To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the number of trained teachers that entered the service of the National Board from the 1st April, 1900, till the 31st December of the same year; the number of such teachers at present in charge of schools with an average under sixty that are paid a higher salary than £70 per annum (exclusive of residual capitation and fees for Irish and mathematics); the number of such teachers at present in charge of schools with an average of sixty or over and receiving good reports that are paid the ordinary salary of the National Board; whether the teachers coming under the last head will get the same salary as those coming under the second heading; and, if not, what reasons are assigned by the Commissioners of National Education for this difference of treatment. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the Answer to the first inquiry is 222, to the second twelve, and to the third ten. The Answer to the fourth inquiry is in the negative, and in this connection I beg to refer to my Answer to the hon. Member for South Down on 3rd May.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a period of reasonable experiment having now passed he will state what measures have been and are now being taken to diminish the suffering to individuals and the damage to property caused by the noise, dust, and stench of motor omnibuses and other engine-propelled conveyances.(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I am afraid that I cannot add anything to the reply on this subject which I gave to the hon. Member for North Paddington on the 10th instant, which was as follows—The regulations under which motor omnibuses are controlled were considered and approved by a Select Committee of the House of Commons, and are being strictly enforced. Unduly noisy omnibuses arc warned off the streets. Every effort is being made to improve matters, and in the opinion of the Commissioner of Police a marked improvement has been effected. In some places the state of the roadway is responsible for most of the vibration and some of the noise

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that competent male telegraphists at Huddersfield of many years service, some of whom hold technical certificates, have been compulsorily transferred to the postal department, owing to alleged decrease of telegraph work; that at the same time the Department is advertising for female telegraphists at Huddersfield; whether he can explain the reason for these actions; and, in view of official statements that no telegraphist is transferred in any office to positions on the postal side without first being offered transfer elsewhere, he will state why this rule has not been complied with. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I am making inquiries and will let the hon. Member know the result.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty the name of the firm referred to in the Auditor-General's report, dated 31st January 1907, page 199, paragraph 25, as supplying considerable quantities of defective brass quick-firing cartridge cases so that they had to be sold as old brass, and guns from various ships had to be returned for repairs in consequence of damage caused by the defective cartridges; whether any action was taken by the Admiralty in respect of this firm; and what reply was made to the Auditor-General as to the value of the cartridges in question.(Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The firm referred to is Messrs. Kynoch, but cartridge cases by other makers have also been withdrawn in some instances. For some years the Admiralty have bought no brass cartridge cases from Messrs. Kynoch, and the damage to guns is not in all instances caused by Messrs. Kynoch's cases. The reply to the Comptroller and Auditor-General is still under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the investigation into rifle ammunition and high velocities includes the consideration of the strength of breech action; and whether the breech action of our military rifle is weaker than that of its foreign rivals, and our ammunition consequently restricted to a lesser pressure. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The strength of the breech action is taken into consideration in fixing the limits for ballistics of the experimental ammunition. Some foreign rifles no doubt have a stronger breech action than the British, but the strength of the British breech mechanism is in excess of any strain to which it could be exposed under service conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any other expert, besides Mr. Gurrin, has at any time given an opinion, at the request of the Home Office, upon the authorship of the disputed letters in the Edalji case, or has been consulted as to their authorship; and whether, if not, he will order the same to be submitted to a selected committee of experts for decision.(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The second part, therefore, does not arise.

:To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether any organisation exists for amalgamating or otherwise uniting the Home and Channel Fleets for joint immediate action upon a sudden emergency; and whether the battleships, cruisers, and torpedo-boat destroyers of the respective Fleets are trained on a similar system.(Answered by Mr. Lambert.) The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative and extends to all Fleets. In reply to the second part of the Question, a uniform system of training in all branches obtains in His Majesty's Navy, in accordance with Admiralty orders and regulations.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the nominal strength of the Channel Fleet comprises fourteen battleships; and whether, since its reorganisation in February, it has ever had that number fit for service; and, if not, by how many battleships it has been short.(Answered by Mr. Lambert.) Fourteen battleships are attached to the Channel Fleet. As in the case of other Fleets, ships of the Channel Fleet arc periodically sent to the dockyard for refit. As a rule, not more than two battleships at the most are absent, but since February, 1907, three have, on occasion, been absent.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what was the proportion of orders for torpedoes allotted to Woolwich and Messrs. Whitehead, of Weymouth, respectively, for 1902–3 and 1903–4; and what is the proportion of orders this year. (Answered by Mr. Lambert. )In 1902–3 the orders were allotted to Woolwich and Messrs. Whitehead approximately in the proportions of six to five. In the following year the orders were equally divided. In the present year, as has already been stated in reply to a Question on the 16th May, from the hon. Member for South Dorset, roughly three-quarters of the orders will be allotted to Woolwich and a quarter to Messrs. Whitehead.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many battleships and cruisers in the Home Fleet are fully manned; and if these ships are allowed the full allowance of ammunition for gun practice. (Answered by Mr. Lambert.) In reply to the first part of the Question, six battleships, six armoured cruisers, and five other cruisers attached to the torpedo flotilla are fully manned. The reply to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if the Channel Fleet as at present constituted (fourteen battleships and three unarmoured cruisers), less the usual number of ships refitting, is able to meet any foreign fleet in Home waters without reinforcements from other Fleets. (Answered by Mr. Lambert.) The Board of Admiralty are satisfied that the battleship strength of the Channel Fleet is greater now than at any previous time, and that with its complementary first-cruiser squadron it is amply sufficient for the duties it is required to undertake.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is the present policy of the Admiralty to cease building unarmoured cruisers of moderate tonnage(Answered by Mr. Lambert.) The reply is in the negative.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what is the present position of the four armoured cruisers belonging to the Channel Fleet. (Answered by Mr. Lambert.) The four armoured cruisers composing the First Cruiser Squadron are at Quebec, and are due at Portsmouth on 2nd July.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty when and how the torpedo boat destroyer "Wear" was damaged; how many weeks delay there were before the repairs were made good; and what was the cause of such delay. (Answered by Mr. Lambert.) The "Wear" was seriously damaged by collision with the ss. "Etna," on 12th January. Her repairs were completed on 27th May, in nineteen weeks. A delay was experienced in obtaining some special material not then kept in stock.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can lay the Report of the Interdepartmental Committee on His Majesty's Coastguard upon the Table of this House. (Answered by Mr. Lambert.) This Report is now being considered by the Admiralty.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland if he is in a position to state when the Departmental Committee to inquire into the missive system of house-letting in Scotland will present its Report, having regard to the fact that the taking of the evidence was completed several months ago. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) I can only refer my hon. friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Camlachie Division on 9th May. †

To ask the Secretary for Scotland, seeing that the English steam trawler "Franconia" was recently seized by a German torpedo boat for illegal trawling in German waters, will he consider the expediency of applying to the Admiralty for similar assistance, especially in view of the fact that the Fishery Board and the Admiralty cruisers at the disposal of the Fishery Board for Scotland cannot adequately cope with the illegal trawling round the coasts of Scotland. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair. )No, Sir. There is no intention at present of applying for such assistance.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state whether, under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Bill now before Parliament, lands now used as deer forests or grouse moors will be available for the purposes set forth in the Bill, such as the extension of existing holdings or the creation of new holdings. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) Such lands are not per se excluded from the operation of the Bill.

:To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether the Scottish Education Department will be represented at the International Congress upon School Hygiene which meets in London in August; and will he consider the expediency of arranging for the compulsory teaching of hygiene and temperance in the elementary public schools in Scotland.

† See (4) Debates, clxxiv., 369

Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) The Department proposes to be represented at this Congress. They are not at present prepared to make the teaching of the subjects mentioned compulsory, but will carefully consider the reports of any discussions on the subject at the Congress.

