To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what was the coal expenditure, actual or approximate, of the Navies of Great Britain, the United States, Germany, and France for the years 1900 to 1906 respectively; and what is the sum estimated for 1907 for Great Britain.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, considering that the duties of chargemen of shipwrights, fitters, joiners and other trades in the Royal Dockyards, are in every way identical, their Lordships can see their way clear to extend the recent concession of 6d. per day increase of pay, granted to a percentage of chargemen of shipwrights upon their 1906 petition, to all other trades.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the number of applications for the fixing of first and second term rents respectively awaiting hearing by the Sub-Commissioners; the number of appeals lodged with the Head Commission; and when it is estimated the respective cases will be disposed of.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, by the Egyptian Government's decree of the 22nd June, 1893, it was enacted that the Arabic language should be the medium for teaching all subjects in the Egyptian schools; whether the decree has been abrogated; and whether the scarcity of teachers, now alleged as a reason for the lack of instruction in Arabic, has been the result of the policy pursued by the British control in Egypt in disregard of the decree.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

†See (4) Debates, clxix., 1036.

whether he is aware that a charge of £E11,964 has for many years past appeared in the Egyptian Budget in respect of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; whether he will state the respective items which together make up the above expenditure; whether he can state by what sums the expenditure under this head has been increased during the past five years; and whether, seeing that the Foreign Affairs of Egypt are, for all practical purposes, conducted, and controlled by the British Government, he will direct the British Agent to advise the Egyptian Government to reduce considerably the amount above-mentioned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many and what mining or prospecting concessions were granted to the late Mr. Knox Brown by the Egyptian and Soudan Governments, or either of them; what were the dates when such concessions were granted, and for what periods; where were they situated, and what area did each comprise; were any and what companies formed, and at what dates, to work such concessions; what was the share capital of each, and what was the nominal value of such shares; to what extent were the shares in each of such companies subscribed for; how many of such companies, and which, are at the present time working such concessions; what are the dividends paid by each since their inception; and what are the respective values of their shares.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that forced labour is being employed for the construction of a government road between Suva and Navua, Fiji, payment to each man amounting to about 4s. per annum; and that the Governor, in view of the fact that the pay was inadequate to provide the natives with clothing, decreed that they should have freedom of choice of work during November and December so that they might obtain wages to buy clothing; whether the natives in one district were prosecuted for claiming this privilege and were fined with the alternative of a month's imprisonment; and will he say what action he proposes to take.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state the number to date received by the Local Government Board of resolutions passed, or petitions presented, in favour of the consolidation and amendment of the Poor Law Statutes and Local Government Board Orders by boards of guardians and other local authorities in England and Wales since December, 1903.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will state, the respective total amounts of postal orders issued and paid in Ireland and in Great Britain for the last period for which the figures are available; and what percentage of the Irish payments was composed of postal orders issued at post offices in Great Britain, and vice versa.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will state the total number of savings bank deposits and withdrawals in Ireland for the quarter ended 30th September, 1906; what percentage of these deposits and withdrawals was made through British deposit books; and what was the earliest date at which the Savings Bank Department was in possession of these figures.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether Mr. Abbot, overseer, Aylesbury, has been appointed postmaster of the Curragh Camp; whether any of the applicants in Ireland for this postmastership were equally qualified to fill the position; how many Post Office officials in Ireland were promoted or transferred to postmasterships in Great Britain during the year 1906; and how many Post Office officials in Great Britain were promoted or transferred to postmasterships in Ireland during the same year.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the total number of each of the various ranks employed on clerical work in the Exchequer and Audit Department, and also the total number of each rank employed on local audit, outside the head office, at the various Government offices in London, Devonport, Portsmouth, Chatham, Woolwich, and Pretoria.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether he will grant a Return for the financial year ended 31st March, 1906, relating to each article on which Customs or Excise duty is payable, as the case maybe, showing the net amount of Excise Revenue collected in Ireland in respect of each of such articles; the net amount of Customs duty collected in Ireland in respect of each of such articles; the net amount of Excise Revenue collected in Great Britain in

