reported from the Committee on Group K of Private Bills; That, for the convenience of parties, the Committee had adjourned till Wednesday next, at Eleven of the Clock.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the telegraphic delays that took place at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Birmingham, Liverpool, London, Bristol, Dublin, Exeter, and Glasgow during the months of July, August, and September; whether this delay is due to the fact that the number of the staff is based upon the minimum requirements of the offices, and that the delay on telegrams is ignored by the Department unless a certain average per hour per unit of staff is performed; and whether he has any official reports showing that the decline in the receipts of the telegraph system is due to the growing inefficiency and un-punctuality of the service. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) My attention is called from time to time to telegraphic delays, and in the case of some at least of the cities mentioned by the hon. Member I have had special in-inquiry made, and the result reported to me specially. It is not the fact that the number of the staff is based upon the minimum requirements of the offices, or that the delay on telegrams is ignored unless a certain average of work per unit of staff is performed. The hon. Member has been misinformed on these points. I have reason to believe that the telegraph system is not less efficient than it ever was. As a matter of fact the delays are loss than formerly. If reasonable economies are to prevail the staff cannot be based on the maximum demand that may at any time occur. The hon. Member is aware that the summer months are those when the telegraph business is at its maximum. It is during those months that a considerable proportion of the telegraphists take their holidays, which, looking at the difficulty of obtaining sufficient season assistants, adds considerably to the difficulties of conducting the service during the summer.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether at stations from which submarines are exercised, apparatus is kept capable of lifting a submarine if an accident occurs; and, if not, whether provision will be made for that purpose in next year's Estimates. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) Apparatus is kept at Portsmouth capable of raising a sunken submarine under favourable conditions, and the question of providing similar apparatus at Devon-port and Sheerness is under consideration. It cannot, however, be stated that there is much likelihood that, in the event of an accident, a submarine could be raised in time to save life; and no satisfactory design for a salvage vessel capable of effecting this has yet been produced.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can state the chief causes of the difference in cost of the hulls of the sister ships "Suffolk" and "Essex," built in the Royal Dockyards at a cost of £393,483 and £445,694 respectively. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The difference in the cost of the hulls of these two vessels was inquired into by the Public Accounts Committee in July, 1905, and I can only refer the hon. Member to pages 297–299 of the Report of the Committeee for that year, where he will find a full statement of all the contributory causes.

To ask the Postmaster-General if he will explain why no answer has been received by the cyclist postmen of the South Western District Office, London, to the memorials of June and July last, addressed to the Secretary and Controller respectively. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) Several questions arising in connection with postmen's cycle duties in London are at present under consideration; and I find it difficult to reply to the memorials referred to until I have had time to consider the whole subject. I hope, however, to be able to give a reply shortly.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works, in view of the undertaking that the various Government Departments would consider the matter of the Fair Wage Clause in their application to Government contracts, whether any, and, if any, what action has been taken in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Harcourt.) It has been the practice of my Department for years past to take such measures as were considered best to secure the observance of the Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons, but I have recently caused specific clauses for that purpose to be inserted in certain contracts in which they had not been so categorically expressed before. I am, of course, able to answer only for my own Department.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works whether representation has been made to him by the Lambeth Trades and Labour Council respecting the firm of Messrs. Waygood and Company, lift makers, that on contracts for His Majesty's Government the wages paid to wood cutting machinists in the employ of the firm were 50 per cent, less than the current rates; whether inquiries have been made; and, if so, the result of those inquiries. (Answered by Mr. Harcourt.) A representation to this effect was made to me in July last, and I replied that it was impossible to obtain an explanation from Messrs. Waygood and Company unless I could acquaint them with the specific charges made against them, which had been furnished to me in confidence. Not having received the Trades Council's assent to my doing this, I have not been able to proceed further in the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of Bengal, shortly before the anti-partition agitation commenced, instituted a survey and settlement of rent under the Bengal Tenancy Act, in order to the protection of the low caste Hindu and Mahomedan tenants of the high caste Hindu landlords; and whether in other parts of India, where there are no landlords under permanent settlement, there has been any such agitation as is now proceeding in Bengal. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The surveys in question have been in progress in various parts of Bengal since 1892. They are intended to ascertain and record the respective rights of landlords and tenants, and they are for the advantage of both classes. Similar surveys have been made, or are being made, in districts not under permanent settle- ment. The agitation referred to in the latter part of the Question is confined to that part of India which is affected by the recent change. There are permanently settled areas outside Bengal in which no such agitation exists.

To ask the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that His Highness the Aga Khan, president of the recent Musalman deputation to His Excellency Lord Minto, the Honourable Nawab Sayyid Muhamad Bahadur, at present Musalman member of the Viceroy's Council, the honourable Muhamad Yusuf Khan Bahadur, lately a member of the Legislative Council of Bengal, and president? of the Central Muhamadan Association, and many other leading Musalmans have recently condemned the partition of Bengal; and whether he will lay the opinions of the three gentlemen named upon the Table of the House. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) I have seen in the newspapers statements as to the views of the three gentlemen mentioned, but, apart from these, I have no knowledge of their opinions on the subject in question. Their opinions are not on record in this Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made in re-arming batteries in India with the new quick-firing gun. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) All the quick-firing guns required for the re-armament of the batteries in India are already in that country. Not all of them, however, are at present ready for use, as some of the limbers required have not yet been shipped.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the changes recently introduced in respect of service pay will result in any reduction of the additional charge of upwards of a quarter of a million thrown upon Indian revenues by the increase in the soldiers' pay effected in 1902. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) These changes will result in a gradual reduction in the charge referred to.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, while, since 1901, under the present and previous Governments, about 10,000 workmen have been discharged from Woolwich Arsenal, causing great distress in Woolwich and Plum-stead, large contracts for munitions of war have been placed with private contractors; and whether, in the interests of national economy, he will consider the advisability of making full use of the national capital invested in the buildings and plant at Woolwich. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The principle of dividing the orders for war munitions between the Government factories and the trade has long been accepted as the best policy in the interests of the Army and the nation. By this means only is it possible to secure economically the necessary expansion to meet the needs of war. Since the termination of the South African War there has been an inevitable decrease in the volume of the Government orders, but I am satisfied that in the allocation of these orders the Government factories have received the fullest possible proportion. It is not possible to keep the whole of the plant in the Government factories working in time of peace.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has boon directed to the fact that John Whitworth, stoker, of Plum-stead, who was discharged from Woolwich Arsenal a few weeks ago, has committed suicide, the coroner's jury deciding that his mind was evidently affected by his dismissal; and whether, in view of his responsibility to this House for the proper management of national Army workshops, he will afford it an early opportunity of discussing the recent dismissals. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) My attention has been drawn to this lamentable occurrence. I much regret that these discharges must take place. I have just explained under what circumstances they have been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the distress prevailing in Woolwich owing to slackness of work in and discharges from the Royal Arsenal; and whether, in view of the fact that the approach of winter is likely to render this distress more acute, any steps are in contemplation for providing work for these men. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) As I have already explained, discharges at Woolwich Arsenal have, unfortunately, been inevitable in view of the reduction of requirements since the termination of the war. I am doing all in my power to make the reductions as gradual and light as is consistent with my duty to the public generally.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information an to when the only cavalry regiment in Scotland is to be removed, and whither. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member last Thursday. Details of the move have not yet been settled.†

