To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether ho can state what was the Vote for shipbuilding, repairs, and armaments in 1901–2 for Great Britain and the aggregate sums for France and Germany; whether he can give similar figures for the present year; and whether he can state approximately by how much our own expenditure under this head will be reduced in 1907–8.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether an increase or excess on a spirit store stocktaking at a distillery, when the balance is struck for the period according to Sub-section 9 of Section 43 of 43 and 44 Vic, c. 24, is an unnatural, or an unusual result of the distiller's operations for a period, and the balancing for a period; and, if unnatural or unusual, does it denote that either fraud on the distiller's part has taken place or that a blunder has been committed by the Excise officials connected with the distillery or any other mistake committed; and what was the source or cause of the excess or increase found at Glen-Glassaugh distillery, Portsoy district, when the balance was struck for the period on October 28th, 1905.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the grounds on which the retirement order of established Civil servants was applied to the late clerk to an inspector of taxes in Scotland who, it is alleged, held an unestablished position; whether he will state on what basis the gratuity of £78 was computed; whether he is aware that such clerk was only in receipt of 30s. wages weekly up to his thirty-first year of service; whether he will state total' service of such clerk; and whether he will state the amount of pension such clerk would have been entitled to had his position been an established one.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the number of prisoners sentenced to be flogged who were sent on by the justices to the sessions to be dealt with under the Vagrancy Act during the years 1904 and 1905 respectively; the

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state why effect has not been given to the recommendation of the Departmental Committee on Prison Dietaries in 1898, that the tin utensils used in prisons in the service of the food should be replaced by enamel ware.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland if he can give an approximate account to date of the working of the "Pioneer"; if she is now at work and where; and if he has had further communication with the manufacturers of the motor relative to the working of the capstan.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury what progress, if any, has been made during the past three months with the revision of estimates for school building in Ireland under Plan VI. (a); and whether the Board of Education are still refusing to accept the amended plan.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state which of the

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will say how many men are now eligible to become Greenwich Age Pensioners, and how many actually receive these pensions; what is the annual amount set apart from Greenwich Hospital funds for the purpose of paying these age pensions, and how much would be required annually if all eligible men were actually provided for; and will he give similar information with reference to the years 1891 and 1895.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now able to give the Return promised on the 16th July of the quantity of opium consumed and the amount of revenue derived there from during the last ten years in the Federated Malay States and Singapore.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that Richard Bewsey, belonging to the lighting and ventilating department, after thirty-one years service, has been retired; would he state what amount Mr. Bewsey received as a free grant; and whether, under the circumstances of the case, he could see his way to establish an old age pension scheme for such aged and deserving servants.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state whether a charge is made for books at any of the public schools in Ross and Cromarty; and, if so, will he give the names of such schools.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what is the total number of destroyers laid down by Great Britain, France, and Germany, respectively, since 1899, and including those to be laid down under this year's estimates, specifying separately the type known as coastal destroyers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state the fee charged for naturalisation in the principal States of Europe and America; and, if not, will he take steps to obtain the information.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury when an answer will be given to the petition forwarded in June last by the assistant clerks (new class) employed in the Statistical Office, Custom House.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether there is any minute, regulation, or statutory enactment which renders a person in receipt of a pension as a retired Civil servant incapable of becoming a candidate for Parliament; and whether such a person, on being elected, would forfeit his pension.

To ask the hon. Member for East Bristol, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, how many of the tenancy holdings, included in the 250,000 acres owned by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, exceed 500 acres; how-many are between 100 and 500 acres; how many are between fifty and 100 acres; how many are between ten and fifty acres; how many are less than ten acres; and what provision do the Commissioners make for the extension of the system of small holdings.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Urban District Council of Ballina, county Mayo, has presented a petition to His Excellency praying for a patent for holding additional fairs at Ballina; and, if so, when was such petition presented, and has any action been yet taken upon it.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received any influentially signed memorial from the inhabitants of Ballycastle, county Mayo, on the subject of a railway to that town; and, if so, will he give the contents of the memorial his early attention; and has the Irish Government considered the desirability of making the railway to Belmullet by way of Ballycastle?

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has any objection to give the name and qualifications of the officer appointed by the National Board of Education, as stated in their Report 1904–6, to examine into cases of complaint against teachers, and, when he thinks desirable, to recommend their dismissal by the Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the number of deputy - lieutenants for counties who do not reside within the county for which they are appointed; whether he is aware that the provisions of Section 30(1) of the Militia Act, 1882, as to residence within the county, are-binding upon lords-lieutenant in making appointments, and that it is the duty of lords - lieutenant to displace deputy-lieutenants who cease to be qualified by residence; and whether he will call the attention of lords - lieutenant to the matter, with a view to the removal from office of all non- resident deputies.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will say how many men are now eligible to become Greenwich Age Pensioners, and how many actually receive these pensions; what is the annual amount set apart from Greenwich Hospital funds for the purpose of paying these age pensions, and how much would be required annually if all eligible men were actually provided for; and will he give similar information with reference to the years 1891 and 1895.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the sailors who worked very; hard in their efforts to save the "Montagu" will be themselves obliged to pay for the new clothes rendered necessary by such extra work.