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether abstractors (assistant clerks), according to their conditions of service, may aspire to promotion to the Second Division; whether, in several Government Departments in which abstractors are employed, many of the meritorious amongst them have been promoted to the Second Division; and whether, seeing that there are abstractors but no Second Division clerks now employed in the Exchequer and Audit Department, what provision is made in that Department for the future promotion of any deserving abstractors serving in it.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury why the grant for building a new parochial school at Larne, county Antrim, has not yet been issued; whether the first formal application was made in this case on the 18th February, 1905; whether the grant was made on the 4th September, 1906; and whether this does not come under the category of urgent cases, in view of the deplorable condition of the present school, and the fact that it has been repeatedly condemned by the inspectors of the National Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the revelations recently made as to the prevalent evils which result from taking infants and young children to the public-house, he is prepared to introduce legislation dealing with this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that a further death from necrosis in the match trade is reported for January of this year; and whether, in view of the international interest taken in the question of phosphorus poisoning, he will issue to the House full details of this case, as was done by the then Secretary of State with regard to the cases occurring in 1905.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether each Crown prosecutor in Ireland is periodically furnished by the proper authorities with a list of jurors in which he is officially concerned, whether the respective lists of jurors thus furnished are sent by the respective Crown prosecutors to the respective county inspectors of police in charge of the county, city, town, or district to which each of such lists relates; whether each county inspector of police sends his list of jurors, or part of such list, to each of his district inspectors in charge of the district to which each part of such list relates; whether each of these district inspectors of police sends the list with which he is thus furnished, or a certain portion of it, to each (or a certain) sergeant of police having charge of or connected with the locality to which each portion relates; whether the instructions relating to these lists direct the various sergeants of police entrusted with such work, to put a certain mark or other means of identification against the name of every juror known, discovered, or suspected to be a Nationalist irrespective of religious belief; whether such lists, thus prepared, are again returned to the various Crown prosecutors through the same official channels as they were forwarded; whether such lists, thus prepared, are used by the various Crown prosecutors when jurors are being challenged by them in prosecution cases; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the amount of untenanted land purchased and still in the possession of the Congested Districts Board in the county Roscommon; when this land is likely to be distributed; and whether he can state the amount of such land, if any, in the possession of the Estates Commissioners, and the amount for which negotiations are proceeding by either the Board or the Commissioners.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the case of Honorary Major W. S. Parr Campbell, retired pay list and late of the Seaforth Highlanders (an officer who rose from the ranks), who, although over 55 years of age in 1900 and therefore not liable to serve, volunteered his services during the war, sacrificing civil employment; if he is aware that this officer's pension was merged into the consolidated rate of pay (under Article 488a of the Royal Warrants, 1900) received for his volunteered service, if this deducted pension will be refunded to him, seeing he was beyond the age limit when the Government had any call on his services and is now in somewhat straitened circumstances owing to the impossibility of getting civil employment consequent on advanced age.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether His Majesty's Government proposes to employ any warships, or vessels other than warships, to act as patrol ships in outlying stations of the Empire.

The Admiralty are of opinion that past experience shows that all wants of other departments have been adequately met, but they have expressed their desire to consider any proposals which may in the future be submitted to them by Departments interested in the questions concerned.

asked whether it was the intention of the Admiralty to employ any ships, other than warships, for the purpose of showing the flag in outlying portions of the British Empire?

said that the Departments referred to were the Colonial Office and Foreign Office, and that the Admiralty were of opinion that all their demands had been properly met.

May I ask whether, if demands for this service are put forward, they will be met by ships of the Royal Navy, or by ships other than of the Royal Navy, merely showing the flag?

That is under consideration.

:asked whether any proposals had been made to the Admiralty.

Not that I am aware of.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty when it is anticipated that the new battleships, H.M.S. "Dominion," injured by grounding, and H.M.S. "Commonwealth," injured by collision, will be able to join the Channel Fleet; and what are the names of the battleships which are to replace them during the interval.

In reply to the first part of the question, both ships will be ready about the middle of May. As regards the second part, they will be replaced in the meantime by "Mars" and "Hannibal."

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if the entire sum voted for the new entrance lock at Portsmouth during the year 1906–7 will be expended during the present financial year.

The sum of £10,000 provided in Vote 10 for 1906–7 was a token sum taken to obtain Parliamentary approval of the scheme. As all the alternative plans considered by the Admiralty were open to serious objection, the question has now been referred to outside consulting engineers, whose Report has not yet been received. Only a small part of the amount voted is likely to be expended during the current year.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Army Medical Department and the entire medical profession in this country are mainly dependent on foreign manufacturers for the supply of tubes for X-ray examinations; and will he state what steps he proposes to take so that the United Kingdom may not be dependent on foreign countries for a supply in the event of war with a continental Power.

The X-ray tubes required for military hospitals are purchased from contractors in this country who obtain many of their supplies from continental manufacturers. The few glass blowers in this country who make X-ray tubes are unable at the present time to produce tubes in sufficient number to meet the demand or to equal in quality and price those manufactured abroad. As these articles would be used for the relief of the wounded I do not anticipate that they would be considered as contrabrand in the event of a war with a continental Power.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the General commanding the Southern Division has been asked his opinion concerning allowing buildings by private individuals at Tidworth on Government land; and, if so, what his opinion was.

The question is one for the Army Council to decide, and the hon. Member may be sure that they will consult those who are in the best position to advise before arriving at a conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for War a Question of which he had given private notice—namely, whether it was intended under the proposed scheme of Army organisation that no man should be entitled to discharge from the territorial force except by giving three months' notice and paying £5.

No, Sir; the three months' notice and the £5 is only a general rule laid down in order to ensure some security to the State for the money expended in training and on equipment. The Bill contains a provision enabling the county association, in every case in which they have reason to think that the request is a fair one, to exempt the person concerned both from notice and from making any payment. Such a dispensation is obviously necessary in the case of the working classes, who move from place to place, and it is also useful in order that people, who when changing their place of vocation may have to go from one corps to another, may be able, in theological parlance, to "lift their lines."

asked whether a man would be allowed to transfer from one Volunteer district to another under the three months rule.

Obviously when a man changes from one place to another it may be necessary in the general interest that he should be transferred from one corps to another. The greatest elasticity is provided for that. The only reason for putting in the £5 provision was to fix a maximum sum towards covering the cost of equipment.

Then do I understand that the terms of service in the new territorial army will be no more certain than the terms of service in the Volunteer force?

The right hon. Gentleman must understand nothing of the kind. The rule is three months and £5, and whenever there is an arbitrary endeavour on the part of anybody to get out of his obligations, that will be adhered to. The dispensing power is only given to the association, and is only to be exercised in cases where they think that there is reasonable ground for making the dispensation.

Will there be any legal means of recovering this money in case Volunteers should prove obdurate?

