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 No. 62 has been complied with, viz.:—Mullingar, Kells, and Drogheda Railway Bill.

laid upon the Table Report from one of the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in the case of the following Bills, referred on the First Reading thereof, Standing Order No. 63 has been complied with, viz.:—London Southern Tramways Bill; Metropolitan Electric Tramways Bill.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the names of the ports in the United Kingdom where bringing money or recruiting fees were paid (in accordance with the recommendations of the Naval Reserves Committee and the instructions in the circular issued by the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, December 24th, 1903, to registrars of Royal Naval Reserve) to officers of Customs other than those acting as registrars who were performing mercantile marine duties, and the amount of money so paid in each port for duties performed inside and outside of office hours respectively; and will he explain why this money bad to be refunded irrespective of the hour in which it was earned, according to the General Order (Customs) 8, 1904.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the exchange and deposit of ratifications in respect of the International Convention with regard to the White Slave Traffic, signed at Paris on the 18th of May, 1904, have yet taken place; whether the international arrangement following upon that Convention has yet come into force; and whether the text of the Convention and arrangement, as well as the other Papers relating to the Paris Conference in 1902, will now be laid upon the Table of the House. (Answered by Earl Percy.) The deposit of ratifications, which has been substituted for a formal exchange between each contracting State as provided for in the Convention is recorded in a Procès verbal drawn up at Paris on the 18th of January last. The Convention will, by its terms, come into force six months after the date of this Procès verbal, viz., on the 18th of July next. Three of the contracting States who have not yet deposited their ratifications can do so before that date. The question of publication will be considered in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number of public-house licences have been refused renewal this year. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) I have, at present, no information on the subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the remarks of Mr. Coroner Graham, of Consett, anent the advisability of discontinuing the practice of compelling juries to view dead bodies upon which inquests are being held; and whether he purposes taking any action for putting an end to this practice. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) My attention had not been called to the remarks in question, but I have read a newspaper report of them which the hon. Member was good enough to send me. Legislation would be necessary to enable the practice to be discontinued; and on this point I can only refer the hon. Member to the Answers given by my predecessor on 22nd February† and 29th March, †1900, to the effect that there was no such decided preponderance of expert opinion in favour of any definite change in the law as would afford a reason for proposing legislation of the kind suggested.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Homo Department, whether, having regard to the pledges of the Government to deal by legislation with the question of compensation for injuries to seamen, they intend to introduce a Bill for that purpose during the present session of Parliament; and, if not, when they propose to do so.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that 103 lives were lost on British vessels in the month of February, 1905; and whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to introduce a measure during the present session of Parliament to provide compensation for seamen injured on British ships, and for the dependents of seamen who are killed and drowned in the course of their employment. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) I will answer these two Questions together. The Government fully recognise the importance of this subject. They do not, however, think it possible to bring in during the present session a Bill for the general Amendment of the Compensation Act, and another Bill applying to seamen, especially, as the question as regards seamen is complicated by certain recommendations of a Departmental Committee (Parliamentary Paper, Cd. 2208 of 1904) which are of a far-reaching character.

† See (4) Debates, 1xxix., 800.

† See (4) Debates, 1xxxi., 709.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Jabez Wilson Harrison, of Burgh le Marsh, Lincolnshire, who has already suffered two months imprisonment imposed upon him by the magistrates of Spilsby and Boston, and who is now undergoing a third term of imprisonment of a month inflicted upon him by the latter bench of magistrates, in consequence of his conscientious objection to compulsory -vaccination, and the refusal of the magistrates to grant him a certificate of exemption; whether he will order the release of this man, and call the attention of the magisterial benches of Spilsby and Boston to the spirit and intention of the Vaccination Acts with regard to conscientious objectors. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) I can only refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave last Tuesday† to the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty on this case. This was as follows: "I have made inquiries into this case, and I learn that the remarks on the subject of conscientious objection to vaccination made by the Lord Chief Justice at the Birmingham Summer Assizes were brought to the notice of the Spilsby magistrates before they convicted Harrison. The question whether the circumstances justify the issue of a certificate of exemption is in each case one for the discretion of the magistrates, with which I have no power to interfere. "I regret that I do not feel justified in advising any remission of the sentence.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that in 1899 the Department made certain arrangements in the telegraph service with reference to annual leave, and made a promise to the staff that, provided the scheme was accepted, the staff should be sent away in equal numbers throughout the eight months of the year, he will

† See page 648.

explain why this pledge has been departed from at Exeter for 1905, the three best holiday months having the number on leave lessened. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. No promise was given that the staff should be sent away in equal numbers in each of the eight months over which the leave season extends.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the high death rate recently prevailing among the men employed in the sorting office at the Town Station at Dover; and whether he will inquire into the sanitary conditions under which the work in that office is performed. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) My attention has been called to the matter. I am sorry to say that some deaths from phthisis have occurred in the last few years amongst the postal staff who were employed, or who had at some time been employed, at Dover; but on investigation I was glad to find that the medical officer did not associate any of them with the condition of the office, and that the sick rate at Dover is rathe below than above the average. At the same time, I recognise that the present office at the station is overcrowded and unsatisfactory, and I have made arrangements for taking new temporary premises which will make it possible to provide more space and better accommodation. The new premises will be ready for occupation very soon, and I hope that before long a better permanent office to take the place of the station office will be provided.

To ask the Postmaster-General, in reference to the mail service of the Liscarrol and Churchtown district, whether six or seven tenders were made for a mail car service between Buttevant and this district in March, 1900; and, if so, what was the result; and whether, seeing that letters from Cork city arriving in Buttevant about 5 p. m. are not delivered in Liscarrol until 9 o'clock a. m. next day, and that letters from Dublin and Great Britain arriving in Buttevant about 10. 30 a. m. are not delivered until 9 o'clock next day, he will, in view of the importance of this district and the delay caused by present arrangement, arrange for a second mail delivery each day in Liscarrol and Churchtown. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) I will have inquiry made on the subject, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

