To ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state what is the area, net rental, poor law valuation, and purchase price paid in the case of the Kilmuir Estate, Isle of Skye, recently purchased by the Congested Districts Board for Scotland; how much is untenanted; and how is this to be utilised. (Answered by Mr. A. Graham, Murray.) I can only inform the hon. Member that the purchase of the Kilmuir Estate by the Congested Districts Board cannot be completed until the consent of the sale has been given by the Court of Chancery, and he will therefore understand I am not in a position to give him the information he desires.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether, having regard to the fact that town clerks are debarred from acting as political agents in their own town, he will take steps to place county clerks in a similar position. (Answered by Mr. A. Graham Murray.) There is no statutory disability on town clerks so acting. Whether they do or do not depends as in the case of the county clerks on the regulations of their employers, over which I have no control. The point raised by the hon. Member would be one for fair consideration in any Bill amending the County Councils Act, but I am not prepared to introduce a special Bill on the subject.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Commissioner of Woods and Forests, if his attention has been called to an advertisement in which a proprietor in Orkney claims having the Crown rights of fishing, and that the sea trout fishing is strictly preserved; and, if so, will he state whether such advertisement is in accordance with the agreement for lease entered into by the Woods and Forests with the said proprietor by which the public right of fishing was safeguarded by regulations to be approved by the Secretary for Scotland. (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) The proprietor to whom the hon. Member is presumed to refer has a lease until Martinmas next of the Crown's right as regards salmon and sea trout fishing, with an option of purchase. No public right of fishing was recognised in the lease, but the option of purchase if exercised is to be; subject to regulations as to fishing by the public to be approved by the Secretary for Scotland.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the differences still existing between the systems of income-tax collection in Scotland and England, he will undertake that the two systems shall be assimilated, both as regards the form of the notices and the dates of their issue. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The objections which have been raised relate to the dates of issue and the form of the second and third demand notices in Scotland. The dates of issue for those are now the same in both countries, and the differences in the form of the notices are only such as are necessitated by the differences in the legal procedure of Scotland and England.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposed Select Committee of this House to inquire into matters connected with income-tax will include such terms of reference as will enable clerks to the surveyors of taxes to place their grievances before the proposed Select Committee as regards their duties, present position, pay, and prospects. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) No such question could possibly come within the scope of the proposed inquiry.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the annual value of the annuities payable to Britain in respect of the Chinese war indemnity; the total amount of private claims lodged by British subjects, the total amount of claims admitted; and further, on what basis of priority the several claims are being paid out of the annual instalments. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) China disputes the claim of the Powers for payment of the indemnity in gold. The instalments received on account of the British share, converted into sterling, amounted:—For the year 1902 to £301,488; For the year 1903 to £314,157. The private claims lodged with the British Claims Commissioner amounted to £1,606,277, but they have been reduced on examination to £736,906. Almost the whole of the private claimants agreed to accept certificates entitling them to a pro rata distribution as the instalments are received. The distributions so far made amount to 75 per cent. of the private claims, exclusive of a number of small claims and death claims which have been paid off in full.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been directed to the fact that there has just been formed by the proprietors of the land surrounding Loch Ness an association to prevent the public from angling for trout in Loch Ness, except upon payment of an annual sum to the association; in view of the fact that this loch is part of the public waterway between the Moray Firth on the East, and Loch Lhinnie on the West of Scotland, and that the public have, from time immemorial, exercised the right of angling therein, does he propose to take any steps for the protection of the public right of angling. (Answered by Mr. A. Graham Murray.) My attention has not been directed to the matter referred to by the hon. Member, but as the trout fishing in Loch Ness necessarily belongs to the riparian owners there is no action possible on my part.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the advisability of charging porterage, in the case of telegrams which are carried by post office messengers more than three miles, from the end of the three mile limit and not from the telegraph office. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) I have recently considered this matter, but I regret that I am not in a position to recommend the sacrifice of revenue which must be entailed by the alteration suggested by the hon. Member.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the medical officer at Belfast directs the men to resume duty on a particular day, but advises the Department that they will be able to resume duty at an earlier date; and that as a result officials are often reported for exceeding their sick leave; and, if so, will he give instructions that the medical officer gives his orders to resume duty in writing, the duplicate of his advice to be sent to the Department. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) A recent case has been brought to my notice in which a sorting clerk and telegraphist at Belfast did not attend for duty on the day named by the medical officer. The circumstances of this case do not correspond accurately to those described by the hon. Member, but I am not aware of any other recent cases of the same character. I do not consider that any change of practice is required.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the condition in which the sorting office in Belfast is kept, and of the fact that the corps of cleaners is composed of a number of women insufficiently paid; and, if so, will he explain why the recent regulations in regard to cleaning are not carried out in Belfast. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) I am informed that an adequate staff is employed on cleaning duties at the Belfast post office, including the sorting office, and that the work is done efficiently, and in accordance with the instructions issued last year. The women are paid at the local rate of wages for work of the same class, and applications for situations as cleaners are numerous on the rare occasions when vacancies occur.

