To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the total cost of the recent Royal Commission on Congestion in Ireland. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) The cost of the Royal Commission on Congestion in Ireland., so far as it was borne on the Vote for Temporary Commissions, amounted to £9,465. In addition an expenditure estimated at £5,800 has been incurred in respect of stationery and printing.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state whether the Estates Commissioners have received a reply from the owners of the Crookenden and Casey Estates, County Cavan, to their formal offer for the purchase of this estate; and will he state the effect of the same, with the dates of the offer and reply. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners' offer to purchase the estate in question was dated the 7th instant. They have not yet received a reply to it. It would be contrary to their practice to make any statement as to the details of pending negotiations.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the case of Peter M'Guirk an evicted tenant reinstated on a farm in Drumlinny, County Monaghan, on the sale of the estate of Lord Rossmore, no advance appears to have been sanctioned; will he state when the tenant was put into possession of the farm; why no annuity has been collected from him, though his name is listed in the Return issued under the Evicted Tenants Act of tenants reinstated; and whether it is the intention of the Commissioners to ask this evicted tenant, who has no means whatever, to pay all the accrued interest since his reinstatement. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners cannot trace the name Peter M'Guirk, of Drumlinny, but one Peter M'Guirk has been reinstated in a holding on Lord Rossmore's estate in the townland of Effernagh, and the holding was vested in him as purchase on 1st June, 1906. He has paid the purchase instalments punctually.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state what decision the Estates Commissioners have arrived at in reference to the application of Peter M'Guirk, an evicted tenant, who was reinstated in his holding on the sale of the estate in County Monaghan, of Lord Rossmore, for a grant to enable him to begin farming again; and is he aware that at the time of the tenant's reinstatement the land was covered in furze, the fences broken down, and the houses in ruins, and that since the time when he was reinstated he has lived in an out-house without chimney or fireplace; and will he now have this case taken up and dealt with. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have received from Peter M'Guirk, of Effernagh, an application for a grant, and the application is at present under their consideration.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what procedure the Government intend to follow with regard to the Port of London Bill after it has been reported by the Joint Committee. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The Bill when reported by the Joint Committee will, I understand, be re-committed to a Committee of the Whole House, and the subsequent procedure will follow the usual course in regard to Public Bills.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether there is any intention on the part of His Majesty's Government to waive any condition as to compulsory working of patents in this country beyond that provided for in the Patents Act of 1907, whereby the patentee is afforded an opportunity of giving reasons for his failure to work before the patent is revoked by the Comptroller or the Court. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) No, Sir.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any recent Report from the police directing attention to the number of market carts standing in the vicinity of Spitalfields Market on market days; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any steps with a view to the removal of this inconvenience to the public. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I have not received any recent Report from the police on this subject. The matter was considered by the Royal Commission on London Traffic, who reported that the Corporation of the City, on acquiring this market, would take steps to remove the grounds of complaint. As the Attorney-General stated yesterday, in a reply to a Question by Mr. Stuart Samuel, litigation respecting the purchase of the leasehold of the market by the Corporation is still proceeding, and the Corporation will do everything that is possible to expedite matters. The police have no power to act within the market limits.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the Annual Report of the Council of Judges of the Supreme Court in accordance with Section 75 of the Judicature Act, 1873, for the years 1907 and 1908, or either of such years; and if so, whether he can inform the House what proposals are contained in such Reports or Report to remedy the dislocation of the business of the King's Bench Division consequent upon the passing of the Criminal Appeal Act; and, in case no Report has been received in conformity with the statute, whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to procure it, and particularly in view of the fact that only three Reports were made between 1873 and 1906. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) No Report has been presented by the Council of Judges for 1907 and 1908, but I understand that a committee has been sitting during the last month and has made a Report, which will shortly be issued, dealing with the business of the King's Bench Division and other subjects.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received and considered applications from Bernard M'Garrahan and William M'Cullagh, sons of evicted tenants on the Ely estate, County Fermanagh, to be restored to the holdings formerly held by their fathers, or to have new holdings allotted to them; and will their claims be considered in the division of the untenanted lands on the Ely estate in the course of the sale now pending. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have received applications from Bernard M'Garrahan and William M'Cullagh, but, as the evictions in respect of which they claim reinstatement took place previous to 14th August, 1878, the applicants do not come within the provisions of Section 2 (1) (d) of the Act of 1903.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that three prosecutions have taken place recently at Dartford police court, under the circumstances that for over twenty years meetings and religious services have been periodically held in front of the Bull Hotel, Dartford, within the knowledge of the authorities; that on the 24th instant Ensign Roy of the Salvation Army was summoned for obstruction at this spot by holding a religious service, and was convicted and fined 20s., or in the alternative, fourteen days imprisonment; and that the Salvation Army held another service on the same spot on Sunday last, and the same action has been followed by the authorities in the case of Mrs. Roy; and whether he will advise the extension of the clemency of the Crown by remitting the sentence. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I had not previously heard of the matter, but I will make inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give the number of deaths from anæsthetics in England in each year ending 30th June from 1901 to 1908; whether the percentage of deaths to administrations has increased; whether the increase, if any, has been in private as well as in hospital practice; and whether he will consider the advisability of asking the Royal Society or the Royal College of Physicians to institute an inquiry into the cause or causes of the increase in the number of deaths, and advise him whether any rules are required regulating the conditions under which anæsthetics are given. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The number of deaths under anæsthetics administered for the purpose of operations which occurred in England and Wales in each year ending 31st December, from 1901 to 1906, is given in the Reports of the Registrar-General. The figures are: In 1901, 133; in 1902, 148; in 1903, 146; in 1904, 156; in 1905, 155; and in 1906, 183. I am unable to give the other information asked for; but the whole question is already receiving consideration by the Government in consultation with the General Medical Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the proposal made by the London County Council in its. General Powers Bill, 1906, to establish a system of motor ambulances to deal with street accidents in London, was opposed by the Corporation of the City of London, before a Committee of this House, in favour of horsed ambulances; whether he is aware that the Corporation of the City of London, have now adopted and are successfully working in the City a system of motor ambulances on the lines suggested by the London County Council for the whole of the county; and what are his reasons for opposing the extension of this system to the County of London. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The proposals made by the London County Council in their Bill of 1906 were opposed by Sir Ralph Littler on behalf of the Corporation of the City, but the ground of the opposition was only in so far as the County Council proposed to take powers in the City as well as in other parts of the Metropolis. The electric motor ambulance service in the City was inaugurated in 1907. I understand that up to the present only one ambulance has been started, but the service as at present working, gives, I believe, complete satisfaction. The reasons for opposing the proposals made by the London County Council in 1906 are given in the Home Office Report which was before the Committee of both Houses, The view taken in that Report was that it was a question whether any additional facilities required would not be more efficiently and economically provided by a development of the existing services, rather than by the establishment of a new public service acting independently of existing agencies. It was decided that the best course was to appoint a departmental committee to consider the whole question, and it is hoped that this committee will report in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department where the expenditure on the wheeled litter ambulances placed in the streets of London during the last two years by his authority is set out; whether he is aware that the London County Council submitted in its General Powers Bill of 1906 a proposal to establish a motor ambulance system for accidents for London, and that proposal received the unanimous support of this House; whether the clauses dealing with this proposal were struck out of the Bill in another place on his suggestion; whether the expenditure on wheeled litter ambulances was authorised by him after these clauses were struck out of this General Powers Bill; and whether he has power in any other county or town in England to charge the rate without the consent of the ratepayers and, if not, why is London the exception. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) Particulars of the expenditure from the Metropolitan Police Fund in respect of wheeled litter ambulances are not shown separately in the accounts of the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District. The London County Council's Bill of 1906 provided for general powers to establish an ambulance service, but their intention was only to provide a service of an experimental and limited character. The clauses dealing with the matter were thrown out by a Committee of the House of Lords after consideration of the Home Office Report on the Bill, and a Departmental Committee was shortly afterwards appointed to inquire into the whole question. Wheeled litters have been sanctioned since 1906, and others previously sanctioned have been placed out since that date, according as it has been found possible to meet existing needs. I have no similar powers elsewhere than in the Metropolitan Police District, the powers as regards the provision of litters in that district belonging to the Secretary of State as police authority for the Metropolis.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board has made any representations or inquiries of the Andover Rural District Council relative to the recent enclosure of the village green at Ridenham; and whether he has any further information as to the steps being taken by the district council to protect public rights in this matter.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been drawn to the Addendum to the Report of the Committee on Fishery Investigations; whether the representatives of the Board signed an Addendum recommending the creation of one fishery authority for the whole of the United Kingdom and the abolition of the Scottish Fishery Board and the Irish Board of Fisheries; and whether the representative who signed the Addendum correctly represented the view of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries on this matter. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The reply to the first and second parts of the Question is in the affirmative. Mr. Rew in the Addendum to the Report expressed his personal opinion only. The Board themselves, as I have already stated, do not desire the creation of a single Board of Fisheries for the whole of the United Kingdom.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the committee appointed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to inquire into the question of distemper in dogs have carried on or intend to carry on any experiments on dogs by inoculations or otherwise for the purpose of their inquiry; if so, where will such experiments be conducted, by whom and at whose expense, and how many dogs have up to now been used for this purpose, and with what results. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The experiments will be conducted on registered premises by members of the committee, who hold the necessary licence, and the expenses will be defrayed out of public subscriptions. Thirteen dogs have up to the present time been used for the purpose mentioned. It is too early to make any statement as to the results of the inquiry, but a full Report will be issued by the committee in due course.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Regulations under the Old-Age Pensions Bill will be issued before the adjournment, or, if not, will they be circulated during the Recess. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I hope that the Regulations will be ready in the course of a few days. I propose that they should be presented to Parliament at the earliest possible moment.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that certain Volunteer quarter-master-sergeants obtained their discharge from their old corps in order to take commissions as quartermasters in the new Territorial units, and that these commissions were refused them by the War Office because they were over forty years of age, whereas if they had remained as non-commissioned officers they could have served until fifty-five years of age; and whether he can see his way to alter this Regulation. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane) The War Office is aware of one case of a staff-sergeant (sergeant-major), which is being considered specially. It is not considered desirable to alter the Regulation referred to.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that khaki uniforms are being made in the homes of the poor in the East End of London; whether this is in conformity with the Fair Wages Resolution of this House; whether he can state who are the contractors; whether this domestic employment is a case of sub-contracting; whether he is aware that some of the contractors are working their employees seven days per week; and, if this is not sweating, what action he intends to take in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) If the hon. Member is referring to the making of uniforms for the Regular Forces, all home work is strictly forbidden by the contracts, and I have no reason to think that the rule is being broken. If the hon. Member will bring to my notice any specific case of alleged infringement of the rule or any case where employees are working seven days a week inquiry will at once be made and stringent action taken if the allegations are found to be justified. If the reference is to the making of uniforms for the Territorial Force, I can only refer the hon. Member to my Answer of the 28th instant.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the quantity of stores and ammunition available at Woolwich is insufficient for a week's normal supply; and, if so, whether he will cause an inquiry to be held to ascertain who is responsible for that state of things, and take steps to promptly remedy this shortage. To ask the Secretary of State for War what are the present stocks of small-arm and gun ammunition available for immediate use at Woolwich, and how the figures relating to such stocks compare with the corresponding figures for the year ending 31st July, 1907 and 1906 respectively. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) May I reply to Questions No. 82 and 83 together? I can assure the hon. Member that the state of things which he suggests does not exist. I do not consider it advisable to publish the figures asked for, but I may say that the present stocks of gun and small-arm ammunition are in accordance with the scales laid down. Woolwich is, of course, only one of many places where these stocks are kept.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that non-commissioned officers and men of the Territorial Army obtain a long service medal, he will grant the same to the officers as a reward for long service in the Volunteer Forces. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The grant of a decoration for officers of the Territorial Force, corresponding to the Volunteer officers' decoration, is at present under consideration.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the number of Exchequer and Audit Department officials who are likely to retire on pension before the end of the present year, and the approximate amount of pension to which each of them will be entitled. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) I am not prepared to make inquiry as to possible retirements in the Department. Information on both these points will be available in due course in the Estimate for Class 6, Vote 1, for 1909–10.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give the dates on which the members of the promotion Committee in the Exchequer and Audit Department met in 1905, 1906, 1907, and 1908, the total membership of this committee, and the number present at each meeting. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) This Question relates to matters that, under Section 9 of 29 and 30 Vict., c. 39, are entirely within the discretion and authority of the Comptroller and Auditor-General, and I have no power to interfere.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Conference on removal expenses of members of the Army Accounts Department and of holders of appointments under similar conditions under the Admiralty and Exchequer and Audit Department have been adopted by the latter Department; and, if not, will he explain why. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) The recommendations are in force for removals, the cost of which falls on Imperial revenues. In the case of removals; the expenses of which are repaid by the Colonies, special rules have been laid down by the Colonial Office.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the amount realised for 1907–8 by the Exchequer and Audit Department from the sale of stamps attached in prepayment for carriage to official parcels of accounts received from the Crown Colonies and Protectorates. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) Nil.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that three-fifths of the Old Colonial Audit Branch nominated officials passed no actual educational test examination on entry to the public service and possessed no academic qualifications of any kind he will explain how the Comptroller and Auditor-General satisfied himself as to the educational qualifications of these men; and why salaries, varying from £65 to £115 per annum in excess of those of their ex Second Division open-competition contemporaries and colleagues employed on the same duties, are now granted to such of these officials as return from unhealthy climates abroad. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) I have nothing to add to the previous replies in connection with these points.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider the advisability of reducing the cost of obtaining a copy of a certificate of birth to 1s. or a less sum in the case of any applicants for old-age pensions who may be required to produce such certificates. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) The point is one which is receiving careful consideration in connection with the regulations under the Act. I hope that as a general rule it will be found to be practicable, by checking the statements of applicants against the records of the Registrar General to dispense with the necessity for the production of actual certificates by the applicants themselves.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he has received a copy of the resolution passed by the Mo- hill, County Leitrim, board of guardians at their meeting held on Thursday the 9th instant, with reference to extending the time for repayment of the seed loan to four years from two years as at present arranged; and, if so, will the said recommendation be carried out. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I have received a copy of the Resolution referred to. A period of two years has in the past proved sufficient for the repayment of the cost of the seed, and I am not aware of any adequate reason for extending the time on the present occasion.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Estates Commissioners' inspector has sent in his report with regard to the reinstatement of Mrs. Alice Reilly, Aughavas, County Leitrim, an evicted tenant on the estate of Lord Harlech. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have considered Alice Reilly's application, and, as they have not been able to arrange for her reinstatement in her former holding, they have placed her name on the list of persons suitable to be provided with a holding should untenanted land become available in the neighbourhood.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Estates Commissioners will reconsider their decision as regards the reinstatement of Michael Dunne, son of the late Thomas Dunne, an evicted tenant at Mong, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, on the Marsham estate; and, in the event of his being unable to get the farm from which his father was evicted, will he be provided with another farm elsewhere. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that Michael Dunne is at present in occupation of a farm. The holding to which he seeks to be restored has been occupied by the present tenant since 1881. The Commissioners do not consider the matter to be one calling for any action on their part.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from John Reynolds, Drumbeira, Garvagh, Mohill, County Leitrim, on the Croften estate, as the direct representative of the evicted tenant, and which is at present in the occupation of a man named Michael Reynolds; and will the Estates Commissioners offer compensation to Mr. Reynolds with a view to reinstating the evicted tenant's representative, John Reynolds. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners are unable to trace the receipt of any application from John Reynolds for reinstatement in a holding on the Croften estate, County Leitrim, and they have no information in the matter.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of Catholic and Protestant householders in William Street, Portadown; how long, prior to the present month, was it since an Orange arch had been erected in this street; and whether any police patrol was in the street on the night of the 12th instant when disorderly conduct took place. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The numbers of Catholic and Protestant householders in William Street, Portadown, are twenty-one and thirty-five respectively. The last occasion, prior to the present month, on which an Orange arch was erected in the street was 11th July, 1907. The police patrolled through William Street and the adjacent streets from 9 p.m. on 12th instant to 4 a.m. on 13th instant continuously. No disorderly conduct came under the notice of the police patrols in William Street.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieu- tenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, after the business of the Caledon petty sessions was over on the 10th instant, Mr. Townsend, the resident magistrate, ordered the public to leave the Court, cautioned two reporters who remained not to take any notice of his remarks, and then, with the concurrence of Dr. Patterson and Mr. Mercer, the only other magistrates present, rebuked the police for not using their batons and dispersing a Nationalist band which paraded the streets of Caledon on the 7th instant, notwithstanding the fact that this band played both Nationalist and Orange airs alternately and had a large number of Protestant followers; whether any of the magistrates present on the bench were Catholics; how many Catholics are on the bench in the district; and whether Mr. Townsend was exceeding his duty in making the remarks referred to, and, if so, whether any official notice will be taken of the incident. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The police have reported that on the 6th instant, from 7 p.m. until a late hour on the following day, a band, followed by a large crowd, paraded the streets of Caledon. The band played Orange and Nationalist airs alternately, and the crowd shouted and yelled. The occasion was the expected eviction of a publican on the following day; but a settlement was come to at the last moment and the eviction did not take place. The small local force was not sufficient to prevent the disorder during the night, but reinforcements were summoned and arrived next morning. Mr. Townsend, the resident magistrate, informs me that at Caledon petty sessions on the 10th instant his brother magistrates complained of the matter, whereupon he asked the police why they had allowed such an intolerable state of things to continue for twenty-four hours to the annoyance of the inhabitants. He said he thought they should have stopped it, but said nothing about batoning. Mr. Townsend's remarks appear to have been made in the interests of the peace and good order of his district, and do not call for official notice. The reason for the inaction of the police has already been stated. The fact that in this instance Orangemen and Nationalists were united in a common purpose does not afford any justification for disturbing the quiet inhabitants of the town for a whole night.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that for the last twenty-five years the Wexford Rural District Council have been in the habit of entering into agreements with the parties interested in the lands proposed to be acquired compulsorily for the purposes of the Labourers Acts; that under the improvement scheme they are at present about to carry out the council entered into a number of such agreements; that in cases where they failed to agree as to the price to be paid for the land they applied to the Local Government Board to appoint an arbitrator for that purpose; that on 8th May last the Board appointed an arbitrator to determine the purchase money to be paid so far as compensation for the same has been made the subject of agreement, and that the arbitrator did inquire into such cases; that on 18th June the Local Government Board wrote to the district council to the effect that in a case affecting the Newtownards Rural District Council the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice in Ireland had unanimously decided that it was not competent for any district council where the lands were proposed to be compulsorily acquired to enter into agreements with the parties interested, and that the compensation therefore should be arrived at by the arbitrator, and accordingly the cases in which agreements had been entered into by the Wexford District Council should be submitted to him; that the arbitrator, notwithstanding the limitation to his appointment, did sit and inquire into these agreement cases and spent a considerable time inspecting the said sites; and whether, having regard to the terms of Section 3 (1) of the Labourers Act of 1896 and Sections 4 and 7 of the Housing of the Working Classes Act of 1890, the Local Government Board propose to appeal against the judgment of the King's Bench so as to have the law on the subject well-established. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The facts are generally as stated in the Question. The Local Government Board do not propose to appeal against the decision of the King's Bench Division in the Newtownards case. An appeal, in fact, has been lodged by the prosecutors in that case, and the matter must therefore be regarded as being still sub judice.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that the rules made by the Intermediate Education Board with the approval of the Lord-Lieutenant under the authority of the Intermediate Education Act of 1900, contemplated the introduction, as part of the system of intermediate education in Ireland, of a scheme providing for the appointment of a staff of permanent inspectors; that the late Government in November, 1905, came to the conclusion that the time had arrived for a reconsideration of the reasons which were previously urged against the adoption of the scheme; that with a view to such reconsideration as well as to place the Government in possession of expert opinion on the question of affecting a much needed co-ordination of the systems of intermediate, primary, and technical education, so far as co-ordination is practicable within the limits of existing powers, a committee representative of the three educational systems was appointed, with instructions to make a Report to the Government on the matters mentioned; whether he will state the names of the representatives who formed this committee; what was the date of its Report; what were the committee's recommendations; whether any action has since been taken on its recommendations; and whether he will now consent to lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the Report of the committee the appointment of which so strongly commended itself to the departments concerned. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The rules of the Intermediate Education Board made in 1902 prescribed bonuses for schools which on inspection should be reported as satisfactory or highly satisfactory. In November, 1905, the Government suggested that the question of the appointment of a staff of permanent inspectors might be usefully reconsidered in the light of, and in conjunction with, the suggestions for co-ordination of the systems of primary and intermediate education made by Messrs. Dale and Stephens in their then recently published Report on Intermediate Education. As a result the matter was considered by a committee consisting of the Right Reverend Dr. Archdall, Bishop of Killaloe and Dr. Starkie, nominated by the Board of National Education, Mr. Justice Madden and the Reverend T. A. Finlay, nominated by the Intermediate Education Board, and Mr. Gill and Mr. Fletcher, nominated by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction. The Report of the Committee, which is marked private and confidential, is dated January, 1906. Its principal recommendation is the appointment of permanent inspectors under the Intermediate Education Board. My predecessor informed the right hon. Gentleman in 1906 that he could not undertake to present the Report in question to Parliament, and I am not prepared to depart from his ruling. I may say, however, that the Government are at present considering a scheme for the appointment of permanent inspectors, and I have reason to hope that a settlement may be arrived at in the near future.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say what were the number of claims which the Estates Commissioners received from evicted tenants in Queen's County since the passing of the Act of 1903; how many of those tenants were restored or got equivalent farms under the Act of 1903; and how many claims were settled under the Act of last session, and how many remain to be dealt with. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that since the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1903, they have received up to 30th June last 322 applications for re-instatement in Queen's County. Of these applications 129 have been rejected; in fifteen cases the applicants have been restored by the landlords with the assistance of the Commissioners; thirty-six have been provided by the Commisssioners with holdings on lands purchased by them; and seventy-six applicants have been noted as suitable to be provided with holdings in the event of the Commissioners acquiring untenanted land in the neighbourhood of the former holdings; sixty-six of the applications, which were received since 1st May, 1907, have not yet been considered by the Commissioners. Up to the present, no persons have been provided with holdings in Queen's County under the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state when the holdings purchased by the tenants on Lord Listowel's estate in North Kerry will be vested in the tenants so as to reduce the interest on the purchase money from 3½ to 3¼ per cent. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The holdings on this estate, with the exception of a few outstanding cases, were vested in the purchasing tenants on the 16th instant.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can say if the estate of Mr. H. Franks, in North Kerry, has been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners, and, if so, when; has the estate been inspected and reported upon, and, if so, when; what price has the landlord asked, and what price, if any, have the Estates Commissioners offered for the estate; and at what probable date may the sale be completed. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the estate of Mr. H. Franks in County Kerry has been offered to them under Section 6. An offer has been made to the owner, but he has not, up to the present, agreed to accept it. The Commissioners cannot, therefore, say when the sale will be completed. It would be contrary to the Commissioners' practice to make any statement as to the details of pending negotiations.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state when the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Examination Rules and programme for 1909, which was presented on 23rd June, 1908 and ordered to be printed on 7th July, 1908, will be printed for the use of Members of the House of Commons. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) This Paper was circulated yesterday.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the land known as the Jeffcott farm, on the Blacker Douglas estate, situate near Ballylongford, North Kerry, has been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners, with the view of enlarging uneconomic holdings and giving plots of land to labourers in the district; whether the farm has been inspected and reported upon; and, if so, will the Estates Commissioners secure this farm so as to relieve congestion in a very poor district. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they will not be in a position to give the required information until they have received the report of the inspector to whom all the papers in connection with the estate in question have been referred.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state the number of deaths from plague, cholera, and small-pox, respectively, in any quinquennial period prior to the establishment of British supremacy in India, in the territories corresponding with, or approximating to, the presidencies of Madras, Bombay, Bengal, including East Bengal, the United Provinces, and the Punjab; also the amount spent on famine relief, and the amount of remissions or suspensions of land revenue in each of the provinces named during the like period on account of the total or partial failure of crops; and whether he can give the same information in respect of any other administration in Asia, whether or not under direct or indirect European control. (Answered by Mr. Buchanan.) No, we have no means of obtaining the information asked for by the hon. Member.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether Mr. Kothandaramayya, formerly deputy collector and magistrate in the Madras presidency, petitioned the Secretary of State for a copy of the proceedings on his appeal against his dismissal from the service; whether such petition has been refused; if so, for what reason, and will the Secretary of State agree to lay the Papers dealing with the matter upon the Table of the House. (Answered by Mr. Buchanan.) The appellant did petition the Secretary of State for a copy of the orders passed in disposing of his case. On inquiry, it was ascertained that the substance of the orders had been duly communicated to the memorialist. The Secretary of State knew no reason why passages in the orders passed, not dealing with the merits of the case but containing instructions to the Madras Government, should be communicated to the memorialist; nor does he see any advantage in laying the Papers upon the Table of the House.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that Mr. Kothandaramayya, formerly deputy-collector and magistrate in the Madras Presidency, appealed to the Secretary of State for India against the order of the Madras Government removing him from service, and that the Secretary of State, as a result of inquiry, characterised the procedure as arbitrary and unjudicial; and whether, in consequence of the view so taken, any relief or reparation was granted Mr. Kothandaramayya. (Answered by Mr. Buchanan). The Secretary of State did not use the language mentioned in the Question He desired, in April, 1904, that the memorialist might be informed that he saw no sufficient reason for disturbing the order passed by the Madras Government in his case, in dismissing him from the service of the Government. The present Secretary of State in July, 1907, on a full consideration of a renewed appeal by the memorialist, refused to re-open the question.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India, if he will state what amount of compensation has been paid to the sons and grandsons of the late Krachar Shri Ala Chela, Chief of the third-class State of Jasdan in Kathiawar, since they were disinherited by order of His Majesty's Government; and whether States, even smaller than that held by the above chief, have in recent years been divided among the heirs, according to the traditional custom which was overruled in the case of Jasdan. (Answered by Mr. Buchanan). I have no information as to the allowances allotted to the sons and grandsons of the late Chief of Jasdan, but it was a condition of the succession of the present Chief that he should make suitable grants to them in maintenance and should act on any advice that might be given to him by Government as to these grants of "giras." As regards the smaller States in which since the Jasdan decision succession may have taken place in accordance with the custom of division, I would point out that in cases where the application of the principle of division has resulted in States losing internal sovereignty and coming under British control and the Thana System, the reasons of policy that governed the Jasdan decision, viz., the maintenance of an estate large enough to support internal sovereignty, do not apply.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state the nature of the tribunal to whom the investigation of the importation of spirits into Nigeria is to be referred; what is its constitution; and what are the terms of reference thereto. (Answered by Colonel Seely). The Colonial Office is in communication with the Native Races and the Liquor Traffic United Committee as to the best manner of conducting the investigation. It is probable that some time will elapse before the details can be settled, but my right hon. friend may rest assured that there shall be no avoidable delay.