To ask the Postmaster-General if the regulation that no duty performed by an officer of the Post Office shall be reckoned at less than one hour, and paid for accordingly, is also applicable to attendances on Sunday. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) Officers to whom the regulation applies as regards weekday duty are entitled to the same concession for Sunday duty.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he can state the number of seamen killed and drowned on British ships from the beginning of the year 1896 till the end of the year 1904; the number of men employed in the shipping industry; the number of men killed in the factories and workshops in the same period; and the number of men employed in factories and workshops. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) The figures asked for by the hon. Member are given, as regards seamen, in Parliamentary Paper [Cd. 2232] for the years 1896 to 1903. The figures for 1904 are not yet complete, but the lives reported to present date as having been lost are 990, namely, 417 by wrecks and casualties, 348 by drowning other than by wrecks and casualties, and 225 by accident other than drowning, wreck, or casualty. The number of men employed in 1904 has not yet been ascertained. The number of males killed in factories and workshops during the years 1896 to 1904 was 7, 944. The number of males employed in factories and workshops has not been ascertained since 1897, when it was 2, 975, 394.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the explosion which occurred on board the British steamship "Gwendoline," in the month of April, 1904, which resulted in a seaman named Alfred Davies receiving injuries which necessitated his remaining for fifty-seven days in hospital at Gibraltar and his inability to do any work since the accident; whether he is aware that Davies was landed in London destitute and sent to Dublin at the expense of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society, and that he is now living in Dublin on the charity of friends; and whether any inquiry was held into the cause of the explosion referred to. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) The attention of the Board of Trade has been called to the case to which the hon. Member refers. No formal inquiry has been held, but it appears from a report made by the captain of the port at Gibraltar in April last, and from an entry in the official log, that the explosion was caused by the boatswain striking a match in the lazarette of a vessel laden with coal. The Board of Trade have no reason to believe that the vessel was not loaded in accordance with the regulations, but on this point further inquiry will be made upon her next return to the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the circumstances under which twenty-three lives were lost owing to the wreck of the ship "Khyber" off Land's End on the 15th instant, and to the fact that horses had to be fetched for the rocket apparatus from a distance of three-quarters of a mile; and whether he will inquire as to the advisability of working rocket wagons by petrol or some other similar power in places which are suitably situated for the purpose, and in which horses are difficult to obtain. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) The Board of Trade have ordered a formal inquiry to be held into the circumstances attending the recent wreck of the "Khyber," and the points mentioned by the hon. Member shall receive careful consideration.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Admiralty intend to publish the Report of the engineering experts on the Osborne College training, to which reference has recently been made in official Papers. (Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) It is not proposed to publish the Report in question, but I should be glad to show it to the hon. Member if he desires to see it.

To ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office for whom is the extra £78, 000 worth of rifles and bayonets to be made, and where will their cost be shown on the Estimates; and whether he will state how many men belonging to the inspection department at Enfield are under notice of dismissal beyond the 403 engaged in the manufacturing department. (Answered by Mr. Bromley Davenport.) The difference between the amount stated yesterday† in reply to the hon. and gallant Member as available for rifles and bayonets and the amount shown in Estimates is due to supply of rifles and bayonets to India, and will not be shown in Estimates, Seventy-one men belonging to the inspection department at Enfield are under notice of dismissal, besides the 403 men in the factory.

† See page 780.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to paragraph 195 of the recent Report on the Province of Assam, in which it is stated that a coolie boy died from the effects of a beating believed to have been inflicted by some chaukidars, to whom he had been handed over in order that ho should be made to confess where certain property, which he was suspected of having stolen, was concealed; and whether any steps have been taken by the local administration of Assam or by the Government of India with reference to the decision of the High Court, under which trifling fines were inflicted on the manager and assistant manager of the estate, with a view to revise the punishment inflicted. (Answered, by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) I have noticed the paragraph referred to in the Question. The case was not tried in the High Court, but in the Sessions Court for the Assam Valley, by the Judge with the assistance of a jury. I have no official information as to the facts, but will make inquiries.

To ask the Secretary of State for India it he will state in what security the gold reserve of India is invested; and whether, at the present quotations, such investment shows a loss; and, if so, to what extent. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) I presume that by "the gold reserve of India" is meant the special gold reserve fund to which the net profit on the coinage of rupees is transferred. The fund is invested in the following securities; Consols, National War Loan, Local Loans Stock. Transvaal Government 3 per cent. Guaranteed Stock, and Treasury Bills. The value of these securities at the present market price is in excess of the amount for which they were purchased.

To ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state how many factories in India are at present engaged in the manufacture of war material, and the number of Europeans and natives respectively employed in these factories; and will he state the value of the war material supplied last year to the Indian Army by the factories of India and by this country respectively. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) There are at present eleven factories in India engaged in the manufacture of war material. I am unable to state the number of Europeans and natives employed in these factories, or the value of the war material supplied to the Indian Army by the factories of India. The value of that supplied from this country was approximately £875, 000, exclusive of clothing to the value of £227, 652 5s. 8d.

To ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state how many acres of land, the property of evicted ryots, have been put up for auction by Government in the Madras Presidency in default of payment of land revenue during the five years ending the 30th June, 1904. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The Land Revenue Report for 1903–4, has not reached me. The sales of land during the five years ending 1902–3 were as under:—1898–9, 60, 806 acres; 1899–1900, 52, 852 acres; 1900–1, 61, 563 acres; 1901–2, 45, 712 acres; 1902–3, 30, 583 acres.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India supplies salt free of duty to all the native States of India; and, if so, will he say whether the Government imposes any restrictions as to the profit which the native States may secure on re-sale of the salt to the public. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. The right is enjoyed by certain States only, and is in virtue of special agreements. With regard to restrictions on re-sale, the hon. Member is referred to the information given in answer to a Question put by him on December 16th, † 1902. The conditions vary in different cases.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the importations of foreign sugar into Dublin and other Irish ports last year, he will impress on the Department of Agriculture the advisability of experimenting on a large and practical scale to try the feasibility of producing sugar from Irish beet upon a paying basis, seeing that the ratio of saccharine matter in Irish beet exceeds that of German beet, and also that a failure of the beet-sugar operations took place in Germany last year owing to the dry season. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Department are satisfied that beet could not be made as remunerative a crop as other root crops now grown in Ireland. They are, therefore, not prepared to carry out an experiment of the nature suggested, which would involve, as a preliminary, the erection and equipment of a factory at a cost of about £60, 000, exclusive, of working capital. The Department have recently prepared a pamphlet setting forth the reasons why the production of beet sugar would not be profitable in Ireland. I have sent a copy of this pamphlet to the hon. Member.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in Scotland the local authorities valuation assessment committees carry on the work of valuation without expense to the ratepayers and give satisfaction to those concerned; whether he can state how many thousand pounds per annum it costs to maintain the valuation staff in Ireland, which is not subject to local control or co-operation from elected representatives; and

