To ask the President of the Board of Education whether the Board of Education authorises the practice that teachers in schools cannot receive payment of salary until copies of agreement forms have been completed by them with the county education authorities; and, if so, whether, in view of the effect of this rule, he proposes to take any action in She matter. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I have no information that any such practice exists. The Board of Education do not intervene is to the arrangements made by local education authorities for the payment of teachers' salaries. The only point in which that Board are concerned in this connection is to secure that every teacher is employed under a written agreement, or, n the case of council schools, under a minute of the local authority. It would not be desirable to waive this requirement, and I think that no difficulties need arise out of it in practice which cannot be satisfactorily met.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that when a person sends any small sum of money from Great Britain to Germany through the Post Office the money is taken to the residence of the person to whom it is addressed, but in the case of money sent from Germany or elsewhere to this country the receiver of the money order has to go to the post office for the money; whether he will introduce the German system into this country, in view of the convenience that would result in case of telegraph money orders if the money was taken to the residence of the addressee, as is the practice in every foreign country, and of the saving of time and protection that would be afforded if the money with the 10,000,000 money orders annually issued in this country were brought to the people's residences rather than 10,000,000 persons should have to go to the post offices for the money, and of the saving of time involved in one person delivering the money with 200 money orders than that of 200 persons going to the post office in a town for the money. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The system of money orders payable at the residences of the addressees, which the hon. Member describes as the German system, has some advantages and many drawbacks. It has frequently been considered and rejected as less advantageous on the whole in this country than the present system. But I cannot accept my hon. friend's assumptions nor his figures. For instance, half of the ten millions of money orders which he mentions are paid through banks, so that it is not the case that ten million persons have to go to the post office to cash ten million orders.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Post Office Savings Bank refuses to take sixpences on deposit; will he explain why a depositor is allowed to withdraw 19s. 6d., but is not allowed to deposit 12s. 6d. in the savings bank; and whether he will give instructions to abolish this anomaly. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.)The refusal of the Post Office Savings Bank to take fractions of a shilling on deposit is based on the provisions of the Post Office Savings Bank Act of 1861, and no change could therefore be made without legislation.

To ask the Secretary to the i Treasury -whether retired employees of the Lighting and Ventilating Department are receiving pensions under a scheme which was formerly in existence: and, if so, would he consider the advisability of restoring this system of pensions in considerate n of long service and good conduct, taking into account the fact that some members of the present staff have been connected with this Government Department for over twenty years, while in one case a workman has been employed for forty-five years. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) Pensions were granted to persons appointed before the passing of the Superannuation Act of 1859. Those appointed after that date are employed on a non-pensionable footing, without certificates from the Civil Service Commissioners. They are excluded from pension by the terms of Section 17 of the Superannuation Act of 1859, but gratuities may be granted to them under Section 4 of the Superannuation Act of 1887.

To ask the Secretary of State for India, having regard to the fact that the reconnaissance of two alternative routes for the construction of the Vizamgam-Malia line has been sanctioned, will he state when the reconnaissances are likely to be completed; and whether either route passes through the territory of the Rao of Cutch. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) I regret that. I am unable at present to state when the reconnaissance sanctioned in January last will be completed. One of the routes to be reconnoitred passes through the territories of the Rao of Cutch.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland when he intends laying upon the Table the minutes of the various meetings of the Intermediate Board, held to discuss the proposals in the Resolution of the House of Commons of May 21st regarding their rules for 1907,† as well as all the correspondence which passed between the Irish Government and the Board on this subject. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Intermediate Board have been informed of the wish expressed in the House that the minutes mentioned in the Question should be presented to the House, and have been told that the Irish Government are willing that the minutes should be presented, and that, in order to enable them to do so, a copy should be supplied by the board. The reply of the board to this letter and the copy desired are now awaited. As respects the correspondence, the reply of the board to a letter sent to them by the Irish Government last Monday is now expected, and when it has been received I shall be in a better position to state the date at which the correspondence can be presented.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to report any further progress in the negotiations with the Russian Government with reference to the claim of the crew, the owners of the ships and cargo, which were sunk, and for which no compensation has been made; and whether he is aware that the crew have abandoned all hope of their claim being settled by diplomatic negotiations, and are now taking legal proceedings to enforce a claim against the owners of the respective vessels. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey..) I beg to refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by me on the 17th of May

† See (4) Debates, clvii., 1072.

last respecting the British shipping claims. ‡ Since that date, the Russian Government have refused to entertain a claim put forward on behalf of the crew of the "Allanton," on the ground that the Supreme Court decided that the seizure and detention of that vessel was regular and that they were unaware of any grounds either in Russian or International Law on which such claims could be maintained. His Majesty's Government are still in communication with the Russian Government in regard to the cases of the " Knight Commander," " Malacca," and " Calchas." I am not in possession of any precise information as to the position of the legal proceedings referred to in the Question.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the aggregate of the sums advanced by the Treasury up to the present time under Section 4 of the Light Railways Act, 1896, and of special advances under Section 5 of that Act; whether there are any outstanding payments still to be made under either section: and whether it is the intention of the Government to institute any inquiry into the working of the Act by means of a departmental or other committee. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) Under Section 4 of the Light Railways Act, 1896, £13,500 has been advanced up to the present time, and farther loans amounting to £35,000 have been conditionally agreed to. Under Section 5, special advances have been conditionally agreed to amounting to £212,495, of which £139,128 has been actually advanced, leaving £73,367 outstanding. My right hon. friend the President of the Board of Trade informs me that he sees no reason for the appointment of a Committee as suggested.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the District Railway have for many hours of the day reduced the number of carriages making up a train to four, and in many cases three, and that

‡ See (4) Debates, clviii., 643.

