To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that when joiners are discharged from the Royal Dockyard at Pembroke a large and undue proportion of those discharged are men who are members of a trade union, the reason being given that they will receive 10s. per week from their trade society, whilst those that do not belong to a society will get nothing; and whether he will take steps to put a stop to this treatment of workmen who belong to a trade union. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) No joiners have been discharged at Pembroke Dock during the last three years. The selection of the joiners who were discharged in 1904–5 was determined according to service and capability, and, so far as can be ascertained, there is nothing to support the suggestion that membership of a trade union or otherwise was taken into consideration.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether an allowance of 10s. per week made by an employer to an old servant is means within the meaning of the Old Age Pensions Act. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The point referred to in the Question is, with some others, at present receiving consideration, and a definite answer cannot at the moment be given.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the total amounts, gross and net, of the Supplementary Estimates submitted to this House during ths financial year 1907–8, with the Department responsible for each. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The following statement gives the information required by the hon. Member.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the number of persons in prison on 12th October under the Act of Edw. 3 in default of finding sureties for their good behaviour in respect of riot and unlawful assembly. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The number was forty-one.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the number of boycotted persons under police protection on 30th September 1907, and 30th September 1908.

To ask the Secretary for War if he will state the strength, both in officers and men, of the Regular Army serving with the colours on 1st October, 1905, and 1st October, 1908, respectively, giving in each case separate figures for cavalry, artillery, and infantry. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.)

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether be is aware of the interpretation put upon the Order which issued from his office this year relating to the modified workhouse test, under which the Poplar guardians are disbursing relief up to a maximum of 17s. 6d. a week to the families of men employed at the farm colonies at Laindon and Forest Gate; and whether he proposes to make another investigation into the administration of the Poor Law in Poplar. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am aware of the action taken under the Order referred to. That Order has now lapsed and in lieu of it a new one has been issued, laying down amended conditions under which relief may be given out of the workhouse by the Poplar guardians to the families of able-bodied men who are relieved in the workhouse. I hope that it will not be necessary that any further inquiry should be held of the kind suggested in the Question.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he proposes to take any steps to protect railway companies against over-assessment under the parochial system now in force, and to provide for their assessment in respect of total net annual value. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) If a railway company considers that it is over-assessed, its remedy is to appeal against the assessment. I am not myself empowered to take any action in the matter. Whether there should be any alteration in the law with regard to the assessment of railways is a matter which will receive consideration in connection with the Valuation Bill.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if the afforestation work undertaken near Leeds to provide work for the unemployed last year is being continued; and, if so, how many men are now employed; and how much money will be devoted to it this winter. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The afforestation work on the Leeds Corporation Waterworks estate is being continued. I learn that some of the unemployed are already engaged on the work, and that it is intended to expend £600 this winter in the wages of unemployed, and a similar amount in the wages of experienced men.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if any Report or statement can be laid before the House giving the result of the afforestation experiment at Leeds, so far as it has gone, with the number of unemployed who were engaged, the acreage and number of trees planted, and the cost of the experiment. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The waterworks engineer of the Leeds Corporation has made a report on the result of three seasons' afforestation work on the corporation's waterworks estate. The following are the totals of the figures for the three years 1905–6, 1906–7, and 1907–8—

