To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in every British shipping port of importance there is a seamen's waiting room, who await discharge or engagement in a vessel; and whether seeing that at the Mercantile Marine Office at Belfast no such waiting room exists, he will make inquiries into the matter with the view of having one established. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) A waiting room for seamen is attached to the Mercantile Marine Office at most of the larger ports. There is some difficulty in providing a room in the Belfast Office in a convenient position, but I am in communication on the subject with the Irish Board of Works, who are in control of the building.

To ask the President of the Board of Education what was the total number of male and female teachers respectively paying into the Teachers' Superannuation Fund on 31st March. 1907; what was the total amount paid by the teachers in the year ending 31st March, 1907, and the total amount for the seven years ending 31st March, 1907; what was the total sum paid to the teachers in the year ending 31st March, 1907, and when the promised revision of the scale of such payments will be made known to teachers; and whether he can yet state what alterations will be made in the amount of superannuation payments to be paid in future to the teachers. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) I have no figures giving the number of teachers contributing to the Deferred Annuity Fund on a given date. The number of certificated teachers in employment on the last day of the school year ending between 1st August, 1905, and 31st July, 1906, was 29,414 men and 54,860 women. To ascertain the number contributing to the fund it would be necessary to deduct those who did not accept The Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898, and to add a number of teachers who were contributing in respect of an interval in their service under Rule 13 of the Elementary School Teachers' Superannuation Rules, 1899, and certain others who are serving in pupil-teacher centres and other institutions in which service may be recorded. The total amount received from the teachers in the year ending 31st March, 1907, was £199,966; the total amount for the seven years ending 31st March, 1907, was £1,105,500. The total amount paid to the teachers during that year was £988. I am not aware that any promise of a revised scale of payments either by or to the teachers has been made. The actuarial inquiry required by the Act has taken place, and the Report has recently been laid before Parliament. Section 4 (2) of the Act provides that: "If it appears from any actuarial report under this Act that the assets and liabilities of either account of the fund are such as either to require a reduction or to justify an increase of the annuities, the Treasury may cause fresh tables to be constructed and those tables, when approved by the Treasury, shall come into force, and shall be laid before Parliament, and the former tables shall cease to be in force, and so on from time to time as occasion requires."

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will grant the Return relating to Workmen's Insurance (Germany) on to-day's Notice Paper.^* (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Yes, Sir.

To ask the Secretary of State for India if he can give the number of local district boards in the Bombay Presidency and their names; the number of members on each board, distinguishing between officials nominated and elected; the area in square miles of the jurisdiction of each board; and the amount of money placed at the disposal of each board for each year during the last five years for which figures are obtainable. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) I shall be happy to send my hon. friend the Annual Reports for the five years ending 1905–6, published by the Government of Bombay, on the working of district boards in the Presidency, which give for each district and sub-district board the information he desires. I append a summary of the figures for the Presidency as a whole. persons insured, (2) the number compensated. (3) receipts from all sources, (4) contributions from employers, contributions from employees, contributions from the State, (5) amount of expenses incurred, (6) amount of accumulated funds, and (7) average compensation per case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of foreigners who hold public-house licences in England and Wales, in Scotland, and in Ireland. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) There is no information in my Department or, as I learn, in the Scottish and Irish Offices, enabling me to answer this Question accurately. I am not aware of any statistics bearing more nearly, in point of date and otherwise, on the Question put to me than those which are to be found in the Occupation and Nationality Tables of the Census Reports. Foreigners, to the number of 638, are shown as engaged in England and Wales in the year 1901 in occupations broadly classified as "Inn, Hotel-keepers: Publicans, Beersellers, and Cider Dealers" (Cd. 1523, pp. 280–1) in Scotland twenty-nine foreigners are shown under the heading "Inn, Hotel-keepers: Publicans, Wine and Spirit Merchants" (Cd. 1798, p. 771). The precise meaning of "foreigner" in these Reports depends on the rules set out in the Reports as having been adopted for the purpose of classification. In the Census Reports for Ireland (where occupations in which not more than forty foreigners were engaged are not shown separately) there is no entry of foreigners under a heading similar to the foregoing. I am informed that it has been ascertained that there are three foreigners holding public-house licences in the Dublin Metropolitan Police district.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he received a request from the West Riding Local Education Authority last September to appoint a Departmental Committee to inquire into the feasibility and advisability of making attendance at evening schools compulsory; and whether he can see his way to accede to this request. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) I have received the request to which my hon. friend alludes. The matter was some time ago referred by the Board to the Consultative Committee, who have already been giving very careful consideration to it, with a view to submitting a Report to the Board.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury what was the average amount of overtime done in the Statistical Office of the Customs in the years 1906 and 1907. and whether there is any hope of the present excessive amount of extra duty being reduced, as indicated in reply to" a Question last session. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I am informed that the average amount of overtime work performed in the Statistical Office of the Customs in the years 1906 and 1907 was 300 hours and 303 hours per head respectively. My reply of 20th August last to the hon. Baronet the Member for Wandsworth, to which I suppose the hon. Member refers, that every effort is made to reduce the amount of this extra attendance, still holds good of course, but I am afraid I can hold out no hope of any material reduction below the figures quoted.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the fact that some eighty new class assistant clerks in the Statistical Office of the Customs are eligible by service for promotion, will he arrange for a proportion of the vacancies at the forthcoming examination for port clerkships to be given to meritorious men in the Statistical Office. (Answered by Mr. Runciman). The course suggested by the hon. Member has in fact been taken. Four assistant clerks in the Statistical Office have been nominated by the Treasury for appointment to port clerkships, which in ordinary-course would have been offered for competition at the forthcoming examination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the approximate area of the Inverliever estate, purchased recently by the Government with a view to affcrestation; what was the price paid for it; and what was taken as its annual value for rating at the time of the purchase. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The approximate area of the estate is 12,530 acres, and the price paid for it was £25,000. Its annual value for rating is understood to be £1,137.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether, after April, 1909, all American goods are to be admitted free of duty to the Philippines, while existing duties are to be retained on goods imported from all other countries countries. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I am not aware that any decision has been arrived at, but inquiries are being made.