† See (4) Debates, cxvi., 1331.

whether, seeing this method has not given general satisfaction, the Government will consider the advisability of introducing the Scotch system into Ireland. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I cannot admit that the work of valuation in Scotland is carried out without expense to the ratepayers. I believe the contrary is the fact, but I am not in a position to compare the cost of valuation in the two countries. The total cost of the Valuation Department in Ireland is about £24, 000, about £8, 000 of which is paid by the local authorities. The system is so efficient and satisfactory that appeals against the decision of the Commissioner are lodged in only about one-sixth per cent. of the cases ruled by him. The reply to the last query is in the negative.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will explain why Mr. James Michael, of Freem, Turlough Park, Castlebar, county Mayo, was refused a gun licence which he required for the protection of his crops from vermin. (Answered by Mr. Waller Long.) The question of the issue of an arms licence is one for the consideration of the resident magistrate, who is the licensing officer of the district. It would be contrary to the invariable practice to state the reasons which actuated the licensing officer in declining, in the exercise of his discretion, to grant a licence in any particular case.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Patrick Raffery, of Rathreddy, Loughrea, made application to carry and use, on his own lands, a gun for the destruction of vermin; and whether, seeing that he holds in or about twenty-five Irish acres, ten of which are under tillage, and is in sole charge of the management of the farm by reason of the age and infirmity of his father, he will cause instructions to be given to accede to his application. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The licence was refused by the licensing officer, who is the resident magistrate of the district, in the exercise of the discretion vested in him. The case is not one which calls for my interference.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the inquiry in September, 1903, when the former clerical manager of the Lislea No. 1 National School (county Armagh) tendered his resignation, the chief inspector stated that he considered the lessee of the school had a right to be appointed as manager; will he say whether the name of the lessee was submitted to the Commissioners; and, if so, what objection have the Commissioners to his appointment; and whether, in view of the fact that there is no probability of a successor to the former clerical manager being appointed to the charge of the congregation with which the school is connected, and that the present temporary manager resides twenty miles distant and cannot exercise effective oversight of the school, the National Commissioners are prepared to consider a further memorial from the parents resident in the district in reference to this matter. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) It transpired at the inquiry mentioned that there was much difference of opinion locally as to the most fitting appointment to be made. Pending the appointment of a new minister of Drumhillery Church, the chief inspector recommended the appointment as temporary manager of the Reverend Mr. Simpson, who appeared to be acceptable to the persons concerned. Mr. Simpson was appointed accordingly. There is no lessee of the school, which is vested in and the property of the Commissioners. The present arrangement as to the managership works satisfactorily.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if the rifle range near Lichfield is being used; and, if not, what steps are being taken to make it available.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he can give any reason why none of the Staffordshire battalions are quartered at Lichfield, and why none of the Staffordshire Militia battalions are to train there tins year. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The 1st North Staffordshire Regiment is going to Aldershot in the ordinary course for training purposes, after having been quartered for the usual two years at Lichfield. It will not be possible to train the four Staffordshire Militia battalions at Lichfield in a satisfactory manner this year. The troops are unable to make full use of the rifle range on account of a certain right of way over a portion of the range which is only closed during certain hours. I am, however, glad to say that negotiations on this matter are progressing satisfactorily.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the nature of references as to character required for men joining the Army, Militia, and Volunteers respectively. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) In the case of candidates for enlistment in the Regulars and Militia, the following questions are put to the person given as a reference:—1. In what capacity have you known——? 2. How long have you known him? 3. What time has elapsed since you last saw him to speak to? 4. What do you know of his character—Is he sober? Honest? Respectable? 5. Has he to your knowledge served in the Army, Navy, Royal Marines, Militia, Imperial Yeomanry, or Volunteers? If so, please state which. 6. Is he married or single? If a widower, state number of children, if any. As regards Volunteers, there is no provision with respect to character.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Director of Army Contracts makes any periodic Reports; and if so, to whom, and for what periods; and whether there is any, and if so what, objections to laying them before Parliament. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) Annual Reports on Army contracts have always been made and will be continued. The Reports are addressed to the Financial Member of the Council. They have always been treated as confidential documents, and will continue to be so treated.

To ask the Secretary of State for War what is the present establishment of the Regular Infantry; and what is its effective strength. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The present establishment of the Regular Infantry including the Guards is 146, 453, and the strength on the 1st March was 145, 234.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to withdraw the six British sloops and two British gunboats which have been engaged in patrolling the Yangtse River; I and, if so, whether he can state the grounds for this change of policy; and what other methods have been adopted for the protection of the lives and property and the upholding of British, interests in the Yangtse region.

The patrol of the Yangtse is now carried out by six river gunboats which are exclusively employed on this service. The other vessels alluded to were not specially allotted for the Yangtse, but simply visited this river occasionally in the ordinary course of cruising, and were neither necessary nor required for patrol purposes.

Do I correctly understand that six British gunboats are now patrolling the Yangtse and will continue to be there?

Yes, Sir. They are stationed on the river.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if, seeing that within the last year about 20, 000 suits of clothes which had been bought by contract were sold for about 40 per cent. less than they cost, he will state the reason for selling them and the purchase price and sale price.

These suits of clothes, which were purchased for the purpose of giving to soldiers on discharge and to Boer prisoners, were found surplus to requirements at the end of the South African War. They were accordingly put out to tender and the best offer was accepted. The cost price was 11s. 9d., and the price realised at the sale was 5s. 6d. for 10, 000 and 5s. 7½d. for the remaining 10, 000.

Are they not the same description of clothes that are being served out at present?

I am not sure whether that is so, but they were surplus.

Could they not have been kept in stock until they were wanted?

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary, of state for War if he will explain why an officer who is not a graduate of the Staff College has been appointed Brigade Major of Cavalry at Aldershot; will he say what are his special qualifications for this post; and also has the appointment been made with the unanimous approval of the Army Council.

The officer referred to is not a P. S. C. Officer, but he was qualified for the, appointment by good service on the staff in the field. He was, in fact, very strongly recommended by General Sir John French. Appointments to the staff are not ordinarily submitted to the Army Council, but are made by the Secretary of State on the recommendation of the Army Councillor concerned.