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the statements made at a meeting of the Guildford District Council to the effect that the Local Government Board put every block in the way of getting a speed limit for motors in villages; whether the same district council supported the action of the Send and Ripley parishes for the fixing of a speed-limit in those villages; and what action he has taken in the matter. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have seen a newspaper report of the proceedings of the Guildford Rural District Council at which the statements referred to were made. It appears that the Surrey County Council have had before them a number of applications from various parts of the county for the imposition of low speed-limits for motor cars. Three of these proposals they have put forward to the Local Government Board, and I have directed local inquiry upon them. None of these proposals relate to the parishes of Send or Ripley.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board what action has been taken by him with regard to the application made by the Middlesex County Council and the Staines Rural District Council for the fixing of a ten-mile speed-limit for motor cars in a certain part of the parish of Shepperton. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) An inquiry has been held with reference to the application, and the Board have informed the Middlesex County Council that they have decided to comply with it. The order will be issued as soon as the notices indicating the reduced speed-limit are ready for erection.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the reports of several distress committees in London to the effect that the regulation that an applicant for work must not have received poor relief within the preceding twelve months operates with great hardship in particular cases, especially when the relief given has been only to the extent of two or three shillings, and perhaps on one occasion only; and whether he will repeal this regulation, so that the distress committees may be free to deal with each case on its merits.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the report of the Camberwell Distress Committee that the regulation that the applicant for work must not have received assistance on relief works in two successive years preceding his application presses hardly on those engaged in season trades; and whether, pending more effective provision for those engaged in such trades, he will suspend this regulation. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) Perhaps I may be allowed to answer together this and the Question which follows it on the Paper. The reports to which my hon. friend refers have been brought under my notice and I have given attention to the points raised in them. As, however, the subject of the unemployed is now under the consideration of the Government, I think it better to defer for the moment giving a decision with regard to them.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state the date on which the Poor Law Commission Report will be received. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The Royal Commission are now engaged in considering their Report, and I understand that they are making every effort to accelerate its completion. It is hoped that it will be presented by the end of the year.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state by what law power is given to limit the speed of motor vehicles to ten miles an hour in the London parks, and for what reason the power is not exercised to impose the same limit of speed in the crowded thoroughfares of the metropolis. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The authority for the limitation of the speed of motor cars in the royal parks in London is the Parks Regulation Act, 1872, and the statutory rules made thereunder. The Act only applies to "the royal parks, gardens, and possessions, the management of which is for the time being vested in the Commissioners" of His Majesty's Works, and the powers conferred by it could not be exercised as regards the speed of motor cars in the streets.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will state how many applications were made to the Local Government Board by local authorities for orders to reduce the speed of motor cars to ten miles an hour in the years 1904 and 1905, and how many since; which are the local authorities who have so applied and when; and in how many cases the applications were granted prior to 1906, and in how many since. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) During the years 1904 and 1905, forty-eight applications were made to the Local Government Board by local authorities for the reduction of the speed of motor cars to ten miles per hour on certain roads, namely, seven by county councils and forty-one by town councils. Since 1905 there have been fifty-four such applications, namely, thirty-seven by county councils and seventeen by town councils. In a considerable number of cases these applications have been subsequently abandoned or allowed to lapse. No order fixing a speed limit of ten miles was issued in 1904, one was issued in 1905. Since that date twenty such orders have been issued and another is about to issue.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can give the date for the transfer to county councils of powers to levy certain duties under the Finance Act, 1908, Section 6; and if he is unable to do so now, whether he will consider the desirability of doing so as soon as possible for the convenience of those engaged in the preliminary work necessary for carrying out the provisions of the Act. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) It is proposed that the transfer should take effect on the 1st January next.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland, on what date the Second Reading of the Trawling in Prohibited Areas Prevention Bill will be taken. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) The date is not yet fixed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the exhibition of alleged natives of Ceylon in the Franco-British Exhibition, exposed to climatic and other conditions prejudicial to their health; whether the present arrangements have the sanction of the Home Office; and, if not, can he intervene for the protection of these people. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The arrangements made for these persons do not require the sanction of the Home Office, but I have made inquiries, and I am assured by the authorities of the exhibition that they are well supplied with woollen underwear and blankets; that a physician attends regularly at the "Ceylon Village," but up to the present there has not been a single case of serious illness among the natives; and that the sanitary inspector on Saturday last informed the authorities in charge of the village that the living rooms and sleeping accommodation there do not give cause for the slightest complaint.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the Report of the Inter-departmental Committee in 1901 and the strong expression of opinion by the chief constable of Manchester in 1906, condemnatory of employment of children in street trading, and the fact that in Glasgow and other large cities evidence is forthcoming that street trading leads to grave physical and moral deterioration of boys and girls, he will insert a clause in the Children Bill making it illegal for boys or girls under sixteen to be engaged in street trading on any terms whatsoever, or, as an alternative, a clause raising the age below which street trading is illegal from eleven to fourteen. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) It is not proposed to insert any provision in the Children's Bill on the subject of street trading, for reasons which were explained by me in reply to a Question on the 12th March last by the hon. Member for the Ealing Division of Middlesex. As has already been announced, the Government will propose next session the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the question of street trading by children and young persons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the principle of nomination for permission to sit at public competitive examinations for inspectorships and assistant inspectorships of factories still exists in his department; if so, will he say what are the advantages to the country in so restricting these examinations to those who have influence; and whether he will make these appointments in future open to merit apart from social status. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The Answer to the second part is that the hon. Member is under a complete misapprehension in supposing that social influence has anything whatever to do with the selection of a candidate. If my hon. friend will refer to the debate on the Home Office Estimates on the 18th July 1907, he will see in detail the arguments for the present system.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number of police were employed in and around the Palace of Westminster, including Trafalgar Square, during the last week; how many were drawn from reserves; and what extra remuneration will be paid, in view of the protracted nature of their services. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I do not think it is advisable to publish full details of the strength of the police employed on certain occasions, and no doubt my hon. friend will agree that this objection is not unreasonable. All the men employed beyond their regular hours will receive equivalent time off.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that owners of traction engines habitually ignore the requirement of Section 29 of the Highways and Locomotives Amendment Act, 1878, that one person shall precede the locomotive at least twenty yards on foot to assist drivers of horses; and whether he will issue a circular to chief constables of counties as to this prevision and take steps to secure that the law is enforced.

To ask the Secretary of State, for the Home Department whether he is aware that proprietors of light traction engines appear to be under the impression that the sole condition enabling them to work as motors without the presence of a third man is that they shall be under six tons in weight, and that the police in many counties appear to share this impression; and whether he will call the attention of chief constables of counties to the further requirement of the Locomotives on Highways Act, 1896, that such traction engines can only work without a third man if they emit neither smoke nor vapour except as a temporary or accidental matter. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I will answer these Questions together. The central authority for the purposes of the Locomotives Act is the Local Government Board, and I will consult with my right hon. friend the President as to whether it is desirable to issue a circular to the police on the points mentioned by my hon. friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any statistics are available of the number of licences in existence in the United Kingdom year by year from any period anterior to the Licensing Act of 1872; if not, what is the earliest date from which such figures could be given; and whether he would consent to a Return being ordered of the number of licences in each year for such period, distinguishing the number of on-licences from the number of off-licences, and exhibiting separately the proportion of licences in each class to every 10,000 of population, as well as the like numbers and proportion for each of the three Kingdoms separately. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) If the right hon. Gentleman desires statistics of licensed premises similar to those which are now issued annually from my Department, I have to say that, after causing the existing Parliamentary Papers on the subject for England and Wales to be examined, I am afraid that they, though numerous from the year 1873 onwards, as will be seen from the indexes, are of such a nature that even if it were possible within a reasonable time to condense them into a single Return, the result would not be sufficiently complete and trustworthy to be of any value. The right hon. Gentleman is no doubt aware that the Board of Inland Revenue prepared for the Royal Commission on Licensing Laws a statement of licences issued by them from the year 1829 onwards, see page 426 and onwards of Volume 1 of the Minutes of Evidence, published by that Commission, and that since the date of that statement the Board's annual Reports give similar figures. For various reasons, which the right hon. Gentleman will understand, these figures of Excise licences are not strictly comparable with the figures of licensed premises, and I doubt whether it would serve his purpose to reissue them in a special Return, giving the proportions borne by the various classes of Excise licences to population.

To ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the death of Robert Adamson in November last year by the collapse of a brick arch in the Dalbeath Pit, belonging to the Fife Coal Company; whether, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the public inquiry which was held, instructions will be given for a further public inquiry or a Home Office inquiry being instituted into the whole facts and circumstances connected with the accident; and whether he will consider the advisability of issuing an order allowing the representatives of injured or deceased workmen to get access to the locus of an accident immediately after it happens. (Answered by Mr. Thomas Shaw.) I am having inquiries instituted into this matter by the Crown Office and on the spot, and I should be glad to communicate the result of these to my hon. friend either privately or in answer to a Question, say, in ten days time.

