To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that the Belfast Corporation proposes to reduce the capitation grant of the local reformatory and industrial schools from 2s. 6d. to 2s.; and, if so, whether he will take steps to prevent its being adopted, more especially as the existent grant involves an extra rate of only one-eighth of a penny in the £. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Government has no information that the fact is as stated in the first part of the Question. An agreement by a local public body to contribute towards the support of children in reformatory and industrial schools is made with the managers of these institutions and does not come in any way before the Executive for approval, nor has the Executive any jurisdiction to interfere in the direction suggested in the Question.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the alleged prospect of a general failure of the water supply of the country; and whether the matter is engaging the attention of His Majesty's Government. (Answered by Mr. Grant Lawson) There does not appear to be any prospect of a general failure of the water supply of the country. There was a deficiency of rainfall during the year 1904, and it was continued during the first two months of the present year. This has caused a shortage of water in some parts of the country where the supply is obtained from superficial sources; but the rain of the last few weeks may be expected to replenish these sources.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the damage done to country roads by reason of the increase in heavy motor and similar traffic, and to the consequent increase in the local rates which the local authorities have to raise for the purpose of repairing such roads; and whether he will consider the expediency of appointing a Commission to inquire and report whether such local authorities should not be relieved to some, and, if so, to what, extent from such extra expenses. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) It is no doubt the case that traffic of the kind referred to in the Question may do damage to country roads, and some complaints to this effect have been made to the Local Government Board. It would, however, be very difficult to ascertain to what extent the cost of road maintenance is directly attributable to this traffic, and I could not undertake to recommend the appointment of a Commission, as suggested.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state to whom the untenanted land 'acquired by the Estates Commissioners on the Clarke Estate, county Cork, has been allocated; and whether, after provision is made for the evicted tenants on the estate, preference will be given to the claims of evicted tenants in the immediate neighbourhood who are unable to obtain possession of their former holdings from the present occupiers. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Land Commission have no information as to the alleged proceedings to recover rent on the estate referred to, and no steps have been taken to initiate purchase negotiations in the case.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the mischief wrought amongst the working classes in Derry city and county by the consumption of methylated spirit; and whether, in view of the consequences proceeding therefrom, he will take steps to have restrictions placed on the sale of this article, and to warn the people of the dangers arising from its use. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The attention of the Board of Inland Revenue has been directed to the practice of drinking methylated spirit in Londonderry. It is an offence under The Spirits Act, 1880, to sell such spirit as a beverage. The officers of the Inland Revenue are using their best endeavours to procure evidence which will sustain proceedings under the Act in this respect, and the police have been instructed to afford them every assistance in the matter.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will state how many certificates of exemption from vaccination were granted during the year ending December 31st, 1904, and how the figures compare with the two previous years. ( Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) The returns made to the Local Government Board show the number of certificates of conscientious objection received by the vaccination officers during the year. This number may be taken as substantially agreeing with the number granted during the year. The returns for 1904 are not quite complete, but the number of certificates received during that year may be stated approximately as 39,750. The numbers in 1902 and 1903, respectively, were 33,632 and 37,259.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the Board have yet completed their revision of the Boarding-out Orders which have been some months under consideration; and, if so, when they will be published. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) The new Order is in an advanced stage of preparation, and I hope that it may shortly be issued.

:To ask the Postmaster-General if he can state what is the average number of appointments made in Dublin annually to the position of sorting clerks and telegraphists; and can he say when he expects to be able to appoint the large number of learners at present in Dublin. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) The number of appointments made in Dublin to the position of sorting clerk and telegraphist fluctuates from year to year. The figures of the last four years are as follows:—

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, setting aside the questions of maintenance of the plant and the expansion of the system, the Government obtained any estimate of the probable cost of acquiring the undertaking of the National Telephone Company before entering into the provisional agreement; if so, what is the amount of any such estimate; and whether he will reconsider his decision not to enlarge the terms of the reference to the Select Committee. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) An estimate of the cost of acquiring the National Telephone Company's undertaking in 1911 on the conditions proposed in the provisional agreement would be of no practical value at the present time if the questions of the maintenance and of the expansion of the system in the interval were not taken into account, and I did not obtain such an estimate. I see no necessity for enlarging the terms of reference.

To ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the clerical and other work appertaining to the ordnance survey in Ireland has been as far as possible transferred to England; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of having all this work done in Ireland under the charge of the Department of Agriculture. (Answered by Mr. Ailwyn Fellowes.) The completion of some of the maps of Ireland has caused certain classes of work, particularly the engraving of hills and colour-printing, to fall too short to allow them to be carried out economically and efficiently in Ireland, and such work is now done at Southampton. But it would not be correct to say that the clerical and other work appertaining to the survey of Ireland is being, as far as possible, transferred to England, and there is no question of the adoption of such a course. The expenditure on survey work in Ireland has considerably increased in recent years, and now amounts to 42 per cent, of the whole. No change is contemplated in the existing arrangements for the conduct of the survey.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General if his attention has been drawn to the application made in the Report of the Commissioners in Lunacy to the Lord Chancellor for 1904 for an increase to the number of the Commissioners on the ground that such addition is absolutely necessary, and is urgently needed for the efficient and satisfactory administration of the Lunacy Acts; and whether he can inform the House whether any steps are being taken to give effect to this application. (Answered by Sir Robert Finlay.) Attention has been drawn to the application referred to in the Question, and the subject is now under consideration by the Lord Chancellor and the Treasury.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether commissioned cruisers were employed in towing to their new berths the less valuable warships recently set aside, and what amount of coal was expended by His Majesty's ships in so towing them; and why this method was adopted instead of hiring tugs. (Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative. It is not possible to say, without calling for a special report, what amount of coal was expended by His Majesty's ships employed on this service, but 7,000 tons may be taken as an approximate figure. This method was adopted as the cost incidental to the hire of tugs, and also of labour for working anchors and cables in mooring the ships after arrival, would have been greater than the cost of the coal consumed. In addition, the towing of these vessels afforded a most useful experience for the officers and crews of the towing ships.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will explain why, in face of the Treasury reply to Mr. Cox, of November 19th, 1902, the allowances of £20 granted to abstractors (old class) in the General Register and Record Office of Shipping and Seamen in 1898, have not been extended to assistant clerks (new class) as has been the case in the Custom House, seeing that they are doing the same work for which the allowances were granted. (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) The arrangement by which certain of the abstractors (old class) in the office of the Registrar-General of Seamen were given an advance of £20 within their scale was temporary and was never intended to be applied to the assistant clerks (new class) in the office. The case of the assistant clerks (new class) in the Custom House is not analogous.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that no second-division clerks are employed in the Custom House, he will state what prospects of promotion are provided for the assistant clerks (new class) in the same Department. (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) Assistant clerks in the Customs are eligible for occasional promotion, on the ground of exceptional merit, to the classes of: (1) Port clerks, who now fill the places formerly held by second-division clerks; and (2) Junior clerks in the statistical office.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he can state what portion of the fines imposed at Mountmellick Petty Sessions go to the town commissioners. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) The only fines imposed at Mountmellick Petty Sessions which are payable to the town commissioners are those for the offence of drunkenness committed within the township, contrary to the Licensing Act, 1872, Section 12. In such cases, where the town commissioners prosecute, the whole of the fine is payable to them; and when the police prosecute, half of the fine is payable to the town commissioners and half to the police.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether fines recovered for offences committed within a township should go to the town commission in aid of local rates, irrespective of where the person charged resides; and whether the practice on this matter differs in an urban district. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) I shall be happy to give the hon. Member information on the subject if he will be good enough to give me specific instances of the cases to which the Question refers.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether soldiers of the native ruling chiefs in India are provided only with muzzle-loading rifles; and whether, seeing that the Indian people are not allowed to provide themselves with firearms, and in view of the number of natives destroyed annually by tigers, lions, and wolves, he will state the number of lives so lost during the last five years, and say whether the Indian Government will permit the Indian people to bear arms for their protection. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) With the exception of the Imperial Service Troops, troops of the Native States are, generally speaking, not armed with breech-loaders. It is not the case that, as stated in the Question, the Indian people are not allowed to provide themselves with firearms. In India, as in this country, firearms are not allowed to be possessed without a licence; but such licences are granted, when required for the purpose of destroying wild animals or for the protection of crops, free of charge. The number of persons returned as killed by tigers in British India during the last five years is 4,925, and by wolves 1,966; no deaths are shown as due to lions, of which there are very few in India. The number of free licences for firearms issued during the same period was 46,857, of which 37,678 are reported to have been still in force in 1903.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that the attention of the Department of Agriculture in Ireland has been directed by the Irish Cattle Traders and Stock Owners' Association to the unprotected loading banks for live stock at various stations in Ireland, thereby causing preventable suffering to the animals and loss to the owners; and whether the Department will take measures to compel the carrying companies to adopt a similar system of pens on cattle loading banks as at present in use on the Liverpool station of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the resolutions, passed at Irish Cattle Traders and Stock Owners' Association last Thursday, complaining of the want of proper accommodation for live stock in railway transit, especially with regard to the defective condition of many loading banks; and whether he will communicate with the Department of Agriculture and cause inquiries to be made and improvements effected where necessary. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Department have not within a recent period received representations from the Irish Cattle Traders and Stock Owners' Association respecting the alleged unprotected condition of the loading banks at more than one Irish station, and in that instance the matter is at present the subject of correspondence between the Department and the owning company. The association's resolutions referred to in the second Question have not yet reached the Department. It would appear, however, from the reports in the newspapers that complaint was made at the meeting of the association on Thursday last of the unprotected state of the loading banks for cattle at seventeen stations on two lines of railway. The Department learn from their transit staff that thirteen of these stations are provided with certain penning accommodation from which animals can be loaded into the trucks. This accommodation is in addition to the loading banks which are open platforms. The majority of these loading banks are used for general goods traffic as well as for animals, and might not be suitable for all the purposes required if protected in the way suggested, i.e., by erection along the banks of a series of gates or a special system of pens such as obtains at the Liverpool station mentioned. There are, however, certain Irish railway stations at which a plan of this kind has been adopted at the suggestion of the Department. If specific instances of injury to animals due to the condition of any of the loading banks are brought under the notice of the Department inquiry will be instituted, and where the complaint is well founded representations will be made to the company concerned as regards the provision of a remedy. But no case for general compulsory action is deemed to arise. The principal companies have within recent years spent large sums of money in the improvement of their. arrangements for the cattle traffic, and further improvements are being made gradually as circumstances admit.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists in Ireland because jurors are compelled to attend on juries without any remuneration for loss of time or incidental or travelling expenses; and whether he will introduce legislation to assist in remedying the present state of things. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) Representations to the effect stated in the first part of the Question have been received. The law is uniform in the three Kingdoms. The reply, therefore, to the second inquiry is in the negative.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the number of persons refused admission into the Commonwealth of Australia on the ground of being prohibited immigrants since the passing of the Immigration Restriction Act, 1901, the nations to which they belong and whence they came, and the grounds on which admission was refused. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) I have not at present the information which would enable me to fully answer

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons of British and Irish origin have emigrated from the United Kingdom in the last thirty years to settle in Canada, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and South Africa. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) The hon. and gallant Member will find figures with regard to the movements of passengers of British and Irish origin to and from British North America, Australia, and New Zealand, and Cape of Good Hope and Natal, from 1876 to 1903, on pp. 167–169 of the second series of Memoranda on British and Foreign Trade and Industrial Conditions [Cd. 2,337] of 1904. The corresponding figures for 1904 are:—

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that floating mines in the Gulf of Pe-chi-li constitute a danger to shipping in Chinese waters, and cause much consternation amongst shipping firms at Tientsin; and will he communicate with the Commander-in-Chief of the British squadron on the China Station on the subject, or take such other action as he may deem necessary to secure the destruction of these mines.

