I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many battleships, armoured cruisers, and protected cruisers have been removed from the fighting list of the Navy since January 1st, 1902; and how many of the same classes have been laid down?

Since January 1st, 1902, the following ships have been removed from the lighting list:—eight battleships, ten armoured cruisers, twenty protected cruisers. The following ships have also been classed as of comparatively small fighting value:—three battleships, sixteen protected cruisers. Since the same date there have been laid down:—thirteen battleships, eighteen armoured cruisers, four protected cruisers.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many battleships and armoured cruisers are there now under construction for the: British, French, and German navies re-spectively; and how many additional vessels of these two classes are already sanctioned to be laid down this year by each of these countries.

There are at present under construction, for the British Navy, six battleships and ten armoured cruisers; for the French Navy, six battleships and five armoured cruisers; for the Gorman Navy, five battleships and two armoured cruisers. The programme of new construction in the Estimates now before the House includes provision for four armoured vessels. The German Estimates for the current year include provision for two battleships and one armoured cruiser; and the French Estimates include provision for six battleships.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what has been the cost of the official naval residence at Jamaica; whether it is now completed; for what purpose is it to be used; and whether it was built on the recommendations of the then Commander-in-chief of the North American and West Indian station.

I assume that the Question refers to the four official residences which were completed during 1905 at a cost of £8,800. These residences have been lent to the War Office. They were built on the recommendation of the commodore who was at Jamaica in 1902.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what increase in the German Navy Estimates, inclusive of pensions, is provided for under the revised programme for the year 1909 over and above that provided under the naval programme of 1900 for the year 1906, and also over and above the revised programme for 1906.

The German naval programme of 1900 authorised an expenditure in 1906 of £9,877,500. The revised programme of 1906 increased this estimate to £12,318,982, and estimated the expenditure in 1909 at £15,036,693. These figures are exclusive of pensions, the cost of which cannot be stated.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the advantages of Netheravon as the site for the permanent school of cavalry have been fully considered, and whether a decision has been arrived at.

The question is still under consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if the band of the Cold-stream Guards attended on the 9th inst. at the annual meeting of the Liberal Social Council, at the Royal Horticultural Hall; and, having regard to the occasions upon which the voluntary presence of military bands at Unionist meetings has been forbidden in consequence of Liberal objection, he will say why an exception was made in favour of this association.

The band of the Cold-stream Guards played at the reception of the Liberal Social Council in 1904, 1905, and on May 9th, 1906. The rule which has for some time been followed is that a band is permitted to take engagements at any meeting or social gathering provided no political speeches are delivered. On each of the occasions mentioned it was ascertained with very great care that no political speeches would be delivered, and none were delivered.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, before the outbreak of the present revolt in Natal, Colonel Leuchar's field force destroyed kraals belonging to black subjects of the King and raided 1,000 head of oxen and 3,000 sheep and goats; whether he can inform the House who received the money paid for these looted cattle when they were sold by public auction between March 16th and March 22nd; and whether, in view of the effect upon the rebellion of the suffering and starvation of Zulu women and children entailed by such destruction of dwellings and food supplies, he proposes to take any steps to prevent any further destruction of kraals or food supplies.

The hon. Member will see from the papers published last week the circumstances in which Colonel Leuchars took action against the chief Gobizembe, and in which the chief was fined 1,200 cattle and 3,500 sheep and goats for serious acts of defiance The money received for these cattle was presumably paid into the Natal Treasury. There is no reason to believe that there will be any destruction of kraals or seizure of food supplies, except on the ground that such action is necessary to prevent the spread of rebellion; and the Secretary of State is not prepared to take steps in the matter as suggested.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Canadian Government pays the sum of £1 (one pound sterling) to shipping agents in Ireland on every ticket they sell to emigrants from Ireland to the Dominion of Canada; and whether, in view of the fact that such encouragement of the Irish emigration evil is injurious to the welfare of Ireland, he will make representations to the Canadian Government to have this practice discontinued without delay.

