I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the cost to the country of building and completing for sea the ten cruisers of the "County" class, and the cost of the annual upkeep; also the nature of the contemplated change in their armament and the cost involved; and further, having regard to the recent reduction of the Navy Estimates by several millions sterling, how long the work of rendering these armoured cruisers efficient is likely to be delayed, on the ground of the cost involved.

The total cost of building and completing for sea the ten cruisers of the "Kent" class was £7,550,496. The cost of the annual upkeep is about £17,000 for each ship for coal and sea stores, while it is estimated that the average annual cost of repairs for ships of this class, for the first eight years, will be about £5,000 to £6,000. No change in the armament is in contemplation.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to charges made in connection with the Canadian Office, Victoria Street; whether Lord Strathcona, High Commissioner for Canada, is the intermediary between the Canadian Government and the Colonial Office for all matters between the two Governments; whether charges implicating Lord Strathcona have been made; and, if so, is it the attention of His Majesty's Government to make representations to the Canadian Government that it will be impossible to have any further dealings with the Canadian Office, Victoria Street, until all charges have been cleared.

Charges made in connection with the Canadian Emigration Office are, I understand, being investigated by a Committee of the House of Commons in Canada. Lord Strathcona has informed the Secretary of State that the so-called charges do not implicate him in any way, either personally or as High Commissioner. The Secretary of State is not prepared to make any representations to the Canadian Government upon the matter.

inquired whether the position of High Commissioner of Canada was not strictly non-political in this country, and asked if Lord Strathcona had not been one of the principal speakers on tariff reform.

Order, order! That has nothing whatever to do with the Question.

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the total number of unexpired licences for the importation of Chinese coolies into South Africa; and at what date all further importation will have ceased.

The Secretary of State has telegraphed to Lord Selborne for the exact facts, but has not yet received a reply. I hope to be able to put the hon. Member and the House in possession of the information on Wednesday, if not before.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, owing to the crowded state of the Natal gaols, which are filled with political prisoners, 250 long-sentence prisoners have been sent to Kimberley; and, if so, whether these prisoners are to be set to work in the De Beers mines.

The Secretary of State has no information in regard to the matter, which is one for which the Government of Natal alone has responsibility.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether coolies under indenture in British Guiana are flogged at the triangle with the cat-o'-nine-tails for plantain stealing; whether there are any instances of death having followed as a consequence; and, if so, whether His Majesty's Government will take steps to amend the Ordinance under which immigrants are flogged for predial larceny.

The Earl of Elgin's Answer is: Indentured immigrants are subject to the same laws as other inhabitants of British Guiana in regard to the offence in question. Whipping or flogging may be inflicted on conviction before a court of law for predial larceny, if committed with aggravating circumstances or in proclaimed districts. The Secretary of State is not aware of any death resulting from flogging in the colony.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state how many of the 600 Chinese coolies who left Durban on 24th May on return to China were repatriated under the terms of the Repatriation Notice; and what was the cost to the Treasury of their repatriation.

The Secretary of State has no reason to suppose that any of these coolies can have been repatriated under the terms of the new Repatriation Notice.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that at a meeting of 3,000 citizens of Sydney, held in the Town Hall on 24th May, a resolution, moved by the leader of the Opposition in the Commonwealth Parliament, was carried, giving the support of the meeting to the petition which is being addressed to His Majesty expressing disapproval of the action of the House of Representatives in passing a Motion in favour of Home Rule for Ireland; and whether, in view of the fact that the Motion of the House of Representatives has been printed as a Parliamentary Paper, he will have this and other resolutions of repudiation issued officially.

The Secretary of State cannot undertake to present to Parliament resolutions passed at public meetings in Australia, which are not forwarded to him by the Governor-General

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the rank and file of the regiment of Royal Scots, now forming part of the garrison at Colaba, in the city of Bombay, are moved on parade for Sabbath morning services according to the forms of the Church of Scotland into the shade of a barrack-room or the open air instead of the garrison church; whether the Bishop of Bombay or other ecclesiastical authority has refused the use of the garrison church for these religious services, and, if so, on what grounds; whether the circumstances have yet been brought to the knowledge of the Government in India, and with what result; whether the land on which the church is built was given by the Government of India; and whether any funds for building it were supplied out of the revenues of India and are yearly paid for repairs and caretakers.

I understand that the Bishop of Bombay at first refused the use of the consecrated church at Colaba for Presbyterian services on the ground that there is a Presbyterian Church available for troops in the Fort at Bombay; but I learn that an arrangement has now been arrived at by which parade services for Scottish troops are held, between May and October inclusive, in the Colaba Church. The Answers to the last three queries are in the affirmative.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that the average income of the native inhabitants of British India does not exceed ¾d. per head per day; and that over a very large area land is impoverished for want of manure, owing to the poverty of the cultivators, who cannot afford to buy stock and have to borrow money at ruinous prices of interest to pay rents and taxes; and what steps, if any, he is taking to reduce the military expenditure so that he may reduce the taxes.

