I bog to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any, and, if so, what portion of the cost of conveyance of mails to and from Canada is homo by this country.

I have to refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by the Postmaster-General to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Galway on the 12th of March last.‡

Is the hon Gentleman aware that for thirty years the steamers in this service have called at Moville or some other Irish port in order to land or receive mails, but that under the new contract no Irish port is to be called at?

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

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a statement by Mr. Seddon, that communications which have passed between the Colonial Office and the Australasian Governments on the question of Australasian alien legislation show a tendency on the part of the British Government to question the right of the Australian Governments to control immigration; whether any communications of this character have come from the British Government; and whether it will be freely recognised by the Colonial Office that Australasia is fully entitled to legislate as may seem proper to Australasians on the question of immigration.

the secretary of State's attention has been drawn to Press reports of statements by Mr. Seddon to the effect referred to by the hon. Member; but if these reports are correct Mr. Seddon is mistaken in supposing that the secretary of State is pursuing a policy on the subject of immigration into Australasia which differs in the smallest degree from that outlined in the proceedings of the Colonial Conference of 1897, and consistently observed both by the right hon. Member for West Birmingham and Mr. Lyttelton. The secretary of State has every reason to believe that the Australasian Governments fully recognise that the question of immigration has a direct bearing on the external relations of these Colonies, and he has no doubt that their Governments will continue in the future, as they have done in the past, to give full weight to the views of His Majesty's Government.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the danger to the lives and property of British subjects in the Transvaal caused by the crimes of the Chinese coolies imported for the gold mines, and the admitted inability of the Transvaal Government to maintain law and order, His Majesty's Government will appeal to the mining companies not to import more Chinese coolies into the Colony.

The secretary of State does not accept the statement that the Transvaal Government are unable to maintain law and order. On the contrary, Lord Selborne has telegraphed that he hopes to effect a complete cure.

Is the hon. Member aware that Lord Selborne stated that, owing to the failure of the police to protect subjects from the outrages of the coolies, it would be necessary to serve out rifles to every white man within a radius of ten miles of the Rand? Is that maintaining law and order?

The statement I have read out is Lord Selborne's most recent declaration.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the increasing number of outrages by Chinese coolies in the Transvaal, His Majesty's Government will consider the wisdom of repeating the suggestion made to the High Commissioner by the late Secretary of State for the Colonies, that it would be good policy for the mine-owners voluntarily to stop importation for the next six months.

The importation under the licences valid at the time His Majesty's Government assumed office and under which alone further importation was permitted to take place are believed to be now nearly exhausted, and the secretary of State does not therefore think that the suggestion of the hon. Member could have any practical effect.

How many licences are there outstanding?

I cannot give the exact figures.

I beg to ask the secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he expects to be in a position to lay upon the Table the terms of the Convention between Great Britain and China which was signed at Pekin on April 27th; and whether he proposes to present Papers on the subject.

Provision is made in the Convention for the exchange of ratification within three months of signature, and as soon as it is ratified the Convention will be presented to Parliament. It docs not seem necessary to lay any other Papers on the subject.

On behalf of the hon. Member for the Woodstock Division of Oxfordshire I beg to ask the secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the evidence laid before the Congo Commission of Inquiry, which is in the possession of His Majesty's Government, is not in the hands of Members of this House, and, further, that Consul Mackie was specially instructed to attend the sittings of the Commission, His Majesty's Government will reconsider their refusal and make this evidence accessible to Members.

Before answering the Question, will the hon. Gentleman be good enough to inform the House whether it is not the fact that the non-publication of the evidence laid before the Congo Com mission of Inquiry was due to the express wish of that Commission itself, as recorded in its Report, and consequently that the withholding of this evidence is in no way due to the action of the Congo Government?

, on a point of order, asked whether this Question, affecting a Sovereign State over which this country had no control whatever, was the kind of (Question that ought to be put in the House.

Considering what has already been sanctioned I with regard to the suppression of the Natal rebellion, has this country any justification for interfering?

We do occasionally have Questions relating to affairs of another Sovereign State put in this House. For instance, Questions relating to Turkey and Macedonia are constantly put. Therefore I cannot rule the Question out of order.

I cannot answer the Supplementary Questions without notice. Mr. Mackie was not able to join the Commis- sion until February 4th, 1905, and was consequently not present at any of the sittings held in the districts which had boon the scene of the abuses reported to the late Government. His report of the evidence taken at the three sittings at which he was present subsequent to that date does not contain information of sufficient importance to justify its publication by itself.

Perhaps the Government will now furnish to the Belgian Government an explanation of its conduct in the Transvaal.

I beg to ask the secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have reason to believe that one of the charges brought against the Reverend Edgar Stannard in the Upper Congo is that of having referred in a published letter to the evidence laid before the Congo Commission of Inquiry regarding the administration of the official by whom Mr. Stannard is now being prosecuted; and if His Majesty's Government will ensure that that evidence, publicly tendered in open Court, will be accessible to Mr. Stannard for his defence?

