I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in accordance with the King's Regulations, official patterns of canes and birches are kept in the home dockyards for comparison in the purchase at these dockyards of canes and birches supplied to the ships of the Royal Navy and naval training ships for the flogging of boys and youths under eighteen, in these ships; whether specimens of the canes and birches thus approved will be produced by the Admiralty for the inspection of Members of the House of Commons.

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative.

Can we not see these tools, as approved by the Admiralty.

Order, order! The hon. Member is not entitled to ask whether they will be produced.

Will the hon. Gentleman place a sample of the canes in the tea room.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty on how many boys in the years 1901, 1902 and 1903, were canings inflicted on ships of the Royal Navy and naval training ships; if there is any return of the number of canings inflicted and the offences for which this punishment was awarded.

There is no such Return as that mentioned in the latter part of the hon. Member's Question. The only information available is that contained in the daily record of punishments for each ship in the Navy.

Cannot we have a summary of the daily records?

It would be a tedious and expensive task to get one out, and I do not think it worth while.

The canings are dangerous to the boys.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that a military railway to connect Fort Durland, near Chatham, with Chatham Barracks, planned to run through War Department land for the greater part of its length, had been constructed till it reached, in the immediate vicinity of Fort Durland, a strip of land belonging to the Naval authorities, who had not been consulted in the construction of the railway, and that the refusal of the consent of these authorities to the building of the line on their land has led to the suspension of the work; that near the Chatham end of the railway portions of a bridge were erected at a great cost, with massive piers, to take the line over the main road, when it was discovered that a company had rights to run an electric tramway on the overhead system along this road, so that it was impossible to raise the bridge sufficiently high to clear the wires without altering the level of the railway for hundreds of yards, the result being that the portions of the bridge already erected have been destroyed, and the work on that side brought to a standstill; and will he state what is the sum which it is calculated has been lost by these mistakes, and under what Vote in the Estimates will it come; and whether the War Office has any, and, if so, what explanation of this waste of public money.

I am informed that the work in question was not suspended on account of any non-agreement with the Naval authorities, but for reasons which were stated in reply to a Question on the 11th June, 1903.† The construction of the line, which was partly undertaken for the purpose of the instruction of the Railway Companies and other Royal Engineer units, was suspended on the introduction of an improved scheme of decentralised training, which rendered the line unnecessary. There was no difficulty connected with an electric tramway running under the line. The whole cost of the work done was comparatively small, as military labour of men under instruction was utilised, and the materials will to a very great extent be made use of elsewhere. The sum may be stated approximately at £2,000, and was included in the amount voted under Vote X. on page 70 of the

† See (4) Debates, cxxiii., 635.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any land has been bought by the Government at Bitterne, near Southampton, for the purpose of a remount depôot; if so, what was the area bought and the price paid.

No land has yet been bought at Bitterne, but negotiations for purchase are in progress.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the saving on explosives in the Transvaal in 1903, as compared with 1899, was is. 3½d. per ton milled; and if the saving on the total tons milled was £408,533 during the year in which the receipts from the gold mine profit tax were £162,573.

I am aware that the saving has been estimated at 1s. 3½d. as stated by competent mining authorities. For the explanation of the amount received under the 10 per cent, profit tax, which represents something over 1s. per ton, I must refer the hon. Member to Lord Milner s despatch of 18th June last in the Parliamentary Paper Cd. 2102 just published.

Are the figures in my Question correct?

Yes, as far as I can gather from the authorities I have been able to consult.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what the saving would have been, both to the mining industry and the Transvaal, if a new dynamite monopoly had not been granted to the De Beers Company of South Africa?

Order, order! That does not arise out of the Answer.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what alterations in the constitution of the Legislative Council of the Transvaal the Government propose to make when the term of office of the present council expires; and whether a representative system will be introduced.

As I stated yesterday, in answer to a Question by the lion. Member for South Molton†, I am not prepared to make any statement on the subject at present.

Have any communications passed with the Transvaal Government.

I cannot go beyond the Answers I have already given.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to make any statement before the session is over?

I cannot say.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, before the debate on Transvaal finance is taken, he will lay before the House a Report of the proceedings of the Inter-Colonial Council in June; and whether he will also obtain from Lord Milner the final figures of actual revenue and expenditure for the year ending 30th June.

