To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the first payments of the Cunard subsidy in respect of the two new liners will fall due next financial year; and what is the anticipated amount in that and following years.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will consider the advisability of shifting the headquarters of H.M.S. "Julia," engaged in the work of protecting the fishing industry on the south-west coast, from Falmouth to Plymouth s as the more central point from which to protect the Looe, Plymouth, and Brixham boats.

To ask the Postmaster-General if his attention has been directed to the new harbour on the North Pembrokeshire coast at Fishguard; is he aware that the opening of this new harbour makes it possible for the American and other mails to be delievered in London in some six hours less time than is now the case; and is he prepared to take any steps in the direction of securing to the public in the matter of the delivery of incoming mails the advantages which the opening of Fishguard Harbour renders possible.

To ask the Postmaster - General whether, in view of the fact that the Select Committee on Post Office Servants has not yet presented its report, he will consider it advisable to withhold the arrangements which have already been made at Cork for the holidays of 1907 until the Report is issued.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether loans made by the Public Works Commissioners to Volunteer corps for the purpose of erecting drill halls are secured on the capitation grants or on the buildings erected; and whether, if the latter, such loans constitute a mortgage on such buildings.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a clerk to an inspector of taxes has been compelled to retire on attaining the age of sixty-two years; is he aware that he served thirty-nine years in the Department, and only received a gratuity of £78 on retirement; and whether, seeing that writers with less service and doing less confidential work, receive £100 gratuity, he will reconsider the case of such clerk with a view to granting him further assistance.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that, the opposition of the Treasury to placing the clerks to surveyors of taxes on the establishment is stated to be that the present system is preferred, not only on the grounds of economy, but also for adaption to the requirements of localities, he is aware that the present system grades the clerks in seven classes; that promotion to a higher class invariably means moving to other localities, precisely the same as it would under establishment; and will he state what obstacle there is to placing on the establishment clerks of approved service and ability, on the existing classification and rates of pay

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware of the discontent existing amongst the British seamen at the port of Hamburg owing to the fact that certain shipping masters, who are recognised by His Majesty's Consul at that port, refuse to give employment to British seamen on British vessels requiring men; whether he is aware that the whole supplying of seamen to British ships is in the hands of the so-called shipping masters, and that those shipping masters refuse to accept Britishers because they object to paying shipping fees to obtain berths; and whether he will make inquiries with regard to this matter.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the drowning of a seaman from the British s.s. "Madawaska" at Galveston, Texas; whether he is aware that the seaman in question was handcuffed and locked out in the chart room and, after the vessel left the port of Galvaston, this man was missing from the chartroom, and his body was picked up in the water with the handcuffs upon him; whether any inquiries have been made by the Board of Trade with regard to this matter; and whether any other complaint has reached the Board of Trade with regard to the master of the "Madawaska" placing men in custody in irons on board of the ship on previous voyages.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether, under the regulations of the Board as to grants in aid of the cost of building and sites of training colleges, grants can be made for the building or purchase of hostels in connection with existing colleges; and whether, if the regulations are not so framed as to enable local authorities to avail themselves in this manner of existing training college accommodation, he will consider the desirability of amending the regulations so as to effect this object.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state on what grounds MR. Orr, R.M., persistently refuses licences to carry firearms to farmers in the Ballymacarberry petty sessions district of the county Waterford for the protection of their crops, though some parts of the district are infested by rabbits.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland if he will consider the advisability if extending the provisions of The Ground Game Act, 1880, to Ireland.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether their Lordships have come to any decision with reference to the question of dispensing with carpenter warrant officers in the Royal Navy, as recommended by the Douglas Report, or whether the matter is under consideration.

The matter is still under consideration.

Will the House have an opportunity of considering this matter after it has been dealt with by their Lordships?

Oh, yes.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that in the Official Reports of Parliamentary Proceedings for 14th November he is reported to have stated that only five German battleships have been laid down or are projected for the period 1905–7, inclusive, whereas the number given should have been six; and whether he will cause an amended Answer to be circulated.

The error mentioned was due to a slip of the pen in the original Answer. It was corrected in a letter to the hon. Member who put the Question, which appeared in the Press early in August. As the Answer was not printed in The Parliamentary Debates at the usual time, I anticipated that no report would be printed, and that no further correction was necessary. I am informed by the official reporter, however, that by the personal intervention of the hon. Member for King's Lynn—who put the Question in the first instance—some three months after he had received my correction, the belated and inaccurate report was actually printed on 14th November, without reference to me. Under the circumstances I do not see that any further notice is necessary.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the "Montagu" should now be deducted from the number of British battleships laid down for the period 1895–9, which has been stated by the Admiralty to be nineteen.

The figures in question give the number of ships laid down during the period 1895–1899, and I am unable to see that the loss of the "Montagu" alters the fact that she was one of the ships laid down in that period.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Admiralty propose to continue the regulation forcing captains of ships to give certificates of sobriety to the officers under them; and whether the Admiralty have considered the advisability of presuming that all naval officers conduct themselves with sobriety unless the contrary is proved by such misconduct.

Article 812 of the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions requires every commanding officer to give a certificate as to the conduct of officers, serving under him; and the Admiralty see no reason why the certificate should not, as at present, include a statement as to sobriety.

t beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it has not been the established custom to secure competitive tenders for the construction of warships from firms whose premises have been declared suitable, and whose financial position is satisfactory; and whether, in the case of the three cruisers of the "Invincible" class, this custom was departed from and three firms selected for contracts of several millions sterling, without any opportunity being given to other firms to tender.

This question was settled by the late Board.

Is there any continuity of policy?

I am not responsible for the action of the late Board.

But are not the same Sea Lords at the Admiralty.

The hon. Member can answer that for himself.

asked if contractors to the Government could complete the ships in the yards or places where they are built?

asked for notice.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware of the fact that shipjoiners working in the Royal dockyards are on the average paid 33s. 6d. per week, whilst in private shipyards for doing the same class of work they are paid at the rate of 38s. 6d. per week; and whether he can see his way to grant such an increase of wages to them as will bring their wages nearer to the standard rate of wages paid in private yards.

