To ask the Postmaster-General whether he will explain why the casual men taken on for Christmas work in the letter department in London start at 24s. per week while in the parcels department they commence at only 20s. per week; and what is the test that the latter men have to pass before their wages are increased to 24s. per week. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Button.) All casual men engaged during the Christmas season to assist with sorting work, whether for letter or for parcel work, have to acquire some knowledge of sorting before any practical use can be made of their services, and during the period of tuition they are paid at the rate of 20s. a week. When they are able to pass an easy test, which is, as a rule, in a few days, they are paid at the rate of 24s. a week. The casual force engaged to assist as postmen and porters do not need training, and they are paid at the rate of 24s. a week from the commencement of their employment, which is, as a rule, of shorter duration than that of the sorting force.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a sum of £41,658 11s. (according to the Metropolitan Police Accounts for 1907–8) was the annual expenditure in the licensing of public vehicles and drivers and conductors in the Metropolitan area; and whether he will furnish a statement showing fully how this total is made up, what sum it amounts to per vehicle and per man licensed, and also what is the cost of this work for each of the last ten years. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The sum mentioned represents the expense of carrying out the provisions of the Public Carriage Act, 1869, and the London Cab Act, 1907, within the Metropolitan Police district during the year, 1907–8. Full details of the expenditure will be found on page 9 of the Accounts for that year. The number of vehicles licensed in 1907–8 was 16,132, and the number of men was 31,162. The pay and expenses of clerks and inspectors, and other items of expenditure, cannot be apportioned as between vehicles and drivers and conductors, and it is therefore impossible to state the average expenditure per vehicle and per man licensed. The expenditure for the past ten years has been as follows—

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, under the regulations sanctioned by his Department, the exhibition of small printed notices in Metropolitan stage carriages of important matters affecting the public in relation to traffic working is prohibited; and, if so, whether an amendment of the regulations in this direction will be introduced. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The exhibition of these notices is not prohibited, but requires the Commissioners' approval. Any reasonable request is never refused.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the holder of a driver's licence is unable to act as the conductor of a Metropolitan stage carriage unless he is also the holder of a conductor's licence, and vice versa; whether each of such licences cost 5s. per annum and are renewable yearly; whether any other licensing authority makes so high a charge; whether, even in paying for both licences, a conductor has to deposit his driver's licence with the police, and similarly with a driver; whether considerable inconvenience is thus caused to the licence-holder in changing from driver to conductor, or vice versa, especially when a man's duty is required to be altered at short notice in order that his employers may be able to fulfil their obligations to meet the public convenience; whether, when the holder of one licence applies for another licence to enable him to act in either capacity, even when he may have acted in a licensed capacity, without change of employer, for twenty years, a delay of two or three weeks not infrequently occurs whilst the inquiries applicable to an entirely new application are prosecuted; and whether he will arrange for a composite licence, at one annual charge, to cover driver and conductor, (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The question of composite licences presents considerable difficulties, and is being carefully considered by the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police at the present time.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he can now say if his Board is prepared to grant the application of the Grays Thurrock Urban District Council for sanction to create a distress committee. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am in communication with the district council on this subject, and am not at present in a position to arrive at a decision with regard to it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the most part of the men employed by the Salvation Army at the Hanbury Street joinery works only receive in cash from 6d. to 3s. per week, the rest of their wages being paid in kind, i.e., food and lodgings; and whether, seeing that this is contrary to the provisions of the Truck Act, he will institute proceedings against the responsible manager. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) As I have stated in answer to previous Questions on this subject, it is not at all clear that the Truck Acts apply to the case of persons seeking aid from charitable institutions; and the extension of the Act to cover such cases would involve considerable difficulties. I understand that the matter has been considered by the Committee on the Truck Acts, whose Report is expected shortly.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the public complaints of the unclean condition of many of the third-class carriages on the suburban lines of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway; whether any public authority is charged with the duty of inspecting the condition of railway carriages and prohibiting unclean carriages being used; and, if not, whether his Department has any power in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) I have recently received a complaint in this matter which I have forwarded to the railway company. I now propose to invite the company's observations upon my hon. friend's Question, and will communicate with him in due course.