There has not yet been time to receive from Lord Milner a full Report of the proceedings, but I am including in the Papers which will be published this week the text of his opening address as President. I will ask Lord Milner to supply me with the final figures as soon as he is in a position to do so.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the second part of my Question: may I further ask if he will be able to tell us before the Vote comes on what modifications have

† See page 465.

I must ask for notice of that.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government will enter into friendly conference with the Governments of France and Italy with a view to the early augmentation of the Consular staff in the European and Asiatic provinces of Turkey, by the appointment of travelling Consular Attachés and assistants to the existing Consulates in those vilayets.

The Consular staff which His Majesty's Government maintain in the European and Asiatic provinces of Turkey is, in their opinion, sufficient for the protection of British interests, and as at present advised they see no reason for increasing it.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state on what grounds Mr. Hop-ton was dismissed by telegraph from the service of the East Africa Protectorate, and why his repeated demands for reasons for his dismissal have not been acceded to; who the gentleman is who has been appointed to his place; and whether he has any practical knowledge of agriculture and knowledge of native language and customs that qualify him for the post.

Mr. Hopton was relieved of his duties in the East Africa Protectorate at the request of Sir C. Eliot on the grounds of his unsuitability for the appointment. He was informed of the reasons on three occasions by His Majesty's Commisioner. Mr. J. K. Hill has been appointed to succeed Mr. Hopton. He has practical knowledge of farming and agriculture in Great Britain and South Africa, and was recommended for the post by Sir C. Eliot.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if copies of the Estimates for the service of the East Africa and Uganda Protectorate are to be obtained by Members of Parliament.

The Estimates for the Protectorates are given under Class V., Vote II.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total quantity of spirit distilled in England during the year 1903, and how much was used for methylation, rectifying, and compounding purposes; whether any English spirit is used as whisky in Customs warehouses in Leith; and, if so, what is the total quantity despatched thereto from distilleries in England; whether he has any official information showing the materials from which English spirit is usually distilled; and if any beet molasses from abroad is used in its manufacture.

The total quantity of spirits distilled in England during the year ended 31st March, 1904, was 11,694,851 proof gallons. The quantity of home-made spirits used for methylation during the same period was 4,398,002 proof gallons. I have no means of knowing the quantities used for rectifying and compounding. 33,300 proof gallons of British spirits were despatched to Customs warehouses at Leith from English distilleries during the twelve months ended the 30th of June, 1904. The materials commonly used in the distillation of English spirits are malt, unmalted grain, molasses, sugar, glucose and rice. No doubt beet molasses is used to some extent, but I have no means of knowing the quantities.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if, having regard to the inconvenience to the commercial interests of the country, he can state whether he intends to continue or modify his Budget proposals for the taxation of tobacco.

I propose to proceed with the Finance Bill as early as possible. I must defer any further statement as to the tobacco duties until the discussion is resumed.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give a more precise indication of the date than is conveyed in the expression "as early as possible." Does he mean next week?

I must refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by the Prime Minister.

What was it?

Will the right hon. Gentleman follow the example of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Bristol when dealing with the cheque tax, and make a statement before the discussion is resumed?

I have just answered that Question.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-Genera' whether, in view of the fact that if post office telephone call offices were established in country village post offices, callers would not be able to communicate with subscribers to the National Telephone Company in the nearest or any adjacent town, in which the exchange? was under the National Telephone Company, he will state if this hindrance to an extension of the telephone system between rural districts and country towns is owing to statute law or some agreement between the Postmaster-General and the Telephone Company; and, if so, will he take steps to remedy this state of affairs with a view to placing country villages in telephonic communication with their market and other towns.

The absence of the right of intercommunication between call offices and exchanges of the the post office in any provincial exchange area and the system of the National Telephone Company in the same area, is not due to any statutory provision or to any agreement between the Postmaster-General and the Company. It arises from the fact that the Postmaster-General has no power to require the Company to give such intercommunication, glad as I should be if such an arrangement could be brought about.

On behalf of the hon. Member for Mid-Durham, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has taken or will take steps to ensure that in the event of miner's disease (known as ankylostomiasis) arising in any coal or metal-liferous mine, a notification thereof should be forthwith sent to the medical officer of health and the mines' inspector of the district in which such mine is situate, and that the isolation of cases that may arise should be secured; and whether, if the administrative powers of the Home Office be not adequate for the purpose, he will introduce the necessary legislation.

