To ask the Postmaster-General whether there are dormant ledgers kept at the Savings Bank Department: if so whether non-interest-bearing accounts, on which no actual transactions have taken place for a number of years, are transferred to these ledgers either regularly or from time to time; and whether interest-bearing accounts, on which no actual transactions have taken place for a number of years, are transferred to these ledgers either regularly or from time to time. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) There are ledgers kept at the Savings Bank Department to which non-interest bearing accounts which have not been operated on for a considerable period are transferred as opportunity arises. No such transfer takes place in the case of interest bearing accounts.

To ask the Postmaster-General when will the present contract for the conveyance of the mail by car in Dublin City expire; or have the present contractors a lease of the undertaking. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The contract for the mail cart services in Dublin will continue in force until one of the parties gives twelve months' notice to determine it.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he can state under what circumstances are officials of the General Post Office, Dublin, allowed to visit the mail contractors' premises; and if it is with the concurrence of the Postmaster-General that an officer of the General Post Office is in attendance at the contractors' office several evenings each week. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) My officers visit the contractors' premises whenever necessary; but it is not the practice for an officer to attend at the contractors' offices several evenings each week.

To ask the Postmaster-General if he will say the amount of overtime at present being performed in the Dublin General Post Office (postal and telegraph branches) from the 1st to the 20th of July; and if he can state the cause thereof.

To ask the Postmaster-General if, in view of the amount of overtime worked in the Dublin General Post Office, he will make arrangements to have the staff increased by placing on the establishment some, at least, of the learners at that office who are at present waiting over two years for appointments.

To ask the Postmaster-General will he say why the vacancies that exist on the sorting and telegraph branches in the Dublin General Post Office are not tilled up; and, considering that these vacancies have now existed for some time, that there are large numbers of learners still unappointed, and in view of the amount of overtime which is being worked, will he see the appointments are filled up forthwith. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I may, perhaps, be allowed to answer the hon. Member's three Questions on this subject together. The number of hours of overtime performed on week-days by the indoor force in the sorting and telegraph offices in Dublin from the 1st to the 20th July inclusive were 2,577 and 1,591 respectively. I regret the amount of overtime which has been necessary, the greater part of which was due to the withdrawal of officers for season pressure, for substituting officers on leave, and for loan to provincial offices, that is to say, to causes incidental to the summer season. The staff of the Dublin office is at present under revision, and I am not able to appoint the learners to established posts until the revision is completed.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state the number of years' purchase paid by the Congested Districts Board for the various estates which they have acquired, and the date of each such purchase, indicating the area of each estate and the entire amount paid for it. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) Except in the case of Glendale, the estates were bought after negotiation and the lowest possible price was paid. The figure given was not, therefore, a precise calculation of so many years purchase. For information on the other points alluded to by the hon. Member, I must refer him to page 9 of the Congested Districts Board Report for 1905–6.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state the names of the Members of the Local Government Board of Scotland; 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. Sinclair.) The names of the appointed members of the Local Government Board are—Mr. J. Patten MacDougall, Vice-President; Mr. Ewan MacPherson; and Dr. Leslie MacKenzie. If the hon. Member will refer to Sections 3 and 4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1894, he will find the rest of the information desired.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information regarding the extension of the Konia Bagdad Railway to Khor Abdullah which lies on the sea to the north-east of Koweit in the Persian Gulf; whether there is good anchorage at Khor Abdullah 8 to 10 fathoms deep within 300 yards of a bluff solid enough to bear the terminus of a great railway; and whether the British Fleet has surveyed Khor Abdullah, which belongs to the Sheik of Koweit. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) I have no information as to whether any decision has been taken in regard to the extension of the Konia Bagdad Railway to Khor Abdullah. No proper survey of Khor Abdullah haw over been made by the British Fleet, and I have no information which would enable mo to make a statement as to the depth of water or the configuration of the land in that locality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Concession on the north side of the river at Niu-chwang, granted in the spring of 1899, has over boon taken over; and whether it is now intended to take steps to complete the acquisition of the same. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) No report on the subject of the Concession has been received since April, 1899. The limits of the Concession were then still under discussion with the Chinese authorities. Inquiry is being made.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the recent action of the Fishmongers Company in stopping the sale at Billingsgate of all cockles from Leigh; whether he is aware that this was done in consequence of an allegation that a basket of bad cockles had originated from Leigh; whether he is aware that the basket from which the cockles alleged to have caused typhoid were supplied was not owned by any cockier at Leigh, and that the cockles at Leigh observe the regulations necessary for the protection of the public as laid down by Dr. Klein; and whether he proposes to take any action in regard to this exercise of authority by the Fishmongers Company, in view of the loss inflicted on the cockle fishermen at Leigh. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have communicated with the Fishmongers Company on this subject, and find that they have taken the action referred to in consequence of their being satisfied that the cockles at Leigh had not observed the regulations laid down by the company for the protection of the public. The company state that they have no information with reference to the basket of bad cockles referred to in the Question. I have no control over the company in the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for War what arrangements were made by his predecessor in office at the time of creating rifle ranges at Stobs Camp for the safety of shepherds, farm servants, and other pedestrians using the public right of way and drove road crossing the slopes of Penchrise Pen from the River Slitrig to the Allan Water and Teviot Valleys; and whether the precautions provided by law in cases of dangerous proximity are applied at these ranges for the safety of persons using these ways. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) When firing is being carried out on the ranges danger flags and two look-out men are posted; the latter are in signal and telephonic communication with the firing points; and when persons wish to cross the range firing is stopped. No complaint has been received since the ranges were taken into use.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on Empire Day, Colonel Fortescue, of Pembroke Camp, Malta, had his full band, who are almost entirely Protestants, playing at a Roman Catholic fête at the Jesuit College in Malta; and whether, seeing that the bandsmen themselves were unwilling to attend these proceedings, he can say by whose authority and for what reason they wore compelled to do so. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) No information has been received at the War Office as to the matters alleged in the Question.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will lay upon the Table the Reports of Sir Frederick Stopford and other Artillery experts referred to by the Under-Secretary of State; and whether the entire approval of the Government's proposals with regard to the reduction of the Artillery expressed by these officers, extended only to the figures or to the principle of the changes. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The answer to the first part of this Question is in the negative. The answer to the second part is in the affirmative on both points.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, with the view of encouraging local industries, he will consider the question of placing at Inverness contracts for the furnishing of the Militia uniforms required in the Highlands, as has for many years been done by the Admiralty in the case of uniforms required by it for local use. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Uniforms are not provided specially for the Militia but for the Army generally. Tenders for the supply of material and the making up of uniforms are open to the whole country. At the present time upwards of thirty contracts for clothing and clothing material are running in Scotland. It would not be practicable to arrange for independent local provision of uniforms for Militia battalions.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in the Letters Patent intended to be granted by the Government to the Transvaal giving it self-governing powers, there will be contained any power to His Majesty to revoke or alter its terms afterwards; and, if there be no such express power in the grant, is there any constitutional law by which such a grant once made can be derogated from. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The Answer to both Questions is in the negative.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Natal have proposed to let native political prisoners to mine-owners and other employers; whether his attention has been called to the declarations on the subject made by Lord Carnarvon when Secretary of State; and if further communications on the matter have passed between His Majesty's Government and the Government of Natal since the assurances given by him to the House. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The Natal Government have introduced a Bill permitting the employment of prisoners sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for any period exceeding three months by contract between the Government authority and any municipality, or public body, or company, or individual. It does not therefore apply specifically to political prisoners. I have seen the statement of Lord Carnarvon. The Secretary of State is not aware that any assurances have been given that His Majesty's Government would interfere in a matter properly within the control of the Parliament of Natal and of the Ministers responsible thereto.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland who is at present discharging the duties of registrar of title for the county of Cork, and at what, if any, rate of pay; who appointed such person; will he lay upon the Table a copy of the document under which such person was appointed; are fees charged to applicants for registration; and, if so, under what authority and to whom are same paid. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) Mr. Henry Wright is at present discharging the duties of registrar of title for the county of Cork pending the passing of the Bill now before Parliament. He is not receiving any special salary in respect of those duties, but is in receipt of the salary appointed for the office of Clerk of the Crown and Peace for the East Riding of the County Cork and City of Cork for the performance of the duties of those offices, including local bankruptcy. The Lord Chancellor is unable to recommend the payment of any salary to Mr. Wright as local registrar of title, nor would the Treasury assent to any such payment to him. Mr. Wright was appointed in succession to Mr. Standish O'Grady, but the law officers of the late Government advised that his appointment was irregular, as Mr. Wright was not qualified under the statute regulating the performance of the duties of the office, and the present Lord Chancellor takes the same view. I have no objection to laying upon the Table a copy of the document purporting to appoint him if the hon. Member should move for it. As regards the latter portion of the hon. Member's Question, no fees are charged for first registration in respect of purchases completed through the Land Commission since the 1st January, 1892, Section 23 (1) (b), of The Local Registration of Title (Ireland) Act, 1891. With regard to purchases completed before that date, fees are charged to all such applicants as did not apply for registration before the 1st of January, 1893, Section 22 (2). Fees are charged for all subsequent dealings with registered land under Section 8 of the Act and Rule 11 of the Consolidated Rules of 21st December, 1891, 20th December 1893, and 24th August, 1896. All fees are taken in stamps, which are purchased from the Inland Revenue. The insurance fees which are payable under Section 92 of the Act are placed to the credit of the trustees of the Insurance Fund.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a farmer named M'Gloin recently recovered damages for trespass against a fisherman named Cavanagh for mooring his boat in Ballysadare Bay, county Sligo, at a place marked as foreshore upon the Admiralty chart, and upon which it was proved the tide ebbed and flowed at all ordinary tides; and will he inquire as to the facts from the coastguard officer who gave evidence for the defence, and direct that the coastguard shall be watchful to prevent claims arising by user of foreshores by the farmers whose lands abut on the bay so as to secure to the fishermen their privileges of landing boats and nets on the shores vested in the Crown. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I have asked the coastguard officer to report on all the matters mentioned in the hon. Member's Question, and when I have received the Report I shall be glad to communicate with the hon. Member.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the case of the sinking, on the 17th May last, of the sloop "Horace," by collision with the steamship "Zero," In the River Humber, resulting in the death of Harold Grimbleby; why no Board of Trade inquiry has been held; and whether he has received a request from the parents of the dead man for an inquiry to be held. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) A request for inquiry has been received from the representatives of the relatives of the man who lost his life by the collision between the sloop "Horace" and the steamer "Zero." Depositions were made by the masters of both vessels before the Receivers of Wreck and an inquest was held at Hull. As the collision was found not to be the fault of the "Zero" and the master of the sloop has no certificate, the Board of Trade would not be justified in incurring the expense of a formal inquiry under the Merchant Shipping Acts. I am advised that the master of the "Zero" attempted to manœuvre his vessel into position so as to lower his boat on the spot where the men were expected to be, and only desisted from putting his boat in the water when he saw the sloop's boat with the survivors in her. But the coroner stated after his inquiry that it would have made no difference if half a dozen boats had been launched.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the outgoing mails from Leixlip, county Kildare, leave at 6 p.m. and 4 a.m.; and whether he could make such a rearrangement of mail departures as would enable the people of that district to send replies to morning letters by a mid-day mail. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I have called for a report on this subject and I will send the hon. Member an Answer in due course.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether the Stanley scheme for improvements in the postal service included the payment of double time for Sunday duty to the staff; and, if so, when it is proposed to put this part of the scheme into effect. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) No change has been made or proposed in the rate of payment for Sunday duty.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a telegraphist, named Evershed, in the Central Office, London, applied for an exchange from night duty for one month, commencing July, on the ground of illness of his mother, and of the fact that he himself had barely recovered from a long period of sickness, and that he provided a competent substitute; whether seeing that although he furnished a medical certificate showing he was unfit for night duty, the Deputy Controller compelled him to perform the work and declined to accept the substitute, he will investigate the circumstances, and explain why the request for an exchange was refused. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The telegraphist in question had been allowed to exchange from night duty so freely that he had not performed any night duty for several years. It was not considered desirable that a particular officer should be thus indirectly exempted from night duty in permanence, and further substitution was therefore refused, after it had been ascertained by medical examination by the chief medical officer that there was no valid reason of health to prevent this officer performing night duty.