Oh, yes. There will be very sharp legal means; but the hon. Member should wait until he sees the Bill, which I hope will be printed and before the House on Tuesday or Wednesday.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what are the restrictions and conditions under which the Army Council are prepared to sell land at Bexhill to the corporation of that town; and whether such restrictions and conditions have yet been communicated to the borough council of Bexhill.

The whole question is being considered by the War Department in conjunction with the Admiralty. I am not, therefore, in a position to give any information on the points raised in the Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can give any information as to the circumstances under which Mr. Bloomfield, a British subject, was recently beaten to death by natives in Nepaul; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.

I have no information beyond what has been published in the newspapers. The local authorities appear to be doing all that is possible to bring the guilty men to justice. No action on my part seems called for.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been directed to the fact that a crowd of Indian natives, on Friday the 15th inst., paraded the streets of Lahore hooting every European they met; and whether, as this is a new departure since the days of the Mutiny, he intends to take any action in the matter.

I have seen a report to the effect stated. It is a matter for the local authorities, and I do not propose to take any action.

asked whether this incident was to be attributed to the general unrest in India.

No, Sir. I do not believe it has the slightest connection with what the hon. Gentleman is pleased to call the general unrest in India, as to which I am rather sceptical.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, having regard to the fact that the duty on Malwa opium was increased from Rs.500 to Rs.600 a chest in 1904 on the ground that the price of Bengal opium had advanced to Rs.1,393 a chest, and to the fact that the average price of Bengal opium since 1904 has much exceeded that amount, he will consider the desirability of raising the Malwa rate to Rs.700 or at least to Rs.650, at which it stood a few years ago when prices averaged much lower than they do now.

I have nothing to add to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member's Question of 20th February on the same subject.†

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can give any indication of the amount of the reduction in the area of the cultivation of poppy which is likely to be effected next year.

It has been decided to restrict the area next year to 562,500 acres. In the current year the area settled is 595,000 acres. For the five preceding years it averaged 605,000 acres.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the average price per chest of Bengal opium at the Calcutta sales was Rs.1,461 in 1903–4, Rs.1,587 in 1904–5, and Rs. 1,434 in 1905–6; what was the average price during the first nine months of 1906–7; and what were the grounds of

†See Col. 826–7.

the estimate of the Government of India that the average price during the current year would be only Rs.1,125.

The prices were as stated. For the first nine months of 1906–7 the average price has been Rs.1,382. The estimate for the current year was based on the fact that the March sales, which generally give a result in excess of the average for the ensuing year, only yielded Rs.1,258 the chest, and that for some months prices had declined.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in the suggested negotiations with the Government of France relative to the New Hebrides, he will urge the importance of forbidding entirely the engagement of young children under any scheme of indentured labour, and, further, the raising of the minimum wage from 10s. to at least £1.

I may perhaps be allowed to answer this Question: I have already had an opportunity of giving information to the House upon the two points raised by the honourable and gallant Member. With regard to the first, I may refer him to the Answer which I gave last Tuesday to the hon. Member for the Ludlow Division of Shropshire;†and with regard to the second, to my reply on Thursday to the hon. and gallant Member for St. Andrew's Burghs.‡

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the question of providing accommodation for the British Concession at Chinde, in the place of that which has disappeaped owing to erosion, has been dealt with during the Recess; and, if not, whether he will urge the local administration to expedite proposals in order to meeting the wants of the merchants of Chinde, the Chamber of Commerce, Blantyre, and the

†See Col. 706–7.

‡See Col. 1029–30.

general commercial community of British Central Africa.

His Majesty's Government have recently received an intimation from the Government of Portugal that they are prepared to grant an extension of the concession so much of which has been destroyed by erosion; the details of the matter have not, however, yet been adjusted with the Portuguese Government.

I beg to ask the the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether at the forthcoming Colonial Conference His Majesty's Government, in considering the effect of such resolutions as may be passed, will have regard to the disproportion in the populations of the various Colonies; and whether, for instance, the same weight will be attached to the views of the delegates from Newfoundland, representing a population of less than 250,000, as to those of the delegates from Australasia, representing a population of over 5,000,000.

His Majesty's Government will give the fullest consideration to the views of all the Colonial Representatives.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government that unprotected native women and children may be handed over, at the will of the chief of their tribe, for terms of three years, away from the protection of the British flag, to settlers many of whom are time-expired criminals from the penal settlements of France.

I am not quite clear whether the hon. Member refers to recruiting for service with French settlers in New Caledonia or in the New Hebrides; but in either case His Majesty's Government must repudiate the suggestion that the French Government, with whom the responsibility rests, will not make full arrangements for the protection of all natives employed by Frenchmen. The further imputation which appears to be contained in the hon. and gallant Member's Question that women and children may be engaged for service either with or without indentures by the will of their tribal chief irrespective of their own wishes is also of course totally without support or justification.

Is it the case that the British Government have no control over or responsibility for natives recruited for New Caledonia?

I must ask for notice of that Question, which is not only one of law, but also touches the domain of another Power.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies under what article and paragraph of the Convention with France with reference to the New Hebrides the High Commissioners have discretion as to the grant of recruiting licences in the case of applicants of doubtful character.

The provisions will be found in Article XXXI., paragraphs (1) and (2).

