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 67 has been complied with, viz.:—Cork Junction Railways Bill.

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 66 has not been complied with, viz.:—Cork Junction Railways Bill.

laid upon the Table Report from one of the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in the case of the Petition for the following Bill, originating in the Lords, the Standing Orders have not been complied with, viz.:—Leven's Patent Bill.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the report of a case in which the Mayor, Aldermen, and Council of the Borough of Paddington were summoned for refusing to grant a certificate to allow a baker to use his premise; and whether, having regard to the observations made by the stipendiary magistrate who dealt with the case (granting at once the necessary certificate), he will, in the interests of traders, issue a circular to all borough councils and administrative bodies as to their duties under the Acts relating to public health and sanitation. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I have seen a newspaper report of the case referred to and have made some inquiry with regard to it. I understand that the consideration with which the Paddington Borough Council and their officers have administered the enactment under which the proceedings were taken has been acknowledged by a considerable number of the proprietors and lessees of underground bakehouses in the borough and it does not seem to me necessary to issue any such circular as that suggested

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the evidence given before the Physical Deterioration Committee relating to the condition of children, he will issue a circular to boards of guardians calling their attention to their powers and duties as to underfed children, and pointing out the importance, in the case of giving out-relief to young children, of giving milk rather than a large amount of bread. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) So far as I am aware, there is no reason to suppose that boards of guardians are not alive to the powers and duties which attach to them in relation to underfed children, where application is made to them for relief. With regard to the latter part of the Question, I think that boards of guardians may be trusted to use their discretion as to giving of milk as out-relief to young children. The Local Government Board called the attention of their inspectors to the subject last year. It does not appear to me to be necessary to issue a circular as suggested.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will explain why the medal and gratuity for service in Somali-land has not yet been issued to the men of the Royal Navy who took part in the operations, although they have for some time been distributed to those entitled to them in the Army. (Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The Admiralty decision as to the medal and gratuity for the operations in Somaliland was given on 28th January. Steps were at once taken to make the necessary com- munications to the Treasury for the payment of the gratuity and to the Mint for the supply of the medals. The bulk of the latter having now been received, a notice as to the terms of the award will appear in the London Gazette of Tuesday 21st instant, and the distribution will proceed forthwith. The payment of the gratuities to those entitled has already commenced.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the wages paid to the sailors and firemen employed on the Royal Mail steamer "Orepesa," of the Pacific Line, are in accordance with the Fair Wage Resolution of this House; and whether such rate of wages is equal to that paid by other steamship companies engaged in the same trade carrying the Royal mails from Southampton and other ports. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) The Secretary to the Treasury has requested me to reply to this Question, as it relates primarily to the Post Office. I have no information as to the wages paid on the steamer mentioned by the hon. Member. It has always been held that the Fair Wages Resolution of the House does not apply to contracts with steamship companies for the conveyance of mails.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he can state the number of seamen who met with hurt or injury on board British ships during the year 1904; whether he can state the number of such seamen who were engaged at ports in the United Kingdom; whether he can state the number of such seamen engaged at ports abroad; and whether he can state the number of seamen whose expenses were paid by the owners, and also of those whose expenses were paid out of the wages due to the seamen from the ship. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) The number of seamen reported to the Board of Trade as having been injured during the year 1904 was 2,594, while 1,049 are reported to have lost their lives owing to wreck, casualty, or other accident. I am afraid I cannot give comparable figures with reference to the various other matters referred to by the hon. Member's Question.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether inspectors of weights and measures examine the weights and measures used on board ship for weighing provisions and other articles supplied to seamen, as provided by Section 201 of the Merchant Shipping Act; and, if not, whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the matter with a view to such weights and measures being thoroughly examined and, if unfit, condemned as required by the Weights and Measures Act. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) Inspectors of weights and measures are under the control of local authorities, and I will cause inquiries to be made as to the practice with regard to their inspection of weights and measures used on board ship.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he will state the price paid by the masters of British ships per pound for tobacco out of bond at ports in the United Kingdom. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) There are no figures in the possession of the Board of Trade that would enable me to furnish the information asked for by the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he can state how many shipowners have adopted the scale of provisions for merchant ships recommended by the Mercantile Marine Committee; whether he can state the reason why the scale recommended by this Committee has not been generally adopted; and whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to introduce a Bill this session making the scale recommended by the Mercantile Marine Committee compulsory. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) I am unable to state how many shipowners have adopted the scale of provisions recommended by the Mercantile Marine Committee, but I find that out of 3,647 merchant vessels registered and engaging crews in the United Kingdom in the year 1904, 380 adopted that scale. Although this scale has not been more generally adopted I find that a similar scale was inserted in the articles of 1,691 vessels. As at present advised the Board of Trade are not prepared to introduce legislation for the purpose of making any scale compulsory.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of a seaman, named Bengtson, who engaged on the British steamship "Ovid," at Yokohama, on October 25th, 1904, and, in consequence of injuries received in the service of the ship, was discharged at Batavia on December 5th, the master paying him the balance of wages due; and will he explain, in view of Section 207 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, why, on Bengtson's arrival in London on February 27th, 1905, he was informed by the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office, Victoria Docks, that the balance of his wages, namely, £6 1s. 4d., for which he applied, had been used for the purpose of defraying the cost of his passage and maintenance to England. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) The Board of Trade are making inquiries into this matter, and when they are concluded a communication shall be addressed to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he will state the names of the persons who have met with fatal injuries since the opening of the electrified portion of the North Eastern Railway a year ago through coming into contact with the live rail; and what compensation has been awarded to the relatives in each instance. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) The names reported to the Board of Trade are as follows: John Frederick Irving, Joseph Innis, Jonas Whitehead, James Harris, and Elizabeth Chapman. The accident to the last named appears to be that which the hon. Member has referred to in previous Questions as an accident to Alice Maughan. I am not aware what compensation has been paid to the relatives in any of these cases.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to accidents reported by the Metropolitan Police as being due to explosions caused through gas escaping into telegraph inspection chambers and coming into contact with leakage in an electric wire; and will he state what compensation has been paid for any personal injuries which such accidents may have caused, and what action has been taken to prevent their recurrence. (Answered by Lord, Stanley.) My attention has been called to this matter frequently, but as I told the hon. Member, in reply to his Question of last session,†I have not seen any reason to suppose that explosions have been due to leakage in a telegraph or telephone wire. No compensation has been paid by the Post Office, which has not been in any way in fault. The engineers of the Post Office are considering whether there is anything the Department can do to diminish the danger arising from the escape of gas.

To ask the Postmaster-General if he can state whether any part of the allowances authorised by the Treasury to London Post Office engineers on November 2nd, 1904, has yet been paid; whether it has been proposed to apply these allowances by means of a corresponding reduction of salaries; and whether, in view of the figures quoted on page 116 of the Post Office Estimates, it has been decided to enforce this method of application, despite the unanimous refusal of the officers concerned to accept it after being invited to do so. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) The allowances in question have been paid to all persons entering the establishment since November 2nd last. But it was

† See (4) Debates, cxxxix., 1551.

To ask the President of the Board of Agriculture what foreign nations or British Colonies have laws and regulations to check and prevent the importation of diseased apples or other fruit, so as to stop the introduction into their respective countries of the codlin moth and other insect pests. (Answered by Mr. Ailwyn Fellowes.) All the principal vine-growing countries have made regulations designed to prevent the introduction of the phylloxera. The United States, Canada, and the South African and Australian Colonies also take precautionary measures against the San Jose scale. British Columbia aims at excluding the woolly aphis, the apple tree aphis, the codlin moth, and other injurious insects and all fungus diseases, and most, if not all, of the Australian Colonies and many of the American States adopt similar precautions to prevent the introduction of insect and fungus pests. As my hon. friend is aware, we have prepared a full Memorandum on the subject for the information of the Departmental Committee on Fruit Culture, of which he is a member; and the subject is one which will continue to receive their careful consideration.

To ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the official order recently issued to the Royal Arsenal and Dockyards, that in the event of its being necessary to discharge employees those who have been employed less than ten years should be selected for discharge, is to apply to the Ordnance Survey. (Answered, by Mr. Ailwyn Fellowes.) The order to which my hon. friend refers does not apply to the Ordnance Survey. It is the general rule of the Survey, when a reduction of the staff becomes necessary, to select the younger men for discharge where possible, but each case is considered on its merits. It may, for example, sometimes be necessary to discharge an old employee if there is no suitable work for him to do, or to give the preference to a younger employee with an excellent record as compared with an older one with a bad record. I may add that we do not anticipate that it will be necessary to make any general reduction in the staff of the Survey in the near future which cannot be effected by not filling up vacancies as they occur.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average gross rate of duty received on sugar in each financial year since the reimposition of the sugar duty, up to the 31st March, 1904, and in the eleven months up to the 28th February, 1905; the number of samples of sugar polariscopically examined by the Customs in the above periods and the cost of such examination; the annual cost to the country of supervising the British sugar refineries in bond; and whether he has yet had an opportunity of considering

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in preparing the Budget Estimates for the year 1905–6, he will append thereto a schedule giving particulars of orders given and contracts entered into by the Government for stores, buildings, munitions of war, or other supplies which will have to be delivered to the Government in future, but which have not been provided for in the said Budget Estimates; and whether he will also give an estimate of the amount of arrears of income-tax outstanding on 31st March, 1905, as compared with the amount of arrears of the said tax which were outstanding on 31st March, 1904. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) I must ask the hon. Member to await the Budget statement. If, when that statement is made, it does not contain information which he thinks indispensable, I shall be prepared to consider the propriety of supplementing it by further communications. But I must respectfully decline to pledge myself beforehand as to the nature and scope of the statement.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has been requested to grant an annual subsidy towards the permanent establishment of a National Repertory Theatre, provided a proportion of the funds required is guaranteed by the members of the public interested in its establishment; and, if so, can he state the answer which he gave to that request. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) Yes, Sir, I have been requested to lay before His Majesty's Government a proposal to grant an annual subsidy of £10,000 towards the permanent establishment of a National Repertory Theatre in the West End of London. I have replied that I am unable to recommend such a grant from public funds.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the political pensions granted under the provisions of 32 and 33 Vic., c. 60, are subject to a declaration of necessitous circumstances; and if he will state the terms of such declaration. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) Yes, Sir, the grant of such pensions is subject to a declaration that the pensioner's total income is inadequate to maintain his station in life. The declaration is framed under the provisions of Section 7 of the Act of 1869.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Departmental Committee of Inquiry into the Income-Tax has reported; and, if not, when its Report may be expected; and whether a copy of its Report will be laid upon the Table of the House. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The Committee has not yet reported, but I am informed that its Report may be looked for shortly. The work of the Committee has been somewhat prolonged by the addition in November to their reference of an instruction to inquire and report whether co-operative societies enjoy under the present law any undue exemption from liability to income-tax. When I have received the Report, I will consider whether it can be presented to Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for India, whether he is aware that no person can obtain a degree in any of the faculties of the Indian Universities without passing the entrance examination, and that this examination is under the control of the Faculty of Arts; and whether, seeing that the Faculty of Arts is the dominant faculty in the Universities, he will take steps that Mr. Justice Tyabji, Mr. Justice Chandravarkar, Mr. Justice Batty, Sir Pherozshah Mehta, the Honourable Mr. Setalwad, and other Fellows of the University should not be excluded from the Faculty of Arts. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The regulations for the constitution of faculties in the Bombay University have under the law to be made by the Senate of that University, of which the gentlemen named in the Question are members. The preparation of rules for examinations also rests with the Senate, and in the preparation of these rules the gentlemen named will have the opportunity of taking part. I see no reason to interfere with the discretion of the University authorities as constituted by law.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the services rendered to higher education and to science in India by Raja Peary Mohan Mookerjee, Mr. A. M. Bose, Father Lafont, Dr. P. C. Ray, Mr. Perceval, Mr. N. N. Ghose, Mr. Justice Ashutosh Mukerjee, and Dr. J. C. Bose, and of the dissatisfaction felt at the exclusion of these gentlemen from the Senate of the Calcutta University, and from the Faculty of Arts; and whether, seeing that over 70 per cent, of the members of the Calcutta Senate are not graduates of the University, and that over 56 per cent, are Government servants, steps will be taken to prevent the exclusion of Indian gentlemen who have served the University with distinction from a share in its management. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed as to the facts stated in his Question. Of the eight gentlemen named by him, five, viz., Father Lafont, Mr. Perceval, Mr. N. N. Ghose, Mr. Justice Ashutosh Mukerjee, and Dr. J. C. Bose have been appointed Fellows and members of the Senate of the Calcutta University. Of these five, three, viz., Mr. Perceval, Mr. N. N. Ghose, and Mr. Justice Mukerjee have been allotted to the Faculty of Arts, and the remaining two to the Faculty of Science. I have no information as to the reason why the remaining three gentlemen were not appointed to the Senate by the authorities charged with the duty of selection; but I observe that of the ninety-one ordinary Fellows of the Calcutta University whose nomination was notified in the Gazette of India of December 10th, 1904, and January 28th, 1905, no less than forty-five are Indian gentlemen of distinction.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, at the recent election in Kildare of a petty sessions clerk for the districts of Kildare and Rathangan, in which a Mr. Samuel Bratton was declared elected on February 2nd, he is aware that the said Samuel Bratton received only three votes out of a total of seven magistrates present and voting; that this alleged election was held in a private room off the public Court from which the candidates, the public, and the Press were excluded; and that a memorial protesting against the irregular character of the proceedings was addressed to His Excellency the Earl of Dudley, on behalf of the general public of the districts concerned, and signed by the Very Rev. P. Campion, P. P. Kildare and Rathangan,and the Very Rev. N. A. Staples, O.C.C., White Abbey, Kildare, on February 4th, and duly acknowledged by His Excellency; and if, under these circumstances, he will take steps to have this election annulled and a new election ordered. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The facts are substantially as stated in the Question. There were three candidates, of whom Mr. Bratton received three votes, and the two remaining candidates two votes each. Prior to the election the chairman of the magistrates announced that the candidate who should first receive a majority of the votes, would be declared elected. I am advised that this was a legal method of election, and also that the magistrates acted within their powers in retiring to their private room to Vote. The result of the election was duly announced in public Court. A reply to the memorial was sent on March 8th to the effect that the election was legal.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the dissatisfaction in regard to the introduction of the new rule in boys' schools, he will consult with the National Commissioners of Education as to the advisability of the amalgamation of boys' and girls' schools where work goes on under one roof, and inaugurate a separate infant department for both sexes up to eight, the head mistress holding her salary and being put in charge of the latter department. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Commissioners are in favour of the amalgamation of small schools in suitable cases, and the arrangement suggested in the Question might be possible in some such cases. But the circumstances affecting the amalgamation of schools are so varied that each case must be judged on its merits, and it is not practicable to formulate a general rule applicable to all cases.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will explain on what grounds the new rules of the National Commissioners of Education debar teachers from acting as secretaries to school attendance committees; and whether, seeing that such work is performed outside school hours and does not interfere with the discharge of their duties as teachers, he will communicate to the Commissioners the advisability of removing this disqualification. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) Under Rule 88 (a): "Teachers are not permitted to carry on, or engage in, any business or occupation that will impair their usefulness as teachers." It has been decided that the position of secretary to a school attendance committee comes within the rule.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Department of Agriculture for Ireland have had the navigation of the River Suir from Clonmel to Carrick-on-Suir examined and reported on by their engineer, and that, being satisfied of the large traffic on the river and the importance of its improvement, he had recommended the improvement of such navigation, which necessitated the erection of certain works and the alteration in the bed and banks of that river, and that the Law Officers of the Crown had advised them to carry out such improvement; and, if so, having regard to the importance of improving the navigation of such rivers in Ireland, will the Government bring in a Bill to confer all such powers as may be necessary on the Department. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The facts as to the engineer's examination and reportare substantially as stated. There is no foundation, however, for the suggestion that the Law Officers gave advice to the effect mentioned. I cannot give any undertaking that the Government will introduce legislation on the subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether sanction will be given by the War Office to trials, free of all cost, of the Ivel motor, shielded with Cammell's bullet-proof steel for protecting medical officers and men giving first aid, affording electric light without glass to field hospital camps, and also working a new portable ice-making machine, for testing and report in the field, under the direction of the medical department at Aldershot. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold Forster.) The Ivel motor ambulances with bullet-proof armour, electric light apparatus, and gear for portable ice machine has been under consideration and has been declined as unsuited to service requirements. Further trials are not therefore contemplated.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that the King's Messenger's greatcoat, Requisition Order 3,156, was made in the Department at the Royal Army Clothing Department, Pimlico; and will he explain why this greatcoat was passed through the outdoor division and paid for in the same way. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) This coat was made up by some of the military tailors under instruction, because the ordinary women piece workers employed in the factory are unskilled in this description of work. In this and similar cases the men employed are temporarily attached to one of the divisions of the factory to enable the payment for the work to appear in the accounts in a regular way.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has received reports on the barrack accommodation in North China, showing that the quarters and barracks of British officers and native ranks of the Indian contingent quartered in China at Shan-hai-Kwan, Tientsin, and other stations, were in an unsanitary condition; whether he is aware that at Shan-hai-Kwan nearly every British officer has been, at some time or other, laid up with fever, dysentery, or diarrhœa; that the quarters of both officers and men were in an old yamen, the enclosure of which is the old bed of the river Shito, and liable to be flooded; whether, seeing that the other foreign contingents at Shan-hai-Kwan are better housed in forts captured by the British force in 1900, and at Tientsin have superior accommodation, and in view of the condition of those of our own troops, he will explain why the money taken in the last year's Army Estimates for the improvement of the accommodation at Pekin was not expended, and why it is now decided to spend no money at Shan-hai-Kwan. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The official reports do not bear out the statements made in the Question as to the insanitary character of the barrack accommodation for the troops in North China. It is, however, admitted that the officers' quarters at Shan-hai-Kwan compare very unfavourably with those at Tientsin. As regards Shan-hai Kwan and Tientsin, local syndicates have offered to erect suitable barracks for the troops, and lease them to the War Department; and these offers have been accepted. As regards Pekin, since the money was originally taken in Army Estimates a revision of the scheme has been brought forward and is receiving careful consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for War under what Vote and sub-head is credit taken for the guns and ammunition taken over by the War Office from the Navy consequent on the laying up of obsolete ships; and what is the amount so credited. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) This interchange of stores and plant already provided by Parliament does not necessitate any fresh Parliamentary provision, of appropriation. Its effect will, however, appear in the Stock Accounts published at the close of the year with the Appropriation Account.

