To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the magistrates have just granted the transfer of a licence from the present Ship Inn, about two miles from Pett village, near Hastings, to a new house about to be built about half-a-mile from Pett village; that Pett village has not at present a public-house in or near it and does not want one; that the parish councils concerned have passed unanimous resolutions against the transfer; that memorials, signed by an overwhelming majority of the householders, were presented at the Court in opposition to the transfer; and whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent the people of Pett having a public-house thrust upon them against their will.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Miss Margaret M. Clarke, of Posseckstown, Notter, county Meath, has applied to the Estates Commissioners to be reinstated in her farm; and, if so, if the application has been dealt with.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the number of pensioners from the Seamen Pensioners Reserve who now receive the age pensions from Greenwich Hospital funds, their present average age, and the total amount paid to such pensioners during the year 1906; also similar information with reference to pensioners from the Royal Fleet Reserve, and, if none, then when the first payment out of the funds mentioned will be payable; whether all the pensioners in both the reserves mentioned are actually paid the agepensions from Greenwich funds on attaining fifty-five years, whilst the average age of others eligible outside such reserves was last year stated to be sixty-three years; and whether he will say under what circumstances or by what authority the pensioners from the Seamen Pensioners Reserve and of the Royal Fleet Reserve are entitled to and actually receive their pensions on attaining fifty-five, whilst the others stated do not.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his attention has been called to the frequent breakdown of motor omnibuses passing along congested routes such as the Strand and Fleet Street; and whether, seeing that the consequent obstruction of the highway is of serious import to all classes of traffic, he proposes to enforce more stringently any existing regulations, or to make fresh regulations dealing with the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from John Doherty, Lisnagea, Kilnagross, with reference to his holding on the Vaugh estate, in county Leitrim, and if any action will be taken in the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Arterial Drainage Commission, paragraph 13, page 9, in which it is stated that smaller sums than those hitherto estimated might, us in the case of the River Barrow, be expended with advantage, provided that they were devoted to the purposes of specific works forming part of a general and comprehensive scheme of improvement; whether he is aware that the county councils and the representatives of the counties injured by the flooding from the Barrow have agreed on a scheme, pending legislation and a scheme of thorough drainage, which would considerably reduce the floods and the evils resulting there from; and whether, seeing that Sir Alexander Binnie, Chairman of the Drainage Commission, stated that the works proposed under the scheme were of a beneficial and permanent character, one of the first works that should be done under any general scheme of drainage, he will favourably consider this scheme and provide the money to carry it out.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Arterial Drainage Commission, dated 23rd February, 1907, paragraph 13, page 9, referring to the River Barrow, endorsing the observations of the All port Commission that the upper portion of the catchment area of the River Barrow extending down to Athy contains an area of 408,000 acres, of which 46,000 acres are flooded or injured by floods, that the basin of the Upper Barrow suffers more from floods than any other part of Ireland, as shown in the figures given above, the proportion which the lands flooded and injured bear to the whole catchment area is exceptionally high, the length of time during which large tracks are covered with water is often considerable, and there are several low-lying towns within the limits of the river basin which suffer directly and indirectly from inundations; that altogether the condition of the district may be described as deplorable; and seeing that this condition has existed for fifty years and that the flooded area and injured lands now exceed 60,000 acres, what steps he proposes to take to provide a remedy for this evil which has caused loss of life and annual destruction of property.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the number of persons afforded constant protection and special protection respectively by police patrols in each county in Ireland on the 1st instant, and the number of police engaged on these duties respectively; and what was the number of other persons, not included in this list, to whom similar protection was afforded during the period 1st January, 1906 to 29th February, 1907, but from whom protection was withdrawn because the necessity for it had ceased.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the number of agrarian outrages in Ireland in the years 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, and the months of January and February, 1907, under the following heads: total agrarian outrages, including threatening letters and excluding threatening letters; particular crimes under the following heads: homicides; firing at the person; assault with intent to murder; assault

† See Cols. 10–12.

