I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will second the efforts the Bengal Government is making to assist the indigo industry in India by supplying to the Navy cloth dyed by natural indigo in the place of cloth dyed by products described as indigo dye, which in many cases have neither natural or, indeed, synthetic indigo in their composition.

The cloth and serge supplied to the Navy are at present required to be dyed with natural vat indigo, and nothing further could therefore be done in the direction suggested by the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in filling lower positions in the Royal dockyards, such as chargemen, recorders, measurers, &c., selections are made from candidates who have qualified for higher positions; and, if not, on what grounds may candidates who have qualified for higher positions be rejected in favour of those who have not passed any qualifying examination.

The selection is carried out in strict accordance with Article 402 of the Home Dockyard Regulations and Article 117 of the Expense Accounts Instructions. These Articles are too long to read, but I am sending a copy to my hon. friend.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state if it is a fact that in awarding marks to candidates for positions of draughtsmen, inspectors, &c, in His Majesty's dockyards as many as 20 per cent. of the full number obtainable at the competitive examinations may be bestowed on favoured candidates by official recommendation; and if, in the interest of efficiency and justice, their Lordships will consider whether it would be best that such recommended marks should be abolished or at least reduced to a much lower maximum percentage of the number of marks obtainable by competition.

I presume my hon. friend refers to the marks allotted under Article 389 to denote the personal qualifications of the candidates for supervising and controlling those employed under them. The system was only recently revised, and no reason is now seen for making any alteration.

On behalf of the hon. Member for the Blackpool division of Lancashire, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is proposed that all vessels in the Navy shall be furnished with refrigerating machinery for their magazines; and, if not, what classes of ships will have such machinery placed on board.

It is proposed, as soon as possible, to fit all vessels other than torpedo craft with magazine cooling apparatus, with the exception of the special service vessels.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House any idea of the amount that will be required for this service during the current year?

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty the date H.M.S. "Triumph" parted from the Channel Fleet; whether she has landed all her ammunition; and what is the anticipated interval she is expected to be absent from the date of parting.

The "Triumph" left the Channel Fleet for her usual refit on the 3rd June, and will be completed on the 20th July. Her ammunition has all been landed.

Is this one of the extensive refits provided for in the Memorandum of the Admiralty of October, 1906, which provided that vessels of the Channel Fleet requiring refitting should be temporarily replaced by vessels from the Home Fleet?

I should like to refresh my memory as to that.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what has been the total increase or de crease in the aggregate personnel of the British and German Navies, including Reserves, as provided for in the Navy Estimates, 1907–8, over the numbers provided in 1004–5.

The not decrease in the aggregate personnel of the British Navy, including Reserves, is 3,000. The net increase in the active service numbers in the German Navy in the same period is 8,747. The numbers of the Reserves are not stated.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what are the aggregate forces disposed of by the British and German Navies, respectively, as provided for in the Estimates of 1907–8,reckoning permanent force and Reserves together; and whether he can state how many boys are included.

Numbers voted:—British Navy (active service and Reserves), 187,697; Gorman Navy (active service only, Reserves not published), 46,936, Boys included:—British, 4,905; German, 1,500.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can state the animal consumption of shells for the guns of the Navy by target-firing, gun-practice; what is the annual wastage by deterioration; and what number of shells for each kind of gun is in stock at the present time.

The approximate annual expenditure of shells for all practices is 47,000. This includes all guns from three-pounders upwards, but does not include 375,000 practice projectiles. The wastage from deterioration is practically nil In regard to the last part of the Question, it is not customary to give details of our reserves of war material.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his Department got any valuation made before purchase of the fifty-two acres bought at Kilcreggan, Dumbartonshire, from the Duke of Argyll; if so, by whom; what was the valuation put on the land; and did it justify the purchase at 241 years purchase.

A valuation was made of the land in question by the War Department consulting land agent, and by a private firm. It is not usual or desirable to disclose these valuations, but they were considered to justify the price agreed to.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the hardship caused to the wives of men belonging to those Militia battalions chosen for experimental long training; and whether separation allowances or any other grant will be made to assist them.

No representations of the nature referred to have reached me, and the case is not, in my opinion, one in which separation allowances or other grants of the kind would be appropriate.