The Admiralty are of opinion that the rates now paid to joiners represent the wages which would be paid for the same class of labour by a good employer in the several districts in which the yards are situated. If the hon. Member will refer to the Standard Time Rates of Wages issued by the Board of Trade (Cd. 3245) he will see that the rate paid in the Royal dock- yards (8⅜d. per hour) compares favourably with the rates in force in the private trade. The difference in the total weekly earnings is due to the fact that the Dockyard week is 48 hours, while in the private trade it is 53 or 54 hours.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the powers of the Board of Admiralty, with reference to the review or revision of the proceedings and sentences of the recent courts martial, extend not merely to the cancelling or reduction of sentences, but to the expression of opinion in the case of findings or of sentences which seem under all the circumstances to be unsatisfactory; are there any instances of expressions of opinion on the part of the Board of the unsatisfactory character of findings of courts martial or of sentences, and of action taken by the Board in consequence.

The powers of the Admiralty in relation to courts martial are defined by Section 53 of the Naval Discipline Act. As regards the second part of the Question, there have been several occasions on which the Admiralty have criticised the findings of a Court.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the memorandum of the Board of Admiralty, whose issue with reference to the recent courts martial at Portsmouth has been promised, will be the work of the Naval Lords, who do not vacate office with a change of administration, or will likewise be the work of the First Lord of the Admiralty and of the Civil Lord; whether the Secretary to the Admiralty is himself a member of the Board of Admiralty, and has he a consultative voice, as of right, at Board meetings; whether the First Lord of the Admiralty has a supreme authority at the Board of Admiralty or a mere co-ordinate authority, and, in the event of differences of opinion arising between him and the Naval Lords with reference to the terms and conclusions of the memorandum, is his opinion controlling and decisive; and on whom will the responsibility to Parliament and the liability to Parliamentary criticism appertain for this memorandum, and will it be published before the prorogation of Parliament.

Admiralty Minutes issued in the name of the Board are the work of the Board collectively, including the secretaries. The position of the First Lord in relation to Parliament and to his colleagues is defined by Order in Council of the 10th August, 1904.

But surely the First Lord is supreme. He is responsible to this House, and his opinion should prevail over that of his colleagues.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Board of Admiralty, in considering the memorandum with reference to the naval courts martial, will have regard to the fact that nine stokers were sentenced to terms of imprisonment, amounting in the aggregate to nine years, seven months, and eleven days, in consequence of a disturbance originating by the giving of the on-the-knee order, which is not permissible if given as a punishment, but which is permissible as a disciplinary measure; and whether, owing to the difficulty of making a distinction between a punishment and a disciplinary measure, the Board will consider the propriety of the abolition of the on-the-knee order in all cases except for She purposes of instruction or drill. I beg also to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the on-the-knee order, formerly given to delinquents at the Bar of the House of Commons, was abolished by a Standing Order of this House so far back as 1772; and whether the Board of Admiralty will consider the propriety of incorporating a similar order in the King's Naval Regulations.

Both these Questions raise points which will be dealt with in the Admiralty Minute, the contents of which I am unable to anticipate.

May I ask whether, in view of the unsatisfactory decisions of naval courts martial, the right hon. Gentleman will consider the advisability of introducing a civil legal element?

Notice should be given of such a Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the increased duties and expenses falling on brigade majors of Volunteer brigades under the new scheme, he will consider the advisability of increasing the remuneration, especially when the duties extend over a large district and the brigade includes a large number of battalions.

There is no intention of making any alteration. The remuneration is not regarded as pay but as a grant to cover all out-of-pocket expenses so as to ensure that an officer taking one of these posts shall not be a loser by it. The general officers commanding have been asked to furnish reports on the working of the present system early in the new year.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the question of camp, travelling, and forage allowances for adjutants serving under the same conditions?

The question will come up for consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the approach of the season in which Volunteer recruiting is most effective, he will permit those Volunteer battalions, who have hitherto taken the fifteen days training, to continue the same for the ensuing year.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on the 21st ultimo to my hon. friend the Member for East Edinburgh,† to which I have nothing to add.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for

†See (4) Debate^*, clxv., 814.

The Answer to the first and third parts of my hon. friend's Question is in the affirmative. The point raised in the second part of the Question will not be lost sight of.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the claims of Stirling to be a cavalry centre, in view of the impossibility of extending the inadequate accommodation at Piers-hill and Mary hill, and of the circumstance that the country around Stirling affords facilities for military training, and that already Stirling is a military centre midway between Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee, with complete connections by land and water.

I am well aware of the claims of Stirling to be a cavalry station, but I am none the less obliged to my hon. friend for so emphatically reminding me of them.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the native babus in the Madras secretariat office have electric punkah fans, whereas the British troops serving in the same fort, Fort St. George, have no punkahs at all between 1st September and 1st April, and when they do have them are only allowed coolie-pulled punkahs which give little or no relief; and whether he will see that this difference of treatment is rectified.

The provision of electric punkahs in barracks and military build- ings was begun in 1903, and, if continued on the lines originally contemplated, will lead to the provision of electric punkahs for the British troops at Fort St. George, if they have not already been provided.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether representations have been made to the Government of Bengal and other provincial Governments in favour of the inclusion of temperance in the curriculum of schools; and whether he can state what reply has been given to these representations.

I am not aware what, action, if any, has been taken in this matter, but I will inquire.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to a petition of the Mahajana Sabha, of Madras, praying the Government of India to constitute a special board to realise the assets of the late firm of Arbuthnot & Company; and whether, looking to the distress occasioned by this failure and the inadequacy of the existing law to deal with such a case, he will advise the Government of India to initiate legislation to protect the interests of the thousands of small depositors whose savings, amounting to about four crores of rupees, are involved in the present crisis.

I have seen the memorial referred to. I am advised that the statute provides for the appointment by the Court of special assignees, and also, empowers the creditors to apply to the Court for the appointment of assignees to be elected by them. I understand that this course would answer the purposes, which the memorialists have in view, and I have no doubt that the question whether it should be adopted has been, or will be, placed before the Court by the parties interested and carefully considered by the Court. I see no reason for special measures for the purpose of taking the matter out of the Court's jurisdiction.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman, was aware that the distress occasioned by this failure was very widespread and exceptional, and that if he could see his way to take any action in the direction indicated by his hon. friend, or to associate the Government with the bankruptcy proceedings it would have a good effect in restoring confidence in Southern India.

said he was giving his attention to all the circumstances connected with this unfortunate failure, but he doubted very much whether he could assent to the course proposed.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will consider the advisability of appointing as a colleague to Sir Hamilton Smith in his inquiries into Indian factories an Indian gentleman experienced in the conditions of Indian mill labour.

