To ask the Prime Minister if he can state the number of magistrates appointed since 1st February, 1906, and how many were appointed in the preceding five years. (Answered by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman.) The number of magistrates appointed since 1st February, 1906, in Great Britain is 3,213. The number of magistrates appointed in the preceding five years was 6,032.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland if he is aware that a man, named Philip Stokes, was charged at Killenaule Petty Sessions, in the county of Tipperary, at the suit of the Crown, with having, at Ballingarry on the 24th December and on other occasions, used intimidation towards Thomas Bradley, on account of his working for a person, named Butler, who grabbed the farm from which Stokes was evicted, and was bound to the peace for twelve months or in default to go to gaol for one month, which alternative the defendant chose; and whether having regard to the fact that the magistrates would not allow the defendant or his witness, Mr. Dalton, to give evidence for the defence, he proposes to take any, and if any, what, action in the case. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) This is not a matter in which I have any authority or jurisdiction to interfere. The action of the magistrates in refusing to hear evidence for the defence was, I believe, technically correct, following the decision of the King's Bench Division in the case of Halpin (Appellant), Rice (respondent) (1901), 2 Ir. R., 593.

To ask the Secretary of State for India, in connection with the answer given by him to the Indian railway deputation on 12th March, when he intends to institute the departmental inquiry into the working of the financial system; what will be the scope of the inquiry; and what will be the constitution of the body to which it will be entrusted. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The matter is under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make any public statement about it.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that The Lady newspaper can be sent by post for ½d, whilst the carriage of a parcel of newspapers of the same weight is 4d., he can consider the question of reducing the cost in the latter case, and so remove the difficulty of the supply and distribution of newspapers in thinly populated districts. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) Under the Act of 1870 The Lady, as a registered newspaper, can be sent by post for ½d. in the United Kingdom irrespective of its weight. The postage upon a parcel of newspapers not exceeding two pounds in weight is not necessarily 4d. If the papers contained in the parcel are registered newspapers the total postage upon it would be ½d. for each one enclosed, unless the charge by weight were cheaper. Inasmuch as the statutory newspaper involves the Post Office in a considerable loss of revenue, I do not see my way to reducing the postage upon newspapers as the hon. Member suggests.

To ask the Postmaster-General why the payment by the Post Office for parcel hampers passing over Innellan pier has been stopped, seeing that such payments continue to be made at Clyde piers having similar Provisional Orders; and whether he will cause payment to be resumed in the case of Innellan. (Answered by Mr Sydney Buxton.) I will have inquiry made on this point, and will send the hon. Member an answer.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a vacancy has existed among overseers in the telegraph department at Brighton since June last; and whether in view of the stagnation of promotion, he will direct that the post be filled. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The promotion has now been made; the delay, which I regret, was due to various causes.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General if his attention has been drawn to the remarks of the assistant judge of the Lord Mayor's Court in regard to the scandal arising out of money-lending transactions with city clerks; and whether there is any possibility of the Moneylenders Act, 1900, being amended so that a judge can, at any stage of proceedings before him, reopen the transaction. (Answered by Sir Lawson Walton.) The Amendment required appears to be in the direction of an alternation of county court procedure which will obviate the difficulty which has been experienced in the application of the Act. My hon. friend will do well to refer the subject to the consideration of the Lord Chancellor.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if any of the divisional Generals to be appointed in connection with the territorial forces will receive their appointments before the end of 1907–8, in order to begin the work of organising the new Army.

To ask the Secretary of State for War how many divisional Generals will be appointed in connection with the territorial forces. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) It is impossible to say at present whether matters will be sufficiently advanced during the course of the financial year 1907–8 to permit of the appointment of any of the divisional Generals. It is proposed that the number of divisional Generals shall be ultimately fourteen.

To ask the Secretary of State for War what is the total sum voted under all heads of the Army Estimates for cadet corps during 1906–7; and what is the total amount to be voted for 1907–8. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) No amounts are estimated for cadet corps as such, the only direct expenditure involved being that for ammunition. The cost of the ammunition may be roughly estimated at about £3,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the fact that Messrs. Fowler and Company, British subjects, of Cienfuegos, Cuba, have claims against the Spanish Government for large amounts arising from damage to their Cuban property caused by Spanish troops; and whether, seeing that these claims were filed with the British Consul-General at Havana as far back as November, 1897, he will take steps to induce the Spanish Government to deal with the matter without further delay. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) I am fully cognisant of the claim referred to, which was presented to the Spanish Government by His Majesty's Embassy at Madrid so far back as January, 1898. The long delay which has occurred in the settlement of the claim is much regretted by His Majesty's Government, who have not failed, however, to make use of every opportunity of pressing for its payment. I understand it is the case that all Colonial claims against the Spanish Government, those of Spanish subjects as well as of foreigners, have been subjected to a similar delay to that inflicted on Messrs. Fowler, and an early settlement seems unfortunately improbable, as, according to law dated 30th July, 1904, no money can be paid until an Inter-Departmental Committee, which is still engaged on its labours, has examined and reported upon all the claims which have been brought forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Ellen Simpson, who was shown at the inquest held as to her death at Stepney, on the 16th March last, to have died from heart failure accelerated by want; and, if so, whether any relieving officer or other officer of the Stepney Guardians was present at the inquest; and at what date would particulars of this inquest be sent to the Local Government Board by the Home Office. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I understand that deceased and her sister had been refused outdoor relief, and that they declined to go into the workhouse. They appear to have been unable to look after themselves. No relieving officer was examined at the inquest; the woman had been in the district only a few days, and no relieving officer unfortunately knew anything of the case. Particulars of deaths from starvation or deaths accelerated by privation in 1907 will be furnished about March next, and sent to the Local Government Board. I am bringing the case to the notice of the Local Government Board.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, seeing that the 33rd Annual Report of the Local Government Board on page 477 gives the cost to date of the Poplar (Hutton) schools at £144,725, and seeing that he stated in Parliament last year that the cost had been greatly added to for that year, he can state why no reference is made to the expenditure in the 34th Report of the Local Government Board, and why there is no reference to the further cost of these schools in the 35th Report of the Local Government Board. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The particulars on page 477 of the 33rd Annual Report of the Board did not give the cost to date of the schools. What the table containing these particulars does show is (as appears from the heading at the commencement of it) the amount of the expenditure authorised during the year 1903. The statement made by me in Parliament last year, which is referred to in the Question, is, I presume, the Answer I gave to a Question by the hon. Member on 25th June last.† If so, I would point out that I did not state that the cost had been greatly added to for that year. I gave the total sum which

† See (4) Debates, clix., 620.

had then been sanctioned in respect of the provision of the schools, viz. £156,545. Of this amount the sum of £11,820 was sanctioned in 1900, and £144,725 in 1903. As nothing was sanctioned in respect of the schools in 1904 or 1905 no reference was made to the cost of them in the Reports for those years.