The Papers which I have received on the subject do not enable me to give a definite opinion as to the exact nature of the charges brought against Mr. Stannard. It is not in the power of His Majesty's Government to ensure that the evidence referred to in the latter part of the Question shall be accessible to Mr. Stannard, but if Vice-Consul Armstrong reports that Mr. Stannard is prejudiced in his trial by inability to obtain access to documents which are in the possession of the prosecution, representations will at once be addressed to the Congo Government.

I beg to ask the secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the meeting of the second Hague Conference has been definitely postponed till 1907.

The date has not been definitely postponed till 1907, but it is not fixed yet.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether in the amended Unemployed Workmen's Act, promised in the King's Speech this year, it is intended to incorporate provisions for afforestation, sea coast erosion, reclamation of waste lands, improvement of the port and docks of London, the acquirement of land for farm colony purposes, and the co-ordination of the relief works of local authorities; and further, whether provisions will be incorporated in the amending Bill to make a charge on the National Exchequer for the purposes named.

I am afraid that I cannot give any intimation as to what the provisions of the Bill will be.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the clerks to health authorities in England and Wales carry out the duty imposed on them by Section 8 of the Vaccination Act, 1898, and register the condition as to vaccination of all small-pox patients treated in hospitals maintained by such authorities; and, if so, whether the omissions of medical men to enter in the death certificates relating to such deaths the vaccinal status of 308 out of 507 deaths from small-pox, as recorded in the 67th Report of the Registrar-General for 1904, can be rectified by reference to the aforesaid registers so as to show accurately how many of the deaths recorded by the Registrar-General were deaths of vaccinated persons.

So far as I am aware the records required by the section are usually kept. But a reference to them would not show the vaccinal status of all the persons mentioned in the Registrar-General's Report as having died from small-pox. The section only relates to small-pox hospitals maintained by sanitary authorities, and it is known that in a considerable number of cases the deaths did not occur in these hospitals.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will consider the advisability of altering the regulation at present in force in regard to certifying the school attendance of children of parents who are in receipt of Poor Law relief, so as to avoid the stigma of pauperism which now attaches to such children by the necessity of their obtaining a teacher's signature to an attendance card issued by the guardians as a condition of the continuance of relief to their parents.

The practice referred to is not prescribed by any regulations of the Local Government Board, but has been adopted in order to facilitate the carrying out of Section 40 of the Elementary Education Act, 1876, which requires that the provision of education to a child shall be a condition of the continuance of outdoor relief to the parent. I have, however, already drawn the attention of my right hon. friend the President of the Board of Education to the matter, and I hope that this section will be repealed and not re-enacted by the Education (Consolidation) Bill now before the House. The arrangement mentioned in the question would then cease.

I bog to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the number of men and women starving throughout the country, in consequence of their being unemployed, and in view of the proved inadequacy of the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, he will send out a circular of instruction, similar to that sent out by the President of the Local Government Board in 1886, calling upon the local authorities to at once put in hand public works of utility in order to meet the public need, as represented by the unemployed workers.

The circular referred to was issued at a time of very exceptional distress which was partly due to weather of long continued severity. We have now reached a season of the year which is favourable to employment, and, according to the latest information, employment on the whole appears to be improving. I cannot say I think it desirable to issue now a circular of the kind suggested.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that distress to-day is just as bad as it was in 1886, when that circular was issued?

I am glad I cannot confirm the hon. Member in that statement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are no fewer than 5,000 men now registered as being unemployed in the borough of West Ham alone?

I do not know.

Are there not 6,000 more people receiving Poor Law relief than there were two years ago?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the state of the building trade is more deplorable now than it has been for the last fifteen years?

I am glad to say that the condition of the building trade is improving rapidly. It is not so bad as it was at the period mentioned by the hon. Member for West Ham, and everything shows a disposition of the building trade to join that prosperity which I am glad to say is becoming general with the bulk of trades.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a few days ago 10,000 men demonstrated their need of employment in London alone? Is not that a sufficient reason for issuing the circular asked for?

No. I consider that you do harm to the districts when circulars which should only be issued on exceptional occasions are issued regularly. In fact, the issue of these circulars with regularity rather defeats the object which all of us have in view.

When was the last re-issue of the circular in question?

When the President of the Local Government Board made that famous speech in 1886 he stated himself that the re were about 5,000,000 of people on the verge of starvation, and the present Prime Minister a few weeks ago said that there wore 13,000,000 of people on the verge of starvation.

I never said it.

It was reported at the time.

The hon. Member's statement with regard to myself is equally incorrect.

I have the evidence to prove it in my pocket.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can issue annually a report, giving particulars as to value, etc., of the various imports and exports of Ireland in each year.