The object of Sir Hamilton Freer Smith's mission is to bring to bear on the management of Indian factories the knowledge and experience gained by him in the administration of the English factory law. I do not propose to associate any colleague with him; but he will have every facility for ascertaining and reporting on the views of Indian gentlemen, to which I am confident he will attach due weight.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether His Majesty's Government is aware that, in connection with Viscount Kitchener's scheme for extensive redistribution of garrisons and forces on and beyond our Indian frontiers, due northward from the Pesham, Hoti-Murdan line, it is intended to strengthen the fortifications of Chitral and other defences on the mountainous routes beyond, leading to Gilgit and the Pamirs; that these proposed extensions purport to be prompted by alleged rumours of some Russian railway being designed to be taken through the defiles of the Hindu Kush; and that General Barrow proceeded with the recent annual reliefs to Chitral, being deputed to report to the Commander-in-Chief on the measures to carry out the proposed extensions of military preparation in these remote regions beyond the borders of British India; what, if any, of the proposals included in draft redistribution scheme (drafted early in 1904) sanctioned, apparently, by the then Secretary of State in Council, for establishment of outposts or military stations in the tribal territories outside the statutory borders of British India or the external frontiers of His Majesty's Indian possessions are still under consideration; and (amongst others) is the proposal for establishment of a cantonment at or near Torseppah, in the mountainous country above Ali Musjid, definitively abandoned.

I know of no intention to strengthen the defences of Chitral or of the mountainous routes beyond leading to Gilgit and the Pamirs. Chitral is for military purposes included in the Peshawar divisional command and General Barrow visited it on inspection duty. No outposts or military stations in tribal territories outside the statutory border of British India or the external frontiers of His Majesty's Indian possessions are contemplated. As I stated in the House last month a proposal for placing a permanent cantonment at or near Torseppah has, as I believe, been abandoned.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of the Indian Industrial Conference, held at Benares last Christmas, and to the plea for an industrial survey on the lines pressed on the Government by Dr. Forbes Watson in 1872, and supported by Sir Louis Mallet; and whether, looking to the fact that the need for such a survey for the industrial development of India was recognised by the Government in 1888, by the Committee on Industrial Education, and by the Member for Commerce and Industry in the Viceregal Council last March, he will cause early steps to be taken so that accurate information as to industrial products and means of production may be made readily available to agriculturists, manufacturers, and men of business generally.

I have seen the Paper read before the Indian Industrial Conference in which the need for an industrial survey of India was urged. As the hon. Member is aware, the proposal has received the general approval of the Government of India, and the local governments have been urged to make a survey of the state of indigenous industries within their territories. I trust that this may result in the collection of much valuable information.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, having regard to repeated assurances given by the Colonial Office as to the maintenance of the rights of natives to land, property, and freedom of labour, and to the fears expressed by many Members that these may be violated by recent or future concessions and grants of trading rights in West Africa and elsewhere, the Secretary of State will lay down publicly general minimum conditions respecting the issue of territorial leases by governors or administrators, upon which alone the Secretary of State can approve such leases or allow them to be made.

In West Africa there is very little land at the disposal of the Government, but the land generally is in the ownership of native chiefs or tribes. Laws have been passed in each Colony regulating the grant of rights over land by natives; and it may be observed that the effect of these laws was to render invalid a great part of the concessions by native chiefs in Sierra Leone which have recently attracted attention. In East Africa where all land is held to be Crown land, there are provisions in the Crown Lands Ordinance governing the grant of leases of Crown lands by which the rights of natives are protected; and there are similar provisions in the Uganda Ordinance, although there the land at the disposal of the Crown is limited. Having regard to the laws already in force in East and West Africa, it does not seem necessary to lay down any fresh conditions respecting the issue of leases by Government.

Perhaps my hon. friend will consider the recent concessions in the Pacific Islands as showing the necessity for a wider extension of the principles.

Yes, Sir, and if my right hon. friend will speak to me on the subject I will see that his points are brought to the notice of the Secretary of State.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will lay the enactments and proclamations by which the Government of the Federated Malay States prohibit gambling in certain districts of the Federated Malay States upon the Table of this House.

The enactments and proclamations will be placed in the Library of this House as soon as received.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonic whether he will state the dates upon which the leases of the gambling farms in the Federated Malay States terminate, and why gambling should be forbidden in the non-mining districts and permitted in the mining districts; and whether he will state when the prohibition of gambling will be extended throughout the Federated Malay States.

The leases of different farms expire at different dates, and I cannot give any full or exact figures at present. I explained to the House on 3rd December, † in reply to the hon. Member for Renfrewshire, the position adopted by His Majesty's Government in this Question, and the reasons which have influenced them. I shall be glad to send the hon. Member a copy of that Answer if he desires it.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if it is proposed to present further Papers on British Guiana.

No, Sir, not at present.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the

†See (4) Debrtes, clxvi., 580–582.

In view of the agitation that occurred last year in Georgetown, the Governor of British Guiana in March last appointed a representative Commission to inquire into the best means of inducing the unemployed in the Colony and those who have not the means to obtain land in the ordinary way, to settle upon the land and ultimately to acquire ownership in it. The Colonial Government have recently voted funds for carrying out experimentally the proposals of that Commission. The Secretary of State is advised that every facility is given to those desirous of obtaining Crown lands by purchase, and that no amendment of the existing Crown Land Regulations is necessary to enable the working population to obtain such lands on reasonable terms.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the frontier line between Persia and Turkey, extending some 700 miles from Mount Ararat to the head of the Persian Gulf and between twenty and forty miles in breadth, which was the subject of an understanding between England and Russia in 1865, and as to which an identic map was delivered by England and Russia to the Governments of Persia and Turkey, has yet been settled; whether, since 1865, any further steps have been taken to mark the frontier line within that region; and whether His Majesty's Government consider that the time has now arrived when representations might properly be made to the two Governments concerned with a view to a final settlement of the question.