I am afraid that it would be hopeless for me to attempt in a reply to a Question to deal with the issues involving matters of such enormous controversy raised by the hon. Member. The military expenditure of India is a subject that is receiving my careful attention. Meanwhile I may point out that in three out of the last four Budgets (including the one which will shortly be discussed in this House) important reductions have been made in taxation in India and large sums have recently been devoted to measures for agricultural improvement and instruction.

asked if the late Governor-General of India had not made a statement on this subject.

I cannot say.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will take steps to obtain from the Chinese Government the due fulfilment of the terms of the Anhui Mining Final Contract, signed by the Wai-wa-fu on 5th June, 1904, and thus to obviate the infringement of the provisions of the McKay Treaty of 1902; also is he able to make any communication in regard to the agitation respecting the administration of the Imperial maritime customs that has recently become apparent.

His Majesty's Minister at Peking has made repeated representations to the Chinese Government urging that the concession should be recognised as still valid, and he telegraphed on April 23rd that he was pressing for an official reply in writing. A despatch which is now on the way from Peking is being awaited, and may throw futher light on the present situation. As regards the Maritime Customs, I regret that I am unable as yet to add to the information I have already given to the House.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will say when the regulations with respect to the Newfoundland fisheries, provided for in the Anglo-French Agreement of April 1904, will be drawn up; whether the French Naval Division, which usually leaves for the Newfoundland fisheries about the end of April, was delayed in consequence of such regulations not being drawn up; and will he say who is responsible for the delay, and how the matter now stands.

The draft regulations which have been prepared under Article 2 of the Anglo-French Convention are still under discussion with the French Government, and it is not possible to name the date on which the negotiations will be concluded. His Majesty's Government have received no information as to the French men-of-war to be employed in the patrol of the Newfoundland fisheries.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, if the Chinese were to give notice of the termination of the Cheefoo Convention in order to get rid of the obligation to admit Indian opium, they would still be prevented from excluding it by the Treaty of Tientsin.

Section 7 of the additional Article of the Chifu Agreement provides that in the event of the termination of the additional Article the arrangement with regard to opium under the regulations attached to the Treaty of Tien-tsin revives—namely, import duty, thirty taels per picul, with transit dues to be arranged as the Chinese Government shall see fit.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Judge Advocate-General, if removed from his office for reasons of public policy, would be entitled to pecuniary compensation; if so, by what special claim, from what particular source, and to what precise amount.

This is a question of law on which I am not competent to give an opinion, but I may say he would not, I think, have any legal claim to compensation.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Report of the Commissioners in Lunacy will be issued; whether his attention has been directed to the fact that an order was made some years ago that, in consequence of the issue of these Reports being delayed until after Parliament had risen, they should in future be laid upon the Table earlier in the year; and whether such order has been disregarded.

I am informed that the Report for 1905 will be presented to the Lord Chancellor on or before June 30th, in accordance with the provisions of Section 162 of the Lunacy Act, 1890. There is no record of any order to the Commissioners on this subject. A Question was asked in 1885 and on that occasion the Commissioners said that they would do all in their power to hasten the preparation of the Report.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any intimation that the Members of the Immigration Board for the Port of London disapprove of the instructions issued by him to immigration boards and immigration officers that an immigrant producing £5 is (in the absence of any reason for supposing that the money is not his own) to be considered to have satisfied the condition of Section 1 (3) (a) of the Aliens Act, 1905, as to having in his possession the means of decently supporting himself; and will he say under which section of the Aliens Act, 1905, he issued such an instruction.

This was not an instruction, but merely an expression of my predecessor's opinion, adopted by myself, that the production by an immigrant of £5 is a convenient way of showing to the immigration officer his possession of means. It has never been suggested that it should be an absolute test. I received two months ago a communication from the London Immigration Board dissenting from the use of the so-called "£5 test," but this was founded, I think, on the erroneous idea that the money was to be accepted as conclusive proof without further consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can now state what reply he has received from the Jersey States and the Guernsey Royal Court anent applying the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act to the Channel Islands.

The Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey informs me that the Royal Court do not consider that the Bill can be made to apply to that island for the want of adequate local machinery to enforce it: but that the members of the Court approve the principle of the Bill and would be prepared to recommend to the States legislation on somewhat similar lines, with machinery adapted to local requirements. As regards Jersey, the matter is still under the consideration of the States, but I understand from the Lieutenant-Governor that the objections which apply in Guernsey to the extension of the Bill apply with even greater force in Jersey.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in appointing the members of the Royal Commission on Vivisection he will make sure that both sides of the question are fairly and, as far as possible, equally represented, and that if any pronounced vivisectionist of the medical profession, who has practiced vivisection, is appointed, an equally pronounced anti-vivisectionist member of the profession shall also be appointed, in order that the evidence to be laid before the Commission may be fairly sifted.

In my recommendation to His Majesty I shall endeavour so to constitute the Royal Commission as to secure the fair and unprejudiced consideration of the whole question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is in a position to inform the House whether the evidence submitted to him warrants a re-opening of the Watt case; if so, will steps be taken to ensure the presence of the two principal witnesses, Lightfoot and Shuttle.

I think the hon. Member somewhat misunderstands the position of the Home Office in this matter. I have no power to re-open the case in the sense of re-trying it, or ordering the evidence to be re-heard. All I can do is to consider whether any reason exists for advising the exercise of the Crown's Prerogative of Mercy; and I can only say that the representations which have up to now been made to me afford no sufficient ground for the grant of pardon or remission. I may add that it is not accurate to describe Lightfoot and Shuttle as the two principal witnesses.

asked whether as the confession of Lightfoot and the disappearance of Shuttle, two of the principal witnesses in the case, had created a fear in the public mind that there had been a grave miscarriage of justice, the best step would not be to re-open the case.

said he had already explained that he was unable to do that. It was not accurate to describe Lightfoot and Shuttle as the two principal witnesses.

I bog to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any official information showing that James Shuttle, one of the witnesses in the Watt case, has fled to Canada, and that he was assisted in leaving the country by an agent of the St. Giles' Christian Mission, who admitted to Mr. Hugh Watt's solicitor, that he had handed to James Shuttle a lump sum of money on his leaving the country; and, if so, whether ho proposes taking any action in the matter?

I learn on inquiry that after the trial the Director of Public Prosecutions thought it right, as Shuttle was unable in consequence of the evidence he had given to obtain employment in London, and was moreover exposed to molestation, that he should, be given an opportunity of making a fresh start elsewhere. Temporary provision was therefore made for his maintenance, and, after an interval, his immigration was arranged through the St. Giles' Mission, an agency for assisting discharged prisoners, the superintendent of which has great experience in helping men of Shuttle's class. Shuttle did not receive a lump sum on leaving the country, but his passage was paid and, as is usual in such cases, a small sum was given him in two instalments after he reached his destination. Of course no condition as to remaining abroad was imposed upon him.

Is the Home Secretary aware Shuttle's passage was booked in the name of Edwards, and that he is supposed to be in communication with a certain individual at Ealing, and was given a sum of money for that purpose?

said ho knew nothing of what might have passed between Shuttle and anyone in Ealing.

asked if the Home Secretary's attention had been called to a letter recently received from Shuttle, in which he stated that by the arrangements, under which he went willingly, he was bound to remain away at least two years.

said he had seen the communication, but there was no foundation for the statement that any such condition was made.

Can the Home Secretary tell us whore this money came from?

It came from the special service fund.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the District Electric Railway have shortened their trains running to East Ham by taking one carriage off many of the trains, and about sixty guards have been discharged during the last two months in consequence; and whether in view of the amount of overcrowding on these trains, he proposes to make any representation to the railway company in the matter.

I have communicated with the Metropolitan District Railway Company on this subject, and they inform mo that their electric trains were at first formed of seven cars, but that it was found in general working that six cars were better adapted to their station platforms and requirements. The company state further that, in conjunction with the London Tilbury and Southend Railway Company they are carefully watching the traffic to East Ham with a view to putting on more trains where necessary, that additional trains have already been put into running, and that the existing service will be increased by seven more trains from the 1st June next. It is added that, although the reduction from seven cars to six temporarily dispensed with a number of men, any increase in the train service necessarily means the employment of more men, and that while 120 train-men were employed during the time steam traction prevailed, there are at present 440 train-men in the company's service.

said the shortening of the trains was the cause of overcrowding.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that the Unemployed Workmen's Act of 1905 has made it necessary for the secretaries of the various distress committees to beg on behalf of the unemployed; and whether, seeing that the money received by this voluntary method is inadequate to meet the demands made upon the various dis- tress committees by the thousands of men and women out of employment, the Government intend to bring in a Bill to deal with the unemployed problem, and get it passed before 1907.

the Act contemplates that part of the expenses under it will be mot by means of money supplied by voluntary contributions, and I am aware that appeals for these contributions have been made the Government have already intimated their intentions with regard to the Bill referred to.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the increase which has taken place in the cost of vaccination Since 1898, amounting in some unions to 500 per cent.; and whether he can take any steps to reduce it.

