laid upon the Table Report from one of the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in the case of the following Bill, referred on the First Reading thereof, Standing Order 62 has been complied with, viz.:—Great Western Railway (Additional Powers) Bill.

asked what was the estimated amount of the stamp duty which it was proposed to compound for the sum of five pounds. And further, he would like to know what was to become of the five pounds? Would it be applied to the reduction of debt or would it go into the ordinary revenue of the year?

said he was not aware that this question would arise, but he would communicate with the hon. Member the result of the inquiries he would undertake to make. He might explain that the composition of five pounds had been made in place of the stamp duty of ten shillings on every separate deed. The arrangement was a satisfactory one to all the parties concerned, including the Exchequer, and there would be no loss of revenue.

reminded the hon. Gentleman that this stage had been twice postponed in order to get information from the Treasury. He thought it was important they should know what they were losing and what was to be done with the five pounds.

thought they might be content to let this matter go before the Committee. The question, as the hon. Member knew, was one which touched on the fringe of revenue and hence the necessity for this stage. A clause, of this nature could not be put into the Bill by the promoters. They were bound to get the sanction of the Treasury. After all, this was only a formal stage, the clause could be dealt with by the Committee upstairs, and, if necessary, when the Bill came back to the House the point could be again raised. The completion of this stage would not in any way hamper the Committee upstairs.

could not agree that this was a formal stage. It was a stage rendered necessary by the Standing Orders of the House, and he thought the questions put by the hon. Member for Halifax were extremely proper. They ought to have information on the points raised and they ought to know what was to be foregone in return for the composition. And it being quarter past Three of the clock the debate stood adjourned.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether it is competent for the memorialists who approached the Duke of Abercorn with respect to the appointment of Catholic magistrates to the petty sessions bench of Pettigo, and whose memorial was not acknowledged by the Duke of Abercorn, to approach the Lord Chancellor of Ireland directly on this matter; and whether it is competent for the Lord Chancellor to appoint to the Commission of the Peace persons of whose competence to discharge magisterial functions he may be satisfied, even although such persons be not recommended to him by the lieutenant of the county. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) The Answer is in the affirmative to both Questions. I am not aware if the communication alluded to has been addressed to the Duke of Abercorn. The Lord Chancellor always considers most carefully all recommendations, and, according to practice, consults the lieutenant of the county on the subject.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can now state the estimated amount of Loan Expenditure on Naval Works during the ensuing year. (Answered by Mr. Arthur Lee.) This amount cannot be stated, as the Naval Works Loan Bill is still under consideration.

To ask the hon. Member for Chorley, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, in view of the condition of the ride of Rotten Row, especially that portion of it lying east of the barracks, and of the long period during which this ride has been neglected, he can give an assurance that it will be now put into and kept in complete order by the remaking of the roadway, and by the allocation to it of a sufficient staff to keep it drained and in repair; and whether he can arrange that some sum, corresponding to the £4,000 recently spent on replacing over an acre of grass in the Green Park by a broad path leading no whither, can now be expended on Rotten Row. (Answered by Lord Balcarres.) The First Commissioner regrets that he is unable to give any assurance that the foundations of the ride in question will be remade this year, though he is anxious to do all in his power, by placing fresh sand, to improve its condition. The Answer to the concluding paragraph is in the negative.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Government have any information concerning troubles in the Bahr-el-Ghazal with the Azande tribe; and whether the Azandes are receiving, or have received, supplies of quick-firing rifles and ammunition through the territory of the Congo Free State. (Answered by Earl Percy.) The hon. Member presumably refers to the Niam-Niam tribe in the Azandi country. A patrol sent through that country by the Soudanese Government has encountered slight opposition from the chief of the tribe, but the matter does not appear of any material importance. As regards the second paragraph of the Question. we have received no such information.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any official information as to the building of forts in Congo Free State territory near the boundary line dividing the Congo Free State from British territory in East Africa and on the Upper Nile, the accumulation of military stores, and the increase of Congolese troops at various strategic points along these frontiers; and, if so, whether he will present it to the House. (Answered by Earl Percy.) His Majesty's Government have no information on the subject to present to the House.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in possession of any information relating to the recent misconduct of Turkish troops in the village of Kuklish in the vilayet of Salonica; whether he is aware that out of 140 houses forty-three have been burnt and a large number looted; and whether any report has been received from His Majesty's Consul at Salonica as to the number of those massacred or violated by the Turkish troops. (Answered by Earl Percy.) In reply to the hon. Member's Question and the Question which stands in the name of the hon. Member for Tyneside, it appears from a narrative supplied by a Russian gendarmerie officer, who was present during the later phases of the conflict, that the numbers of casualties and house burnt are correctly stated; but we expect shortly to be in possession of further details of the occurrence, as an inquiry has been held on the spot by the Russian Adjoint, the secretaries of the Austrian and Russian Civil Agents, and Colonel Ali Riza Bey, representing Hilmi Pasha. The revolutionary band, whose presence had been denied by the villagers when summoned to surrender them, escaped during the attack. The exact number of killed and wounded among the Turkish troops is not stated.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the statement on Friday last by the Bishop of Stepney, to the effect that there is a danger of the work of the London Unemployed Committee, established under a scheme suggested by the light hon. Gentleman, being arrested for want of money; and, if so, whether he will recommend to the First Lord of the Treasury the desirableness of making a grant of money to this Committee from Imperial sources. (Answered by Mr. Grant Lawson.)My right hon. friend has seen the letter from the Bishop of Stepney, which appeared in The Times on Friday last, and hopes that the result of the appeals made by him and others for additional subscriptions may be to provide the Central Committee with the funds which they require. My right hon. friend fears that he could not promise to make any such recommendation as that suggested by the hon. Member; but, as he stated in reply to a previous Question † from him, he has been expecting some further information from the Committee as to their financial position. I understand that this will be furnished almost immediately.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, are the income-tax returns made by private individuals and companies treated as entirely confidential by the Income-Tax Commissioners, or are they allowed to be inspected by, or is information extracted from them given to any other

† See (4) Debates, exli., 1477.