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state when were the accounts of the Royal Irish Constabulary Force funds last audited; was any balance sheet sent to the subscribers; will he state the number of men now serving who are subscribers, and the number of pensioners who are subscribers at the present time to the fund; and what are the average annual disbursements to widows and orphans from the fund. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The accounts of the benefit branch of the Constabulary Force fund are audited annually

† See Col. 401.

by the Comptroller and Auditor-General, whose certificate of the audit in respect of the year ending 31st March, 1905, was issued on 12th December last. The accounts for the year ending 31st March, 1906, are at present in course of audit. No balance sheet is issued to subscribers. The number of subscribers on 1st July last was 7,760, of whom 4,732 were pensioners and 3,028 still serving in the force. During the past five years the average annual disbursements to widows and orphans amounted to £15,240.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether trained assistant teachers in the service prior to 1900 can be promoted to second and higher grades with corresponding salaries under ordinary circumstances and without special consideration in the same manner as principal teachers. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that there is no provision in their rules for promoting assistant teachers in the manner indicated in the Question.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is now able to say what decision has been arrived at in regard to the provision of a landing place at Falchorrib, county Donegal. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) As I informed the hon. Member on 14th March last,† a sum of £1,000 was at first provisionally mentioned in connection with proposed works at Falchorrib, but it was subsequently found that effective works would cost a much greater sum, and one disproportionate to the benefits to be derived. The Irish Government are at present in communication with the Board of Works with the object of ascertaining whether useful works could not be constructed at a cost which, though in excess of that originally mentioned, would still be within reasonable limits.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a telegram was sent to Lord Northcote informing him in

† (4) Debates, cliii., 1223.

effect that the proposed grant of a shipping preference contained in the Australian Imperial Preference Bill was contrary to international treaty obligations; if so, what was the date of such telegram and what treaties and what clauses of such treaties were relied upon as prohibitive of the shipping preference in question; whether the Law Officers of the Crown were consulted before the telegram was sent; and, if not, whether any legal advice was taken on the proper construction of such treaties. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The Secretary of State was not aware until 3rd October that a Bill, giving preference to British goods imported in British ships was actually before the Commonwealth Parliament. He thereupon telegraphed to the Governor-General on 4th October, stating that the Board of Trade had pointed out that while the right to give preference in respect of British goods was beyond question, preference to such goods by reason of British nationality of vessel carrying them would seem to be a violation of several treaties binding some or all of the Australian Colonies. The principal treaties in question are the treaties with Egypt 1889, Greece 1886, Italy 1883, Japan 1894, and Russia 1859, all of which contain articles expressly providing that goods may be imported in vessels of the foreign country in question without being liable to higher duties than if they are imported in British vessels. As the Bill was expected to pass in a few days, it was not possible to consult the Law Officers as to the meaning of these articles, but the whole question of the treaties will be further considered when the Secretary of State receives the Bill which the Governor-General has reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the persons under sixteen years of age who were committed to prison in England and Wales during the twelve months to 31st March, 1906, were committed on summary jurisdiction, at quarter sessions, and at assizes, respectively; and in each case, how many were committed in default of payment of a fine of less than ten shillings and over ten shillings (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) 1,028 persons under sixteen years of age were committed to prisons in England and Wales during the twelve months ended 31st March, 1906, of whom 993 were committed from Courts of summary jurisdiction, twenty from quarter sessions, and fifteen from assizes. Of those committed from Courts of summary jurisdiction, 437 were in default of payment of a fine less than ten shillings, and 288 in default of payment of a fine of ten shillings and upwards. None of those committed from Courts of quarter sessions and assize were in default of payment of a fine.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that a memorandum, issued some years ago, stated that lieutenants, after passing a preliminary examination in signals and going through a course at the signal school, would, when subsequently acting as signal lieutenants, be paid an allowance of 2s. 6d. a day on the same principle as lieutenants specialising in gunnery, torpedo, navigation, sub marines, and gymnastics; and whether he will state if all lieutenants now performing signal duties obtain this extra pay. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) No such orders as those referred to have been issued, but arrangements have been made recently for selected lieutenants to go through a course in the signal school and for the names of such officers as show themselves to be well qualified in signalling to be specially noted, with a view to their employment in that duty. Authority has also been obtained to pay an allowance to a lieutenant appointed as signal officer in a fleet, if the appointment is in addition to that of the flag lieutenant and the signal duties are not carried out by the latter officer.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Board have sanctioned the reduction of the freeboard on cargo ships, in consequence of which vessels will be permitted to be loaded from six to twelve inches above the recognised load-line; and, if so, will he state what justification there is for this proceeding, and if he will take steps to minimise the danger to life and property from reducing the freeboard. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) In March last the statutory tables of freeboard under which load-lines are assigned to vessels were so modified as to permit of the deeper loading, in varying degrees ranging from six to twelve inches, of certain classes of vessels of modern construction and approved strength, but the older vessels which do not come up to this standard are allowed no such deeper loading. Such modification is provided for by Section 438 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and was adopted by the Board of Trade upon the recommendation of Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping, the Bureau Veritas, the British Corporation for the Survey and Registry of Shipping (the authorities appointed by statute to assign freeboards to vessels), and by the responsible technical officers of the Department, and the recommendation was made after careful consideration of the experience of the sixteen years' working of the tables, and of the result of exhaustive inquiries as to modern practice, both as regards the structure and seaworthiness of vessels. The investigations of the assigning bodies mentioned clearly led them to the conclusion that the deeper loading would in no way increase the danger to life and property in the vessels concerned.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will instruct vaccination officers to stay further proceedings being taken by them against parents for non-vaccination, pending the legislation promised for next year. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) Looking to the statutory duties which devolve on the vaccination officers in this matter, it does not appear to me that I am empowered to give them any such instructions as those suggested.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is proposed to rebuild the Westminster County Court on the site of the existing building in St. Martin's Lane; whether representations have been made by the Westminster City Council to the effect that the site is inconvenient and inadequate; and whether further inquiries will be made before the building is proceeded with. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The Answer to the first two parts of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the last paragraph, I am informed that a new building adequate in all essentials can be erected on the ground occupied by the present Court. The matter has received the fullest consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the ignorance which prevails in Great Britain in regard to Indian affairs, he will consider the desirability of the Imperial Government taking early action towards the reduction of the Press and private telegraphic rates to India, which compare unfavourably with those to other British Possessions. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The last reduction in the private telegraphic rate to India was effected in 1905, when the rate was reduced to 2s. a word, and the attention of the telegraph companies was at the same time called to the desirability of a further reduction in the Press rate, which had been reduced from Is. 4d. to Is. in 1902; but the companies were unwilling to agree, and the development of the traffic since 1905 has not been such as to justify a further endeavour to obtain a reduction in the rates. The subject will, however, continue to receive my careful attention.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that during the past few months, owing to the conditions under which telegraphic news is supplied from India to England, and from England to India, complaints have arisen as to the insufficiency and misleading character of the news in regard, especially, to political events and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Motley.) I have seen such complaints in the newspapers, and it is with the newspapers rather than with His Majesty's Government that it would seem to rest to take any action which may be desired.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the inconvenience which is involved at Poona, particularly to junior married military officers, with regard to house rents, the average rate a married man has to pay being stated at 150 rupees a month, or £20 a year; and to the fact that in the N cavalry lines there are only the mess and five bungalows, one for the commissioned officer's house, one for the second in command, and two others suitable only for bachelors, who living at the mess have a prior claim, while the nearest available bungalows for married officers are from one-and-a-half to two miles distant and over two level railway crossings; and whether, seeing that in Presidency towns, such as Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras where similar conditions exist as to high rent and expenditure, relief is afforded by a Presidency house allowance, he will explain why this cannot be afforded also at Poona, or some steps be taken to provide cheaper accommodation. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The inconvenience experienced at Poona has not hitherto come under my notice. I will make inquiries on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can now state the result of the inquiry of Lord Ross's Committee into the alleged disturbances at Greenwich Observatory, caused by the London County Council Electric Power Station; and, if not, when the Report of the Committee is likely to be made.

