called attention to the fact that a notice of Motion in the name of Sir James Woodhouse, who was no longer a member of the House, stood upon the Notice Paper. He asked the Speaker to direct that it be expunged.

said that the officials of the House had anticipated the hon. Member, and the notice did not appear in the Order Paper to-day.

It was on the Paper that I saw.

I have the order book in my hand, and it certainly does not appear there.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, in reference to the statement just issued by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, whether he can fix a date when an answer may be expected to the following requests which are stated therein to be still under consideration, viz., that smaller deductions may be made from the pay of hired men when placed on the establishment, and that overtime pay may not be subject to deduction, and that the wages of all chargemen of the principal trades at Chatham and Sheerness shall be assimilated and a definite scale of pay instituted. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) I am not at present in a position to say when the decision will be announced in regard to the question of the deduction made from the pay of hired men when transferred to the establishment. As regards the other two points mentioned in the Question, instructions will be issued to the yards at an early date.

To ask the Postmaster - General whether he has received a Resolution from representatives of the people in Curlough, county Cavan, asking that Francis M'Govern, postman on the Bawnboy to Curlough, walk, do have his salary increased; and will the matter have his sympathetic consideration. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I have not yet seen this application, but I can assure the hon. Member that it shall receive careful consideration.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that at Cheltenham postmen are forbidden to hang clothing upon the hooks in the retiring room apparently provided for that purpose; whether he is aware that, in consequence of this order, the men are obliged to put their capes, etc., in their lockers, and that in five cases damage to the capes has resulted, and the men concerned have been fined 2s. each; and whether, in the circumstances, he will order the repayment of this money. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I will inquire into this matter and communicate with the hon. Member.

To ask the Postmaster-General when the vacancies for telephone exchange managers announced in the Post Office Circular, No. 729, on the 21st August, will be filled; whether he can state the number of vacancies which exist; and whether the appointments will be announced in the Post Office Circular. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The selection of officers for the situations in question, five in number, is under consideration, and I hope to be able to arrive at a decision in the matter very shortly. Appointments of this nature are not announced in the Post Office Circular.

To ask the Postmaster - General whether a revision of the staff of the post office in Portadown is contemplated; if so, how long has the question been under consideration and can he state the approximate date upon which a decision in the case is likely to be arrived at; whether under such a revision a considerable increase to the indoor staff is intended, and, if so, what is the probable number; whether it is proposed that the present staff shall be obliged to continue for a further considerable period to perform the duties which in course of time will be distributed over an increased staff; and is he aware that some members of the present staff are and have been for some time past discharging the duties incident to the position of supervisors but without official recognition. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) Proposals for a revision of the indoor staff at Portadown post office were submitted in February last. The revision provides for a small increase to the indoor staff, and will, I hope, be sanc- tioned shortly. Temporary force has been provided to cope with the increased work pending the carrying out of the revision. As regards the last part of the hon. Member's Question I will have inquiry made.

To ask the Secretary of state for War whether, having regard to the feeling existing in Scotland as to the proposed withdrawal of cavalry from Piershill Barracks, he can make any statement as to the policy of the War Office with regard to the matter. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I am well aware of the feeling alluded to, but I am not at present in a position to make any announcement as regards the future of these barracks further than I have already done in this House and in a letter I have addressed to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh in response to a communication from him.

To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to a petition presented by the sheriffs of certain citiesand towns being counties of themselves, praying that similar allowances may be made to them as are made to sheriffs of counties at large for, amongst other matters, advertising assizes, the attendance of the sheriff and under-sheriff upon His Majesty's judges of assize, the use of the sheriff's carriage for His Majesty's judges, the impanelling and summoning of jurors, refreshments, board and lodging of jurors when ordered to be detained, and for the fee paid to a common hangman for carrying out a sentence of death; and whether, seeing that in the case of counties, of cities, and towns, the whole of such expenses fall upon the sheriffs themselves, save in two or three cities and towns where by ancient custom allowances for certain of the above expenses are payable out of the boroughs' funds, he will say what steps he is prepared to take in the matter. (Answered by Sir H. Campbell-Banner-man.) Long-established practice is the reason for making grants in these cases to sheriffs of counties who are appointed by the Crown, and for not making them to sheriffs of cities and towns who are appointed by the corporations, and I do not think that there is anything in the circumstances of the present time to call for a departure from that practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state what is the full strength of a Militia battalion, and what

