To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the annual amount withdrawn from the possible London Compensation Fund, under the Licensing Act of 1904, by the action of the City of London in maintaining a jurisdiction apart from the county of London. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) If the intention of the Question is to ascertain the maximum amount which can be levied in the City of London under the Licensing Act, 1904, I may say that I understand that it has been estimated at about £25,000; which is about one-ninth of the amount that can be levied in the county of London, outside the City. The City of London has always been a separate licensing jurisdiction.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Department of Agriculture have purchased the mansion of Ballyhaise and 800 acres of demesne ornamental grounds and tillage land in the county of Cavan as an experiment; what is the purchase money; and what is the purpose of this experiment.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the approval of the Agricultural Board was obtained to the purchase of Ballyhaise mansion and demesne; if this property belonged to Mr. Humphreys; if the Board were informed before the transaction that Mr. Humphreys was a nephew by marriage of one of their number; if the Vice-President pressed the purchase; and how the purchase price between Mr. Humphreys and the Department was ascertained. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Department, with the approval of the Agricultural Board, have purchased the house and demesne for the sum of £19,000. The property will be utilised as a centre for the breeding of live stock in connection with the Department's schemes, and for the instruction of young men in practical agriculture. The Board were aware that the property belonged to Mr. Humphreys. One of the members of the Board was indirectly interested in it, but he retired from the Board Room when the question of its acquisition was considered. The Vice-President did not press the purchase in the manner suggested. The purchase price was based on an independent valuation of the property.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in the matter of the Keown Boyd Estate, county Down, the Land Judge accepted the offer of the tenants to purchase in November, 1903; and if he can state the cause of the delay in having the purchase completed. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) No, Sir, but the Land Judge approved of terms on which the tenants were to repurchase from the Estates Commissioners if the latter should acquire the estate. The making of a formal offer for the estate has been held over, so that two tenants who had not signed undertakings to purchase might have an opportunity of doing so. The Commissioners expect to make shortly an offer to the Land Judge.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, seeing that, owing to the disagreement existing between the Agricultural and Technical Department and the Congested Districts Board, the working of technical and agricultural schemes in the county of Kerry and elsewhere will be paralysed by reason of the refusal of grants for congested districts, he can take any steps to secure an understanding between these Departments in the public interest, so that local effort in Kerry and other counties shall not be rendered useless. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) There is no disagreement between the Department and the Congested Districts Board. The Department's agricultural scheme applies equally to the entire county, and their scheme of technical instruction is also applicable over congested and non-congested areas. The Congested Districts Board subsidise their own schemes of industrial work in the congested districts, but they have no funds to assist the county scheme of technical instruction in these districts.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any, and if so how many, cases of the purchase of congested estates by the Estates Commissioners have yet taken place outside of Connaught or the congested districts by the Estates Commissioners; and, if no such case has yet occurred, whether he can state if the Commissioners intend to apply the section of the Land Act of 1903 dealing with congested estates in districts outside the area referred to. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Estates Commissioners have not as yet purchased any congested estates in any district. Of course it is their intention to put in force the provisions of the Act when occasion offers.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Williamson, of Mallow, a seed potato specialist, has offered to supply free of cost to the Irish Agricultural Department one ton of a new variety of potato, styled Duchess of Cornwall, for the purpose of having its merits fully tested in their experimental trials this year; and if he can explain why the offer has been refused, having regard to the fact that the Department have already decided to include this variety of potato in their trials this season; and whether the offer of Mr. Williamson will be reconsidered and accepted. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Department do not consider it advisable to accept from seed merchants or seed growers gratuitous supplies of seeds for the purposes of experiment. The Department have already a sufficient supply of the variety mentioned. They are not prepared to reconsider Mr. Williamson's offer.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now state when the First Annual Report of the Estates Commissioners relative to the working of the Irish Land Act of 1903 will be issued. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Report will be very shortly issued, but I cannot fix a date.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if it is intended that the construction of the Moher relief road, county Cavan, is to be proceeded with; and, if not, will he explain why. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I understand that the guardians have discontinued the construction of this road owing to the refusal of the solicitors to the owner of the property through which the road passes to permit further work upon it.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland is he aware that on the night of October 3rd last an emergency man named Denis Connolly, of Borrisnoe, was caught in the act of stealing cabbage from the haggart of Daniel Greed residing near the same place; that he was accompanied by Constables Neary and Buckley; that Constable Buckley subsequently asked the Greeds to say nothing about the occurrence, and, on being refused, threatened them; that, a few days later, Head Constable Fallon came to the Greeds, and under the pretext of an investigation obtained from Cornelius Greed a statement of the facts; and that the magistrates at the trial, where Connolly pleaded guilty, expressed their opinions that these constables should have been brought forward as witnesses, and for their production adjourned the trial for a fortnight; and, if so, will he say what order was subsequently made in the case of Connolly, were the constables produced at trial, was any investigation held, and where are those constables stationed at present; and will he take steps to hold an investigation into all the facts of the case. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The facts, as I understand them, are briefly these: Connolly entered the land of Greed, and pulled two cabbage plants. Connolly is under personal police protection, and at the time of the occurrence was six or eight yards in advance of his escort (Constables Neary and Buckley). The larceny took place at 9 o'clock on a dark night, and the constables had no reason to believe that Connolly entered the field for the purpose stated. Constable Buckley did ask Greed not to prosecute Connolly, but no threats were used as alleged. The Head Constable subsequently, in the discharge of his duty, called on Greed in order to investigate the facts, and Greed voluntarily stated the facts. When the casa came before the magistrates on October 24th, they adjourned it for the attendance of the constables. The constables were examined at the adjourned hearing, and Connolly was fined 10s. and costs, and also ordered to pay 2d. compensation for the theft of the cabbage. The constables are now stationed in the Roscrea district. The matter was very fully considered by the Inspector-General and by my predecessor in December last, and it was decided that no further investigation was called for.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, having regard to the fact that a Resolu- tion dealing with excessive railway rates and defective transit facilities generally, which constitute a serious bar to the material advancement of Ireland, was unanimously adopted by the House of Commons on the 15th March last, he will appoint a Vice-Regal Commission to inquire into the question; or in the alternative, whether he will bring in a Bill this session to extend the powers of the Department of Agriculture in Ireland, with the view to reducing the traffic rates in Ireland and making the companies work as one service, and for that purpose also provide a State Guarantee to ensure the shareholders against any loss that may at first arise. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The reply to these Questions is in the negative.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state whether, on the transfer to the Colonial Office of the East Africa Protectorate, inquiry can be made as to the possibility of abolishing in the coast strip the legal status of slavery, in accordance with the policy hitherto general in the colonies and protectorates under the Colonial Office as well as in India. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) Inquiry will be made, but it will be remembered that we are bound by an assurance which was given by Lord Kimberley, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1895, to the effect that the Law of Islam would be maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the rules affecting the use of the commercial mole at Gilbraltar have been decided upon; and whether representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, or of the mercantile community generally, will be included in the board of management. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) A scheme for the administration of the commercial mole at, Gibraltar has been drawn up with the assistance of four members of the mercantile body. It provides for full and direct Government control, but the Government will accept for consideration suggestions from accredited representatives of the Exchange Committee, the Chamber of Commerce, and the general trading community on matters of details affecting them as customers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Premier Diamond Mine has declared a dividend on its share capital for the half year amounting to £210,000; and, if so, will he say whether the remaining 60 per cent, of the profits, amounting to £315,000, to which the Transvaal Government is entitled, will be paid at the same time. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) I have received a telegram from Lord Milner on this subject, the meaning of which is not clear and I have asked for explanations. If the hon. Member will repeat his Question this day week I hope to be able to afford him the information he desires.