To ask the President of the Board of Education if he will state the amount of loans raised for purposes of elementary education by education authorities in England and Wales, and the payments made in respect of loan charges, principal and interest, in each year from 1901–1 to 1906–7. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.)—

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been directed to the circumstances following the total loss of the British ship "Dundonald," in the course of her return voyage from Sydney to Falmouth, on Desolation Island, one of the Auckland group, about 180 miles south of New Zealand, in March of last year; to the manner in which the survivors succeeded in maintaining them- selves under circumstances of almost unprecedented difficulty throughout the southern winter and in constructing a primitive craft and so reaching another island of the group, from which they were afterwards rescued; how the safety of the party was largely due to the capable leadership, for a period of more than six months, of the second mate, Mr. Daniel Aloysius M'Laughlin, of Old Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire, whose conduct was worthy of the best traditions of the merchant service; and whether he can see his way to making any award to Mr. M'Laughlin in recognition of that conduct. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Yes, Sir, my attention has been called to the loss of the British ship "Dundonald," and to the services rendered by Mr. D. A. M'Laughlin. The case has been carefully considered by the Board of Trade, and, while highly appreciating the praiseworthy manner in which Mr. M'Laughlin performed a difficult duty imposed upon him in exceptional circumstances, they regret that the case is not one in which they can grant any reward.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he will instruct His Majesty's consuls at Portland, Oregon, and other places on the Pacific Coast, to keep him informed as the progress and action of the Pacific coast hop-growers' syndicate.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether Chinese and negro labour is employed in the cultivation of hops on the Pacific Coast of America; and how the wages of such Chinese and negro labourers respectively compare with those paid to hop pickers and others employed in the industry in this country. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) His Majesty's consuls have been instructed to supply some information with regard to these matters.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what proportion of the hops consumed in Great Britain have been imported from the United States of America during each of the last thirty years.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many acres of hops in this country have been grubbed during each of the last thirty years; and whether grubbing is increasing or decreasing during the present winter. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) We are unable to say to what extent grubbing has taken place during the last thirty years, inasmuch as our Returns only give the net loss or gain, and do not show the acreage of new plantations. The total area under hops in 1907 was 26,851 acres less than in 1878.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total number, and the number per acre of persons employed permanently and during the picking season respectively, in the English hop industries. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) It is not possible to state separately the numbers permanently engaged in the hop industry, but some estimates of the additional numbers engaged during the picking season will be found in a Report by Dr. Reginald Farrar to the Local Government Board, of which I sent the hon. Member a copy.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether pending the Report of the Select Committee on the Hop Industry, he will take steps temporarily to safeguard British hop-growers against the action of the Pacific Coast syndicate. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) As I have already informed the hon. Member, I have not yet heard whether such a syndicate as that to which he refers has been actually formed. I cannot recommend that any action should be taken in the matter.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether it is his intention to reintroduce this session the Supply of Electricity Bill of the session of 1906. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I hope to introduce a Bill amending the Electric Lighting Acts as soon as there seems to be a reasonable prospect of time using available for its discussion.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board, how many metropolitan boroughs have decided to adopt the Notification of Births Act; and whether any, and if so which metropolitan boroughs have decided not to adopt this Act. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The Act has been adopted in the City of London and in sixteen out of the twenty- eight metropolitan boroughs. I have received information to the effect that it is proposed to adopt it in another of these boroughs. The only metropolitan borough in which, so far as I am aware, the council have expressed a view adverse to the adoption of the Act is the borough of Deptford.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he will state the nineteen names under which milk-blended butter is sold, in accordance with The Butter and Margarine Act, 1907, with the approval of the Board of Agriculture. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The names which have been approved by the Board for use in connection with milk-blended butter are Consumo, Casora, Casmon, Casova, Casana, Casoa, Casa, Iveldale, Iveldene, Iveleat, Ivelene, Ivelette, Ivelike, Ivelmene, Ivelmore, May-blossom, Pearks' Breadmate, Pearks' Bredspred, and Pearksown. We do not know how many of them are actually in use.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say what is the procedure to be adopted by a tenant farmer in Ireland to acquire a loan from the Board of Works for the purpose of building a dwelling-house on his land; at what rate per cent. is the money repayable; and under what Act of Parliament has the Board power to advance money for the purpose. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The procedure is for the farmer to write to the Secretary of the Board stating that he desires to obtain a loan, when full directions will be sent him. Loans are repayable in twenty-two years at a rent-charge of £6 10s. per cent., which includes interest at £3 8s. 3d. per cent. The Acts of Parliament under which loans of this class are made are 10 Vict., c, 32, and 44 and 45 Vict., c. 49. I will send the hon. Member a pamphlet giving further details.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether a portion of the farm known as Clonrellick, formerly held by Mary J. Little, near Moate, county Westmeath, but now sold to the Estates Commissioners, has been sold to a man who already holds 200 acres of land in the neighbourhood; and, if so, whether in view of the provisions of the Act which was passed for the relief of congestion in Ireland, he will say what action he proposes to take. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the lands referred to in the Question have not been sold to them, but are included in an estate which the owners have agreed to sell direct to the tenants, and in respect of which advances have been applied for. When the estate comes to be dealt with by the Commissioners in order of priority they will carefully consider the nature of the tenancies and the advances applied for.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Miss Margaret Clarke of Posserstown, Nobber, in the County of Meath, has applied to the Estates Commissioners to be reinstated on a farm from which she was evicted on the estate of Mr. Smyth, situate in the electoral division of Carricklick; whether her case has been dealt with, and if so, what is the result. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The Estates Commissioners assume that the Question refers to an application for reinstatement which they have received from Miss Margaret Clarke, who alleges that she was evicted from a holding on the estate of Mrs. Penelope Filgate. The application, which is dated July, 1907, has not yet been inquired into.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what is the cause of the delay in appointing an arbitrator to deal with the scheme for the erection of labourers cottages in Navan raral district; and whether, seeing that in order to secure to the labourers to whom plots have been allotted the ensuing season's crop it is necessary that the plots should be immediately fenced, he will urge the Local Government Board to avoid unnecessary delay. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The application for the appointment of the arbitrator was received by the Local Government Board towards the end of last month. The necessary order of appointment is in course of preparation, and it is expected that it will be signed in a day or two.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have agreed to purchase the estate of R. B. Balfour, situate at Rathkenny, Slane, county Meath; whether James Gore has applied to be reinstated on the farm on this estate from which he was evicted, and if it is intended to give him the whole of his former holding; and, if not, will he say why it is not to be done. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The Estates Commissioners have been in negotiation with Mr. R. B. Balfour for the purchase of the farm referred to in the Question, and the owner has intimated that he is prepared to accept their price. James Gore has applied to be reinstated in the farm, which comprises about 200 acres. The Commissioners, however, do not intend to give him the whole farm, as it is considered that it would be too large for him. The matter is at present under consideration.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Edward Brady has applied to the Estates Commissioners to be reinstated in his former holding on the estate of Mr. Gerrard, Gibbstown, Navan, county Meath; and what action has been taken in this case. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The Estates Commissioners cannot trace the receipt of any application from Edward Brady for restoration to a holding on the estate of Mr. Gerrard; but they have received an application from an Edward Bradley, and this is under consideration.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the application of Francis Hopkins to be reinstated in his former holding on the estate of Colonel Lyster Smythe, situate at Nobber, county Meath, has yet been considered by the Estates Commissioners; and what is the result. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The application of Francis Hopkins for reinstatement or for a new holding is under the consideration of the Estates Commissioners, who have not yet come to a decision on the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether Christopher Carolan as representative of James Nulty, an evicted tenant on the estate of Lord Gormanstown, Kilbride, Nobber, county Meath, has applied to the Estates Commissioners for an equivalent farm; and what action, if any, has been taken in his case. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The Estates Commissioners received the application in question, and after due inquiry and consideration decided to take no action in the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state whether non-commisioned officers and men of the Imperial Yeomanry who elect to serve in the Territorial Forces to complete their period of engagement, are to receive pay at the rates now existing in the Imperial Yeomanry, or at the rates assigned to their branch of the Territorial forces. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Men of the Imperial Yeomanry enlisting into the Territorial Force for the unexpired portion of their Imperial Yeomanry engagement or re-engagement will be allowed to retain Yeomanry rates and conditions of pay for the period for which they re-enlist. Non-commissioned officers paid as such at the end of the 1907 training may retain Imperial Yeomanry rates and conditions of pay until the end of the 1910 training if they continue to serve as non-commissioned officers for so long.

