laid upon the Table Report from one of the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in the case of the following Bills, referred on the First Readingthereof, Standing Order No. 63 has been compiled with, viz.:—Richmond (Surrey) Electricity Supply Bill; Shanklin Gas Bill.

laid upon the Table Report from one of the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in the the case of the following Bills, referred on the First Reading thereof, no Standing Orders are applicable, viz.:—London Government Scheme (Southwark Borough Market) Bill; Local Government Provisional Orders (No. 1) Bill.

To ask the Postmaster-General why, seeing that the Order in Council of 15th August, 1890, which required seven hours daily service, allowed thirty-six and, in certain cases, forty-eight week-days of annual leave to Civil Servants drawing salaries or placed on scales of salary in excess of those of the Second Division, that amount of annual leave has not been granted to officers in the postal service, though it has been granted to officers of similar rank in other departments.

To ask the Postmaster-General, whether his attention has been called to the fact that a telegraphist at Belfast has been stopped at the efficiency bar, because of his ignorance of counter duties; and whether, in view of the fact that the assurance given at the time of the Norfolk-Hanbury Conference, that nothing should be required for passage over the efficiency bar beyond what had been previously required of a telegraphist proceeding from the second class to the first class, has by insisting upon a knowledge of counter duties from telegraphists at Belfast been departed from, he can state why this telegraphist has been expected to become more highly qualified than other telegraphists in large officers in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that several vacancies exist in the superior grades of officials at the Glasgow telegraph office; whether he is aware that the local authorities state that the delay in issuing the promotion rests with the headquarter staff, London; and whether, in view of the official assurances given before the Committee on Post Office Wages that no delays took place, he will direct that all promotions should date from the period the various positions became vacant.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what department of the Admiralty compiled the Report of the naval manœuvres; whether he is aware that the Report suppresses all mention of the engine-room breakdowns and failures on the part of vessels to keep up with their fleet and squadrons so vitally affecting their movements, while on the other hand it chronicles many petty details of movements; and whether he will inquire if the Department in question is adequately staffed.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he can state what have been the receipts and expenditure, from their foundation up to the coming into force of the Education Act, 1902, of the associations of schools established under the Voluntary Schools Act, 1897, and what balance remained in their hands at the latter date; whether any of these associations still exist; and, if so, what is their present legal status and position, and what are the duties they now discharge; whether he can give particulars of the receipts and expenditure of such last-mentioned associations (if any) from the coming into force of he Education Act, 1902, up to the present time, showing the balances now remaining undisposed of in the hands of each association; and whether he can show in any statements of those accounts what sums have been received from Parliamentary grants and from private subscriptions separately.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the engines lately supplied at Tidworth for sewage disposal were made in Germany; whether the pumps at the same place were made in America; and whether any English firms were asked to tender for these engines or pumps; and, if so, why their tenders were refused.

To ask the Secretary of State for War how many men were discharged from the Army during the past year suffering from tubercle of the lung; how many of these men were sent to their homes, with a notification to the local medical officer of health; and how many were sent direct to hospitals or sanatoria, stating the particular hospitals or sanatoria and the numbers sent to each.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a pensioner, named Patrick McEvoy, Mountmellick, Queen's County, registered No. 1,487, 1st Battalion Royal Scots, served in the Army over twenty years, twelve and a half years of which were served in India, and, while there, contracted diseases, from the effects of which he never recovered; and, seeing that McEvoy's pension amounts to 7½d. per day, and that he is now over seventy years of age and totally unable to work, whether his pension will be increased by such a sum as will prevent his having recourse to the union for relief and becoming chargeable on the rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the Report of the meeting of the Athy (county Kildare) Board of Guardians, held on Wednesday, 13th inst., from which it appears that an ex-soldier, named Thomas Pike, formerly a resident in Stradbally, Queen's County, and chargeable to that district, having served in the 76th Company, Royal Artillery, was invalided from India to Netley Hospital, from which he was discharged on 2nd May, 1905; whether he is aware that Pike was granted a pension of 8d. per day for one year, which expired on 1st April, 1906; and whether seeing that this ex-soldier is now destitute, a confirmed invalid, an inmate of the union hospital at the cost of the local rates, a pension will be granted or a contribution made to recoup the rates the cost of his maintenance.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if, in the contracts given by the Government to the purchasers of the Sparkbrook Gun Factory, as a condition of purchase, there is any condition or understanding that the firm shall employ upon the orders apportioned to this particular factory the workmen who were employed at the time of its sale.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total number of Chinese already repatriated from the Transvaal, what was the number of Chinese employed in the mines at the date of the posting of the repatriation proclamation; what is the total number at present employed; and what is the number estimated to be repatriated before 31st March.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state what was the entire expenditure from rates, including expenditure out of loans and from any other source, if any, of Poor Law administration since the passing of the Act of 1834 to the end of the financial year, 1906.

:To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state what were the aggregate imports, exports, and re-exports, together with the total of these, for the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Germany, respectively, for the year 1906; what was the estimated population of each of these countries respectively for that year; and what were the imports, exports, and re-exports, together with the total of these, per head of population in each of these countries respectively for that year.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Great Northern Railway Company of Ireland has discontinued second-class accommodation between Belfast and Lisburn and declines to allow holders of second-class subscription tickets to travel first-class, whilst refusing to refund the difference between second-class and third-class tickets; and

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a fatal accident on 12th February at Castleton, Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, to a goods guard, Fred Wilkinson; if he is aware that at the time of the accident he had been on duty nearly fifteen hours; and whether he will, at an early date, call for a return of the hours worked by engine-drivers, firemen, goods guards, and brakesmen of goods mineral trains on all railways for the month of January, with a view to putting a stop to the present excessive hours of duty worked by these classes of railway employees.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury when a decision is likely to be come to respecting the crews of the Customs'launches contained in the Question of the hon. Member for Central Finsbury of the 6th November, 1906.‡