Is it not a fact that the long training which has been undergone by some of the Militia battalions as an experiment has caused considerable hardships amongst the wives and families of the men? Cannot something be done to make their lot a little easier?

I believe not. The men who took the six months training were mostly young men, and had not been led into the meshes of matrimony.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, despite the recent issue by the War Office of a memorandum to music hall managers warning them against permitting at their halls any performances calculated to bring His Majesty's uniform into contempt, performances are still taking place at certain halls exceedingly offensive to His Majesty's Army; and whether he proposes to take any, and, if any, what, action in the matter.

The memorandum referred to was one issued by the Home Office to the police authorities at the instance of this Department. I am not aware that any performances such as are alluded to are taking place.

I do not wish to give an advertisement by mentioning any name, but there is such a performance. Will the right hon. Gentleman let me tell him privately?

Tell us what hall you have been visiting.

More mischief would be done by taking proceedings than good gained.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the case of Richard Page, late of the 43rd Oxfordshire Light Infantry, who alleges that he is still suffering from the effects of disease contracted in South Africa, which prevents him, though he is not in receipt of a pension, from earning his living.

No application for a pension can be traced as having been received from this man; but if the noble Lord will furnish Page's address, together with any evidence that may be forthcoming to show that his present disability was caused by his service in South Africa, the case shall be inquired into.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether any restriction is placed on native soldiers desirous of acquiring land in the new canal colonies, while clerks of the civil department have no such difficulty; and whether, as this is likely to have a bad effect on recruiting and the espirit decorps of the men, will he take steps to remove such disabilities.

I am not aware that native soldiers are at a disadvantage in obtaining grants of land in the canal colonies. In each colony a considerable area has been set aside for military colonists, the distribution being left to the military authorities. Reward grants to civil employees are subject to a similar restriction of area, and it is by no means the case that clerks in the civil departments obtain grants without difficulty.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to receive the Report of the Committee appointed by the Transvaal Government to inquire into the whole question of the supply of labour for the mines; and will the Report when received be laid upon the Table of the House.

I cannot at present say.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is yet in a position to report as to the constitution of the nominated town board for Port of Spain and the length of time for which such board has been created.

Under the Port of Spain Town Board Ordinance, 1907, the town board will consist of eleven commissioners, to be nominated by the Governor, who shall be householders within the town or the waterworks districts. By "householder" is meant any male person of full age who pays rates or taxes in respect of property within the above area or who occupies a house within that area at a rental of not less than £20 a year. The Governor may appoint one of the members of the board as chief commissioner, and has selected Mr. Adam Smith, the secretary of the chamber of commerce, for the appointment. The ordinance does not expressly limit the length of time for which the board is to last, owing, it is understood, to the difficulties which might arise on the expiration of a fixed term. On this point I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my Answer of the 23rd of April. †

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is yet in a position to state the result of the investigation as to the riot that recently took place on the Perseverance estate, Couva, Trinidad, which resulted in the murder of a senior overseer named William McKenzie.

No answer has yet been received to the despatch addressed to the officer administering the government of Trinidad on this subject.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the seven natives, lately sentenced to death in Natal for the murder of Mr. Veal during the recent rebellion, have been executed; if not, has any date been fixed for the execution or can he hold out any hope that the clemency of the Governor may yet be exercised.

The officer ad ministering the government of Natal has not yet informed the Secretary of State what decision has been come to in the matter. I may add that owing to Sir H. McCallum's departure the case was left to be dealt with by Mr. Beaumont, who is now administering the government, and whose substantive appointment is that of a Judge of the Supreme Court.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, before the pledge was given to guarantee the Transvaal loan of £5,000,000, the Prime Minister of Cape Colony and the Prime Minister of Natal were consulted.

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official informa-

†See (4) Debates, clxxii., 1562

The Answer to the first Question is in the affirmative, but the fire was directed not against Englishmen but against Persian Party opponents, who had taken refuge in the Consulate. The Persian Government have expressed profound regret, and sent very strong orders to the Governor to punish the guilty persons and prevent a repetition of the outrage. The British Indian detachment at Kermanshah consists of one duffadar and seven sowars. No further steps appear necessary at present to secure the safety of British subjects.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he had any official information that Salar-ed-Dauleh, the brother of the Shah, had taken refuge at the British Embassy at Kermanshah, claiming asylum for himself and family; and, if so, what course the Government proposed to take in the matter.

