To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in recent purchases of works of art for the National Gallery, the trustees have obtained the aid of outside expert advice in fixing the prices paid by the Nation. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) I am informed that the trustees have not paid for outside expert advice as to the prices of pictures, but have on occasions asked for and received such advice unofficially.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the reason why, in the official Reports of the proceedings of the Houses of Parliament, the speeches of Members of the Upper House are invariably reported in the first person, whereas this, with few exceptions, is not the practice in reporting the proceedings of this House; whether the speeches of Members of the Upper House are reported verbatim, and, if so, what is the extra cost involved; and whether steps will be taken to have a uniform method adopted in the Reports of the proceedings of both Houses of Parliament. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) I understand that it is not the invariable practice to report all speeches delivered in the House of Lords verbatim, but both because the Debates in that House are usually shorter and because greater facilities for hearing them are afforded to the reporters, it is only natural that the Reports of the proceedings there should be fuller than of those in this House. Under the existing contract, which does not expire until December 31st, 1907, the contractors are permitted to exercise their discretion as to the fulness of the Reports, subject to an obligation to report verbatim all Questions addressed to a Minister with the Minister's reply, and to report no speech at less than one-third of its length as delivered. I do not see how an opportunity for reconsidering this arrangement can occur until the expiration of the existing contract.

To ask the President of the Board of Education when he will be able to submit to the House the regulations of the Board of Education referred to in Clause 4 (1) (a) of the Education Bill. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) As I stated in the House last Wednesday, I propose to publish some draft Ballot Regulations as a Parliamentary Paper before the House rises this week. These draft Regulations will not represent in any way the final determination of the Board of Education on the matter, and I shall be most glad to receive practical suggestions on the subject from any quarter.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that drivers of motor omnibuses find it difficult to regulate the speed to the limit specfied under the Act owing to the vehicles not being provided with speed indicators; and will he consider the expediency of communicating with the proprietors of those omnibuses on the subject. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The adoption of speed indicators is not required by law, and the Royal Commission on Motor Cars state in their Report that they cannot recommend that it should be. In these circumstances I do not at present see my way to act on the suggestion of my hon. friend.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that persons of defective vision are unable to judge distances accurately; and whether, in view of the public danger in the case of persons driving high speed motors in crowded thoroughfares, such as are common in the Metropolitan Police area, will he take such steps as may be necessary to prevent licenses being granted to persons of defective vision. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) So far as licenses under the Motor Car Act to drivers of motor cars are concerned, there is no power to require any test or qualification before they are granted. So far, however, as relates to licences under the Metropolian Public Carriage Act to the drivers of omnibuses and hackney carriages in the Metropolitan Police District, I understand that the police authorities satisfy themselves as to the general soundness of the driver's sight before a license is given. If any defect appears a closer examination is made.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been drawn to the Report for 1905 of the Children's Committee of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, in which regret is expressed at the want of appreciation, by metropolitan boards of guardians, of the homes and schools provided by the Board for certain special classes of children in the guardians' care, viz., those with ophthalmia or ringworm, defective children, or convalescent children needing sea air; and at the failure to secure that every child falling within one or other of the classes in question, shall be promptly removed to the institution suited to its requirements; and whether he will urge on boards of guardians the duty of giving to the children in their care, who need them, the advantages of these special homes. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) My attention has been drawn to the passage in the Report referred to in the Question, and I propose to address a circular to the metropolitan boards of guardians on the subject to which it relates.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will consider the advisability of issuing an amended Within the Union Boarding out Order, under which a voluntary committee to supervise the children boarded out within the union shall be compulsory, and power be given to pay, where necessary, 5s. per week per child instead of 4s. as at present, thus bringing the Within Order into line with the amended Without Order of December, 1905, and preventing such boarding-out from being a form of out-relief. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) Yes, Sir, I am giving consideration to this matter.

to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland the cause of the delay in sanctioning the appointment of Mr. E. Daly McCann to the clerkship of Longford petty sessions, to which office he was elected by a large majority on June 14th; and will his appointment be now sanctioned. (Answered by Mr Cherry.) A question has arisen as to whether Mr. McCann is within the prescribed limits of age, and until this question has been decided it cannot be stated whether or not the appointment will be sanctioned. It is not anticipated that there will be any undue delay in dealing with the matter.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, having regard to the fact that no vessels classed as armoured ships in the list of effective ships have been docked in the new floating dock at Bermuda since its arrival on August 8th, 1902, he will state what armoured ships have been docked in the old floating dock since August 8th, 1902; and whether he can state how much of the £600,000 provided for Bermuda dockyard extension remains still unexpended? (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) H.M.S. "Hotspur" is the only armoured ship that has been docked in the old floating dock at Bermuda since 8th August, 1902, but during the same period six unarmoured vessels ranging up to 6,250 tons have been docked there. The sum of about £40,000 remains unexpended on the Bermuda dockyard extension item.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether the withdrawal of the grant of £130 a year enjoyed by the Kilsyth Academy for eight years,after having been duly certified by the Scottish Education Department as qualified to receive grants for secondary education, and of which it was deprived without warning or cause shown, is in pursuance of the policy of the Government to remove higher grade instruction from the parish schools; whether he is aware that the Kilsyth Academy is the largest school in Stirlingshire providing education largely elementary but in part secondary, to a population of about 10,000 in an isolated part of the county; and whether, in view of the proviso in Section 67 of the Statute of 1872, which lays down that the standard of education in the public schools of Scotland shall not be lowered, he proposes to take any and, if any, what, steps in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) The policy of the Department is to encourage the establishment of higher grade schools or departments wherever possible, and is directed generally to the improvement of education in the public schools of Scotland. The amended scheme of the Stirlingshire Secondary Committee for the year 1904 did not provide for payment of a subsidy to schools of the class to which Kilsyth Academy belongs, that is to say very large elementary schools in which some secondary instruction is given. The alteration of the scheme was duly advertised in December, 1903, in the local newspapers in accordance with the Department's regulations. If the school board will submit proposals that would justify the Department in recognising the academy as a higher grade school, there is no reason to think that the county committee would not be prepared to regard it as a suitable centre for secondary instruction.