To ask the Prime Minister whether he will state what action has been taken by the Lord President of the Council in regard to the memorial which was presented to the Prime Minister in the session before last, on behalf of members of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, asking him to take such steps as might secure to members some voice in the management of the college and its property; and what reply has been received from the council of the college to representations made by them by the Lord President. (Answered by Sir H. Campbell-Banner-man.) It is a matter of common knowledge that, in reply to the different deputations which he received, the Lord President expressed the general sympathy of the Government with the objects of the memorial; but the council of the Royal College appear to maintain the rigour of their attitude on the subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether any provision is being made in the contract for the works at Rosyth to secure trade union rates of wages being paid to the navvies and other workmen who will be employed upon the construction of such works; and whether the contract will also provide machinery for deciding what are the proper rates, seeing that at present, owing to the nature of the case, there can be no already existing standard.

In accordance with the Resolution of this House, the contract will contain the usual fair wages clause. The question whether, in the circumstances of this case, any special machinery is needed will be considered before the contract is let; and if the hon. Member has any suggestion to offer, that will be duly considered.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, what action he proposes to take in regard to soldiers suffering from tuberculosis, in view of the findings of the Select Committee appointed to go into the matter.

The recommendations of the Select Committee have been recently considered by the Government as a whole. The decision is that, however desirable the special provision recommended by the Committee in the case of soldiers discharged from the Army because of tuberculosis, it is impossible to justify the assumption of this new kind of obligation by the State unless it is extended to other services as well as the Army, and possibly more widely still. The question thus raised becomes one of great gravity and cannot be decided by any single Department.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the question of suspending further discharges of workmen at Woolwich Arsenal, with a view to such workmen as may be suitable being transferred to those Departments of His Majesty's dockyards where excessive overtime is being worked by thousands of workmen.

The War Office is consulting the Admiralty on this mattes.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether correspondents of the Press have been permitted to accompany the expedition against the Zakka Khels, and, if so, how many, and what are the newspapers they represent; what has been the reply of Lord Kitchener in response to the right hon. Gentleman's cablegram on this subject which reached Lord Kitchener before the starting of the expedition; whether the practice in recent times has been that Press-correspondents are permitted to a company field forces subject to the supervision of a military Press censorship, to be exercised only in restraining the communication of information which might benefit the enemy in counteracting military operations; whether this practice is to be observed in reference to the presence of the representatives of the Press in the Zakka expedition; and, if not, what is the reason for this departure.

Throe Press correspondents have so far applied for and received permission to accompany the expedition: they represent two English and six Indian newspapers. I have addressed no telegram to the Commander-in-Chief in India; but on all subjects connected with this expedition I am in communication with the Government of India. The usual practice as to censorship, which is as stated in the Question, will no doubt be followed.

What are the English newspapers represented with the expedition? I suppose The Times?

One is The Times and the other is the Daily Mail.

Hear, hear.

I do not know what the hon. Member means by that ejaculation. Does he mean I am to exercise a Press censorship?

What I mean is—Is Lord Kitchener of Omdurman to exercise a Press censorship? You recollect his arrangements.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether any, and, if so, what, directions have been given with reference to the furnishing of exact information of the numbers of the killed and wounded of the Zakka Khel in the various punitive operations of the expedition; and, having regard to the fact that, while in recent wars with native races, approximate numbers of the killed have been given there is little account of the wounded or of their ultimate fate, what directions, if any, have been given that the same standards of conduct should be observed in this expedition as in warfare with a civilised race, and what are the guarantees, if any, for their observance.