endangering life; incendiary fires; killing, cutting, or maiming cattle; attacking houses; and firing into dwellings.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the number of persons wholly boycotted in Ireland on the 1st instant; the number of persons partially boycotted on the same date, and the number of other persons affected by boycotting whose cases were recorded in the Returns made by the constabulary authorities, but which are not regarded as falling into the category of persons wholly or partially boycotted; and will he also define the classification followed by the authorities in recording cases of boycotting under each of these heads.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the land one mile on each side of the railway line at Nairobi, in British East Africa, is Crown property.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the number of boy clerks and boy copyists entered into the Civil Service during the years 1904, 1905, and 1906; also the number of boy clerks and boy copyists who, during those years, were appointed to situations in the Second Division, Excise and Customs.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the work of the Registry of Deeds, Dublin, has increased by 30 per cent. during the past six years, owing chiefly to negotiation under the Land Purchase Act; that dissatisfaction prevails amongst the existing staff due to the strain thus put upon them without any corresponding remuneration and to the organisation of the office; and whether the Treasury will give the claims of the staff an early consideration.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware if a memorial from the staff of the Registry of Deeds, Dublin, was forwarded to the registrar for transmission to the Treasury on the 4th January, 1906, whether the transmission of the memorial has been delayed through the absence of the registrar, the assistant registrar not having authority to deal with the matter; and whether, in the event of the illness of the head of the department proving to be protracted, steps are to be taken to have this matter dealt with.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will ask the Board of Works to explain the reason why all applications from Second Division clerks for the four increments on reaching £100 per annum have been ignored; and if the responsibility for this action rests with the Secretary, because the majority of the applicants are Roman Catholics.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that no assistant clerks, new class, in the Board of Works, Dublin, have yet been promoted to the Second Division, although there are at least four of that class elegible for such promotion by length of service and by the importance of the work performed by them; and will he ask the Board of Works why, when applications for promotion were made and recommended some time ago, no replies were received.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, what are the exact terms of reference to the Treasury Committee recently appointed to inquire into the administration and conduct of the National Physical Laboratory.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether the Treasury Committee recently appointed to inquire into the administration and conduct of the National Physical Laboratory was appointed by the Treasury or by any body or society other than the Treasury; and, if so, by what body or society.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether any of the members of the Treasury Committee recently appointed to inquire into the administration and conduct of the National Physical Laboratory were appointed after consultation with, and at the suggestion of, any person connected with the National Physical Laboratory, either as a member of the Committee of that body or of the staff of the National Physical Laboratory.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he can give quantities and prices of malting barley sold during the months of October, November, and December, 1906, in the following markets, with the weight per bushel in each market, Norwich, Lincoln, Bury St. Edmund's, Berwick, Cambridge, Bishop's Stortford, Chelmsford, York and Darlington.

To ask the Postmaster-General, whether he could state if there was no officer in Ireland fitted for promotion to the postmastership of Cashel, which was recently filled by an official from Scotland; whether he will say in what respects Mr. Goudie was considered the best qualified; and whether he will state the number of

† See (4) Debates, clxx., 986.

applications he received from officials in Ireland, and the length of service of each candidate.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he has received resolutions from the Cork Incorporated Chamber of Commerce and other public bodies in the South of Ireland in support of a telephonic connection between Cork and the important towns of Fermoy, Bantry, Charleville, and Youghal; and, if so, will steps be taken to carry this project into effect.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, under manipulation, the prices of the American cotton futures contract, as used on the Liverpool exchange, with nearly 1,000,000 bales of cotton in that port and with only a very small quantity in New York, is selling at some 200 points over New York and twenty-five points over new crops for 1907–8 causing wide-spread mischief to the Lancashire spinners and manufacturers as well as to merchants and importers; whether he is aware that this artificial difference ha enabled Liverpool manipulators to open up enormous gambling operations in the shape of straddles between Liverpool and America; and whether, under these circumstances, His Majesty's Government will take steps to safeguard the cotton industry from these gambling operations and manipulations solely made possible under the present form of futures contract as practised at Liverpool.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the intentions of the Board with regard to the tonnage clauses contained in the Great Yarmouth Port and Haven Bill, the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Bill, the Cardiff Railway Bill, the Taff Vale Railway Bill and the Leith Harbour and Docks Bill.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board how many appeals have been made to the Board by parish councils and district councils respectively under Section 9, Sub-section 4, of The Local Government Act, 1894; and if he can give the number of appeals granted and refused.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will state which metropolitan parochial infirmaries have special wards for the treatment of cases of pulmonary tuberculosis; and can the Local Government Board encourage the establishment of such wards.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if Dr. Fletcher reported on the case of Olive Hunt, who died after vaccination; if the same Dr. Fletcher reported on the case of Willy Kellam, vaccinated on 30th October, 1906; if the wound in this case took seventy-two days to heal; and if he will lay a copy of Dr. Fletcher's Reports upon the Table of the House, or give a copy of the Report to the relatives.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that, according to the monthly statement of pauperism in England and Wales, there were, in 1907, 7·7 indoor and 15·7 outdoor paupers per thousand respectively, while in the London district the figures are approximately reversed, that is to say 16·8 indoor and 9·8 outdoor per thousand; will he state the cost per thousand paupers in the London district and also in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what is the salary paid for medical attendance on the coastguard at Lamlash and Kildonan, respectively, in the county of Bute.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the quinquennial valuation of the Sun Life Assurance Society for the period ending 31st December, 1906, was completed within two months of that date; whether he is aware that the amount of the above-named insurance company's premium income, amount insured, and the number of the beneficiaries, is at least ten times as great as in the case of the Indian Military Service Family Pension Fund; whether, seeing that the staff at the India Office are fully employed on their current work, he will in future arrange for outside aid in procuring the quinquennial valuation of the Indian Military Service Family Pension Fund; and whether he can yet name a date for the completion and publication of the quinquennial valuation of the Indian Military Service Family Pension Fund for the period ending in 1903.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether any change had been made, or is proposed, in the terms of enlistment, conditions of service, or liability on mobilisation, of the men in Schedule D of the Army Reserve; if so, what is the exact nature of such change, when will it become operative, and to what categories of men.

To ask the Secretary of State for War how many of the Volunteer officers acting as adjutants are holding temporary appointments; to which branches of the Volunteer Service they are attached; and how many are appointed to county battalions with one or more detachments.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is now prepared to make any statement as to the non-applicability of the limitations of the powers of the Secretary of State contained in Section 133, sub-section 2, of the Army Act, in the case of the exercise of such powers by the Officer Commanding-in-Chief in the field, as provided by the Army (Annual) Bill, page 5, line 41, and page 6, lines 1 to 7.

To ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in consequence of both divisions of the Court of Appeal (England) having been engaged during the current sitting in hearing appeals from the King's Bench and Probate Divisions, there is now a serious accumulation of appeals from the Chancery Division; and whether it is proposed that, apart from the Judicature Bill, which appears likely to meet with considerable opposition, any steps shall be taken to reduce these arrears at an early date.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether Volunteers who have served for years will be required under the now scheme to re-enlist upon the new conditions, or whether Volunteers now serving will be permitted to fulfil their present engagements upon the terms under which they enlisted.

The Territorial Force will be raised and maintained by the county associations, which bodies, as they come into existence, will exercise authority only under the terms of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Bill. Units of the existing Auxiliary Forces will be transferred to the Territorial Force by Order in Council; but the conditions of service of no individual now serving will be altered without his consent.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the information received from Harrods, Limited, with reference to the employment of soldiers, with pensions, at a wage of 5s. per week.

I am informed that Messrs. Harrods have not dismissed a single civilian packer; that there are at present eight soldiers under instruction, and that they are quite independent of and in excess of the ordinary staff of civilian packers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that firms which employ Army Reserve men do often take into consideration the amount of their pensions when fixing their wages, and will he do what he can to prevent that kind of thing in future?

I can only say I have given instructions that the practice, if it exists, shall be discouraged in every possible way.

I beg to ask the Secretary for War whether the Army rate of pay, mentioned in the Territorial and Reserve Forces Bill, includes any extra allowances beyond that now given to soldiers for messing and service pay; if he can state the total amount to be paid per day whilst in camp for pay and allowances to a single man and a married man respectively; and if any deductions are to be made for messing or other charges.

The intention is that all ranks in the Territorial Army shall draw Army rates of pay without deduction. A sergeant of infantry will thus receive 2s. 4d. a day, a corporal 1s. 8d. and a private 1s.; in other arms the rates are higher. In addition every man will draw the messing allowance of 3d. a day so long as a grocery ration is not issued free, and the families of non-commissioned officers will draw separation allowance. Proficiency pay which takes the place of service pay cannot be obtained by the regular soldier unless he has two years colour service and is on a "long" engagement; the terms of service in the Territorial Army accordingly will not qualify a man to receive this pay.

asked why the separation allowance was only to be granted to non-commissioned officers, and not to corporals, lance-corporals, and privates.

was understood to say the non-commissioned officers were out for a longer time and required more allowance.

Oh no, not all.

asked whether the Territorial Army when in camp would receive any compensation for loss of wages.

They receive the Army rates of pay; that is the only compensation we can give them.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the continual necessity for renewing uniforms of Volunteers, and in order to save wasted expenditure, he can state if there is any intention to clothe the second line as a whole in any particularly coloured cloth for service or other dress.

Service dress will be provided for the whole of the Territorial Force.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if, having regard to the fact that he invited some twenty of the best known officers of the Auxiliary Forces to advise him last year as to the best method of forming a Territorial Army, he proposes to consult with them as to the details of the Bill he has introduced, and to learn their views as to the suggested destruction of the Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteers, before asking the House to agree to a Second Reading.

During the early stages of the present scheme of reorganisation I wished for information upon a number of specific points upon which I addressed questions to the Committee to which the hon. Member refers. The discussions and advices of the Committee upon those points were of great value to me. Now that a Bill is before the House I do not think that any advantage would be gained by consulting the Committee to which the hon. Member alludes.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state when the Army Council will be ready to give a decision in the matter of the pay and promotion of the civil staff for engineer services.

The matter is still under consideration, and it is not yet possible to say when a decision will be arrived at.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that Mr. Jotindranath Sen, editor of the Allahabad Citizen, was cited to appear before the district magistrate of Allahabad on 4th February with respect to a certain article that appeared in the Citizen of 21st January regarding the alleged misarrangement of the mela at Tribeni, and was asked the name of his informant, which Mr. Jotindranath Sen refused to give, and was then asked by the district magistrate to sign a statement of the interview; and whether he will inform the House as to the authority under which these proceedings were taken, and whether the purpose of the proceedings was to charge Mr. Jotindranath Sen with the crime of sedition.

I have seen in the newspapers reports to the effect stated. I have no information as to the authority under which the proceedings in question, if they ever took place, were taken, or as to their purpose.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether all or any of the Bengali cultivators who beat to death Mr. Bloomfield, an indigo planter of Champaran, have been brought to justice.

No information has reached me as to the result of the inquiry into the circumstances of the murder of Mr. Bloomfield, but I have no doubt that every effort will be made to bring the murderers to justice.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that outrages such as these, formerly so rare, are now becoming more frequent, and does he not think that special measures are necessary for the protection of our fellow subjects?

I do not think the Secretary of State has any information leading him to believe that such cases are at all common.

Will the inquiry be made by cable? I put this Question a fortnight ago, and we have as yet got no satisfactory Answer.