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the prosecution of Mr. Hoey, of Victoria Street, Belfast, for blending on his own premises patent still whiskey with pot still whiskey; and to the statement of defendant's counsel that had defendant blended the spirits in a bonded store no legal offence would have been committed; whether under the circumstances he will remit the fine imposed upon the defendant; and whether he will take the necessary steps to prohibit by legislation the blending of patent and pot still whiskey in bond as well as out of bond. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) Mr. Hoey committed a serious breach of the Revenue regulations by tampering with spirits in transit under bond from one Customs warehouse to another, and I am unable to recommend the remission of the fine imposed by the magistrates. The blending of spirits is legal either in bond or out of bond, provided that the regulations made for the protection of the Revenue are not infringed, and I see no reason for altering the law.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will introduce a Bill to give effect to his promise to provide funds to carry out the Resolution of this House as to the payment of Members. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) I am not aware that I ever made any such promise.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether there is a Government order to the effect that no Government servant shall engage in private work whilst serving under their orders; whether the architect to the Government of Madras is allowed to undertake private work; and whether the Director of Public Instruction is in the habit of referring to the Government architect to pass and recommend for the education grant plans prepared by himself, thus placing him in the position of passing his own designs for a grant; will he state what salary the Government architect receives, and whether there is a retiring pension attached to the office: will he cause a Return to be made of the private works undertaken by this public official contrary to Government regulations. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) There is a rule to the effect that no Government servant may engage in private work without the previous permission of the local government. I am not aware whether such permission has been given by the Government of Madras to their consulting architect, nor what conditions may have been attached to the permission, if granted; but I will inquire. The present consulting architect is a superintending engineer in the Public Works Department, with a salary of Rs.2,000 a month, who is eligible for pension under the rules applicable to officers of that department.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of schoolboys belonging to a Government school at Noakhali, in Eastern Bengal and Assam, have been expelled for attending a Swadishi meeting; and whether, having regard to the fact that orders have been issued for the unconditional reinstatement of schoolboys who had been expelled on so-called political considerations, he will issue instructions that these orders shall be made general in their application to the whole province. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The attention of the Government of India is closely engaged on these matters, and I cannot say more at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether any statistics are now available in regard to the prevalence of cancer in India. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) I understand that, in the forthcoming Report of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, certain statistics as to the occurrence of cancer in India, derived from the information supplied by Indian medical officers, will be published.

To ask the Secretary of State for India, seeing that he has called for a Report in regard to the hours of labour of women and young people engaged in the Bombay cotton mills, will he include in that inquiry women and youug girls engaged as bricklayers and stonemasons' labourers at Ahmedabad and other places in the Bombay Presidency. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The inquiry is confined to labour coming under the Indian Factories Act, and I do not propose to instruct the Government of India to enlarge its scope; but 1 will call their attention to the subject of my hon. friend's Question.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieu-tenant of Ireland can he say whether as yet applications to carry out the sale to the tenants on the part of Count De Salis, around Grange, Loughgur, and Knockroe, county Limerick, have been made to the Estates Commissioners; is he aware that on this estate there are close on 400 acres of untenanted land, hold until lately by Mr. Dickson and Mr. Chatterton, on which labourers, evicted tenants, and poor farmers' sons could be quartered; will he and the Estates Commissioners take precautions that no extensive tenants already holding largo farms get this untenanted land by fine for the tenant right; and, if so, that no sale of the estate be sanctioned. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that no application in respect of the sale of this estate has yet been made to them. In the event of the estate coming before then the Commissioners will consider the matters indicated in the Question.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant o Ireland, can he say how matters stand at present as regards sale and purchase between the landlord and tenants on the property of Mr. Delmege around Garry-spillane and Knocklong, county Limerick is he aware that there is a tract of untenanted land on the estate, formerly worked by the Boltons: and will he instruct the Estates Commissioners not to sanction the sale should any persons take the tenant right of those untenanted lands, which according to the spirit of the Land Purchase Act of 1903 should be given to labourers, evicted tenants, and other landless people. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that purchase agreements in respect of an estate of Mr. Stafford Delmege were lodged in 1905. The estate has not yet been inspected. The Commissioners will in due course make inquiries as to the untenanted land on this property referred to in the Question.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland is he aware that, when the tenants of the Earl of Dunraven purchased their holdings on his Lordship's estates around Adare and Croom, one tenant, named George Spearing, refused to purchase, on the grounds that, since his judicial rent had been fixed, Lord Dunraven had constructed fish hatcheries, raising the water flowing by the farm in the River Maigue so as to flood eleven acres of Spearing's land; also that he was unwilling to give away to the landlord his sporting rights and his claim to sand, gravel, and quarry, so that, with his farm depreciated in value, he could not agree to pay twenty-three years purchase; is he aware that Lord Dunraven offered £28 compensation for the construction of the fishing weir; that Lord Dunraven and his agent, Mr. Peter Fitzgerald, have harassed the tenant by writs from the King's Bench and law costs; and will the Estates Commissioners be instructed to interpose and try to fix a fair purchase price between Lord Dunraven and Mr. Spearing. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the estate referred to was purchased by them under the provisions of Section 6 of the Act of 1903. The holding in question was inspected by the Estates Commissioners' inspector who estimated the price of it at £842, representing a reduction of 25 per cent. on the judicial rent. The purchase money of the holding has been paid to the Earl of Dunraven. The Commissioners have no knowledge as to the compensation offered to the tenant for the construction of the fishing weir, nor as to the legal proceedings which may have been taken for the recovery of rent previous to the purchase of the estate by them. The Commissioners intend to consider Spearing's case, together with others on the same estate, with a view to dealing with them pursuant to Section 19 of the Act.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to a disturbance which took place at 10 p.m. in the town of Raphoe, East Donegal, on the 12th July, (during which Orangemen used firearms, to the danger of the inhabitants, discharging sixteen shots in the Diamond, wounding two Catholics, one going home with his wife, the other standing in his own door, and afterwards, when passing the Catholic church, they again used firearms, and used language calculated to cause a breach of the peace; seeing that there were twenty five police in the town, will he state why they did not quell the disturbance or since take steps to bring these men to justice; and will he say if the district inspector will have an opportunity of explaining his conduct on the occasion. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed by the police authorities that on the occasion in question the Raphoe Orangemen, upon their return from a demonstration, paraded the town. A drunken man staggered into the procession when passing through the Diamond, and was knocked down. A scuffle ensued between a few Orangemen and Nationalists, but no one received serious injury. Twelve policemen who were present succeeded in restoring order within ten minutes. During the disturbance about a dozen shots were fired on the outskirts of the crowd, but no one was injured by the shots which appeared to be blank cartridge. I am informed that no shots were fired, or provocative language used, when actually passing the Catholic church; but at a little distance past the church two shots were fired in the air from a car. The district inspector had not returned from duty at the demonstration referred to. The police at Raphoe were in charge of a head constable, who took prompt measures to restore order. Several persons who were concerned in the disturbance obtained summonses against each other, but I am informed that they have all agreed to drop proceedings and to live on better terms in future.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Andrew Gallon, of Laught, Killygordon, East Donegal, was, by the Board of Public Works, refused a loan of £40 to improve his farm, whilst the adjoining farmers obtained a similar loan on application; whether he is aware that Gallon satisfied the Board that there was no encumbrance on the holding; that the secretary made a demand for 10s., an unusual thing, which Gallen sent him; that an inspector came down who said he did not understand farming, and that he inspected the improvements Gallen desired to make; and will he say why the loan was not granted. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) I am informed that the loan was refused because the Board of Works, after considering their inspector's report, came to the conclusion that the annual value of the benefit to be derived from the expenditure would not be equal to the amount of the annual instalment in payment of the loan. All applications for loans, I understand, are dealt with on this principle, and no exception was made in Gallen's case; if adjoining farmers obtained loans it was because they fulfilled the general conditions, which he did not. The Board were satisfied of his title, and believe that there is no incumbrance on the holding. The charge of 10s. is a regular charge made in every case towards the preliminary expenses, which it does not fully cover. The Board's inspector who visited Gallen's holding has both theoretical knowledge and practical experience of farming, and I feel difficulty therefore in supposing that he could have made the statement attributed to him.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that there are men in East Donegal who occupy holdings under £3 valuation and who are daily labouring with the adjoining farmers and cannot got the benefit of the Labourers Act from the fact that they are the holders of these patches of bog; and, if so, will he take steps to have the provisions of the Labourers Act extended to them. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed that no complaints to the effect mentioned have been received by the Local Government Board. I would refer the hon. Member to the definition of agricultural labourer contained in Section 4 of the Labourers Act of 1886, and to the extension of the definition contained in Section 93 of the Irish Land Act of 1903. The provision in the latter section, which excludes persons who are in occupation of land exceeding one quarter of an acre from the definition, applies only to persons who work for hire at other than agricultural work. The limitation as to the quantity of land which may be occupied does not apply to a person who does agricultural work for hire.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the drafting of 112 extra police and two officers into the peaceable town of Ballybofey, East Donegal, on July 12th; and, if so, will he give the names and state on what Report and by whose authority this extra force was quartered in Ballybofey, or if a breach of the peace occurred; and, if so, how many were injured, how many are now in hospital, and how many in gaol; who is to pay the expense of bringing this force from distant counties, or if the expense incurred by their visit will be made a charge on the rates of East Donegal, and if not out of what fund will the expense come, or can he say during the last six years how many extra police were drafted into Ballybofey on the 12th July each year, and what special duties were performed by them to warrant the annual increase in their number. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) On July 12th an extra force of 105 men and two officers was drafted into Ballybofey for the preservation of the peace in connection with a large demonstration at that place. This force was assembled on the authority of the Inspector-General and with the approval of the Government. It is, happily, the case that no breach of the peace occurred, but precautions were required. Sixty men of the extra force were drawn from other counties, and half of the cost of these will be chargeable on local rates, the other half being-borne by the Constabulary Vote. During the previous six years no extra police from other counties wore drafted into Ballybofey on the 12th of July, but in 1898, which was the last occasion on which a large Orange demonstration took place in that locality, a force of 80 extra police was brought into the adjacent town of Stranorlar.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners were aware, when sanctioning the advance for the purchase of the Clifden and Annally properties, county Kilkenny, that the schools on those properties were in receipt of endowments out of the same; whether those endowments have not now ceased, so far as the Catholic schools on the property are concerned, and are continued to the Protestant schools; and whether anything will be done to put the Catholic schools on an equality with the Protestant schools. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the majority of the sales on the estate of Lady Annally have been completed. No question as to the endowment of schools on the estate arose when the sales wore being effected, nor would the matter appear to be one in which the Commissioners could exercise any control. The Commissioners are unable to identify any proceedings for sale in respect of the Clifden Estate.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in 1905–6 four magistrates viz., three Episcopalians and one Methodist, in 1905 nine Episcopalians, and in 1902 twelve Episcopalians, one Methodist, and one Catholic, were appointed in county Cavan; was the last Catholic appointed so far back as October 24th 1899; will he say what are the approximate percentages in this county of Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, Society of Friends, Unitarians, Roman Catholics, and other religious denominations; and what percentage the magistrates appointed bear to the different religious denominations. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) As I informed the hon. Member on Monday last, full information as to the religious persuasion of magistrates appointed for county Cavan in the years mentioned will be found in the Parliamentary Papers which I then indicated. In like manner the number of persons belonging to the several religious denominations in the county Cavan will be found in the last Census Return, and from these the percentages can be obtained. I have already stated, on the Lord Chancellor's authority, that a number of appointments to the magistracy in Cavan will shortly be made.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners will, with a view to giving the evicted tenants of county Longford a chance of obtaining portions of the Cusack Estate untenanted land, direct an inquiry into their applications for reinstatement with a view to some selection being made. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they will, when distributing untenanted land which they may acquire in county Longford, duly consider the applications for reinstatement received from evicted tenants in that county.