said he did not desire to detain the House at any length, and he would, therefore, compress his complaint against the Bill into a few words. The key of the puzzle was to be found in two words in the first line of the schedule, viz., East Hardwick. Now East Hardwick was a school within the jurisdiction of the West Riding. The existing school was condemned by the Board of Education inspectors as far back as 1901. It was taken over by the local education authority on the appointed day, 1st April, 1904. In 1905 the local education committee formulated its requirements with regard to the school building, and after many negotiations the managers replied in November, 1906, that they had no funds out of which the school could be repaired. Thereupon the local education authority decided to provide a school themselves. That was in December, 1906 The Board of Education sent down their decision that a new school should be provided by the local education authority in May, 1907, and that decision had not yet been rescinded. He (Mr. Clough) asked a Question of the President of the Board of Education in July this year, and he said it had not been rescinded up to the 14th of that month. The Board urged the local authority to provide the school with all despatch. The local authority endeavoured to secure a site, but all the local owners of suitable and eligible sites refused to sell to the local education authority, who appealed for compulsory powers. The Board made a provisional order, which was incorporated in the Bill now down for Third Reading. It was introduced in the House of Lords on 5th May. The Second Reading came on on 1st June in the House of Lords, when Viscount Halifax moved that it be an Instruction to the Committee to omit this particular order and schedule with regard to the West Riding. The debate was adjourned till 24th June, when Lord Crewe, on behalf of the Government, undertook to withdraw the order on the Committee stage. On that understanding the Bill was read a second time. It passed through Committee, was reported, read a third time, and sent to the Commons on 21st July, minus the order regarding the West Riding. He (Mr. Clough) submitted that the Board of Education and the House of Commons ought not to take this Instruction from the House of Lords. He submitted that the order was purely an administrative measure, but the so-called constitutional party appeared to have strained the constitution of another place, perhaps out of follow feeling to a brother landowner, or it might be to flout the West Riding County Council, the most progressive local education authority throughout England and Wales. [OPPOSITION cries of "Oh."] He had two appeals to make. One to the House of Commons that it would assert its supremacy over administration as well as over finance, and he appealed to the President of the Board of Education, seeing that East Hardwick was a single school area, and there was no choice of schools for the parents to send their children to, to see that there should not be a new denominational school, privately controlled, in which the teachers should have to submit to sectarian tests, but that it should be a public elementary school provided by the local education authority. He begged to move.

Move what?

That the Bill be recommitted.

If the hon. Member had told me at the commencement that he was going to move the recommittal I should have told him that he was not entitled to do so now. I only permitted him to speak because I understood after a protest from him the Bill would go through unopposed. The time to take opposed Private Bills is 8.15 p.m., and not three o'clock in the afternoon.

If you understood that, Sir, I shall not move.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether the letters from Great Britain and Ireland to the United States and Canada are carried in the fast and powerful American and German steamships at the rate of 1s. 8d. per lb., while the British Government pays 3s. per lb. or a sum equalling 3s. per lb. for the conveyance of letters on British ships; whether the whole cost of conveying the mails for the United States of America and Canada, sent viâ New York at the higher rate, is charged to the British Post Office; and whether he has made any protest to the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a view to having the accounts in this respect adjusted, seeing that the higher rates are properly given to British shipowners for other than postal purposes; and what would be the saving to the British Post Office if the whole of the letters and newspapers transmitted last year to New York were paid for at the rate given to German and American vessels. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The facts are not as the hon. Member supposes. The payment to the American and German companies is made at the Postal Union rate, equivalent up to 31st December last to 1s. 9½d. a pound, and since that date to 1s. 5d. a pound. The payment to the British contract vessels for the last contract year, expiring on 31st July last, for the conveyance of letters to the United States and Canada viâ New York, amounted (so far as can be estimated) to a sum slightly in excess of 1s. 10d. per pound. This sum decreases as the quantity of mail increases. The whole of the payment made out of the Post Office Vote to the contracting companies is paid exclusively in respect of postal services. It is estimated that in the year 1907 the payment made for the conveyance of letters and other articles exceeded by about £1,500 the sum which would have been paid under Postal Union rates. In so far as a higher payment is made in respect of the use of British than of German or American vessels the explanation is not that the excess is paid for a non-postal service, but that it is the consideration for contractual obligations of speed and regularity, etc., which do not rest on the owners of vessels, whether foreign or British, which are not under contract with His Majesty's Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has a record of the accident which caused the death of Harry Haigh, employed by Great Central Railway, Ducie Street, Manchester, on 10th April, 1908; whether the record shows that the accident was due to Haigh acting as both horse-shunter and brakes-man, and for want of room to work in; and what was the certified cause of death. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The verdict of the coroner's jury in this case was that Haigh had been accidentally crushed between a horse and a railway van. An inquiry was held on behalf of the Board of Trade, and I am forwarding to my hon. friend a copy of the sub-inspecting officer's report, together with a copy of the railway company's reply to his recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for War what breech pressure is exerted by the ·303 ammunition producing a muzzle velocity of 2,600 foot seconds with a bullet of 150 grains; and what are the length in calibre of the point of the bullet, the point-blank range, the ballistic coefficient, the time of flight for 1,000 yards, and the deflection at 1,000 yards for a wind of ten miles per hour. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) As regards breech pressure, a mean pressure not exceeding 18¼ tons would be exerted. No pattern of 150-grain bullet has yet been decided upon, and it is not therefore practicable to give any information as regards the length in calibre of the point of the bullet or the ballistic coefficient. As regards point-blank range, the range in which a 150-grain bullet, at 2,600 f.s. velocity, would not rise more than five feet above the line of sight would be about 700 yards. The time of flight for 1,000 yards would be about two seconds (calculated), but this varies with different designs. The deflection at 1,000 yards for a wind of ten miles per hour would be about 12½ feet (calculated).

