I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, can he state what is the prize-firing record last received of H.M.S. "Centurion," and whether the Board of Admiralty consider it to be satisfactory; have the Admiralty received any report from Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, as Commander-in-Chief on the China Station, to the effect that H.M.S. "Centurion" was unfit to go into action by reason of her defective gun sights; and can he say what steps have since been taken to remedy the defects, and when the Admiralty expect that H.M.S. "Centurion" will be fit to go into action.

The prize-firing records are confidential; but it may be stated that the "Centurion's" firing was not as good as on a former occasion referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Caithness on i8tn April.† That reply covers all the points raised in this Question.

The latter part of my Question is not covered by that Answer.

The Admiralty do not admit that the "Centurion" is not fit to go into action.

Have any steps been taken to remedy the defects?

It was stated on a former occasion that improvements and alterations are constantly being made in the sighting and fittings, and when a ship is on a foreign station it is impossible to say at a given moment whether her sights have been altered.

Is the "Centurion" fit to go into action?

Yes, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, in view of the fact that the sight fittings of H.M.S. "Prince of Wales" are not what would be supplied now, will he state what sight fittings would be supplied now; and has any decision been arrived at as regards the best form of sights and sight fittings either for turret guns or for 6 inch guns.

The details asked for in the first part of the Question cannot be given in reply to a Parliamentary Question. A decision has been arrived at as to what is at present regarded as the best form of sights for turrets and 6-inch guns, but there is no such thing as finality in this matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty are the ship's artificers of H.M.S. "Prince of Wales" engaged in fitting cross connections to the ship's 6-inch gun sights and in fitting large range discs; and, in view of Art. 1319 of the King's Regulations, prescribing that proposals for alterations and additions shall be made by letter, were any such proposals made by letter before the alterations were carried out.

They may be doing so; inquiry can be made if desired. Article 1319 of the King's Regulations does not refer to such alterations as these, but to large alterations that are proposed to be made by a dockyard, and consequently require special approval. In reply to a further Question, MR. PRETYMAN said the commanders of ships were encouraged to carry out these smaller alterations themselves, and a letter was not necessary in such a case as this.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will cable to Lord Milner and ascertain whether the Law Officers of the Transvaal Government construe the Chinese Ordinance as permitting Chinese labourers to do mining work formerly performed by white miners; also, if Chinese labourers are to-day employed at the Comet Mine as overseers, and if they are under the direction and supervision of white gangers; and, if so, are these Chinese overseers additional and supplemental hands to the staff of the mines, seeing that Kaffir overseers or gangers have never been employed in the Transvaal mines except under white miners.

It does not seem to me to be desirable or necessary to telegraph as proposed by the hon. Member. The terms of the Ordinance appear to me to be plain in confining these labourers to unskilled labour, which is defined as that usually performed in the mines by natives. I am not informed as to the exact arrangements which have been made in the Comet Mine, but I will inquire.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the assent of I the Crown, withheld from the Chinese I Exclusion Bill by the Governor of Cape Colony for the consideration of the Colonial Office, has yet been given; and to what is the delay in giving that assent due, if it has not yet been given, having regard to the presence in this country of the Governor of Cape Colony,

No, Sir; there is nothing unusual in the delay It is usual to sanction reserved Bills by Order in Council, and, as I informed the hon. Member a week ago, the authenticated copy of the law only reached me on the 2nd instant.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any official information showing that two colonial coolies imported to the Rand under the Chinese Labour Ordinance have deserted from the New Comet Mine, Johannesburg, and were captured on Wednesday last at Pretoria, having tramped thither from Johannesburg; can he say whether they were escorted to Johannesburg by military or by police, and were they handcuffed; what was the reason for their desertion, and what will be the punishment accorded to them; and whether there is any explanation of the circumstance that they have, within a few days of entrance on their work as indentured labourers, thus deserted from it.

I have no information on the subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman use the cable? Is he aware that there is a telegraph to arrival at South Africa?

Yes, Sir, I am quite aware that there is a telegraph, but I do not consider it necessary to employ it.