I have not got any information that the Prince has taken refuge at Kermanshah. If the hon. Gentleman will put a Question on the Paper, I will make inquiry.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that what purports to be a verbatim report of the despatch of His Majesty's Government to the Brussels Convention has been published in the Journal des Fabricants de Sucre of 12th June, he will now lay upon the Table the authenticated text of the English version of that despatch.

Yes, sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the sum of £15,000 paid by the Government for the ransom of Mr. Abbott has yet been paid by the Turkish Government; and, if not, when does he expect it will be paid.

The sum has not yet been paid by the Ottoman Government, but His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople will not lose sight of the matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the attitude taken up by the Government on the subject of commerce destruction; and whether our representatives at The Hague Conference are prepared to advocate the immunity of private property at sea.

I cannot make any statement upon this subject. It will, no doubt, be discussed at The Hague Conference, and it would not be desirable to anticipate that discussion by declaration, on behalf of individual governments.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether our representatives at the Conference had any liberty of action or judgment with regard to this important question.

I cannot, before the Conference is concluded, state what are the instructions given to the British representatives, and it would be very inconvenient, while the discussions are proceeding at the Conference, that there should be parallel discussions in the parliaments of the different countries represented.

asked whether, in the event of any conclusion being come to on this matter, the Government would afford the House an opportunity of considering it before it was finally adopted.

I cannot make any promise with regard to decisions come to at The Hague Conference. The questions are not far enough advanced for me to say whether they can be brought before the House of Commons before they are finally adopted or not.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the application for a grant of public money made last March to the Treasury by the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation, he will advise the distribution by that corporation of the funds remaining in their hands to the surviving widows and other beneficiaries for whom the moneys were subscribed, and to whom they properly belong.

It is not within my province to offer advice to the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation as to the exercise of their statutory duties. The functions of the Treasury are limited by the Act, 3 Edw. VII., Cap. 20, to prescribing the form and providing for the audit of the accounts of the corporation.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government has yet come to a decision as to whether the pensions of retired naval, military, police, and civil servants, as also other retirement allowances, are to be treated, in calculation for the new income-tax, as income earned during their years of service.

The question is receiving careful consideration, and I shall be prepared to make a further statement upon it when the clause embodying the definition of "earned income" comes under discussion in Committee.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will limit the amount of annual income to £2,000, or other figure, from which insurance premiums up to one-sixth are allowed to be deducted before paying income-tax; and if he will bring this into the Finance Bill of this session.

The concession is one of long standing, and I do not see my way to proposing any modification of it in the Finance Bill now before Parliament.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the rules of the Factory Act have recently been applied to the case of florists in London; if so, whether the result will be to enforce the employment of foreign men instead of English women; and whether he is aware that the restrictions imposed by the Factory Act make it extremely difficult for florists to carry on their trade, owing to the perishable nature of flowers and the fact that they are required at very short notice, the demand also being uncertain in time, character, and quantity.

The hon. Member has no doubt in mind the recent case of Hoare v. Green in the High Court, which decided that the making of wreaths, crosses, bouquets, and the like was the making of an article, or adapting for sale of an article within the meaning of the Factory Act, and that where the substantial purpose for which any premises are used is the, exercise of manual labour in the making of such articles the provisions of the Act apply. Representations have been made to me in the sense suggested in the Question as to the effect of the decision, and the matter is now under consideration.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the chairman of Kynoch, Limited has threatened to close their works in Arklow, Ireland, if the Home Department refuse to yield to their demands; whether he is aware that the same chairman was shown, before the Select Committee on War Office Contracts in 1900, to have used the threat to close down the Irish works in a few days as a means of obtaining contracts for cordite; whether he is aware that Kynoch, Limited, gave up manufacturing cordite in Ireland about 1900 owing to the quantity of cordite rejected by the War Office inspectors, the chief inspector of explosives having reported that in a number of lots of cordite there was found foreign matter, such as stones and nails; and whether the Home Department have any record showing what became of this quan- tity of rejected cordite, and were they notified of its existence by the War Office.