The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative. The Commander-in-Chief has already been communicated with and has reported several cases in which mines have been sighted by His Majesty's ships. As many as possible of these mines have been and will be destroyed.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what are the names, tonnage, and description of the disused vessels sent, or to be sent, to the Clyde; and why is it that no suitable anchorage can be found for them except in the Kyles of Bute or the Holy Loch.

Thirteen ships either have been, or will be, sent to the Clyde, the names and tonnage of which I am sending separately to the hon. Member. I fear that I can add nothing to the replies already given with regard to the second part of the Question.

I shall take the earliest opportunity of calling attention to this matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the purchase of a church and parsonage at Portsmouth, originally provided under Vote 10 of the Navy Estimates of 1903–4, has now been charged to the Naval Works Loan Fund, what has been the amount paid, and to which sub-head of the schedule of the Naval Works Loan Act of 1903 has this been charged.

The purchase of the church and parsonage referred to, for which provision was originally made under Vote 10 of the Navy Estimates 1903–4, will be now provided for under the Naval Works Loan. It will be charged to the item "Portsmouth Naval Barracks," but the purchase has not yet been completed.

What was the amount?

About £5,000.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has received the Report of the Inspector-General of the Forces for 1904; and whether he intends to lay that Report before Parliament.

The Report in question has been received by the Army Council, but it is not intended to make it public.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House a summary of the Report?

No, Sir, a summary of the Report might be misleading, and will not be published, nor can a promise be given to publish the Report at a future time.

Then is this important Report never to be published in any shape or form?

The essence of a Report of this kind is that it should not be made public.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state who were the contractors who supplied 1,350,816 tins of jam for South Africa, each tin containing 12 ounces of jam instead of 1lb. as per contract; who were the inspecting officials responsible for testing the delivery of the goods; whether the War Office has yet replied to the request of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of 26th April,1904, for further particulars on this and other cases of deficiency; and, if so, what is the date and nature of the reply.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the statement at page xiii. of the Third Report (1904) of the Committee of Public Accounts, to the effect that, out of the total sum granted, £1,265,000, to the Imperial Yeomanry Committee during the South African War, it appears that for more than one-third, £460,000, no details or vouchers were produced; and whether, since the issue of the Report, 28th July, 1904, any of these vouchers have been forthcoming.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what answer, if any, has been sent to the query of the Comptroller-General, as set forth in the Army Appropriation Account, 1903–4, respecting certain large sales and repurchases of forage by one and the same contractor at the same station in South Africa, who bought oats from the Army at 11s. and sold oats to the Army at 17s. 10d. per 100 lbs

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what reply, if any, has been sent to the query of the Comptroller-General in his Report upon the Store Accounts of the Army, 1903–4, respecting 1,350,816 tins of surplus jam sold at Durban, South Africa, held on charge as containing 11b. of jam each and found short of weight by 4 ounces.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Comptroller and Auditor-General that the Director of Supplies in South Africa from October, 1902, to December, 1903, disposed of stores which realised £474,000 to three firms, two of whom were forage contractors to the Army; what was the loss to the Government by these sales; who these contractors were; whether they are still on the list of Government contractors; why oats and oat-hay, which had been purchased during January, 1903, at 17s. 11½d. and 17s. 8½d. per 100 lbs., were sold to the same contractor who supplied this forage for 11s. and 10s. per 100 lbs. respectively between January and March, 1903; and whether the amount of £21,232 allowed for deterioration was in respect of forage supplied by the self-same contractor; and why the contracts asked for in reference to these transactions have not been transmitted to the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War why the requests made by the Comptroller and Auditor-General during 1904 for copies of certain contracts for supplies of stores, etc., for the South African War have not been complied with; and whether it is the intention of the War Office to supply copies of these contracts to the Auditor-General.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Comptroller and Auditor-General that on the sale of surplus jam after the South African War 1,350,816 tins supposed to contain 1lb. of jam contained only 12 ounces each; what percentage of the quantity supplied is represented by the 1,350,816 tins; who were the contractors who supplied this jam; what steps, if any, have been taken to obtain repayment of the amount overcharged; whether these contractors are still on the list of Government contractors, if so, why have they not been removed from the list.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office has addressed any reply to the letter of inquiry by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of Public Accounts, dated April 26th, 1904, as to the reported deficiency of 337,704 lbs. of jam supplied to the War Office for South Africa; and, if not, will he say why an answer has not been sent; and what is the name of the contractor concerned.

I beg to refer the hon. Members who have put down Questions relating to the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General to the Answer which I gave yesterday† to the hon. Member for North Camberwell.

The right hon. Gentleman did

† See (4) Debates, exlii., 1370.

As far as I am concerned, I do not think if that is made a special Question I can possibly interfere with the discretion of the House in dealing with it, if I have notice of the Question.

That is my Question on the Paper.

That very Question is asked.

May I draw attention to the terms of my Question, which asks who are the contractors?

I rather regret these interruptions. I assure the House that there is no desire on the part of the War Office to hold back information. I shall be happy to give the information to the hon. Member.

Who are they? Read their names now.

I beg to ask for the information now.