There is no objection to publishing an Annual Return, if desired, showing the direct trade of Ireland with places abroad. If, however, it is desired to include trade between Ireland and Great Britain, I regret that the information is not available I understand that the Irish Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction intend to publish some information as to the cross-channel trade which they have procured through harbour and port authorities, but that this relates to quantities only.

The reports published annually by the Board of Trade do not give any indication whatever of the trade of Ireland either with England or other countries; cannot something be done to let Ireland know how she stands in the matter?

I will inquire.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Customs authorities could afford very great facilities to the Board of Trade if instructed to do so?

Probably they can. We will see what can be done.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been directed to the fact that in anticipation of a mooting advertised to be held in Paisley on Tuesday, May 8th, for the purpose of organising a trade union amongst their female employees, and with a view to coercing their employees not to become trade unionists, Messrs. J. and P. Coats, Limited, the proprietors of the British Sowing Thread Trust, circulated on Friday, May 4th, and Saturday, May 5th, in the Scotch newspapers, a paragraph announcing their intention of abandoning the extension of the Ferguslie Thread Works, plans of which had passed the Dean of Guild Court, and to establish the new mill in a foreign country; whether he has made any representations to Messrs. J. and P. Coats, Limited, on the subject; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

Messrs. J. and P. Coats, Limited, inform me that they are considering the question of erecting a new mill abroad in continuance of a long established policy, and I understand that a projected extension of a mill at Paisley may be abandoned. The company deny the accuracy of the statements in the question as to the reasons for their action. The matter is not one with regard to which the Board of Trade have any jurisdiction.

Is the hon. Member aware that Messrs. J. and P. Coats themselves circulated the statement that they resented outside interference, and that outside interference consisted of calling meetings of their employees?

Messrs. Coats deny that statement.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that four persons were killed in the Walworth Road and many others injured by motor 'buses in the week ending May 12th; and will he consider the devising of some measure whereby this new mode of traffic may be so controlled as to avoid danger to the public.

The Hon. Member appears to have been misinformed, for I understand that there was no fatal accident in the Walworth Road in the week ending May 12th, and only one case of slight personal injury caused by motor omnibuses, came to the knowledge of the Police during that or the preceding week. In the week ending the 5th instant, there were two fatal accidents caused by motor omnibuses in the Walworth Road.

I beg to ask the secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in a number of cases tried at the quarter sessions for the county of Carmarthen, on January 5th last, the Treasury instructed a local solicitor to brief a Kings Counsel to prosecute; whether he is aware that the prosecution in such cases was for intimidation arising out of a trade dispute; and whether he will state the circumstances which made it advisable for the Treasury to intervene.

replied that the Director of Public Prosecutions, to whose Department the Question referred had informed him he was urged by the local police to take up the prosecution mentioned in the Question and declined to do so, but he authorised the employment of a K.C., in order to ensure that the prosecution should lie in the hands of counsel of experience and standing, who might, if he thought proper, withdraw it. The implication in the Question that the Public Prosecutor was animated by some desire to ensure a conviction, was unfounded and entirely contrary to the fact.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the recently issued Report of the Scottish Congested Districts Board, in which is contained a special Report of the experiment, carried out by the "Pioneer," of using a motor as an auxiliary for fishing boats, and to the statement on page 24 that the experiment will be continued in the present year, so that the boat may, as far as possible, be in evidence whore the fishermen are busiest; and whether the Irish Congested Districts Board or the Department of Agriculture will carry out a similar experiment on the West Coast of Ireland.

I beg to refer to the reply which I gave yesterday to the similar Question of the hon. Member for West Kerry† The Department of Agriculture have already made a loan for the installation of a motor engine in a fishing boat. If the result should prove satisfactory the Department are prepared to issue further loans for the purpose, and to provide instruction in suitable cases. The Congested Districts Board are also watching the experiments which are being made, and in the meantime do not intend to take any action.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what were the original purposes to which the money standing to the credit of the Fines and Penalties Office, Dublin, was to be applied; whether, seeing that under the Local Government Act, 1898, county councils are bound, out of the local rates, to provide, maintain, pay rent for, and furnish with all necessary requisites county and other court houses, for use by the tribunals from whose proceedings these fines and penalties are imposed, if the allocation of this money, now amounting to £170,250, is being considered, the claims of the county councils will be entertained to have the money applied to recoup past expenditure and to relieve the rates in future from the expenditure of maintaining court and session houses; and if he is aware that the charge on the County Council of Queen's County under this head amounts to £414.