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury what is the rule of seniority among clerks of the higher grade of the second division of the Civil Service; does it depend on the service and standing of the clerk in the higher grade, as in a distinct class, or on the total length of service in the second division, irrespective of the date of promotion into the higher grade. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) No rule on the specific question has been promulgated, and, in view of the fact that promotions depend on merit and not on seniority, the Treasury thinks it unnecessary and undesirable to make any rule on the subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for India when the Report of the Committee on the extended employment of natives of India in the higher branches of the public service may be expected. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) I understand my hon. friend to refer to the Committee of the Governor General's Council appointed to consider reforms in the Indian Councils, and I believe that its Report will shortly be considered by the Government of India.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will inquire of the Estates Commissioners if negotiations for the purchase of the Rossmore estate of Purefoy Poe, Esquire, Harley-park, Callan, county Kilkenny, have been completed; if so, has the untenanted land on this estate been included in the purchase; that provision, if any, has been made to restore to their holdings on this estate the representatives of the evicted tenants John Whelan, junior, and John Whelan senior; and if, in the event of the sale of the untenanted lands, due consideration will be given to the enlargement of uneconomic holdings thereon, and the balance, if any, kept in reserve for the restoration to holdings of bona fide evicted tenants, many of whom reside in this district. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that eleven purchase agreements signed by tenants on the estate in question were lodged with them in January last. The lands comprised in the originating application include 147 acres, which appear to be an evicted holding, and which the vendor asks the Commissioners to purchase for distribution by them, and 873 acres consisting of the vendor's demesne, which he proposes to repurchase. No applications for reinstatement have been received from John Whelan, senior, or John Whelan, junior. An application has been received from John Phelan, and this has been referred to an inspector for inquiry and report. The question of the purchase and re-sale of the vendor's demesne and of the untenanted land generally will receive due consideration from the Commissioners when they come to deal with the estate.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland by whose orders the police at Stoneyford, county Kilkenny, are acting as caretakers of an evicted farm on the Glauntha estate of the Rev. Mr. Prichard, from which Mr. Richard Reddy was evicted; whether extra police have been. added to the station at Stoneyford for that purpose; whether he is aware that cattle supposed to belong to the owner or occupier of the said farm did damage by trespassing on the corn crop of a neighbouring farmer, named Lee; that, for the purpose of recovering compensation for this damage, Lee demanded the name of the occupier from the police, and was refused; and whether he will order that Lee and others who may suffer from such trespass as in this case will be allowed an opportunity of recovering damages. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed by the Inspector-General that the police do not act as caretakers of the farm referred to, though they frequently patrol near it for the preservation of the peace. No extra police have been sent to Stoneyford station for any purpose. In June last Mr. Lee reported to the local police that some cattle had trespassed on his cornfield, and asked the police for the name of the owner. The sergeant informed Mr. Lee that he should make his complaint to the owner's herd, adding that the police did not interfere in disputes as to trespass. The Inspector-General informs me that the sergeant's action was proper, as it is not the duty of the police to supply persons with material for civil proceedings. If such proceedings were instituted upon information furnished by the police, they might become involved in matters which do not concern them.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant: of Ireland when the loans for the building of the proposed new schools in the parish of Ferns, county Wexford, will be issued. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that they cannot yet name the precise date when the grants, not loans, for the building of these schools will be issued. The question of the floor-space per pupil to be allowed in the designs for new schoolhouses is now under consideration, and as soon as a decision upon that point is arrived at, which I trust will be very shortly, it may be expected that the issue of building grants can proceed forthwith.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the grazing farms of Cletty and Ardrea, on the Gore-Booth, Ballymote, County Sligo, estate, comprising 135 and 354 acres respectively, were offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners, in March, 1905, by Sir Joselyn Gore-Booth, with the consent of the occupying tenant of one of these farms, Mr. Robert Gorman; and, if so, will he explain the cause of delay in completing purchase negotiations. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that last week they made an offer to Sir Joselyn Gore-Booth for the purchase of the lands of Cletty, which are in his own occupation, and also for the lands of Ardrea and Cloonagashel, which are at present in the occupation of Robert Gorman. The owner has not yet informed the Commissioners whether he is prepared to accept their offer.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the estate of Tulinaglug, situate near Tubbercurry, County Sligo, and until recently owned jointly by Messrs. Phibbs and Cogan, has been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board by the present owners, Messrs. Martin Phibbs and Bernard Martin, or whether any portion of this estate, which is in Chancery, has been offered for sale to either of these departments recently. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Answer to both branches of this Question is in the negative.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Begley estate, comprising the townlands of Iskerlavally and Drimneen, in the electoral division of Claremorris, union of Claremorris, has been offered for sale by the landlord to the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, what price has he asked, and what number of years purchase, if any, has been offered by the Board. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed by the Congested Districts Board that the property in question has not been offered for sale to the Board.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from Joseph Coote, who was evicted in December, 1893, from his farm in Carne, Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan, by Lord Farnham; who is in possession of this farm now; and what prospect has this evicted tenant of being restored. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have received from Joseph Coote an application for reinstatement, and have referred it to an inspector for inquiry. Until the Commissioners have received and considered the inspector's report they are unable to answer the remainder of the Question.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland when the Government will allow the work of extending Arklow Pier to commence. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) In reply to the hon. Baronet's Question of the 5th November,† I fully stated the position of affairs in respect of Arklow Harbour. The expert advisers of the Government are unanimously of opinion that the proposed extension of the pier would not effect the desired object, and might involve a lamentable waste of public money. They are further of opinion that the requirements of the case would be met by a continued dredging of the entrance to the harbour, and, moreover, that the necessity for dredging would not be diminished by the proposed extension of the pier. These views have been commended by the Government to the earnest consideration of the Arklow Harbour Board. It is not the intention of the Government to withhold the grant which has been promised for the improvement of the harbour, but it is obviously their duty to secure, so for as may be possible, that the grant to be made from public funds should be expended in such a way as to give the best results. All the £14,000 allotted will be spent upon the harbour; the only question is as to what mode of spending it will really benefit the town, the industrial development of which

† See (4) Debates, clxiv, 93–94.