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the effect of the Municipal Corporations Act of Natal, now awaiting the sanction of His Majesty's Imperial Government, will be to deprive qualified free British Indians in that Colony of their present right to enrolment as burgesses and municipal voters, that the term "uncivilised races" in that Act will include evencultured sons of freed indentured labourers as well as such freed Indians themselves, and that its effect will be for ever to preclude their obtaining the municipal vote, the Secretary of State proposes to advise that sanction shall be withheld from this Act.

As I explained in reply to Questions addressed to me on 19th and 20th February by the hon. Members for Hammersmith and the Montgomery Burghs,†the Secretary of State is in communication with the Natal Government. Meanwhile the Bill is not in operation.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Secretary for the Colonies has interfered in a legal action which Dinizulu is taking against his former private secretary, Mr. Daniels, in the course of which the statements made by the said Mr. Daniels, imputing disloyalty to Dinizulu, will be examined; whether the Secretary of State has made any communication to the Natal authorities of any kind regarding this trial, and, if so, under what statutory or other authority has the communication been made; and whether, if this communication has been made, it is proposed to lay it upon the Table of the House.

No, Sir, the Secretary of State has not interfered.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his speech of 18th December, 1906, cabled under the authority of the Secretary of State for publication in the Transvaal, contained the following passage concerning the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association, "this body which has a tremendous and sinister influence over the local Press, and whose influence may sometimes be traced even in the columns of some of our leading newspapers, was given by the Chamber of Mines the power of turning off or on as a tap the supply of native labour"; whether the Secretary of State, in reference to this charge, had stated that he did not in any way impute malpractice to the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association; and what steps he has taken, or proposes to take, to withdraw charges to which currency has been given officially and at the public cost.

†See Col.706,828.

Such a passage occurs in the cabled report. Both the statements made by me in this House and by the Secretary of State in another place can only be judged in their general context. So studied, no contradiction or disagreement can, in my opinion, be inferred, and certainly, whatever may be inferred, none exists. I am much obliged to my noble friend for having defended my action in the House of Commons when that action was called in question in another place; and for myself, I can only say that after careful consideration of the remarks made by me upon the Chamber of Mines and the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association, and the influence exerted by these bodies in various directions, to which the right hon. Gentleman has drawn attention, I am of opinion that those remarks were well justified in fact and in the public interest at the time, and have not become either obsolete or inaccurate since.

May I ask whether the hon. Gentleman is not aware that a direct challenge was made to Lord Elgin to produce any evidence for the statements set out in this cabled speech; that no evidence was produced of these charges; and that Lord Elgin said that he did not impute in any way malpractices to the Native Labour Association; and, if so, how does the hon. Gentleman reconcile that statement of Lord Elgin's with his own?

I have answered the Question upon the Paper; and I will leave to the right hon. Gentleman the task of reconciling that Answer with any impression he may have derived of the actual fact or of any statement made in this place or another place at this time or any other time.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many coolies have been repatriated from the Transvaal, on the terms and under the conditions of the Repatriation Proclamation, since the date of its posting.

766 coolies have been repatriated under the terms of the repatriation notice. Some twenty-two additional applications have been received, and are under consideration.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any provision will be made under the New Hebrides Convention to ensure separate housing accommodation for unmarried men and women.

The High Commissioners and the resident Commissioners can provide for this and other similar matters under the powers vested in them by the Convention.

Will the regulations governing these matters be laid on the Table.

Obviously they will have to be laid, and I had better defer answering these Questions until something definite has been done.

said the provisions of the Convention did not apply outside the area of jurisdiction.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any progress has been made in the negotiations between this country and other Powers with a view to substitute a new treaty for that of 1855 with reference to Sweden and Norway.

I am not able to make any statement on this subject at the present moment.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a memorial has been received from the Macedonian refugees in Bulgaria with reference to the enforcement of Articles 23 and 62 of the Treaty of Berlin; and what action the Government proposes to take in the matter.

I am not quite sure to what the hon. Member's Question refers, but I am unable at present to make any statement as to what further reforms the Powers may agree to put forward.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what point the Baghdad Railway has now been completed; whether the work is still being carried on; and whether any kilometric guarantee for farther extension has been given to the promoters by the Turkish Government.

The first section of the railway from Konia to Bulgurlu has been completed. With regard to the second and third paragraphs of the Question I have no information.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the facts that the electric and gas lighting of Cairo is the monopoly of a single company; that the Cairo water supply and the Cairo tramways system are each of them likewise held as monopolies; that the electric light contract has been extended by the Government for a further term of twenty years, so that it will expire only in 1948; that the Government has further waived its rights in this case to re-purchase at the end of thirty years; that the gas contract will likewise not expire till 1948; that the monopoly of the Cairo tramways company has latterly been extended by the Government for a further term of five years, so that it will not expire till 1951; whether he can state the duration of the concession to the Cairo water company, and, as regards all four monopolies, the financial terms on which they are held; by whom, on behalf of the Government, were the concessions negotiated; and whether he will instruct the British agent at Cairo to advise the Egyptian Government against the creation of any further monopolies or the extension of those in existence, as being against the public interest.

I have no information on the subject of this Question. Similar arrangements exist in this country, and I am not prepared, nor indeed is it possible for me to interfere actively in such matters by sending special instructions to His Majesty's Consul-General in Egypt with regard to them, though the general question of preventing monopolies being created or extended against the public interest will not be lost sight of.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any Reports on matters connected with the Congo Free State have been received from Vice-Consuls Captain Mitchell and Mr. Armstrong; and, if so, whether he is in a position to present such Reports to the House.