No directions have been given in either case. It is clearly impossible to require exact information as to the casualities of an enemy, more especially if, as in this case, it is his practice, if possible, to carry off his dead and wounded. As to the second part of the Question, I am confident that the discipline and humanity of the troops and their commanders render unnecessary any special orders of the kind suggested in the Question. Perhaps I may also be allowed to answer the Question on the Paper which the hon. Gentleman has addressed to the Secretary of State for War. I am informed by the Government of India that no expanding bullets have been issued to the troops, and none are kept in store in India.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the dum-dum bullets constructed to expand on impact, invented by a British officer in the town in India from which they are named, which were condemned by the overwhelming volume of opinion at the Hague Peace Conference of 1899 and were not used in the late South African War, are being used by the British troops in the Zakka Khel expedition; and, if so, whether he will peremptorily forbid their use.

Is it in accordance with humanity for the troops to destroy the houses and carry off the food, corn, and cattle of the inhabitants of the valley?

If my hon. friend thinks that military operations can be conducted on the principle that regulates our own pacific dealings, I am afraid his view is chimerical.

pressed for a direct Answer to his Question.

The Question hardly arises out of that on the Paper.

I beg to ask the hon. and learned Member for the Walton Division of Liverpool, when he will place on the Notice Paper of the House of Commons the Resolution of which he has given notice of his intention to move in reference to the situation on the Indian frontier; whether he has taken any, and, if so, what steps to secure an opportunity for the discussion of his Resolution; and whether he intends to take any steps with a view of securing its discussion.

In answer to the first part of the Question, the production of the Resolution will not be unduly delayed, having regard to the circumstances under which the notice was set down. In answer to the second part of the Question, I am attentively watching the Parliamentary situation, and will not fail to apprise the hon. Gentleman should a favourable opportunity present itself of initiating a discussion.

My hon. and learned friend has given a perfectly satisfactory Answer. Will he ask the hon. Member for Montgomery Boroughs to second the Motion?

I must ask the hon. Member for notice of that Question.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for the Montgomery District when he will place upon the Notice Paper of the House of Commons the Resolution of which he has given notice, of his intention to move in reference to the Zakka Khels expedition; whether he has taken any, and, if so, what steps to secure an opportunity for the discussion of his Resolution; and whether he intends to take any steps with a view of securing discussion.

In answer to the first part of the Question—at an early date. In answer to the second part of the Question—at an early Parliamentary opportunity. In answer to the third part of the Question—so far as I am in a position to answer for His Majesty's Government, Yes.

Will the hon. Gentleman take an early opportunity of using his great influence with the Government?

I have never had an opportunity of testing that influence.

Will the hon. Member send a copy of that valuable reply to the Executive Committee of the Radical Party in his own constituency?

The affairs of my constituency are between myself and my constituents. They have nothing whatever to do with the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India when it is proposed to introduce free primary education into India.

I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the Government of India have referred the question to the local Governments, but I have not yet received their final recommendations.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can give the total number of Government civil appointments in India carrying a salary of £250 per annum and over, excluding those reserved for the Covenanted Civil Service; and will he state the number of these appointments held by Europeans and natives of India, respectively.

I cannot give the exact figures at the present time, but in 1903 the total number of the appointments referred to was, roughly, 6,000, of which rather more than 3,400 were held by Europeans, and rather less than 2,600 by natives of India. This estimate is based on a return published in the Gazette of India for 4th June, 1904, to which I would refer the hon. Member for detailed figures.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India what percentage of the inhabitants of India are at present in receipt of famine prevention relief; and how that percentage compares with the percentage of persons in receipt of outdoor relief in Great Britain.

According to the latest information about 740,000 persons are in receipt of famine relief in the whole of India including native states. Calculated on a total population of 300,000,000 the ratio is about one quarter of 1 per cent. But the ratio would, of course, be much higher if struck on the population of the districts where the crops have failed and the provision of the Famine Relief Codes are in force. The ratio of paupers in receipt of outdoor relief to the inhabitants of England and. Wales was stated to be a little over 1½ per cent. in 1907.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many people are employed in the new flax industry in St. Helena; and whether this industry promises to expand successfully.

The Governor has not yet reported the exact number of men employed on the Government fibre mill in St. Helena. In addition to the men so employed, a considerable number of small proprietors and of those who are in the service of the large landowners must have benefitted, either directly or indirectly, through the establishment of the fibre industry. In reply to the latter part of the hon. Member's Question, it is too early as yet to say with confidence that the industry will expand successfully; the mill was only opened at the beginning of December and the first consignment of fibre and tow has only just reached the London market. The Governor reports, however, that there appears to be a general feeling in the Island that the fibre industry has come to stay; and he is himself sanguine that it will do a great deal towards placing St. Helena on her feet again.

asked whether in view of the great success attending this industry in New Zealand the Government would obtain a report from an expert from that country?

If my memory serves me, the industry was initiated by a gentleman from Now Zealand.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what further steps he intends to take to cope with the distress prevailing in the island of St. Helena.

I am glad to say that the Governor has reported to the Secretary of State that the situation in St. Helena is steadily improving, and that matters generally are much brighter than they were a year ago. I am informing the hon. Member, in reply to another Question, of the opening of the Government fibre mill; and improvements to the water supply for the mill, which are being carried out at the present moment from funds provided by His Majesty's Government, should provide a partial and temporary remedy for unemployment in the island. I may mention also that within the last few days a grant of £360 has been agreed to for the maintenance, during 1908, of the roads required in connection with the fibre industry; this grant should serve the same purpose. In addition, the lace industry, which was started last year in order to provide employment for the women and girls in St. Helena, has now got into working order. The hon. Member may like to know that specimens of the lace produced are on view at the offices of the League of the Empire at Caxton Hall, Westminster. In view of the comparatively large amount which His Majesty's Government is providing, and the improvement which the Governor reports in the situation, the Secretary of State does not consider that any further action is necessary at present in the direction of providing relief work from Imperial funds.

Is this a Government Factory in St. Helena?

Yes, a Government fibre factory has been started in order to provide a remedy for unemployment.

When may we expect to have Government factories in England?

England is not under the Colonial Office.

Have we not already several hundred Government workshops—workhouses?

beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the scheme of State-aided emigration has proved successful at St. Helena; how many of the inhabitants have availed themselves of it; and whether it still continues.