What is the object of putting the country to the immense expense of keeping up the Staff College to prepare officers for the staff it such officers are not to have these appointments?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state how many batteries of artillery which took part in the South African War are still armed with the identical guns they had in that campaign.

None of the batteries which took part in the war and have since left South Africa are now armed with the identical guns they had during the war. There are nine batteries now in South Africa which took part in the war; these are armed with guns of the same pattern as were used in the war. When worn out the guns are condemned and replaced, and since the war seven serviceable guns have been sent out to replace guns condemned.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state the number of 12-pounder horse artillery guns, and the number of 15-pounder guns now in reserve; also the number of rounds of ammunition per field gun in reserve.

I regret that I am unable to give the hon. Member the information asked for in the Question. It would not tend to the public advantage to disclose the amount of our reserves.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the British force in Egypt, which has lately been reduced, is about to be again increased by four companies of infantry.

Yes, Sir. The establishment of the battalions stationed in Egypt is reduced under the Army Estimates for 1905–6, and the four companies are sent to make good the difference in the numbers of the British force caused by this reduction.

Is there no increase in the garrison?

The number of men is the same.

Is there not a large increase of expense?

No increase at all. It is simply a transfer from the Mediterranean garrisons.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War when it is proposed to issue new editions of the Royal Warrant for pay, appointment, promotion, and non-effective pay of the Army, and the Manual of Military Law.

The new edition of the Pay Warrant will be available in May. The Manual of Military Law is under revision, and it is not possible at present to state a probable date for its publication.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any of the jam supplied for South Africa in tins containing only twelve ounces of jam instead of one pound was made from stone fruit; and, if so, whether the weight of the stones is included in the weight of the jam.

Stone fruit jam (i. e., plum and apricot) was accepted among other jams from the Australian Colonies, and, following the usual procedure with home supplies, it was stipulated with the Agents-General that both jams should be free from stones.

A case of colonial preference.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to allow regiments of Militia which are weak to enlist men in neighbouring large towns outside their districts or counties where recruits could easily be got.

The practice of temporarily extending the recruiting area of a unit is already permitted by the regulations, and is adopted when any good result can be obtained. Further, when large towns border on several counties, recruiting officers are allowed to consider such towns common to the several county Militia.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to remove the 1st North Staffordshire Regiment from Lichfield to Aldershot; if so, whether he can state what are the reasons for making this change in view of the local feeling that the battalion should remain in the county to which it belongs; whether the four Staffordshire Militia battalions are to be sent this year, two to Delamere in Cheshire, and two to Ross in Herefordshire instead of remaining at Lichfield for the annual training; and whether he is aware that considerable expense will be incurred in making these changes.

At the same time may I ask the Secretary of State for War whether the troops at Whittington Barracks are still unable to make full use of the new Lichfield rifle range owing to the existence of a contiguous right of way; and, if so, what steps are being taken by the War Office to get this right of way stopped.

The 1st North Staffordshire Regiment is going to Aldershot in the ordinary course for training purposes after having been quartered for the usual two years at Lichfield. It will not be possible to train the four Staffordshire Militia Battalions at Lichfield in a satisfactory manner this year. The troops are unable to make full use of the rifle range on account of a certain right of way over a portion of the range which is only closed during certain hours. I am, however, glad to say that negotiations on this matter are progressing satisfactorily.

When are the negotiations likely to be concluded?

I cannot say. I shall be extremely glad if the hon. Member will assist us.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state, in view of the proposed reduction of the staff at Enfield and Sparkbrook Small Arms Factories, whether there is any intention of discontinuing the manufacture of the new pattern short rifle.

The proposed reductions in numbers at Enfield and Sparkbrook are in no way connected with the question of the merits of the new short rifle.

Can the hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of the Question?

The question of continuing the manufacture of the short rifle for the infantry is not raised by these reductions, as the pro- gramme for the year only provided for the supply of rifles for the mounted troops.

On behalf of the hon. Member for the Chippenham Division of Wiltshire, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state the average cost of transporting a soldier from this country to India and back; and also the extra cost of uniform, and in all other particulars, made necessary by the soldier being stationed in India instead of remaining in this country.

The average cost of transporting a soldier from this country to India and back is, according to an estimate made in 1901, £18; this estimate is at present under revision. According to figures procured from India in May, 1903, the extra cost of a soldier in India varied at that time, according to the branch of the service to which he belonged, between£4 17s. 11d. for an infantry soldier and £8 12s. 9d. for a field artilleryman.

Per year or per equipment?

Per year.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Frank Smith Diamond Mining Company has erected a barbed wire fence around the whole of its compound, and has covered the whole of the open space in the centre overhead with wire netting; and whether he proposes to take any action to mitigate this form of imprisonment.

I understand that the mine referred to is in the Cape Colony, and the matter is therefore under the control of the Government of that self-governing Colony, with whose responsibility I am not able to interfere.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, having regard to the fact that 1, 248 settlers have been allotted 1, 935, 261 acres of land and have received advances to the extent of £168, 246 in the Orange River Colony and Transvaal, will he state the number of settlers actually now in occupation of these land allotments; and can he state the amount of arable cultivation on the 1, 935, 261 acres.

I have no recent information beyond what was given in my reply of March 20th, † but I will make inquiry by next mail.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any communications have been received from Colonial authorities as to the defective weights in the jam supplied for the troops in South Africa; it so, will he state the nature of these communications.

I beg also to ask the Secretary of Statefor the Colonies whether the contracts for the supply of jam in South Africa, placed by the Agents General with the Colonial authorities, stipulated for net or nominal weights; with what Colonial authorities were these orders placed; the date of these orders; and whether they were placed at the suggestion of the Colonial Office.

I am unable to give the hon. Member any information as to the contracts for the supply of jam, as the Colonial Office has had nothing to do with these contracts, and has not engaged in any correspondence in regard to them.

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state when the Government of Egypt propose to publish the complete Report of Lord Farrer's Commission on Egyptian State Railways.

† see page 444.

We have no information, but inquiry will be made.

On behalf of the hon. Member for North Roscommon, I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the lease of a portion of the Bahr-el-Ghazal territory made to the Sovereign of the Congo State is still in existence or whether it has been cancelled; and, if so, when was it cancelled.