I hope to lay Papers presently containing further Consular Reports.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the forthcoming Budget, he has yet considered the expediency of widening the range of taxation on luxuries, such as deer forests, salmon fishings, grouse moors, yachts, and motor-cars.

I gave my hon. friend a promise as long ago as last March that this suggestion would receive my serious consideration. I cannot add anything to that statement unless and until the time comes when I can lay specific proposals before the House.

I beg to ask Air. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the employees in the postal and postal telegraph departments are now being charged income-tax, not only upon their salaries, so far as they exceed the limit of exemption, but also upon all overtime gained by such employees when engaged upon emergency work; and whether he is willing to take any action in the matter.

Earnings on over time are as much a part of income as regular salary, and I am not aware of any recent change of practice as regards the assessment of such earnings in the departments mentioned. They are made chargeable to income-tax by the first rule of Schedule E., Section 146 of the Act of 1842, and there is no reason in either law or practice for exempting them from assessment.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether instructions have recently been given as regards pensioned civil servants whereby income-tax is deducted from their pensions in respect of the property tax upon any cottages or other property belonging to them; and whether this has the effect of preventing such civil servants obtaining relief in respect of any of such property which during the year may happen to be void.

I have made inquiries, but I have been unable to trace any action on the part of public departments that can have given rise to the impression on which the hon. Member's Question appears to be founded; but if he can give me a specific case, I will have it looked into.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the heavy fall in British local government stocks, British railway stocks, and British securities generally since the month of January, 1906, while Foreign and Colonial securities of a similar character have either maintained or increased their price; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the position.

I am aware of the general fall in securities to which the right hon. and gallant Member draws attention. It appears to have affected many of the Foreign and Colonial securities as well as those of British domicile. I do not know that any general conclusion can be drawn from a comparison of Stock Exchange prices over a period of twelve months, in which, not only general causes, but also local and transient causes, have been variously at work. It should not, however, be for gotten that, during a period of active trade, when money is in great demand, the natural tendency is to depress the prices of securities which bear a fixed rate of interest, and that this effect is likely to be most felt by securities of the highest class, in which there is least of the speculative element.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether within his knowledge it would be a fair estimate to say that within the time mentioned the fall in British Government securities has not been less than £40,000,000 and in British railway securities not less than £100,000,000?

The right hon. and gallant Gentleman must give me notice of that Question.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that all American railway securities have during that time risen considerably?

The Stock Exchange prices will show that.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that Bank of Ireland stock has now touched its lowest point since the introduction of the last Home Rule Bill?

The right hon. Gentleman, not being a member of the Stock Exchange, can hardly be expected to answer that.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that, on 13th February, 1907, the Chertsey bench of magistrates granted, as prescribed in Section 5 of the. Dogs Act, 1906, eighty-eight certificates of exemption to owners of sheep dogs under Section 22 of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1878, without having first had laid before them evidence of the genuineness of the grounds for such exemptions; and whether, in view of the statement of the local supervisor of Inland Revenue on the above occasion, to wit, that the authorities at Somerset House had instructed its officers to do nothing in these cases, arid in view of the high percentage of exemptions in a part of the country where very few sheep or cattle are reared or fed, he will confer with the Secretary of State for the Home Department as to the desirability of the police being instructed in future to make full inquiry into each such application for exemption, and to report to the magistrates thereon before such certificates are granted.

The Act of last session prescribed the reference of exemption claims to petty sessions in the first instance, as an additional check, and it left unimpaired the discretion of the Board of Inland Revenue to refuse the exemption. I quite agree, however, that the additional check ought to be a real one, and I will consult the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the subject, as my hon. friend suggests.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can see his way to introduce a change in regard to mines inspectorships, whereby all Applicants having colliery managers' certificates may in future be allowed to sit for examination, and so allow the best men to come to the top, and thereby abolish the present method of selection and nomination by the Secretary of State.

I do not think it would be at all advisable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. I protest strongly against the implication in the Question that the present system prevents she best men from coming to the top. In the appointment of inspectors of mines I attach great importance to practical experience, and other special qualifications, which cannot satisfactorily be tested by an open competitive examination. Under the present system anyone who chooses can apply for a nomination to compete. All such applications are most carefully scrutinised, and the best of the applicants personally interviewed before the nominations are made.

Is it a fact that the application forms supplied by the Home Office are of such a character that they cannot ascertain what ability is likely to be displayed by the applicants? I should like to know how without examinations the best men are to be got for the positions indicated in the Question.

I am not quite sure on behalf of whom my hon. friend is speaking. I have had up to the present no representation on the subject from either representatives of the miners or mine owners. The question is one quite within the purview of the Royal Commission, and on which they can make any suggestion they like.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the elections in the Transvaal were conducted with exceptional order and sobriety owing to Lord Milner's law forbidding the sale of liquor on election days; and whether he will bear this experience in mind in framing the forthcoming Licensing Bill.

I have no information enabling me to draw an accurate comparison in the matter of order and sobriety between the recent Transvaal elections and other elections; and so far as I am aware of the provisions of the Transvaal law it does not seem to go as far as totally prohibiting the sale of liquor on election days. I can, however, say that the question of such prohibition will be considered in connection with licensing reform.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he in tends this session to introduce a measure dealing with the question of Sunday trading on the lines of the recommendations of the Joint Committee of last session.