The men will not be put to any extra expense in replacing clothing which may have been rendered unserviceable by the operations.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the German programme provides for twelve destroyers to be laid down in each succeeding year.

The Answer is in the affirmative.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty on what dates the 12-inch guns of the "Lord Nelson," "Agamemnon," and "Dreadnought," wore ordered.

It is not considered in the interests of the public service to make any statement with regard to the dates on which war materials are ordered.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is the settled policy of the Admiralty in framing their shipbuilding programme to meet only those programmes of Foreign Powers which are actually sanctioned by their respective Parliaments.

The Answer is in the affirmative, but the Admiralty are also guided by the number of vessels actually laid down and the progress made with their construction.

May I ask whether the Government takes into account in considering the programmes of foreign Powers the progress made in vessels before they are laid down? Hon. Members are familiar with the fact that great sums are often spent on a vessel before it is laid down with a view of securing rapid progress.

That is not lost sight of.

Is it not the fact that in another place an assurance was given that the programmes of the French and German navies which were only sanctioned last May were taken into account.

asked for notice of the Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if, bearing in mind that the naval manœuvres of 1906 involved a considerable expenditure of public money, he can put the House into possession of the strategical and tactical lessons they taught as regards the clear food route of Great Britain, and its alleged inviolability in the future from a recurrence of the Foreign invasions from which it has suffered in the past, and which have even been threatened in our own time, when Foreign navies were less powerful than at present.

The Board of Admiralty are of opinion that no statement in regard to the strategical and tactical lessons drawn from the recent manœuvres can be made without detriment to the public interest; but they do not in any way share the apprehensions which the hon. and gallant Member appears to entertain in regard to the danger to our food routes.

As large sums of money were spent on these manœuvres, are we to have any information of the result? Over 300 vessels were employed in them.

asked for notice of the Question.

It is the j question on the Paper.

I do not think so.

But can the hon. Gentleman give no indication of the effect these manœuvres had upon the opinion of the Admiralty?

I can only repeat the Answer I have already given.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that during the recent disturbance at the Portsmouth Naval Barracks the senior officer in command ordered some stokers who were implicated in the disturbance, and were required to parade in the gymnasium, to kneel while he addressed them, and that this order was first disregarded, and on being repeated was obeyed with evident reluctance by the men with one exception, the offender being immediately handed over to the naval police; and will he say if a naval officer is invested with authority to order the men under his command to kneel; and, if so, under what circumstances, and under what provisions, if any, of the Naval Regulations; and whether, if the giving of a command of this character be in con- sonance with the provisions for maintaining discipline in the Navy, steps will be taken for the abolition of the power of naval officers to order their men to kneel, having regard to the fact that delinquents in courts of justice do not kneel.

I have nothing to add to my Answer yesterday to the hon. Member for the Kirkcaldy Burghs.†

The Question was with reference to an incident that occurred a year ago. Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my Question?

That is part of the whole case. No statement in regard to the matter can be made until the Board of Admiralty have completed their consideration of the report of the Court of Inquiry.

Are orders to kneel allowed to be given in the Navy?

I will give full information when I have got and considered the report.

Does the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that the House will have an opportunity of considering the report, and when will he make a statement?

Probably to-morrow.

I beg to ask tho Secretary of State for War whether, as it is proposed to do away with a cavalry station in Scotland, he will consider the advisability of again stationing a cavalry regiment at Preston Barracks, Brighton.

These barracks are not large enough to accommodate a complete cavalry regiment. They are capable of holding a Brigade of Royal Field Artillery and for this purpose they are being retained.

I hope the right hon. Gentleman, in spite of the fatigues of last night's prolonged sitting, will to-night give me a personal interview so that I may show him reasons for reconsidering his decision.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what was the total number of troops of all descriptions at Malta on 31st March, 1906; and what was the number ten years before.

The numbers were as follows:—On 31st March, 1896, 9,539; on March 31st, 1906, 8,476.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the magnitude of the national undertaking at Woolwich with its site stretching two miles on the Thames, and of the fictitious prosperity and deep distress which are alternately created by the Imperial authorities in Woolwich and neighbourhood, he will give consideration to the advisability of making arrangements with other Departments of State to use the fine engineering plant regularly for other work, such as the construction of locomotives, wagons and bridges for the State railways in India and the Crown Colonies, work which could be temporarily suspended in time of war.