My attention has been called to this matter, and I am giving careful consideration to it with a view to seeing whether a reduction in the cost can be effected.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the desirability of revising the Regulations (Organisation for Unemployed), 1905, and especially Article V. of the se Regulations, which in terms affects to govern both the so cases in which the central body itself employs and controls the persons working, and also these cases in which it merely finds workpeople for borough councils and other bodies; and whether he will consider the advisability of framing separate regulations for each of the modes in which the unemployed are given work.

Article V. of the regulations only applies to cases where the central body themselves provide temporary work or contribute towards the provision of such work. I am not at present aware that it would be desirable to frame separate regulations for these two classes of cases. The Article would not apply at all where the central body merely find workpeople for other bodies without making any contribution towards the provision of the work. In reply to a further question Mr. BURNS said he would be pleased to receive any statement the hon. Member might forward, but he was bound to say he had not received a single complaint on this particular point.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the intended permanent closing of Troon Dock branch post-office, and to the probable effect of such closing in discouraging traffic to and from the port and harbour of Troon, and to the petition of the railway and other companies interested in such traffic against the withdrawal of these postal facilities; and whether he will direct further inquiry before this branch post office is permanently closed.

This question has been fully considered and it was found that there was not sufficient business to justify the continuance of a branch office at Troon Dock; but a sub-office will be opened not far off.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether for the collection of mail bag by private messenger the charge is usually £1 1s. per annum; whether some people got special and better terms; and, if not, will he state what is the fixed practice of the Department in these matters, and amend the Post Office Guide, page 46, accordingly.

The charge for a private bag to be conveyed by a private messenger once a day is £1 1s. a year irrespective of weight. Special terms have been given in a few cases where the Department has received valuable concessions in return but not otherwise.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education when the education code for the present year will be presented, and when the same will be printed and circulated.

I hope that it may be available shortly after the Recess.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether it is his intention to deal with the position of school attendance officers, particularly the se who were constituted compulsory officers under the Education Act of 1870 and following amending Acts, and who have been subject to the control of different authorities; and can ho say under what authority they are to be placed, and their status as civil servants, when the Education Bill now before the House becomes operative.

I am not aware that School Attendance Officers will be affected in any way by the new Bill.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether Clause 35 (a) of the Education Bill empowers a local education authority to endow evening recreation during term time, or whether the word holidays refers only to the school vacations and does not include other than school hours during term time.

The intention of the clause is as set out in the second paragraph of the Question.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education when he proposes to enforce the decision of the Board that the deductions made by the Education Committee of the West Riding of Yorkshire from teacher's salaries in respect of the time devoted to definite religious teaching in the non-provided schools are illegal; and whether he will take steps to secure, under the Defaulting Authorities (Education) Act if necessary, that the sums deducted are refunded to such teachers at an early date.

I understand the Attorney-General will move for a rule nisi to-morrow morning.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the fact that no legal decision has yet been given that a local education authority is liable to pay for definite religious teaching in non-provided schools; and is he aware that of all the non-provided school managers in the West Riding who insist upon teachers imparting denominational instruction the only board of managers which pays them for this service is the one of which the Marquess of Ripon is a member?

The whole object of the mandamus is to test the legality of the action of the West Riding. The Attorney-General will, I understand, move for a rule nisi tomorrow, Tuesday, morning.

inquired whether, in view of what had happened in the West Riding, the right hon. Gentleman could insert in the Education Bill an Amendment giving some appeal from the decision of local bodies, especially in connection with Clause 4.

said he would wait and see what was the result of the application to the Court.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education when he will lay upon the Table the statement showing the estimate on which the sum provided in Clause 12 of the Education Bill has been based, together with the contemplated basis of distribution.

I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland what difficulties there are in the way of granting a Return of the number of persons in receipt of poor relief in Scotland, similar to the one made for England and Wales in March, 1904.

I shall be glad to confer further with my hon. friend in regard to the Return which he proposes. The inspectors of poor have already been obliged this year to devote and are devoting much time to the preparation of a census of pauperism, as at March 31st, which has been called for by the Royal Commission on Poor Laws. That Return will contain a good deal of the information now desired. The whole subject will be very fully considered by the Commission, and I suggest that it would be premature and unnecessary to incur the additional trouble involved by the preparation of the Return now proposed by my hon. friend.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether the Government have received copies of Resolutions adopted by local bodies in Galway, inviting attention to the necessity which exists for the passage into Law of the Town Tenants (Ireland) Bill, and asking the Government to give every facility for such a purpose; and will he say what action the Government propose taking in the matter.