person, official or otherwise; are the officers of the Estate Duty Department allowed to obtain information regarding the income of private persons or companies from the returns made to, or the a sessments made by, the income-Tax Commissioners; if so, will he state all the officials who are allowed access to the information; and will he further state whether there is any, and, if so, what, statutory authority for the disclosure of income-tax accounts. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The Board of Inland Revenue do not consider that any use they may make of income-tax returns within their own Department, and for their own official use, constitutes a disclosure of such returns within the meaning of the provisions of the law relating to secrecy in income-tax matters. Care is taken, however, that only responsible officers should have cognisance of such matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has now received the replies to the inquiries he promised should be made as to the character of the barrack accommodation in Northern China and the health of the officers and troops; whether he will furnish a Return of the various reports made by medical and other inspecting officers as to the accommodation provided for our troops in Northern China; and how much of the money taken in the Army Estimates last year for the improvement of this accommodation at Pekin and Shan-hai-kwan has been expended. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) I have received a Report on the barrack accommodation in North China. As regards the last part of the Question, about £9,000 of the money voted for Pekin will be spent this year, but the money provided for Shan-hai-kwan will not be spent.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of statutable acres in the electoral division of Derrylaur, in the Loughrea Union; whether he will state when this district was last visited by an inspector of the Congested Districts Board; what recommendations, if any, were made by the inspector at the time, and have they been given effect to; and whether, in view of the poverty of this mountain district, he will state the total expenditure of the Congested District; Board upon works of utility in this district. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) The area of this electoral division is 10,088 acres; it contains only 88 inhabited houses. The division has not been inspected by an officer of the Board since 1893. His report is a confidential document, and I cannot disclose its contents. There has been no expenditure by the Board in the division. In 1897 they offered to contribute one-half the cost of constructing a road, estimated at £900, but the local authority did not accept the offer.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the effect on boys' schools in Ireland of the rules of the Commissioners of Education, by which boys under eight years of age are ineligible for enrolment in a boys' school unless there is an assistant-mistress on the staff; and whether, in view of this fact, he will have these rules superseded.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many men teachers is the new rule of the National Board (127b) likely to throw out of employment, and how many to place on reduced salaries; do the Commissioners intend that the rule shall apply to teachers in the service at present; and, in the event of the amalgamation of small schools, will the principal teachers of such schools, when reduced in rank, be allowed the salaries and pension rights previously held by them. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) It is not practicable to reply to these Questions to-day, as the inquiries that are being made are not yet complete. I would ask the hon. Members to postpone them until Thursday next.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland it he can state when the Commissioners of National Education intend to issue their new rules. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.)the rules are now being issued.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the police barracks at Kildalkey, county Meath, are to be disestablished; and, if so, will he state the reason, and what is the number of offences reported for the sub-districts of Ballivor, Killyon, Stirrupstown, Lisclogher, and Kildalkey for the past three years; whether a memorial, signed by persons of all creeds and classes, has been received by the the Lord-Lieutenant against any disestablishment of the barracks at Kildalkey; and, if so, what was the district inspector's report on the matter. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) It has been decided to disestablish the police stationed at Kildalkey. There are four other stations within a radius of six miles, and the authorities are satisfied that the requirements of the locality can be adequately met by the police at these stations. The offences reported during the past three years from the sub-districts named numbered 133, 80, 43, 36, and 162 respectively, all of which, with five exceptions, were minor offences. Representations have been made against the removal of the police from Kildalkey. The reports made by the district inspector and other officers of the force are confidential documents.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Estates Commissioners has been directed to the, estate of William Thomas Galway, deceased, situated in the county of Galway, and now for sale in the Land Judge's Court; and whether they have made a request under the Land Purchase Act of 1903 to the Land Judge for the purchase of this estate; and, if not, whether it is intention of the Commissioners to do so and thus give the tenants an opportunity of becoming the owners of their farms. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.)On the 2nd February the Commissioners issued to the Land Judge a request under the 7th Section of the Act with respect to this estate. The matter came before the Land Judge on the 7th instant, when directions were given to have the rental, which was settled many years ago, resettled.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the services of the Submarine Volunteer Corps, for the protection of commercial harbours, have been dispensed with because of their having failed to carry out the duties and work assigned to them, or for other reasons not explained; and whether the corps will now become Royal Engineer Volunteer Corps. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) As I have already explained to the House, submarine mining in the estuaries and harbours of the United Kingdom will be discontinued. This step has been taken after full consultation with the Board of Admiralty, who consider that under existing conditions submarine mines are not necessary for purposes of defence, and may, in some cases, constitute a danger to our own vessels. It is obvious, therefore, that the reason which has led the War Office to dispense with the submarine miners is the impossibility of utilising their services, and is due to no want of appreciation of the excellence of the work of the past. The question of how the services of officers and men who have hitherto been engaged in submarine work could be best utilised is now receiving careful consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that notice of discharge has been given to employees in the Barracks Department on the ground that they formerly served in the Army; and whether, in carrying out the policy of placing the department under a civilian head, it is also his decision that men who have served their country as soldiers are disqualified for employment in this department. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) Works under the Military Works Loans are reaching completion at twenty stations on or before the 31st March next. A considerable amount of the work done under these loans is carried out by temporary employees, and accordingly a number of these will no longer be required. The reply to both points raised in the Question is in the negative.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he has noted the statement of the Director of Recruiting that only nine posts have been filled during the year in Government offices, exclusive of the War Office, by soldiers, while the number of ex-soldiers employed in departments under Government shows considerable diminution; and what he proposes to do in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) As regards the smallness of the number of vacancies as messenger in Government offices, other than the War Office, which have been filled by pensioners, the matter is at present receiving very careful consideration. As regards the diminution of the number of ex-soldiers employed in departments under the War Office, to which the Question apparently refers, I must point out that, owing to the decrease of work in these departments since the cessation of the recent war, there has been a corresponding decrease in available employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will explain for what reason, and by whose instructions, has the Trainfield Gate, in connection with Victoria Barracks, Belfast, been closed; whether, in view of the fact that residents in the barracks have used the Trainfield Gate for years for the purpose of buying necessaries, he will direct the use of this gate as heretofore. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) My hon. friend has been some-what misinformed. The general officer commanding reports that liquor only is not permitted to be brought into the barracks through the Trainfield Gate by soldiers or their families.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether a regulation is now in force prescribing that after five years service in that rank a subaltern officer of the Royal Field Artillery cannot be appointed to serve with the Royal Horse Artillery; whether a further regulation exists that an officer who has not served in Royal Horse Artillery as a subaltern cannot be appointed as captain or major to Royal Horse Artillery; whether he is aware that, owing to the practical stoppage o£ promotion in the Royal Artillery since the South African War, officers who were on active service with field batteries during that war, and were thus precluded from obtaining appointments to Royal Horse Artillery, have now completed five years service and are thus, under above rules, precluded from appointment to; Royal Horse Artillery; and whether he will, under the circumstances, not enforce the prohibition against these officers serving in the higher ranks when through the exigencies of active service they have been prevented from serving as subalterns with Royal Horse Artillery. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) It has been the rule for many years that subalterns should not be appointed to the Horse Artillery after completion of five years service. Officers who have been passed over as subalterns for this reason are not, however, debarred from appointment in the next rank. There is no intention, therefore, of precluding such officers as those alluded to in the last part of the Question from appointment to Horse Artillery hereafter, provided that they are in every other way qualified.

To ask the Secretary of State for War when the building of the married soldiers' quarters, Artillery Place, Woolwich, for which the House has voted the money, will be commenced. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold -Forster.) The scheme is being pressed forward with a view to commencing building operations early in the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on last St. Patrick's Day, which is in Ireland a religious festival and a statutory national holiday, there was a field day for the garrisons of Newbridge, Kildare, and the Curragh, the Catholic troops being thus unable to assist at divine service and the, inhabitants of the area covered by those operations being put to inconvenience; and whether steps will be taken in future that field days will be fixed on days other than St. Patrick's Day or other Catholic holidays. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The responsibility for the training and exercise of the troops in Ireland rests with the General Commanding-in-Chief there, and it is not desirable to interfere with his discretion in these matters. I will, however, under the special circumstances bring this particular matter to his notice.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Comptroller and Auditor-General of Public Accounts addressed inquiries to the War Office on the 26th April, 1904, to ascertain what were the terms of the contracts for the supply of jam to the War Office for South Africa; what examination had been made to insure that full contract weights were delivered; and whether a reported deficiency of 337,704 lbs. was investigated by a Court of inquiry and reported to the Treasury; and that the War Office neglected for more than ten months to reply to the Auditor-General's inquiries; and whether any reply has in fact yet been furnished; and, if so, what is the nature of the reply. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) This Question deals with a matter arising from the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on the accounts for 1903–4. These matters will come before the Public Accounts Committee, and I am not, therefore, prepared to discuss them at the present time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any communication from any of the self-governing Colonies urging the legalisation in the United Kingdom of marriages lawfully contracted in other parts of the Empire; and, if so, whether he proposes any action. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) I can only refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Answer given by the Prime Minister to a similar Question asked on the 20th February †.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, is the Imperial. Government responsible for interest and principal on the Lagos Government3½per cent. Inscribed Stock; and whether, seeing that the security for the loan, principal and interest, is the surplus revenue of the Lagos Government, and in view of the proportion of that revenue derived from the import of gin and rum, will he say what steps have been taken to secure the loan in the event of the duties on gin and rum being largely increased or restriction imposed upon the sale of the same to natives. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) With regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer the lion. Member to the prospectus of the loan, from which he will also perceive that the