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland will he state the reason of the delay in the sale of the O'Brien Estate, at Comakelly and Corglass, North Longford; what is the cause of the present standstill in the proceedings, and who is to blame; and when may the tenants expect this sale to go through, in order to obtain relief under The Land Purchase Act, 1903. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that no proceedings for the sale of this estate have been instituted before them. I understand, however, that the estate is in the Land Judge's Court, and I will have inquiries made from the registrar of the Court.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Section 7 of the Land Act of 1903 is being applied in the case of the sale of the King-Harman (Ballinamuck), Galbraith, and Archdale Estates in North Longford; and when a definite decision on these cases may be expected: (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed by the Registrar of the Land Judge's Court that no proceedings for the sale of the King-Harman Estate arc before the Court, and no order for sale has been made in the case of the Galbraith Estate. The provisions of Section 7 of the Act of 1903 are, therefore, not applicable to these estates, Proceedings in regard to the Archdale Estate are before the Land Judge's Court, but no proceedings under Section 7 have been taken.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state whether negotiations for the sale of Kilcogy Bog Estate of Quintin Dick and others, county Cavan, have resulted in the tenants agreeing to purchase this bog through trustees; when was the purchase agreement filed; when did the inspector visit the bog; has the sale been refused, and on what grounds; and will this matter be reopened by the Estates Commissioners with a view to securing to them this bog, which is now the only unsold portion of this estate. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed that the trustees for the tenants signed two agreements for the purchase, at £640, of forty six acres of turbary on this estate for the benefit both of the present tenants and of those who had purchased their holdings on the estate under the previous Land Purchase Acts. The purchase agreements were lodged on the 1st February 1905, and the inspector furnished his report on May 14th 1906. The Estates Commissioners decided that the bog referred to should be excluded from the estate as they considered that it does not afford security for the advance applied for. The matter will be again brought before the Commissioners for their further consideration.

To ask.the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state for what Irish cities clearing house banking Returns are issued; and whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the figures for the years 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction are informed that the only Irish clearing house which issues Returns is that of Dublin. The figures of the clearing house may be found in the journal of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland. These figures have been published in Dublin since 1899, and are as follows:—

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieu-tenant of Ireland whether he will state what is the percentage of the population of Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales liable to pay Income Tax as set out in the last available Return. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) There are no data on which the suggested computa- tion could be made, the number of Income Tax payers not being known.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state when the long delayed Return of Irish exports and imports for 1902, promised by the right hon. Member for Dover in 1903, will be published. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I have already stated that it is not now intended to publish the statistics as to the imports and exports of Ireland for any year prior to 1904, as the Returns which it was found possible to obtain were not of sufficient completeness to justify publication. Information of a more complete character has been collected for the years 1904 and 1905, and will be published as soon as possible.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord- Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that almost the entire barony of Longford, comprising the parishes of Killoe, Drumlish, and Ballinamuck, Dromard and Cullumbkille are congested areas, the laud of which is mostly mountain and bog and the valuations of the holdings of which are small; whether he is aware that portions of county Leitrim which lie along this barony, and are scheduled, are, in places, better land than the lands of the parishes mentioned; and, with a view to relieving congestion and helping a thrifty class of peasants to better conditions of living, will he take care that evidence from this part of county Longford will be heard before the Commission on congestion just appointed. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I have no information as to the condition of the districts referred to in the Question. The Royal Commission on congestion is prepared to consider any application which may be made to them as to taking evidence from any particular district, or holdings sittings in any particular place.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if any communication has reached the Estates Commissioners regarding the sale of the grazing farm, Cahertrim, Ardrahan, county Galway, belonging to Mr. Edwin Martyn, Tylara, Ardrahan, to a large agricultural farmer named Diviney, living several miles distant; and whether, seeing that the farm is surrounded by small cottier tenants, will the Commissioners inquire into all the local circumstances before this sale is sanctioned. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they are unable to trace the receipt of any communication with regard to the farm referred to, and no proceedings for the sale of this property have been instituted before them.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland at what time do the Estates Commissioners propose to divide the untenanted lands at Rareddy and Granna on the Beetson Persse estate, the Grallagh farm on the Burke estate, Marble Hill, the Doon and Cox's Town farms on the O'Farrell estate, Daly's Town, the Ben more and Moyleen farms on Dominick Burke's estate, the Killimonday, Gurteen, Kiltulla, and Cahernakelly farms on the William Daly estate, the Raford, Ballykeerin, Bullawn, and the Attymon farms on Colonel Daly's estate, all of which have been purchased by the Commissioners and are in the immediate neighbourhood of Loughrea. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they expect to deal with the untenanted lands of Rareddy and Granna about November 1st next, when they also propose to deal with Doon, on the O'Farrell estate. The Commissioners have not yet acquired the Burke estate, Marble Hill, but negotiations are proceeding. The Commissioners are unable to identify the lands of Cox's Town without further particulars. The untenanted lands on the estates of Mr. William Daly and Colonel Daly have already been divided. The estate of the representatives of Dominick Burke is not yet ready to be dealt with, the application for sale having been lodged in February last only.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners are aware of the dissatisfaction created amongst the tenants on the Countess of Kingston's estate by the selection of Mr. Sydney Smith to inspect and report upon this estate, seeing that the inspector is a near neighbour and personal friend of the agent of the estate, concerning whose methods of obtaining purchase agreements from the tenants several complaints have reached the Commissioners; and whether the Estates Commissioners will consider the advisability of a change of inspectors. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have no knowledge whether the facts are as stated in the Question, but will have full inquiries made into the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners will decline to sanction advances for the purchase of the two portions of the Countess of Kingston's estate, the inspection of which may be completed before October next, until a complete inspection and report upon the estate, as a whole, has been made. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they will consider the hon. Member's suggestions when the report of their inspector comes before them for consideration.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the trustees of the gift of £10,000 by Mr. Bourke Cochrane, for the benefit of industry in Sligo, invested the money in the formation of the Sligo Sawmills and Joinery Company, Limited, and invited the public by the prospectus they issued in the formation of this company to subscribe for shares on the faith of a statement that the company had been formed under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction; and will he say whether this statement was published with the knowledge and by the authority of the Department; and whether, in view of the fact that the entire sum of £10,000, together with the capital subscribed by the public, has been lost, the Department will return to the subscribers the amount of the capital subscribed by them. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The facts are not quite as stated in the Question. Mr. Bourke Cochran offered to invest a. sum of £10,000 in an industry to be selected by some friends of his, who happened to be connected with the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction. The Department was not officially concerned with the investment and had no responsibility in connection with it. It appears that the company issued a prospectus in which it was stated that the company had been formed under the auspices of the Department, but I am informed that this statement was not published by the authority or with the knowledge of the Department. The matter was brought under the notice of the Committee of Inquiry into the organisation and working of the Department, and it is understood that the solicitor for Mr. Bourke Cockran is preparing a full statement of the facts for submission to the Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the present allowances to recruiters; is he aware that non-commissioned officers of the permanent staff of the Militia, especially in Ireland, have often to make journeys of twenty or thirty miles in a day to attend fairs and markets, and are allowed nothing except railway fares; and whether, seeing that the recruiters have to provide themselves with food during the day, will he take steps to have allowances made in accordance with the distance travelled and the number of hours they are separated from their families. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) No complaints on this subject have reached the War Office. It does not appear that the emoluments of recruiters are in any way insufficient.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the length of the qualifying period for the good-conduct medal as now granted in the Army, the medal, in most cases, not being actually issued to the recipient until he has nearly nineteen years' service; and will he consider the advisability of reducing the qualifying period to sixteen years; and will he issue instructions for the gratuity of £5 to be issued with the medal, and not kept until discharge to pension takes place, as is done at present. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) This medal is granted for long service as well as good-conduct, and the existing qualifications have been advisedly adopted. It is not proposed to carry out the suggestions now made.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total exports to the United Kingdom and the United States of America during each quinquennium ending 1904, 1899, 1894, and 1889 from the British West Indian Islands; how much of such exports were of sugar and molasses; how much were of fruit (fresh and dried), coffee, cocoa, chocolate, and tobacco; and the proportions for each such period going to the United States of America and the United Kingdom, respectively. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) If the hon. Member will move for a Return giving the particulars asked for in his Question it shall be granted.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a copy of a resolution from the Belturbet Urban District Council praying for a better train service in one of the most populous districts in county Cavan from Belfast and Dublin on the Great Northern Railway; and will he give the matter his consideration. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I have received from the hon. Member a copy of the resolution referred to, which is addressed to the railway company. The matter in question is not one in which the Board of Trade have any statutory powers, but I have communicated with the railway company thereon and have received a reply of which I am sending the lion. Member a copy.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will furnish a Return in continuation of memoranda and statistical tables, showing the production and consumption of alcoholic beverages in various countries (in continuation of Parliamentary Paper No. 345, Session 1904). (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) It is the practice to issue this Return triennially. The next issue will accordingly be published next year.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to proceedings taken at Brentford with reference to the presence of boracic acid in potted ham; and whether, in view of the uneasiness existing in the public mind with reference to canned foods, he will make inquiries upon the subject, and give information to the House as to the view of his Department on the use of preservatives in food. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have seen a newspaper report of the proceedings mentioned. Inquiries with regard to canned foods are being made by officers of the Local Government Board. The whole question of preservatives in food has received the attention of the Board. It has been investigated by a Departmental Committee appointed by them, and recently they have issued a circular with regard to preservatives in milk. Other branches of the subject are now under their consideration.

To ask the President of the Board of Education if the pupil teachers' centre at Oxford has been condemned because of the lack of laboratories and deficiency of accommodation; was a scheme for the center to work in connection with higher elementary schools prepared by the chairman of the Oxford Education Committee, but discouraged by His Majesty's inspector, on the ground that the policy of the Board was the abolition of centres not directly connected with secondary schools; is he aware that in one of the schools to which the pupil teachers are to be sent there is no laboratory accommodation whatever; and whether, in pressing for the closing of the centre, the Board of Education has taken any steps to see that suitable employment for the displaced staff has been supplied. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) In answer to the first paragraph of the Question, the two reasons named were the principal reasons involved, and to the second paragraph, the scheme there referred to was criticised as being in certain respects not the best that could be devised, and in particular that it failed to bring the pupil teachers and intending pupil teachers into secondary schools. Regarding the third paragraph of the Question, the Board have not yet definitely recognised any particular schools for the purpose, but have discussed with the Education Committee the new proposals which have now, I understand, been adopted by the City Council. Laboratory accommodation is being provided in the only one of the proposed schools which, so far as I know, possessed none. In answer to the fourth query, it was impossible for the Board to do otherwise than require the discontinuance of the central classes, conducted as they were in a manner ineffective for the growing needs of the city, in three class rooms in a public elementary school, wholly inadequate for the purpose and without any provision for science, except certain unsuitable and overcrowded laboratories some distance away in another building. I should greatly regret it if the local authority were unable to find alternative employment for any efficient teachers unavoidably displaced through changes that were unquestionably rendered necessary by the need for improving the education of the future teachers of the city.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been directed to the fines imposed on the public for affixing stamps on postcards on the back in place of the address side; whether there is any justification for his officers obliterating with stamping machines the stamps so affixed in addition to fining the receivers of the postcards; under what rule or postal regulation fines are imposed for stamps so wrongly affixed; and whether there is in the rules any penalty for affixing stamps on the backs of letters in place of the address side. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) No penalty is imposed for affixing stamps to the backs of letters; but the sender of a postcard has the privilege of sending a letter for a postage of a ½d., and it has been thought reasonable, therefore, to impose certain conditions in the case of postcards. One of these conditions is that the stamp must be affixed to the address side, and as it is just as easy to affix the stamp on the right side as on the wrong, I do not propose to alter the rule.