Copies of the Resolutions adopted by local bodies referred to in the Question have been received by the Government. As to the intentions of the Government, I must refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister to a Question addressed to him by the hon. Member for St. Patrick's Division of Dublin on Wednesday last.†

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that, at the last Winter Assizes for Connaught, at Sligo, in the case of James Ward, of Castlebar,

† See (4) Debates, clvii., 1265.

who stood charged with seditious libel, Mr. Garvey, Crown Solicitor for Mayo, ordered all Catholic jurors who answered to their names, to the number of sixteen, to stand by, and empannelled an exclusively Protestant jury; whether he has called upon Mr. Garvey to explain the grounds upon which ho excluded all Catholic jurors from the jury box in Ward's trial; and whether he is aware that Ward was convicted and is still in prison.

I am informed by the Crown Solicitor referred to that he was not aware of the religious convictions of any of the jurors ordered to stand by on the occasion in question, or of these of the jurors who tried the case. I was not Attorney-General at the time of the trial, and I am in no way responsible for what was done, and have made no inquiries except for the purpose of answering this Question. I do not know whether Ward is still in prison or not.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a copy of his instructions to Crown Solicitors in Ireland, with regard to the practice of directing jurors to stand by.

I have issued no now instructions to Crown Solicitors with regard to the practice of directing jurors to stand by, but prior to the last March Assizes I wrote a circular letter to each Crown Solicitor in Ireland calling his attention to the Rule issued on February 12th, 1894, by which Crown Solicitors are directed not to order any jurors to stand by on account of their religious or political opinions, and impressing upon these officials the importance of strict compliance with the Rule. I do not think that it would be in accordance with precedent to lay on the Table of the House copies of correspondence between the Attorney-General and the Crown Solicitors.

If the instructions are followed, how is it that an exclusively Protestant jury was empanelled in Mr. Ward's case?

I have given the best Answer I can.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can now state the names of the present members of the Board of Control of the Royal Canal, and the dates of their appointment; do they receive any salary; how do they explain their having allowed the canal to be rendered unnavigable by the Midland Great Western Railway Company; are they or any of them shareholders in that company; under what authority do they allow that company to stop traffic on the canal and endanger the water supply of Mullingar; under what authority do they allow the company to erect gates across the towing path and derive revenue from grass growing on the canal banks; is he aware that Thomas Kelly, boatman, was summoned and fined at Mullingar petty sessions on the 12th instant for having allowed his horse to graze on the canal bank while discharging his boat, one of the magistrates being Captain Gloster, a near relative of Colonel Smythe, Midland Railway director, with whom he resides; and is it proposed to put the control of this canal in the hands of men interested in its restoration and preservation?

The Board of Control of the Royal Canal at present consists of the Commissioners of public works in Ireland, namely, Messrs. Holmes (Chairman), Stevenson, and Hanson, who were appointed in the years 1901, 1902, and 1903, respectively. These gentlemen do not receive salary as members of the Board of Control, and none of them is a shareholder in the railway company. The canal as a whole is not unnavigable, although the depth of water in places is less than it is assumed to have been when the canal was taken over by the railway company. Numerous works of maintenance and improvement have been carried out by the company, at the instance of the Board of Control, during the last ten years. The Board have persistently pressed the company to increase the depths. They have given no authority to the company to stop the traffic or to endanger the water supply of Mullingar, and the Company deny that the water supply is, in fact, endangered. The Board were informed by the Company in 1895 that the gates and barriers on the towing paths had been removed. The Board's authority is not required to enable the Company to sell the grass on the canal banks. I am informed that Kelly was recently fined on two occasions for the trespass of his two horses on the canal banks, but the prosecution was not at the suit of the Railway Company but of the lessee of the owner, Lord Greville. I have already informed the hon. Member that the constitution and powers of the Board of Control are under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make a further statement on the subject.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now explain his promised scheme for promoting the teaching of Irish in Irish schools.