†See (4) Dabets, cxli., 620.

loan is secured on the general revenues and assets of the Colony. No steps such as are indicated by the hon. Member have been taken or are necessary or usual. Both the expenditure of the Colony and the taxation from which the revenue is derived are subject to the sanction of the Secretary of State. If the revenue received from the import duties on gin and rum should be reduced from any cause, there is no reason whatever to suppose that the Colony will not be able to meet its obligations by obtaining the requisite amount from other sources or by reducing its expenditure if necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that the profits derived by the Transvaal Government from the Premier Mine will be more than sufficient to meet the interest and sinking fund on the first £10,000,000 of the Transvaal contribution, he will say whether the mineowners have represented to Lord Milner that the floating of this loan was inopportune till the revenues from the Premier Mine would meet the interest and sinking fund on such loan; and, if so, whether he will lay upon the Table the despatches he has received from Lord Milner bearing on this question of the revenues of the Premier Mine in respect to the financial position of the Transvaal. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) I have no information as to any such representations having been made to Lord Milner.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the directors of the Premier Mine have entered into an agreement with a Mr. S. Neumann, a director of the Premier Mine, giving this gentleman the sale of all diamonds found in the Premier Mine; and whether, seeing this gentleman is associated in business with the directors of the De Beers Mine, a competing company, he will say what steps, if any, he proposes taking to safeguard the interests of the Transvaal Government in connection with the sale of these diamonds. (Ansivered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) I have received no information to this effect.

To ask the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government has received any official information to the effect that on 16th February the village of Kuklish, near Strouhnitza, was sacked and burned by Turkish troops; that while an insurgent band of twelve men was allowed to escape from the village thirty-six villagers and one girl were massacred and many women violated; and, if so, whether he proposes to make any representations on the subject. (Answered by Earl Percy.) In reply to the hon. Member's Question, and the Question which stands in the name of the right hon. Baronet the Member for Walsall, it appears from a narrative supplied by a Russian gendarmerie officer, who was present during the later phases of the conflict, that the numbers of casualties and houses burnt are correctly stated; but we expect shortly to be in possession of further details of the occurrence, as an inquiry has been held on the spot by the Russian Adjoint, the secretaries of the Austrian and Russian Civil Agents, and Colonel Ali Riza Bey, representing Hilmi Pasha. The revolutionary band, whose presence had been denied by the villagers when summoned to surrender them, escaped during the attack. The exact number of killed and wounded among the Turkish troops is not stated.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether the attention of the Board of Education has been directed to the evidence given in December, 1903, by Dr. Eichholz, one of their inspectors, before the Committee on Physical Deterioration, in which he testifies that in a school in Lambeth he considered 90 per cent. of the children unable, by reason of their physical condition, to attend to the duties of the school in a proper way; that in a school in West Ham he found in a similar condition, 87 per cent. of the infants, and 77 per cent. of the elders; in a school in Manchester, 66 per cent.; in another Manchester school, 60 per cent, of the infants, 44 per cent. in the lower standards, and 27 per cent. in the upper standards; and in many schools in other towns a considerable, though less, proportion; and what steps the Board of Education have taken to prevent the waste of public money involved in providing instruction for children thus unfit to receive it. (Answered by Sir William Anson.) I have carefully read the evidence referred to, and have myself visited the Lambeth school referred to in the Question. The right hon. Member is probably aware that there are very wide differences of opinion as to the extent of the evil complained of, and the remedies to be applied. A Departmental Committee has been appointed by the Lord President for the purpose of providing useful and precise information on the subject.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the wording of the purchase agreement between the Government and the National Telephone Company in relation to the staff of the company is causing uncertainty amongst the employees and may check the entrance of qualified candidates during the next seven years, thus affecting the efficiency of a future Government service, he can give any definite assurance that the members of the staff will be taken into the Government service upon the transfer in 1911 provided by the agreement. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) When, as provided by the agreement, the National Telephone Company's system is purchased in 1911 it will be necessary for the Post Office to provide a staff to carry on the service. It seems probable, therefore, that employment will be offered to qualified members of the National Telephone Company's staff whose services are necessary for that purpose. The reasonable probability of employment in the Post Office service with its many advantages will, I feel sure, be sufficient to attract qualified candidates during the next seven years; and I am convinced that any definite assurance or undertaking given now as to the transfer of staff or the conditions of service under the Post Office would be found very embarrassing by my successor in 1911.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, in considering the claims of the provincial night messengers, the scale of pay of the night messengers at Sheffield and Hull at present in force will be taken into account as well as the advisability of awarding good conduct badges to messengers of approved service, or whether he will consider the question of establishing a scale of pay for these officials on a similar basis to that prevailing in the Customs service for watchers employed in somewhat similar duties as the night messengers. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) The scale of pay for the adult night telegraph messengers at Sheffield and Hull is obsolete, and cannot, therefore, be taken into account as the hon. Member suggests. I see no reason for awarding good conduct stripes to provincial night telegraph messengers, but I am considering their rate of pay, and, if I find any change is necessary, I will announce it when I am able to state to the House my decision as regards other classes.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether the appointment to the sub-post office, Rutland Street, Limerick, has yet been filled; and, if so, by whom; will he say if the person appointed must have a knowledge of post office work; and whether consideration has yet been given to the memorial asking that telegraphic communication be made with the branch post office, William Street, Limerick. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) The vacancy at the sub-post office at Rutland Street, Limerick, has been filled by the appointment of Mr. Patrick Webster. It is not essential that the person appointed should himself have a knowledge of post office work. Consideration is being given to the memorial asking for a telegraph extension to William Street, Limerick. I fear, however, that such an extension will not prove to be warranted.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he will state the number of evicted tenants in North Wexford in November, 1903; the number of cases settled since that date; the number of cases in process of settlement; and the amount of money granted to the evicted tenants whose cases have been settled up to the present in North Wexford. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) The Estates Commissioners have received application from 192 persons claiming reinstatement as evicted tenants in this county since the passing of The Irish Land Act, 1903. The applications are not tabulated according to Parliamentary divisions. Of these 192 persons, five are outside the scope of the provisions of the Act. The Commissioners have reinstated thirty-seven in their former or new holdings, and it is hoped to reinstate six others at an early date. The landlords have, it is understood, restored some thirty or more evicted tenants. The Commissioners have advanced sums amounting to £3,674 for the improvement of the holdings of reinstated tenants in the county.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he will state whether any steps will be taken by the Land Commission to hold a sitting for the hearing of appeals at an early date in Longford; and, if so, when. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) A sitting will be held at Longford on the 30th May next.