To ask the hon. Member for North Huntingdonshire, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether, having regard to the importance of the formation of farmers' co-operative societies, and with the view to promoting the movement amongst farmers in Wales, he will consider the question of having translated into Welsh the leaflet on the subject issued by the Board of Agriculture in December, 1903, and numbered 97. (Answered by Mr. Ailwyn Fellowes.) We quite agree with the suggestion made by the hon. Member that the leaflet to which he refers should be published in Welsh, and arrangements will be made for the purpose so soon as some later details for which we are asking as to the working of some of the societies mentioned in the leaflet have been obtained.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in the shipping office, Cardiff, on 2nd and 3rd March, a notice was displayed to the effect that a steamer wanted sixteen firemen and ten sailors, wages £3 10s., which was £1 below the current rate of the port she belonged to, and that only Naval Reserve men need apply; and, seeing that Naval Reserve men are informed that the fact of their being BO enables them to command better pay, will he arrange that in future no such notice shall be allowed at shipping offices under his Department. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) The notice to which the hon. Member refers was issued for the purpose of informing Royal Naval Reserve men that a crew would be signed on for a certain vessel at a certain time, and at a stated rate of wages, and that the master was willing to engage Reserve men. Neither the Board of Trade nor its officers have power to interfere with the rate of wages paid at any port nor, so far as I am aware, has any authority informed Royal Naval Reserve men that they can command better pay than others. I am informed that, as a matter of fact, £3 15s. a month was actually agreed upon in the case referred to in the Question, and that of the men engaged five belonged to the Reserve. The notices exhibited at the Mercantile Marine Offices announcing what ships are in need of crews are found to be useful to seamen seeking employment, and I am not prepared to direct that they should be discontinued.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Committee upon Torpedo Boat Destroyers has reported; and, if so, whether he will lay their Report upon the Table. (Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) This Committee reported in July last. It is not proposed to publish their Report.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education if he will say what was the number of the candidates for the King's Scholarship examination who passed in the first or second class at the last two examinations; and what proportion of these candidates can be accommodated in the existing training colleges. (Answered by Sir William Anson.) The following table gives the number of candidates for the King's Scholarship examination who passed in the first or second class at the last two examinations:—

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will state the quantity and

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that on the professorship of biology at the Madras Presidency College becoming vacant, Mr. K. R. Menon, Assistant Professor of Biology, was appointed to act in the place of Dr. Bourne, a specialist in zoology, and has filled the position for two years; and whether, seeing that the Madras Government now proposes to supersede Mr. Menon by a specialist in botany from England, he will take steps to secure that Mr. Menon's

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state how many assistant masters, assistant mistresses, principal masters, and principal mistresses, are receiving salaries in Irish national schools under following heads: from £50 to £100 per annum: £100 to £125 per annum; £125 to £150 per annum; £150 to £175 per annum; £175 to £200 per annum; £200 to £250 per annum; and the average salaries of these four classes of teachers. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Salaries (including Residual Grant) of assistant teachers, and principal teachers, masters, and mistresses in the Board's service,

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary sent a letter to the Editor of the Constabulary Gazette asking him not to publish the evidence given at a recent Court of inquiry, held in county Mayo, where Constable Anderson was charged with offences against discipline; and will he say under what circumstances was the publication withheld. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The reply to the first inquiry is in the affirmative. The editor expressed his appreciation of the Inspector-General's suggestion, and declared his intention not to publish the remainder of the evidence.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state when the Return in connection with the latest completed scheme of cottages, under

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to the action of the Local Government Board in refusing to sanction payment; of half-fees of medical practitioners acting as locum tenens in the Hollywell Dispensary District of the Enniskillen Union, county Fermanagh, during the enforced absence of Dr. Tate, the medical officer of the district, because of a serious accident; will he say what are the grounds on which said refusal was based; and whether, in view of the amount of the sum and the poverty of the division, he will instruct the Local Government Board to sanction the payment of the amount in question. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) There is no statutory provision enabling the Board to allow recoupment to the local authority in respect of this service, and the Board is unable, therefore, to sanction the payment.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the existing state of uncertainty as regards the future of the Volunteer Force, and the inconvenience occasioned thereby to all ranks of the force, he can indicate approximately any date on which the Report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the organisation and conditions of service of (he Volunteers is likely to be issued. (Answered, by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The taking of evidence is

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the regulations under the Transvaal Chinese Labour Ordinance have now been settled and approved, and when the House will be in possession of the regulations. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The regulations have not been finally finished and the Report is being considered. I have as yet received no intimation as to when the Commission are likely to present their Report. I trust, however, that it will be soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the cost per head of the Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteers in the years 1893–94 and 1903–4. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The cost per head of the Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteers (including in each case the permanent staff) in the years 1893–4 and 1903–4 is estimated to be:—