The matter is receiving my consideration,. but I cannot give any promise as to legislation.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has bean called to the fact that there have been five fatal accidents in the slate quarries of North Carnarvonshire since the 1st January this year; and whether he will appoint a small committee to inquire as to the working of slate quarries, with a view to the amendment of the Quarries Act and the regulations made there under.

I regret to say that it is the case that there have been five fatal accidents in the Carnarvonshire slate quarries since the beginning of the year, four of them being due to falls of rock. During the whole of 1906, however, there was only one fatal accident in these quarries, and in each of the years previous to that only three. There seems no reason to suppose that the increase is other than temporary, but the inspector is making further inquiry. He thinks it may be partly attributable to the long and severe frost making the rock more dangerous. The whole question of the amendment of the Quarries Act and the special rules there under will be considered by me in connection with any legislation as to mines and quarries that may result from the inquiry by the Royal Commission now sitting.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the facts made known during the prosecution, at Bacup, of a carter for being asleep while on duty, from which it appears that, after this carter had been on the road for twenty-four hours, he was called on, after being allowed only one and a half hours rest, to undertake another journey to Manchester; and whether, in view of the circumstances, he will take steps to put a stop to the practice of employers who make such demands on the physical endurance of their workpeople.

I have received a Report on the case from the police, from which it appears that statements to this effect were made by the defendant and his wife; and the Chief Constable says that the case is one of many that have come before the Justices in which the carters have according to their statements been employed continuously for an unreasonable number of hours, and in which the Justices considered the employer was more culpable than the servant. The matter is not one in which I have any power to take action under the existing law, but I will bear the point in mind in connection with any legislation to amend the Highways Act that may be contemplated in the future. In the meantime I hope the hon. Member's Question will have the effect of drawing the attention of employers to the matter.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state what was the entire cost of the administration of the Poor Law Department of the Local Government Board from its inception in 1871 to the end of the financial year 1906.

The Poor Law, which is only one of many subjects dealt with by the Local Government Board, is not wholly conducted by a separate staff of officers, and it is not possible to say how much of the cost of the Department is caused by this branch of their work.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, in regard to the case of a destitute child, named Michael Hayes, who was, on or about the 1st January 1907, brought before the magistrates at the Guildhall without shoes or stockings from the City Union, if he will say in what cases and at what dates did the City Guardians clothe children charged with offences and afterwards find that the parents had disposed of such clothing; whether he is aware that the chairman of the board of guardians stated in January last that the guardians were liable to be surcharged by the auditor of the Local Government Board for feeding these charge children; will he say whether they are liable to such surcharge; whether the auditor of the Local Government Board has threatened or would, inflict a surcharge either for feeding or giving necessary clothing to such children; what is the cost of relief in this union per head of population; and whether it does not treat more than half its members by indoor relief.

I have been furnished with a list of the charged children during the latter part of the time in which the City of London Guardians provided clothing for such children. From this list it appears that between February, 1897, and February, 1899, seventeen children were charged. Each of these children was again charged between February, 1897, and March, 1899, five of them were charged a third time between June, 1898, and March, 1899, and one of them a fourth time in June, 1898. On each occasion, as I understand, the guardians provided clothing. I have no information as to the statement alleged to have been made by the chairman. I could not express an opinion as to the liability of the guardians to surcharge without knowing the precise circumstances of the particular case; but I understand from the auditor that he has not threatened surcharge in respect of the feeding or clothing of any children of the kind in question. The expenditure of the guardians of this union on purposes wholly connected with the relief of the poor was, in the year ended Lady Day, 1906 (excluding the cost of paupers maintained in the institutions of the Metropolitan Asylums Board and the contributions of the guardians to that body, and to the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund), £3 6s. 3d. per head of the night population of the union, which is co-extensive with the City, as estimated by the Registrar-General in 1905. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the affirmative.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state whether the Northern Lighthouse Commissioners have yet decided to establish a light and fog signal on the Island of Rona, thirty-nine miles north-east of the Butt of Lewis.

I have communicated with the Commissioners of Northern Light houses, who inform me that they adhere to the views expressed in my reply to a Question by my hon. friend on the 30th April last, viz., that they have not yet decided to propose the erection of a lighthouse and fog signal on North Rona, and that in view of the heavy cost which its establishment and maintenance would in volve, and the more pressing claims of other schemes, it is unlikely that the erection of a station there will be proceeded with in the near future.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Committee which is in quiring into the question of safety appliances on railways has had the subject of automatic couplings under consideration; and when it is likely to report.

I am informed that the time of the Committee has been fully occupied with the question of either side brakes and with experiments with appliances of this nature. They have at the same time taken steps with a view to ascertaining whether there is any need for automatic couplings in this country, and are collecting information as to the conditions with which automatic couplings should comply so as to be suitable for the rolling stock in the United Kingdom in case the necessity for their adoption should be established.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication when the Report may be expected?

I understand it will take some time to carry out the experiments.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the discharge of a messenger from the Stockport office named Charles Gorst on the ground that he was the son of a publican and lived on licensed premises; whether there is any regulation which forbids such employment; and, if so, will he consider the propriety of its withdrawal.

I am making inquiry on the subject and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury why no payment has been made for travelling and other expenses incurred by the witnesses summoned by the Public Prosecutor in the case of Rex v. Andrew Dunn Turner, which was tried at Lewes Assizes, on the 22nd November, 1906; and whether he will direct payment to be made forthwith.