According to the existing statutes, the purposes to which the funds standing to the credit of the Registrar of Petty Sessions Clerks Department are to be applied include the payment of the salaries and pensions of potty sessions clerks and the head-quarters staff, the audit of accounts, and generally the expenses incurred in carrying out the Fines (Ireland) Act, 1851, and the Petty Sessions Clerks (Ireland) Act, 1858. It is not proposed to allocate any portion of these funds for the purpose mentioned in the Question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, in reference to the appointment of Mr. Wilkinson to an office in the Irish Land Commission at a salary of £300 per annum, if he will explain why, if there arose a necessity for such an office, the position was not given to one of the staff, seeing that the bringing in of strangers and placing them in high positions over the heads of officers with long service retards promotion; was not one of the staff qualified to fill this post; is there a rule that each clerk employed must pass the Civil Service examination; if so, will he say if Mr. Wilkinson passed or gave any proof of qualification except a recommendation from a land agent's office; and will he say what was the date of the appointment, and the name of the land agent's or other office where he was formerly employed.

I am informed by the Land Commission that before this appointment was made the qualifications and merits of the existing staff were fully considered, and that in selecting Mr. Wilkinson to fill the post regard was had to the work to be performed and the efficiency of the public service. Mr. Wilkinson is not a permanent civil servant, and consequently he was not required to obtain a civil service certificate. He was appointed on December 15th, 1905, and prior to his appointment was employed in the office of Messrs. J. R. Stewart & Sons, Land Agents, Dublin.

Does the right hon. Gentleman officially sanction this flagrant job?

I am not aware that the facts justify that description.

Of whom in this office is Mr. Wilkinson a poor relation?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what is the total cost per annum of the Crimes Branch of the Royal Irish Constabulary, what is the total amount of salary and allowances given to the county inspector, the district inspector, the sergeant and constables at head quarters and the thirty-seven men attached to this branch of the service; what is the special duty which they are charged with discharging; will he lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the Reports supplied under this head of service; does their work mainly consist in attending and reporting Nationalist meetings, shadowing and reporting on the actions of Nationalist representatives and local leaders, and the proceedings generally of the Nationalist organisation; and whether, in view of the crimeless state of Ireland, as testified by official Returns and the charges delivered by the several judges of Assizes, will the Government discontinue this branch of the service and apply the money so wasted to some useful purpose.

The total amount of the salaries and allowances of the officers and men of the Crimes Branch is £5,800. The work of the Branch consists of criminal investigation. It would be entirely contrary to practice to lay upon the Table copies of reports made by the police for the information of the Inspector-General. It is no part of the duty of the Branch to attend and report upon Nationalist meetings, or to engage in the other operations mentioned. I have already informed the hon. Member that it is deemed necessary to continue the branch.

asked if this £5,800 was charged against the secret Service Fund or on the constabulary vote.

asked for notice.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland can he state, with reference to the Statement on page 118 of the recently issued Report of the Irish Department of Agriculture, how many prosecutions were instituted by associations of Irish manufactures against dealers who sold, as Irish manufacture, articles not manufactured in Ireland; how many of these prosecutions were instituted in Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales respectively; how many were successful and how many unsuccessful; and can he state how many of these associations of Irish manufacturers are in existence.

The cases referred to were these in which proceedings were instituted by the Belfast Flax Spinners' Association and the Bacon Curers' Association of Great Britain and Ireland against traders in England for applying false trade descriptions to certain goods. The information upon which the statement in the Report was based was mainly derived from reports that appeared from time to time in the public Press. At least six prosecutions were undertaken by the Belfast Spinners' Association, and convictions were obtained in four cases. The total number of prosecutions instituted by the Bacon Curers' Association for the sale of American bacon as Irish is not definitely known. In two cases which came under notice convictions were obtained. The Department understand that these associations are still in existence.

Why is the onus of initiating prosecution thrown on the poor manufacturer? Why did not the Government undertake it?

The functions of the Government in this matter are limited by statute, and I presume it has no power to initiate prosecutions.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will now lay upon the Table of the House the correspondence which passed between the Government and the senate of the Royal University with reference to the disorderly and disloyal proceedings at the last conferment of degrees, together with the minutes of the senate in reference to this matter, and the opinion of the Irish Law Officers of the Crown; and whether he will state what steps the senate of the Royal University are taking to prevent further manifestations of disloyalty.

The senate of the Royal University have directed the preparation of a statement of the proceedings in reference to this matter, and when that has been received, the question of laying it and the correspondence upon the Table will be considered. I have already stated that it is not the practice to lay upon the Table the opinions of Law Officers. I am informed that the senate have directed the preparation of such statutes and regulations as may be necessary to provide the means of enforcing academic discipline and punishing academic misconduct.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is yet in a position to announce the name of the successor to the Earl of Meath in the Chancellorship of the Royal University of Ireland; and if not, if lie will state the reason for the delay in making this appointment.

This subject has received full consideration, and an announcement regarding it will, I trust, be made within a few days.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the number of cases of boycotting, intimidation, shooting outrages, and malicious destruction of property reported to the Irish Constabulary during the months of January, February, and March, this year; and the number of arrests made, prosecutions instituted, and convictions obtained as the result of their investigation of these cases.