To ask the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the memorial of January, 1905, regarding a promotion made the previous month to the class of overseer in the Belfast office; if he is aware that the postmaster of Belfast received several deputations of men who were passed over, and that when a second promotion was made to the overseers, class in February, 1905, the postmaster of Belfast assured these men that he knew of no reason, considering their record and work, why they should not be promoted, and assured them that had they not pressed their protest against the promotion made in the previous December they would not have had to complain of the promotions made in the following February; will he say whether he has received reports regarding these matters; and, if not, will he order an inquiry into the whole question. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I cannot review cases of promotion decided by my predecessor eighteen months ago.

To ask the Postmaster-General if his attention has been directed to complaints made by the telegraph staff at the Belfast office regarding a smoke nuisance for which the proprietors of the Grand Central Hotel are responsible; and whether, seeing that assurances given by the hotel people that the nuisance would be abated have been totally disregarded, will he say what steps it is-proposed to take in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The circumstances appear to be as stated. Further steps are being taken for the abatement of the nuisance complained of.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether any steps have yet been taken to establish a Post Office telephone exchange at East Finchley or Finchley (Church End); when it is likely that the exchange will be ready for work; and will he consider the advisability of admitting intending subscribers, pending the completion of an exchange at Finchley, to the systems of neighbouring exchanges at the ordinary rates current. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.} Plans were prepared some time ago for the extension of the telephone service to Finchley, and the establishment of an exchange at Church End will be proceeded with as soon as the necessary way leave consents have been received from the district council. I fear that it will not be possible, pending the establishment of the exchange, to give residents at Finchley circuits to another exchange at ordinary rates; but I propose to open public call offices in the district at an early date, and these will I hope tend to minimise the inconvenience until the exchange is ready.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether a large number of men, formerly engaged in connection with the constructional work of the Post Office telephones have recently been discharged owing to slackness of work; and whether a substantial reduction has been made in the employees of or connected with the Hampstead Exchange on this ground; and whether this is duo to any falling off of subscribers to this Exchange or generally throughout the telephone service of the northern suburbs. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) In the last two months thirty-two workmen have had to be paid off in the Hampstead district in consequence of the completion of the main duct work on which they were employed. There is no falling off in the number of subscribers to the Hampstead or other telephone exchanges in the northern suburbs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the practice of the Public Prosecutor in instituting proceedings to rely upon an ex parte statement made by the complainants or their solicitor, or to take any, and, if so, what steps to verify the charges made; whether any, and, if so, what steps were taken by the Public Prosecutor to inquire into the facts of the case alleged against Mr. Blackler, who was recently prosecuted at the Exeter Assizes on a charge of corrupt practices at the Torquay election, and against whom the grand jury found no bill; and whether any machinery exists, in a case such as that of Mr. Blackler, for providing for the costs of the accused out of the public funds. (Answered by Sir John Walton.) The Attorney-General answers this Question at the request of the Home Secretary. The director of public prosecutions makes such inquiries as are practicable in all cases submitted to him. In the case of Mr. Blackler, the statements of the witnesses were taken by a firm of solicitors, known to the director, and in whom he had confidence, also an opinion of counsel was forwarded to him advising that in his opinion there were grounds for proceeding under Section 2 of 46 and 47 Vic, c. 51. This afforded evidence which in the judgment of the director justified a prosecution. Process was applied for and granted. The accused when before the bench offered no defence or explanation. The magistrates, eleven in number, committed him unanimously to take his trial at the assizes. I am aware of no machinery providing for the payment of the costs of accused persons who may be acquitted by the verdict of either grand or petty juries out of public funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, during 1904, 107,625 persons were sent to prison in default of paying fines; and, if so, whether he is prepared to effect such alterations in the law as will give such persons the right of claiming a few weeks' grace before conviction, when they give bona fide and satisfactory addresses, or can produce reasonable security. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The number of persons received in prison in default of paying a fine during 1904 is correctly stated by the hon. Member. The law contemplates time being allowed defendants to pay the fines imposed on them, and only last year a circular was issued from the Home Office to all courts of summary jurisdiction urging that full effect should be given to the merciful provisions of the law. I have no reason to doubt that the considerations urged in the circular are generally borne in mind, and that a person with a settled home is rarely or never refused time for the payment of a fine; but if information is given me of any case in which they have been disregarded, I will have inquiry made. It should be remembered that while 107,625 persons were received in prison during 1904 in default of a fine, the total number fined was 550,490. Both figures, I may add, include many cases where the same person was fined several times during the year, and therefore appears several times in the registers of the courts or of the prison.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, in connection with the inquiry of the Royal Commission on the scandals connected with the purchases and re-sales of stores in and after the late South African War, how many clerks are engaged upon the audit of the accounts; what fee per day is being paid for each clerk to the firm which permanently employs these clerks; when the audit began; and when it is expected to terminate. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The work to which the hon. Member refers, which was undertaken by direction of the Royal Commission on War Stores in South Africa, was not so much an audit of accounts as an inquiry by a firm of chartered accountants into the accounts of the War Office with reference to transactions during and after the war. The accountants began their work on July 29th, 1905, and concluded it, by submitting a report to the Royal Commission, on March 19th, 1906. The number of professional clerks employed by the firm was thirty from July to September, and forty from October onwards, with an addition of twenty clerks supplied by the Civil Service Commissioners for the more mechanical work. These numbers were gradually reduced as the inquiry drew to a close. The fees stipulated for by the firm were at the rate of three guineas a day for chief clerks and one and a half guineas a day for other professional clerks, but owing to the unexpected length of time occupied by the work, an abatement was made on the settlement of the account by which these rates were somewhat reduced.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the efforts being made by the officials of the Liverpool Victoria Legal Friendly Society to convert that society into a company under the Companies' Acts, and thereby change the character of the undertaking; whether he is aware that the persons insuring in that society, numbering about 3,000,000, consist mainly of people of small means who insure their children; and whether the Registrar of Friendly Societies can take steps to secure that these persons shall have an opportunity of being heard and of having their views considered (either through attendance and voting at meetings or otherwise) before any such conversion is authorised. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) I would refer my hon. friend to the Answer which I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness, on the 24th ultimo.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to paragraph 120 of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Income-tax of last year, referring to the pressure under which claims for repayments are dealt with at Somerset House; whether he is aware that claims of this nature involve still more extreme pressure upon the local offices; whether he can state the number of first claims for repayment dealt with by local surveyors in the same period of pressure as is referred to in the above paragraph; and, if not, whether he will cause this information to be provided; whether he is aware that during this same period of pressure local surveyors have also to provide for the large expansion of work caused by the earlier delivery of schedules of unpaid amounts of Income Tax as provided in the new Regulations issued by the Board of Inland Revenue in 1904; whether frequent and heavy overtime without pay is performed by the clerical staff in these local offices during such periods; and whether it is proposed to take steps to relieve the pressure in these offices corresponding to the steps recently taken to relieve the pressure at the head office at Somerset House. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The number of first claims for repayment received at Somerset House, after being dealt with by the local surveyors in England and Wales, between 1st March and 30th June, 1906, was about 40,000 (a slight decrease as compared with the number of the preceding year), an average of 163 such claims for each of the 246 surveyors' district. Speaking generally, it is a fact that the work in surveyors' offices is heavier in the winter and spring than in the summer months, but there is no reason to suppose that the clerical staff, which has been largely increased in recent years, is insufficient to meet the demands upon it, nor are there any good grounds for supposing that frequent and heavy overtime without pay is performed by the clerks at the busy periods of the year. The surveyors are in the habit of applying for overtime allowances for their clerks in times of pressure, and all applications received are fully considered and dealt with on their merits.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that one of the schools proposed to be used in the scheme for training pupil teachers in Oxford is held in a private house and was opened only a few months ago, and that the head-mistress holds an elementary school teacher's certificate only; that the use of this school will introduce, for the first time in Oxford, sectarian controversy into the training of pupil teachers, the school being an institution of an extreme sectarian type, objected to by a large class of ratepayers; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) As I stated on 30th July in reply to a Question on this subject, the Board of Education have not recognised any particular schools for the purposes referred to, but are awaiting special Reports by their inspectors, and other information, before any decision is arrived at. I will see that the various matters referred to by the hon. Member are borne in mind, and that no scheme is sanctioned which will recognise inefficient provision or needlessly arouse controversy.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether any other, and, if so, which rivers in Hampshire will be brought under the management of the Avon and Stour Conservancy; and, if no decision has at present been reached, whether there is prospect of a decision being reached at an early date. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) No decision has yet been come to with regard to the application of the Avon and Stour Board of Conservators for an extension of their district, but we shall endeavour to arrive at a settlement of the matter with as little delay as possible.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, having regard to the inconvenience occasioned by the refusal of his Department to sanction a loan of £435 applied for by the Bromsgrove Rural District Council in respect of private street improvement works carried out and completed in the parishes of Hagley and Clent, and to the fact that the plans and specifications for such works received the sanction of a court of summary juris- diction, sitting at the court house, Stourbridge, he will consider the possibility of revising the decision of which complaint is made. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) A local inquiry was held on this subject by one of the inspectors of the Local Government Board, and it appeared that the works could not be regarded as satisfactory. I have carefully considered the matter, but I regret that I do not see my way to sanctioning the loan desired.

To ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state how the yield of food crops per acre in each province in India for the year 1904 compares with the figures for the years 1880 and 1901. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) Figures for 1880 are not available, as provincial estimates of the yield per acre of the principal crops were not framed until 1892. The latest volume of the Agricultural Statistics of India gives a comparative table of the estimates for the five years ending respectively with 1897 and 1902. I will cause a copy of the volume to be sent to my honourable friend if he desires it.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if William Agar, formerly of Coolnakisha, Old Leighlin, Carlow, has any prospect of being restored to his former holding on Sir Thomas Butler's property. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they will have William Agar's application for reinstatement inquired into as soon as possible. The Commissioners understand, however, that Agar's former holding is in the occupation of another tenant. Proceedings for the sale of Sir T. Butler's estate have not yet come before the Commissioners.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that the Myles O'Reilly Coat of Arms on the bridge of Ferna, county Cavan, is now placed upon a level with the roadway, and if left in this position will shortly be demolished; and will he, with a view to preserving this historic emblem, have it placed higher up upon the bridge, and thus remove it from danger of destruction and secure that it can be seen by passers by. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Local Government Board have no information upon this subject. The matter is one for the local authorities, to whose notice the Board, without delay, will bring the hon. Member's suggestion, which well deserves to be considered.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the great importance of the subject to the whole of Ireland, he can see his way to reconsider his decision regarding the constitution of the Irish Poor Law Commission and appoint to it an independent member of the medical profession who is thoroughly conversant with the whole principles, honour, and interests of the Poor Law medical profession in Ireland. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. No vacancy exists in the Irish Poor Law Commission, which has now practically completed its labours. The vacancy which the hon. Gentleman has in mind is in the Royal Commission on the Poor Law for the United Kingdom, and, as to that, I would refer him to the reply given by the Prime Minister yesterday to the Question of the hon. Member for West Waterford.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state whether William Browne, Gardenham, Drumgriffen, county Galway, is entitled to rights of turbary under the agreement purchasing his holding from Major William W. P. Joyce, dated March 1st, 1905; whether he is aware that the purchase of this holding was conditional on such rights being secured to him; and whether the Estates Commissioners can take steps to see that they are so secured. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that there are before them two agreements for purchase, signed by William Browne, dated March 1st, 1905. One of these relates to the purchase of one-fifteenth share of a turf bank, comprising altogether seventy-three acres. When the case comes before the Commisssioners for ruling, they will take all necessary steps to secure that Browne's share of this turf bank is properly vested in him.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board will reconsider their decision not to give a grant to the electoral division of Lavally, county Galway, for the purpose of a parish committee scheme; and whether he will consider the advisability, in case the Board decide to give a grant, of the nearest established committee administering the grant, thus avoiding the necessity of establishing a new committee for the electoral division which the Board consider inadvisable. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) This matter will be brought before the Congested Districts Board for further consideration at their next meeting on the 8th instant.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether a decision has been arrived at as to the increase of pay of labourers in the Army Ordnance Department in Ireland; and, if so, from what date will the increase take effect. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The question is a large one. It is not at all clear that the wages of these labourers are below the market rate paid for the corresponding class of labour by private employers in Dublin, but the point is now under close investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the hay and straw purchased for the Army are entirely homegrown; or, if not, what proportion is imported. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The contracts do not contain any specification as to sources of supply, and accordingly it is not possible to give any definite reply to the Question. Most probably by far the greater part is home-grown.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if the aggregate tonnage of British war vessels of every class and type is equal to the aggregate tonnage of the war vessels of France, Germany, Russia, and Italy.

I am informed that the aggregate tonnage of British war vessels of every class is 2,041,113 tons. The aggregate tonnage for France, Germany, Russia, and Italy is 2,708,461 tons. The Answer to the Question is, therefore, in the negative.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Answer would have been equally true at any time of the last fifteen years, and that these tonnage comparisons are most misleading?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in obsolete protected cruisers we have over double the tonnage of the nations named in the question?

was understood to say that he had only to answer the Question put to him.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can inform the House of the quantity of American tinned meat at present in stock at the Deptford, Plymouth, and Gosport Victualling Yards; whether this meat was to the order of the late Government; whether it is at present served out to the Navy; what is the intention of the Government with regard to its disposal; whether he will state the amount of jam purchased by the late Government which has recently been condemned at the Deptford Victualling Yard; what was the original cost; who are the contractors; and whether they can be held responsible.

The quantity of American tinned meat at present in stock at the victualling yards mentioned is approximately 1,680,0001b. The bulk of this meat was purchased in 1903–04, when supplies of Australian meat were unobtainable owing to drought. Men serving in His Majesty's ships have for the present been allowed the option of drawing Australian or Argentine corned beef in place of American, but it has not been thought necessary to consider special measures for the disposal of the stock of American meat. As regards the last part of the Question, a quantity of jam, amounting to 269,0001b., has been reported as unsuitable for issue, and the matter is now under investigation. The prices paid for this jam range from 28s. 7d. to 34s. 5d. per cwt. In these circumstances I do not feel in a position to give the names of the firms concerned.

How long has this jam been in stock?

I should think about two years.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether two of the ships' companies employed in the attempt to salve the "Montagu" have not been able to go ashore or obtain leave for over two months.

Leave will be given to these ships' companies as soon as the work on the "Montagu" permits.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Admiralty will now bring to an end the expenditure on the attempt to salve the "Montagu;" whether he is aware that the battleship "Duncan," In the abandoned attempt on July 23rd, struck the ground twice and was imperilled by the tide race; whether one cruiser and one destroyer employed at various times in the salvage operations have grounded; I whether a lighter was sunk; and whether he has any further information of casualties to the Navy in connection with these operations.

The question of further attempts to salve the "Montagu" will be decided after the next Spring tides. The "Duncan" Touched ground once only, the damage being very slight; she was at no time imperilled by the tide race. The only other casualties of any importance which have occurred in the operations are the loss of a lighter, which has since been recovered, and the loss of two ships' poats.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many of the eighty-seven torpedo boats figuring in the recently issued Return are upwards of fifteen years old; how many are capable of attaining in practice the speed of a modern battleship, and how many are armed with the obsolete 14-inch torpedo; and what is the number of torpedo boats and destroyers building and projected for the chief naval Powers.

Of the eighty-five torpedo boats now on the list fifty-five are upwards of fifteen years old. These might be expected to attain a speed of from seventeen to eighteen knots. Of the remaining thirty, seventeen could probably reach twenty knots and thirteen over twenty-three knots. Sixty-four of these boats are armed with 14-inch torpedoes, but the torpedoes are of types which are not considered obsolete. The number of destroyers building for Great Britain is eighteen, and fourteen are included in the programme of new construction for this year. As regards the other great naval Powers, the position is as follows. France: Under construction, fourteen destroyers, thirty torpedo boats. Projected, eleven destroyers, eleven torpedo boats. Germany: Under construction, fourteen destroyers. Projected, four destroyers. Russia: Under construction, sixteen destroyers. Italy: Under construction, four destroyers, fourteen torpedo boats. Projected, ten destroyers, fifteen torpedo boats. United States: Under construction, no destroyers or torpedo boats. Projected, three destroyers. Japan: Under construction, twelve destroyers.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the promised inquiry into the abuses of the naval canteen system has been instituted; whether it is now proceeding; whether it proposes to hear any evidence before coming to a conclusion; and whether, before its conclusions are acted upon, this House will be afforded some opportunity of considering them.

A Committee has been appointed to inquire into the system of naval canteens, and it will take such evidence as may be necessary. It is probable that any proposals which may be formulated by the Committee will be tested experimentally in some fleet or squadron, and the hon. Member will have the usual opportunity of bringing up the question in the House on Navy Vote 2.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has now completed his inquiry into the manner in which quarterly firing practice was carried out by the Sheerness Reserve Division in April last; whether, in order to comply with the admiral's orders,. H.M.S. "Vindictive" fired the whole of her 6-inch heavy gun ammunition in ten minutes, while only two ships were permitted to use a proper range for this purpose; whether the responsibility for this-waste of training and ammunition lies, by King's Regulation, upon the roar-admiral commanding the division; and, if so, what steps the Admiralty have taken to enforce this responsibility and to ensure that such waste shall not recur.

As the result of the inquiry now completed, it would appear that the hon. Member has been misinformed, and that there is no foundation whatever for the suggestion that there was any waste of ammunition, or that the firing practice was in any way hurried.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what are the regulations in force as to extra pay to workmen employed in the construction of battleships at Portsmouth working in confined spaces; and whether wing compartments are treated the same as double bottoms, so far as extra rates are concerned.