The Director of Public Prosecutions informs me that these expenses should have been paid by his agent as soon as possible after the assizes. Owing to the delay of the agent in sending in his accounts the Director was unaware that the witnesses had not been paid, but if they or any of them had applied to him the matter would have had immediate attention. On seeing the Question of the hon. Member the Director wrote again to his agent pressing for the account, and has given directions for the immediate payment of the witnesses, which I understand has now been done.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the Harton Coal Company have made no attempt to abate the nuisance of tipping slag, firebrick, and cinders on to the beach at Whitburn, near Sunderland, and that as a consequence this beach is being completely ruined as a pleasure resort; and, if so, whether he will at once take action in the matter with a view to its discontinuance.

I am informed that the Harton Coal Company have obtained possession of land which will be utilised as tipping ground, that they are now making the necessary arrangements to commence to utilise it, and that as soon as these are complete further tipping on the shore will be stopped.

I beg to ask the Secre- tary to the Treasury what sums of money have been contributed by this and other nations respectively towards the inter national investigation of the North Sea; if he will state what practical good has resulted from the so-called investigations made up to now; and whether, in view of the fact that the coasts of Scotland are continually harried by trawlers, and that the fishermen receive no adequate protection, he will consider if the money spent on the Marine Biological Association could be better employed, so as to provide the Scottish Fishery Board with adequate funds to protect fishermen in pursuit of their calling.

For the information required in the first part of the Question I must refer my hon. friend to page 41 of Command Paper 2,966 of 1906. But I should point out that in addition each country has spent consider able sums on steamers and laboratories, etc, maintained in connection with the inquiry. As regards the remaining portions of the Question, I may observe that a Committee has been appointed to inquire into the whole subject.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General if his attention has been called to the action of Mr. Edwin Woodhouse, managing director of the firm of E. Woodhouse and Company, Limited, manufacturers, a Justice of the Peace and Deputy-Lieutenant in the West Riding of Yorkshire, in discharging one of his employees for offering himself as a candidates at the Farsley district council election, notwithstanding the fact that the employee in question has previously served on the said council without breaking any of his working time for the performance of his public duties; and whether he will take steps to put an end to the practice of employers who arrogate to themselves the right of determining what use their employees shall make of their time after working hours.

It is not alleged, I understand, that any breach of the law has been committed. The subject, therefore, will not go before the Director of Public Prosecutions. I see great difficulty in bringing in legislation on the lines suggested. I trust the Question will serve to draw attention to the fact.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, in view of the fact that in the Report of the British delegates who attended the meeting of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, held at Amsterdam in 1906, it is stated that His Majesty's Government do not intend to participate in the North Sea Fishery Investigations on the present footing after 22nd July, 1907, is he yet in a position to say whether the investigations by foreign Governments will also terminate on that date.

We are informed that it has been decided that this country should continue to participate in the investigations to which my hon. friend refers for another twelve months, i.e., until July, 1908, on the same terms as before.

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of my Question?

That should be addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the provisions of the Hop Trade Act, 1866, as to the marking of hop pockets and the mixing of hops, apply to imported hops, or to home-grown hops only; and, if the latter, whether he will take steps to place home growers on an equality with foreign growers in this respect.

The provisions to which the hon. Member refers are not applicable to imported hops. The Select Committee on the hop industry which reported in 1890, expressed the opinion that the interests of English hop-growers would not be served by any alteration of the law in this respect, and although the matter has frequently been under consideration since that time, the Board have never seen any sufficient reason to dissent from the conclusion at which the Committee arrived.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that a Bill was passed last session providing meals for necessitous school children in England, he will state when he proposes to introduce a similar measure for Scotland.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all the School Boards in Scotland excepting Glasgow and Aberdeen have protested against this proposal?

There are some 900 parishes in Scotland and I do not think a large number of them have expressed any opinion. Proposals with this object in view will be included in the Education Bill for Scotland, which, as I have already stated in answer to the hon. Member for Kincardineshire, I hope to have an opportunity of introducing on an early date.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether any arrangements have yet been made for an improved scale of pensions for teachers in public schools in Scotland.

No, but proposals to this end are under consideration in connection with the Education Bill already referred to by me in previous answers.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received any information as to the number of trawlers that have been fishing in the proscribed waters of the Moray Firth since the three masters of the Grimsby trawlers, fishing under the Norwegian flag, were released without paying their fines; and what action he intends to take on behalf of the local fishermen in the event of the entire crew of the Grimsby trawlers being manned by foreigners.

Four foreign trawlers have been observed working in the Moray Firth by one of the superintending cruisers since 9th February—the date when the Norwegian trawl masters were released from prison. Several trawlers have also been reported by the Board's fishery officer at Lossiemouth as working off that place. As already stated, I intend to introduce a Bill extending to all British ports the prohibition against landing fish caught by the trawl in prohibited waters.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware of the dismissal from office of Dr. George Duncan, the Poor Law medical officer of the parishes of Kintail, Glenshiel, and Lochalsh, after fifty years of public service; will he say if he failed or neglected or refused to perform the duties of his office, or if he was found unfit or incompetent to discharge them; have the Local Government Board made any inquiry into the case; and, if so, what reasons have been alleged by the parish councils for his dismissal.

I have to reply to the first part of the Question in the affirmative, but, as the hon. Member is aware, the Board have no power to interfere in the matter of dismissal of a parochial medical officer. Dr. Duncan, who is medical officer of the three very large parishes named, is of advanced years, and I understand that, as he has failed to implement an agreement made with him three years ago to appoint an assistant, he has been asked to resign as from 1st July next. I am not aware that unfitness or in competency of any kind has been alleged.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he can give the House any information as to when the Church Commission will make its final Report; and what is the reason for the delay in having a final settlement as to the disputed property.