To ask the Postmaster-General if, in view of the fact that a deputation of telegraphists were recently informed that he intended adding to the number of the class of clerks immediately above the general body, and of the stagnation of promotion existing throughout the service, he will state when he hopes to make the change; and whether seniority and efficiency will be taken into consideration in deciding on cases to be promoted. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) I am not at present able to state when the change will take place, as the inquiries are not yet completed. The officers selected for promotion will be those who are certified to be best qualified for the duties to be performed.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether the rule is still in force which allows postmen's duties being made up to occupy seven and a-half hours so as to allow for prolonged deliveries. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) There is no such rule: and, so far as I am aware, there never has been. Forty-eight hours a week is the normal attendance for town postmen: but, on a revision, the duties are usually arranged so as to occupy somewhat less than that time, in order to allow for general increase of work.

To ask the Postmaster-General what is the rule of the Department regarding the number, size, and weight of parcels postmen have to take out on a letter delivery. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) When parcels are delivered with letters the rule is that the total combined weight should not exceed 35 1bs. per postman, and that, as far as possible, town postmen on letter deliveries should not be required to take out bulky or very heavy parcels which would hamper or delay them. The number of parcels taken out on a letter delivery varies according to the nature of the delivery, but on important town deliveries it is the practice to limit the, number to five, as far as circumstances admit.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the village of Trillick, county Tyrone, has but one delivery of letters daily; that the mid-day mail passes the village and carries the mails eight miles further on to Ballinamallard, where they lie until next morning; and if a scheme for a second delivery can, under the circumstances, be devised. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) I regret to find that, owing to the high cost of the postal service at Trillick, I should not be justified in incurring additional expense in providing a second delivery there.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that the carpenters and joiners obtaining employment at the Post Office telegraph and telephone factory, Mount Pleasant, Clerkenwell, after serving one month probationary period, passing a satisfactory medical examination, and being vaccinated in accordance with the requirements of the establishment, are required as an absolute condition of further employment to execute the work at prices which they have no voice in arranging on what is known as the piece-work system, he will take steps to bring the conditions of labour for joiners in this factory into harmony with that of private employers who pay by the hour, and so enable trade unionists to participate in this Government work without violating the local rides of the district and the general rules of their respective societies. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) I am not prepared to abandon the piece-work system in the Post Office factory.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, upon certain duties at Liverpool among the telegraphists, a period of ten minutes is allowed for tea reliefs; and whether he will consider the advisability of extending the period in the interests of the health of the staff. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) Under the regulations of the Department, a refreshment interval of thirty minutes is provided for on the duties to which the hon. Member refers. As the hours of attendance are somewhat inconvenient as regards meal times a further short interval of ten minutes is allowed, as an act of grace, if the work admits of it, but I am not prepared to authorise any further extension.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that about two years ago a light railway was opened between Wick and Lybster, in the county of Caithness; and whether, in view of the recent expiry of the contract for the carriage by road of the mails between these two places, he can see his way to arrange that in future the mails for Wick and Lybster, and all intervening places, shall be carried by the more expeditious means of the railway. (Answered by Lord Stanley.) I have now made full inquiry on the question of forwarding the mails between Wick and Lybster by train instead of by road, and I have been in communication with the railway company on the subject. It appears, however, that they cannot arrange for a train service at suitable, hours except at considerable expense; and, as pointed out in a letter which I addressed to the hon. Member in April last, I should not be justified in making special payment for such a service. The use of the trains as at present running would on the whole greatly impair the postal service at all the places on the line, and I regret that, in the circumstances, it is not practicable to make any change in the present arrangements for the conveyance of the mails.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he would be willing to lay before the House a Return of the places in which cases of smallpox have occurred during the past twelve months, giving the total number of cases occurring in each place in which that number has reached or exceeded 100. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I am willing to give a Return on this subject, and I will communicate with my hon. friend as to its form.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will grant a Return showing the cost to the ratepayers of each outbreak of smallpox in urban districts and municipal boroughs during the past twelve months where the total number of cases has exceeded 100 in number. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I have not the information desired; but I will endeavour to ascertain the amount of the expenditure incurred by the councils of municipal boroughs and urban districts in consequence of the occurrence of cases of smallpox in them during the past twelve months, where the number of cases has exceeded 100. I would suggest that the particulars, if it is found practicable to obtain them, should be included in the proposed Return I referred to in my reply to the Question asked by my hon. friend the Member for the Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether it is the practice of the Board of Education to require a local education authority, upon the request of the managers of any non-provided school, to supply prayer books I and hymn books for the purpose of giving religious instruction. (Answered by Sir William Anson.) I do not think that I can do better than repeat the reply which I gave to a Question on the same subject from the hon. Member for the Morley Division of Yorkshire on March 15th† last, to the effect that no local authority has been called upon by the Board of Education to pay for books or other apparatus required for the purposes of the denominational instruction given in voluntary schools, and the Board has offered no encouragement to managers to press for such payments.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty which of the vessels in List No. 3, of the Return of Vessels struck off

† See (4) Debates, cxliii., 29.

the Effective List have been sold, and what price has been realised in each case. (Answered, by Mr. Pretyman.) The vessels on List No. 3, which have been sold to date are the "Porpoise," "Sand-fly," "Lizard," and "Havannah." The first three were sold abroad by tender; but it is contrary to the practice of the Department to disclose the prices tendered. The "Havannah" was sold by public auction, and realised £1,035. The "Boadicea," which is also included in List No. 3, is being broken up upon percentage terms. As the hon. Member is probably aware, a number of obsolete vessels are for sale by auction at Chatham to-morrow.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether patients occupying the old wing of the Naval Hospital at Malta for surgical treatment have, while there or soon afterwards, developed fever. (Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) Patients while in hospital for surgical treatment, or soon after, have developed "fever," but the number is small. During 1904 there were seventy-four cases for operation, and of these three developed "fever."

To ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty when the inner surface of the walls of soft stone of the old wing of the Naval Hospital at Malta were last treated by any process of sanitary purification; and what was the nature of that process. (Answered by Mr. Arthur Lee.) The whole of the walls of the wards and passages, etc., in the old portion of the hospital have been scraped and coated with a special gloss enamel paint, forming an impervious and washable surface. The soft stone floors have been removed, and replaced by terazzo paving. The work was commenced in 1899, and completed in 1902.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state how much money from public funds was spent on the construction of Holyhead Harbour. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) The cost of the outer or new harbour was £1,482,000. The Board of Trade have no information as to the cost of the inner or old harbour.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the circumstances under which the Board of Lough Neagh Drainage Trustees was called into being; and what conditions are imposed upon them with regard to the auditing and publication of their accounts, and generally with regard to the manner in which the duties assigned to them, must be discharged. (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish) The trustees are elected under the Act 5 and 6 Vic., c. 89, s. 120, in order to maintain the Lough Neagh drainage system. No conditions are imposed upon them with regard to the auditing and publication of accounts; but under the Act they are required to maintain the work in an efficient state of repair, and to raise the necessary funds for the purpose by means of a rate levied only on the proprietors. If any of these duties be neglected, injured persons can appeal to the Board of Works, who would immediately take cognisance of the matter. Electors can also make their wishes felt on the occasion of the periodical elections of the trustees.