as a result much overcrowding and inconvenience is occasioned to travellers, not unattended with danger; and whether he will consider the advisability of making representations to the company on the subject, and, if necessary, framing regulations which shall prevent a continuance of the practice complained of. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Complaint has been made to the Board of Trade that the Metropolitan District Railway Company have reduced the number of carriages making up certain of their trains, and I have been in communication with the railway company on the subject. The company now inform me that the frequent services of seven-car trains, which were at first provided after the introduction of electric traction upon their line in 1905, wore found to be in excess of public requirements, and have consequently been curtailed from time to time. The company add that they still have these services under careful observation, and are of opinion that the trains at present run meet the requirements of their passengers. If the hon. Member will furnish specific instances of habitual over-crowding of these shortened trains, further inquiry shall be made, but the Board of Trade have no powers which would enable them to frame regulations of the nature suggested.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether schools recognised under Clause 38, Part 5, of the Education Bill, 1906, as elementary schools being part of or held in the premises of an institution in which children are boarded, will be considered as exempt from the provisions of Parts 1 and 2 of the Bill; and will such schools with the sanction of the local education authority, receiving aid from the Parliamentary grant but not from the rates, be allowed to. control their own management, including the appointment of teachers and all questions of finance, as they do now under Clause 15 of the Education Act, 1902. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Walton Division of Liverpool in regard to these points, and I mast decline to forestall by Question and Answer discussion upon points that may be raised in Committee in respect of later clauses of the Bill.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether the Board of Education will, under Article 15 of the Code, decline to rocognise a teacher who enters into an agreement with a local authority to give religions instruction as part of the staff of a school or of a department of a school.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether a requirement to give religious instruction is a duty connected with the work of a public elementary school within the meaning of Article 15 of the Code.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether a requirement to give religious instruction embodied in an agreement between a teacher and a local education authority will fall under Article 15 of the Code. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I must remind the hon. Baronet that articles in the Code may be modified if it should seem expedient or necessary, in view of any particular provisions in the Law which differ from those which the present Code may have designed to meet. Hence I cannot, at this stage, undertake to say in what way any article in the present Code will operate under any new conditions that may be brought about by the new Bill.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of any correspondence that has taken place between the superintendent registrar of deaths in the Naas union district and the Under-Secretary for Ireland and the Registrar-General for Ireland, on the subject of the furnishing of Annual Returns of the deaths of adults with reference to the carrying into effect of the provisions of Section 16 of the Parliamentary Registration (Ireland) Act of 1855, and if he will state how under the circumstances stated in the superintendent registrar's letter of the 15th instant, addressed to the Under-Secretary for Ireland, superintendent registrars are to comply with the law; and whether the Government would consider the propriety of making provision for the payment of remuneration to superintendent registrars for preparing the Returns, and allowing for any out-of pocket expenses incurred in attending at the several registration stations for this purpose, there being no obligation on them to attend at any other place than their offices. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Government are aware of the official correspondence referred to. It is established that a local registrar is not bound to attend at the office of the superintendent registrar to enable the latter to extract from the registers the information required to carry into effect the enactment quoted. It is also the fact that there is no section of the Births and Deaths Registration Acts, nor any regulations made by the Registrar-General, obliging the superintendent registrar to attend at any place other than his office. It is evident, however, that the superintendent registrar, though he may not be specifically directed to do so, must, in order to comply with the Registration (Ireland) Rules, attend at the registrar's offices to get the necessary information to enable him to prepare the Death Returns. Upon the subject of remuneration, I beg to refer to my reply to the Question of the hon. Member for South Down on June 21st. There is no power to authorise the payment of' remuneration.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the gentlemen who are to serve on the committee of inquiry respecting Irish railways have been already nominated; and whether Parliament will be afforded an opportunity of selecting or approving of this committee.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether the proposed terms of reference to guide the committee in the inquiry on Irish railways will be submitted to the House previous to its adoption. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Government are considering the names of gentlemen to be asked to hold this inquiry, and the terms of reference are also under consideration. An announcement on both points will be made in due course, but I do not know of any precedent for inviting a discussion in this House upon either the names or the terms of reference.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, can he state what the Congested Districts Board intend to do with the untenanted land of Baslickane farm, on the Butler estate, at Waterville, county Kerry; is the Board aware of the loss sustained by the caretakers in the farm since its purchase by the Board, and, if not. will they inquire into these cases with a view to remedying this loss; and will the Board consider the applications for allotments at an early date. (Answered, by Mr. Brine.) The Congested Districts Board intend to utilise the Baslickano farm for the migration of a few tenants from the Burns-Hartopp estate, which adjoins the Butler estate, and for the enlargement of adjacent small holdings on both estates. The Board are not aware that the caretakers have sustained any loss since the Board arranged to purchase the Butler estate, which is not yet vested in them. The Board do not intend to give any of the land to any person except landholders on the Butler and Burns-Hartopp estates, and they are not prepared to consider applications for allotments from any other persons.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what proceedings he-intends to take in order to compel the Intermediate Board of Education in Ireland to obey the resolution unanimously passed by the House of Commons; and whether he intends to allow a nominated board which defies Parliament to remain in its present unconstitutional non-elected irresponsible position. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I cannot at present state what action the Irish Government will take in this matter, but I do not understand from the letter recently received from the Board that they now entertain the intention attributed to them in the Question. The reply from the Intermediate Board to a letter addressed to them some days ago is at present awaited by the Irish Government.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, if he is aware of the action of the conservators of the Foyle and Bann fisheries, in attempting to deprive the deep sea fishermen of their rights in the pursuit of their calling by endeavouring to prohibit the ordinary use of drift nets in the open sea and imposing various other restrictions; and whether he will take any steps in the matter to protect the fishermen from such treatment. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The question of the use of drift nets for the capture of almon off the coasts of the Ballyshannon, Letterkenny, Londonderry, and Coleraine fishery districts formed the subject of j inquiries recently held by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction at eight different places in the locality. A decision in the matter has not yet been arrived at.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers are under orders to proceed from India to South Africa in the Autumn; that this regiment has already served for three years in South Africa; and whether, seeing that there is at the present time in India at least one cavalry regiment which has never been stationed in South Africa, he will say whether there is any precedent for a regiment being sent to that country both at the commencement and again at the conclusion of its tour of foreign service.

Is it not the fact that the foreign service of a regiment is quite irrespective of the place it happens to be quartered?

We endeavour as far as possible to make it fall conveniently. The raising of the cavalry garrison in South Africa in 1904 from two regiments to four necessitated the formation of a new roster. The 9th Lancers are going from India to South Africa in the ordinary course, as they are at the top of that roster. One cavalry regiment will, under the present arrangement, go every year from India to South Africa, so that every regiment now in India will go in time to South Africa. There is no precedent for the exceptional position in which the 9th Lancers are placed in consequence of circumstances not likely to again occur. They were stationed in South Africa in 1896 on account of the increase of the garrison in that country.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman could say how long the 9th Lancers would be in South Africa this time.

I should not like to pledge myself to an Answer now. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the cavalry regiment recently ordered out to Cairo found on i its arrival there that the cavalry barracks were in the possession of an infantry regiment, thus necessitating the occupation of the vacant infantry barracks by i the cavalry regiment and the separation of the officers and men from their horses, to the discomfort and inconvenience of the regiment; and whether he will take such steps as will ensure that the cavalry regiment in question shall have the 'use of its own quarters at as early a date as possible.

The General Officer Commanding is responsible for the distribution of the troops in the various barracks in his command. Inquiries on the point will be made.

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies if he can state whether His Majesty's Government propose to set any, and, if so, what limitation of time or number on the further importation of Chinese coolies into the Transvaal.

I beg also to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a time limit will at once be fixed beyond which no more Chinese coolies should be imported into South Africa, whether under contracts already entered into or otherwise; and, if so, whether the Government will immediately telegraph to Lord Selborne the date so fixed, with orders to notify it to every one concerned.

My hon. and gallant friend the Member for the Abercromby division has given me private notice of a Question on the subject of the issue of a new proclamation, and it will, I think, be convenient if I answer the Question of my hon. friend and other Questions on the same subject at the same time. In order to remove all possible doubt or suspicion as to the intentions of His Majesty's Government from the minds of the Chinese coolies and others, the Secretary of State has given instructions for the issue and posting of an amended proclamation which I will shortly lay upon the Table of the House. All minatory and hortatory sentences contained in the original proclamation will be omitted. And for the following words:—" If circumstances appear to me to warrant it, I will take note of and register the application, but the applicant will thereafter have to make an honest effort by working on his mine to earn a contribution towards his expenses. Of such honest efforts I will constitute myself the judge and should any fail in this respect his application will be cancelled. On receipt of the applications from the various mines I will carefully weigh each individual case and decide which of them are deserving of the generous consideration of the Government and entitled to this favoured treatment " will be substituted the following:— " I will take note of and register the application. It will then be your duty if required to work on your mine faithfully and honestly for one month. If at the end of this period you are still of the same mind and will contribute half of the wages earned in that month towards your travelling expenses, I will arrange for your return to China without unnecessary delay." Further, upon the question of a time limit, in view of the evident public advantage to be gained by the certain and total arrest of all importations of coolies under outstanding licences before the establishment of a Transvaal representative Assembly the Secretary of State will now name the 30th day of November as a date after which His Majesty's Consular representatives in China may be instructed to resume the functions now delegated by them to the representatives of the Labour Importation Agency in respect of recruiting, and to discontinue the issue of all licences to recruit.