I must refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I returned to him on the 16th instant. †

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, under an Order of Council due to come into effect on the 1st April, the title Chief Justice will be taken away from the Principal Judge of the British Supreme Court at Shanghai; and, if so, whether, in view of the opinion of British residents that this course will be injurious to British prestige, His Majesty's Government will reconsider the question of its retention.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave to the Member for North St. Pancras on the 16th instant. The adoption of the nomenclature common to all His Majesty's Extra-territorial Courts is not, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, calculated to be attended with the results apprehended by the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state in full the arrangements which have been come to with the Somali Mullah; and whether this arrangement will enable a reduction to be made in the garrison now quartered in Somaliland.

I am afraid we have no further information on the subject,

† See page 177.

but we have telegraphed to General Swayne for further details, which have not yet arrived.

Does the noble Lord moan to say that the Government are under the impression that some treaty arrangement has been come to with the Mullah? Are they not aware how far that goes?

I think I have already announced that an arrangement was made with and an agreement was signed by the Mullah with the Italian representative. He also sent a representative to Berbera, who signed peace there with General Swayne.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of the members of the Metropolitan Police Force who are now learning or who have learnt Jüdish-Deutsch or other foreign tongues in order to qualify them for the effective discharge of their duties among the alien population in this kingdom.

About 100 members of the Metropolitan Police Force are at the present time learning Jüdish-Deutsch or other foreign tongues, and fifty or sixty others have already acquired a certain amount of linguistic knowledge.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, pending the issue of detailed Returns under the Licensing Act, 1904, Section 7, he can make a summary statement, giving the total number of licensing districts in which any licences have been refused renewal or reported for non-renewal in the general annual licensing meetings just concluded, together with the total number of licences so refused or reported.

I could not comply with this request without calling for a special return from every Licensing, Bench in the country; and, as the figures so procured would not give any real indication of the results to be obtained under the Act, I do not feel justified in taking this course. I have under consideration arrangements for showing the operation of the Act during the year so soon as information is available.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Harry Quantrill, who was sentenced by the Samford magistrates to one month's imprisonment without the option of a fine for night poaching and killing pheasants in close time; and whether, in consideration of this being a first offence, and of Quantrill having hitherto a good character, he will take steps to mitigate the sentence; and whether he will bring in a Bill to reduce the penalties for first offences of this kind.

My attention has been called to this case. I have made inquiry into the circumstances and have communicated with the magistrates. I regret, however, that after careful consideration I am unable to advise His Majesty to grant any mitigation of the sentence. With regard to the last paragraph of the Question, Section 4 of the Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1879, gives magistrates complete discretion to substitute a fine for imprisonment, or to reduce the amount of the prescribed penalty in any case with which they may have to deal; and no further legislation on the subject appears to me to be necessary.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increase in coal mining in Fifeshire, he will appoint a resident mine inspector for that county.

Very careful consideration has been given to the needs of Fifeshire in the matter of inspection. The whole staff of the East Scotland district, comprising a district inspector and two junior inspectors, is now concentrated at Edinburgh, from which place Fifeshire is easily reached. The advantages of this plan outweigh any that would be gained by stationing one of these inspectors to reside in Fifeshire; and the appointment of an additional inspector would not be justified.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board when it is proposed to introduce the Bill dealing with the question of the unemployed.

I am afraid I am not yet in a position to give a date for the introduction of this Bill.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he proposes to initiate legislation this session on the subject of the Solway Salmon Fisheries.

May I at the same time ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Government intend to take any steps in regard to the Solway Fisheries which have been the subject of a recent inquiry.

As my hon. friends are aware, a Bill to deal with certain questions affecting the Solway Salmon Fisheries was introduced I last session, but it was not received with much favour by any of the various authorities and interests concerned. I am afraid that it would not be possible this session to pass any measure which gave rise to serious controversy, but if a spirit of compromise is abroad, I would gladly do anything in my power to effect a settlement. I quite recognise the importance of the questions at issue to the local interests concerned.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman introduce a Bill on the lines of the Stafford Howard Commission.

I sent one of our inspectors to make a report on this matter, but unfortunately he has been ill for some few weeks, and until he is better I cannot give an absolute Answer to the Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he will state the number of alien immigrants who have come by steerage to the United Kingdom during the last ten years by each of the British steamship lines from the ports of Hamburg, Bremen, Libau, Rotterdam, Antwerp, the Danube ports, Fiume, and the Italian ports, and the fares charged from each of such ports on each of such lines in each of the years ending December, 1895, to December, 1904?

I regret that I am not in a position to give this information.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the Consular Report, issued by the Foreign Office, No. 3327, of 1905, relating to the shipping and navigation of Antwerp, in which the increase of prosperity in that port is stated to be coincident with the great efforts which are being continually made by the port authorities to keep pace with the ever-increasing influx of maritime traffic, all modern improvements for convenience in the loading and discharging of vessels having been either carried out or are shortly to be taken in hand; whether the increase of dock accommodation at Antwerp is still proceeding; and whether, having regard to the backward condition of the port of London in respect of all that the port of Antwerp is stated by the British Consul to be in continuous improvement, he will advise His Majesty's Government to assist legislation on the port of London during the present session.

The Government are not prepared to support in their present form either of the Bills dealing with the port of London now before Parliament.

Is the Government prepared to introduce any proposals of its own?

Not this session.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General if, in view of the fact that British subjects evade British laws by nominally placing their trawl boats under foreign flags, he will consider what steps should be taken to bring such persons to punishment.

I am sensible of the importance of this question, and if any specific instances are adduced of conduct such as alleged in the Question they will be fully considered.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for Chorley, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, why private carriages driven by electricity are denied the right exercised by private carriages drawn by horses of using the inner circle of Regent's Park as a promenade; and why the road along the Serpentine is forbidden to electric carriages although open to other private carriages paying equivalent taxes.

Private carriages driven by electricity are excluded from the inner circle of Regent's Park under the regulation which closes the road to carriages and cars propelled or drawn by mechanical means. The road along the Serpentine is closed by regulation to all carriages similarly propelled or drawn.

May I ask on what principle that preferential treatment is adopted?

The reason is that there, are certain parts of the Royal parks in which it is thought undesirable that these vehicles should be allowed to run.