To ask the Under-secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will explain why members of the Exchequer and Audit Department serving in the Crown Colonies and Protectorates are not allowed their travelling expenses to and from the ports of embarkation. (Answered by Colonel Seely). I can only assure my hon. friend that officers of the Exchequer and Audit Department are treated precisely in the same way as all civil officers of the Crown Colonies and Protectorates who receive free passages. It is an old-established practice that free passages should not carry also the right to free railway journeys, etc., between the port of embarkation and the home of the officers.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the committee under the chairmanship of the Governor of Jamaica, appointed to distribute the money voted by Parliament and subscribed by the English public towards the relief of the sufferers from the Kingston earthquake, has caused grants to be made to certain sufferers on the condition that such funds were to be expended only in litigation for the prosecution of insurance claims; and, seeing that this money was intended to be applied to relief, whether he has sanctioned this diversion from its original object; and, if not, whether he will signify his disapproval to the Governor of Jamaica. (Answered by Colonel Seely). In the Report of the Assistance Committee for the period ended 31st March last the following passage occurs:—"It appeared to the Committee that one of the most effective and practical means of giving assistance would be to help those persons who had lost property and stock by fire and whose insurance claims were contested, with the result that they were unable to rebuild or to resume business, to obtain at any rate a legal decision upon their claims. The Committee having ascertained that the majority of the persons so affected had combined to support legal action on their common behalf, and that the plaintiffs in two test cases had been successful in actions in the Supreme Court and on appeal, and were in pressing need of funds to defend an appeal against these judgments before the Privy Council, the Committee decided to allot to each of such persons so interested, who had applied to them for assistance and whose case on investigation, they had decided to be one which they were entitled to aid under the law, a special grant to assist him or her to defray his share of the legal expenses of prosecuting the last-mentioned appeals. In all cases, therefore, in which they had decided to give a building grant or a trade grant to an insured person so situated they further allotted an amount equal to 2 per cent. on the amount for which such person had been insured and had been refused allotment by an insurance company, on the condition that if he should be successful in his claim the amount of such allotment should be returned into the Assistance Fund. The grants made in this manner amounted to £2,263 3s. 3d. As has already been stated, in cases in which a building grant was made on a building destroyed by fire it was stipulated that if fire insurance was recovered a proportion of the amount received should be repaid into the Assistance Fund according to the scale on which the grant had been made." The Secretary of State sees no reason to question the action of the Committee in making grants to enable persons who had lost property and stock by the fire, and whose insurance claims were contested, to obtain a legal decision on their claims.