largely depends upon the harbour; and, in face of the strong opinion of their expert advisers, the Government must satisfy themselves, and, if possible, also satisfy local opinion, as to what that mode is.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will permit some portion of the money now utilised and lying to the credit of the Department of Agriculture, to be devoted to the assistance of the fishermen on the South-East Coast of Ireland. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed that the purposes to which the unallocated balance of the endowment fund of the Department of Agriculture may be applied have received the consideration of the Agricultural Board, and it has been decided that this balance, amounting to about £130,000. is required to meet the present excess of annual expenditure over normal income for the purposes of agriculture and other rural industries, and sea fisheries, as defined in Section 30 of the Agriculture and Technical Instruction Act of 1899. The Department point out that they have expended and are expending considerable sums of money on the improvement of fishery piers and harbours in connection with the South-East Coast fisheries, namely, at Arklow, in County Wicklow, at Courtown, Poulduff, and Slade, in County Wexford, and at Passage East, Dromore, Ballinagoul, and Ardmore, in County Waterford. The Department are not prepared, in the present state of their funds, to undertake further expenditure of this nature.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lard-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that application has been made to Lord Orkney, who has sold his estate to the tenants at Castle My, County Tipperary, for the purchase of a large cottage, with two acres of untenanted land on the estate, to be used as a school teacher's residence and a village hall, formerly used by his gamekeeper; whether he is aware that Lord Orkney has given it to his bailiff, James Hynes, who holds 100 acres of land on this estate and 40 acres on others, and also has made him and his brother, Andrew Hynes, tenants of large portions of cutaway bog and thus deprived the small tenants of grazing and turf privileges which they have enjoyed for over fifty years; and whether, under these circumstances, the Estates Commissioners will sanction the sale of the estate without inquiring into this matter and inspecting the small holdings, and, if possible, seeing that the cottage be obtained for the above useful project. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have no knowledge of the circumstances alleged in the; Question. Purchase agreements signed by James Hynes and Andrew Hynes in respect of holdings on the estate of the Karl of Orkney were lodged with the Commissioners in July last, and the circumstances connected with the purchase of these holdings will be duly inquired into when the estate is being inspected.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say what steps the Estates Commissioners have taken to reinstate William Maher, of Ballycahill, Thurles, county Tipperary, in his holding, evicted tenant on the property of Dr. Lambe Atthall; whether an inspector of the Estates Commissioners has yet made any inspection of it; and, if so, with what result. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estate Commissioners inform me that they have not received an application for reinstatement from William Maher, and have, therefore, taken no steps in the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will make arrangements with the Department of Agri- culture, with a view to the more effective application of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Acts, whereby their veterinary inspectors, stationed in the country, will receive notice of any reported cases of disease within their districts direct from the police, and whereby, in reported cases of swine fever where their inspector is satisfied that the disease exists, the Department will authorise them to proceed forthwith with the slaughter of the animals affected, and thus obviate the delays consequent upon the present system. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The veterinary inspectors of the Department of Agriculture are in charge of large districts, and are frequently absent from home on duty. If notifications of disease were sent direct to their private addresses by the police there might be considerable delay in such communications reaching them. Under the existing system, notifications of disease are sent by the Department, with the necessary instructions, to the inspectors wherever they may happen to be, and this system has been found, after many years' experience, to be the most advantageous from the standpoint of the effective working of the Diseases of Animals Acts generally. As regards the slaughter of swine for swine fever, that is quite a discretionary matter under the Acts, and it has been considered better that the Department should reserve to itself the power, in the individual cases, of directing whether slaughter shall be carried out rather than to issue a general authorisation on the subject to the district veterinary inspectors.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that several tenants on the estate of Mr. Walter Nelegan, near Blarney, County Cork, have been paying interest to the Land Commissioners at the rate of 4 per cent., and that others on the same estate are still paving rent, as they have refused to sign for purchase until the tenant who has been evicted has been reinstated; whether he is aware that it has been held out as an inducement to the tenants to advance the price offered for the land from twenty years to twenty-one and a half years that the evicted tenant will be reinstated; and, seeing that the present occupier of the evicted farm is attempting to add a large sum to the purchase money in lieu of arrears whether an inspector will be sent to inquire into all the circumstances of the case. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that, according to the purchase agreements lodged in this case, the purchasing tenants have agreed to pay interest in lieu of rent at the rate of 4 per cent. on the purchase money pending the completion of the sale. The Commissioners are not aware of the terms offered to the tenants who have not signed purchase agreements or of the circumstances under which they have refused to purchase, but this matter will be duly inquired into when the estate is being inspected. An application for reinstatement on the estate has been received from an evicted tenant whose former holding is stated to be in the occupation of another tenant. This application, with others of a similar nature, has been referred to an inspector for inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is among the survivors of the troops who fought in the South African campaign of 1881, many of whom were severely wounded and invalided, soreness of feeling that they have had no form of recognition, even qualified, of their service, although many men who have received medals for the late war were engaged in operations, temporarily unsuccessful, like the operations of 1881; and whether he will reconsider this matter with a view either of giving to these survivors of the operations of 1881 some modified kind of recognition of their services, or, if that cannot be done, at any rate some recognition of some kind to those who were wounded or otherwise disabled in those operations. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane) This proposal to give medals for the campaign of 1881 has several times been considered and negatived, and I see no reason for altering the decision arrived at. Men disabled or wounded in this campaign have received the same treatment as regards pension as those similarly suffering from the results of other campaigns.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the dissatisfaction which has been caused in geographical circles as shown by the communication of the President of the Royal Geographical Society, he will reconsider the decision to omit geography from amongst the subjects for the diplomatic and Foreign Office examinations. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) The assimilation of the Foreign Office and diplomatic examinations with the examination for the Home and Indian Civil Services was agreed to after careful consultation with the Civil Service Commissioners, the object being, as I have already stated, to attract men of university education. Geography is not one of the subjects in which candidates for the Home and Indian Civil Services are examined, and as a knowledge of this subject is very soon acquired in the Foreign Office it was not considered necessary to add it to the list of subjects for examination. Experience will show if a modification of the new regulations is desirable; but I do not propose to make any further change in the Foreign Office and diplomatic examinations unless it is made in the Civil Service examinations generally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether, in view of the fact that the finances of Macedonia have been administered, under agreement with the Powers, through the Imperial Ottoman Bank since March 1905, he will request the British financial adviser on the Reform Commission in Macedonia to endeavour to obtain financial statements showing the revenue and expenditure under the different headings for the Macedonian provinces since March 1905, and any further information which it may be possible to obtain to illustrate the financial position in Macedonia during periods convenient for comparison. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) The British Delegate on the Financial Commission for the three Roumelian vilayets will be requested to furnish whatever information on the subject is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed that the sums hitherto derived under Article XII. of the agreement between the Porte and the Imperial Ottoman Bank, or from other sources, and employed to defray the deficit in the Macedonian Budget, shall continue to be so employed, or, it not, to what extent; and whether the additional Customs duties, together with the further amount of £250,000 a year to be provided by the Council of the public debt, will be supplemental to the above sums or in substitution for them. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) As I have already stated, the Forte Has been unable to meet its obligations under the Article referred to out of existing revenues, and the deficits have been made good mostly out of loans. When the resources mentioned in the last paragraph of the Question become available, the Porte will clearly be relieved of the necessity of raising temporary loans for the current Macedonian expenditure.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether any, and, if so, how much, public money is paid in respect of racing in Ireland; through whom and on whose advice is this money disbursed; whether he can state the names of the racecourses subsidised and the amounts paid in each case; and whether any representative or elected body in Ireland is consulted on the matter. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The I sum of £1,563 is provided annually for King's plates to be run for in Ireland, under the Vote for Miscellaneous Expenses, Class VII, 2. The provision was transferred from the Civil List to Votes in 1831. The conditions on which the plates are competed for are determined by the Master of the Horse on the! recommendation of the Lord-Lieutenant, for Ireland. The payments are made to the winners of the plates on joint application to the Irish Government by the clerk of the course and the lieutenant of the county. The present distribution dates from 1900, when the valuation of the plates was altered and the number reduced to eight, the total amount remaining as before, viz;—

	£	s.	d.
The Curragh	315	0	0
The Curragh	315	0	0
The Curragh	210	0	0
The Curragh	210	0	0
County Down	197	6	2
Bellewstown	105	0	0
Cork Park	105	0	0
County Galway	105	0	0
	£1,562	6	2