The scheme for promoting the teaching of Irish is in outline as follows:—A grant will be made for the teaching of Irish under what is called the "Bilingual Programme for Schools in Irish Speaking Districts," and this grant will be awarded either as a capitation allowance or as a fixed grant to each school taking the bilingual programme, this detail, however, has not yet been absolutely determined. Secondly, for schools not taking up the bilingual programme, whether in bilingual or English speaking districts, a capitation fee of 1s. for scholars in Standards II. and III. and of 2s. 6d. in the higher standards, will be payable for each scholar in average attendance who learns Irish according to the scheme known as the "Programme in Irish as an ordinary school subject." Conditions will be laid down to secure that the teaching is competent and effective, and regulations for the purpose are to be framed by the Commissioners. It is also proposed to make grants towards the maintenance of the summer courses of training in the Gaelic language which have been established at certain centres in Ireland. The grant of £5 is contemplated to be paid in respect of every teacher who has completed a course of training at one of these centres, and has thereafter been reported as having taught Gaelic satisfactorily for one year in a recognised public school. These proposals are in addition to the se for which provision is made in this year's Estimates. The proposals which affect the current financial year are briefly as follows:—Prizes of £5 are to be given to a number, not exceeding thirty, of the best King's scholars who obtain certificates in Irish at the final examination for King's scholars. It is also proposed that the sum of £10 may be awarded to every teacher who has obtained such a prize, provided he is reported as showing high merit as a teacher of Irish for two consecutive years in a national school. The first prizes under this scheme will be awarded to contain King's scholars who will be leaving the training college at the end of the session now current. It is also proposed that there shall be a prize scheme for encouraging the study of Irish in the evening schools which shall not place on the Exchequer a greater annual burden than £500. This sum it is contemplated to expend in small book prizes, spread over a large number of evening schools. Both the scheme for the current year and the proposals which are intended to begin to take effect from July 1st next are to hold good for a period of three years, when the scheme for encouraging the study of the Irish language will come up for reconsideration in the light of the experience gained on its working. The sum which had previously been allotted to the Irish language teaching and which ceased July 1st was by a decision of the late Government transferred to the payment of assistant mistresses, so that the sums I have mentioned as now proposed to be spent will be an addition to the sum spent on primary education in Ireland. The Irish Government have given much thought to these proposals, which they believe will have the effect of securing much better results than were yielded by the system which it was decided almost a year ago to discontinue, the amount allotted to which was transferred to assistant mistresses.

asked what would be the total amount spent annually in this way.

said the total amount under the scheme next year might reach £5,700, and the grant for the present year was in addition to that.

asked whether he was to understand that as far as monetary provision was concerned, the new scheme would provide only about half what was provided under the scheme of fees which had been withdrawn by the Treasury.

said the amount would be more than half, but he believed the result of the arrangements would be to make the new scheme a great deal more efficient than the former scheme. A great deal of the money spent formerly was spent with no good results.

asked whether the teaching of the Gaelic language was not intended to promote sedition.

said ho was suprised that anybody who knew anything about the matter should put such a question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Irish Government, having regard to the need for the distribution of untenanted land, and the small progress so far made under the voluntary system, propose to exhaust the possibilities of that system this year by getting the Estates Commissioners to communicate directly a uniform letter to all owners of such land as shown on the forthcoming Return, and subsequently submitting to Parliament a Report showing the number of years purchase of the valuation asked, the refusals to sell, and the refusals to reply, respectively.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that when the Return in question has been prepared they propose to inquire from the owners of untenanted land, which appears suitable for purchase, whether they would be willing to sell such land to the Commissioners. Progress under the present voluntary system is now being accelerated. It would at present be altogether premature to make any statement upon the point raised in the concluding part of the Question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state how many evicted tenants in Westmeath have been reinstated under the Land Act of 1903; how many are still unprovided for; the reason why they have not been provided for in view of the amount of untenanted land in the county; and what steps, if any, the Estates Commissioners have taken to acquire untenanted land for the use of evicted tenants and other persons in need of land.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that six evicted tenants have been reinstated in Westmeath, and that they have received applications for reinstatement from sixty-one evicted tenants in addition. The Commissioners have acquired 229 acres of untenanted land in the county and divided it among small tenants. They were also in negotiation for the purchase of 568 acres in this county, but the owners declined to sell at the estimated price. In the case of another estate the owner has ledged an originating request in respect of the sale to the Commissioners of some 166 acres of untenanted land in this county, and a scheme for the distribution and allotment of this land will be prepared in due course.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state what is the practice of the Estates Commissioners when a landlord of an estate comprising untenanted and non-residential land lodges with them purchase agreements in respect of the tenanted portions, omitting all reference to the untenanted; and, for example, how do they propose to deal with General Featherstone's estates of this kind in Westmeath, in view of the memorials lodged with them for distribution of the untenanted land by the people of Whitehall and by the Delvin District Council.

Rule 11 of the rules of October 23rd, 1903, prescribes that the map lodged with the originating application or request shall show, in distinctive colours, the boundaries of any other lands in the neighbourhood, demesne or otherwise, which the vendor owns, but does not desire to sell. The Estates Commissioners inform me that no proceedings in respect of the sale of the estate referred to in the Question have yet been instituted before them. The representations of the tenants and of the rural district council will be duly considered if the estate should come before the Commissioners to be dealt, with.