The Answer to the first Question is in the negative. The Answer to the second Question is in the affirmative, and I have to refer the hon. Member to Article 60 of the Treaty of Berlin, and to the Convention between Turkey and Persia signed at Constantinople on August 3rd, 1869 (see Hertslet's Persian Treaties, 1891). Since 1869 and 1870, when maps of the frontier zone, twenty to fifty miles broad, were communicated to the Ottoman and Persian Governments respectively, several attempts have been made to reach an agreement in regard to the whole frontier, and a Commission of British, Russian,. Turkish and Persian delegates discussed the subject in 1875–1876, but no final arrangement has been reached. A Turco-Persian Commission is shortly to meet to endeavour to arrive at an agreement in regard to the districts of Vazné and Lahidjan. It is already known that His Majesty's Government, in concert with the Russian Government, would be willing to facilitate the progress of the negotiations, if it was necessary and desired by those who are interested.

inquired if there was any objection to placing in the Library a copy of the map and any correspondence necessary to elucidate it?

suggested that, the hon. Member should confer with him privately.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the universal custom in British Embassy chapels in foreign countries, other than in Turkey, that prayers are offered up for the ruling sovereigns; and, if so, what is the reason; for the exception in the case of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan of Turkey.

The question, of offering up prayers for the ruling sovereigns is a part of the spiritual administration of British Embassy chapels and is left to the discretion of the chaplain in each case. (Regulation 13, Act 6, George IV, cap. 87.) I have, therefore, not inquired into what the existing practice may be in any of the chapels.

asked whether he was to understand that it was left entirely to the discretion of the chaplain as to what sovereign he was to pray for at the expense of the nation.

said it was left to his discretion. High ecclesiastical authorities were, he reminded the hon. Member often very reluctant to interfere in a question of ritual, and he had no intention of rushing in where high ecclesiastical authorities feared to tread.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the date of the last Consular Report issued by the British Consul at Bucharest.

There has been, up to the present, no British Consular officer at Bucharest, except the translator to His Majesty's Legation, who had the rank of Vice-Consul, and the reports on the trade and commerce of Roumania have been hitherto furnished by His Majesty's Consul - General at Galatz. The last Report, for the year 1905, was issued early in June of the present year, (3618, Annual Series). A British Consulate has now been established at Bucharest, and Reports will in future be furnished by His Majesty's Consul at that capital.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the date of the next Hague Conference has yet been settled; and whether the Powers have agreed to include the question of disarmament or the arrest of armaments in the discussions of the Conference.

His Majesty's Government have not yet learned that any date has been settled for the meeting of this Conference. With regard to the latter part of the Question, I have nothing at present to add to the Answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for North Salford on 9th April last, † and to my own statement in the House of Commons on the 9th of May, which explain the attitude of His Majesty's Government.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the proposed increase of the Japanese and American Navy Estimates has been the only out-

† See (4) Debates, clv., 984.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the credibility of the statement that, during the massacre and incendiarism at Karajovo, the Turkish troops quartered in the neighbouring villages neither saw nor heard anything of what was going on; and whether the military greatly exceeds the civil expenditure in Macedonia, and is therefore mainly responsible for the deficit in the Macedonian Budget, which it is proposed to defray out of new revenues to be derived from increased customs duties.

The statement is taken from the report of a gendarmerie officer. I do not see how any better information can be obtained. His Majesty's Government have already made strong representations to the Turkish Government urging the suppression of Greek bands. As regards the second part of the Question, it is true that the military exceeds the civil expenditure in the Macedonian vilayets. But both have been increased, the latter to a greater extent than the former, so that it cannot be said that the military expenditure is solely responsible for the deficit in the Budget.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any official information showing that the strength of the Japanese army is to be increased by nearly 50 per cent; and, if so, whether he can give the House any information as to the causes which have prompted this step.

I have received no official information in the sense indicated in the hon. Member's Question. The matter is not one on which any other Power could make public statements, as it concerns the Japanese Government.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of proposing a substantial tax on all holders of hereditary titles, to be graduated according to the rank of such holders, together with a surtax on all those holders of such titles who receive a writ of summons to Parliament.

This, like all other suggestions for tapping new reservoirs of revenue, shall receive my consideration.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the principle that the Income Tax is based upon ability to pay, he will arrange in future graduations of the Tax to carry out this principle more thoroughly by granting special rebates for large families.;

I am afraid I can add nothing to the reply which I gave to my hon. friend upon this subject on the 4th instant.†

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, considering that a chief constable can at present dismiss any constable without appeal within a few weeks of his pension, even upon mistaken information, he will consider the advisability of any constable being allowed to appeal to quarter sessions, provided that such a man has served over three-quarters of the time necessary for pension.

I have no reason for thinking any amendment of the law in the sense suggested by the hon. Member is desirable. No case is known at the Home Office of any constable being dismissed by a chief constable within a few weeks of becoming due for pension. There seems on the contrary some reason to fear that chief constables may be sometimes tempted to deal too leniently

† See (4) Debates, clxvi., 748–9.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the recent increase in the number of Chinese settled in Liverpool and Birkenhead; whether he is aware that there are some seventy Chinese laundries in Liverpool and Birkenhead; will he say whether the Chinese who work in these laundies have brought with them any Chinese women; whether he is. aware that these Chinese maintain a number of opium and gambling dens which are the resort of the Chinese sailors and firemen who come into the Mersey on certain lines of steamers; and whether he proposes to take any, and, if any, what, action in the matter.

I understand that there has been some increase in the number of Chinese settled in Liverpool but none in Birkenhead. There are altogether sixty-three Chinese laundries in the two places. It is not the practice of the Chinamen who resort to Liverpool and Birkenhead to bring women with them. As regards the last part of the Question I am informed that, since the cases to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member on the 5th April last.† the police, though they have kept strict watch, have not been able to get evidence on which proceedings under the Gaming Acts could be instituted. In the circumstances there is no action that I can take.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been, called to the inquiry into the causes of the accident at Houldsworth coal pit, in the parish of Dalrymple, whereby two men lost their lives; whether he has received any report on the defects in the machinery, as disclosed in the evidence, and on the fact that the man in charge of the engine had worked thirteen hours when the machinery failed to act properly; and whether he can take any steps to prevent excessive

†See (4) Debates, clv., 330.