It is for the protection of the public.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that Miss Eames recently gained a London County Council probationary scholarship for training as a pupil teacher at the Girls' Grammar School, Lewisham, and that, after she had been at the school three months, she was informed by the chairman of the Education Committee of the County Council that they would be compelled, under the regulations of the Board of Education, to cancel her scholarship unless she passed a medical examination showing that she had been vaccinated; and, seeing that Miss Eames was not aware that this condition would be imposed at the time she competed for the scholarship, will he consider the expediency of relaxing the rule.

The Board have received no information as to the case referred to in the Question. In the absence of precise information it is impossible for me to make any statement upon the matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether, on the occasion of his visit to the Johanna Street Council School, North Lambeth, he found any children unfit to take advantage of the instruction offered in the school as a result of being hungry and ill-fed; if so, what immediate steps he proposes to take in connection with the condition of such children, if any.

I cannot say that on the occasion of my visit any children were unfit to receive instruction owing to hunger, though I formed an opinion that, owing to long continued unhealthy conditions of life, some of the children were backward in development and needed a simpler and, in some respects, a different course of instruction. I have every hope that the Report of the Committee now sitting will enable us to decide whether these cases can be dealt with by the action of the Department concurrently with organised voluntary effort.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the statement of Miss Deverell, sub-inspector under the Board of Education, in evidence before the Physical Deterioration Committee, to the effect that she knew one school where the master stated that the children got most of their meals by meeting workmen's trains and begging scraps from the men; and, if so, what immediate steps he proposes to suggest in order that the needs of these children may he so attended to that they may be in a position to profit by the instruction offered them.

I have read the evidence to which the hon. Member refers, but I think that he will agree with me that, in so serious a matter, statements made to a schoolmaster, repeated by him to a lady who communicated them to the Physical Deterioration Committee, would hardly furnish an adequate ground for Departmental action. I may add that I have myself been informed by teachers of the practice referred to, and my informants have added that it by no means necessarily follows that the children thus supplied cannot be fed at home.

Seeing that this lady is fin official of the Department, has the hon. Gentleman any doubt as to the accuracy of her statement?

None whatever.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that in the Yorktown (Surrey) Council School the religious instruction is given by the vicar of the parish and is of a sectarian character; and whether he will intimate to the education authority of the district that such proceedings are not in accordance with the Education Acts, and must be discontinued at once.

I am afraid that I have no information as to the case referred to by the hon. Member. I will make inquiries from the county council as to whether the Conscience Clause or the Cowper-Temple Clause have been violated.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether, having regard to the fact that the Physical Deterioration Committee was appointed so far back as 2nd September, 1903, and reported in July, 1904, sat for twenty-six days hearing evidence, and examined sixty-eight expert witnesses, he will say what purpose will be served in the appointment of four officials of the Board of Education, and one official of the Local Government Board, to re-cover the main ground investigated by that Committee; and whether, in view of the delay that the appointment of the Committee announced on Monday last will lead to in regard to the problem of the condition of children who are in attendance at school habitually underfed, he will say when, if it is proposed to go on with this last appointed Departmental Committee, its Report may be expected.

The Physical Deterioration Committee devoted a comparatively small part of its labours to the question of the provision of food for school children, and failed to furnish information on certain facts, a knowledge of which is essential to legislative or administrative action on that subject. The Committee which is now sitting will provide a more precise knowledge of these facts; and will report with the least possible delay.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to paragraph 360, page 72, of the Report of the Physical Deterioration (1904) Committee, endorsing a recommendation of the Royal Commission (1903) on Physical Training in Scotland, to the effect that cases arise in which it is desirable that the preparation and cooking of meals for underfed school children ought to be regarded as one of the charges incident to school management, and whether he is in a position to assist the putting of this recommendation into practical effect.

My inquiries on this subject have led me to believe that the wisdom of preparing and cooking meals on the school premises, as a mode of dealing with those cases in which children need to be provided with food elsewhere than at home, is seriously open to question.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether the Board of Education has paid to the Education Committee of the County Council of Glamorgan the grants earned by the evening continuation schools in the Aberdare urban district for the winter session of 1903–4; and, if so, the date on which the payment was made; and why payment is being withheld from the teachers in the locality.

The Board of Education have recently paid to the Education Committee of the Glamorganshire County Council the grants due for twelve out of the thirteen evening schools held in the Aberdare Urban District in the school year 1903–4. The greater number of the claims for these schools were not received by the Board till February of the present year. The claim for grant for the remaining school was sent back to the local education authority for further information in January, and has not yet been returned to the Board. The Board of Education have no information as to the alleged withholding of payment from the teachers.

When was the grant paid?

I think on the 4th of this month, but I cannot say definitely.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education if he can state in which of the autonomous districts in Glamorganshire evening continuation schools were not opened during the past winter; and why they were not opened.

Evening schools have been opened in all the autonomous areas in Glamorganshire during the session of 1904–5, though apparently in the areas of Aberdare, Pontypridd, and Rhondda certain evening schools previously carried on by the late school boards and their successors have been discontinued. The Board understand that the difficulties which have arisen locally in these cases are likely to be overcome before the next evening school session begins.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education if he will consider the desirability of inserting in next winter's regulations for evening schools a provision that all teachers' salaries be fixed and not dependent on a share of the grant.

The current regulations of the Board make it a condition of grant to evening schools that "the teachers must, as a rule, be paid be fixed salaries, "and the importance which the Hoard attach to a compliance with this requirement is explained in the prefatory memorandum which is prefixed to those regulations.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that the District Councils of Abbeyleix and Mountmellick, embracing an area of four-fifths of Queen's County, have passed unanimously resolutions disapproving of a further levying of the rate for agricultural and technical instruction; and that, under the circumstances, the county council propose to levy the rate; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.

Perhaps I may be allowed to answer this Question. Resolutions to the effect stated have been passed by the district councils named, but the county council, in the exercise of discretion vested in them, have decided to levy a rate. I do not propose to take any action in the matter.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate if he will state by whom the plans of Ness Harbour, Island of Lewis, were passed on behalf of the Scottish Office.

Assuming that the hon. Member's Question refers to the breakwater, in aid of which a grant of £15, 000 was made by the Government, I have to state that plans were prepared by Messrs. D. & T. Stevenson, and after obtaining a report on them from Colonel E. W. Malcolm, R. E., the Secretary for Scotland in December, 1891, authorised the Harbour Trustees to accept a tender for the execution of the works.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate whether he is now in a position to state when the Report of the Mansfield Commission will be laid upon the Table of the House.