My right hon. friend has asked me to answer this Question. The hon. Member is right in supposing that the Canadian Government, being desirous of stimulating immigration to the Dominion, pay a bonus of £1 to booking agents in respect of each immigrant from Great Britain and Ireland belonging to certain prescribed classes. This bounty, though no doubt acting as a stimulus, does not appear to be the sole or even the main cause of the excessive emigration from Ireland which now prevails; and the remedy must, I think, be of a more comprehensive character than would attach to such representations as the hon. Member suggests.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, having regard to the fact that there are only four elected members of: The Council of the Government of India, will he consider the expediency of arranging for an increased number of elected members.

The Regulations, framed under the Indian Councils Act, 1892, provide for five, not four, of the non-official members being elected, while the Governor-General is required to make nominations to the remaining non-official seats, "in such manner as shall appear to him most suitable with reference to the legislative business to be brought before the Council and the due representation of the different classes of the community." I am not prepared to press the Governor-General to modify the Regulations in the manner suggested.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is in a position to hold; out prospects of an early date for discussing the Indian Budget.

I hope to be able to introduce this discussion as shortly as possible after Whitsuntide.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the dissatisfaction that prevails in India, arising from the fact that the Indian peoples have no control of the finances of the country, and also because of the fact that their representatives in the legislative councils are unable, by reason of the Constitution, to initiate any measures for the better government of the country, His Majesty's Government are prepared to consider whether some measure of self-government, similar to that which operates in other British Colonies and possessions, may also be extended to British India.

It would be impossible for me, within the limits of an Answer across the floor of the House, to give an opinion on the far-reaching subjects with which this Question deals. I fully understand the spirit of the Question, but His Majesty's Government are not of opinion that circumstances demand the total reconstruction of the Indian system of government, and are not prepared to initiate the vast constitutional changes indicated.

asked whether the Government would be prepared to consider proposals at some subsequent date.

I cannot commit myself further than to assure my hon. friend that the subject is one which engages my attention.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that dissatisfaction does prevail among the Indian peoples on this subject?

Is it a fact that 50,000,000 of the Indian people never get a full meal from one year's end to another.

Order, order! That does not arise out of the Question on the Paper.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to an official answer given in the Legislative Council of Bengal, that a proposal has been made to appoint a European officer to be professor of Sanskrit in the Presidency College of Calcutta; and whether, seeing that this proposal has given rise to unfavourable comment in India, and is opposed to the popular, feeling in favour of employing properly qualified Indians to be teachers of Sanskrit in Government colleges, he will take steps to prevent the proposed appointment.

I understand from the Question and Answer to which the hon. Gentleman has referred me that a proposal to create a professorship of Sanskrit in the Presidency College, Calcutta, is under consideration by the Government of India. When the proposal is submitted for my sanction I will not neglect the point which the hon. Member raises.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the administration of the new province of Eastern Bengal is identical in type and character with and similar, as regards the laws in force, the manner in which and; the personnel by which they are administered, to the old province of Bengal before its subdivision: whether he has any official information showing that the dissatisfaction which is manifested by the richer, the upper, and the student classes in Eastern Bengal extends to the masses of the people; and, if so, in what way it is believed that they are affected by the change, and in what manner they have given expression to their dissatisfaction.

The answer to the first paragraph of the Question is in the affirmative. I have no official information which loads me to think that the mass of the population of Eastern Bengal regard the recent administrative changes with dissatisfaction.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the appointment of a Chinese official as superintendent of Customs in China, in violation of the agreement of February, 1898, whereby, in consideration of the withdrawal of the British demand for the opening up of Talienwan as a treaty port, the Chinese Government agreed that the post of inspector-general of the maritime Customs should be held by a British subject so long as British trade with China continues to exceed that of any other Power.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer on this subject given on Friday last,† in which the promise given by the Chinese Government was stated, and it was announced that we have asked for an explanation of the decree of the 9th instant. But I must add that there is no connection between the opening up of Talienwan to commerce and the Chinese undertaking as to the post of inspector-general of the maritime Customs.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the usual channels made use of when official communications pass between the Turkish and Egyptian Governments.