I also beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has sent a despatch by the last mail to Lord Milner calling his attention to the fact that these two coolies had escaped from this mine, and inquiring how they escaped and how they were brought back?

said he had not written to Lord Milner.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware it is reported that a large number of Chinese coolies have escaped?

A Question must not be based on reports.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India what is our precise position towards China in regard to Tibet; is Tibet an independent kingdom or is it a portion of the Chinese Empire; has the representative of China in Tibet full powers from his Government to enter into a treaty with us; and, if so, would this treaty be valid before being ratified by the Chinese Government in Pekin; or have we—assuming Tibet to be a dependency of China—obtained any assurance from the Chinese authorities that if we sign a treaty with Tibet such treaty would be binding on China.

For information regarding the status of Tibet I must refer the hon. Member to the Blue-book. The negotiations will be conducted jointly with the Chinese Amban and the Tibetan repre- sentatives. The Chinese Government has been kept duly apprised of the action of His Majesty's Government in Tibet, and the Chinese Amban at Lhasa expressed to Colonel Younghusband, on his arrival at Gyangtse, his readiness to negotiate.

Are we at war with China or not?

I think that Question has been repeatedly answered. It does not arise on this Question so far as I can gather.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he can state when the appointment of Assistant Military Secretary for Indian Affairs is likely to be filled up.

The appointment in question has been abolished.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that a deputation from Zanzibar recently came to England to complain of the proceedings of the Regent, he will state if the Regent is now at Zanzibar or on leave of absence; and, if not, will he say with whom has the Government been in correspondence regarding the matters complained of by the Envoy.

The Regent is at Zanzibar. I have already stated that His Majesty's Government has been in communication with the Sultan and with the Regent.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any inquiry has been made as to the circumstances under which a British mail steamer was recently stopped in the Red Sea by a Russian man-of-war; whether the man-of-war issued from and returned to neutral ports; whether there is reason to believe that she had coaled in a neutral port since having coaled in a Russian port; and whether any protest has been made either to any neutral Power or to the Russian Government on the subject.

His Majesty's Government have received no information of the stoppage of any British mail steamer recently in the Red Sea. In February last two steamers of the Peninsular and Oriental Company and one of the Indian Steam Navigation Company were stopped by the Russian squadron in the Red Sea, and in two cases the vessel was boarded and its papers examined, but in each case after a very short detention it was allowed to proceed. There was nothing in these cases which would have justified any protest on the part of His Majesty's Government.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, have the Board of Trade issued a notice or warning to merchant ships to the effect that when meeting vessels of His Majesty's Fleetthey should keep out of the way of such vessels; if so, will he state its date and terms; does the notice practically suspend and supersede on such an occasion the ordinary rule of the road at sea as between ship and ship; does it apply to foreign as well as to British merchant ships; and do the Board of Trade propose to adhere to or withdraw such notice.

(1) In April, 1897, the Board of Trade issued a notice to shipowners and masters calling attention to the danger to all concerned which is caused by single vessels approaching a squadron of warships so closely as to involve risk of collision, or attempting to pass ahead of, or through, or to break the line of, such squadrons. Mariners were warned that on such occasions it would be in the interests of safety for single ships to adopt timely measures to keep out of the way of, and avoid passing through, a squadron. This notice was re-issued in July, 1900, with reference to the judgments delivered in the Court of Appeal in the "Sanspareil" case. (2) The notice is advisory only and does not suspend or supersede the rule of the road at sea. (3) It was not addressed to owners or masters of foreign ships; and (4) as a present advised I am not prepared to withdraw it.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he will explain why a candidate was appointed to the post-mastership of Stony Stratford who had only eighteen years service, seeing that other candidates applied with considerably over twenty years approved service; and whether, in view of the weekly notice in the Post Office Circular that outside influence should not be employed in seeking appointments, he will state whether any recommendations other than official were considered in this case, and what steps he proposes to take.

The postmaster was appointed by me because I considered him the most suitable of the candidates. He was not only strongly recommended by his official superiors, but he had also rendered special service in South Africa during the War. He was mentioned in despatches for continuous and marked good service, and his name was officially brought to the Postmaster-General's notice in 1902 by Lord Kitchener's orders. No outside or unofficial recommendations we e brought before me or considered.

inquired if it were not against the rules for civil servants to receive testimonials from distinguished individuals outside.