I am afraid the only Answer I can give is that I have not at the moment got them with me. If the hon. Member desires to separate that part of the information desired from the rest of the Question I will gladly answer.

I will put it down again.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the part of my Question as to the name of the contractor, and also he has not answered why the War Office neglected to reply to the questions of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of Public Accounts for many months, the Comptroller-General being the officer directly responsible to Parliament.

Delay in replying to the Auditor-General's in- quiries has been caused by references having had to be made to South Africa in the matter, and pending inquiries which are being made with a view of ascertaining the best means of preventing such occurrences in future campaigns. The reply to the Auditor-General was delayed until this had boon decided.

My Question was: When was the reply made to the Auditor-General? Has it been made yet?

No, Sir, I think not.

Nearly a year's delay! May I ask when a reply will be sent to the Auditor-General?

The whole of this matter has been under inquiry at the War Office. It is under investigation at this moment.

I understand that the War Office are now contemplating the proper measures to prevent a recurrence of these incidents. But we want to know whether proper measures are being taken to punish the guilty persons? I think that is a proper Question.

The right hon. Gentleman is quite right. That is a proper Question. It is a matter that has not been neglected by the War Office. The moment I became aware that there were any incidents of this character I ordered a strict inquiry to be made. That inquiry has been in progress for some time past—for four weeks. A larger question is that raised by the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General. That, I understand, will be inquired into by the House. The House may rest perfectly assured we have not the slightest desire to shield any person, or any other desire than to make the most careful, full, and searching inquiry into all the circumstances of this case, which, apparently— although I do not wish to pronounce an opinion prematurely—have done no credit to the administration of this, campaign.

We have not yet got the names of the contractors.

I have asked permission to postpone that information till to-morrow. ["Why?"]

Are we, then, to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that he only made an inquiry into this matter some four weeks ago? [Cries of "No" and "He said so."]

Will the Secretary of State for War also give the names of other contractors who are mentioned anonymously in the Auditor-General's Report?

I must ask for notice.

This is surely an unprecedented affair. [Cries of "Order."] A Question on the Paper has not been answered, and no reason has been given why it was not answered. [Cries of "No."] It is obvious from the Answer given that the right hon. Gentleman knows the names. He will not give the names. ["Order," and cheers.]

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the total number of drafts, whose term of service will expire within the next two years, that have been sent to all stations, Indian and foreign respectively, within the past six months.

It is impossible to state exactly the number of such men whose service expires in the next two years without reference to every unit concerned. The number who embarked during the trooping season just ended, with less than two years service to complete, was for India 4,610, and for the Colonies 965

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private Willison, late 80th Regiment, was discharged in 1878 from the Army as medically unfit in consequence of injuries received while on military duty, and is now an inmate in Craiglockhart Poor House, Edinburgh, and that under the Army and Naval Pensioners Act the whole of his pension is appropriated by the Poor Law authorities; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of permitting the Poor Law authorities to allow at least a penny per day out of their pensions to veterans so situated for their personal use.

This matter rests entirely in the hands of the local authorities, who have a claim to the whole pension, as it is less than the cost of his maintenance. I am afraid, therefore, that I am not in a position to take the action suggested in the Question.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the publication of the Report on Egyptian State Railways by Lord Farrer, Major le Breton, and Mr. Bury in an abbreviated form has caused dissatisfaction in Egypt, and will he consider the expediency of recommending the Government of Egypt to publish the complete Report, so that the people may have an opportunity of making themselves fully acquainted with the labours of the Commission?

No, Sir, no information of the kind has been communicated to us by the Egyptian Government.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state approximately what were the British costs at the inquiry at Paris into the North Sea incident; by whom these costs will be paid; and whether any negotiations are now proceeding with Russia on matters arising out of the North Sea incident.

It is impossible to give even an approximate estimate of the British costs at present, as accounts from various quarters have not yet been received. The expenses of the presentation of the British case to the Commission will be borne by His Majesty's Government; and the expenses incurred by the Commission in organising its staff and in conducting the investigations will be shared equally by His Majesty's Government and the Russian Government in accordance with Article VIII. of the Declaration signed on November 25th, 1904. The answer to the last paragraph is in the negative.

As re-regards the Answer to the last sentence in the Question, may I ask whether we are to understand that the Government regard the matter as being finally closed by the payment of the indemnity?

:Yes, as far as I am aware.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Affairs whether his attention has been called to the danger to British shipping in Chinese waters through floating mines, in the Gulf of Pe-chi-li; and can he see his way to co-operate with other Powers to secure their destruction.

We are in communication with the Japanese Government on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of dogs removed by the police from the streets of the Metropolis during the year ending 31st December last, the number taken to the Dogs' Home, Batter-sea, the number restored to the owners by the police, and the number sold by the police; and is it the practice of the police to communicate with the owner when the name and address is given on the dog's collar.

During the year ended on the 31st December last 27,994 dogs were removed by the Metropolitan Police from the streets of the Metropolis. 23,261 of these were taken to the Dogs' Home at Battersea by the police; and the Home subsequently restored 1,092 of them to their owners. 4,181 dogs were restored to their owners by the police. None of the dogs seized were sold by the police. It is the practice of the police to communicate with the owner when his name and address is given on the dog's collar.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, before drafting the Order No. 1,696, he did not ascertain directly from the operatives concerned what their views were; whether he is aware that the trade union concerned is opposed to the legislation of the overtime, and also that the Belfast Trades Council has passed a resolution against the Order; and that on an application being made by the non-textile members of the union concerned to the Secretary of State seven or eight years ago to abolish overtime for women altogether, one of the women factory inspectors was sent to Belfast to inquire, and that her report was in favour of further reduction.