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, under the existing arrangements of transit of tea from the quay to the bonded warehouse, it is possible for merchants to tamper with it; whether merchants are allowed to convey it on their own carts; and whether they are allowed in such cases to call at their own stores en route.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many battleships and armoured cruisers were fully manned on 1st May, 1906, and how many will be fully manned under the new scheme of distribution that is about to take effect.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many skilled and how many unskilled ratings are embraced in the two-fifths complement of nucleus crews, and how many will then be in the new skeleton crews; and how many battleships and cruisers which, on 1st May, 1906, were fully manned or partially manned, will, under the new scheme of distribution, be degraded to ships with skeleton crews.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has received a copy of a Resolution carried at a recent meeting of the United Free Church Presbytery of Lochcarron, Ross-shire, urging that the traffic in opium between India and China should cease; and will he state what action is being taken in the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for India, having regard to the fact that the appointment of MR. Addison, a junior member of the Civil Service of India, to the office of secretary of the Delhi municipality, will result in MR. Addison's having to try cases as a magistrate which it will be his duty, as Municipal Secretary, to institute, will he state whether the question of rescinding the appointment has yet been considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for India, whether he is aware that the sub-divisional officer attached to the Bhola District, of India is irregular in regard to the holding of courts, and that it not infrequently happens that he alters his arrangements for holding a court without any public notice whatever, with the result that suitors and witnesses spend an entire day awaiting his arrival at a court to find eventually that the court was being held at some other place; and will inquiry be made

†See Col. 702.

with a view to the adoption of some satisfactory system of holding courts in this district.

To ask the Secretary of State for India, whether he will state how much of the rolling stock under the Budget allotment of 382 lakhs for the financial year ending next 31st March, has been actually delivered in India, and brought into use to date; and whether steps can be taken to accelerate the increase of rolling stock announced in answer to a question on 29th March, 1906.†

To ask the Secretary of State for India, whether his attention has been directed to the condition of the Gotgeik railway bridge, Upper Burma; and whether, having regard to the general conditions attendant upon the erection of the bridge, he can lay before the House any information as to the stability of the structure.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will consider the advisability of renovating the stone frontages of the Custom House Post Office, and Four Courts in Dublin, seeing that those buildings require such treatment.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been called to the need of a ferry service upon Lough Corrib between Kilbeg and Oughterard; whether the Galway County Council has expressed its willingness to provide and work such a ferry service, but has been advised by the Local Government Board that they have no power to do so; and will he take steps to obtain the necessary powers for the county council.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if he will state whether an inspector from the Estates Commissioners has yet visited the

†See Col. 527.

Lloyd estate, county Cavan; and will he see that the evicted tenant, Ellen Reilly, is not prejudiced by the delay, and that the lands untenanted on this estate prior to the sale are sold with the rest of this estate to former tenants, their friends, or owners of uneconomic holdings in the district.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the present position of the scheme for the water supply to Cushendall, county Antrim; and when the Provisional Order Bill will be introduced.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, when the Report of the Drainage Commission will be presented; and whether any interim Report has yet been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for War, why it is proposed to discontinue the use, in connection with Finner Camp, county Donegal, of the 800 yards range on the lands of MR. H. W. Lilceby; is he aware that this range was considered exceedingly useful by General Leech when in command at the camp, and was very much used by the troops under his command; and is it proposed to acquire another 800 yards range on the lands of another person near the camp, and on what grounds is the change adopted.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the opportunity to tender for Admiralty requirements is strictly limited to a few leading manufacturers with large powers of production who are on what is known as the Admiralty list; whether he is aware that a source of supply from smaller makers is thereby rendered unavailable, and that both prices and quality suffer; and whether he is aware that it is the practice of the Secretary of State for India and the boards of most of the Indian railway companies to obtain their supplies of all railway plant, rolling stock, materials, etc., by open advertisement; and whether the Admiralty will also reconsider their practice in this matter.

In the case of most articles it is the practice of the Admiralty, in common with other great purchasing Departments, to restrict invitations to tender to firms known to be capable of meeting requirements, both as regards quality and punctuality in delivery. All applicants are admitted to the Admiralty list who satisfy the Department as to their capability, and the list is only confined to the leading manufacturers in cases where requirements cannot be met except by contractors possessing special plant and resources. In all other cases small firms are admitted if they come up to the required standard. It is understood that the India Office follows substantially the same procedure as the Admiralty in purchasing similar articles, and it is only in the case of railway materials—which the Admiralty do not purchase to any considerable extent—that the India Office resorts to advertisement. The Admiralty procedure is directed towards obtaining the widest competition compatible with the punctual delivery of satisfactory supplies. With this object, the procedure is from time to time reviewed, but no sufficient reason is seen for departing from the present practice.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Government to place in commission, for duty as patrol ships in outlying stations of the Empire, any of the ships at present appearing in the Navy List as available for subsidiary service.

The Answer is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can now conveniently communicate to the House the printed paragraphs of questions submitted to the Committee on the Reorganisation of the Auxiliary Forces by the Chairman as identical with those put before it by himself as Secretary of State; and the recommendations of the Committee with regard to them.

I propose to give the House, as I promised, full information on introducing the Territorial and Reserve Forces Bill. The specific questions put to and the replies by the Committee to which my right hon. friend alludes were for my own guidance. I do not therefore think that their publication would materially assist the House to the better understanding of the terms of the Bill or the reasons which led up to those terms.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any public explanation has been made by the War Office of the Army Order on soldiers' emoluments, as affecting, not only enlistment after 1st October last, but also extension of service after that date.