Yes, Sir. I have received a Report on the proceedings at the inquiry into this accident, which I greatly regret to hear of. I am informed that no defects in the machinery were disclosed at the inquiry. The cause of the accident was not definitely ascertained, but the engineman attributed it to an unavoidable flow of water from the boiler into the engine. As to the hours worked, I understand that the engineman had been thirteen hours on duty during the night, but I am not informed how much of that time he was actually at work. The hours of the shifts is a matter of arrangement among the men—the work at night is usually very much lighter than the work during the day. The question of winding accidents and their causes is now before the Royal Commission on Mining. I have called their attention to this case.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a case tried at Halesowen police court on 27th November last, in which a man was charged with flogging and ill-treating a little girl named Emma Turner, who was under his care; whether he is aware that the evidence showed a long list of extremely cruel acts committed on a defenceless infant; and whether, in view of the fine of £4 inflicted by the magistrate, he proposes to take any action to enable more severe penalties to be inflicted in such cases.

My attention having been called to this case by the hon. Member's Question, I have obtained a copy of the notes of evidence, and I find that the child was subjected to what seems to me cruel and excessive punishment; but the justices inform me that in inflicting only a fine of £4 on the defendant they took into consideration the fact that the child whom he had taken into his family out of kindness, had committed repeated acts of dishonesty, that the defendant held a good character, and had a wife and family dependent upon his weekly earnings, who would have no means of support if he had been committed to prison. The maximum penalty for the offence is six months imprisonment or a fine of £25; but, subject to that maximum, it is for the justices to determine in their discretion what penalty should be inflicted in each individual case, having regard to the circumstances. I have no power to interfere in the direction of increasing penalties with the discretion of the justices.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the British Colonies in which railways are managed by the State; the total mileage, original capital, and annual revenue of the State railways in each of those Colonies; the average earning per train mile in the Colonies where there is State management; the average earning per train mile in England, Ireland, and Scotland; the percentage of revenue that goes to shareholders in England, Scotland, and Ireland; and in Colonies where railways are State-owned the percentage which is free for State purposes.

On the 7th instant I had forwarded to the hon. Member a copy of the Return granted on the 13th November, on the Motion of my hon. friend the Member for North Paddington, showing the cost of building, or acquisition, the financial results (revenue, working expense, net loss or profit, etc.), etc., etc., of certain railways in foreign countries and British possessions. This Return is still in process of compilation, as the particulars have had to be asked for through the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office from the different Governments concerned.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the salaries of the Railway Commissioners amount to £15,000 a year, and their expenses to £6,000 a year, and that the Railway Department of the Board of Trade, including salaries, travelling and legal expenses, but excluding rent and printing, costs nearly £13,000 a. year, making a total expenditure of about £34,000 a year almost entirely on account of railway regulation; whether he is aware that British traders are constantly complaining of high rates and insufficient regulation; and whether he will consider the advisability of converting State regulation into State control, as practised in British India, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere.

I am unable to understand how my hon. friend has arrived at his figures. The total of £6,140 which I gave as the expenditure of the Railway and Canal Commission includes salaries. I may point out that the three Commissioners ex officio, who are Judges, receive no addition to their judicial salaries in respect of their work on the Commission. My hon. friend has further given insufficient weight to the fact, to which I called his attention, that a considerable deduction must be made from the cost of the Railway Department of the Board of Trade in respect of work not connected with railways. Such deduction should probably be at least two-fifths of the total cost of the Department. I fear I cannot undertake to deal with the large question of policy which he raises in a reply to a Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, considering the high death rate amongst infants under one year, some of the causes of which are preventable, he is taking any steps, and, if so, what, to deal with the matter; and, in particular, whether it is suggested that a Royal Commission should be appointed to examine into and report upon the whole question of infantile mortality, with a view of legislation being introduced at an early date.

My right hon. friend has asked me to reply to this Question. The Government fully realise the importance of the subject of infant mortality, and I am collecting information with reference to the influences affecting it. A suggestion has been made as to the appointment of a Royal Com- mission to inquire into the matter, but I do not think it would be desirable to appoint such a Commission at the present time. In reply to a further Question, Mr. John Burns said that the possibility of dealing with some of the questions involved by administrative means was under consideration, but there was no intention at present to appoint either a Commission or a Departmental Committee.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether it is proposed to introduce a Bill next session for the purpose of giving effect to the two main recommendations of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Vagrancy, viz., the transfer of the superintendence of vagrant wards from the Poor Law authorities to the police, and the establishment of labour colonies to which habitual vagrants may be sent for detention.

I am in communication with my right hon. friend the Home Secretary on this subject, but I am not in a position to give any intimation as to legislation next session with regard to it.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General why the weights and measures used by the Post Office are not subject to inspection by the official inspectors of weights and measures; what system exists for checking Post Office weights and scales; whether the Post Office checks its own weights and scales; and whether he will consider the advisability of arranging that a Government department which carries on business in competition with private traders should be subject as the latter to have their weights and scales inspected by inspectors appointed by the ordinary authorities.

Post Office weights and scales are not liable to inspection by the official inspectors because, although the question was raised in this House, the Weights and Measures Acts have not been made binding on the Crown. The weights and scales are periodically tested by officers of the Post Office who are furnished for this purpose with standard weights. The existing arrangements are found satisfactory, and I see no reason for adopting the suggestion made in the latter part of the hon. Member's Question which would involve considerable additional cost.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to a packet posted at Portsmouth to a Mr. J. J. Young, J.P., of Portsmouth, and which was surcharged 1d. on the ground of the same exceeding two ounces in weight; whether he is aware that Mr. Young on receiving the packet immediately took it to the Portsmouth General Post Office, where it was weighed by the officials and found to be under two ounces, and that other packets containing the same document were posted at the same time and were not surcharged; and whether, seeing that any moisture (if any) absorbed may have been absorbed by the packet whilst in custody of Post Office officials, he will arrange for the return of the 1d. surcharge and will consider the advisability of allowing the return of such surcharges on reasonable proof being given to the local postmaster.