To ask the Lord Advocate whether he has received a request from Messrs. J. and P. Coats, Limited, Paisley, to prosecute a firm of coal factors for a gross case of fraud, which latter could not have been perpetrated unless it had been connived at by the colliery who supplied the coal, who, to bolster up the fraud, issued a false certificate as to the quality; whether, accompanying that request to prosecute, there was documentary evidence of the clearest character to insure a conviction; and, if so, why a prosecution was not instituted by the Public Prosecutor. (Answered by Mr. Thomas Shaw.) I do not think it would be either in the public interest or fair to the parties concerned to canvass the narrative given in the Question. I must not, however, be held as acquiescing in it as accurate. But upon the specific point put whether the documentary evidence was such as to insure a criminal conviction I have to inform the hon. Member that I personally and carefully considered the documents and available evidence in this case and came to hold the opinion, confirming that of the Solicitor-General for Scotland, that these were not such as would secure a criminal conviction of the persons against whom Messrs. Coats made this charge of fraud. This being so, it would have been improper for me to order proceedings. It is open to Messrs. Coats to institute a civil action of damages in respect of the matter complained of, but this, for some reason, they delay or decline to do.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works if he will state what steps have been taken to fulfil the promise that portions of Richmond Park should be thrown open to the public and that game preserving should cease; and if he is prepared to state whether any ground or woods have boon thrown open, and, if so, the acreage. (Answered by Mr. L. Harcourt.) My attention has been drawn to certain inaccurate statements which have appeared on this subject. I am glad to be able to assure the House that they are absolutely without foundation. By direction of His Majesty game preserving in Richmond Park has entirely ceased since the death of the late Duke of Cambridge. A certain number of pheasants, partridges, and hares breed wild in the park, but no game is preserved or shot. More than 100 acres of covert and paddock have been thrown open to the public, cricket and football grounds have been made, and a miniature rifle range has been established. It is hoped that it may be possible to make further additions to the park, but, as my hon. friend will readily understand, we are obliged to keep certain coverts closed in order to encourage the wild birds, which are one of the most charming and interesting features of the park.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether the report of a discussion set out in Command Paper 4185, of 1908, which took place on the 13th of May between the Secretary to the Board of Education and a deputation representative of educational associations on the subject of a teacher's register was ever submitted before publication to the members of the deputation whoso views are there represented, or, if not, what other steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the report which does not profess to be verbatim accurately expresses the views put forward by the deputation. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The Answer to the first paragraph is in the negative. But the report was compiled from notes taken at the time and was very carefully revised at the hands of three different officials, each of whom was present throughout the discussion, and it is confidently believed that it accurately expresses what passed. The Board have received no intimation or suggestion from any member of the deputation that this is not the case.

To ask the President of the Board of Education what are the reasons for the delay in giving effect to the provisions of 7 Edw. 7, c. 43, s. 16, regarding the constitution of a registration council. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The proposals for the constitution of a registration council, which were submitted to the Board by a committee comprising delegates from twelve educational associations and which have since been published, have elicted protests from various important sections of the teaching profession. The weight attaching to these objections makes it difficult to regard a council so constituted as representative of the profession, as required by the statute. I have referred these protests to the committee, and I am hoping to receive from them revised proposals which will command general agreement.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the number of applications received up to date for old-age pensions, giving the number claiming 1s., 2s., 3s., 4s., and 5s. respectively. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The total numbers of claims received by pension officers up to the 10th instant amounts to 468,164, of which 273,862 come from England, 131,610 from Ireland, 49,077 from Scotland, and 13,615 from Wales. The information at present in my possession does not enable me to classify these applications according to the amount claimed in each case.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it would be possible to give a Return showing separately for each of the three Kingdoms the amount of spirits and beer consumed per head of the population as shown for the United Kingdom on page 130 of the current number of the Statistical Abstract; and, if so, whether such Return could be carried back to any period before the Licensing Act of 1872. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The Return could be given on the lines followed in the Financial Relations Return, but not for any years before 1888.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether applicants for pensions, duly qualified as regards age and in other respects, now in receipt of weekly wages which will terminate at the end of the current year, and who will then be without any income, are justified, under the Pension Act, in claiming full pensions as having no income. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) In cases in which the applicant has no other means, or where his other means do not exceed £21, the Answer is in the affirmative. The claim, when made, would fall to be dealt with by the committee in accordance with Section 4 (1) (a) of the Act, with due regard to the provisions of subsection (3) of that section.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what were the circumstances which influenced the appointment of Mr. Edward O'Farrell, B.L., to the position of Assistant Under-Secretary; and if he will state in what respects this gentleman's qualifications for the position were considered to be superior to those possessed by Sir F. Cullinan, C.B., the Senior Principal Clerk of the Chief Secretary's office. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) To anyone acquainted with Mr. O'Farrell's services in the Land Commission, the first part of the Question would appear to be quite superfluous. I should strongly deprecate the invidious task of instituting a comparison between Mr. O'Farrell's qualifications and those of Sir Frederick Cullinan, whose ability and public services have been recognised by successive Governments and are fully appreciated by the Lord-Lieutenant, and, if I may say so, by myself.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the number of outrages in Ireland recorded as agrarian and non-agrarian, respectively, in which firearms were used, during the period of nine months ended 30th September, 1908: what was the number of such outrages in the corresponding period of 1906 and 1907, respectively; and from what date was the Peace Preservation Act of 1881, which placed restrictions on the issue of licences to keep firearms and provided other safeguards against the traffic in such weapons, withdrawn. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) During the nine months ending 30th September in each of the years mentioned the numbers of outrages in which firearms have been used in Ireland were as follows: 1906 agrarian eighteen, non-agrarian twenty-nine: 1907, agrarian forty-eight, non-agrarian forty; 1908, agrarian 110, non-agrarian fifty-one. The Peace Preservation Act lapsed on 31st December, 1906.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Government has been directed to the increase in the number of recorded cases in Ireland of serious crimes in which firearms have been used since January, 1907; whether the police authorities are of opinion that such increase is due to the withdrawal of the Peace Preservation Act and to the facilities with which firearms are now procurable throughout the country; and whether any, and, if so, what, representations have been made by them to the Government in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) It is a fact that there has been a considerable increase in the number of offences in which firearms have been used. The increase is confined to a comparatively narrow area, of which County Clare forms a large part. The question as to what proportion of the increase, if any, is due to the lapse of the Peace Preservation Act is a highly speculative one. It would be entirely contrary to practice to make any statement as to the purport of the reports of the police authorities upon the subject. These reports, which are confidential, are made for the information of the Government. Persons who wish to commit outrages have never found any great difficulty in obtaining weapons, as is shown by the returns of crime for many of the years in which the Peace Preservation Act was in force.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the number of police employed at the end of September in affording protection to the occupiers of grazing farms throughout Ireland and in each of the counties of Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford and Clare; and what was the number of police employed in addition in securing the stock on such farms from molestation. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The numbers of police employed on 30th September upon the sole duty of affording constant protection to the occupiers of grazing farms were as follows: Galway, sixteen; Roscommon, nil; Leitrim, two; Longford, nil; Clare, nil; Rest of Ireland, thirty-one; Total, forty-nine. The term "occupiers" is interpreted as meaning persons residing on the farms, whether as owners, tenants, or caretakers. A large number of police are employed in giving protection by patrols to the occupiers of grazing farms and in securing the cattle from molestation, but the Inspector-General informs mo that it is impossible to state the number of men so employed, both because the number and personnel of the men vary from day to day and because the men are employed upon other duties besides that of affording protection. In general terms it may be stated that in the disturbed districts the police generally are employed in giving all possible protection whenever necessity arises.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Inspector-General of Constabulary has instructions to employ official shorthand note-takers at open-air meetings of the United Irish League at which the local police authorities have good reason for believing that language of an illegal or inflammatory character will be used; whether the services of such note-takers have been availed of on the occasion of recent meetings in various districts of the country at which language inciting to boycotting and other criminal courses was employed; and whether the Government have in contemplation the institution of proceedings against such speakers by an application to the King's Bench Division of the Supreme Court for an order requiring them to enter into sureties of the peace and good behaviour. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Constabulary shorthand writers are employed to report open-air meetings from time to time as necessity may arise, and several recent meetings have been so reported. No recent case has arisen in which the Government contemplate the institution of the proceedings indicated in the concluding part of the Question. The Government will take such steps to enforce the law as may be advised by the responsible Law Officers of the Crown upon consideration of the facts of each particular case.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the number of agrarian outrages reported by the Constabulary in Ireland in the years 1906 and 1907 and during the period of nine months ended 30th September, 1908, respectively. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) In the year 1906, 234; in the year 1907, 372; and in the nine months ending 30th September, 1908, 418.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what was the number of agrarian outrages recorded under the headings firing at the person and firing into dwellings, respectively, which were reported by the Constabulary in Ireland in each of the years 1897 to 1907, inclusive, and during the period of nine months ended 30th September, 1908. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The figures are as follows—