It is nothing against a man that he should receive such a testimonial as this officer did from Lord Kitchener.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cause of the unusual delay in the publication of the Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories and Workshops.

I explained, in answer to a Question of the right hon. Baronet on the same subject last March, † the special circumstances which made it impossble to promise this year's Report at so early a date as last year's. Every effort, however, has been made to expedite the printing of the Report, and I understand that copies will be delivered on Friday next.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state how many pauper alien lunatics are known to be at present maintained at public expense within the Metropolitan area, and whether there has been any, and what, increase in the number of such persons during the last five years; and whether he can state how many alien convicts are at the present time confined in convict prisons, and whether he can state the number of aliens who were during the year 1903 confined in local prisons.

Inquiry is being made as regards the pauper alien lunatics, and if the information desired can be obtained it will be communicated to the hon. Member. The number of aliens in convict prisons on 23rd April, 1904, was; 182. The number confined in local prisons on conviction during the year ended 31st March, 1903, was, 3,449. These are the latest dates for which information is available; and it is impossible to obtain fresh statistics without an exanrnation c f the prison records, which would involve considerable time and labour.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for North Huntingdonshire, as representing the Board of Agriculture, whether he can state approximately the

† See (4) Debates, cxxxiv., 618.

I regret that we are not in possession of information which would enable the Board even approximately to estimate the annual profit made by the various classes of occupiers of agricultural land to which the hon. Member refers.

I beg to ask the; Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that a temporary civil assistant in the Ordnance Survey Department has been reduced by the sum of 3d. per day by the divisional officer for visiting, without permission, his wife, who was dangerously ill; and whether, under the circumstances, he will take the case into his consideration, and restore to this man his position and pay.

Inquiries into the case mentioned have be in instituted, but the information necessary to enable me to reply to the Question is not yet available. Perhaps the hon. Member would put it down again in a day or two's time.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for Chorley, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been called to the wooden or plaster shutters which have bee a placed behind the open work of the architectural screen which connects the gateway leading into the Admiralty Courtyard, Whitehall; and whether he cold propose to the First Commissioner of Works to remove these shutters and allow the whole screen to be seen and appreciated.

The answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. It appears that the wooden shutters referred to have been in existence for many years. The First Commissioner is considering the possibility of removing them.

I beg to ask MR. Attorney-General for Ireland if he has now received the police report relative to the tampering with the requisition forms in the Rathmines polling district of South Dublin; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

The police have not as yet been able to establish the identity of the persons who collected and tampered with these forms, but they are pursuing their inquiries. I am informed that the town clerk has already taken steps to counter act the attempt to falsify the register, and that the correct names of the voters will be inserted in the lists.

I beg to ask MR. Attorney-General for Ireland if his attention has been called to complaints from the Kingstown and Dalkey polling districts of South Dublin as to the tampering with the voters' requisition forms by the agents of a certain organisation; and whether, if a list of these agents, together with a list of such forms altered by them without authority, is placed before him, he will direct a prosecution to take place; and whether he proposes to take any, and, if so, what action to secure that these inaccuracies should be corrected, and the persons entitled, and these only, placed on the supplemental list.

My attention has been called to the matter. The town clerks of Kingstown and Dalkey state that no complaints have been made to them on the subject, and the latter gentleman further states that he is certain that no forms were tampered with in his district. I shall be thankful, however, to the hon. Member for any information he may be good enough to furnish me with, calculated to aid the police in the inquiries they are now making on the subject.

I will supply the right hon. Gentleman with information.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will introduce a short Bill this session giving the Irish Local Government Board power, by Provisional Order, to transfer to a county council any of the powers, duties, and liabilities of any harbour commissioners or trustees (except the commissioners of Royal harbours) in cases where such a transfer is agreed to both by the county council and by the trustees or Commissioners.