No official memorandum in explanation of the changes in the soldiers' emoluments alluded to has yet been published by the War Office, but I shall refer to it in the printed statement which I shall issue immediately with the Army Estimates.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the effect of the recent orders is to abolish service pay as regards all men enlisted or altering their terms of service after 1st October last; and, if not, whether he will state under what warrant or order service pay continues to exist; whether, as regards soldiers enlisted before the 1st October, the effect of Army Order 231 has been to deprive any, and, if so, how many, men of service pay previously enjoyed; and whether he will state the total diminution of pay of privates under the recent orders.

The effect of Army Order 231 of 1906 is to apply the new conditions to all men enlisting or entering into a new contract on or after the 1st October, 1906. Men serving before the 1st October, 1906, will retain service pay for the whole period of any contract into which they had entered before that date, their vested rights being thus scrupulously respected. Men not belonging to the cavalry, artillery, and infantry will not be eligible for service or proficiency pay from the date from which any new, contract into which they have been permitted to enter, subsequent to the 30th September, begins to run. The number at present affected is small and the reduction in emoluments cannot be carried out for a long period of years. It is not yet possible to state what will be the ultimate effect of the change. The rates of service pay in force when the new warrant was promulgated varied from 4d. to 7d. a day; the rates of proficiency pay are either 3d. or 6d. It is proposed to make the provision of the 3d. messing allowance to the recruit on enlistment instead of merely after six months a first charge on any savings under the new system which may accumulate.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether there are any cases in respect of which neither service pay nor proficiency pay will exist.

Proficiency pay is given only to men of the cavalry, artillery, and infantry, and will gradually replace service pay. Soldiers of the Royal Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps, and Army Veterinary Corps who receive Engineer and Corps pay, and certain other small groups like the Military Police, Army Pay Corps, etc., whose ordinary rate of pay already includes remuneration for technical qualification, are not eligible for proficiency pay, and only those will draw service pay who are entitled to it under contracts into which they entered before the 1st October, 1906.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he can state the number of persons in India who were sentenced in 1905 to rigorous imprisonment for a period of a year or more because they were unable to find security in answer to a charge of bad livelihood or vagrancy.

The statistics at my disposal do not show for all provinces the period or the nature (whether rigorous or simple) of the imprisonment of persons sentenced to be confined in default of furnishing security for good behaviour; but the total of such persons in the whole of India in 1905 was 15,515.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the sentences of imprisonment for two years and fine of 1,000 rupees and of imprisonment for six months and fine of 200 rupees inflicted on the proprietor and editor of the Punjabi, a newspaper published at Lahore, for the publication, with comments thereon, of a statement, now proved to be false, that about two years ago a Mahomedan policeman had been shot by his superior European officer; and whether the Government of India are prepared to exercise the clemency of the Crown in reducing these sentences.

I am informed that an appeal has already been entered, and that, pending the result of the appeal, the convicted men have been released on bail. A second appeal would be open, if the first were to confirm the sentence. I see no reason to take any action at present.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India when it is intended to make permanent appointments to the two puisne judgeships of His Majesty's High Court at Madras, which have been vacant for the past six months; and whether, bearing in mind the recommendations of the Public Service Commission, and the advisability of associating to a larger extent qualified persons of Indian nationality with the executive and judicial administration of the country, due consideration will be paid to the claims of Indian lawyers to one of the appointments.

Proposals regarding the strength of the Madras High Court are now under my consideration in council. As soon as orders have been passed, very shortly, I hope, I shall proceed to make appointments. The view which the hon. Member represents will be borne in mind, but I must remind him that the constitution of the Court is fixed by law.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what moral protection will, under the New Hebrides Convention, be provided for native female children who, being of a certain height, as provided in Article 33, become liable to engagement as recruited labourers, subject to the consent of the chief of their tribe; whether such protection, if any, will be afforded to these children on the journey to their destination, and after their arrival thereat; whether persons of extra-European race will be allowed to engage such children; and whether any means will be taken to ensure that the chief of the tribe consenting to the engagement of such children is a fit and proper person to undertake that responsibility.

No recruiting of native labourers can take place except under a licence from one of the High Commissioners as provided in Article XXXI. Under Article XXX VII. the recruiter remains responsible for the natives whom he has engaged until they are handed over to the employer; and under Article XXXVIII. an official Report is to be immediately drawn up and sent to the competent authority if irregularities are detected in the operations of the recruiter. There is no provision in the Convention to prevent natives being engaged in the New Hebrides by persons of extra-European race, but they will of course, be subject, in such matters, to the legislation in force in the places in which they reside. If, when the Convention comes into operation it appears that the chiefs of the tribes are not competent to exercise their responsibilities as to the engagement of unmarried females, the High Commissioners will be able to introduce such regulations as may be necessary to ensure the protection desired.

Can the hon. Gentleman inform us what practical steps will be taken to ensure that all persons to whom power is delegated in the supervision of contracts by which women and children are engaged are responsible people and fit to exercise that important duty?

I have already informed the House that the English and French Commissioners will jointly consider these important matters, which have been hitherto unregulated.

Have no powers been delegated hitherto?

There has been no efficient or general regulation of the system of recruiting.

What inspection will be secured to these women and children when indentured in foreign countries which neither belong to England nor to France?

Notice should be given of such a Question.

Will these young females be allowed to be sent to New Caledonia?

That Question affects the French part of the Agreement, and I must have notice.

asked whether there was any provision for securing the knowledge of the ultimate destination of these women and children under the Convention.

said that the instructions for carrying out the Convention might be amplified to any extent by the Commissioners on the spot. These instructions were not yet prepared, and when they were prepared they would be found to deal with the points mentioned.