To ask the Secretary of State for War what are the point-blank range, the breech pressure, the ballistic coefficient, the time of flight for 1,000 yards, and the deflection at 1,000 yards for a wind of ten miles per hour, in the case of each of the following types of ·303 ammunition: service Lee-Metford, with bullet of 215 grains; Swift, with bullet of 225 grains; Velopex, with bullet of 150 grains, and Lee-Metford Palma, with bullet of 225 grains. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) For the service 215-grain bullet the point-blank range for a height of trajectory above line of sight not exceeding five feet is 550 yards; as regards breech pressure the mean pressure does not exceed 16½ tons. The ballistic coefficient is ·42 approximately; the time of flight for 1,000 yards is 2·4 seconds; the deflection at 1,000 yards for a wind of ton miles an hour is 13¼ feet (calculated). Similar information as regards the three other bullets is not available.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he can see his way by regulation to authorise the acceptance of a certificate by a district nurse as to the inability of a child to attend school in country districts owing to the difficulty often experienced of obtaining the certificate of a medical practitioner. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The matter is not dealt with by the Board's regulations. It is for the local education authority in each area to say, in the first instance, what evidence they will accept under the law of school attendance as sufficient to excuse a child from attending school, and in cases of prosecution for non-attendance it is for the magistrates to decide as to the sufficiency of the evidence and excuse.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to the fact that the dismissal of thousands of skilled men employed by the National Telephone Company will not only deprive these men of their employment but cause loss of work to those, not part of the company's staff, who are at present engaged in the manufacture and installation of telephone apparatus and material, he will take immediate measures to prevent the discharge of that part of the staff of the National Telephone Company which is engaged upon constructional work needed to meet public wants. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I think I must refer my hon. friend to the Answers I have given to similar Questions to which, at present, I have nothing to add. I am in negotiation with the National Telephone Company in regard to the question of the continuance of works of construction.

To ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a sorter in the London postal service has performed over eighty days duty, from the 1st January to the 30th June of the present year, on a superior class, and has just received pay allowance for seventeen days only, and that up to the 10th October he has performed an additional sixty days, for which he has not yet received any allowance; that this case is typical of others; and, if so, whether, in view of the Hobhouse Committee's recommendations, he will say what action he proposes to take in this case. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The recommendations of the Select Committee as regards substitution upon a higher duty have been adopted, and I shall be glad if the hon. Member will send me the name and office of the sorter to whom he refers, and I will look into the case.

To ask the Postmaster-General if he can say what are the regulations which compel Army pensioners in the service of the General Post Office to receive the pensions weekly with their employment pay; and if, in the event of such pensioners desiring to receive their pensions quarterly and not with employment pay, such request will be granted.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he can say under what circumstances Army pensioners under the General Post Office are compelled to accept payment of their Army pensions weekly with their employment pay; and whether, in the event of pensioners so employed desiring to have their pensions paid quarterly, the War Office regulations governing the payment of pensions will be carried out. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I will answer these two Questions together. The system of paying naval and military pensions weekly with the Post Office employment wages was introduced on the 1st of April, 1900, mainly in the interests of the staff, on the recommendation of an inter-departmental committee. The system works smoothly, and I do not think that exceptions to the arrangement would be advisable. The War Office agreed that their regulations should be waived in the case of pensioners employed by the Post Office.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is now able to state his decision in regard to the representations that have been made to him for increased pay being granted to the postmen of Kirkcaldy. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The maximum of the scale for postmen at Kirkcaldy has been raised by 1s. a week, from 24s. to 25s.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he can now see his way to take any steps to improve the ventilation of the House by the admission of fresh air through other channels than the floor, over which hundreds of persons tread during the day, bringing with them from the roads particles of organic matter, which, by the system now in operation, are forced into the air and distributed throughout the Chamber. (Answered by Mr. L. Harcourt.) It has already been shown by the inquiry before the Select Committee upon the subject, that nothing short of a radical reconstruction of the Chamber would permit of an alteration of the system of admitting fresh air at the floor level. It should, however, be borne in mind that, in addition to scrupulous cleanliness, any small extent of vitiation in connection with the present system is probably neutralised by the rapid changes of air.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works whether, looking at the state of unemployment now existing, he can recommend that the road leading from Princes Gate to Bayswater Road be continued from the Serpentine in a straight line for Paddington Station. (Answered by Mr. L. Harcourt.) I fear that I am unable to recommend the suggested alteration. I am providing a large amount of work for the unemployed in the royal parks of a more suitable nature than the removal of the gate and lodge which this proposal would involve.

To ask the hon. Member for Mid. Derby, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether the practice has always been to treat the dinner bills of Members as private; whether he is aware that recently a member of the Kitchen Committee instructed the clerks to search the back files for a particular dinner bill of a Member which had been the subject of public discussion; whether this examination was made by his authority; and, if not, will he issue orders to prevent the repetition of any similar investigation. (Answered by Sir Alfred Jacoby.) In reply to my hon. friend it is the practice of the Kitchen Committee to treat dinner bills of Members as private. If any breach of this rule has taken place it is without my authority. I have given strict orders that no Member's dinner bill is to be subject to investigation.

To ask the Lord-Advocate whether his attention has been called to the case of a shipment of coal to Barcelona by a firm of coal exporters to the order of J. and P. Coats, Limited, of Paisley, in January last; whether he is aware that in the case a fraudulent certificate was issued by the exporter saying the coal was a specific brand, whereas it was not; whether this practice is a common one in such shipments, and therefore calls for the attention of his Department; whether the Crown Agent in Edinburgh forbade the procurator fiscal from prosecuting in this case; and, if so, will he state to the House the grounds on which such practices are condoned by his Department. (Answered by Mr. Thomas Shaw.) I beg to refer my hon. friend to the Answer given by me on this subject on Monday last to a Question put by the hon. Member for East St. Pancras, to which I have nothing to add.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether receipt of outdoor relief will be held to disqualify a man, otherwise qualified, from the receipt of a pension for old ago when such relief has been repaid in full to the guardians on his behalf. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) Perhaps I may be allowed to answer this Question. It is with some others which have arisen under the recent Act, and which involve legal considerations receiving attention, but I am not in a position at the moment to give a definite answer with regard to it.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if the exemption of furniture from the calculation of the means of applicants for pensions in New Zealand and in the Australian Colonies is provided for in the Pension Acts in force in those Colonies, or is only sanctioned by the instructions issued to the pension officers. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) I cannot find any provision either in the New Zealand Act or in the new Commonwealth Act, which would have the effect of exempting the value of furniture owned by a claimant to an old age pension from inclusion in the calculation of his accumulated property for the purposes of these Acts, nor am I aware that it is exempted.