I beg to ask the Lender-Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the approximate number of indentured Chinese in the Transvaal when the Government took office; what are the numbers now: and how many have been repatriated.

The numbers on December 20th, 1905, wore 47,241; and before the appointment of His Majesty's present advisers, licences to import a further 14,700 had already been issued and were outstanding. Of these licences about 7,000 have been worked off up to the present time. The coolie population would therefore have been increased about 54,000 as the result of the policy of the late Government. But Lord Selborne has repatriated under various clauses of the Ordinance above 2,000 coolies; and the total number of Chinese upon the Rand on May 31st, which is our latest figure, was 50,974.

How many have been repatriated?

I have said about 2,000.

Do these include the sick and dead?

They include those who had been repatriated through sickness or misconduct, but certainly not deceased coolies sent hack in accordance with the custom of their country.

asked how many coolies out of the 2,000 had been repatriated under the most recent proclamation.

As far as I am aware, up to date fifty-four have applied. [OPPOSITION cries of " Applied?"]—Yes, they have gone.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the number of Chinese coolies who deserted from the gold mines in the Transvaal during the months of March, April, and May respectively.

I have only the returns for March and April; that for May has not yet arrived. The total number of convictions for the three offences—absence without permit, desertion, and unlawful absence—were in March 1,169, and in April 821.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government has under consideration the propriety of restricting the wholesale felling of forests in order to facilitate the shifting and temporary cultivation practised by the natives in British Central Africa, whereby, in part, at any rate, the drying up of Lake Nyassa and the Shire River have resulted to the detriment of trade, cultivation, and navigation, and whether he will arrange that privileges accorded to the original inhabitants in respect of clearing forest land shall not be given to immigrants from neighbouring Portuguese territory.

The question of forest conservation in British Central Africa is engaging the attention of the local authorities and the Secretary of State with a view of preserving the forests from improvident treatment by settlers of whatever nationality.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state how many natives have been killed since the beginning of the military operations now being carried on against them by the Natal authorities; what proportion the wounded bear to the killed; and how many of the white forces in the field have been killed and wounded during the same period.

From the information in the Colonial Office, it would appear that twelve white men have been killed and thirty wounded since the beginning of May. No trustworthy accounts of native losses are available, and I would recommend the House to receive, with considerable reserve, statements of native casualties, admittedly based upon " estimates " which are almost invariably much exaggerated by the victors in any action. I cannot therefore attempt to state the proportion between native and British losses; but of course the number of the native killed and wounded greatly exceeds that of the white troops, who are armed with modern weapons and compelled to fire at close' quarters with these weapons upon charging masses of spearmen. The native wounded are taken from the field to the neighbouring kraals, with which the country is thickly studded, and are there tended by their own people. I do not know what is the proportion of wounded to killed; but it would certainly not be less than half-and-half.

asked whether the hon. Gentleman's attention had been called to the description of some of these engagements as a drive, and what did that mean. Were these natives hunted down like the beasts of the field?

asked whether there was any truth in the report that native levies who accompanied the Natal troops despatched the wounded after the engagement.

said he certainly did not think there was any truth in an implication of the nature conveyed in the last Question. As to the significance of the word " drive," he should have thought it was an operation that had been made tolerably familiar, unfortunately, in recent years.

said he had only heard the word in connection with grouse.

In fact it is merely a technical expression.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the House particulars of the fighting in Natal, near Noodsberg, on Sunday last; the extent of the carnage; and especially the respective casualties of the white and black contending forces.

The following telegram has been received from the Governor:— " 2nd July, No. 7. Barker's Transvaal Mounted Rifles, moving from Dalton to Isidembeni Mission to take part in to-morrow's operations were attacked by Mhlubi and Xakwana's tribes, 1,500 strong, who advanced to close quarters. Rebels repulsed and pursued down Insuzi Valley. Their loss estimated at 600. Our loss trooper Knight killed, troopers Simcox and Tobin wounded."

said there had been very severe fighting since Sunday, and asked whether the hon. Gentleman had any information as to that. It was reported that the rebels fought half-heartedly, and retired eventually before terrific rifle and Maxim firing. Was that what Englishmen considered fair fighting?

said he had received another telegram to the following effect: — "Governor Sir H. E. McCallum to the Earl of Elgin. (Received Colonial Office, 11 p.m., July 4, 1906.) July 4, No. 2. —Major Campbell, Durban Light Infantry, escorting convoy 22 wagons Bond's Drift to Thring's Post with detachments j of Durban Light Infantry, Northern District Mounted Rifles, Zululand Mounted Rifles, 140 strong in all, attacked in the evening of July 1st Macrae's Store by impi 500 strong Gobizembi's and Nhlovus tribes; rebels charged three times but repulsed with steady fire. Laager formed escort, stood to arms all night. On following morning 40 rebels found dead; two wounded, who were attended to and left on field when convoy again set out for Thring's Post, which was reached July 3rd. Trooper Coll, Zululand Mounted Rifles, severely wounded by assegais, since dead. All ranks behaved greatest steadiness."

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the negotiations for the concession of the Ceylon pearl fisheries during 1904 and part of 1905 were carried on in strict secrecy by means of confidential correspondence without any reference to the people of Ceylon; whether this method of administering the domestic affairs of the Colony and the granting of such a concession to a private company in this manner are contrary to the usual practice in the Colony of openly inviting tenders after public advertisement; whether, of the fourteen members of the Legislative Council who voted for the Ordinance sanctioning the concession, ten were paid officials, three were representatives of non-permanent European communities, one was a Singhalese official in the pay of the Government; and whether the four members who voted against the Ordinance were the only independent Ceylonese non-officials in the council; and whether, during the confidential negotiations with the late Colonial Secretary for the concession, Sir West Ridgeway acted on behalf of a group of South African financiers and mine owners who held a preponderating position on the syndicate and who have the largest holdings in the new company.

I am informed that the communications, being business negotiations, were necessarily confidential, and, in regard to the second part of the Question, that this was not contrary to the usual practice of the Colony. According to the division list, the i majority who voted for the Ordinance consisted of seven officials, the officer commanding the troops, the Kandyan representative, who is, it is understood, one of the native headmen and paid in that capacity, and the three European non-official members. The four who voted against it were the representatives of the Low country Sinhalese, the Tamil, the Burgher, and the Mahommedan communities. I have no knowledge as to the last point referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Speaker whether he was entitled to ask the late Colonial Secretary to give information on this extraordinary transaction, which was enshrouded in so much mystery?

ruled that that would be out of order.

asked whether, inasmuch as the name of the late Colonial Secretary had been frequently mentioned in connection with this transaction, it would be in order for that right hon. Gentleman to make a personal explanation.

There is no question of a personal explanation. What the right hon. Member for St. George's, Hanover Square, would be called upon to do would be to expound the policy of the late Government, and that, of course, would lead to some debate.