Do we understand that England will only have control over such natives as may be employed at Fiji and other British possessions and that France will have absolute control over those sent to New Caledonia, or is the control to be a joint control?

That is obviously a Question of which I should have notice.

asked whether the hon. Gentleman stated as a matter of law and construction of documents that regulations could be made forbidding the employment of children.

I cannot reply without notice on a question of constitutional law.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what regulations and system of inspection will be employed, in order to ensure that the recruiting and engagement of native labourers is carried out in accordance with the New Hebrides Convention; and, if so, will he lay the Papers upon the Table of the House.

It is impossible at this stage to forecast precisely what regulations may be necessary to supplement the provisions of the Convention in regard to the recruiting and engagement of native labourers in the New Hebrides. As to the system of inspection, I may refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 50 and 54 of the despatch printed on pages 53 to 66 of the recent Blue-book. Both regulations and the system of inspection will be settled in details by the High Commissioner and the Resident Commissioner, subject of course to the approval of His Majesty's Government, and the hon. Member may rest assured that they will be adequate. The question of publishing any correspondence on the subject will be considered when it has taken place.

Will there be female inspectors for the women?

That is a matter of detail not yet determined.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the minimum height of children recruited under the terms of the New Hebrides Convention has yet been fixed.

As the hon. Member will have gathered from my reply on Tuesday to a Question of the hon. Member for the Ludlow division of Shropshire, the Answer is in the negative.†

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in any further negotiations with the French Government in regard to the exportation of labourers from the New Hebrides he will bear in mind the safeguards against abuses in the over-sea traffic under the British flag, contained in Section 3 of the Pacific Islanders' Protection Act of 1872, and seek to secure that, if this section be repealed, it shall be replaced by more stringent regulations acceptable to both

†See Col. 706.

Governments, and such as shall be made mandatory upon their nationals, whether in the islands or upon the high seas.

This matter is under consideration.

Cannot we have some definite assurance on this matter?

I can give no assurances in reply to a supplementary Question.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government intend to introduce a Bill amending the Pacific Islanders 'Protection Act, 1872, to give effect to the Convention between this country and France respecting the New Hebrides, as foreshadowed in the despatch to the Governor-General of Australia, dated 9th March 1906.

His Majesty's Government are advised that, for legal reasons, an Act of Parliament is desirable to empower His Majesty to carry out the provisions of the New Hebrides Convention; and it is proposed to take the opportunity to amend, as far as the New Hebrides are concerned, Section 3 of the Pacific Islanders' Protection Act, 1872, under which no British vessel can carry labourers from one island to another, even within the same group, unless the master has given a bond for £500. This sum has been found prohibitive in the case of small planters such as the British settlers in the New Hebrides, and has consequently had the most serious effect on British enterprise in those Islands. It is consequently proposed to dispense with the bond in cases where a resident British Officer can see that proper regulations are enforced for the control and supervision of recruiting.

Can the hon. Gentleman give any indication of the date when the Bill will be brought in?

Questions relating to the business of the House should be addressed to the Leader of the House.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the attention of the Colonial Secretary has been drawn to the character of the recent application of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1897, in Tonga at village, Natal; whether he is aware that the licensing officer of that division declined to renew for this year the trading licenses of the larger portion of the Indian storekeepers, on the ground of their having failed to keep their business books in the English language; and whether, seeing that the licensing officer is the nominee of the local council or board, which is the sole court of appeal from his decisions, and that the members of such council or board are chiefly storekeepers, he will take steps to protect such Indian subjects from such a punishment as the loss of their livelihood and total ruin.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 18th to the hon. Member for the Brentford Division of Middlesex†with regard to the Dealers' Licences Act to which I presume it is intended to refer. Inquiry will be made with regard to the particular case referred to.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps the Government have taken to protect the vested interests of, those British Indian residents of Vrededorp, Transvaal, who having paid sums of several hundreds of pounds each as transferees of their stands, and having been granted regular trading licences and built up business connections thereon will now, in terms of the Vrededorp Stands Ordinance, become dispossessed of their holdings; whether such persons will receive compensation; and whether, before sanctioning the Ordinance the attention of the Colonial Secretary was drawn to the entirely different treatment accorded to European transferees of these stands who in place of their squatter's title are to receive leases for terms of years.

†See Col. 540.

I am not able at present to add anything to the reply returned to a similar Question on Tuesday.†The suggestion that compensation should be given has been brought to the attention of the Transvaal Government.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it was ever brought to the notice of the French Government before the conclusion of the New Hebrides Convention that the Australasian Governments desired that opium as well as alcoholic liquors should be, under Article 59, prohibited from being supplied to the natives; and whether it was in consequence of objections made by the French that opium was not so included.

As stated in paragraph 55 of the despatch printed on pages 53–66 of the recent Blue-book respecting the New Hebrides Convention, and in the telegrams printed on pages 50 and 51, His Majesty's Government were prepared to adopt the suggestion that the supply of opium to natives should be prohibited; but they were unable to put the suggestion to the French Government for the reasons stated in paragraphs 66–71 of the despatch above mentioned. I may add that I am informed that opium smoking is unknown or very rare among the natives in the New Hebrides.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, considering the minimum scale of pay is 10s. a month for the indentured labourers recruited from the New Hebrides, he will consider the desirability of extending the principles of the Workmen's Compensation Act to these people, so that they may be ensured in case of accidents during their period of servitude.