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any steps have been taken to carry out the recommendations of the Miners Phthisis Commission appointed for the Transvaal in 1902. (Answered, by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) Lord Milner informs me that a great deal has been and is being done to improve the sanitary condition of the mines generally, and to minimise specific danger in the dusty parts of the mines. The question if any, and, if so, what preventive measures could be legislatively enforced is still under consideration. Medical opinion is not agreed as to specific preventives, such as respirators, of which no completely satisfactory type has yet been discovered. The Chamber of Mines has offered a prize for invention of best means of preventing dust in mines, and it is hoped that competition may throw further light on the subject. The medical officer of health reports that numbers of deaths from miners' phthisis among the whole population of Witwatersrand, both white and coloured, was eight last month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if British subjects are prohibited landing at Beira on the way to British Central Africa or Rhodesia unless possessed of a certain amount of capital; and, if so, if there is any intention to apply a similar Ordinance for the Transvaal. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lytlelton.) The regulations dated 17th November 1902, as to passengers disembarking at Beira, is as follows:—Article 1. Passengers desiring to disembark at Beira will receive permission to do so on complying with one or other of the following conditions. (a) A declaration in writing that their destination is Rhodesia, and, if it be judged desirable, a deposit with the police authorities of a sum of £10, for which a receipt will be given, (b) Proof that the applicant possesses money or its equivalent to the value of £50, and delivery to the police authorities of a sum of £20, as a deposit, for which a receipt will be given. Individuals from whom this receipt will be required will undertake to withdraw from Beira by the first means after the period of eight days shall have elapsed if they cannot show that they have obtained employment or other means of subsistence, (c) Proof to the police authorities that they have immediate employment or other means of subsistence. The deposits to which this article refers will be placed in the hands of the police official on board, who will transfer them to the proper authority. Article 2. The Commissioner of Police may employ the deposits to which Sections (a) and (b) of Article 1 refer in providing subsistence for depositors should they find themselves without means of support and also passage by rail to Rhodesia, or by sea to another port. The deposits to which Sections (a) and (b) of Article 1 refer, or balances thereout of, after the expenses mentioned in the article shall have been paid, will be delivered to the depositor in Beira, or sent to his order at such place as the Commissioner of Police shall determine. Article 3. The Commissioner of Police may effect the expulsion of all persons who may land without observing the regulations laid down in Article 1, should they not immediately submit to them. The Natal and Cape Immigration Restriction Acts prohibit the immigration of any person a pauper or not in possession of visible means of support or likely to become a public charge. A similar Ordinance has bean suggested for the Transvaal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give approximately the number of indentured East Indian immigrants in the Colonies, and where such labourer is chiefly employed. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The numbers according to the latest information available are—Natal, 25,636, British Guiana, 14,609; Mauritius, 10,083; Fiji, 8,225; Trinidad, 7,678; Jamaica, 1,168. They are employed chiefly on sugar plantations, but also on cocoa plantations (in Trinidad), on fruit farms (Jamaica), and in coal mines (in Natal).

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government have now sanctioned the Ordinance respecting the introduction of indentured Chinese labour into the Transvaal. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The Ordinance has been sanctioned.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury, in view of the petition presented to His Majesty's Government by various persons and authorities interested in the case of imbeciles and defective or feeble-minded persons that a Royal Commission should be appointed to consider the provisions now made for these classes, whether he is now in a position to reply to the further letter presented to him in July, 1903, in support of the petition by Members of Parliament on both sides of the House. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) I understand that this question has for some time past been engaging the attention of both the Home Office and the Local Government Board. These Departments have not yet decided upon the best form of inquiry to meet the particular problems referred to, and it may be necessary to extend the scope of the reference. A decision will be reached, I hope, at an early date, which will be communicated to the hon. Member if he will put down another Question in a week's time.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury if it is the intention of the Government to reintroduce the Bills of Exchange Amendment Bill of last year. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) The answer is in the affirmative.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury when the Committee appointed in 1902 to inquire into the administration of the Parliamentary Grant for Meteorology may be expected to report. (Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) It is hoped that the Committee will report very shortly.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of granting to the various sections of organised Government workers employed under the War Department the same facilities of approach to the Secretary of State for War as were granted to the postal employees by the Duke of Norfolk when Postmaster-General.

Government employees have full freedom of access to their superiors, and are able to bring to their notice any points they desire to have considered. I can give no general undertaking to receive deputations, but if any special circumstances make me consider it desirable, I shall be prepared to consider such applications for a deputation received through the regular channels.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that at the Duke of York's School 560 boys from nine to sixteen years of age are taught by one head and five assistant masters, who have also to train forty Army schoolmasters in the training college, and that in spare time one of the masters has to keep the magic lanterns of the Army in order, he will consider the advisability of increasing the teaching staff.

The question of the physical, moral, and intellectual training of the Duke of York's School is now being considered by a Committee, and their attention has been directed to the question of the strength of the teaching staff.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the statement of the War Office Reconstitution Committee, that a Director and an Assistant Director of Contracts have been appointed, neither of whom had previously any experience in buying, or any knowledge of the special stores to be bought, is a correct statement of fact; if so, who is responsible for such appointments; and will these appointments be continued.

The statement referred to in the Question appears to me to be a somewhat incorrect representation of the facts. The officials referred to have not previously served in the contract branch, but the present Director of Contracts had several years experience in charge of the Army Clothing Department, Pimlico. No official could be selected who could have a complete knowledge of all the various stores dealt with by the contract branch. I am responsible for the promotion of these gentlemen.

The statement in the Question is a quotation from a War Office document.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War 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 Lords of the Treasury sanctioned the appointment of Mr. Henry de la Bere as Director of Army Contracts on the retirement of Mr. Major, which took place on the 11th March. Mr. de la Bere has officiated as Director of Contracts, without additional pay, since Mr. Major proceeded on sick leave pending retirement.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last paragraph of the Question.

Mr. de la Bere was not appointed; he was asked to undertake the duties pending the resignation.

Was not his appointment announced officially in The Times before the resignation took place.

Order, order! The hon. Member is now quoting from a newspaper.