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, as described in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General, 12 ounces of jam instead of 1lb., as per contract, and whether he will state who were the War Office inspecting officials who passed the goods on receipt. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) With regard to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, I have to say that I have made inquiry as to the names of the contractors, but have not yet received the information. The Agent-General for South Australia has informed me that the contracts were made in Australia, and that he is not acquainted with the names of the contractors, but that they shall be furnished. I have no doubt that I shall receive similar information with respect to the other contracts made in the Colonies. The supplies furnished by the Australian Colonies were inspected by the Agricultural Departments of those Colonies before shipment. As regards the second part of the Question, under war conditions time did not admit of the weighing or detailed examination of such supplies at Durban, and the examination by supply officers at that port was confined, necessarily, to seeing that the goods had not suffered any damage during sea transit and were apparently fit for issue to the troops. The question as to whether there was any shortage on the total amount ordered is under investigation, and I am not prepared to anticipate the result of the inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies why it has been found necessary to appoint a further Commission to deal with the question of coolie education in Ceylon; what are the names of the present Commissioners; and whether he will cause to be supplied copies of the special Minutes or Memoranda on the subject of estate schools which were submitted by the various individual members of the Education Cess Committee of the Incidence on Taxation Commission, but which were not included in the Commissioners' Final Report. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The Governor has found it desirable to appoint a Commission (a) to consider how the suggestions of a Committee

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the total cost spent on land settlement, the number of acres purchased, the price paid, the amount of money grants to settlers, the number of acres now actually occupied, and the number of settlers actually in occupation in the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies respectively. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The information, as far as I have it, is as follows:—

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the Treasury Minute which grants part payment to Civil servants for leave taken for the purpose of attending certain Volunteer camps when held for the extended period of a fortnight, he will give a like privilege to those Civil servants who attend camps of one week's duration; and, further, whether he will so arrange that leave taken for the purpose of attending such camps shall not be included in the fortnight's leave now allowed by Admiralty regulations.

The privilege referred to is given under Treasury Minute which is applicable to all public Departments. Any question as to the extension of this Minute to cover camps of less duration should be addressed to that Department.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the position of the obsolete war vessels in the Kyles of Bute is objected to by the Clyde Lighthouse Trust, who have complained to the Board of Trade on the subject; and whether he will communicate with the Board of Trade with a view to putting an end to the grievance complained of.

The Clyde Lighthouse Trust raised certain objections to the mooring of His Majesty's ships in the Kyles of Bute, which the Admiralty did not consider to be well founded, and so informed the Trust. It is not proposed to consult the Board of Trade on the matter. The mooring grounds for these ships were selected after careful inquiry as to their suitability, and with as much consideration as posssible for local interests.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any person has been reprimanded, dismissed, or otherwise punished in connection with any of the transactions to which public attention is drawn in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

No person has been, or will be, reprimanded, dismissed, or otherwise punished until a full inquiry has been made, and until his responsibility for any malpractice has been established. When this responsibility has been established the Army Council will immediately take such steps as may be necessary. Perhaps I may take this opportunity of informing the hon. Member, and the House, what is the actual history of these transactions. Many of the transactions appeared originally to be justified by the explanations given by the local military authorities. In 1904, however, attention was drawn by the Comptroller and Auditor-General to other alleged errors or malpractices; and in investigating these reason was seen for questioning the accuracy or relevance of the explanations previously accepted. The cases were, therefore, taken up as a whole and minutely investigated de novo by the newly formed Accounts Branch. On January 17th I was informed that, as a result of these inquiries, there was reason to view some of these transactions with great suspicion. On the same day, therefore, I decided to appoint a strong Committee, of which General Sir William, Butler is the Chairman, to make a careful investigation into the cases, and to report to the Army Council. This inquiry has been proceeding since that date, and a large number of witnesses have been examined. I am fully alive to the necessity of relieving the Army from any general imputation of malpractice, and the House may rely upon it that individuals against whom misconduct or neglect of duty may be established will be dealt with without fear or favour. At the same time, I would point out that it is necessary to proceed with care where the reputation and character of individuals, whether in the service or not connected with it, are concerned. Perhaps I may remind the House that an officer who was selected for frequent animadversion by hon. Members, brought his case before a Court of law and obtained the withdrawal of the charge, and an apology. In conclusion, I may say that the best guarantee against incidents such as those now the subject of complaint is the establishment of a proper organisation for dealing with purchases, contracts, and payments in time of war. The Army Council are fully sensible of this, and last year established a new organisation expressly charged with the duty of dealing with matters of this kind in the field.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his very full reply, but may I remind him that the Question referred only to the past, and many of the alleged malpractices are of very long standing.