I stated on the 1st inst. that further legislation is unnecessary.† In the case of Courtown Harbour, to which I understand the Question is intended to refer, I am informed that, inasmuch as it is administered by a public body, the transfer of its powers to the county council can be effected by Provisional Order under the 20th Section of the Act of 1898. The Local Government Board would be prepared to make a Provisional Order forthwith and without local inquiry upon receiving a formal resolution to that effect from the county council and the written consent of the harbour trustees to the proposed transfer.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is in a position to state the result of his inquiries into the condition of the fishing industry on the south-east coast of Ireland, and what he proposes to do for the assistance of that industry.

The Question has reference to the application of Section 11 of the Marine Works Act to the maintenance of fishery piers in non-congested districts. The matter is still engaging consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement in respect to it.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the

† See page 318

Dr. Starkie is one of the Commissioners of Intermediate Education. He accompanied Messrs. Dale and Stevens at their request.

On behalf the hon. Member for East Galway, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state at whose request the police accompanied strangers on the lands of Derrygoolan in 1902 and 1903 when these strangers were attempting to shoot over the tenants' farms, held from year to year for a great number of years; and if these tenants requisition the services of the police on the 12th August next to assist them in preventing persons shooting their game without permission their request will be complied with, and a sufficient police force be supplied to prevent a breach of the law.

The police, so far as I am aware, received no request and no orders to attend. They had reason to apprehend a breach of the peace and attended to prevent serious violence. It is their duty to prevent violence; but not to prejudice the case of either of the parties claiming the same right. Such claims can Only be determined by process of law, that is by one or other of the parties suing either for trespass or for technical assault.

The right hon. Gentleman must be aware that in the case of a tenant from year to year he has as much right to the game as any landlord in this House has to the game on his estate.

The whole thing depends on the nature of the occupation, and that can only be determined in a Court of Law.

Does the right hon. Gentleman deny that they are tenants from year to year?

Order, order!

How was it the police attended without a request.

They apprehended that there was going to be a row.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether facilities will be given to contingents attending the Nationalist demonstration at Moy, county Tyrone, on 15th August to proceed by the road leading from Trew and Moy Station.

I am informed by the authorities locally responsible that a Nationalist procession through the district in question, which is almost exclusively Orange, would be calculated to endanger the preservation of the peace and would, in all probability, lead to rioting and serious disturbance. Such processions have always hitherto proceeded by the route from Dungannon and Annaghmore, and the Government is unable to entertain any arrangement which contemplates a departure from the route which has been safely followed in former years.

How did the local authorities arrive at the conclusion that this is an Orange district in view of the fact that there are only two Orangemen in the whole neighbourhood. Why is not the procession to be allowed to take this route?

Order, order ! That Question has been answered.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received from the Ballina District Council a memorial signed by the tenantry of the Granville H. Knox Estate, Crossmolina, county Mayo, which is announced to be sold by public auction in Ballina, on the 13th inst., by order of Judge Ross; and, if so, will he state the circumstances of this sale, and say whether, as this estate contains waste land suitable for the enlargement of small holdings, steps will be taken to give effect to the prayer of memorialists by having this untenanted land purchased for the purpose of enlarging the uneconomic holdings on the untenanted portions proposed to be sold.

The sale by auction has been adjourned by the Landudge to enable the Estates Commissioners to determine whether they will make an offer for the lands.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will cause inquiries to be made of all the clerks of rural district councils in whose districts additional half-acres have been already provided under the Labourers Acts, so as to obtain from each rural district an estimate of the average cost of providing an additional half acre, specifying price of land, cost of fencing, legal expenses, and general expenses.

An effort will be made to procure this information. But it will, understand, be very troublesome to collect and will impose much additional labour upon clerks of rural district councils.

On behalf of the hon. Member for East Galway, beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of evicted tenants in the county of Galway who have applied to the Estates Commissioners for reinstatement; how many have been restored; and what has been done either to reinstate the remainder or put them into new holdings.

281 applications have been received. Forty-one have been referred to inspectors to report on. None have as yet been reinstated.

Have any untenanted lands been purchased in county Galway?

