laid upon the Table Report from one of the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in the case of the following Bill, originating in the Lords, and referred on the First Reading thereof, the Standing Orders not previously inquired into, and which are applicable thereto, have been complied with, viz.:—West Cumberland Electric Tramways (Extension of Time) Bill [Lords].

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, in the interests of the public service and with the object of securing the efficient transaction of business, he has decided that in future some one of the rank of officer will be in charge of branch offices in the London postal districts from the time of opening until they close, in view of the importance of the postal and telegraph business undertaken at these offices, and in order to relieve the rank and file from the responsibility now put upon them.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the police barracks in Mayo to which in 1899

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if he will state the number of alien immigrants who have come to the United Kingdom during the last ten years from Hamburg, Bremen, Libau, Rotterdam, Antwerp, and other ports.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Committee on Designs, appointed to advise the Board of Admiralty on questions connected with the designs of different types of fighting ships, has reported; whether action is being taken on the Report; and whether the Admiralty adheres to its determination to withhold from Parliament both the Report and the terms of reference.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether Messrs. Holloway are carrying out a Government building contract in connection with Admiralty extension works; whether, if so, he will ascertain if the firm in question are duly recognising the Fair Wages Clause in their contract, especially in connection with plumbers' wages, and are paying the rates of wages accepted as current in the district.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can say how many floating mines have been recovered from Chinese waters since his last statement to the House; and what, if any, measures are being taken to prevent neutral ships from coming within the zone of danger.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether any Reports have been asked for, or received from His Majesty's Representatives, on Navigable Inland Waterways in Austria, Hungary, Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, in continuation of the Reports presented to Parliament in 1903.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland when he will lay upon the Table the Report of the Vice-Regal Commission on the position of the Trinity College tenants under The Land Purchase (Ireland) Act, 1903.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement to Curragh Farm, Kildare, from Miss Elizabeth Colgan; if so, what action has been taken in the matter; have the Estates Commissioners acquired any untenanted land in Kildare; if so, how much; and whether, in the event of it being found impossible to restore Miss Colgan to Curragh Farm, she will be provided with an equivalent holding.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state how many applications for reinstatement have been received by the Estates Commissioners from evicted tenants in South Cork; how many have been reinstated by the landlords voluntarily and by the Estates Commissioners, respectively, since the passing of the Land Act of 1903; and what financial assistance have those tenants got to enable them to make a new start in life.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the inspector appointed by the Estates Commissioners to inquire into the cases of evicted tenants on the White Estate, near Bantry, made personal inquiry or through a member of the firm of solicitors who had the carriage of the sale of the estate.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a complaint made by Major Hickman, of Fenloe, Newmarket-on-Fergus, county Clare, that on March 15th and 18th he sent a box of butter on both dates to the President, Royal Artillery Canteen, Woolwich, and the boxes were sent from Limerick by goods train via Waterford, and were not delivered until March 22nd; and whether, seeing the injury that is done to butter so detained, he will communicate with the Irish Department on the subject.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if the Commissioners of Education in Ireland made any effort to ascertain the opinions of managers and others previous to making the new Rule 127 (b); how such effort was made by them; at how many meetings was the rule discussed; how many Commissioners were present at the discussion; on the motion of which Commissioner was the rule adopted; and whether it was adopted unanimously.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the County Wexford Committee of Agriculture and Technical Instruction passed a resolution inviting the Department of Agriculture to hold an inquiry regarding the restrictions placed on Dr. Gibbon's farm at Sleedagh with reference to the alleged existence of swine fever on it, and the consequent loss and trouble sustained by him although swine fever did not exist on his farm; and whether he will see that the inquiry called for will be held.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if the supply of the Duchess of Cornwall potato, to be utilised by the Irish Agricultural Department, was grown on their experimental farms; and, if not, what price has been paid for the seed, what quantity is required for the limited trials of this variety now intended to be carried out by the Department, and in what counties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to preserve the fauna in the British African Possessions, as suggested by the International Conference held in 1900.

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.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that candidates on the roll for the Royal Irish Constabulary are permitted to join the Irish Guards on a three years enlistment, of which two years will be reckoned towards their Constabulary pension in the event of their being subsequently enrolled in the Royal Irish Constabulary, and that men in civil departments of the Imperial Government, who are transferred to the Post Office, can reckon the whole of their service in such departments towards their Post Office pensions, he will explain why a concession of a like nature is not granted to soldiers and sailors who are admitted to established appointments in His Majesty's Civil Service who do not at present receive any superannuation for services performed in the Army or Navy.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to the operations of Bond Investment companies and the necessity, if any, which exists for Government supervision of their transactions.