It has not been found possible to arrange any scheme of emigration from St. Helena, but, as I informed the hon. Member in June last, a number of men have found employment in the Cape Colony.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, when such a large salary as £2,500 a year was sanctioned in the case of the Chief Crown Agent for the Colonies (Sir Ernest Blake), so placing him upon a par in regard to salary with officials of great commercial and financial institutions, the Colonial Office had in mind the fact that, whilst the former is entitled to a considerable pension, no such rule obtains in the case of the latter; whether the Chief Crown Agent can now claim his pension; and, if so, what would be the amount of the same.

The Secretary of State has no personal responsibility for the amount of the salary sanctioned in the case of Sir Ernest Blake, the amount having been settled by the right hon. Member for St. George's, Hanover Square. Lord Elgin is certainly not prepared to say that he regards the arrangement then made as excessive or improper, having regard to the very great scale of the business transacted, and to its special character. I understand that the Chief Crown Agent is in a position to claim a pension, but the amount is determined by the Secretary of State on date of retirement. As I informed the hon. Member on the 11th instant, Lord Elgin has decided to appoint a Committee to deal with pensions and cognate subjects. I hope to be able to make an announcement with regard to its composition shortly, as the preliminaries to its appointment are already well advanced, and I deprecate in the meantime questions bearing upon matters which will fall within the purview of its deliberations.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that indentured labourers from the East Indies to the Trinidad cocoa plantations in many cases are paid only 3s. per week instead of 5s. 2½d. per week, as guaranteed to them before leaving home; that such labourers are unable to obtain redress; and, if so, will he take action with a view to the men receiving the wage stipulated at the time of their engagement.

I venture to think that the hon. Member has been misinformed as to the figures. My information goes to show that indentured immigrants are promised a daily wage of 1s. 0½d. a day, six days a week, and that the Immigration Ordinance provides for payment of wages at not less than this rate on every day on which the labourer is willing and able to work. If the hon. Member can give me any specific cases of breach of the Ordinance I shall be happy to have inquiry made.

I shall have great pleasure in providing the information.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take steps to expedite the completion of the business necessary to enable him to lay Papers dealing with the recruiting of indentured labourers from the Island of Madagascar.

No, Sir; I see no reason why a correspondence should be manufactured in order to lay Papers. The Transvaal Government will continue the correspondence when they desire to do so.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any Report has been received from the trustworthy agent who was sent to the Galapagos Islands last August, by the consul at Guayaquil, to inquire into the case of the British subjects kept in servitude there

His Majesty's Consul at Guayaquil has reported the result of his agent's mission to the Galapagos Islands in connection with the British subjects detained on the group against their will. The agent has, after due investigation, paid the debts of twelve of the 1 bourers, whom he has brought back with him to Guayaquil. They are subsequently to be repatriated, should they wish it, to their homes in the West Indies. The two remaining labourers, however, declined to leave the Islands, even if they were enabled to do so by their debts being paid; and they have accordingly been left on the group.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the expediency of establishing an employers' tax of a penny in the £ upon the amount of wages and salaries paid to their employees.

I can only once again repeat the assurance that I am always giving—that all suggestions for taxation are receiving, and will receive, my careful consideration.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposed inquiry as to the allocation of business between Departments will include inquiry into the overlapping of official statistics, the want of coordination of statistics, and the possibility of combining improvement with economy, under the direction of the Treasury, the Statistical Department of the Board of Trade, the office of the Registrar-General, or otherwise.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement as to the precise scope of the proposed inquiry, but I will take care that my right hon. friend's suggestion is not overlooked when the matter is being considered.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the case of the taking away of the licence of the premises known as Smith's Vaults, Ulverston, and the payment of compensation amounting to £3,664, which has been succeeded by a club, known as the Magpie Club, on premises adjacent to the above, and said to belong to the same firm; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in regard to such cases.

My attention has been called to several cases of the kind referred to, and the matter is one which is receiving the careful attention of the Government in connection with the Licensing Bill now being prepared.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state when he will introduce the Mines (Eight Hours) Bill.

I hope to introduce the Bill in the course of this week. As the Bill will be the same as last year's with the exception only of the necessary alterations of dates, no introductory speech will be required.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the expediency of promoting legislation for the purpose of requiring the banks of the United Kingdom to make a return showing the total of the sums of money in their hands in respect of dormant and obsolete accounts.

I am not at present prepared to promote legislation for this purpose, but I am making inquiries into the matter.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that 34 per cent. of the members of trade unions in New York are out of work; and whether he can give the corresponding figures for the United Kingdom.

I understand that the percentage quoted is in accordance with the official returns of unemployment at 31st December last in New York. City. About nine-tenths of the total unemployment is said to have been due to lack of work and the remainder to trade disputes, sickness, and other causes. On this basis the proportion of trade unionists out of work in New York City in December from causes included in the Board of Trade Returns would have been about 31 per cent. It is right, however, that I should state that the figures for New York City are not in all respects comparable with those for the United Kingdom as a whole, since among other reasons the trade unions on which they are based include a much larger proportion of building operatives. But I need not point out that even after allowance has been made for this factor the returns show a much worse condition of unemployment than that which prevails in this country.

asked the total number of unemployed in New York City.

I am afraid I cannot answer that without notice.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether an inquiry into the existing relations between the Railways and the State is to be held; and, if so, if he can say what the nature and extent of the inquiry will be and when the inquiry will commence.

I am not in a position to answer my hon. friend's Question at the moment, but I shall be glad to do so later if he will put it down for a day towards the end of next week.

asked if the inquiry now proceeding of which they read in the newspapers had any reference to the inquiry which the right hon. Gentleman announced last week?

No; that is a Committee which was set up six weeks or two months ago. In reference to the debate of last week, I am now considering the question whether the inquiry then promised can be conducted by that Commission or whether it will be necessary to set up a perfectly independent Commission. I must consult the views of those who represent the Board of Trade.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has any official information as to the number of worn-out horses sent from Nottingham and Worksop to the Continent, and as to whether these animals are there converted into sausages and then imported into this country for consumption as human food; if so, can he say to what port on the Continent they are exported; and what proportion of this sausage is consumed in this country.

I have no information as to the number of worn-out horses sent from Nottingham and Worksop to the Continent. I have not met with any definite evidence pointing to the importation into this country of sausages prepared from horses, though it is sometimes alleged that sausage meat imported in bulk contains horse meat. I have the subject of the importation of sausage meat under consideration in connection with the regulations which I am preparing under the Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act of last session.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the regulations will be ready?