To ask the Secretary of State for War how many boys between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one are employed at Woolwich Arsenal; what is the nature of their employment; and what proportion of them after the age of twenty-one are employed regularly at the Arsenal. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The numbers are as follows—

Ordnance Factories	1,158
Chief Inspector	134
Deputy Director of Ordnance Stores	43
Naval Ordinance Officer	10
Total	1,345

In the Ordnance Factories the lads are employed in attending to machines and assisting generally in the shops. Some few are employed in the offices. On reaching the age of twenty-one about 50 per cent. of the trade lads are retained, and in addition those lads, not trade lads, who are engaged on special jobs and whose retention is specially approved by the War Office in each case. Of the lads under the chief inspector the majority are employed in gauging and packing small arm ammunition and charges, some in the shops on miscellaneous work and as messengers lads, and the rest in the office. Only those in the office are retained if suitable as vacancies occur in the adult staff, as the remainder are discharged at the age of nineteen, and of those now serving possibly twelve may be retained. In the Deputy Director of Ordnance Stores' stores sixteen are boy writers and twenty-seven boy messengers. About one lad in six is retained as a rule. In the Naval Ordnance office the lads are employed as boy messengers, and all can be employed regularly after the age of twenty-one.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he can say whether the military men acting as firemen on the engines of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company have been withdrawn; and, if so, whether such withdrawal is temporary or permanent. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The soldiers who were undergoing a course of training in locomotive firing on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway have all been withdrawn. The withdrawal is not permanent, being consequent on the depression of trade now existing in the vicinity of the railway.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if he contemplates engaging any more military men to railway companies for the purposes of training them in railway locomotive work; and, if so, whether he will ensure that they shall not displace the regular men in the service or reduce them below a full week's work and wages. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Yes, Sir. Every opportunity will be taken to train soldiers of the Royal Engineers belonging to the railway companies of that corps in locomotive firing on such of the British railways as can, from time to time, afford facilities for the above training without detriment to the employment of their regular civilian staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether an automatic rifle, fulfilling the necessary requirements of a service weapon, has yet been invented; and what is the estimated period of time which must elapse between the invention of an automatic rifle and the completion of a sufficient number to arm our regular forces. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) As regards the first part of the Question, there are no official details of such a rifle. As regards the second part of the Question, in the absence of the necessary information as regards the rifle, it would be quite impracticable to make even a rough estimate of a period which in this country would depend on so many circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for War what is the estimated increase of ammunition which the use of an automatic rifle would require to be carried by the soldier, on the regimental and other ammunition carts and mules, by divisional ammunition columns, and in the ammunition park; and whether he has any official reports showing whether such necessary increase, and the consequent increased risk of failure of the supply of ammunition, would counteract the advantages derived from the use of an automatic rifle by infantry in action. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) As I have no official information as regards the rifle I am not in a position to give any estimate as regards the ammunition necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether experiments have been conducted with a view to so altering the breech mechanism, magazine, and chamber of the service Lee-Enfield rifle that up-to-date ammunition with a powerful charge of fast-burning powder and a pointed ogival bullet may be used, in order that British troops may be armed with a rifle and ammunition not inferior to that of other nations; and, if not, whether he will give instructions for such experiments to be carried out forthwith. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) As I have already explained to the House, experiments are now being made with the view of obtaining ammunition of the kind indicated in the Question.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Government forbid the letting of the Drill Hall, Woolwich, for public meetings; and, if not, will he communicate this fact to the officer in charge. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) My hon. friend apparently refers to the drill hall of the Second London Royal Field Artillery. The use of the drill hall was refused because the guns and equipment are kept in the hall.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office has in its possession full information as to the mechanical means, such as motor ambulances, which may have been used for transporting the French sick and wounded during the campaigning at Casa Blanca; and, if not, whether he will instruct the Military Attaché at Paris to furnish a Report. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) From information received it would appear that no mechanical transport was used for the carriage of the French sick and wounded during the campaigning at Casa Blanca. Has the hon. Member any information to the contrary effect, and, if so, would he furnish me with it?

To ask the Secretary of State for War if the War Office has in its possession full particulars as to the methods adopted for treating cases of enteric in the French field-hospitals at Casa Blanca; and, if not, will the War Office think it expedient to instruct the Military Attaché at Paris to procure full particulars. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I am informed that enteric in the hospital at Casa Blanca was treated on the Brandt or cold-water system.

To ask the Secretary of State for War if the War Office has in its possession full particulars as to the methods adopted in the Spanish Army for housing the forces debarked at Casa Blanca, the system of constructing the papier-maché huts, field-kitchen, and hospital, and the cost of construction; and, if not, will the War Office think it expedient to instruct the Military Attaché in Madrid to procure full particulars. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane) The War Office is in possession of information regarding the types of huts used for housing the Spanish troops at Casa Blanca. No detailed information has been received regarding the Spanish field-kitchen or hospital. The latter is a hutment similar to those used as barracks for the troops. The field-kitchens are understood to be of the ordinary type, and it has not been considered necessary to call on our Military Attaché for a special report.

To ask the Secretary of State for War what number of slates have been used during the last two years for slating the roofs of the barracks at Aldershot; and whether these slates are of foreign or British origin. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) 109,170 slates were used, 99,170 being of British origin, and 10,000, approximately, of foreign origin. The latter are being used experimentally.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in connection with the purchase of land in the neighbourhood of Salisbury Plain, he has made any provision for adequate compensation being paid to such aged agricultural labourers as will lose their employment. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane). As a period of twenty months will elapse between now and the time when the land will be required for military purposes it is hoped that this interval will prove sufficient to enable the labourers to make fresh arrangements where necessary. Should special cases of hardship arise I undertake that they shall be considered with a view to compensation.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can furnish any information as to when the new cavalry barracks at Colinton will be commenced; how many men will be employed on the work; and at what date is it estimated that they will be completed. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I am not able at the present moment to give the hon. and gallant Member the information he requires Will he kindly refer to my reply to a Question on this subject by my hon. friend the Member for Central Edinburgh on Tuesday last?

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of the Government that men who have already enlisted in the Territorial Army at its beginning for one year only should be able to enlist again for one year only at their option, on the same conditions as to service and clothing. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Under the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act, Section 9 (1) (c), men may be re-engaged for a period to be prescribed not exceeding four years. This period will, in accordance with paragraph 88 of the Territorial Force Regulations, be fixed by the County Associations. This applies to all re-engagements.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will lay upon the Table a Return specifying the lands to be acquired for Territorial ranges, setting forth the names of the owners and occupying tenants, the acreage of their properties and holdings, and the correspondence which has passed between the War Office and the various people concerned. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) It is obviously impracticable to give a Return of the properties concerned before the negotiations are completed. In this respect I propose to follow the practice of my predecessors, and lay Returns of the purchases when completed on the lines of those given in 1898 and 1899.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the reason why the compulsory provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act were not put into operation for the purpose of reinstating Mathew Conroy, the Castle Farm, Clonaslee, Queen's County, and his family, who were evicted within the limit set down under the Act of 1903, and whose farm remains untenanted on the landlord's hands. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners are inquiring into this case with a view to deciding whether they will acquire the lands under the Evicted Tenants Act.