Communications between the two Governments pass either between the Grand Vizier and the Khedive or between the Porte and the Egyptian Government.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the case of Hannah Smith, wife of Thomas Smith, who, on July 30th, 1894, was convicted of the murder of her child, Hannah May Smith, at Thornton-in-Craven, in the West Riding of York; is he aware that the child was born on May 1st, 1894, and its life taken three weeks afterwards; that it was deposed at the trial that in the opinion of the medical superintendent of the Wakefield Asylum Mrs. Smith was suffering at the time of the murder from homicidal frenzy as the result of puerperal insanity; that Mr. Justice Grantham remarked that every one who had heard the case must sympathise with the prisoner and hope that after a time

† See Col. 38.

I should be glad if I could allow the patient's discharge without risk of relapse and of danger to herself and others, but taking into consideration her present condition and all the other circumstances of her case, I regret that I do not feel justified in authorising her discharge from the asylum.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is prepared to make any statement as to the appointment of a Royal Commission to consider the working of the Act under which experiments on animals are permitted for the purposes of medical research.

In view of the fact that no inquiry into the subject has-been held for thirty years, it is the intention of the Government to recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to examine the working of the Cruelty: To Animals Act in the light of present scientific knowledge.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the evidence of sweating indicated by the exhibition in London of goods made under sweating conditions, and also the fact that sweating prevails in the cabinet making, glass hovelling, clothing, and boot and shoe industries, he will agree to the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the conditions of the trades covered by the exhibition, and also those named in this Question; and, in the event of such Royal Commission being appointed, whether the terms of reference will include the question of recommending legislation to remove the evils of sweating.

The question is of great importance and of great difficulty, and it is engaging my attention. But I cannot make any statement at the present moment.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of appointing a Royal Commission.

We already have three Royal Commissions and two Departmental Committees dealing with subjects with which the Home Office is concerned, and I am afraid our powers of absorption are limited. I therefore cannot hold out my hope of a Royal Commission.

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman considers this subject of less importance than those on which Royal Commission are to sit?

I did not say that.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that, by the virtue of the provisions of The London Government Act, 1899, town clerks in London prepare the Register of Voters for Parliamentary and other purposes and act as returning officers and deputy returning officers for elections other than elections for Members of Parliament, he will consider the desirability of promoting legislation to appoint them returning officers at Parliamentary elections also, and, pending legislation, of approaching the High Sheriff of the county of London with a view to their appointment under the procedure at present in force.

I beg to answer this Question on behalf of my right hon. friend. I may say that the late High Sheriff of London, who had this question brought before him by the Woolwich Borough Council, saw no reason for making any alteration in the appointment of returning officers, as he was satisfied that their duties had been carried out in a satisfactory manner. But I shall be happy to consider the hon. Member's, suggestion.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what powers the Board of Trade possess in preventing overcrowding taking place in the railway carriages upon the various railways, and whether the Board has any power in forcing the directors of London District Railway Company to run additional trains between East Ham and Aldgate East between the hours of 5 a.m., and 9 a.m., and between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., so as to prevent the overcrowding that takes place every night and morning between the hours mentioned.

The Board of Trade have no statutory powers with regard to the overcrowding of trains generally, but they can deal under the Cheap Trains Act, 1883, with the provision of sufficient trains for workmen between the hours of six in the evening and eight in the morning. Under this Act the Board have recently been in communication with the Metropolitan District and London Tilbury and Southend Railway Companies with regard to the train service between East Ham and stations on the Metropolitan District Railway, and since the electrical working of the line was commenced the number of workmen's trains has been largely augmented. The Metropolitan District Railway Company, to whom a copy of the hon. Member's Question has been communicated, have informed me that they are at present running thirty-six trains from East Ham to Aldgate East between 5 and 9 a.m., and twenty-eight from Aldgate East to East Ham between 5 and 8 p.m. They also state that they are carefully watching the traffic on this line, and have put on two additional trains from East Ham in the morning and two from Aldgate East in the evening since the beginning of the present month.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state how many persons have been electrocuted on the Liverpool and South-port Electric Railway since March 1st last, indicating the number electrocuted at Freshfield Station.