To ask the Postmaster-General if the British Post Office makes any fixed contribution in respect of New Zealand and Australian mails carried between San Francisco and Auckland and Sydney by the Oceanic Steamship Company (Spreckel's line), or if the carriage is simply paid on poundage rates; if he is aware whether the system is also pursued by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand; and if it would be more economical, more expeditious, and more advantageous to send these mails viâ Vancouver instead of viâ San Francisco. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) Payment for the conveyance of British mails from San Francisco to Auckland and Sydney is made by the British Post Office to the United States Post Office at the usual Postal Union transit rates. I understand that, under the recently-terminated contract between the Oceanic Steamship Company and the New Zealand Post Office, payment was made to the company for mails conveyed from Auckland to San Francisco at poundage rates, but subject to a fixed minimum and maximum in each year. I have reason to believe that the Australian Post Office also pays the company at poundage rates. The Answer to the last part of the hon. Member's Question is in the negative.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to numerous complaints of the rushing of meetings by the chairmen and of intimidation of villagers during the recent parish council elections; and whether, in order to secure a true expression of local opinion on such occasions, he will introduce some simple method of balloting to be compulsorily adopted at all such meetings, in lieu of the method of a show of hands. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have received some complaints as to irregularities at the recent parish council elections, bun they have been very few. The Local Government Act, 1894, requires that the election of parish councillors shall be at a parish meeting or at a poll consequent thereon, and there is a good deal of difficulty in arranging that the voting at an election at a parish meeting shall be by ballot. I will, however, take note of the suggestion of my hon. friend.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that while Civil Service certificates have been either granted or promised to certain of the temporary civil assistants of the Ordnance Survey the quid pro quo demanded by the Treasury in abatement of pay is to date from 28th November, 1906; and that this abatement is to be paid up in bulk by the 31st March; and whether he will arrange that the abatement should date from the granting of the Civil Service certificates. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The date fixed for the commencement of the abatements from the pay of those civil assistants who are placed on the establishment is that of the Treasury letter sanctioning the grant of pensions; and I am not prepared to vary it.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the terms of reference to the Committee to be appointed to inquire into and advise the Government as to scientific research and the sea fisheries will be made sufficiently wide to include, not only a Report on the North Sea fisheries investigations, but also other researches which have been carried out on the British coasts. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) Yes, Sir.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieu- tenant of Ireland whether when an inquiry is held into any charges which may be made against Poor Law officials in Ireland, an allowance is made by Government to defray the costs of employing the necessary legal assistance by the official concerned, even if the charge be proved to be absolutely unfounded; and, if not, whether he will take steps to amend the law in this respect. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Answer to both parts of the Question is in the negative. I am not aware of any reason why the Government should pay the costs referred to.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that when maps in connection with the sale of an estate are lodged with the Estates Commissioners, and the owner in the course of the sale requires to inspect them, the Commissioners will not return them or allow tracings to be taken by the solicitors for the owner, but charge £4 or £5 for supplying tracings; is not such charge contrary to Rule 45 of the Land Commission Rules of October, 1903; and whether he will suggest that greater facilities for the return or inspection of maps pending sale should be afforded. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they cannot allow original maps to be taken out of the office after the property to which they relate has been inspected and the maps certified by their staff. Prior to such inspection, maps are continually allowed to be taken out. Every facility is given to solicitors who wish to take tracings, and no such charge as that mentioned in the Question has been made for supplying tracings. If solicitors require copies of the estate maps, they are supplied at the customary rates. The supplying of such copies does not come within the meaning of Rule 45 referred to.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that about 400 acres of untenanted land on the Blacker Douglas property, near Asdee, North Kerry, has been offered to the Estates Commissioners for the reinstatement of evicted tenants and the giving of plots of land to labourers; whether this land has been inspected and reported on; and, if so, with what result. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have not yet had this estate inspected. The maps of the property have had to be returned to the owner for amendment. A survey will next have to be made, and, after that, the inspection. These stages will take some months to complete.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what action the Estates Commissioners have taken in connection with the tenants' holdings at Lixnaw, on Lord Listowel's estate, North Kerry, which are subject to floods; and whether, before the sale is sanctioned, the Estates Commissioners will see that the tenants are adequately safeguarded. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners are at present considering the question of retaining, out of the purchase money of this estate, a sum with the object of providing assistance in the maintenance of the waterways, embankments, and sluices in the district.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say why the Local Government Board prevented the Roscrea Rural District Council from putting into operation in the town the provisions of The Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, although the people of the town requested the district council to do so; and if he can say what powers rural district councils have under the Act. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board have received no application from the Roscrea Rural District Council for carrying out a housing scheme under The Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890. Rural district councils can only exercise the powers under Part II. of the Act which relates primarily to the closing and demolition of buildings unfit for human habitation and to the removal of obstructive buildings.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the practice of appointing non-commissioned officers from other branches of the service to be warrant officers of the Army Ordnance Corps, though there are in the Army Ordnance Corps plenty of qualified men; in how many instances in the past ten years have such appointments been made; and will he take steps to secure to the men of the Army Ordnance Corps the preferential right to promotions in their own corps over outsiders. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) This practice was adopted in 1896 on the recommendation of a Committee, and the appointments were divided equally between the non-commissioned officers of the Army Ordnance Corps and those of the rest of the Army. In 1904, owing to the increase of non-commissioned officers in the Army Ordnance Corps, it was decided to give them appointments in the proportion of four to three given to the other non-commissioned officers. Eighty-two outside appointments have been made in the past ten years out of a total of 170. It is not proposed to make any alteration in the present system.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the notice published and displayed at recruiting stations by the Admiralty informs intending naval recruits that medicines and hospital treatment, both at home and abroad, are provided at the Government expense; whether he is aware that Article 1420 of the King's Regulations exacts stoppages of from 4d. to 10d. per day from the full pay of all men and boys checked sick for over 30 days from ships at home, or invalided home from ships abroad; whether these stoppages from sick men's pay are in fact made; and, if so, whether he can explain the grounds upon which the terms of the recruiting notice in question are held to be justified.

As a matter of fact medicines and free treatment for thirty days in hospital are given. The pamphlet issued also for recruiting purposes states this with clearness. Steps will be taken to amend the notice referred to, which is a general statement only, so as to prevent misapprehension.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that only some 6 per cent. of soldiers discharged from the Army last year suffering from tubercle of the lung were sent to hospitals or sanitoria, while more than 70 per cent. were sent direct to their homes, he can take steps to ensure that a larger proportion shall in future be sent to institutions where they can receive proper treatment.

The disposal of soldiers invalided with tubercle of the lung is a matter involving several difficult considerations, and I propose to institute a small Committee to advise as to what steps it may be practicable to take in the direction indicated by the Question. I hope my hon. and gallant friend will give his services to this Committee.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state the quantity of hay and straw bought by the War Office in any given year, say 1906; the average cost per ton; and what proportion of the total quantities was imported.

The information required by the first and second parts of the Question could only be obtained by calling for Returns from all stations at home where Army horses are foraged. As regards the last part of this Question, the contracts do not contain any specification as to sources of supply, and therefore no definite information could be obtained.

Does the contract contain no provision that the forage shall be home grown?

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is prepared to alter the regulations of the Ecclesiastical Establishment in India so that he may consider nominations for the present and future vacancies as Presbyterian chaplains from ministers and licentiates of Presbyterian churches other than the Established Church of Scotland.