To ask the Lord-Advocate whether he has any information showing how the steamer engaged by the Congested District Boards for the conveyance of fish from Ullapool, Ross-shire, and intervening ports to Kyle, has performed the work which is required by the Board; and will he state at what time the steamer leaves Ullapool and at what hour she is timed to return from Kyle.

To ask the Lord-Advocate if he will state the number of persons who were convicted as guilty of drunk and disorderly conduct in Scotland in each of the years ending 31st December, 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 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 drunkenness were ordered to give security for good behaviour: and how many persons obtained protection against husband or wife who was an habitual drunkard.

To ask the Lord-Advocate whether he proposes to introduce legislation to repeal Section 68 of the Poor Law (Scotland) Amendment Act, 1845, by which able-bodied persons out of employment are expressly debarred from claiming relief from the Poor Law authorities, and to making the law of Scotland conform to that of England in respect to the relief of the able-bodied unemployed.

To ask the Lord-Advocate whether his attention has been called to the action at law arising out of certain candidates for the Brechin Parish Council having issued a poll card on the eve of the election, which the learned sheriff who tried the case said had been proved to have prevented one or more electors from recording their vote; and whether he proposes to amend the

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that discontent prevails amongst the staff of the Registry of Deeds, Dublin, owing to the reductions effected by the Treasury in December, 1902, in the number and salaries of the higher posts; and whether, in view of this fact and of the amount of extra work thrown on the Department by the operation of the Irish Land Act of 1903, he will take steps to place the higher posts on the basis which they occupied prior to December, 1902, and to remunerate searchers according to the scale established by the Treasury in 1898.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury what is the date of the latest Report issued by the Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851; when will another Report be issued; if he can state the names of the Commissioners; and what is the amount of the annual income received by them.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the attention of the Local Government Board has been called to a motor-car accident on Saturday, 1st April, on the Holyhead Road, in the neighbourhood of Wolverhampton; whether the Board are aware that, on the afternoon of that day, the Automobile Club of Wolverhampton proceeded, after the manner of cyclist clubs, for a so-called motor-car run on the road in question, when, owing to the cars that took part in the run, and their proximity to each other, the dust occasioned was such that it was at times impossible to discern other objects in the road, the result being that one of the cars ran into a carrier's cart, killing the horse, and seriously injuring its occupants, the explanation of the motorist by whom the accident was occasioned, and an illustration of the denseness of the dust, being that not only was he, owing to that cause, unable to see the cart, but he was unaware he was on the wrong side of the road; and, if so, whether the Local Government Board will issue an Order requiring the discontinuance of the practice of such motor-car runs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the number of casualties, fatal or other, which occurred during the past year during the performance of acrobatic feats, feats of horsemanship, acrobatic bicycling, lion-taming, and other such exhibitions taking place in licensed places of entertainment in London.

To ask the Postmaster-General if he will state what is the strength of the male staffs in the telegraph departments at Belfast; how many hold appointments under the Tweedmouth Dual Scheme; and of the dual men how many have been withdrawn from rotating between the postal and telegraph departments and allotted to the latter.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the complaint of the parish council of Cockshutt, in Shropshire, that the postal facilities of Cockshutt and Croseman are worse than they were a few years ago; and whether he will take steps to improve the present facilities.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether the postal order for which payment had been refused by the postmaster of Ballyhaunis because the payee, Mr. F. Swift, affixed his signature in Irish, has yet been cashed; has any apology been offered to Mr. Swift for the inconvenience to which he has been put; and whether precautions will be taken that in future and under similar circumstances courtesy equal to that extended to foreign residents will be extended to Irish speakers.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the importance of wireless

† See page 146.

telegraphy on the coast of the United Kingdom in relation to national defence, any steps are being taken by the Admiralty to secure the control of all wireless telegraphic stations.

To ask the hon. Member for Chorley, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the premises occupied by the Solar Physics Committee at South Kensington are well adapted for their purpose; and whether the First Commissioner of Works could find at Richmond or at Kew a more suitable site for an observatory.

