I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he will consider the desirability of including Margravine Road in the postal district of Fulham, rather than in Hammersmith, in which it is at present. (Answered by Mr Sydney Buxton.) Margravine Road is nearer to the Hammersmith than to the Fulham Office, and it would not be possible to transfer it from the postal delivery of Hammersmith to that of Fulham without transferring a considerable number of other streets also, and thus dislocating the arrangements in both districts. Moreover, the Fulham district is already a very large one, and I do not think it desirable to increase it.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been directed to the inequalities in the postage rates of periodical literature in the United Kingdom; and whether he proposes to grant the cheaper postal transport of magazines so often requested in the public interest. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton). I have carefully considered the matter to which the hon. Member refers. The preferential rate of postage enjoyed by newspapers was specifically granted to them under The Post Office Act, 1870, and is restricted by the Act to publications which, inter alia, are issued at intervals of not more than seven days, and consist wholly, or in great part, of current news or of articles relating thereto. In view of the loss of revenue which would be involved, I am sorry that I am not in a position to introduce a reduced rate of postage for periodical publications.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he has yet been able to consider the imperial and commercial advantages that would result from cheaper postage rates for periodicals and magazines to British Colonies; and, if so, what action does he propose to take in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton). The matter is receiving my careful consideration; but I fear that I cannot hold out any hope of a general reduction of the rate of postage applicable to periodicals and magazines sent from this country to British Colonies.

To ask the Postmaster-General upon what principle the official charges for the telephone service in the suburbs of London are based; and why the Department are making a fixed charge of £15 per annum or thereabouts, plus message rate, for the use of a telephone in part of the northern postal district, and within six miles of Charing Cross; and whether there is any prospect of this charge being reduced, with a view to popularise the service. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton). The ordinary message rate subscription for a line to any exchange in the London telephone area outside the county of London is £4 a year, with a foe of 1d. for each call on the same exchange and 2d. for a call to another exchange. The unlimited service subscription covering communication with all exchanges throughout the London area is £17 a year. I am not aware of the circumstances of the particular case referred to by the hon. Member. If he will be good enough to furnish me with particulars of the case I shall be happy to make inquiry.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction exists among subscribers to the Post Office telephones in connection with the working of the Central Exchange of the Post Office telephone system; and whether he will institute an inquiry for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of such complaints, and take steps to remedy any matter appearing to call for alteration or amendment. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The lines of the subscribers to the Central Exchange, some 12,000 in number, were transferred to a new switchboard on Saturday the 17th ultimo, in order to allow of some necessary alterations in the Central Exchange switchboard. The transfer temporarily affected the working of some of the subscribers' lines; but the faults were remedied in the course of last week, and the Exchange is now working under normal conditions. The change was of great magnitude, and, though I regret that any inconvenience should have been caused, I consider that great credit is duo to the engineers and to the Exchange staff for carrying out a very difficult operation with so little disturbance to the service. I am unaware of any dissatisfaction among the subscribers of the Exchange, so far as its ordinary working is concerned.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the subject of the arterial drainage of Ireland have held any sittings to take evidence; when may a report be expected from the Commission, and is it the intention of the Government to legislate on the subject-matter of the inquiry at an early date? (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) During the past two months the Commissioners have held a number of sittings, but a great many witnesses have yet to be examined. The report of the Commission is expected towards the close of the present year. The question of legislation cannot be considered until the report is received.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether steps have been taken to give effect to the recommendations of the Commission appointed to inquire into and report upon the means by which the purchase by the occupying tenants of their holdings on the estates of which Trinity College, Dublin, is the head landlord; and, if any such, will he state what they are. (Answered by Mr. Bryce). I beg to refer to the reply which I gave on the 21st February to the similar Question of the hon. Member for Mid-Armagh.†