On behalf of the hon. Member for East Galway, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the proceedings at Woodford petty sessions on the 14th instant, when a man named James M'Mahon was summoned by the police for having a dog without a licence; whether he is aware that M'Mahon and his son both swore he had not a dog, and that the policeman admitted he did not see a dog but heard one bark, that he had a dog of his own with him which was barking, and that the policeman who gave evidence was accompanied by another policeman who was not examined because he did not see a dog or hear one bark except the dog they had with them; whether, seeing that the magistrates, White, E.M., and Lewis, J.P., fined M'Mahon, will he say whether payment of the fine will be insisted on; and whether, in view of the evidence given by Sergeant Sheridan and other policemen in recent years in Connaught which resulted in innocent men being convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labour, and the disbelief in police testimony in Ireland, a sworn inquiry will be held into the whole circumstances and conduct of the prosecution.

I am informed by the police authorities that James M'Mahon was summoned by the police for having had an unlicensed dog in his possession on a specific date, and was fined two shillings, which he has paid. The sufficiency of the evidence was a matter for the magistrates, and I cannot undertake to review their judicial decision by entering into the details of the case. The Inspector-General informs me that he is satisfied that the constable gave his evidence fairly. The case is not one in which a sworn inquiry can be ordered.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state what reply the Estates Commissioners received from Colonel Smythe, of Collins-town, or his agent, to their offer to purchase the evicted farms on his estate for their value plus a bonus; the date of that reply; what action, if any, the Commissioners have Since taken to provide for the families evicted from these farms; and how soon do the Commissioners expect to be able to provide for the se families.

The Estate Commissioners inform me that they communicated with Colonel Smythe with reference to two applicants as evicted tenants, but were informed by him that ho was not prepared to restore these applicants or sell the lands in question to the Commissioners. The Commissioners have not since been able to take further action in the matter.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the number of teachers whose salaries were withdrawn during the years 1897 to 1905, respectively; whether teachers of thirty years service have, since the change of rules, been declared inefficient and dismissed without compensation or pension; and whether steps will be taken to have the whole scheme of rules and programme and treatment of teachers of the national board the roughly inquired into.

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that during the nine years ended December 31st, 1905, salary was withdrawn from 260 teachers, because of long continued inefficiency or neglect of duty. In the case of any such teacher who had thirty years service, consideration was always given to that fact, and wherever it was possible with due regard to the educational interests of the pupils to suspend final action, teachers were permitted to continuo their service until they became eligible for pension under the Teachers' Pension Act. The powers of the Lord-Lieutenant in respect of the Commissioners' rules arise only in cases in which the Commissioners seek to change any fundamental rule.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether it would be possible for the Congested Districts Board for Ireland to schedule as congested districts the districts of Drumbad, Rosscar, Garrison, and Belleek, in the county of Fermanagh, as these districts, owing to bad land, small holdings, and defective communication, require the assistance of the Board quite as badly as many districts in the West of Ireland where the Board is spending large sums of money in improving the condition of the people.

The Congested Districts Board have no power to increase the area of the congested districts, except that when they have purchased lands outside the congested districts for the benefit of any congested districts county they may apply for an Order in Council to have such lands scheduled under the provisions of Section 3 of the Congested Districts Board Act, 1901. At present there are not any congested districts in county Fermanagh, and the Board have not purchased any land in that county.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can say if the Estates Commissioners have received an application from Thomas Malony to be reinstated in his farm at Castlewaller, Newport, county Tipperary, at present held by a planter named Dwyer, on the eleven months system, from which Thomas Malony was evicted a few years ago; is ho aware that about thirteen other tenants purchased their farms some time previous to the eviction of Thomas Malony; and will he say whether he will recommend the Estates Commissioners to open negotiations with the landlord with a view to the restoration of his farm to Thomas Malony.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they received the application referred to on the 10th instant, and will have it inquired into by one of their inspectors in due course.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether by the rules of the Commissioners of Education in Ireland the minimum time for secular instruction is four hours; and whether, as a matter of fact in all primary schools at least five hours instruction is given.