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been directed to the hardship inflicted on innocent people of imposing a fine amounting to double the deficiency on letters from abroad; whether he is aware that a gentleman in this country complained recently that he sent a letter to Papua, New Guinea, for 4d., that his correspondent there sent a reply in a letter of less weight and prepaid 4d. for postage, and that the recipient in this country was charged 3s. 8d. for deficient postage on this letter, the whole of which sum was appropriated by the British Post master-General and went into the British Treasury; and will he say whether the rate of postage from England to Papua, British New Guinea, is 1d. per ounce, while the rate of postage from Papua to England is 4d. per ounce. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) It is in accordance with the provisions of the International Postal Union Convention that the surcharge on insufficiently prepaid letters is double the deficiency and is collected from the addressee. The Postal Union has declined to alter the practice, though, at the last Conference, the British delegates pressed for a reduction. I am not aware of the facts in the case referred to by my hon. friend; but if he will furnish full particulars I will make further inquiry. If, as seems to be suggested, the letter weighed less than four ounces, and was prepaid 4d., the surcharge should, it would appear, have been less than 3s. 8d. The rate of postage from England to Papua, British New Guinea, is 1d. per ounce, and in the reverse direction is the Australian rate of 2d. per half ounce.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether, at the Postal Union Conference held in Rome in 1886, it was agreed that the weight of a letter at the minimum rate of postage to and from foreign countries be one ounce or the equivalent of an ounce; whether he will state what countries have carried into effect this reform, what is the present rate of postage and weight allowed for each letter from the following countries to Great Britain and Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, Greece, Roumania, Russia, and United States; and whether he has any objection to publish the above information in the next issue of the British "Postal Guide." (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The international unit of weight for a letter was not fixed at one ounce or the equivalent of one ounce. The unit decided on was 20 grammes, less than three-fourths of an ounce. But on the motion of the British delegates, permission was given to certain States, of which Great Britain was one, to adopt one ounce as the unit weight. At the same time other States were permitted to retain the former unit of 15 grammes. In the result, some States of the Union have fixed the unit weight for letters in the International service at 15 grammes, some at 20 grammes, and some at one ounce. I will send the hon. Member the detailed information he asks for. I could not undertake to publish it in the "Post Office Guide."

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that while in the larger provincial cities the average annual charge for a stage carriage police licence is under 5s., this charge in London is £2, in addition to the Inland Revenue licence of 15s.; and can he inform the House upon what principle this differentiation is made. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I am aware that in some of the large provincial cities the annual charge for a public carriage licence does not exceed 5s., while in other large towns it is more; but the conditions of traffic in London are unlike those in any other city, and it is estimated that in the current financial year the cost of administering the Public Carriage Acts will involve a net charge of about £2,000 on the Metropolitan Police Fund, after allowing for the sums received for licences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, in order to secure the return of property left in Metropolitan stage carriages, it is necessary for claimants inhabiting outlying parts of London to travel up to New Scotland Yard, at great inconvenience and expense, especially to persons of the poorer classes; and, if so, will he consider whether the regulations relating to lost property could not be amended so as to allow the local police to retain all such lost property for a few days thus enabling claimants to obtain it in their own districts, and to avoid the inconvenience and expense to which they are now put. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The hon. Member has not been correctly informed, since it is unnecessary for losers of property who are able to give satisfactory details by letter to attend at Scotland Yard, their property being sent to them by post when they so desire. Apart from other difficulties, the suggestion made in the Question is not practicable, because the property may be left in the stage carriage in an entirely different part of London from that in which the owner resides, and it would often be more convenient for the owner to go to the local police station than to New Scotland Yard. Moreover, the owner would often not know in what district he left his property or in what district it might be found, and would therefore have to pursue his inquiries from one police station to another along the whole route of the omnibus. Under the existing arrangement, everyone knows where to apply, and I am informed that no complaints have been received of any inconvenience.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the extra men now being engaged at the Sheffield General Post Office are being paid 5½d. per hour for a forty-five-hour week, instead of 25s. per week for the same number of hours; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) As I have already stated in the House, the rates of pay for extra men varied according to the district. It seemed advisable, as far as possible, to place the rate of pay on a uniform basis, and to base them on the rates recommended by the Select Committee for auxiliary service. Besides the fixed rate, the men receive special pay for night work, for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and get overtime pay where it has to be worked. The general net result of the alteration will be an increase in the total amount of pay. The payment of 5½d. per hour, which it is proposed to pay at Sheffield, is the auxiliary rate proper to that office. The reference to a forty-five-hour week is not understood, as probably all the casual force will be employed for at least forty-eight hours during the Christmas week.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he is now able to give an answer to the question as to whether an Army or other pensioner who receives weekly advances from the guardians between his quarterly pension days, such advances being deducted from his pension, is eligible for an old-age pension. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am advised that such a person would not be eligible for an old-age pension.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the correspondence that has passed between his Department and a person named W. R. Morgan, residing at a house named Westfa, Mumbles, who claims, without prejudice, the sum of £5 for damages caused by the flooding of his house on the night on the 25th ultimo, and his reply thereto, he will state the grounds upon which he repudiates responsibility in the matter; whether he has drawn the attention of the local authority to the same; and further, what steps, if any, have been taken to avoid a repetition of such an incident. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) Mr. Morgan sent me a copy of some correspondence he had had with the Oyster-mouth District Council, from which it appeared that he had claimed compensation from them in consequence of his house having been flooded during a heavy storm on the night of 25th September last, owing, as he considered, to a certain drain course not having been kept clear. The district council repudiated liability, and thereupon Mr. Morgan wrote suggesting that he was entitled to make a claim for compensation against the Local Government Board. It is evident that the alleged failure of the district council to keep a drain course clear gave Mr. Morgan no right to claim compensation from the Local Government Board, and he has been informed that they could not accept any responsibility in the matter. It was needless for me to draw the attention of the district council to the subject, as they were already well aware of it.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is in a position to state to the House the changes contemplated in the Local Government Board (Scotland) in order to carry out the added duties imposed upon that Board by the provisions of the Housing and Town Planning Bill. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Leith Burghs on 6th November, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. friend.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners are aware that threats of legal proceedings have been made to the tenants on the Kenmare estate, County Kerry, who have expressed their willingness to purchase at the prices offered by the landlord; and if the Commissioners can take any steps to effect a settlement in such cases, having regard to the fact that the estate is now before them for sale. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have no knowledge of the threats referred to. As regards the remainder of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the Question asked by him on the 7th instant.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will lay upon the Table, as a separate Command Paper, for the convenience of Members and for the purpose of facilitating consideration of the Land Bill, copies of the Tables Nos. 60 to 76, embodied in the General Report of the Census of Ireland for 1901, relating to agricultural land, tenement valuation, etc. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Tables referred to cover 189 pages of the General Report on the Census. I do not think that I should be justified in incurring the expense involved in reissuing these tables, which are easily accessible, as a separate Command Paper.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the number of police employed in affording constant police protection to persons and property in Ireland on 30th November, 1908. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The number of police so employed on the date mentioned was 266.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the decision of a majority of the justices at Ballymote Petty Sessions, on 12th November, adjourning until February next, without hearing any evidence for the prosecution, summonses charging twenty-one members and officers of the United Irish League with intimidation designed to compel Protestant farmers in the Riverstown district to become members of the League, whether the Law Officers of the Crown have now concluded the consideration of the question of making application to the Kings' Bench Division of the High Court for a writ of mandamus compelling the justices to hear and determine these cases. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) My right hon. friend has asked me to reply to this Question. I have conferred with my colleague, the Solicitor-General, and with the counsel who appeared for me at the first hearing of the case, but I do not think it would be in the public interest that I should state the conclusion at which, in concurrence with them, I have arrived.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the number of agrarian outrages reported to the Inspector-General of Constabulary in the years 1906 and 1907, and in the period of eleven months ended 30th November, 1908. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The number of agrarian offences reported was: 234 in 1906; 372 in 1907; and 537 in the eleven months ended 30th November, 1908.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the number of crimes classified as agrarian and non-agrarian respectively, under each of the headings firing at the person and firing into dwellings, for the period of eleven months ended 30th November, 1908. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) During the eleven months ended 30th November last the number of crimes classified as agrarian and non-agrarian under each of the headings mentioned were as follows: Firing at the person, agrarian 14, non-agrarian, 26; firing into dwellings, agrarian 61, non-agrarian 20.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the number of persons receiving constant police protection and special protection by patrols throughout Ireland on 30th November, 1908. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The number of persons receiving constant police protection on 30th November last was seventy-nine, the number receiving special protection by patrols on the same date was 272.