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the fact that immigrants who left Russia to escape from religious and political persecution have recently been refused permission to land at the port of London; whether he can state why Moses Enigorn, Zalman Wein, Susicha Zusman, Reisel Sedlitzky, on board the "Schwalbe, "Itzig Levin, Sarah Kamisar, Yankel Truse, Jacob Pollack, on board the "Adler, "were refused permission to land, seeing that each was in possession of not less than £5; who was the immigration officer who refused permission; who were the members of the Immigration Board before whom the appeals were held and upheld; and whether he proposes to take steps to insure the Aliens Act being administered in the spirit intended by Parliament. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I am not aware of the fact suggested in the first sentence of the Question. The alien immigrants named were refused leave to land because neither the immigration officers nor the Board were satisfied that they had the means of supporting themselves decently, I must repeat that the mere possession of the sum of £5 or a little more is no proof of means if there is any reason to suppose that the money is not bona fide the immigrant's own. That is a question for the officer and the Board to decide. I think it right to say that the newspaper statements on which the Question is apparently based omit all reference to the inquiry and investigation to which the stories set out therein were subjected by the officers and the Board, and by which it was shown that many of their salient features were incorrect. Further, in one case in which it is stated that a woman with a little girl was sent back sorrow stricken to Russia, she was, in fact, given leave to land in the United Kingdom. No useful purpose would be served by giving the names of the immigration officers or of the members of the Board. I may remind my hon. friend that the meetings of the Board are open to the Press, and I think that if the Press had attended these meetings the statements on which the Question is founded would have been of a different character.

To ask Mr. Attorney - General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Dennis O'Connell, of Dianville, Mourne Abbey, who was sentenced by the magistrates sitting at a petty sessions court held in Mallow last January to pay a fine of £4 or an alternative of two months imprisonment for alleged salmon poaching on the River Clyda; whether he is aware that, on appeal to the Court of King's Bench, the judgment of the magistrates, two of whom were fishery conservators, was quashed, but no order made as to the costs, amounting to £22, incurred by Mr. O'Connell in prosecuting his appeal; amd whether, seeing that Mr. O'Connell was illegally convicted, there is any public fund from which his costs can be obtained. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) I am informed that the facts are generally as stated in the Question. The conviction was quashed without costs. There is no public fund from which the defendant's costs could be paid.

To ask the Chairman of the Kitchen Committee whether his attention has been directed to the long hours of work the waiters, attendants, kitchen porters and attendants, still-room maids, and others engaged by the Kitchen Committee are now working; whether he will give, for each class, the usual hour of commencing and leaving off work, the rate of pay of each class, and whether paid by the hour, day, or week; whether any, and, if any, what, classes are required to be in attendance if the eleven o'clock rule is suspended; whether any pay is given for this extra duty, and on what scale; whether any emolument is received besides pay; and whether the employment is permanent or for the session only. (Answered by Mr. Jacoby.) The information asked for by the hon. Member will be more conveniently supplied by a Return than by an Answer to a Question. If the hon. Member will move for a Return I will consult with the Kitchen Committee as to the desirability of supplying the information. The suspension of the eleven o'clock rule being temporary, no purpose can be served in replying to the details contained in the hon. Member's Question. As regards the extra late hours, the Kitchen Committee has made provision for their staff to meet the case of overtime.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the sums paid to the Irish Board of Agriculture and Technical Education and to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in furtherance of the interests of agriculture in Ireland and England respectively. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) I would refer my hon. friend to the details supplied in the Estimates for these Departments. Information regarding the endowment fund placed at the disposal of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland), under the provisions of Sections 15 and 16 of The Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act, 1899, will be found in the Annual Report of that Department [Cd. 2929].

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that the amount of wheat arrived at Karachi for export in the month of June, 1906, was only 155,426 tons, as against 175,728 tons in June, 1905, and 186,873 tons in June, 1904; that this decline in the Karachi export trade is owing to the deficiency of rolling stock and of locomotive power on the North Western State Railway; and whether he will cause steps to be taken to prevent this injury to the prosperity of Karachi, as a commercial port, occurring again in the future. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The arrangements for dealing with the grain traffic to Karachi were personally investigated last year at Karachi by the Railway Board in conjunction with the manager of the North Western Railway. The provision of a large amount of additional rolling stock was sanctioned, including 125 locomotives and 1,600 wagons. In the calendar year 1905 the expenditure on rolling stock for the North Western Railway was £257,000, and the expenditure this year will probably amount to a much larger sum.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state why a gun licence is refused to Mr. T. Flanagan, Grlanquin, county Clare. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed that it is the fact that Mr. Thomas Flanagan's application for a licence to carry firearms has been refused. The power of granting such licences is vested in the resident magistrate of the district, and it would be entirely contrary to practice to state the reasons which influenced the exercise of his discretion in any particular case.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, to state the reasons why Charles McCabe, of Clough, is kept out of a cottage in the Dalystane Electoral District, Granard (No. 1) Rural District, to a tenancy of which he was appointed two years ago; and will he direct the Local Government Board inspector to inquire into this case immediately. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The cottage in this case was authorised by a Provisional Order made by the Local Government Board in 1901, and, according to the contract entered into with the council, it should have been built by October 13th, 1903. Right of entry on the lands was, however, refused by the owner, Mr. Daly, and although the council lodged the compensation awarded for the plot in the Bank of Ireland in 1904, they have failed in their subsequent legal proceedings to obtain the owner's ejectment. From information recently received by the Local Government Board it appears that after signing a deed of conveyance of the plot to the council, the former owner sold a farm, including the plot, to Mr. Daly, who has been registered as owner of all the lands, and that at present the council are taking steps to have the register amended. The matter, therefore, appears one for the council themselves to deal with.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what are the annual salary and emoluments of the Resident Commissioner of National Education in Ireland, and if that salary is paid monthly; what is the annual salary of a junior assistant mistress in an Irish national school; and whether, in view of the fact that such salary is paid quarterly, he will take steps to secure that such salaries shall be paid monthly in future. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The salary of the Resident Commissioner of National Education is £1,500 per annum, payable in monthly instalments. The maximum salary of a junior assistant mistress is,£24 per annum, payable quarterly. As regards the question of making monthly payments to teachers, I beg to refer the hon. Member to my reply to his similar Question on June 28th. The matter is entirely for the Commissioners.