The Inspector-General informs me that in the period mentioned there were eight cases of boycotting. The number of cases of intimidation, exclusive of threatening letters, was six; and in one of these cases the accused was arrested, prosecuted, and convicted the number of cases of firing at the person and into dwelling houses was fourteen. Eight of the offenders were arrested and prosecuted; three of these were convicted and one committed suicide. There were eighty-one cases of malicious-destruction of property, including incendiary fires. Sixteen persons were arrested and five summoned, making twenty-one prosecuted; seventeen of these were convicted, one died, one is a waiting trial, and two were discharged.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the claim put forward by the General Council of the County Councils of Ireland that the Department of Agriculture shall be totally separated from the English Government and be nominated by the General Council of Irish Councils, and be answerable to and under its control, he will inquire into the history and present composition of the Nationalist organisation making this claim, whose right to speak for the whole of the Irish councils has been formally repudiated by most of the county councils in the North of Ireland.

My time is so fully occupied by urgent Questions of practical moment that I cannot spare any for the historical investigation upon which the hon. Member invites me to enter.

The investigation can hardly be considered historical, as it would only go back a few months.

I used the hon. Gentleman's own words in describing it.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the fact that the Mill holding at Ardara, county Donegal, for years in the possession of the Evans family, was taken possession of by the landlord, by whom the tentant, Mr. Evans, was evicted through inability to pay the rent in 1885, the offers of settlement made by the tenant short of payment of the full rent and the costs being refused by the landlord, although two attempts of the tenant to dispose of the holding by auction failed; whether he is aware that this holding remained vacant till October, 1904, when a petty sessions clerk, named Hugh Kennedy, was put into possession by Mr. Tredennick, the landlord, at a nominal rent; and whether having regard to the fact that the former tenant, on the passing of the Land Act of 1896, made an application for reinstatement, and has now made application to the Estates Commissioners for reinstatement, steps will be taken to secure the reinstatement of Mr. Evans in this holding.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have received an application for reinstatement as an evicted tenant from Mr. John Evans, who states that in 1885 he was evicted from a corn and flax mill, with house and one and a half acres of land on the estate referred to. The Commissioners have no further information in the matter, bat it does not appear to them that the holding in question is one to which the Land Law Acts apply, and the case would not, therefore, come within the provisions of Section 2 of the Act of 1903. In reply to a further question as to whether this case could not be brought under the definition section Mr. Bryce said it was a question of law and the Estates Commissioners had apparently decided that the case was not one they could deal with.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application from the tenants on the Leahy estate at Aghatubrid, near Cahirciveen, requesting that an inquiry should be held before the sale is sanctioned; and, if so, whether immediate steps will be taken to comply with this request, in view of the terms set out in that application.

the Estates Commissioners inform me that they have received the memorial referred to, and have informed the memorialists that the matter mentioned in the memorial will be duly considered by the Commissioners when dealing with the estate.

Will the inquiry be instituted immediately?

I gather so

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the value of foreign bacon, beef, and mutton imported into Ireland during the year 1905.

The particulars for the year 1905 are not yet available. It is estimated by the Department of Agriculture that in the year 1904 the value of the articles mentioned imported into Ireland were, approximately, as follows:—Bacon and hams, £1,035,000; beef, £80,000; mutton, £22,000. It is possible that, in addition, certain quantities of bacon, beef, and mutton were shipped into the country under the general heading of "provisions." The figures given represent imports both from foreign countries direct and from Great Britain. It is impossible, however, to determine accurately the amount of these imports which is of foreign origin, because many of the imports into Ireland from foreign countries come l>y way of Great Britain.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary I to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether an inspector of the Land Commission, named W. H. Kyle, has visited the tenants of the Fitzwilliam estate, county Wicklow, warning them that if they will not accept the landlord's terms of purchase they will lose their chance of buying their holdings; and, if so, will he take steps to prevent such persons from trying to force tenants to purchase their holdings at excessive prices.

I am informed by the Estates Commissioners that they have received a report from the inspector named, stating that he gave no such warning as is mentioned in the first part of the Question, and neither felt nor showed any partiality. In the course of his inspection he suggested to the tenants who had not signed purchase agreements, that they should endeavour to come to terms with the vendor at a price which they could accept, in order that the sale of the estate might be completed without delay. In reply to a further question the right hon. Gentleman said he believed that in some cases the Inspector recommended a reduction of the price.

He went a good deal further than that.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that not a single evicted tenant has been reinstated on the Warden estate, at Sneem; and can he state by whom the information was supplied that twenty-five evicted tenants had been reinstated.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that originally the landlord agreed to sell some 2,000 acres to twenty-five evicted tenants, and purchase-agreements in these cases were signed and lodged. Subsequently the landlord agreed to sell the whole of his estate to the Commissioners and proceedings were initiated accordingly, the former proceedings being dropped and these substituted. The new proceedings have been delayed by difficult legal questions which have now been decided, and the matter is being expedited as much as possible. The evicted tenants have not yet been actually placed in possession, pending sanction of the advances.