†See (4) Debates, clii., 348.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that since an alleged attack was made on Mr. Harry Persse's house, Millmount, Loughrea, some time last year, a large extra force of police have been quartered in Woodville and Kilchreest, he will say whether any portion of the cost is chargeable to the district; and whether, in view of the peaceful state of the district, he will take steps to have the force lowered to its normal level. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The extra police stationed a Woodville and Kilchreest are considered by the police authorities to be necessary to the peace of the district. No charge in respect of extra police is at present made upon any local authorities in county Galway, seeing that the force employed in that country does not exceed the established strength of the county force.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenent of Ireland whether it was reported to the police, in December last, that a party of armed men had visited the house of John Madden, of Cawnmore, Athenry, and fired several shots through the doors and windows; whether the reason assigned for the action was that Madden had paid his rent against the wishes of other tenants; and whether any attempt was made to trace these persons, and with what success. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed by the police authorities that, on the evening of the 15th November last, several shots, apparently from a revolver, were fired outside the house of John Madden. None of the shots struck or entered the house. The police are unable to say whether more than one person was concerned in the offence, as no one was seen by the inmates. There is no evidence enabling me to assign a motive for the offence. The police have made every effort to trace the offender or offenders, but so far without success.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the Cahirciveen District Council and Board of Guardians on 26th July, 1905, pledging itself in future to give no position within its gift to any but Nationalists who are members of the United Irish League and Gaelic League; whether he has any information as to the number of other Irish bodies who have passed similar resolutions; and whether the Local Government Board will restrain district councils and boards of guardians from taking a course which necessarily imposes disabilities upon a large section of the Irish people for political reasons. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) Notice of motion to the effect stated appeared on the minutes of the Cahirciveen District Council of 12th July last, but there is no subsequent entry to show that the matter was further dealt with. Without an exhaustive search through the minutes of all the local authorities in Ireland, the Local Government Board are unable to say what similar resolutions have been passed. A general resolution of this nature would not, in the opinion of the Local Government Board, be binding on any future meeting of the board of guardians or rural district council. The Board have no authority to interfere with the rural district councils in these matters; but if boards of guardians were, in advertising vacant posts, to add restrictive conditions of the kind referred to, the Local Government Board would have power to remonstrate, on the ground that the field of selection ought not to be narrowed by excluding candidates qualified by character and capacity.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that in December last the Swinford Board of Guardians, in choosing a medical officer of Kiltimagh dispensary district, rejected a fully-qualified candidate solely upon the ground that he had been educated in Queen's College, Galway; whether his attention has been called to the pastoral letter issued by the Roman Catholic bishops in 1900, in which they urged boards of guardians and other representative bodies needing medical officers to elect only those who have been educated at the Roman Catholic School of Medicine in Dublin; and whether the Local Government Board will make representations with a view of preventing such preference being given in the selection of medical officers in Ireland. (Answered by Mr. Bryce). The minutes of the proceedings of the board of guardians on the 28th November last show that the guardians rejected a candidate upon the ground stated in the Question. I have not seen the pastoral letter referred to; but, in any event, the matter is not one in which the Local Government Board can intervene, having regard to the fact that the selection of a medical officer rests with the guardians, and that the functions of the Local Government Board are limited to seeing that the person seleced is duly qualified.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at a meeting of the East Galway executive of the United Irish League, held at Ballinasloe on 10th September last, a resolution was passed declaring that the tenant farmers of Galway would not allow any hunt to pass over their lands which is accompanied by any special juror who assisted the Government in imprisoning their friends; whether he is aware that this is part of an organised system of intimidation directed against special jurors who are true to their oath to return a true verdict according to the evidence; and what measures he proposes to adopt to secure the efficient and impartial administration of justice. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed that the meeting referred to was a private meeting held within doors. The police authorities have no evidence of what took place at it; but a resolution to the effect stated was reported in the Press as having been passed at the meeting, which, as the date indicates, took place long before I came into office. The police have no evidence that the resolution has been acted upon, nor is any evidence before mo showing that there is an organised system of intimidation against the special jurors in question, or that the impartial administration of justice is now suffering.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that four men who were committed for trial on a charge of being concerned in an outrage near Ardrahan, county Galway, when Mr. and Mrs. F. Shawe-Taylor were fired upon by a gang of men and narrowly escaped with their lives, were loudly cheered by the people when they were taken away by the police; and whether the place in which this occurred is one of the districts where the operation of the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, 1887, has been recently suspended. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) My attention had not been called to this incident of the cheering, which occurred on December 11th last, before I took office. I am now, however, informed that some people who were at Ardrahan fair cheered on the occasion mentioned. The Answer to the latter inquiry is in the affirmative. The men are awaiting trial.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland can he state approximately the number of future tenants now in Ireland, the aggregate amount of rents paid by them annually, and the amount by which that aggregate would by this time have been reduced according to the average reduction for the whole of Ireland had those tenants been allowed to enter the Land Courts; and, having regard to the purposes of the Land Act of 1881, and to the fact that many of those future tenants have been in continuous occupation for more than a quarter of a century, whether His Majesty's Government will open the Land Courts to the future tenants. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Land Commission inform me that they have no information from which they can state, even approximately, the number of future tenants now in Ireland or the aggregate rents payable by them. The only cases in which they have information are cases in which application is made to them by present tenants to fix fair rents, or in which the parties enter into agreements, fixing such rents, either under Section 8 of the Act of 1881, or under Section 17 of the Act of 1896. Under the latter Act future tenants may have fair rents fixed. I cannot at present make any statement as to possible legislation on the subject.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will make inquiry as to the claims made by the Waterford County Council and the Waterford Agricultural Society in 1905, to be recouped the expenses and losses incurred by these bodies in consequence of the introduction of the disease called epizootic lymphangitis into the county and city of Waterford, by Army horses brought from South Africa, and sent by the War Office authorities to the Waterford military barracks. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I will make inquiry into this matter, but do not expect to be in a position to make a statement on the subject for some little time.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants on the O'Hara Trench property in county Galway met the landlord and agent in May of last year at the rent office to discuss terms of sale and purchase; that both parties agreed to a sale of tenants' holdings at twenty-three years purchase of second-term rents or their equivalent; that the sale fell through owing to the fact that Mr. Trench insisted on retaining the game rights and refused to negotiate further on the matter of sale, and withdrew his offer; and that Mr. Trench has, since the negotiations were broken off, sold seven of the tenanted and occupied holdings to Lord Ashtown without communicating with these seven tenants or giving them a chance of availing of the Purchase Act, 1903; can he say what price Lord Ashtown paid for these holdings; whether it was above or below the tenants' offer, twenty-three years purchase of second-term rents, plus the bonus; and, if so, how much; whether Lord Ashtown has yet paid the purchase-money; and, in the event of a sale of either the O'Hara-Trench or Ashtown properties in the future, the Estates Commissioners will make full inquiry into all the facts of the case. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have received a petition from the tenants on the estate referred to. The petition practically sets out the statements made in the Question, and requests that the Commissioners will intervene on the tenants' behalf. The estate has not come before the Commissioners, but they will consider whether now or hereafter they can usefully take any action in the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at their last meeting the Longford County Council unanimously adopted a resolution asking the Government to give the county council, who pay for and maintain these buildings, the control and custody of the court-houses of their county; and whether, in view of the fact that these buildings in England and Scotland are the property of and in control of the people who pay for them, the like rule will be extended for Irish court houses. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) It is the fact that such a resolution was passed by the Longford County Council. I am not, however, prepared to make a statement as to the change suggested, as the matter would require to be carefully considered, and the object desired would require legislation.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of Mary Moran, an evicted tenant on the Jessop (Doory) Estate, whose farm is now in possession of a man named George Burnett, who holds it pending sanction of the purchase to him on the eleven months system; and whether, before this sale to Burnett is sanctioned, an inquiry will be made with a view to the restoration of the evicted tenant. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) In April, 1904, the Estates Commissioners received Mrs. Moran's application for re-instatement, in which she stated that she was evicted in 1868. Her ease, therefore, does not come within the provisions of Section 2 of the Act of 1903, and she was so informed. The sale of the Jessop Estate was completed in May, 1905, but the Commissioners have no record that Mrs. Moran's former holding was sold.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that whilst the capitation cost in Mullingar Asylum has gone up to 11s. per head the Government grant of 4s. remains the same; and whether, having regard to the increase of lunacy in Ireland and the decrease of population, coupled with an increase of taxation, the Government will consider the advisability of increasing the Irish capitation grant per head for asylum patients from 4s. to 7s. 6d. per head. (Answered by Mr. Bryce). The net capitation cost in respect of maintenance in Mullingar Asylum amounts to 9s. 9d. per week; but, inclusive of repayments for loans in respect of buildings it is 12s. 8d. per week. The Government grant of 4s. per week is fixed by statute, and I am unable to hold out any hope of legislation to increase the amount. I am informed that the capitation cost in this asylum has not yet recently increased, as implied in the Question, but is now considerably less than it was a few years ago.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the sale of the Jessop, county Longford, estate has yet boon sanctioned; whether he is aware that James Rhatigan, of Clonard, Ballymahon, the son of the evicted tenant, has lodged an application with the Estates Commissioners for the restoration to him of his ancestral holding in the townland of Doory, now held by Ambrose Frayne on the eleven months system; and whether the Commissioners, before sanctioning any advance to Frayne, will consider the right of Rhatigan to be restored to this holding. (Answered by Mr. Bryce). The sale of this estate was completed in May, 1905. The Estates Commissioners have received an application from James Rhatigan, who states that he was evicted from his holding in 1858. His case, therefore, does not come within the provisions of the Act of 1903. The Commissioners have no knowledge of any letting to Ambrose Frayne on the eleven months system; but Mr. Frayne was the purchaser of a holding on the estate, and the advance to him was sanctioned in 1905.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the case of Edward Carroll, Lacken, Queen's County against Constable Masterson and Cry an, Royal Irish Constabulary, late of Mountmellick, for an assault committed at Somergrove, Mountmellick, on March 17th last, heard in the superior courts, a Dublin jury awarded the plantiff £100 damages have been paid, and whether Constable Cryan is still in the force, and, if so, where stationed, and whether there is any account of the whereabouts of Constable Masterson. (Answered by Mr. Bryce). The facts are as stated. The Inspector General informs me that the damages have not yet been paid. Constable Cryan, who is still in the force, is stationed at Oylgate, county Wexford. This constable wrote to the plaintiff's solicitor offering to pay £50 by instalments, but the offer was refused, and nothing further has been done. No account of the whereabouts of Constable Masterson, who is no longer in the force, has been received.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the grazing farm of Armagheur, comprising a portion of the Miss Nicholson estate, situate at Castlebawldin, near River-town, in the county of Sligo, and at present in the Equity Court, has recently been sold to a man named James Murrin; and will he say whether the Estates Commissioners will consider the advisability of having this ranch utilized for the enlargement of the small uneconomic holdings surrounding him. (Answered by Mr. Bryce). The Estates Commissioners inform me that they are not aware of the matters referred to in the Question. No application or request in respect of the estate of Miss Nicholson has been made to them, and no proceedings in respect of the sale of this estate are pending before them.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that Sir Horace Plunkett has joined a movement started with the object of making a presentation to Mr. Percy Bernard, who retired from h s candidature in South Dublin in order that the late Chief Secretary for Ireland should be returned for that constituency; and will he say if the action of Sir Horace Plunkett in joining a political movement is consistent with the terms on which he holds his present appointment. (Answered by Mr. Bryce). Sir Horace Plunkett informs me that his action in the matter referred to in the Question was limited to subscribing to a presentation to Mr. Bernard, who had been a personal friend of his for over thirty years. He did not himself attach any political significance to his action, nor did it occur to him that anyone else would.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if it is intended, in the forthcoming inquiry into the status and working of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, to include an inquiry with the view of establishing a bureau of forestry for Ireland, or of making other suitable arrangements, so that the subject of national afforestation may be taken up systematically on an adequate scale; and also that immediate steps may be at once taken to acquire suitable waste lands, which may be now available through the operation of the Land (Purchase) Acts, that they may be utilised subsequently for planting. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The inquiries which I am making into the working of the Department of Agriculture will not necessarily include the establishment of a bureau of forestry, but I am keenly alive to the great importance of that question. I am considering the institution forthwith of a separate inquiry into it, so as to see whether afforestation can be undertaken systematically, with a prospect of its being made remunerative.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has under consideration any proposals for the promotion of light railways and motor services for agricultural transport in Ireland; whether he will publish any correspondence which may have taken place on the subject; and whether he has considered the advantages to be derived from the use of anthracite coal, which is available in the South of Ireland for gas engines for motor traction. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) No proposals for the promotion of motor services for agricultural transport have been under the consideration of the present Government. There is, therefore, no official correspondence on the subject, and the question of the fuel to be used for such motors has not yet arisen. The question of improving the light railway services, and rendering these railways more serviceable for agricultural and other transport, is one of great imporance, and has been engaging my attention for some weeks past.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many evicted tenants have been reinstated under the provisions of the Land Act of 1903 in the county Waterford; whether inquiries will now be made and steps be taken to expedite the restoration to their holdings of the many evicted tenants still unprovided for in that county; whether the Estates Commissioners are negotiating for the purchase of, or have agreed to purchase, untenanted lands consisting of 300 acres in the Parker estate, and 800 acres in the Woodrooffe estate, in the county of Waterford. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that eight evicted tenants have been reinstated in this county, and that, in accordance with the recent regulations, they are about to make inquiries into the cases of all evicted tenants who have applied for reinstatement. The Commissioners are negotiating for the purchase of the Parker estate, comprising 221 acres of untenanted land, but they have no knowledge of the Woodrooffe estate.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that steam trawling within the limits in the inner harbours of Bantry Bay is destructive of the spawn and causing loss to the line and net fishermen; and whether he will grant a sworn inquiry in connection with this matter. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Department of Agriculture are not aware that steam trawling in the inner waters of Bantry Bay is destructive to the spawn of fish. A bye-law prohibiting trawling in the whole of Bantry Bay by steam vessels of more than 20 tons net register has been in existence since the year 1897, and has been successfully enforced. Another bye law limits all trawling in the bay to the hours between 10 o'clock in the morning and sunset, so that nets and lines set at night shall not be interfered with. In the inner harbours of Bantry and Glengarriff, and in a portion of Berehaven, all trawling is prohibited at all times. Since the year 1897, when the bye-laws affecting trawling in Bantry Bay were last revised, no application for an inquiry regarding this method of fishing in the Bantry district has been received.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Bird, Beamish, Bandon, and O'Donovan estates, Kilcrohan parish, county Cork, recently purchased by the Congested Districts Board, will be resold to the tenants, who are poor at a loss of 10 per cent., as is allowed under the Act of 1903. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The provision in the Irish Land Act, 1903, for the re-sale of congested estates at a loss not exceeding 10 per cent., applies to purchases by the Land Commission, and not to purchases by the Congested Districts Board, who have full power to sell at any such prices as they may think fit. The estates referred to in the Question have not yet been legally vested in the Board, and, until that is done, arrangements for re-sale cannot be made.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Irish Government has yet come to a decision on the question of new plans, estimates, etc., for Irish national schools; and whether he is aware that inconvenience has already been caused by the delay in settling this matter. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) I can add nothing to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for South Kerry last Tuesday, to which I must refer the hon. Member,†