Inquiries were made, and it was reported to me that the operatives immediately concerned would strongly object to the abolition of the practice, which was of many years standing. No complaint in regard to the practice has at any time been made to me, either by any of the operatives affected or by the Belfast Trades Council; and, as I stated in reply to the hon. Member's previous Question,† before the Order was formally made it was published in draft, as required by the Act, with a view to giving opportunity for objections to be made, but no objections were received. The inquiry to which I think the hon. Member must be alluding in the last paragraph of his Question was an inquiry into a different branch of the industry, and on quite a different matter, not overtime, but employment outside the factory or workshop.

† See (4) Debates, exli., 470.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that skilled mechanics have had to leave the employ of the postal factory through not receiving trade union rates, and will he take steps to ensure that where piece-work is insisted upon skilled men shall not receive less than the trade union rate of wages; and also, is he aware that at the present time skilled mechanics of many years service are not receiving the trade union rate of wages when working day-work.

I am not aware that skilled mechanics have left the Post Office factories because they have not received trade union rates of pay; and I am not prepared to take steps in the direction indicated by the hon. Member. The men employed in the factories work only forty-eight hours a week; they get holidays with full pay; and when sick they get "sick" pay. I believe that they regard the terms of employment as satisfactory, and there is no difficulty in getting good workmen to enter the service.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he can state the cost of supervision, examination, and distribution in relation to the actual cost of production of instruments at Holloway Factory.

A large part of the work done in the factories is not production, but repair; and it would be difficult accurately to apportion the cost of supervision, while the cost of examination and distribution is common to both instruments made in the factories and those made outside.

Would it not be to the interest of the Department to know the facts I have asked for?

No, I do not think so.

Oh!

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether the present arrangement whereby the outward Cape mail leaves Southampton about one o'clock on Saturday afternoon, while the incoming mail is delivered in London a few hours later on the same day is to be continued, whereby a week must elapse before answering letters can be despatched by the Post Office authorities; whether he has made inquiries to ascertain if the Union-Castle Company could accelerate speed so as to secure the arrival of the incoming mail on Thursday night or Friday morning were they required to do so; and whether he will make such arrangements as will improve the postal service in this respect.

The arrangement of the mail service to and from South Africa is not correctly described in the Question. The mails for South Africa do not leave London until 2.10 p.m. on Saturdays; and the Cape Mail Packets leave Southampton some three hours later. In the homeward direction, Packets are due at Southampton on Saturday morning; and on about three Saturdays out of four the mail from South Africa is delivered in the city of London early enough in the morning for replies to be sent by the outgoing Cape Packet on the same day. The service is performed by the Union-Castle Company under a contract with the Cape Government extending to the year 1910; and I am not aware that the Cape Government contemplates any change in it. Not being in a position to alter the service myself, I have not made inquiries on the point of speed referred to by the hon. Member; nor, so long as the stipulations of the contract are carried out, is there any ground on which I can press upon the Cape Government the arrangement of conditions more arduous for the contractors and, therefore, probably more expensive.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, as representing the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, whether his attention has been called to the success of the French Mission for establishing fishing and curing stations on the West Coast of Africa, with the view of finding remunerative employment for French fishermen; and whether he, in conjunction with the Scotch Fishery Board, will consider the possibility of similar Missions for the benefit of British fishermen. May I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his recent promotion?

I thank the hon. Gentleman. No information has reached me as to the French Mission to which the hon. Member refers, I will endeavour to obtain information respecting it, and communicate further with the hon. Member. I should doubt, however, whether the establishment of fishing and curing stations on the West Coast of Africa would be of much advantage to British fishermen.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the Registrar of Friendly Societies is empowered to compel depositors in the Savings Bank to attend before him and answer for the means by which their deposits were procured; and further, seeing that this practice causes inconvenience and often expense to the depositors, will he take steps to have this alleged grievance removed, or, in the alternative, defray all personal and travelling expenses.

I understand that the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, when communicating with depositors in cases of dispute relating to Savings Bank deposits, informs them that they may give evidence by Statutory Declaration should they not desire to attend personally.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he will state what were the valuable concessions in the tariffs of the French, German, and Italian Governments which induced the President of the United States to admit certain French, German, and Italian articles of produce at a lower scale of duties than is levied upon the same articles when made in this country; if he will state what were the duties, if any, levied by this country upon the articles of American produce set out in the Reciprocity Treaties made by the United States with the French, German, and Italian Governments; and if he can hold out any prospect of this country obtaining the advantages of the most-favoured-nation clause from the United States Government under present conditions.

The concessions referred to are embodied in the commercial agreements between the countries referred to, which the hon. Member can consult at the Board of Trade. All the articles of American produce on which concessions are granted under these agreements are admitted free into the United Kingdom, except certain classes of dried fruits which are dutiable at the rate of 7s. per cwt. I am not in a position to answer the last part of the Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of trade if there is any objection to placing a file of the Labour Gazette in the Library of the House for the convenience of Members who wish to refer to it.

Copies of the Labour Gazette will be supplied in future to the Library and Reading Room.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he will grant a Return showing in parallel columns the rates of duty in the new German tariff, as originally drafted and as finally decided, upon the articles of special interest to British trade which were enumerated in the Report [Cd. 2044] of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Intelligence, so that it may be seen what concessions, if any, have been made to the representations to the German Government recommended by that Committee.

A Return relating to the new German tariff, as amended by treaties, has been laid upon the Table and will, it is hoped, be in the hands of hon. Members in the course of a few days. This will afford the hon. Member the means of obtaining the information he desires.

And can we have in parallel columns the rates of wages and hours of labour of German workers?

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether the President will withhold his decision as to granting a licence to the Society for Promoting the Higher Education of Nurses until the Select Committee appointed by this House to inquire into the registration of nurses has reported.