Perhaps the House will allow me to state that I did ask the Speaker whether it was in conformity with the rule of the House that I should make a statement on this matter. Mr. Speaker said that it was not. I confess that, without apportioning any blame to the Under-Secretary, he is not precisely the channel through which I should desire my views to be conveyed to the House of Common. It would be a matter of satisfaction to me, inasmuch as this trans action—

Order, order! The right hon. Gentleman is going to do the very thing I told him he could not do.

said he would not pursue that point, but instead would ask the Prime Minister, as this matter had been conveyed to the House in sporadic Answers to sporadic Questions, and very incompletely, as he thought, whether he would facilitate the discussion of the subject by giving a day.

said the only day would be that on which the Colonial Vote was taken.

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether British Indians enjoy the same rights as European colonists in the East African Protectorate in respect of mining, settling, and acquiring land; whether representations to the contrary have been made to the Colonial Office, and, if so, whether they are still pending; and, if they have been disposed of. whether he will inform the House of the result.

It is contrary to the policy of His Majesty's Government to exclude any class of His Majesty's subjects from mining, settling, and acquiring land in any part of a British Protectorate over which he exerts direct control, but in view of the comparatively limited area in the East African Protectorate suitable for European colonisation, a reasonable discretion is exercised in dealing with applications for land on the part of natives of India and other non-Europeans. It appears from a despatch which has been recently received from the Commissioner of the Protectorate that a meeting was held by the Indian Community in Mombasa for the purpose of urging on the Government that equal rights should be accorded to Indians and Europeans. This led to a public meeting of the European settlers being hold at Nairobi, at which a resolution was passed urging the Imperial Government to reserve for European settlement the only part of the Protectorate suited to Europeans. The resolution has been transmitted by the Colonists' Association to the Secretary of State, who is sending a reply in the sense of the first part of this answer.

Is the " reasonable discretion " to be such as is sometimes shown by the Under-Secretary?

Are these British Indians then practically under certain disabilities in this behalf?

I do not gather so from the answer.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government have sanctioned the action of the Governor of Malta, as set forth in the correspondence recently laid upon the Table of the House, in preventing the Rev. John McNeill continuing his religious services at the request of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Malta.

As I stated in reply to another Question on June 13th,† the Governor, as the authority responsible for the peace and good order of Malta, exercised his own discretion in the matter of the religious services referred to by the hon. Member, but I will add that, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, the arrangements for preserving the peace and order of Malta should be sufficient to enable all law-abiding persons at all times to perform whatever religious exercises they may choose, irrespective of creed or sect, and instructions have been given with that intention.

asked whether freedom was to be accorded for all meetings held within doors in future.

said he had nothing to add to his Answer.

The Answer is no answer at all.

I think it is, and that if the hon. Member will study it in the report he will find it made clear even to his comprehension.

Are Protestant meetings to be allowed to be held indoors in future or are they not?

asked whether there was not a definite compact between the people of Malta and the Government of this country to this effect.

said he believed that that was not the case, but the British Government had undertaken to respect the religion of the Maltese and not to subvert it, and it was the intention of the Government that there should be equal treatment as between persons of all religious denominations.

asked whether representations had been made to the Governor of Malta that the dis

† See (4) Debates, clviii., 956.

abilities of Protestants should be removed at once.

I understand that instructions have been given with that intention.

asked the hon. Gentleman whether he would lay on the Table of the House the communication made to the Governor of Malta.

I rise to a point of order, Sir. The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, in answer to a supplementary Question, observed that he believed that his written Answer would be clear even to the intelligence of the hon. Gentleman behind me. I wish to ask you, Sir, whether it is in accordance with the traditions of this House that that kind of reply should be given by a Minister of the Crown.

I cannot say that the expression was unparliamentary, although it was certainly provocative and somewhat offensive.

Will the hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer my Question, whether the communication of the Government to the Governor of Malta will be laid on the Table of the House?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will give me notice of that.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the assurances given that the Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam have withdrawn all restrictions on public meetings and processions imposed by previous orders, other circulars have been promulgated by the local magistrates and district superintendents of police which direct that all persons wishing to hold a public meeting or procession must apply to the police for permission to hold such meeting or procession, and that acting under these orders the police have arrested and retained in custody, until they were released on heavy bail, respectable gentlemen who were attending religious processions; and whether he will take measures to ensure that real effect is given to the pledges made in this House.

The licences for processions and meetings are required under the ordinary law, and the instructions of the local government are that such licences are only to be withheld in cases where there would, if they were granted, be serious risk of breaches of the peace. As I stated in reply to a Question on the 27th June, † I will take whatever stops may appear to be necessary to ensure that these instructions are not disregarded.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has boon drawn to the orders passed by the inspector of schools, Dacca Division, in the province of Eastern Bengal and Assam, directing that teachers of schools who are interesting themselves in the Swadeshi movement shall be dismissed, and that the right of holding and competing for Government scholarships shall be permanently withdrawn from schools in which the teachers are so interested; and whether he will take steps to cancel these orders.

I have at present no information as to the orders stated to have been passed, but I have telegraphed to the Government of India on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the frequent Government prosecutions which have been, and still are being, instituted in the province of Eastern Bengal and Assam against schoolboys and others in connection with the Swadeshi movement; and whether, as a political measure tending to allay the unrest in that province, he will issue instructions through the Government of India to the local government to refrain from endeavouring to repress the movement by prosecution of this nature.

In cases in which the measures adopted by the adherents of the

† See (4)Debates,clix., 927.

Swadeshi or any other movement involved serious breaches of the ordinary law, the hon. Member will, I think, agree that the authorities have no alternative but to take cognisance of them; but police interference will be limited to what is strictly necessary.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will lay upon the Table the amended regulations for examinations in Indian languages recently issued by the Government of India.

The regulations are hardly of sufficient general interest to warrant their being laid upon the Table, and they are already in the Library. But I shall be glad to provide the hon. Member with a copy of these Regulations.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether it is intended to give the planting interest alternate representation only upon the Legislative Council of Eastern Bengal and Assam; and whether, in that case, he will, in view of the magnitude of the interests involved and of the benefits accruing to the province from the cultivation of tea, provide for the continuous representation of the industry.

I have no official information as to the intentions of the Lieutenant-Governor in this matter. The regulations under which the Legislative Council will be constituted do not preclude the continuous representation of the planting interest, and I have no doubt that that interest will receive the fullest representation which is consistent, with a due regard for other claims.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to a public manifesto put forward by the leaders of public opinion in both provinces of Bengal, including seven gentlemen who have been or now are representative members of the Legislative Council, giving expression to the feeling of unrest which is prevailing in those provinces, due to the partition of Bengal, and to the measures which have been adopted to stamp out popular opposition to the partition and to suppress the Swadeshi movement; and whether he will give his consideration to the views expressed therein and take steps to remedy the grievances complained of.

I have seen the manifesto referred to. As I have already stated in this House, His Majesty's Government regard the partition of Bengal as a settled fact; but it is my wish to deal in a spirit of full consideration with all questions arising out of it. I shall be glad in the future, as I have been in the past, to take any possible steps for the removal of legitimate causes of complaint.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has refused permission to the eminent Swedish traveller, Dr. Sven Hedin, who is now in India, to enter Tibet; if so, upon what grounds this refusal has bee a based; whether it is in accordance with the advice of the Government of India; and whether he will consider the advisability, in the interests of friendly relations with the Tibetan Government and people, of encouraging, subject to their consent, the occasional visits of well-qualified travellers to a country enjoying Treaty relations with the British Government.