Yes, I think I can undertake to send a cable message.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the Uganda Railway Government strip, whether these lands are in the position of a security for the money advanced by the Imperial Government to build the railway; and, if so, whether he will make arrangements that no more of this land be alienated without the sums realised or accruing being allocated specially to the reduction of this debt, instead of being used as at present for current expenditure of the Colony.

The zone or strip originated in the days when the future statusof the railway was still undetermined, and the principle was then laid down that the receipts there from should be set off against the capital cost of construction. Now that the railway has become a branch of the Protectorate Administration the retention of the zone as a separate estate is anomalous and administratively inconvenient; and so long as the Protectorate is not self-supporting the appropriation by this country of the profits on the zone does not secure any real repayment to the British Exchequer. In these circumstances His Majesty's Government have decided that the question of repayments on account of the capital cost of the railway shall be deferred until the Protectorate can dispense with an Imperial Grant-in-aid; and that the railway zone shall cease to be treated as a separate estate, the revenue derived there from being treated in the same way as the receipts accruing from other lands in the Protectorate.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the extensive coast line of Canada, His Majesty's Government will consider the propriety of inviting Canada to be represented at the forthcoming Navigation Conference, when the power of the Colonies with reference to the regulation of coasting trade is to be discussed.

I have nothing to add to the reply given on the 18th instant by the right hon. the President of the Board of Trade to a similar Question.†

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of state for the Colonies whether he is in a position to make any further statement as to the proposed railway development in Northern Nigeria.

No, Sir. I regret that I am unable to make any further statement at present.

When will the hon. Gentleman be able to give the information?

I am afraid I cannot indicate any date at present.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the recent disclosures in Ceylon, Fiji, and West Africa, where the governors after retirement had acquired commercial monopolies of various kinds adverse to the interests of these Colonies, detrimental to good and honest government, and

† See Cols. 474–5.

contrary to the principles of free trade, the Secretary of State for the Colonies intends to take any steps to put a stop to these abuses; and, if so, will he say what these steps are.

Some weeks ago the Secretary of State addressed a communication to the governors on the subject of ex-governors engaging in commercial enterprises in the Colonies with which they have been connected. The Secretary of State desires that it should not be assumed that he accepts the wording of this Question as making a true presentment of the facts of the particular cases to which it refers.

In view of what was done in connection with the Ceylon Pearl Fisheries, would it not be possible in the future to make it a condition of the appointment of any governor that he should not, during his period of office or after, use the knowledge he acquired in the Colony for the purposes of personal gain?

Obviously it is quite impossible to make any regulation controlling the actions of governors after they have left His Majesty's service. The Secretary of State has issued a circular discouraging the practices complained of.

But what is the use of the circular in view of what has happened in Ceylon and West Africa, where the ex-governor purchased concessions from outsiders? Would it not be better to bring in legislation prohibiting the practice?

I do not think that that would be the most convenient course.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the peoples of Australasia have made frequent protests against the use of New Caledonia as a penal settlement by the French authorities in close proximity to their shores, and if, bearing those protests in mind, His Majesty's Government made any, and, if so, what, representation to the friendly consideration of our French allies in the course of the negotiations for the enforced labour of the New Hebrideans, with regard to this out-of-date method of dealing with Europeans convicts; and if those representations were received by the French Government in the spirit of the comity of nations.

The Australian Government have on several occasions called the attention of His Majesty's Government to the use of New Caledonia as a penal settlement by the French authorities, and communications have been made to the French Government on the subject. These representations have been received in the most friendly spirit by the Government of the Republic, but they have not felt themselves in a position to give any definite pledge of policy in the matter, though they have stated that there was no present intention of reviving the practice In reply to a representation made to them in May last His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris received a verbal assurance that there was no intention of renewing the system of sending convict labour to the island, but if any change of system were contemplated, they would not fail to inform Sir F. Bertie so as to enable him to warn His Majesty's Government. No further intimation on the subject has since been received. There is, and will be, no question of enforced labour in the New Hebrides and no negotiations have taken place respecting it.

Are French convicts still being sent there?

The assurance given by the French Republic is that there is no intention of renewing the system.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether, if it is the fact that convicts are sent there for life, it would not be a great many years before New Caledonia ceased to be a penal settlement?

The hon. Member is just as good a judge of the period of longevity as I am.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the instructions to be given to the representatives of Great Britain at the Hague Conference will be previously communicated to the House.

It will be desirable to follow the precedent of the the previous Conference, when it was stated that any public announcement beforehand of the instructions given to the British Delegates was inexpedient.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any representations have been made, or can properly be made, to the Russian Government respecting the duty levied on Indian tea of upwards of 200 per cent. ad valorem, but for the excessive nature of which an important trade in Indian teas could be done with the Russian Empire.

Representations on this subject were made to the Russian Government in September, 1905, but, as the hon. Member for Central Hull was informed on the 22nd March last,†they led to no result. His Majesty's Government do not propose to pursue the subject any further.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us the effect of the duty or the quantity of tea imported into Russia?

I am afraid I cannot say the precise effect, but I am informed that the quantity of Indian tea imported into Russia has gone up considerably in the last twelve months.

Would not this be a favourable opportunity to approach the Russian Government on the subject?

Was not the imposition of these high duties by Russia by way of retaliation for the sugar bounties?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Russian troops have arrived in Persia to guard the Russian Legation and the Consulates; and whether any similar steps are being taken by His Majesty's Government.