One fatal accident from electrical shock has been reported to the Board of Trade as occurring on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway since the date referred to. This accident occurred to a man, name at present unknown, whilst trespassing on the railway about a quarter of a mile from Freshfield Station on 8th instant. There have also been in the course of the last two months three fatal accidents to persons crossing the lines at Freshfield Station, but neither of these accidents is attributed to electrical shock, the unfortunate persons killed having been knocked down by trains. The Board are in communication with the company as to the arrangements at the station in question.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to complaints by farmers in Cheshire, and other agricultural counties, of the damage and inconvenience which they suffer from the dust raised by the passage of motor cars over country roads in dry weather; and whether he proposes to take any steps to abate the nuisance.

I have received, and am still receiving, resolutions from a number of local bodies, not only in Cheshire, but elsewhere, referring to the vexatious and damaging nuisance caused by dust raised by motor cars. I have given instructions that these resolutions shall be communicated to the Royal Commission on Motor Cars, who have the subject under consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state by whom estates which the Congested Districts Board have purchased were inspected and valued, and the qualifications of such officers.

I can only say that in all cases the Congested Districts Board took the utmost care to obtain the most competent opinion as to value before concluding any purchase.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state the cause of the delay in introducing the promised Crofters Acts Amendment Bill.

I cannot admit that there has been any delay due to lack of desire or effort on the part of the Government. Every endoavour is being made to further the progress of the Bill.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that when Patrick Hannigan, of Cappry, Stranorlar, East Donegal, was evicted from his farm in 1899, by the landlady, Alice A. Hayes, that she, by her agents, in 1904, tumbled down his dwelling house and office houses, and burned his furniture therein; and that he is now reinstated to facilitate the sale of the estate under the Land Purchase Act of 1903; and will he advise the Estates Commissioners to refuse to sanction the sale of the estate unless the evicted tenant is compensated for the loss of his houses and furniture.

The Estates Commissioners have no information as to the matters of fact alleged in the first part of the Question. The owner has given his consent to an inspection of the holding formerly occupied by Hannigan, and this will be carried out in due course by the inspector for the district, and the claims of the evicted tenant reported on.

I beg to to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether an offer has been made to or negotiations opened up with the Estates Commissioners by Mr. J. D. O'Connor, Ballagh House, Roscommon, for the sale of a portion of his estate in the parish of Kilgefin; and whether, before coming to any decision, the Commissioners will consider the necessity of having included in the sale the entire of the tenanted and untenanted land on the estate.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they are unable to trace any proceedings in respect of the sale of the estate in question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the estate of Sir N. R. O'Conor, situate near Roscommon, was sold in February, 1905, to the tenants on the understanding that a farm known as Tangalee would be divided amongst them, and that this condition has not been fulfilled; and whether he will explain the cause of delay.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the agreements for purchase lodged in connection with the sale of this estate include agreements for the purchase of nine holdings in Tanlagee, The lands comprised in the originating application for the sale of the estate include 162 acres in Tanlagee, which it is proposed to sell to the Estates Commissioners as untenanted land. The estate has not yet been dealt with, but the Commissioners will consider the question of the enlargement of small holdings when the untenanted land is being disposed of.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether a settlement has been arrived at for the reinstatement of Patrick M'Carthy in his farm on the Carbery estate, at present in the occupation of Arthur Deane, J.P.; how many evicted farms are occupied by Arthur Deane or his father, B. B. Deane; has the inspector visited those farms; and, if so, with what result.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that a settlement of the case referred to in the Question has not yet been arrived at. The Commissioners have had the case of Patrick M'Carthy and the holding formerly occupied by him reported on by one of their inspectors. This report will shortly come before them for consideration. The Commissioners have no information as to how many evicted farms are at present occupied by Mr. Arthur Deane or his father.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what is the total number of assistant teachers (male and female) in Irish national schools; their initial and average salaries; the number who have given ten years service and are classed second grade under the old rules; the estimated additional sum which would be required to give those teachers present second grade salary and increments; and whether he will state the average salary paid to Scotch assistant teachers.