A week or two ago we were told that twenty-five tenants had be reinstated. From whom was that information received? Was it the police sergeant?

I do not think so.

How came such a statement to be made?

It was hoped at the time that the pending negotiations would have a successful issue.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord- Lieutenant of Ireland what is the average salary paid to English, Scotch, and Irish principal teachers respectively for the year 1905; whether there is any difference between the work done in the three countries by these men, and, if so, what; whether the qualifying certificate of the Irish trained teacher is not as difficult as that in England and Scotland; whether, in addition to being more poorly paid than his English and Scotch brothers for doing the same work, the Irish teacher is at the same time, by the rules of the National Board, deprived of all civil rights, though they are fully enjoyed by English and Scotch teachers in common with the rest of the community; and whether, in view of the condition of Irish primary education, steps will be taken to have the whole subject the roughly inquired into by a Committee of this House.

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the figures as to the average salaries of teachers in the year 1905 are not yet available, but upon this point I may refer to the reply which I gave on the 7th inst. to the Question of the hon. Member for East Kerry. † It would not be practicable, in reply to a Question, to enter upon the consideration of the comparative qualifications of teachers in the three countries, or of the work done by them. I have already stated that in the opinion of the Commissioners the larger salaries paid in Great Britain are mainly due to the greater amount of local aid given, and to the fact that the schools are relatively larger and less numerous than in Ireland. National school teachers are not permitted to hold office as district councillors or Poor Law guardians, but I am not aware that they are deprived of any other civil rights. The question of the teachers' salaries will, as I have already stated, receive consideration—it is primarily a matter for the National Board. I am not prepared to say that an inquiry by a Committee of this House would be a proper mode of dealing with the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the present time a large number of national teachers are liable to discharge without compensation or pension? Will he stay his hands until it can be ascertained what can be done for them?

I can only refer the hon. Member to a letter I sent him on the subject.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any steps have been taken by the Board to make a literary knowledge of Irish essential for students who enter the training colleges, and a spoken and literary knowledge essential for students at their final examinations in the colleges.

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that they have made provision in the programme for next year for the examination of candidates in both written and spoken Irish, as an optional subject, at the entrance and final examinations, as well as at the examination for first year students.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether several boards of guardians in Ireland have expressed themselves strongly in favour of an increase of the salaries given to dispensary and union doctors, but have been deterred by the decision of the Local Government Board that all increases must be met wholly out of the local rates without any grant in aid from the local taxation account; whether, seeing that the work performed by dispensary doctors amongst the very poor in Ireland is a national service, that they get little other remuneration, more especially in the poorer districts of Ireland, that their services to the poor involve work night and day and the upkeep of a horse or horses, that the Irish ratepayers are already heavily taxed, any steps will be taken, where the Local Government Board approves of the salaries fixed, and give a grant in aid towards paying the increase, as is already done towards the payment of their present fixed salaries.

I am informed that some boards of guardians have expressed themselves in favour of increasing the salaries of their medical officers, and many of them have, at the instance of the Local Government Board, given such increases in the shape of graded scales of salaries. The Local Government Board have been obliged to point out to Boards of Guardians the existence and effect of Section 6 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1902, which became law with the object of securing to rich and poor unions alike an equitable participation in the Local Taxation Grant. I have already informed the hon. Member that, as at present advised, the Government do not intend to take any steps for the repeal of that section.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that tenants on the Fitzwilliam estate, county Wicklow, who declined to purchase their holdings at the price demanded, have been called upon to pay I in January rents formerly paid in March; that owing to this action on the part of the landlord, some of the tenants have signed agreements to purchase, and against these who refused, decrees for rent were obtained at the last quarter sessions in Tinahely; and whether he will advise the Estates Commissioners to make inquiry into this practice of forcing sales upon reluctant tenants before they sanction the sales to these tenants.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have no knowledge that the facts are as stated in the Question. If the Commissioners should become aware, either from the report of their inspector or otherwise, that the purchasing tenant, in any case, has been induced by undue pressure to sign the purchase agreement, they will take such action as they may deem necessary.

asked if the right hon. Gentleman would secure the publication of the terms of a letter he (Mr. O'Brien) had received from the Estates Commissioners, describing the action they would take in cases when tenants had been coerced by undue pressure, or other intimidatory methods, to agree to a sale.