To ask the Lord-Advocate whether, in view of the destruction to the gear of fishermen which has been caused during the past two months by trawlers that have been trawling in prohibited waters off the Isle of May, the cruiser "Brenda" will be stationed more continuously off the Isle of May; and whether he will reconsider the advisability of making arrangements whereby the lightkeepers on the Isle of May might report to the police authorities cases of illegal trawling coming under their notice. (Answered by Mr. Scott Dickson.) The Secretary for Scotland has drawn the attention of the Fishery Board to the matter referred to by the hon. Member, and has requested them to instruct that these waters should be as closely patrolled as duties on other parts of the coast permit. He will communicate with the Northern Lights Commissioners with reference to the latter part of the Question.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to a recent judgment in the Cardiff County Court in which it was revealed that a one-man company incorporated under the Companies Acts cannot be punished for any disregard of the poison regulations sanctioned by the Privy Council; and whether, in the public interest, the Departmental Committee of Inquiry on the Companies Acts will be directed to consider and report on this effect of incorporation. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) My attention has not been called to the recent judgment in the Cardiff County Court referred to in the Question. The Board of Trade are not prepared to direct the Departmental Committee of Inquiry on the Companies Acts to consider and report on the sale of poisons by one-man or other companies, inasmuch as any amendment of the law in this respect would not be germane to a Companies Bill.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Master of the Rolls in the High Court of Justice in Ireland (Chancery Division) in the case of the Attorney-General v. Appleton and others; and whether the Board of Trade proposes to take any action in reference to that decision with a view to preventing in Great Britain such abuses of the Companies Acts as were disclosed in the course of the proceedings. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) My attention has been called to the decision in the case of the Attorney-General v. Appleton. The Board of Trade are at the present moment taking the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown with regard to the instructions to be given by the Board of Trade to the Registrars of Joint Stock Companies in England, Scotland, and Ireland as to the registration of dentist companies.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state who is the harbour or conservancy authority or the general lighthouse authority for the district whose duty it is to remove the wreck of the "Albert," which lies off Blackwater, in the county of Wexford. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I am informed that this vessel was wrecked some fifty or sixty years ago, and a few remaining portions of her lie within 200 yards of the shore, inside the limits of jurisdiction of the Wexford Harbour Commissioners, who have power under Section 530 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, to remove or destroy any vessel that may be sunk in the harbour or tidal water under their control in such manner as in their opinion to be an obstruction or danger to navigation or to lifeboats engaged in lifeboat service.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the medical inspectors of the Local Government Board are permitted to accept appointments for pay outside their official duties. (Answered by Mr. Grant Lawson.) A medical inspector is required to devote the whole of his official time to the duties of his office; but this is not intended to interfere with the manner in which he employs the rest of his time or his holidays.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of accidents reported by the police during the last three years as having occurred in the streets of the Metropolis through gas escaping into a telegraph inspection chamber and coming into contact with leakage in an electric wire; and will he state whether such accidents are brought under the notice of the Postmaster-General with a view to the insulation of the electric wires, or such other preventive measures as may be deemed prudent. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) During the three years ending on 31st December, 1904, the Metropolitan police reported six explosions as having been caused by gas escaping into a telegraph inspection chamber and coming into contact with a leakage in an electric wire; and a seventh case, in which a similar explosion of gas in a telegraph inspection chamber was supposed to have been caused by a lighted match. In addition to these seven cases, the police reported twenty-three similar accidents in which explosions occurred through the accumulation of gas in electric light or supply boxes. It is the duty of the police to report such accidents at once to the Post Office authorities or to the electric supply companies, as the case may be.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any information showing the number of young persons of sixteen and seventeen years of age employed underground in coal mine in the United Kingdom; and if he could furnish an approximate estimate of the number so employed in 1903 or 1904. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) The number of young persons under sixteen employed below ground in mines under the Coal Mines Act was, in 1903, 45,234; and in 1904, 44,628. I regret that I cannot give the number of persons between sixteen and seventeen so employed, as the returns which owners are required by the Act to make do not distinguish the ages over sixteen.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the number of deaths which have recently occurred through accidental poisoning; whether he is aware that a locking poison bottle has been recently invented by which, at a trifling cost, accidental poisoning can be prevented; and, if so, whether he will take steps to compel distributors of carbolic acid and other virulent poisons to refrain from selling poisons except in some kind of locked bottle. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) My attention has been drawn to several recent cases of accidental poisoning, and also to several inventions designed to minimise the risk of such accidents. Under the regulations made by the Pharmaceutical Society under Section 1 of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, and approved by the Privy Council, it is at the present time required that all liniments, embrocations, lotions, and liquid disinfectants containing poison must be sold in bottles rendered distinguishable by touch from ordinary medicine bottles, and that each such bottle must bear a label giving notice that its contents are not to be taken internally. The Lord President of the Council is of opinion that it would be undesirable to prescribe the use of any special form of bottle which might give a monopoly to the patentee, and further, that the inconvenience of a locked bottle might not improbably lead careless purchasers to transfer its contents into some ordinary vessel.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Board of Customs by their General Order 78 of 1902, had granted an annual allowance of £15 as compensation for retardation of promotion to officers who served less than twelve years in the grade of outdoor officer prior to promotion to the rank of second-class examining officer; and, if so, whether he can state upon what grounds a similar allowance of £15 has been refused to those officers who joined the Customs service between 1885 and 1888, all of whom served as outdoor officers and assistants for twelve years and upwards before being promoted to the rank of second-class examining officer. (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) The condition of the two classes of officers referred to by the hon. Member is dissimilar. Officers who were appointed between 1885 and 1888 were in a position to forecast their prospects better than the entrants during and prior to 1883, who could not have foreseen that their promotion might be retarded by the warehousing changes effected in 1882 and 1883.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether there is now a prospect of the ancient ruins of St. Mels Cathedral at Ardagh being vested in the Board of Works for the purpose of protection under the Ancient Monuments Act. (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member on July 18th, 1903, on this matter. The circumstances therein described remain unaltered.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether there will be placed before Parliament, at the earliest practicable date, a full report of the proceedings in the case Imperator v. A. C. Rolt, tried in the Calcutta High Court on 20th December, 1904, together with full particulars of the action taken in the early stages of the suit by the Collector of Purneah and the Commissioner of Bhagalpur (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) I am in communication with the Government of India with regard to this matter, and I do not at present see any sufficient reason for laying Papers regarding it before Parliament.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number and character of the relief works now in operation in the Clifden and Oughterard Unions, county Galway; the

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that many of those Queen's scholars who were in training at the time of the abolition of the results system got notifications from the Pension Office to the effect that they were recognised as second-class teachers, and, as such, are subjected to the stoppage of this class for the Pension Fund; that they are now paid third-grade salary; that, in the year 1900, the words "Special

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, in connection with the residence attached to St. James' Mixed National School, Athboy, county Meath, no outlet was provided in the Board of Works' plans for surface water, although the residence is surrounded by high ground; that, as a consequence, the foundations sank immediately after the residence was built, and the house had to be rebuilt at the expense of the manager; and whether, seeing that the manager was refused any aid by the Commissioners, although he offered to bear a reasonable proportion of the cost, and that this site has been condemned by the medical officer of health as insanitary from want of drainage, he

To ask the Secretary of State for War how many resignations of officers and of non-commissioned officers and privates have been received from the Volunteer Force between October 1st, 1904, to December 31st, 1904; and how the numbers compare with those in the same period of the preceding year; and how many officers were appointed and how many recruits joined within the same time in each of the two years. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The figures are as follow:—

To ask the Secretary of State for War what was the length of Colour service, Reserve service, and pay in the Regular Army in 1895; what have been the changes since in service, both Colour and Reserve, and pay; also the number of recruits enlisted each year since that date. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) I cannot undertake within the limits of a reply to a Question to give the hon. Member the full information for which he asks. As regards the Colour and Reserve service, and the number of recruits enlisted, he will find full information in the General Annual Report of the British Army in Part III. Table 6, for the years up to 1902, and including nine months of 1903, and in the Annual Report of the Director of Recruiting and Organisation for 1903–4. The General Annual Report for 1904 will be very shortly published. As regards the pay, the figures for the infantry will doubtless serve the hon. Member's purpose, and are as follows:—The pay of a private of

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state where schools of instruction for Volunteer officers are held, and the regulations and conditions of attendance attached to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state the strength, excluding permanent staff, of officers and men, respectively, serving in the Militia at the commencement of the years 1899 to 1905 inclusive. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The figures are as follows:—

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty who was the official employed to report on the alternative anchorages for the disused ironclads recommended by the Clyde Yacht Clubs; and whether he will lay upon the Table particulars of the report which induced the Admiralty to retain the vessels in their present positions.