NO, sir, I do not consider it desirable that the ordnance factories should undertake such work. Railway locomotive building could not be done with the present plant and staff in the ordnance factories. It is very different from any work now done there. Bridge building requires machinery for preparing steel plates not at present existing in these factories, the only similar work done being boiler repairs, and the men employed on these repairs are few.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of making the very small investment required to instal the necessary plant?

reply was inaudible.

Has the staff now reached its minimum strength?

I must ask for notice of that Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that a sum of approximately £35,000 will be saved on Army Votes in consequence of the withdrawal of the garrison from St. Helena, he will ask leave of the House to devote a portion of that sum to the relief of the inhabitants of the island.

This is not a matter for my Department, but I may refer the hon. Member to the reply made to him on this subject by my hon. friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies on Wednesday last as regards the views of the Government on the economic situation created by the withdrawal of the garrison.†

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give some indication of how this money will be used?

It will appear when the Estimates are framed.

Will not some of the money be released in the current year and not appear in next year's Estimates?

A very small part only.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the refusal of the Government of Madras to grant the request of the Madura District People's Association for information regarding the proposed division of their district; and whether, in view of the fact that the people have no voice in the government of their own country, he will ask the Madras Government to consider favourably in future representations of this nature.

I have no ' information as to the particular case mentioned; but I will communicate with the Government of Madras on the subject.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what number of Chinese coolies were repatriated at the expense of the Home Government during September and October of this year.

Two hundred and sixty-seven Chinese coolies were repatriated at the expense of His Majesty's Government by the "Indravelli" which sailed at the end of August or beginning of September, and about 300 by the "Cranley" which sailed about the middle of September. There has been no opportunity of effecting further repatriation up to the present since the sailing of the "Cranley," but the necessary arrangements will be made in due course.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why representatives of Australia and New Zealand were not invited to take part in the conference regarding the position of the New Hebrides; and whether he can state that in any future conferences dealing with matters vitally affecting Australia and New Zealand the representatives of those countries will be called into consultation.

We have sent a reasoned despatch of considerable length to the Government of Australia dealing with the whole course of these negotiations and dealing with the Convention on its merits. That despatch will take some time to reach Australia, and it would not be considered proper for us to make it public in England until we have a communication from them that they have received it. As soon as we know they have received the despatch we shall lay Papers on the Table dealing with the whole of the negotiations connected with the New Hebrides Convention, which will give a full explanation of the position taken up by the Government and their justification for it. With regard to the second part of the Question, so far as the future is concerned we shall always desire to consult with the Colonies in the fullest manner on any subject which affects their interests, both before and during the negotiations. In the coming Colonial Conference further opportunity will arise for considering the machinery to be employed.

Will the question of the coaling stations on the Pacific be considered at the same time?

I must ask for notice of that.

When the Papers are laid will they include the original agreement made in 1887?

I should like notice of that also.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the number of desertions of Chinese coolies for the months of August, September, and October of this, year.

In August the number of convictions of Chinese coolies for desertion was thirty-four, and, in addition, sixty were convicted for refusal to work, and 682 for unlawful absence from work. The Returns for September and October have not been received.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if His Majesty's Government can state whether the territory of the Lopori-Marringa in the Upper Congo is still subject to the régimemilitaire spécial; and if His Majesty's Government are satisfied that the persons and property of British subjects residing therein are safe from molestation.

I have received no definite information as to whether the réjime militaire is still in force but M. de Cuvelier informed His Majesty's Minister at Brussels last month that the three months mentioned in the decree of 24th July establishing that régime had almost expired, and that he had no reason to suppose that this term would be extended. The Congo Government have informed His Majesty's Government that the only effect of the régime militaire is to extend the competence of the courts-martial, but that these courts can only apply to civilians the ordinary penal laws, and that non-native civilians the expression including coloured British subjects) can appeal to Boma. I have not heard of any molestation of British subjects during the period named.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if His Majesty's Government can now publish Consul Mackie's Report on the sittings of the Commission of Inquiry which he attended, and also the Reports furnished to Consuls Mackie and Nightingale by British subjects who were called as witnesses before the Commission at sittings where no British Consular representative was present.