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that under their rules secular instruction must be given to senior pupils for at least four hours daily. This is inclusive of half an hour for recreation—so that under the rules the actual secular instruction ought to last for three and one half hours. In the case of infant schools am classes, the secular instruction need only be for three hours, including an interval of half an hour for recreation. In a considerable number of national schools the instruction, religious and secular, Lists for five hours, but it is by no means so in all national schools. I am afraid it does not follow that, because the rules provide for a certain minimum of hours of instruction, these hours are always given.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a growing practice on the part of landlords in Ireland of threatening tenants with legal proceedings in the shape of issuing writs from the superior Courts for the recovery of all rents due, including the hanging gales (which in most cases accrued many years ago), with the object of putting pressure on tenants to enter into purchase agreements on the basis of exorbitant terms; and whether the Government will introduce legislation with a view to secure that such legal proceedings shall, where necessary, be instituted in the County Courts instead of in the superior Courts.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that, while they believe that such cases as are described have occurred, they have no evidence that the practice is increasing. If the Commissioners should have proof 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.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the estate of Mr. O'Mahony, situated at Cordal, near Castle island, county Kerry, has come before the Estates Commissioners in connection with a sale to the tenants; whether he is aware that Mr. Monserrat, the landlord's representative, forced certain tenants to sign agreements at a high price, by telling them that anyone who refused to purchase would be served with a writ for arrears of rent; and what steps the Estates Commissioners propose to take in connection with purchase agreements signed under such conditions.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the estate referred to has not come before them in any way, and they have no knowledge of the matters of fact alleged in the Question. I have already stated that the Commissioners will consider any evidence which comes before them of duress brought to bear on tenants to compel them to sign purchase agreements, and will take such action as they may consider just and within their legal powers.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will ascertain and state what is the statutory provision which the Estates Commissioners think limits their discretion in the matter of price to the gross security, and precludes them from taking cognisance of the fact that the tenant-right or occupation interest and unexhausted improvements, forming part of that gross security, are legally and equitably the tenant's property, and should not have to be bought by him with public money.

The Question raises points of law as to which it would be undesirable for me to state the views held by the Estates Commissioners, seeing that the Questions may at any time be the subject of judicial decisions which would govern their action.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state why the Estates Commissioners do not exercise in all cases for the protection of the tenant's occupation, interest, and improvements, the power which it was held they possessed and had rightly exercised in the Blake-Foster case, to disallow a price as excessive, notwithstanding the collusion of landlord and tenants in support of the agreements.

I am informed by the Estates Commissioners that the decision in the Blake-Foster case did not turn on the question whether the tenant's occupation, interest, and improvements were included in the purchase money of the holdings, but on the question whether the property was fit to be declared an estate for the purposes of the Act, having regard to the character of the holdings and the price at which it was agreed that they were to be sold. The Estates Commissioners intend to exercise the discretion exercised in that case in all further cases of a similar character.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland is it the policy of the present Government to allow the tenant-right or occupation interest, which the Land Act of 1881 secured to tenants and enabled them to sell, together with the tenant's unexhausted improvements, to be confiscated in purchase transactions under the Land Act of 1903, as in the case of King-Harman and Hayes and the numerous cases now ruled without trial by that decision; and how do the Commissioners reconcile their evidence in that case, and the decision to advance public money to a landlord for the whole property of which he owned only a part, with their subsequent assertion that no such thing is occurring.

It is not the policy of the present Government to allow tenant right or unexhausted improvements to be confiscated. The latter part of the Question raises matters of argument which cannot be dealt with in an Answer.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Government have in contemplation any scheme for the purchase by the State of the Irish railways.

The reply is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, in view of the importance of the decision in King-Harman and Hayes, will His Majesty's Government withhold approval of the suggestion to have the same question tried again by the same Judicial Commissioner, and instead of that have it tried at an early date by a full Court of Appeal.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the Question that arose in the case of Hayes and King-Harman must be submitted for decision in the manner provided by the Irish Land Act, 1903, Section 23; that is, by stating a case for the decision of the Judicial Commissioner. Should it be desirable, an appeal can be taken from such decision in the usual way to the Court of Appeal.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that a proper Court is constituted to try this case, and that the Treasury is adequately represented?

Has the right hon. Gentleman any power over these Commissioners at all?

I have repeatedly said that I have not.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that negotiations for sale and purchase are proceeding between the landlord, Mr. Delmege, and his tenants on the property of Garryspillan and other townlands around Knocklong, county Limerick; and will he take steps so that the Estates Commissioners shall purchase about 200 acres of untenanted land lying near Garryspillane for division among the poor farmers and labourers of the locality.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that no proceedings for the sale of this estate have come before them, and they have no knowledge of any negotiations for sale which may be proceeding. If the estate should come before them they will consider the question of purchasing untenanted land in the locality.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, is he aware that, for several years past, Thomas Barry and John M'Graith, of Boheranore, Knocklong, county Limerick, have been evicted from their farms on the Cooper estate; and will he say if the Estates Commissioners have received any applications for their reinstatement in their holdings; and will he undertake that the Estates Commissioners will send an inspector to treat on the matter with the agents, Messrs. Robert and Charles Sanders, of Charleville, county Cork.