The establishment of Chaplains in India, which is regulated by 3 and 4 Will. IV., ch. 85, sec. 102, has always consisted of Chaplains of the Church of England and of the Church of Scotland, and the statute specifies the qualifications to be possessed by the latter, and the manner in which they shall be appointed. In these circumstances the Secretary of State is advised that it is doubtful whether the regulations can legally be altered so as to provide for the nomination of ministers not belonging to the Church of Scotland, and he is not prepared to take any action of the nature suggested.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any encouragement is given by the Government to British Colonists joining Volunteer Reserves in British Protectorates in Africa; and, if not, whether the Government will consider the advisability of making grants out of the revenues of individual Protectorates for this purpose.

In all the British Protectorates in Africa, except Somaliland, where local conditions do not lend themselves to such an arrangement, grants are made in support of volunteer Corps, and every encouragement is given to such Corps.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the British Possessions of British Central Africa and North Eastern Rhodesia are dependent upon the steamer service of the Deutsche Ost Afrika Line, which is raising its rates as each British company successively withdraws from the sea-borne trade at Chinde; and whether the Government will take any action to counteract the effect of the subsidy enjoyed by the above-mentioned German line.

The Secretary of State's information does not show that the possessions referred to are entirely dependent on the German Line; but I may say that the subject of steam communication with East Africa is at present engaging particular attention.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have good grounds for saying that no English Line now calls regularly at Chinde, and can give him my reasons for saying so?

The Colonial Office will be glad of any information my hon. friend can supply.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that at the Collieries of Cape Breton British immigrants recently arrived in Canada are seeking employment without success; and, seeing that they assert that they have been misled by British agents in this country, will he order some inquiry to be made on the subject.

There is no official information on the subject, but inquiries will be made.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Colonial Office is in possession of any Reports on the physical condition of the natives of the New Hebrides; whether they are, like the natives of all the other tropical Pacific Islands, a delicate people unaccustomed to and incapable of continuous work; whether they are fitted for arduous work in the mines of New Caledonia or in the sugar fields of Fiji; and whether they are likely to die off rapidly if compelled under indentures to work for ten or twelve hours a day.

Natives of the New Hebrides under indentures do not work in mines in any place under British authority. His Majesty's Government have not and never have had any responsibility for or power to control foreign recruiting in the New Hebrides for other places. The Secretary of State is not aware of any special reports on the physical condition of natives of the New Hebrides; but the last available mortality returns of Polynesian Islanders recently working in the sugar districts of Queensland and in Fiji point to no unfitness for field-work such as the hon. Member suggests.

Does the return apply to women and children?

It applies generally, I believe, to the islanders.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has received any report on the health of the natives employed on the sugar-cane fields of Fiji.

The Secretary of State has not received any special report upon the health of the natives employed in the sugar fields of Fiji, but he receives periodical reports on the health of the natives generally, and the hon. Member can see the latest of these reports if he cares to call at the Colonial Office.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he can supply any particulars of the mines in New Caledonia where the natives from the New Hebrides are to be engaged to work, whether they are gold, or silver, or what metal, and whether they are worked by underground or by open workings; and what is the annual death rate among the workmen employed in them.

Such information as we possess respecting New Caledonia is contained in the Consular Report No. 3548, issued last year. The question of whether natives of the New Hebrides are to be engaged for work in New Caledonia, and the conditions under which, if engaged, they will work there is not one which should be addressed to His Majesty's Government or as to which they can reply. I may add further that the French authorities have hitherto possessed an unrestricted right of obtaining labour from the New Hebrides for New Caledonia, and that, though they are now bound by certain regulations, they retain jurisdiction over French citizens in the New Hebrides, as we do over British subjects.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the salary to be paid to General Botha, as Prime Minister of the Transvaal Colony; how does the salary compare with the salary, if any, received by Dr. Jameson, as Prime Minister of Cape Colony; and will he also state the salaries received by the Prime Ministers of Natal, the Dominion of Canada, the Australian Commonwealth, Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, West Australia, South Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania.

I have no official information on the subject. Dr. Jameson, I understand, does not draw any salary, The following appear to be the figures in other cases: —Natal £1,364, Canada $12,000 Commonwealth of Australia £2,100, Queensland £1,300, Victoria £1,400, New South Wales £1,570, Western Australia £1,200, South Australia £1,000, New Zealand £1,600, Tasmania £950.

asked whether it was not the fact that General Botha was receiving a salary of £4,000 a year, and each of his Ministers £3,000.

The Colonial Secretary has no official information as to the salary that General Botha is receiving.

Does Dr. Jameson get any remuneration from the Limited Liability Companies?

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the matters connected with the Western Pacific, other than the New Hebrides Convention, in connection with which the representations were made by the Commonwealth Government to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, which are alluded to in two despatches in Cd. 3288.

The matters other than the New Hebrides to which reference was made in the Secretary of State's despatch of the 20th April, 1906, were the question of the transportation of convicts to New Caledonia, and the claim of Messrs. Burns, Philp, and Co. against the German Government.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any instructions have been given to Sir Percy Girouard as to reporting on railway extensions in Northern Nigeria; and, if so, whether he has been instructed to report at the same time on the present ownership of the land along the proposed line of railway, and as to proposals for securing for this country or the Colony any increased value of the land within five miles of the proposed railway track.

Sir Percy Girouard has been instructed to report on the subject of railway construction in Northern Nigeria. No specific instructions have been given to him to report on the present ownership of the land through which railways may pass, but it is thought that under the laws already in force in Northern Nigeria the necessary facilities exist for securing for the Government the increased value of any land within a reasonable distance of a railway. His attention will, however, be called specially to the point.

asked whether, seeing that the course of the railway was more or less known, the Colonial Office would take any steps to prevent land speculation pending the actual arrangements made for testing the increased value of the land.

I will see that the hon. Member's wishes are represented to the Secretary for the Colonies.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Turkish Commissioners for the rectification of the Turco-Persian frontier arrived in Mosul on 5th July last, and at once proceeded to Passovah to meet the Persian Commissioners; whether any result has yet been reached; and, if not, whether His Majesty's Government, in pursuance of the policy followed in this question since 1843, will now endeavour, in conjunction with the Russian Government, to bring about a speedy settlement of the dispute.

The Joint Commission which met at Mosul in July last was not productive of any definite results. A fresh commission has, however, recently met at Mosul. His Majesty's Government have not yet received any reports as to its proceedings, and I cannot add anything to my previous Answer.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will ascertain from the British financial delegate on the Macedonian Reform Commission 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 Corpsat Salonica will be chargeable to that Budget.

The Financial Commission have no knowledge of the details of the military Budget, and could not supply the information desired by the hon. Member. For the latter part of the Question, I must refer the hon. Member to the Answer returned to his Question on the 20th instant.†

That Answer was no reply to my Question as to the number of troops chargeable.

I have not the figures by me.

I bog to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the condition proposed by His Majesty's Government and accepted by the Porte and the Powers with regard to the imposition of extra three per centum Custom duties upon British imports into Turkey, there is any provision which will prevent the allocation of Turkish funds set free by those new duties to the financial assistance of the proposed Baghdad Railway.

I have nothing to add to the statements made by me on the 14th instant,‡ till Papers can be laid.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the improvement in the condition of Morocco prisons has ceased, and that things have reverted to their former condition; that the prison inspectors have been dismissed; that gaolers have little and, in some cases, no pay; that the Government provides no food for the prisoners; and that the prisons are filthy, insanitary, and full of vermin; and, if so, whether he will instruct the British Minister at Tangier to consult his colleagues as to the necessity of drawing the attention of the Moorish Government to the condition of the prisons, with a view to immediate improvement.