I have not yet learnt the results of the conferences between owners and men which were to be arranged in each district to discuss this subject generally, and until I do so any statement as to the precise steps to be taken for the prevention of the disease would be premature, but I doubt whether, from the nature of the case, it is practicable to require notification and isolation of every case of the disease. I am glad to say that no case has yet been found in a coal mine.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the frauds perpetrated in connection with the practice of palmistry, crystal-gazing, clairvoyance, and other species of fortune telling in the West End; and, if so, whether he will instruct the police to institute prosecutions without further delay.

I have very little to add to the Answer given by my predecessor to a similar Question put by the hon. Member some three years ago.† It was stated then that the police had instructions to watch suspicious cases of the nature indicated by the hon. Member and to take proceedings when there was good ground for believing that fraud or imposition was being practised. Those instructions stand; and a prosecution has been instituted whenever satisfactory evidence of fraud or imposition was available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the residents of Park Lane take a very deep interest in this question?

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the Government hire live calves for the purpose of vaccinating for lymph; whether he can state at what cost and how long those calves are kept; what becomes of them after being returned to the owner; whether this class of meat is sold as veal for public consumption; whether he has any reports on its fitness for human food by local medical officers of health; and whether it is identified when being sold as "lymph veal."

Calves are hired at a cost of from 20s. to 25s. a week for the purpose mentioned. The number of calves used varies. At present the average number is approximately fifteen weekly. The calves are kept for about two weeks. After the lymph has been collected from them, they are slaughtered, and their carcases are thoroughly examined by a veterinary expert. Sound carcases are delivered to the contractor by whom the animals are supplied, to be disposed of as he thinks fit. The concern of the Department in the matter then ceases. I am not aware that any medical officer of health has made a report on the subject, but I am advised

… See (4) Debates, lxxxix., 683.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state how many calves are kept by the Local Government Board as reservoirs of lymph for vaccination purposes; how many animals so used are sold annually as food for the people; and where the sales usually take place.

I may refer the hon. Member to my reply to his other Question in the Paper to-day on this subject.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for Chorley, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, if steps are taken to enforce the ten-mile limit for motor-cars in the Mall and elsewhere in the Parks, the police will equally be instructed to prosecute all drivers of horse-drawn vehiclesexceeding that speed.

The reply is in the negative, as the First Commissioner has already the power, under the Parks Regulation Act of 1872, to limit the speed of carriages to ten miles an hour or to any such speed as may be considered necessary to protect the public from annoyance. The First Commissioner has always taken steps to secure that traffic shall be regulated so as to preserve the enjoyment of the Parks for all classes of the public.

Does the noble Lord not think it desirable to treat all classes of traffic on the same basis?

That is precisely what we propose to do.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for North Huntingdonshire, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the demand for Nos. 7, 17, 37, 59, and 71 of the leaflets issued by the Board has caused these leaflets to be out of print f and whether the Board will consider the desirability of having them reprinted.

The leaflets to which my hon. friend refers are out of print and we do not propose, at any rate for the present, to re-issue them separately, the time when they were of general interest having passed. They will, however, be included in the volume of leaflets about to be published in book form. All leaflets of present or permanent interest are reprinted so soon as there is any sign of an edition being exhausted.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Strokestown Rural District Council recently passed a resolution calling the attention of the Board of Works to the state of the rivers in the Strokestown Drainage District, and complaining that this neglect was the cause of floods and injury to the local farmers in recent years; and, if so, will he say whether it is the intention of the Board of Works to take the necessary steps in the matter.

The resolution was received. The trustees of the drainage district are responsible for the maintenance of the drainage works in good order. The Board of Works informed the district council that complaints of neglect should be made in the first instance to the trustees through their secretary. If complaints so made are without effect a complaint would then properly lie to the Board of Works.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the principal teacher of Kilrusheighter (county Sligo) National School taught agriculture for the period commencing in October, 1899, and ending in July, 1900, and was paid £12 17s. 6d. in February, 1901, on account of such tuition in that period, and that the Commissioners of National Education in calculating the consolidated income of this teacher refused to take into account the portion of that sum (£7 14s. 6d.) which was earned by him for the period from 1st October, 1899, to 31st March, 1900, and assigned as the ground of their refusal the fact that the payment for his tuition in agriculture for the period from October, 1899, to July, 1900, was not made until February, 1901; and, if so, whether, seeing that under Rule 200 the Commissioners were bound to include all emoluments actually earned from State sources within the three years ended 31st March, 1900, the application of the manager, Very Rev. John Melvin, P.P., for a revision of this teacher's salary will be granted.