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the occupier of Gurteen Farm, Nurney, County Kildare, on the Drogheda estate, has advertised the interest in his farm for sale; and whether he will direct the attention of the Estates Commissioners to the matter with a view of purchasing the occupier's interest, reinstating the former evicted tenant, and increasing existing uneconomic holdings in the neighbourhood.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the townland of Oghill, Monasterevan, County Kildare, on the Drogheda estate, there are thirty holdings varying from one to ten acres; whether his attention has been directed to the advertisement of sale of the late Mr. Conlan's farm of 300 acres at Oghill on the 30th instant, also on the Drogheda estate; and whether he will cause the Estates Commissioners to inquire into the facts with a view to purchasing the late Mr. Conlan's interest and have the lands divided so as to increase the size of the existing uneconomic holdings in the neighbourhood. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Purchase agreements have recently been lodged with the Estates Commissioners in respect of twenty-three holdings on the estate of the Earl of Drogheda, including an agreement signed by Peter Conlan for the purchase of his holding at Oghill comprising 296 acres. In seventeen out of the twenty-three cases the area of the holding does not exceed ten acres. The Commissioners have no knowledge that the tenant's interest in Conlan's or any other case has been advertised for sale. But in any event, having regard to the statutory conditions under which the Commissioners act, it is not possible for them to attend and bid at sales by auction, nor have they power to make any advance out of the Land Purchase Fund for the purchase of a tenant's interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office is in negotiation for or contemplates the formation of a cavalry or other camp on or near Frensham Common, Surrey. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) There is no intention of establishing a permanent camp on Frensham Common. The hon. Member is doubtless aware that the troops of the Aldershot Command are frequently encamped on the common every year.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the pensions under the Old-Age Pensions Act are to be paid weekly, he will give instructions for Army pensioners receiving pensions not exceeding £35 a year to be also paid weekly. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Will the hon. Member kindly refer to my reply to a Question on this subject put by the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight Division of Hampshire on the 14th instant?

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether a Director-General of Army Finance has been appointed in place of Sir Guy Fleetwood Wilson; if not, whether it is intended to appoint such an officer, and, if the office of Director-General is to be abolished or held in suspense, whether an Order in Council will be necessary to regularise the alteration; and upon what officer will the duties of the Director-General of Army Finance devolve. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) An officer has been appointed, with the title of Assistant Financial Secretary, to take the place of Sir Guy Fleetwood Wilson as accounting officer to the War Office and to carry on the duties of the post of Director - General of Army Finance, with the exception of contract questions, which will go to the Director of Contracts. The terms of the necessary Order in Council are now under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number and names of the large boroughs having a separate Court of quarter sessions and also the number and names of those boroughs which, being large boroughs within the meaning of Clause 17 of the Licensing Bill, do not possess a separate Court of quarter sessions. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The names and numbers of "large boroughs," within the meaning of Clause 17 of the Licensing Bill, with and without separate Courts of quarter sessions, respectively, are as follows:—