The Board of Trade propose to hear both the applicants for, and the objectors to, the grant of a licence to the Society for Promoting the Higher Education of Nurses, and until after such hearing do not propose to come to any decision as to postponement or otherwise.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether, having regard to the promise given by the First Lord of the Treasury on October 17th, 1902, that as the education authority controlled only secular education it should not be called upon to pay for the books or other apparatus necessary for the religious instruction in non-provided schools, he will take steps to see that the terms of this promise are carried out in all cases brought to their notice.

No local authority has been called upon by the Board of Education to pay for books or other apparatus required for the purposes of denominational instruction given in voluntary schools, and the Board has offered no encouragement to managers to press for such payments.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether the Board now propose to withdraw the particular regulations for education other than elementary which prescribe fees and restrict the proportion of free places; and, if so, whether this withdrawal is to be effected by Minute operating during the currency of the existing issue of the Board's book of regulations for such schools.

I think that the hon. Member is mistaken as to the character of the regulations. Regulation 23 of the Secondary School Regulations is of a very general character, and it prescribes no minimum fee. There is no regulation fixing a minimum number of free places. No modification of the regulations, therefore, appears to be necessary.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the delay in the trial of cases at the Marylebone and Brompton County Courts; and, if so, will he say what steps, if any, he proposes to take in the matter.

The business at these two Courts is very heavy, and it is only by great care that the list is kept down. On account of ill-health of the Judge two deputies were appointed last month, and I am informed that there are now practically no arrears, as cases can be entered for trial within one month of the issue of the plaint—a period which cannot be considered unusually long.

Then is it not intended to take any steps to deal with this?

Yes, two deputies have been appointed.

Young inexperienced men.

I am told they are thoroughly competent.

And I am told the reverse.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, in view of the fact that no medical inspector from the Local Government Board has visited the Island of Lewis, will he state on how many occasions the medical officer of health for Ross and Cromarty has visited the island during the last five years; the time he spent in the island; and the names of the districts visited.

The medical officer has visited the island four times since January 1st, 1900. On each occasion he stayed from twenty-four to forty-eight hours and saw all the local medical officers, but did not visit all the four parishes into which the island is divided.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate whether any land has been secured in Ross-shire for the creation of crofter holdings since the issue of the last Report of the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, will he state the locality, acreage, and the number of new holdings created or to be created.

The Answer to the hon. Member's Question is in the negative.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland can he state when work will be resumed at Boat Cove slips, county Kerry; and whether provision will be made for constructing a breakwater off the rocks outside it.

The Congested Districts Board have recently expended a sum of £361 on the extension of the boat-slip at Glen Boat Cove. It is not intended to incur any expenditure on the construction of a breakwater.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland, whether he is aware that, owing to the state of the channel at Kenmare, a vessel belonging to Messrs. Russell went aground on March 6th; and whether, seeing that a Government dredger is now at Fenit, arrangements can be made for utilising the dredger at Kenmare.

On March 6th a, vessel grounded near the jetty at Kenmare. The engagements of the Government dredger are such as to make it improbable that she can be employed at Kenmare in the near future.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that the attention of the Department of Agriculture in Ireland has been directed by the Irish Cattle Traders and Stock Owners' Association to the unprotected loading banks for live stock at various stations in Ireland, thereby causing preventable suffering to the animals and loss to the owners, and whether the Department will take measures to compel the carrying companies to adopt a similar system of pens on cattle loading banks as at present in use on the Liverpool station of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.

The hon. Member has an unstarred Question on to-day's Paper which deals with the matters referred to in this Question. It will be more convenient to give a printed reply to both Questions, and with the hon. Member's permission I will adopt this course. I have communicated to him a copy of the reply that will appear on the Votes Paper to-night.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he is aware that, in October, 1904, four shots were fired into the house of Patrick Costello, at Ballymacward, county Galway; that, on the night of Sunday, February 26th, 1905, 650 yards of solidly-built walls surrounding Costello's grazing farm at Killivaun were thrown down by a party of men, thus rendering the farm useless for grazing purposes; that the cause of these outrages was that Costello had taken steps to have a judicial rent fixed in opposition to the wishes of the United Irish League in the district; and what steps the Government are taking to deal with outrages of this kind.

Shots, apparently from a revolver, were fired into the house of Patrick Costello on the evening of the October 30th last. Costello stated that four shots were fired, but the police could only find traces of two. On the night of the February 26th, about 600 yards of a wall on the farm held by Costello were thrown down. The police are pursuing their investigations in the matter, and I am unable at present to make any statement in respect to the causes to which the outrages are attributed. The condition of this district is receiving the earnest attention of the Government.

Did the hon. Member get his information from Lord Ashtown, the most notorious newsmonger in?

Order, order!

Am I to understand that none of the large party of men engaged in this outrage have been discovered?

Yes.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a bailiff in the employment of the landlord was caught firing shots the other night?

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he is aware that four shots were fired into the house of Thomas Curran, butcher, in the main street of Athenry, between seven and eight o'clock on the evening of the 6th inst., because he refused to obey the order of the local branch of the United Irish League to surrender some grazing farms held by him in the district; where was the police patrol at the time of the outrage; what steps did they take to bring the perpetrators to justice; and how many persons have been arrested in connection with the matter.

Four revolver shots were fired at the house of Thomas curran on the evening of the 6th instant. The police extracted two of the shots from the wooden shutter of Curran's shop window and picked up a third bullet from the ground. Shortly before this occurrence he received a letter from the local branch of the United Irish League requesting him to surrender a grazing farm which he held. A police patrol was on duty at the time in another part of the town. No arrests have yet been made, but the police are using their best exertions to trace the offenders. I cannot at the present stage make any statement in reference to the motives attributed for the outrage.