I find that eight of the packets to which the hon. Member refers weighed more than two ounces each when tested in the Portsmouth Post Office soon after posting, and that all of those were surcharged. The contents of the packets are stated to have left the printer's hands only a short time before the packets were posted; and the packet in question no doubt lost weight, through the drying of the paper, while it was in the Post Office. A packet stated to be a facsimile of the one sent to Mr. Young has since been obtained and is found to weigh more than two ounces; and in these circumstances I do not see my way to returning the amount of the charge collected from Mr. Young.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the children in the public elementary schools of Strelly and Bilborough, in Nottinghamshire, were given holidays on the 6th, 7th, 21st, and 26th November, and that the reason for such holidays was that Mr. F. Kekewich Edge had shooting parties on such days, and used certain of the boys as stops and beaters of game; and will he take such measures as shall prevent boys being withdrawn from the school in future.

I have no information in regard to the incident referred to in the Question. In reply to the concluding paragraph, I must remind the hon. Member that, subject to the opening of a school for the minimum number of times in the year required by the Code, the closing of a school on a particular day rests with the managers subject absolutely to the consent of the local authority. It is to the local authority therefore that the hon. Member should in the first instance address his inquiry. I may add that the practice of closing a school and thus stopping the education of the children merely for the convenience of shooting parties is in my view highly reprehensible, and I shall be glad to take whatever steps may be in my power to put a stop to it.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that The Times newspaper is issuing from week to week a black list of publishers, and is inciting the public to boycott all volumes issued by such publishers; and whether it is his intention to institute proceedings against the proprietors and managers of The Times newspaper for criminal conspiracy to injure other publishers, or to ask for an injunction to restrain them from continuing to publish the black list referred to.

This matter is not being officially brought to my notice, and I have formed no opinion on the legality of the proceedings referred to. Some of the elements of criminal conspiracy seem to be lacking, and I do not as at present advised propose to take any action.

asked whether the hon. and learned Gentleman was not aware that to this criminal conspiracy the manager and proprietor of The Times were parties, and was he not also aware that proceedings had been taken in hundreds of cases against persons in Ireland for far flimsier reasons.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for East Bristol, as Church Estates Commissioner, the number of licensed houses owned by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in the East Riding of Yorkshire, the number of leases granted or renewed to licensed premises during the past ten years, and the number of leases which will fall in during the next five years, and where, in the latter case, such houses are situated.

So far as the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are aware, there is no licensed house upon any of their estates in the East Riding of Yorkshire. It may be that there are licensed houses on some of the land, held upon beneficial leases for lives granted by the Commissioners' predecessors in title still outstanding, or upon copyholds of inheritance in manors belonging to the Commissioners, but such properties are not under the control of the Commissioners.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture whether during the last thirty years, the dependence of the United Kingdom on imported food has increased from 124,000,000 sterling to 205,000,000; whether the area of corn crops has diminished in the last thirty years by 3,000,000 acres; and whether any other European country shows such a marked decline in agriculture.

May I answer this for my hon. friend. The total value of articles classified as food in the Trade Returns (including tea, coffee, cocoa, wine, beer, spirits and mineral waters) imported into the United Kingdom was £126,000.000 in 1875, and £208,000,000 in 1905. The area under all corn crops in the United Kingdom was 11,399,030 acres in 1875 and 8,350,796 acres in 1905. Similar Returns for the same period are only available for certain European countries, but in no case do they indicate so great a reduction in the acreage under corn.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many agricultural labourers have been thrown out of employment by the reduction of the corn area?

How much of the land has been taken out of cultivation and applied to sporting purposes?

Obviously I cannot answer such Questions without notice.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Board of Public Works has taken any steps to collect the drainage charge upon the farm now held at Doonaha East by Thomas Liddane; whether he is aware that this Thomas Liddane borrowed £130 from the Board of Works for the drainage of his farm at Rehy, and how much of this loan has been paid; why has the Board of Works, with its experience of Thomas Liddane at Rehy, neglected to demand payment of the loan on the Doonaha farm; and whether the Board will immediately press for the loan.

I am informed that the hon. Member is mistaken in supposing both these farms to be held by the same individual. The tenant in possession of the farm at Doonaha East is not Thomas but James Liddane, and the loan for drainage on that farm was not made to him, but to one Connor Haugh, who was not James Liddane's predecessor in title. I learn that Thomas Liddane borrowed £120 from the Board upon the security of his interest in the farm at Rehy, and of this sum £20 0s. 7d. has been repaid. I am able to give no further information to the hon. Member beyond assuring him that the Board of Works are acting strictly in accordance with legal advice.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if any Supplementary Estimates are to be presented during the Autumn Session.

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware of the.action of the Motherwell Town Council, who on Tuesday, 4th December, by resolution, suspended the operation of the closing order for shops during Christmas and New Year weeks; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any and, if any, what action in the matter.

No information on the matter referred to by my hon. friend has reached me.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether having regard to the fact recently given in official evidence by one of the Estates Commissioners that, in the case of poor holdings, judicial rents are habitually fixed upon the tenant's property in spite of the statutory provision forbidding that to be done, he will consider the desirability of promulgating a rule on the subject in accordance with the law for the guidance of Commissioners and valuers and the protection of the people.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they do not know to what particular statement the Question refers. It may, however, be pointed out that judicial rents are fixed by the Land Commission Court under the provisions of the Land Law Acts. The matter is entirely within the jurisdiction of the Land Commission, and the Government have no power to interfere, by rule or otherwise, with the discretion which Parliament has vested in that body.

The Government surely can interfere by putting an end to the appointment of the nominees of Irish landlords as sub-commissioners.

I am not aware that that is the case.

Yes, of the sub-commission recently re-appointed the great majority were landlord nominees.

Each case is carefully considered when the time for re-appointment comes.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will obtain, through the Department of Agriculture, a Report on the condition of typical future tenants and of the farms they occupy, with a view to showing the effects of excessive rent, insecurity, and exclusion from the Land Courts except with the unobtainable permission of the landlord; and if he can hold out any hope of legislation next Session of admitting the 70,000 tenants of this class to the benefits of the ordinary law applicable to other tenants.

The operation of the Land Law Acts is not a matter with which the Department of Agriculture have any official concern; and the Land Commission inform me that they have no information which would enable them to make a report upon the subject of the Question. The Act of 1881, which provided for the judicial fixing of fair rents, deliberately excluded future tenants from its operation, and, as I have repeatedly stated, I am not prepared, in answer to a Question, to discuss the difficult and intricate subject of the possibility or desirability of legislation in regard to these future tenants.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland having regard to the fact that he was asked last May for a Royal Commission to inquire into uneconomic holdings and untenanted land in Ireland on the express condition that it should report before the end of 1906, with a view to legislation next session, can he say approximately at what date the Commission appointed will report.