I have nothing to add to the replies on this subject given on April 3rd and May 24th. Mr. Mackie's comments on the evidence which he forwarded did not differ materially from those of the Commission of Inquiry, and he was only able to attend three sittings of the Com- mission. His Majesty's Government cannot publish information respecting the evidence which has reached them from unofficial sources.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the attention of His Majesty's Government has been drawn to the statements made by the Rev. Edgar Stannard that certain evidence given before the Congo Commission of Inquiry by native witnesses and vitally affecting Mr. Stannard's defence was not accessible in the course of his recent trial at Coquilhatville, in the Congo State; if the attention of His Majesty's Government has been drawn to the sworn state- ments of the Rev. J. H. Harris and his wife, witnesses before the Congo Commission of Inquiry at Baringa, in the Congo State; that the gravest charges were preforred at the sittings of the Commission in regard to the proceedings of Commandant Hagstrom, who recently obtained damages against the Rev. Edgar Stannard for alleged libel before the Coquilhatville Court; and if the attention of His Majesty's Government has been drawn to the detailed notes, published by the Congo Reform Association, made by Mr. and Mrs. Harris, of the testimony of the Chief Lontulu, of Bolima, at the Commission's sittings affecting that Congo Government official; and, if so, what action he proposes to take.

The attention of His Majesty's Government has been drawn to all the matters referred to. I stated yesterday that His Majesty's Government had again pressed the Congo Government to publish the evidence taken by the Commission of Inquiry, and I have now heard that the Government adhere to their refusal to do so, on the recommendation of the Commission itself. But I have also received the assurance that the entire records of the proceedings of the Commission in so far as they bore on the prosecution of Mr. Stannard, were placed before the Court in the fullest detail, and without the omission of a single item. It is open to Mr. Stannard to insist upon the examination of this evidence at the trial.

Will it be open to him to insist on the examination of the Papers at the appeal. I do not suppose it will be in his power to make public the proceedings.

; I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, owing to the dearness of money which is hampering trade, he can see his way to bring in a short Bill compelling every bank to publish a balance sheet every month, showing weekly average gold reserves, with a view to increasing the gold reserves and cheapening money.

I am not prepared to pledge myself to legislation on this subject, but in the consideration which I am giving to it my hon. friend may be assured that I shall not leave out of sight the important aspect to which his Question refers.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it has been reported to him that M. Max Nettlau was refused permission to land in this country because he refused to undergo a medical examination under the terms of the Aliens Act; whether he is aware that Dr. Nettlau is a doctor of philosophy who for twenty years past has paid an annual visit to this country for the purpose of studying at the British Museum; and whether he will give instructions to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.

I have made full inquiry into the circumstances of this case, and I have satisfied myself that the medical inspector in no way exceeded the duty imposed on him by the Act, and showed all possible consideration for Dr. Nettlau's feelings.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Annual Report of the Inspector, under the Cruelty to Animals Act, is issued each year at so late a date that prosecutions for illegal experiments described in his Report are rendered impossible by the operation of Section 1 of The Public Authorities Protection Act, 1893; and whether he will during the continuance of the existing law direct that the Report shall be issued quarterly and promptly instead of, as at at present, once a year, and long after the experiments have taken place.

There has been no avoidable delay in issuing this Report. An immense mass of documents has to be received and examined before the Report can be prepared, and to issue it quarterly would very greatly increase the labour involved with little or no advantage. Contraventions of the Act are reported to the Secretary of State as soon as they are discovered, so that the institu- tion of proceedings for performance of illegal experiments is not dependent on the date of the Report. In reply to a further Question, Mr. GLADSTONE promised to see if the publication of the Report could be hastened.

Is it not the case that under this Act no prosecutions have ever been successfully instituted?

That does not arise out of the right hon. Gentleman's Answer.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Alfred Ball, who was convicted at Enfield Quarter Sessions for betting in a public-house, and sentenced to six months hard labour without the option of a fine; and whether, in view of the fact that it was stated by one of the police witnesses that Ball's personal character was satisfactory, he will consider the advisability of reducing his sentence.

I have carefully considered all the circumstances of this case, but I regret that I am unable to advise any reduction of the sentence.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will represent to the railway companies which provide first-class sleeping carriages the necessity of reconsidering the question of providing third-class sleeping carriages before they come to Parliament to ask for further concessions.

The railway companies are no doubt fully alive to the situation, and no action on the part of the Board of Trade seems necessary at the present moment.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Committee of Managers of Railway Companies recently decided not to introduce third-class sleepers?

Yes, Sir, and I communicated that information to the House myself.

Will the Board of Trade support the movement to secure third-class as well as first-class sleepers?

I cannot pledge the Board of Trade so far in advance.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what compensation will be. paid to the tenants of Crown agricultural Lands, especially the widows, on whom notice to quit has been served upon the termination of their tenancy; and whether compensation will be assessed on the basis of the Land Tenure Bill.

The compensation payable to any outgoing tenants on the Crown Lands will be the amount to which they are entitled by the law which is in force at the time of quitting their holdings. The Answer to the latter part of the Question depends on whether the Land Tenure Bill has or has not become law at that time.

On behalf of the hon. Member for Hammersmith, I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works if a Supplementary Estimate will be required to meet the cost of structural or other work connected with the new Local Government Board offices in Whitehall.