It is not possible to give the actual date, but the Report will probably be ready about Easter.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate whether he has received any reply from the Northern Lights Commissioners with reference to the proposal that the light keepers on the Isle of Moy should be encouraged to report cases of illegal trawling coming under their notice; and whether he proposes to do anything to check this illegal trawling.

I am pleased to be able to inform the hon. Member that an arrangement has been made with the Northern Lights Commissioners and that the lighthouse keepers on the Isle of Moy will report such cases of illegal trawling as they observe. It would not be advisable to state what steps are to be taken to prevent illegal trawling, as such a statement might defeat the object in view.

On behalf of the hon. Member for West Waterford, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what instructions have been given by the Irish Government to the Estates Commissioners with reference to the making of advances under the Land Act of 1903 for the purchase of holdings which are not mainly agricultural but which form part of estates which are mainly agricultural; whether, seeing that under the Land Purchase Acts, previous to the passing of the Land Act of 1903, advances were frequently made to tenants of holdings not mainly agricultural, he will say whether the policy of these Acts has been borne in mind in connection with the instructions given the Estates Commissioners; whether he is aware that the Estates Commisioners have had applications made to them by a large proportion of vendors under the Land Act of 1903 for the inclusion of such holdings in their estates; and that they had agreed to make such advances before instructions to the contrary were conveyed to them in or about November last; and whether, seeing that since these instructions a number of intending vendors of estates partly agricultural have been informed that advances will not be made in such cases, he will say whether the reason for these instructions is the difficulty of obtaining a loan without serious loss to the Irish Development Grant.

It is impossible to deal satisfactorily, in replying to a Question such as this, with the numerous and complicated points raised in it. I have already stated that no general instructions of the kind contemplated by Section 23 (8) of the Act of 1903 have ever been drawn up or formulated; that I am at present engaged in formulating them, and hope soon to lay them on the Table of the House; and that, while the, administrative machinery of the Act was being brought into operation, informal communications of a confidential character took place from time to time between the Executive and the Estates Commissioners. I would ask the hon. Member to wait until the regulations have been published, when he will have ample opportunity of discussing all these matters.

On behalf of the hon. Member for West Waterford, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland under what circumstances Sergeant Mullany, of the Royal Irish Constabulary, who was stationed at Ballyduff, county Waterford, until recently, has been transferred from that station; and whether the transfer was at his own expense.

The sergeant has been transferred in the interests of the public service, and at the public expense.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenaut of Ireland whether he is aware that Judges of Assize, in their charges to the Grand Juries, have recently called attention to a serious increase of agrarian crime in Ireland; and whether, in these circumstances, it is intended to continue to reduce the strength of the Royal Irish Constabulary.

Cannot the hon. Member specify the district he refers to and not make such vague charges?

I think the Answer will be found to Jo that. My attention has been directed to the newspaper reports of the charges of the Judges of Assize to Grand Juries. I am unable to say how far these newspaper reports are an accurate representation of the language actually used by the learned Judges. Generally speaking, they referred to the peaceable and satisfactory condition of the country, but with respect to the county Galway and county Cork, and portions of the counties of Limerick and Kerry, the Judges' remarks were not satisfactory. The condition of these districts is engaging my most careful consideration, and I am taking special steps to ascertain the facts concerning each of them. In reply to the concluding inquiry, the Inspector-General of Constabulary, whom I have consulted, is of opinion that there is no present necessity for altering the police arrangements already made and provided for. I am making further inquiry into this matter also.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the recent assizes in Ulster more crime was dealt with than in the rest of Ireland altogether?

What agrarian crime has been committed in the county of Cork?

I must ask for notice of that.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the one portion of Kerry referred to the dissatisfaction arises from the fact that the landlords want twenty-four years purchase for first-term rents?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether lie will state the number and date of the communications which invited opinion on the Public Bodies Order, 1904, from the local public bodies in Ireland; and whether he will say what number of such public bodies have expressed approval of the new Order, giving names and dates of such approval.

Copies of the Order were sent on the 5th September last to each of the thirty-three county councils and to each of the six councils of county boroughs and on the 7th November copies were sent to the clerks of thirty-three of the principal urban district councils. Subsequently, at varying dates, copies were sent to all other officers of local authorities who applied for them. The Order having been made under the authority and by direction of Parliament, the Local Government Board did not require the local authorities to express approval or disapproval of the draft. It was laid before them in draft for the purpose of affording them an opportunity of making any suggestions and criticisms which occurred to them. No objections were made to the issue of the Order, but, on the contrary, many valuable suggestions were received and carefully considered, the large proportion of which were adopted by the Board.

Can the right hon. Gentleman mention any one public body in Ireland which approved the Order?

I have said no objections were made, but suggestions were sent in and have been acted upon.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state how many estates in North Mayo have been purchased by the Estates Commissioners or Congested Districts Board under the Act of 1903.

The Congested Districts Board have agreed to purchase seven estates in North Mayo, but the estates have not yet become vested in the Board. The Estates Commissioners have purchased one estate in county Mayo, the name and locality of which I shall ascertain and communicate to the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether a portion of the Ballydoulon Estate purchased by the Congested Districts Board is to be given to a Mr. Rothwell, petty sessions clerk of Ballinasloe, who was never a tenant on the estate and who does not live within miles of it, seeing that Mr. Rothwell is already in possession of more than one farm elsewhere.

This estate has not been purchased by the Board.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that immediately subsequent to the purchase agreement on the agricultural portion of Pole Carew and Butler Estate, Banteer, county Cork, similar agreements were signed by the inhabitants of the village for the purchase of their houses; and that within the past week an official of the Estates Commission visited the place and informed the village occupiers that their purchase agreements are to be set aside and they must revert to the old terms of tenancy; and, if so, will he say if this inspector has acted with the knowledge and sanction of the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, what explanation can the Commissioners give for not adhering to the purchase system in this case.

This Question has been referred to the inspector for his observations. Perhaps the hon. Member will repeat it on Monday.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, since it has been alleged that the Catholic clerks in the veterinary branch of the Agricultural Department are in no way prejudiced on account of their religion, he will state what is the disability which keeps these gentlemen, after eleven years service, at a practically stationary salary of £95 a year, while men of less experience were brought into the department to do the same class of work at £150 per annum, and were almost immediately promoted to staff clerkships worth considerably more; and whether, in making these latter appointments, the Catholic clerks were considered unfit to fill them; and, if so, why.