To ask the President of the Board, of Trade whether Continental hops are now being offered on forward contract to be delivered in London in October next at 28s. 6d. per cwt.; and whether such hops can be dealt with in England without being subject to the provisions of the Hop (Prevention of Frauds) Act, 1866. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) It is possible that Continental hops of old stock or of the lowest grade of 1908 crop may have been offered at the price stated. I am informed, however, that current quotations range from 30s. to 70s. per cwt. without business. I understand that the Select Committee on the Hop Industry were of opinion that it would be impracticable to apply the general provisions of the Act of 1866 to foreign hops without further legislation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will state at what period of the year the hop crop is picked in the United States of America; and whether he is aware that so-called 1908 American hops have been advertised for sale in London during the present month of July. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) I am informed that American hops are not picked until August. I have no information as to the latter part of the Question.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what was the acreage of hops cultivated in the Western States of America and in England in each of the last twenty-five years. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The following statement gives the information desired by the hon. Member so far as it is available. Acreage under hops in (1) England and Wales; and (2) the Western Division of the United States of America—

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that under Canadian Law emigrants from this country who develop consumption within two years after arrival in Canada are required to return; and, seeing that the various steamship companies make no provision for the isolation of such passengers, will he consider the expediency of communicating with the companies on the subject. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) I am aware of the provisions of the Canadian Immigration Acts on this subject, and I believe that the steamship companies are fully alive to their responsibilities under those Acts, and take precautions to prevent persons being embarked who are liable to be deported. I will consider whether any further action should be taken, but the powers of the Board of Trade are limited to securing that steerage passengers shall not be embarked who are likely to be a danger to themselves or to others during the voyage.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the abandonment of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Bill, will he introduce legislation to extend the benefits of the Crofters Act to crofter tenants holding under lease. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) I must refer my hon. friend to the terms of my Answer to his Question of yesterday in regard to the Amendment of the Crofters Act.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what have been the average prices of beef per 8 lbs. in Chicago and in New York from July, 1907, to June, 1908. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The following statement gives the parti- culars asked for so far as regards New York. I am endeavouring to obtain corresponding particulars as regards Chicago—