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will state how many non-provided elementary schools, at the passing of the Education Act, 1902, or within three months thereafter, possessed trust deeds containing provision as to the appointment of managers consistent with the provisions of the Act, and how many of such schools did not possess such trust deeds, and how many did not possess any trust deed at all; and, in the latter cases, whether he can lay upon the Table of the House the various forms of draft Orders, interim or final, issued by the Board to such last-mentioned categories of schools, stating the number of cases in which each form was respectively adopted; and whether with or without modifications.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what steps have the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland taken to carry out the arrangement entered into with the Commissioners of National Education for the purpose of training teachers in elementary science as mentioned in their circular (No. 27) to county councillors bearing date August, 1903.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many fishing boats were built for the Congested Districts Beard in 1904, and how many of them were built in Ireland; and how many boats are in order for the Board this year, and how many are to be built in Ireland.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland when the work at Poulduff Pier, in county Wexford, will be begun by the Department of Agriculture.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can give the number of fishermen resident in the congested districts.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state whether the purchase by the tenants of the O'Conor Estate, situate in Floughena, near Charlestown, county Mayo, has yet received the sanction of the Estates Commissioners; whether, if so, the terms of agreement contain provisions for the reinstatement of the family of the late Thomas Durkan, an evicted tenant; and, if not, will the Commissioners be instructed to make inquiries into this case, with a view of having this orphan family reinstated.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, seeing that a tenant farmer in Ireland whose rateable valuation is £7 would be entitled to a loan of £50 under the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881, and that several tenant farmers who have recently applied have been refused such, loans, he will say whether such refusals are the result of a Treasury Minute; and whether small holders, who offer personal security in addition to the security of their holdings, will in the future be granted loans for the improvements of their farms.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a resolution of the Mayo County Council protesting against the putting into practice of the Public Bodies Order, 1904, as involving unnecessary expense and labour; and whether, seeing that it would necessitate the adoption of a yearly rate book, instead of a triennial one as is in use at present, he will see that the Order is withdrawn.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland when the incumbrancers on the estate of W. L. Rae, Killorglin, Kerry, will be paid; and what rate of interest, and whether simple or compound, will be added to the principal.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say in what places in Ireland children's Courts have actually been established for the separate trial of juvenile offenders; and whether any such Courts are at work in Great Britain.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether there have been any negotiations between the Congested Districts Board and the trustees on the Captain Annesley Knox Estate, near Ballyhaunis, with reference to the purchase of the grazing ranche known as the Island Farm; if so, whether negotiations are still proceeding; and whether there is any prospect of the Congested Districts Board taking over the place with a view to the enlargement of the small holdings in the vicinity of this farm.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say whether the untenanted land, the property of the hon. Mrs. Ker, situate at Kilcoleman, Shanagolden, county Limerick, has been sold to the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, whether they intend to parcel it out amongst the evicted tenants, and enlarge the uneconomic holdings in the neighbourhood.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state to what extent British troops are armed with the revolver; and whether he proposes to consider the advisability of extending its use.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the resolution of the Wicklow County Council in reference to the roads leading to the military camp at Jinaal, and whether he has come to any conclusion on the matter.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can say when he will be able to lay before the House the proposals of the Government for diminishing the anomalies in the present arrangement of electoral areas, as promised in His Majesty's Speech from the Throne; and what will be the method of procedure he proposes to adopt, i.e., whether by Bill, or, in the first instance, by Resolution, with a scheme attached, or otherwise.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the tenders for the work in connection with the establishment of a Royal Naval Reserve station at Ullapool, Ross-shire, have yet been considered; and can he say when the work is likely to be commenced.

The Answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is in the negative. With regard to the latter part, as has already been explained in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Inverness, on February 28th,† the whole question of Royal Naval Reserve batteries is in process of reconsideration at the Admiralty, and no decision with regard to them has yet been arrived at.

† See (4) Debates, cxli., 1468.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many commissioned officers of the Regular Army, Militia, and Volunteers' respectively, have sent in their papers during the six months ending on the 28th of February, 1905; what were the corresponding numbers in the similar periods in the two previous years; how many resignations of the past six months have been sanctioned; how many have been refused; and how many are still awaiting sanction.

As regards the Regular Forces there are two classes of officers concerned,

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state the estimated actual strength of the Volunteer force under the new scheme, with a reduced establishment of 230,000 men.

In reply to this Question, any estimate could only be given very approximately. It is probable that with an establishment of 230,000 the corresponding strength will eventually be about 200,000.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether inability to distinguish colours is no longer to be a bar to the granting of commissions in His Majesty's Army.

Yes, Sir. In accordance with the recommendations of the medical authorities, it has been decided to return to the former practice under which colour blindness was not regarded as a disqualification for a commission in the Army.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what are the terms of reference to the War Office Committee presided over by Sir William Butler with respect to the South African stores contracts; and will the evidence given before such Committee in due course be laid before Parliament.

The terms of reference were as follows:—(1) To investigate and report on the terms of contract and other circumstances connected with sales and refunds to contractors in South Africa at the end of the war. (2) To make special inquiry into certain transactions. (3) To report upon the responsibility of those concerned. The Committee is a Departmental one and the evidence given before such a Committee is usually treated as confidential. I am not, therefore, at present in a position to state whether an exception to the usual rule can be made in this particular case.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how the consent of the Militia to be included in the short-service Army is to be ascertained.