I have received no official information to show that the state of affairs in the prisons of Morocco has recently deteriorated, but I will instruct His Majesty's Minister at Tangier to furnish me with a report on the subject.

† See (4) Debates, clxxi., 849.

‡ See (4) Debates, clxxi., 226.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state how many convicts are now in New Caledonia; and whether they are still being sent there by the French Government.

I beg to refer the Hon. Member to the Consular Trade Reports for 1903–4 and 1905, No. 3431 and No. 3548 Annual Series, and to my Answer given on the 20th to the hon. Member for Sheffield.†

Are the French authorities still sending convicts there?

They have informed us they have no present intention of sending more convicts there. I may remind the hon. Member that New Caledonia is French and not British territory.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that King Leopold has offered opposition to any communication being made, on the part of the Congo Free State, to the Belgian Parliamentary Committee with reference to the budget of the Free State and the financial accounts of the past three years; whether the new Colonial Council will be, as a matter of fact, composed of officials and officers appointed by the king; and whether he can furnish the House with any information on these questions.

I cannot make any statement on these points, which it is understood are under discussion by the Parliamentary Committee in Belgium. Pending that, it cannot be known what the result will be.

I bog to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to the effect that the Council of Ministers at Cairo has decided to increase the height of the Assuan Dam in order to increase the present storage of Nile water for irrigation purposes; whether he is aware that this

† See (4) Debates, clxxi., 846–7.

scheme will further submerge the temple and island of Philæ; whetherarchaæological experts can hold out any hope under the circumstances of being able to save these ancient monuments from irreparable injury; and, if he finds it possible, will he make a reassuring statement on the subject.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for East St. Pancras on this subject. The question of the temples of Philæ is fully dealt with in the despatch from Lord Cromer which will be laid before the House.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a concession of the petroliferous deposits in Mesopotamia was granted by the Porte on the 4th–17th July, 1904; that this concession was given on that day to the Company of the Ottoman Railway of Anatolia, represented by Mr. Zander, in conformity with an Iradé of the Sultan; whether he is aware if such concession is still in force; and whether, if he has no information on the subject, he will make inquiry by telegraph of His Majesty's Embassy at Constantinople.

I have nothing to add to my statement of 22nd instant,‡ and I am not of opinion that any useful purpose would be served by telegraphing to His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople. I cannot publish private information about concessions.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the negotiations between His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington and the United States Government embraced the tariff relations of the United States and Canada; and whether it is a fact announced in New York that the United States Secretary of State has proposed the adoption by Canada of the United States tariff as laid against Great Britain and all other countries, and then to establish free trade between the United States and the Dominion.

‡ See (4) Debates, clxxi, 1265.

The general negotiations respecting commercial reciprocity which were left unsettled in 1898 have not been reopened in recent negotiations with the British Ambassador, and have formed no part of them. In answer to the latter part of the Question, His Majesty's Government have not heard of any such proposal having been made.

Would the Ambassador be empowered to enter into such negotiations?

He is empowered to do the best he can to settle outstanding questions between the United States and Canada. As the House is aware, there were questions respecting commercial reciprocity left unsettled, and these would technically form part of the outstanding questions; but, as a matter of fact, in the negotiations that have taken place, neither the United States nor Canada, so far as I know, has shown any desire to reopen that question.

On behalf of the hon. Member for South-West Norfolk, I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, owing to the recent decisions in the High Court (Curtis v. Old Monklands Conservative Association), trustees of charity lands are not now entitled to relief from land tax, even though the income from such lands is under £160 per annum; and, seeing that in all such cases where the income of such charity lands provides gifts in money or kind for poor persons the fact that land tax is now charged reduces such gifts, to the disadvantage of the poor, he will, at the earliest moment, take such steps as are necessary to remedy this state of affairs.

I sympathise with the position of small charities which find a concession withdrawn, which, through a mistaken view of the law, has in fact been allowed to them for several years. On the other hand, the necessities of the individual recipients of charity have no necessary relation to the total income of the particular charities from which they receive relief. A charity with a total income of £1,000 may provide small allowances for 100 beneficiaries, while one with £150 may have to provide for only one or two. There is, therefore, it seems to me, no inequity in saying that all charities shall be treated alike, without regard to the amount of their total income, as the law (as now ascertained) says they shall be treated. Charities as such have never been exempted from land tax, and, as at present advised, I am not prepared to propose legislation on the subject.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a recent Return has shown that a considerable proportion of the beer brewed in this country is almost entirely brewed from malt and hops; and whether he can favourably differentiate in the coming Budget in the taxation of such beer as compared with that levied upon beer brewed largely from malt substitutes.

It is true that "a considerable proportion of the beer brewed in this country is almost entirely brewed from malt and hops." It is, however, also true that, in substituting a beer duty for the old malt duty in 1880, Mr. Gladstone made "freedom of the mash-tun" a prominent condition of the change, and that no good reason has ever been shown for departing from that condition. I may refer the hon. Member to the Report of Beer Materials Committee, No. C. 9171 of 1899.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the profits made by the Imperial Government from the sale of silver to the West Indian Colonies in each year from 1900 to 1906 inclusive, respectively.

The estimated profits in the years named were: in 1900, £29,606; in 1901, £15,309; in 1902, £7,029; in 1903, £2,207; and in 1906, £33,324. In 1904 and 1905 there were no profits.

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered altering the investments of the Post Office Savings Bank, now in Consols, into Irish land stock while prices are about the same for both, with a view to increasing the income of the Post Office Savings Bank, and putting them on a more solvent basis.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would delay the consideration of this suggested treatment of Irish land stock until the Irish Government measure was introduced.

The Answer to that is in the negative. At the 31st March, 1906, the Post Office Savings Bank Fund held £2,321,000 guaranteed 2¾ per cent. stock out of a total amount of such stock then created of £13,197,000. At the same date, the Fund held £60,617,092 Consols. So that the substitution which my hon. friend suggests would be only practicable (if at all) within rather narrow limits. Quite apart from this, however, there are many reasons which would make this Trustees of the Fund hesitate to embark upon such an operation—particularly under present conditions.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in consideration of the very great success which has attended the Belgian Government in applying Post Office savings to the erection of houses for the working classes, he can see his way to introduce legislation with a like object here?

I am not sure that that arises out of the Question. At any rate, I should like to have notice of the Question.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that people holding securities on money borrowed from banks have, in some cases, to pay both the tax on their own income and also on the interest paid to the banks, on which the banks also pay the tax, the Exchequer therefore receiving it twice over; will he in such cases see that repayment is made so that income-tax is only paid on the owner's true income as intended by the 1890 Act; and will he take into consideration so amending the Law that there shall be no uncertainty on the point.

The result indicated in the Question may arise, but, as far as possible, the Board of Inland Revenue endeavour to meet such cases by allowing repayment of tax on the interest paid to banks by borrowers, whenever the circumstances admit of it, and any case of hardship, if brought before them, is always carefully considered. I fear that such difficulties can hardly be altogether avoided under the system of tax by deduction, and an amendment of the Law to meet all cases would be extremely difficult to frame.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that certain omnibus companies in London issue to their passengers tickets on which are printed numbered sections and nothing more, whereas other companies indicate clearly on their tickets the point to which the passenger is entitled to be carried for the fare he pays; and whether, for the convenience of the public, he will take steps to make the latter practice obligatory in all cases.