To ask the Chairman of Ways and Means under what system the Chairmen of the Commissions appointed under The Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1899, are selected; whether there is any rule requiring the appointment of a Member of the Upper House as Chairman; and whether there is any instance of Members of both Houses sitting upon a Commission when a Member of the House of Commons has been Chairman of the Commission. (Answered by Mr. J. W. Lowther.) The system under which the Chairmen of the Commissions appointed under The Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act,1899, are chosen is that of alternative selection from the two Houses of Parliament, so far as circumstances permit. There is no rule requiring the appointment of a Member of the Upper House as Chairman, nor is there any rule requiring the appointment of a Member of the Lower House. In 1903 a Member of the House of Commons was the Chairman of a Commission composed of two Peers and two Members of the House of Commons. Out of the thirteen Commissions which have been appointed since the Act came into force six Chairmen have been appointed from the House of Lords, six from the House of Commons, and one from the extra-Parliamentary Panel.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether a scale duly stamped in one English county must be recognised as being properly stamped by the Inspector of Weights and Measures in another English county. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) A weighing instrument, stamped by an Inspector of Weights and Measures, need not be restamped because it is used in a district other than that in which it was originally stamped.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he will call for a Return of hours worked over twelve per day by men employed in the manipulation of traffic, similar to the Return obtained for October, 1903; and if he will take steps to get it issued in less time than the last one. (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) Yes, Sir, a Return for last March will be called for and issued as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of persons who were convicted as guilty of drunk and disorderly conduct in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales respectively, in each of the years ending December 31st, 1901, 1902, 1903, and 1904; how many were convicted in each of the first two years on summons for being drunk and incapable, and during last two years after summons or arrest for the same offence in the respective countries for the same years; how many during the last two years were convicted for being drunk, and not necessarily incapable, whilst having charge of a child; how many persons convicted of

To ask the Lord-Advocate whether he is aware that on March 17th the foreign master of the trawler "Apollo" was convicted of illegal trawling in the Sheriff Court at Wick, when a fine of £75 was imposed, the detection which resulted in this conviction having been made by certain

To ask Mr. Attorney-General whether he is aware that, on March 13th, a so-called foreign trawler, named the "Apollo," was detected by pilots belonging to the port of Wick trawling within two miles of Wick; that the flag captain of the "Apollo" was tried in Wick Sheriff Court on March 17th, when he pleaded guilty and was fined £75, which he paid; that the flag captain was a foreigner, while all the crew and the sailing master were English, and that the "Apollo," although given out as belonging to Norway, was built in England and is believed to be a Grimsby trawler; and whether, in view of these facts, he will now consider what steps should be taken to put an end to illegal trawling by British trawl-boats sailing under foreign flags. (Answered by Mr. Scott Dickson.) I cannot regard it as accurate to describe these vessels as British trawl-boats sailing under foreign flags, but the circumstances giving rise to the Question are under consideration by the Law Officers of the Crown.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his recent statement of the average duties received from sugar includes the duty on molasses; and if not, whether he will state for the same periods the average duty received per hundredweight of sugar and molasses taken together. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The recent statement referred to sugar only. The average gross rate of duty received on sugar and molasses in each financial year since the reimposition of the Sugar Duty up to March 31st, 1904, and in the eleven months up to February 28th, 1905, is as follows:—Financial year ended March 31st, 1902, the cwt., 3s. 10·l0d.; Financial year ended March 31st, 1903, the cwt., 3s. 9·04d.; Financial year ended March 31st, 1904, the cwt., 3s. l0·80d.; Eleven months ended February 28th, 1905, the cwt., 3s. 1l·18d.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say what has been the cost to Ireland and Scotland, respectively, for vaccination fees since the year 1845. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The total amounts of fees paid in Ireland to March 31st, 1904, was £381,643. I have no information as to the amount of fees paid in Scotland.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the workmistress of Killultagh National School, Roll No. 8,057, Circuit 8, Section B, was requested in 1900 by Inspector O'Connor to teach music and singing to the pupils, and that she has performed this work for five years without having received remuneration; and whether he will explain why applications received by the Board on this teacher's behalf, pointing out the extra work and asking for consideration, have not been acceded to. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The inspector states that he did not request the workmistress to teach music and singing, but that he may have suggested the desirability of her doing so during the hours which she was required to devote to the general work of the school, provided that she were willing and the manager approved. The Commissioners informed the manager, so far back as 1901, that he was at liberty to so employ the workmistress during her ordinary hours, but that no extra remuneration could be allowed for this service.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland why the equivalent grant, in lieu of results fees, paid to the teacher of Roll No. 5094 national school for the year ended May 31st, 1900, was not based on the amount earned the previous year by Mr. M'Carthy, instead of having it based on amounts earned by his predecessor; why his consolidated salary was reduced from £87 to £74 per annum; and whether this case will be again considered by the resident Commissioner. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The grant in this and similar cases is based on the average results fees earned in the school in the preceding three years. Mr. M'Carthy's consolidated income, which amounted to £85, and not £87 as stated, was divided into salary £74, and residual capitation grant £11. His income, therefore, was not reduced. The case has already been fully considered.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will give the extent of the coast line of the congested districts in Ireland. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The extent of the coast line, including islands, is estimated to be approximately 1,000 miles.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that students who were in the Irish training colleges at the time of the abolition of the results system, and who are now engaged as principal teachers, are losing from £10 to £80 per annum, according to the size of their schools; and whether, in view of the effect of this on the training colleges, in as much as students are reluctant to enter the service of the Board under the present scale of salaries, he will invite the Commissioners to reconsider the whole question of the salaries of Irish national teachers. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) In the case of teachers already in the service who were in training in 1900, when the new system of payments came into operation, any promotion in classification which they received as the result of their training and which would have involved an increase in salary under the old regulations was considered when fixing their initial incomes under the new regulations. The new incomes are capable of increases, within the limits of the scales, by increments of good service salary and by promotion in grade, and though there may be cases in which principal teachers are actually receiving less incomes than they might have received under the old regulations, yet, when it is considered that their incomes under the old regulations were liable to grave fluctuations owing to the system of payment by results and that their new incomes are not so liable to fluctuation and are of a progressive character, the position of the teachers as a body is better under the new regulations than under the old. The Commissioners have no evidence that the falling off in the number of men candidates for training colleges last year was directly attributable to the new system of salaries, and this year there has been an all round increase in the number of men candidates seeking admission to these institutions.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Congested Districts Board or the Estates Commissioners have taken any steps to purchase the Island of Innisglora, Belmullet Union, county Mayo, which property is under the control of the Court of Chancery; and, if not, seeing that the present grazing tenants are willing to surrender, they will take such steps with a view to the enlargement of holdings and the reinstatement of evicted tenants. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The reply to this Question is in the negative. This island, of which the Poor Law valuation is but £8 5s., is stated to consist chiefly of sandy wastes, and it has no permanent residents.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that the attention of the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary has been called to the presence, after hours, of a constable of the force in the Belmullet district in the licensed premises of a publican at Gortmelia, Belmullet Union, on February 1st, 1904; and whether he can say if the Inspector-General intends to take any action in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Inspector-General has recently received a complaint to the effect mentioned, and is inquiring into the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number of prosecutions there have been in Ireland within the past two years against vendors of Irish salt firkin butter on account of it containing over 16 per cent. of water; how many of these cases have been dismissed, and on what grounds; what has been the percentage of water in the butter in these cases; and if he will also state the percentage of water in butter in the cases in which convictions have been obtained, and the number of convictions. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) This information will take some time to collect and tabulate, but, if I can procure it, I will communicate it to the hon. Member. It appears to the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction that the results of the analyses of samples of salt firkin butter taken by the inspectors are of far greater importance than returns of convictions and dismissals, some of the latter no doubt on technical grounds. 1,118 samples of firkin butter were taken for analysis by the local food inspectors in the following counties: Clare, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary (N.R.), and Tipperary (S.R.), between May 15th, 1902, (the date on which the Sale of Butter (Ireland) Regulations, 1902, came into operation) and December 31st, 1904. Of these samples, 1,022 were found to contain not more than 16 per cent. of water, and 60 to contain over 16 and not more than 20 per cent. of water. In the remaining samples, 36, the proportion of water exceeded 20 per cent. These facts show how small is the number of cases in which the water in the butter exceeds the 16 per cent. limit prescribed by the regulations under Sections 4 and 24 of The Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1899, which are in force both in Great Britain and Ireland.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the inspector and manager of Mr. M. Halpin, of Carricksherry National School, Ardagh, county Limerick, recommended him for promotion; whether his case was considered after those letters of recommendation reached the office; and whether, in view of this man's length of efficient service, steps will be taken to have him promoted. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) Mr. Halpin was not recommended for promotion by the senior inspector in 1903. The manager wrote urging Mr. Halpin's claims, and the case was referred to the senior inspector for a special report, but he still found himself unable to recommend the teacher's promotion. When the promotion of teachers for 1904 came under consideration, Mr. Halpin was recommended by the senior inspector, but the reports on his school were not of a sufficiently favourable character to warrant his promotion. The report of the annual inspection held on December 13th, 1904, has now been received, and the case of Mr. Halpin will again be considered by the Commissioners.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the various grades into which national teachers in Ireland are now divided, the number in each grade, and the salary and pension of each grade. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The grades into which national school teachers are divided, the numbers in each grade on 31st December, 1904, and the standard annual salaries (exclusive of residual capitation grant, payment for