The cost of this building is provided for by the Public Building Expenses Acts of 1898 and 1903, and no further grant will be required except for furniture and office fittings, for which no provision has been made. Amounts for these services will be taken in the ordinary annual Estimates.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works if he can do anything to improve the defective lighting in the Central Hall and Conference Room.

The First Commissioner will give directions for the improvement of the lighting of the Conference Room. But he is disposed to think that the Central Hall is not inadequately lighted at present, having regard to its purpose.

Will the hon. Gentleman kindly call the attention of the First Commissioner to the fact that the light is so bad in the Central Hall that it is almost impossible to recognise one's constituents.

Certainly.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has now communicated with the trustees of the National Gallery with reference to their action in allowing private firms to trade rent free within the precincts of the gallery; and if so, with what result; and whether consideration will be given to the fact that, if an official department were opened at the gallery for the sale of reproductions of national pictures, a considerable contribution might bo secured towards the maintenance of the building.

My hon. friend has been assured that this matter will be laid before the National Gallery Board at their next meeting, which will be held very shortly.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General if he will ascertain who was responsible for the payment out of voluntary contributions of the travelling expenses of the fifty-two unemployed who were given special leave, in anticipation of their usual holiday, to go to London for the purposes of voting in the municipal elections; and if it is his intention to prosecute such person or persons under Section 7 (1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices Act of 1883.

The information necessary for answering the earlier portion of the Question was given yesterday by the President of the Local Government Board, † Assuming these facts, there is not, in my opinion, any infringement of the section.

Were the subscribers consulted before the sums collected from them were devoted to a purely Party purpose?

The hon. Member must ask the President of the Local Government Board. The facts are not within my knowledge.

Is it not a fact that some of the members of the Committee who authorised this expenditure were themselves candidates for the election to which the unemployed travelled to vote, and, if that is the case, does it not constitute an infringement of the section?

Are not the majority of the Committee Moderates?

I can only deal with the question of law on the facts before me, and on the facts I am clear that there is no infringement.

Would the President of the Local Government Board be able to give information with regard to the facts?

If the right hon. Gentleman will put down a Question I shall be pleased to give him all the available information. I may tell him, however, that, in answer to a Question yesterday, i did, at considerable length, place all the available information at the disposal of the House.†

DO I understand the Attorney-General to say that it is not illegal to pay the expenses of persons going to vote in municipal elections?

It is illegal to pay the expenses of persons going to vote provided that the payment is made with the view of procuring the election of a particular candidate. In this particular case I understand that a sum of money was provided to enable these men to go to London on their furlough, and not to procure the election of any candidate. The mere fact that money is provided to enable men to exercise the franchise, unless it is given by or in the interest of one of the candidates, is not an offence.

Is it not the case that the furlough coincided with the date of the election, and that the people who authorised the payment happened to be candidates? If that be the fact, and if that be not an offence under the law, will the Government make it an offence, as it obviously ought to be?

He cannot answer conundrums!

That Question cannot be answered until I supply the information promised.

It's a Chinese puzzle !

Is any Member of the Government obliged to answer hypotheses?

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether any secondary schools containing infant or junior departments receive grants from the Board of Education; whether such grants are applied wholly or in part to payment of the cost of those departments; and whether those departments are maintained with a view to class distinctions.

I believe that in certain secondary schools, especially those provided and maintained by local authorities which were formerly known as higher grade schools, there are preparatory departments for boys and girls under twelve years of age. All grants paid in respect of secondary schools go into the school fund of such schools, and are not, as indeed they could not be, earmarked to be spent solely on any one particular portion of the school expenses. The Answer to the third paragraph is in the negative. The purpose of these preparatory departments is to enable children coming from a public elementary school to profit more fully by the secondary school course than they could otherwise do, in fact, to compensate them for the better preparatory education which other children attending the secondary school may have received owing to the greater private means of their parents.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether, at an inquiry held by an inspector of the Board of Education with regard to a scheme for Watford Grammar School submitted to the Board of Education by the County Council for Herts, the inspector refused to inquire into the financial proposals of the county council under the scheme; and whether the course taken by the inspector was in accordance with the instructions of the Board of Education.

The inquiry referred to was an inquiry relating to the draft of an amending scheme for the Watford endowed schools. The Hertfordshire County Council bad made proposals for aiding the foundation out of the rates under Section 18 (I) and Section 18 (1) (A) of the Education Act, 1902, and the inspector, in accordance with the instructions of the Board, refused to inquire into the objections to these rating proposals on the ground that the questions which they raised were outside the jurisdiction of the Board.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether the Watford Grammar School is held under denominational trusts; whether, under a scheme submitted to the Board of Education by the Herts County Council, it is proposed to endow that school with a considerable capital sum raised by loan on the security of the rates, and with an annual subsidy of public money; and whether the Board of Education have sanctioned, or intend to sanction, the scheme.

The Answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. But the county council's financial proposals, which are in substance as defined by the hon. Member, are not, as the Question seems to imply, embodied in the scheme recently made under the Charitable Trusts Acts by the Board of Education. The county subsidy is given outside that scheme at the discretion of the local education authority with which the Board of Education saw no reason to interfere.

:. I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether secondary schools carried on by public companies receive grants from the Board of Education; and, if so, whether such grants directly or indirectly contribute towards the payment of a dividend to the shareholders.

No grants are now paid in respect of secondary schools carried on by public companies unless they are under a strict trust, under the Charitable Trusts Acts, by which any profits in respect of the working of the schools, or any assets in the event of the discontinuance of the schools, are absolutely secured for the benefit of the school or for other educational trust purposes, thus precluding any payment of dividend directly or indirectly to any shareholder.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state how many county councils in Scotland have now taken action under the Unemployed Workmen's Act.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 24th July.†

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, having regard to the fact that there are eighteen schools in the Island of Lewis, the water supply for which is reported to be defective, will he ascertain in how many cases action is being taken with a view to securing a suitable supply.

At Bragar and Valtos improvements have been carried out, and at Crowlista and Leumarava improvements will be carried out. The word "defective" is a general term, and my hon. friend's interpretation of it is properly, I think, under the circumstances, not that of the medical authorities concerned.

Will these people be given a proper water supply?

In the opinion of the medical authorities there is a suitable supply in all places, except those to which the Answer refers and for them a supply is being provided.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that, owing to the recent absence of the medical officer for the parish of Uig, island of Lewis, one of the occupants of thirteen Tolstachulish in that parish was compelled to send to Stornoway, about twenty miles, for medical attendance on a widow who was found to be suffering from fever; and, seeing that this cost the poor family about £2, will arrangements be made for the presence of a substitute when the resident medical officer finds it necessary to absent himself from the district.

The woman in question was not a pauper; she was, therefore, not under the jurisdiction of the parish council who have no duty to provide medical attendance for others than paupers. The absence of the parochial medical officer was caused by the serious illness of a relative. He left a substitute in charge whose residence was nearer to Tolstachulish than the residence of the medical officer himself.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state how many cases of ilegal trawling in Broad Bay, Island of Lewis, have been reported by the lightkeepers at Tiumpan Head, and how many prosecutions have been instituted as the result of the reports.

Two cases have been reported by the lightkeepers at Tiumpian Head during the current year. One case was prosecuted and in the other case the trawler was not identified.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the fact that the Secretary for Scotland does not feel justified in authorising the expenditure which would be incurred in Printing the memorandum by Dr. Dittmar. the Local Government Board's Medical Inspector, entitled Statistical Data presented by the Lews for ten years to 1904, will he arrange to have it printed if the Parliamentary representative for the county undertakes to pay the cost of printing, especially having regard to its importance in connection with the Report on Physical Deterioration and the increase of phthisis in the island of Lewis.

I should have already laid this Report, had I thought it required. My Answer, therefore, to my hon. friend must be in the negative.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he will state to the House where the fishery cruiser, which should have been off the coast of Durness, on Sunday, the 9th of September, was; and whether fishery cruisers are not on duty on Sundays; and, if so, what steps, with a view to prevent illegal trawling, does he propose to take to prevent its being known that the cruisers are not on duty on certain days in the week.

It was not the special duty of any fishery cruiser to be off Durness on Sunday, the 9th of September. Fishery cruisers are frequently engaged in patrolling on Sundays, and there are no days in the week on which they are not on duty subject to the necessities of refitting.

How is it the fishery cruisers never discover these trawlers in Durness Bay? I have seen them several times.

I imagine the trawlers take very good care not to meet the cruisers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman put some faster cruisers on this station?

What is the use of these cruisers if they cannot catch the trawlers? Is it not a perfectly useless expense to keep them there?

It is far from being tho case that these cruisers are not successful in their work.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney Goneral for Ireland whether the attention of the Irish justiciary has been directed to the exercise in Ireland by all counsel representing the Attorney-General in criminal cases of a general right of reply, even in cases where no evidence on behalf of the accused has been produced, whereas in England, by a resolution of the English justiciary in December, 1884, in criminal cases in which the prosecution is conducted on behalf of the Crown, where no evidence is offered for the accused, the right of reply is restricted to the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General alone when prosecuting on behalf of the Crown in person; and will he state the reason for this dissimilarity between the practice in criminal prosecutions in England and Ireland.