The question of compensation for accidents to labourers serving outside the New Hebrides must, of course, be governed by the law of the place where they serve. With regard to labourers serving in the New Hebrides, His Majesty's Government doubt whether,

†See Col. 706.

having regard to the present social condition of the group, the principles of the Workmen's Compensation Act could be effectively applied; but no doubt the introduction of more regular systems of government and administration throughout the Group will pave the way for continual improvements in the laws affecting the employment of labourers. I may observe that the rate of 10s. a month, which is to be taken as the rate of wages where no other sum is mentioned on the record, has been fixed because, from the information available, it appears that that is a usual rate for newly-recruited labourers in the Group.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the necessity of extending the compulsory one hour of rest accorded to the indentured labourer recruited in the New Hebrides, whose work extends from sunrise to sunset.

The hon. and gallant Member is mistaken in supposing that the work of indentured labourers in the New Hebrides extends from sunrise to sunset. There is nothing in the Convention to prescribe such a day's work; and as a matter of fact, the natives work mostly from 6 to 10 a.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m. The intention of Article XLV. is to put an end to the existing possibility of abuses, by forbidding compulsory night work, and by securing a period of rest to the labourer during the day.

What guarantee is there against natives being compelled to work these long hours?

The High Commissioner has considerable powers for supervising the conditions under which the natives are employed, and those powers constitute an entirely new departure from the system of non-regulation which obtains at present.

Would it not have been better to prescribe two or three hours rest instead of one?

That is a Question as to a matter of opinion.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether some further provisions for holidays can be instituted for the indentured labourers recruited in the New Hebrides, beyond that of the Sabbath Day, during the three years or more of their indenture.

There is at present no legal provision forbidding British planters in the New Hebrides to cause their labourers to work on Sundays. If it is found that the legal minimum of holidays is insufficient, His Majesty's Government will consider what steps can be taken to make further provisions.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, with reference to Article No. 40 of the New Hebrides Convention, the words "or she" will be added to insure that women may have the same rights as men with regard to being re-engaged only at their own free I will.

His Majesty's Government are advised that having regard to the provisions of Articles 33 and 40 of the Convention the provisions referring to male labourers in Article 40 apply to females. The suggested addition of the hon. and gallant Member therefore appears unnecessary.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in future arrangements with regard to neighbouring islands, Colonial Governments will be consulted before Conventions are signed.

The hon. and gallant Member would have seen from the Blue-book on the subject, if he had studied it with ordinary attention, that the Colonial Governments concerned were fully consulted before His Majesty's Government were in any way committed to the New Hebrides Convention. This has been the usual practice in the past, and it will be continued as circumstances may permit in the future.

Is it not the case that the Governments of New Zealand and Australia disclaim responsibility under this Convention, and that they throw the whole responsibility on the Government?

All matters connected with the framing and ratification of this Convention will be found by the hon. Member in the Blue-book if he will devote the necessary time to its perusal.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention of the Secretary of State to approve nominations to the Upper Chamber of the Transvaal before the opinion of the majority of the Lower House has been consulted.

If my hon. friend will refer to Clause II. of the Letters Patent he will see that the first Council is to be summoned by the Governor, and that there is no reference to taking the opinion of the majority of the Lower House. The names of the members of the Council have been announced.

asked whether the names nominated by Lord Selborne had been laid before the Colonial Office before being approved.

Yes, Sir; they have been most carefully considered, and much correspondence has proceeded with regard to all the gentlemen who have been nominated.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, seeing that the Crown Agents are not responsible to this House, by what means Parliamentary control will be secured over the expenditure of the sum of £1,400 which is to be granted to the Crown Agents towards the maintenance of the scientific and technical department of the Imperial Institute; whether this department is in future to be under the direction of the Crown Agents; and whether the Crown Agents will be entitled to draw any commission upon the sums that pass through their hands in this connection.

The sum of £1,400 is not granted to the Crown Agents, but paid to a fund opened at the Crown Agents' Office. Neither the fund nor the department at the Imperial Institute is in any sense under the direction of the Crown Agents. It is not intended to pay to the Crown Agents' Office any commission in connection with the matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the report that it is the intention of the Egyptian Government to promote Ahmed Bey Fathy Zaglool, who acted as judge in the Denshawi affair, to a higher position; and whether he will direct His Majesty's representative in Egypt to advise the Egyptian Government against such action.

His Majesty's Government have no information on the subject one way or the other. It does not appear to be a matter in which His Majesty's Government are called upon to interfere with the discretion of the Egyptian Government.

I beg to give notice that on the earliest possible day I shall raise this Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a Bill granting concessions to a German syndicate for the construction of hotels and the establishment of gambling rooms in the Island of Madeira has been introduced in the Portuguese Cortes; whether the said concessions contain clauses under which the concessionaires are exempted from the payment of import duty upon all materials they may bring into the island; and whether he can state to the House the result of any action which His Majesty's Government have taken in the matter.

I am informed that the Bill in question has been dropped, and it is therefore unnecessary to make any statement upon it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in 1818, the Government of England collected an indemnity from France on account of the destruction of the Irish College in Paris during the Reign of Terror; and, if so, can he say whether the sum so collected has ever since been paid over to the college authorities by the British authorities.

The arrangement to which the hon. Member refers is presumably that embodied in the Convention of 1818, whereby a sum of money was assigned by the French Government to a Commission appointed to adjudicate on the claims of British subjects for losses sustained during the French Revolution. Full information was furnished as to the expenditure of this fund in the Papers laid before the House in 1871 and 1872. The claims advanced by the Irish College in this connection were not admitted by the Commissioners, and rejected, on appeal, by the Privy Council. It would be impossible now to take any further action in the matter, and I can only adhere to the Answer given on 3rd August, 1896.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, notwithstanding that the war in the Soudan was concluded in 1899, several of the Dervish emirs or commanders are still imprisoned at Damietta, in Egypt, under severe disciplinary regulations; whether he will state the grounds for their continued incarceration; and whether, having regard to the present peaceful condition of the Soudan, he will recommend the authorities in Egypt to grant their immediate liberation.