His Majesty's Ministers at Teheran has reported that small reinforcements have been sent to the guards at the Russian Legation at Teheran and Russian Consulates at Tabriz and Urmia. It is not considered that any similar steps on the part of His Majesty's Government are necessary or desirable at present

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the number of Turkish troops charged to the Macedonian Budget during 1906; and whether any extra expenditure in connection with the contemplated reorganisation of the 3rd Army Corps at Salonica will be chargeable to that Bubget.

His Majesty's Government have no exact information as to the number of Turkish troops charged to the Macedonian Budget at any time. Any extra military expenditure, beyond that provided for in the Budget, is not chargeable to the revenue of Macedonia.

pressed for fuller information as to the charges.

My Answer contains the fullest information at the command of the Foreign Office.

was understood to suggest that the financial delegate might supply the information.

We are in constant communication with him, and my Answer contains the fullest information we have.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why £700 is still provided for a commercial agent in the United States seeing that by the new arrangement an allowance of £100 at Washington is granted for a secretary in the diplomatic service for doing the work of the commercial attaché.

The appointment of the commercial agent in the United States does not expire until 31st March, 1908, and his services will therefore be retained until that date. Meanwhile, it does not appear that His Majesty's Embassy at Washington should be excluded from the operation of the new scheme as to commercial attachés.

Seeing that the salary of the British Ambassador to the United States has been raised from £3,000 to £10,000, could he not pay for a commercial agent?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government has received a proposal from the United States Government for the appointment of a Commission or Conference respecting the opium traffic in the East of Asia; if so, whether he can give particulars of the proposal; what has been the response of His Majesty's Government thereto; and how the matter now stands.

In reply to inquiries, the United States Government are willing to take part in a Joint International Commission of Investigation, if certain other Powers are likewise willing, and if the inquiry extends to the production of opium in China as well as to the import of foreign opium. The United States Government have also been told that His Majesty's Government consider that procedure by way of a Commission would seem better adapted than a Conference for an investigation of the facts of the opium trade, and of the consequences of the opium habit in the Far East. A Conference, if convened now, might find that the materials before it were insufficient for arriving at a definite recommendation. If, however, the other Powers Consulted prefer procedure by way of a Conference, His Majesty's Government do not desire to press this view.

Will this preclude the Government from continuing their negotiations with China?

I should like notice of that Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the stationing of commercial attachés in France, Japan, China, and Turkey has been found to be satisfactory.

The Answer is in the affirmative.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the quantity of pot still and patent still whisky produced in England, Ireland, and Scotland in 1906, and the quantity produced in 1896 and 1886, respectively.

The desired information cannot be given, as the Inland Revenue accounts do not distinguish between pot still and patent still spirit. The total quantities of spirits produced in each part of the United Kingdom will be found in the annual Reports of the Board of Inland Revenue.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman arrange for those figures to be obtained by the Excise authorities? They are of great importance to the trade.

As far as I know there are no means of distinguishing them.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can see his way to impose a transfer fee on all American railway stocks dealt in on the London Stock Exchange on the same scale as now exists on British railway stocks, seeing that, although American railway certificates are in effect warrants to bearer, they escape the duties payable on bearer warrants of English undertakings as imposed by the Companies Act, 1867, and the Stamp Act of 1891.

A stamp duty of 1s. per £1,000 was imposed by Sections 4 and 6 of the Finance Act, 1899, on share certificates of American railways on their first transfer or negotiation in the United Kingdom, and this was considered to be as heavy a duty as the circumstances would allow.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if income tax is charged on the full dividends paid by mining companies which have only a few years life before them, and where a large part of the dividend must be applied by the shareholders to replace capital which is wasting; and, if so, whether there is any claim which can be made by the shareholders for repayment of Income Tax so overpaid.

Income Tax is charged on the full "profits"(not dividends) from mines, ascertained as provided by the Income Tax Act of 1842, in Rule III. (2) and Rule IV. (5) of Schedule A., and no allowance is admissible on account of exhaustion of a mine. The law on the subject was very fully discussed and expounded by Lord Blackburn in the case "Coltness Iron Company v. Black" in the House of Lords, 1881.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there are licensed houses in certain parts of London known to the police by the names of the cow houses and cow sheds; and, if so, whether he can state the reason given by the police for these names.

The terms referred to are not police terms, and I am afraid I cannot enter into the question of their meaning. In reply to a further Question by Mr. Fiennes, Mr. GLADSTONE said the hon. Member apparently understood the usual meaning of the phrase known to the police.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a summons issued in the parish of Sutton, in the county of Surrey, and returnable on the 14th March, 1907, for the recovery of 5s, part of a rate made by the Overseers of the Poor on the 29th October, 1906, the costs were 3s. 6d., being 2s. 6d. fee to the clerk of the justices, and 1s. to the constable for serving the summons; and, seeing that in the borough of Wandsworth, county of London, the inclusive charge for summons and service is 6d., will he state why so high a fee as 2s. 6d. was allowed to the justices' clerk at Sutton.