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that a number of the best Volunteers have been lost to the Territorial Force owing to the abolition of the cyclist companies, and that it would be easier and more economical to re-establish these companies than to raise entire new cyclist battalions, and that the question of these and of the special service sections of Territorial units is still unsettled, he will give consideration to the question of raising complete special service cyclist companies for infantry units which could, if required, be brigaded for training or on mobilisation. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The principle of having cyclist battalions in lieu of cyclist companies attached to infantry battalions was definitely adopted after very full consideration by the General Staff. This is a matter in which broad principles of organisation must necessarily override special interests. It is not proposed to reconsider the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether a much-needed street improvement in Port Royal Street, Kingston, Jamaica, was being delayed or prevented owing to a controversy with the War Department as to encroachment; and, if so, whether he will give instructions that all reasonable facilities should be accorded to the town of Kingston in widening its streets after the earthquake. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) This matter is one that incidentally involves researches into questions of title dating back to 1745. The War Department building only projects 7 feet 6 inches beyond the line laid down for buildings by the local authorities. It is hoped that the military requirements will permit of the buildings being set back to that line.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to Section 4 of Ordinance VII. of 1908, enacted by the administration of Papua, empowering boards locally appointed to decide in a summary manner all questions as to the ownership of lands in which a Papuan native is claimant, with an appeal to the central Court; whether he is aware that the Papuans are very attached to their land; that, owing to the system of fallows, it is difficult to discriminate between owned and ownerless lands; and that, owing to the extreme ignorance of legal procedure on the part of the Papuans, and to the central Court being situated in one corner of an immense tract of country, the boon of an appeal can be of no use to them; whether he will inquire from the Governor-General of the Australian Commonwealth his reasons for assenting to the Ordinance; and whether he will advise that the Ordinance be amended, with a view to special precautions being taken to safeguard native rights, such as the appointing as a member of every board constituted under the Ordinance a white man familiar with the current native language, who shall be charged to represent native interests and, when necessary, to conduct Papuan land appeals before the central Court, as well as requiring the evidence to be fully taken down in every case and the detailed reasons for every finding recorded. (Answered by Colonel Seely.) The Secretary of State will ask the Governor-General for a report on the suggestions made by my hon. friend in regard to the recent Papuan Land Ordinance.

To ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he can state why the Returns relating to the wages paid to labourers throughout Ireland, and hitherto included in the annual Returns of agricultural statistics, have been excluded from the annual Returns for 1907. (Answered by Mr. T. W. Russell.) The statistics as to the wages paid to agricultural labourers throughout Ireland in 1907 were published this year in the Department's Report and Tables relating to Irish Agricultural Labourers 1907–8, as it was considered more useful that they should appear in this Report than, as heretofore, in the agricultural statistics Returns.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is in a position to state when the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Government life insurances will be given effect to by the Government. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The Report of the Departmental Committee on the Post Office life insurance system is under consideration. I am not yet in a position to make any statement with regard to the Committee's recommendations.

To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the inadequacy of the accommodation of the Post Office in Drumkeerin, County Leitrim; whether he is aware that the public are compelled to remain in the open street in all sorts of weather awaiting replies to queries; and whether he will give instructions that the necessary accommodation should be provided in connection with this Post Office. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The accommodation provided at the Drumkeerin Post Office is considered to be sufficient for the requirements of the locality. A counter will, however, be provided by the sub-postmaster as soon as he can make the necessary arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the following deaths under anæstheties: Kathleen Lee at Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, on 25th November; Robert Henry Harland, of Plough Court, E.C., on 25th November; and William List Smith at Southampton, on 3rd December; whether he has yet received the contemplated reply from the President of the General Medical Council to the communication addressed to him, and the nature of such reply; and whether, having regard to the number of deaths that are constantly occurring in all parts of the country of persons whilst under anæsthetics, he will consider the advisability of recommending the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the matter. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) My attention has not been called to the cases mentioned, except by my hon. friend's Question. I have now received, through the Lord President of the Council, a reply from the General Medical Council. The Council does not see its way to support legislation to make practical training in the use of anæsthetics a compulsory part of medical education, but it is communicating with the several licensing bodies as to how far they have given effect to the Council's recommendations on this subject.

To ask the First Commissioner of Works whether, having regard to the primary importance of agriculture and fishing to the economic condition and welfare of the nation, he can, without much further delay, secure that the business of the Department relating to these industries shall be transacted in more convenient and appropriate premises than those now allotted to it. (Answered by Mr. Harcourt.) I am doing all I possibly can in this matter.