The claims of this teacher have formed the subject of a correspondence between myself and the Rev. Mr. Melvin, a copy of which I recently communicated to the hon. Member. As already pointed out, the Commissioners had no power to take into account, when fixing the consolidated income of the teacher, a payment made subsequently to the 31st March, 1900. But even if payment had been made before that date, it was never contemplated by the rules that grants covering, as in this case, services rendered for a period of only six months should be continued in perpetuity under the form of consolidated income.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the

Does not the Rule specifically state that all moneys actually earned by the teacher for the three years should be brought into the calculation?

And is it not the fact that this £7 14s. 6d. was earned in the period ending the 31st March, 1900?

was understood to reply that it was never contemplated to include money earned for a purely temporary duty.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will grant a Return dealing with officials employed by the various county boroughs in Ireland in carrying out the provisions of the Technical Instruction Act.

I am prepared to give a Return in the form proposed, with the exception of the information indicated in Columns 3 and 8. For the reasons already explained, I cannot consent to this information. Appended is the Return asked for. Technical Instruction (Ireland) (Officials). Return of Officials employed upon the 1st day of June, 1904, by the various County Boroughs and Urban Councils in Ireland in carrying out the provisions of the Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act, in the following form:—

The hon. Member does not appear to have seen my reply to the similar Question of 4th May by the hon. Member for North Cork.† I have no further statement to make at present.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Intermediate Education Board for Ireland for 1903, dealing with the subject of the establishment of a system of permanent inspection of the working of intermediate education; whether he is aware that the Board, in June, 1903, forwarded a resolution to the Under-Secretary to the effect that they desired to impress on the Lord-Lieutenant the great urgency of appointing permanent inspectors as a necessary part of the reforms aimed at by the Act of 1900; and, if so, what is the cause of delay in the adoption of a system of inspection declared to be urgent by the Board responsible for the working of secondary education in Ireland.

Yes, Sir. The Government has not refused to provide for a system of inspection. It has only refused to establish, at the present moment, a system of inspection conducted by a staff of permanent Civil servants; and both on financial and educational grounds it adheres to that position until the question of the parts which examination and inspection are respectively to play in the distribution of State aid to the schools has been settled. This is one of the matters now under investigation by the Committee of Inquiry into Intermediate Education in Ireland.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Commissioners of Intermediate Education fifteen years ago reported against the present system and a supplementary system was set up.

Yes; but I have said the whole matter is now under investigation.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if the Blakeney Estate, Abbert, county Galway, is in the Land Judge's Court; if so, for how long; whether he can state the name of the agent or receiver; whether he has been instructed to take advantage of the Land Purchase Act; and whether he will be directed to supply to the tenants any necessary information to enable them to make an offer for the property.

The estate is in the Land Judge's Court. A petition for sale was filed by the late owner in 1883, but little has been done to effect a sale. There is no receiver over the lands, and the estate is solvent. The provisions of Section 40 of the Act of 1896 are not, therefore, applicable in the case. The Land Judge cannot compel a sale, but it is understood that when the matter comes again before him in November, the parties having carriage of the estate must either elect to sell or have the proceedings dismissed from the Court.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether [he is aware that the County Waterford County Council has passed a resolution urging that he should withdraw the clause in the Irish Development Grant Bill, which proposes to transfer to the Treasury the sum of £150,000 standing to the credit of the Petty Sessions Clerks Fund; and whether he will re-consider the matter, and adopt the course suggested.

No Sir; the resolution does not appear to have been brought under my notice, In reply to the second part of the Question I would refer to my reply to the similar Question of 20th June by the hon. Member for South Tyrone.‡

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that tenants in county Kerry who served their landlords with rent-fixing notices six years ago are still waiting to have their appeals heard; whether, under these circumstances, steps will be taken to have those appeals heard during the coming autumn.

The Land Commissioners sat in Killarney for the hearing of appeals in July, 1903. The list then for hearing contained all appeals lodged prior to May, 1901. It is however, a fact that in some cases in which appeals were lodged since that date and which are still pending, the originating notices were originally lodged as far back as the period mentioned in the Question. It is not at present possible to say when the Commissioners will hold their next sitting for the disposal of appeals from Kerry.

Seeing that six years have elapsed since the notices were served can the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that a decision will be arrived at in the next ten years?

Yes, I think I can promise that.