To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he will state the names of the different drainage boards in Ireland, saying when, and how they were constituted, and whence they derive their powers. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I understand that there are 121 drainage districts constituted under the Act 5 and 6 Vic, c. 89, and amending Acts, and 63 districts constituted under the Act 20 and 27 Vic, c. 88. To give their names and dates would exceed the limits of an Answer to a Question; but the honourable Member will find them, as regards the first class, in the Report of the Commissioners of Public Works for 1863–4; and, as regards the second, in their Report for 1904–5.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether any of the cocoa and chocolate supplied to the Navy is bought in Bristol. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The Answer is in the negative; but Bristol firms have the opportunity of tendering if they wish to do so.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that repayment claims for return of overpaid income-tax are dealt with by the unestablished clerks in the offices of the surveyors of taxes, and that when a surveyor of taxes is on leave all details of income-tax, including special assessments, are accessible to an unestablished clerk as his deputy; and whether, seeing that within the past five years clerks in surveyors' offices have been convicted of fraud in connection with repayment claims, and that business men object to confidential details as to their business and income being in the hands of clerks who are not Government officials but mere employees of the surveyors of taxes, he proposes to take any action in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) The routine work connected with most repayment claims is performed for surveyors by their clerks. But where the amount of an assessment under Schedule D. is in question the case is dealt with by the surveyor himself. In the seventy-nine most important districts the assistant surveyor is in charge during the absence of the surveyor. In forty-one of the remainder charge is taken by another surveyor of taxes having an office in the same building as the absent surveyor. In the remaining districts the surveyor of a neighbouring district takes charge. All special assessments and confidential papers are, by the instructions, to be kept under lock and key, and access to them should not be open to a clerk even in the absence of the surveyor. Only one instance of fraud by a clerk in a surveyor's office in connection with repayment claims has occurred within the last five years, and that did not touch assessments under Schedule D. Surveyors' clerks are required to make a declaration of secrecy.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what amount of public money was spent in the construction of the canal at Cong, county May:, intended to join Loughs Mask and Corrib; is this canal, from absence of water, at present entirely useless; has the Canal Commission invited evidence as to this canal and its utility to Ballinrobe and the district abutting on Lough Mask if it were put in order; and, if not, will he direct the attention of the Commission to the matter. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed by the Board of Works that they have not the materials for stating the amount spent on the canal at Cong, because this canal formed part of a larger scheme which was only partially carried out, and the records available do not distinguish the amount spent on this part of the works from that which was spent on other parts. The scheme provided for both drainage and navigation. The expenditure on the navigation works of that part of the scheme which included the Cong Canal was £10,583, and the Government bore the whole of this charge. The canal was left unfinished. It is useless for navigation owing to the absence of water, which absence of water is due to the fact that the canal was made through limestone which turned out to be fissured. I understand that the Royal Commission on Canals and Waterways, besides inviting evidence by notices in the newspapers, also invited evidence directly through the County Council of Galway and the town of Galway, and heard Professor Town-send, the engineer and secretary of the Lough Corrib Navigation, and also Mr. Perry, county surveyor of Galway. I am informed by the secretary of the Commission that if any persons interested in this particular canal still desire to give evidence on the subjects they should address themselves to the Commission, when their applications will be fully considered.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will explain why the police barrack at Ballinagore, county Westmeath, which was scheduled to be struck off the rolls as unnecessary three years ago, has been retained; whether he is aware that about one-third of the population are infirm and on the outdoor relief list; will he say how many policemen are now stationed there; what was the number of prosecutions for even minor offences for the last twenty years; will he compare the reports, private or otherwise, furnished before the barrack was scheduled to be struck off the rolls, with those made since; and whether, having regard to the small population of the district, he will consider the advisability of discontinuing a police force at Ballinagore, considering that the village is not three statute miles from Kilbeggan and about four miles from the following stations, which surround it in a circle: Castletown Geoghegan, Stoneyford, and Tyrrellspass. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The In specter-General informs me that it was decided two years ago to abolish the police station at Ballinagore, but, owing to the existence of certain disturbing elements in the locality, it was considered desirable to postpone the abolition for a time. Sixteen persons out of a population of 933 are in receipt of outdoor relief. Four policemen are stationed at Ballinagore, During the past twenty years 678 prosecutions for minor offences have taken place in the district. The question of abolishing the station at Balinagore is primarily one for the consideration of the police authorities, who are responsible for the proper policing of the district; and the Inspector General informs me that he will renew his proposal to abolish the station as soon as the state of the district warrants the adoption of that course.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is prepared to furnish a return substantially similar to those issued under the Purchase of Land Acts, 1885 to 1896, setting out the proceedings under the Act of 1903, showing the names of vendors and purchasers, purchase price for each holding, number of years' purchase of each holding, percentage of reduction on rent in each case, amount of bonus paid to each vendor, and the total for each estate. (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I beg to refer the hon. Member to the monthly Returns presented to Parliament of advances made under the Irish Land, Act 1903, in which full particulars of every advance made to purchasers are set forth. The form of these Returns was arranged by the Irish Government, the Treasury, and the Land Commission, and it is substantially the same as the form of the Returns issued under the Purchase Act of 1891. The amount of the bonus which may be paid in respect of the purchase money of an estate is not included in these Returns, because the question of the amount of the bonus is not determined by the Judicial Com-missioner or the Land Judge until after the distribution of the purchase money.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received any complaints with regard to the treatment of passengers on the Letterkenny Railway on the Kith instant, and in particular as to delays, overcrowding, and failure to provide light in the carriages; and, if so, whether the Irish Government or the Board of Works will take steps to prevent a recurrence of the matters complained of. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I learn that the Board of Works received information that delays to passenger trains were caused on the Kith ultimo by the derailment of a carriage at Cashelnagore which blocked the Burton-port line, and that a local train which was despatched from Letterkenny to Londonderry at 7.52 p.m. in place of one of the blocked trains was unprovided with lights. The Board immediately brought the circumstances to the notice of the company, and asked for an explanation. I understand that correspondence is still proceeding.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the jam which has recently had to be rejected was made up in solderless tins; whether he is aware that three carpenters have recently been employed constantly in the victualling yard at Deptford repacking tins in new cases owing to their leakage; and whether it is intended to permit the continued use of solderless tins for jams and other forms of preserved food.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the name of the contractor who supplied 269,000 lbs. of jam which were rejected in August last; whether any further quantities, and, if so, how much, have since had to be rejected; and whether the contracting firms supplying the jams are still on the Admiralty list.

Perhaps the hon. Member will allow me to answer the two Questions at the same time. The jam in question was not part of a new delivery, but gooseberry jam which had been a considerable time in store. Some tins of this jam were examined in July last and samples were then submitted to the Government Laboratory, and also to the Medical Officer of Health of the City of London. AH the reports show that the jam is in sound condition and fit for food. In consequence, however, of the recent reduction of the reserves it may be necessary to sell what is now surplus stock. There have been no recent rejections of contractors' deliveries. The firms who supplied this jam are still on the Admiralty list, and as no discredit whatever attaches to them the publication of their names is likely to create a false impression. As regards the second Question, the bulk of this jam was in solderless tins, but the doubt raised as to its condition was not due to any leakage, which is particularly rare in the case of solderless tins. From time to time jam has had to be repacked at Deptford before shipment, but where this has been due to leakage the tins which have leaked have always been soldered tins. No reason is therefore seen for prohibiting the use of solderless tins in future supplies.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what quantities of mustard, pepper, flour, and oatmeal have been contracted for with private firms; whether he is aware that, during the past few years, the Government have discontinued the manufacture and preparation of mustard, pepper, flour, and oatmeal at Deptford; whether the steam cooperage is practically idle; and whether it is intended to return to the former practice of having these orders supplied from Government establishments.

; The quantities contracted for since the commencement of the current financial year are as follows— mustard, 40,000 lbs.; pepper, 30,000 lbs.; flour, 2,700,000 lbs.; oatmeal, 35,000 lbs. The manufacture of mustard and pepper in the victualling yards was discontinued in 1896–7, and that of flour and oatmeal in 1903–4. The steam cooperage was discontinued in 1898–9. Modern naval conditions having rendered possible the adoption of cheaper forms of packages, the use of the old service casks has been much reduced, and is altogether too small to enable a steam cooperage to be worked economically. There is no intention of reversing these decisions, as to do so would only mean extra expense.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what contracts for the supply of chocolate to the Navy are now running, and with what firms; whether any quantities of chocolate supplied to the Naval Yard at Deptford have had to be returned as unfit for use; and whether it is intended in future to have the chocolate made in the Government chocolate mill at Deptford, which is only now employed about one-twelfth of its time or capacity.

One contract for 200,000 lbs. of chocolate was placed this year, but it is not considered desirable to state the name of the firm. A. considerable quantity (81,000 lbs.) has been rejected under the contract, the failure being attributed to the unusually hot weather which occurred this year while the manufacture was in progress, and which prevented the chocolate from cooling properly. There is no reason to doubt that the firm will be able to make satisfactory deliveries now that the cooler weather has set in. It is intended to continue, as at present, to manufacture the bulk of the chocolate for the Navy at Deptford Victualling Yard. The small quantity obtained annually from contractors is with the object of keeping the trade in touch with Admiralty requirements, so that in a time of emergency the Admiralty output could be supplemented without delay.

Is the statement in the last paragraph of the Question correct?

It may be the case.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what is the result of the Admiralty's consideration as to the provision of artisans and machinery for carrying out repairs to turbines on foreign stations.

Preparations are being made which will enable the foreign yards to deal with repairs to turbine machinery when the necessity arises.

On behalf of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Croydon, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is intended to abolish or reduce the coastguard.

I must refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. friend the Secretary to the Admiralty to a Question asked by the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland on 21st November.†

Is this reduction part of the general naval policy of the

† See (4) Debates, clxv., 813–4.

Government, and is it to be carried out step by step?