The Answers to the first and second parts of the Question are in the affirmative. The Answer to the third is that rejections by the War Office inspectors of cordite manufactured in Ireland occurred in 1899 owing to the presence of foreign matter, and in 1902 owing to low heat test, and that after the rejections in the latter year the firm gave up manufacturing cordite in Ireland. As to the fourth, the rejections which occurred in 1899 owing to the presence of foreign matter were not notified to the Home Office until some time after their occurrence, and the Department have no record to show what became of the rejected cordite.

asked if in future the Department would take care that the War Office and Admiralty informed them of future rejections so as to prevent such explosives being sent out of the country.

replied in the affirmative.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the sentence of two months imprisonment passed on Herbert Blake at Clerkenwell on the 14th instant for stealing two loaves; and whether, in view of the prisoner's character and previous record, and the exceptional circumstances under which the theft was committed, he will consider the advisability of reducing the sentence.

May I also ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Herbert Blake, carman, Goodinge Road, Islington, who on the 13th instant was sentenced to two months imprisonment with hard labour, at Clerkenwell police court, by Mr. d'Eyn-court, for stealing two loaves of bread value 9½d.; and whether, taking into account the prisoner's previous good character, he can see his way clear to order his immediate release.

I have made careful inquiries into this case, and I find that it was inadequately reported in the newspapers. The theft was not a single one; the man, while employed in a position of trust and earning good wages, systematically robbed his employers. I regret that in view of all the facts I do not feel able to advise any reduction of the sentence.

Were any other charges brought against this man at that time?

The charge was one of systematically robbing his employer, which had been going on for three weeks or so.

Was not the man actually charged with stealing two loaves value 9??d., and was it not for that that the sentence was passed?

As I have said the case was imperfectly reported. The man was robbing his employer and putting the money into his own pocket.

Was he charged with systematically robbing his employer? Was it a general charge, or a specific charge of stealing two loaves?

I have told the hon. Member what was shown by the evidence and I see no reason to interfere. It was a specific charge, but the evidence showed that the robbery had been going on for seventeen days.

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken into consideration the remarks of the magistrate in giving his decision? Would they not practically mean, if acted upon, the repeal of the First Offender's Act?

I do not agree with my hon. friend.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if, out of the sum of £105,420 distributed amongst the Distress Committees in the United Kingdom, the Liverpool Distress Committee have received a grant of only £250; and if a Return will be furnished by the Local Government Board showing the grants made to the various Distress Committees, together with a statement of the facts in each case which led the Board to make the grants.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. In determining whether in any particular case a payment should be made out of the Grant, and, if so, to what amount, I took into account all the circumstances affecting it. I could not undertake to furnish a Return showing the facts in each instance which led to a payment being made.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider a grant of £250 very disproportionate for a population of 800,000?

The amount of money that was given in this case was ample for the piece of work proposed. Several of the schemes submitted were of a character for which I could make no grant of money either large or small.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the progressive decline in the consumption of coffee in this country is to some extent at least due to the practically unchecked use of chicory; whether he can see his way so to amend the law as to provide that, when the quantity of chicory in a mixture exceeds in quantity the coffee contained in such mixture, it shall be labelled chicory and coffee, the former word being printed in larger type, and, where coffee predominates, the word coffee being printed in larger type, or whether he will introduce legislation requiring the use of a label specifying the proportion of coffee and inferior substances contained in every admixture for sale.

My right hon. friend has asked me to reply to this Question. I am aware that allegations are made to the effect stated in the first part of the Question, but I am not able to state how far they are correct. I have received representations to show that the present state of things as regards the sale of mixtures of coffee and chicory is not satisfactory, and I have noted the matter for investigation. I may point out that it was to some extent considered by the Select Committee on Food Adulterations in 1896, who, however, did not see their way to make any special recommendation on the subject.

Is not this a matter of importance, not only to consumers of coffee, but also to British planters?

I agree with my hon. friend, and I should like to see some favourable opportunity of amending the Food and Drugs Act in this and many other particulars.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if there are any regulations or instructions issued that ships registered as British must land any stowaway they may have on board at the first British port they call at, regardless of their nationality or port of origin.

No regulations or instructions to the effect stated in the Question have been issued by the Board of Trade.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the recent case of two stowaways landed at Dover in which the manager of the steamship company said they were bound by the regulations to land them?