I should like to have notice of that Question, if it is desired be press it; but may say have little to add to the statement made on this subject last Friday.†

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the offer for sale of the Warren's Court Estate, at Kilmurray, county Cork, under the Land Act of 1903, he will state the terms asked by the landlord, and whether they have been agreed to by the tenantsf; have any representations been received by the Estates Commissioners from Denis Murphy, an evicted tenant; and, if so, whether, seeing that the present occupant of the evicted holding, a man named Kingston, has expressed his willingness to leave it on payment of a fair compensation, the Estates Commissioners will use their good offices towards the reinstatement of the evicted tenant, seeing that both the landlord and his agent are willing to agree to it provided the present occupant can be got to leave.

No application has been made to the Estates Commissioners in the case of the Warren Estate. An application for reinstatement has been received from Denis Murphy.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in 1899 the Salters' Company, of London, conveyed to certain trustees in Magherafelt, county Derry, the old Courthouse and bridewell, the markets, and certain other property, to hold in trust for the town of Magherafelt upon certain conditions; and that, apart from an annual payment of £120 to two local schools and the handing over £100 to the Magherafelt Gas Company, no other disbursements have been made by the trustees; and whether, in view of the desire of the inhabitants that the money in the hands of the trustees should be spent for the benefit and improvement of the town, a local inquiry will be

† See page 113.

As far as I have been able to ascertain, the Salters' Company assigned certain property to trustees to be used for certain purposes. This trust has been faithfully carried out. I have no power whatever to institute such an inquiry as suggested, or to compel owners of property to dedicate it to purposes other than those to which they desire to devote it.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Lord Chancellor of Ireland has considered the action of Mr. James Shanks in signing a licence certificate for a canteen situated in the county Wicklow, Mr. Shanks not being a magistrate for that county, and the local magistrates having refused to grant the licence on the ground that the canteen had been conducted in a disorderly manner; and whether he can now state what decision the Lord Chancellor has come to in regard to Mr. Shanks' action.

I am in communication with the Lord Chancellor in this matter, and will ask the hon. Member to repeat the Question on Wednesday.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that E. Salwey, Commander R.N., Divisional Office, Kin-sale, who lately distributed tracts at the Cork Post Office, is constantly engaged in this and other proselytising practices in the town and district of Kinsale; and, in view of the fact that the annual training of the Naval Reserve, mainly composed of Catholic fishermen and sailors, is under his command, he will have him immediately removed from the district.

This matter has already engaged the attention of the Rear-Admiral Commanding at Queens-town, and the Board of Admiralty are awaiting his report.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the action of the Board of Works in Ireland in refusing traders permission to send their vans through the Phoenix Park, Dublin, for the purpose of delivering goods to customers within the Park; whether he is aware that within the last few weeks a trader named Mr. Henry Baggot has been refused such permission, although he furnished, in reply to a demand from the Board, the names of the customers within the ambit of the Park whom he habitually supplied with goods; and, if so, will he say what was the reason for so treating him; and who is responsible for the regulations in virtue of which such restraints are put on trade and business.

Yes, Sir. I am aware of the circumstances. It is necessary in order to preserve the amenity of the Phoenix Park as a place of public enjoyment to restrict its use by carts, vans, and business vehicles as far as possible. But passes are granted to tradesmen and others who can show that their business requires it. The Board of Works are satisfied that the business of Mr. Baggot in the Park is not of such a character as to justify the grant of a pass.

Are we to understand that the right of a driver to go through the Park depends on the Board of Works being satisfied as to the number of his customers?

Yes, Sir. The Board of Works have to take that into consideration.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General why the increase of salary which accrued to the town sub-postmaster of Harcourt Road, Dublin, in May, 1902, was withheld.

I find that in 1902, owing to the salary of the Harcourt Street Post Office having been inadvertently entered on a return relating to the Harcourt Road Office, an increase of £4 4s. a year then due for salary at the latter was unfortunately withheld. I have given instructions for the matter to be at once adjusted.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the road known as the Cut, near Clonaslee, Mountmellick, Queen's county has, by order of the military authorities, been closed, thereby causing loss to the residents in the removal of peat fuel from the adjoining bogs; and, if so, will he say whether, before this step was taken, the provisions of the Military Lands Act, 1892, were complied with, and will he give the particulars of what was done, the notices served, the reports received, the persons from whom they were received; and whether steps will be taken to ensure that these people shall not be inconvenienced in securing fuel at the only season in which it is possible for them to do so.