The Committee's investigations are now practically complete, and they hope to be in a position to present their Report very shortly.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, under the new memorandum constituting a Home fleet, the number of battleships in full commission will be reduced.

The battleships have been arranged in what the Board consider to be a more efficient fighting disposition. Two battleships from the Channel, Mediterranean, and Atlantic Fleets will be added to the Home Fleet.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any report has been received from Dr. Koch upon the sleeping sickness; and what stops are being taken to preserve the British Central Africa Protectorate from this disease.

No report has, as far as is known, been received from Dr. Koch, whose commission was appointed by the Imperial German Government. It is proposed as soon as the rains are over that two special medical officers selected by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, who have generously offered to pay the salaries of both officers, should proceed to the British Central Africa Protectorate, study the local conditions, and suggest precautionary measures. It is presumed that these officers will arrive in the Protectorate in January next.

. I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the New Hebrides Convention was agreed to without the assent first being obtained of the Governments of New Zealand and the Australian Commonwealth; and, if this be so, if he can state why His Majesty's Government did not consult with and obtain the opinion of Australasian statesmen on a matter so vitally affecting Australasia.

The New Hebrides Convention was not signed until the views of the Governments of Australia and New Zealand upon it had been consulted and their acquiescence, albeit reluctant, obtained. But long before the draft was even provisionally concluded the Secretary of State had been in constant and detailed communication with the Colonial Governments concerned; and during the protracted negotiations which have taken place, no effort has been spared and no resource neglected to secure the permanent interests of these Colonies, and the largest possible measure of their claims.

Is the House to understand that the Government of New Zealand, as well as the Australian Government, acquiesced in this Convention, or is it not the fact that they protested against it?

"Their acquiescence, albeit reluctant," is a statement which corresponds with the facts.

When will the Papers relating to the Convention be laid on the Table of the House?

It is the first time that the matter has been pressed upon us, but I will consult the Secretary of State and find out what Papers can be laid upon the Table of the House, and, if so, when.

Cannot information also be got at the same time for the use of Members as to the views expressed by the Australasian Governments on this matter?

That is a question for the Foreign Office, I think. I will ask the Secretary of State.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any decision has yet been arrived at by the Government in regard to railway extension in Nigeria, and whether he can make any announcement on the subject.

No, Sir; but a definite statement of railway policy both in Southern and Northern Nigeria will be made as soon as the Secretary of State is in a position to do so.

When will a decision be come to?

I hope it will be announced by Christmas, but I cannot give any definite pledge.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether 1,000 whites have been discharged from the Rand mines during the past six months; and whether 1,000 skilled whites on the Rand are now registered as unemployed.

Yes, Sir. The number of white workmen employed in the Witwatersrand gold mines was diminished during the six months from April to September by nearly 1,000; and during the same period the increase in the numbers of Chinese under licences issued by the late Government was 3,598. There are numbers of white men on the Rand who are at present unemployed, but I am not able to say how many. I should add that there is abundant evidence that the population of the Witwatorsrand are becoming fully alive to the significance of these facts, and they will shortly be able to express their own views of them in a representative assembly.

Does the hon. Member attribute, as I infer, the discharge of the white men to the introduction of 3,000 Chinamen? [Cries from the LABOUR PARTY of "Certainly."]

It is concurrent with, if not consequent upon, it.

Cannot information be given of the decrease in Kaffir labour for the same period, and is there any information showing that any of the Chinese are doing the work of skilled white labour?

Perhaps the hon. Member will give me notice of the Question.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Chinese labourers in the Rand mines are now required to make their complaints to the mine managers, instead of to the inspectors under the Superintendent of Foreign Labour, as heretofore

No, Sir, I am not aware of any such alteration.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now give further information with reference to the Report by Mr. Fenn, the Consul at Chicago, with reference to the meat establishments; has the Report been received; has it been examined by an expert as promised, and will it be published; and, if so, when.

As was stated in reply to a Question on 26th June last,† the Report was sent to the Local Government Board. The question of its publication is being considered.

It was promised that it should be considered in June last.

Yes, Sir, and it is still being considered.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Congolese troops have evacuated the Soudanese Bahr-el-Ghazal, in accordance with the terms of the Anglo-Belgian Convention.