The right hon. Gentleman supplied it to The Times.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state how much of the £12,278, granted by the Admiralty in aid of the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church during the last five years, has been granted to these Churches respectively; how many Scottish Episcopal churches have received grants; and where these churches are situated.

The sum of £12,278 18s. 9d. referred to is made up as follows:— Church of England, £6,588 2s. 11d.; Church of Ireland, £5,472 1s. 5d.; Scotch Episcopal Church, £218 14s. 5d.; Total, £12,278 18s. 9d. Grants have been made to twenty-two Scotch Episcopal churches, including the following:—Banff, Fraserburgh, Greenock, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Peterhead, St. Andrews, Wick.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Department are being called upon to make any payments for access to land at Rosyth, in addition to the £135,000 already paid; and, if so, will he say what these claims amount to.

The Admiralty have not been called upon to make any such payments for access. In order to make a railway connection with the North British Railway Company's line it has been necessary to acquire an area of glebe land from the Minister of Inver-keithing. This had to be purchased on a valuation of the Court of Teinds which fixed the price at £4,800. The area is about 6¼ acres.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state how much of the £11,316 3s., granted by the Admiralty to Nonconformist bodies during the last five years, was received by the Baptist, Congregational, Presbyterian, and Wesleyan communities respectively.

The sum in question was made up as follows:— Wesleyans, £7,170 9s. 4d.; Presbyterians, £3,751 11s. 2d.; Baptists and Congre-gationalists, £394 2s. 6d. The grants to the two latter bodies cannot be differentiated, as they act in unison and have; appointed a joint committee to confer with the Admiralty in respect of these grants.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has any official reports upon the experiments which have been with the apparatus for coaling His Majesty's ships when at sea; and, if so, will he state their purport, and can he state if this system of coaling has been adopted by any other Powers.

Official reports have been received which show that further experiments are desirable, and these are now in progress. Apparatus for this system of coaling is under trial by several foreign Governments.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that, by a recent Act of the Australian Legislature, British workers landing in Australia under contracts of labour are treated as criminals and subjected to imprisonment and deportation; and whether, having regard to the burden imposed upon British taxpayers by the cost of Imperial defence, he will bring in a Bill to secure to all classes in this country the right of entry into all parts of His Majesty's dominions.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative, but as has already been pointed out in answer to the hon. Member's Question of the 11th of February,† though the Act-has been in force for more than two years, not a single case of any British workman being treated as described has occurred. In regard to the second part

See (4) Debates, cxxix., 1025.

of the Question, the hon. Member does not appear to be aware that Australia provides entirely for its own military defence and further contributes, with New Zealand, half the estimated cost of the Naval Squadron in Australasian waters. His Majesty's Government have no intention of proposing such legislation.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, if a Chinese labourer acquires under a contract entered into with a British subject for good and valuable consideration any house, land, building, or other property in breach of the provisions of the 14th Section of the Transvaal Ordinance, the contract will be void in law, and, if so, to whom will the property belong; or whether, subject to the parties to the contract undergoing such punishment as may be inflicted under the Ordinance, the labourer will be entitled to retain his property.

The contract is one prohibited by law and is void. The property does not pass under it and remains in the hands of those who purported to dispose of it.

Would the answer of the right hon. Gentleman be the same if the conveyance were taken in the name of a child born in South Africa of Chinese parents?

Order, order!

Oh, that is a Chinese puzzle.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give the latest information received from the Transvaal Chamber of Mines, Johannesburg, in reference to the number of natives distributed to the mines during February by the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association; whether he will state what was the increase in the native supply of labour during February last, and what was the total number of natives employed in the mines at the end of the month referred to; and whether these facts are receiving the consideration of the Government in connection with their final decision as to the Transvaal Chinese Labour Ordinance.

A loss of seventy-four in January was converted into a gain of 1,199 in February. The natives distributed in February were 6,263 of whom 223 were allotted to the railways. The total number employed was 69,966. The returns continue to engage my attention, but these fluctuations do not appear to me to affect the situation appreciably.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the statement in the despatch of the late Colonial Secretary to Lord Rosmead, dated 10th April, 1897, that the British South Africa Company would have to make compensation for the Jameson Raid, still holds good; and, if not, what explanation is there (if any) for this change of policy.

I can only repeat the answer given by my predecessor on 1st April. 1901,† that His Majesty's Government have been advised that there is no legal liability on the part of the British South Africa Company to pay to His Majesty's Government, as representing the Government of the late South African Republic, any compensation in respect of the Raid, and that the right to exact reparation for any damage has not passed to His Majesty's Government.

Who gave that advice? Was it Whitaker Wright?

Order, order!

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he has now received the reply of Canada as to the adoption of the metric system; and whether he will when received, lay it upon the Table of the House.

† See (4) Debates, xeii., 329.

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the negative. The despatch, when received, will be printed and laid immediately.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any assurance has been received from the Governments of the Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand that under certain circumstances their tariff against imported British manufactured goods will be removed.

There has been no correspondence with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand on this subject since the Conference of 1902, and no such assurance has been received.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he has received representations from local authorities and others that the introduction of a cash-on-delivery post by the postal authorities would inflict injury on traders and shopkeepers in country towns and villages; and, if so, whether he can now give an assurance that it is not intended to proceed further with the scheme.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply which I gave on 22nd February to a Question asked on this subject by the hon. Member for North Tyrone.†

On behalf of the hon. Member for South Armagh, I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he intends to continue the installation of the central battery system in connection with Post Office telephones; and whether he is aware that this system has not found favour in other countries on account of the number of relays required and other causes of expense.