May I say that I propose on Thursday next to raise the whole question of the collapse of the Appeal Court.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the tenants pending the decision of the Court are compelled to pay the whole rent, and is not that a great burden on them?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the nature of the arrangements made by the Lord-Lieutenant with reference to the amalgamation of the offices of the Clerk of the Peace for Belfast, Clerk of the Peace for county Antrim, and Clerk of the Crown for county Antrim; what saving will be effected to the Treasury by the new arrangements; and whether the saving thus effected will be devoted to Irish purposes.

These offices are united in the same person under the provisions of Section 8 of the County Court and Officers Act, 1877, and Section 69 of the Local Government Act, 1898. The amount of the salary, and of the allowance for clerical assistance, has not yet been fixed. When fixed it will be paid out of moneys voted by Parliament. As a set-off, to some small extent, to this charge the fees hitherto received by the Clerk of the Peace and Clerk of the Crown will be paid into the Exchequer. In the result a burden not hitherto borne by the Treasury will be transferred to Imperial Funds to the relief of local rates.

Is it not calculated that a very large saving will be effected by the amalgamation.

At any rate it is a bargain resting upon a statutory provision.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a request lodged with the Land Commissioners by the tenants on the Westropp Estate, county Clare, under the seventh Section of the Land Act of 1803; and, if so, whether he will take steps to expedite the sale of this property.

The Estates Commissioners have issued a request to the Land Judge for particulars of this estate under Section 7 of the Act of 1903.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state on what date the conduct of Police Constable Molloy, in connection with the Coleraine Petty Sessions, was reported to the Inspector-General; and on what date the censure was conveyed to him.

On the 29th June in each case.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the pledges given last year that the removal of Sergeant Gallagher from the charge of Greencastle, county Antrim, police district, and the substitution for him of Head Constable Moore was only a temporary arrangement, he will say whether any circumstance has arisen in the meantime to cause a reconsideration of that promise; and, if so, what is its nature; and, if nothing detrimental to the character of Sergeant Gallagher has taken place since then, he will be reinstated in his old position.

The question of the retention of the head constable at Greencastle is entirely a matter for the consideration of the Constabulary authorities. He was transferred to that station in August last in the interests of the public. The Commissioner of Police at Belfast reports that he has the confidence of all classes and that he is aware of no reasons for transferring him from Greencastle. The Inspector-General concurs in the views of the Commissioner, and I do not propose to intervene in the matter.

Is not the retention of Head Constable Moore looked upon as an insult to Sergeant Gallagher?

The hon. Member will see that the employment of an officer at a particular place cannot and does not reflect on any other officer's character. It is a matter of discipline and administrative convenience with which the Inspector-General is competent to deal.

Have the inhabitants of Greencastle made any complaint as to this head constable being there.

I do not think so.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman last session say that the head constable was only stationed there temporarily, and did not the Police Commissioner for the city of Belfast promise a deputation subsequently that the appointment should be permanent?

I cannot say, but at any rate it does not alter my view that this is a matter for the Inspector-General.

Has the Belfast Commissioner superior jurisdiction to the right hon. Gentleman.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state by whom a gun, the property of Mr. Peter Dowling, Straboe, was given into the possession of the police at Maryborough; and whether the gun has been returned to the owner.

The gun was handed to the police by the owner of the property on which it was found. On the 16th June† I stated I had been informed that the gun had been identified by Mr. Dowling as belonging to him; that he had undertaken to make a declaration to this effect, and that the weapon was taken out of his possession without his knowledge or approval; and that when this declaration had been made it would be restored to him. He has not yet made the declaration, however, and has informed the police he is not now sure that the gun is his.

Who was the owner of the property.

I confess I cannot fathom the mystery of the gun. I hope it will get back to the right man.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now state if the tenant purchasers under Acts previous to 1903, in the neighbourhood of the Comyn Kenny Estate, county Galway, which has been purchased recently by the Congested Districts Board, may have their uneconomic holdings increased without requiring them to resell their purchased holdings to the Congested Districts Board.