Workpeople engaged in cleaning and painting double bottoms or working in confined spaces, are paid 1½d. an hour in addition to their ordinary rate of pay while so employed. Wing compartments are treated in the same way as double bottoms where the conditions as regards space, nature of access, and ventilation are the same.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether further inquiries have now been made by the War Office into the statement brought to his notice last month, that on the 4th June a shell from Shoebury fell within twenty yards of a party of nine who were fishing in the bawley "Edgar," from Leigh-on-Sea; whether he is aware that prior to the matter being brought to the notice of the War Office, Sergeant-Major Gunnett had already been to Leigh-on-Sea to interview the skipper of the bawley "Edgar," with reference to the incident, and had ascertained all the details; and that those responsible for the firing still allege that the incident did not take place; and, if so, can he state why Sergeant-Major Gunnett visited Leigh to interview the skipper before any complaint or allegation had been made to the War Office.

A Court of Inquiry will be held to investigate fully the alleged incident. As regards the visit of Sergeant-Major Gum-net to Leigh which took place on the 20th June, I may point out that my hon. friend gave notice of his Question on the 18th June and that the attention of the Commandant of the School of Gunnery was drawn to it on the 19th June.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider the case of Thomas Henry Bryson, formerly of the Royal Engineers and now of Newtowngore, County Leitrim, who enlisted on 29th December, 1877, and is in possession of the Zulu medal, with the only clasp given for the war, and is disabled with rheumatism, which he contracted whilst on foreign service; and whether, seeing that his pension is only 1s. per day, while other pensioners who served in the the same war have 2s. per day, he will reconsider his case with a view to increasing his pension.

This man was invalided from the Royal Engineers after a service of five years, 332 days only, on account of rheumatism, which commenced at Chatham after he had served for just over a year and before he served abroad. His present pension of 1s. a day is the highest which can be granted to him under the regulations.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether on the 3rd July last, sixteen polo ponies, the property of officers of the 19th Hussars, stationed at the Curragh Camp, were brought to and provided with stabling at the Marlborough Barracks, Dublin, till the end of the week; if so, whether the taxpayers are bound to provide free stabling for horses kept by officers for their own amusement; and if the taxpayers are not so bound, what stops does he propose to take to prevent a recurrence of the incident in question.

When Government stabling is temporarily vacant and not actually required for accommodation of Government horses, the private horses or ponies of officers may be accommodated provided that no expense to the public is thereby incurred.

And is there no expense to the public?

None.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government will make further representations to the administrations concerned, to the effect that the exaction of a literary test in English from British Indians is unfair.

As at present advised the Secretary of State is not prepared to make representations on the subject to the Colonial Governments.

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether the Rev. George Maddison, a Wesleyan minister, of Johannesburg, who was assaulted by natives in the early part of this month, has died of his wounds; and what action is proposed for the protection of Europeans in South Africa.

A statement to this effect has appeared in the newspapers, but I have received no official information. It is the duty of the local Government to afford all reasonable protection.

asked if this was not the third death by violence offered to a party of Europeans of which Mr. Maddison was a member, and Mr. Churchill requested him to give notice.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the number of white, yellow and coloured persons respectively who have been murdered by Chinese coolies in the Transvaal during the first six months of the year.

I unintentionally misled the House the other day when in answer to a supplementary Question I said the majority of the murdered persons were whites. The number of persons murdered by Chinese coolies in Witwatersrand and Pretoria districts during the first six months of this year is:—

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies how many voters were disfranchised in Cape Colony after the war, and when these electors will regain their votes.

According to a Cape official Return, printed in 1904, the number of persons disqualified from voting at Parliamentary elections owing to convictions for treason in ten districts principally affected by rebellion was 7,072. The sentence in the case of ordinary rebels was for five years. The next biennial registration takes place in 1907, and it is understood that the number of those who will not be able to be placed on the register then is inconsiderable.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, of the Chinese coolies who applied for repatriation, a certain number are anxious to withdraw their application, but have been refused permission to do so.

Instructions have been given that the cases of coolies who change their minds must be most carefully investigated by the superintendent, and a record kept. If he is completely satisfied that they wish to remain in the Transvaal they are not to be repatriated against their will. I am informed that their have been four such cases. There is no reason to apprehend that any have been refused permission to withdraw their applications.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the terms of the amended repatriation notices are readily intelligible to the coolies employed in the South African mines; and how many of them have intimated a desire to avail themselves of the facilities thereby promised.

The Secretary of State has no reason to suppose that the amended notice has not been understood. He has received no report as to the number of applications made under it.

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies what are the respective numbers of British and Boer civil servants at present serving in the Transvaal.

I do not know what the numbers may be, nor whether such classification is possible.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the estimated number of bywoners in the Transvaal.

I cannot undertake to make an estimate.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the High Commissioner will be consulted as to the persons to be nominated for the Second Chamber of the Transvaal Government.

It is our practice to consult freely with the High Commissioner on all matters of public importance which concern the territories under his charge.

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether manhood suffrage exists in Cape Colony or in Natal.

No, Sir.

I bog to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will present the correspondence between the India Office and Government of India, and the British Cotton Growing Association which has taken place since the presentation of C. 1982 of 1904.

The Government of India a few months ago published in India the correspondence which had taken place subsequent to the date referred to. I shall be happy to present it to Parliament if my hon, friend will move for it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will communicate to the House the results of the deputation of Major Bedford, I.M.S., to investigate the avoidably noxious properties of common Indian country spirit.

When the Report reaches me, I will consider whether the Papers can be presented.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he has any information regarding the assault committed last month by natives of India upon Sergeant Maxwell at Allahabad.

No information on this subject has reached me.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of Eastern Bengal proposes to increase the assessment of land under tea in the Surma Valley by 50 per centum; and whether, in view of the fact that the tea industry has suffered for years past from currency legislation, war taxation, high duties, and increased cost of labour, that prices are low, and the condition of estates in the Surma Valley unsatisfactory, he will cause inquiries to be made by the Government of India as to the justice of such increased assessment.

I would refer my honourable friend to the Answer I gave to a similar Question in this House on the 31st July.† I have no reason to suppose that due regard has not been paid to the circumstan(ces of the tea industry, and I hardly think it necessary to interfere with the discretion vested by the Law in the local Government.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India what steps he has taken, or intends

† See (4) Debates, clxii., 698.

taking, to give effect to the unanimous Vote of the House of Commons against the opium traffic between India and China.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to a similar Question in this House on July 17th, as to the action which His Majesty's Government proposes to take in the matter, viz., first to ascertain exactly what the proposals and inclinations of the Chinese Government are, and secondly, to see whether they can in some way meet those views.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken by His Majesty's Government to safeguard and to develop British commercial interests in Manchuria, in view of the importance to this country of neutral markets on account of our Free Trade principles.

His Majesty's Government understand that there are no longer any restrictions on the movements of foreign traders or merchandise in Manchuria. A Consul-General will be appointed to reside at Mukden, and there is also a Consul at Newchang. It will be their duty to see that British traders receive the equal treatment with the nationals of other countries to which they are entitled, and to afford them such assistance as they properly can. A few weeks ago Mr. Hosie, the Commercial Attache at the Pekin Legation, was sent specially to Newchang and Mukden to report on the position in Manchuria.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any official information on the subject of the disturbances in Persia, especially as to whether any persons, and, if any, how many, have taken refuge at the British Legation; and whether he can state what steps are being taken by His Majesty's Government to bring about a better state of things in that country, in view of Great Britain's political and commercial interests there.