I have no information, but will make inquiries.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been the proportion of British subjects to natives employed as teachers and inspectors in Egyptian Government schools above the grade of kuttabs (elementary) during the last five years.

The whole subject is dealt with in Lord Cromer's Report for last year, which will shortly be presented to Parliament.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the salaries and pensions payable to native and European teachers respectively in Egyptian Government schools above the grade of kuttab (elementary school); when were they fixed; within what period, if at all, and by how much, have they been augmented.

I will make inquiries and see whether the information desired by the hon. Member can be obtained.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the prevalence in Egypt of the disease pellagra, resulting from the ingestion of bad maize, he will advise the Egyptian Government to take some such measures of prevention as have been prescribed by the Italian law against pellagra of the 21st July, 1902.

I have no information on the subject, but will make inquiries.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the repeated official avowal that the present system of military conscription in Egypt, with exemption by purchase from ballot age, is a bad one, which cannot be defended on principle, as stated in Lord Cromer's Reports for 1904, p. 43, and 1905, p. 68; and in view of the fact that numbers of poor Egyptians annually sell their small possessions in order to purchase exemption, thus leaving the Army to be constituted by unwilling recruits, he will advise the Egyptian Government to take into consideration the expediency of establishing a system of paid military service, such as exists in Britain.

Lord Cromer, in the passages of his Reports cited by the hon. Member, gives the reasons which render the abolition of the present system difficult and inexpedient. The conditions of the country would make it impossible to introduce with success a military system such as exists in the United Kingdom; but the subject, as may be seen from Lord Cromer's Report, continues to engage attention.

May I ask if that declaration is final? Will no other system be set up?

I said the subject continues to engage our attention. It therefore cannot be said to be final.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in the Government primary schools of Egypt object lessons and geography are taught in English only; that in the Government secondary schools history, geography, arithmetic, geometry, algebra, and science are taught in English or in French only; and that in the technical schools and professional colleges (with the exception of the school of law, where French is still partly used), all instruction is imparted in English only, and frequently by teachers who are quite unfamiliar with the vernacular; and whether, seeing that the employment of a foreign tongue as a medium of tuition increases the difficulty of acquiring accurate knowledge of any subject, and is regarded both by the, parents of pupils and the pupils themselves as an unnecessary hardship, he will advise the Egyptian Government to employ the vernacular henceforth as the sole medium of tuition.

The language question constitutes a very difficult problem for the Egyptian Educational Department, chiefly owing to the dearth of teachers competent to give the necessary instruction in Arabic and the absence of scientific text books in that language. In the circumstances, the Egyptian Government are frequently placed in the dilemma of either giving instruction in a European language, or being content with an inferior standard of teaching. And, in general, they have preferred the former alternative. They are, however, fully alive to the objections referred to by the hon. Member, and are doing their best to remedy them by training competent native teachers.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he proposes to lay Papers relating to the progress of reforms in the European vilayets of the Turkish Empire; whether His Majesty's Government have given their assent to the proposed increase of the Turkish Customs duties; and, if so, on what I conditions.

Papers on the subject are in the course of preparation, and will be laid in due course. The Answer to the last paragraph is in the negative, but the negotiations are in an advanced stage. In the event of the increase being agreed to, Papers will be laid which will fully explain the conditions.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any railway concessions have been granted in Morocco; and, if so, to whom.

The Answer is in the negative.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a friendly arrangement could be made with the Norwegian Government to settle the question of trawling in the Moray Firth.

I have no doubt that the Norwegian Government would be prepared to discuss the question with the view of coming to a friendly arrangement, but I must point out to the hon. Member that an arrangement between two Powers does not bind others and therefore could not dispose of the question. It must also be borne in mind that arrangements with other Powers would involve large questions of policy affecting the British fishing industry, which require careful consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the so-called foreign trawlers are really British vessels built with British capital and possibly improperly, though legally, using the Norwegian flag?

That hardly arises out of the Question on the Paper.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the French Government has decided finally to ratify the New Hebrides Convention by means of legislation.

The French Government decided in December that the Convention could be ratified by Presidential Decree, and ratifications of the Convention were exchanged on January 9th last.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the reasons for which leave to land was refused, under the Aliens Act, 1905, by immigration officers, are classified in the Return presented to Parliament, only under the two headings Want of means, etc., and Medical grounds; and whether, as such headings do not give any exact information as to the operation of the Act, particularly with reference to persons sentenced in a foreign country for crime, and persons against who man expulsion order under the Act has been made, he will adopt another system of classification in future Returns.

In my opinion the classification in question gives the most exact information possible as to the operation of the Act in regard to refusals of leave to land, inasmuch as the refusals have, so far, all fallen under paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3) of the first section of the Act, which deal respectively with want of means and medical grounds. If, and when, a refusal occurs under paragraphs (c) and (d), that is to say, in a case where a conviction of an extradition crime or the existence of an expulsion order is proved against an alien, it will of course be shown.

Order, order. The right hon. Gentleman could not possibly carry all those figures in his head.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now considered the question of extending the Particulars Section of the Factory and Workshops Act to those sweated trades mainly carried on in workers' homes and not hitherto included within its provisions, many of which trades were demonstrated at the recent Sweating Exhibition.

Yes, Sir. I have recently issued the draft of an Order extending the requirements of Section 116 of the Factory Act to a large number of industries, including many of those in which home work is carried on. Inquiry into certain other industries is proceeding, but it has been thought best not to delay the issue of the present Order on account of those. I shall be happy to send the hon. Member a copy of the draft.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the number of factories not visited during 1906, and the number not visited since 1904; and whether he will give instructions for the district totals under these headings to be printed in the chief inspector's Annual Report.