Dr. Sven Hedin has been refused permission to enter Tibet from British territory. It had been decided for reasons of policy that not even British parties could be allowed to explore Tibet; and what had been refused to British subjects could not be conceded to foreigners. It is true that the Government of India were in favour of encouraging the exploration of Tibet by qualified travellers. His Majesty's Government after full consideration decided otherwise, as they considered it advisable that Tibet should continue in that state of " isolation," the maintenance of which was stated by Mr. Brodrick in his despatch of December 2nd, 1904, to have been one of the main objects of His Majesty's late Government in their dealings with Tibet. A subsidiary reason was that there was no ground for thinking that the Tibetan Government—whose consent to explora- tions is recognised by the noble Earl to be necessary—would be more disposed to grant passports now than they were in the summer of 1905, when they refused a request for one. I should add that the decision of His Majesty's Government in no way affects the right of access to the trade marts secured by the Lhasa Convention. I should also like to express the regret with which I was compelled recently to refuse applications from the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society for assistance in the work of exploring Tibet. The claims of scientific explorers obviously stand on a different footing from those of persons who wish to visit Tibet for amusement. Still, even geography must wait upon the requirements of political convenience.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it would be inconsistent with his desire to maintain the isolation of Tibet that the policy which he has announced to the House should, at all events, be modified in the case, not only of British subjects, but also of foreigners, where there is clear evidence that the Tibetan people have no objection whatever to their entrance to the country?

If the noble Lord can establish his proposition that there is clear evidence that the Tibetans do not object, I shall be very glad to receive it: and if I do receive it, I will urge His Majesty's Government to change their policy.

asked whether China, as the suzerain Power, alone had the right to give or refuse entrance to Tibet.

I do not think I can answer that question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that H. J. Penson, late Sub-conductor of the Remount Department, was instructed by the India Office on November 29th, 1900, to apply through his late superior officer in India for an official certificate of service and character on his retirement; that although application was made, no certificate has been received, and it is now stated that such certificates are not issued; is he aware that when Penson applied to the War Office for employment he received a letter dated January 3rd, 1906, asking for his certificate of retirement; that he has been refused civil employment for want of such certificate; and will he make inquiries with a view to such certificate being issued without farther delay.

As the hon. Member was informed on June 11th last, †" parchment " certificates of discharge are not issued to warrant officers of Indian Army Departments. I will ask the Government of India to obtain a certificate of service and character for pensioned Sun-conductor Penson from his late commanding officer in India.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any preliminary agreement between Franco and Great Britain as to the Abyssinian Railway, has been reached; and, if so, whether the consent of the Emperor of Ethiopia has been obtained, or is expected.

Negotiations on the subject are still proceeding, and I am unable at present to make any statement on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Egyptian Ministry of the Interior, acting under the advice of Mr. Machell, issued an official report of the facts of the Denshawi affray case, as presented by the Government at the trial, a week or some days before such trial took place; if so, whether, in view of the effect of such publication upon the public mind in Egypt and in England, and in view of the possibility of prejudicing the Court before which the trial was held, he will explain why this course was adopted; whether the trial was held under the special Khedivial Decree of 1895 and the Court duly constituted in accordance with such decree, and all the members thereof thoroughly familiar

† See (4)Debates, clviii., 696.

with the Arabic tongue, both written and spoken, and duly qualified in criminal law: whether, under the Egyptian native penal code, flogging is permitted for any offence whatever, and if he will state whether such flogging is permitted under the Decree of 1895; whether there was any preliminary investigation, and, if so, whether the prisoners, or any of them, were represented thereat by counsel, and whether such investigation was held in public or in private, and whether at the preliminary investigation, if any, and at the trial, counsel for the prisoners were permitted to cross-examine the witnesses for the prosecution, or whether all questions were put to the witnesses by the President of the Court.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether flogging is permitted by the penal code of Egypt; and, if so, by what article of the code, and as a punishment for what offences.

In view of the very incorrect reports which were being circulated in the Press, a preliminary statement of the facts, so far as they were then known, was given to the Press by the Ministry of the Interior on June 17th. The trial was held under the Khedivial Decree of 1895, and the Court was duly constituted in accordance with that Decree. The English Members of the Court were specially chosen on account of their knowledge of Arabic, and all except the military member, who was specially selected for his knowledge of Arabic and his experience of such matters, were technically as well as thoroughly qualified in criminal lair. Flogging is no longer allowed under the ordinary criminal law, and no stipulation as to the character of the punishment to be inflicted is laid down in the Decree of 1895. The Decree of 1895 lays down that a preliminary investigation shall take place, on the termination of which the case shall be brought publicly before the Court. I have no official information as to the other points mentioned in the Question, but they will be dealt with in the full Report which has been asked for. I should like to add, as Captain Machell's name is mentioned in this Question and was mentioned the other day, that, while any responsibility that Captain Machell had in the matter cannot be pronounced upon until the full Report has been received, I have asked Lord Cromer about him, and I am told by him that there is probably no European in Egypt who is more popular I with Egyptians and whose character stands higher.

asked when his right hon. friend expected to receive the despatch for which he had asked.

A full Report of the judgment is on its way, and a full Report, I imagine also, of the execution of the sentences. The evidence, which I also promised, extends to 200 pages of Arabic, which have to be translated, and obviously I cannot expect to have that as early as the other Reports.

asked, inasmuch as the Decree of 1895 did not specifically mention the right of the special tribunal to give punishments not possible under the ordinary law of Egypt, on what principle the special tribunal acted?

The Decree, if I remember aright—I can give the quotation later on if necessary—gives the Court full discretion as to the punishments to be inflicted.

asked whether, with the other Papers, the right hon. Gentleman would include a translation of the Khedivial Decree of 1895?

Yes, Sir, there will be no difficulty about doing that.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Denshawi trials and executions were not arranged for under the direction of Lord Cromer; whether Lord Cromer has not been in England for some days; and, if so, why it is necessary to send to Egypt for detailed information on these matters.

Lord Cromer had left Egypt before the special tribunal had concluded their investigations. In any case, the arrangements connected with the trial and the executions of the sentences were primarily under the authority of the Egyptian Government, and not under that of His Majesty's Representative in Egypt.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether an appeal to the Court of Native Appeal from the judgment of the special tribunal was not allowed in the Mombasa case in July, 1900; and who was responsible for the non-allowance of an appeal in the Denshawi case.

In the case of the assault on two British officers at Montazah, in July, 1900, proceedings were instituted against the two principal offenders before the ordinary tribunals, and not before the special tribunal as in the present case. Article 4 of the Khedivial Decree of 1895, lays down that there shall be no appeal from the judgment pronounced by the special tribunal.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the outcome of the promise made by Lord Cromer in 1901, after the fracas near Cairo between British officers and the watchmen of Mr. Wilfrid Blunt, that he would consult the legal advisers of the Egyptian Government as to the suggested strengthening of the law of trespass in Egypt, so as to protect native cultivators from injury at the hands of Europeans; and whether anything has been done in the premises.