Under a table of fees payable to Justices' Clerks in Surrey, which was settled in 1901, 2s. 6d. is the proper charge for the summons and hearing in a rate case, and 1s. is chargeable by the police at Sutton for serving the summons. No change can be made in the table of Justices' Clerks fees except at the instance of the Standing Joint Committee, to whom any representations on the subject should be addressed. The fees mentioned are not unusual in counties; I have no information as to fees charged in Wandsworth Borough.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what day before Easter he proposes to introduce a Bill dealing with the inspection of laundries in connection with religious institutions.

This Bill will be introduced in another place either before Easter or immediately after the holidays.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints against railway companies under Section 31 of The Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, have been received by the Board of Trade during each of the years 1904, 1905, and 1906.

The complaints received under the section in question in the years 1904, 1905, and 1906, numbered 76, 69, and 108 respectively. These do not include general complaints that are received from trade organisations as to railway charges and facilities.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Joint Claims Committee of the English and Welsh railway companies has recently issued notices to some packed parcels carriers and parcels agents, threatening them that, if they pay claims upon parcels consigned for conveyance by passenger train at owner's risk without the authority of the railway companies, the arrangement under which the fee for collection of parcels is allowed will be cancelled; whether he is aware that it is the invariable custom of railway companies to reject all claims upon goods carried at owner's risk rates; and whether he proposes to take any steps to suppress this system of hampering trade.

I am making inquiry with regard to the issue of any such notices as are mentioned by my hon. friend, and will inform him of the result. My information does not support the allegation that railway companies reject all claims in respect of goods carried at owner's risk. The matter is, however, dealt with by a Bill which this House has already read a second time.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he can see his way to organise an agricultural labour bureau under the Board of Agriculture, where labourers desirous of getting back to the land could be put into communication with employers seeking such persons, to their mutual advantage.

My noble friend is of opinion that there are considerable objections to the establishment of a labour bureau by a Government Department and he cannot therefore see his way to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. Something might, however, he done through existing agencies, and I should be glad to confer personally with the hon. Member on the subject.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the proposal of the town council of Bournemouth to erect an infectious diseases hospital in the parish of Kinson, Bournemouth being in Hampshire and Kinson in Dorset; whether the inhabitants of Kinson have written to the Local Government Board protesting against the proposal on the ground that their water supply is drawn from a stream flowing close to the proposed site for the hospital and almost certain to be contaminated from it; and what steps he intends to take in the matter.

The Chairman of the Kinson Parish Meeting has communicated to me the effect of a resolution passed by the parish meeting protesting against this proposal. I have no authority to interfere in the matter unless the town council apply for sanction to a loan for the purpose of defraying the cost of providing the hospital. I have not at present received any such application, but in the event of my doing so I will, before complying with it, give full consideration to all the circumstances of the case.

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that the Local Govern-Board has no power to prevent a municipal authority thus prejudicing the value of property in a given neighbourhood unless a loan is applied for.

That is so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take any steps to secure an alteration of the law to prevent that?

I will, of course, consider any representations made to me.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works what sums have been allotted to the maintenance and repair of Carnarvon and Stirling Castles.

The sum alloted in the Estimates for 1907–8 to Carnarvon Castle is £1,000, and to Stirling Castle £520.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education when the organisation of the Welsh Education Department is expected to be in full working order, involving an accompanying reduction of the English staff.

As my right hon. friend has already stated, the organisation of the Welsh Department is at present in a transitional state, and it is impossible for me to say when any changes consequent upon its being in full working order can be effected.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if his attention has been called to a notice issued by the Gateshead Education Committee stating that, after the end of March, all children attending Gateshead schools but living in the administrative county of Durham would be excluded; if this is caused by the Durham County Education Committee refusing to enter into a mutual arrangement with the Gateshead Education Committee; and, if so, will he take steps to bring the parties together, and thus prevent much inconvenience to children attending Gateshead schools.

The Answer to the first two paragraphs is in the affirmative. The Board of Education have no power to compel a Local Education Authority to enter into an agreement under Section 52 of the Elementary Education Act 1870, but they have endeavoured, so far without success, to persuade the parties to come to terms.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education when he expects to publish the new regulations connected with secondary schools.

These Regulations are now under the President's consideration, but I regret it is impossible at present to say on what date they will be issued.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if the existing legal advisers of the Board of Education will give advice to the Welsh Department, or whether that Department will have its own legal start.

The services of the Board's existing legal advisers will be at the disposal of the Welsh Department should they be required.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if he can now state what grounds the local education authority for Denbighshire have advanced for holding the school at Llanychan to be unnecessary; and what action the Board of Education propose to take in the matter.

The Board have not as yet been informed of the grounds upon which the Llanychan Church of England school is considered unnecessary, and it is therefore obviously impossible to say what action will be taken in the matter.

How long will it take the Board of Education to read the letter sent it?

The matter will be dealt with without delay.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether any schemes for new training colleges for teachers, or hostels, have been sanctioned during the last two years, and, if so, will he name them; whether any schemes are under consideration and not yet sanctioned; and will he name the accommodation in each case.

I do not think statistical information, such as the hon. Member asks for, can be conveniently given in reply to a starred Question, but I will send him a statement giving the particulars which he requires.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General I whether there is any rule of the Postal Service with reference to the employment by the Post Office of persons residing on licensed premises; and, if so, whether he can state its effect to the House.