His Majesty's Government are being kept fully informed of the state of Affairs in Persia, and the latest telegraphic information received is to the effect that some 12,000 persons have taken refuge at the British Legation at Teheran. His Majesty's Government have urged upon the Persian Government the advisability of taking immediate measures to put a stop to this state of affairs by giving satisfaction to the reasonable demands of the refugees. We have been informed that the resignation of the Grand Vizier has been accepted by the Shah.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what precautions have been taken, and what guarantees have been obtained, to enable the British Minister at Belgrade to avoid coming into contact with regicides; how the British Minister will be able to carry out his duties efficiently if he avoids all relations with regicides; and whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the correspondence relating to the renewal of diplomatic relations between Great Britain and Servia.

His Majesty's Government have received from the Servian Government assurances, which they consider satisfactory, that His Majesty's Minister at Belgrade shall not be brought into contact with regicides. It does not seem necessary to lay any Papers.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Foreign Ministers at Tangier have power to use the police, which are being formed under European instructors in the coast towns of Morocco, to stop the public sale of slaves in those towns.

The European police to be formed in Morocco being under the Sovereign authority of the Sultan will not receive directions from the Corps Diplomatique at Tangier. His Majesty's Minister at Tangier is fully aware of the importance which His Majesty's Government attach to the issue by the Sultan of stringent orders to the police in the coast towns for the suppression of the slave traffic.

put two supplementary Questions which were understood to have reference to the appointment of inspectors and was referred to the General Act of the Algeciras Conference.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the recommendations of the Algeciras Conference, approved of by the Sultan of Morocco, have in any way altered the conditions under which Europeans can obtain titles to land in that country.

I beg leave to refer the hon. Member to Article 60 of the General Act of the Algeciras Conference, which has been laid before Parliament. It lays down that in conformity with the right recognised as belonging to them by Article 11 of the Madrid Convention, foreigners shall not, except for proper reasons, be hindered from acquiring land throughout the whole of Morocco, while "In the ports open to trade, and within a radius of ten kilometres round such ports,"the consent of the Sultan's Government is granted "In a general manner, without such consent having henceforth to be obtained specially in respect of each purchase." In reply to a supplementary Question, Sir Edward Grey said the Act would not have a retrospective effect, and consequently would not apply to land sold at Tangiers before it was passed.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the recent disquiet at Bengazi, and the reported refusals to allow European travellers to pass through that district, he will consider the advisability of the Commission engaged on the delimitation of the frontier at Tabah being employed to delimit the Tripolitan frontier.

A proper delimitation is desirable, but His Majesty's Government do not consider the present moment favourable for extending the scope of the Commission now engaged on the Sinai frontier.

I bog to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the conveyance by sea of Egyptian pilgrims from Egypt to Arabia is made a monopoly of the Khedival Steamship Company, while natives of other countries are allowed to sail from the same ports by other lines; and whether Sir Auckland Colvin, formerly financial adviser to the Egyptian Government, is the chairman of the company in question.

The Foreign Office are not in possession of any information on the matter, which is one that primarily concerns the Egyptian Government.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry? This matter has been going on for years.

If any evidence is brought to my knowledge of the matters injuriously affecting British ships I will inquire.

And other ships also. Is it permissible to give a monopoly for the benefit of English shipping to the exclusion of all other shipping?

I presume the interest of the shipping of the other countries will be safeguarded by their own Governments, should anything be done by the Egyptian Government which they deemed to be prejudicial to those interests.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can see his way to remit that part of the charge of threepence in the pound, levied on the remittance home of British seamen's wages from Hamburg and other foreign ports, which is now retained by the British Consuls in those ports.

I understand that arrangements have been come to with the Treasury which will enable us to give up the part of the charge referred to, which amounts to twopence in the pound.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Letters Patent will be issued; and when the new Transvaal Constitution will come into effect.

No precise date can yet be fixed for the issue of the Letters Patent, nor a date when the new Constitution will come into effect. Everything will be done to expedite the matter, and an Order in Council has been passed for preparing the list of voters by adding the fresh voters who will become entitled under manhood franchise. I should expect that the elections will be held not later than the beginning of next year.

asked whether the Letters Patent would contain any restriction on the importation of munitions of war into the Transvaal?

No, Sir. I do not think there will be any departure from the ordinary practice in the case of instruments of this character.

When will further Papers on this subject be laid?

replied that they would be out shortly. They were being gone through.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of death duties has been paid into the Exchequer each year during the past six years.

I would refer my hon. friend to the table on page 79 of the Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for the year 1904–5 (Cd. 2033), which gives the" Exchequer receipt of each of the eleven years from 1894–5 to 1904–5. In 1905–6 the amount paid into the Exchequer was £12,970,000.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state approximately the cost of the publication of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Discipline of the Church of England, including the volumes containing the evidence.

The total cost of printing and paper is about £2,050.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether collectors of King's taxes are required by the terms of their appointment to give all their time to the duties of their office; whether they are permitted to combine with those duties the ownership and conduct of house, beer, coal, and other agencies; and, if so, whether it is hold to be in the public interest that information obtained in the course of public duty should be used by these officers to further their private concerns.

Collectors of taxes are not required to give their whole time to the duties of their office. They may engage in other avocations, including those mentioned. The use of information obtained as a collector of taxes for the furtherance of private interests would be regarded as a serious breach of official trust, and would be appropriately dealt with if brought to the attention of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, or of the General Commissioners of the District, as the case may be.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that eight families of German gipsies, numbering seventy-five persons, led by a Bavarian named Peter Goi, arrived last March at Leith from Hamburg, and have since been a source of inconvenience and expense to the local authorities and people of Glasgow, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Hull, York, Leeds, Wakefield, Barnsley, Sheffield, and Manchester, as well as to the intervening districts; if he can state who was responsible for the admission of these aliens; if he will reimburse the areas concerned the costs to which they have been put by the laches of the Immigration Department of the Home Office; and how soon he will rid the country of these foreign caravans under the powers conferred upon him by the last Parliament.

The bands of German gipsies referred to by my hon. and gallant friend presumably form part of those who landed in Scotland, as he says, in March, April and May. When it became apparent that the traffic in these aliens was being organised so that they could escape inspection I took steps, as announced to this House on May 10th, to secure that any further arrivals by the steamship line which was carrying them should be subjected to inspection. Those steps were successful in preventing any further arrivals. The admission of these aliens was not due to any failure on the part of the officials engaged in administering the Aliens Act, and that Act gives me no jurisdiction to deal with them.

How are we to get rid of these wretched people?

I am afraid no action can be taken unless people interested provide money for their passage to the Continent.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state what action the Home Office has taken, and proposes to take, in reference to the application of the London County Council for statutory powers to establish, or aid in establishing, an efficient and rapid ambulance service in London for dealing with cases of accident and sudden illness in the streets and public places.

I have been making inquiry as to ambulance service in London and elsewhere, and I think it would be well if a conference were held at the Home Office between the parties mainly interested for the purpose of informal discussion, and I hope the hon. Member may be able to take part in the conference. Possibly it may be desirable to appoint a small Committee to take evidence and report.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the case of Zalman Wein, a political refugee from Russia, who was refused permission to land by the officials administering the Aliens Act, also to the cases of Moses Enighorn, Itzig Levin, Sarah Kamisar, Cham Sharogrofsky, Yankel Truse, Jacob Pollack, Sinuha Tusman, and other similar cases all occurring this month; and whether in view of the denial of the right of asylum in these cases, will he say what steps he proposes to take.