So far as my Department is concerned, very soon, but I cannot promise when specific action will be taken as other interests have to be consulted.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's Answer indicate an intention to draw up regulations allowing horse-flesh sausages to come in?

Not if I can help it.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the overcrowding at the Lambeth Workhouse to the extent of 257 inmates, and to the fact that, in consequence, number of them are sleeping on the floor; and if he intends taking any action in the matter.

My attention has been called to the overcrowding of the Lambeth Workhouses. Certain alterations have been made which have enabled the numbers for which the workhouses are certified to be enlarged, and the guardians are now making arrangements whereby further accommodation will be provided. The matter will continue to receive my attention.

Has the Local Government Board no power to compel reactionary authorities to put into operation the Act relating to the unemployed?

Not a great deal of power, but what persuasion I could I have exercised.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that Mr. Taplin, of 5, Lancell Street, Church Street, Stoke Newington, the parent of a child born on 2nd September, 1907, tried twice before the child was four months old to get exemption at the North London Police Court, but was refused by the magistrate there on the ground that he had not sufficient reason for an exemption certificate to be granted; whether he will give the local vaccination officer instructions not to prosecute in this particular case, seeing that the parent of the child has twice lost time from his work on purpose to comply with the law then in force; and whether he will introduce a Bill, as soon as possible, protecting from prosecution all those parents who have tried at any time since 12th August, 1898, to get exemption and failed.

I have no information as to the case referred to. The new Act came into operation on 1st January, and prior to that date a person desiring to obtain exemption from penalties under the Vaccination Act had to satisfy the magistrate to whom application was made that he conscientiously believed that vaccination would be prejudicial to the health of the child. This, as I understand, the applicant in the case in question failed to do. I am afraid I could not undertake to propose legislation for altering the Act of last session in the sense suggested.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether in view of the fact that the vacancy for a sub-postmaster at Ilminster, Taunton, was advertised recently at a salary of £120 per annum, and that a number of the members of the established staff applied for the position, he will state the reason for its being allocated to a person who was not a member of the postal staff.

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The officer selected for the appointment is a member of the established staff, and has served in the Post Office for many years.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether having regard to the expressed view of His Majesty's Government that no political organisation can be useful unless it is a party organisation, he will rescind his decision forbidding the existence of a branch of the Primrose League among postal servants; and if he will state why-Liberal party organisations and Socialist organisations are permitted among Postal employees.

I am not aware that His Majesty's Government have expressed the view attributed to them by the hon. Member. The decision I gave in regard to the Primrose League was founded on the existing rules governing the conduct of Post Office servants as civil servants. It was to the effect that while Post Office servants are not forbidden to join societies of a political character, such as the Primrose League, they are expected to maintain a certain reserve in political matters; and that it had been decided by my predecessors that Post Office servants ought not to hold office under the League; and that I saw no reason to alter this decision. I understand that, in conformity with this decision, those postal servants who were interested in the matter have formed, or are about to form, themselves into a Constitutional Society, which is to be conducted independent of and apart from Party politics. I am not aware of the existence of any Liberal Party organisation within the Post Office. The only Socialist Society of the existence of which I am aware is the Civil Service Socialist Society (into which the Pioneer Socialist League has, I understand, been incorporated) which is open to membership from any branch of the Civil Service. According to its constitution, a copy of which has been furnished to me, the object of the society is to educate the members of the service in the principles of Socialism. Political action is expressly stated to be outside its province, and the general funds of the society are not to be used for any other organisation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that the Attorney-General stated in this House a few days ago that no political organisation was useful which was not a Party organisation?

I am not aware of it. I understand that the Attorney-General does not quite recognise the words put into his mouth. However, I am responsible for the Post Office.

asked whether the Postmaster-General would inquire whether there was a branch of the League of Young Liberals in the Post Office.

How does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile his refusal to allow a branch of the Primrose League in con- nection with the Post Office with his permission to establish a branch of the Civil Service Socialist League?

I understand the decision was given by my predecessor, who has more knowledge of the Primrose League than I can claim to possess. He decided that it was of such a nature as not to be suitable for members of the Post Office to take office in. With regard to the Civil Service Socialist League, I understand that its constitution expressly provides that political action is outside its province. I, of course, have to take into consideration in these matters the constitution of the societies.

Is the House to understand that the Postmaster-General considers Socialism is not politics?

Not at all—economics.

My opinion with regard to Socialism, or any other subject, is not in question. It is a question concerning the attitude and action of these societies in the Post Office.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was governed by the decision of his predecessor, or whether he would not exercise his own discretion.

I am not bound by the decision of my predecessor, but, naturally, I take his decision into consideration in deciding these matters.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether it was arranged before he became Postmaster-General that every boy clerk employed in the Post Office, whose service is satisfactory, should have the opportunity of competing for a permanent appointment; and will he state what opportunities Post Office boy clerks possess other and better than any boy in the United Kingdom in this respect.

Every boy clerk whose service is satisfactory has now, and has always had, the opportunity of competing for permanent appointments of several kinds; but the boys who compete are of course more numerous than the appointments available. Certain clerical posts in the Engineering Department, and Registry Assistantships are reserved for boy clerks in the Post Office exclusively. Assistant Clerkships are also reserved for boy clerks, and in the open competition for Second Division Clerkships boy clerks receive the special advantage of service marks. Some of these advantages are shared by boy clerks in other Government Departments, but none of them are shared by boys outside Government service. The question of the boy clerks is receiving the consideration of the Treasury.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there are now over 1,000 boy clerks employed in the Post Office, the large majority of whom are in London, and that only about ten appointments as Registry Assistants and certain clerical posts in the Engineering Department are annually reserved for the 1,000 or more boy clerks; and whether as he finds it impossible to create other appointments, he will take the alternative of reducing considerably the number of boy clerks in the Post Office, so that the problem of boy labour may be grappled with.