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state, under suitable heads, the amount of saving on the office for the Irish Agricultural Department for the year 1904–5. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) This information is not yet available. It will appear in due course in the appropriation account of the Department for the year mentioned.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Berridge Estate, Connemara, has been offered to the Congested Districts Board for purchase; and, if so, if he will state the terms demanded by the landlord, and say whether the Congested Districts Board has declined to purchase this estate; and, if so, will he state upon what grounds.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland upon what date it was ordered that the Ballygawley (county Tyrone) Loan Fund should be wound up; what was the amount due by borrowers when the winding up order was made; the amount due at the present time; and if any balance-sheet has been issued to the debenture holders. (Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I am informed that, technically speaking, no order for the winding up of this loan fund has been made. But, in a consolidated suit at the instance of two debenture holders, the Chancery Division made an order, dated 22nd November, 1899, appointing a receiver over the fund. On 19th September, 1899, the amount due by the fund to debenture holders was £1,437 8s. 4d., and the amount due to the fund by borrowers was £1,282 2s. The receiver has since received £468 19s. 10d., out of which he has been allowed costs of the suits, commission, and other expenses. The net balance, amounting to £137 14s. 6d., has, by order of the Court dated 16th January, 1905, been paid over to the Loan Fund Board, who have retained it pending legal advice as to its disposal. The books of the fund are in the hands of the receiver, and the Board have no information as to the amount still due by borrowers save in so far as may be inferred from the figures already mentioned. The Board are not aware whether a balance-sheet has been or will be issued by the receiver to the debenture holders.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether permission to private firms to manufacture on payment of royalty the new service rifle has been refused; and whether he is aware that such refusal has resulted in the transfer of important orders from England to Germany. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) Permission has not been granted to private manufacturers to use for sale the Government patents embodied in the new service rifle. The reply to the second part of the Question is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the professional qualifications of the surgeon to the Admiralty at Belmullet; what previous experience in the practice of his profession he had, and where, before his appointment; the reasons which caused the Admiralty to consider the appointment of Dr. Studdert more suitable than that of Dr. MacHale; the total sum in fees received by Dr. Studdert during his first twelve months as surgeon; and the total sum in fees received by Dr. Lavan in his last twelve months in that position.

The professional qualifications of the Admiralty surgeon and agent at Belmullet are:—Lic. Lic. Midwif. R. Coll. Phys., Ireland, Lic. Lic. Midwif. R. Coll. Surg., Ireland. He had had previous experience at High Wycombe and Sheffield, and was recommended by the local divisional officer, after careful inquiry, as being the most desirable candidate. The total sum in fees received by Dr. Studdert during his first twelve months as surgeon and agent was £178; and the total sum in fees received by Dr. Lavan in his last twelve months in that position was £140 2s. 6d.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can inform the House how it was that at the time of the debate on the Army Clothing Vote he had not seen the Report on the Army Clothing Factory by the principal Lady Inspector of Factories under the Home Office, which had been seen by private Members on the Government side of the House; and whether he had applied for it in view of the debate.

I did not see the Report because it was not sent to me, nor, as far as I am aware, to anyone else. I understand that the Report is not yet complete, and the Home Office is waiting for a further Report from their lady inspector before communicating with the War Department, in accordance with their usual practice. I am informed that the Reports of factory inspectors are confidential, and it is not the practice of the Home Office to send the actual Reports to the War Office or to any Department or individual outside the Home Office. I am not aware that the Report referred to had been, or has been, seen either by private Members on the Government side or by the right hon. Baronet, as is suggested, and I have no knowledge as to how the right hon. Baronet or the private Members to whom he refers, but does not name, obtained possession of, or access to, it—if they actually did so. As I was not aware of the existence of the Report I did not apply for it in view of the debate on the Army Clothing Vote.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the statement on page 258 of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General to the effect that 337,704 lbs. of jam were written off on account of shortage in the Durban supply account for July, 1903, and to the statement on the same page that on April 26th, 1904, the Auditor-General wrote to the War Office for information respecting the contracts under which the jam was supplied; and whether he will say why nearly a year was allowed to elapse before the War Office gave any explanation of this incident, which arose twenty months ago from the writing off on account of supposed shortage in supply.

Will the hon. Member kindly refer to the reply to a similar Question put by the hon. Gentleman the senior Member for Northampton on March 22nd.†

I remember that Answer perfectly. It is not a reply to this Question. Why was nearly a year allowed to elapse before the War Office gave an explanation of the incident which arose twenty months ago?

I expressed regret for the delay and explained it was caused by the necessity of getting answers from South Africa and from the Agents-General of the Colonies concerned. I am very sorry for that delay.

† See (4) Debates, cxliii,. 785.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will explain why clergymen of the Church of England are appointed Army chaplains at the garrison churches in Dublin and other parts of Ireland in preference to clergymen of the Church of Ireland; and will he take care in making future appointments that they shall be given to qualified clergymen of the Church of Ireland.

Is not the hon. Member aware that the Church of Ireland has been disestablished and no longer exists?

The hon. Member ought not to make these little interruptions.

There are only three stations in Ireland where the local clergy do not officiate, viz.: Dublin, Curragh, and Cork, in each of which large numbers of troops, not necessarily Irish, are quartered. The proportion of clergy of the Church of Ireland among the commissioned chaplains is large, and some of these chaplains are now serving in Ireland. I regret that I am unable to adopt the suggestion of the hon. Member to confine the postings of Army chaplains in Ireland to clergymen of the Church of Ireland.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state the numbers, exclusive of officers, of the Regular Army, borne on the Home and Colonial establishment, who, during the twelve months ending September 30th, 1904, or any more convenient day that year, were struck off the rolls in consequence of desertion, discharge for probable ineffectiveness, or for misconduct, invaliding, or death; and whether he can approximately calculate the money loss this wastage cost the United Kingdom.