I would remind the hon. Member that on 18th July † he asked me whether the Royal Commission on congestion in Ireland would be required to report within the present year; and I replied that the Commission would, it was hoped, report at the earliest date at which it could do so consistently with the proper consideration of the matters referred to it. I may add that it was never contemplated that a time limit could be imposed on the very important labours of the Commission. I understand that the Commission have already held a large number of sittings, but a great deal of important evidence remains to be taken, not only from the departments concerned, but also from witnesses in the congested districts, where sittings are to be held.

The Government can take steps to prevent large tracts of untenanted land being sold back to the landlord.

The Estates Commissioners are doing their best to acquire all the untenanted lands they can.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will inquire of the Estates Commissioners when they propose to divide Major Hickman's land at Rehy, near Carrigaholt, West Clare, between the tenants, who purchased their holdings on the distinct understanding that the farm, over 300 acres in his own hands, should be divided amongst them; whether Major Hickman offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners this farm; and, if they have purchased it, what is the cause for the delay, seeing that it is nine months since Major Hickman offered the farm for sale to the Estates Commissioners.

As I informed the hon. Member on 5th March last, ‡ the originating application in respect of this estate includes 305 acres of land which the vendor proposes to sell to the Land Commission for distribution among the

† See (4) Debates, clxi., 212–3.

‡See (4) Debates, cliii., 101.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state when the first Report of the Congested Districts Commission will be published; and whether it will contain the evidence given on the proposed institution of a Government brand for cured fish.

The first Report of the Royal Commission on Congestion, with an appendix of evidence, was presented to Parliament on 27th November, and will, I understand, shortly be circulated. It contains evidence on the subject of a Government brand for cured mackerel. I am informed that the second Report and appendix will be presented to Parliament during the present month, and this also will contain evidence on the subject. If further evidence as to a Government brand for fish should be received by the Commission it will doubtless appear in subsequent Reports.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the recent meeting of the Council of Agriculture in Dublin a resolution was carried in favour of holding a conference with reference to the proposed institution of a Government brand for cured fish; can he say when and where it is proposed to hold this conference; and will steps be taken to facilitate the attendance of representatives from the small curing stations as well as of large curing firms and others engaged in the fish trade.

I am informed that a resolution to the effect stated was passed by the Council of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture will arrange for the holding of a series of meetings in the different curing districts in order to give persons interested an opportunity of expressing their views. Due notice of the meetings will be given as soon as the dates have been fixed.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the agreements to purchase the Galbraith (Ballinamuck, county Longford) estate have yet been lodged; and, if so, will the Estates Commissioners insist that the 200 acres of bog and plantation on this property will be handed over for the sole use of the tenants.

The Estates Commissioners inform mo that no purchase agreements in respect of the Galbraith estate, county Longford, have yet been lodged with them.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, knowing that there is £130,000 to the credit of the Agricultural Board which is unallotted for any purpose, he will use his influence with the Board to get the £3,000 that the engineers stated it would take to deepen the passage to Seafield pier and blast the Wild Rock so as to make the passage safe for the fishermen and trading vessels.

If the hon. Member will refer to my Answer to the Question of the hon. Baronet the Member for North Wexford on 3rd December, † he will see that the unallocated balance of £130,000 which stands to the credit of the Department's endowment fund is required to meet the present excess of annual expenditure over normal income on the purposes mentioned in that Answer. I informed the hon. Member on 29th November ‡ that the expense of deepening the channel and removing part of the rock opposite to the entrance would amount to about £3,000, and that this work would be of little use unless a breakwater were constructed at a considerable further cost. the Department of Agriculture are of opinion that so large an expenditure would not be warranted by any fishery development which it would be calculated to promote, and they would, therefore, not feel justified in contributing

† See (4) Debates, clxvi,, 552.

‡ See (4) Debates, clxvi., 311–312.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state in how many districts in Ireland there is such an absence of crime that he has felt justified in allowing the police to patrol singly; and what number of new districts have been so dealt with during the present year.

I understand that the system of one-man patrols by day was introduced into certain counties in Ireland in October, 1903, and that since June, 1904, that system has been in force in all counties without exception. County inspectors, however, are given the discretion of detailing two-men patrols for duty by day in any locality in which they may consider it requisite. This course has, I am informed, been found necessary in but few localities. The system of one-man patrols does not apply to night duty.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many cases of eviction under the seventh section of the Act of 1887 were registered in county Longford during the year ending 31st March, 1906; and in how many eases was the decree executed, and total evictions carried out.

During the year ending 31st March, 1906, fifteen notices of eviction were filed in county Longford under Section 7 of the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1887. I am informed that in none of these cases was eviction carried out.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement, from Michael Baxter, Corrabeagh, on the O'Beirne estate, in county Leitrim, and if the same will be considered.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have received the application mentioned in the Question and have referred it to one of their inspectors for inquiry and report.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state at how many Irish ports stations for grading butter would be required.

Butter is exported from at least eleven Irish ports, and the Department of Agriculture consider that grading stations would be required at about eight of these ports.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention had been called to the speech delivered by the late Chief Secretary for Ireland at a Unionist meeting in Dublin on Friday last.

My attention has been called to a newspaper report of the speech to which the hon. and learned Member refers, and if the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Dublin is correctly reported he appears to have discussed at considerable length the merits of a case tried at the Sligo Assizes in which the jury had disagreed. In the ordinary course of events that case will come up for trial at the next assizes of county Roscommon or county Leitrim—there were two cases, one from Leitrim and one from Roscommon, and I am not quite sure which of them the right hon. Gentleman commented upon. The only thing I can say in reference to this matter is that the right hon. Gentleman thought fit to adopt a course which has been over and over again condemned by the highest judicial authorities in Ireland. Inasmuch as the Government do not consider that the remarks of the right hon. Gentleman will affect the jurors who will try the case next March, we do not propose to take any action in the matter.

Is it not a fact that in many similar cases people have been brought up for contempt of Court and sent to prison?