Is it not the fact that an ex-sergeant of police was convicted some time ago of using fire arms in the dead of night?

I understand the hon. Member is now putting a Question a to some other offence?

No, Sir, this is a Question which casts an aspersion on a whole district. It alleges a serious crime, and my hon. friend the Member for the district is asking whether recently an ex-sergeant of police was not convicted for this very offence.

There is no foundation that he was convicted for this offence.

I meant similar offence.

I have no information.

Was it not on one occasion ruled by Mr. Speaker Peel that Question affecting private character could not be put without notice and under circumstances which afforded no immediate opportunity of answer

That is an aspersion on the decision of the Chair.

And by a Deputy-Chairman too.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he is aware that on the night of February 23rd 1905, 500 yards of double walls were thrown down on a grass farm known as Moyvilla, in county Galway, belonging to Patrick Costello, because he refused to surrender it to be divided up amongst the surrounding tillage farms; whether the police have arrested any of the perpetrators of this outrage; and what steps the Government have taken, or intend to take, in the matter.

It is the fact that on the night of February 23rd about 460 yards of a stone wall on the farm referred to were thrown down. Pending the further investigations that are now being made in the matter I am unable to ascribe a motive for this outrage. I am informed that shortly before this occurrence Patrick Costello received a letter purporting to come from the local branch of the United Irish League asking him to surrender the farm on May 1st next, and that Costello replied, declining to do so. No arrests have as yet been made. The police, however, are making every effort to detect the offenders, and the condition of the district is receiving the very careful attention of the authorities.

Arising out of these three Questions, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of recommending the new Chief Secretary to put the Crimes Act in force in this district?

Order, order!

Will any effort be made by the authorities at Dublin Castle to suppress the United Irish League in this district?

Notice must be given of that.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he can state if the children of the late William John Loughrey, of Camnish, Limavady, county Derry, are still within the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery; whether, in view of the fact that the father and mother were married by a Catholic clergyman, that the father died in communion with the Catholic Church, and that the mother is a Catholic, he can state if the children are being educated as Catholics and in a Catholic institution, and whether the mother has access to her children.

I am informed by the Registrar of the Court of Chancery that these children are still within the jurisdiction of the Lord Chancellor. I have no information as to the remaining statements in the Question, but I understand that the children are being educated, by the Lord Chancellor's order, in a Presbyterian institution. The matter is not one in which the Executive Government can interfere.

Is that a matter over which the Lord Chancellor has control? Is it legal for children to be brought up in a different religion to that professed by the parents?

A mere question of law should not be asked.

I thought the right hon. Gentleman knew the law. I apologise for asking him.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Dr. Gill, of Westport, county Mayo, who until lately held the position of dispensary doctor and surgeon to the police at Newport, in the same county, was asked by the police authorities to resign the latter appointment on changing his residence to Westport; and can he state why he was compelled to give up the police appointment.

Dr. Gill has been appointed dispensary medical officer at Westport, the duties of which will necessitate his daily attendance at the dispensary there. He could not, in the circumstances, properly discharge the duties of medical attendant to the police at Newport, Mulranny, and Glenhest, which are a considerable distance from Westport, and was consequently required to resign the latter position.

Why was Dr. Gill asked to resign and a doctor in the same town not appointed to succeed him?

They were different appointments.

I am speaking of the police appointment.

The new appointment at Westport necessitated daily attendance and he could not cover the police duty.

Surely a police surgeon is bound to live within the district?

I daresay.

I will put another Question down.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the intention of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland to enforce Rule 127(b) as given in the revised edition of 1905; and whether, in view of the disapproval of the proposed rule expressed by managers and teachers and to the probable effect of such in replacing trained male teachers by women teachers, he will order its withdrawal.

The Government are in communication with the Commissioners on the subject of this rule, and I would ask the hon. Member to postpone his Question until Monday next.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed unanimously by the Millstreet Rural District Council, protesting against the threatened evictions on the Thompson-Orpen Estate in that district, and requesting the Chief Secretary to refuse to lend the forces of the Crown in carrying out eviction proceedings; and what steps he intends to take in respect to the request of the local representative body.

The resolution has been received. I have already informed the hon. Member that the Executive are bound in law to afford protection to the sheriff in the execution of the King's writs.

But is not this a case for administrative solution?

We are bound by law to give the protection asked for.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Irish Congested Districts Board has purchased the estate of Lord de Freyne in the counties of Roscommon, Galway, and Sligo; and, if so, whether he can state the total purchase money and the number of years purchase for the different classes of tenants, also the particulars of the arrears, current rent, and untenanted land.

I am not yet in a position to give the information desired. Negotiations are still proceeding.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the dredger, the cost of which was provided out of the Development Fund Grant last year, has yet been constructed; and, if not, when it will be ready for use.

The dredger has been constructed and is in use.

Where, and how long?

I must ask for notice.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the nature of the Canadian railway system on which it was suggested, in the letter of the late Chief Secretary for Ireland to Sir Antony MacDonnell, that reform in the Irish railway system might be modelled.

I have no information in the matter.

This information is important for the debate to take place to-night. It is within the power of the Executive Government to give it.

The actual railway system is not stated in the correspondence.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that The Inland Revenue Act, 1880, Section 43, authorised, for the purpose of the assessment on licensed premises of Excise license duties, the addition of 20 per cent, as an addition to the valuation of such premises in Ireland alone as valued under The Irish Valuation Act, 1852; that such addition was authorised on the ground that such premises were not then valued under the Valuation Act on the same level as similar premises in England; that the recent decision of the Irish Court of Appeal in the case of Armstrong v. the Commissioners of Valuation will henceforth compel the valuation of licensed premises to be made on the same principles as in England, the Government will insist on the addition to the valuation for Excise purposes which is authorised by the Act of 1880; and whether, if necessary, an amendment will be made in the law by which such addition may be made.