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give the number of taxi-motor cabs licensed on 30th September this year, and also the number of hansoms and four-wheelers licensed on the same date. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) On the 30th September the following were the numbers of the different kinds of licensed cabs:—

To ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that although the day mail arrives at Ballina, county Mayo, at 11.40 a.m., the mail car carrying the mail to the important town of Crossmolina, six miles distant, does not leave Ballina till about 4.30 p.m., and the letters are not delivered till 6.15 p.m. at the earliest; is he aware that large numbers of people get the daily papers by this service as well as their letters, which include all English letters of the preceding day; can he say why it is necessary to start the mail car from Ballina so late; and will he make arrangements whereby it could leave about 12.30 p.m., and so have letters and papers delivered in Crossmolina by 2 o'clock, or thereabouts. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The postal service to Crossmolina is already carried on at a considerable loss to the Revenue, and, as the alteration suggested by the hon. Member would involve additional cost, I should not be justified in adopting it. Moreover, some advantage is gained by the present arrangement, inasmuch as it admits of correspondence posted in Dublin in the morning being delivered at Crossmolina the same day.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he can state how many education authorities throughout the country have applied for power to levy a rate with which to supply meals to necessitous children, under Section 3 of the Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1906. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) Fifty-seven.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he can state at what date the new gates and lamps at the Marble Arch will be erected, so completing this improvement. (Answered by Mr. L. Harcourt.) This is a portion of the improvement for which the London County Council is responsible, but it is expected that the gates and lamps will be erected by the end of this year.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if the action of the National Federation of Meat Sellers in demanding a warranty on fat stock and the farmers' refusal to give one has been brought to the notice of the Board; and, if so, does the Board propose to take any action. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The Board are carefully watching the discussions which are taking place on this subject, but they do not at present see that they can usefully take any action with regard to it.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the Board of Agriculture, whether he can state upon what information the county of Dumfries was scheduled as affected with the potato disease known as black scab; whether any notification has been received during the current year of the occurrence of this disease; whether he can state if any steps where taken to verify the notification when first made, and the date of this notification; upon receiving the notification, was an expert sent down to make any examination or inquiry on the spot; was any communication made to the authorities on the spot, such as the County Agricultural Committee; was the locality placed under observation and were any steps taken to deal with and eradicate the disease or circumscribe the area of its occurrence; has any notification been received this year in regard to the occurrence of this disease, and, if so, will he state the neighbourhood in which such disease has occurred and whether any steps have been taken to investigate and report upon this occurrence; whether he is aware of the injury which has been done to the county by placing the whole county in a schedule as if such county were affected throughout; and whether, in view of the fact that the only case reported occurred in a garden last year and that no case has been reported this year from any part of the county, and in view of the injury which has been done by this notification, the Board will be prepared to make public all the circumstances connected with this case (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The county of Dumfries has not been scheduled as affected with warty disease of potatoes, but the fact that the disease exists there has been notified to the Press with the view of reminding potato growers that black scab is a notifiable disease under the Destructive Insects and Pests Order of 1908. A notification of the existence of the disease in a garden was received in August last from a potato grower in the county, and the specimen forwarded by him was certified as being affected with black scab by the Board's expert advisers at the Royal Gardens, Kew. The owner was advised as to the nature, prevention, and remedy of the disease. Neither the County Agricultural Committee nor any other local authority are charged with any duties under the Order, and no communication was therefore made to them. An inspector has visited the locality and made a tour of inspection, and though he has found the existence of the disease in two other gardens he has no reason to suppose that it has spread to the farms of the county. The Board, in accordance with their usual practice in dealing with outbreaks of disease, do not propose to publish the names and addresses of the owners of the gardens where the disease exists, but so far as they are aware it has not affected the field crops in this county, and there is no need for alarm.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the number of cases where seamen have been examined by the nautical surveyors of the Board of Trade when there has been any doubt as to the efficiency of such seamen engaged on board of British ships, and the number of such examinations since the year 1897. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) No special record has been kept of the cases to which my hon. friend refers, but inquiries shall be made and the result communicated to him.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the main line from Essen to the North and West Coast of Germany has been and is still being reserved exclusively to the carriage of Government goods, chiefly armaments, so that ordinary trade is sent by a longer route. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) I have no information on the subject.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he proposes to appoint a Committee to deal with the question of the working of the Inebriates Acts so far as they relate to Scotland. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) Yes, Sir. The Committee will be appointed very shortly.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether, in view of the injury done to Government servants who have been compelled to retire from the Civil Service in consequence of false reports made in secret by superior officers under cover of confidential memoranda, His Majesty's Government will favourably consider the desirability of the creation of a board of appeal composed of three Privy Councillors, or other persons of suitable qualifications, so that public servants, having no remedy for redress in the Courts owing to the plea of privilege raised on behalf of the Crown, may be able to submit cases of alleged tyranny and oppression to an independent tribunal competent to examine witnesses upon oath. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) I see no necessity for the appointment of such a body.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, since the issue of the Parliamentary Paper, Inland Revenue (Death Duties) Public-Houses, dated 14th May, 1890, and previous to the passing of The Finance Act, 1894, any instructions, and, if so, what instructions, were issued altering the practice of the Inland Revenue Department, as set out in the Paper of 14th May, 1891. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) No record can be traced of any instructions being given previous to 1894, altering the practice in force on the 14th May, 1890, in the Inland Revenue Department, in dealing, for Death Duty purposes, with the various interests connected with the sale of intoxicating liquors.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what total amount was during the financial year ending 31st March, 1907, exempted from income-tax as devoted to charitable purposes in the legal sense. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The amount is £11,105,000.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, under War Office Regulations of 1908, officers of the British service are now eligible for pecuniary rewards upon qualifying as interpreters in modern foreign languages, whereas no rewards are granted by the Indian Military Regulations to officers of the Indian Army who similarly qualify as interpreters for European languages, except in Russia; whether, in July, 1908, Indian Army officers who passed, respectively, in German and in French were held to be debarred under existing rules from receiving the gratuity, whereas officers in the British service are eligible for all pecuniary rewards for passing in Oriental languages paid by the Government in India; and whether the Secretary of State will consider the advisability of admitting officers of the Indian Army to the same privilege in this respect as those enjoyed by British officers, with effect from the date of the War Office order introducing the new scale of rewards. (Answered by Mr. Buchanan.) The facts are as indicated in the hon. Member's Question. The Secretary of State will consult the Government of India as to the advisability of making officers of the Indian Army eligible for rewards for qualifying as interpreters in European languages other than Russian.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, as the result of the consideration by the Committee which sat, under the presidency of Sir Robert Romer, on the question of the future apportionment between the Home and Indian Governments of the charges incurred in the United Kingdom in connection with the maintenance of the British Army in India, the Secretary of State has approved of the present payment by India to the War Office being increased by £300,000 a year from the 1st May, 1908; what direct representation of the interests of India, other than that afforded from the India Office, was furnished on the personnel of the Committee or examined as witnesses before it; and whether the Secretary of State will present the Report and Evidence of the Committee to Parliament, or, failing that, will agree to furnish a summary of the Report and Evidence to Parliament. (Answered by Mr. Buchanan.) The recommendations of the Committee over which Sir Robert Romer presided dealt with questions of principle. On the basis of these recommendations the Secretary of State for India and the Secretary of State for War have arrived at an agreement that an additional payment of £300,000 a year shall be made, from 1st May, 1908, to cover the cost of the training of troops and other services connected with the maintenance of the British establishment in India. The representatives of India on the Committee were Sir John Edge, K.C., until recently a member of the Council of India, and Lieutenant-General Sir Beauchamp Duff, K.C.B., Chief of the Staff in India. The Committee did not examine witnesses. The Secretary of State does not propose to present the Report to Parliament.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Lixnaw boys' school, County Kerry, is partly occupied by the sexton of the managers' church, and that he refuses to quit the premises; and whether, seeing that it is a source of annoyance to the principal teacher, he will cause inquiries to be made with the view of having the man removed to other premises. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that in 1898 the then manager of the Lixnaw boys' national school gave possession to the clerk of the Catholic church of that part of the school premises which had formerly been used, but was not then being used, as a girls' school. It appears, however, that the premises have deteriorated by reason of the clerk's occupancy, and the Commissioners are therefore taking steps for the dispossesion of the clerk.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps he has taken, or proposes to take, to expedite the commencement of the war vessels of this year's programme of new construction, both in the Royal Dockyards and private establishments; on what dates, approximately, does he anticipate that the one battleship, one large armoured cruiser, six fast protected cruisers, sixteen destroyers, and £500,000 worth of submarines will be laid down respectively; and will the necessary money be provided to complete these vessels at correspondingly earlier dates than were originally anticipated.