Lord Cromer consulted the legal advisers to the Egyptian Government on his return to Cairo in 1901, and they were of opinion that no change in the law was necessary or practicable. Nor is there reason to believe that cases of trespass by Europeans are more common than cases of trespass by natives.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Russian people are interpreting the meaning of the proposed visit of British warships to Russian ports to be that the British Government sympathises with the methods adopted by the Russian authorities for the suppression of the reform movement; and. whether, under these circumstances, he will intervene to stop the visit from taking place.

If an impression exists in the minds of any section of the Russians that the visit of the Fleet is to be regarded as having any reference to internal affairs in Russia, it is quite incorrect; and if it is desired that the Answers hitherto given should be amplified, I will do so in debate.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to allegations of slavery carried on in the islands of St. Thomé and Principé, on the West Coast of Africa; and what steps he purposes to take to direct the attention of the Portuguese Government to the alleged practices.

The attention of the Portuguese Government has from time to time been called to the conditions under which labour is obtained for the islands of St. Thomé and Principé. Mr. Nightingale, His Majesty's Consul for the Congo, recently paid a visit to the islands referred to for the purpose of enquiring into the matter, and a Report from him on the subject is expected shortly.

Will the Report be laid on the Table of the House?

I must see it before I can decide that.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to allegations that slave trade is carried on in the cocoa plantations in the islands of St. Thomé and Principé, under the dominion of the Portuguese Government; is he aware that the produce of these islands is chiefly cocoa, which is almost entirely purchased by British merchants; and what steps does he propose taking in the matter.

Cocoa is no doubt one of the principal products of the islands, and is largely purchased by British merchants. I do not see that any steps can be taken respecting purchases of cocoa by British merchants.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he would be prepared to allow members of the Metropolitan Police Force the privilege which the members of the City Police enjoy, of performing their Sunday duties in one tour; and whether he would grant constables of the Metroplitan Police Force the same amount of annual leave as London postmen get, namely, fourteen days.

The conditions on Sunday in the inner portions of the Metropolitan Police District are widely different from those prevailing in the City, and after consultation with the Commissioner of Police I am satisfied that it would not be desirable in the public interest to arrange for the performance of duty in a single tour of eight hours. With regard to the latter part of the Question, I fear I can add nothing to the reply which I gave on May 14th last to the hon. Member for North Lambeth † and to my remarks in the debate on the Metropolitan Police Estimates on June 7th. ‡

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is any official record of the number of private burying grounds attached to monastic and conventual institutions; and whether he can state the conditions on which permission to use such private burying grounds is granted.

There is not, to my knowledge, any such record, nor am I aware that any permission to use such grounds is required except in the case of a proposed new ground in a place where, in pursuance of the Burial Acts and Orders in Council thereunder for the protection of the public health, no new burial ground may be opened without

†See (4)Debates, clvii., 181.

‡ See (4)Debates,clviii., 601, 603.

the approval of the Local Government Board.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider it right and proper that no official record should be kept of these places?

was understood to to reply that he had not considered that point.

Has any one a right to use a private burial ground without special leave?

That is a matter which is regulated by Act of Parliament.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman say more?

said he would make further inquiry if the hon. Member would tell him exactly what he wanted.

We will furnish the hon. Member with a burying ground if that is what he wants.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that the provisions of the Factory Act, 1901, Section 116, relating to particulars of work and wages, have already been applied to only about half of the forty odd home industries actually demonstrated at the recent sweating exhibition, held at Queen's Hall; and whether he will favourably consider the question of extending the protection of this section to all outworkers.

A very large proportion of outworkers have been brought within the scope of the particular section; but I am aware that a number of small industries are still outside, and inquiries with regard to many of these, including some represented at the exhibition, have been in progress and are nearly completed. As soon as the Reports of these inquiries are received, the question of extending the section to the industries in question will be considered.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has observed the recommendation of the Royal Commissioners on Ecclesiastical Discipline, that the Houses of Laymen should be consulted; what is the composition of these Houses; and whether they have any legal sanction, authority, or existence.

Yes, sir. There is in each province a House of laymen composed of lay members of the Church of England elected according to a system based upon population in the various dioceses. So far as I am aware, they are voluntary bodies and possess no legalstatus.

Is not the only body which represents the Church of England as a whole this House?

On behalf of my hon. friend the Member for the Hoxton division of Shoreditch, I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade why the last volume of the Report of the Royal Commission on London Traffic was in possession of the Press and published in various newspapers last week, and was not on Tuesday available for Members of this House.

I beg to Answer this Question on behalf of my right hon. friend. I understood that abstracts of this volume were sent to the Press on the strength of an assurance from the printers that it would be issued last Saturday. The printers unexpectedly failed to carry out this promise, and it was then too late to withdraw the abstracts. The volume consists of diagrams, statistics, and other appendices, and is of course on a different footing to the Report of the Commission. The incident seems to be of little importance.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the sentence of six weeks imprisonment by the magistrate at Marylebone on three women for an alleged disturbance in Cavendish Square, and if he is also aware that one of the women is sixty-four years of age and of very respectable character, and if he proposes to take any action in the matter.

Yes, Sir. I am aware of this case, and I have been in communication with the learned magistrate. I find that the three defendants were urged by him to give him an assurance that they would not repeat their conduct, and that on their refusal to do so he ordered them to enter into their recognisances in £50 each to keep the peace for twelve months, and to find a surety each in the same amount. They will only be obliged to go to prison for six weeks if they decline to enter into these recognisances and to find these sureties. Hitherto they have refused, but I am informed that they are well able to do so if they choose. In these circumstances I do not propose to take any action in the matter.

Do not two of the defendants deny that, although they were in the square, they committed any offence?

That is not a question for me.

I shall raise the question on the adjournment.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, having regard to the accident which occurred at Salisbury recently, and seeing that drivers on the London and South Western Railway are punished by reduction in pay and position for failing to keep to the scheduled time of trains, whether he proposes to take any steps, by legislation or otherwise, to prevent the continuance of this practice.

I am informed by the railway company in question that engine drivers who are found not to run their trains in accordance with schedule times are removed to other trains and that this may sometimes involve reduction of pay. The company state that such cases are rare, and that men are so removed only when they are found incompetent for the post to which they have been assigned, I and unable to maintain the time which is easily kept by other drivers It is added that drivers who improperly run faster than schedule time are similarly dealt with. Pending receipt of the Report of the inspector appointed to inquire into the Salisbury accident, I am not in a position to say what steps, if any, are desirable on the part of the Board of Trade.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what the state of mind of a driver must be if he is fined both for not keeping time and for attempting to make it up?

the right hon. Gentleman can have no knowledge of that.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the death of Mr. Thomas Yardley at Vauxhall Station, London and North Western, Birmingham, by accident on June 26th, and to the verdict of the jury that proper provision was not made by the company's officials to protect Yardley's life, the rules laid down by the company having been infringed; and, if so, will he say what he proposes to do in the matter.

Yes, Sir. The Board of Trade have received a report of the fatal accident in question, and also a copy of the verdict and rider of the coroner's jury. I am ordering an inquiry into the circumstances of the accident to be held on behalf of the Board.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, having regard to the fact that, under The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, the act of desertion on the part of a seaman renders him liable to the forfeiture of the whole of his accumulated wages, however large the amount may be, and also to the forfeiture of all the other effects he has left on board ship, will he state what becomes of the money thus forfeited, and how much of it, if any, was paid into the national Exchequer during 1905; and will he introduce an Amendment into the Merchant Shipping Bill now before the House by which the amount of wages to be forfeited for desertion may be limited in amount.