The wastage during the year ending 30th September, 1904, was as follows:—Deserters (less deserters rejoined), 1,244; discharged as not likely to become efficient, 1,373; discharged for misconduct, 3,530; invalided, 3,900; died, 901. Total, 10,948. To calculate the exact loss involved would entail great labour, and I am not prepared to give approximate figures which would be misleading.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War on what grounds were the contracts for the supply of forage for all military stations in the Belfast district, including Belfast, Athlone, Dundalk, and Belturbet, given to one Belfast company, Cullen, Allen & Co., at prices amounting in some cases to 33 per cent. higher than various traders who had each of them at different times discharged forage contracts with satisfaction and had tendered for these contracts; whether the fact of these tenders at lower quotations than the quotations of Cullen, Allen & Co., was reported to and known to the War Office authorities when those authorities gave their sanction and approval to these contracts; whether, although the business arising from the Belfast contracts is conducted by the staff of Messrs. Cullen & Allen, the work of the other contracts has been intrusted by that firm to agents, some of whom had tendered for these contracts to the military authorities at Belfast, and what explanation, if any, has the War Office to offer of this transaction.

In two cases this firm made the lowest tender, and in the two other cases the lowest tenderers were unsatisfactory, and Cullen, Allen & Co., who were the lowest satisfactory tenderers, were accepted. The reply to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part of the Question, there is only one station at which one of the agents of this firm had himself been a tenderer, and for this station Messrs. Cullen, Allen & Co.'s tender was the lowest.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many men have joined the Regular Army from the Volunteer force in each of the last four years.

The figures are as follows:—

	1901.	1902.	1903.	1904.
Service Companies	5,124	2,508	—	—
Waiting Companies	227	—	—	—
Imperial Yeomanry	3,900	1,164	—	—
Others	4,454	3,249	2,577	3,064
Total	13,705	6,921	2,577	3,064

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to cases of soldiers of the Army Reserve making false statements that they have not served before, with a view of being attested as recruits for the Regular Army; and whether, in view of the number of unemployed men in the Army Reserve, he will say what military or other objection exists to the re-enlistment of such men in the Regular Army, if they have passed to the Reserve with good characters, and desire to return to the Regular ranks.

I am not aware that the number of cases of Reservists endeavouring to rejoin the colours by making false statements is large. Last year only fifty-four cases occurred of men being relegated to the Reserve for false answer on attestation. The general principle of maintaining a Reserve does not admit of a general permission to men of good character to return, and applications are generally refused.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War it he will explain why every facility is given to distinguished foreigners to view the Rock of Gibraltar and its fortifications, while British naval officers are only allowed the same facilities as those extended to ordinary strangers.

The responsibility for ensuring the secrecy of works of defence is vested in the General Officer Commanding on the spot. I do not propose in any way to question the discretion of the General Officer Commanding the fortress of Gibraltar.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes to reduce the Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers; if so, what units he proposes to reduce or to abolish; and on what grounds some will be reduced or abolished and others retained.

The reduction in the Volunteers which has been decided upon will extend to the Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers, but I am not prepared at present to state exactly how it will take effect.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to a Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General upon the account prepared under the provisions of the Military Works Acts, 1897, 1899, 1901, and 1903, in which it is stated that the charge under Head I., Defence Works, on page 3 of the account, includes a sum of £2,040, paid into the Supreme Court of Judicature in Ireland, in respect of the piece of land compulsorily acquired by the War Department which was valued on behalf of the War Office at £30, an amount which the Irish Valuation Commissioners considered to be fair and reasonable; where is this land situate; who is the owner; what was the necessity for proceedings under the Defence Act of 1860 to compel him to sell this land; and whether the War Office authorities have any explanation to make with reference to the comment of the Comptroller and Auditor-General that similar cases, in each of which the account has been largely in excess of the valuation, had come under the notice of his Department in the examination of the Account, 1904–5.

My attention has been drawn to this case. The land is at Ned Point, Buncrana, county Donegal. The person who claims the land, a Mr. Richardson, asked for £8,000, and as this was deemed very excessive and the site was essential for defence works, it became necessary to resort to compulsory purchase, under which a sum of £2,040 was ultimately awarded. Mr. Richardson has, however, been hitherto unable to prove his title. It is the case that the sums paid under compulsory purchase in Ireland are largely in excess of the valuation, and in this respect the Military Lands Acts have proved very unsatisfactory.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that representations have been made to the Government of Bombay deploring the growth of the drinking habits of the people, and urging the passing of legislation prohibiting the employment of women in drinking bars; and whether, in view of these representations, the Government of Bombay are now prepared to introduce legislation in order to make the, law in this respect uniform with that in force in Bengal and Burma.

I am aware that a resolution on the subject was passed by a Temperance Congress held in Bombay at the end of last year, and was submitted to the Government of Bombay. I have ascertained that that Government see no reason to alter their view; that the necessary control can be exercised by refusing licences, and that specific prohibition by law is unnecessary.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of Bombay has received memorials in favour of the prohibition by law of the sale of intoxicating liquors to children under fourteen years of age; and whether he can state the views of the Bombay Government upon this subject.

I have ascertained that the Government of Bombay have decided to introduce a clause in future licences prohibiting the sale of liquor to persons under fourteen years of age.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Viceroy at once communicated to Colonel Younghusband the telegrams of 27th June and 4th July last, from the Secretary of State, forbidding Colonel Younghusband to make to the Tibetans any suggestion as to the appointment of a Resident at Lhasa, or to name any conditions without the sanction of the Secretary of State; and whether these telegrams were received by Colonel Younghusband before the decision was arrived at to proceed from Gyangtse to Lhasa.

The telegrams to which the hon. Member refers were communicated to Colonel Younghusband by the Viceroy by telegraph on the 29th June and 5th July respectively. I have therefore no doubt that they had been received by Colonel Younghusband before the 8th July, on which date it was decided, as will be seen from a reference to the Blue-book (page 28, Number 85) that the advance from Gyangtse to Lhasa should be no longer delayed.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will lay upon the Table the reply of the late Marquess of Salisbury, when Prime Minister and Secretary of State, to the deputation on June 19th, 1891, of the United Empire Trade League, with regard to the treaties preventing the adoption of preferential trade within the Empire, and the despatches of 1897 to His Majesty's representatives at Berlin and Brussels, directing them to denounce these treaties as injurious to British trade.

The despatches alluded to were laid in 1897 ("Commer- cial No. 7"). Lord Salisbury's reply was reported at length in The Times of June 20th, 1891, and I know of no precedent for laying an unofficial report of a speech as a Parliamentary Paper.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether the memorial of the tracing staff, Accountant-General's Department, forwarded last November, is under consideration; and, having regard to the fact that this class has only received one increase of 2s. per week in their maximum pay since its institution in 1875, whether he can give his favourable consideration to their case, in view of the findings of the Bradford Committee respecting the pay of the larger classes of postal employees and the late Postmaster-General's promise to deal with the smaller classes, in the light of the standard set up by this Committee.

The hon. Member will observe from the Memorandum which was furnished to the House a few days ago that the officers to whom he refers have now received an improvement of pay.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, in view of the fact that magistrates throughout the country place different constructions on the term "conscientious objection," as defined in the Vaccination Act, 1898, cases having recently occurred in which a man, who had been granted a certificate of exemption for one child, has been refused a certificate for another, although he has in each instance raised precisely the same conscientious objection to vaccination, will he consider the expediency of so amending the Act as to remove the difficulty experienced by magistrates.