The tenant purchaser is not bound to resell his holding. The outstanding balance of the loan already made must be consolidated with the new advance and a new annuity becomes payable in respect of the enlarged holding, which is thenceforth treated as one holding. Some administrative difficulties exist when the advances are made under different statutes. These are under consideration. In reply to a further Question by Mr. KILBRIDE,

said that when an addition was made to a holding which had been purchased the two were merged into one holding and the instalments were consolidated; but, where the first holding was purchased under a former Act and the addition under the present Act, there were technical difficulties for which he hoped a solution would be found.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that Head Constable Allingham was recently elected petty sessions clerk at Miltown-Malbay, he can say what special qualifications beyond being a police officer he had over local civilian candidates which induced the local magistrates to appoint him; was Head Constable Allingham in the police service when elected; and, if not, when did he leave the force for the purposes of his candidature, and was it by leave; whether he is still in the police force; and can he give the date when he is to take up the duties of petty sessions clerk.

The head constable was stationed at Miltown-Malbay for twenty years prior to his transfer on promotion to another district in November last. He was consequently well known to the magistrates who elected him to the position of petty sessions clerk, for which he was consideied the best qualified. The Inspector-General granted him permission to become a candidate. He will qualify for a pension from the police force on the 14th inst., and he cannot enter on his new duties until after that date. Before his appointment is confirmed he will undergo an examination to test his fitness for the office.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great dissatisfaction in the district as to the way in which this appointment was made, seeing that some of the magistrates were not summoned to the meeting. Has the right hon. Gentleman any power to insist on a new election?

I am not aware of the matters referred to, and I doubt if I have any power, but I will inquire.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will give the names of the two estates recently purchased by the Congested Districts Board in SligO for resale to tenants; also the acreage of tenanted and untenanted land; the amount of purchase money; gross rental; and number of years purchase paid the landlord in each case.

It will be more convenient to give a written reply to this Question, and with the hon. Member's permission the desired information will be printed with to-day's Votes.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the fee simple of the Leitrim Hill grazing farm, situate on the Harlech Estate, in Tobercurry Union, county Sligo, has recently been purchased by a landlord named Phibbs, without the knowledge of the small tenants of the district, who have been using it as an accommodation farm for a number of years; if so, will he say if such sale was sanctioned by the Land Commission; and, if not, will this matter be inquired into with the view of having the farm utilised for the enlargement of small holdings, should the estate be sold to the tenants at any future time.

The estate comprising the farm referred to has not been offered to the Estates Commissioners. I am also informed that it has not been offered to the Congested Districts Board.

IS the right hon. "Gentleman aware that negotiations are pending between the landlord and tenants on the Harlech Estate?

I am not.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that the River Owenmore in the county Sligo takes its rise in, and flows through, a scheduled congested district; and that a scheme for the drainage of this river under the Arterial Drainage Acts is, under existing circumstances, impracticable, he will advise the Congested Districts Board or the Board of Agriculture to allocate a certain sum by way of grant in aid to local effort for the carrying out of the work of draining this river.

There are no funds at the disposal of the Congested Districts Board or Department of Agriculture out of which to contribute towards the cost of drainage works.

If the people in the locality take the initiative in the work will they be encouraged with a grant from public funds?

I do not think-there is any fund available for the purpose.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will explain why the system of examinations for temporary clerkships in the Congested Districts Board, Ireland, has been abolished; whether, in making future appointments, the Board will have preference for those men whose names were registered on their books to compete at the examinations; whether in the meantime the Board are filling vacancies by selecting men of good character and education, or who have had experience in public or commercial offices; whether a sub-committee has been selected to make these appointments; and, if so, will he state how long it is intended to continue this system.

The Board is in correspondence with the Treasury on the subject of the mode of making appointments to its staff. Should it be found necessary to hold examinations for appointment of temporary clerks, pending a settlement of the question, the Board will endeavour to procure the services of the best men available.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Government intend to take measures so that the payment of Irish national teachers shall be increased so as to place them upon an equality with English teachers.

In any comparison between the incomes of Irish national school teachers and teachers in England, regard must be had to the burden on the State and on local sources. The incomes paid to teachers in Ireland represent a payment from the State of £2 8s. 11d. for each child in average daily attendance. In England and Wales, the cost of maintenance of the schools is £2 13s. 2d. per pupil, of which only £1 10s. 8d. was derived from the State in the case of Board schools.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will explain why the Congested Districts Board (Ireland) have asked the Treasury to allow their staff to be recruited from the regular permanent Civil Service men who have entered through the Civil Service Commissioners' Examination; and whether this suggestion will be adopted by the Treasury.

The Congested Districts Board, through the Irish Government, have asked whether the Treasury would be disposed to consider favourably a proposal to appoint a certain number of permanent clerks to their staff. Correspondence on the subject is still proceeding, but no decision has yet been arrived at.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the Irish Government? We do not know.