† See (4) Debates, cxxx., 564.

It is intended to continue the use of the central battery system for Post Office Telephone Exchanges in London. It has given excellent results, being both efficient and economical. I am not aware that this system has not found favour in other countries. On the contrary, I am informed that it is generally adopted for large Exchanges in America, and it is either already in use, or about to be introduced, at important Exchanges in several European States.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if preserved milk artificially sweetened is within the scope of the Sugar Convention; whether Switzerland or any other Continental country now grants a bounty on exported sugar; and whether preserved milk coming from any such country will be now excluded from our imports.

Preserved milk if it contains "in a notable proportion artificially incorporated sugar" is among the articles assimilated to sugar for the purpose of Article 1 of the Sugar Convention. Russia and Denmark are the only Continental countries which have so far been found by the Permanent Commission to grant export bounties on sugar. No preserved milk appears to be imported into the United Kingdom from either of these countries.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he will state what was the price of sugar before the ratification of the Sugar Convention, and what it is at the present time.

The average prices at which raw and refined sugar respectively were imported into the United Kingdom in May, 1902, and February, 1904, computed from the declared quantities and values of the imports, were as follows: The price per cwt. of raw sugar in May, 1902, was 8s. 2¼d. and of refined sugar, 10s. 10¼d. The corresponding prices in February, 1904, were 8s. 9¾d. and 11s. 0¾d.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will state how the amount of fees paid to public vaccinators by the various boards of guardians since the passing of the Act of 1898 compares with the cost of vaccinations prior to the passing of that Act.

According to the information I have obtained, the total number of vaccinations and revaccinations performed by public vaccinators in the four years ended, at Lady Day, 1899, was 1,370,897, and the average amount of the fee per case was 2s. 2d. In the four years ended at Lady Day, 1903, the total numbers of vaccinations and re-vaccinations performed by public vaccinators had risen to 3,197,192, and the average amount of fee per case was rather less than 5s. 10d. The substitution of the system of domiciliary vaccination under the Vaccination Act. 1898, for vaccination at fixed stations and the requirement that the operation shall be performed with antiseptic dressings have greatly increased the demand upon the time of the public vaccinators, and higher fees have consequently to be paid. A Departmental Committee is, however, at present inquiring into the subject of vaccination fees.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether hi; attention has been called to the report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finchley on a recent outbreak of disease due to milk, similar to that which occurred in Woking last autumn; and whether he intends to introduce legislation this session with a view to preventing such occurrences in the future.

I have seen the report referred to in the Question. I have taken note of the suggestion for legislation, but I cannot promise to make prosposals on the subject during the present session.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has any official information showing that the stoppage of decomposition in frozen and chilled meat during transit from abroad to the United Kingdom, has any injurious effect upon those eating such food, and especially whether it contributes to the increasing number of cases of cancer; and, if not, will he direct inquiry to be made into the matter.

I have no information to the effect suggested by the hon. Member. Whether the eating of frozen meat has any influence in producing cases of cancer is a question to which the attention of the Cancer Research Committee, now sitting, might, I think, properly be drawn. I have had the matter under my attention, and will con-

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Second Report of the Coal Commission will be available to the public; will the accompanying evidence

Am I to give notice to the Cancer Research Committee?

No, I will do that.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will grant the Return relating to the Local Taxation Account which appears on the Notice Paper to-day.

I shall be ready to give the Return, subject to some small modifications upon which I will communicate with the hon. Member.

I hope that the Second Report of the Coal Commission will be printed this week. It will be a merely formal Report submitting evidence, on the lines of the first Report. It will contain evidence given before the Commission up to the 21st of October last. The Report will not deal with the coal tax, as no evidence on the tax had been taken before October last.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received through the Board of Customs a memorial from the Customs watchers; and, if so, when a reply may be expected.

A memorial has been received and is under consideration.

I beg to ask the lion. Member for Chorley, as representing the First Commissioner of Works whether the electric lamp brackets which have been erected along the Mall and in front of Buckingham Palace are intended to be permanent; by whom they have been put up; and who is responsible for their design.

The answer to the first paragraph is in the negative. The lamp brackets have been put up temporarily by the Office of Works. The Office of Works is not aware of the name of the designer. The brackets are trade articles kept in stock.

Arising out of the answer of the noble Lord can he arrange meanwhile to have the brackets painted a less hideous and aggressive colour?

The paint is also temporary and probably more so than the bracket.

Will the removal of the brackets involve the pulling up of the road again?

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that, from the report of the Girls' Public Day School Company, Limited, a sum of £2,826 was paid to that company last year by the Board of Education towards the £5,131 paid by that company to its shareholders as a dividend; whether he is aware that the fees paid by each pupil in these schools exceeded £15 a year; and whether such grants from taxation in aid of private enterprise are to be continued; and, if so, whether these grants are to be extended to all other private venture schools providing education to the middle and richer classes of the community.