I have no power to insist on uniformity of practice in respect of the details shown on omnibus tickets, but I will call the attention of the Commissioner of Police to the point raised by my hon. friend.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there are any reasons why the police are not included in the civil services of the Crown; and whether such exclusion extends to the higher and highest or is limited to the lower and lowest ranks.

The police forces of England and Wales were created and are maintained, not by the Crown, but by a large number of police authorities under statutes wholly different from those regulating the civil service of the Crown. The only exceptions are the Commissioner and Assistant Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police who are appointed by the Crown, and for whose salaries provision is made in the Votes.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the inquest held at Sunderland on 18th March instant as to the death of Ann Wilson, aged sixteen years, during the hearing of which the house surgeon at the infirmary said that death was due to blood poisoning, which had been set up by the dressing from the calico, the coroner further remarking that the calico was laden with as much dressing as manufacturers cared to put into it for trade purposes, either to obtain a better price for it or to improve its appearance; and, if so, whether it is his intention to introduce any legislation having for its object the restriction of the sale of calico containing matter of such a dangerous character.

I have obtained a piece of this calico and I am taking steps to obtain an expert opinion upon it and upon all the circumstances of the case.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, seeing that omnibus companies are in precisely the same position as licensed cabs and have no legal right to demand payment of fares in advance, will he state whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent omnibus passengers being annoyed by inspectors entering the 'bus and demanding inspection of tickets.

I do not think the occasional inspection of omnibus tickets is unreasonable or that it causes annoyance. Payment in advance seems calculated to avoid delay when the passengers descend, but in any case I have no power to interfere. It must not be understood that I accept the view of the law taken by the hon. Member.

On behalf of the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that licensing justices who have incurred expenses in the work of referring licences to compensation authorities, or in supporting their objections before quarter sessions, have been rendered personally liable for such expenses; and whether, in dealing with the licensing question, he will endeavour to prevent their being so penalised for the discharge of duties imposed upon them by the Act of 1904.

I am aware that one of the difficulties which confront licensing justices in the performance of their duties is the pecuniary liability to which they may be exposed. I have the point under consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that during the year 1905 there were in the West Suffolk administrative county 228 indictable offences committed known to the police and 817 non-indictable offences; whether these offences comprised, amongst others, one case of malicious wounding, one case of rape, two cases of indecent assault on females, four cases of larceny of horses and cattle, nine cases of arson, I three cases of burglary, six cases of housebreaking, 175 cases of larceny, and two cases of perjury; if he can state how many of these offences were committed in the Bury St. Edmund's district; and, if these figures accurately represent the amount of crime in this administrative county, what steps he proposes to take in the matter.

Yes. The figures given in the Question correspond with those given in the Criminal Statistics for 1905. The Returns do not show in what part of the county the offences were committed. The amount of crime in West Suffolk is not more than in many other rural counties, and I believe the police are quite able to cope with it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of aliens summarily dealt with and convicted by the various magistrates in the Metropolitan Police area during each of the past five years for which Returns are available, the nationality of the aliens so convicted, and the nature of the offences for which they have been convicted. I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the number of aliens convicted each year during the last five years for which Returns are available for indictable offences at the Old Bailey, the Clerkenwell Sessions, and the South London Sessions, the nationalities of the convicted aliens, the various terms of imprisonment inflicted, the number of cases of aliens reported for deportation, the actual number of aliens deported for criminal offences, and the total estimated cost to the Treasury already incurred during the past five years, and to be incurred before their sentences expire, in bringing alien criminals to conviction at these courts and in maintaining them in prison after conviction.

I regret that I cannot reply to the detailed Questions put to me, as the information necessary for the purpose is not available, and could not be obtained with any substantial degree of accuracy, even by a most laborious search. I can, however, say that in the last five years for which the figures are available there were received into London prisons on conviction, summary or other, the following numbers of persons who, according to their own statements, were born in foreign countries: —In 1901, 1,667; in 1902, 2,090; in 1903, 2,132; in 1904, 2,309; in 1905,2,206. Further, in the year 1906, the first year of the operation of the Aliens Act, 332 aliens were recommended by metropolitan Courts for expulsion; and out of these 202 were expelled during the year, many of the aliens being at the end of the year still in prison undergoing their sentences. I may add that full information as to the: operation of the expulsion provisions of the Aliens Act is in preparation and will be published in due course.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints as to dirty or otherwise insanitary workshops and factories have been sent by the Factory Department to the metropolitan borough councils during the twelve months ending 28thFebruary last; also the number of prosecutions instituted and cases brought before the court by officers of the metropolitan borough councils for overcrowding or insanitation in such factories or workshops.

The number of notices sent by the men inspectors to the metropolitan borough councils during the period named in the Question with regard to insanitary conditions in factories and workshops was 488. I have not been able at such short notice to obtain the number of those sent by the women inspectors, but the number in 1906 was 298. I have not the number of prosecutions instituted by the borough councils in respect of insanitary conditions: during the period in question, but the figure for 1905, as given by the returns of the medical officers of health, was nineteen.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to take any action to prevent the importation of young girls, bereft of proper protection, into London, in order to swell the ranks of organised processions and demonstrations of suffragettes.

I fear I can add nothing to the answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Brigg Division.†

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that yesterday's question was particular and this is general?

I am afraid I must argue from the particular to the general.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any, and, if any, how many, new books were added to the libraries of the M Division of Metropolitan Police during the year ending 31st December, 1906; what was the cost of the new books;

† See (4) Debates, clxxl., 1509.

whether the constables have any voice in the selection of the books; if not, who selects them; and whether, as nearly every metropolitan borough has adopted the Free Libraries Act, he will consider the advisability of discontinuing the contribution now required from every constable to maintain libraries, and advise them to take advantage of the facilities offered them by the free libraries.

The contribution referred to is nominal in amount, being only a penny a month. It provides not only books but also newspapers for the recreation and library rooms. The existence of free libraries does not meet the needs served by the stations' libraries. No money appears to have been spent on new books in the M Division during 1906, but there was expenditure on newspapers, etc. Constables, as a rule, have a voice in the selection of books, as it is desirable they should, and where, if anywhere, this practice does not exist, it will be arranged for.

asked if the police, or many of them, were not householders and as such had to pay the free library rate. Why should they be compelled to subscribe to the police library?

It is a very small amount, and I do not know that it is really compulsory, but I will inquire on that point.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that at the beginning of the present month the names of over 800 unemployed were on the Manchester Distress Committee's register, that the number is increasing, and that only about one-fourth are classed as general labourers; whether an adequate grant is to be made from the funds at his disposal in aid of this committee's farm colony, now being worked with a view to men supporting themselves and their families; and whether he contemplates making proposals which may remove the difficulties of the local authorities whose employment schemes he does not approve or cannot assist.

I am aware that there is a considerable number of persons on the register of the Manchester Distress Committee, but I have not seen the figures mentioned by my hon. friend. I have received an application from the committee for a grant for the purpose to which he refers, but I have not felt able to comply with it. The answer to the last part of the Question must be in the negative.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the custom of certain workhouse authorities not to liberate the inmates of casual wards until late in the morning following the second night of their sojourn; and whether he will take steps to put an end to the practice, with a view to facilitating the inmates' securing work elsewhere.