To ask the Vice-President of the Board of Agriculture (Ireland) what amount the Department subscribed or guaranteed, or both, to the Exhibition now being held in Dublin; what part they took, if any, in providing for exhibits; and at how many meetings of the management have the Department been represented since the inauguration of the scheme. (Answered by Mr. T. W. Russell.) The Department have not guaranteed any amount to the Irish International Exhibition. With the concurrence of the Agricultural Board a sum of £2,000 was allocated from the Department's funds for the specific purpose of enabling small rural industries, especially those working in connection with the Department, to exhibit their products. The Department was represented on the committee appointed by Her Excellency the Countess of Aberdeen to further the exhibition of these rural industries. The answer to the last part of the Question is that at none of the meetings of the management of the Exhibition have the Department been represented.

To ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what steps the Department will take to prevent the ruin of the Irish cattle industry now being brought about in the South and West of the country. (Answered by Mr. T. W. Russell.) The Department are not aware of any ruin impending over the cattle industry in the south and west of Ireland.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the proposals of the various tube and other railway companies of London to increase the fares on their lines; and, if so, will he use his influence with the said companies to prevent, or in some measure mitigate, this increase. (Answered by Mr. Kearley.) The Board of Trade are informed that the District, Metropolitan, and Central London Railway Companies have agreed upon a working arrangement, which will come into operation as soon as details can be settled, and will affect fares between Hammersmith, the West End, and the City. The main features of this arrangement will, I understand, be an increase to 3d. of the fares charged for the longer distances on the Central London Railway, and a revision of those now in force on the Metropolitan and District Lines. The Central London Company state that what they propose is to adhere to a fare of 2d. for all distances not exceeding that between the Bank and the Marble Arch, that is, three and a half miles, and to charge 3d. for all greater distances. No alteration, however, will be made as regards workmen's tickets. Details of the other companies' proposals have not yet been received.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on 1st June the steamer "Maggie" engaged a crew at the port of Hull; whether he is aware that the deck hands engaged by the master of this vessel were eight in number, and only four were able to prove three years sea service; and whether he can state if the Board of Trade surveyor took any steps to ascertain whether the vessel was manned by a competent crew of seamen.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a vessel named the "Ethyl" engaged a crew at the port of Hull on 7th June, and six of the crew were engaged as deck hands, only four out of the six being able to prove that they were qualified A.B.'s; and whether he has had from the Board of Trade surveyor any Report as to whether the ship was seaworthy with the crew that she engaged.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that the steamer ''Imperial Prince" engaged a crew at the port of Hull on 6th June, 1907; whether he is aware that this vessel carried six deck hands and only three of that number were qualified A.B.'s in accordance with Section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, sub-section 2; and whether any Report has been sent to his Department with regard to the under-manning of this vessel.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the steamer "Southella" engaged a crew at the port of Hull on 6th June; whether he can state if this vessel was engaged in the Foreign trade; whether he is aware that the deck hands were four in number, and only two out of the four were qualified A.B.'s; and whether he has had a Report from the surveyor to the Board of Trade as to the manning of this ship.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that a steamer named the "Anna Moore" engaged a crew at the port of Hull on 4th June, and out of the five deck hands engaged only two of that number were qualified A.B.'s; and whether he could state if the Board of Trade made any inquiries as to whether the vessel was seaworthy, in accordance with the Merchant Shipping Act.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the steamer "Otterspool" engaged a crew at the port of Hull on 4th June; whether he is aware that the deck hands numbered five, and only two of this number were qualified A.B.'s; and whether, in consequence, he has had any Report from the Board of Trade surveyor as to the seaworthiness of this vessel. (Answered by Mr. Kearley.) I will reply to the six Questions together as they deal with the same subject. Inquiry has been made into each of the cases mentioned in the Questions. The details furnished from the ports do not differ very materially from those stated by hon. Members. The Board of Trade requirements with regard to manning are as follows: "Foreign-going steamships of over 200 feet in length, or not less than 700 tons gross, when proceeding to sea should have, independently of the master and two mates, a sufficient number of deck hands available for division into two watches, so as to provide a minimum effective watch, viz. a competent man at the wheel, a look-out man, and an additional hand on deck available for any purpose." Those requirements were complied with. Had it been otherwise it would have been the duty of the local superintendents before whom the crews were engaged to call in the Board of Trade detaining officers to detain the ship.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company have yet made arrangements for the lighting of the carriages of trains running between Pulborough and Victoria, when passing through tunnels. (Answered by Mr. Kearley.) The Board of Trade have been in communication with the railway company in this matter, and are informed that carriages fitted with electric light are kept lighted when passing through tunnels. All new stock is so fitted, and existing stock is being fitted gradually as the carriages can be brought to the works. Whore gas lamps are for the time still in use, the company state that there is a difficulty in finding a means of turning the gas on and off in the course of the journey, and that to keep the gas continually burning would involve an additional expenditure of £8,000 to £10,000 a year. The company add that they are endeavouring to find means of overcoming this difficulty, but have not yet succeeded in doing so.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General if he is aware that the Leeds Town Council have granted permission to Roman Catholics to hold a service in Kirkstall Abbey, which is public property held for the use of the notion by the Leeds Town Council; and whether, seeing that it is illegal for any Roman Catholic ecclesiastic or any member of any of the religious orders, communities, or societies of the Church of Rome, bound by monastic or religious vows, to exercise any of the rites or ceremonies of the Roman Catholic religion, or wear the habits of his order, save within the usual places of worship of the Roman Catholic religion or in private houses, and that the Roman Catholic bishop of Leeds has granted an indulgence of fifty days to all who take part in, or are present at, this service, he proposes to take steps to stop this illegal practice. (Answered by Sir John Walton. )The property in the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey is vested in the Leeds Corporation. They are a body fully competent to decide for what purposes it should be used. They have also in their service an officer whose duty it is to advise them with reference to the legality of their action. I have no power to stop the proceeding to which the Question refers.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total amount contributed by the Administrative County of London to the Cattle Pleuro-pneumonia Account of the Board of Agriculture by way of deduction from London's share of the Local Taxation (England and Wales) Account; and what has been the total expenditure out of the Cattle Pleuro-pneumonia Account in the Administrative County of London during the same period.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the cost of administering the Diseases of Animals Acts by the Board of Agriculture in excess of a fixed sum of £140,000 per annum is paid out of the Local Taxation Accounts, and that the result of this system is that local authorities are required, in effect, to pay for the excess cost of services performed by a Government Department over which they have no control; whether he can state the total amount so charged upon the Local Taxation Account and the amount lost by London thereby; whether he is aware that the Royal Commission on Local Taxation, as long ago as 1901, unanimously recommended the abolition of the system; whether already, since that date, £42,240 more has been charged upon the Local Taxation Account, of which £9,275 has, in effect, been paid out of the London county rate; and whether he will make provision in his next Budget for the transfer of this charge from local to Imperial taxation. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) Perhaps I may answer these two Questions together. I am aware of the, facts relating to the matter. The first payment from the Local Taxation Account to the Cattle Pleuro-pneumonia Account was made in 1894. The total amount paid out of the former account to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries during the period from 1894 to 1906 was £546,480, and it is estimated that during the same period an additional sum of £119,996 would have become payable to London out of the Local Taxation Account if no money had been diverted to the Cattle Pleuro-pneumonia Account. I learn from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries that the expenditure out of the latter account in the administrative county of London is not shown separately. The facts as to the recommendations of the Local Taxation Commission and the payments made since the date of their Report are substantially as stated by the hon. Member.