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the passage of a resolution by the County Monaghan Committee of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, calling for the reform of the Department of Agriculture so that it will work intelligently for the needs of and in harmony with the people of Ireland; whether he can state when the proposed inquiry into the work of the Department is to begin, and by whom it is to be conducted; and will any representations be received from county committees or county councils as to the future working of the Department. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) My attention has been called to the resolution.

† See (4) Debates, clii., 1028.

referred to. It is intended that the inquiries which I propose to prosecute shall begin at an early date, and I shall shortly be in a position to state the names of the gentlemen who will hold it. I shall arrange that representations received from the bodies named are duly considered at the inquiry.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is yet in a position to state what has been the result of the circular issued to local authorities by the National Board of Education, with the object of ascertaining their views upon the provisions of the Afflicted Children Bill (deaf, dumb, and blind) introduced in the last Parliament; and whether it is the intention of the Government to reintroduce the Bill. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The circular was sent on the 11th September, 1905, to the councils of the thirty-three administrative counties and the six county boroughs. The following is an abstract of the replies received from twenty of these councils:—Matter still to be considered by council, six; matter to be further considered by council, four; no action taken, two; approve of Bill, four; approve, subject to certain suggested amendments, two; disapprove, one; no action will be taken unless present Government proposes to reintroduce the Bill, one. No reply has been received in the remaining nineteen cases. I have not yet had time to fully consider the question of reintroducing the Bill, but I agree that the question is one of importance.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the Returns prepared by the Estates Commissioners, at the instance of the late Government, setting forth by order of counties the names and various other particulars concerning the persons who claimed to be reinstated as evicted tenants or as the representatives of evicted tenants; and whether he will lay these Returns upon the Table of the House for the information of hon. Members, supplemented by the additional details which were called for from the Inspector-General, Royal Irish Constabulary. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Return in question is merely a nominal list of persons who claim to have been evicted, or to be the representatives of persons evicted, from estates. The additional details supplied by the police are corrections of obvious inaccuracies as to habitation and the like appearing on the face of the list. The lists have not as yet been verified by the Estates Commissioners, and cannot at the present time be regarded as authentic. Until they have been so verified, it would not be desirable to lay the lists upon the Table of the House.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what progress has been made by the Commission appointed last autumn to investigate the question of arterial drainage in Ireland; and when it is expected that the Commission will complete its labours and present its Report. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Commissioners have held a number of sittings, but a great many witnesses have still to be examined. The Commissioners do not anticipate that they will be in a position to present their Report until late in the present year.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on Saturday, 17th February, at Donemana, North Tyrone, two prominent Orangemen, named Robert Forbes and Thomas Spence, were attacked in the street by a band of Nationalists, and so badly beaten that Forbes is still confined to his bed by his injuries, and Spence is suffering from a severe wound in the face; whether the police have made any arrests in connection with this assault, and what steps are being taken to protect the people of this district from such attacks. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed that the two men named received injuries in a Party quarrel on the date in question. The injured men have expressed the intention of prosecuting their alleged assailants, whom they know. The police have made no arrests, the necessity for that step not having arisen. Two extra policemen have been sent to this village in consequence of assaults and window-breaking by both parties.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what is the number of applications received by the Estates Commissioners from evicted tenants in the county of Kerry; in how many of such cases have the Commissioners approached the landlords with the view of securing the reinstatement of such tenants; and what is the number of evicted tenants reinstated or provided with holdings in the county by the Commissioners up to the present time. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) Four hundred and fifty-three applications for reinstatement have been received by the Estates Commissioners from the evicted tenants in the county Kerry, but in some of the cases the applicants do not come within the provisions of the Act. The Commissioners, in pursuance of the regulations recently issued, are now about to make inquiries in all cases in which they have received applications, and to approach the landlords in such cases as may be desirable. The Commissioners have not themselves effected any reinstatements, but they are aware that thirty-three evicted tenants have been reinstated in the county by landlords.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of recruits for the Royal Irish Constabulary taken into the constabulary depôt, Phoenix Park, during the months of September, October, November, and December, 1905, respectively, also January, and February 1906. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The numbers enlisted were as follows: in September 1905, none; in October, 39; in November, 41; in December, 91; in January, 1906, 42; and in February, 55.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in pursuance of Section 7 of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1891, improvement schemes have been formulated by any sanitary authority for the purpose of providing suitable dwellings for agricultural labourers in villages or towns without garden allotments; and if so, will he state the sanitary authority or authorities which have given effect to this section, and the number of cottages erected in Ireland in accordance with its provisions. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) Proposals of the nature indicated are merged in schemes to meet the general needs of the labourers in a rural district, and it would be impossible for the Local Government Board to give definite information ad to the particular councils which have availed themselves of the statutory provision referred to, and the extent to which they have done so, without making an elaborate investigation into all the schemes submitted since 1891. The Board, however, are in a position to state generally that the section has not been put into operation to any considerable extent, owing no doubt to the advantages of building the cottages which may be required in the vicinity of the villages or towns rather than actually in them. The tenants can in that event be provided with gardens, and are brought nearer to their probable sphere of employment.

To ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies what were the considerations which led the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on receipt of the Earl of Selborne's dispatch of the 20th November, 1905, to telegraph, on the 23rd December, 1905, urging the Earl of Selborne to obtain information on which to prosecute some person on the Witwatersrand Deep Mine, though he had received no affidavit in support of the prosecution, but to delay till 15th February, 1906, any recommendation to prosecute Mr. Pless, whose cruelty was sworn to by affidavit contained under cover of the same dispatch from the Earl of Selborne of the 20th November, 1905. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The inquiry in the telegram of 23rd December, as to whether there was any information on which to prosecute, did not relate to the Witwatersrand Deep Mine, but generally to the proceedings brought into question by Mr. Boland's allegations. The hon. Member might have perceived this by studying the telegrams of 2nd January and 10th January, printed at page 46 and page 58 of the Blue-book [Cd. 2819].

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the recent troubles in Demerara; whether he will indicate the cause of the alleged riot; whether an armed police force was used and H.M.S. "Diamond" urgently dispatched from Bermuda to quell the alleged riot; whether the action taken by the Governor during the troubles was on his own initiative or from instructions received from the Colonial Office; and whether information will be laid upon the Table of this House dealing with the whole matter. (Answered by Mr. Churchill). The disturbances arose out of a general strike of casual wharf labourers at Georgetown for higher wages. The strikers were joined by the more turbulent classes of the population, and on 1st December the violence of the mob made it necessary for the police to use their firearms. At the request of the Governor, H.M.S. "Sappho" and H.M.S. "Diamond" arrived at Georgetown from Trinidad and Barbados, and detachments of blue-jackets were landed; but no further serious disturbances occurred after their arrival. The Governor acted on his own initiative in the suppression of the disturbances, but the measures which he took have been approved by the Secre- tary of State. Correspondence on the subjects will shortly be laid upon the Table of the House.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what has been the number of punitive expeditions against the natives of Southern Nigeria during 1904–5; what number of natives have been killed and wounded in these expeditions; what number of villages destroyed; what quantity of cattle and other goods seized and carried away; whether the increase in trade referred to by the Governor is looked upon as a satisfactory outcome of these expeditions; whether nearly all the revenue of Nigeria and Lagos is derived from the alcohol traffic; and whether he will consider the advisability of instituting inquiry into the state of affairs in this territory. (Answered by Mr. Churchill). In 1904–5, under the late Administration, there were eight expeditions in disturbed districts of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate. In explanation of these operations it may be urged that they were undertaken in order to put a stop to the murder and robbery of peaceful traders by less civilised tribes, the harbouring of escaped criminals, and assaults on Government servants, and also to check human sacrifices and cannibalism. It is not possible to give exact information as to the numbers killed or damage-done in these operations, but in most cases there was little fighting of a serious character. The High Commissioner states that all unnecessary fighting was avoided, and in every case the operations have been followed by the establishment of civil administration in the districts visited, and the requirements of the Government as to stoppage of intertribal fighting, human sacrifice, and interference with traders, have been fully explained to the natives, though not in all cases with entire success. At Onitsha, however, where an industrial exhibition has been held, which was attended by about 20,000 natives, and passed off without the slightest disturbance, although many of those present came from districts where punitive measures had been found necessary only a year before. The total revenue of Southern Nigeria in 1904 was £550,013, of which £322,116 was derived from duties on spirits. The latest figures for Lagos are for the financial year 1903–4. Total revenue, £334,695. Revenue from spirit duties £160,640. While the Secretary of State does not regard any extra-departmental inquiry as necessary, the whole question of the scope and nature of the activities and responsibilities to which His Majesty's Government find themselves committed in Nigeria will engage his serious attention.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if sufficient information has been obtained to justify the Crown prosecution of those who circulated the allegations and atrocities in various Transvaal mines, as refuted in Cd. 2786, Despatch No. 41, in view of the sworn statements of the managers, overseers, and staff, and the publicly expressed wish to take legal proceedings to vindicate their character. (Answered by Mr. Churchill). No further information than that given in the despatch referred to by the hon. Member has been received.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if the new regulations governing the employment of the recently engaged Chinese coolies in South Africa are to be applied to all those now employed in the Transvaal. (Answered by Mr. Churchill). Yes, Sir; any modifications of the Labour Importation Amendment Ordinance will apply to all Chinese coolies.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Papers will be published containing any evidence of a practically unanimous demand in the Transvaal for the grant of responsible as distinguished from representative institutions. (Answered by Mr. Churchill). It is not proposed to publish further Papers at present.

To ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether further recruitment of labour from British Central Africa for the mines of the Transvaal has been prohibited. (Answered by Mr. Churchill). The present position of the matter is as described at page 44 of Cd. 2819. Recruiting ceased on 31st January, and will not be resumed unless the mortality Returns for the year ending 30th June, 1906, show marked improvement.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total salary paid to Lord Selborne, and how much of that salary is paid by the taxpayers of the United Kingdom; and whether any other contributions are made out of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom to the civil expenditure of the South African Colonies. (Answered by Mr. Churchill). Lord Selborne's total salary is at the rate of £11,000 per annum, of which £3,000 per annum is paid to him as High Commissioner for South Africa from Imperial funds. Other contributions from Imperial funds to civil expenditure in the South African Colonies are estimated to be as follows in the current financial year:—High Commission expenses, £6,400; Southern Rhodesia Resident Commissioner £2,700; Bechuanaland Protectorate, grant in aid of deficiency of revenue, £36,000.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether duties have been recently imposed or increased in any of the South African Colonies upon imported British coal; if so, whether he can state the amount of the duties, and when they were imposed or raised; and whether he is prepared to suggest in the proper quarter the propriety of removing the Colonial preference given to the South African product, until such time as the financial burden, resulting from the late war, presses less heavily upon coal pro ducers in this country than is the case at present. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The duty on coal imported into the South African Colonies has not, so far as I am aware, been altered since the Customs Convention of 1903, under which a duty of 3s. per ton of 2,000 lbs. is levied. The Secretary of State is not satisfied that he could usefully make the suggestion desired by the hon. Member.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state how many skilled British miners who are earning good wages will weekly lose their employment through the imporation of Chinese coolies being stopped, natural shrinkage going on, opportunity having been afforded to coolies to break their contracts, and native labour seriously diminishing. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) No, Sir, I can give the House no such figures; it is impossible at present to phophesy as to either increase or decrease.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the desirability of preventing the importation into South Africa of such of the 16,199 coolies whose licences were signed between the 12th and 18th of November last, but who have not yet arrived in South Africa, and prevent the expenditure of £17 10s. per head, the estimated cost of repatriation. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) His Majesty's Government have been advised that they cannot lawfully prevent the importations in question; and their policy in respect of Chinese indentured labour has received in its integrity the support of the House of Commons. It is not now possible to reconsider it. Any contradiction which may exist between this importation and the new scheme for repatriation must be attributed to the clear differences in view and purpose which distinguish the present administration from the old.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government have taken into consideration the possibility of the whole of the Chinese labourers in the Transvaal availing themselves of the opportunity of at once returning home at the expense of the Imperial exchequer; and whether any, and, if, so, what steps are in contemplation to deal with such a contingency. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) From the information at their disposal, His Majesty's Government do not regard such a contingency as at all likely to occur.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can inform the House of the number of white persons employed in the Transvaal mines on ordinary mining work (as distinguished from work of construction and repair) in each month for the year ending 31st December, 1905. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The statistics published by the Mines Department do not enable me to give this information. I would refer the hon. Member to the statement printed at page 11 of Cd. 2563, which gives certain particulars.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any and what answer has been received to the third question in the Secretary of State for the Colonies' letter to the Earl of Selborne, of the-5th January, 1906 (Cd. 2819, page 46), asking for a Report showing whether, in the case of Chinese coolies who have served, say, six months on the mines, more or less supervision by white labourers is required, than in the case of coloured labourers, and which question seems to have been overlooked in the reply received to such letter by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the 27th January, 1906 (Cd. 2819, page 87). (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The Secretary of State is still awaiting the report referred to. His inquiry was by a mailed despatch dated 5th January, and could not, therefore, have been answered by Lord Selborne's despatch of 6th January,, which reached the Secretary of State on the 27th of that month.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the case of General Botha, whose house near the Natal border was burnt, like that of nearly all the generals, and who had large claims, which he assessed at £15,000; whether he is aware that they were reduced on the Government assessment to £7,000, and that when General Botha was offered a cheque for £800, which was endorsed "Receipt in full," he declined to give such a receipt, and has not, therefore, received payment; and will he say whether he proposes to take any action in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The Secretary of State has not received information as to the claims of General Botha, but he does not understand that his claim has been treated differently from those of others entitled to share in the £3,000,000 provided for ex-burghers. No action is proposed.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, notwithstanding Mr. Lyttelton's telegram of 27th October, intimating that it would be good policy for the mine-owners voluntarily to stop the importation of coolie labour for six months, a greater number of licences were issued in the ensuing three weeks than had been granted in the previous nine months; and whether he is able to lay before the House any other information respecting this increase of licences. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) If my hon. friend will refer to page 8, of Cd. 2788, he will see that he is mistaken in supposing that the number for which licences were issued in November exceeded that for the previous nine months; but they were certainly in excess of the number issued in the preceding six months. The Secretary of State is not in possession of any further particulars of a material character in addition to what is published. The expression by Mr. Lyttelton of his opinion as to what would be a prudent policy for the mine-owners voluntarily to adopt, was not apparently regarded by the Lieutenant Governor as fo the nature of a definite instruction to cease to act upon his discretion without consulting the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if it is proposed to re-engage the men recently discharged from the arsenals and factories controlled by his Department. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Any men discharged from the arsenals and factories controlled by the War Department will have the preference for re-engagement should the orders in the coming financial year warrant increase in the numbers of such men employed.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that numerous complaints have been made that the firing practice from Bovisand, Picklecombe, and Tregantle forts off Plymouth, and especially from a gunboat stationed at Cawsand, is a constant danger to the fishermen engaged in fishing in the vicinity; whether any arrangement was made by the War Office and Naval authorities about two years ago that such firing should take place on Saturdays and Mondays only; and, if so, why such arrangement has not been adhered to. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) None of the complaints to which my hon. friend referred have reached me. None have reached either the War Office or the General Officer Commanding at Plymouth as regards firing from Bovisand, Picklecombe, or Tregantle Forts. As regards the gunboat at Cawsand I have no knowledge of this, and I must refer him to my right hon. friend the Secretary to the Admiralty. The arrangement as regards firing on Saturdays and Mondays refers only to the Whitesand Bay batteries and there is no reason to suppose that the by-laws governing such firing have been infringed.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Army officers of the rank of major who are not now seconded when holding staff appointments under the present system of allowing extra captains instead; and, further, if he will consider whether majors who are passed over for the appointment of second in command, by reason of their holding staff appointments, should not at once be placed on the list of officers extra-regimentally employed instead of being retained, as at present, on the lists of regiments. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The question of seconding majors while holding staff appointments has been frequently considered, but the financial expenditure involved is held to be prohibitive. There are similar financial objections to the proposal made in the second part of the Question. If these proposals received effect it is estimated that a new charge of some £30,000 a year would be placed upon the taxes.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether in or about January, 1905, three horses, the private property of Army officers stationed at Waterford, were destroyed under suspicion of being affected by the disease called epizootic lymphangitis; whether the owners of these horses got compensation for their losses; and, if so, out of what fund was such compensation paid and by whose directions; and what were the amounts claimed and paid respectively in each of the cases. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The horses in question were destroyed, as they were in close proximity to other horses, the property of the public. As an act of grace the owners were allowed part compensation from Army funds to the extent of £8 10s., £15, and £37 10s. respectively.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if Imperial troops are to be employed in the disturbed districts of Natal.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if Imperial troops are to be employed in the disturbed districts of Natal. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I will reply at the same time to a similar Question put by the hon. Member for the Tewkesbury Division of Gloucestershire. The 2nd Battalion Cameron Highlanders has been sent to Natal from Pretoria, and there are about 200 men of the Royal Garrison Regiment at Pietermaritzburg. These troops are available for employment in the disturbed districts if required.