I believe that has occurred.

called the attention of Mr. Speaker to the fact that there were three Questions upon the Paper for to-morrow relating to the cases which had been referred to, and in these Questions the statement was made that in one of the cases the facts were not denied. He asked whether Questions of this character, discussing questions which were still pending, were in order.

I am obliged to the hon. Member for calling my attention to these Questions. I have not seen them on the Paper, and even if I had seen them I do not think I should have been much the wiser. In consequence of what has occurred this afternoon, and as I understand the case of this man is likely to come before the Court, I think that no statement should appear upon the Paper which pronounces any opinion upon the case that is to be brought forward. I will take care that the Question is corrected in such a way that this statement of opinion shall not appear. The hon. Member who has put the Questions on the Paper is entitled to ask the Attorney-General what course he proposes to take or whether any further action will be taken in the case. That is perfectly legitimate.

Has your attention been called to the fact that the Judge who tried the case made most severe comments to the jury? [NATIONALIST cries of "Order."]

The hon. Member must see that it is impossible for me to read all the Irish Papers.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he has given his consideration to the fact that the Earl of Annesley began only last year to pay rates on his alleged rights to the fishing in the Shimna river, Newcastle, county Down; and whether he will advise the Dundalk Board of Fishery as to the validity or invalidity of Lord Annesley's claim.

It is not the duty of the Attorney-General to advise boards of conservators as to private rights. It is open to them to take legal advice in the ordinary way. If, as I gather from the Question, Lord Annesley's title is contested, the matter can only be decided by a Court of law. I have no knowledge of the facts, and cannot say for what period Lord Annesley has paid rates on the right of fishing which he claims; but the payment of rates will not confer any right or title upon him that he would not otherwise have possessed.

Is it not the function of the Law Officers of the Crown to advise Government Departments?

Yes, privately, but not in this House.

How is it when questions of law are addressed to a Law Officer of the Crown he always answers, "It is a question of law which I am not supposed to know anything about." What is he there for?

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether the inquiry regarding the Irish Provident Assurance Company has been completed; and, if so, whether he is now in a position to give any information as to the status and financial position of this company.

I regret that I cannot give the hon. Member any information as to the status and financial position of the Irish Provident Assurance Company. I understand that some dispute has arisen between this company and the National Standard Life Assurance Corporation' and that legal proceedings are pending between the two companies in an action in London. Full inquiries have been made by the Irish Government into the matter, but so far no facts have been disclosed which would justify any interference on the part of the Government.

On behalf of the hon. Member for North Sligo, I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that 200 jurors have been summoned to attend the winter assizes in Sligo, at which only 9 cases are to be tried; will he state who fixed the number at 200, and by what authority; and will he see that Sligo jurors are not in future subjected to needless inconvenience and expense.

I am informed that the facts are as stated in the Question. The number of jurors summoned to attend assizes in any county is in the discretion of the high sheriff. He is bound by law to summon what he considers to be a sufficient number. The High Sheriff of the County of Sligo informs me that, having due regard to the number of jurors summoned who fail to attend, to those who are excused for various reasons, age, infirmity, etc., by the Judge, and to those who cannot serve by reason of the fact that they are also summoned on the grand jury, he did not consider 200 an excessive number to summon for the recent winter assizes. I have no power to interfere with his discretion.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if his attention has been directed to a judgment delivered by Mr. Justice Wylie, sanctioning the payment of a full price based upon value, with a bonus, and an addition of one year's arrears of rent, with a further bonus; if the purchaser is prevented by private reasons from appealing against this decision, on whom does the duty devolve of appealing, in the interest of the public, against this unprecedented use of public money; and can he say if an appeal will be taken or the validity of the decision be tested in any way.

My attention has been called to the judgment in question which was that of the Master of the Rolls in a case heard by him when Judicial Commissioner. It was decided that under the Land Act of 1903 the purchase money of a holding might include arrears of rent actually due not exceeding one year's rent. On the hearing of the case counsel appeared on behalf of the Treasury and for the landlord. The question of appealing is one for the Treasury, and is, I believe, at present under their consideration.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he will state the gross value of the holding and the deductions, if any, made from that value to arrive at the price in the case on the Crosbie estate upon which the Judicial Commissioner gave his decision last Tuesday.

I understand from the Estates Commissioners that the parties to the case in question intend to appeal from the Judicial Commissioner's decision. The case is, therefore, sub judice, and the Commissioners do not think it desirable to discuss it in its legal aspects while the, matter is pending. I may add that I quite concur in this view. Public discussion of cases which are about to come before legal tribunals is most undesirable.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the work carried on by the Royal Hibernian Academy and the Metropolitan School of Art, Dublin; and whether, in view of the fact that this Committee was appointed as a result of a debate in this House on the 10th May, 1905, and that some opportunity of considering the Report should be given to this Parliament before the Estimates for next year are presented, he will give facilities for a discussion on the subject at an early date.

Yes, Sir, my attention has been called to the Report and I quite appreciate its importance, but, the hon. Member will, I am sure, quite understand that it is impossible to promise an opportunity for its discussion.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he has received a memorial from the inhabitants of the district of Eslin Bridge, in the county of Leitrim, asking for a daily delivery of letters instead of a three-day delivery, as at present; and, if so, will he say what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I have not yet received the memorial referred to. I will, however, make inquiry on the subject and acquaint the hon. Member with the result.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister, whether, with a view to removing apprehensions as to the effect of the free importation of Canadian cattle into this country, he will cause to be sent to Canada as promptly as possible a Commission to inquire into the condition of the Canadian herds and other circumstances bearing upon the question, and so accede to the oft-repeated request of the Dominion Government, who, along with the people of Canada, resent the stigma cast upon their herds by our present prohibitive law.

Is it in order for an hon. Gentleman to make a statement of fact in a Question as in this case—viz., that the "people of Canada resent the stigma."

I take it to be merely the opinion of the hon. Member for Newcastle, not an authoritative statement.

The Government do not think it is necessary to adopt my hon. friend's suggestion. They are quite prepared to accept the official reports of the Canadian Government as to the health of the herds of the Dominion and consequently they do not consider that any investigation on their own account is required. My understanding is that the statutory prohibition of importation is regarded as a precautionary measure, the justification for which does not depend entirely upon whether or not any particular country is free from disease at any particular time.