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the imports of foreign hops in 1820 and ach subsequent year. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The following statement gives the information asked for by the hon. Member—:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet got from the Scottish Office the desired information about Talbert Pier, Loch Fyne, and, if so, will he communicate it to the House. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The information with which my right hon. friend has furnished me as the result of his inquiries is to the following effect: The pier in question has been let for a considerable time past by the Campbells of Stonefield. The lease expired in May last, when the property was again adver- tised and the offer of the former lessee accepted. Owing, however, to a difficulty that arose between Mr. Campbell and his tenant, the former decided to make the pier free to the public and he is carrying out certain repairs. Doubts appear to have arisen in the locality as to who is really the owner of the pier, but no authentic information is at present forthcoming on this point.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether all the allocations by the Churches (Scotland) Commission were made months ago; and, if so, when the final distribution will take place. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) A comprehensive statement of the allocation of the entire funds and property of the churches was communicated to the Press on 17th February last, but these allocations are inoperative until given effect to in formal orders which are very numerous and involve detailed adjustments, the completion of which remains largely in the hands of the agents for the churches. It is believed that all the work entailed will be concluded during the extended period for which the Commission has been appointed.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether the additional attendances allowed under Article 43 (c) of the Day School Code in respect of partial exemption scholars are also counted in determining the accommodation of a school and the staff required. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The Answer is in the negative.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the sitting of the Committee on the Police Day of Rest Bill, he will order a ballot to be taken of the constables of the Metropolitan Police Force on the subject; whether his attention has been called to the instructions of the Chief Commissioner of Police to the chief inspectors to ascertain from sergeants and constables their views on a number of questions dealing with weekly leave, loss of payment for such leave, a reduction of pension if such leave were granted, and other matters outside the terms of reference submitted to the Committee; and whether he sanctioned this action of the Chief Commissioner; and, whether, with a view to having a free and impartial return of the men, he will have the question of a day's rest in seven placed before them on ballot papers for them to express their votes for or against. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The hon. Member must have been misinformed. The Commissioner of Police informs me that he has not given instructions for any such inquiries as are mentioned in the Question. The matter is not one in which a ballot could be taken with any advantage, as the chief question involved is one of finance and of increased burden on the ratepayers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many day industrial schools there are in England, and what is the number of scholars, male and female, in average attendance at them and whether any practical difficulties have been found in carrying out the system of religious instruction in those schools, and, if so, what are those difficulties. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) There are fifteen day industrial schools in England. The average attendance in 1707 was 1,257 boys and 694 girls. No difficulties have been experienced in carrying out the system of religious instruction.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what was the English acreage of hops in the years 1820, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, and 1907. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The existing system of collecting returns of the acreage under hops in England only commenced in 1866. The figures for 1875 and other years specified are as follows:—

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what arrangements exist for securing the prompt international notification of the existence of contagious diseases of sheep and cattle in different countries; whether the presence of any contagious diseases of cattle, e.g., foot-and-mouth disease, rinderpest, or pleuro-pneumonia, has been reported during the present year in Canada or the United States; and how many cases have been reported. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) With reference to the first part of the Question perhaps my hon. friend will allow me to refer him to my reply on 28th May to a similar Question by my hon. friend the Member for Bermondsey. The reply to the latter part of the Question is, so far as we are aware, in the negative.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works whether, in view of the amount of unemployment in the building trade, he will put in hand all new Government buildings, and alterations, additions, and repairs to existing buildings for which money has been voted by Parliament, with the object of relieving to some extent the distress now existing in this industry. (Answered by Mr. Harcourt.) I said on 13th July, in answer to the hon. Member for West Ham, that I am as much interested as anybody in pressing on this work, and no time is being lost in doing so.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works whether it was by his authority that an order was issued in March last by which the night watchmen's hours in Greenwich Park were increased from eight to thirteen per night, making ninety-one hours per week without extra pay; and whether, in consequence of objecting to this increase on the ground of its unreasonableness, a watchman of ten years standing has been punished by removal from his position as watchman to that of labourer and debarred from sharing in Sunday duty and over- time; what is the reason for the increase in the working hours; and whether he will make inquiries into the matter with a view to another arrangement being made and the reinstatement of the workman in question. (Answered by Mr. Harcourt.) The arrangement was made in order to bring the duties of the watchman at Greenwich Park into line with the practice in other parks. Before March last there was no watchman on duty at Greenwich during the earlier night hours after closing time. The hours will vary according to the time of the year. The late watchman was given the option of retaining the post, but declined, preferring to revert to ordinary work at 4s. 6d. a day, which was his pay as a watchman, only that he earned it for seven days a week instead of six days as at present. He is not debarred from overtime or Sunday duty, with extra pay, when it may be required. I see no ground for further action in the matter.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works whether the four panels in the Strangers Lobby, two of which are now filled with mosaics, were originally intended to be all filled in with mosaic decoration; are there any cartoons or working drawings in existence intended to provide for the two vacant panels; is it intended in the near future to complete the four; and are the patron saints of Ireland and Scotland to form the motifs for the remaining designs. (Answered by Mr. Harcourt.) I think it most desirable that the two remaining panels should be finished in mosaic, as was always intended; but I fear that the condition of the public finances will not warrant the Government at present in spending money in works of supererogation, however decorative. I may, however, suggest that these panels are very suitable for private generosity on the part of those who are addicted to the missing saints, and I shall be glad to receive any communications in this direction.

To ask the hon. Member for the Elland Division, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether the Charity Commissioners will extend the time allowed for objections and suggestions to the draft scheme in the matter of the Weir Hospital grant by the inhabitants of the parish of Streatham until 14th October next, the date to which they have extended the time to the Wandsworth borough council. (Answered by Mr. Trevelyan.) The Charity Commissioners will extend the time as desired.

To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, in connection with the inquiry which has been asked for, and the consideration by the Admiralty Volunteer Committee into the creation of a new division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at Aberdeen, if he will consider the advisability of holding a public inquiry there, with due notice, so that a local committee might be formed amongst those most likely to be of help in the matter; and if he will keep in view the advantages which would accrue from the retention of H.M.S. "Clyde" as a drill-hall and head-quarters of the proposed new division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) As was stated on the 13th instant, the matter referred to by my hon. friend is receiving consideration in case any extension of the existing numbers of the Naval Volunteers should be required. The matter has not yet reached a stage at which a public inquiry at Aberdeen would be of advantage. The old system of training the Royal Naval Reserve on Board stationary drill ships is being terminated, and in consequence H.M.S. "Clyde" will be paid off on or before 31st March, 1911.

To ask the Lord-Advocate whether he is aware that on Saturday, 18th July last, the sheriff officer forcibly entered the house of John Murray, a crofter residing alone on a croft at Laidbreack, Bonar Bridge, inherited from his grandfather twenty years since, and, during the crofters' absence from home, removed his goods and burnt the house to the ground; and will he state why this official adopted such extreme measures, and whether steps will be taken to arrest this method of carrying out evictions. (Answered by Mr. Thomas Shaw.) I have perused a Report from the chief constable on this subject with certain depositions and documents. While it appears from these that John Murray is not a crofter as alleged, and has never been tenant of the subjects at Laidbreack, and neither worked the land nor had stock thereon, I have thought it right to remit the question to the Crown Office, and I have directed that a special Report from the procurator fiscal should be made upon the eviction proceedings referred to. These proceedings were presumably taken on the responsibility of the proprietor.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the numbers of standard barrels of beer brewed in Great Britain in the years 1820, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, and 1907. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Barrels of Beer brewed in Great Britain

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if pensioners in workhouses, the cost of whose maintenance is deducted from pension, are debarred from the benefit of the Old-age Pensions Bill by Clause 3. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The question is one of some difficulty; but, at at present advised, I am disposed to think that the Answer is in the affirmative.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will exhibit during the autumn session in the Library or Tea-Room, or some other easily accessible part of the House, an example of each of the nickel coins issued last year to certain Colonies on the West Coast of Africa, and together therewith examples of the bronze coins of similar values now in current use in the United Kingdom. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I have given instructions for my hon. friend's suggestion to be carried out.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to reply to the petition of the chemical officers of Inland Revenue, forwarded to the Board of Inland Revenue in July, 1907, asking for the grant of an allowance similar to that paid to testing officers of Customs at the outports. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The matter is still under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, after making, an adverse confidential report with reference to Captain Bryce Wilson, his commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Graham, recommended him for promotion to a majority in a cavalry regiment serving, or about to serve, in India.