I should like notice of that Question.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has now received information as to the action taken by the Australian Customs authorities under the Customs Act in charging duty upon certain British manufactures, viz. blacking and boot polishes, upon an arbitrary valuation of their own instead of upon the invoiced prices; if this treatment was only applied to British goods; and if he is aware that the Australian Customs authorities have now, upon the strong complaint of the importers, reversed their decision and refunded the excess duty; and if he has obtained, or has taken measures to obtain, from the Australian Minister of Trades and Customs an assurance that such arbitrary treatment of British goods will not be repeated.

I have been in consultation in regard to this Question with my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, who has addressed a communication on the subject to the Commonwealth Government, but a reply has not yet been received.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General why he declines to act on the Treasury Minute, dated 7th February, 1896, in reference to telegraph and trunk telephone wires and parochial and municipal rates, which directs that, in cases where higher contributions would otherwise be payable, the contributions shall be increased accordingly; and whether he is aware that all telegraph and trunk telephone wires erected since 1868 escape entirely from the payment of municipal and parochial rates.

Telegraph and telephone wires have always been regarded as on a different footing from other Government property in respect of contributions in lieu of rates, and I understand the Treasury are not prepared to sanction any departure from that practice. As regards the second part of the Question, the facts are not quite as represented by the hon. Member, inasmuch as contributions in lieu of rates are paid on the trunk telephone wires acquired from the National Telephone Company in 1896.

asked whether it was not a fact that in many districts not a penny of rates or taxes was received in respect of telephone wires.

said that if they were trunk telephone wires contributions were paid in lieu of rates. If the hon. Member could give him particulars of any case in which that had not been carried out he would look into it.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he will grant to lodgers giving notice of their change of residence the same facilities for the delivery of their letters as is now granted to householders.

I beg leave to refer the hon. Member to the Answer on the subject of the re-direction of lodgers' letters which I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth on the 16th of April last, of which I am sending a copy. †

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General when the additions to the Bristol post office, promised in the last session, are to be begun.

I hope that it will be possible to begin the building operations within the next four or five months.

:I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education the average annual salary and emoluments of principal teachers and assistants in English (including Welsh) national schools for men and for women teachers respectively.

The average salaries of certificated teachers for the statistical year ending 31st July, 1906, were as follows:—

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if the Education (Local Authority Default) Act, 1904, is now being enforced in any county in Wales or Monmouthshire; and, if not, whether all the local education authorities concerned are now fulfilling the financial

†See (4) Debates, clxxii., 772

The Answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is in the negative. As to the second part of the Question, I have no reason to suppose that the authorities concerned are failing to fulfil the financial obligations imposed on them.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that on the 27th May, in the Borough of West Ham Custom House Boys' School, 113 children were present in a classroom recognised by the Board of Education as accommodating sixty; that on the same date in the Denmark Street Girls' School, ninety-one were present in a classroom accommodating sixty-three, and on the same date in the Drew Road Boys' School, ninety-nine were present in a class-room accommodating seventy; and that in the Water Lane Boys' School, a class of over 100 worked for a large part of each school day from 8th April to 10th May in a class-room accommodating sixty, the number on no occasion being less than ninety-five; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.

I am informed that there is considerable overcrowding in some of the class-rooms in the West Ham Schools during the summer months. The causes of this overcrowding are extremely complicated and are fully dealt with in an Answer which will be, circulated with the Votes to-night. I am asking the local education authority to consider the advisability of changing the date of the educational year and of adding a class-room to certain of the schools.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether, having regard to the probability that the Education (Administrative Provisions) Bill may not be reached in time to be passed into law this session, he can state; what steps he proposes to take to provide for the continued registration of teachers either in accordance with existing regulations, or with the terms of Clause 12 of, that Bill.

I do not agree with the hon. Member in his estimate of the probability of the Education (Administrative Provisions) Bill becoming law this session; but in any case steps will be taken to provide for the continuance of the Teachers' Registration Council, as at present constituted, for such further period as may be found necessary.