The number of boy clerks employed in the Post Office is a little over 1,000. Of these only a fraction, of course, leave each year. For these there are a considerable number of openings of various sorts. During the last year the special opportunities afforded to boy clerks approaching the age of twenty of securing permanent situations in the Post Office resulted in twenty-three obtaining appointments as Registry Assistants, and five as junior clerks in the Engineering Department. In addition, forty-seven boy clerks in the Post Office were appointed to Assistant Clerkships and others to Second Division Clerkships. At the same time a large number have unfortunately to leave the service. For this reason, I am already considering whether it is possible to reduce the number of boy clerks employed in the Post Office.

Does the number of boy clerks who obtained appointments in the Post Office in the period referred to in the question show an increase on the previous year or not?

I do not think it shows a decrease.

Are not permanent appointments throughout the Civil Service available to boy clerks?

I cannot answer that, but I know the Treasury has the whole matter under consideration, and we are really doing our best to find employment for these boys.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether there is at present a lack of candidates for female appointments in the Post Office Savings Bank and other branches of the Post Office; whether boy clerks who are capable of performing the work are being discharged daily; and whether he will consider the advisability of re-arranging the staff, so that instead of endeavouring to induce girls to undertake duties under his Department he will utilise the material already to hand by the permanent retention of suitable boy clerks.

I have no reason to suppose that there is now any lack of candidates for the female appointments mentioned. The boy clerks to whom the hon. Member refers are apparently those who, in accordance with the conditions of their employment, which apply to the whole Civil Service, terminate their service at the age of twenty. One of the advantages gained by the recent re-arrangement in the Savings Bank is that it will permit of some reduction in the number of boy clerks employed.

Of boy clerks?

In this case the boy clerks are not under the Post Office, and they leave at twenty under the Treasury regulations.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether his personal attention has been called to the case of Kirkchester, in the West Riding of Yorkshire; and whether the Board of Education is prepared to accept the proposal of the governors of the endowed school there to provide a new central school without imposing any burden upon the rates, and under such conditions that the wishes of the parents, whether members of the Church of England or Nonconformists, with regard to the religious instruction of their children would receive satisfaction.

I beg to be excused from distinguishing between cases which have and which have not been brought to my personal notice. I take full responsibility for all. A proposal of the governors is before the Board, but the questions involved are extremely complicated, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject. I must not, however, be taken as admitting that the conditions proposed would meet the wishes of the parents, whether they are members of the Church of England or Noncontormists, with regard to the religious instruction of the children.

asked if the right hon. Gentleman would order further inquiry or agree to receive a deputation from the local education authority, as the time had nearly run out?

said he did not think an inquiry was desirable, but he would look further into the matter and answer the hon. Member later on.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education what was the total number of male and female teachers respectively paying into the Teachers' Superannuation Fund on 31st March, 1907; what was the total amount paid by the teachers in the year ending 31st March, 1907, and the total amount for the seven years ending 31st March, 1907; what was the total sum paid to the teachers in the year ending 31st March 1907, and when the promised revision of the scale of such payments will be made known to teachers; and whether he can yet state what alterations will be made in the amount of superannuation payments to be paid in future to the teachers.

If my hon. friend will allow me I will circulate the Answer, which must necessarily be rather long, with the Votes.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the statement made by the President of the Board last December that he hoped to be able to revise the regulations with reference to swine fever and to remove some of the hardships incidental thereto, he will, in devising fresh regulations, bear in mind the representations made on the subject of the exclusion of pigs from Ireland; and whether, in view of the greater success obtained by Ireland in dealing with swine fever, he will see that any future regulations will not unfairly restrict the importation of pigs from Ireland.

The representations made by the hon. Member will be kept in view, but the new Orders which my noble friend proposes to issue do not relate to importation of swine from Ireland to great Britain.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the amount of Crown overtime paid to preventive officers and preventive men for the year 1907; and the number of hours of Sunday duty performed by the re-rummage crews in Gravesend in the years 1905, 1906, and 1907, respectively.

I am informed that the amount of Crown overtime paid to preventive officers and preventive men for the year 1907 was £10,792 19s. 10d. The number of hours of Sunday duty performed by the re-rummage crews in Gravesend in the years 1905, 1906, and 1907, was: 1905, 325 hours; 1906, 411 hours; 1907, 412 hours.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will explain why there was but one baggage crew in attendance for three passenger ships with 140 passengers on Sunday, the 9th instant, at Tilbury Dock, while officers on river duty at Gravesend were obliged to attend to passengers in Tilbury Dock, thereby leaving the river unprotected during their absence.

I am informed that the three vessels referred to were berthed at 8.15 a.m., 1.55 p.m., and 3.48 p.m., respectively. The first was dealt with by the station staff, the second by the same staff supplemented by a crew for whose attendance arrangements had previously been made, and these staffs also dealt with the third vessel. It is not the case that the river was left unprotected as stated in the last part of the Question. I may add that the standing directions on the subject of Sunday attendance, made in the interests of economy and of the staff, are that great care is to be taken that no more officers are called out for duty than are absolutely necessary. The Board of Customs inform me that they are satisfied that the staff provided on the occasions in question was adequate for both classes of duty.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether a new or revised scheme of compensation to workmen who may be injured while employed in Government establishments has been submitted to the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies for approval; and, if so, was the scheme submitted to the employees for their consideration; and were they given a reasonable time to decide whether they should accept or reject the scheme.

Yes, Sir, a revised scheme has been submitted to the Chief Registrar and approved by him. It has since been submitted to the employees for consideration and for their acceptance if they think fit. The Treasury requested the Departments to allow the workmen a week's interval, where possible, before deciding as to the acceptance of the scheme.

asked if in some of the dockyards the papers were called in in less than a week?

said that the Treasury understood that the workmen desired a week's notice, and had consequently recommended that where possible such notice should be given. The Treasury had no knowledge as to whether in some cases less than a week's notice had been given, and any question on the subject should be addressed to the Minister representing the Department concerned.

Why have the Government initiated a scheme to enable Government employees to contract out of an Act passed unanimously by this House?

asked for notice.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the decision of the Government, under the Superannuation Act, 1859, in respect of ex-sailors and ex-soldiers, was arrived at without ascertaining the number of men affected by such decision; and whether the Government are satisfied that these men have been adequately recompensed for their services, having regard to the pay and conditions of other servants of His Majesty, whose remuneration and conditions of service have been reconsidered and improved since 1859.