The difference in the practice of the Criminal Courts in England and Ireland referred to by the hon. Member has not, so far as I am aware, recently engaged the attention of the Irish Judiciary as a body, though all the Judges are of course aware of it. I shall be glad, if the hon. Member desires it, to bring the matter under the notice of the Judges of the King's Bench Division with a view to ascertaining whether they would consider it wise, in the interests of justice, to adopt the resolution passed by the English Judiciary in 1884, and so assimilate the practice in the two countries.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that a magistrate, on his appointment to His Majesty's Commission of the Peace in Ireland, has, at present, to pay in stamp duty and other charges a sum amounting to £6; and whether, seeing that in England, Scotland, and Wales the total amount payable by a magistrate on his appointment in no case exceeds £2, steps will be taken by the Government to assimilate the law as it applies to Ireland in this regard with the other portions of the United Kingdom.

I am in communication with the Treasury on this subject.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if his attention has been called to the face that the Estates Commissioners ignore the existence of congestion on and around Colonel Malone's estate in Westmeath, and propose to advance £3,000 to enable one tenant, not within the Land Law Acts, to purchase an undivided grass tract; and, if there is no legal reason why the Commissioners should not exercise in this case their discretion. judicially established in the Blake-Foster case, will the Government advise them to do this in order to make the grass land available for the people in need of it.

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. friend the Chief Secretary gave to his Question on this subject on Wednesday last.† The matter in question is one for the discretion of the Estates Commissioners, and it is not within my province to intervene in the manner suggested.

Has any Court decided that the discretion cannot be exorcised in such a case as that stated in the Question?

I do not know that any Court has, and it is not for me to advise any Court how to exercise its discretion.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from an evicted tenant named McGarty, in the townland of Aroddy, on the Lawder estate, in the county Leitrim; and if any action will be taken in the matter.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have recently received from Thomas McGarty an application for reinstatement as an evicted tenant, and that they will have the case investigated in due course.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board is now in a position to undertake the work of improving the landing facilities at Cooscroun, county Kerry.

The Congested Districts Board are at present considering the question of providing landing accommodation at Cooscroun, as well as other works in County Kerry. The matter will have the Board's further attention at their next meeting.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have purchased the Skeagh estate, county Cavan, of Sir Robert Hodson; and, if so, were the tenants' claims for turbary conceded by the landlord in his negotiations with the Commissioners.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have not purchased the estate in question, but agreements for direct purchase by the tenants have been lodged with them. The purchase agreements provide that the turbary is to be vested in the landlord, but the Commissioners are not prepared to sanction such a provision, and have informed the vendor that satisfactory arrangements must be made before the sale will be sanctioned.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he has noticed that, according to the latest official statistics of Irish Departments, since 1902, the most important agricultural products have decreased in market value, the cost of labour has increased owing to the continued emigration of rural labourers, the j cost of maintaining the poor and pauper lunatics has increased, and yet the reductions of rent given by the Irish Land Commission, instead of increasing with those burdens, are 5 per cent. less than the scale of previous years; and if, in order to remove the impression that this is part of a policy of forcing tenants to purchase at exorbitant prices, he will direct the attention of the Land Com- mission to the discrepancy between statistics and rent-fixing.

I have communicated this argumentative Question to the Land Commissioners, but have not yet received their observations upon it. I think, however, that the hon. Member may rest assured that the question of all the causes which affect the value of land will be kept present to the minds of the Land Commissioners.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, Colonel Malone's Baronstown estate having been inspected prior to the instructions under which inspectors now act, and in consequence no attempt having been made to ascertain or report upon the existence of congestion on and around that estate, and no subsequent investigation having been made on the ground notwithstanding complaints, will the proposed sale be stayed pending a further inspection under the instructions now in force, with a view to having the grass farms included for distribution.

I beg to refer to my reply to the hon. member's Question on this subject on Wednesday last The Estates Commissioners inform me that they do not consider any further inspection to be necessary.

If I send the right hon. Gentleman a list of tenants of uneconomic holdings on this estate will he reconsider the matter?

The matter is fully before the Estates Commissioners, and I have no doubt they will deal with them as far as they can.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if ho will explain why the Estates Commissioners, according to their Returns of Advances, are allowing the Act of]903 to be used to perpetuate large grass tracts and uneconomic holdings side by side, and thus promoting the further emigration of working people from the depleted counties of Leinster; why do they not exercise in all such cases their discretion judicially recognised in the Blake-Foster case, and, if the Government disapprove of forcing young people to emigrate, will action be taken under Section 23, sub-section (8), to stop the present abuse of the law.

I have referred this Question to the Estates Commissioners, who inform me that they cannot, in reply to a Parliamentary Question, deal with a general statement as to the conclusions to be drawn from their returns, and as to the effect of their administration of the Act. The Commissioners add, however, that it is their policy to improve the poorer holdings where practicable, and that in their administration they pay due regard to the principles laid down in the Blake-Foster case, as they do to judicial decisions upon the Acts in all matters.