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, under The Local Government Act, 1888, the London County Council are required to pay to the guardians of every Poor Law union in the county an amount equivalent to 4d. a day per head for every indoor pauper maintained in that union according to the average number of indoor paupers during the five years ended 25th March, 1888, and can he state how much this payment amounts to for the year ended March, 1906: whether he is aware that this indoor pauper grant in London was intended to be equivalent to the union officers' grant made to guardians by all other county councils, and that, taking this grant into account, the system of Exchequer contributions involves an absolute annual loss to the London County Council; whether he can state the amount of such loss for the year ended March, 1906; if in any other county in England and Wales an actual loss is incurred by reason of the system of grants prescribed, by the Local Government Act, 1888; and whether he is aware that the actual number of indoor paupers in each London union at the present time differs widely from the prescribed average for the five years ended 25th March, 1888, and that the distribution among the London unions is no longer proportionate to their respective needs. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am aware of the provisions of The Local Government Act, 1888, with regard to the several grants referred to in the Question. The payments made by the London County Council for each year in respect of the grant for indoor paupers amount to about £327,000. It is the case that the number of in-door poor in the several London unions differs considerably now from the average number during the five years ended at March, 1888. The matter of "loss" referred to by the hon. Member involves considerations which cannot conveniently be dealt with in reply to a Question.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any steps are being taken to provide an alternative holding of land for the family of the late Terence Reilly, of Abbeylara, county Longford; and whether the inspector has called upon Lynn, the present holder of the evicted farm, with a view to securing a surrender in the interest of the Reillys. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have carefully inquired into the application of Terence Reilly's representatives, and have decided to take no action upon it. The Answer to the latter part of the Question is in the negative.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the attention of the Lord Chancellor has been directed, or will be directed, to the conduct of Mr. Patrick Egan, chairman of the district council, who lives fifteen miles from Thomastown, in attending there as aneex officio magistrate on the 5th instant and, after certain prisoners had been returned for trial by the bench, addressing them in Court in approval of their action; and will he say how often previously has Mr. Egan attended these petty sessions before this case, and what action will be taken. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Mr. Egan is chairman of the Bill No. 1 Rural District Council, and, as such, is a magistrate for the Thomastown petty sessions district, which is situate within the rural district in question. The defendants in the case referred to were returned for trial at assizes. It is not intended to take any action in respect of the remarks made by Mr. Egan, in which he stated the grounds of his dissent from the decision of the majority of the Court.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many reports of outrages, and meetings held to advocate outrages, were received from the Roscrea police in Tipperary and the Shinrone police in King's County between the 1st January and 1st June this year. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) During the period mentioned there were in Roscrea district two cases of unlawful assembly and one boycotting notice, and there were nine other serious offences of an ordinary character, that is, not connected with agrarian agitation. In the Shinrone district no serious offence was reported. The police authorities are not aware of any meeting at which incitement to outrage took place.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that immediately after the Thomastown petty sessions on 5th June, a crowd of 200 men armed with sticks was addressed by the hon. Member for the Birr Division of King's County, who advised them to clear the cattle off all grazing farms in the district, and in particular off two which he named; and if it is the intention of the Government to make the hon. Member amenable for such incitement. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The only report of the speech referred to which I have seen is a newspaper report, which is obviously very imperfect. It is not intended to take any action in respect of the speech.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction that exists in Ireland with reference to the recent order re fines inflicted under the Education (Ireland) Act, 1892; and whether he will consider the advisability of withdrawing this order, which is calculated to discourage the excellent work at present being done by school-attendance committees in Ireland. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The question involved in this matter is one of law, and as doubts have been raised as to the construction of the statutes my right hon. friend the Attorney-General for Ireland is instituting proceedings in the King's Bench Division, with the object of obtaining an authoritative decision.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Mr. Lindsay Talbot Crosbie, of Ardfert, has offered about 300 acres of untenanted land to the Estates Commissioners for the enlargement of uneconomic holdings and the giving of allotments of land to the labourers of the Ardfert district; whether the untenanted land has been inspected; what prices has Mr. Crosbie asked for the 300 acres; and what price have the Estates Commissioners offered for the same. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The owner referred to has offered 320 acres of untenanted land for sale to the Estates Commissioners, who have had the land inspected and made an offer for it. The owner, however, has declined to accept the Commissioners' price. It would be contrary to practice to publish particulars of prices asked or offered in such cases.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a number of the tenants of the Wandesforde, Castlecomer, estate, refrained from signing their purchase agreements on the date fixed by the landlord, on account of being afraid of not being able to meet their liabilities to the Government unless the annuities were reduced; whether the Estates Commissioners, on having their attention drawn to the willingness of the tenants to purchase their holdings, subject to inspection by the Estates Commissioners as to the value of the holdings and for adjustment of some points of difference, wrote, saying that as soon as the agreements were signed and lodged application might be made to them for an early inspection; and, as this letter from the Commissioners was taken as indication that the farms of these non signing tenants would be inspected, and as in order to have inspection ensue the agreement forms were signed, whether he will see his way to have the holdings of such tenants inspected irrespective of the zone clause on account of their duress nature. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The agreements for purchase in the case of this estate were lodged in February last, and the case, therefore, will not reach its turn to be dealt with for a considerable time. The holdings of any tenants on the estate who may not have signed purchase agreements will be inspected before the lands are finally declared to be an estate. As regards the tenants who have signed purchase agreements, the Estates Commissioners will be prepared to consider any applications that the agreements should not be acted on upon the ground that they were entered into under duress, and if it should then appear necessary they will direct a special inspection.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in how many cases since 1st May the police on protection duty have been overpowered by the mob and failed to frustrate their attempts connected with driving off the cattle of obnoxious persons; and if the Government will supplement the civil power by the military in these districts. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I am informed that in no case of cattle-driving since the date mentioned have the police been overpowered by a mob, but in several cases when the police were present in insufficient force to prevent cattle-driving their action was necessarily confined to warning the offenders and taking their names with a view to prosecution. The Answer to the concluding part of the Question is in the negative.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if owners and tenants of grazing lands in Ireland will be permitted to organise and offer armed resistance to lawless mobs endeavouring to drive off their cattle. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The hon. Gentleman, as one of His Majesty's Counsel, must be at least as learned in the law as I am. He must know that it is not possible to make any general statement as to the amount or nature of the resistance which any person is entitled to use in the defence of his property when he conceives that his rights are being invaded.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that no regulations have yet been made under Section 2 of the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891, to enable a tenant purchaser to pay one fourth of any instalment of his annuity by the transfer of an equal amount of guaranteed Land Stock through the Post Office to the National Debt Commissioners; whether persons who have recently applied have been unable to get the benefit of the statutory provision; and, if so, will ha say what action he proposes to take. *(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I am aware that regulations under the section quoted have not yet been made. From 1891 till two months ago only one application of the nature referred to was received. Recently some twenty applications have been received. The question of making regulations is at present under the consideration of the Treasury and the Departments concerned.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, seeing that the medical officer of health for the city of Belfast recently refused to take action in a case of factory inspection, and that a special sanitary inspector was sent to Belfast by the Government, any Report has yet been issued by his Department on this case; and, if not, can any promise be given as to the date of its publication. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The inspection of factories is a matter which concerns my right hon. friend the Home Secretary, to whom any inquiry on the subject should be addressed. As regards the latter part of the Question, it is assumed that the hon. Member intends to refer to the Commission of Inquiry which is at present investigating the general sanitary administration of Belfast. The Commission have not yet finished taking evidence, and it cannot be said when their Report will be ready.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if the Fitzmaurice property situate near Duagh, North Kerry, which is in a congested district, has been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The reply is in the negative.