I believe that there has been some divergency of practice amongst magistrates in this matter, but, as I think the hon. Member is aware, the Lord Chief Justice made some observations at the Birmingham Assizes in July last with a view to a more uniform administration of the law on the subject. In order to bring these observations under the notice of the magistrates throughout the country my right hon. friend the Home Secretary embodied them in a circular which he has issued to clerks to justices, and I trust that the result of this action will be to secure greater uniformity in the practice of magistrates under the enactment in question. It does not appear to me to be necessary to amend the law on the subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the circular sent out by the Home Secretary has been absolutely useless, as in the case referred to in my Question?

I am not aware of that.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the magistrates continue to entirely disregard the observations of the Lord Chief Justice? Can nothing be done?

Only by altering the law, and I think that unnecessary.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in the event of his Department deciding to send a circular to the London boards of guardians calling their attention to the necessity of granting to teachers of elementary schools sufficient food or money to enable them to deal with children who were in need of food, he will arrange to take such steps as may be necessary to make the cost of such relief a legal charge upon the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund.

The object which the hon. Member has in view could only be effected by legislation, and I could not give any promise to introduce a Bill on the subject.

Then will no circular be issued?

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether it is not the duty of a relieving officer, in case a teacher informs him that a child under such teacher's care is destitute of necessary food, to inquire into the case, and if the relieving officer finds the statement to be correct to give the necessary relief; whether the Local Government Board did not, in 1896, issue to relieving officers extracts from the general Orders issued by the Board and its predecessors relating to the duties of such officers; whether such extracts contained any information, and, if so, what, as to their duties with regard to children destitute of necessary food on whose behalf teachers made application for relief; and if they did not contain such information would he either cause the circular containing such to be issued or indicate in what book, accessible to relieving officers, it can be found.

The Orders provide that it shall be the duty of a relieving officer to receive al1 applications for relief made to him within his district or relating to any parish within his district, and forthwith to examine into the circumstances of every case by visiting the home and making all necessary inquiries, and to report the result of such inquiries to the guardians at their next ordinary meeting. The Orders also provide that it shall be his duty in every case of sudden or urgent necessity to afford such relief to the destitute person, as may be requisite, provided that the same be not given in money. It would be incumbent on a relieving officer to act in accordance with these requirements if application were made to him by a teacher for relief to a child under the teacher's care who was destitute of necessary food. The extracts from the Orders issued to relieving officers in 1896 contained the provisions to which I have alluded; but the Orders do not refer specifically to cases of the kind mentioned in the Question. My hon. friend the Secretary to the Board of Education and I have been in communication with regard to such cases, and I am now considering whether any further steps should be taken in connection with them and a circular be issued on the subject.

Will the Department also consider the advisability of recommending boards of guardians to make grants to education authorities to meet these cases?

Order, order! That hardly arises out of the Question on the Paper.

Will steps be taken to secure that parents able to pay are either compelled to do so or made paupers?

That is one of the matters under consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he has consulted the President of the Local Government Board with respect to the extent to which boards of guardians may assist local education authorities in the work of providing food for children in attendance at public elementary schools suffering from want of proper food; what the result of his consultation, if any, has been; and whether he is now in a position to issue, on behalf of the Board of Education, any circular of suggestions as to the course to be adopted by elementary school teachers who may find children hungry and ill-fed under their charge.

I am still in communication with the Local Government Board, and have every hope that it will shortly be possible to issue a circular of suggestions on the subject in question.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Educa- tion whether his attention has been called to the letter dated March 8th, 1905, of the Rev. F. O. Chambers, Brompton Vicarage, R.S.O., Yorks, to an applicant for the headmastership of the non-provided school in the parish, in which the reverend gentleman says the managers will give the preference to any candidate both able and willing to help on Sunday with a small organ in church and to teach the choir hymns, and to the further communication of the reverend gentleman that they, the managers, have no use for a bigot or a Protestant; whether these communications constitute a breach of the Board of Education's Code of Regulations; and, if so, whether he will communicate with the North Riding County Council on the matter.

I understand that the local education authority have not yet consented to the appointment to the headmastership of the candidate proposed by the managers, and that they have the facts of the case fully before them. Under the circumstances no action by the Board appears to be needed.

Do not these communications constitute a breach of the Education Code Regulations?

If they are made absolute conditions to the appointment they do, but if they are merely held out as inducements to candidates they do not.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury what is the total area of Crown land at present enclosed as woodland; how much of it is let for shooting; and from how much of it the public is altogether excluded.

The total area of Crown land in England and Wales under the management of the Commissioners of Woods at present enclosed as woodland is about 46,098 acres, of which about 18,267 acres are let for shooting, whilst the public is altogether excluded from about 5,031 acres.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate whether his attention has been directed to the resolution of a recent meeting of Moray Firth fishermen at Buckie with regard to the continued evasion of the by laws passed by the Fishery Board for Scotland closing the Moray Firth against trawlers, and praying His Majesty's Government to give effect without delay to the recommendation of the Fishery Board that all ports in the United Kingdom should be closed against the landing of fish caught by trawlers in the Moray Firth; and, if so, will he state on what ground the Government fail to give effect to the recommendations of the Fishery Board for Scotland.

The Answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative. The Secretary for Scotland is in communication with other Departments of the Government concerned in this matter.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he is aware that District Inspector Murnane, of Lisnaskea, when recently conducting cases for the Crown at the petty sessions in Lisbellaw, county Fermanagh, said to the Court before they decided the case under consideration that unless they gave judgment as he sought he would have a case stated for the King's Bench, Dublin; and, if so, whether this interference with the magistrates in the discharge of their duty received his sanction.

District Inspector Murnane reports that he did not recently, or on any occasion, use the language attributed to him, or any language of the like purport or effect. The district inspector, however, states that in a recent prosecution against a publican named McCreery for selling liquor to a drunken person, after the justices, of whom the hon. Member was one, had erroneously dismissed the case on the grounds that the publican was not at the time of sale aware of the drunkenness of the customer, and not before that decision was given, he, the district inspector, served notices upon the justices requiring them to state a case to have this most important legal point determined. Eight of the eleven justices who heard the case did their duty and stated a case. I believe the hon. Member refused to do so. I entirely approve of the action of the district inspector as reported by him to me.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether, in the case of the creation of tenancies in farms for the purposes of sale to the son or other relative of the landlord, the agreement in the transaction sets forth the date of such tenancy; and, if not, will a direction be given that for the purpose of preventing such sales the date of the creation of the tenancy must be given.

The Estates Commissioners report that where the tenancy is described as a tenancy from year to year, it is their practice to ask for further particulars as to the date of its creation and for the production of the instrument, if any, creating it. These inquiries are made with particular care where the tenancy commenced subsequent to January 1st, 1901.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state how many times members of the Royal Irish Constabulary in C District, Belfast, were obliged to call in doctors other than those appointed for the purpose; had they to bear the expense of the treatment received; and, if so, will he direct inquiry to be made into the matter.

During the past three years, twenty-seven members of the force in this district called in, at their own expense, doctors other than the police medical attendant. The Inspector-General's attention has already been directed to this matter, and he is inquiring into it.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Guy's National School, Ballymena, was condemned by the National Board as overcrowded and unsanitary; that the residents opened the Waveney School to provide the necessary accommodation; that, notwithstanding the fact that about 100 pupils have been maintained for more than one year, the Board have refused repeated applications for a grant; and whether, in view of the fact that the Board has given a grant to Cloncore School, near Portadown, although there is a school under Protestant management in the same place capable of accommodating all the children in the locality, he will explain why the grant is made in the one case and refused in the other.