An order of the Local Government Board issued in 1892 requires that a casual pauper, who has been detained for more than one night, and who represents that he is desirous of seeking work, shall be allowed to discharge himself at half-past five in the morning in the summer, and at half-past six in the winter, provided that whilst in the casual ward he has performed the prescribed task of work to the best of his ability. I am not aware of cases of failure on the part of workhouse officers to comply with this requirement, but if any instance of the kind is brought to my knowledge I will give attention to it.

Is there any idea of carrying out the suggestions of the Committee recently appointed in regard to this matter?

I suppose the hon. Member refers to the Committee on Labour Tests. The Local Government Board and the Home Office are considering that Report. It has not been before us very long.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he proposes to take steps to render a married woman with separate estate liable to contribute towards the maintenance of her parent, seeing that a son with property or with sufficient wage-earning capacity is so liable.

I have stated in reply to previous Questions that I have taken note of this point, but that I cannot promise to introduce legislation on the subject at the present time. I have, however, brought the matter under the notice of the Royal Commission on the Poor Law, who have before them the subject of the contribution by persons to the support of their relatives.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will give the names of the twenty-two towns in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales that have made applications and been refused a grant out of the £200,000; and whether he will state the number of men who have registered their names as being out of employment in the same towns.

I will send my hon. friend the names of the twenty-two distress committees to which I referred in my answer to his Question on Friday last, and I will add particulars as to the number of applicants for assistance who were registered up to 1st February.†

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for automatic machines for the supply of penny and halfpenny stamps to be placed on the various railway stations, so that the public may be enabled to procure stamps on Sundays, Bank Holidays, and at other times when the post offices are closed.

Experiments are being made with certain automatic machines for the supply of postage stamps, and, if the result is satisfactory, machines will be placed where they are most likely to meet a public demand.

† See (4) Debates, clxxi., 1273.

If the machines are found to be satisfactory will the right hon. Gentleman place them at railway stations?

The hon. Member must allow me time. We have not yet got a satisfactory machine. When we have, I will consider what are the best positions for the public convenience.

I have tried the machine myself and found it very satisfactory.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that excessive overtime is being worked by the staff in the sorting office at Leeds; whether this could be obviated by an increase in the staff dealing with circulars, and the appointment of an adequate substitution staff with well-defined duties, such staffs not to be drawn upon for duties other than those for which they were established; and, if so, whether steps will be taken at an early date to deal with this matter.

Additional force has of late been employed in the sorting office at Leeds, and the amount of overtime duty performed has been much reduced. A revision of the establishment is under consideration, and the matter will not be lost sight of.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there are a number of young men at the Leeds post office whose appointments are delayed, contrary to the provisions of the circular of the Civil Service Commissioners, which states that appointments are made, after passing examination, in six to twelve months; that the men in question have been in the office from three and a half to two years, doing the work of the appointed staff for from 4s. to 6s. per week less; and whether, seeing that this delay is preventing proper increase in increments, loss of holiday, and loss of pension, steps will be taken to inquire into, and deal with the matter at an early date.

Four of the male learners at Leeds have been appointed recently to the establishment, and I hope shortly to be able to arrange for the appointment of others. The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in supposing that any of these officers were promised appointment after six or twelve months from their first employment. No such promise was given.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether, in view of the closing of the Reading Room of the British Museum from 15th April till 31st October, and the inconvenience to be caused thereby to students and literary men and women who daily make use of the Reading Room, steps will be taken to minimise the inconvenience by providing temporary accommodation for the readers in the galleries of the Museum or elsewhere.

I would refer my hon. friend to the printed Answer given yesterday by the Secretary of the Treasury to the hon. Member for Northampton, and circulated with the Votes this morning.† The matter is in the hands of the Trustees, and I have no power to make other arrangements.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if certain officials of the National Physical Laboratory were some time ago engaged for approximately nine months on a research on gutta-percha for a private firm; if so, what fee was paid for the research; if it has been published and is accessible to the general public; and, if not, will he give orders for its immediate publication.

I am informed that the Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The fee paid was £502 17s. 4d. The chemical results arrived at were published in a paper by Dr. Caspari, which was printed in the Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry for 30th December, 1905, and in the Collected Researches of the

† See (4) Debates, clxxi., 1470.

Laboratory, volume II.; a copy of this has been placed in the library. The physical and mechanical results are in the Director's hands and could be published if necessary, but it has not been thought that they are of sufficient public importance to justify the expenditure.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, during the last two years, the National Physical Laboratory has received approximately £15,000 from the Government, in the way of grants; and, if so, what return the nation has received in the way of researches of national importance; and if he will state when and where such researches were published.

The sum of £15,000 has been received from the Government in the way of grants for buildings and equipment during the past two years. The buildings are now being erected and are for the most part still in the contractor's hands. Arrangements are well advanced for commencing work which will, it is confidently expected, yield satisfactory results.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury what is the total amount of money for the original equipment, and in the way of annual grants, which the National Physical Laboratory has received from Government up to the present time; and if he can give particulars of the results of any research which can be considered in any way an adequate return for the expenditure incurred.

The total amount of money received for the original equipment of the National Physical Laboratory was £19,000. The annual grants from September, 1899, to March, 1907, have amounted to £33,500 in all. Full particulars of the expenditure of these grants appear in the accounts of the Laboratory, presented annually to the Treasury. A list of the researches published is printed in the Report of the Laboratory for 1906, pp. 21–25. Copies of this Report have been placed in the Library and the more important researches, exclusive of those published from the Observatory Department, are marked with an asterisk. The results of the principal investigations also appear in the Collected Researches of the National Physical Laboratory, two volumes of which have been issued and are in the Library; a third volume is in course of preparation. These volumes may be obtained from Messrs. Harrison and Sons, 45, St. Martin's Lane, the publishers for the Laboratory.

asked whether it was not the fact that this institution, which was supported by State funds, was in competition with private manufacturers and undertook pure tests of conductivity which could be carried out by any physical chemist in his own laboratory.

asked whether it was not the fact that our national expenditure on these matters was far too small.

said the last Question involved a matter of opinion. There was a Departmental Committee of the Treasury now sitting to inquire into the working of the Laboratory, which he hoped would report shortly.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, having regard to the fact that a sum of £12,500 is placed on the Estimates for the current year for North Sea Fisheries investigation, Class 4, Vote 6 (Scientific Investigation), will he state the entire sum expended by His Majesty's Government up to the present time on North Sea Fisheries investigation, and what sum has been expended up to the present time by each of the other Powers participating in the investigation, seeing that this information is not contained at page 41 of Command Paper 2966 of 1906.

Perhaps I maybe allowed to answer this Question. The amount expended by the Government on North Sea Fisheries investigations during the five years which end in July next will have been about £70,000. Information as to the estimated expenditure of other Powers will be found on pages 112 to 115 of Command Paper 1313 of 1903.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representating the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that, in an ordinary case of reapportionment or redemption of a small amount of vicarial tithe rent-charge in the parish of Epping, Essex, No. 16940, the Board of Agriculture have been occupied more than two years, and have not yet completed the requisite formalities; and whether he can see his way to provide some method by which this delay may be avoided, and greater facilities afforded for carrying out such applications in future, in order that the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries may be better enabled to relieve certain payers of tithe rent-charge from paying for properties belonging to other owners without adequate means of redress.