The Admiralty has acted on the advice of its professional officers and is alone responsible. It is neither usual nor desirable to comply with the request contained in the latter part of the hon. Member's Question.

If it is necessary to have this "Rotten Row" why not have it at Felixstowe?

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Dockyard Expenses Account, 1903–4, to which reference is made in Return No. 74 of vessels struck off the effective list, is not yet issued; and will he state the number and names of the vessels in the above Return which would come under the heading, in former Dockyard Expenses Accounts, "ships unfit for service and ordered to be sold."

The Dockyard Expense Accounts, 1903–4, will be in the hands of hon. Members on Wednesday next. The number of vessels included in the Return which were classified in ormer Dockyard Expense Accounts (1902–3) as "unfit for service or ordered to be sold, &c.,"is nineteen, and their names are as follows:—Amphion, Melita, Peacock, Pheasant, Pigeon, Ringdove, Flamingo, Iron Duke, Emerald (old), Widgeon (old), Dapper, Forte, Hector, Raleigh, Boadicea, Active, Pigmy, Fancy, and Swinger. These vessels were included in the previous Dockyard Expense Accounts under the heading mentioned, but their classification has since been amended as shown in Return No. 74.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether, in order to provide work for Englishmen, the Admiralty will arrange to have these ships broken up in this country?

As far as possible that will be done.

Then the headings of these accounts are being entirely altered.

Yes, in the manner shown in the Return.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, under the new Russo-German Treaty, Russian sugar can be imported into Germany on paying a surtax of six francs the 100 kilos., and that surtax is sufficiently high to countervail the Russian bounty; that, under the same treaty, Russian sugar may be ground, coloured, repacked, and exported from Germany so long as the word Russia is placed on the packages; and, if so, whether it is necessary to put the word Russia on original packages, not repacked, on export from Germany; and, if not, what steps do the Government propose to take to prevent the importation of Russian sugar into the United Kingdom by way of Germany; whether the arrangements made between Russia and Germany have been agreed to by the British Government and by the Permanent Sugar Commission at Brussels; and, if not, whether they amount to a breach of the International Sugar Convention, which would justify the exclusion of German as well as Russian sugar from the United Kingdom.

The statement in the first part of the Question is without foundation. As regards the second part of the Question, the treaty provision to which I suppose allusion is made is that whereby Germany agrees to adopt no restrictive measures with regard to the importation of Russian sugar destined for re-exportation or the operations to which such sugar is allowed to be subjected in German ports. All sugar imported into this country has to be accompanied by a certificate of origin showing inter alia the country of production and origin, and signed by the fiscal authority having jurisdiction at the place of production, despatch, or transformation of the sugar. I am not in a position to give an interpretation of the effect of the treaty arrangements between Russia and Germany. Should the Permanent Commission consider that any steps taken by one of the contracting States infringe the Convention they would no doubt report accordingly.

Is the import of Russian sugar for the purpose of re-exportation allowed into this country as well as Germany?

No, Sir, it is not.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that immediately before or just after the Brussels Sugar Convention came into operation the rates of freight on German State railways were materially reduced, in order to partially make up to the German sugar producers for the removal of the sugar bounties; does such reduction amount to an indirect export bounty; and, if so, whether, under such circumstances, he proposes to exclude German sugar from this country.

In the spring of 1904 the question of proposed reductions of sugar freights was considered by the Permanent Tariff Commission of the Prussian Railways, which reported against the proposal. Since then no change has been made.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Board has received an application for a licence to incorporate a society for the higher education of nurses, from gentlemen unconnected with medicine or surgery; and, if so, do the Board still adhere to the view expressed in a letter written by the Board on August 6th, 1891, to Dr. Bedford Fenwick, in which it was seated that it appeared to the Board of Trade that they were not competent to determine the very important question connected with the establishment of a register of nurses, which should be settled before the register can be effectively established; and that, under the circumstances, the Board of Trade were unable to grant the desired licence to the Royal British Nurses' Association; and that the Board were convinced that full inquiry (by competent authorities) into all the facts and circumstances of the case, and into the objections that have been raised, should precede any further steps on the part of the Government; and whether, if any change has since taken place in the policy of the Board in dealing with the question of the registration of nurses, he can indicate the nature and grounds of such change.

An application has been received by the Board of Trade for a licence to incorporate under Section 23 of the Companies Act, 1867, without the word "limited," a society for the higher education of nurses. The proposed memorandum and articles of association which have been submitted to the Board of Trade are subscribed by seven gentlemen, none of whom are members of the medical or surgical profession, one of whom, however, is the Chairman of a London hospital. The Board of Trade propose to hear both the applicants and the objectors to the grant of a licence, and until after such hearing do not propose to come to any decision as to policy or otherwise.

Has any change taken place since the decision of 1891, and if so, what?

I do not think we consider ourselves bound by the decision of 1891.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the influx of conventual and monastic institutions from France; whether there is any official record of their numbers; and whether the Government propose to take any steps to secure their inspection.

I am aware that a considerable influx of these institutions has taken place, but there is no official record of their numbers. They are, of course, subject to the ordinary law of the land; and I am not aware that any special inspection is required.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman on what ground he bases his statement that there is no ground for special inspection?

I said that I am not aware that any special inspection is required. I would remind the hon. Gentleman that if these institutions require to be inspected they will be inspected under the ordinary law of the land.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any knowledge that they are only religious institutions?

May I ask whether conventual laundries are inspected under the ordinary law?

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the influx of Scotch candidates into Welsh constituencies?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of aliens at present undergoing sentences in His Majesty's prisons in the United Kingdom; and how the figures compare with the four previous years.

The total number of convicted aliens received into prisons in England and Wales was, in the year 1899, 2,437; 1900, 2,761; 1901, 3,101; 1902, 3,845; 1903, 4,099. The figures for 1904 shall be sent to the hon. Member as soon as they are completed. To give the figures for a particular day would involve the collection of a special return, and they would be much less satisfactory, for purposes of comparison, than the total number received.

Does this increase approximate to the general increase of crime in this country?

asked for notice of that Question.

Is it a fact there is a general increase of crime in this country?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to introduce legislation this session to regulate the sale of poisons; and, in view of the deaths which have occurred through the taking of poisons by misadventure, notably a recent case in which a fetal dose of carbolic acid was administered to a patient under the impression that the bottle contained the prescribed medicine, will he take into consideration the advantage to be derived from a clause directing that all poisons shall be sold in bottles of a distinctive shape, so that the risk of bottles of poison being mistaken for medicine may be reduced to a minimum.