To ask the Secretary of State for War to state the grounds upon which he has refused an increase of pension to John Murphy, No. 2,015, of 1st battalion 14th Foot, who served throughout the entire Crimean War in 1854, was for over twenty-one years in the Army, and was discharged with a pension of only 1s. 1d. per day, although ha had five good conduct badges at the time; and will he recon- sider his decision, seeing that other pensioners of the same period are getting 2s. 6d. per day pension. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The special increases of pensions to men who took part in campaigns before 1867 are only granted if they are in necessitous circumstances, and if they fulfil one of the following conditions—

(a) Have been wounded; or

(b) Have been discharged for disability; or

(c) Are suffering from disability clearly due to their military service.

The man in question fulfils none of these conditions, and is therefore ineligible for any increase of pension.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in respect of the sum of £17,000 per annum paid under Civil Service Estimates to local authorities in lieu of rates for the Government Ordnance Factories, it is to be understood that no proportionate charges are included in the quoted prices of war material manufactured by the Royal Ordnance Factories, whereas the private firms necessarily have to allow for their payments of the full rates levied by the local authorities. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The contribution to local rates for the Ordnance Factories amounts to £23,000, and these charges are included in the cost of articles manufactured in the factories.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the indebtedness of the Uganda Railway on account of the sums borrowed upon the credit of the United Kingdom; at what rate of interest those borrowings were made, whether any portion of that interest has ever been paid out of the earnings of the railway; if not, what would be the addition to the indebtedness. of the railway up to 31st March, 1907, if compound interest had been charged upon all interest not paid out of the earnings of the railway; what would be the sum due this year from the railway by way of interest upon its total indebtedness; and how much of that sum he hopes to be able to pay to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The total sum borrowed for the construction of the Uganda Railway is £5,502,592, of which £2,466,000 was borrowed at 2??? per cent interest per annum and the balance at 3 per cent. As the hon. Member was informed on the 28th of February, the debt is being repaid by means of annuities of which the last payment will fall due on the 15th of November, 1925, but no portion of the payments of principal and interest in connection with these annuities has been drawn from the railway. If no part of the principal sums had been paid off, and the interest had been allowed to accumulate, the additional debt in respect of arrears of interest would have amounted to about £1,177,000 on the 31st of March, 1907, and the interest due this year on the whole debt would have been £192,683. The revenue of the railway is merged in the general revenue of the Protectorate, and as that revenue requires a considerable grant from the Exchequer in order to balance the expenditure, there is at present no prospect of meeting the charges on the debt out of such revenue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the amount paid to the British Consul General in Egypt for salary and allowances. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The amount is £6,500 per annum, as stated in the Estimate for Diplomatic Services. There are no additional allowances.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he has noticed that, in the recently issued Return relating to Post Office Telegraphs and Telephones, a considerable part of the revenue attributed to the Post Office telegraph and telephone service is due to royalties paid by the National Telephone Company and other licencees; whether such royalties, being in effect a tax upon private persons, ought rather to be treated as part of the tax revenue of the Exchequer than as part of the earned income of the Post Office; whether he is aware that with this adjustment of accounts the deficiency on the working of the State telegraphs and telephones in 1905–6 amounted to £7580,000; whether he has further noticed that in this figure no allowance is made for interest upon the items of capital expenditure shown in columns 9, 10, and 13, on page 5, or for interest on the annual deficiencies made up of the items shown in the last column on page 6, and of those shown in column 3 on page 4; whether he can state what would be the total deficiency on the year's working in 1905–6 if these items were all taken into account at 3 per cent. compound interest; and what would be the aggregate deficiency up to the end of that year for all the years since the telegraphs were taken over by the State. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The amount of royalties is clearly shown in the Return to which the hon. Member refers. They are part of the earnings of licencees on business that is within the Postmaster-General's monopoly, and which he otherwise would be carrying on himself. They are, therefore, properly brought to account as Post Office revenue. I would remind him that the present form of the Return was settled in consultation with him, and that it clearly shows the deficiency in the working of the service in two different forms. I do not see what useful purpose would be served by the further calculations which he suggests.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is considering the advisability of extending the number of branch post offices in London; and whether, in that event, he has decided that the increase of staff shall retain the same proportion between the sexes as already exist in the London district offices. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The question of the advisability of extending the number of branch post offices in London comes under my notice from time to time as cases arise, but there is no general question under consideration. There is no definite proportion fixed for the employment of female as against male force, and the arrangements must depend largely on the circumstances and requirements of particular offices.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he has sanctioned a scheme for the devolution of duties in the Central Telegraph Office, by which men arc supervising others in the same class who possess greater service, and are in some instances receiving larger salaries; whether he is aware that, in 1906, the Secretary to the Post Office expressed the opinion that such a system would be difficult and unsatisfactory; and whether, in view of the fact that the question of men of one grade performing the duties of the next class without extra pay is under the consideration of the Select Committee, he will discontinue the scheme pending the issue of its report. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Burton.) Devolution of duties is a means adopted for filling the places of those absent on leave or otherwise and at the same time testing fitness for promotion. It is desirable to apply this test not only to those who are at the very top of the next class, but to others also who are near the top of the class, and the result is that in some cases men supervise others who have longer service. I see no reason for making a change, pending the Report of the Select Committee. I do not know to what statement of the Secretary to the Post Office the hon. Member refers.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will state the number of ex-Army and ex-Navy men at present engaged as postmen at the Belfast post office; whether some time ago an arrangement was made that assistant postmen who had risen from the rank of telegraph messengers should receive appointments in equal ratio to-these ex-Army and ex-Navy men; whether the proportion of the latter is now considerably in excess of the former, and whether he will take steps to secure that the original arrangement is adhered to, and that both classes should be equally represented in the Belfast postal service. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Billion.) At present fifty-one ex-Army and ex-Navy men are employed as established postmen at Belfast. The arrangement, one of many years standing, under which vacancies for postmen fall alternately to ex-telegraph messengers and to ex-soldiers or ex-sailors, has been and is being adhered to; and half the vacancies at Belfast have been assigned to ex-telegraph messengers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the statement made before the Alien Immigration Board, on 10th June, that an agent in Austria is booking immigrants to England, and, in order to prevent their rejection, is providing them with American passports, and that these immigrants have no intention of proceeding beyond this country, it is proposed to take any steps to compel immigrants arriving in the United Kingdom to show a passport and to proceed to the destination indicated thereon. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The case referred to was an attempt to pass into the United Kingdom, under pretence that they were going to America, two aliens who had no intention of going: there, and no means or prospects of maintaining themselves here. Any suggestion as to passports would seem to be due to misunderstanding. The Aliens Act affords a means of dealing with such a case, and in this instance the attempted evasion was detected and the two aliens were refused leave to land. I have under consideration the question of taking further steps in regard to the persons concerned in the case.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state when it is proposed to calculate the losses likely to fall on local authorities next year in respect of the fall in Irish Land Stock; and will he take any steps to give notice to those authorities of the amounts proposed to be so deducted, so that they can verify the accuracy of these Treasury calculations. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I can make no statement as to the future, but the subject is receiving careful consideration.

To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that a feeling exists in favour of the appointment of Mr. James O'Neill, Chairman of the Longford Board of Guardians, to the commission of the peace for the county of Longford; and will he undertake to bring this case to the notice of the Lord Chancellor, with a view to Mr. O'Neill's appointment. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) I am informed by the Lord Chancellor's secretary that no application for the appointment of Mr. O'Neill to the commission of the peace has been received by the Lord Chancellor. I f such an application should be made it would doubtless receive due consideration. It would not be usual for the Law Officers of the Crown to make representations to the Lord Chancellor in such matters.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fraudulent use of the word Belfast in connection with mineral waters manufactured in Canada and Cape Colony; and whether, seeing that the practice is calculated to inflict injury on the mineral water manufacturers of Belfast, he will say what action he proposes to take in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Kearley.) This matter has not hitherto been brought to the notice of the Board of Trade, but, if the hon. Member will furnish them with details, my right hon. friend will consider whether the case is one in which action can properly be taken by the Board of Trade.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that the present scale of duty charged in respect of premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating drinks is higher in proportion to annual value in the case of promises under £100 rental than in the case of premises above that rental, that the charge diminishes in percentage up to the rental of £700, and that the scale is not graduated beyond £700, with the result that premises of an annual value of £2,500 pay no larger duty than premises of £700 rental, he will state what proportions of such premises, both above and below £100 rental, are situated in London and the provinces respectively, and the extent to which London's share of the licence duties has been reduced in consequence of the operation of this scale of duties. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) The number of licensed premises (publicans') (exclusive of beer houses, which are not rated for licence duty purposes on a valuation) in the county of London and provinces, respectively, are: — Rental not exceeding £100: London, 344; provinces, 45,693. Rental £100 and upwards: London, 4,974; provinces 14,626. A higher scale of duties upon the higher value premises would, of course, have increased the total yield of the duties in London to a greater extent than in the provinces. The amount of such increase would necessarily depend, in both cases, upon the precise scale adopted as an alternative.