To ask the Secretary of State for War, whether, on 2nd Decem- ber, 1907, the War Office officially stated that there was nothing against the character or efficiency of Captain Wilson; and whether, in view of that fact and the desirability of establishing public confidence in the decisions of the military authorities, he will state why Captain Wilson was dismissed or retired from the service in view of such official declarations.

To ask the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that Captain Bryce Wilson, late of the 5th Lancers, was dealt with upon the basis of a confidential report made by Lieutenant-Colonel Graham, which it was alleged was wholly untrue and at variance with the previous Reports made by the said commanding officer; and whether, in the interest of the service and the public, he will direct an investigation to be made into the circumstances and truth of such Report.

To ask the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that in October, 1907, Captain Wilson was placed on half-pay and subsequently gazetted out of the 5th Lancers, not-withstanding the fact that on 25th November, 1907, his late commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Graham, admitted his fitness to remain in the service, while objecting to his continuance (for private and personal reasons) in the 5th Lancers; and whether he will insist upon a full explanation being given why two inconsistent and contradictory Reports were allowed to be given by and received from the same officer with regard to the subject. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) In replying to these four Questions together, I take the opportunity of stating the facts as to what took place. On receiving from Lieutenant-Colonel Graham a Report that Captain Bryce Wilson had not a good influence in his regiment, the Army Council called upon General Sir John French, Commanding-in-Chief at Aldershot, for his views. He reported that in his opinion Captain Wilson should not be permitted to rejoin the 5th Lancers, on account of the bad influence he exercised over the junior officers of the regiment. These Reports are regarded as fully justifying the action taken by the Army Council in placing Captain Bryce Wilson on half-pay. It subsequently came to the knowledge of the War Office that the removal to half-pay of five officers of the regiment, of whom Captain Wilson was one, had given rise to rumours which reflected upon the character of these officers. Having regard to the fact that other officers, besides Captain Bryce Wilson, had been placed on half-pay, it was decided to make a general announcement to the effect that the action taken was not taken on grounds detrimental to their characters. At the same time Captain Wilson's retention in the regiment was considered to be undesirable for the reasons given by Sir John French to which I have already alluded. It is true that, after reporting adversely upon Captain Wilson, Lieutenant-Colonel Graham recommended him for promotion into a cavalry regiment serving or about to serve in India, but the Army Council did not agree with the recommendation. In expressing the opinion that this officer was not unfit to remain in the service Lieutenant-Colonel Graham intended to imply that in extra-regimental employment, the special reasons which rendered Captain Wilson's retention in the 5th Lancers so undesirable would not operate at all events to anything like the same extent. The whole circumstances have been considered by me personally as well as in consultation, and in my opinion, and that of my military advisers, it would not be in the interests of the Army or the public to restore Captain Bryce Wilson to his former position.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether any several and private rights of fishery now exist over any, and what, part of the foreshore belonging to the War Office in the parishes of Foulness, Shoebury, Great Wakering, or Southchurch; and whether any such rights have by conveyance become vested in the Crown, and, if so, over what part of the said foreshore. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I am not in a position to answer the hon. Member's Question without some investigation, and I will let him have a written reply in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether officers belonging to the Territorial Force or to the Militia in Ireland are exempt from serving on ordinary or special juries. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Answer which I gave last Monday to a similar Question by the hon. and gallant Member for East Down. Ireland is no exception in this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for War in what respects he has reconstituted the office of Director of Army Finance; whether the minute or other document defining the duties and responsibilities of the reconstituted office has the approval of the Treasury and will be laid upon the Table of the House; and if he can assure the House that its financial control is in no way weakened by the change. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The details of the changes involved have not yet been settled; but the hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that in any modifications that may be made the principles laid down in the second Report of the Public Accounts Committee of this year will be carefully and exactly observed, and the financial control of the House will be in no way weakened. I shall be prepared when the time comes to lay upon the Table a document defining the responsibilities and duties of the Assistant Financial Secretary, who will be the Accounting. Officer of the War Department.

To ask the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of establishing, as a general practice, in the printing of Government Bills and Acts of Parliament to which schedules are attached, that there should be inserted opposite each schedule as a marginal note a reference, to the section or sections which contain references to that schedule. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) I will consider this question. There is no doubt that the practice could be followed as regards Acts. The only difficulty as regards Bills is the practical difficulty of keeping the references correct when Bills have to be reprinted without delay after their various stages in Parliament.

To ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the low price of raw material, the increased numbers of the unemployed on the North-East Coast, and the imminence of wasteful local relief works, he will consider the expediency of expediting those naval works at Rosyth, which are necessary to the Fleet and which would offer a large field for labour. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) As has already been stated by my right hon. friend the First Lord of the Admiralty, the contract will be placed as soon as possible, and it is proposed to make provision in its terms for a premium to be paid to the contractor for completion of the work before the contract time.

To ask the Prime Minister when the Report of the Treasury Committee on Scientific and Statical Fisheries Investigation will be printed and circulated; and whether the Government will adopt the recommendations. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) The Report of the Committee will be laid upon the Table forthwith, but I am not in a position to state what conclusions may be arrived at with regard to the Committee's recommendations.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the system of periodical stock-taking in warehouses under the Inland Revenue Department and under the Customs Board; is he aware that in connection with a certain warehouse handed over from the Customs to the Inland Revenue in 1903 a balance was struck showing stock representing a duty of £1,200 when there was not a single package in the warehouse; will he cause inquiry to be made into this matter and into the methods of stock-taking adopted in the Customs, and an investigation to ascertain whether the stock shown in the books of the Board agree with the stock actually in the warehouse; and whether there has been a fraudulent removal of stock from any of the other warehouses under that Board. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The Treasury have had the matter referred to in this question under their consideration quite recently, and it will be further considered in connection with the proposed amalgamation of the two Revenue Boards. The Board of Customs are unable to trace the transfer in 1903 of the bonded warehouse mentioned.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what means, if any, animal or mechanical, existed on board Submarine No 9 for the detection of the escape of petrol gas; and whether he will state what methods the Admiralty propose taking to prevent the recurrence of such mishaps as that which took place on Submarine No. 9 off Folkestone on Tuesday 9th July.

In the case of the recent accident in Submarine A. 9 owing to a mechanical defect, a large quantity of exhaust gases escaped into the boat. The effect was sudden; and the occurence of defects of this kind, though happily rare, are almost impossible to guard against. Engines have so much improved since submarine boats were first built, that such an escape of petrol gas as white mice would serve to register, is no longer to be feared. There is no remedy for such an accident as occurred in A. 9, the effect of carbon monoxide on the men being so rapid.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state when the customary report as to the recent naval manœuvres will be issued.

The recent manœuvres, like those of October 1907, were in the nature of confidential fleet exercises, and no report on them will be issued.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Government will consider the advisability and propriety of granting to officers and men of the Royal Naval Reserve a long-service and good-conduct medal; and whether he will consider the advisability of granting to trained men of the Royal Naval Reserve a higher rank than that at present given of A.B. or stoker.

The grant of a decoration to the officers of the Royal Naval Reserve and of a medal to the men is still under consideration, but it is hoped to make an announcement on the subject at an early date. Under the regulations for the new system of training, a limited number of seamen and stokers, Royal Naval Reserve, not exceeding two per cent. of each class, are eligible for advancement to the ratings of leading seamen and leading stokers, Royal Naval Reserve, subject to the conditions for promotion laid down in the Royal Naval Reserve regulations.