TO ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application made on behalf of a number of tenants on the estate of Robert Edward Pigott, Capard, Queen's County, situated at Laccan, Rosenallis, Queen's County, asking to be released from agreements to purchase signed on the 2nd May, 1908, upon the grounds that the stipulated conditions of the bargain reserving to the tenants game, turbary, and free mountain grazing rights were not embodied in the agreements, but on the contrary reserved to the landlord, and further that the agreements were not read over to them, and that their names were attached in ignorance of the contents of those documents; can he say whether the original agreements have been lodged with the Estates Commissioners; and what course they propose taking in this matter. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have received the application referred to, and will consider it when they are dealing with the purchase agreements which have been lodged with them.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the intention of the Treasury and Commissioners of National Education to withhold from teachers in charge of schools with an average attendance under thirty-five any portion of the grant of £114,000 which has been voted for the augmentation of the salaries of national school teachers; is he aware that there are at least 3,000 of such schools in Ireland, that the teachers in charge have to do all the work themselves, not as a rule being provided with assistants, and are therefore entitled to their due share of the grant; and whether, seeing that the withholding of the grant from those teachers would inflict a great injustice on them and on the children, he will see that they are secured their due share of it. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) No schools are excluded from participation in the grant.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether, when application is made by local authorities to the Board to sanction expenditure from the rates to provide free meals for necessitous school children, the Board has refused its sanction, insisting that voluntary effort must precede the expenditure of public money. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) No application which satisfies the requirements of Section 3 of the Provision of Meals Act has been rejected, and I am not aware that the Board of Education have ever assumed the attitude which is indicated by the Question.

To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any action is going to be taken on the recommendations of the Interdepartmental Committee Report on the Coastguard; and whether official information will be circulated among the officers and men affected, giving them ample notice of any contemplated changes. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The answer to both parts of the Question is in the affirmative.

To ask the First Lord of the Admiralty on what basis the Board made the calculation in which they inform the Commonwealth Government that the first cost of six destroyers will be £473,500, or an average of £78,900 each; what type of destroyer does the Board refer to, and what is the speed; and whether the Board took into consideration that the destroyer "Swift" is set down in the Navy Estimates as costing £250,000 and the remaining twelve at least £120,000 each, exclusive of armaments. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The destroyers taken as the basis of the calculation were of the "River" class, which is clearly stated in the Blue-book. The speed is quoted as 25·5 knots.

To ask the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of vacancies on the male establishment of the Post Office that have been filled by females during 1907 and 1908, respectively; and, will he say whether the substitution of female for male labour in his department is one of the causes of the present lack of employment among men. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) In certain cases, from the nature of the work, it was found desirable to substitute women for men. But in the aggregate the increase in the number of posts created for males during the last year has considerably exceeded the number of posts created for females, as my hon. friend will see on comparing the details of the staff employed in the Post Office as given in Appendix F of my Reports for the years 1907 and 1908, which show that the increase in the male staff in 1908 over 1907 was 2,666 against 1,753 in the female staff.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the action being taken against the Provincial Homes Investment Company in Manchester and of the litigation about to ensue, in which the poor investors' money will be spent in defence of the directors; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) It has been brought to my knowledge that there has been litigation in Manchester between the Provincial Homes Investment Company and some of its policy holders or bond holders, but I have no power to intervene in any way.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions have been issued since 1st January, 1894, up to the present date altering the practice of the Inland Revenue Department as set out in the Paper Inland Revenue (Death Duties), Public Houses, dated 14th May, 1890. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) No instructions have been issued since 1st January, 1894, altering the practice of the Estate Duty Department of the Board of Inland Revenue.

To ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Woods and Forests Department is endeavouring to arrange to lease Crown salmon fishings in Scotland, hitherto open to the public, to private individuals; and whether, in view of the fact that these fishings are national property and that the Royal Commission of 1895 and 1896 recommended that such fishings should be administered by a district board in order that the public, on payment of a licence, should have the use of them, the Government would consider the propriety of withholding its sanction to the granting of such leases until such time as legislation on the lines recommended by the Commissioners be introduced. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) The Commissioners of Woods are bound to make the best revenue they can from the Crown property for the benefit of the general public. Payment of the full value is therefore necessary whether leases are taken by private individuals or the district board. Moreover the Royal Commission of 1902, recommended that the residential right of proprietors on the banks of the stream should be safeguarded. With a view to carrying this recommendation into effect, the Commissioners of Woods inform me that in the few cases where opportunity has been found to carry out the recommendation of the earlier Commission referred to in the Question it has been considered best to provide that licences to fish for salmon in Crown waters should be granted, on terms arranged by them, by means of a lease to the proprietor of the trout fishings and river banks where he is willing to take a lease on these conditions. In the case which no doubt the hon. and gallant Member has in mind the offer to lease a Crown fishing to a private

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he will state the amount of hops imported into this country in each month from September to August in the years 1906–7 and 1907–8, respectively. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The imports of hops in each month from September, 1906, to August, 1908, inclusive, are as follows:—

To ask the Prime Minister if he can state when the Report of the Departmental Committee appointed to deal with the Fair Wages Clause will be ready. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) I am informed that the Report will be ready very shortly.

To ask the Prime Minister whether any of his proposals in connection with the question of the unemployed will necessitate immediate legislation. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) The Answer is in the negative.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the relative aggregate cost of British and of foreign granite in the contract for the Portsmouth lock, in regard to which contract the

Is it the intention of the right hon. Gentleman to reduce still further this valuable branch of the service?

There is no general intention to reduce the numbers.

Why has it been so far reduced?

The lowest tender for the whole work was accepted, and the successful firm proposes to employ British granite.

Will the same course be adopted in the case of Rosyth?

I am unable to say at present.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the strength of all ranks of the Royal Marines, exclusive of bandsmen, on 1st January, 1906, and on 1st October, 1908, respectively.

The total strength of all ranks of Royal Marines (exclusive of band ranks) on 1st January, 1906, and on 1st October, 1908, was as follows—

In order to meet the needs of the Admiralty.

Then I hope the Admiralty for the time being is satisfied.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the reply of the Admiralty to the request of the New Zealand Government for a vessel for the purpose of training young New Zealanders for the Navy has occasioned disappointment and discouragement in the Dominion; and whether he will make further inquiries as to the possibility of acceding to the patriotic desire of the Colony.