To ask the Secretary of State for India what has been the result of the prosecution of some 200 Mahomedans for rioting at Mymensingh. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) I have ascertained that in the Mymensingh rioting cases, 168 persons have been convicted, 126 acquitted or discharged, and thirteen committed for trial at sessions, while the cases of seventy persons are pending. Of the persons convicted, five have been sentenced to four years imprisonment, four to three years, seventeen to two years, two to twenty-one months, thirty-three to eighteen months, forty to one year, six to nine months, and three to eight months' imprisonment.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has had under his notice the terms upon which the Madras Government is enfranchising the hereditary inam lands of the village officers in zemindari villages; whether he is aware that such terms are onerous compared with those upon which the inam lands in Government villages were enfranchised; and whether, in view of the immemorial service of the owners and their ancestors in respect of the former lands, he will inquire into the matter and take such action as may appear to him to be just and proper in the circumstances. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) I have seen correspondence on the subject between the Government of Madras and the Board of Revenue. The Government of Madras and the Board came to the conclusion that there was nothing harsh or inequitable in fixing the quit-rents of enfranchised village service inams in zemindari villages at full assessment rates, and that the rule limiting the quit-rent to five-eighths of the full assessment in ryotwari tracts was not applicable to zemindari tracts, and would, if extended to them, occasion a loss of revenue to the village service fund of the district, which it could not well afford. Madras Act II. of 1894 gives the Local Government full authority to make rules for the fixation of these quit-rents. As at present advised, I see no reason for interfering with the discretion of the Government of Madras in the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for India whether Sir J. Bampfylde Fuller received as pension debitable to Indian revenues any sum in excess of £500 per annum; and whether any pension received by him above that amount is paid from the Indian Civil Service Pension Fund out of moneys furnished by the subscriptions of members. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.)The whole of Sir J. Bampfylde Fuller's pension is debitable to Indian revenues. A portion of it was provided by the contributions which he paid while in the service, but it would not be possible without an elaborate actuarial calculation to ascertain the amount of this portion.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a speech made by the Rev. Dr. McKeon, ex-moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, at a meeting of that body held on the 7th June, when, dealing with the attitude of the Southern Catholics towards Presbyterians, he stated that, with one or two exceptions, ministers in the South were unanimous in speaking highly of the tolerance and goodwill shown to them by those who differed from them in faith; that the disturbance which had occurred in Athenry and the surrounding district was all in connection with the agitation against the grazing system; that, in dealing with the landlords, the people made no distinction of creed, and instanced a case where a Catholic landlord had to go on a public platform and was compelled to give up a farm; and whether in view of the attempts made in some quarters to represent the majority of the Irish people as bigoted and intolerant towards their Protestant countrymen, he will state if Dr. McKeon's views were in agreement with the official information available on this matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a speech of the Rev. Dr. McKeon, ex-moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, at a meeting of that body held in Belfast on 7th June, in which he stated that in Central Ireland from 1,000 to 1,500 acres of land were in such bad condition during wet weather that a cow could not walk on them, and that he thought it a strange thing that a Government which was ready to invest money in Ireland would not invest it in draining the land; and whether, in view of the fact that Dr. McKeon voiced in this matter the practically unanimous opinion of Irishmen of all creeds and sections, the Government will consider the advisability of dealing with this question without delay.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a statement made by the Rev. Dr. McKeon, ex-moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, at a meeting of that body held on 7th June, in which he stated that the grazing system was doing more injury, not only to the Presbyterian Church but to the whole Irish people, than any other condition of things that he had seen, and that what the Presbyterians had to do was to keep the manhood of the country in Ireland; and whether, in view of the unanimity of all sections of Irishmen in favour of the abolition of the grazing system, the Government will use its influence towards that end. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) My attention has been called to the Rev. Dr. McKeon's speech. I am glad to hear of his testimony to the spirit of toleration which prevails in the South of Ireland. As regards the question of arterial drainage I would refer to my Answer to the hon. Member for North Kilkenny on 12th instant.† The question is a large one, and it will be necessary to consider the recent Report of the Arterial Drainage Commission in all its bearings before undertaking legislation in the matter. As regards the grazing system, I would remind the hon. Member that the question forms part of the problem at present under the consideration of the Royal Commission on Congestion in Ireland. I have already indicated that it is the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill to amend the existing laws, after they have had the advantage of studying the Report of that Commission.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the circumstances

† See (4) Debates, clxxiv., 1417–20

under which the appointment of Thomas Johnston, permit clerk, was recently made by the Works Committee of the Belfast Corporation; whether a young man named M'Ardle had been appointed to the position by the superintendent, and his appointment was cancelled because of his being a Catholic; whether he is aware that a member of the Works Committee stated at a meeting of the corporation that he had been canvassed to vote against any Papist getting the position; and whether the Local Government Board propose to interfere in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Local Government Board have no information on this subject beyond that derived from newspaper reports. The appointment in question is not subject to the control of the Board.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners having removed Mr. Michael Kirnan to Lettergonnell, Ballinamuck, from the position of a trustee of the bogs on the Maconchy estate, have taken no steps to appoint a successor who would represent the interests of the tenants on that end of the property; and will he direct that this omission be rectified by the appointment of Mr. Francis Farrell, of Aghadewry, Ballinamuck. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have received no application that the present number of trustees should be increased, but they are prepared to consider any representations which may be made to them in the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any inspection of the O'Grady estate at Cam, Edgeworthstown, has yet taken place; whether he is aware that, in consequence of turbary disputes and the high price paid for the land, the tenants are now anxious for an inspection of the whole property; and will he, in the interests of the taxpayers, direct that such inspection will take place with a view to preventing a possible loss in the future on this transaction. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) No proceedings for the sale of this estate have been instituted before the Estates Commissioners, and therefore no occasion for making an inspection has arisen.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if they have considered the application of Mr. Daniel Hegarty, Morley's Bridge, county Kerry, as an evicted tenant; and what they propose to do in connection therewith. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have considered Mr. Hegarty's application, and have decided that it is not practicable to reinstate him in his former holding, which is being sold to his nephew, the present tenant. The Commissioners have placed Mr. Hegarty's name on the list of persons suitable to receive allotments of land.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether a proportion of the loss to the Exchequer on the flotation of Irish Land Stock is chargeable against ratepayers of Cork city and other Irish cities; and, if so, what is the amount chargeable to each. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Answer is in the negative. The Land Purchase Acts do not apply to Cork and other municipal boroughs.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from a Mrs. Anne Connaty, sister of Thomas M'Kiernan, who died in America in 1892, and who was evicted from his farm about the year 1885 on the Newburgh estate, near Ballyhaise, county Cavan; and will this evicted tenant's case have attention. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners cannot trace the receipt of the application referred to.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Wicklow County Council have submitted to the Board of Agriculture in Ireland several samples of seeds sold to farmers in Wicklow; whether, when tested by the Department of Agriculture, the samples were found to be of slow or defective germinating power, and in some cases the seeds were proved to contain impurities; and whether he will advise the Board of Agriculture in Ireland to take steps, by legislation, if necessary, to put a stop to the sale of farm seeds of bad quality. (Answered by Mr. T. W. Russell) No samples of seeds have been sent to the Department's seed-testing station by the Wicklow County Council. Twenty-nine samples have, however, been received this season direct from farmers in that county, and the instructor in agriculture for the district, acting under the directions of the Department, has submitted eighteen samples. The samples received from farmers have all been tested, and the results forwarded to the senders. Those submitted by the agricultural instructor have not yet been tested. Of the farmers' samples a large number, while of fair average purity, are distinctly defective in germinating quality. The Department will consider whether steps could be taken by legislation to guard against the sale in Ireland of farm seeds of bad quality.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether H.M.S. "Brilliant" is to return home, and what ship replaces her.