The Answer is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Sultan of Morocco has formally signified his accession to the Algeciras Protocol, and whether be has attached any conditions thereto.

The Sultan has acceded to the Algeciras Act, and ratified it as it stands. It would not be admissible to attach new conditions to it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether

† See (4)Debates, clix., 769.

his attention has been called to the Report of the Governor of Leeds Prison for 1906–6, in which he urges that instead of sending young lads to prison for nonpayment of fines and costs for such offences as playing at football in the streets and obstructing the footway, it would be better to write off these fines as irrecoverable, and so prevent these youngsters getting such a first taste of prison life; whether it is possible to compel the parents or guardians of children under sixteen, where their imprisonment is in lieu of a fine, to pay the tines and costs; and, if not, whether the Government will take steps, at an early date, to make such an arrangement possible.

I have seen the Report to which my hon. friend refers. I entirely sympathise with his objection to the committal of young lads to prison for offences of the character indicated; but I do not see how it can altogether be avoided. It would be impossible to maintain order in the streets if such offences were to go unpunished, and there is great difficulty in finding any other mode of punishment. There is already power to fine the parents if they have conduced to the commission of the offence either by wilful default or by neglect; but of course there are many cases where, a parent, at work all day, is guilty of neither default nor neglect. The subject is receiving my careful attention, and I hope shortly to introduce a Bill to provide for the probation of offenders, which will, I hope, have some effect in reducing the number of young persons sent to prison.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department will he say by virtue of what section of what Act of Parliament, if any, the police are excused from taking proceedings against the owners of traction engines who commit a public or private nuisance, within the meaning of Section 13 of the Locomotive Act of 1861; and whether he will take the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown as to whether it is not the duty of the police to take action when they are cognisant of any offence punishable by fine or imprisonment committed contrary to an Act of Parliament.

My hon. friend's Question is, I think, asked under a misapprehension. The section to which he refers has only the effect of saving the right of persons aggrieved or of local authorities to take proceedings by indictment or by action for nuisance; it imposes no obligation on anyone to take proceedings.

Then, am I to understand that, although the police have cognisance of an offence under the Act, the householder himself must take action? Surely you don't expect a man to get out of his bed at night for that purpose?

It is obvious that the offence must be proved by aggrieved persons on the spot.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department will he say if he has at any time given the Commissioner of Police a discretional power in the matter of motor prosecutions; and, if not, will he instruct this officer that his duties are to administer the law as enacted by Parliament.

The discretionary power of the Commissioner arises not from any instructions of mine, but from the provisions of the law. It is the duty of the Commissioner to take reasonable steps to enforce the Motor-Car Acts; but no obligation is imposed on him by those Acts to prosecute in every case where an offence may possibly have been committed. In that matter a wide discretion is left him by the law, and that discretion he has, I am satisfied, exercised wisely and with a full sense of the responsibilities imposed on him.

was understood to ask if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the streets that day had been filled with petrol vapour. Was it not possible to construct motor cars which did not emit vapour?

The Commissioner is taking expert advice on this point.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, having regard to the fact that motor omnibuses were responsible for 797 accidents in the metropolitan police district during the months of July and August, resulting in 149 cases of personal injury, including six deaths, can he state approximately what percentage of these accidents are attributable to side-slips; and will he state whether motor omnibus proprietors have yet been requested to introduce some device for the prevention of side-slips.

I am afraid I cannot give any estimate. Many of the accidents which occur are not witnessed by the police, and they cannot with accuracy state what proportion of them are attributable to side-slip. I am assured that proprietors and makers of motor omnibuses are sparing no efforts to discover the means of remedying the tendency to side-slip.

beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the orders issued by the provincial authorities of the Rhineland, Westphalia, under which many thousands of foreign working men, chiefly Russians from Poland and the Baltic provinces, will be immediately expelled from Prussia; whether numbers of these people are finding their way to this country; and whether persons expelled from Germany on economic grounds will be regarded here as political refugees and allowed to flood the mining industry.

I am aware that there have been newspaper reports to the effect of the first paragraph of the Question, but I have no authentic information on the subject. There is no indication at present of any influx into this country of the persons referred to. I am unable to answer hypothetical questions as to the meaning of political refugee. The hon. and gallant Member will recollect, moreover, that the Question does not arise except in a case where the immigrant is required, but is unable, to show that he has, or is in a position to obtain, the means of decently supporting himself.

Will the I right hon. Gentleman take steps to ascertain if those evictions are taking place in Prussia?

Assuming that the statements are correct, we have no indication of any increased arrivals here.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Homo Department whether he can state how many persons recommended for expulsion from this country have not had deportation orders made against them; what were the offences for which their expulsion was recommended by the Courts; what was the nationality of such persons; and what were the reasons in each case for ignoring the recommendations of the convicting tribunals?

In nineteen cases out of the 235 recommendations which have up to the present time become ripe for my decision, orders have not been made. In three of those no orders were necessary, as the aliens were removed from the United Kingdom by their own Consul, at his special request. In four others, the recommendations were made by Courts which had no jurisdiction to make them, and I was precluded therefore from acting on them. In the remaining twelve, I decided, after full consideration of all the circumstances, not to make expulsion orders. The offences involved in the twelve cases were:—eight larcency and receiving, two soliciting, one drunk and disorderly, and one begging. The nationalities were:—six Russian, and one each of French, German, Spanish, Austrian, Roumanian, Swedish. I may add that one of these twelve aliens abused his opportunity, rendered himself again liable to expulsion, and was expelled. I do not think it desirable to enter into the grounds upon which, in the exercise of the discretion given me by Statute, I came to these decisions: but I may say that they included such considerations as the length of time the alien had been in this country, the dependence on him or her of a family mostly British-born, the fact that it was a first offence, an undertaking by a Consul to look after the alien, etc.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that since August last 159 policemen have been engaged in Cheshire on special duty in accompanying bodies of gipsies who are travelling about the country; whether the shipping companies who brought these people to England are known; whether more persons of the same class are being brought; and whether the same regulations to stop the influx which proved effectual in the Scottish case will be adopted.

I am aware that the police in Cheshire, as in other counties, have been much concerned with wandering bands of alien gipsies. These bands form part, I believe, of those who arrived in Scotland earlier in the year. No gipsies are now being brought to the United Kingdom or have been brought since I took steps to stop the incursion into Scotland.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the recent outbreak amongst the prisoners in His Majesty's Prison at Gloucester and the subsequent escape of four men, he has any official reports showing that the present staff of officers in local prisons is sufficient to secure the safe custody of prisoners.