It is a matter for sincere regret to me if the answer of the Admiralty has occasioned discouragement in the Dominion, but every inquiry was made at the time with a view to the possibility of meeting the wishes of the Dominion Government. It must be understood that to carry out efficiently the training of as many as 500 boys in a seagoing ship, a very special class of vessel is necessary, and at that time and now, no such vessel in the Royal Navy is available.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make further inquiries?

I have made every investigation which is possible in the matter.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the annual cost to the British taxpayer of the ships of the Imperial Navy in Australian and New Zealand waters, including pay and allowances, victualling, etc., as well as repairs, stores, and depreciation, during the years 1905–6, and 1906–7; what was the amount of the subsidies received from these Colonies, during these two years; and what saving will there be upon that net annual cost when the local flotilla proposed by Mr. Deakin for the Australian Commonwealth, and costing £346,000 per annum, as outlined by the Admiralty 20th August, 1908 [Cd. 4325], is in actual existence.

The cost of maintaining His Majesty's ships in Australian and New Zealand waters during the years 1905–6, and 1906–7, under the heads specified in the hon. Member's Question, was respectively, £514,500, and £607,000. The subsidies from the Australian Commonwealth and New Zealand in respect of the period in question, amounted to £240,000 for each year. It is not possible to state what saving there may be if the scheme proposed by Mr. Deakin be carried out, as this will depend upon the circumstance and requirements at the time.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether any definite agreement has been come to between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the Commonwealth with regard to naval affairs in Australia?

replied that he thought the hon. Member had seen a copy of some correspondence on the subject. He had nothing to add to that correspondence at the moment.

Then an agreement has not yet been finally and definitely come to?

I think at the present moment we are waiting to hear further from the Australian Government on the subject.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that on the 9th October, when the crisis in the Near East occurred, only three out of the six battleships of the Mediterranean Fleet were ready for sea; whether this contravenes the Memorandum issued to Parliament to the effect that not more than one battleship of the Mediterranean Fleet should be in dockyard hands or away from it at a time; and whether he is also aware that out of the eight cruisers mentioned in the Navy List only two were fit to accompany the three battleships to sea.

With the exception of one battleship under refit, there was nothing to prevent all the vessels proceeding on service in case of emergency; and the sufficient number of vessels which were required proceeded on the service ordered without delay.

Am I to understand that every ship except that one was ready at Malta to sail on twelve hours notice?

Yes, Sir.

When the right hon. Gentleman says all were ready, were not two of the cruisers at home in England?

All were ready that were out there. The question only deals with those at Malta.

Is it not a fact that one of the cruisers was in dockyard hands, and were not the boilers of two of the battleships defective?

It is true that some of the machinery of the ships was defective, but those defects would not have prevented those ships going to sea at once.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the official statistics furnished to the House on 9th July, 1906, showing that during the last Government's six years of office there were, on an average seventeen vessels of over 5,000 tons under construction in private yards on 1st April of each year; and whether he can state how many vessels of over 5,000 tons are at the moment being built for the Royal Navy in the private yards.

I am unable to form an opinion as to which six years of office the hon. Member refers to in the first part of the Question. The reply to the second part of the Question is, five on the 1st of this month.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of His Majesty's dockyard authorities to make to dockyard employees who have attended recent camps as members of the Territorial Army such continued payment in respect of time spent in camp as will provide that they shall not suffer loss as a result of their action as members of the Territorial Force.

The matter referred to by the hon. Member is under consideration.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give the names of the two destroyers bought by the Government to replace the "Gala" and "Tiger;" and whether they equal them in speed, armament, radius of action, and sea-going qualities.

The ships referred to have not yet completed their trials, and consequently have not been adopted into the Royal Navy nor been given names.

Are they of the river class?

They cannot be defined as belonging to any particular class—either the river or the tidal.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman himself say they would be in the river class?

This is a very technical question. So far as we have seen they cannot in all respects be described as belonging to the river class. It all depends on the trials which are still proceeding.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any of the eight battleships absent from the Channel Fleet during the night of the recent Eastern crisis on 9th October were undergoing an extensive refit of over thirty working days.

Some of the battleships were undergoing a refit which, unless interrupted, would last for more than thirty days. None had been paid off into dockyard hands, without a crew, for extensive refit.

asked why the Memorandum of the Admiralty requiring the replacing of any vessel undergoing extensive refit was not carried out.

These vessels were not undergoing extensive refit.

But the Admiralty themselves have defined extensive refit as thirty working days.

replied that the crews were still retained on board, and the refit might have been stopped at any moment and the battleships put to sea within twelve hours.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty with reference to the official statement that the Channel Fleet had eight out of fourteen battleships absent in the dockyards from the beginning of its cruise on 23rd September to 12th October, except for a period of ten days, when nine were absent, whether eight of the battleships were in the dockyards refitting; and if the Board propose to obviate the reduction of strength thus entailed by increasing the number of battleships with the Channel Fleet to seventeen, as was the case in 1905 and 1906.

The suggestion contained in the earlier part of the hon. Member's Question is not correct, and the Admiralty have no intention of increasing the strength of the Channel Fleet.

Were all these eight battleships ready for sea within twelve hours?

No, some were undergoing extensive refit.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state how many men are now being employed at Rosyth Dock, and in what capacity.

The invitations to tender for the main contract are now being issued. No men can be employed on the work until the contract is made. At present there are on the site, five Admiralty workmen and 107 men employed by the road contractor.

By what, date have the contracts to be in?

I will inquire. I think they are to be returned this year.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that dissatisfaction prevails among the Sikhs on account of the reorganisation of the governing body of the Khalsa College at Amritsar; was the new constitution framed under instructions from Government; was it objected to by a scion of the Atari house; were people allowed to vote who had not paid their subscriptions as required by the rules; was their readiness to pay, if the new rules were passed, regarded as tantamount to actual payment; and whether he can tell the House what steps the Government of India are taking to dispel this cause of dissatisfaction.

The Secretary of State has no information on the subject, but he will inquire.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the arrangement between the Government of India and the Simla correspondent of the Daily Mail, under which the said correspondent is authorised to provide the Government of India with a daily service of news, has been confirmed or renewed; if so, for what period and at what remuneration; and whether the sanction of the Secretary of State has been given to any such arrangement.