The "Brilliant" has been in commission only a little over a year, and so the question of her relief does not arise.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Board of Admiralty have decided to reverse the decision previously arrived at that no naval manœuvres shall be held this year.

I have nothing to add to the previous Answers of my right hon. friend the Secretary to the Admiralty on the same subject, on 13th and 30th May. †

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if, owing to the currents in the new Dover Harbour, it has been found impossible to moor the men-of-war there by the bow and stern as proposed, and that new moorings are to be laid to enable them to swing; and whether, in consequence, the harbour, which was constructed to shelter the Channel Fleet, will not now be able to contain more than half that Fleet at a time.

The Answer to both Questions is in the negative. The moorings at Dover are being re-arranged to meet the increased length of vessels built since the original scheme was settled.

When the moorings have been re-arranged will there be sufficient moorings for the Channel Fleet?

asked for notice of the Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if destroyers and torpedo boats frequently roll up to 15 degrees when at anchor in the new Dover harbour; and, if so, whether any extensions or alterations are proposed to make it a more secure anchorage for those vessels.

The harbour works at Dover are not yet completed, and

† See (4) Debates, clxxiv., 575 clxxiv., 61.

when they are the anchorage will be secure.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether any delay has occurred in currying out the arrangement described in Paragraph 22 of the instructions as to uniform, enclosed in the Admiralty Circular Letter, No. 23, of the 1st February, 1907, with reference to the free issue of hat ribbons to men joining a new ship; and, if so, what is the cause of this delay.

I am informed that no complaint has been received at the Admiralty of any delay having occurred. If the hon. and gallant Member will give me particulars of any case in which he knows of such delay, I will have immediate inquiry made.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Home Fleet is officially regarded as a reserve fleet or as a fleet ready for immediate action.

I beg also to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty how many battleships and cruisers in the Home Fleet are fully manned; and if these ships are granted the full allowance of ammunition for gun practice.

In the Home Fleet six first-class battleships, six armoured cruisers, five other cruisers, forty-eight destroyers, and four first-class torpedo boats, new type, are fully manned and ready for immediate service. The remainder of the Home Fleet can be, and has been, made ready for service within a few hours, except the special-service vessels shown at Page 270 of the Navy List. The Answer to the last part of the Question of the hon. Member for Brigg is in the affirmative.

May I ask whether the "Dreadnought" is one of the battleships alluded to?

Yes, Sir.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether these six battleships have a portion of their complement made up of untrained boys?

Is it not the fact that one-fifth of the complements of these ships is made up of boys who are sent on board for training purposes?

I must have notice of that Question; but I am informed that they are ready for immediate action.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the tenants on the Government property on Salisbury Plain will be allowed to deduct from their rents the additional amount of rates which, under the recent notice, they are called upon to pay.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to give a decision on this matter; I hope to be able to do so very shortly.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the statement made by Mr. Moor, Premier of Natal, to the effect that the promise of the Imperial Government had been obtained that Natal should always possess a portion of the regular South African garrison; whether such a promise was given; and, if so, whether any stipulation was made that the full cost of the Imperial troops stationed in Natal should be borne by the revenues of the Colony in the same way, and to the same extent, that the cost of troops stationed in India is borne by the revenues of India.

I have seen the Press telegram to which the hon. Member refers. It is, however, plainly an inaccurate report of Mr. Moor's speech. It is obvious that the considerations which determine the size and distribution of the South African garrison would not permit of a pledge of this kind being given. The troops are stationed where they are required to give effect to a general scheme of defence, and the Government must keep its hands free to move them to meet emergencies or changes in the strategical situation. While this remains so, the case of India affords no parallel for demanding that Natal shall bear the whole cost of the troops stationed within its borders. I therefore told Mr. Moor that while there was no intention at this moment of moving the Imperial troops from Natal the War Office would give no pledge that the troops should remain there.

asked whether the Colony of Natal undertook to pay any portion of the cost.

I do not think it would be expedient to enter into a bargain with the Colony of Natal to tie troops to a particular spot.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to his Answer of the 19th December, 1906, he is yet in a position to state what stops have been taken to alleviate the alleged grievances of the assistant surveyors of the civil staff for engineer services.

I am not yet in a position to announce a decision on this subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can now give detailed information as to the intentions of the Government respecting the amalgamation or disbandment of certain Irish Militia battalions of Infantry, the future of their men and officers, the disposal of Irish Militia battalions of Artillery, the status of the North of Ireland and South of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry and the payment of the men and officers; and whether county associations are to be formed in Ireland as is proposed for England and Scotland; and, if so, can he outline their functions.

The Irish Militia and Yeomanry will come under Part III. of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Bill; the officers will pass into the reserve of officers while the men will form part of the special reserve. County associations will not, for the present, be formed in Ireland. With regard to the detailed information asked for by the hon. and gallant Member regarding the future military organisation in Ireland, it is not practicable to deal with it adequately within the limits of an Answer to a Question.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give any details as to the Irish battalions to be done away with and those to be retained? Is he aware that Commanding Officers of Militia battalions in Ireland at present find it exceedingly difficult to recruit young subalterns owing to the uncertainty of the future of the force?

said an opportunity would probably occur that evening to give the House the information.

Where are the South of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry? As a Southern man I never saw any.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the fact that the chairman, in charging the grand jury at Surrey Quarter Sessions, referred to no fewer than five charges of burglary committed by soldiers with the object of getting discharged from the Army, and said that it showed a serious state of things which ought to be ended; whether he has any explanation to offer of this incident; what means, if any, does he propose to take for the abolition of the state of things which produced it; and whether he can explain the contrast between the descriptions of the advantages of a soldier's career set forth in recruiting advertisements with the desire to be discharged from the Army under any circumstances, however ignominious.

It is not understood on what grounds the chairman mentioned based his assertion that these soldiers committed burglary with a view to being discharged, for, in pleading guilty to the charge, they made no remarks whatever as to their object in committing the offence. Although the utmost care is taken to prevent men of bad character enlisting, and personal references or written characters are required from all applicants, still the military authorities are, like ordinary employers of labour, liable to be misled by false information. Men of bad character when they find discipline irksome do sometimes commit themselves with a view to discharge. The recruiting advertisements are in no way misleading and fairly represent the advantages of the service to well-conducted men.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how he proposes to provide squadron leaders for the fourteen Yeomanry squadrons forming the divisional cavalry of the Regular Army.

The whole question of the provision of officers on mobilisation, including the Question put to me, is now being considered by a Committee, and I hope before very long to be in a position to make a statement.

When is the right hon. Gentleman likely to be in a position to make a statement?

The questions before the Committee are of enormous detail, and it would be unwise to attempt to make a premature statement.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can give an approximate figure of the amount borne annually on Army Estimates attributable to the necessity for garrisoning and defending naval arsenals, bases, and coaling stations, at home and abroad, or for other naval purposes.

The information required will be contained in a Return moved for by my hon. friend the Member for King's Lynn, which is in course of preparation.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes, under the Territorial Army scheme, to increase the establishment of Yeomanry regiments by twenty, or by what number of men, with corresponding officers, to provide the divisional cavalry of the Regular Army.

It is proposed to obtain the divisional cavalry for the Regular Army by inviting Imperial Yeomanry regiments to provide troops for service in the special contingent. These would be additional to the peace establishment, but would be affiliated to the Yeomanry regiment furnishing them.

Where will you got the officers for this divisional cavalry?