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state whether the Congested Districts Board before handing over holdings on the Ross Lodge estate, county Galway, to outsiders took into consideration the condition of the people in the townlands of Bealanagurrane, Curilane, Derrymore, and Ballinapark; and what action the Board took with reference to the representations made to them on behalf of tenants in these town-lands by the Reverend M. Heaney, P.P., Caherlistrane.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Congested Districts Board have given possession of five new holdings in the parish of Cahirlistrane, county Galway, on the Hon. R. A. Nugent's estate, lately purchased by the Board, to five tenants from another parish; and if he can state on what grounds were the applications of Thomas Kyne, Patrick Neil, Richard Lawless, and Patrick Jennings, of Bealanagurrane, and Michael Levelle, Curilane, for five holdings on the Ross Lodge estate refused, although these five tenants offered to give up their present holdings. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The function of the Congested Districts Board is to assist the people of the scheduled congested districts, and the Board purchased the Nugent or Ross Lodge estate with the object of providing holdings for persons to be migrated from congested districts. The five persons who obtained holdings were occupiers of uneconomic holdings who were brought from such districts. The townlands mentioned in the Questions are not scheduled as congested, and the Board were, therefore, unable to provide for the wants of the people resident in them.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether the Congested Districts Board have refused to give any grants-in-aid in the Lavally, county Galway, district, although a number of surrounding parishes have been receiving grants for a number of years in connection with the erection of out-offices and general improvements; and, if so, can he state the reason for such refusal on the part of the Board. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Congested Districts Board have declined to make a grant to the electoral division of Lavally for the purpose of a parish committee scheme. The number of occupiers eligible for assistance is understood to be small, and the Board do not consider it desirable to establish a committee to administer the very limited grant which the electoral division would be entitled to receive for improvement purposes. A further reason which has compelled the Board to limit their grants is that the available funds are practically exhausted.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if there is any possibility of the townlands of Bealanagurrane, Curilane, Derrymore, and Ballinapark, county Galway, being scheduled as a congested district; and what steps would be necessary in order to have these townlands so scheduled. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The power to schedule any additional areas as congested districts has lapsed since 1892. The Royal Commission on Congestion is to inquire, among other things, what areas, if any, outside the districts now scheduled as congested require to be dealt with as congested, so that the Question raised by the hon. Member can be considered by it.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is yet in a position to make any statement with regard to the inclusion of Irish as a subject of examination for clerkships in the High Court of Justice in Ireland. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The subjects of examination for clerkships in the High Court of Justice in Ireland are, in pursuance of statute, to be determined by the Lord Chancellor of Ireland with the concurrence of the Civil Service Commissioners. I am informed that the whole scheme of the examination is under consideration, and the Question of the inclusion of Irish as an optional subject will be carefully considered at the same time. No decision upon the latter point has yet been arrived at.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is proposed to acquire land in Tuam, county Galway, in connection with the erection of a new police barracks there; and whether it will be possible to do this without buying land on which occupied houses stand from which it would be necessary to evict tenants who have been in occupation for a number of years past, and who will suffer hardship if dispossessed. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Inspector General informs me that it has not yet been decided that it will be necessary to build a new police station at Tuam. If, however, the necessity should arise, it is not proposed to acquire a site upon which any existing houses stand.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state how much money was granted by the Department of Agriculture during the last financial year to the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society; is any account available showing how the money so received was expended; whether any of the money was given by the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society to the Irish Agricultural Wholesale Society; and, if so, will he say how much. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) In reply to the first part of the Question I beg to refer to my Answer to the Question of the hon. Member for East Mayo, which shows that a grant of £2,000 was made for certain specific organisation work during the twelve months ending February 28th, 1906. An account is available showing how the grant was expended. No portion of it was given to the Irish Agricultural Wholesale Society.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state whether the memorial presented to the Congested Districts Board with reference to the construction of a ferry between Kilbeg and Knockferry on Lough Corrib, county Galway, has yet been considered by the Board; and, if so, can he state what decision the Board has arrived at with regard to the matter. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) On the 16th instant the Congested Districts Board decided to make a grant of one-third of the cost of the proposed ferry across Lough Corrib, subject to the conditions that such grant shall not exceed £300, and that the work shall be carried out by the county authorities in accordance with plans and specifications to be approved by the Board.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that prison medical officers appointed under 7 George 4, chap. 74, sec. 72, were permanent officers, and as such entitled to pensions under the Paid Officers Super annuation Act; and, seeing that, since the passing of the Prisons (Ireland) Act, 1877, prison medical officers in Ireland are appointed as temporary officers, and thereby deprived of right to pension and of independence in the discharge of their duties, whether he can state the reason for this change. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Answer to the first part of this Question is in the affirmative. Since the passing of the Prisons (Ireland) Act, 1877, such prison medical officers as do not devote their whole time to the service are not entitled to pension. The fact that these officers are appointed for temporary terms does not affect the question of pension, which depends upon the principle now generally recognised throughout the public service that those persons only who devote their whole time to the service of the State are entitled to pension. Prison medical officers in Ireland are appointed for recurrent periods of three years, and no case has occurred in which the appointment has not been renewed at the expiration of the term of three years. There is, I am informed, no ground for the assumption that these officers are not independent in the discharge of their duties.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the names of the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests (Ireland); who appoints them, and under what authority; and under what conditions they hold office, both as to emoluments, expenses, and dismissal. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland are a body corporate established under the Acts 7 and 8 Vic, c. 97, and 24 and 25 Vic, c. 111. There are two ex-officio Commissioners, namely, the Master of the Rolls and the Lord Chief Baron of Ireland, and eleven Commissioners appointed by His Majesty in Council by Warrant under the Royal Sign Manual. All the Commissioners are removable by His Majesty in Council by similar Warrant. The Commissioners do not receive any emoluments. The expenses of their office are provided by Parliament. Details will be found at page 210 of the printed Estimates for the current financial year. The names of the existing Commissioners are as follows:—

• The Right Hon. Sir A. M. Porter, Bart. (Master of the Rolls).