To ask the Secretary for Scotland, having regard to the fact that the supply of water for the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Stornoway has been defective for some time, will he state whether the local authority have yet secured a satisfactory supply; and, if not, will he state the cause of the delay. (Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) I am informed that a proposal to extend the water supply of the burgh of Stornoway to this hospital has been under consideration, and negotiations between the hospital joint committee and the district committee with that end in view are still in progress.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will give instructions to His Majesty's cruisers when next they are in West Indian waters to make a trial docking in the new floating dock at Trinidad in order to satisfy the Admiralty of its utility for naval purposes. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The Rear-Admiral commanding the Fourth Cruiser Squadron has already been directed to report on the suitability of the new floating dock at Trinidad for naval purposes, and further steps will be considered on receipt of that Report.

To ask the President of the Board of Education whether any, and, if any, how many, women first or second division clerks are employed in his Department. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) Nineteen women clerks are employed under the Board of Education. They are not termed either first or second division clerks.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether His Majesty's Civil Service Commissioners have under contemplation the introduction of any change in the syllabus of examination for clerkships in the Second Division of the Civil Service; if so, whether they are prepared to give intending candidates any intimation of what the contemplated change is likely to be, having regard to the fact that many candidates have been, and are now, preparing themselves in the syllabus in use up to the present time, and, if not prepared to give such intimation, when may an official announcement on the subject be expected; whether it is contemplated to make any change in the existing age limits of seventeen and twenty years for such examination; and whether, in the event of any such change being introduced in the limits of age, will boy clerks of approved service in His Majesty's Civil Service still remain entitled to the two years extension of age to which, under their conditions of service, they are at present entitled when competing for clerkships of the second division. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) No changes are contemplated in the list of

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what is the number of apprentices entered during the years 1906, 1907, and 1908, in each of the royal dockyards, showing the percentage in each year to the average number of men employed in each dockyard.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in various Government Departments in the United Kingdom there are temporary, other than boy, clerks employed, the services of whom are as indispensable as those of clerks on the establishment, and that when any of these clerks are absent from duty on account of sickness a deduction is made from their salary, a practice that is not adopted in outside commercial houses; and, in view of the fact that to many of those officials such a deduction is a great hardship, will he take steps to have this grievance removed, seeing that the present Government have already made many reforms in the conditions of employment of other civil servants. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) I do not see any sufficient ground for altering the rule under which only three-quarters pay is allowed to temporary employees. The rule is, I believe, more generous than the practice which generally obtains in private employment for temporary clerks.

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that cases of hardship have arisen to applicants for an old-age pension being refused owing to their having resided for a short period in a British Colony during the twenty years preceding their application, though they are otherwise able to comply with all the requirements of the Act and the Departmental regulations; and whether he is prepared to take or advise the taking of steps to amend the law so as to permit such applicants to receive the pension. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The Old-Age Pensions Act requires as a condition of receiving a pension that the claimant shall have resided for twenty years in the United Kingdom up to the date of the receipt of any sum on account of the pension. I will take note of the point raised in the Question, but I cannot promise any amendment of the Act with regard to it.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the want of success attending the efforts of the Post Office to popularise the Government system of life insurances, he will consider the advisability of authorising the trustee savings banks of the United Kingdom to grant insurances; and whether any fresh legislation would be necessary in such an event. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The question of granting life insurances through the trustee savings banks has been under consideration from time to time, but it appears to be undersirable to exercise this power except through a Government Department. No fresh legislation would be necessary.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the sale of mixtures of coffee and chicory with other ingredients in liquid form, under the name of coffee essences, and thus evading the duty of excise leviable on the same ingredients when sold in dry condition; and will he consider what steps should be taken to prevent the loss to the revenue arising from this evasion. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I will consider my hon. friend's suggestion.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a loss of £30 per annum will be occasioned to the State by the transfer of each second division clerk now performing first division duties in the Estate Duty Office to a vacancy in another office and his replacement by a new entrant from the first division examination at £100 per annum, as compared with the promotion of the experienced second division clerk to a first division clerkship in the Estate Duty Office without loss of salary and the introduction to the other office of a new entrant from the second division examination at £70 per annum; and, if so, on what grounds is he prepared to incur this additional expenditure and at the same time sacrifice the experience of the transferred clerk. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) It is no doubt somewhat more expensive to recruit the Estate Duty Office from the first division examination than it would be to promote the existing second division clerks; but it is hoped that the new method of recruitment will increase the efficiency of the office, and I am not prepared to alter it.