The Lord President of the Council has under his consideration the question of legislation on this subject, but I am not in a position to make any statement as to the introduction of a Bill. Under the Regulations made by the Pharmaceutical Society under Section 1 of the Pharmacy Act, 1868, and approved by the Privy Council, it is at the present time required that all liniments, embrocations, lotions, and liquid disinfectants containing poison must be sold in bottles rendered distinguishable by touch from ordinary medicine bottles, and that each such bottle must bear a label giving notice that its contents are not to be taken internally.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the Registrar of Friendly Societies is empowered to compel the attendance of depositors in the Savings Bank to appear before him and answer for the means by which such deposits were procured; and further, seeing that this practice may entail serious expense and very often inconvenience on depositors, will he take steps to have this alleged grievance removed.

The Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies is not under my control; and it is not, therefore, within my province to reply to the hon. Member's Question. I may say, however, that I am not aware of any suggestion for a cheaper or more convenient method of settling disputes between Savings Bank authorities and depositors than that at present in force.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General can ho say under what statutory authority the Registrar of Friendly Societies is empowered to inspect the accounts of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank; under what conditions is this inspection made, and are the whole of the accounts of Savings Bank depositors open to this inspection; are there any other authorities or persons who are allowed to inspect Savings Bank deposit accounts; and, if so, who are they; and can he assure the House that in future these accounts will be regarded as secret and confidential, and will not be permitted by him to be inspected by any other person than the depositor; or, in the alternative, will he undertake that they shall be open to inspection by all creditors of the depositor, or other persons having pecuniary interest in the inspection.

Section 15 of the Savings Bank Act of 1844, which defines the powers with reference to Post Office Savings Bank matters which are now vested in the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, authorises the inspection of any book or books relating to the matters in dispute. With the exception of the Assistant Registrars in Edinburgh and Dublin, who act on behalf of the Chief Registrar, no other authorities or persons are allowed to inspect Savings Bank deposit accounts, unless under the order of the Judge of some competent Court. The statutory obligation to treat depositors' accounts as secret and confidential will be carefully observed in future, as it is now, and as it has been in the past. The hon. Member's alternative suggestion is incompatible with the observance of this obligation, and I do not propose to adopt it.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the Postmaster-General in 1903 appointed a Committee, presided over by Sir E. Bradford, to investigate the question of wages amongst certain classes of postal workers, that an assurance was given that the composition of the Committee would command the confidence of the House as well as the general public, that the staff were asked in the official circular to give evidence before it, and that nearly two years have transpired since the original promise of the formation of the Committee was announced, he will, in view of the condition of unrest among the postal and telegraph staffs, and in the interest of the efficiency of the service, declare his intention of adopting, as dating from May. 1904, the whole of the remedial recommendations of the Bradford Committee.

No, Sir. I have already announced publicly that I am not prepared to take the course suggested by the hon. Member; but I propose shortly to announce the changes in wages which I find to be justified. Provision is made for these changes in the Estimates for the coming financial year.

Is the noble Lord aware that the seething discontent in the service is now aggravated by his announced intention to brush aside the Bradford Report? Can he not pledge himself to adopt that Report?

No, I shall bring forward the scheme I feel justified in proposing.

But will the noble Lord have regard to the recommendations of, and views expressed by, the Bradford Committee.

No, I propose to bring out the scheme I think most desirable.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the accommodation afforded at the Dingwall Post Office is altogether inadequate for the increasing postal and telegraph business; and will he consider the expediency of making arrangements for more commodious premises.

There is no doubt that, although the accommodation for the public in the Dingwall Post Office is fairly good, the rest of the accommodation is rather cramped. I shall be glad to consider any offer of a suitable building or site for an enlarged office.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether arrangements can be made for the delivery of letters in the township of Inverpolly, near Ullapool, Ross-shire.

There is already a delivery at Inverpolly Lodge, but I find that at a shepard's cottage three miles away no delivery is at present afforde. The amount of correspondence for this cottage is very small indeed, and as the cost of servicing it would be 1s.6d. on each occasion, I should not be justified in sending the postman there every time a letter arrived. If, however, a delivery once a fortnight would be acceptable, I will give instructions for such a service to be afforded.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that the net profits of the Girls Public Day School Company for 1904 was £9,327 or over 7 per cent, on the capital, and that of this profit £4,200 was received from Imperial taxation, out of grants from the Education Department; and whether, seeing that he stated on the 26th July, 1904, that these grants, would be discontinued after July, 1904, he is aware that the fees of the pupils in those schools average £15 a year per pupil; and whether, if these grants are to be continued to pay dividends on. educational joint stock companies, they are to be given also to all other private adventure schools for the children of well-to-do parents.

As regards the first part of the Question, I may remind the hon. Member that by their articles of association the Girls Public Day School Company are not allowed to pay a dividend of more than 4 per cent. All profits beyond this amount go for educational purposes. As regards the second part of the Question, I can assure the hon. Member that no grants will under any circumstances be paid after the end of the current educational year to the schools conducted by this company or any other similar body, unless they can so alter their constitution as to come within the present requirements of the Board.

Is it not the fact that although they only paid 4per cent dividend the company earned 7 per cent.?

That may be so; but, if so, the rest went to educational purposes.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether representations from local authorities for education against the Board's requirement as to fees and restriction of free places in schools for other than elementary education, provided or aided by a local authority, have been received by the Board; and, if so, in how many cases.

Representations have been received by the Board from various local education authorities, but I am afraid I cannot state the number.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate if he will state the quantity of line-caught fish landed in the Island of Lewis by Lewis fishing boats for the years 1901, 1902, 1903, and 1904.

The estimated quantities of line-caught fish landed on the Island of Lewis were:—In 1901, 63,895 cwts.; in 1902, 42,669 cwts.; in 1903, 36,067 cwts.; in 1904, 64,192 cwts.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate whether he is aware that at a recent meeting of fishermen at Portnaguran, Island of Lewis, disappointment was expressed that the scope of the inquiry of the Mansfield Commission was not extended to the Island of Lewis, in view of the depletion in the line-fishing industry in that island; and will he state whether the Secretary for Scotland can see his way to receive a deputation from the island consisting of the Secretary to the Lewis and Harris Fishermen's Association, and other representative fishermen, in order that the difficulties under which the fishermen labour may be personally placed before him.

The Answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative. The Secretary for Scotland does not consider that it would serve any useful purpose to receive the proposed deputation. For his reasons for arriving at this conclusion I may refer the hon. Member to a letter on this subject addressed to him on February 15th.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate if he is aware that churches which may have been occasionally used for temperance meetings, lectures, and objects connected with Christianity have been called upon to pay rates, and that exceptions have been made in certain cases in respect of parish churches; and, if so, whether, in remote districts where no other building is available for such meetings, the old practice will be reverted to.

The matter referred to by the hon. Member is governed by the Statute 37 and 38 Vic. c. 20. An important decision was given by the Court of Session in January, 1901, in a sense adverse to exemption in the particular case before it (The Trustees of United Free Church v. Parish Council Edinburgh 3 Fraser 414). The Secretary for Scotland is unable to take any action, the question being one which must be governed by the decision of the Courts. I am not aware of the exceptions referred to. Details as to the exemptions allowed are given in the Local Government Board's circular of 28th October, 1896.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that by a recent decision in the Court of Appeal in Ireland, in the case of W. J. Armstrong, Shankhill Road, Belfast, with regard to the valuation of his licensed premises by the Commissioners of Valuation, the principle is laid down that licensed public-houses in Ireland may be valued in regard to their licences; and, if so, whether, seeing that the Irish practice is recognised in the Inland Revenue Act of 1880, which was passed for Excise purposes, and that the effect of the judgment of the Court of Appeal would be that a much heavier burden would be laid on the licensed traders of Belfast, he will, in view of the disparity of the taxation and the taxable capacity of England and Ireland, introduce legislation to restore the Irish practice in regard to publicans' licences.