There are no such reports, but every representation from the governor of a prison to the effect that his staff is insufficient is very carefully considered, and when an increase of staff is proved to be necessary it is always granted. The outbreak at Gloucester was not due to any insufficiency of staff, but to an unfortunate neglect by one of the officers on duty of an elementary precaution, viz., that not more than one cell door shall be unlocked at the same time when work is being removed from the prisoners' cells previously to locking up the prison.

Has the right hon. Gentleman had any representation with regard to discipline in this prison?

That hardly arises on this Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he is aware that it has been decided to hold the sittings of the Royal Commission on Vivisection in private; and will he say if there has been any recent precedent for such a course.

I am aware of the decision of the Royal Commission, but, as I said last week, the question whether any one shall be admitted during the taking of evidence is a matter within the discretion of the Commissioners. In several recent cases the evidence has been taken in private; I may instance the Motor Car Commission, the War Commission of 1002, and the Royal Commission on Food Supply in Time of War.

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman will use his influence with the Commissioners, in view of the public feeling on this question, to induce them to admit accredited members of the Press to their sittings?

Officially I have no power whatever to interfere with a Royal Commission.

I used the word influence.

Is there not an official of the Home Office on the Commission?

One of the Members of the Commissioners is an official of the Home Office.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for-the Home Department whether the eleven ladies, who are suffering imprisonment in connection with the movement in favour of women's suffrage, have been obliged to wear prison clothes, and are otherwise being treated as ordinary criminals. The following Questions also appeared on the Paper.

To ask the Secretary or State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of eleven women committed to prison for two months at the Westminster Police Court on the 24th October; whether he has been informed that one of those prisoners has been released owing to the serious condition of her health, and another is in hospital; and whether he is prepared, as was done in the similar case of Mr. John Kensit, to transfer them to the class of first-class misdemeanants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the fact that the women suffragettes now imprisoned in Holloway Gaol are political rather than criminal offenders, he will consider whether they can be treated as first-class misdemeanants, as was done in the case of the Jameson raiders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take measures to cause the women suffragists recently arrested to be treated as first-class misdemeanants; and whether the treatment ordered in the case of Mr. W. T. Stead some years ago would not be sufficient to meet the requirements of justice in the present cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the ten ladies who were sent to prison by the Westminster police magistrate last Wednesday, under circumstances well known to the House, two have already become seriously ill; and, having regard to the absence of moral delinquency in the offence for which these ladies are imprisoned, will he order them to be treated in future as first-class misdemeanants.

I propose to I answer along with the hon. Member's Question those of the hon. Members for West Ham, Merthyr Tydfil, East Marylebone, and North Salford. The ladies, who were committed to prison in default of finding sureties, have been treated in accordance with Section 6 of the Prison Act, 1898, which enacts that, unless the Court has directed them to be placed in the first division, they are to be placed in the second division. They have had to wear prison clothes, but have not associated with the ordinary criminal of the third class. I have carefully considered the question of placing them in the first division. The cases of Mr. Stead and the Jameson raiders afford no parallel, as they were convicted prisoners whose treatment could be altered by a conditional pardon from the Crown. In the case of Mr. Kensit, who was a surety prisoner, the order for inclusion in the first division was made by the stipendiary magistrate. I am advised that I have no power to make such an order, and that it can be made only by the Court. As it appeared that no application was made to the magistrate when he committed the ladies that he should direct them to be placed in the first division, I have brought the matter to his notice; and I am glad to say that he has seen his way to direct that they should be treated as first division offenders, and has this morning sent an order to this effect to the prison authorities.

asked whether this statement applied to Miss Sylvia. Pankhurst?

Yes, it does.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his attention has been called to the report that the mutinous convicts from Maidstone have been sentenced at Dartmoor to fifty days special diet, to lose all marks, and, in addition, to six months separate confinement; and whether separate confinement means solitary confinement; and, if so, whether he has sanctioned the sentence,

The sentences awarded by the director at Dartmoor vary from a minimum of ton days No. 1 diet, with forfeiture of three months remission, up to fifteen days No. 1 diet, and forty-two days No. 2 diet, forfeiture of marks for remission, close confinement within the legal limit of twenty-eight days, and a second period of separate confinement for six months. Separate confinement does not mean solitary confinement, but only that a prisoner works in his cell instead of working with a party; he has the regular daily exercise, daily visits and instruction in his trade, attends chapel services, and is allowed library books. The sentences do not require the sanction of the Secretary of State, but are within the statutory powers of a director.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would take into consideration the question of abolishing punishments inflicted with the object of causing physical pain to the men through their stomachs. Was he aware that No. 1 diet is lower than that given in the concentration camps in South Africa which was condemned by His Majesty's present Ministers as unworthy of this country?

The question of prison punishment is not easy. You must punish some part of a man. Perhaps my hon. friend will make a suggestion to me on the subject.

Birch him.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Nettleton, of Southend-on-Sea, who was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment in Chelmsford Gaol for passive resistance, although on the previous occasion he was only sentenced to three days and detained one day; that, although he attended the Court, his case was not mentioned during the public hearing of the business of the Court, but was dealt with and the warrant for his arrest issued privately; that he was placed in a dirty cell with two w.c.'s at the police station; that the gaol regulation prescribed tea and bread for the two early meals, and an eight ounce loaf and a pint of cocoa at night, which latter he could not drink owing to its fatty nature, and in fact he lived on bread and water the whole of the seven days of his detention, and has suffered in health in consequence; and will he cause inquiries to be made into the case.

The question of the term for which a person in default of payment of rates should be committed to prison is one for the justices. I have no authority to interfere in the matter, and I have no reason to think there was in this case any irregularity in the procedure. The condition of the police cells is a matter for the local police authority, to whom complaint may be made if anything was wrong. As regards Mr. Nettleton's prison treatment, I have made inquiry and am satisfied that there was no ground for complaint. The prisoner was allowed the diet prescribed for debtors, which, besides bread and tea in the morning and bread and cocoa in the evening, gives a considerable variety of diet for dinner, meat, soup, beans and other things. He made no complaint whilst he was in prison, and there is no record of his having returned any of his food.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that certain of the wealthier restaurants in London, notably the Savoy Restaurant, are permitted to retain their customers upon licensed premises after legal hours; and whether he will instruct the police to put an end to such a privilege.

Customers are not permitted to remain on licensed premises after the hour at which the premises are required to be closed. That hour is generally fixed by statute, but the local authority is empowered to permit licensed premises on special occasions to remain open for a limited time after that hour, and such permission is from time to time given to licensed premises, without regard to their being wealthy or otherwise, provided that the local authority is satisfied that the occasion is a special one within the meaning of the Acts.