To ask the Secretary of State for War during which months the winter training of the twenty Militia battalions is to take place.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if Cavalry and Artillery will be trained during the winter, in order to afford to some or all of the Militia battalions opportunities of exercise and manœuvre in company with a mixed force.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will lay upon the Table the Reports from recruiting officers as to the probable effect of the winter training of Militia battalions upon enlistment for the Infantry of the Line; and if the Army Council is satisfied that the winter training will not seriously affect Line recruiting.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he contemplates that the training of certain battalions of Militia during the winter months will have any injurious effect upon the supply of officers for those battalions.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in the proposed scheme to train certain battalions of Militia during the winter months, it is intended to include the usual musketry course; or whether a supplementary training will be held during the summer months, when the conditions of light and weather are most favourable for musketry practice. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) There appears to be some misapprehension as to our proposals with regard to the Militia, and I will, if the hon. Members will permit me, reply to all the Questions regarding Militia training together. The Army Council are selecting twenty Militia Infantry battalions, with which to try an experimental training of six months for recruits on first enlistment. They are also considering whether the training might not be six weeks for these particular battalions, instead of twenty-seven days. The existing system is sixty-three days for recruits and twenty-seven days for Militiamen. This increased training is in accordance with the recommendation of the Norfolk Commission, and the Army Council are desirous of ascertaining whether such longer periods will fit in with the civil avocations of the non - commissioned officers and men. Infantry only will be selected for the experiment, and General Officers Commanding have been asked their opinions on the units suggested. The training of the battalions will take place, for the present, in the main during the summer, but on this point we are consulting General Officers Commanding in Chief. It will be optional for recruits to enlist for their six months training at any time convenient to themselves. It is not anticipated that any injurious effect will result as regards the supply of Militia officers, and the experiment will show how far the recruiting for the Line is affected. Militiamen will be required to complete at least one annual training before transfer to the regular Army. Increased attention will be devoted to musketry, and a revised course for both recruits and trained Militiamen is under consideration. There are no figures available to show what proportion of Militiamen are habitually unemployed during the winter, but it is hoped that this system may be the means of reducing that number. The annual cost of a Militia battalion under the new system will necessarily be higher than at present. Barracks will be utilised where possible. In other cases hut accommodation or large buildings will be provided when practicable, and failing these, billeting will be resorted to. Our object is to provide as great elasticity as is possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the purchase of 300 acres of land in the parish of Fingringhoe, near Colchester, Essex, is intended to be completed on 25th March; whether it is intended to purchase the cropping and use the land at once for military purposes; if so, whether he has taken into consideration the effect on the labourers and farm servants who would be thrown out of work, and at a season when they would experience difficulty in finding fresh permanent employment; and whether he will consider the desirability of deferring the completion of the purchase of this land until Michaelmas. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The purchase of this land will be completed on the 25th March. The purchase includes cropping and use of land for military purposes. The effect of turning labourers and farm servants out of work has been carefully considered, as is usual in such cases; but in view of the urgent military requirements of this case, it has been decided that it is necessary to proceed with the purchase without delay. I am afraid, therefore, that it is not possible to adopt my hon. friend's suggestion of deferring the completion of the purchase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware, or has received any complaints, that the Japanese authorities are presenting foreigners, other than Japanese, from proceeding into or landing at any port in Manchuria or sending any goods into the interior of Mancburia, and thus seriously interfering with British trade; and, if so, whether he will take steps to prevent such interference by the Japanese authorities; whether a date has been fixed for the evacuation by the Japanese troops of Chinese territory which prevents the free exchange of commerce between British traders and Chinese merchants. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) Complaints have been received to the effect stated in the Question and representations were made to the Japanese Government at the time on the subject. They expressed their regret that the prohibition was rendered necessary by the railways being required for the movements of Japanese troops; but it was understood from a Report received from His Majesty's Consul at Newchang that this applied to persons only and not to

To ask Mr. Attorney-General whether it is intended to re-introduce the Bill recommended by the Beck Commission, providing machinery to compel a judge at a criminal trial to state a case for the Court for Crown Cases Reserved. (Answered by Sir Lawson Walton.) It is not proposed to reintroduce the Bill recommended by the Beck Commission goods. On the receipt of more recent complaints that the prohibition is being enforced against British merchandise, His Majesty's Minister at Peking has been requested to inquire into the matter, and he has despatched the Commercial Attaché to His Majesty's Legation to make investigations at Newchang and to furnish a Report. The evacuation by the Japanese troops of Chinese territory is fixed to take place eighteen months from the signature of the Treaty of Portsmouth of 23rd August 1905.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the approximate numbers of men employed and of discharges in consequence of reductions in the Estimates from the 1st of April, 1905, to the 31st January, 1906, in the Royal Dockyards at Portsmouth, Devonport, Chatham, Pembroke, and Sheerness respectively. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The numbers of workmen employed in the dockyards on the dates named below, and the net reductions during the period covered by those dates, were as follows:—

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will state the average monthly prices per cwt. of 88 per cent. beet sugar; from September, 1903 to January, 1906. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The following statement gives the prices asked for, for each month of the years 1903,

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Bill to be brought in to amend the Merchant Shipping Acts will deal with the employment of alien pilots on British ships. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Alien pilots are not employed on British ships in British waters.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether representatives of the assistants at the Returned Letter Office will be allowed to give evidence before the Select Committee appointed to inquire into the grievances of postal servants. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Burton.) The Committee will be asked to inquire into the position of the principal classes 1904, and 1905, and January and February, 1906:—