I hope the hon. Member will pardon me for having made an addition to the actual Answer to the Question.

I have already thanked the right hon. Gentleman.

I beg further to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will furnish the names of the contractors mentioned anonymously in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General; and, in the case of any name not being given, will he state the reason for withholding such name.

At the same time may I ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state the names of the firms refered to in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General, under the heading "Sales of Surplus Supplies as, A, B, and C."

The reply to this and a similar Question by the hon. Member for West Newington, is that the names of the three firms are: Messrs. E. Stepney, Messrs. Meyer and Co., Messrs. Wilson and Worthington. I am aware of no reason for withholding the names of these, or of any other firm. I have already furnished them in response to a request by another hon. Member of the House.

asked if the names as now given corresponded with the alphabetical order of the anonymous contractors in the Report.

That is a Question I am unable to answer now; perhaps the hon. Member will give notice of the Question?

That is the whole point of the Question—to enable us to identify the coutiactors.

Is it a fact that the names of two of the three contractors are on the list for 1904–5?

I must ask for notice of the Question; but it must not be assumed from the fact that firms are mentioned that it is proof that they are in any way guilty of misconduct.

. Seeing that during the late war contractors who had been guilty of malpractices were replaced on the list, will the right hon. Gentleman take care that for the future the names shall be permanently struck off?

I make no admissions as to the correctness or otherwise of the hon. and gallant Member's statement.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that quantities of stores, many of them of an imperishable nature, such as wire netting, sent out for the service of the troops in South Africa, after remaining for some time upon the quays of certain South African ports, were reloaded upon steamers and jettisoned at sea; if he can state the amount and the value of these stores; by whose orders they were thus destroyed; what sums wore paid to the owners of the steamers for these services; and why such of these stores as were not of a perishable nature were not sold.

Nothing whatever can be traced at the War Office of the matter alluded to in the Question. I shall be much obliged if the hon. Member will communicate to me the source of his information to enable me to make further inquiries.

I will, so far as I am at liberty to do so.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister a Question of which I have given him private notice, viz., whether he will expedite the discussion on the question of the liability of the contractors in regard to the disclosures made recently, as they are suffering severely by the delay.

I can quite understand the very great anxiety of all those who, even in the most distant way, have been touched in connection with the subject of these Army contracts to have a discussion in this House as soon as possible, and I can assure my hon. friend, as I assured the House last Thursday, that it is our earnest desire to bring on the discussion at the very first moment at which it can be fruitfully and profitably undertaken by the House. My hon. friend will, however, see, as the House, I think, sees, that to bring it on before all the facts are in such a state that the House can deal with them would be neither in the interests of the House itself, in the interests of the public, nor in the interests of the contractors; but I will do my best to meet my hon. friend's views.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst the officers and men of the Highland Light Infantry at the arrangement under which the regiment is not brigaded with other Highland regiments, but has been assigned to a depot in the Lowlands of Scotland; and will he arrange for the depot of all Highland regiments to be in the Highlands.

I must refer the hon. Member to a reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Midlothian on the 8th instant,†from which he will

† (4) Debates, cxlii., 706.

Does the right hon. Gentleman still hold to the opinion that regimental depots must go?

Yes, Sir; I do very strongly think it would be very greatly to the public advantage that the existing regimental depot system should be altered.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War when is he prepared, as promised, to deal fully with the payment of £60,000 to the Rhodesian railways contained-in the Army Supplementary Estimate.

This matter will arise whenever the Supplementary Estimates come on for discussion.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if, in making arrangements for the discussion of the Army Supplementary Estimates, opportunity will be given for a full statement upon the payment of £60,000 to the Rhodesian railways instead of the £24,000 offered last year?

I shall be glad to do anything in my power to meet the views of hon. Members, but the distribution of time between the different Votes is not within the control of the Government. It is impossible for me to give any pledge, not knowing how much time hon. Gentlemen may consider necessary or desirable for the discussion of previous Votes. In correction of a statement made at the previous sitting it should be understood that the Secretary of State for War will make his statement on the Army Estimates on the Motion for into Committee.

All I ask is that the Secretary of State for War shall have an opportunity to redeem his promise.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has received a copy of a resolution recently passed by the Wicklow County Council, to the effect that the council consents for one year to the by-laws submitted on behalf of the War Office, provided that the War Office pay to the general fund of the county council as compensation to the ratepayers of Baltinglass and the surrounding districts for the loss of user, and the stoppage of the roads around the Glen of Imaal range, a sum of £400 on or before the 30th April, 1905, for the year 1905, the question of paying for the costs incurred by the increased traffic on these roads to be arranged hereafter between the War Office and the county council, or, in lieu thereof, the sum of £60 annually hitherto paid, with the arrears due, be secured to the council; and, if so, will he say whether the War Office accepts the conditions as laid down by the Wicklow County Council in the resolution.

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to. The matter is under consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Viceroy of Canton has again forbidden the enlistment in his province of coolies for the Rand mines; and, if so, if he will state what reasons have been given by the Viceroy for this action.

The Answer is, as far as I am aware, in the negative. The matter is without importance, as all recruiting for the Rand mines for some time past has been carried on in the North of China.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the ss. "Courtfield," carrying 1,342 Chinese labourers for the Transvaal, was stopped at Singapore on 15th February owing to the Chinese refusing to proceed further, and that the Protector of Chinese of the Straits Settlements, accompanied by a police officer, boarded the ship at the request of the captain in order to pacify the coolies; and if he will state what was the cause of this occurrence.

I have received the following account of the occurrence from the Governor of the Straits Settlements by telegraph: "Captain of ship reported to Protector of Chinese that he believed that Chinese coolies were in a mutinous condition; he was advised to ask for police protection. European drill instructor and a few Sikhs taken on board during the night. Protector went on board next morning, and, on careful examination, found coolies very good tempered and quite content. Captain of ship and Agent reported further arrangements police protection unnecessary. Ship left next morning."

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India when any alterations or modifications were last made in the rules and regulations governing the submission of appeals to higher authorities over the orders and decisions of provincial officials and administrations in India, and if he will place upon the Table of the House a copy of the rules and regulations now in force; also if he will state how many appeals of this character were submitted for the consideration of the Secretary of State in Council during the six years ending 31st December, 1904, giving the number in each year separately, and showing how many of these were forwarded to the Secretary of State for orders, and how many were withheld in India, and how these statistics compared with the corresponding figures for the six years ending 31st December, 1898.