The hon. Gentleman will find a full Answer in the replies of my right hon. friend.

May I ask whether the Admiralty, in deciding this question, will bear in mind the large part played by the coastguard in life - saving at sea? Many of our lifeboat crews depend on them for notification of wrecks.

I am sure any suggestion from my hon. friend will be carefully considered by the Admiralty.

Have any orders connected with the reduction yet been issued?

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is intended to place the battleships of the "Royal Sovereign" class in special reserve.

I am not in a position at the present time to give any information, as the scheme for the re-arrangement of the ships in commission in reserve is still in process of development.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many ships belonging to the Channel Fleet wore awaiting repairs or undergoing refit on 15th November.

There wore no ships of the Channel Fleet awaiting repairs at the dockyards on the 15th November; three were in hand undergoing repairs and refit, two of these being battleships and one a third class cruiser.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what is the extent of the injuries to H.M.S. "Dominion," occasioned by her running aground in Canada; and how long it will take to repair her.

The bottom of the "Dominion" was more or less damaged for a length of about '280 feet. She will be temporarily repaired at Bermuda, and upon her return to Chatham Yard in February next it is anticipated she may be in hand for three or four months to make good the damage, but this estimate depends on the further examination on arrival at Chatham Dockyard.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether an inquiry has been held as to the cause of the running aground of the battleship "Dominion" in Canada; if no inquiry has been held, what is the reason; and is it intended to hold an inquiry.

No inquiry has yet been held in the absence of a senior naval officer, which is due to the fact that the "Dominion" was employed at the time on detached service, and has since been detained at Bermuda for temporary repairs. An inquiry will be held when the ship arrives in England.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state, concerning the three stokers lately sentenced to penal servitude, what were their ages on enlistment; when did each enlist: has each served afloat, and, if so, for how long; what serious entries were against each in the defaulter sheets before the trial; and in what class was each in regard to leave.

Only one of the stokers tried by court-martial as a result of the recent disturbance at Portsmouth has been sentenced to penal servitude. This man, Edward Moody, entered the Navy in March, 1905, at the age of twenty-two. He served afloat for six months in the "Majestic." In July, 1905, he was sentenced to five days cells for leave breaking. In the same month he deserted and remained in a state of desertion for seven weeks. On being recovered he was sentenced to twenty-eight days hard labour, and two days after he had completed this sentence he received fourteen days cell punishment or breaking out. A month later he received a further fourteen days cells for a similar offence. His character was "indifferent," and he was in the second class for leave.

asked whether in the trial of Lieutenant Collard by court-martial, the same facilities would be given for publication of the proceedings as were given on the trial of the stokers.

replied that every court-martial was open to the public. Precisely the same facilities would be given whether the trial were held upon an officer or a man of the Navy.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that there is no practical and experienced confectioner in charge of the Chocolate Department at Deptford; and whether he will consider the advisability of appointing some such person.

As stated in the reply to a former Question by the hon. Member on the 26th November, t the manufacture of chocolate at Deptford is in charge of practical men. Trained confectioners are not required for this product which is not confectionery chocolate.

But my Question is, is there a practical confectioner in charge of the Department?

I have answered that. The work is done by practical men as I have said.

No, Sir. I put this Question down on the invitation of the Secretary of the Admiralty, and I ought to have an Answer I think. The real fact is that the head of the Department is a resident engineer.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it was reported to the War Office in December 1902 that the

† See (4) Debates, clxv., 1223–4.

profits realised by the field force canteens in South Africa amounted to £700,000; whether the Report of General Lyttelton showed that £140,589 had been expended for the benefit of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, and that the only balance credit consisted of stock valued at £103,528; whether any steps have been taken to fix the responsibility for a deficit of £400,000 which should have been available for distribution amongst those who dealt with the canteens; and whother any part of that apparent deficit has been applied to other purposes than such distribution, and by whose authority.

As regards the five parts of this Question the Answers are as follows:—(1) No such report was made. The stock in hand of the field force canteens on September 30th, 1902, was at one time valued at the cost price of £722,800, and it is to this that the hon. Member presumably refers. No such figure represented profit. The value of this stock was subsequently found to be, from various causes, very much depreciated, and there were, of course, liabilities to be set against it. (2) Yes, £146,509 is reported to have been so expended. (3) Yes, in April, 1904, the balance credit of the canteens was reported to consist of stock of the nominal value of £103,528. (4) There is no doubt that the profits of the field force canteens were diminished, partly from unavoidable causes and partly from injudicious or bad management; but the hon. Member probably over-estimates the extent of the loss sustained. For losses due to what were considered avoidable causes the officer who held the post of managing director between August, 1901, and September, 1902, was censured and informed that he could not hope for further advancement in the service; he has since retired from the Army. (5) There is a mistake in the hon. Members figures which I have explained. As far as I am aware, all grants from the profits of the field force canteens have been made to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the garrison; but I would here repeat what I said in answer to a previous Question on this subject— that these canteens are administered locally by the General Officer Command- ing-in-Chief in South Africa, and the accounts audited by civil accountants appointed by him.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the statement at the beginning of my Question is taken from the evidence given by Mr. Brodrick before the War Stores Commission, and will he inform mo whether any part of the deficit was used in the payment of losses incurred by the management of farms or other similar undertakings in South Africa?

In answer to the first part of the question of my hon. and gallant friend, I can only say that a great deal of water has flowed under the bridge since Mr. Brodrick gave evidence, and the matter has been investigated more completely and thoroughly than it was ever investigated before. It is a mistake to say that £700,000 was lost. As regards the last part of the Question, I cannot answer that on the spur of the moment, but, I will inquire if the hon. and gallant Gentleman wishes.

I will put down another Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider, in consultation with the Admiralty and with the Treasury, the possibility of remedying the condition of things under which a man who has given over twenty-four years service to his country, partly in the Army and partly in the Navy or Marines, is held to be ineligible for pension; and whether he will consider the advisability of so amending the regulations, and the instructions given to the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, as to preclude the recurrence of such a case.

Steps have been taken to prevent the recurrence of the conditions which gave rise to these cases. The general question is not escaping attention.

I bog to ask the Secretary of State for War what steps are to be taken to render Piershill Barracks suitable for occupation by artillery, in view of the fact that they have been condemned as insanitary and unfit for occupation by cavalry.

Piershill Barracks are not, as they now stand, unsuitable for occupation by a small body of artillery. They were condemned as insanitary for a cavalry regiment on the ground of insufficiency of accommodation, defective structure, and the changed character of the surroundings. Money has already been spent in improving the drainage. A cavalry regiment has attached to it a larger number of officers and of women and children, as of men, than a brigade of artillery.

In view of the great interest of this matter to Scotland, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether his letter on this subject, published this morning, means that it is intended to continue to have cavalry in Scotland?