The Answer to both parts of the hon. Member's Question is in the affirmative.

What is the objection to giving any figures to the House?

said the collection of information with regard to numbers was not only very troublesome, but somewhat expensive, and the information was not of sufficient advantage to justify the trouble and the expense.

Is the House to understand that the question whether the number is large or small is a matter of indifference to the Government?

said it was a question not of number, but of principle.

What is the principle involved?

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he has now received the Report of an expert upon the condition of the River Leven; if so whether the Report indicates a satisfactory state of matters; and whether the Report will be laid upon the Table of the House for the information of Members.

I have received the Report referred to by my hon. friend. The state of matters disclosed is not satisfactory: the Report will be laid upon the Table.

When may we expect the Report?

I will lay it as soon as possible.

Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate a day?

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the sentence on Joseph Hume, condemned to death at Aberdeen for a murder committed in Morayshire, is, under the Judge's order to be carried out at Inverness where no execution has taken place for seventy-three years, and where the prison is in the middle of a residential district, and that a very strong feeling has been aroused in Inverness against this arrangement, whether he can, and if so, will, order the venue to be changed, or failing this whether he will give instructions that the tolling of the bell and display of the black flag be dispensed with.

The practice is for the sentence of death to be carried out in the prison for the district in which the crime was committed. Hume committed murder in the County of Elgin, and Inverness prison is the prison for that county. Accordingly, the magistrates of Inverness are, in terms of the Warrant by the High Court, charged with the execution of the capital sentence Instructions have been given for the tolling of the bell to be dispensed with on this occasion.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, having regard to the entire absence of crime in the district, as also to the fact that the alleged reasons for its erection have long since ceased to exist, he will suggest to the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary the advisability of having the police hut removed from Dromod, near Ballybay in the county of Monaghan.

The police hub in question was originally provided upwards of twenty years ago as a protection post, but for the past ten years it has been used as a permanent police station with a district attached, and the police employed there perform all the ordinary duties appertaining to a police station. The locality is peaceable, hut the two nearest police stations are each five miles distant, and the Inspector-General thinks it necessary that the station should be retained for ordinary police purposes.

And is it an example of retrenchment to keep on a hut which the Inspector-General says is not necessary?

On the contrary, he says it is required as an ordinary police station and that is the reason why it is retained.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the loan which is being given to boards of guardians in Ireland this year to procure seed, oats, and potatoes, in consequence of the failure of those crops last year, will be given free of interest, the same as has been done on former occasions, with a view to lessening the cost of the seed on the people getting it.

The Answer to this Question is in the negative. Prior to the year 1905 the interest on seed loans was paid out of the Church Temporalities Fund, which fund now forms part of the endowment of the Department of Agriculture. Interest was charged on the loans made in 1905, but the Department gave a grant towards the cost of the seed which more than covered the interest charged on the loans.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state how many estates in County Leitrim have been sold since the passing of the Land Act of 1903; and also how many of those sales have been completed and taken over by the Irish Land Commission.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that up to the 8th instant proceedings for purchase had been instituted before them in respect of seventy-nine estates in County Leitrim, and advances had actually been made in respect of eighteen of these estates.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state how many evicted tenants have been reinstated in County Leitrim, under the Land Act of 1903, and also under the Evicted Tenants Act of 1907; how many cases of reinstatement of evicted tenants in the same county are at present under consideration; and if he can state in how many cases have the present occupiers of evicted farms in County Leitrim expressed their willingness to the Estates Commissioners to surrender those farms and accept compensation.

The Estates Commissioners are at present preparing for presentation to Parliament the Return prescribed by Section 3 of the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, which will contain particulars of all cases of the restoration of evicted tenants. It is not considered desirable to delay the compilation of that Return by diverting the Commissioners' staff to the preparation of partial Returns in a different form. The prescribed Return will be presented as soon as possible.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland why the Congested Districts Board failed to purchase the congested portion of the Kenmare estate, County Kerry, when it was offered to them; and if the Board propose to do anything in future to deal with the congested districts on this estate as they have dealt with similar districts elsewhere, or do they intend to allow the opportunity of dealing with a large area and a congested population to pass without using their powers to improve the position of affairs on the estate.

In November last Lord Kenmare offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board the portion of his estate in the congested electoral divisions of Coon, Coolies, and Doocarrig, at prices which represent a reduction of 7s. 3d. in the £ on first term rents, and 5s. 3d. on second term rents, these prices having been agreed upon between a committee of the tenants and Lord Kenmare. The Congested Districts Board decided that they could not purchase on the proposed terms. If they should take over the property with the sale price of each holding to the tenant already fixed, they would have no power to enter upon holdings for the construction of roads and drains or the apportionment of turbary, nor could they carry out any re-arrangement of the holdings without the consent of all the landholders concerned. Moreover, the Board have no funds at present available for improvement works. In these circumstances, the Board do not propose to make any further effort to purchase the property.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state what stage has been reached in the improvement scheme under the Labourers Acts by the Dunmanway District Council; what is the cause of the delay in sending the petition for the local inquiry to the Local Government Board; and will steps be taken to expedite matters so that labourers living in unsanitary houses may be promptly provided with better dwellings.

The Local Government Board have ascertained from the clerk of the district council that the proposed scheme has not yet been signed. The maps in relation to the scheme appear to have been made out, and the notices prepared for service on the owners and occupiers. The Local Government Board are about to address the district council in regard to the unnecessary delay which appears to have taken place in the matter.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if steps will be taken to have the weir wall at Tarmonbarry, on the River Shannon, lowered by at least two feet, as, owing to its present state, the farmers in county Leitrim who have low-lying lands suffer losses every year to the extent of several thousands of pounds, owing to their crops, particularly their hay crop, being flooded in consequence of the present great height of the Tarmonbarry weir wall.

I am informed that the course proposed by the hon. Member would have the effect of destroying the navigation above the weir, and owing to this reason the Government do not feel justified in adopting the suggestion.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury how much has been paid in redemption of quit and Crown rents in Ireland.

The amount received in respect of the redemption of quit, etc., rents in Ireland from 2nd July, 1827, when Irish Land Revenues were placed under the charge of the Commissioners of Woods, to 31st March, 1907, is £716,397.