Although some preliminary inquiries were addressed to the Board in this case in March,1905, the formal application for redemption was not received until April, 1906. A survey of the lands was then necessary, but owing to the pressure of work in the Department it was unfortunately impossible to get this completed until early this month. The order for redemption has now been made and the proceedings will be completed with the least possible delay.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that, for the week ending 9th March last, there were twenty-eight outbreaks of anthrax and thirty-six animals attacked by the disease in seventeen different counties in England, Wales, and Scotland; whether in consequence of the spread of anthrax throughout the country, which is not only financially disastrous, but dangerous to human beings who have to deal with it, the Board of Agriculture will institute an inquiry as to the origin of the disease and as to what steps should be taken to stamp it out; and whether consideration will be given to the question of the desirability of paying compensation to those who have suffered heavy losses through the disease.

The Answer to the first part of my hon. friend's Question is in the affirmative, but I am happy to say that the disease is not increasing throughout the country, the number of cases this year being slightly less than in the corresponding periods of 1905 and 1906. Investigations are proceeding both as regards the nature of the disease and the means by which it is spread, and any amendments in the existing Orders on the subject which may appear to be necessary will at once be made. The Board are only empowered to pay compensation where animals are compulsory slaughtered. In the case of anthrax it is, as a general rule, inadvisable to resort to slaughter owing to the extreme danger of spreading the disease if any of the blood is spilt.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for Mid-Derbyshire, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, how long the female attendant was on duty at the staff bar in the House during the sitting of Wednesday-Thursday, and what extra pay she received for her services.

In reply to the hon. Member there are two female attendants in the staff bar. The female attendant was relieved from duty on Thursday morning at 9 o'clock, and will receive two days extra pay. The all-night sitting of the House puts a great strain on the Kitchen Committee. The manager is instructed to work the staff in sections, and relieve them once or twice during the sitting.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland in view of the inability of the fishermen in the Island of Lewis to provide themselves with steam drifters for the prosecution of the herring fishing, will the Congested Districts Board consider the expediency of granting loans to Lewis fishermen for the acquirement of steam drifters, especially in view of the assistance rendered to the Irish fisheries by the Government.

The Question of granting loans to fishermen for the purchase of fishing boats has been care- fully considered, and has been rejected as, on the whole, inexpedient.

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 number of persons in Scotland, especially in the Highland crofting counties, who have no votes at school board elections by reason of their rentals being under £4, will he arrange to deal with the school board franchise in the new Scottish Education Bill.

As I yesterday informed the hon. Member for Sutherland, it is proposed under the Bill to make the school board franchise the same as that for parish council elections.

Will it be the same franchise as is used in the county council elections?

Yes, I think so.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether, having regard to the £100,000 that it is proposed to vote to England and Wales for school buildings out of Imperial funds, he has arranged to get an equivalent grant for Scotland.

No, Sir.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland, whether, in view of the fact that parish councils cannot use money out of the rates to compel a medical man to provide an assistant for the general benefit of the public, he will put into operation the powers of the Local Government (Scotland) to protect the interests of the poor.

I am informed that the Local Government Board for Scotland have no authority to see that medical assistance is provided other than for the legal poor; the duty of provision for them lies with the parish council.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that a conviction under the Salmon Fishing Act of 1844 was recently obtained in the Inverness Sheriff Court against a Fort Augustus angler for fishing in Loch Ness; if he is aware that the public have from time immemorial exercised unchallenged the right of fishing in Loch Ness, which is a navigable loch; and if he will take the necessary steps to ascertain what are the rights of the public in this matter, and, if necessary, to protect them.

A conviction was recently given, as stated. I am not aware as to the exercise by the public of the right of salmon fishing in Loch Ness; as far as I am informed it does not appear to differ from other lochs in Scotland in this respect; if my hon. friend desires me to do so, I will make further inquiry upon that point.

Will the fishing rights in Loch Ness come within the inquiry to be held into Scottish riparian rights generally?

said he could give no definite pledge as to the scope of that inquiry, and he would like notice of questions as to particular fishings.

Will inquiry be made as regards other lochs?

I understand the law is the same for all lochs of the same character.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the names of the landlords who claim fishery rights to the estuary of the Ness and Beauly rivers; and to what extent those rights extend seawards from the mouth of the Beauly and Ness rivers respectively.

My right hon. friend has asked me to reply. I have made inquiries, but I have not yet been able to obtain sufficiently accurate information to enable me to give an answer to my hon. friend.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is now in a position to state what steps, if any, will be taken to build a pier at Reenard, county Kerry, under the Marine Works Act.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a definite statement on this subject. The funds available under the Marine Works Act are now very limited, as the hon. Member is aware. The claims of Reenard and other places to assistance from the fund are at present engaging the attention of the Irish Government.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the application to the Congested Districts Board for improved landing facilities at Cooscroum, county Kerry, was made before the Marine Works Bill was introduced, and that no application for assistance under the Act has been made; and whether, in view of the necessity for improvement at this important fishing cove, the Congested Districts Board will deal with this application out of the funds placed at their own disposal, without reference to applications made for other works of a different nature under the Marine Works Act.

The proposal to build a landing place at Cooscroum was under the consideration of the Congested Districts Board so far back as 1892, but Coonana was decided upon as a more suitable site and a pier was built at that place. The question has been renewed in recent years, but the Board have decided to postpone its consideration until it shall be ascertained what works are to be carried out at Reenard Point, and what contribution, if any, they may give to such works. The matter will be again brought before the Board at their meeting next month.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a portion of the Fuller estate at Woodfield, Clara, King's County, consisting of 140 Irish acres, exclusive of wood and bog land, now let on the eleven months grazing system by the Receiver in Chancery, the owner being of unsound mind; and whether, in view of the fact that there are tenants on other parts of this estate living under miserable conditions on holdings of a few acres of bog land, he will advise the Estates Commissioners to contemplate the purchase of this cattle ranche for the economic enlargement of the holdings of such tenants and the provision of holdings for their sons, who are walking about unable to find employment; and whether he would also recommend the Estates Commissioners similarly to consider the case of another cattle ranche of a thousand acres on the estate of Mrs. Jane Bailey, at Ball cumber, King's County, with a view to the enlargement of uneconomic holdings or the reinstatement of evicted tenants, or both purposes combined.

The Estates Commissioners are unable to trace any proceedings for sale as having been instituted before them in respect of the estates mentioned. If the hon. Member will furnish them with particulars of the estates and the names and addresses of the owners or their agents, the Commissioners will inquire whether the estates are for sale.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Commissioners of National Education have officially stated that it was impracticable for one teacher to instruct separately and efficiently six different classes, as was the case in small schools under the results system; and, if so, whether, in the case of such teachers who did not receive their training diplomas owing to service under these circumstances, and who have given thoroughly satisfactory service under the new system, the issue of these diplomas would be reconsidered, or is it the intention of the Commissioners to penalise permanently those teachers for unsatisfactory service under conditions which the Commissioners have admitted to be impracticable for success and have revised.