All these cases were dealt with in my Answer on the 30th July to the hon. Member for the Loughborough Divisidh of Leicestershire, and I have nothing to add to that Answer. Both that Question and this were based upon newspaper statements which have been found to be inaccurate in many essential particulars.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now prepared to recommend the release of Mrs. Jane Sparborough, one of the suffragists sentenced to six weeks imprisonment on 6th July, in view of the fact that she is not a leader of the movement, and that her only offence appears to have been her reference to the word "Featherstone" under Mr. Asquith's window at a time when all the crowd had dispersed.

I am not prepared to make any recommendation in this case. The prisoner can obtain her own release at any time by obeying the order of the Court, and in any case her sentence will expire on the 14th inst.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in any of the London prisons,

† See (4) Debates, clxii., 431.

there are interpreters who can speak Hindustani; failing this, whether there are Government interpreters at the docks who might be sent to the prisons in case of need; and, if so, how many.

There is no Hindustani interpreter in the London prisons. The few Hindustani prisoners who are received can almost always speak enough English to make themselves understood: but if necessity should arise, the Prison Commissioners would procure the services of an interpreter.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply has been received from the Channel Islands authorities in reference to the question of extending the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Laws of the United Kingdon to those islands.

I have so far been engaged in correspondence with the insular authorities on the subject of their law and practice relating to navigation and the certification of pilots. But I do not think they will object to pass legislation providing that every master of a ship must be properly certificated, and I am about to propose to them officially that this should be done.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that by the regulations of the Trinity House, Leith, no one can be licensed to act as a pilot for the River Tay unless he has had at least three years service at sea in a square-rigged sailing vessel; and will he explain why two persons have been appointed who have not this length of sea-service while others have been refused.

I am aware of the requirement referred to in the first part of the Question. The Trinity House, Leith, informs mo that they are unaware of any licences having been granted to persons who have not had the requisite sea-service, and if the hon. Member will give me the names of the two pilots to whom he refers I will make further inquiry in the matter and will let him know the result.

Seeing that steam has so prominent a part, will the right hon. Genteman see that their sea-service is equally divided between steamers and sailing vessels?

I will look into the matter.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, bearing in mind the number of accidents that arise on our railways from insufficiently fastened carriage doors, he will take steps to compel the various railway companies to attach an outside bar or fastener on every railway carriage, as is done on continental trains, an exception being made in the case of local traffic.

The Board of Trade are advised by their technical officers that the provision of such an appliance as that referred to by the hon. Member would not be desirable, inasmuch as it would tend to prevent the free egress of passengers from the carriages of the train in cases of emergency. The Board have, however, from time to time been in communication with the railway companies in regard to the use of inside handles to the carriage doors, and they have recommended the abolition of such handles on all trains other than suburban trains. The matter is not one, however, in which the Board have any powers of compulsion. It is believed that the greater proportion of the accidents caused to passengers by falling from trains are probably duo not to the insufficient fastening of carriage doors, but to the doors being improperly opened by persons in the carriages.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the ultimate purchase by the local authorities within the period fixed by Parliament, in pursuance of the powers given him under the Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation Acts, granted by Parliament to companies in the administrative county of London, he will appoint, as auditor of the accounts of such undertakings, the auditor of the Local Government Board, who already audits the electric lighting accounts of the boroughs holding Orders within such area, or whether he will take steps to assimilate the two systems of audit in order to secure a uniform and reliable basis of comparison.

I beg to refer my honourable friend to the Answer given on July 31st † to a similar Question which was asked by my hon. friend the Member for Camberwell. If my hon. friend has any suggestions which he desires to make on the subject of audit I shall of course be very happy to consider them.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can see his way to remit that part of the charge of threepence in the pound levied on the remittance home of British seamen's wages from Hamburg and other foreign ports which is now retained by the Board of Trade.

This matter is still under consideration, but I hope to be able to inform my hon. and gallant friend of the decision before the House rises.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to a public notice issued by the West Ham overseers stating that certain persons who occupy certain parts of houses and pay their rent to other persons residing in the same house were lodgers, and not entitled to be registered as householders, and have been omitted from the burgess roll as occupiers for the ensuing year; and whether the Local Government Board has any power over the overseers to compel them to place the names of all persons occupying parts of houses on the burgess roll, even if they pay rent to persons residing in the same house, in accordance with the Devonport appeal case.

† See (4) Debates, clxii., 681.

I have seen the notice referred to, which states that in consequence of a decision given by the West Ham revising barrister last year, the overseers have omitted from the list of voters persons occupying part of houses and paying rent to other persons resident on the premises. The notice, however, informs all such occupiers desiring to be registered either as householders or as lodgers that they may claim to be so registered, and that all such claims sent in to the assistant overseer for registration before the 20th instant will be laid before the revising barrister. I understand that the overseers consider that the circumstances at West Ham are different from those in the Devonport case, and that at West Ham the sub-tenant is in most cases under the control of the landlord, and is in fact a lodger. The correctness of the view taken by the overseers will no doubt come before the revising barrister in connection with claims made by persons affected. The Local Government Board have no control over the overseers in the matter.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the great harvest in prospect in Manitoba and to the appeal for 20,000 men to help to gather it; and whether he will in connection with the committees under the Unemployed Act supply the men to do at any rate a part of this work instead of farming at Hollesley Bay or other farm colonies.

I have considered the suggestion of the hon. Member, but it does not appear that I could render any effective assistance with regard to it.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of the Ipswich Board of Guardians Farm Committee, dealing with the question of tuber culosis in the cattle of the workhouse farm; and whether, in view of the fact that after a report from the medical officer of health and two veterinary surgeons two animals were slaughtered and eight others have since then been condemned as unfit for food, and also all milk from the farm prohibited from being consumed in the workhouse, he will order a similar investigation to be made in the case of all workhouse farms and other farms which will supply milk to the workhouses throughout the country.

I am in communication with the Ipswich Board of Guardians on the subject of the Report referred to.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will at once consider the advisability of making a substantial grant from the Government's grant of £200,000 to the West Ham Distress Committee, in consequence of the poverty in the borough caused by the want of employment.

I am giving consideration to the subject of the distribution of the grant, but I am not at present in a position to make a payment to any particular distress committee.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the desire expressed by the chairman of the London Central Unemployed Committee that before the adjournment of the House in August they may be able to lay the foundation of their next winter's work; and, in these circumstances, will he inform the central committee as soon as possible what sum he proposes to place at their disposal out of the Parliamentary grant.

The subject of the distribution of the grant is receiving my attention; but 1 cannot at present.say when 1 shall be in a position to state what amount will be placed at the disposal of the central (unemployed) body.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to a statement given in evidence at the Poplar inquiry that the accounts of the Poor Law Guardians of Poplar had been regularly audited by Government auditors, and that on no occasion had they drawn attention to any contract or price as improper or improvident; and whether he will consider the advisability of securing a more efficient audit by auditors instructed to call attention to such matters as part of their duty.

I understand that a statement to the effect referred to was made at the inquiry. I propose to consider whether any further instructions should be given to the auditors, together with other matters arising out of the inquiry, when the Report of the Inspector has been received.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he has had a substantial offer with a bank guarantee to cover the loss for three years, if any, of establishing penny postage between Great Britain and the United States of America; if so, will he say whether he has accepted that offer; and, if not, will he explain why.

The correspondence in regard to this matter has already appeared in the Press.

But why did you re fuse to accept this guarantee?

Perhaps I had better read the letters sent with regard to it. (The right hon. Gentleman then read the letters referred to.)

But you take similar guarantees with regard to telegraph work.

Yes, but that guarantee is given by individuals or localities which require special facilities that would involve a loss to the Exchequer. This is an entirely different question—one affecting two nations.