Is special permission given to these restaurants, the Savoy, Cecil, and Carlton, to remain open half an hour later than the ordinary time of closing?

I have no doubt it has been given. Permission is given in hundreds of cases. It is special to each case.

Is that a general provision?

No, it is special in each case.

How can I find out whether permission has been given in a particular case?

; If the lion. Member will give me the case I will give him the information.

I shall be happy to give the right hon. Gentleman a dozen cases.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to a recent accident at Chobham, through which a cyclist lost his life in consequence of being ridden down by a motor car driven by Lieutenant Paton; and, seeing that the car travelled nearly 200 yards from the scene of the accident before it could be stopped, will he consider the expediency of introducing legislation such as will secure the imprisonment of persons who drive motor vehicles at excessive speeds on public thoroughfares.

I have seen a newspaper report of the inquest in this case. As regards the question generally of penalties for driving at a speed or in a manner which is dangerous to the public, I may point out that under Section 11 of the Motor Car Act, 1903, a person guilty of this offence is not only liable to a pecuniary penalty, but in the case of a second or subsequent conviction he may, at the discretion of the Court, be imprisoned for a period not exceeding three months. Whether any alteration should be proposed in the penalties prescribed by the Act is a matter which will receive my consideration in connection with the Report of the Royal Commission on Motor Cars; but I may state that the Commission did not recommend any such alteration as regards this particular offence.

. Will the right hon. Gentleman send down inspectors to be present at inquests on fatalities caused by motor cars?

I will consider the matter.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board why the Local Government Board is forcing an inquiry upon the inhabitants of the Southampton incorporation and South Stoneham union, respecting the dissolution of the Southampton incorporation and the formation of a new union to comprise, in addition to the old Southampton incorporation area, the two parishes of Portswood and Shirley, now in the South Stoneham union, when such inquiry has not been asked for by either board of guardians nor by any local authority; and whether he is aware that such inquiry is directly contrary to the decision of the House of Commons, who had the whole question before it in July, 1905, that the two above-mentioned parishes should not be added to the Southampton incorporation without a Parliamentary inquiry.

The South Stoneham guardians proposed to provide further infirmary accommodation, and as this would not be required if the parishes of Portswood and Shirley were taken out of the union, it is necessary that the question whether this alteration of area should be made should be finally settled. The Local Government Board consequently propose to hold a local inquiry on the subject. The Southampton guardians have passed a unanimous resolution in favour of the dissolution of the incorporation and the formation of a new union comprising the parishes above-mentioned. I am aware that a Select Committee in 1905 inserted in a Bill to confirm a Provisional Order on this subject a clause which would in certain circumstances have prevented these parishes from being included in a union formed under the Order except by means of a further Provisional Order, but the Bill was not proceeded with, and under the general law the Local Government Board are empowered to alter Poor Law Unions at their discretion.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to a Home Office Return, for 1904, of the number of deaths in London upon which a coroner's jury has returned a verdict of death from starvation or death accelerated by privation, together with the observations furnished to the Local Government Board by boards of guardians with reference to such cases; whether he is aware that there were forty-two such deaths in London, of which ten were in the eastern district, and whether seven out of those ten were in the White-chapel district; whether he has considered the attitude of the Whitechapel guardians with reference to medical and other out-relief; and what steps, if any, the Local Government Board or the Poor Law inspectors of the Whitechapel district have taken to prevent a recurrence of deaths in Whitechapel of poor persons needing medical or other relief from the like cause.

I have seen the Return, which gives the facts as stated in the Question. I am aware of the attitude of the guardians of the Whitechapel Union towards outdoor relief; but I would point out that in each of the cases in that union mentioned in the Return there does not appear to have been any application for outdoor relief. The applications are stated to have been for admission to the infirmary, and they seem to have been immediately granted. I do not understand that there was any default on the part of the guardians or their officers in any of the cases referred to.

Is it not a fact that Whitechapol makes it generally known that it gives no out-door relief, and that, therefore, there is no use applying?

That does not apply to the cases mentioned in the Question, which are all infirmary cases. If application were made, the Whitechapel and all other boards of guardians throughout the country would at once request their officers to administer relief in such a regrettable emergency.

Is it not the fact that with one case—the death of a child of four months—the Stepney guardians refused relief unless the whole family went into the workhouse?

I cannot say.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is prepared to give information as to the proposed constitution of the new Technological Institute, at South Kensington; and in particular whether arrangements will be made for the adequate representation of any other Universities than London on the governing body.

The consideration of this most important matter, and the various negotiations which have been necessary in regard to it, have not reached a sufficiently definite stage for me to be aide to come to a definite decision upon the best manner in which the new institution should first be established. The real question which has to be decided is whether the new institution is to have a separate existence (at all events at first), or whether it cannot be from the outset an integral part of the University of London. This latter possibility depends upon how far the London University would be prepared to go as regards changes in the existing constitution of its senate in the directions needed to render this possible. A decision on this important question must very soon be arrived at, and I am on the point of communicating officially with the University in regard to it.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether the Board of Education has presented to it any Return as to the frequency of corporal punishment in the girls' and infants' departments of the public elementary schools; whether the Board of Education has any control or power to frame any rules as to the method of this form of punishment or as to the persons who can exercise it; and, if the Board of Education has the right to control, whether he will consider the advisability of abolishing corporal punishment in the girls' and infants' departments of all elementary schools.

The Board have no Beturns of the kind referred to in the Question. Punishment books, in which of course all cases of corporal punishment should be recorded, are usually kept by the head teacher and are open to examination by the inspector. If properly kept those punishment books are valuable and ought, in my opinion, always to be kept. The Board have full power to frame rules on the subject, but have thought it best to confine themselves to making suggestions to local authorities. These suggestions are to be found on page 11 of the Board's "Suggestions for the Consideration of Teachers," and are as follows:—"In no case should infants be punished by the infliction of bodily pain, nor should girls be subjected to corporal punishment unless in exceptional cases, and then if possible at the hands of a woman teacher." Personally, I am strongly opposed to corporal punishment of girls, and I can assure the hon. Member that the whole question of the administration of corporal punishment is carefully watched by the Board of Education and its inspectors in conjunction with the local education authorities.

Has a parent the right to inspect the punishment book?

I do not think so. I can assure the hon. Member that corporal punishment is going out of use, and I should certainly be indisposed formally to prohibit it when I am persuaded such a course is not desirable.

Is it not in the discretion of the teacher to make the entries in the punishment book?

I regret that discretion. I think he should be obliged to do it.