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the question of the substitution of a motor service for conveying the mails between Clonmel and Dungarvan instead of the present slow service.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, as the English mails are not now received and delivered in Dungarvan and Lismore until late in the afternoon and too late to permit of a reply on the same day, he will suggest that a motor train should be provided by the railway company to convey the mails which reach Mallow at 10.30 a.m. and Fermoy at 11.30 a.m. to Lismore, which only requires one-half hour, and Dungarvan, which only requires one hour and five minutes by ordinary train from Fermoy, so as to provide these towns with similar facilities so far as possible to those now enjoyed by Fermoy.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will cause inquiry to be made with a view to providing improved postal facilities for portions of the districts of Old Parish and Ringville. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I have called for Reports on these subjects, and on their receipt I will consider the suggestions of the hon. Member and will communicate the result to him.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state how many aliens have been refused admission at British ports since 1st January; and for what reasons. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The figures for February are not yet available. During January, leave to land was withheld in the case of 202 alien immigrants. In 172 cases the reason was lack of means; in thirty, medical grounds. Appeals were made to immigration boards as regards 199 immigrants; and in the result eighty-nine immigrants, seventy-six on account of lack of means and thirteen on medical grounds, did not receive leave to land.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the position of Director of the National Gallery has been vacant for a considerable time; and if he can state when and, if possible, by whom the vacancy will be filled. (Answered by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman.) I am aware that this position has been vacant for a considerable time. The matter is engaging my attention, but I cannot yet state when the vacancy will be filled.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that smuggled saccharine, of the value of £700, was seized and thrown into the sea by order of the Customs on Monday last; whether it could not have been saved for purposes connected with any Government departments; and if any settled rule is prescribed for dealing, with smuggled articles. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) I would refer the hon. Baronet to the reply given yesterday on this subject to the hon. Member for Thanet by the Secretary to the Treasury.

To ask the Secretary of State for India what amount of Council drafts on the Indian Treasuries since 1st April, 1905, have been brought to account in excess of the £19,250,000 sterling as entered in the Indian Government's Budget last March; what are the circumstances to which such excess drawings are attributable, and to what purposes have these funds been applied; what are the present amounts of the Indian Government's cash balances, both silver and gold, in India and at Home; if the latter largely exceed the amounts usual in former years; has due consideration been given to the effects on Indian commerce of such large withdrawal of funds formerly available in the Presidency banks for Indian trade purposes; are the recent accumulations of gold here on Indian account due to the artifically established rate of exchange arranged for in 1900; and what is the amount on balance of enfaced rupee paper remitted from or returned to India during the present financial year. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The amount received by the Secretary of State in Council on account of bills and telegraphic transfers in the period from 1st April 1905, to 26th February 1906, is £27,172,530, being an excess of £9,339,530 over the estimate of £17,833,000 for the period from 1st April 1905 to 31st March 1906 which was included in the Budget of the Government of India in March 1905. The excess is due to the large trade demand which it is the practice of the India Office to meet as fully as possible. Of the excess mentioned above, a portion has been used for the purchase of silver, a portion has been invested on account of the gold reserve fund, and a portion, has been temporarily added to the paper currency reserve in England, against a corresponding withdrawal in India. At the end of January 1906, the Treasury balances of the Government of India amounted to Rs. 14,71,00,000 (£9,810,000) of which £240,000 was in gold. On the 26th February 1906 the balance held by the Secretary of State in Council was £7,850,000; on the corresponding date in the four preceding years the figures were as follows:—26th February 1905 £10,323,000; 26th February 1904, £5,914,000; 26th February 1903, £5,086,000; 26th February 1902, £3,560,000. The effect of large sales of Council bills and transfers (which in the present year have been accompanied by heavy coinage of rupees) is not to diminish, but to increase the funds available in India for trade purposes. The holding of gold by the Secretary of State in Council and by the Government of India, as part of the Paper Currency Reserve, is one of the consequences of the successful establishment of a gold standard in India. The amount of rupee paper standing on the books of the Bank of England was on 31st March, 1905, Rs. 16,67,99,800 (£11,120,000), and on 31st January 1906, Rs 16,25,03,400 (£10,834,000), a decrease during the present financial year of Rs. 42,96,400 (£286,000).

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will lay upon the Table Returns of the land grants made in the East Africa Protectorate subsequent to those enumerated in Africa, No. 15, of session 1904. (Answered by Mr. Churchill). A Paper will shortly be laid containing the Returns which have been received up to the present time, and future Returns will be included in the Annual Report on the Protectorate.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will lay upon the Table Returns of the game licences issued, and of the game shot thereunder, in the British Central Africa, East Africa, Uganda, and Somaliland Protectorates, in continuation of the Returns given in Africa, No. 13, of session 1903, and Nos. 2, 5, and 12 of session 1904. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) I propose at an early date to lay upon the Table Papers relating to the general question of the preservation of game in the British Possessions in Tropical Africa, and these Papers will include the Returns asked for by the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether route marches through agricultural districts have almost invariably resulted in a number of recruits being obtained; and, if so, whether he will see his way to insisting upon such marches taking place more frequently in the future. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The recruiting marches that have taken place in the last few years have varied considerably in respect of the results attained, and in some cases the numbers of recruits raised do not appear to justify the expenditure involved. The matter rests to a certain extent with the General Officer Commanding in Chief in each command to arrange from the funds at his disposal, but it is not proposed to interfere with his discretion. Any proposals for such marches that may be forwarded to the War Office receive favourable consideration should the state of finances admit of the expenditure involved.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will be prepared to give effect to the recommendations of the Select Committee on National Expenditure, and especially that a new rule of Supply should ensure that at least one day should be provided for the consideration by the House of the Reports of the Public Accounts Committee; and that an Estimates Committee should be appointed at the beginning of each session to examine and report into one Class of the Estimates. (Answered by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman.) I think a reasonable opportunity should be given for the Report of the Public Accounts Committee being discussed by the House of Commons. The whole question of the manner in which the financial control of the He use of Commons should be exercised seems eminently a matter for the Committee on Procedure to consider.