Still, it would be a great convenience to the public.

I bog to ask the Postmaster-General, in view of the fact that during the last nine years the letters delivered and posted at Stornoway have almost doubled, whilst during the same period the parcels delivered and posted have far more than doubled, will he consider the expediency of arranging for a faster boat to be placed on the Stornoway mail service, the subsidy for which has remained unchanged for a great many years.

Although the amount of correspondence for and from Stornoway has increased, it is still very small compared with the cost of the mail service; and I should not be justified simply for postal purposes in incurring the heavy additional expense involved in order to secure the employment of a faster steamer on the service.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he has any information to the effect that a Customs duty of 7d. is being charged on each catalogue and price list entering Cape Colony; and, if so, why such information has not been given to the public, thereby saving inconvenience to the numerous firms doing business with Cape Colony.

Information has recently been received that a duty of the kind has been decided on; but in reply to inquiries for full particulars it is stated by the Post Office of the Cape Colony that in view of difficulties which have arisen the whole question of the taxation of printed papers sent to the Colony by post is being reconsidered by a Colonial Customs Conference. The result of this Conference is to be communicated to me by telegraph at the earliest opportunity, and in the meantime I am without the information necessary for the issue of a notice on the subject to the public.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called, by petition or otherwise, to the alleged grievances of the postmen of Newcastle-on-Tyne respecting the introduction of drill qualification as a necessity for appointment to the position of assistant inspectorship of telegraph messengers; and whether he can say if ordinary postmen of service will be allowed to occupy those positions.

A memorial on this subject has been received from the postmen at Newcastle-on-Tyne. The question raised is one which affects the whole country, and not Newcastle alone, and is under consideration.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether, with the view of encouraging local industries, he will consider the question of placing at Inverness contracts for the furnishing of the uniforms required for post office officials in the Highlands, as has for many years been done by the Admiralty in the case of uniforms required by it for local use.

Tenders for uniform clothing are invited every three years, by advertisements appearing in Scottish as well as English newspapers. The present contract was made this year, and no tender was received from Inverness. The next opportunity of tendering will be in 1909. It would not be expedient to make separate contracts for different localities.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether all the posts imported from the Baltic into Scotland for use as telegraph poles are landed and creosoted at Methil, in Fifeshire; whether he is aware that Inverness would, so far as cheap transit by rail and canal to the north and west of Scotland is concerned, be a better port of landing than Methil; whether he is aware that a creosoting plant exists at Inverness; and whether, therefore, he will consider the advisability of landing and creosoting at Inverness such portion at least of the Baltic posts as are required for uso in the north and west of Scotland.

Telegraph poles are not this year being creosoted in Scotland. Poles for use in Scotland have in previous years been creosoted at Methil, but the tender received for this year for the work was not satisfactory. It is known that, at Inverness, as indeed elsewhere in Scotland, there is creosoting plant, and it will be considered whether when the time comes for inviting tenders for next year, the work could profitably be done there.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General, whether, having regard to the loss and inconvenience caused to merchants and planters and others connected with the Colonies of British Guiana and the Windward and Leeward Islands from the absence of regular mail facilities since the abandonment of the West Indian mail contract on 30th June, 1905, and having regard to the fact that the Royal Commission which visited the West Indies in 1897, of which the right honourable the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was a member, emphasised in their Report the importance of the establishment of cheap and frequent means of communication between the different islands, and having regard to the fact that the Lords of the Treasury, in a Minute dated 14th June, 1890, recognised in how large a manner the convenience and business of the West Indian Colonies depended upon the punctuality and absolute regularity of their communication with Europe and with each other he will state what steps it is proposed to take to remove the present cause of complaint.

The question of providing regular mail facilities in the West Indies is receiving careful consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make a definite announcement on the subject.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he will state when it is proposed to proceed with the erection of a new post office at Stornoway, which was sanctioned some time since.

The original plans for the Stornoway office required modification, and the revised plans are now under consideration. The provision of a new office is a matter of urgency, and I hope that the building will be begun soon.

I beg to ask the Postmaster General if he will state how many Post Office Savings Bank depositors have been defrauded during the current year under the new system of payment on demand; and has the amount lost by such depositors been made good by the Department.

During the current year, fraudulent withdrawals on demand have been made from the Savings Bank accounts of 39 depositors, the amount in each case being necessarily less than £1. The total loss was £35 8s. 7d. This has been made good by the Department, except in sixteen cases, where the depositors elected to give a discharge, the amount so made good being £21 Is. 7d. The total amount withdrawn on demand during the same period was about £1,700,000, and the number of withdrawals over 2,000,000.

When the right hon. Gentleman says the loss was made good by "the Department," does he mean the Post Office, or the Post Office officials who were unfortunate enough to make the payments?

I think in this case it was the Department, not the employees.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education upon whom the cost of ballots and public local inquiries under Clause 4 of the Education Bill will fall.

The cost of public local inquiries will be borne by the local education authorities. The question of the ballots will be dealt with in the regulations for ballots which, as promised, are being prepared and will be in the hands of Members on Saturday morning.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is proposed by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests to rebuild Regent Street with a colonnade on each side; and, seeing that the original colonnade in the Quadrant was removed, as it was found to be objectionable and to render the shops too dark, and that colonnades are out, of place in this dull climate, and are never built now even in the city of Paris, whether he will give this proposal his most serious consideration before agreeing to it.

I understand that there is no intention of rebuilding the street with a colonnade.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has boon drawn to the judgment delivered by Mr. Justice Kennedy in the case of Ashby's Cobham Brewery, prescribing that compensation authorities, in fixing the amount of compensation payable in the case of refused licences, must have regard to the particulars of the amount of trade done on the promises; whether the Inland Revenue would be willing to state any particulars known to them of the amounts of either spirits or beer supplied for a given period to any promises the licence of which has boon refused, if any compensation authority asked them for the information in such a case; and whether, in order to assess the annual value of all licensed promises for purposes of income tax under Schedule A, the Inland Revenue intend to adopt the same method of ascertaining their real value as is prescribed by Mr. Justice Kennedy for ascertaining the value in cases of compensation.

The judgment is engaging the attention of the Board of Inland Revenue. The Inland Revenue have no information in regard to the business done in particular house which would enable thorn to supply details of the kind likely to be of use to compensation authorities The Answer to the third part of the Question is in the alfirmativo—in so far as rests with the Board, and in so far as they may be able to obtain the necessary information which under the existing circumstances they do not possess. The assessments are, however, actualy made by the general commissionersl of each district and not by the Board.

Surely some of the information could be obtained from the stock-books, which licensed victuallers have to keep and which are open to inspection by officials of the Inland Revenue?

I bog to ask the First Commissioner of Works if he is aware that the speed limit in Richmond Park is constantly exceeded, to the danger and inconvenience of the general public and to the injury of the roads; and, if it is found impossible to deal with offending motorists, will he consider the advisability of closing the park to motor traffic.

I am aware that the speed limit in Richmond Park is sometimes exceeded: from the fact that 44 motorists have been summoned and fined within the last three months the hon. Member will be satisfied that I am taking steps to deal with offenders. I am not at present prepared to consider the advisability of closing the park to motor traffic: it depends, however, on the conduct of motorists themselves whether some such step may not become necessary.

I beg to ask the Chairman of the Kitchen Committee whether the Cheshire cheese supplied in the dining-room of the House is invariably the product of Cheshire, or whether it is an American or Canadian imitation; if the latter, whether he will undertake that Members asking for Cheshire cheese shall be able to obtain the same.