Is a punishment book kept in the infants' department?

I will inquire.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, if he will state the name and occupation of the person who valued the land which forms the crofter settlement at Aignish, Island of Lewis, and who set out the crofts and fixed the rents

The farm of Aignish was lotted out by a member of the Crofters Commission acting for the Congested Districts Board and the rents were fixed by that body also on behalf of the Congested Districts Board with the approval of the proprietor.

Will the right hon. Gentlemen give me the name of the incompetent person who is responsible for this?

No, Sir. The Congested Districts Board are ultimately responsible.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the recent report by Dr. Dittmar, the medical inspector for Scotland, on the general sanitary condition of the burgh of Cromarty; and will he consider the expediency of directing the medical inspector to prepare a similar report in regard to the burgh of Stornoway.

The report on Cromarty is not, I am advised, of sufficient general interest to justify its being printed as a Parliamentary Paper. The Local Government Board for Scotland have not received any complaints which would lead them to suppose that there is any urgent or exceptional reason for instituting an immediate medical inspection of Stornoway, which will be over taken by the medical inspector in due course.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he has yet consulted with the Law Officers of the Crown as to the steps to be taken to check illegal trawling by foreign trawlers, in view of the unanimous decision of the Judges of the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh, in respect of the Moray Firth foreign trawler's case.

The subject is under the consideration of the Government, and at present I cannot with any further advantage add to the information which is at present available to the public.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to hasten the revision of the clerical staff of the Blackpool Post Office, now two years' overdue, in view of the fact that the staff is the same as it was eight years ago, in spite of the increase of work due to the rapid growth of the town.

A revision of the indoor force at the Blackpool Post Office is in preparation, and will, I hope, be shortly carried out. It is not the case, as suggested by the hon. Member, that the staff has remained stationary for the last eight years, increases having been made from time to time to meet increase of work.

But none in the clerical staff.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether the revision at the Preston Office, promised by him on 17th July, has yet been carried out.

The revision was carried out on the 26th August last. A few of the vacancies in connection with it have not yet been filled, but the matter is being expedited as much as possible.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if arrangements can be made to grant an annual holiday to sub-postmasters and mistresses without deduction of salary.

This is a question that may be affected by the Report of the Committee on Postal Servants. I am therefore unable to deal with it until the Committee has reported.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he can give the date on which negotiations were first opened between his department and the North Stafford Railway Company with reference to the building of a new post office at Stoke-on-Trent; whether the proceedings are being delayed by a demand on the part of his department that the proposed office-should be built by the company upon their land, and the inability of the company to provide land for that purpose; and whether he has any other adjacent alternative site under consideration.

The Question of a new post office at Stoke-on-Trent was first discussed with the North Staffordshire Railway Company about four years ago. There is no difference with the company of the nature suggested by the hon. Member, and I have not therefore thought it necessary to consider an alternative site. I hope that the matter will now make progress.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been directed to the fact that on Friday evening, 19th October, Mr. Edward Morgan, being then in sole charge of the Maindee West signal-box, the most important in the Newport district, had a paralytic seizure, and that, with extraordinary presence of mind, he locked all signals at danger before losing consciousness; whether he will direct the attention of the Great Western Railway Company to the danger both to the health of signalmen and the travelling public which arises from the practice of placing a man for long hours in solitary confinement in an important signal-box; and whether he can state to what extent this practice prevails on the Great Western and other British railways.

I have no information other than references in the Press with regard to the case mentioned by my hon. friend. I am advised that, except at large signal-boxes at terminal stations and important junctions, it is the usual custom for one signalman to be alone in charge of the box. I am not aware that this practice has led to accidents, and the matter does not appear to be one that calls for any action on the part of the Board of Trade. The normal position of a signal is, of course, at danger.

Does the hon. Gentleman approve of only one man being in charge of so important a signal-box?

We will make representations on the subject.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, if an agreement has been arrived at between the Board of Trade and the manufacturers of this country as to the form the Government inquiries shall take under the Census of Production Bill; when this Bill will be considered by the Standing Committee on Trade; and will he take care, considering the leakage of Government official secrets in the Press, that the utmost precautions be taken in the event of the Bill passing into law to ensure that the information compulsorily supplied by manufacturers to the Board of Trade shall not be available for foreign or trade rivals, particularly in view of the handicaps imposed by our fiscal system on home manufacturers.

; My right hon friend has been in communication with a number of Members of this House and gentlemen outside this House possessing practical acquaintance with manufacture on certain points connected with the Census of Production Bill, and as a result of numerous conferences I propose setting down a number of Amendments limiting the nature of the inquiries to be made under the Bill. I also propose to insert a provision for the constitution of committees including representatives of various trades to advise the Board of Trade as to the form of the inquiries to be made under the Bill when passed into law. I hope that the Bill will be considered by the Grand Committee on Trade next Tuesday. Every care will be taken to make impossible any disclosure of information relating to individual firms or of a confidential nature, and stringent penalties are provided for in the Bill with this object.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury how many persons accompanied the deputy chairman of Customs on his recent tour of inspection of two months duration in the Customs' cruiser "Vigilant;" whether the party consisted of officials or of the family and private friends of the deputy chairman; if the latter, who paid their expenses and at what place were they taken on board.

The cruise in question, which was for the purpose of inspecting the East Coast ports as far as the Orkneys, lasted five weeks. The deputy chairman's party consisted of one friend, who joined at Lowestoft and was on board nearly the whole time; another who joined at Aberdeen and remained two weeks; and two boys, who started from Gravesend and remained four weeks. The deputy chairman paid the whole of their expenses.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is intended to supply the cruiser "Vigilant" with the electric light, a motor-pinnace, and a centreboard sailing-boat.

The Answer is in the negative. One of the "Vigilant's" rowing-boats was fitted a year ago with a centre-board, to which the crew of the boat in all probability owed their lives on the occasion of their being blown out to sea in a gale last April.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, consequent upon the abolition of coastguard stations by the Admiralty, a departmental committee to inquire into the subject of coast protection has been or is to be appointed; and whether he will give the names of the gentlemen constituting such committee.

This Question is under consideration, but the matter is regarded as confidential. I regret that for this reason I am unable at present to give any further information.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he can state the terms upon which the Burwell Estate, in Cambridgeshire, has been let to the hon. Member for Newmarket, and whether his rent was fixed with the object of enabling him to sub-let in small holdings at rents within the means of the agricultural labourers whom he has displaced.

I beg also to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, into how many holdings has the Burwell Estate, in Cambridgeshire, been cut up, and what is the price per acre charged; and how this compares with rent charged by the Crown to the lion. Member for Newmarket.