I have no official information, but on referring to the Chairman I am requested to point out that the Commission has not only to pronounce decree of allocation but has to adjust separate orders for the transfer of property in connection with every one of the eleven hundred congregations concerned as well as in regard to property held for foreign missions in various parts of the world, for colleges, and for other schemes of the Church. It has also been, necessary to give much consideration to legacies which fall under the jurisdiction of the Church before formally allocating the capital funds. The task entrusted to the Commission involves manifold and complex difficulties and details which, cannot be described in an Answer to a Question, and the Commissioners with every desire for an early settlement have felt it their duty to deal with them thoroughly and comprehensively.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, in the quarterly returns of the Irish national schools, there is a query which requires the teachers to have their character certified every three months; and as this query has given rise to much dissatisfaction, will he request the Commissioners of National Education to eliminate it from the quarterly return.

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that it is the fact that managers are requested to state in the quarterly returns their opinion as to the teacher's character. The Commissioners have more than once had this query under consideration, but have not seen their way to abolish it. I will, however, commend the matter to their further consideration.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will inquire why the salary warrants of the Irish national teachers, after being signed by the managers and certified for payment in the Education Office, are not forwarded direct to the teachers; and whether, in view of the inconvenience resulting in many cases from their not doing so, he would request the Commissioners of National Education to send the warrants direct to the teachers in the future.

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the grants towards the salaries of national school teachers are sent to the local managers, because they are the persons who are charged with the direct government of the schools and who appoint and remove the teachers. The Commissioners tell me that they do not consider it necessary or desirable to alter the existing arrangements.

Are we to take it the managers are the paymasters of the school teachers?

It is assumed that they supplement the salaries of the teachers which are transmitted to them.

Will the Commissioners issue a circular urging the managers to pay over the salaries as soon as received?

I have no control over the Commissioners, but I will communicate the hon. Member's suggestion to them.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say how the Mountshannon estate, in county, Limerick, stands at present; how soon it will be available for distribution; and have the names of Simon Ryan, of Cross Pallasgrean, James Conway, of Gurtavalla Doon Hanora Lonergan of Lower Toomaline Doon, and Ellen Rafferty, of Knockroe, Kilteely, who applied for farms on it instead of their evicted farms something about two years ago, been recognised as among those who are appointed to receive farms on this estate.

The Estates Commissioners have agreed to purchase this estate and expect to obtain possession next May. The scheme for the distribution of the farms has not yet been settled, and the Commissioners are therefore unable to say whether the persons named in the Question will be allotted farms. There is a large number of applicants.

Will the evicted tenants get a share of the work which will have to be done?

I will inquire into that.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that in the month of it September last Thomas Drew, of Ardshanbally, Adare, county Limerick, was evicted from his holding by the Earl of Dunraven, of Adare Manor; that Thomas Drew and his wife, who is delicate in health, are living in an unsanitary cabin; and will he see that the Estates Commissioners send an inspector on the lands to report on Thomas Drew's case with a e view to his restoration.

The Estates Commissioners have received from Thomas Drew an application for reinstatement, and have referred the case to their inspector for investigation, but have not yet received his report. In the meantime the Commissioners have no knowledge of the facts.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenent of Ireland whether a relieving officer of some years' standing and having a shop of which his wife has charge should be required by order of the Local Government Board to resign his position or give up his shop; and whether Article 20 of the Local Government Board refers to future and not to long-standing, appointments.

Under Article 29 of the General Regulations of the Local Government Board, no person can be appointed to be a relieving officer who is engaged in retail trade of any kind. In the opinion of the Local Government Board, the same reasons which render this a disqualification for appointment require that any relieving officer who elects to engage in retail trade subsequent to his appointment should resign his position.

But why disqualify a man when he has nothing whatever to do with the shop?

The difference between the man and his wife in a matter like this requires very careful investigation. I think the rule is a very desirable one.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the discontent in Ireland, owing to the condition of the housing of the working classes, he will consider the advisability of introducing a measure for cheapening and facilitating the borrowing of loans in cities, towns, and urban districts, so as to enable the councils of such places to borrow money at the same rates as now obtain under the Agricultural Labourers (Ireland) Act of last year, and thus be enabled to proceed with this necessary work which under present conditions they are unable to do.

I have nothing at present to add to the statement made by my predecessor last session, namely, that it is the intention of the Government, at a convenient opportunity, to consider whether any Amendment of the law relating to the housing of the working classes in the towns of Ireland may be necessary.

Did not a former Chief Secretary promise action in this matter?

That may be. I am greatly embarrassed by the promises of my predecessors.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that every three months the Belfast Board of Guardians are compelled by the Local Government Board regulation to post throughout the union district the names and addresses of each person receiving outdoor relief, including blind persons, for whom a capitation is granted; and whether, in view of the fact that the Belfast guardians have petitioned the Local Government Board to suspend such regulation, he will cause it to be withdrawn, so that the honest poor may not suffer under this stigma.

The duty in question is imposed upon boards of guardians by Statute, and the Local Government Board have no dispensing power in the matter. The provision has this advantage: it enables the recipients of outdoor relief to ascertain the exact amounts which have been granted to them, and in this respect it has been found most useful and necessary.