The road in question is not closed. It was closed for five days while firing took place in the vicinity. No complaints were received, but as soon as it became known that traffic might be interfered with, the road was re-opened and arrangements were made by which firing could take place without interfering with the road. It is regretted that through an error the provisions of the Military Lands Act were not complied with.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the action of the Longford Infirmary Committee at their last quarterly meeting, when the officer commanding, having requested that emergency cases should be treated there owing to the military hospital being closed, was refused, on the ground that the cases might be those of Englishmen, and also that no decent farmer could be in the same ward with a soldier; and, if so, what provision has been made for such cases of accident and emergency as may occur among the troops there quartered.

The attention of the Secretary of State was first drawn to the matter by this Question. As the military hospital at Long ford is fully equipped with a civil practitioner in charge, no question arises as regards the adequate treatment of any emergency or other cases. The alleged gratuitous insult to the British soldier by the Long ford Infirmary Committee would hardly, therefore, appear to deserve further consideration.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will make a statement before the recess, to the House, as to what action he proposes to take, if any, with regard to advising the various Departments of the Stale during the recess to deal efficiently with the unemployed, which are an increasing number in the United Kingdom.

Before my right hon. friend answers this Question, may I ask him if he has considered the influence on the state of affairs indicated in the Question of the hon. Member for Woolwich, as to the increasing number of unemployed m the United Kingdom, of free competing imports without reciprocity, and the unrestricted immigration of destitute aliens?

Without travelling over the wide field suggested by my hon. and gallant friend, I may say, in answer to the hon. Gentleman opposite, that this question is constantly under the consideration of the Local Government Board, and the hon. Member may be quite sure that there will be no neglect of it on the part of His Majesty's Government.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that thousands of white men now unemployed in London would be prepared to go to work in the Transvaal mines if they were guaranteed 10s. a day?

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will appoint a Departmental Committee to consider the practicability of the Thames barrage scheme, and also the advisability of formulating a scheme of national foreshore reclamation, with a view of providing useful work for the unemployed.

The two proposals referred to in this Question do not appear to be very closely allied, and in any case I am advised that neither scheme seems at present to present features which would justify the appointment of a Departmental Committee.

Then we are not even to have an inquiry whether they would or not?

I think the hon. Gentleman will admit that there must be a strong prima facie case for putting the officials of a Department to the labour of such an inquiry, and I rather gather that that prima facie case has not been made out.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, have His Majesty's Government considered the conditions that should be attached to granting permission, during war, to belligerent men-of-war for coaling in coaling stations of His Majesty's dominions within or beyond the seas; and have they especially considered the necessity for requiring, as a condition precedent to granting such permission, a satisfactory engagement that any belligerent man-of-war allowed to be supplied with sufficient coal to carry her to the nearest port of her own nation will in fact proceed to that port direct, and will not use the coal supplied for proceeding elsewhere, in order to carry on operations of war against the other belligerent.

This question has engaged the attention of the Government, and directions have been given for carrying out the condition to which my hon. friend refers in the last lines of his Question.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will state what provisions the Government propose to insert in the Licensing Bill providing that adequate penalties shall be imposed on those publicans who do not provide reasonable refreshment for the public, and also for those who do not comply with the reasonable requirements of the magistrates.

If the hon. Gentleman will look at the Amendments on the Paper he will see that both his points are met by those standing in the name of the Solicitor-General.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if his attention has been called to the Report of the Standing Committee on the Aliens Bill, and to the decision of the Committee that it is useless in view of the large number of Amendments put down against the Bill, to proceed further with its consideration during the present session; and if he will undertake to reintroduce it early next session.