May I further ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what rent is obtained by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests for the Burwell Estate under the scheme of conversion into small holdings; and what restrictions, if any, were made as to the rent which the tenant may charge in subletting to small holders.

The farm at Burwell has been let to my hon. friend the Member for Newmarket on lease for twenty-one years at a rent of £700 a year in addition to land tax, drainage, and sewer rates and all other rates and taxes except landlords property tax and tithe. This is the full market price for land in the neighbourhood. In addition the Commissioners have agreed to spend not less than £1,500 in alterations and additions to the buildings and cottages, and on this sum my hon. friend pays interest at 4 per cent, per annum. No restrictions were made as to the rent charged to my hon. friend's sub-tenants. The responsibility of the Commissioners ended when the lease was signed and they are in no way concerned with the subsequent arrangements made by my hon. friend, but I am authorised by him to say that he has divided it into fifty-nine holdings, and that he has charged his tenants rent sufficient to cover the rent he is paying together with interest on all outlay and a sufficient margin for expenses of management.

Arising out of that Question I beg to ask the hon. Baronet whether it is not a fact that previous to this farm being divided into small holdings the Commissioners of Woods and Forests had for two years failed to find a tenant to take it, and had farmed it themselves without profit to the Crown. And whether it is not a fact that everyone of the displaced labourers has secured equally good terms of employment in the neighbourhood and a considerable number much better payment than they were receiving under the Crown.

Yes, Sir.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that that Question was asked by a Member of Parliament who acts as private secretary to the President of the Board of Agriculture?

I do not see that that has anything to do with it.

Can the hon. Gentleman say if any one of the thirty-nine labourers dispossessed by the granting of this lease has been put into the newly created holdings?

I am informed that all the labourers working on the estate had an opportunity of taking a holding and eight or nine did so.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a speech recently delivered by Sir Antony MacDonnell foreshadowing Home Rule or devolution legislation for Ireland; and will he say whether it was made with the sanction and approval of the Chief Secretary and the Cabinet.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative, and to the latter part in the negative.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to a meeting of Roman Catholic priests of the deanery of Claremorris, where a resolution was recently adopted demanding that no person should be appointed to the office of clerk to the Claremorris Union unless furnished with a character from his parish priest; and, if so, whether, on this or other such appointment being made, the Local Government Board will issue instructions that no clerical influence of this nature is to be allowed to weigh in the selection of candidates.

My attention had not been drawn to this matter, but I am informed by the Local Government Board that the resolution in question affirmed that the financial and moral condition of the union was essentially connected with the selection of a worthy clerk, and requested the district councillors to refuse their support to any candidate who should not produce a letter of character from his parish priest. The Local Government Board have no power to intervene in the manner suggested in the Question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the district council actually passed a resolution, and published it in the Press, to the effect that no candidate would be eligible for election without a certificate of character from the parish priest?

The Local Government Board have no power to interfere.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of obtaining power? Does not this absolutely exclude anybody but a Roman Catholic from getting the position?

I should have assumed not.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Lord Aberdeen performed the opening ceremony of the Munster-Connaught Exhibition, at which, by special resolution, it had been decided that the British flag should be excluded from the decoration of the exhibition premises, although many flags, including those of other nations, were freely displayed; whether His Excellency's attention was drawn to this resolution or to the absence of the British flag before he performed the opening ceremony; and, if so, whether his presence at the exhibition under these circumstances received the sanction of His Majesty's Ministers.

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers the Question, may I ask him what the British flag has to do with an Irish exhibition?

I do not suppose the hon. Member requires an Answer to a Question of so general a character. I have no information upon the subject of this Question. Matters relating to the personal action of the Lord-Lieutenant, especially on these ceremonial occasions, lie entirely outside my official sphere.

In Limerick we will fly any flag we please.

Are we to understand that the Lord-Lieutenant knew nothing whatever about this insult to the British flag, and, if the Government does know of the insult, have they connived at it, and are they satisfied that proper action was taken by the Lord-Lieutenant?

We knew nothing whatever about the matter.

Try and find out.

Are we to understand that this visit of the Lord-Lieutenant was in his official capacity, or a purely personal one, and is there any precedent in the remaining part of the British Empire for an official——

Order, order! The right hon. Gentleman has said that he has no knowledge of this.

If this is a personal matter, although I maintain it is an official matter——

Order, order! The right hon. Gentleman says he has no knowledge.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received the statement put forward by the Gaelic League as a tentative and temporary scheme for the teaching of Irish in the national schools, and can he say what steps, if any, he proposes to take in consequence of these proposals.

I have received the statement referred to, which appears to contain proposals of a very far reaching nature, and have invited the opinion of the Commissioners of National Education upon these proposals. It is for the Commissioners to prepare estimates for the expenditure of money upon this and other branches of instruction, and I understand that they will consider the matter at their next meeting.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the police have received reports of horse and cattle maiming outrages in the neighbourhood of Athenry during the last three months; how many of such cases have been reported; and what steps have been taken to discover the perpetrators.

The Inspector-General of Constabulary has during the past three months received reports of two cases of the nature referred to from the district of Athenry. The police have made every effort to clear up these cases and to bring offenders to justice, but have not so far succeeded in securing sufficient evidence against any person.

Is it not the fact that these outrages are alleged to have occurred on the property of Lord Clanricarde? Has not the claim for compensation been abandoned, and is it not believed that the claimant was a party to the outrage?

I have no information.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire?

The police are inquiring.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutentant of Ireland whether he can state the number of claims for compensation for malicious injury now pending against the Loughrea District Council, and the total amount claimed in respect of them.

The Local Government Board have ascertained from the clerk of the Loughrea Rural District Council that the number of claims for compensation for malicious injury now pending against the Council is two, the amounts claimed being £80 and £35 respectively. I understand that there were other claims, but these have recently been disposed of at quarter sessions.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the last Report of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland with reference to the subject of building grants; whether he has been furnished with a return of unsuitable schoolhouses, and the amount required to place defective school buildings in a satisfactory position; and whether any arrangement has yet been arrived at with the Treasury so as to remove the existing deadlock in the matter of building grants.

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the return of unsuitable school-houses which they are having prepared is not yet complete. As soon as it has been completed, the Commissioners intend to make an estimate of the amount required to place defective school buildings in a satisfactory condition. The Commissioners have, at the request of the Treasury, prepared new plans of school-houses, and are about to submit these for consideration. The correspondence upon the subject of building grants generally is proceeding, and I have every reason to hope that the matter is now approaching completion.