We have every intention to continue cavalry in Scotland. As the hon. Member knows, cavalry are moved from time to time. It is a delusion that any cavalry regiment, the Scots Greys or any other regiment, has headquarters in Scotland. A large number of the Scots Greys are recruited in England and Ireland. The whole question is whether we can have a cavalry regiment in Scotland, and it reduces itself to this: I am asked to put down in the Estimates a large sum of money, without regard to the necessary requirements of the Army generally, for this particular local purpose. Well, I decline to do it.

said he did not mention the Scots Greys, nor did he ask about headquarters. He asked whether cavalry were to be kept in Scotland.

said the hon. Gentleman could not have read his letter, in which he specifically said that it was their intention, as soon as public funds permitted, to have perhaps more cavalry in Scotland. The whole point was whether he was to be coerced into premature action.

asked whether it was not desirable that the recruiting for a Scottish regiment should be confined as far as possible to Scotland.

said that raised an entirely different question. He was not proposing to alter the present method of recruiting cavalry regiments. He would be glad to see the regiments associated with Scotland by tradition and sentiment recruited as far as possible in Scotland, but there was no intention of changing the system.

asked whether paying deference to Scottish representations meant coercion.

No; but people come with local considerations and try to override considerations which affect the good of the Army in general, and in that sense local considerations are not the immediate considerations.

Does that refer to Lord Rosebery?

asked whether Piershill Barracks were so insanitary that it would be impossible with some slight alteration to provide room for cavalry temporarily.

said he was in close consultation with the Medical Director-General and other medical authorities of the Army, who assured him that the structure of these barracks was so old-fashioned and so bad that it was not possible to keep cavalry there, due regard being had to sanitary conditions. At present the rate of sickness was much above the average in any other cavalry regiment, and he did not feel justified in keeping cavalry there for the present.

Are we to understand that as soon as funds permit a cavalry regiment will be quartered in Scotland?

As soon as funds permit there will be accommodation provided for cavalry in Scotland, but I must be the judge when it is possible to provide those funds. I have said it is the intention as soon as possible to have not one, but probably two, cavalry regiments there. They are very useful for the purpose of training the Yeomanry, and, moreover, Scotland is an important part of the United Kingdom, and it is only right that cavalry should be stationed there. We are quite alive to that.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many horses and men will be quartered in Piershill Barracks when occupied by artillery.

As far as can be said at present, the numbers will be, approximately, 155 horses, and 335 men.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the unpopularity of the new mess kit of the Royal Artillery, now about to be introduced; whether he is aware that the new mess kit, though costing about two-thirds the cost of the old kit, is calculated to last only about a quarter of the time that the old kit has been found to last; and whether he will consider the advisability of reverting to the old kit, or, under any circumstances, ascertaining the views of officers of the Royal Artillery, especially of those of the junior ranks, before introducing compulsorily the new mess dress.

There is no intention of introducing a now mess uniform for the Royal Artillery. The existing pattern was introduced in 1902, and permission was given to those officers in possession of the previous pattern to wear it until January, 1907. The statement that the new kit only lasts about a quarter of the time the old one did is not understood, as the materials are identical.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any decision has been arrived at with reference to permitting Lancer regiments to use the lance as a complement to their present service equipment.

It is not proposed to modify the instructions laid down in Army Order 39 of March, 1903, with regard to the use of the lance by Lancer regiments.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can inform the House what steps have been taken for the defence of St. Helena now that it has been denuded of its garrison, having in view that it is one of the stations for the all-British telegraph cable between Great Britain and her South African, Eastern, and Australian possessions.

It is inexpedient in the interests of Imperial defence to give this information, but the hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that the matter has not escaped the attention of my Department.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state what is the full strength of a Militia battalion, and what is the strength of the permanent staff detailed thereto; the number and names of the battalions below 500 officers and men; and the strength of the permanent start's detailed for service with each.

In the first part of the Question it is presumed that "full strength" moans the establishment of a battalion. This varies in different battalions from 11 officers and 425 men to 33 officers and 1,273 men; the permanent staff varying from one officer and sixteen non-commissioned officers to two officers and forty non-commissioned officers. As regards actual strength, there wore on the 1st ultimo 46 battalions below 500 officers and men. The names of these battalions, with their actual strength as well as that of the permanent staff in each case, are given in a list which I will circulate with the Votes. †

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the admitted danger caused to the National Gallery in case of fire by the recruiting station immediately at the

† See Col. 543.

back of the Gallery, and the promises already made for the removal of this building, he will give instructions to have this carried out without further delay.

I do not admit that the proximity of the London recruiting depot is a cause of unusual danger to the National Gallery. I would point out that there are some shops distant from the west end of the Gallery about twenty-two feet only, whereas at the nearest point there is a space of 110 feet between the Gallery and the War Department buildings; the buildings which stood upon this intervening space were pulled down at the and of 1902. I notice that there is a fire brigade station at a short distance from the spot.

Was it not promised six or seven years ago that the land occupied by these barracks should be allotted to the extension of the two National Galleries?

Some intermediate buildings were pulled down a short time ago and the space of 110 feat secured. If those responsible for the National Galleries will find the funds for a new recruiting office I shall not stand in the way of any change.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many battalions of regular soldiers have actually been disbanded; what are the numbers of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, respectively, who have been affected by the order; and what are the numbers of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, respectively, of the disbanded battalions who have retired from the service, been absorbed in existing battalions, or joined the Reserve.

1. Seven of the ten battalions which it was decided to reduce have not existed as separate units since the 15th November last. Two battalions, now in South Africa, are in process of reduction, while the reduction of one battalion (the 3rd battalion, Coldstream Guards) has been postponed for the present. 2. The strength of the nine battalions on the 1st September last was: officers, 237; non-commissioned officers, 751; privates, 5,179. 3. The following return gives the information asked for:—

Officers. N. C. O's. Privates.
Retired or discharged on completion of service, etc.	6	5	44
Transferred to remaining battalions of regiments	6	514	2,843
Transferred to other regiments or staff.	15	23	416
To Reserve		20	322
Deserted			25
	27	562	3,650

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a bounty was offered to men of the disbanded battalions in order to induce them to join other battalions of the Regular Army; and, if so, what is the total amount of money paid in these bounties.

Yes, Sir, bounties up to £10 have been offered to induce the men to join battalions of other regiments. The offer is still open, and so the total amount cannot yet be ascertained.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a volume of standard rates of wages in the kingdom, published by the Labour Department of the Board of Trade on 1st October, 1906, which on page 19 declares the rates of wages for the Ipswich district, as supplied by the National Federation of Master Builders, are 5d. and 5½. per hour; and whether, in view of this statement upon the subject, he will take such action as may be necessary to compel the contractors at the Artillery Barracks, Ipswich, to pay such rates.

My attention has been called to the statement of standard rates referred to, and it was partly in view of that statement that I have had a special inquiry made, as mentioned in my reply to the hon. Member on the 26th ultimo.† The result, however, of the investigation and of conference with the Board of Trade has been to show that varying rates of wages are at the present time current in the Ipswich district; and it does not appear that the contractors referred to, in paying the labourers 4½d. an hour, are infringing the clause of their contract requring them to pay the rate current in the district. The result of the investigation made is to leave doubtful the Answer to the Question whether there is in point of fact a rate current in the district for competent workmen. I propose, therefore, to ask the Board of Trade to make an independent inquiry.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister what action, if any, His Majesty's Government propose to take with regard to the statements made by the Public Accounts Committee, and especially with regard to the case of the intelligence officer, Mr. Noreen, who defrauded the War Office by sending in a double claim for capturing cattle; and what action they propose to take with respect to Colonel Rickman, who certified the claim.