suggested that that was a matter for the Commissioners to decide. He had very little power to interfere with them, but he had no doubt they would desire to make public the information referred to by the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland can he say how matters stand as between Mrs. Nevin, of Mountshannon, county Limerick, and the Estates Commissioners in regard to the sale of the Mountshannon estate; and have the applications of Simon Ryan, of Cross Pallasgrean, of James Conway, of Gurtavalla Doon, of Hanora Lonergan, of Toomaline Doon, and of Ellen Rafferty, of Garrison Pallasgrean, all evicted tenants, been entertained for farms on said estate, in lieu of the farms from which they have been evicted.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have made a proposal to purchase the estate in question, but it has not yet been accepted. Under the terms of the proposal they would not take over possession of the lands until May, 1907; and no scheme for the re-sale of the lands has been sanctioned by the Commissioners. Applications have been received from all the persons named, except Honora Lonergan, and these will be considered in due course.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how do matters now stand in regard to the levers Estate, in Mount Jevers, county Limerick; and whether there is a likelihood of a farm on it being given to William levers, brother of the owner, in lieu of the farm in Ballinacurra, from which he has been for some years evicted.

I am informed that the Estates Commissioners have for tome time past been in negotiation for the purchase of this estate, which is for sale in the Land Judges Court. The negotialions have not yet been concluded. The Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement as an evicted tenant from Mr. William levers, and it appears from a report which the Commissioners have obtained from their inspector that Mr. Ievers wishes to be reinstated in his former holding, which is not upon the estate for sale in the Land Judges Court.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Ievers' application has been unsuccessful?

I have not the facts before me.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland can he say whether the Estates Commissioners, or any person deputed by them, have entered into negotiations with Thomas McGrath, evicted tenant, of Ballyloundaish, Herbertstown, county Limerick, and Daniel Devitt, of Cashel, county Tipperary, who, as planter, holds McGrath's farm on the Fitzgerald-Tuthill property, now in course of sale to the tenants; and, if they have entered on negotiations with either one or both parties, what has been the result.

I informed the hon. Member, in reply to his previous Question of 9th instant,† of the steps which the Estates Commissioners have taken in this case. The owner has not yet informed the Commissioners whether or not he is prepared to sell the holding formerly occupied by McGrath.

Have negotiations been opened with the planter?

If the hon. Member will refer to the reply I gave him on May 9th he will be in possession of all the information I have on the subject.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland have the Estates Commissioners, or any inspector on their behalf, taken any action with the view of effecting an arrangement between Michael Power, evicted tenant, of Moohane, Herbertstown, county Limerick, and Timothy Kirby, planter on his farm on the Croker Estate, which is being sold to the tenants; and, if so, will he say with what results.

The Estates Commissioners have instructed one of their inspectors to inquire into the case referred to in the Question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland will the Lord-Lieutenant, in the exercise of his power under Section 23 (8) of the Irish Land Act of 1903, request the Estates Commissioners to institute an appeal against the decision in King-Harman and Hayes, or to have a test case from among these now ruled without trial by that decision tried by the Court of Appeal, on the ground that, to the extent of the tenant's share of the property in his holding there is no sale to him, and that therefore, to that extent, neither price nor bonus should be paid to the vendor.

The Estates Commissioners do not consider that it is any part of their duty to appeal against the decision of the Judicial Commissioner in King-Harman and Hayes. They propose when a suitable opportunity occurs to refer to the Judicial Commissioner for decision the question whether if a tenant voluntarily agrees to purchase his holding at a price which is not secured by the landlord's interest, but is secured on the landlord's interest and tenant's improvements taken together, they are at liberty to refuse to advance the whole of the price agreed upon on the ground that that price is inequitable to the tenant, because, in the case supposed, he would be purchasing his own improvements.

When will the Question be tried?

I presume that legal opinions will be taken as soon as possible.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Estates Commissioners have informed the Treasury that in sales of jointly-owned property, carried out under the Irish Land Act of 1903, one of the joint owners receives the price of the entire property, with a bonus of 12 per cent, calculated upon that price, and the other joint owner is made liable for the repayment of that price with interest; has the point been raised by council before the Court of Appeal that, to the extent of the tenant's property in his holding, there is no sale of that property to him, and therefore no price and no bonus due; if not, will they take steps to have that point raised and decided at the earliest possible date; and, if not, will they state the reason or obstacle against pursuing that course.

I am informed by the Estates Commissioners that they have not communicated to the Treasury any information to the effect mentioned; and they are not aware that any such transaction as is described would be possible under the Act of 1903, nor are they aware that any such question has been discussed in the Court of Appeal. As the Commissioners do not think that the question can arise, they are unable to promise to take steps to have it decided.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that there are nearly twelve millions of horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs in Ireland, value for about £80,000,000; that at present Ireland is freer from contagious disease amongst its livestock than any other country in the world; that the animal trade is the most beneficial industry Ireland possesses, seeing that it is distributed amongst all localities and classes; that the whole country appreciates the work of the veterinary department, which it is believed could be extended and improved; and, seeing that the Committee-appointed to inquire into the workings, of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction only commences its. labours in Ireland on the 29th inst., will he reconsider his decision, and add an independent member of the veterinary profession to the Commission.