The tenders for the new torpedo boat destroyers are now under consideration. The battleship of this year's programme will be laid down in January, and the armoured cruiser in February next. One fast protected cruiser was laid down at Pembroke in June, 1908. The tenders for the other five fast protected cruisers which are to be built by contract will be received by 5th November. Work on the submarines begins next month. It is not at present expected that the dates for completion will be anticipated. Any requisite money will be provided for the completion of these vessels at the dates the Board may consider necessary.

asked if it was proposed that the vessels should be completed at an earlier period so as to give the Navy as well as the unemployed the benefit arising from expediting their laying down.

said that the expediting of the large battleship and cruiser was to such a small extent that it would not materially affect the final date for completion. The Admiralty did not at present contemplate an earlier date for the completion of the vessels.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what has been the total cost to date of the operations in connection with the salvage of H.M.S. "Gladiator"; whether he proposes to incur the further expenditure that would be necessary if this vessel is to be restored to a state of fighting efficiency; and, if so, what is the estimated cost of her repairs and refit.

The total cost to date is about £54,000. The course to be taken with the vessel will be decided when the estimated cost of repairing her is known.

asked whether the Admiralty would consider whether it was worth while to spend the large sum of money necessary to restore the vessel to fighting efficiency seeing that it was already obsolete.

said that he did not accept as accurate the statement of the hon. Member, but the Board of Admiralty would of course consider all the circumstances.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the decision to make weekly payments through the post offices of the allowances under the Old-Age Pensions Act, he will consider the advisability of paying Navy pensioners their allowances weekly also, instead of quarterly, as at present.

I must refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to similar Questions in this House on Wednesday and Thursday in last week.

Has any difference of opinion arisen between the Admiralty and the Treasury on this subject which accounts for the character of the Answer referred to?

So far as I am aware, no communications have passed between the Admiralty and the Treasury on the subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the matter serious consideration in view of the reasons I have submitted to him?

I have given most anxious consideration to the question. The boards of guardians are aware of my decision; yet so far none of them have communicated with me.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that in September a statement purporting to be issued by the Admiralty was published giving for the new battleships now building of the "St. Vincent" class the armament in guns and torpedoes, the description of gun-mountings, and the number of rounds of ammunition supplied for each gun under the different headings of armour-piercing projectiles and common and lyddite shells, together with shrapnel for the 4-inch guns; and whether he can state if the publication of these details, hitherto regarded as confidential, was authorised by the Admiralty.

The details given in the statement to which I take my hon. friend to refer are inaccurate, and their publication was unauthorised.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consent to the publication of the Director of Naval Education's instructions to examiners by which the present system of education of naval cadets at Dartmouth is tested; and whether the Director of Naval Education under the Board of Admiralty is responsible for the system.

The Answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is in the negative. The Director of Naval Education under the Board of Admiralty is responsible for the system of examination at Dartmouth.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of the examination questions have leaked out to the cadets? Will he give me access to the instructions to the examiners?

I am not aware of the alleged fact that the papers have been given to the cadets. I do not believe it can be true. I cannot give the hon. Member access to the instructions.

Are we to understand that 99,000 men of the Territorial Force attended fifteen days in camp?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what is the present strength of the infantry of the Special Reserve in non-commissioned officers and men and how many of the men are under twenty years of age.