• The Right Hon. C. Palles (Lord ChiefBaron).
• His Honour Judge Carton.
• The Right Hon. H. E. Chatterton.
• Henry Perry Goodbody, Esq.
• The Right Hon. Mr. Justice Johnson.
• The Most Rev. Archbishop Walsh, D.D.
• Charles Kennedy, Esq.
• The Right Hon. Mr. Justice Boss.
• The Very Rev. J. H. Bernard, D. D.
• The Hon. Gerald Fitzgerald.
• F. C. Pilkington, Esq.
• The Most Rev. Nicholas Donnelly, D.D.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the names of the members of the Local Government Board, Ireland; who appoints them; and under what authority and under what conditions they hold office as to emoluments, meetings, expenses, and termination of office. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Local Government Board for Ireland was established by the Act 35 and 36 Vic. c. 69. The Board consists of a President, being the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant for the time being; the Under Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant for the time being; a Vice-President and two other Commissioners, one of whom is a Medical Commissioner. The permanent Commissioners are appointed by the King, and hold office during the pleasure of His Majesty, subject to retirement on attaining 65 years of age. The two ex-officio members of the Board receive no salary as such. the Vice-President receives an annual salary of £1,500, increasing to £1,800. The remaining two members receive each an annual salary of £1,000, increasing to £1,200. When absent from headquarters on duty the members receive their actual expenses of locomotion and a subsistence allowance of 21s. a night. The Board meets daily. The names of the existing appointed members of the Board are as follows:—

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will avail himself of the vacancy in the Poor Law Commission, caused by the death of the O'Conor Don, to appoint an independent Irish medical gentleman, acquainted with the needs of the Irish Poor Law medical service, to a seat on the Commission. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I beg to refer to the Answer given by the Prime Minister to a similar Question on 16th instant, namely, that he could not see his way to adopt the suggestion. The matter does not fall within my province.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he could give a Return showing the dates on which the several county inspectors Royal Irish Constabulary attain the age for retiring: and showing how many hours each week for the year ending 30th June last each county inspector devoted to the duties of his office; and whether, having regard to the reduction in these duties in recent years, he will consider whether one county inspector could in future discharge the duties for two or more counties. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) It does not appear that any useful purpose would be served by furnishing such a Return as the hon. Member desires. According to statute, county inspectors are not eligible for retirement on pension until they have attained the age of 60 years and have had 40 years' service. Upon an average about three per annum thus qualify for retirement. There is no regulation requiring county inspectors to keep a record of the exact number of hours occupied by their duties. I understand, however, from the Inspector-General that the time of county inspectors is fully occupied by their duties, in which there has not been a reduction as is suggested in the Question. The existing statutory law requires that there should be a county inspector for each county, and no change could be made without legislation.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, in ordering the sale of the Dickson Estate, situate at Tawley, near Tullaghan, county Leitrim, the Land Judge gave instructions that each tenant should be secured in his right to turbary as heretofore; and will he explain why an attempt is being made to interfere with this right. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I understand that the Dickson Estate is being sold in the Land Judge's Court under the fortieth section of the Land Act of 1896. I am informed by the Registrar of the Court that the learned Judge's order was that a scheme should be prepared applotting turbary to the tenants entitled to it. A scheme has now been prepared as the result of which every tenant will have turbary to last at least twenty-five years. The scheme will come before the Judge next term for confirmation.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will forward to the Member for East Clare the result of the negotiations between the Treasury and the Irish Agricultural Department as to tobacco growing in Ireland. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I will in due course inform the hon. Member of the result.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many non-vested national schools there are in Ireland, how many have been reported to the Commissioners of Education by their inspectors as being unsanitary; and what would be the probable cost of putting such schools into proper condition; and what steps, if any, does he propose to take in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the number of non-vested schools is 4,930, but they are not at present in a position to say how many of these schools have been reported as insanitary, or to give an estimate of the cost of putting them in a proper condition. I have recently announced that an increased building grant has been arranged, and that it is hoped that the work of building and repairing schoolhouses may now proceed without delay.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the cause for the delay of the sale to the tenants of the estate of Abraham Evans, situate in the barony of Dromahaire and county of Leitrim, final notice for sale having been served by the Land Judge's Court on December 19th, 1903. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed by the Registrar of the Land Judge's Court that the estate for sale comprises the townland of Lisnagowan and part of the townland of Killooman. The tenants in the latter townland have declined to purchase All the tenants, except one, on the townland of Lisnagowan have signed agreements to purchase, but the sale has been delayed with the object of endeavouring to bring about a sale to the tenant who has not yet agreed to purchase. The case was to have been brought before the learned Judge on Thursday last, but owing to his illness has had to be postponed till next sittings.

To ask the Prime Minister when he proposes to take the Second Reading of the Elections' Meetings in Schoolrooms) Bill [Lords]; and whether he will give facilities to secure the early passage of this measure. (Answered by Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman.) The Government are favourably disposed towards this Bill, but I must abide by the rule I have laid down and abstain from giving any promise of facilities at present.