The number of factories not visited during 1906 was 24,440. The number not visited since 1904 is 6,713. I do not think it would be desirable to include in the Annual Report a statement of the number of factories in each district not visited during the year or since 1904. Such figures would, as I indicated in a reply to a similar question by the hon. Member on 12th June last,† be misleading if con-

†See (4) Debates, clviii., 819.

sidered without reference to the character of the works or the nature of the district. The question of dealing with the arrears which arise in particular districts receives constant attention. Daring the last twelve months I have made three separate increases in the inspection staff, and I have for some time past been considering the question whether a further augmentation may not be necessary.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the schedule of charges for the registration of postal packets is on a higher scale in the S.E. postal district as compared with the W.C. district; if he will inquire into, and report as to why such difference exists; if the Department only recognise one schedule of charges for registration of such, what he intends doing with the official responsible; and what, steps he intends to take to return to the public the sums overcharged.

The scale of charges for registration should, of course, be uniform throughout the United Kingdom. I am not aware that any exceptional charges have been demanded in the S.E. postal district of London. But if the hon. Member will be so good as to indicate the post office at which exceptional charges have been demanded, I will have the matter investigated.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he will grant a Return giving a list of the 817 post offices, telegraph offices, and public telephone call offices, which according to the Return of May, 1906, are situated on licensed premises in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

The preparation and printing of the detailed Return for which the hon. Member asks would involve considerable expense which does not seem justified.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that MR. Alderman Whur, one of the foundation managers of St. Peter's School, Paddington, in the course of a visit to the school last week, approached the head master with a request that he would use his influence with the parents of his scholars to obtain their votes for the Moderate candidates at the forthcoming London County Council election; and, if so, whether he will state if Mr. Whur, after making such use of his position, is to be allowed to retain it.

My attention has not been officially called to the incidents referred to in my hon. friend's Question, and I do not see what power I have to intervene in the matter; but I may say that I should view with great regret any instance of a head teacher using his influence with parents for political purposes.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Manchester Education Committee is utilising the police stations as depots for the supply of meals to school children under the Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1906; and whether the police stations would be considered as canteens within the meaning of the Act.

I have no information on the matter referred to in the Question, nor would it, so far as I am aware, come within the province of the Board of Education. The Act only speaks of canteen committees, not of canteens.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is prepared, pending the consideration of the proposed amalgamation of the existing grants for elementary education, to take any steps to remedy the inconvenience to many local education authorities which has arisen during the current financial year owing to the abandonment by the Board of Education of the quarterly system of paying the annual grants.

:The arrangement by which certain limited sums were in some cases paid in advance was a purely temporary expedient to meet difficulties arising from the coming into operation of the Education Acts 1902 and 1903. Full notice was given to Local Education Authorities of the discontinuance of these payments, and I regret I cannot see my way to resume them, but I have under consideration the whole question of the methods by which the grants in respect of elementary education are paid with a view to ascertaining what changes can be made.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education what salaries will be paid to the Secretary and Chief Inspector of Welsh education; if they are pensionable; and if they are required to devote their whole time to the public service.

The Answer to the first part of the paragraph is £1,200 to each. The Answer to the second and third paragraphs is in the affirmative.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill dealing with the questions involved in the following Amendment to the Address, which was not reached during the debate yesterday:—"That this House expresses its deep regret that in His Majesty's gracious Speech from the Throne no promise is made to remove the grievance under which many of the loyal subjects of His Majesty are made to suffer distraint or imprisonment because, for conscience sake, they cannot pay rates for denominational teaching, though this House has recorded its conviction by a large majority that such an impost is unjust and ought to be removed."

I propose on Tuesday to introduce a Bill which I hope will prove what would have been a satisfactory Answer to my hon. friend had he been able to move his Amendment.

May I remind the right hon. Gentleman that there was a second Amendment to the Address dealing with Education; and will the proposed Bill also deal satisfactorily with the subject embodied in that second Amendment?

I must ask for notice of that.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state when the Report of the inquiry in connection with the Elliot Junction disaster will be published; and if any steps are being taken to reduce the chances of railway accidents in snow storms.

The Report of the Inspecting Officer who held an inquiry into this regrettable accident—by which this House lost a distinguished Member—is practically completed, but it is not proposed to publish it until after the conclusion of certain criminal proceedings which have been instituted against one of the railway servants concerned. The Board of Trade are informed that steps have already been taken to provide in future for the employment of fog signalmen during snowstorms.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to an agreement commencing in its operation on 1st January, 1907, entered into by practically all the railway companies of England, having for its purpose the equalisation of rates and prevention of competition, but excepting from such agreement foreign traffic; and, if so, whether such an agreement will be sanctioned by the Board of Trade under the provisions of The Railway Companies Powers Act, 1864; and whether a copy of such agreement can be obtained by the Board of Trade and laid upon the Table of this House.

The Board of Trade are informed that the object of the arrangement referred to is to bring to an end a practice under which certain agents have allowed, out of the remuneration they received from the companies, rebates of varying amount to traders for the pur- pose of securing traffic. Working arrangements between companies are subject to the approval, not of the Board of Trade, but of the Railway and Canal Commission. The Board are in communication with the Railway Companies Association which represents railway companies generally with a view to obtaining information on the subject.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the number of hours worked by the engine drivers and firemen at the Walton and Brunswick Sheds, Liverpool, Midland Railway, during the months of November and December, 1906, and January, 1907, the hours worked on goods trains reaching up to a total of fifteen and even twenty hours per day, and on express passenger trains to twelve and thirteen per day, and can he say what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

No representations with regard to the hours of engine men at these particular sheds have been received, but if the hon. Member has any information in the nature of a complaint or representation and will communicate it, the Board of Trade will have an investigation made.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the result of the inquiry made in December last into the hours worked by the drivers and firemen at the Midland Railway locomotive depot, Leeds; whether he is aware that the company mentioned continue to work the men at this depot frequently thirteen, fifteen, seventeen, and more hours per day; and what steps he now proposes to take, if any, to secure a permanent reduction of these long hours.