As I announced in the House last year the clause in the Directory, under which the institution referred to and other similar institutions are eligible for grants, will be withdrawn after 31st July next. If the company should propose such an alteration in their arrangements as would bring them into conformity with the regulations of the Board as thus modified, the Board will be prepared to consider whether any temporary continuance of existing grants would be justifiable in order to allow time for the completion of these alterations.

Will similar arrangements be made with other companies having private venture schools?

The same clause covers them all.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether the draft scheme for the constitution of an education committee submitted by the London County Council has yet been sanctioned by the Board of Education; and, if not, whether any objection to the scheme has been forwarded to the London County Council; and, if so, whether he will state the nature of such objection.

The Board will communicate their decision to the London County Council in time for the meeting of the Council to-morrow. Under these circumstances it would not be proper that I should inform the hon. Member of the decision of the Board.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will state the number of cases now pending in which the approval of the Board is sought for the erection or enlargement of a denominational school in lieu of a provided school under the Education Act, 1902; whether he will state in how many of such cases the applications are from the Roman Catholic and Church of England denominations respectively; and how many local inquiries have been held, or are pending, relative to such cases.

I am not aware of any cases at all in which a denominational school has been erected, or enlarged, in lieu of an existing provided or council school. The only cases of substitution are of council or provided schools for denominational schools. Fifty-four such substitutions have been completed, and seventy-six others are in process of completion. The Question in the second paragraph does not arise. In answer to the third paragraph there have been three public inquiries as to the provision of new denominational schools, two of which have been refused; the report of the third has not yet been received. Two other inquiries are pending.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether any decision has been arrived at in regard to the representations and objections addressed to the Board by the Parish Council and inhabitants interested in the Glyn Traian Pontfadog National School, Denbighshire, relative to the draft Final Order in the case of such school; and whether the Board will order a local inquiry to be held before finally settling any scheme for the appointment of foundation managers for such school.

The application on which the draft Final Order was prepared only mentioned one trust deed, and the Board had no knowledge of any other. It has now been ascertained that there are two trust deeds for the school one of a very strict Church of England character, the other of a more liberal character. The observations which persons in the locality have submitted to the Board are now under consideration, and the Board will direct a local inquiry if they are satisfied that it is necessary or desirable.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will state the grounds upon which the Board of Education has issued a notification to the Clerk of the Denbighshire County Council further postponing the appointed day, under the Education Act, 1902, from 1st April to 1st June, in Denbighshire.

The Board have received official information that the Denbighshire County Council have passed a resolution "not to apply any rate for the support of voluntary schools within the county unless such schools are handed over unconditionally to the education authority for the area within the jurisdiction of the Denbighshire County Council." The Board have postponed the appointed day on account of this declared intention of the county council not to carry out the Act in its integrity.

On behalf of the hon. Member for the Morley Division of Yorkshire, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education how many applications have been made by the new education authorities for permission to build new schools or enlarge old ones; how many have been granted; and how many similar applications have been made and granted for non-provided schools.

So far as the; information at the disposal of the Board shows, notices have been published for the provision of 114 new council schools and the enlargement of nineteen others; for the provision of twenty-two new Church schools and the enlargement of ten others; for the provision of sixteen Roman Catholic schools and the enlargement of three others; and for the provision of five other schools (denomination uncertain). Of these 157 cases, six council schools have been put on the Annual Grant List, two Church schools, and no Roman Catholic Schools. Many of the other cases are still in course of publication, some are still under consideration, and three (one Church and two Roman Catholic schools) have been refused. No case of enlargement has yet been passed.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if the promised inquiry into the condition of the crofters and cottars in South Uist has taken place; and, if so, when the Report may be expected to be issued.

The promised inquiry has taken place.] The Report is in course of preparation, and is being pushed forward as rapidly as possible, but the date when it will be ready for issue cannot as yet be stated.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer from what dates, respectively, did the additional grant for education in England and Wales, consequent on the Education Act of 1902, and the Irish Development Fund Grant, begin to accrue, and what was the amount paid on account of each grant in the financial year 1903–4.

The date from which the aid grant under the Education Act, 1902, begins to accrue varies in different localities. The amount to be paid in respect of the grant in the present financial year cannot yet be stated. The Ireland Development Grant Act provided that two-thirds of the full annual grant should be paid in the current year.

The hon. Gentleman has not answered the Question at all. What was paid on account of the grant? What was done with the money said to have been paid on account?

I have said it was provided that two-thirds should be paid in the current year. I can add nothing to that.

It is not an answer to the Question. I will put it to the hon. Member's superior officer when he comes. Later on Mr. CLANCY asked for an answer from Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, but, it being Three o'clock, the Speaker directed that it was too late, and suggested that the Question might be put down again.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the scheme under the Labourers Acts promoted by the Castlerea Rural District Council is delayed by reason of the fact that no arbitrator has been appointed by the Local Government Board; whether he will call upon the latter body immediately to make such appointment; and whether he will state when this scheme was commenced.

The council did not make application for the appointment of an arbitrator until the 20th February. The Board's Order appointing him was made on Monday last. The improvement scheme was made by the council in November, 1901.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether one of the Estates Commissioners has recently visited certain estates in the Castlerea district of the county Roscommon; and, if so, can he state with what, if any, result.

The reply is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Chief J Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of I Ireland whether he is aware that! Head Constable Gerity, of Dungannon, county Tyrone, recently made a report against a sergeant under his command for breach of discipline, the result of which report was the transfer of the sergeant by order of the Inspector-General; and can he explain why the sergeant's transfer has been cancelled, and by whose instructions.