I am informed by the Commissioners of National Education that on December 31st, 1905, the number of assistant teachers employed in national schools was 4,338, namely 1,219 male and 3,119 female teachers. The initial salaries of these teachers, respectively, are £56 and £44 per annum, with the addition in each case of the residual capitation grant. Their average salaries, including residual capitation grant, are £73 13s. 10d. and £58 7s. 9d., respectively. The numbers who have had ten years service and are classed second grade are 265 and 745 respectively. The Commissioners estimate that the sum required to provide minimum second grade salaries for all assistants who are receiving less salaries would for the first year be between £8,000 and £9,000. For succeeding years the charge would be an increasing one, but the ultimate amount could not be estimated without an actuarial calculation. According to the latest published returns, the salaries of Scotch assistant teachers are, for men, £120 11s. 8d., and for women, £73 8s. 8d.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state what action the Irish Government propose to take with reference to insolvent property in the Land Judge's Court for sale, but which the Land Judge refuses to sell at the value ascertained by competent inspectors on behalf of the Estates Commissioners.

I understand that under all the Land Purchase Acts affecting estates in the Land Judge's Court the Land Judge is the supreme determining authority, both in case of solvent and insolvent estates, as to the price. The learned Judge informs me that he arrives at his decision in each case after hearing evidence on both sides, and that there are very few cases in which he has been unable to come to terms with the Land Commission, He has in several cases, under Section 40 of the Land Act of 1896, lowered the purchase price suggested by the Commissioners.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the clothing of the Royal Irish Constabulary is not of Irish manufacture, either with respect to material or workmanship; whether, in view of the development of manufactures in Ireland, some consideration will be shown hem in respect to the cloth required for such uniforms; and why are they not invited to tender.

It is the fact that cloth of English or Scotch manufacture was used in the clothing which is now being worn by the Royal Irish Constabulary, but the materials have for several years past been made up by Irish tailoring firms. Irish manufacturers have invariably been invited to tender for the supply of cloth required by the Constabulary, and an experiment is now being made with the object of ascertaining whether Irish manufacturers can supply cloth in all respects fitted for the clothing of the Force.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, seeing that since the death of Archdeacon McCarthy, the evicted farm in Castleventry, Clonakilty, of which he was nominal owner, is now in the hands of the landlord, an inspector has yet visited the farm for the purpose of reinstating Patrick Donovan, the evicted tenant; and, if not, will pressure be brought on the Estates Commissioners to get this farm immediately inspected.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have not yet been able to have the case of Patrick Donovan inquired into by an inspector, but that the case, together with others in the same county, will be taken up at the earliest opportunity.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will press upon the Estates Commissioners the necessity of reinstating the evicted tenants of West Clare before next autumn, in order to give them an opportunity of being able to prepare their land for the spring tillage.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they intend to make inquiries into the cases of evicted tenants in County Clare as soon as possible.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to recognise the extreme urgency of this question, as only ten out of some hundreds of evicted tenants have so far been restored to their holdings.

I am sure the Commissioners are fully alive to the urgency of the matter and will act as quickly as possible.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if it is within the scope of the instructions to the Committee at present inquiring into the working of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ireland, to inquire into the transactions of the Boards of Fishery Conservators, or any one of such boards, for the years 1902, 1903, and 1906 to date.