Guy's National School has not been condemned, but the Governors are about to build a new school to supersede it. The Board have refused to recognise the Waveney School upon the grounds that the children in attendance have been withdrawn from other schools in which sufficient accommodation already existed, and that the premises are both unsuitable and insanitary. The case of Cloncore School is not analogous. The Commissioners decide each case on its merits.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the average attendance at Strandtown National School, Belfast, during the year 1904; what number of pupils is accommodation provided for, allowing ten square feet for each pupil; when did the National Board's inspector first report on overcrowding in regard to this school; and how often has the Board directed the attention of the manager to the necessity of providing additional accommodation; and whether, in view of the terms on which a manager can borrow money from the Board of Public Works, he will refuse to continue a grant to this school if the manager refuses to provide suitable accommodation for the children attending.

The average attendance was 305, and the number for which accommodation exist is 224. The inspector first reported overcrowding in September, 1904, and the Commissioners directed the attention of the manager to the matter in October, 1904. The manager has since taken steps to reduce the number of pupils in attendance. The Commissioners will consider the question of continuing the grants when they have received the returns for the past quarter.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many evicted tenants in county Kerry have sent in claims for reinstatement to their farms, and how many have been reinstated since the passage of the Land Act of 1903.

410 applications have been received, and nineteen evicted tenants have been, or are in process of being, reinstated.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if Mr. Rothwell, petty sessions clerk of Ballinasloe, is to get any portion of the Mahon, Ballydonlon, Estate, purchased by the Estates Commissioners, in view of the fact that he does not live near the estate, and that he has more than one farm elsewhere.

I have already informed the hon. Member that this estate has been purchased by, and vested in, the tenants, of whom Mr. Rothwell is not one.

This is the fourth time this Question has appeared on the Paper. Cannot the right hon. Gentleman say if Mr. Rothwell is to have any of this land?

I can only give the answer I have received from the Commissioners.

Is he going to get any of the untenanted land on this estate?

How can I possibly say what is to become of the land after it has been vested in the tenants?

The Question specifically asks if Mr. Rothwell is going to get any of the land.

And it has been answered. The right hon. Gentleman says he is not in a position to say whether he will get any of the land.

Then he ought to be in a position to say.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received reports of an attack upon the residence of Mr. George Thompson, of Barnane House, Templemore, county Tipperary, on the night of February 21st last; and, if so, what steps have been taken to bring the offenders to justice; and whether, in view of the treatment accorded for three years past to Mr. George Thompson and his brother, with their families, at the instance of the United Irish League, because they refuse to yield possession of lands which have been held by the family for fifty-five years, he will take measures to afford protection to these people, so as to prevent any recurrence of the recent attack.

Has the hon. Gentleman never heard of stones being thrown in Armagh?

Two stones were thrown at the house of Mr. Thompson on the night mentioned, one of which entered the window of an unoccupied room. The case has been closely investigated by the police, but so far they have been unable to trace the offender. All necessary measures, I ran assured, have been taken by the responsible authorities to afford protection to the persons and properties of Mr. Thompson, his brother, and other members of their families.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the proportion of cases of neglect of duty or of malappropriation of property on the part of local officers has been greater in Ireland than in England and Scotland; and whether, in the case of members of local authorities charged with looking after the administration of the Poor Laws, there has been a greater remissness of duty on the part of Irish representatives than those of England or Scotland; and, if not, whether he will explain why Irish officers in the new Orders of the Local Government Board are treated as if they were not to be trusted; and why provisions are put in the new forms which were not inserted heretofore, and which are not in the account forms of officers in England or Scotland, dealing with paying orders and with stocktaking.

I am unable to answer the first and second inquiries. It does not appear to me that the integrity of Irish local officials is called in question, because the Accounts Orders provide for certain checks and safeguards which are essential to a proper system of financial administration. The original Accounts Orders were necessarily made before the Local Government Act came into operation, and the new Orders contain those amendments only which have been suggested by the experience gained since 1899.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Irish boards of guardians and District lunatic asylum committees have been put to the expense of engaging stocktakers to take stock of the provisions every half-year since the Local Government Act came into force; and, if so, will he explain why the guardians and members of the committee of management were not allowed, as in the grand jury days, to do this work; what is the amount of cost which this regulation of stocktaking has placed upon the ratepayers of Ireland per year; and whether, as the Local Government Board created the officers, they will recoup to the local authorities the amounts so expended.

It is required that persons other than those connected with the bodies named should be employed as stocktakers. The Local Government Board have no power to compel members of these bodies to perform the duty. No information is available as to the cost, but it is very trifling. It is not intended to recoup the local authorities concerned.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will inquire from the Vice-President of the Irish Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction how many English and how many Scotch people are employed in Ireland by that Department and what is the gross amount of salary paid to them as far as they are within the knowledge of the Vice-President or ascertainable by him; and whether he will communicate to the House the number of the English and Scotch people so employed and the gross amount of salary paid to them.

The reply to this Question is in the negative. I have already informed the hon. and learned Member that the Department have no record of the nationality of their staff.

Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman get the information from Sir Horace Plunkett, who must be in possession of the information, seeing that he made the appointments? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Department is becoming an asylum for English and Scotch importations? Will the right hon. Gentleman answer that?

The hon. Member is not entitled to comment on an Answer.

No, Sir I will not offend again.

I hope not.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire of Sir Horace Plunkett?

I decline to do so. If I were responsible for an English Department I should take exactly the same course.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a resolution of the Boyle Board of Guardians, passed at their meeting on the 25th instant, asking for a supplementary loan for the supply of seed potatoes; and whether, seeing that a number of small farmers in the Boyle Union who are in need of seed potatoes will be deprived of same and suffer hardship if they do not receive them, he will take steps to ensure the granting of the supplementary loan asked for immediately.

By public notice issued on December 12th last, February 15th was fixed as the latest date for receiving applications for loans, and this date was subsequently extended to March 11th. Ample notice was therefore given. It is not considered expedient, at so late a date, to entertain further applications.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Robert Owens, who held an evicted farm on the Somers Estate, near Tullamore, King's County, has stated in a communication sent to him that he has bought this farm from the Estates Commissioners and has already paid his first instalment; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of again bringing the matter before the Estates Commissioners.

The West meath portion only of this estate has been sold to the tenants, but no tenant named Robert Owens is amongst the number. No proceedings in respect of the King's County portion of the estate have come before the Commissioners.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the total amount of the proceeds of the sale of the Leinster Estate under the Purchase Act of 1903; when was the sale completed, and at what time did the Treasury pay over the cash to the trustees of the Leinster property; how much of this sum has been invested under the direction of or with the assent of the Public Trustee; and what are the securities in which the moneys have been invested, with the date of the investment.

Advances have been made, amounting to £674,526. The cash lodgments by tenants amounted to £5,235, making a total sum of £679,761. The sales were completed and the purchase moneys paid into the Bank of Ireland in April and May, 1904, and the funds were distributed in June and July. No portion of the purchase moneys was paid over to the Public Trustee, nor was any application made to him with regard to the investments which may have been made by the trustees of the estate.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, at the recent quarter sessions in Killarney, the County Court Judge was presented with white gloves in consequence of the crimelessness of the county; and if he proposes to take any steps to reduce the amount expended in connection with law officers and constabulary in consequence, so that the money saved may be used for other and more useful purposes.

It is true that white gloves were presented to the County Court Judge at Killarney Quarter Sessions, but this fact does not demonstrate the crimelessness of the county. In his address to the grand jury at the recent Spring Assizes, the learned Judge referred to an increase in the number of serious crimes attributable to the unsatisfactory condition of a portion of the county. Reductions in the strength of the constabulary force are made where the general circumstances permit such a step to be taken.