This question does not immediately arise. I am not, therefore, prepared to give a precise reply to it, It is not anticipated that there will be any difficulty in ascertaining the views of individual officers or men. In the event of a change being made, those not desiring to accept the new terms of service will continue to serve under the existing engagements until their termination.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can say when the Argyll and Sutherland Battalion, at present stationed at Longmoor, will be removed to other quarters; and when he expects to be able to transfer them to Scotland.

This battalion will leave Longmoor for Chatham this autumn at the conclusion of the drill season. It is not possible to say when the battalion will be transferred to Scotland.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can state when the House may expect to have the Return as to the Small Arras Factories, called for by the right hon. Member for West Birmingham and the hon. Member for East Herts; and whether it will be contrary to Rule 80 of the Ordnance Factory Rules for the employees of the Government factories to discuss the Return in question.

The Return was in the hands of Members on the 5th instant. Rule 80 of the Ordnance Factory Rules only relates to the method of preferring complaints. If the employees of the Government factories have any complaints which arise out of the Return in question, it is open to them to prefer them in the usual manner in accordance with that rule.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, looking at the distress which exists at Sparkbrook consequent on the discharges of workmen, he will consider the possibility of giving such additional orders to the factory as may be necessary to prevent any increase of such distress.

The statement that was made in reply to a similar Question put on the 5th instant† concerning Enfield will also apply to Sparkbrook. Every effort will be made to prevent any increase of distress, but it is not possible to give work beyond the money available for payment of wages.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state from what port or ports, and on what date or dates, and on what ship or ships, the 1,350,816 tins of jam, referred to in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General, were shipped for the South African War; and if he will state whether each tin was deficient to the extent of four ounces in the pound respectively, or whether the four ounces merely represents an average deficiency per tin of the whole quantity.

† See page 451.

It is not possible to trace the particulars asked for. The average weight of jam contained in a nominal one pound tin is approximately fourteen ounces.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any, and if any what, quantity of tins of jam were shipped to South Africa during the war by Messrs. Jones Brothers, of Hobart, Tasmania, and by Messrs. Peacock Brothers, of the same place; and whether these firms or either of them supplied any and what proportion of the 1,350,816 tins referred to in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General as containing twelve ounces only, instead of one pound.

Jam from Australia was supplied by H. Jones & Co. and W. D. Peacock & Co., of Hobart, Tasmania. It is impossible to say whether any of the jam supplied by these firms formed part of the 1,350,816 tins referred to.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can state whether the authorities at Enfield Small Arms Factory will consider the advisability of employing men in overhauling machinery that has become defective in consequence of the pressure of work which took place during the South African War, with a view to preventing further discharges.

The suggestion which is contained in the hon. and gallant Member's Question has not been, and will not be, lost sight of. But the class of labour required for such repairs is in many cases not the same as that which may have to be dispensed with, and, as I have already explained, it is not possible to provide work in excess of the money available.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he can state the number of casualties caused by the recent earthquakes and landslides in India, and also what steps the Government proposes to take to relieve the suffering caused by these disasters.

I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for India what official information he has received up to date regarding the recent earthquake in India; and if he can state particulars regarding the loss of life and property, giving the names of those who have died or been seriously injured.

The names of those who, up to this morning, are reported by the Government of India to have been killed or injured have been communicated to the Press, but it is feared that the list is still incomplete. The mortality among natives is not yet known, but the following casualties among Ghurkha regiments at Dharmsala have been reported:— Killed, 140 (including women, children, and followers); injured 186; missing, 71. I have received the following particulars from the Government of India dated the 9th last:—"In Lahore, twenty-five natives killed and considerable damage done to private and public property. In Amritsar, Golden Temple damaged and some lives lost. At Tarn Taran, nine killed and seven severely injured. At Dalhousie, damage to property but no deaths. Palampur in Kangra District reported totally destroyed, and many hundred lives lost. Very serious damage also reported in Kangra and Jowala Mukhi and other villages in Kangra Valley. Every building, without exception, in Kangra and Bhawan in ruins, including Sessions House and Mission buildings. The Kangra Treasury has collapsed and treasure boxes lying under debris. Of police, only Deputy-Inspector of Police, one sergeant, and one constable uninjured, and three other constables alive, but injured. Of Tahsil Establishment, only office kanungo and two chaprassies, of whom one is uninjured, and alive. Total number estimated to be alive is 500. Many people still alive are imprisoned in ruined houses. Similar state of affairs in most other villages in neighbourhood. At Dharmsala all houses and buildings throughout the entire station, including cantonment and bazaars, have been totally destroyed with enormous loss of life. Relief party with doctors, medicine, food, and tents sent from Lahore on 5th April. A double company of 34th Pioneers also left Mian Mir on 7th April to render assistance at Dharmsala, Palampur, Kangra, and other places in Kangra Valley. Two more companies are being sent, and two or three Pioneer Companies are being sent from Umballa. Military authorities have been asked to hold other forces in readiness to send if necessary. An Assistant District Superintendent of police with 200 constables are being sent to protect property and to take place of constables killed. No further information at present." This morning the Viceroy telegraphs as follows:—"Latest information from Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab does not add to details already wired. It is clear that towns of Dharmsala, Kangra, and Palampur are virtually destroyed, that loss of life has been very great, and that full measure of catastrophe, owing to difficulty of communication, cannot be ascertained for some time. I have only desisted from proceeding at once to scene of disaster at urgent request of Lieutenant-Governor, who will go there himself." In reply to a question from me as to opening a relief list the Viceroy adds, "I am starting Indian subscription list for sufferers whose losses it will be impossible to meet from other sources, and in a day or two, when fuller information has reached me, I hope to be able to tell you whether we should also appeal to wider circle. I think that this may be necessary. Commissioner further reports that at Dharmsala, owing to splendid work of Ghurkhas and others, nearly all bodies have already been exhumed. Special party been despatched to visit all tea estates round Palampur and similar parties in other directions. Police report from Kulu shows some loss of life there, but no European casualties reported. In Kangra nearly all Government native clerks have perished."