I beg to ask tho Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that negotiations for sale and purchase have been in progress for two years on Mr. Fitzclarence Paget's estate at Hilltown, Castlepollard; and whether, in view of the evictions that have been carried out, and of the fact that the tenants are willing to buy at prices to be fixed by the Estates Commissioners, he will ask the Commissioners to intervene.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that proceedings for the sale of one holding on the estate in question were instituted before them on the 10th July last. The Commissioners have no knowledge of the negotiations with other tenants or of evictions which may have taken place on the property; but it is stated in the originating application that the vendor proposes to restore an evicted tenant named McDavitt to his former holding, now in the occupation of the owner. The Commissioners have no information which would lead them to consider the case of this estate as one suitable for their intervention.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state how many estates were before the Estates Commissioners for sale on the 31st October last; how many of these were direct sales; and how many were in respect of sales under Sections 4, 6, and 7.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that on 31st October proceedings for sale were pending before them as follows:—Direct sales by landlords to tenants, 2,906 estates; sales under Sections 4, 6, and 7, 203 estates. These figures are exclusive of 100 estates in regard to which proceedings for sale to the Congested Districts Board are pending.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say approximately when agreements for sale which are filed now will be mature for vesting the holdings in the tenants?

I cannot answer this Question from the information at present at my disposal.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the complaints made by Nationalist electors in county Fermanagh with regard to the manner in which the recent revision sessions were conducted; and whether these complaints will be considered at the next appointment of revising barristers.

No complaint in regard to the recent revision of voters in Fermanagh has come to my knowledge, and the Lord Chancellor informs me that none has reached him. The list of voters for county Fermanagh was revised by the County Court Judge with the aid of an Assistant Revising Barrister. The Gentleman appointed as Assistant Revising Barrister in Fermanagh was one in whose efficiency and impartiality the Lord Chancellor has every confidence.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the fact that the Limerick Board of Fishery Conservators is entirely composed of fishery owners and their nominees; that some of them do not fish either for profit or sport; that they are elected by proxy votes, to the exclusion of fishermen representatives, not one of whom has a seat on the board for the entire district; is he also aware that miles of the River Shannon claimed and reserved by private individuals, to the exclusion of the public, are not rated under the Poor Law Valuation Acts and do not contribute anything for the conservancy of the river; and whether the Government contemplate doing anything to remedy this state of things

I am informed that the Limerick Board of Conservators is partly elected and partly ex-officio. The elected members, numbering twenty-four, are elected by those persons, both fishermen and proprietors of fisheries, who take out licenses for salmon fishing in the district. The ex-officio members, the number of which is variable, are either owners of several fisheries exceeding £100 valuation, or magistrates who take out licenses and are riparian owners. The number of such ex-officio members who attend meetings of this Board does not exceed ten. The fishermen who are qualified to vote are in no way restricted in their choice of a candidate, but may vote for whom they please. The Department of Agriculture have no information as to the particular class of licensees by which the elected members of the present Limerick Board | have been chosen. It is a fact that miles of the River Shannon owned by riparian proprietors are not rated, but the Department understand that all private fisheries which are a source of profit to their proprietors are rated. Should any such fishery be insufficiently rated or not rated at all, it, is open to the rating authorities or the Board of Conservators to move in the matter. It is to the interest of the Conservators that private fisheries should be adequately rated, because the Conservators are entitled to receive for the purposes of their district a rate of 10 per cent, on the value of the fisheries. I do not feel at this moment to be in a position to make a statement as to possible legislation on the subject of salmon fisheries and Boards of Conservators.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the result of the negotiations between the Estates Commissioners and Mrs. Perry-Knox-Gore for the purchase of the latter's property at Ardagh, Ballina, county Mayo.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that in July last they approached Mrs. Perry Knox-Gore with a view to the purchase of her untenanted land in county Mayo. Mrs. Knox-Gore has intimated her willingness to sell to the Commissioners, and the matter is new under their consideration.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state what proportion of the £15,000,000 paid for Irish land since the Act of 1903 was passed has been entrusted to the Public Trustee in Ireland for investment, and the dividends paid by that official on the sums invested by him for each year since the passing of the Land Act of 1903; and if he will also state what is the salary of the Public Trustee?

I am informed by the Public Trustee that the amount which has been placed in his hands for investment by orders of the Court since the passing of the Act of 1903, is £80,842, viz.", £29,142 in 1905, and £51,700 during the present year. In addition, the sum of £20,000 has been dealt with under Section 39 of the Act. In 1905, the amount of dividends paid was £303 7s. 5d., and in 1906 to date, £2,030 12s. 1d. The salary of the Public Trustee is £1,200 per annum.