The Gentleman with whom the arrangement referred to was made undertook as a condition of the agreement to sever his connection with the Daily Mail, and to supply no news to that or any other paper in the United Kingdom. The arrangement was made for three years from November, 1907, and has been approved by the Secretary of State. The monthly cost is £160, which is to cover all charges for the collection of news.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has received during the last few weeks any information from India of the holding there of meetings and expressions in other ways of popular indignation at the treatment of British-Indians in the Transvaal and their imprisonment for declining to take out and carry on their persons registration certificates; and whether His Majesty's Government have taken or propose to take any action in the direction of remedying the grievances complained of.

Many representations on this subject are being received from India, where marked feeling has been aroused. They have been communicated to the Colonial Office, who will be able to reply to the latter part of the hon. Member's Question.

Has the hon. Gentleman come to the conclusion that as regards British India there is no specific advantage in belonging to the British Empire?

None whatever.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the reported cure for cholera now in use at Shanghai with good results; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to coping with this disease in India.

The Secretary of State has no particulars as to the remedial treatment of cholera reported to be adopted in Shanghai, but will cause inquiries to be made.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the number of Chinese coolies at present employed in the mines in the Transvaal.

I understand that there were 14,655 on the 30th September.

asked if these 14,655 coolies were still confined in compounds under "conditions of slavery."

Yes, they are still confined to compounds, but this bad system is rapidly being brought to an end. There appears to be no one in the British Empire who supports it, except a few hon. Members on the other side.

Are not the natives in the Transvaal confined in compounds?

Yes, Sir, but under wholly different conditions.

Who invented this system of compounds?

Will the Under-Secretary state what are these different conditions?

It is obviously impossible, within the limits of Question and Answer, to make clear the difference which has been explained again and again in the House.

Is not the difference rather in the terms of contract than in the compound system?

It is not desirable to have a discussion on this matter.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that the Transvaal Opium Ordinance was passed solely in order to provide for the needs of the Chinese coolies, and that these coolies are being repatriated, and in view of the consequences likely to follow if the natives of the Transvaal become addicted to the opium habit, His Majesty's Government intend to advise the Transvaal Government to rescind the Ordinance when all the Chinese coolies have been repatriated.

The Ordinance was passed because the previously existing legislation was not sufficiently stringent, and its repeal therefore would seem to be undesirable. The question, however, is one for the Transvaal Government, in whose hands I feel assured that the interests of the natives in this matter are safe.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, with reference to the First Report of the research expedition sent out to Central Africa by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to the effect that glossina palpalis is not the only carrier of sleeping sickness, and to the fact that glossina morsitans is found all over Nyassaland, the Government is taking special steps to prevent the further spread of sleeping sickness southwards to Nyassaland.

I regret to say that a telegram has been recently received from the Governor of Nyassaland reporting that sleeping sickness has appeared in that Protectorate. Steps are being taken to deal with the matter, the importance of which is and has been fully realised both by the Secretary of State and the Governor.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been directed to proceedings in the St. Albans Divisional Sessions on the 10th instant, when the wife of the Chief Justice of Southern Nigeria was convicted of cruelly beating one of four native girls in her employ, who had been entrusted to the Chief Justice as liberated slaves, to be under his guardianship until they are twenty-one years of age, the girl flogged being only about thirteen years old, and when both he and the defendant asserted their right to administer this and severer punishment; whether the conditions under which these wards were entrusted to the Chief Justice authorise, either in England or in Southern Nigeria, the treatment condemned in a British Court of law, the right to continuance of which was asserted both by the legal guardian of the child and by the defendant; and, if so, whether His Majesty's Government will take steps to procure withdrawal of these wards from the guardianship of the Chief Justice of Southern Nigeria, and also such modifications of existing regulations as will protect other liberated slaves from similar treatment in West Africa and elsewhere in British Dominions.

The wife of the Chief Justice of Southern Nigeria was convicted of a common assault upon one of these native girls, and I must say at once that, although the magistrates were able to allow the existence of certain extenuating circumstances, the Secretary of State deeply regrets that the name of an important judicial officer should be connected with a case of such a painful description. The whole circumstances of the case are under the consideration of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State is also dealing with the subject matter of the second paragraph of my hon. friend's Question, and my hon. friend may rest assured that the conditions (upon which some communication with the Gold Coast may be necessary) will not be allowed to continue if they disclose any right to inflict upon a ward such treatment as that described in the first part of the Question. The Secretary of State is also taking steps to secure that these girls shall be sent back to the Colony and that their settlement there shall be arranged under the supervision of the Governor or some other suitable authority.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the mails to and from British East Africa are carried in British, French, or German vessels; whether Government material intended for public works in this Colony is being despatched in foreign bottoms contrary to the regulations made by the late Government; and what steps are being taken to encourage British shipping on the East African route.

Mails to and from British East Africa are carried indifferently in British, French, or German vessels. Shipments of Government material are, in accordance with general practice, carried in British bottoms as far as possible, and shipments in foreign vessels are only made in cases of urgency when no British ship is available. I am not aware that any special regulations were made on this subject by the late Government. In reply to the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question addressed to me by the hon. Member for Montgomery District on 19th October. In reply to the further Question, the hon. Gentleman admitted that the German line was subsidised.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether seeing that, whereas immigration of our Indian fellow-subjects into the late Transvaal Republic was unrestricted save for the payment of a £3 entrance fee, the Government of the Transvaal Colony have refused to modify recently enacted legislation even to the extent of allowing a maximum of six highly-educated professional Indians in any one year; and whether, in order to renew wastage among the domiciled Indian community and to maintain their healthy existence as a community, His Majesty's Government will make friendly representations to the Government of the Transvaal recommending them to make this small concession.

The Act recently passed, the full text of which with the correspondence leading up to it will be found in the Blue-Book [Cd. 4327], has received the assent of the Crown and the Secretary of State is not prepared to press the Transvaal Government to amend it. Various questions, however, have arisen with regard to the administration of the Act and the Secretary of State is in friendly communication with the Transvaal Government on the subject.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether British-Indians who acquired rights of domicile in the Transvaal in the days of the late Republic are still precluded from acquiring civic rights, may not own fixed property, are liable to removal into special locations, and must carry on their persons registration certificates containing descriptions of their personal peculiarities, details of their families, and their thumb impressions; and whether he can inform the House in what respect the pre-war grievances of our Indian fellow-subjects in the Transvaal have been remedied since the annexation of that country.