Officers will be invited to go into the Reserve for the purpose.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if it has been decided to drop the portion of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Bill referring to the Militia; and if, seeing that the Yeomanry is also to be left as at present, he will consider the advisability of abandoning the Bill altogether, and proceed, without further waste of time, to the formation of divisions and brigades in the Volunteer Force, under commanders who, in London as in the provinces, will lead them on mobilisation, in accordance with the recommendations of the Duke of Norfolk's Commission of some years back.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of discharging inefficient lieut.-colonels and appointing regular officers in their stead?

The hon. and gallant Member can hardly regard this as a serious Question. If he does he cannot have paid attention to the words of the Leader of the Opposition at the close of the debate on Monday last, and to my reply.†

† See (4) Debates, clxxv., 1176–80.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, is there anything in the published statement that the Militia portion of the scheme is to be withdrawn?

I have not seen the published statement, but if it purports to be what the hon. and gallant Gentleman says, there is not a word of truth in it.

:I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what is the total number of Imperial troops which have been brought to the Rand district of the Transvaal in connection with the recent strike of white miners; how long it is proposed to keep the troops there; and upon whom the expense of their removal and maintenance there will fall.

Troops to the number of 1,400 in all have been sent to the Rand district. I have no knowledge as to the length of time it will be necessary to keep them there. A claim for the extra cost, if any, involved in their despatch from their stations will be made upon the Colonial Government.

asked whether the troops were sent at the request of the Executive Government or at the behest of Lord Selborne, acting merely as an Imperial officer.

They were sent, under the control of the general officer, at the request of the Colonial Government.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of debiting the cost of these troops, not to the Colonial Government, but to the Rand Chamber of Mines?

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain what he means by extra cost? Does he mean extra cost over and above keeping them in this country, or extra cost over and above keeping them in Pretoria?

No. The troops are there, and they cost a certain amount there; and if they are called upon to discharge civilian duties in aid of the civilian power that is a matter for the civilian authorities.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of recent events, he will consider the advisability of stationing a British infantry regiment in the West Indies.

I am not aware of any recent events that would justify the re-transfer of a British infantry regiment to the West Indies.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the complaint from the West India Committee of the neglect from which they are suffering?

The whole matter was considered before any decision was come to.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War when he will announce his decision as to quartering two cavalry regiments in Scotland.

The allocation of cavalry to the Scottish command has not yet been decided. I cannot say when a decision is likely to be reached.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state the names of the Colonial stations upon which £10,000 is to be spent during 1907–8 for adapting the defences to modern requirements; what is the estimated outlay upon each of such stations; and what further expenditure will probably be required to complete the work. I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War what are the items composing the sum of £50,000 to be expended during the present financial year on adapting the defences of various home stations to modern requirements; and what are the particular stations involved.

It would not be expedient or in the interests of imperial defence to make public the information which the hon. Member requires.

asked if there was anything confidential in the amount of money spent, seeing that it was ascertainable from the Votes.

It is not a question of amount, but rather one of distribution and policy with regard to which the inexpediency comes in.

Are we not to be allowed to know the amount of money spent at Malta and Gibraltar?

I am rather surprised the noble Lord should press me after what I have said.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will circulate with the Votes his statement showing the number of Woolwich men discharged on reduction from 1st June, 1906, to 1st June, 1907, specifying how many men have been discharged after ten years' service and the number of years served by the remainder.

The reply is in the affirmative.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if the men with long service were skilled or unskilled?

Some were skilled and some not.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the white population of Natal at the time when British Indians were first introduced into that Colony; and what is now the white population of the Colony according to the latest information.

In 1860 when Indian immigration began the white population was 11,950. In 1905 it was 94,731.

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies, with respect to a statement recently made in public by the Prime Minister of Newfoundland to the effect that all his remarks at the Conference on the Newfoundland fishery question were in support of a resolution concurred in by his colleagues the Colonial Prime Ministers before it was brought forward, whether he will state the terms of such resolution, and explain why it was not recorded in the minutes of the proceedings.

The resolution was not recorded in the published proceedings because it was agreed before the discussion opened that the Conference should sit in private. Subsequently, out of consideration to Sir R. Bond, it was agreed that his statement should be published, the rest of the proceedings remaining confidential.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any conclusion has yet been arrived at with regard to the establishment of a branch of the Royal Mint in South Africa.

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been directed to the derelict condition in which 250 Scottish artisans are placed who arrived at Portage La Prairie on 20th May, having signed an undertaking for construction work on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in Canada on the distinct and specific pledge that immediate employment would be provided on arrival at the railway camp; whether he proposes to make representations to the proper authorities to enforce fulfilment of this contract on the part of the railway company, and to take steps to prevent British workmen from being recruited under false pretences for labour in any part of the British Dominions; and whether he will consider the propriety of making representations to the Dominion Government to secure some compensation to these men either from the Government or the railway company.

I am informed that when the workmen in question arrived at Portage La Prairie the local contractor had no work ready for them at the moment. They immediately complained to the Canadian authorities, who communicated with the railway company, by whom instructions were telegraphed to the local contractor to supply the men with work even if they were not needed. The men were thereupon put to work at once. The men, I am informed, had been on arrival taken into the railway camps, provided with beds and given food. In the circumstances the Secretary of State sees no necessity for any action on the part of His Majesty's Government.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any instructions have been issued to the Governor of the Orange Free State relative to the nomination of the members of the Upper House under the new constitution, in view of the fact that this Chamber, being appointed for four years, should be representative of all shades of political opinion in the State.

In accordance with the precedent of the Transvaal, the Governor will be instructed to consult the Secretary of State before making any appointment, and the Secretary of State is confident that the Governor will exercise the greatest care in submitting his recommendations.

asked whether it was intended to appoint a Second Chamber of the same political complexion as the majority in the Lower House, or the reverse.

I can have no knowledge of what will be the political complexion of the Lower Chamber until after the election has taken place.

But when that is ascertained—

No, I think, following the precedent of the Transvaal, the nominations for the Second Chamber will be made public before the elections take place for the Lower House.

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any official information to the effect that General Botha has decided not to re-enact the Chinese Labour Ordinance; and, in the event of this being the case, could he state the date of expiration of the first contract and the number of Chinese to be repatriated on that date.

No, Sir, we have no information on these matters at present except the Press reports of General Botha's speech in the Transvaal Parliament.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any representations have reached the Colonial Office from various chambers of commerce in the Colonies and India as to the importance of preventing the reimposition of sugar bounties and the formation of cartels; and, if so, from what chambers of commerce.

Representations on the subject of the Sugar Convention have been received from the following chambers of commerce and similar bodies in the Colonies as well as one from the Legislatures of Barbados and St. Kitts: Agricultural and Commercial Society, Antigua; Westmoreland Sugar Planters' Association, Jamaica; North side Sugar Planters' Association, Jamaica; Montreal Board of Trade; British Guiana Planters' Association; Chamber of Commerce, Georgetown, British Guiana; Chamber of Commerce of the Orange River Colony; Chamber of Commerce, Pietermaritzburg; Chamber of Commerce, Singapore; Vancouver Board of Trade; British Guiana Board of Agriculture; Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce; Chamber of Commerce, Geelong, Victoria; Charters Towers Chamber of Commerce, Queens- land; Canadian Manufacturers' Association, Toronto; Chamber of Agriculture, Mauritius; Chamber of Commerce and Agricultural Society, Trinidad. As regards India I must refer the hon. Member to the India Office.

Have not all these localities a direct pecuniary interest in keeping up the price of sugar?

It is very likely.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the cash value to the Transvaal of the Imperial guarantee of the loan of £5,000,000; and how much does this represent per head of the Chinese coolies which are to be repatriated.

The saving to the Transvaal from the British guarantee which has been promised cannot be known until after the loan has been floated. When that event has taken place the hon. Member will be able himself to make the calculation which excites his curiosity or any other calculation of an equally serious and useful character.