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that a statement to the effect mentioned was made in their introduction to the revised programme of instruction issued in 1901. This statement, which should be read with the context, formed part of an exposition of the necessity for altering the methods of school organisation which existed under the obsolete system of payment by results. Training diplomas are awarded by the Commissioners to King's scholars who, after training, have given two years satisfactory service as teachers. The Commissioners see no reason to reconsider cases in which diplomas were disallowed after adequate time had been afforded to King's scholars to earn them by satisfactory service. I will send to the hon. Member a detailed statement which I have received from the Commissioners, giving their reasons.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the result of the tests of the growing of sugar beetroot in Ireland compare favourably with the production in the great sugar beet countries of the continent; and if he can give any estimate of the amount of the acreage in Ireland suitable for growing sugar beet, and how many tons of sugar such an acreage would produce according to the results of the latest tests.

In the opinion of the Department of Agriculture the Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The Department are not in a position to estimate the acreage in Ireland specially suitable for growing sugar beet, and consequently are unable to state the number of tons of sugar which it might be possible to produce. If the hon. Member will refer to my Answer to the Question put by the hon. Member for South Sligo, on 27th February,† he will see that the Department do not consider that beet could be made as remunerative a crop as other root crops now grown in Ireland.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether a representation was made to the Commissioners last month by the small tenants in the Ogulla district, Tulsk, Roscommon, asking for the purchase and redistribution of the grass lands on the estate of Lord Crofton, Moate, county Roseommon, with a view to relieving congestion and preventing emigration; and whether he can say with what result.

The Estates Commissioners have received a memorial to the effect mentioned from certain tenants on the estate of Lord Crofton, and have referred it for inquiry to their inspector, who is dealing with the estate. The inspector's report has not yet been received.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Estates Commissioners have instructed or will instruct their inspector to use his best endeavours to arrange between Mr. Smith, owner of the Ballynanty property, near Bruff, or his agent, Mr. White, of Limerick, and Mrs. Hartigan, of Clorane, Croom, county Limerick, so as to give her back her evicted farm in Ballynanty.

The Estates Commissioners have had this case investigated by an inspector. The owner declines to reinstate Mrs. Hartigan, upon the ground that her husband was not evicted, but surrendered his leasehold interest in the farm, and signed a formal deed of surrender. The Commissioners will further consider Mrs. Hartigan's application in connection with the allotment of any untenanted land which they may acquire in the locality.

† See (4) Debates, clxx., 53.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, can he say whether the Estates Commissioners, through their inspector or by private correspondence, have as yet been able to induce Mr. Courtnay Croker, landlord, or Mr. John Barrington, agent, of the Moohan property near Herbertstown, county Limerick, to get Timothy Kirby, planter on the farm of Mr. Michael Power, to leave the farm on some consideration and hand it back to the owner before the vesting order will have been issued to all the other tenants.

The Estates Commissioners have not yet been able to effect any arrangement in the case referred to, but will direct their inspector when visiting the estate to ascertain from Kirby the terms, if any, upon which he would be prepared to surrender the holding.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, if he can say whether the Estates Commissioners, through their inspector or otherwise, have endeavoured to make some arrangement for reinstatement to his farm on the lands of Beltyville, Manister, county Limerick, between the landlord, the Reverend Mr. Lee, or his agent, Ernest Brown, of Limerick, and the evicted tenant, Mr. Edmond Hartigan, of Patrickswell, Holycross, Kilmallock; and, if such has not yet been done, will he use his influence in that direction.

The Estates Commissioners have had the case of Mr. Hartigan investigated by their inspector, whose report has been received and is awaiting their consideration.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, can he say whether the negotiations for sale and purchase between the Misses Cooper and their tenants around Knocklong, county Limerick, have as yet resulted in an application for the sale of the estate before the Estates Commissioners; and will he use his influence with the Estates Commissioners and Messrs. Sanders, of Charleville, county Cork, agents to the property, so as to restore to their holdings the evicted tenants, Thomas Barry and John M'Grath.

The Estates Commissioners have received applications for reinstatement from the evicted tenants mentioned, and are in communication with the owner with the object of procuring an inspection of the holdings formerly occupied by these persons. Proceedings have recently been instituted before the Commissioners for the sale of the tenanted portion of the estate in question, but the case has not reached its turn to be dealt with.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Estates Commissioners will have Mrs. Alice Reilly reinstated on the farm of land in Anghavas, on the estate of Lord Harlech, in county Leitrim, from which her late husband was evicted; and, as the man who is in occupation of the farm at the present time is willing to take compensation, if steps will be taken to have this evicted tenant restored to her home without further delay.

The Estates Commissioners have investigated Mrs. Reilly's case and have ascertained that the former holding is now occupied by a permanent tenant. The Commissioners have decided that they cannot at present take action in the matter, but they will consider Mrs. Reilly's application in the event of their having any untenanted land in the locality to dispose of.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will arrange that the Estates Commissioners, now that Lord Dunraven and his tenants around Adare, Croom, and elsewhere have arranged as to terms of sale and purchase, shall also arrange between his Lordship and George Spearing, of Beabus, and Thomas Drew, who are yet unsettled for owing to inundation of land caused by hatcheries on the river Mague put down by the landlord, and eviction in the case of Mr. Drew.

The Estates Commissioners have fully considered the case of George Spearing, and have decided to take the necessary steps to declare Spearing to have purchased his holding at their estimated price. The inspector's report as to the case of Thomas Drew has not yet been received.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland has been called to the speech delivered by Mr. Averell Lloyd at the annual soiree of the Tannamore Loyal Orange Lodge, county Tyrone, No. 513; whether he is aware that this gentleman incited his hearers to obtain arms and teach their children how to use them; whether Mr. Averell Lloyd holds the commission of the peace; and whether he has been asked for an explanation of the language attributed to him.

I am not aware whether the Lord Chancellor's attention has been directed to the speech in question. According to a newspaper report which I have seen, Mr. Lloyd urged his hearers to provide arms for their own protection, and teach their children to use them. Mr. Lloyd holds the commission of the peace. I do not think it necessary to call the Lord Chancellor's attention to the matter.

The advice is a double-edged sword which can cut both ways.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, on the night of 8th March, fifty-six yards of wall, along the public road, were knocked down on the farm of Patrick Raftery, at Knockrow, Kilchreest, county Galway; and whether any persons have been arrested in connection with this outrage.

The police authorities inform me that on the night of 8th March a loose stone wall bounding Mr. Raftery's farm was thrown down. No arrest has yet been made.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the South Galway executive of the United Irish League, at a meeting held on Sunday, 10th March, ordered the herd on the farm of Patrick Raftery, at Knockrow, Kilchreest, county Galway, not to work any longer for his master, because Raftery had taken the farm from which a former tenant had been evicted; and whether he will see that the herd in question has ample protection in case he continues to work for Raftery.

Is this the branch of which the Parliamentary Secretary of the Local Government Board is a member, and have any other members of the Government joined it?

I only know what appears in the papers. I read it that the branch referred to was at Peckham. A report has appeared in a local newspaper to the effect that Mr. Raftery's herd was to be asked to cease working for his master, but the police authorities have no information that this alleged intention has been carried out. The police will afford due protection to the herd if any necessity should arise.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has seen a Report of an address delivered by Mr. Justice Kenny to the grand jury of Roscommon, in which it was stated that there was veiled intimidation in that county; whether this statement was contained in a Report presented by the police authorities to the Judge; if so, whether this Report was submitted to him before being presented to the Judge; and whether it will be published in order that the statements it contains may be checked.