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Chinese Ambassador has expressed adhesion to the Tibetan treaty; if not, whether any modifications have been suggested; and what portion of Tibet is now occupied by British troops.

I have as yet received no report from the Government of India on the negotiations which are proceeding with the Chinese Plenipotentiary on the subject of the adhesion of China to the Tibetan treaty. The only part of Tibet occupied by British troops is Chumbi, where two and a half companies of native infantry are stationed. The British trade agent at Gyangtse has an escort of fifty men.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that the number of monasteries and convents in the United Kingdom, apart from Ireland, has increased from fifty-two in 1850 to 990 in 1904; and, if so, whether he will reconsider the need for their inspection.

There are no official statistics, as I said in my reply to the hon. Member on March 13th.† I am not prepared to take any action with a view to the inspection of monasteries and convents generally.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet made any estimate of the probable cost to the Exchequer of the proposed Aliens Bill, and what the cost of administering it will be.

An estimate is in course of preparation, but it would be premature to make any statement on the subject at present. I will be ready to state the figures during the debate on the Aliens Bill.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the continued growth of musical piracy; and whether

† See (4) Debates, cxlii., 1203.

he is prepared to give facilities for the introduction of remedial legislation on the subject.

I do not see my way to introduce a Bill on Musical Copyright this year, and as to special facilities being given for a private Member's Bill—that is a question for the First Lord of the Treasury.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a leading firm have been obliged to give up publishing because they can get no protection under the present law?

I have seen a statement to that effect in the Press, but I must adhere to my Answer that I cannot attempt legislation myself, unless I can have substantial assurance that the Bill will be considered a non-contentious or agreed Bill.

If a private Member introduces a Bill will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with the Prime Minister to get facilities for it?

No, Sir. I could not promise my influence to place such a Bill before Government Bills of perhaps greater general importance.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can announce any modification in the Orders prohibiting the admission of dogs from abroad into the United Kingdom.

If my hon. friend would communicate with me as to the particular modifications which he would suggest should be made in our Orders, I should be glad to consider them. As he is doubtless aware, those Orders do not absolutely prohibit the landing of dogs brought from abroad, but they prescribe certain conditions designed to afford a full measure of security against the reintroduction of rabies into Great Britain.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the decision of the Appeal Court, in the case of the Wokingham Magistrates v. the Earl of Craven, in which it was decided that the owner of a motor-car is not compelled to disclose the name of the driver of the car in cases of furious driving; and if he will take steps to prevent the abuse of the roads by those who have no consideration for the public; and, also, if he is aware that Lord Craven was himself driving the car at the time of the offence.

I have seen the report in The Times of the hearing of this case in the Divisional Court, but I have no other information on the subject, and I do not know who was driving the motor-car on the occasion referred to in the Question. From the report in The Times, I do not gather that the decision was to the effect stated by my hon. friend. The conviction appears to have been quashed on the ground of its uncertainty, in that it did not sufficiently allege that an offence had been committed by the driver. It might, as I understand, have been upheld if the reference in it to the rule in the regulations had been omitted, and it had been alleged that the driver had offended against Sub-section (1) of Section 1 of the Act. The case does not seem to me to show that the existing law is in itself defective.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General what reason he can urge for reducing the maximum of the scale of sorting clerks and telegraphists in certain towns from 50s. to 48s. per week under his new scheme, in view of the discontent existing in the service and in view of the evidence given before the Bradford Committee.

After careful consideration I came to the conclusion that the retention of the class rising to 50s. a week is no longer necessary, the scale rising to 48s. being adequate for most of the offices in that class. I am considering whether the circum stances are such as to warrant some of the offices being transferred to the higher class, with a maximum of 52s. Officers at present on the scale rising to 50s., will, of course, retain the right to that maximum.