The strength of non-commissioned officers and men of the infantry of the Special Reserve on 1st October was 50,179, and of these 14,704 were under twenty years of age.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Yeomanry attended the annual camp training this year; and how many officers, and non-commissioned officers, and men respectively of the other branches of the Territorial Force attended camp for fifteen days.

The following are the numbers attending camp for fifteen days or over—

More than that; if you include officers, 103,000.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state the strength, both in officers and men, of the Regular Army serving with, the colours on 1st October, 1905, and 1st October, 1908, respectively, giving in each case separate figures for cavalry, artillery, and infantry.

Yes, Sir. The figures are too long to read out to the House, but I will have them printed with the Votes and Proceedings.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state the general effect of the figures?

The total strength as distinguished from establishment, was, on 1st October, 1905, 182,319, and on 1st October, 1908, 166,043. The difference is largely accounted for by the reduction in the Garrison Artillery.

Will the Return show the difference in the numbers of the Reserve?

The number of Reservists was just now much above the normal. It is "higher than in 1905.

Is not the increase due entirely to the policy of the late Government?

The increase in the Reserve is in part due to the three years system.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what was the total enlisted strength of the Territorial Army, as compared with its establishment, on 1st October, 1908.

The figures for non-commissioned officers and men on 1st October, are as follows: Establishment, 302,199; strength, 188,781.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what is the present strength of the Special Reserve, as compared with its establishment; how many of the men already enlisted in the Special Reserve have either joined, or announced their intention of joining, the Regular Army; and what approximate number of vacancies in the Special Reserve does he anticipate will be available for recruits from the ranks of the unemployed during the coming winter.

The strength of the Special Reserve (all arms) on 1st October was 61,291, out of an establishment of 77,089. 3,951 men had joined the Regular Army by 1st October. It is not possible to say how many men intend to join the Regular Army, as they are not asked on joining the Reserve whether they intend to join the Regular Army. Taking into calculation the probable wastage, it may be estimated that there will be room for about 24,000 being gradually taken during the winter.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what sums are annually provided by the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Austria, respectively, to encourage the breeding of horses suitable for Army purposes.

No funds are at present provided from the Army Estimates of the United Kingdom for these purposes. As regards Germany, the estimated expenditure for 1908–9 for Prussia is about £160,000, and for Saxony £11,000; the figures for Wurtemburg and Bavaria are not available. As regards Austria-Hungary, the annual expenditure is about £300,000. As regards France, about £100,000 is spent annually.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say definitely what steps are being taken to increase the supply of horses for the Army?

Notice should be given of that Question.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what is the annual cost of a cavalry soldier of the Line serving at home, and of an infantry soldier, respectively.

The average annual cost, including charges for barracks, arms, ammunition, etc., of a trained private soldier at home amounts to £61 17s. 2d. for cavalry of the Line, and £57 6s. 4d. for infantry of the Line.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the expenditure on balloon work in 1903–4 was £14,600, and the estimated expenditure for 1908–9 for both balloon and airship construction is only £13,750, he will state what steps he proposes to take to place this country in a position of equality with France and Germany, who are spending large sums of money on aeronautical work.

Sufficient funds have been provided this year for such experimental work as is considered necessary. The amounts which are expended on experimental aeronautical work at the present time by Germany and France cannot be accepted as a standard of what is desirable for this country to spend.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War why 10,349 men of the Regular Army at home were classified as cavalry soldiers on 1st October, 1907, in view of the fact that there were only 7,412 horses and mules on the regimental strength of the cavalry regiments in this country.

Every cavalry regiment has an establishment of men in excess of that of horses—and this is the case in foreign armies. The peace establishment of horses is practically identical with the war establishment. The peace establishment of men includes recruits and other persons who for obvious reasons do not require individual mounts. The men are, however, all being trained as cavalry soldiers, and therefore are rightly classified as such.

But in foreign armies are there only two horses for every three men?

I do not think that arises out of the Question on the Paper.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the decision to make weekly payments through the Post Offices of the allowances under the Old-Age Pensions Act, he will consider the advisability of paying Army pensioners their allowances weekly also, instead of quarterly, as at present.

Will the hon. Member kindly refer to my reply to a similar Question put by the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight Division of Hampshire on the 14th instant?

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to consider a general extension of the principle of weekly payment, in view of the terrible temptation to intemperance arising under the present system?

We have extended the system very much lately in that direction. But there is a very great difference of opinion as to whether it is desired by the men themselves.

But do not boards of guardians say it would be a great benefit?

Well, we have enabled boards of guardians to draw the money and pay it out weekly to men who have resort to the Poor Law.

Is there not ample evidence at the War Office that the payment of pensions in large sums quarterly is a positive misfortune to a considerable percentage of those who receive them?

We have dealt with those cases by enabling the guardians to pay the pensions out weekly where it is desired.

And I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that that privilege is very much appreciated.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether Captain E. B. Wilson, 5th Lancers, who was gazetted in November, 1907, as placed on half-pay, was allowed to retain his appointment as Superintendent of Gymnasia, Northern Command; whether it is usual for an officer on half-pay to continue in such an important position; whether Captain Wilson regularly appeared in the monthly Army List up to and including August, 1908, as holding the appointment, though never being near the gymnasia nor performing any single duty in connection with the post of superintendent during the whole nine months; whether Captain Wilson received full pay during that period; and, if so, what action the Secretary of State proposes to take in the matter.

He was allowed to retain his appointment up to 24th March, 1908, when he was removed from his appointment. So far as officers on half-pay are concerned, it is quite usual to give them appointments on the staff. Although he was removed from his appointment on 24th March, 1908, Captain Wilson's name continued to appear in the Army List, through a clerical error, as holding the appointment up to August, 1908. He, however, did no duty in connection with the post of Superintendent of Gymnasia after 24th March. Through an error made by the Army agents, Captain Wilson has been credited with the pay of his appointment from 25th March to 31st August. The over-issue of pay is in course of recovery.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the assertion that his policy of Army reduction has turned thousands of men into the streets; and whether he can inform the House how many men belonging to the disbanded units have been dismissed from the Army.