The Reports of the Public Accounts Committee are now under consideration in the various public Departments concerned, and in each case such action as may be necessary will be taken in accordance with the invariable rule. I am investigating the circumstances under which the payments to Mr. Noreen wore made. As will be seen from the correspondence printed in the appendix to the Appropriation Account for 1904–05, the case is by no means free from difficulty and even doubt. If, however, after weighing all the facts it appears to me that there is a reasonable prospect of legal proceedings producing any more satisfactory result than further considerable expenditure of public money I shall direct the military authorities in

† See (4) Debates, clxv., 1228–30.

South Africa to take such action as the legal advisers of the Colonial Government may advise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that Colonel Kick-man was justified in certifying the claim?

I have looked into the circumstances, and it is extremely difficult to tell whether he was justified or whether he was not. I am getting all the information I can with a view to placing it before the legal advisers in South Africa. I will tell my hon. friend privately the circumstances so far as I know thorn at the present time.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there has been any further correspondence between the Government and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Malta; and, if so, whether it will be laid upon the Table of the House.

The Secretary of State has received two memorials from the Archbishop which will be presented to Parliament.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, with reference to the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company arbitration, any sums were paid to Lord St. Aldwyn for travelling expenses in addition to the fee of £5,750; and what foes and travelling expenses the other members of the Arbitration Court received.

Lord St. Aldwyn's fee included all disbursements, as did the fee (4,000 guineas) paid to Mr. Inglis, the arbitrator nominated by the Colonial Government. I understand that the company paid a fee of 0,500 guineas to Sir E. Boyle, the arbitrator nominated by them, of which £5,750 was allowed on taxation; I presume that this included disbursements.

Was not the sum paid to Lord St. Aldwyn the exact capitalised value of the political pension he surrendered to the late Prime Minister?

I do not see how that has any connection with the matter.

We do.

The appointment necessitated Lord St. Aldwyn's going abroad.

May I point out that Lord St. Aldwyn was appointed umpire on the nomination of the arbitrator appointed by the company, which was accepted by the Government arbitrator?

I agree. Lord St. Aldwyn had to travel almost the circumference of the globe, and he was away a long period. Expensive as this arbitration has undoubtedly been, I am not at all prepared to say that the expenses paid to him are the least justifiable part.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the cost of the Tanjong Pagar Dock arbitration, how many of the witnesses and counsel heard went out from England and how many were resident in Singapore; also how long the arbitration and witnesses were absent from England, and how many sittings they held in Singapore.

The Colonial Government were represented by one counsel from England and two resident in the Straits; the company by two from England and two local counsel. Of the Government witnesses, four went from England and twelve wore resident. Four of the company's witnesses went from England and eight wore resident. I am unable to state how long the arbitrators and witnesses were absent from this country; the latter left England at different dates according to the time required for the preparation of their evidence. The Court held ten sittings in Singapore.

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that distress exists in the districts affected by the recent Zulu rebellion, more especially in the country between the Tugela and Tongaat Rivers; whether the authorities have sent relief, and to what extent, to such districts; and whether His Majesty's Government will urge upon the authorities the need for further assistance.

His Majesty's Government have reason to believe that the Government of Natal are taking, and will take, all necessary measures for the relief of distress among the sufferers by the late rebellion and its repression.

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether the Mabira Forest Concession in any way nullifies Sir Harry Johnston's assurance to the natives that they would not be dispossessed of their lands and property; and what measures have been taken to prevent the spread of sleeping sickness, in view of the fact that a considerable area of the concession is within the sphere of influence of the tsetse.

The rights of natives guaranteed by the Uganda Agreement are fully safeguarded by the provisions of the lease to the company, a copy of which can be inspected at the Colonial Office. The Secretary of State has not been informed that sleeping sickness exists in the forest; but we have not yet succeeded in discovering effective precautions against it.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the reasons why the immediate abolition of licensed gambling in the Federated Malay States is impracticable; and if he will also state within what period he expects this evil to be finally abolished.

To ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Government of the Federated Malay States prohibit Malays, Tamils, and Englishmen from frequenting the gambling dons licensed by the aforesaid Government; and if he will state the reasons why the Chinese population is not placed under the same restrictions.

To ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the fact that the revenue of the Federated Malay States is largely in excess of expenditure, and that there is now an accumulated fund of $25,000,000 in the hands of the Government; and that no financial necessity exists for the $3,000,000 per annum derived from gambling licences.

I will answer the hon. Member's throe (Questions together. The reason why the Chinese alone are allowed to gamble is that in the case of Chinese gambling is a national habit to an extent unknown among the other races inhabiting the Peninsula. Total prohibition is regarded by the best qualified, judges as impracticable at present in the case of Chinese, and the only alternative is to regulate the practice of gambling so that it may do as little harm as possible. In deciding that the immediate abolition of licensed gambling is impracticable, the Secretary of State and the Government of the Federated Malay States have not been governed by financial considerations. They are, however, satisfied that if gambling were at once prohibited the prohibition would be ineffectual. The licensed houses would be abolished, but their place would be taken by secret gambling hells, where gambling would be carried on without any restrictions now imposed, and in circumstances likely to lead to frequent quarrels and disturbances of the peace. Even in the small area of the Straits Settlements, where gambling is prohibited by law, it has been found to be impossible entirely to prevent the existence of such establishments, and the greater area and more scattered population of the Federated Malay States would render the task much more difficult there than it is in the neighbouring colony. There is also a practical certainty that the issue of a prohibition, which could not be made effective, would lead to the corruption of the native police forces by bribery and blackmail. In these circumstances, the Secretary of State considers it better to proceed slowly, and to en- deavour to accustom the Chinese population by degrees to the idea of prohibition. As regards the period within which it may be possible to effect a total abolition of licensed gambling, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave in this House on 28th November to the hon. Member for Hoxton.† I can suggest no exact date, but I can assure my hon. friend that His Majesty's Government are no less anxious than he is to put an end to the existing system as soon as it is possible to do so, without causing greater evils than those which it is desired to remove.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government have yet arrived at any decision with regard to the now Transvaal Ordinance which proposes to inflict disabilities upon His Majesty's Indian subjects resident in the Transvaal.

The Secretary of State has informed the High Commissioner that he is not able, without further consideration, to advise His Majesty that the Ordinance referred to should be brought into operation, and it will therefore not be further proceeded with at present.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the report of the proceedings of the deputation which waited on the Secretary of State on behalf of British Indians in the Transvaal on Thursday, 8th November, and appeared in The Times newspaper on the next day, was communicated to The Times by any official of the Colonial Office; and, if so, seeing that no reporters of the Press were allowed to be present, and that the members of the deputation were bound to secrecy, why this report was communicated to The Times and not to those organs of the Press which are supporters of His Majesty's Government.

The report was not communicated to The 'Times by any official of the Colonial Office.

May I ask whether at the conference

† See col. 57–8.

Lord Elgin said it was at his wish that no reporters were present. How in those circumstances did a verbatim report appear in The Times the next morning?

I can only say that no representatives of the Press in the ordinary senso—no reporters—were present, and that no report of the proceedings was supplied by the Colonial Office. The hon. Member is as able as I am to find out how it was the report appeared.

Was any report taken at the time for the Colonial Office?

I do not know; I do not think so.