The last occasion when alterations were made in the rules governing the submission of appeals to the Government of India from the orders of subordinate authorities and to the Secretary of State in Council from the orders of the Government of India and the Governments of Madras and Bombay was in January last, when the rules as last revised were published in the Gazette of India. The rules will be found in the issue of that Gazette for the 21st January, 1905, which is in the Library; but I shall be ready to lay them on the Table if my hon. friend will move for them. The statistics asked for by my hon. friend cover a period of twelve years, and it will take some time to collect them.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the successful action taken by the Madras municipal authorities in repressing a recent outbreak of plague in the fishing village of Kuppam; whether he is aware that the measures by which plague has been kept out of the city of Madras have met with popular approval; and whether he will invite the Government in other Provinces to follow the example of Madras, and to take measures of plague prevention in consultation with the municipal and rural local authorities.

I have seen accounts of the case, which reflects great credit on the local health officers. The hamlet, however, was very favourably situated for the early discovery of the outbreak, and for prompt and effective action to stop its spread. All Provinces in India have rules which prescribe that similar preventive measures shall be taken by Government officers in consultation with the municipal and rural authorities, and with the concurrence of the people. But the degree of success attained must necessarily depend on local circumstances.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the incidence of the Stamp Duty on Customs Bonds, and particularly to the disadvantage at which small traders are placed by the present practice under which the holders of general bonds in the majority of cases are not required to pay Stamp Duty, while small traders not able to enter into a general bond are required to pay Stamp Duty on every single transaction; and whether, in the interest of the revenue and smaller traders, he could have this practice revised.

Yes, Sir, my attention has been called to this matter and I am now considering it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is intended to reintroduce this session the Penal Servitude Bill.

I am not prepared to reintroduce the Penal Servitude Bill this session unless I find on inquiry that it is likely to be treated as non-contentious.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether the Committee appointed to inquire into the Companies Acts has commenced its sittings; in what building the inquiry will be held; and whether it is open to the public.

The Committee appointed to inquire into the Companies Acts began its sittings on the 23rd February. The inquiry is being held at the Board of Trade, but is not open to the public.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there are only four post offices in Scotland where learners are appointed by open competition; and, if so, will he consider the expediency of making the appointment of learner subject to open competition throughout the United Kingdom.

It is the fact that there are now only four offices in Scotland at which learners are appointed by open competition. The competition system was adopted at those offices as an experiment; and the question whether it should be extended is under consideration.

It is a very bad experiment, working most unsatisfactorily.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he can ascertain if the damage to the Shetland cable was caused by trawlers working within the three-mile limit; and, if so, will he consider what steps it is advisable to take to prevent a recurrence of such mischief.

It is not improbable that the damage to the cable to which the hon. Member refers was caused by trawlers. The question of how such damage can be avoided has received consideration, and I will see whether it is possible to take any further steps in the matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether, on the occasion of his visit to the Johanna Street Board School, he found any children unfit to attend to the duties of the school in a proper way; whether he has any reason to think that Dr. Eichholz in his evidence before the Committee on Physical Deterioration exaggerated the proportion of such children; and whether public money is still spent at this school in providing instruction which the children cannot, from their physical condition, attend to.

:On the occasion of my visit to the Johanna Street Council School the children were attending to the duties of the school in a proper way, but I think that many of them might with advantage have been provided with a curriculum more suited to their capacities. I am not in a position to criticise the medical evidence of Dr. Eichholz, but I have good reasons for thinking that it may not be final. The school is still being conducted as a public elementary school.

May I inquire whether the teachers were asked whether the children were capable of receiving their instruction.

I made careful inquiry into the condition of the school, and if the right hon. Gentleman wishes I will give him my conclusions.

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the first part of the Question and say whether, on the occasion of his visit he found any children unfit to attend to the duties of the school in a proper way.

The children were all attending to the duties of the school. As I have said, I think many of them might have been provided with a more suitable curriculum.

I beg to give notice that in Committee of Supply on the Education Vote I shall move the reduction of the grant for public elementary schools by £500,000 in respect of the children who are attending public elementary schools in a condition totally unfit to receive instruction.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education, whether he will give the names of the Departmental Committee which the President of the Board of Education has appointed for the purpose of providing useful and precise information on the physical condition of children in public elementary schools and the date of their appointment; what methods the Committee have adopted for obtaining information more precise than that furnished to the Committee on Physical Deterioration by Dr. Eichholz and other witnesses; and to what use the information thus provided has been put.

An Inter-Departmental Committee, consisting of Mr. H. W. Simpkinson, C.B., Assistant Secretary of the Board of Education, Chairman; Mr. H. Franklin Parsons, M.D., Assistant Medical Officer under the Local Government Board; Mr. C. Jackson, Chief Inspector of Elementary Schools under the Board of Education; The Hon. Maude Lawrence, Chief Woman Inspector of the Board of Education; Mr. R. Walrond, Senior Examiner of the Board of Education; with Mr. E. H. Pelham, Junior Examiner of the Board of Education, as Secretary, was appointed on March 9th to collect certain information as to the medical inspection of children in elementary schools, and as to the provision of meals for such children by voluntary agencies. I am sending the right hon. Member the terms of reference. I am not prepared to state the methods which the Committee will employ for obtaining this information. But I hope that they will provide information more thorough and precise than any which we at present possess; and will enable deductions to be drawn less indefinite in character than those which are supplied in the Report of the Physical Deterioration Committee.

May I ask whether this is a Departmental Committee appointed to consider or to revise the findings of another Departmental Committee?

No, Sir. It was appointed to collect facts which may be very useful.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that St. Joseph's School at Nymphsfield was opened on October 29th, 1900, at the suggestion of His Majesty's Inspector, and at the request of a majority of parents, Catholic and Protestant, because of the inefficiency of the Church of England school; that the inspectors have continued to inspect the school, have insisted on the conscience clause, and in other respects treated it as a public elementary school; that in February, 1903, the plans of the new school building were approved by the Board of Education; and whether, seeing that under the proposals made by the local education committee a heavy expense will fall on the ratepayers if the Church school is to be repaired, he will now direct the holding of a public inquiry into the whole matter.

The Board and its inspectors from the outset always made it quite clear to the managers of the St. Joseph's School at Nymphsfield that it was not and could not be recognised as a public elementary school. In approving the plans for the new school building in February, 1903, the Board stated that no hope could be held out that the proposed school would become eligible for Parliamentary grants, and inquired whether the managers, in view of all the circumstances of the case, considered that they were well advised in proceeding further in the matter. The inspector also communicated with the managers to the same effect. The Board have considered the case and given their decision, which is final. There appears to be no reason for a public inquiry.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for Chorley, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if, in view of the fact that in the Ladies' Gallery it is often quite dark, he will inquire into the possibility of lighting it up.

The First Commissioner will give the matter his immediate attention.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate whether he is aware that the fishery, cruisers at the disposal of the Fishery Board for Scotland are insufficient for the protection of the interests of line fishermen from the depredations of illegal trawlers; and will the Secretary for Scotland consider the expediency of approaching the Treasury for the requisite funds for an additional cruiser.

I must remind the hon. Member that the £15,000 now available for marine superintendence is placed at the disposal of the Fishery Board in terms of Section 2 (3) of the Local Taxation Account (Scotland) Act, 1898, and marine superintendence is provided to the full capacity of the funds. No Vote is taken for this purpose, and the Secretary for Scotland does not therefore see his way to approach the Treasury for funds.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate how many county medical officers of health in Scotland now engage in general or consultative practice.

I am informed by the Local Government Board that the number is six.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate if he will state what progress has been made by the Congested Districts Board in their negotiations with the proprietor of the Island of Lewis for the sub-division of the farm of Aignish, Lewis, into crofter holdings, and the nature of any arrangements on the subject which may have been entered into.