Under the present law (which, as my hon. friend is aware, it is proposed to amend by the Bill now before this House), the wages earned by a seaman up to the date of his desertion are usually retained by the master on behalf of the owner, but in eases whore a court is appealed to either on behalf of a seaman or an owner, it rests with the court to decide what amount shall be re-imbursed to the owners for the expenses caused by the desertion, and the balance is paid into the Exchequer. I regret that I am not able without further notice to state what amount was so paid into the Exchequer during 1905, but I have no doubt that it was only a small sum. With regard to the Amendment to the Merchant Shipping Bill suggested by my hon. friend, I doubt the advisability of limiting the amount of wages which can be forfeited for desertion, as such a limit would tend to weaken the inducements which a seaman has to stay by his vessel.

When will the Report stage of the Bill be taken?

I should prefer that that Question be addressed to the Leader of the House.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the practice of banking passengers and other trains up inclines on the London and North Western and Midland Railways, without either the engine in the rear being coupled to the train in front or any continuous brake connection being formed; and whether, in view of the possibility of accident to the front engine or train, and with a view to securing safe working, especially at night, he will say what steps he proposes to take, if any, to avoid such risk.

I am aware that this method of working trains is adopted at some places on the railways mentioned, and the companies inform me that, after full consideration and long experience, they are of opinion that it is safe and unobjectionable. The inspecting officers of railways agree that where an assistant engine is used with a goods train not fitted with continuous brakes, the necessity for coupling does not arise, and that it is often desirable to place the assistant engine in the rear as a safeguard against a break-away. But their view has been that, in the case of passenger trains, the proper place for the assistant engine is in front of the train and coupled on, the brake connection being made throughout. In practice, however, no accidents have for many years past occurred on the railways in question from the practice adopted by the companies, and I am not at present prepared to take any action in the matter.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the fact that in many rural Poor Law districts sons whose weekly wages are 13s. or even less per week are compelled to contribute towards the cost of Poor Law relief to their indigent parents, he will issue recommendations to such Poor Law authorities discouraging such demands; or whether he proposes shortly to introduce legislation, fixing a minimum scale of income below which a son or daughter may not legally be called upon to contribute to parental support.

Children are only liable to contribute to the maintenance of their parents when, being of sufficient ability to make a contribution, they are required by an order of justices to do so. Any question as to the ability of a son or daughter to contribute is a matter for the justices when application is made to them for an order. I have not received complaints of harshness in the enforcement of the law on this subject, and I am not at present aware of any sufficient ground for taking action of the kind suggested by my hon. friend.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General what is the cause of the delay in carrying out at Glasgow the revision of allowances to head postmen recommended in the Tweedmouth Report, dated March, 1897; and, seeing that the matter has been the .subject of official investigation for the last five years, whether a decision will be shortly come to.

This is not a question of a revision of allowances recommended by the Tweedmouth Report. Applications for increased allowances have been made from time to time, and have been under consideration, and I have made a recommendation to the Treasury which, if approved, will, I hope, settle the matter.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education, with reference to the Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools, 1906, Curriculum, Clause 7, whether he can see his way to amend the recommendation that teaching need not be limited to English or British history, and lessons on citizenship may be given with advantage in the higher classes, so as to make the teaching of the duties and responsibilities of citizenship compulsory for all children in the higher standards.

The Article setting out the curriculum for public elementary schools is designed to leave the necessary liberty to local education authorities and managers and teachers for considering the circumstances of individual schools, and the qualifications of individual teachers in framing their plans of lessons. Any rigid obligation to give lessons on citizenship in the higher standards of all schools indiscriminately would hardly be a wise regulation in any code. The reference, in the Article referred to, to lessons on citizenship clearly indicates, I think, that the subject is one which the Board regard as of high educational value. I may add that three suggested schemes for instruction in history to scholars in the higher classes will be found in Appendix IV. of the " Suggestions for the Consideration of Teachers; and Others concerned in the Work of Public Elementary Schools," and that lessons on citizenship are provided for in all these three schemes.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he can state when the regulations for the distribution of the £1,000,000 under Clause 12 of the Education Bill will be issued.

I must refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to a Question by the Member for Cambridge University on June 27th † upon this matter, to which I have nothing to add.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the attention of the Office of Woods has been called to the state of the beach at Whitburn, near Sunderland, due to the tipping of refuse from several collieries in the locality, such refuse consisting of slate and broken bricks, and spoiling the bench as a pleasure resort; and whether it is their intention to take any action in regard to the matter?

The attention of the Commissioners of Woods had not been previously drawn to the tipping of colliery refuse on the foreshore. I understand that the tipping, which takes place about a mile north of the village of Whitburn, has gone on for many years. No complaint of its having any injurious effect has been received by the Commissioners of Woods. In the absence of any general expression of local feeling I do not propose to take immediate action, but, of course, I shall always be ready to consider any complaints and, if necessary, to require the discontinuance of the practice.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will cause inquiry to be made to ascertain the percentage of assessments made by

† See (4)Debates, clix., 919.

parochial assessors which the surveyors of taxes, in the time at their disposal, revise and amend before they can be transmitted to the clerks to commissioners; and will he also ascertain the percentage of assessments which have to be amended after issue of notices to pay and before payment is made.

Under Sections 51, 52 and 56 of the Taxes Management Act, 1880, it is the duty of a surveyor of taxes to examine every return and every assessment delivered by assessors in the years (every fifth year) in which new property tax and house duty assessments are made. It would hardly be possible, at any rate it would involve enormous labour, to go through the 15,000,000 or thereabouts of assessments and to determine the percentage of corrections made by surveyors. As regards the latter part of the Question, in the last year of a new assessment, 1903–4, the number of assessments, as finally settled, was over 13,000,000, and the percentage of corrections after issue of notices to pay was 1·6 per cent.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the saving in poundage, etc., of £6,500 a year on a revenue of less than £250,000 which the Board of Inland Revenue say, in their twelfth Report, was effected by the transfer of the management of the dog tax from parochial to Government officers, in addition to the increase in the number of dogs brought to charge under the now system, and to a saving of £60,000 a year in poundage, etc., from a further transfer of assessed taxes in 1869; will he cause an inquiry to be made to ascertain whether similar saving would result from the substitution of Government for parochial officers in connection with the taxes still in the hands of such officers.

Against the saving of £60,000, there was a substantial set-off by increased cost for the Excise Staff. At the same time, the changes made in 1867 and 1869 were unquestionably of advantage both to efficiency and economy. If they were not carried further, nor any proposal made to carry them further, it may be inferred that it was not considered at the time that advantage would result from carrying them further. At any rate, that is the conviction of the present Board and of its advisers at the present time.

Can the hon. Gentleman give the actual amounts of the set-off.

I cannot.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether, having regard to the frequent disagreement of juries in England, he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation to adopt the same system in jury trails in that country that takes place in Scotland, where three verdicts are possible, and the verdict of the majority is accepted.

said he quite recognised the greater finality of decision afforded by the Scottish system of jury trials; but he feared that, notwithstanding those advantages, the people of this country preferred their own ancient system, which, if it erred at all, erred in the direction of maintaining the presumption of innocence, and preserving liberty. Those were objects with which he entirely sympathised.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if his attention has been directed to the fact that the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, are not open to the public before 1 p.m. on Sundays, so that they are inaccessible upon the only morning in which the majority of the taxpayers are able to enjoy them; and if he can give instructions for the hours of admission on Sundays in future to be from 10 a.m. until dusk.

