which compensation was granted; both of these, were recorded as agrarian offences. Hansberry is reported by the police to be a man of good character and there are no sufficient grounds for depriving him of his arms licence.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the police sergeant swore that frequent complaints had been made about shots being fired at night?

Notice must be given of any further Question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the action of G. K. Mahen, a county Galway landlord, who, in selling his grass lands to small farmers at prices of from £400 to £500, involving a rental of from 30s. to £2 per acre in future on these tenants, is at the same time reserving the best portion of these lands for his own use; and, if so, whether he will direct the Estates Commissioners in the interests of the purchasing tenants and of the taxpayers, to have these holdings inspected before the advances are sanctioned.

† See page 583.

The untenanted I land proposed to be sold will provide twenty-seven new holdings. The average amount of the annuities will be 20s. 3d. per statute acre. An inspection will, of course, be made before the Commissioners sanction an advance.

Who has the power of dividing the land into holdings?

The hon. Member had better put that Question down.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the reason of the delay on the part of the Local Government Board for Ireland in sanctioning the pension granted by the guardians of Granard union to their late master, Mr. O'Beirne; whether he is aware that all the requirements of the Local Government Board and Major Fair as to medical certificates have been complied with by the guardians; and will he now direct that the amount be forthwith sanctioned.

There is no delay on the part of the Board. It awaits information already called for from the guardians, and until this has been supplied the further consideration of the case cannot proceed.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutentant of Ireland whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the correspondence which passed between Mr. M'Donogh Mahony, of Cahirciveen, and the Lord Chancellor of Ireland regarding the former's dismissal for signing warrants in Irish.

Yes, Sir, the correspondence will be laid upon the Table.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a small number of tenants on the Herbert Estate were prevented from purchasing when the estate was sold a few years ago, and that the present holder of this portion of the estate has recently forced these tenants to pay the hanging gale's rent; and whether, having regard to this treatment and other circumstances, he will insert provisions in the amending Land Bill enabling such tenants to purchase their holdings.

I understand that when the estate was sold a portion, comprising a small number of tenancies, was reserved from sale by the landlord. Unless the latter agrees to a sale he cannot be coerced into selling.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that applications have been made for a Sunday delivery of letters at Bally-duff (North Kerry) and that all the adjoining towns and villages are in the enjoyment of Sunday delivery of mails; and whether he will cause local inquiries to be made as to the alleged grievances in connection with the want of a Sunday delivery of letters.

The question of affording a Sunday delivery of letters at Ballyduff has, as the hon. Member is aware, been considered on several previous occasions, but owing to the high cost of the existing service it has not been practicable to afford the desired improvement. I shall, however, have pleasure in making further inquiry on that point in order to ascertain whether the present circumstances will admit of a compliance with the hon. Member's wishes. The result shall be communicated to him as soon as possible.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the limited mail delivery of letters at Longford Station at 9.13 a.m. and 5.5 p.m. is usually a heavy mail; and that the hand-cart on which the postmen are invited to drag the bags to the station is over 6 cwt. in weight; and, if so, whether he will direct that these two mail deliveries be included in the new contract just entered into.

I am having inquiry made, and will communicate with the hon. Member.

I will repeat the Question in a week's time.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he will make local inquiries as to the necessity of a Sunday delivery of letters at Asdee, North Kerry, in view of the inconvenience caused in the district by the fact that all letters addressed at Asdee have to lie at the adjoining post office at Bally-longford from Saturday morning until the following Monday owing to the want of a Sunday connection between Bally-longford and Asdee; and whether he will favourably consider the request of the people of the Asdee district for a Sunday mail service.

I have directed inquiries to be made on the subject of affording a Sunday delivery of letters at Asdee, North Kerry, and will communicate the result to the lion. Member.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will now state the name of the member of the Government who sent the official communication to The Times, newspaper that the King had been pleased to approve of the issue of the second part of the War Office (Re-construction) Committee Report; and whether that communication was made by this member of the Government as a Departmental act or with the approval and sanction of the Cabinet in its collective capacity.

The lion. Member is labouring under a mistake. The War Office Committee was, in the first instance, appointed with the King's approval. The first part of the Report was published on 1st February with the announcement, "The King has been pleased to approve of the issue of the Report of the War Office Committee," etc. The second part was issued in exactly the same form, except that, as I am given to understand, one of the Press agencies failed to put in their copy the official notification. The proceedings were perfectly regular, and the King's approval was notified in The Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Chronicle, Morning Post,, and other papers.

Was it the War Secretary who sent out the Report?

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if lie will state why was the introductory sentence that the King has been pleased to approve of the issue of Part II. of the Report of the War Office Reconstruction Committee supplied officially with that Report to some of the organs of the Press, and withheld from other organs of the Press; and what explanation, if any, is there for withholding the notification of the King's approval from any section of the Press, and on what principle was this difference of treatment based.

I have already replied to the Question.

I did not understand the reply.

What part of my answer surpasses the hon. Member's comprehension?

I want to know why was the official notification of the King's approval of the issue of this War Committee's Report given to one section of the Press—The Times,—and withheld from another section.

The hon. Gentleman is wrong both in the facts which he states, and the facts he omits. The Times, was not the only paper to which it was given. All the papers which did not receive it failed to receive it because their agents did not appear and get the ordinary official notification.

How was it that these papers got all the official reports except that which had the imprimatur of the King's approval, which was given to the right hon. Gentleman's own Press.

It was not given to one section. I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman regards the Daily Chronicle, as an ardent supporter of the Government. That paper got the report.

The Times, and the Daily Telegraph, got it.

Did the Standard, get it?

No, they did not.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether an appointment has yet been made to the post of Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, which has now for a considerable time been vacant; if the appointment has been made, why has there been no official announcement of the Fact; and, if the appointment has not been made, what is the reason of the delay.

No appointment has yet been made. There has been delay, though no longer than has often taken place with regard to appointments of similar importance.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is the intention of the Government to impose import duties of a retaliatory character without the authority of the House to each individual duty being first obtained.

It is not proposed to deal with the question of retaliation or of fiscal reform during the currency of the present Parliament, and I do not suppose the hon. Member would want to put a Question to me as to what is to take place in the next Parliament. Without, therefore, answering the Question, I may give him this consolatory information for what it is worth, that I do not think the House will ever part with its effective control over the taxation of the country.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say by what means he proposes to confer on the Executive——