The sergeant appealed to the Inspector-General against his proposed transfer on the ground that he intended shortly to retire on pension. The Inspector-General thereupon cancelled the transfer.

Did the Inspector-General sanction the transfer in the first instance?

Presumably he approved it.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, as there are 166 appeals to the Head Land Commission from the county of Tipperary listed, and as a sitting of the Commission has not been held for years in that county he will have steps taken to have those appeals heard without further delay.

Appeals from South Tipperary were listed for hearing at Waterford on the 22nd instant, but owing to local objections these cases have been withdrawn from the list. It has not been possible yet to arrange a sitting for the disposal of the South Tipperary cases.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these cases have been listed over a year?

They would have been heard at Waterford but for local objections.

Yes, because of the inconvenience of taking so large a number of Tipperary cases to that town.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of Mr. Dale's report on the model schools in Ireland, in which it is shown that the cost of these schools is not only higher than that of the ordinary National Irish schools or Convent schools, which only cost the State £1 5s. to £2 10s. per head, but is actually above the cost incurred by the wealthiest English school boards, and that they have failed in one of their chief objects, namely, the united education of children of all creeds, he purposes to continue the grant to those model schools in Ireland.

I replied on Thursday last to a Question on this subject by the hon. and learned Member for North Louth.†

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on the Butson Estate, county Galway, which is about to be sold in the Land Judge's Court, there is a large tract of grazing land subject only to a temporary Court lease, while the general body of the tenants have only small impoverished holdings, many of which are constantly inundated by floods; whether he will take steps for the enlargement of the cottier tenancies, and will the provisions of the Purchase Act which prevent advances of public money to new tenants having no real connection with the estate be strictly enforced so as to prevent the rich grass lands, which it is the policy of the Act to redistribute amongst the smaller tenants, being sold to outsiders.

The grazing farm referred to was let before the passing of

†See page 732.

the Act of 1903, and a collateral agreement for purchase was entered into by the Court with the lessee. The Land Judge cannot disturb this agreement; but there are other grazing lands on the estate which it is proposed to distribute among the tenants should the negotiations at present in progress be successful.

Will the right hon. Gentleman direct the Estates Com- I missioners to purchase this estate in view of the fact that the tenants are prepared to pay £1,000 more than is provided under the agreement.

I have no knowledge of the details.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Judge made a statement that—

No, but I understand that the Judge sanctioned the collateral agreement.

rose to put a further Question but Mr. SPEAKER said notice must be given.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland when he proposes to introduce the measure dealing with l the housing of the working classes in towns in Ireland promised last session.

I see no prospect of introducing the measure promised last session for dealing with the housing of the working classes in towns in Ireland till after Easter.

May we take it that it will be introduced after Easter.

Yes, I hope to bring it in in the course of the session but other Bills must first be taken.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the desire that a considerable portion at least of the Irish Development Grant Fund should be devoted to primary education in Ireland; and whether he proposes to consider this desire in framing his Estimate.

Yes, Sir, I am aware of that desire. It was not, however, possible to meet it in this Estimate prior to a consideration of Mr. Dale's report.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state what is the delay in granting to Mrs. Healy, of Bodyke, county Clare, the licence which has been sanctioned for some time; and whether the Inland Revenue Authorities in Ireland will hi asked for an explanation.

A question of law was involved in the consideration of this case, and by an unfortunate omission the opinion of the Irish Law Officers was not communicated to the Board of Inland Revenue. The omission has now been remedied. The Inland Revenue Authorities are in no way to blame.

Then will the licence be granted at once?

The case is now before the Board of Inland Revenue.

I beg to; ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will explain why the date of the commencement of the close season for salmon is not the same along the east coast of Ireland; whether complaints have been made to the Irish Department of injury done to the fishing industry, both by the conservators of the Boyne and the fishermen by the lateness of the date of closing in one section of the coast north of the mouth of the Boyne; and what steps, if any, are to be taken to arrange that the season closes on the same date on both sections, north and south of the Boyne.

The dates vary in different localities according to the requirements of each. The netting season for salmon is the same north and south of the mouth of the Boyne, but it differs from the netting seasons in the adjoining Dundalk district. Legislation would be necessary to enable the Department to deal satisfactorily with the operation of the close seasons.

IS the right hon. Gentleman prepared to introduce a Bill?

I will consider that. I cannot promise to do so this session.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to the fact that at the hearing of the charge, at Athenry petty sessions, against Timothy Hansberry, for unlawfully discharging firearms on the public road, Sergeant Monihan swore that he had received several complaints that shots were fired there during the night, and that the police had to send special patrols to try and find out who was firing the shots; and whether, in view of this statement, he will state on what dates such complaints were made, and reported to the proper officials; and, if no such complaints were made, will he order a prosecution against Sergeant Monihan for perjury.

The facts are correctly stated in the Question. I stated on Wednesday last† that no such complaints had been made to the police. The statement was based on the authority of a report made by the district inspector, which I now learn was erroneous. The Inspector-General has conveyed to that officer an expression of strong disapproval his conduct.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what action he proposes to take in connection with the Marlborough Street Training School in order to carry out the promise that new buildings would be provided; and will be see that funds will be provided for this purpose in next year's Estimates.