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works if he is aware that policemen doing park duty receive 35s. per week, and also the usual allowance of 2s. 10d. per week for rent and fuel, making in all 37s. 10d. per week, whereas the park-keepers in Kensington Gardens, Regent's, St. James's and Greenwich Parks only receive 26s. per week, although they have to perform the same duties as the police, and, if so, if he will favourably consider the claims of these men with a view to some increase in their pay, especially in view of the great saving effected in the past twenty years by the gradual transference of regular police work to the park-keepers.

No doubt the Metropolitan Police employed in the Royal Parks receive a higher rate of pay than the park-keepers; but I am not able to admit the comparison. The police are on service at an earlier period of life than the park-keepers, who enter on their duty not much before the time that the police take their discharge, and are retained to a much later age. They have also (in many cases) the prospect of promotion to a lodge.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he can suggest to the Comptroller of the Stationery Office the desirability of following the practice of the Congress of the United States of America and publishing official books in great request, such as the Imperial Conference proceedings, in handy octavo volumes instead of in the cumbrous quarto form, difficult of use in public meetings, and so heavy as quickly to burst the stitching. May I call attention to the unwieldy size of the Blue-book I have in my hand: it weighs 3lbs. 8ozs. and it is almost impossible to use it.

Yes, and if it were in octavo form it would be four times the thickness.

You could have it in several volumes.

The point raised by the hon. Member was dealt with in paragraphs 28–29 of the Report of the Select Committee on Official Publications of last session. The recommendation of the Committee is still under consideration; but I do not feel sure that the hon. Member's suggestion would meet with general approval.

How long is the matter likely to remain under consideration. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the American practice by which Blue-books are issued in handy form, each volume dealing in a specific branch?

Yes, that has been known to us since last session. The consideration must go on until a decision is arrived at. I cannot say when that will be.

I beg to ask MR. Attorney-General whether he is aware that the Secretary to the United Patriots National Benefit Society has been apprehended on a charge of fraudulently dealing with £5,484 of the funds of this society; and, if so, whether he will take steps to have the prosecution undertaken by the Public Prosecutor.

This matter should come before the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will take my instructions if he thinks necessary.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the last Report of His Majesty's consul in Chicago, to the large increase in the importation into this country from that city of butter, a great deal of which is process or renovated butter, which has been melted, the butter fat drawn off, the caseine thrown out, and the fat re-churned with milk; whether he is aware this butter has to bear the mark "renovated butter," a mark which is removed on its arrival in this country; and whether this renovated butter is sold as butter in this country; and, if so, whether the Butter and Margarine Bill now before the House will prevent its importation; and, if not, under what name will it be sold, whether margarine or some other name approved by the Board of Agriculture.

Our attention has been called to the Report to which my hon. friend refers. I understand that it is the case that renovated butter is required by United States law to be marked as such, but no case has been brought to our notice in which the mark has been removed in this country, or in which renovated butter has been sold as butter. The Butter and Margarine Bill will not prevent the importation of this article, but it will have to be sold under a special name, and with a description of its character to be approved by the Board.

:I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland the average annual salary and emoluments of principal teachers and assistants in Scottish national schools, for men and for women teachers respectively.

For 1905–6, the average salaries of Scottish Certificated teachers were:—principal men teachers,, £180 3s. 6d.; principal women teachers. £91 15s. 10; assistant men teachers, £124 9s. 11d.; assistant women teachers, £76 15s. 4d. In addition, occupation of houses free of rent was given to 1,592 principal men teachers, 523 principal women teachers, six assistant men teachers, and forty-five assistant women teachers,

Will the hon. Gentleman send a copy of the Answer to the Irish Secretary?

I will convey that request to my right hon. friend.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he has yet received the petition from the warders and staff of Barlinnie Prison, which was despatched fifteen months ago; and whether he proposes to take any action to redress the grievances set forth therein.

:The petition has received my right hon. friend's careful consideration, but it has not been found possible to provide the large proportionate increase to the staff which would be required to institute the reduction of hours desired.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been called to the case of Detective Alexander Smith, who retired last year from the Aberdeen police force on pension; whether he is aware that shortly before his time expired he was suspended, and was denied an opportunity of proving his innocence by the chief constable; whether the chief constable has, since Detective Smith left the force, given him a bad character, in consequence of which he has lost several appointments; and whether, considering this and similar cases, he will take steps to curtail the power of chief constables in the future, so as to make all acts regarding the men under them subject to an appeal to the magistrates or the Secretary of State.