The Committee was appointed to inquire into the working of the Department. The transactions referred to would not appear to fall within the reference of the Committee, unless and in so far as they wore in some way connected with the working of the Department.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Merchants Quay, Kilrush, was the property of the ratepayers of the county of Clare prior to 1846, and that in 1846 the late Colonel Vandeleur got permission to extend the quay for the public benefit under the Act of 9 Vic, cap. 3, agreeing that it would still be the property of the Crown; and, seeing that the late Colonel Vandeleur did not complete the extension, and in view of its present condition, whether he will take steps to have the quay given over to the county council as representatives of the ratepayers.

The question of the ownership of the Merchants Quay, Kilrush, has recently been the subject of legal proceedings in which the Attorney-General for Ireland, on behalf of the Crown, was joined as a defendant. Judgment was given by the Master of the Rolls in Ireland, declaring the plaintiff, Colonel Vandeleur, entitled to the quay, and this judgment has been affirmed by the Court of Appeal. The Law Officers are at present considering the advisability of further appealing to the House of Lords. It is not in my power to have the quay given over to the county council as suggested by the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Estates Commissioners intend restoring William Kennedy, an evicted tenant, to the holding of land formerly occupied by his parents at Plover Hill, Lorrha, county Tipperary, on the Trench estate, the farm, at present, being in the possession of the agent, Mr. W. J. Trench, who is a brother of the landlord, and who owns some one thousand acres of land in the same locality as the evicted farm.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they hope to make inquiries shortly into the case referred to in the Question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now state whether it has been decided to discontinue the periodical Returns of alleged agrarian outrages in Ireland, in view of the fact that no such Returns are issued in regard to England, Scotland, or Wales.

It is not intended to continue the presentation of these Returns.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will say how many evicted tenants have been reinstated in West Cavan; how many are in process of being restored to their old holdings; have the Estates Commissioners purchased any untenanted land, or are they negotiating for same; and, if so, will he give the approximate figures.

According to the Estates Commissioners' Returns, 19 evicted tenants have been reinstated in the County Cavan, and seven other cases are in process of settlement. The Commissioners have not yet purchased any untenanted land in the county, but have made an offer for 275 acres.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication of the price offered to the landlord and why he refused to sell.

I have no information as to that.

You ought to have.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state what is the cause of delay in putting through the sale of the J. H. Ingham Estate, county Cavan; is he aware that in August 1904 an agreenent was perfected to reinstate Patrick M'Connell, the evicted tenant; and whether, in view of the fact that a friend of the evicted tenant has paid to vendor's solicitor the difference between the sum applied for, £475, and the amount the Commissioners agreed to advance, £435, he will see that there is no unnecessary delay in the matter.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the advances in respect of the sale of this estate were sanctioned on 26th January last. The intervening time has been taken up with legal matters in connection with the title, and as soon as these are settled the advances will be made. The facts as to the case of Patrick Connell are as stated in the Question. I feel sure that there will be no needless delay on the Commissioners' part.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that John Mannion, Clonaderg, Athlone, caused an originating notice to fix a fair rent to be served on his landlord, Colonel Williams, now four years ago; will he say why this case has not yet been dealt with; are there any restrictions preventing the Land Commission Courts from doing a full day's work in court; and do such restrictions also apply to the lay Commissioners, who systematically only value one or two farms per day.

I am informed by the Land Commission that the case of John Mannion cannot be traced on their register of outstanding applications to fix fair rents, but the Commissioners are making further inquiries in the matter. There are no restrictions of the nature indicated in the latter part of the Question. Assistant Commissioners are bound, under the conditions of their appointment, to give their entire time to the service of the Land Commission.

How many days do they sit?

I believe they give their whole working time to the service of the Commission.

Oh ! you believe !

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number of evicted tenants in the Birr Division of King's County who have applied to be restored; in how many cases have rein statements taken place or other suitable farms have been supplied; and what quantity, if any, of untenanted land has been purchased in this division by the Estates Commissioners.