This is not a matter for determination by the Irish Executive. But I am informed by the Board of Inland Revenue that in assessing license duty on public-houses, it is not the intention of the Board to add the 20 per cent., or any portion there of, authorised by the 43 Section(7) of the 43 and 44 Vict. cap. 20., to the Poor Law Valuation in the case of a new general valuation such as that made some time ago for Belfast, where the new valuation represents the true annual value of the licensed premises, and intimation to this effect has been given to the Commissioner of Valuation. It is not proposed to disturb the existing system in other cases. No change in the law is therefore necessary.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Marquess of Londonderry, as lord-lieutenant of the county of Down, has recommended the appointment, as deputy-lieutenant of the county, of Colonel Wallace, the Grand Master of the Orange Lodges of Belfast; and whether it is intended to accept the nomination.

The appointment of persons to fill the office of deputy- lieutenant of counties is vested by the 30th Section of the Militia Act, 1882, in His Majesty's lieutenants of counties, subject to the approval of the Lord-Lieutenant. In the present, instance the Marquess of Londonderry appointed Colonel Wallace as deputy-lieutenant of the county Down, and the Lord-Lieutenant signified his approval of the appointment. I am not aware that Colonel Wallace is a Grand Master of the Orange Society, but in any case his connection with that society is not a statutory disqualification for the appointment.

Is it not the fact that Lord Londonderry has refused to appoint one Catholic magistrate for the whole of county Down?

Is not this noble Lord the Minister for Education, and is he not supposed to hold the scales equally for all parties?

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that on the 14th September last postal orders amounting to £1 12s.6d.wers procured and posted in a letter addressed to a person in Belfast by a Miss Graham at Springfield Post Office, county Fermanagh, that the person to whom the orders were sent never received the letter, and that the orders were cashed in two different post offices in Belfast on the 17th September and the person's name to whom payable forged thereon; and if he will undertake to have the value of the orders refunded to Miss Graham.

I am aware of the case mentioned. The orders were enclosed in an unregistered letter, and the regulation printed on the face of the orders which requires the remitter to fill in the name of the payee was not complied with. In view of the want of precaution shown, I should not be justified in paying Miss Graham the value of the orders.

Am I to understand nothing will be done to refund the money?

No, Sir. Certain instructions are issued with regard to orders, and if they are not fulfilled I cannot see that any obligation rests on the Post Office.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General what is the constitution of the staff at Ballyconnell Post Office, county Cavan, and if a report has reached him of an insult to Catholic belief in this office on Christmas Day; and, if so, will the matter be investigated and dealt with immediately.

No such report has reached me

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a number of postal officials in the London district have a thorough knowledge of Irish; and whether he will submit the original envelope, addressed by Mr. Thomas Murphy, to any one or more of such competent officials with a view to discovering the alleged error which caused a delay of four days in the delivery of the letter; or will he submit it to Dr. Norman Moore, a member of the Consultative Committee of the English Board of Education, who is a recognised authority on the Irish language.

I have no information as to the knowledge of Irish possessed by postal officials in the London district; and I trust the hon. Member will not think I am discourteous if I say that I am not prepared to waste the time of competent officials or of Dr. Norman Moore by asking them to examine Mr. Murphy's envelope.

But is it not the fact that the original defence of the noble Lord was that the address was incorrectly written in Irish? Will he not submit the matter to arbitration?

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a letter, addressed in Irish, to the Secretary of the Dunleary Feis Committee, at 3, Lower George's Street, Kingstown, county Dublin, was delivered at 3, Upper George's Street and there opened by the occupier; that, although posted in Dublin on 6th March, it did not reach the person to whom it was addressed until 2 p.m. on 8th March; and whether, seeing that an elementary knowledge of Irish would enable an official to distinguish between the abbreviated forms ioch. (lower) and uach. (upper), he will state what steps will be taken to prevent private letters, through the mistakes of postal officials, from being delivered into the hands of strangers.

I have no in formation as to the letter to which the hon. Member refers, and I am no prepared to undertake that letters addressed in Irish shall be delivered as certainly or as rapidly as letters addressed in English.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury how many dredgers are at present at the disposal of the Board of Public Works in Ireland; what steps are taken to ascertain the localities in which they are from time to time most urgently required, and in particular whether local opinions are consulted in the matter; and when may those persons interested in the harbours in the county of Dublin hope to have the services of a dredger.

The Board of Works have only one dredger at their disposal, which will be fully occupied this year on the West Coast. It is assumed that harbour authorities will make their wants and opinions known to the Board of Works.

Where is the one on the West Coast?

At Tralee, I believe.

When may we expect dredgers in other parts of Ireland?

I cannot say.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for Wandsworth if he proposes to accept the nomination of the Committee of Selection to actas Chairman of the Committee upon Group 1, Railway Bills.

While I am quite willing to answer, I should like to ask Mr. Speaker if such a Question from one private Member to another is in order.

The Question as addressed to a private Member comes extremely near the line of order, but, as the hon. Member is Chairman-elect or Chairman selected of a Committee appointed to sit on the morrow, I do not feel justified in refusing to allow the Question. As to answering it, that is a matter for the hon. Member's own consideration.

My Answer to the hon. Member is this: neither in view of what took place yesterday, nor in any other view, can I find any reason why I should not perform the duties assigned to me, and in discharging those duties I believe I shall be acting in accordance with a well-established practice in the House. It is my intention so to act.

:I will return to the subject on the Motion for Adjournment.