Has the noble Lord ever heard of such a thing as the Bradford Report?

Yes, Sir.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that letters and newspapers ported in Dingwall on Wednesday night, or early on Thursday morning, are not despatched to Glasgow or Edinburgh by the first train leaving for the South at 7.30 a.m., but are kept until the 9.40 a.m. train, with the result that they are frequently not delivered until Friday morning; and will he consider the expediency of arranging for a despatch from Dingwall by the earlier or both trains.

Inquiry is being made on the question of instituting a despatch of mails from Dingwall to Glasgow and Edinburgh by the 7.30a.m. train, and I will communicate the result to the hon. Member when the inquiry is completed.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if any concession on the question of copyright has been notified by the Government of the United States of America.

; The Answer is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the public danger caused by the laying down of exposed rails charged with high electric currents without due safeguards; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to prevent the danger of loss of life.

Yes; Sir, the Board of Trade are fully alive to the dangers which may arise from this method of traction unless it is adequately safeguarded. As stated in a reply to a Question put by the hon. Member for the Cleveland Division of Yorkshire on the 7th ultimo,† recommendations as to the steps to be taken to prevent accidents from contact with such rails have been made from time to time to railway companies and have been adopted by them, and the matter is one that receives unremitting consideration from the inspecting officers of the Department in the course of their duties.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the fact that 4,326 boy sailors wore enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve under the scheme of 1898, which expired on March 31st, and to the probability that under the simpler scheme of a capitation grant for each boy carried, as recently proposed by the Admiralty and Board of Trade, the number of such enrolments would be greatly increased, he will say in what way effect is now to be given to the policy of encouraging the training of British boys for the mercantile marine and as a Reserve for the Royal Navy.

I am not in a position to promise that the scheme will be revived in any form, but I fully sympathise with the objects for which it was framed, and I will take an opportunity of discussing the subject generally with my hon. friend the Secretary to the Admiralty.

I bag to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is now 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

† See (4) Debate, cxlii., 573.

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 application on behalf of Miss Eames, and my knowledge of the case is confined to a newspaper cutting kindly sent to me by the hon. Member. I see no reason for an alteration of the rule in question; it was laid down by the Board after careful consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether the Board recognise lessons in swimming, given under proper conditions, as part of the minimum time constituting a school attendance for the purpose of Parliamentary grant.

The Board recognise lessons in swimming, under proper conditions, as part of the minimum time constituting a school attendance for

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will grant the Return relating to Education, notice of which stands on to-day's Paper.

I have communicated with the other departments concerned and I find that in the case of some of the heads of the Return asked for no information can be given, and in the case of others the only figures available would be of a misleading kind; but in any case the system of education and the methods of awarding Parliamentary grants differ so widely in the different parts of the United Kingdom that any comparative tables would only produce erroneous conclusions. Under the circumstances I am afraid that the Return cannot be granted.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give the amounts actually voted by Parliament for the three grades of education?

I have nothing to add to my Answer.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for Chorley, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if the new road leading from the front of Buckingham Palace to Piccadilly is to be used for vehicular traffic.

The Answer is in the negative.

I hope the noble Lord will adhere to that decision.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for Chorley, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether there is within the precincts of the House any medicine chest for use in the case of accident or sudden illness; if so, where is it kept; who is responsible for its custody and the replenishment of the stores; and when these stores were last inspected.

This is not a matter in which the First Commissioner has any jurisdiction. It appears to be one for the authorities of the House.

But is there not a medicine chest somewhere in the House?

Yes, one is kept in the department of the police.

Who has charge of it?

The key is kept by the constable on duty in the room, and he has instructions to allow nobody to open the chest except a duly authorised medical man.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate whether, with a view to the purchase of an additional Fishery Board cruiser for the protection of the interests of the line fishermen, the Secretary for Scotland is saving moneys out of funds placed at his disposal for fishery purposes; and, if so, will he state what amount has accumulated.

Money is being saved which may be available for the purpose of the purchase of another cruiser. The amount so accumulated at present stands at over £7,000.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury by what methods it is intended to ascertain the place of education of each salaried official in the various Government Departments in Ireland; if it is open to every such official to decline to furnish such information as being solely personal to himself; and, if not, to what penalty will he be liable in the event of his refusal.

Perhaps I may be permitted to reply to this Question. In all cases where this information has not already been furnished to the Department on the occasion of the appointment, promotion, or transfer of an official, the only method which the Government could be expected to resort to, to obtain it, would be to ask the official to supply it. I am advised that the Government have no legal right to make such a demand, and that if they made it the official applied to would have every right to decline to accede to the demand. It was in consequence of these reasons that I declined to assent to the Return in the first instance.