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his similar Question on the 2nd instant† It is not considered necessary or desirable to increase the numbers of the Committee.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will use his influence with the authorities in Dublin to have the work in connection with the improvement of Arklow Harbour proceeded with without further delay, so that this year may not be lost.

Certain legal questions in connection with the future maintenance of the proposed works are under consideration, and must be decided before further progress can be made. There will, I trust, be no undue delay.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number of holdings into which the farm of Patrick Carr, on the Dunsandle Estate of Mr. William Daly, containing 286 acres, has been divided, and the acreage, of each of the new holdings.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the farm which was occupied by Mr. Carr has not been divided into holdings. This farm was purchased as untenanted land for the purpose of enlarging holdings on the estate of Mr. William Daly, but was subsequently re sold by the Commissioners to the vendors in consideration of the sale by the vendors to the Commissioners of another large area of untenanted land comprising nearly 4,000 acres. This latter area has been divided by the Commissioners into 221 holdings.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state if the Estates Commissioners are now in a position to secure the reinstatement of Messrs. Daniel Loughlin and David Loughlin, two evicted tenants in county Kerry, whose holdings were inspected last February.

The Estates Commissioners have informed the owner's solicitor of the amount which they would be prepared to advance for the purchase of the holdings formerly occupied by the persons named, but have not yet learnt whether the owner is prepared to sell.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Rathdown Board of Guardians appointed and paid out of the rates an expert to advise the board as to the quality of samples of tea to be supplied to the board under contract; that the expert so employed reported that the sample of Messrs. Weir, of Bray, was first in quality, and that of Mr. Furlong was fourth in quality, and that the guardians notwithstanding gave the contract, in spite of their expert's opinion, to Mr. Furlong, on the grounds that the proprietors of Messrs. Weir's firm were Protestants and Unionists, and that Mr. Furlong was a Nationalist and Roman Catholic; whether the Local Government Board have sanctioned this action or will interfere to prevent such a choice; and whether the expenses of the expert will be surcharged.

I am informed that the facts are substantially as stated in the-first part of the Question. According to-the Minutes of the Guardians, the grounds, upon which they gave the contract to Mr. Furlong were that his tender was one of five at the same price, that the samples in all five cases were certified by the tea expert to be of good quality, and that Mr. Furlong had given satisfaction in regard to previous contracts. The-sanction of the Local Government Board has not been given, and is not required, in such matters. The expenditure of the guardians, both as to the contract and the expenses of the expert, will come before the Local Government Board's-auditor for investigation in due course.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the recent disclosures as to the methods of administration of the Dublin Metropolitan Police Force, he will reconsider his refusal to issue in Ireland the circular recently issued in England pointing out to all policemen that their duty is to state all facts in favour of an accused person as well as facts against; and, if not, whether he will state the reasons which induce him to refuse the request.

I have already informed the hon. Member that I have seen the instructions upon this point contained in the official regulations to both the Royal Irish Constabulary and the Dublin Metropolitan Police. These instructions appear to me to be quite explicit and satisfactory. They convey in the plainest and most direct manner to the police their duty to state everything and suppress nothing which can be in favour of an accused person, showing no bias or malice. I am not aware that any necessity exists for calling further attention to these instructions.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that similar instructions to the London police are reissued from time to time?

And if it be necessary no doubt a similar course will be pursued in Dublin.

On behalf of the hon. Member for Dublin County, N., I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the inquiry into the issuing of a circular urging certain inspectors of the Dublin Metropolitan Police to make cases against licensed traders has concluded, and, if so, what is the result; and whether he will state the name of the officer or officers whose conduct was the subject of investigation.

It has been ascertained that a confidential memorandum—not a circular—was sent more than a year ago by a superintendent in the Dublin Metropolitan Police to three inspectors only of that force, giving directions as to the discharge of a branch of their duties, but as the whole matter was confidential, it would be entirely contrary to usage to state the names of the officers concerned.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give me the name of the superintendent?

No, Sir.

I may give it to the right hon. Gentleman shortly.

The circular got into the Press most improperly.

Perhaps you will promote the man now.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to a placard posted in the streets of Strabane, county Tyrone, on the 12th instant, denouncing any Irishman who joined the Army, Navy, or police force; and if he proposes to take any, and, if so, what steps in regard to the same.

I am informed that placards of the nature indicated were posted up at Strabane fin May 12th, but the police have no evidence as to who put them up. The placards were promptly removed by the police.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can say when the Returns in connection with the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, ordered by Parliament on March 13th, 1906, at the request of the hon. Member for North Kerry, will be issued; and whether he is aware that, in view of the coming Labourers Bill, the issuing of these Returns is of importance.