I cannot admit the construction put by the hon. Member on the Inland Revenue Act of 1880. The chief benefit of the increase in rating upheld by the judgment of the Court of Appeal will be conferred on the general body of the ratepayers of Belfast. The practice referred to is identical with that prevailing in England. There is no intention to introduce legislation on the subject.

Is it not the fact that the ratepayers of Belfast in the city council protested against this; was not a Select Committee appointed to deal with the matter, and did it not object to the system on which the valuation has been based; and will its recommendations be carried into effect?

reply was inaudible.

The Select Committee in its Report condemned——

Order, order! The hon. Member cannot make a statement.

Well, do the Government intend to carry out the recommendations of the Committee?

I have said there is no intention to introduce legislation.

Was Ireland not exceptionally treated by the Act of 1880 by allowing 20 per cent, to be added to the valuation in consequence of the lower valuation under the Act of 1852?

That was not the question discussed in the Court of Appeal.

pressed for a more definite Answer, but Mr. SPEAKER directed that notice must be given of any further Questions.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether the Government or the Lord-Lieutenant has issued any regulations, directions, or instructions, in correspondence or otherwise, to the Estates Commissioners causing an alteration in any way of their policy or administration of the Land Act of 1903 in respect to evicted tenants, or the sale of estates, or any other matter connected with their administration of the Act; and, if so, whether these regulations, directions, or instructions will be laid on the Table of the House in accordance with the pledge given by the right hon. Member for Dover on behalf of the Government on July 1st, 1903.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the confidential communications in relation to the reinstatement of evicted tenants, which have been addressed to the Estates Commissioners by the Irish Government, were of such a character as to control in any way the discretion of the Estates Commissioners in dealing with carrying out the work of reinstatement.

My right hon. friend the Member for Dover stated on February 20th†that no regulations of the nature contemplated by Section 23, Subsection 8, of the Act of 1903 had yet been made. There has been no change in the position in this respect since that date. Communications have passed between my right hon. friend and the Commissioners, but these are Departmental and of a confidential character. I would ask the hon. and learned Gentleman to postpone the last query till my right hon. friend the new Chief Secretary has had an opportunity of considering the whole matter.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for

† See (4) Dubates, exli., 609.

Ireland whether county councillors, district councillors, or Poor Law guardians holding uncontested seats may act as presiding officers at the forthcoming election of county and district councillors in Ireland.

This is an abstract question upon which I must respectfully decline to express an opinion.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he will state the reason for the delay in proceeding with the construction of the proposed new piers at Belmullet, Mallaranny, and Innishlyre, county Mayo; and, if it is still proposed to go on with these works, when a beginning will be made.

Negotiations are still in progress between the Government and the Midland Great Western Railway Company in reference to the scheme of which the construction of marine works in the county Mayo formed a part. Until these negotiations have been brought to a conclusion I cannot make any further statement in the matter.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether the town of Boyle, situate on the King-Harman Estate, recently sold under the Land Act of 1903, has been included in the general terms of sale to the tenants, both urban and rural, and that these terms have been ratified by the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, will he state what action will be taken in regard to the case of Ballymote, on the Gore Booth Estate, similar in all respects to that of Boyle.

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the negative. I beg to refer to my reply to the Questions of the hon. Member for North Roscommon on the 7th instant,† in which the facts were fully set forth. On the 9th instant.‡ I informed the hon. Member that the town of Ballymote was expressly excluded from the originating

† See page 583.

‡ See page 93I.

application lodged in the case of the Gore Booth Estate.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland, will he explain why Sligo, although a maritime county, has hitherto received no grant under the Marine Works Act, or from any other fund; whether he is aware that the necessity for the opening of marine and other works of public utility has been repeatedly urged on the Government by the county council and other local public bodies; and whether, seeing that distress exists in many portions of the county, the Government will now consent to the giving of a grant towards the drainage of the Owenmore, and the erection of piers in Sligo.

The money provided by the Marine Works Act was allocated to works, the selection of which was made according to their relative importance. For this reason it was not found practicable to expend any portion of the money in Sligo. But the hon. Member is in error in stating that no grants have been made to the county from other funds. Free grants amounting to £18,814 have been expended in marine works in this county under the 43 Vic. cap. 14 and the 46 & 47 Vic. cap. 26. In addition, the greater part of the free grant of over £88,000 on the Swinford-Collooney Railway was expended in Sligo. There are no funds at the disposal of Government for undertaking the works mentioned at the end of the Question. The Congested Districts Board, however, has undertaken to construct a small pier at Knocklane at a cost of £300, and the county council have agreed to contribute the sum of £100 towards the work.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he can state if H. J. Livingstone, late of Newry, absconded before, or if he absconded after, the issue of the warrant for his arrest.

I beg also to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he can state under what statute the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary was empowered to forbid the execution of the warrant issued by a resident magistrate in public Court, for the arrest of H. J. Livingstone, of Newry; whether he can state the precedents, if any, for such a course; and whether he can state what official or what member of the Government directed the Inspector-General not to execute the warrant.

Livingstone had, before the warrant issued, left his usual place of abode in Newry, and it is believed had succeeded in escaping from this kingdom. I have already informed the hon. Member that no direction was given relative to the execution in this country of the warrant against Livingstone. Livingstone had absconded before any direction was asked for, and the direction given had reference solely to the steps necessary to be taken to have him arrested abroad and brought back to this country. The charge made in general terms was one for which the accused person could not be prosecuted under the 24 & 25 Viet, c. 96 s. 80, without the sanction of the Attorney-General. Every effort was made to obtain evidence to sustain the charge, and as sufficient evidence was not forthcoming a direction was in the usual course given by the Irish Executive to the Inspector-General not to take any steps, which would necessarily have been futile, to have Livingstone arrested abroad. I decline to give a list of such cases, which are of frequent occurrence, and I also decline to state the names of the officials before whom the matter came, or by whom the directions were given.

Do I understand that the right hon. Gentleman himself directed the Inspector-General with regard to this matter?

The hon. Member must understand nothing of the kind.

Did Livingstone abscond before the warrant was issued?

He had left the place before the information was sworn on which the warrant was granted.

Then on what authority did the right hon. Gentleman the other day make the misleading statement that he absconded after the warrant was issued. I press for an Answer.

The right hon. Gentleman has declined to answer.

No, he declined to give me a list of cases.

; I am not aware that the hon. Member's interpretation of my former Answer is the right one.

Look at Hansard.

At any rate, I have now more precise information.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the position of the tenants on the Segrave Estate, at Kilconnell, country Galway, consisting of forty-seven families living on less than 500 acres of land; whether he is aware that there were 400 acres of grazing land on this estate let to four grazing tenants, and that because the agricultural tenants refused to purchase without having these 400 acres divided amongst them, an arrangement has now been made by the agent to create new tenancies in these farms for the purpose of defeating the chances of these forty-seven tenants to get the 400 acres divided amongst them; and, if so, whether he will call the attention of the Estates Commissioners to this case, with a view to having these holdings inspected before any agreements for sale are sanctioned.