†See page 583.

Provision has been made in the Estimates for an instilment of a grant of £50,000 for new buildings.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state how much of the shilling in the pound rate is required by the different Poor Law unions in the county of Limerick for the repayment of loans sanctioned in connection with the building of cottages under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts in the said unions.

Information on this point will be found in a Return (No. 198) laid on the Table of the House last session.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants on the estates of Mr. Bruce Pryce and Lord Go ugh have served originating notices to have fair rents fixed by the County Court Judge of Kildare, which in the ordinary course would be heard at the April quarter sessions, and that these landlords have moved to have the cases transferred for hearing to the Land Commission; and, if so, can he say what delay, if any, this procedure will involve in the decision of these cases, and whether it is possible to have them listed for hearing before the next sitting of the Sub-Commission for Athy Union.

It will not be possible to include these cases in the list already issued, which will be heard in May next, unless a special Order of the Court to that effect is obtained. Application for such an Order may be made to the Judicial Commissioner sitting at the Fourt Courts. Any delay in the hearing of the cases will not, however, be prejudicial to the parties, as the judicial rents, when fixed, will run from the gale day next following the date of the lodgment of the applications in the office of the Clerk of the Peace.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the inspection of the Owenmore river, in county Sligo, recently ordered by the Department of Agriculture, has yet taken place; and, if so, will he state the nature of the Inspector's report, and say whether it recommends any scheme for the drainage of that river.

The inspection has been carried out, and the report of the Inspector will be made to the Department in the course of a few days.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in cases where occupiers of evicted farms have purchased their holdings through the Land Commission and are now willing to surrender them for a fair consideration, the Estates Commissioners will be prepared to enter into negotiations for their redemption in order to give effect to the intentions of the Land Act, 1903, to reinstate the tenants or their representatives who had been evicted.

It appears to the Estates Commissioners that the Land Commission have no power to give or advance money to redeem the outstanding instalments of a purchase annuity.

I beg to ask the Chief; Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to the condition in which Enniskillen Fair Green is kept by the proprietor, who collects tolls therefrom; and J whether he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation to oblige owners of such fair greens to erect watering troughs for cattle exhibited at the fair, and for the keeping in proper condition of the surface of the fair greens.

No complaints have been made to the new Department respecting the condition of the Fair Green at Enniskillen. The local authority under the Diseases of Animals Act has power to make regulations for the cleansing of the market place. I am making further inquiry in the matter.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the districts in county Fermanagh which have been inspected with a view to the establishment of motor traffic for the purpose of conveying farm produce, and if no districts have yet been viewed in county Fermanagh will he ask that an inspection be made.

No districts in Fermanagh were inspected, I believe, and no advantage would be gained by making an inspection now.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, previous to the recent inquiry into a labourers, cottage scheme in the Macroom Union, the district councillors were officially notified that the inquiry was to be held; and whether, seeing that Messrs. Arthur O'Leary and John Moynihan, representatives for the Ballingeary electoral division, received no intimation of any kind, will he state who was responsible for this omission.

An official notification of the date of the inquiry was communicated in the ordinary manner to the district council by the Local Government Board. Notices to the same effect were also published in the local newspapers and placarded throughout the district. It is not the business of the Board, or its inspector, to notify the individual members of the council. This is a matter for which arrangements, if considered necessary, should have been made by the council itself.

Is it the duty of the clerk of the district council to make the notification?

The council makes its own arrangements, I suppose.

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 Donegal County Council expressing dissatisfaction with the manner in which the allocation of money to the county under the Marine Works Act was made, complaining that the representations sent by the council to the Chief Secretary had many schemes from the county generally, but that large areas of the county did not receive any benefit whatever under the provisions of the Act since the scheme of allocation was practically settled before consultation with them, and urging on the Chief Secretary the reconsideration of the schemes already virtually or actually approved, and offering to submit to the Chief Secretary the works which in their opinion would, with the money in hand, be, if undertaken, most conducive to the public interests; and what reply has been sent to the Donegal County Council; and what steps, if any, will be taken on the lines indicated by this resolution.

The allocation of funds under the Act provides for an expenditure of £15,000 on works in Donegal, These were selected according to their relative importance and after consultation with representatives of the county council. The allocation cannot now be reopened. The decision of the county council to defer further action in respect of certain works is much to be regretted; a continuance of delay in completing the necessary steps may lead to a postponement of the works in question for a year, or even longer.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the necessity of having a postal telegraph office established in the village of Garrison, county Fermanagh, where a monthly fair is held and a creamery erected; and, if so, will he remedy this public want.

The question of establishing a telegraph office in Garrison, county Fermanagh, was considered in 1901, and an offer was made to establish the office under guarantee, but no reply was received. The business would not be sufficient to enable me to open an office without guarantee.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether a memorial signed by the inhabitants of Riverstown, county Sligo, calling for a mid-day delivery of mails in that town has been received by him; whether he is aware that the central distributing station of Ballymote is only seven miles distant, and that letters arriving there by the mid-day limited mail train are not delivered in Riverstown until the following day; and whether, in view of these facts, arrangements will be made by which the postal facilities asked for can be granted.

I have not yet received a memorial asking for a midday delivery of letters at Riverstown, county Sligo, but inquiry shall be made on the subject and an answer sent to the hon. Member.

But the memorial was sent last September.