May I assume that the matter is under favourable consideration?

I hope to make at an early date an announcement which I trust will satisfy the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that several of His Majesty's vessels have gone out on trial-trip from the yard of Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie, and Company, Government contractors, inefficiently and undermanned; that H.M.S. Torpedo boat No. 21, with machinery by Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie, and Company, has had a number of unsuccessful trial-trips during the last five months; that the engine-room and boiler-room staff at the trials of this vessel, which uses oil as fuel, was composed of apprentices to the extent of about 75 per cent; and whether he will make representations to the firm in question on the matter.

Two vessels for which Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie, and Company are the contractors, have made trials, but they were not considered to be inefficiently manned or under-manned. Torpedo-boat No. 21—one of the above two vessels—has made a number of trials during the last five months. These were unsuccessful solely because the contract speed had not been realised. Although the complement of No. 21 Torpedo-boat has throughout these trials been known to be largely composed of apprentices, it is not considered that the failure to attain the contract speed was attributable to any inefficiency in the engine-room staff. No representation to the firm is necessary on this matter, as no condition of their contract with the Admiralty has been infringed.

Will the right hon. Gentleman investigate why the contract speeds were not realised?

A contract would not be concluded till the contract speed was realised.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty on what works Messrs. G. Corderoy and Co. have been employed during the last five years by the Admiralty as quantity surveyors; on what basis payments have been made to this and other firms; and whether the Admiralty have considered the question of employing their own staff to carry out this work.

List of works undertaken by Messrs. G. Corderoy and Co., during the five years ending 31st March, 1908:—Malta, Docks and Breakwater; Gibraltar Dockyard, Harbour, Commercial Mole, Dockyard Extension and Coaling Facilities; Dover, Harbour; Hong Kong, Dockyard Extension and Coaling Facilities; Cape of Good Hope, Dockyard Extension; Chatham, New Dock, Naval Barracks, Hospital, Slaughter-house, Commander-in-Chief's Residence, New River Wall; Pembroke, Jetty; Sheerness, Depot for Torpedo Boat Destroyers and Drainage; West India Docks, New Offices; Deptford, Seamen's Clothing Store; Greenwich, Laboratories; Deal, Additions to Sergeant's Mess; Horsea Island, Torpedo Range; Haulbowline, Coaling Jetty; Dartmouth, Royal Naval College; Devonport, Dockyard Extension, Naval Barracks, Electrical Generating Station, &c, Gunnery School, Magazines, Coaling; Plymouth, Hospital, Wards for Lunatics. The basis on which payments have been made to this and other firms is a percentage on the cost of the work for which quantities have been prepared or measurements made. The Board have only just received for consideration a full report on the question of employing the Admiralty Works Department staff to do this work.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any communications have been received at the Admiralty from the Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet with reference to a serious collision having been imminent between H.M.S. "Good Hope" and H.M.S. "Argyll," owing to an order given by the Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet.

The Board have had reported to them and have examined the positions of the Fleet at the moment the signal referred to was made, and they are satisfied that the manœuvre was not dangerous. At the same time the Rear Admiral, as he thought there was risk in carrying out the order, was justified in turning the other way; and the Commander-in-Chief so informed him by signal at the time.

Will my right hon. friend convey that answer to the editors of those papers which erroneously accused Lord Charles Beresford of having endangered the lives of 1,600 men?

I think it is always desirable to avoid communications with the Press.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is now speaking for the whole of his colleagues?

I do not think I should be called upon to answer that Question.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that an executive officer of the Naval Ordnance Department has refused to forward a petition from the storehouse clerks to the Admiralty, and, if so, can he say whether this officer was acting upon his own authority, and what action he intends to take in the matter.

A petition put forward by the storehouse clerks to amend the position of their own class at Woolwich in January last, was objected to by the acting naval ordnance officer on the ground that it was signed by several men who were not storehouse clerks. They were directed to amend the petition by excluding such names, but they preferred to withdraw it. Since that time no new petition has been received. This action, which was correct, was taken by the acting naval ordnance officer on his own authority. If a properly signed petition is put forward it will be duly considered.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty how much overtime has been worked by the employees at Deptford Victualling Yard since 31st March, 1908, and how many men have been discharged from the same place since the same date.

The amount of overtime worked in 100 days since 31st March is computed at fifteen minutes per day per man. Fifteen workpeople have been discharged and six entered, making a net discharge of nine persons.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can say when the storehouse staff at Deptford Victualling Yard are likely to receive the increase of wages promised them two years ago.

The pay, etc. of the storehouse staff at all the victualling yards is now receiving consideration, and a decision will be promulgated within the next few weeks.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether in the Channel and Home (Nore Division) Fleets there has been an abnormal number of courts martial held upon men for breaches of discipline during the past twelve months; and whether this state of things is largely due to the week-end leave which prevails, or has prevailed, during that period.

I am sending the hon. Member copies of the quarterly returns for last year. There is no reason to suppose that there has been an abnormal number of courts martial in the fleets named during the past twelve months.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the especial difficulty or what the disproportionate amount of labour involved which prevents him from informing the House what is the total of the men of all ratings in the various fleets or squadrons, and the number of courts martial held in respect of charges of insubordination or breach of discipline during the past twelve months; and whether those figures being given the department is not competent to give the percentages asked for.

I have already sent the hon. Member the most recent return showing the number of men tried by court martial in the various fleets. The difficulty in ascertaining the percentages arises from the doubt as to what exactly the hon. Member means when he speaks of the Home Fleet, Channel Fleet, &c, and to the variation during the year in the composition of the fleets and the numbers of men borne.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the contracts for the five destroyers of the 1907 programme have yet been awarded, and, if so, when; and what is the earliest date upon which these vessels can be completed, in view of the fact that some of the twelve German destroyers of the same year are already completed, while at least one of them has done her steam trials.

The "Crusader" and "Nubian" were ordered in January, and the "Maori," "Viking," "Zulu," in February of this year. They are all expected to be completed by October, 1909.

I beg to ask the Frist Lord of the Admiralty whether he proposes to take steps to ascertain the name of the officer who, in defiance of regulations, recently communicated to a newspaper an account of an alleged incident in the Channel Fleet; and whether, in the event of the name of the officer being discovered, he will be tried by court martial.

I am not aware what grounds the noble Lord has for imputing a breach of honour to any naval officer. If he will state them or communicate them to me privately, I will investigate them. They are quite unknown to me.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I make no allegation of breach of honour, but rather of breach of regulations? I desire to give notice that, in view of the answer given, I shall raise the matter on the Second Heading of the Appropriation Bill.

The noble Lord's Question asks whether we propose to take steps to ascertain the name of the officer who, in defiance of regulations, recently communicated to a newspaper an account of an alleged incident in the Channel Fleet. In my judgment it would be a breach of honour for an officer to communicate such a matter to the Press.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that that is entirely a matter of opinion? My Question was directed to the matter of fact.

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to hold any inquiry to ascertain how this information leaked out to the papers?

Notice should be given of that Question.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the speedy recovery of the Indian peasantry as soon as periods of abnormally high prices are at an end has been one of the marked features of modern Indian administration; and whether there is a general consensus of opinion that there has been in recent years a progressive improvement in the condition of the inhabitants of the Indian Empire.

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that Question, may I ask whether it is not the fact that in recent years there has been a more rapid succession of famines and a corresponding increase in mortality?

I do not think there have been more lamentable famines in recent years. I think that it one compares the ravages of famine in recent years with those of fifty or 100 years ago, one would find that the ravages then were much greater than they are now. As to the Question on the Paper, the view expressed in the first Question is in accordance with the conclusions of recent Famine Commissions and of the local governments. With regard to the second Question, the hon. Member must judge for himself as to the existence of unanimity on the point. I at any rate agree with him, as he will made have gathered from the remarks I made on the Indian Budget.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give figures indicating the average income of the population ten years ago and now?

No, I have not any such figures; but I think that on the whole there has been a development in the prosperity of the poorest of the population in India.

These happy people are thriving on 1½d. per day!