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies if he has any information whether the Committee appointed by the Transvaal Government to inquire into the question of the supply of labour for the mines has made its Report.

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the interest displayed in the full Report of the proceedings of the recent Colonial Conference, and especially of that part of the proceedings that related to preferential trade, he will try to secure the consent of all persons concerned to the publication of a verbatim report of the discussion upon preferential trade that took place in the Conference of 1902.

I have to refer the hon. Member to Cd. 1723, from which it appears that some of the Prime Ministers present at the 1902 Conference, when consulted on the subject in 1903, stated that they adhered to the decision unanimously carried at the Conference, that the discussion should not be published, but the Secretary of State will now consult those Prime Ministers who then objected as to whether they are now prepared to reconsider the matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the fact that a number of British West Indians have been held in a state of slavery on the Galapagos Islands; and whether any steps have been taken to procure their liberation.

Rumours having reached His Majesty's Government that a certain number of British subjects were detained at Chatham Island in the Galapagos. Group, His Majesty's Ship "Shearwater" was at once sent to inquire into the matter. Her commander has now reported that there are eleven West Indian negroes, British subjects, in the employment of a Colombian company in the island, which trades under the name of F. E. Ortiz & Company, the principal industry of which is a sugar plantation. These negroes are stated to have signed contracts with the company to work for one year and, should they at the end of that period owe money to the company, to continue working till their debt be paid. The men owe the company some $2,300 between them. This money has been borrowed from the company and is believed to have been lost in gambling. There is little, if any, prospect of the men being able to repay it, and they are therefore not in a position to leave the island. They have not been actually subjected to ill-treatment of a serious nature, and the commander of the British ship impressed upon the Governor his responsibility in the matter, and for their good treatment in future. His Majesty's Government will at once make representations to the Ecuadorian Government on the subject, and will communicate with the Governor of the West Indian Islands concerned. But as the report was only received this morning there has not yet been time to consider it fully.

Have no steps been taken to repatriate these men?

We only received the report this morning, and could not possibly make any announcement this afternoon.

Are we to understand that these men may be kept on the island an indefinite time?

I did not say anything of the kind.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the sum given to the landed interests of this country under the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, and which will not, under present, arrangements, expire until 1910, will by that period have amounted to £21,000,000 sterling; whether he can give an assurance that the Government will, at the earliest possible moment, take steps to discontinue this contribution to the landowners at the expense of the community; can he say whether the sum so saved will amount to £1,500,000 a year; and, if so, whether he will undertake to devote that amount to the nucleus of the old age-pension scheme.

My hon. friend appears to have taken, for the purposes of his calculation, the amounts assignable out of the estate duty local taxation revenue to the relief of agricultural rates in Great Britain. Upon this basis his figures are approximately correct. The whole question of the relation between the Exchequer and local taxation is engaging the attention of the Government, and I am not prepared to give any pledge to deal with these particular grants independently of a more comprehensive scheme of readjustment.

In view of the number of pamphlets issued by the Liberal Publication Department during the last few years on behalf of the Party, complaining of these doles to owners of agricultural land, cannot the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance to the House that he will put an end to them as soon as possible?

I beg to ask the Prime Minister if he is aware that, in the case of the death duties, agricultural land is not taxed according to its value in the market at the time of death, but taxed on a special scale which consists in taking it at not more than twenty-five times the net rental and calling that the value; what the estimated loss to the national Exchequer in each year respectively since the Finance Act, 1894, has boon through this exceptional treatment of the landowners of this country; and can he hold out any hope that before this Government vacates office it will bring in a Bill to reform this method of assessment and arrange that agricultural land shall be assessed to the death duties at its full market value, as is done in the case of any other form of property.

By a proviso to Sub-section (5) of Section 7 of the Finance Act, 1694, a maximum is fixed, with reference to the value as assessed under Schedule A, beyond which the principal value of agricultural property cannot be assessed for purposes of estate duty. I have no data on which to base an estimate of the loss to the Exchequer which has resulted from this proviso, nor, so far as I am able to judge, has it been established that the selling value of such property exceeds the maximum fixed by the sub-section in a sufficient number of cases to cause loss of revenue to an appreciable amount.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Lord Chamberlain has yet taken any steps to withdraw his prohibition of the production of The Mikado.

At the same time may I ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the decision of the Lord Chamberlain in regard to The Mikado music.

The Lord Chamberlain informs me that, having taken the matter into his careful consideration, he has felt justified in deciding, in the circumstances now obtaining, to withdraw the prohibition.

May I ask whether the prohibition is unconditionally withdrawn?

Yes, Sir.

May I ask whether the slowness of the operation of the Lord Chamberlain's mind does not seem to traverse the statement he once made in this House that he was not an agricultural labourer?

inquired whether any compensation had been paid to any persons or companies for the loss incurred by them.

No, Sir.

Is it not a fact that The Mikado music has been played regularly by Japanese bands lately on warships?

Is it contemplated to pay any compensation to those persons and companies who have undoubtedly lost money owing to the prohibition of this play?

I have already answered in the negative.

It is very wrong.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will grant a Return for England and Wales of the civil parishes in rural districts and of the wards in urban districts and boroughs where there are no premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquors by retail, showing also the population of each such parish or ward, and their total number and population.

To obtain the information asked for would involve considerable time and trouble, and I doubt whether the value of it, at all events as regards the wards of urban districts and boroughs, would be at all commensurate. If, however, my hon. friend wishes, I will endeavour to obtain the information as regards rural parishes.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that a shareholder in a brewery company over which he has no control is precluded by law from sitting as a justice at licensing sessions, the Government will, in its new Licensing Bill, include a provision applying this disqualification to the proprietors of beverages and other supplies to licensed premises.

Though I have every sympathy with the desire that the proceedings of licensing benches should be free from any suspicion of personal interest, I cannot see my way at present to promise the legislation which my hon. friend suggests.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will propose legislation this session with a view to do away with the privileged cab system at railway stations; and, if so, whether he can state on what day he intends to bring in a Bill for the purpose.

Yes, Sir. I have in course of preparation a Bill to amend the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act, and I propose to insert in it a clause for this purpose. I cannot yet say how soon the Bill will be ready for introduction.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the case of two stowaways, Henrick Garbe and Henrick Virmer, who were shipped at Antwerp on the Red Star Liner "Zealand," taken to New York, and, not being allowed by the authorities to land there, were brought back and put on shore at Dover, where they were sentenced to three weeks hard labour; and whether in view of his power under the Aliens Act, he will have them deported to Antwerp.

The first part of this Question states the facts of the case correctly: but I have no such power under the Aliens Act as is suggested in the last part. My power of making an Expulsion Order in such a case depends upon the issue by the convicting Court of a certificate recommending expulsion. No such certificate was given in this case.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause a Return to be printed containing all the anonymous letters received by the police in connection with the outrages attributed to Edalji, with the incidents connected therewith and the dates of receipt.

At the same time may I ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether all the information and documents which were before the Edalji Committee will be made available to Members of the House before the Home Office Vote is taken. May I also ask the Secretary of State for the Homo Department whether he will order the fullest available newspaper report of the Edalji case to be printed as a Parliamentary Paper, together with any other report in the possession of the Home Office, in order that such reports be in the hands of Members before the discussion on the Home Office Vote.

I do not propose to lay on the Table any further Papers connected with this case.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that Edalji, who was the victim of an unsatisfactory conviction and has lost all his professional prospects in consequence, is at present unable to procure employment, and is dependent upon his family and friends; and whether the Government will order a public inquiry directed to the specific issue whether or not he was the author of the anonymous letters.

My right hon. friend has asked me to answer this Question. Every point in this case, including the question of the authorship of the letters, has been very fully considered, and the Government are not prepared to take any further steps in the matter.

Will the Government do nothing to relieve Edalji of the suspicion of being the author of those letters.?

I am afraid I can add nothing to my Answer.