The proprietor has selected tenants for the thirty-two crofts into which this farm is to be subdivided. Tenders have been invited for the necessary roads and drainage and also for the houses to be erected on the crofts.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of the Question?

My Answer contains all the information I have.

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that tenants under the Crofters Act, 1886, on the Culloden Estate, Muir of Ord, Ross-shire, have had fair rents fixed by the Crofters Commission and arrears of rent cancelled, whilst their neighbours on the same estate who are leaseholders are being pressed for arrears of rent under a process of ejectment; and will he consider the expediency of so amending the law that both classes of tenants may be placed on an equal footing.

I learn that in the case of one leaseholder only, with whose circumstances the hon. Member is fully acquainted, have proceedings been taken. In one or two other cases where no payment on account of rent at the last collection was made, letters requesting a payment to account have been issued. The Secretary for Scotland does not propose to legislate in the sense suggested.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate whether the Secretary for Scotland will introduce legislation to compel the owners of deer forests in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland so to fence in their forests as to prevent deer from ravaging the crops of crofters on adjoining lands.

; The matter engaging the attention of the Secretary for Scotland, but he is unable to promise legislation this session.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate if the Secretary for Scotland can see his way to appoint one or more practical fishermen to be members of the Fishery Board for Scotland.

When vacancies occur the Secretary for Scotland will give due consideration to practical knowledge in making his selection, but he cannot give any undertaking in the sense suggested by the hon. Member.

Is it not the fact that one member of the Board is the owner of a small ironmonger's shop in Rothesay and knows nothing whatever about fishing?

I have no knowledge on the point.

Well, it is a fact.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if elementary science, as recommended by the Committee of Manual and Practical Instruction, is about to be discontinued in primary schools with a view to cutting down Treasury expenses; and, if so, what is the actual annual cost of this branch of education, and the amount of the grant to be continued.

I beg also to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if, having regard to the fact that there were 8,700 schools and 13,100 teachers to be trained in experimental science, and that as yet only forty per cent. of the teachers are qualified in Part I. and only five per cent. in Parts I. and II. experimental science, owing entirely to the short limit of time allowed and the fewness of the organisers supplied, steps will be taken to carry out the recommendations of the Committee.

Perhaps I may be allowed to answer these Questions. The teaching of elementary science will not be discontinued. On the contrary, instruction in this branch is progressing in national schools, and there is no reason to anticipate that it will diminish in the future. The Commissioners of National Education have not applied for a continuance of the service of six sub-organisers of elementary science after the end of the current financial year, and in accordance with an arrangement with the Treasury in the year 1900, the employment of these sub-organisers will accordingly terminate on the 31st inst. But the Treasury have sanctioned permanently the continuance of the services of the head organiser and of two of his assistants, and the grants for service apparatus have also been continued. In answer to the remaining inquiries in the hon. Member's two Questions, I beg to refer him to the published Estimates and to the reply given on the 7th inst.† to the Question of the hon. Member for St. Patrick's Division.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that applications for the sale of the Gascoigne Estate in and around Kilfinane, in the county of Limerick, have been lodged with the Estates Commissioners; and that a petition has been lodged with the Commissioners by the Town Tenants' Association of Kilfinane on behalf of the inhabitant occupiers of that town; and whether, seeing that untenanted land previously in the occupation of the landlord and situated at Spa Hill, near the town, has been lately broken into small applotments and assigned to the estate bailiff, thus creating a new tenancy and frustrating the intention of the Land Act of 1903, while other applotments have been advertised for sale by public auction, so that the landlord may have two profits, one from the tenant right, and the other from the purchase money to be advanced by the Estates Commissioners, he will say what action the Commissioners will take on the petition.

This estate has not yet come before the Estates Commissioners. The petition referred to has been received and will be duly considered when occasion arises.

Has any Department received an application in respect of this?

Obviously I cannot answer such a Question without notice.

On behalf of the hon. Member for Waterford, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Government or the Lord-Lieutenant

† See (4) Debates, cxlii., 562.

It was stated by my right hon. friend the Member for Dover on February 20th † that no regulations of the character mentioned in Section 23, Sub-section 8, of the Act had been made, but that communications of a Departmental and confidential nature had passed between him and the Commissioners. Having regard to the experience that has been obtained of the working of the Act, I am now considering whether the time has not arrived for formulating such regulations as are contemplated by Section 23 (8) and publishing them in the manner that may be deemed most satisfactory and convenient.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, seeing that under the Irish Land Act of 1903 the State is pledged to find the money required to enable the agricultural tenants on properties declared to be estates within the meaning of the Act, to purchase their holdings as soon as they have come to terms with their landlords, he will say whether the Act contains any provision for delaying such purchases beyond the period necessary for deducing title; if not, by what authority, and by whose order, are the loans now stated to be limited to £5,000,000 a year; is he aware that over 10,000 tenants are waiting for completion of purchases they have agreed to make; and will steps be taken during this session to provide at least £10,000,000 more stock before

† See (4) Debates, cxli., 609.

My right hon. friend the Member for Dover when introducing the Irish Land Bill on March 25th, 1903, said: "I say emphatically that it will be neither financially prudent, nor administratively possible, to expand these operations at a pace so high as to make us come to the City for more than £5,000,000 a year in any one of the first three years after the passing of this Bill. It could not be done." There is no express provision in the Irish Land Act, 1903, limiting advances by the National Debt Commissioners to £5,000,000 a year from the Land Purchase Fund. But that fund is financed by the issue of Guaranteed 2¾ per cent. Stock, and Section 28, Sub-section 3, of the Act provides that "The stock may be issued at such times, in such amounts, and subject to such conditions as to payment of deposits, etc., as the Treasury may direct." It is the case that a large number of tenants are awaiting the completion of purchases which they have agreed to make. As to the latter part of the Question, I am not prepared to make any statement at present.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of Rule 4 of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland, which states that the Commissioners do not change any fundamental rule without the express permission of the Lord-Lieutenant, the Commissioners have sought for the express permission of the Lord-Lieutenant to change the rule relating to the payment of special fees for extra subjects so that, in future, no fees are to be allowed for Irish for pupils under Fourth Standard, and Irish is not to be allowed to be taught as an extra subject outside school hours by the ordinary teachers in schools which do not show merit; and whether, in view of the expression of opinion on this matter in this House twelve months ago, and the promises made by the Chief Secretary, the express permission of the Lord-Lieutenant to change this rule has been granted; and whether, in deference to Irish opinion, steps will be taken to have these restrictions on the teaching of Irish as an extra subject removed.

The hon. and learned Gentleman is correct in stating that the Commissioners are precluded from changing any fundamental rule without the express permission of the Lord-Lieutenant. But the rule, No. 123, under which fees for Irish as an extra subject outside school hours are paid, is not a fundamental rule. My right hon. friend the Member for Dover undertook to communicate with the Commissioners with a view to the removal of some doubts created by the Circular of January, 1904, and as result of this communication a further Circular was issued in March. The terms of the latter were outlined by my right hon. friend on March 15th. I cannot give any undertaking that the conditions prescribed by this Circular, and which appear to me to be perfectly reasonable, will be withdrawn. They do not exclude children from obtaining instruction in Irish, nor do they impose undue restrictions on its teaching. It must be borne in mind that these Circulars do not in any way interfere with the teaching of Irish in national schools during school hours, for which, however, no special fee is payable. Irish may be taught during school hours to every pupil in every national school, provided the adequacy of the course of instruction in the ordinary curriculum is not thereby impaired or hampered. Correspondence has passed and is still proceeding between the Commissioners, the Irish Government, and the Treasury with respect to the adoption for a limited period of a modified scale of fees for Irish, instead of the existing fee of 10s. per pupil. In connection with this matter, I must point out that when the rule under which payments for Irish and other extra subjects was sanctioned in 1901, it was on the express understanding that the total payments for extras, including Irish, French, Latin, Arithmetic, and Geometry, would not exceed £2,000 per annum. It appears, however, that in 1904 no less a sum than —12,069 was expended in payments for the teaching of Irish alone. This is a matter which requires and will receive the serious consideration of Government.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that by agreement signed between the Commissioners of National Education (Ireland) and those teachers who were in training at the time of the abolition of the results system, the latter had assured unto them the same emoluments as they would have received under that system; and whether he can state by what authority the Commissioners have reduced the initial salaries so secured.