The British Indians in the Transvaal are subject to a number of disabilities, but my hon. friend's statement of them is a little too general in its terms, as they are entitled to own fixed property within Asiatic locations. His Majesty's Government have been, and still are in friendly communication with the Transvaal Government with regard to these disabilities. The grievance which was the principal subject of complaint before the war was that Indians were liable to be confined to locations for purposes of trade. This, therefore, with some minor grievances, has been removed since the annexation.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any information can be placed before the House as to the position of negotiations with Belgium regarding the Congo State, and, in particular, whether the promised reply of His Majesty's Government to the last-published Belgian despatch has been delivered, and, if not, when it may be expected to be sent; and whether the Belgian Government has given any assurance as to radical alteration in the administration of the Congo Territory other than the general assurance considered insufficient by His Majesty's Government.

The reply of His Majesty's Government to the last published communication from the Belgian Government is still under consideration, and will be decided as soon as possible. No assurances beyond those already published have been received from the Belgian Government.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state whether the first proposal for a Conference of the European Powers came from Turkey to England; and whether the first object of the Conference will be to compensate Turkey for the infringement of her rights and to make such arrangements as will strengthen the new Government system in the Ottoman Empire.

At the same time may I ask the Secretary of State for Foregn Affairs whether the proposals recommended by His Majesty's Government for submission to the contemplated Conference of the Powers were supported by or have received the approval of the newly-constituted Turkish Government; and whether he can state the nature of these proposals.

The object of the communications now taking place between the Powers is to secure some agreement on a programme which, without widening the area of disturbance, shall arrive at a settlement of the difficulties which have been created by recent events. As Turkey is the Power most adversely affected by what has taken place, His Majesty's Government trust that the first object of the Powers will be to secure compensation to Turkey, to safeguard her interests, and to strengthen the new regime in Turkey, the initiation of which produced such beneficial results in the administration of the Turkish Empire. The approval of the Turkish Government is a necessary condition for the adoption of any programme for a Conference, and as their views have not yet been expressed upon the suggestions which have been made, I can make no further statement about these. The proposal for a Conference was made in the first place by Turkey, but the idea of a Conference was suggested at about the same time from more than one quarter.

May I ask whether, in view of the great importance of this subject, the right hon. Gentleman cannot see his way to make to Parliament a clear statement defining the proposals made by His Majesty's Government?

I think it would be premature to make any statement about the proposals of any individual Power. The object of the communications between the Powers, in which of course Turkey is included, is to ascertain their own views before making anything public.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to give further information with regard to the negotiations with Siam.

His Majesty's Government have under their consideration a Report prepared by His Majesty's Minister at Bangkok on certain points in regard to which they desired information; but I am not yet in a position to make any further statement on the subject of the negotiations.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the demand of a number of Egyptian politicians for Egyptian representation in the proposed constitutional assembly for Turkey; and whether, in view of this demand, he will urge upon the British Consul-General at Cairo the expediency of strengthening the constitutional element in the Government of Egypt.

During this year a scheme for representative provincial Councils is being elaborated in Egypt, and I cannot add to the general statement of policy already made at the opening of this session.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that this new development will create difficulty with regard to British administration in Egypt?

I see no signs of that whatever.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government are in a position to state when they will recommend His Highness the Khedive to start Parliamentary institutions in Egypt.

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer I have just given to the hon. Member for Tyneside.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the members of the Financial Commission in Macedonia are at present exercising their functions; and whether any change is contemplated as regards the future of this Commission as a result of recent events in Turkey.

The answer to the first Question is in the affirmative. No change is in contemplation at present.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can give the number of quarrymen employed in the Welsh slate quarries as compared with those employed ten years ago.

I beg to answer this question on behalf of my right hon. friend. The number of persons employed in the Welsh slate quarries in the years 1897 and 1907, respectively, are as follows—

Year.	Inside the Quarries.	Outside the Quarries.	Total.
1897	3,861	5,220	9,081
1907	3,363	5,071	8,434

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of a man named C. J. Vowels who was killed by accident while working on the new lock, Portsmouth Dockyard; whether his Department was represented at the inquest on Wednesday, 14th October; and whether any Report has been made upon the subject by the district factory inspector.

I find, on inquiry, that the inspector received notice of the accident, and attended the inquest, but the accident proved to be one which, as it happened on an engineering work, is outside the present jurisdiction of the Factory Department. The question of accidents on engineering works is dealt with in the Building Operations and Engineering Works Bill, now before Parliament.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can say whether the Departmental Committee upon the question of truck have asked for any evidence upon the deductions of wages from workmen employed upon public works in course of construction; and whether they have now closed the taking of evidence; and, if so, at about what date are they expected to issue their Report.

I am informed that no complaints have reached the Truck Committee in regard to deductions from the wages of workmen employed upon public works in course of construction, nor has any offer of evidence upon the subject been tendered to the Committee. The Committee have now concluded the taking of evidence, and are considering their Report, which they hope to present shortly.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet completed his inquiry into the recent sentences passed by Sir Ralph Littler at the Middlesex Sessions; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has completed his inquiries with reference to the sentences passed on two labourers by Sir Ralph Littler at the September Middlesex Sessions, wherein one man was sentenced to three years' penal servitude and two years' police supervision for stealing apples to the value of 1s., and the other was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour for stealing three penny eggs; and whether he can now see his way clear to order the sentences to be reduced.

I find, on inquiry, that Sir Ralph Littler had already decided to reduce the sentence of three years penal servitude to one of eighteen months hard labour, and that his decision had been communicated to the prisoner on 23rd September last. This man had three previous convictions of felony, for which he received sentences of six weeks hard labour, twelve months under the Borstal system, and fifteen months hard labour. Having regard, however, to the nature of his present offence, I propose to communicate with Sir R. Littler with a view to a further reduction of sentence. In the other case the prisoner had no less than nineteen previous convictions, including five of felony, and during the last ten years he has served eleven terms of imprisonment, ranging from fourteen days to three months. He gave notice of appeal against his present sentence, but abandoned it. In view of the criminal record of this man, I cannot think that the sentence of twelve months hard labour is excessive, and I am not prepared to recommend that it should be reduced.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to amend the instructions issued under the Aliens Act by his Department; and if it is not possible by such instructions to prevent such evasions of the Act as took place recently at Hull in the case of the four Russian Jews deported as undesirable, but who afterwards got into the country at Hull by another ship.

I have nothing to add to my statement last Tuesday that the question which has arisen at Hull is engaging my attention.

Are the Regulations to be amended? Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that the arrival of these undesirables adds to the unemployment difficulty here?

When I have come to a decision regarding the Hull aliens the hon. Member can put a further Question.

When will the House see the annual Report on the working of this inhospitable Act?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what principle he acts in deciding whether to give or withhold his consent to applications from compensation authorities for leave to borrow under subsection 5 of Section 3 of the Licensing Act, 1904.