Post Office servants are not allowed to have any part in the ownership or management of licensed premises, but they are not forbidden to reside on such premises, though they are as a rule expected to obtain permission to do so.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the mail from South Africa arrives and is delivered three or four hours after the departure of the English mail for the Cape, thus entailing the delay of a whole week in answering letters; whether he can bring pressure to bear on the Union Castle Line to start their mail boats a couple of days earlier from Cape Town; and, if this is impossible, will he stipulate that this should be done when next concluding a contract with that company for the transport of the British mails homeward.

The mail service with the Cape Colony is performed by the Union Castle Steamship Company under a contract with the Cape Government which extends to the year 1910. There is already only one day's interval between the arrival of the outward mail at Cape Town and the despatch of the homeward mail; and it would be difficult to interfere with the existing arrangements without inconvenience. On the approach of the termination of the present contract the question will receive consideration. I should add that on thirty occasions during the past twelve months it has been possible to arrange for the correspondence from the Cape to be delivered in London on Saturday morning in time for replies to be despatched by the out-going mail.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General, under the Liverpool and Hong-Kong mail contract, in which it is proposed to pay to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company the sum of £60,000, whether the forwarding of the mails by this route will be more expeditious and economical than by the present route under the contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Shipping Company; or does the Government intend renewing the contract with the latter company on its expiration at the end of the year and subsidise two alternative routes.

The monthly mail service with Japan and China viaVancouver, carried out by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company for many years paid under subsidy, has always been in addition to the British Packet Service by the Suez route; and no change in this respect is contemplated. Voyage for voyage the route of Vancouver is more expeditious than that of Suez in the case of correspondence for Japan and Shanghai, but there are more frequent despatches via Suez. The question of the course to be followed on the termination of the existing contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam I Navigation Company is under consideration; and I am not yet in a position to make a definite statement on the subject.

I beg also to ask the Postmaster-General what was the amount of postage collected last year upon the letters sent to Hong-Kong from this country via Canada; and what is the annual subsidy paid by the British taxpayer to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company for carrying such letters. I beg further to ask the Postmaster-General what is the time taken by the mail from London to Hong-Kong viathe Suez Canal as compared with the time taken via Canada; and what is approximately the weight of letters sent by the former route as compared with the latter. May I further ask the Postmaster-General what is the number of mail services per annum from this country to Hong-Kong via the Suez Canal, and what is the number of mail services via Canada; and what is the net annual cost to the British taxpayer of the two sets of services respectively, after deducting receipts from postage.

I am not yet in a position to give the detailed information asked for by the hon. Member in his three Questions. The necessary calculations are, however, being made, and the figures shall be furnished as soon as possible.

How many mail bags are sent by each mail on the Canadian Pacific route?

I must ask for notice of that.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to a case which was before the Grimsby County Court on Tuesday, 12th February (Marris v. Olsen), in which an employer was sued for not teaching an apprentice his business, and which was dismissed without a hearing, on the ground that only a written undertaking had been given, and that the proper indenture had not sealed the contract; and whether, seeing that there was evidence of mutual acceptance of the terms of the said agreement by reason of the fact that a considerable portion of the agreed period of apprenticeship had been worked, he will take steps to secure that a written undertaking in such cases shall be a legal contract as though a proper indenture form was used.

The Question refers to an extreme illustration of a well-known law. I can hold out no hope of legislation on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, having regard to the fact that, under the Act of last year, the Board of Trustees to manage the National Galleries of Scotland must be established by 1st April, is he now in a position to announce the names of the chairman and members of the Board.

Not yet. I hope to do so shortly.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the fact that children residing in the neighbourhood of Strathcarron railway station are unable to attend the Camat public school on account of there being no footbridge over the Achintee River, will he consider the expediency of allowing the school board to apply a portion of its share of the general aid grant to the erection of a footbridge, especially bearing in mind that it has recently been decided that it is open to any school board to apply its share of the general aid grant, or any portion of such share, to improving the health conditions of its schools.

The provision and maintenance of roads and bridges falls within the province of the parish council or of the county council, and not of the school board. I have to refer the hon. Member to my Answer to his Question of 4th March.†

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland how many of the inspectors of schools in Scotland, who have been appointed since 1897, had previous experience as teachers in elementary schools; upon what principle and on whose nomination these inspectors were selected; and, whether, generally, inspectors have been appointed from among University lecturers who have had little or no experience of elementary teaching or elementary schools.

Of the inspectors (including junior inspectors) of schools appointed since 1897, eight had previous experience as teachers in elementary schools, thirteen had previous experience as teachers in secondary schools, one was transferred as a sub-inspector from the

†See (4) Debates, clxx., 486–7.

Science and Art Department, while the remainder, four, had experience as lecturers in training colleges or in the University. The appointments are made by the Secretary for Scotland as Vice-President of the Department from the list of those who have made application for such appointments. Generally, inspectors have been appointed from among men of distinguished University career who have had sufficient experience in teaching either in elementary or in secondary schools. Inspectors of schools in Scotland are not inspectors of elementary schools, but may be and are largely employed for the purpose of inspecting secondary schools as well.

How is it that teachers in elementary schools who often have large experience are only permitted to rise to the rank of sub-inspectors?