The agreement entered into between the Commissioners and the teachers in training does not contain any provision of the nature suggested. The form of agreement which was in use when the results system was abolished, and is still in use, is set forth in Schedule VII. to the Rules of the Commissioners. Teachers, as a rule, now receive higher incomes upon first being appointed to national schools than they received under the former regulations.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can say what development has taken place in the Iveagh-Pirrie scheme of motor traction in Ireland, and in how many of the seventeen experimental districts already surveyed and investigated has the scheme been put in operation.

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. and learned friend to Questions on the same subject put by the hon. Member for South Down on the 2nd†

† See (4) Debates, cxlii., 187.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of officials in various Irish Departments were put by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Dover at the disposal of these gentlemen for this scheme, and are we to understand there is no result after all these years?

The hon. Member must realise it is impossible for me to answer supplementary Questions as to which I have no knowledge of what has been going on during the last few weeks. If there is any information I can obtain for him I will inquire.

We are not responsible for the change in the Irish Secretaryship.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the intention of the Estates Commissioners to secure all the non-residential or grazing farms on the King-Harman Estate, county Roscommon, for redistribution amongst the tenants of uneconomic holdings; if so, will he explain why they are negotiating with Mr. Robert V. Stoney for the sale to him of three non-residential or grazing farms at Knockadoo, containing 78, 140, and 107 acres respectively; and whether, seeing the necessity that exists in this locality for securing untenanted lands, will he instruct the Estates Commissioners to secure these farms for the purpose of redistribution.

The Commissioners are taking steps to secure certain non-residential farms on this estate for distribution amongst the tenants of small holdings. There are, on Mr. Stoney's holding, twelve sub-tenants, who are now purchasing their divisions. The Commissioners are considering the question whether they will make the advance sought by Mr. Stoney for the remainder of his holding.

† (See (4) Debates, cxlii., 929.

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 rule has not yet come into operation. It has been made solely in the interests of children under eight years of age, and the necessity for such a rule was emphasised in Mr. Dale's Report on primary education. At their meeting held on Tuesday last the Commissioners adopted a resolution defining a "suitable" school to mean a school in which there is adequate accommodation of a satisfactory kind, in which the teaching of infants is efficient, and in which the teaching staff is of the same religious denomination as in the neighbouring boys' school. The Commissioners further decided that in any case in which the enforcement of the rule would lead to the loss of an assistant teacher, such case will be specially considered on the application of the manager, and that boys over seven years of age who are fit to be enrolled in the 2nd Standard may be transferred to a boys' school.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the grounds upon which the National Education Commissioners refuse to appoint a local non-clerical manager of the Lislea No. 1 National School, county Armagh.

When a vacancy arises in such a case as this, it is the practice of the Commissioners to recognise the clerical successor of the former manager. The school is being conducted satisfactorily under the present temporary manager, and the Commissioners do not propose to recognise a permanent manager until the successor of the former clerical manager has been appointed to the locality.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this gentleman resides twenty-five miles from the school?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether proposals for the sale of the estate of Mr. Hancock, county Roscommon, have been received by the Estates Commissioners; whether he is aware that the landlord has refused to sell to six tenants living on the town-land of Lackan; and, if so, whether the Commissioners will refuse to sanction a sale unless these tenants are included in it.

The Estates Commissioners have received no originating application or request in respect of the sale of this estate. They have no knowledge of the circumstance referred to in the Question, and can express no opinion thereon until the facts are fully before them.

I beg 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.

The question of the allocation of untenanted lands on this estate is still under consideration by the Estates Commissioners, who are making arrangements for the reinstatement of persons who have been evicted from holdings on the estate. The claims of other evicted tenants in the neighbourhood will subsequently be considered.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the District Council of Birr have recently refused to pay the shorthand writer's fees for attending a recent Local Government inquiry, on the ground that such fees were excessive and could be avoided if the services of capable local reporters were utilised instead of bringing a man specially from Dublin; and, if so, whether, having regard to the continued complaints made by local authorities against the continuance of this practice at public inquiries, he will take steps to prevent it in future by employing local men.

The Local Government Board have received no information to the effect stated in the first part of the Question. The fees for shorthand writing in the case referred to were not increased by the employment of a shorthand writer from Dublin, as no travelling expenses were claimed or allowed. It is the practice of the Board's inspectors to select local shorthand writers for this service when competent men are available, but it would be undesirable to lay down a hard and fast rule that none but local men should be employed.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the estate of Mr. C. F. Mowbray, Errigal, Truagh, county Monaghan, is in process of being sold under the Land Purchase Act of 1903; whether the vendor has consented to restore three out of four evicted tenants; and if the Estates Commissioners can take any action to secure that Mrs. McKenna, evicted in 1899, shall be restored to her holding previous to the sale being completed.

No proceedings for the sale of this estate have yet come before the Estates Commissioners. An application for reinstatement has been received from Mrs. McKenna, and this will be duly considered in the event of proceedings for sale of the estate.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether a considerable portion of the Cautwell Estate, in the county of Dublin, which has been purchased by the Estates Commissioners, has been sold by them to a person who was neither a tenant on the estate nor an evicted tenant, nor a small tenant on a neighbouring estate; and, if so, by what authority such a sale was authorised.

This estate, which was purchased by the Estates Commissioners under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, has been sold to six persons. Two of these persons were tenants on the estate and at the same time tenants on an adjoining estate; two others were evicted tenants; and the remaining two were the representatives of deceased evicted tenants. The provisions of Section 2 (1) apply to each of these purchasers.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in disposing of the Butler Estate, in the county of Dublin, due consideration will be given to the claims of the small tenants on adjoining estates for an enlargement of their holdings, and of evicted tenants in that county.

This estate was purchased by the Estates Commissioners under Section 7 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, for the purpose of reinstating evicted tenants, and the lands have, accordingly, been distributed amongst three evicted tenants.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a few months ago negotiations were in progress between the tenants on the Butson Estate, county Galway, and the nominal owner for the purchase of untenanted land on the estate; that the Land Judge was selling to Mrs. Butson 800 acres for £12,000; that Mrs. Butson offered to sell to the tenants, for the purpose of enlarging their uneconomic holdings, 300 acres for over £6,000; that the negotiations have fallen through because the tenants refused to purchase at the price demanded; and that these tenants are now being proceeded against for the hanging gale; and, if so, can he state at what date the hanging gale was incurred.

I am informed that the sale to Mrs. Butson of 800 acres of land had been completed before any question arose as to the resale by her of 300 acres, part thereof, to the tenants. The Land Judge had no power to compel Mrs. Butson to resell the land, nor could he exercise any control as to the price demanded. The negotiations with the tenants having fallen through, the receiver has been instructed, in the usual course, to take proceedings for the recovery of the arrears of rent actually due.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last line of the Question? Is it forty years ago?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing in the Kilglass district, county Roscommon, by reason of the fact that the district inspector of police at Strokestown brings his dogs and ferrets on the lauds of Clooneen to kill rabbits, with the result that ewes in lamb have been chased about and cattle driven over the fences; and whether, in view of the reduction of the police force now going on in Ireland, he will recommend the abolition of Strokestown as a separate district and its amalgamation with a neighbouring district.