I cannot say more than that I give my careful consideration to all the circumstances of any case in which application is made to me. In certain recent cases I have felt that I should not be justified in giving leave to borrow, which would have the effect of charging the compensation levies for future years with awards of compensation made on a scale which it is one of the objects of the Licensing Bill to replace by a less extravagant scale. If the hon. Member desires to bring any particular case under my notice I shall be glad to consider it.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the percentage of unemployed trades unionists in Germany and the United Kingdom according to the latest available figures.

I can give no comparative figures for reasons repeatedly explained in Answers to Questions in this House and fully set out in Appendix IX. to the recent Report [Cd. 4032] on Conditions in Germany.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention had been called to the speech of one of his colleagues, in which he stated that there was more unemployment in Germany than in England, and whether the hon. Gentleman, when he made that statement, was in possession of official figures.

My attention has not been called to the speech. But there is a discrepancy in the statement. According to my information there is at present more unemployment in this country than in Germany.

May I remind the right hon. Gentleman of the speeches made by his own colleagues during the Newcastle election?

I must remind the hon. Member, though he was formerly a Member of the House, that it is not permissible to make statements at Question-time.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to introduce the promised Bill for the purpose of forbidding statutory corporations to make contributions out of their funds towards political contests.

I am not able at present to make any statement on this subject. I may, however, inform the noble Lord that Returns have been obtained from the railway companies giving details of their subscriptions to institutions and associations of various characters not under the control of the individual companies during the year 1907, and it is proposed to lay these particulars on the Table of the House.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board when the Milk Bill will be introduced.

I am afraid I cannot at present fix a date for this purpose.

Will it be this session?

At any rate I hope it will be printed.

Will the Bill apply to Scotland?

That Question should be addressed to the Scottish Local Government Board.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the Carlisle Board of Guardians proposing a grant of 5s. weekly to the deserving poor above seventy years of age in consequence fo the Old-Age Pension Act inflicting hardships in disqualifying paupers and whether it is the intention of the Local Government Board to prevent the Carlisle Board of Guardians carrying out their proposals.

My attention has been called to this matter. I do not think it would be a proper exercise of the powers of the guardians to order a fixed weekly sum as out-relief to all persons above a certain age to whom that form of relief is given. The amount of the relief in any particular case should be determined by the necessities of that case. Although in some instances the conditions might be such that the proposed relief would be needed, in others this would not be so, and in the latter cases the additional relief could not properly be given. I have informed the guardians accordingly.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will issue a circular to local authorities, especially boroughs, pointing out the wisdom of contributing to the upkeep of consumption sanatoria, either by annual contribution or by a sum per capita, according to the number of sufferers from tuberculosis the authority may send to the sanatorium for treatment.

I propose to issue an Order to provide for the notification to medical officers of health of pauper cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, and I also propose, when sending copies of the Order to the sanitary authorities, to draw their attention to the administrative action which can be taken in connection with such matters as that referred to in the Question. This will, I hope meet the object which my hon. friend has in view.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister if he is aware of the feeling of dissatisfaction that prevails in the country owing to the action of a section of the community habitually and determinedly disregarding the speed-limit imposed by the Motor Car Act, 1903, and especially the abuse and offensive terms applied to police and magistrates for trying to enforce the said limitation; and if, in view of the necessity of the matter and also the difficulties connected with legislation, he would appoint a Committee of the House, representing impartially the different views held on the subject, to suggest legislation that might be passed by consent.

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this Question. I am aware of the feeling on the subject to which it relates. I am afraid that my hon. friend is too sanguine in thinking that the various interests concerned would agree to legislative proposals in connection with this matter, and hence it does not seem to me that there would be likely to be advantage in the appointment of a Committee as suggested. My hon. friend is perhaps aware that I have recently issued a circular to local authorities drawing attention to the existing law and pressing upon them the importance of its enforcement. I am also in consultation with my right hon. friend the Home Secretary with regard to the feasibility of further action.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the regulations issued by his Department are habitually and daily broken in every street in London?

If that be so, the responsibility rests with the local authority. The London County Council would be doing its duty by making representations to me on this matter, when the Home Secretary and I would do all we could to act most promptly and effectually in limiting speed or doing anything reasonable to protect life and property.

The County Council has nothing whatever to do with these Regulations; they are in the hands of the Home Secretary.

In that case I urge my hon. friend to address the Question to the Home Secretary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that whenever a Question is addressed to the Home Secretary he refers me to the President of the Local Government Board?

On behalf of myself and my right hon. friend I shall be pleased to answer any Question of which notice has been given. We have no desire to evade criticism or to burke discussion.

To ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the possible recurrence of the influenza epidemic during the approaching winter months, he will reconsider the question of the adjournment of the House for a half-hour, between the hours of seven and nine, in order that the windows may be opened for the admission of fresh air and the better ventilation of the Chamber.

Without expressing any opinion as to the advisability of the suggestion in connection with the possibility of a recurrence of the influenza epidemic, I would point out that, as explained on many previous occasions, the system of mechanical ventilation does not lend itself to the opening of windows. A much better result can be obtained by running the appliances at full speed during an adjournment; but even this requires to be very judiciously done in the winter season, otherwise it might be difficult to "catch-up" the lowered temperature which would necessarily result in severe weather. The matter of an adjournment or a recurrence to the old informal break in the sitting is one which the Prime Minister could only consider if he was convinced that it represented a great weight of opinion in all quarters of the House.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he had read the pamphlet by the hon. Member for North Bucks, in which it was stated that though the ventilation might be the best in the world the result of it was the worst known, and whether he would take steps to pay attention to this matter.

I have perused the pamphlet, but I have not arrived at the same conclusion.

suggested the consideration of an alteration in the present mechanical system of ventilation in order, if possible, to open the windows.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, how many acres of hops have been cultivated this year and in 1907 in Great Britain; and whether so great a decrease in acreage has been recorded in any previous year.

The acreage under hops this year was 38,921 acres, as compared with 44,938 acres in 1907, a decrease of 6,019 acres. The decrease in 1887 as compared with 1886 was as much as 6,421 acres.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, how many acres of hops have this year been left unpicked owing to the disastrous state of the hop market.

It is estimated that some 3,500 acres of hops have from one cause or another been left unpicked this year.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been drawn to an application made by the Wallsend Small Holdings Society, Limited, to the Northumberland County Council for 212 acres of land; and whether he can state what steps are being taken to provide the land thus applied for.