My right hon. friend has made inquiries, and has been informed that Detective Smith, who had already sent in his resignation, was suspended for reasons which were hold to be well founded. During suspension Smith received full pay and afterwards was entitled to his pension. It is not the fact that the chief constable has given Smith a bad character or volunteered information, but when the applications referred to were under consideration, he was applied to by the Court authorities for information as to the circumstances of Smith's suspension, and in this connection he considered it his duty to supply the information desired. My right hon. friend does not consider that it is necessary to take the steps suggested by the hon. Member in the last part of his Question.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Belfast Steam Shipping Company have a number of imported labourers living on a vessel in the harbour; whether he is aware that a number of such labourers are reported to be seriously ill, and that several have already been removed to Belfast Hospital: and what steps are proposed to be taken to ensure that this menace to the health of the city is abated. I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will take steps to see that the medical officer of health for the city of Belfast is informed that several cases of fever have occurred amongst the imported labourers at present on board a vessel in Belfast Harbour; and whether he will take such action as to ensure that the medical officer of health carries out his duties in an efficient and impartial manner regardless of the interests of shipping and other companies.

I will answer the hon. Member's two Questions together. The Local Government Board have had a special investigation made by one of their medical inspectors. About 150 imported labourers are living in a steamship in Belfast Harbour. Two men have had to be removed to hospital for surgical treatment in consequence of accidents, but no case of infectious disease has occurred, and none of the men have been seriously ill. The medical officer acting for the port sanitary authority visits the ship daily, and both the public health authority of the city and the port sanitary authority are fully alive to the necessity of exercising a strict super vision over the vessel. The Local Government Board's medical inspector found the ship to be very clean. The total number living on board, including crew, is 215. The ship is licensed by the Board of Trade for 356. The Local Government Board are satisfied that the facts of the case do not constitute a menace to the public health of the city, and that no circumstance calling for their intervention has arisen.

Is there any foundation for the imputation on the medical officer contained in the second Question?

I have no reason to believe he is open to any imputation whatever.

Have not the Belfast Steamship Company taken every possible precaution on behalf of the workmen?

I am only concerned with the medical officer and port authority, and; I am satisfied that they have done their duty.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a grazing farm on the property of Lord Rosse at Derrinlough, near Birr, occupied by MR. Parsons, of Shinrone, has been cleared of all its stock by a crowd of persons; and whether any persons are being prosecuted in connection with this occurrence.

On 17th instant MR. John Parkinson's cattle were driven off his farm at the place mentioned. The police came promptly to the scene, and restored the cattle to the farm. The evidence which is available against several persons is being investigated with a view to considering the question of a prosecution.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received reports of the driving of the cattle off the land of MR. Blake, near Roxburgh, on Friday, the 14th instant, and of damage caused by a crowd of persons to the fences of the farm; and whether any persons have been prosecuted for this offence. I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on Friday, the 14th instant, the cattle were driven off a farm belonging to Colonel Arthur Courtenay, at Ballyshea, near Roxburgh; whether he is aware that Colonel Courtenay has sold most of his farms to the tenants, under the Ashbourne Act, at eighteen years purchase; and whether he is prepared to assist Colonel Courtenay in any steps he may take for the defence of his property.

I will answer these two Questions together. The police have reported that cattle were driven off the farms of MR. Blake and Colonel Courtenay on the same occasion, and apparently by the same persons. Damage was done to a wall bounding MR. Blake's farm. It is, I understand, the fact that Colonel Courtenay has sold the greater part of his property under the Ashbourne Act. No persons have been prosecuted for the offence, as the police have no evidence against the offenders. The police will afford all possible protection to the farms of these gentlemen and others.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Gresham Insurance Company holds a mortgage on the Hope estate, at Castleblayney, in the county of Monaghan, and that the agent of the company, who is also acting as agent for the estate, has recently introduced a new system of rent collecting, involving, along with other hardship, the payment by the tenants of their rents half yearly instead of yearly as hitherto, and in addition has forced a number of town park tenants to hold for the future on the eleven months system, and where they have refused to do so has evicted them without compensation; and whether, in view of these facts and the discontent prevailing in the locality in consequence of them, and in view of a similar state of things existing on other estates in Ireland, he will, at an early date, introduce a Bill dealing with the matter, or insert a clause in his promised Evicted Tenants Bill to correct abuses such as those above referred to.