I am informed by the Estates Commissioners that they have received applications from eighty-four persons claiming reinstatement as evicted tenants in the King's County. Of these, five have already been restored by the owners. The Commissioners have purchased some 239 acres of untenanted land in this county, and are in negotiation for the purchase of nearly 5,000 acres more.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will say by whom, or acting on whose authority, was the petty sessions book signed in the name of the hon. Member for the Birr Division at Moystown petty sessions in April last; and in view of the fact that the order in one of the cases was varied subsequent to the courts adjourning, will he grant a full inquiry into the matter.

I am informed that the name of the hon. Member was entered in the petty session order book by the clerk of petty sessions. If the magistrates themselves do not enter their names in the book, the clerk is empowered and directed to do so, and in the present instance the hon. Member does not appear to have entered his name. The granting of time to find bail was not part of the formal order of the court, and the order therefore was not varied. I am informed that the hon. Member himself was opposed to the granting of time for the defendant to find the necessary sureties. The other two magistrates, however, gave the defendant three days in which to do so, and subsequently extended this time until May 10th. The hon. Member bad left the court when this extension was granted. The defendant has since given the required bail. I have no power to order an inquiry into any matter concerning the judicial action of magistrates.

If three judges sat in the Court of the Kings Bench in Ireland and made an order, would two of them be allowed to vary it after the other one had left.

Possibly there has been some irregularity, but I gather that no substantial injustice has been caused, although, no doubt, it would appear from the book that the hon. Member had been a party to proceedings which he did not approve.

You say no injustice has been done. But it is the work of the magistrates, who would not give a tenant a single hour's grace.

How does the right hon. Gentleman justify this irregularity?

Not having seen the order book I cannot say exactly what has been done.

Will the right hon. Gentleman grant a Royal Commission to inquire into this matter? The allegation is that after the court was up and the magistrates had dispersed, two of them went back and varied an order which had been entered in the order book. That is a manifest irregularity, and I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will have full inquiry made into the circumstances.

I do not know exactly what did happen. I rather gather the court continued after the hon. Member had left.

I asked the clerk if there was any more business, as is usual in petty sessions, and was informed there was not, so I left.

I have never sat in petty sessions, and am not acquainted with the practice.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry?

If the hon. Gentleman can, of his own knowledge, send me facts on which I can address an inquiry to the other magistrates I will see if I can get to the bottom of the matter.

Is not the easiest solution of this difficulty to be found in the appointment of another Royal Commission?

Is not this the case concerning emergency men who in the the gaiety of their hearts went through the country firing revolvers?

I have no information as to that.

Then you ought to have.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Major Woods, Longwood, county Meath, has lodged purchase agreements between himself and his tenants with the Estates Commissioners, and that one tenant, Lawrence Hope, is being excluded from the sale; and whether the Commissioners will satisfy themselves, through their inspector, as to the grounds, and their validity, on which Major Woods refuses to sell to this one tenant.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the name of Lawrence Hope appears as a judicial tenant in the schedule of tenancies lodged in respect of the sale of Major Woods' estate, but that no agreement for purchase by Hope has yet been lodged. The circumstances under which Hope has not signed an agreement for the purchase of his holding will be fully inquired into when the other holdings on the estate are being inspected.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will say when the Report of the Inspector of Lunacy in Ireland as to the number of returned emigrants now inmates in Irish asylums will be published.

The Inspectors of Lunatic Asylums inform mo that their annual Report for last year, which will contain information on the point referred to in the Question, will be presented before the termination of the session, but they are unable to fix a precise date.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the case of the dismissal of Cornelius O'Callaghan, Cloonkeen, Leap, county Cork; whether he is aware that O'Callaghan taught for twenty-nine years without any record against him, and that though his manager wrote for an investigation into the sickness that prevailed amongst the children before the annual examination of 1904 this was refused; and, seeing that for the unsatisfactory answering of the pupils in this one year O'Callaghan was got rid of after twenty-nine years' faithful service without either pension or gratuity of any kind, whether he will order a full inquiry into the whole facts of this case without further delay.