Were there not two shorthand reporters taking a verbatim report?

I understand from the Question the hon. Member has put to mo that it was at Lord Elgin's desire no reporters were present.

Shorthand writers.

If any member of the deputation or anybody else present took shorthand notes, that is another matter.

Were not official shorthand writers there?

I do not know, I was not present; but if so there will be a record kept at the office; but the report, however collected, was not communicated from the Colonial Office.

May I ask was there not a similar incident in relation to a deputation to the India Office?

A report appeared, but it was prepared and issued without the authority or knowledge of the India Office. We had, of course, our own official reporter and a report for our own use.

I bog to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state what labour-saving appliances have been added to the mines of the Witwatersrand since 1st January, 1906; and, if any have been acquired, what number of unskilled labourers has thus been saved.

The Secretary of State does not possess the information asked for, but Lord Selborne will be requested to send a full report.

asked what were the objections urged by the Portuguese Government against granting facilities for recruiting native labour in Portuguese East Africa to the Robinson group of mines, and would the correspondence between the mine group and Lord Selborne be laid.

said the time for a statement with regard to recruitment of natives in Portuguese East Africa would not have arrived until the negotiations with the Portuguese Government were concluded. No statement could be usefully made till then.

Cannot you answer the first part of the Question?

No, Sir. I said that no part of the correspondence will at present be laid.

Is the correspondence referred to in the hands of the Government?

replied in the affirmative.

Is the situation at present that one capitalist in South Africa is empowered to recruit in Portuguese territory when no other individual is so empowered?

The Secretary of State has made a recent statement in the other House on the question, to which I would draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention.

I beg to ask the Secretary for the Colonies whether he has communicated as promised with the Governor of Lagos concerning the proposed eviction of the veteran soldiers of the Houssa Tribe from houses built at their own expense upon land granted to them by the Government, and with what result; whether the land upon which the houses were built belongs to the Government, and, if not, to whom does it belong; whether, in the case of those who are evicted, full compensation will be granted; whether it is proposed to destroy the mosque belonging to these people, and that the only compensation offered is a grant of £100.

The Secretary of State has informed the Governor of Lagos that he relies upon him to prevent feeling of hardship or injustice, and to give liberal interpretation of provisions made for compensation in the case of poor persons affected by these public improvements, and the Governor has replied that Lord Elgin's wishes will be most carefully followed. The land belongs to the Government. Compensation is being granted in accordance with the terms of the Ordinance, which are reported to the Secretary of State to be adequate. But if it should appear that further provision is required to establish these people in suitable homes— means will have to be found for doing so. The mosque has been valued at £100, but the question whether it should be removed or not was still under consideration when the Governor last wrote.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affaire whether he has received any proposals for holding an International Conference to consider immigration and emigration with a view to their regulation and control.

No such proposal has been received.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give the House any information with regard to the circular recently issued by Sir Robert Hart on the question of the new Chinese Customs Board; and whether he would cause a copy of this circular to be placed in the Library for the information of Members.

A copy of the circular will be presented to Parliament.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, at the recent massacre at Karajovo, many of the assailants wore Turkish uniforms; that, though within sight of the flames of the burning village, the Turkish troops in the neighbourhood offered no assistance to its peaceful inhabitants; and, if the Answer to these Questions be in the affirmative, whether Ill's Majesty's Government will reconsider their decision to consent to an increase in the Customs duties levied upon British imports into Turkey for the purpose of defraying the cost of the Turkish troops in Macedonia.

It is stated in the report, which we have received, that some of the assailants disguised themselves as Turkish soldiers in order not to arouse the suspicions of the villagers; and that the Turkish troops, who were stationed at neighbouring villages, saw and heard nothing at the time of the massacre. There is no connection between those Questions and the proposed increase in the Turkish Customs duties. My right hon. friend cannot make any statement about the latter, which is still under consideration. But if it be agreed to, my right hon. friend thinks the hon. Member will see when Papers are published that the last line of his Question is not a fair statement of the main purposes which the Powers have had in view.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Papers are likely to be laid?

I am afraid I cannot make any statement at present.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to an escheat in what is known as the Page's Estate case; and whether, in view of the repeated allegations of official connivance in the loss of this property to the Crown, he will consider the advisability of setting the whole question at rest once and for all by appointing a small Committee to go fully into the subject and report upon the same.

The circumstances of this case, in which it is alleged that there has been an escheat of certain real estate to the Grown were, in or about the year 1870 and have been repeatedly since that date, brought to the notice of the Treasury, with the result that that Department, acting under legal advice, has always, I have no doubt on sufficient grounds, declined to take any action. In view, however, of the interest which appears to be taken in the matter, I have spoken to the Attorney-General, and we propose to examine the documents ourselves.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is necessary to maintain in the Inland Revenue Department at Somerset House two sets of highly-paid officials to advise the Board, one set with trained and practical experience fitting them to deal with all departmental questions, the other set a clerical staff possessing only piper experience obtained by reading the reports and opinions of the practical men; is he aware that the Board, who are appointed without practical experience, are surrounded by the clerical staff and do not come into direct touch with the practical men, although they are located in the same building; that the clerical staff act as carriers of the reports and papers pro-pared by the practical officials, who must be more competent to explain their own reports and to advise the Board; will he consider whether it would be conducive to greater efficiency and simplify and cheapen the work of the Department, and generally be to the advantage of the Inland Revenue service, for the Board to be in direct touch with their practical advisers, and make such advisers the read heads of the Department.

the Board of Inland Revenue are unable to admit the correctness of the suggestions conveyed by this Question. In their opinion, which is based on long experience, the present organisation of the office would not be improved in regard either to efficiency or simplicity by the changes suggested. The matter is one which cannot be adequately dealt with in answer to a Question.

Was this reply furnished to the right hon. Gentleman by officials who would be detrimentally affected by a reform of the service?

The reply is given on my own authority, and I have satisfied myself as to the accuracy of it.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that Surveyors of Taxes, as a rule, certify repayment claims under Section 165 of the Act of 1842, and thus supersede in their functions the Commissioners for general purposes, who alone are responsible for this duty under the section, and for transmitting the claims to the Commissioners for general purposes, and not to the Board of Inland Revenue as such; will he give the authority on which this Board is said to waive in certain cases the certificate of the General Commissioners prescribed by Section 165, seeing that there is no power vested in them for such action under the section; and whether he proposes to amend the law so as to legalise a practice which the Board says saves delay and annoyance to claimants.

Surveyors of Taxes examine, and verify the facts relating to, claims to re-payment, and such examination and verification (which they would have to undertake in any case) is accepted as sufficient, without the formal certificate of the General Commissioners, under an administrative order of the Board of Inland Revenue, dated 24th February, 1887. I do not accept the suggestion that the General Commissioners are "superseded" by this procedure, nor do I think that objection need be taken to any slight deviation which it may involve from the letter of the law, since an experience of nearly twenty years has shown that it results in advantage to the taxpayer without danger of loss to the revenue. I will consider whether any, and what legislation is needed on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take with a view to provide a better ambulance service for street accidents in London.

I am about to appoint a small committee to inquire into the ambulance arrangements of the metropolis, and my hon. friend has, I am glad to say, consented to give me his assistance in the inquiry by becoming a member of the committee.