Returns obtained from the Midland Railway Company of the hours worked by the drivers and firemen in question show that the hours had in many instances reached the limits mentioned. My right hon. friend is seriously considering what action can be taken to deal with the question of the hours of railway servants generally.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, what is the amount of public money spent on the proceedings of the Royal Commission on Tuberculosis, appointed in August, 1901; and whether the accounts will be submitted to Parliament in due course.

The expenditure on this Commission out of the Vote for Temporary Commissions up to the 31st January, 1907, has been £46,193. I understand that liabilities have also been incurred to the amount of £2,700 for stationery and printing. The audited expenditure appears year by year in the Appropriation Accounts presented to Parliament.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether his proposed Education Bill for Scotland will include the provision of meals for school children; and whether he will consider the granting of powers for medical inspection and for the establishment of play centres, more stringent regulations for enforcing compulsory attendance, and the extension of the definition of cruelty, so that parents may be prosecuted who allow their children to be insufficiently clothed or verminous

Provision of meals will be included. The various other matters mentioned by my hon. friend are under consideration, but it is not possible as yet to give any further information in regard to the contents of the Bill.

I beg to ask the Lord-Advocate, in view of the dissatisfaction felt in Scotland with the inaction of county councils in defending public rights of way, if he will introduce legislation giving parish councils and landward committees power to initiate such actions.

I am in sympathy with the purpose of my hon. friend, but it is not possible for me to give an undertaking to introduce legislation on the subject during the present session.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that no provisions exist in the case of labourers living in an urban district for getting cottages built in the rural district; and whether any rule can be made which will facilitate the extension of the Act of 1906 to such cases.

The councils of urban districts are themselves empowered to provide cottages under the Housing of the Working Classes Acts. If cottages were provided by the council of a rural district for the accommodation of labourers living in an urban district, the ratepayers of the rural and not the urban district would have to bear the entire cost. No rule could, therefore, in my opinion, justly be made, such as the hon. Member suggests.

Will the Government look into this matter with a view to giving power to the councils to deal with cases of labourers in towns who are badly housed?

I am afraid there would be considerable difficulty in the matter, because the proceedings in rural districts are under a different Act of Parliament from those in town.

In view of the strong feeling that something should be done in this matter, will the right hon. Gentleman see if he cannot cheapen and facilitate generally the procedure?

I will see what can be done.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the total value of land agreed to be purchased under the Act of 1903 up to date, the total amount of money already paid in respect of these agreements, and what is the cause of the delay of completing the purchases in the remaining cases; and whether this arises from the insufficiency of money raised for this purpose or of the staff engaged in the work.

The total amount of the advances applied for, including purchases by the Estates Commissioners and the Congested Districts Board, is £45,499,682, and the total amount of the advances sanctioned is £16,088,919. I gather that land purchase has proceeded with much greater rapidity than was anticipated when the Act of 1903 was parsed. The Estates Commissioners are using all possible despatch in making advances. Their staff has from time to time been increased and the question of further increasing it is now under consideration. I understand that a million and a half of the last issue of land stock still remains available for advances.

Seeing there is a widespread impression that years have to elapse between the completion of an agreement and the payment of the money, with the result that many landowners are holding back from selling, will the right hon. Gentleman devise some means of quickening the procedure?

said he was straining every nerve to secure the means to enable the system to work as rapidly as possible.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the amount of land for the purchase of which agreements have been made under the Land Act of 1903 up to date, giving amount of purchase money, the the number of estates and of tenants involved in the county Roscommon, also the same particulars in regard to the purchases completed.

Applications have been made for advances in respect of 144 estates in county Roscommon, the number of holdings being 5,587, and the amount of the purchase money £1,424,661. The total area of the lands has not yet been ascertained. Advances have been made in respect of forty-one estates comprising 2,601 holdings with an area of 62,122 acres, the purchase money being £686,916.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the terms on which the Winn estate at Glenbeigh, recently purchased by the Congested Districts Board, will be resold to the occupying tenants; what is the number of years' purchase of the rent; and what decision has been arrived at with respect to the sporting rights.

This estate is to be sold to the tenants at the price which the Congested Districts Board paid for it, namely, seventeen-and-a-half years purchase, plus £200 for the game rights. Any advances which may be made to individual tenants for the building or improvement of houses are to be added to the purchase price. The holdings are to be sold exclusive of game rights, but upon the completion of the sale the game rights are to be conveyed to a committee nominated by the tenants, and the revenue is to be applied by the committee to the purposes which they may consider most beneficial to the property. The tenants have agreed to these terms.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now state what is the position of the sale of the Morley estate, county Cavan.

The Estates Commissioners are at present having the circumstances of this estate investigated by two of their inspectors with the object of making an offer to purchase it under Section 6 of the Act of 1903.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state how many appeals from fair rent decisions of the Sub-Commission were pending on the 31st January, 1907; and how many appeals have been struck out with leave to re-enter since 30th September, 1906.

The number of appeals pending on 31st January, 1907, was 7,367. The total number struck out since 30th September, 1906, was 808, and the great majority of these were struck out with leave to re-enter.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the sale of the O'Dwyer estate, county Tipperary; will he say if the evicted tenant, Patrick Hogan, has been reinstated; how many tenants are there on this estate; what is the purchase price; was it arrived at by consent; was any negotiating fee allowed; and, if so, how much and to whom was the same assigned.