No class is debarred from the appointments. Candidates are considered on their merits and with regard to the duties to be performed without prejudice to any individual.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, seeing that it is the practice of the Local Government Board to prevent the acquisition of tracts of untenanted land and deny to labourers the benefit of Section 8 of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1906, will he require the Board to inform district councils that labourers are not legally excluded from the benefit of that section.

I am informed that there is no ground whatever for the statement that it is the practice of the Local Government Board to prevent the acquisition of tracts of untenanted land. No case under Section 8 of the Act has yet arisen. Myright hon. friend the Attorney-General for Ireland has already fully informed the hon. Member that Section 8 confers no power whatever to acquire lands. It merely enables a rural district council to dispose of superfluous lands which cannot be used for the purpose of providing labourers with cottages and plots.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can account for the habit of inspectors to sanction the acquisition of sites for cottages upon small farms, and reject, without reasons stated, applications for sites upon large untenanted tracts in the same neighbourhood; and will he have instructions issued immediately to inspectors that, where untenanted land is available, sites should be sanctioned on that land rather than on small farms.

I am informed that it is not the habit of the inspectors to act in the manner suggested, and there appears to be no necessity to issue instructions in the matter.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, when Irish landlords, as part of the negotiation for the sale of their estates, by suing for hanging gales, suing in the superior instead of the local courts, and by other oppressive use of legal methods, get decrees for money before it is normally due, or decrees for more than one year's rent within a year, can he see his way to limiting equitably the extent to which the forces of the Crown will be given for executing such decrees.

I can add nothing to the reply which my predecessor gave to the hon. Member's similar Question on 28th March last, namely, that it is not competent to the Executive Government to refuse the assistance of the forces of the Crown for the protection of the sheriff when engaged in the execution of the King's writ.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he has seen a recent letter from Mr. O'Sullivan, of the Local Government Board, purporting to answer an inquiry of the Mullingar Rural District Council as to whether labourers were eligible for temporary lettings under Section 8 of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1906, but in reality evading that question and misleading the council by answering a question not addressed to him; and, seeing that similar letters have been addressed to other councils, obscuring the beneficial working of the Act, will he take steps to have the policy professed by the Government in this matter carried out by the officials.

I have seen the correspondence referred to. The hon. Member has been entirely misinformed as to the purport of the inquiries addressed to the Local Government Board. I will send him a copy of the correspondence.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many temporary inspectors are to be provided under Sub-head A of the Irish Local Government Board Vote, for whose salaries the sum of £1,000 is to be voted; and why the expenses of these temporary inspectors are expected to amount to a further sum of £1,000, which is equivalent to their total salaries.

The Local Government Board are not at present able to say how many additional temporary inspectors may have to be employed to deal with inquiries under the Labourers Acts. The estimate of £1,000 for salaries was based on the assumption that two inspectors for a full year or four for six months would be sufficient, but possibly a greater number will be required. The sub-head expenses includes subsistence allowance and travelling expenses. It is expected that the latter item will be unusually heavy, having regard to the large number of sites to be inspected.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that no portion of the sum of £25,000 voted from the Ireland Development Grant in 1906–7 towards the cost of rebuilding necessitous national schools in Ireland has yet been spent; what is the cause of the delay; and whether he will take steps to see that the moneys allocated by Parliament for this purpose are utilised.

The sum voted from the Ireland Development Grant for national school buildings in the current year is £15,000. This sum is in addition to the £20,000 provided in the Vote for Public Works and Buildings, Ireland. Owing to the temporary partial suspension of grants for building it has not been found necessary to draw upon the former sum. The delay in making the grants has been due to the discussion as to the basis upon which such grants are to be made, and also to the question of adopting new standard plans.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how much money has been actually used for this purpose?

I have not got the figures. I hope that very soon a satisfactory arrangement will be arrived at.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has formed any estimate of the amount of money necessary to put the elementary schools of Ireland into anything like a decent state; and whether he will press upon the Treasury the need for an enlarged grant for this purpose.

I beg to refer the hon. Member to my Answer to his similar Question on Monday,†to which I have nothing to add.

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to take steps to get this money?

I have already taken steps to secure a larger grant to be expended on this most necessary work.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland under what circumstances is it necessary to afford special police protection to twelve persons in county Louth, forty-one in county Galway, nine in Mayo, thirty-nine in Clare, thirty in county Cork, twenty-four in Kerry, twelve in Limerick, and ten in Tipperary.

The Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary

†See Col. 426.

informs me that in the cases referred to protection is necessary for various reasons. The Inspector-General considers that it would be very undesirable to give details from which the particular cases might be identified, and I am therefore not prepared to furnish such particulars.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can give the grounds upon which Martin Hawes has recently been discharged from Galway Gaol after undergoing only eight weeks and three days of his sentence of four calendar months for assaulton the police, and five weeks additional for drunkenness and disorder; and whether his attention has been called to the character of this man, and to the fact that he has been convicted for similar offences on forty-nine previous occasions.

It would be contrary to the established practice to state the reasons which influence the Lord-Lieutenant in the exercise of the prerogative of mercy vested in him. All the circumstances of this particular case were before the Lord-Lieutenant, including the fact that the prisoner had been previously convicted on forty-nine occasions, as well as the fact that he had now suffered over two months imprisonment.