May I ask whether, as the House of Commons has ordered this Return, the Government will take steps to have the order enforced?

I can only say I have taken the legal advice at my disposal, and the Answer I have given is the result of that advice. I have no power to obtain the information, nor has the head of the Department.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say for what reason he withdrew his objection to the Return?

I never did withdraw my objection to the Return. The Motion came on unexpectedly at five minutes to twelve o'clock, when neither I nor the law officers were in the House. In consequence, the Return was ordered by the House. A Motion had been put on the Paper by the Secretary to the Treasury for the rejection of the Return, but it did not seem possible to secure an opportunity for the debate. Therefore, I undertook that, so far as I was able to do so, the information should be provided.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any reason to suppose that these officials are ashamed to give this information?

I have not the slightest reason to suppose anything of the kind. I assume they are entitled to their rights and privileges as much as anybody else.

May I ask the Chief Secretary whether any officer refusing to supply this information will do so at his own risk?

Notice must given of any further Question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland is he aware that in connection with the sale of the Lamphier Estate, at Forlacummin Slievar-dagh, county Tipperary, the evicted tenants, Messrs. Feehan and M'Cormac, in making application for their reinstatement acted in good faith, as they had never assigned their interests in their farms to any person, and that the fact of giving the supposed expenses of the sheriff in the contemplated eviction has been utilised by the owner as a reason for giving over the tenancies to another man for the sum of £230; and will he see that the Estates Commissioners take steps to reinstate these evicted tenants.

I beg to refer the hon. Member to my reply of 23rd March†. These persons are not evicted

† See (4) Debates, cxliii., 969.

tenants, and have no claim to reinstatement.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland can he now state whether the purchase arrangements of the Phibbs Estate of Heathfield, situate near Cullooney, county Sligo, have yet been sanctioned by the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, will he say whether these arrangements include the enlargement of uneconomic holdings by the addition of a portion of the waste land on the estate from which the tenants or their predecessors were evicted.

No, Sir. Until the inspector's final report has been received, the informal ion desired in the second part of the Question cannot be given.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland is he aware that the extra police were withdrawn from Barnane, near Templemore, county Tipperary, in face of the allegation that about six weeks ago a window was smashed in daylight in the house of George Thompson, for whose protection those extra constabulary-men had been brought there; is he aware that George Thompson goes in day after day to Templemore doing his business unaccompanied by police; and under the circumstances will he direct that an open investigation be held in regard to the breaking of Mr. Thompson's window.

The extra police were withdrawn in August, 1903, and will be returned to the district should the local responsible authorities consider such a step necessary. The police are pursuing their inquiries, and the reply to the concluding inquiry is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether representations have been made to the Congested Districts Board by all the representative persons in the district where the Cragg and Adcrone farms purchased by the Board are situated, to the effect that it will lead to discontent and trouble if any attempt is made to import new tenants into these farms while the evicted tenants are on the spot and desirous of being reinstated; and if he can make any arrangement by which the Board can give back these farms to Mrs. Esther Cronin and Mr. John M. Lyne, the persons evicted from them.

I am not aware whether such representations have been received, but, in any event, they would not affect the decision which has been arrived at. The Board purchased these farms for the purpose of migration; and it would be against public policy to reinstate the ex-tenants, who are defaulting annuitants.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the intention of the Estates Commissioners to take any steps in reference to the reinstatement of evicted tenants in county Kerry until such time as the entire estates from which they were evicted come before them for sale; whether he is aware that such procedure will entail in many cases years of delay to the evicted tenants; and whether, under these circumstances, he will give directions to the Estates Commissioners to open negotiations with the landlords and others for the reinstatement of evicted tenants, and report the result of such negotiations in due course.

Under Section 2 of the Act of 1903, the restoration of evicted tenants is ancillary to the sale of an estate and an incident in its disposal. The practice regulating the reinstatement of such tenants was explained in the recent debates on the subject; and in the regulations which it is intended to lay on the Table the matter will be further dealt with.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the estate of Mr. Theodore Augustin Hughes, situate in the Queen's County, has been sold to the tenants under the provisions of the Land Act of 1903; that there were upon the estate two sub-tenants named Mary Whelan and Johanna Higgins who had the status of judicial tenants and had had judicial rents fixed, who claimed to be entitled to purchase their farms under the 15th Section of the Land Purchase Act of 1903; and that the result of the negotiations upon the question was that the estate was sold, leaving these two judicial subtenants still in the occupation of tenancies on the estate; and, if so, will he say what power, if any, the Estates Commissioners enjoyed to sell the tenancies held by these sub-tenants to another tenant on the estate, and vest the same in such other tenant, as that is what, in effect, has been done or sanctioned by the Estates Commissioners.