I beg to ask the Under-secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that the object of the forest policy of the Government of India is the utilisation of forests for the benefit of the cultivating classes and not for the increase of the revenue by the sale of timber, further measures have been taken for the afforestation of waste lands; and, if the answer be in the affirmative, whether the result of such measures can be stated to the House.

The afforestation of waste lands for the benefit of the cultivating classes is one of the main duties of the Forest Department. The chapter on Forests in the Moral and Material Progress Statement for the decennial period ending 1901–2 deals fully with the progress made during that period, and more recent information is given in the Annual Statements for succeeding years. The Statement for 1906–7 was presented in May last.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the reforms in the administration of India which are now under consideration will necessitate legislation by this House; and whether, in view of the situation in India, he will consent to circulate the draft reform proposals to Members of Parliament before the House reassembles for the autumn session, in order to enable the House to deal effectively with the legislation which will be introduced.

At the present stage it is not certain whether the improvements now under consideration will, or will not, demand legislation in Parliament. It would be a departure from settled usage to circulate draft proposals, before formal submission of definite conclusions on the responsibility of the Government.

Will some share of effective control over taxation be given to native statesmen?

I gave as full a statement as possible on that subject last Wednesday week.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India if Mr. Tilak, at his recent trial in Bombay, was convicted by seven English jurymen and acquitted by two native jurymen; and, if so, in view of the fact that the jury were disagreed and of the feeling caused by the sentence of six years imprisonment in the Bombay Presidency, whether the Secretary of State will cause the sentence to be remitted.

With regard to my hon. friend's Question I have nothing to add to the full statement that I made on Tuesday in reply to the hon. Member for Brentford.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is satisfied that the articles, for writing which Mr. Tilak was tried, were properly translated for the benefit of the English jury who had to try him for articles written in another language?

I do not think that that is quite a fair presentation of the case. I have no reason for believing that the translation of the articles was otherwise than fair.

Is it not the fact that the main line of the defence was that the articles were not accurately translated?

I am not aware of that. I am perfectly certain that, if that were one of the allegations brought forward by Mr. Tilak, it was fairly considered by both the Judge and the jury.

Would it not be in accordance with proper justice to try such a man before a jury of his own countrymen?

That is a matter of opinion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Tilak objected to the special jury on account of the large majority of Europeans it would contain, and desired to be tried by a jury of his own countrymen?

I think I said the other day that Mr. Tilak challenged a considerable number of the special jurymen, while, on the other hand, the prosecuting counsel only challenged two.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how the panel is summoned? They all seem to be Europeans.

Hon. Members should put these Questions on the Paper.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the St. Lucia Property Tax Bill, which, in the opinion of the majority of the inhabitants of the Colony, will cause a serious set-back to the agricultural improvement lately started, has received the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and in view of the riots in the island last year and the probability of a renewal of the disorders if the Bill is forced through the Council, and the effect such a tax had in the Island of Dominica and which caused riots there and necessitated the sending out of a Commission which recommended the abolition of the law, whether his Majesty's Government would request the Administrator of the Colony of St. Lucia to withdraw the Bill which is before the Council; whether seeing that the Colony has a balance of £25,000 to its credit lying idle in the hands of the Crown Agents, he will explain the necessity for further taxation; and whether he will give a Return of the value of the products of the Colony for the past year and the amount of revenue collected by the Government during that period.

; I understand that the riots of last year did not arise from the Property Tax Bill. The St. Lucia Property Tax Bill of 1907 was postponed early in this year, and the Secretary of State agreed to the appointment of a committee to consider the repeal of the Road Tax and the substitution of taxes on property and on incomes derived from other sources than land. We have not yet received from the Governor a report on the result of the Committee's labours, nor any further Bill. I cannot well discuss the necessity for a readjustment of taxation in reply to a Question, but I may point out that the existence of a reserve surplus balance (which is earning interest and not lying idle) does not relieve the Government from the duty of securing equilibrium in the revenue and expenditure. The annual report containing the statistics desired in the last paragraph of the hon. Baronet's Question has not yet been received from St. Lucia, but will be laid on the Table when received in the usual manner.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if the arrears of salary due to Dinizulu have been actually paid from the Imperial Treasury; and, if so, what steps will be taken to recover the money from the Natal Government.

No money has yet been paid. I cannot at present add anything to the statement which I made on Tuesday.

How much longer is he to be kept out of his money?

He is not being kept out of it.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will lay upon the Table the Return showing the names of individuals retrenched from the public service of the Transvaal from 1st April, 1908, to 15th June, 1908, which was laid upon the Table of the Legislative Assembly of Pretoria on the 1st July, 1908.

I see that a Return of the nature referred to has been laid, but it has not yet been received. There is not likely to be any reason why it should not be laid here, unless it is very bulky and expensive to print, but in accordance with custom I cannot promise a Paper which has not been received.

I beg to ask the Under-secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the arrest and imprisonment in the Transvaal of some thirteen British-Indian traders for trading without licences; whether these traders tendered the licence money, which was refused with the above consequences because they declined to comply with the formalities of I the registration law; whether these men were residents before the war, already holding certificates of identification and possessed of a clean record; and whether the Secretary of State will make friendly representations to the Government of the Transvaal with a view to their speedy liberation.

According to a telegram from the Governor of the Transvaal the Asiatics lately prosecuted have been proceeded against for contravention of the licensing laws and not of the Asiatic registration legislation. The men were found by the licensing officers to be trading without licences, and the prosecutions were undertaken at the instance of the municipal authorities. Further inquiry will be made into this matter.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give particulars of any case in which work which was being done on the Rand and mines by Chinese coolies, since repatriated, is now being performed by white labour; and, if no such particulars are available at the Colonial Office, will he make inquiries from the Transvaal Government if there are any such cases.

No, Sir, but inquiry shall be made of the Transvaal Government.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he is aware that grave charges have been made against the Resident Commissioner in the Gilbert group of islands in the Western Pacific, notably in compelling the natives to labour without wages on public works and on the phosphate concession held by a private company, of which Lord Stanmore is chairman, in inflicting flogging for disobedience or dilatoriness, in collecting taxes from the natives in copra or cocoanut kernel, which is their staple food, notwithstanding that the phosphate company are said to be making from £80,000 to £100,000 a year clear profit from the guano which the natives collect for them; that these and other statements are sworn to by a late resident in the Gilbert Islands, and confirmed by missionaries and by three influential natives, who have presented a petition of complaint since the submission of his Report by Sir J. M. Thurm, the High Commission, in 1906; and whether, in view of these allegations, the Secretary of State for the Colonies will cause an independent inquiry to be made on the spot by some person or persons unconnected with the administration of the Western Pacific Islands.

Certain charges of of the nature indicated by my honourable friend have been made by a former official of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate, but the Secretary of State has not at present received any confirmation of these charges by missionaries and natives of the Protectorate. The High Commissioner will be asked to send home any petition which he may have received from the Natives on the subject, and the Secretary of State also hopes to have the opportunity of conferring with him personally when he comes home in the autumn.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Egyptian Ministry of Public Instruction has called upon its English teachers of mathematics and science to qualify themselves either to teach those subjects in Arabic, or to teach history or geography, which latter subjects are still to be taught in English; and, if so, whether he will advise the British Consul-General in Egypt to represent to the Egyptian Government that the teachiny of history and geography in Arabic in the Egyptian schools is also advisable.

I have no information as to whether the Egyptian Ministry of Public Instruction has made a demand of the nature indicated on its English teachers of mathematics and science, but I will address an inquiry on the subject to His Majesty's Acting Agent and Consul-General at Cairo. As regards the present position of Arabic as a medium of instruction in mathematics and geography, I beg to refer the hon. Member to Sir Eldon Gorst's Report for 1907 (Egypt No. 1, 1908) page 32, paragraph 2, and page 35, paragraph 2, in which it appears that the number of subjects in which instruction in Arabic is being given is being increased.

Is not this instruction given in Arabic at the present time?

I cannot say without reference to the Report. I know one or two subjects have been added.