I beg to refer to my reply to the hon. Member's previous Question of the 27th March.† I then stated, on the authority of the Commissioners of National Education, that in 1904, and for a series of years previously, the reports on Mr. O'Callaghan's work were of an extremely unfavourable character, and that he had been repeatedly censured and once fined. The Commissioners now inform me that there were, between 1879 and 1904, eleven unfavourable records against this teacher, all on account of inefficiency and the unsatisfactory progress made by his school. I have no power to interfere with the decision of the Commissioners who inform me that they do not intend to re-open the case.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what is the total amount of rates levied in all Ireland in the year ended March 31st, 1905, for railway and harbour guarantees; the total amount contributed in relief of those rates from the local taxation account; the amount levied in Kerry for the same period for the same purpose; and the amount that would be required to pay the whole of such rate in all Ireland over 6d. in the £, and over 9d. in the £.

† See (4) Debates, cliv., 1082.

It would not be possible for the Local Government Board to give the information asked for in the first part of this Question without obtaining. Returns from all local authorities concerned. The total amount contributed in relief of rates for railway and harbour guarantees from the local taxation account in respect of the year ending March 31st, 1905, was £12,524 19s. 11d. The net amount levied in county Kerry for the same purposes during the year ended March 31st, 1905, was £11,932 4s. 8d., deduction having been made of the amount of refund under Section 58 of the Local Government Act of 1898. The information asked for in the concluding part of the Question cannot be stated with accuracy, as some of the counties concerned have not yet sent in claims for refund in respect of the year in question; but as regards the counties from which applications have been received, the sum required to pay the full amount of such charges over 6d. in the £ would be £25,049 19s. 10d., and the sum required to pay the full amount over 9d.. in the £ would be £15,449 19s. 10d.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Kerry pays more in the shape of these guarantees than the whole of the rest of Ireland?

I have not the figures before me.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he can give an assurance that the sub-post office at Bangor will be properly equipped for telegraph, postal orders, and telephone service.

The new town sub-office which it is proposed to open in or near Ballymagee Street will be properly equipped from the first for the transaction of money order, postal order, and savings bank business; the question of the provision of a telegraph of a telephone service there must stand over until experience has shown what the requirements are in that direction.

Then is the right hon. Gentleman going to wait and see what the volume of business is at the office?

I am going to wait and see what the requirements of the locality are likely to be.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he is aware of the fact that the manager of the Cavan and Leitrim Light Railway Company took out a special train on or about 25th September, 1905, without the staff; that a special train was required to Mohill, and the manager of the railway sent the company's motor trolley, accompanied by two men, for the staff, and, before they returned, the manager allowed the train to proceed on its journey, stating that he would be responsible; that the train ran down the motor trolley on its return with the staff severely injuring one of the men in it; and whether, seeing that the motor trolley was injured to the extent of £70, will the manager of the railway pay this £70, or will the ratepayers in the guaranteeing area have to pay it; and will the Board of Works, for the future prevent a repetition of the offence occurring.

An accident of the nature described occurred on the 20th October last near Ballinamore on the Cavan and Leitrim Railway with the result that one of the men riding on the trolley concerned in the accident was slightly injured, and the trolley itself was damaged, but not to any great extent. The question of the manner in which the cost of the repairs will be borne is not for the Board of Trade to decide, but it will be pointed out to the railway company that this accident was due to a breach of the rules adopted by the railway companies for train staff working. The reference to the Board of Works in the conclusion of the hon. Member's Question was probably intended to relate to the Board of Trade, but I am sending a copy of the Question and my reply to the Treasury as representing the Board of Works.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister if he can promise that before any hostilities are commenced in reference to the Egyptian frontier dispute, this House will be afforded an opportunity of discussing the matter.

The answer to this Question is superseded by the important news announced yesterday.