I am aware that some highly mendacious statements to this effect have been recently made. No men belonging to the disbanded units were dismissed from the Army. Those who did not complete their service in their units were either posted or voluntarily transferred to other units or transferred to the Reserve at their own request on guarantee of obtaining employment.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State of War whether there is any intention to abolish the London district command; and, if so, into what command will it be absorbed.

No, Sir. There is no such intention.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War seeing that a muzzle velocity of 2,600 feet per second can be obtained in the short Lee-Enfield rifle with a 150-grains bullet without exceeding the pressure which the breech action is amply strong enough to stand, why the ammunition now supplied to the British Army gives only 2,060 feet per second as against the 2,900 feet per second given by the ammunition used in the German Army and the 2,650 feet per second by that used in the United States Army.

The pattern of cartridge is still under consideration. There are many other details to be considered besides the velocity.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many tons of pressure are exerted on the breech action of the Lee-Enfield rifle by the ammunition now supplied by the Army; and how many tons of pressure would be exerted by a cartridge giving a muzzle velocity of 2,600 feet per second.

The present ammunition exerts a mean pressure not exceeding 16½ tons at 60°; a cartridge giving a muzzle velocity of 2,600 feet seconds would exert a mean pressure not exceeding 18¼ tons at 60° and 19½ tons at 120°. The maximum for any individual round is ½ ton higher in each case.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a muzzle velocity of 2,600 feet per second can be obtained in the short Lee-Enfield rifle without rapid deterioration of the breech bolt and without exposing the user of the rifle to serious risk of accident by the blowing out of the bolt. I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he himself, or one of his expert advisers, will give a practical demonstration of the strength of the breech action of the Lee-Enfield rifle by firing fifty rounds of an ammunition giving a muzzle velocity of 2,600 feet per second.

In reply to this and the next Question, I would inform the hon. Member that exhaustive trials are still in progress under the expert advisers of the Army Council.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of German East Africa has imposed an export duty of 1,000 per cent. on sisal bulbilles in order to ensure to that Colony the exclusive advantage of an early start in the cultivation of sisal; whether such action does not necessarily prejudice the development of sisal plantations in adjoining British territory; and, if so, whether any action can be taken to procure equal treatment for British planters.

The attention of the Secretary of State has been called to the export duty to which my hon. friend refers, and which no doubt to some extent prejudices the development of sisal plantations in British territory; but it did not appear to be a matter in which His Majesty's Government could properly make official representations to the German Government.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the natives of the adjacent lowlands of British East Africa ever affected a permanent occupation of the uplands of that Protectorate; and, if not, whether the Government proposes to give European settlers in this region such preferential rights as are usually conceded to pioneers and settlers in previously undeveloped territories.

I am not quite clear as to the nature or extent of the preferential rights to which my hon. friend refers. It is true that there is much land in the uplands which has not been in permanent occupation by natives, but His Majesty's Government cannot admit that the rights of the natives are confined to land which they have occupied permanently. It is the policy of His Majesty's Government to secure to the native tribes of the East Africa Protectorate such a proportion of the land which they have occupied, whether temporary or permanently, in the past, as will not only be adequate to their present requirements but will allow a reasonable margin for a future increase in their numbers; and it is only the land remaining after these conditions have been fulfilled that can be regarded as available for European settlement.

Does not that include a greater part of these uplands?

I cannot say without notice.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in view of the recommendations of the Committee on Shipping Subsidies of 1900 and of the fact that the primary objects of the German East Africa Steamship Company are to develop German East Africa and to promote German trade, in pursuance of which purposes its mail steamers call at one British, and at three German, East African ports, the Government will consider the urgent necessity which exists for subsidising a British mail service on the East African coast to serve Port Sudan, Berbera, Kismayu, Lamu Malindi, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Chinde, Beira, and Lorenzo Marquez, all of which are either British ports or serve the trade of British Colonies.

His Majesty's Government are anxious to secure, if possible, an improved service in British Steamships between this country and East Africa, and negotiations are in progress on the subject. I regret that I am not at present in a position to say more.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Bill, passed by the Orange River Colony Legislature, dealing with the employment of natives, their occupation of land and half-profit farming, was considered by this Government, and has received the assent of the Crown.

I have seen the terms of the Bill which has been passed and reserved by the Governor for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure, but it has not yet been formally submitted.

Have the Government taken into consideration the fact that this Bill will practically compel the natives either to become servants in the Colony, or to retire with their cattle to the already overcrowded reservation? Will that not impede the progress of civilisation?

Different views are entertained with regard to the effect of this Bill, but I think it would not be wise for me to make a statement on behalf of the Government until the Bill has been submitted here.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received complaints in regard to the character of the diet given to British-Indians imprisoned in the Transvaal for refusing to comply with the registration law; and, if so, will he say what action he proposes to take in the matter.

Yes, Sir, the Secretary of State has received complaints and he is now in communication with the Transvaal Government on the subject.

How many men are affected by this?

I should like notice of that Question.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Orange River Colony intends to float a new loan of £1,500,000, which will include the establishment of a fund for Dutch people in necessitous circumstances, to the amount of £750,000, together with a Government land settlement scheme representing £65,000, and a Church Industrial Colony for poor whites representing £27,500; and whether it is the intention of this Government to guarantee the loan.

The Orange River Colony Legislature passed a Bill last session to authorise a loan for £1,500,000, for various purposes, some of which are referred to in this Question. It was proposed to allocate £750,000 of this sum to the establishment of a fund for assistance by way of loans to those in necessitous circumstances, and for the promotion and assistance of farming and industrial undertakings in accordance with a resolution adopted by the House of Assembly. But there was no indication either in the Bill or in the debates on the Bill that the benefits of this loan should be confined to those of His Majesty's subjects who are of Dutch descent, and the Secretary of State regrets that the suggestion should have been made from here. There has been no official request from the Orange River Colony Government for an Imperial guarantee, and until such request is made I am not in a position to make any statement. In reply to a remark by Sir GILBERT PARKER, the purport of which did not reach the Gallery—