From what I can hear of the proceedings in Committee upon this Bill, it received treatment which would make it absolutely impossible to carry it into law during the course of the present session. I understand that the average rate of progress was two lines in a day. [MINISTERIAL cries of "Three lines in six days;"] I beg pardon: three lines in six days, or half a line a day. I have not made the arithmetical calculation as to the length of time it would have taken in Grand Committee had the same rate of progress been maintained on all the clauses of the Bill; but I think it will be obvious that the Committee had absolutely no choice, in the face of the treatment which the Bill received, but to take the course they actually did take. My hon. friend asks me for a pledge that the Government will reintroduce the Bill early next session. We shall certainly attempt to deal with this subject early next session; but of course it would be quite impossible for me to go beyond the general terms of that pledge and to give any detailed pledge on the subject.

asked if they might take it that it was the definite intention of the Government to reintroduce the Bill next session.

I am sorry I was not clearly heard by my hon. friend. The Government do propose to introduce a Bill on this subject early next session.

asked the right hon. Gentleman a Question of which he had given private notice, whether, in view of the fact that a small body of obstructives [Cries of "Order"]—

Order, order! A Question of that sort should be brought to the Table, so that it may be seen whether its terms are in order before it is put on the Paper.

With your permission," Sir, I will put it in other terms, and ask whether, in view of the fact that a small number of hon. Members ["Oh"], by repeating each other's arguments at continually increasing length ["Order"]—

Order, order! Those terms would not be permitted, and the Question does not arise.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he can now state if there is any likelihood of a Redistribution Bill being brought in next session.

I think, perhaps, I have already gone as far as I should go in sketching out the King's Speech for next session, and I should be unwilling to go further. But my hon. friend is well aware that this is a subject which has engaged, and is engaging, the most anxious attention of His Majesty's Government.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there will be a considerable redistribution of Tory seats at the next general election?

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, for the convenience of the large interests involved, he will now say definitely when the Port of London Bill will be taken, or whether it may be considered abandoned, and, in that case, when its discharge from the Order-book will be moved.

I do not think the prospects of this Bill are at all favourable. I understand that a great deal of opposition has been aroused on the subject, and it would be quite impossible, in the face of any serious opposition, to carry the Bill in the present state of public business. But I cannot make any further declaration on the subject at present.

May I ask whether, in view of the paramount necessity for setting up some authority to control the Port of London, and in view of the great interests in favour of such a measure, the right hon. Gentleman will undertake, as far as he can, of course subject to other matters, to introduce substantially the same measure early next year.

I confess that I view the position of this Bill with great regret, a Bill which I cannot help thinking is important not only from a Metropolitan, but even from a national point of view. But if, as is the case, the j representatives of the Metropolis do not take that view, it is not easy to deal with the Bill. Moreover, the Bill is not an ordinary public Bill, but a hybrid Bill, I which requires notices to be given involving great expense and difficulties above the ordinary.

Will the right hon. Gentleman specify more particularly from what quarter the opposition to this Bill has come, and can the Motion for the discharge of the Bill be put down in such a way as to give the House an opportunity of discussing the reasons why the Bill has been withdrawn?

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that the opposition to the Bill comes from Metropolitan Members.

Yes, Sir, I do. I think the request of the hon. Member for Poplar goes beyond ordinary precedent. If hon. Gentlemen desire to discuss Government Bills both when they are introduced and when they are discharged, the difficulties of carrying on public business will be greatly increased.

asked Mr. Speaker whether the charges and payments imposed by Clauses 3 and 4, as they stood and as they were proposed to be amended by the Government, ought not to be considered first by a Money Committee before the House could take cognisance of them.

I have looked into this question, and have come to the conclusion that it is not a case in which a Money Committee is required.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can now say definitely when the Colonial Office Vote will be taken.

I cannot promise on what Thursday the Colonial Vote will be taken. It may be Thursday week or Thursday fortnight. It will largely depend on the view taken by hon. Gentlemen opposite as to the topics it is most desirable to discuss in Committee of Supply.

The general feeling on this side of the House is to have this discussion, if possible, as soon as may be after the Papers are in the hands of Members.

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that any representation of that kind from him must and ought necessarily to carry great weight with the Government.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any statement to make as to business?

I hope my right hon. friend the Secretary for War will be able to make his statement on Thursday. On Friday we propose to take the Second Reading of the Defaulting Authorities Bill.