Did not the learned Judge say that if any disorder existed it was due to the action of the landlords?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the freight rate charged on goods from Listowel via Watterford to Liverpool is 30s. per ton, while from Newcastle West, twenty-four miles less land carriage by same route, it is 32s. 6d. per ton, and for butter in casks 30s. 0d. per ton; and, if so, will he say what is the reason for this difference.

Butter from Listowel to Liverpool via Waterford is conveyed at the exceptional rate of 30s. per ton, and the same rate is charged for the carriage of butter from Newcastle West to Liverpool. In the latter case the rate was reduced in October, 1902, from 32s. 6d. per ton.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the rate for the carriage of tea from London to Limerick is 34s. per ton, from London to Rathkeale, eighteen miles further than Limerick, it is 53s. 4d. per ton, and from London to Newcastle West, eight miles further than Rathkeale on same line, the rate is 46s. 7d. per ton; will he explain why is the difference between the rate to Limerick and Rathkeale 19s. 4d. or about 1s. per ton per mile, seeing that the rate to Newcastle West is 6s. 9d. less than to Rathkeale; and is he aware that the rate for tea from London to Rathkeale previous to the amalgamation of the Waterford and Limerick Railway with the Great Southern and Western was 44s. 10d. per ton, or 8s. 6d. per ton less; and whether he will take any steps to remedy the alleged grievance.

The Department are advised they have no authority under the Agriculture and Technical Instruction Act of 1899 to intervene in questions affecting rates on such articles as imported tea. They have no information on the third inquiry. The reply to the last inquiry is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the inspector who reported in connection with the reinstatement of evicted tenants on the White Estate, near Bantry, is a member of the firm of solicitors who had the carriage of sale of that estate.

I am informed by the Estates Commissioners that, so far as they are aware, the inspector who reported on this estate is not a member of the firm of solicitors referred to.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a member of this firm visited the estate and created animus against the evicted tenants. By what authority did he do that?

Order, order!

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what is the total amount which has been paid for tools and necessary implements in carrying out relief of distress works in the Bawnboy Union, county Cavan, to 31st March; and will he state from whom same were procured.

; A sum of £11 2s. 0d., paid to Mr. Richard Dowler, of Belturbet.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if any evicted tenants have applied to be reinstated in county Cavan; if so, how many; and whether any of these people have been restored to their homes.

One hundred and fifty-four applications have been received, and three of the applicants have been reinstated.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any, and, if so, what steps have been taken to carry out the recommendation of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland in their recent Report, to establish higher national schools in suitable centres in Ireland.

The recommendation of the Commissioners is under consideration.

When may we expect a decision?

It is impossible for me to say.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant for Ireland whether, seeing the necessity for better training of teachers of singing and science and the growing desire of the Irish people to have those subjects well taught to their children, steps will be taken to have the organisers in those subjects employed by the National Board retained in the service.

I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the popular taste for and need for instruction by the teachers in music, he will request the Commissioners to retain the services of the organiser of instruction in that subject.

The appointment of a permanent Inspector of Music has been approved. The term for which the temporary organisers in that subject were employed expired on 31st March, and it is not intended to renew their appointments. I have already explained that a head organiser and two assistants have been permanently retained for the training of teachers in elementary science.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Mr. Pedlow, national school inspector of the Omagh circuit, has given "good" to any school within his district in which Irish is taught.

Yes, Sir.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the claim repeatedly put forward by the standing committee of the Catholic Bishops of Ireland for free homes for the three training colleges at Belfast, Waterford, and Limerick, and the necessity for putting these colleges on the same footing as the other training colleges where the buildings have been paid for by the Government; and whether he can propose any settlement of this question.

Yes, Sir, my attention has been directed to the claims of the Catholic Bishops and to the declarations made by my predecessor in the matter. The question is engaging my consideration.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland when will the revised rules for the erection of national schools and teachers' residences in Ireland be issued.

I am unable to state the date of the issue of the rules referred to, but, as I have frequently informed hon. Members, every effort is being made to expedite a settlement of the question.

; Are we to be kept waiting for these four or five years?

Order, order!

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer why it is that the tenants on the Trant Foley Estate, Tralee, county Kerry, have been asked to pay arrears of income-tax due by the landlord during the past six years; and whether tenants who are unable to pay this landlord debt will have their goods seized.

As the arrears of income-tax on the Trant Foley Estate accrued partly whilst it was in the hands of a trustee and partly after it passed into the legal possession of the present owner, it was deemed advisable to recover the tax from the occupiers of the assessed properties as provided by the 17th Section of the Income-Tax Act of 1853. The tax so recovered can be deducted by the tenants from their next payment of rent. Twelve out of the fourteen tenants applied to have already paid the tax claimed from them. In no case has it been found necessary to recover by distress.

Will tenants unable to pay have their goods seized?

I understand we have only applied to fourteen. Twelve have already paid, one will do so in a short time, and only one has not answered.

Why not compel the landlord to pay?

I believe there are legal difficulties, but steps have been taken by which he will have to pay in the long run.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the policy holders of the Irish Provident Assurance Company, after seeing the reports published in the Press regarding that company, ceased paying their premiums; and that the policy holders of the town of Ballinasloe were paid a composition amounting to half the premiums paid by them; if so, will he say whether the balance-sheet of this company has been lodged with the Registrar of Friendly Societies or the responsible official of the Board of Trade; and, if so, what is his report upon it.

The Board of Trade are not aware of the circumstances referred to by the hon. Member. I have ascertained that this company is not registered in the Registry of Friendly Societies, Ireland, and no accounts have been lodged by the company with this Department. Some question has arisen as to the liability of the company to render returns under the Life Assurance Companies Acts, and the matter is under the consideration of the Irish Law Officers.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he has received the petition of the Galway Post Office staff bearing upon the treatment of the staff, the scale of wages, promotions, and appointments; and if he will state what action he proposes taking in the matter.

I am considering the petition, and will inform the staff of my decision in due course.

I beg to ask the postmaster-General whether, in view of the difficulty experienced in dealing with letters addressed in Irish, he will consider the advisability of offering some special inducements (similar to that offered for telegraph and technical qualifications) to sorters acquiring a knowledge of the Irish language; and whether he will exact as an essential qualification a knowledge of Irish from all applicants for postmasterships in Ireland.

I do not think it necessary to take any such steps as those suggested by the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General under what conditions season substitutes are employed in Irish post offices; and, considering the number of learners fully qualified for appointment in Ireland, will he give these youths preference for substitute duty, wherever the necessity arises, over those who have no claims whatever on the Department.

So far as circumstances allow the plan suggested by the hon. Member is already followed. The substitute duties are as a rule given to qualified learners.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the postmaster at Ballyhaunis has declined to cash a postal order for a gentleman named Francis Swift because the payee, who is an Irish speaker, and well known to the Post Office official there, affixed his signature to the order in Irish; whether the rules and regulations dealing with the cashing of postal orders specify in what language they should be receipted; and, if not, whether the postmaster referred to has exceeded his powers in refusing to pay the money.

A signature in Irish upon a postal order may be accepted if the postmaster is satisfied that it is the signature of the payee. In the case to which the hon. Member refers the postmaster was unable to read the signature upon the order, and the person who tendered it refused to give him either a written or a verbal translation. He was therefore justified in refusing payment under the regulations, which authorise a postmaster to refuse payment of a postal order until he is satisfied that it is signed by the payee

Is the noble Lord aware that Mr. Swift has been receiving a large number of letters addressed in Irish, and that they are regularly delivered to him?