The Commissioners have received a memorial from the tenants on this estate relative to the grass lands referred to. No proceedings, however, have yet been instituted before the Commissioners by the owner. In the event of such proceedings they will consider the question of the grass lands.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he will state if he has any official reports in regard to an alleged outrage at the residence of Mr. Persse, Woodville, county Galway; and, if so, whether he will state their purport.

The occurrence referred to consists in this, that the fanlight over the door of Mr. Persse's residence was broken, it is believed, by a blow from a stone and not by a shot from a firearm. The matter has received and will continue to receive the close attention of the police, but for the reason given by me on Thursday last† I must decline to disclose the contents of their reports, which are confidential documents.

Then the two columns of sensational journalism had no foundation in fact?

Good old Globe.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction expressed by representative bodies in county Clare at the reductions of 5 pet cent, in West Clare and 10 per cent. in East Clare given by the Sub-Commission at the last hearing of fair-rent applications; will he state what previous knowledge or experience had this gentleman who inspected these lands of Clare farming or the nature of Clare land and the climatic conditions of that county; and whether, in view of these expressions of want of confidence in the Lay Sub-Commissioner, he will represent to the Land Commission the advisability of transferring the services of this gentleman to a part of the country with which he has had some previous acquaintance.

Representations have been made to the effect mentioned in the first part of the Question. The qualifications of Mr. Esmonde, the Lay Assistant Commissioner referred to, are set forth in Parliamentary Paper, No. 151, of the session of 1902. From his appointment in June, 1899, to March, 1901, Mr. Esmonde was employed in the counties

† See page 933

of Monaghan and Fermanagh; from March, 1901, to April, 1902, in the county of Cavan; from April, 1902, to September, 1904, in the counties of Cork and Kerry, and since the latter date in Clare. The Commissioners have every confidence in the ability and impartiality of Mr. Esmonde.

Had Mr. Esmonde before his appointment any practical knowledge of county Clare land.

The Parliamentary Papers give his qualifications.

I have seen them. He had no practical knowledge.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he intends to introduce the Charitable Loans (Ireland) Bill during the present session; and, if so, what period of the session it will be brought in.

I should hope during the course of this week.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he will say what steps, if any, the Local Government Board have taken to insist upon the local authority dealing with the insanitary, condition of the village of Derry-gonnelly, county Fermanagh; if he is aware that at present an outbreak of typhoid fever exists, and that one death at least has taken place therefrom; and if he will state what immediate action the Local Government Board intend to take in the matter.

It is the fact that five cases of enteric fever have occurred in this village and that one of the patien s has died. A complaint has been made to the Local Government Board under the 15th Section of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1896, that the sanitary authority has made default in the performance of its duty. The Board have accordingly directed a local inquiry to be held and the rural district council has been so informed.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if the Government intend compensating owners for the loss sustained by them by the death or the destruction, by the directions of the veterinary authorities, of horses suffering from epizootic lymphangitis, in the Waterford district, owing to the fact that the disease was introduced by artillery horses sent from South Africa to Waterford.

The Department, in pursuance of the powers conferred upon them by Section 19 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, propose to make an Order providing for the slaughter of horses in the county Waterford suffering from the disease mentioned, and for the payment of compensation out of the rates to the owner. One-half of the amount of such compensation will, under Section 72 of the Act, be repaid to the local authority from the General Cattle Diseases Fund.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General what would be the cost of despatching a post on the 9.5 or 9.45 a.m. train from Belturbet, which connects locally and with the English mail; and also to state the weekly wage paid to the messengers in the district between Belturbet and Mill-town for the six-day service.

The cost of a mail service from Belturbet to Cavan by the 9.5 a.m. or 9.45 a.m. train would be about £6 or £8 a year, but the correspondence which would be included in such a despatch would be trifling in amount. The postman who works between Belturbet and Milltown receives wages of 20s. a week. He, however, performs certain duties in the town of Belturbet in addition to the delivery to Miltown.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he can now say to what extent he proposes to give greater facilities in the mail service between Belfast and London.

I have not yet been able to arrive at a decision on this subject. The negotiations with the various railway companies are proceeding and there shall be no loss of time in dealing with the matter.

Has the noble Lord any idea when a settlement may be expected?

No, the negotiations are with railway companies, and I have no idea when they will conclude.

Will the noble Lord take into consideration the claims of other parts of Ulster in this matter?

Yes, I am doing so.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the letter sent by Mr. Thomas Murphy was addressed to Bean in Ghabhraim, Teac-osda Priomhaideach, Radharc an Chuain, Kilronan, Aran Island, Galway; and can he state what is the error alleged to be found in this address which caused a delay of four days in the delivery of the letter. The hon. Member, on putting the Question, said he regretted the amount of space which the address occupied on the Notice Paper. It was due to the use of ordinary instead of Irish characters.

I have not seen the letter to which the hon. Member refers; but if I had seen it I fear that I should be in no better position for answering him, for I understand that the address, which I do not venture to pronounce, was written in Irish characters and not in the Roman characters which the hon. Member is good enough to use in his printed Question.

If I supply the actual envelope containing the address, will the right hon. Gentleman have it submitted to a competent Irish authority to decide the question?

No, Sir.

I will put down another Question.

Is it a fact that the addressee was unable to read this address?

It is more than likely.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General will be state what system is adopted when selecting men for clerical duties in the Post Office, Dublin; is he aware that some of those employed upon writing duties in the Controller's Office and in the sorting office have but a few years service, and took comparatively low places in the entrance examinations; can he state what special qualifications these men possess; and, seeing that clerical work is a necessary qualification for promotion, and that men have been debarred from promotion because they did not qualify in clerical duties which they were not allowed to perform, will he see that every officer is afforded an opportunity of performing writing duties.

The officers are selected on the reports of their superior officers as to their intelligence, zeal, and general good conduct, and not with regard to the place they obtained in their entrance examination. Two or three of the officers employed on writing duties are comparatively junior and they are employed on duties of a routine and minor character. All that is possible is done to give officers who are in any way fit for promotion opportunities of qualifying, but it would not be possible to test all the officers in the sorting office on writing duties. Experience in such duties is not an essential qualification for promotion.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of his refusal to appoint a Select Committee to enquire into the present condition of the Irish National Teachers' Pension Fund and of the discontent of the teachers in connection with this matter, he will allow an actuary nominated by the teachers to be present at, and take part in, the quinquennial investigation to be held this year; and can he say when the investigation will be held.

I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by employing more than one actuary, but care will be taken to select an actuary of independent position and high attainments.

But will the Government allow an actuary to be nominated by the teachers?

I do not think it necessary.

Will you consider the point?

I do not think it would lead to any satisfactory result.

Is not the present condition of the fund entirely due to Treasure neglect?

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, under Section 23, Sub-section 14, of the Irish Land Act, 1903, instructions have been given to the Estates Commissioners under that Act to make one of the periodical Reports authorised by the section; and, if so, when these instructions were given; and if the form of the Report was prescribed.

Yes, Sir; the form of the Report has been prescribed by the Treasury and was communicated to the Irish Government on February 28th, 1905.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can now say when the Board of Works' dredger will be available for loan or hire to the Galway Harbour Commissioners.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member on March 9th.^* It is not yet possible to say when the dredger will be available.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the nature of the assurances and promises made to the deputation which some months ago waited upon the Board of Works to make representations on the subject of the lighting of the docks at Galway and the need for the loan of a dredger.