The Department selected for the staff posts referred to clerks who, in their opinion, possessed the qualifications which rendered them most suitable for the discharge of the duties attached to these positions.

From whom did the right hon. Gentleman get this information?

From the heads of the Department, and I can assure the hon. Member promotions are made according to the requirements of the public service.

Did the information come from Sir Horace Plunkett?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mrs. Lamphier and her tenants have signed and lodged with the Estates Commissioners agreements for sale and purchase of her estate at Foilacumin, barony of Slievardagh, and county Tipperary; whether he is aware that on this estate there were two evicted tenants, Messrs. McCormac and Feehan, whose farms since their evictions have been held in possession by the owner; can he say why the farms have not been given back to those evicted tenants when the other tenants have arranged for purchase; and will he give instructions to the Estates Commissioners not to sanction the sale of this estate until the evicted tenants shall have been reinstated.

Agreements have been lodged. Applications for reinstatement were received from Messrs. Cormac and Feehan as representatives of former teants. These former tenants, however, had not been evicted, but had received monetary compensation for surrendering their holdings to the landlord. The persons named, therefore, have no claim to reinstatement.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will explain why the Dublin Tramways Company levy full fares for children under twelve years of age; and whether the Commissioners of the Dublin Police regularly supervise the due observance of the by-law prohibiting overcrowding of passengers on tramway cars plying within the Dublin metropolitan district.

The Company's by-laws exempt passengers from paying for children in arms under three years of age. I am not aware of any statutory provision which prohibits the levy of full fares for children under twelve. The police are instructed to enforce the by-law prohibiting over-crowding, and prosecutions are instituted when offences are detected.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a man named Carroll was arrested at Summergrove, Mountmellick, on a charge of drunkenness, on the night of the 17th March, was handcuffed, and so treated by the police that, when brought to the police barrack at Mountmellick, he was suffering from such injuries that the sergeant-in-charge requisitioned the services of a surgeon, who ordered Carroll's removal to the Mountmellick workhouse hospital, where he lies in a critical condition; and whether he will give the names of the police constables who arrested Carroll, and say what steps he proposes taking in the matter.

Inquiries are being made in this matter, but they cannot be completed until the injured man's discharge from hospital in a few days. Carroll was arrested by Constables Michael Cryan and Dominick Masterton.

Are the constables meantime suspended from duty?

No, Sir.

They ought to be.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if a request has been forwarded by the Estates Commissioners to the Land Judge's Court with the view of purchasing the estate of William Thomas Galway, situate in the townland of Clooncah, county Galway, in order to resell same to the tenants; the date when the request was forwarded; and if any, and what, reply has been made by the Land Judge, the absolute order for sale having been made so far back as 1887.

The request was issued to the Land Judge on February 2nd. The necessary documents have not yet been furnished by the Land Judge to the Commissioners.

When are the documents likely to be sent?

I cannot possibly answer that.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a man named Nial MacBride was recently prosecuted at the Dunfanaghy Petty Sessions for not having his name and address legibly printed upon his cart; and whether, seeing that his name and address ware correctly shown upon the cart in Irish characters, he will give directions that such prosecutions are not in future to be undertaken by the police.

This case is sub judice, the magistrates having consented, at the defendant's instance, to state a case for the opinion of the superior Courts.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in some districts of Ireland petty sessions clerks charge a fee of 2s. 6d. to publicans for signing their licences when renewing same; and whether the attention of the Registrar of Petty Sessions Clerks will be called to this practice.

The Registrar of Petty Sessions Clerks is not aware that this practice exists. If the hon. Member will give me specific instances I will have inquiries made.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say how many centres there are in Ireland at which managers and teachers have applied for an elementary science course to be held, and have been refused owing to the withdrawal of the necessary grant; and whether the last annual report of the Head Organiser of Elementary Science will be given to the public.

In four cases this year applications for elementary science classes have been refused by the Board of National Education as a result of the forthcoming termination of the period of employment of the sub-organisers. The Head Organiser's Report will be published with the Board's next Annual Report.

On behalf of the hon. Member for West Water-ford, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that the period within which the Fishguard and Rosslare Railway Company was bound to proceed with the construction of the Cork and Fermoy direct line expired on August 1st, 1904, he will say what steps it is now proposed to take with regard to the sum of £93, 000 which the Treasury agreed to place at the disposal of the Hybrid Committee on the Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Bill in 1898, to be applied towards some project calculated, in their view, to be beneficial to the South-East of Ireland.

The period within which the Cork-Fermoy line should have been proceeded with expired as stated by the hon. Member. As the grant of £93, 000 was conditional upon the completion of this line, there is now no question of its issue.

On behalf of the hon. Member for West Waterford, I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that the Inland Revenue assess stamp duty on all transfers of land purchased under the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Acts, or under the Land Act of 1903, not only on the money consideration paid by the transferee but on the entire amount of the outstanding portion of the advance to the purchasing tenant by the Land Commission or the Estates Commissioners; and whether, in view of the additional charge thus imposed on all transfers of purchased land, he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to limit the charge to the amount paid by the transferee.

I would ask the hon. Member to put the Question down again for Monday next.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the nature of the instructions to be given to the British representatives at the Colonial Conference to be held in 1905 will be settled by the Government during the present session; whether he will undertake to inform the House at the earliest possible opportunity after such instructions have been decided upon; and whether, if the present Government should be in power at the time of the Colonial Conference, he will undertake that such representatives shall have no power to deal with the fiscal j question in any manner.

At the same time may I ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in the event of a Colonial Conference being called together by the present Government, and any question of fiscal reform being delegated to it, each of the Colonies will have the same representation and voting power, or whether each will be represented proportionally to its population.

I think I have already intimated to the House that in my opinion all questions with regard to next year's Colonial Conference are premature at the present moment.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will consider the advisability of the introduction of legislation for the purpose of extending the provisions of the statutes disqualifying contractors with Government Departments from election to the House of Commons, and from sitting and voting therein to directors of incorporated trading companies contracting with Government Departments in their corporate capacity.

I do not propose to introduce any legislation on this subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if a Member of this House has the smallest contract with the Post Office or Stationery Office he must leave it?

Order, order!