The Land Commission inform me that they have no knowledge of the facts alleged in the Question, but even assuming the facts to be as stated, the Government would have no power to interfere. The matter appears to be one which concerns the ordinary legal rights of landlords and tenants. It is not intended to insert a clause on the subject in the Evicted Tenants Bill.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he has received a memorial from the Limavady Urban District Council protesting against the proposal to reduce Limavady from the status of a head office to that of a sub-office under the direction of the postmaster of Londonderry, almost twenty miles distant; whether he is aware that postal business at Limavady is rapidly increasing, the staff now numbering nineteen, against five fifteen years ago; and whether, in view of the facts, he will favourably consider the request of the memorialists and allow Limavady to remain a head office.

I have received a memorial from the Limavady Urban District Council objecting to the proposal to reduce Limavady to the status of a sub-office. It seems to have been written under a misapprehension of the facts. The Londonderry district now completely surrounds the Limavady district, and the office itself, the rural posts, and the sub-offices can be more efficiently supervised from Londonderry. The change will in no way impair the postal facilities of the district, but on the contrary will increase the efficiency of the local service. The postal work at Limavady is not at present increasing.

asked if the effect would not be to delay the mails by some hours.

The information I have is that the postal facilities of the district will not be adversely affected.

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree to receive further representations on the subject?

I will carefully consider any representations made through hon. Members.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister what is the total amount of the funds remaining in the hands of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation; for what specific purposes were these funds subscribed; and are they so administered that the actual persons for whom each separate fund was raised are in receipt of the same; or are other persons not entitled, and not contemplated by the donors, receiving pensions taken from the aforesaid funds.

I am informed that my hon. friend will find in Paragraph 9 of the Second Report of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation to the King the separate and total amounts of the funds remaining in the hands of the Corporation on 31st December, 1905; and in Appendix 11. of same Report the origin and objects of the various funds. He will also find in Paragraphs 7 and 8 of the First, and Paragraph 14 of the Second, Report of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation to the King the general principles and conditions of administration adopted by the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation in regard to the various funds now under their management under the powers conferred upon the Corporation by Patriotic Fund Reorganisation Act, 1903. I am further informed that the Third Annual Report of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation for the year 1906 will shortly be issued and available to the hon. Member as a Parliamentary Paper.

Is my right hon. friend aware that the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation has been begging of the Treasury for funds for widows, when they have stored up very large sums of money which were given for these very widows, who are now dying off long before they get their money?

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to allot the same amount of money, viz., £200,000, this year for the purpose of assisting distress committees under The Unemployed Workmen's Act, 1905, as was allocated last year; and can he give an assurance that this year it will all be spent.

:I understand that communications are still passing between the Departments concerned, so that I cannot at present give a definite Answer.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, although the Government has now been in office for over eighteen months, nothing has yet been done as regards the legislative reforms needed for the metropolis; and can he hold out any hope that any of the following measures will be introduced either this session or next, and, if so, which, viz., Registration Reform and Extension of the Hours of Polling, with all London elections to be held on the same day, the restoration of an ad hoc authority to have charge of London's education, Taxation of Ground Values, and an Amendment of The Unemployed Workmen's Act, 1905. I beg also to ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists in London owing to the fact that the Equalisation of Rates Bill, promised in the King's Speech last year, was not introduced last year; and whether he can hold out any hope that it will be introduced this year.

We are well aware of the importance of these questions affecting London, and I can assure the hon. Member that they are not being neglected.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman could not give amore definite reply. The people of London were much interested in these matters.

So are we. If I had a more definite reply to give I should give it.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister what urgent necessity there is for the Government at the present time to guarantee and make the issue of £5,000,000 Transvaal loan, to the prejudice of the holders of Government and other stocks in this country; and if, under the circumstances, he will promise that the loan shall at any rate be postponed until next year.

:The time and manner of issuing the loan are still under consideration, and it would be premature at this moment to make any announcement on the subject.

asked whether the offer of the Government to guarantee this loan had not had a prejudicial effect upon the price of Consols.

I am not aware of it. It is not a question connected with my department.