The persons named are sub-tenants on the holding of Thomas Warpole. By direction of the Commissioners, the vendor offered to sell to these sub-tenants the land occupied by them. The offers were refused, and the entire holding has been vested in Walpole.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the revised estimates and plans for new school houses in Ireland are yet in the hands of the Commissioners of National Education; and, if so, when will the approved plans be carried into practical operation.

I regret that I have nothing to add at present to the various replies I have already given to Questions on this subject.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any negotiations for the purchase of the estate of Major Mahony, near Caragh, county Kerry, have been instituted by the Congested Districts Board or the Estates Commissioners; and can he state whether the application of Daniel Clifford, an evicted tenant on the estate, has been considered.

The Board are considering the question of making an offer for this estate. The Commissioners have received an application from Mr. Clifford, which they will consider if the estate should come before them.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any negotiations are taking place between the Estates Commissioners and the Rev. R. Barmingham as to the estate of the latter in Roscommon; if so, how far these negotiations have proceeded; and whether, in view of the fact that there is a quantity of untenanted land on the estate, the proceedings for its acquisition will be expedited as much as possible.

The Commissioners understand that an originating request for the sale of this estate is about to be lodged with them.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any negotiations are in progress between the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board and the owner of the French Estate, Clooneyquin, in the county Roscommon; if so, how the matter now stands; and whether, as this estate contains a quantity of untenanted land and adjoins a number of uneconomic holdings, the purchase proceedings will be pushed forward without delay.

The Congested Districts Board are negotiating for the purchase of this estate.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state what reply did the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland give on December 8th, 1903, to the application of the manager of the Kilmeedy, county Limerick, Schools, for a grant-in-aid to build new schools there.

There is no record of a reply dated December 8th, 1803. I have sent to the hon. Member a copy of the Commissioners' reply of the 9th of that month.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary has directed the members of the force not to prosecute cases of persons who have inscribed their names in the Gaelic language on their business vehicles; and, if so, what are the reasons for giving certain persons exemption from compliance with the law.

My hon. friend has not been correctly informed. No exemption has been granted, but the Inspector-General has directed that cases of the kind shall be reported to headquarters for instructions before instituting a prosecution. I understand that a case is pending for the opinion of the Superior Courts as to the legality of the practice.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland have yet been able to ascertain what will be the probable effects of Rule 127 (b) if an attempt is made to enforce it.

As I have already stated, I intend to investigate this matter during the Easter recess, and would therefore ask the hon. Member to defer the Question for the present.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Admiral Poe has offered to sell the evicted farm of the late Kyran M'Donnell, situated at Gurteenrainee, barony of Slievardagh, county Tipperary, to the present occupier, through the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, will he state under what tenure the party in possession at present holds the farm; how the tenancy was created after Mr. M'Donnell's eviction; and whether the son of the evicted tenant, Philip M'Donnell, has lodged his claim for reinstatement with the Estates Commissioners.

Philip M'Donnell's application has been received by the Commissioners, but the estate has not come before them, and they have no information as to the tenancy of the evicted holding.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that upon the hearing of two claims by farmers for compensation for malicious destruction of hay, at Limerick Quarter Sessions last week, Head Constable Doherty expressed the opinion that the hay was burned on behalf of the applicant, whereas County Court Judge Adams rejected that opinion, which he said was unsupported by any tittle of evidence and awarded the claimant compensation; and whether, with the view of preserving the independence of the Constabulary, he will direct a full inquiry to be made into the circumstances under which the police officer made these unfounded allegations.

The Head Constable only expressed the opinion complained of after he had been pressed to do so by the Judge. The police are instructed, when giving evidence in such cases, to claim privilege if their answer would interfere with the administration of justice. I am advised that the Head Constable would have been justified in claiming privilege in this case and declining to make a grave criminal charge on suspicion. I am making further inquiry into the matter.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will lay upon the Table the instructions issued by the Estates Commissioners for the guidance of their inspectors, dated February, 1904.

No, Sir, I do not propose to lay these instructions, which were informal, on the Table.

Then are we not to be allowed to see these instructions at all?

asked whether it was not the intention that all these regulations should be brought under the cognisance of the House.

said he had no desire to do other than carry out the pledges of his predecessor.

I shall certainly press for the publication of these regulations.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the comparatively small cost of sending a supplementary mail bag from Belfast via Greenore to London and the expressed desire of the railway companies to give facilities for such a service, he will make further inquiries into the matter with the view of complying with this demand.

As I have already informed the hon. Member, I am endeavouring to arrange for an improvement of the present mail service from Belfast to England by way of Larne, and I do not consider it worth while to take up the question of using the Greenore route unless an acceleration of the Larne service proves to be impracticable.