The district inspector states that he has never had his dogs on these lands, and the suggestion that sheep and cattle have been chased by them is therefore unfounded. There is no intention to abolish the district station at Strokestown.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, as the term junior clerk is not recognised by the Civil Service Commissioners, he will state to what class of officials the Department of Agriculture applies the term; and whether it is correct to describe as such the Catholic gentlemen who have eleven years service under the Crown, and whose work (the drafting and writing of correspondence, interviewing callers, and conducting of registries) requires initiative and training.

The term "junior clerk" is a popular designation of clerks who are in the lower grades of the Civil Service.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether the doctor who was appointed police surgeon for the districts of Newport, Glenhest, and Mallaranny, county Mayo, in succession to Dr. Gill, late of Newport, resides in Westport, the town to which Dr. Gill has removed, and for which he was asked to send in his resignation, being outside the above police districts; and will he explain why the successor to Dr. Gill, who resides in Newport, did not get the appointment.

The hon. Member has on to-day's Paper two unstarred Questions which bear on this subject, and, with his permission, I will deal with all three together. My right hon. and learned friend has recently informed the hon. Member what were the circumstances in which Dr. Gill was required to resign. It is the fact that the gentleman who has been appointed to succeed him as medical attendant at the stations named resides at Westport, but, unlike Dr. Gill, he holds no appointment which could interfere with his attendance on the police. There is no rule which requires that Constabulary medical attendants should reside in the districts for which they are appointed. The appointment of these gentlemen rests with the Inspector-General, who consults the interests of the men concerned and makes the best selection possible.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether police surgeons in Ireland must live within the district to which they are appointed.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland why, in appointing a police surgeon for the district of Newport, county Mayo, did the police authorities select a man eight miles outside the district.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Commissioners of Education have received a memorial from members of public boards in Newry, asking that those teachers who were in the training colleges when the new rules were issued in 1900, and who were bound by agreement to enter the service of the Commissioners after training, should be remunerated in accordance with the scale which was in operation at the time the agreements were entered into; whether these teachers have received special consideration, as promised in the footnote to the new rules; and, if so, what is the result of the special consideration.

The memorial referred to has been received by the Commissioners. The agreement signed by teachers on entering a training college binds them to follow the calling of teacher in a public elementary school, and imposes on them the liability to forfeit the cost of their training in the event of their failing to fulfil a probationary service of two years as teacher. There is nothing in the agreement which binds the Commissioners to employ such teachers under any particular set of rules. The interests of teachers who were actually in the Commissioners' service prior to 1900 were, as a matter of fact, preserved by the new rules. Any such teachers who were in training colleges in 1899–1900 received special consideration when their incomes were fixed under the new rules; and this special consideration consisted in the promotion in grade to which they would have been entitled by reason of their having entered training colleges. Other students in training in 1900, who had never been employed as principal or assistant teachers under the Commissioners, had no claim to special consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution of the North Dublin District Council, in which the complaint is made that the dredger at present employed in dredging Howth Harbour deposits the stuff which it removes in such a place that the incoming tides wash it all in again to the mouth of the harbour; and whether, if there be foundation for this complaint, directions will be given by the Board of Works to have the operations of the dredger referred to conducted with a view to the effective discharge of the work which it is set to accomplish.

No such resolution has been forwarded to the Board of Works. The Board's officers carefully selected the position in which the dredger deposits and I understand there has been no occurrence such as described in the Question.

The Question will be repeated, for the resolution I refer to in it has been published.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade under what circumstances is Mr. Manders, first mate of the Commissioners of Irish Lights steam yacht "Alexandra," serving under the Dublin Port and Docks Board in the temporary capacity of dockmaster; how long has he been employed in this position; and whether his services under the Irish Lights Board will be considered as continuous for the purposes of promotion and pension

The Board of Trade are informed by the Commissioners of Irish Lights that this officer being a candidate for the appointment of dock-master under the Dublin Port and Docks Board, the Commissioners gave him leave of absence to act as the temporary dock-master during the illness of the present occupant of the position, and that Mr. Manders, who pays the salary of his substitute on the "Alexandra," has now been, on leave for four months. Should he return to the service of the Commissioners after a period not exceeding twelve months, his service under them would, in accordance with the practice ruling in the Civil Service, count as continuous, but he would not be entitled to count for pension purposes the time during which he was in the employment of the Dublin Port and Docks Board. The question of promotion is one entirely for the Commissioners.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if, in view of the fact that in February, 1904, after due inquiry, it was decided to increase the staff in Ballina, county Mayo, post office by six male sorting clerks and telegraphists, and that this decision his not yet been acted upon, he will state the cause of delay; and if he can say when it is proposed to make the necessary additions to the Ballina staff.

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. Proposals for changes in the staff at the Ballina office are under consideration, but there is no question of increasing the number of male sorting clerks and telegraphists by as many as six. I hope that a decision will be arrived at shortly.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that, while no grant whatever out of Imperial funds has been made for the purpose of a system of higher education of which Catholics in Ireland can conscientiously avail themselves, the grants in aid of the University Colleges in England have in the last twenty-five years risen from an annual sum of £15,000 per annum to a sum of £54,000 per annum in 1904–5, and that it is now proposed by the University Colleges Committee to increase such annual grant to the sum of £100,000 per annum, he will say whether that recommendation has been endorsed by the Treasury; and whether it is the intention to include such increase in the Estimates for the coming financial year.

I beg also to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that University Colleges in England, apart from the Universities which are in receipt of grants out of Imperial Funds, number upwards of a dozen, and that there are not any such institutions in Ireland of which Catholics can conscientiously avail themselves, it is now contemplated to increase the grants to those institutions to £100,000 per annum; and whether, if it is so contemplated, he will refuse to sanction any increase in the grants referred to while no provision is made for the higher education of Catholics in Ireland.

There are some adjectives in the hon. Member's Question which suggest controversy; and I will content myself by saying to the hon. Member that the actual amount which I understand to be on the Votes for higher education in Ireland is £33,416, and it is proposed to give for English higher education £100,000, which will appear on the Estimates. I ought to add that under the English system four times the amount is required from local subscriptions before anything is derived from the public funds.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to say, in mentioning the figures regarding Ireland, that there is any single institution in that country of University character of which an Irish Catholic can conscientiously avail himself?

That is really a very difficult Question for me to answer. I understand that English Roman Catholics go to Oxford and Cambridge.

Is Scotland to have any share in the increased grant?

The original Question has no reference to Scotland. I must ask the hon. Member to put his Question on the Paper.

Did I correctly understand the right hon. Gentleman to answer to the effect that the provision on the Estimates for higher education in England was to be raised from £54,000 to £100,000 this year and that no additional provision whatever is to be made for Ireland?

Yes, Sir, that is true.

We will see about that.

Has the Prime Minister recanted his views on Irish University education.

No; although few people may be prepared to agree with me, my opinion in regard to Irish University education stands as it will be found in a published letter which I have never withdrawn.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether any representative of the Government of India will be summoned to the Colonial Conference of 1906.

If the calling together of this Conference and the delegation to it of any question of fiscal reform should take place under the auspices of the present Government, of course India will be represented.