My noble friend considered this suggestion a few months ago, but he came to the conclusion that, in view of the desirability of limiting Sunday labour and of allowing the employees opportunities of attending public worship on Sunday mornings, he would not be justified in making any alteration in the existing arrangements.

Will the hon. Gentleman see if arrangements cannot be made to enable the public to enjoy the gardens for which they pay?

I can add nothing to my Answer.

I beg to ask the hon, Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the correspondence between his Board and the syndicate or company which proposes to import into the island of Alderney for slaugher animals from countries from which the importion of animals into Great Britain as for the time prohibited by the Foreign Animals Order, 1903, and its Amendments; and whether, if he cannot lay such correspondence upon the Table, does le propose shortly to make a statement o the House upon this matter.

I shall be glad to supply my hon. friend with copy of the correspondence in question, or his personal information, and to consider whether any Papers on the subject could be published. I could make a full statement respecting the matter in reply to any Question which might be addressed to me.

I beg to ask the Member for East Bristol, as Church Estates Commissioner, the number of licences owned by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and how they are distributed n the various counties; whether the Commissioners grant permission for new licences on their estate; and if they allow licences to lapse on the termination of eases; if so, what number of licences have elapsed during the past ten years.

The Answer given by the hon. Member for Hallam on March 8th, † to a

† See (4)Debates,cliii., 603 et seq.

Question put by the hon. Member for West Denbighshire contains the information desired by the hon. Member, except as regards the distribution of licences amongst the various counties. The Commissioners, in view of the time and cost which would be involved, are not prepared to give this information.

Will the hon. Member give me the information so far as it is applicable to the county of Durham?

I will inquire whether I can get that information.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state the names of the sheep farms in Easter Ross which have been converted into deer forests within the last five years, indicating in each case the acreage of the farm and the name of the proprietor.

All the information upon this subject which is available to the Government is contained in the Return No. 232 of June 22nd, 1905, but it does not enable me to answer my hon. Friend's Question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners received application for reinstatement in September, 1903, September, 1904, and March, 1906, from Mrs. Kavanagh, whose husband was evicted August 16th, 1888, from a farm of 63 acres, the valuation of which was £85 10s. and the rent £172 10s., on the Deane Drake estate, Timolin, county Kildare, the landlord of which resides at Stokestown House, New Ross, county Wexford; and whether, seeing that the evicted farm is on the landlord's hands, never having been relet, he can say what steps have been taken to restore Mrs. Kavanagh and her family to the farm from which her husband was evicted.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have received from Mrs. Kavanagh an application for reinstatement in her former holding on the estate mentioned. The owner has lodged an originating application, under the Act of 1903, for the sale of this estate, including 90 acres at Timolin, apparently the evicted holding, which is in the owner's hands and which he wishes to repurchase under Section 3. The Commissioners recently asked the vendor whether he was prepared to sell any portion of the lands to them for the purpose, if considered desirable, of resale to Mrs. Kavanagh, and he replied that he was not prepared to sell any portion of the lands for that purpose. The Commissioners have not yet ruled on the application, and the inspector will enquire into and report upon the circumstances of the case when he visits the estate in order of priority.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been directed to the fact that the rent in this case is 100 per cent, over the valuation?

I am sure the Estates Commissioners will do all they can in the matter.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state what is the Catholic and Protestant population respectively of the county of Wicklow; the number of Catholic magistrates and Protestant magistrates, exclusive of ex-officio, in the same county; the number of Catholic and Protestant magistrates appointed for the same county from the 1st July, 1895, to the 12th January 1906.

According to the last census, the Catholic population of county Wicklow numbered 48,083, and the Protestant population, 12,470. I am informed by the Lord Chancellor's Department that the number of magistrates in the county is 129, of whom twenty-two are believed to be Catholics, and 107 Protestants. The number appointed between 1st July, 1895, and 12th January, 1906, is forty-two, of whom three are believed to be Catholics and thirty-nine Protestants.

I beg to I ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will consider the application of the manager of the national school at Kilfinane, county Limerick, and see whether the circumstances of it justify him in giving it the benefit of the exceptional treatment which he has promised to the school at Lillavullen, county Cork.

I will bring the case of Kilfinane school to the notice of the Commissioners in order that they may consider whether the circumstances of the school constitute such a case of urgency as I referred to.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that owing to the inadequate accommodation at this school a large percentage of the children have in wintry weather to be kept waiting in a shed outside the school. Is not that a reason for urgency?

Yes, it is a reason why the Commissioners should deal with the matter as soon as possible.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the inspector appointed by the Irish Land Commission to look into the claims of the evicted tenants in the county of Limerick has been instructed to investigate the claim to reinstatement to her farm of Mrs. Hartigan; is he aware that this farm, situated at Bally nanty, Bruff, county Limerick, had been in the possession of the Hartigan family for 200 years, and had been rented by the father of the late tenant at 12s. per acre, but on being improved by him was raised by the landlord to ,£3 5s. per acre with a fine of £500; and will the inspector be instructed to mediate between Mrs. Hartigan and her landlord, J. C Wilmot-Smith, The Hall, Boroughbridge Yorkshire, with a view to an arrangement.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that an application for reinstatement has been received from Mrs. Anne Hartigan, and will, with others of a similar nature, be inquired into by an inspector in due course. The Commissioners have, at Mrs. Hartigan's request, already approached the landlord, and have been informed by him that Patrick Hartigan, the former tenant, was not evicted from his farm but gave up possession in 1888 when he owed a very large amount of rent. The landlord states that he is now farming the land himself, and does not intend to sell it.

Has the right hon. Gentleman informed himself as to the correctness of the facts stated in the Question and of the circumstances of the case, namely, is it a fact that this tenant has expended over £1,000 on the improvement of the farm, and when the lease fell in the rent was raised from 20s. to 65s. per acre, and under the circumstances will not the Estates Commissioners act as arbitrators in order to have a settlement carried out?

These facts are not within my knowledge, but it is very proper that they should be brought to the knowledge of the Commissioners who will investigate them.

I hope their attention will be called to the facts as stated.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a resolution from the Cavan Board of Guardians requesting the Government to appoint an additional Judicial Commissioner to dispose of the appeals in fair rent cases in the Land Commission Court, which have remained unheard for years, and asking that the Judge who shall be appointed shall have no connection with the landlord's interests, but shall be independent; and will this matter be dealt with at once.

I have received the resolution referred to. I have ascertained from the Land Commission that during the past six years the number of appeals annually lodged has steadily diminished, the number lodged last year being less than half the number lodged six years ago. During the same period, the number of appeals annually disposed of has steadily increased, the number dis- posed of last year being 2,000 more than were disposed of in the year 1900–1. The net result is that the number of appeals pending on March 31st last was very much smaller than the number outstanding six years ago. It may, I think, be assumed that with the progress of land purchase the number of outstanding appeals will continue to diminish. The question whether it may be necessary to appoint an additional Judicial Commissioner is, nevertheless, one which deserves consideration, but I am not at present in a position to make any statement on the subject.