To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any, and, if any, how many, women are first or second division clerks in his Department. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) No women are first or second division clerks in the Treasury.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what was the date of inspection of the estate of Mrs. Rodney and others situated at Cahertubber, Ballydavid, and including a portion of the town of Athenry; whether repeated application has been made by the solicitors for the owners for the schedule showing the amount of each tenant's purchase money, and that such schedules cannot be produced on the grounds that they are still in the custody of the inspector; whether recently the agent on this property held an office for the collection of rents of the tenants who refused to pay; and, as proceedings for the recovery of this rent are being commenced, will the amount of the purchase moneys be sent to the solicitors, so that the interest payable by each tenant may be calculated and collected in lieu of rent, in order to prevent legal proceedings and secure the peace of the district. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that a preliminary inspection of this estate was made in September, 1907, at the request of the owner, who instituted proceedings for sale in May last. The formal proposal of the Commissioners cannot issue until title is proved, and it is not their usual practice to furnish particulars of the prices in anticipation of their proposal. They will, however furnish such particulars in this case having regard to the circumstances mentioned in the Question.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the inspector of the Estates Commissioners who was sent down to divide the Anketel Grove estate, in County Monaghan, was accompanied during the greater part of his inspection of the estate by the local parish priest; and why, in view of the fact that the population of the district is composed very largely of Protestants and that many of these had claims on the farms at least equal to those of the Roman Catholics, a Protestant clergyman, or some person who would represent the claims of the Protestant community, was not asked by the inspector to accompany him. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners do not know whether their inspector was accompanied by any clergyman when on these lands. In alloting untenanted land the Commissioners have no regard to the religious beliefs of the applicants.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Congested Districts Board have failed to complete the purchase agreement with Mrs. Patrick Cassidy, of Coolnaha, on the Dillon estate, in County Mayo; whether a Memorial, signed by a large number of Mrs. Cassidy's neighbours, calling on the Board to complete the purchase, has been forwarded to the Board; and whether he will insist on the Board doing its duty in this matter without further delay. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Congested Districts Board have decided to take up a portion of Mrs. Cassidy's holding for the purpose of enlarging a small holding of one of her sub-tenants, and proceedings for resumption are pending. When the Board have obtained possession and have rearranged the holdings they will proceed with the sale. The Board have received the Memorial referred to, but see no reason to alter their decision.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the former prevalence of illicit distilling in the neighbourhood of Lough Beg, near Toome, County Antrim, and in view of the services rendered by the police in the hut or barrack at Ballyscullion in preventing it, and in view of the opinions held by the most respectable inhabitants of the district that the police hut ought to be retained, he will see that this hut is not interfered with. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) There is no intention of discontinuing the police station at Ballyscullion at present.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the cause of the delay in dividing the grass lands and improving and enlarging the small holdings of the tenants on the Bingham property, situate at Cloona-castle, near Ballinrobe, County Mayo, purchased by the Congested Districts Board in 1906; and whether, in view of the need of enlarging the small holdings in the townlands of Cregduff, Cloona-carneen, Drumhill, and Cloona-castle, he will urge the Board to proceed with that work without delay. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Congested Districts Board have not as yet been able to secure possession of any part of the grass land referred to, which consists of four large farms, one held under a yearly tenancy and the other three under lease.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from the representative of the late Mrs. Brennan, who was evicted in 1881 from a holding on the estate of Mr. John Henry Edge, situated at Upper Farnans, Queen's County; and can he say what course the Commissioners propose taking in this case. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The particulars given in the Question are not sufficient to enable this application to be identified.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what steps the Estates Commissioners have taken in the case of the representatives of the late Bernard Dumphy, evicted in July, 1882, from a holding at Rosnaclonin, Camross, Mountrath, Queen's County, estate of Mrs. Cornealius; is he aware that the evicted farm is now, and has been ever since the eviction, on the landlord's hands; and can he say why the compulsory provisions of the Evicted Tenants' Act have not been put into operation in this case. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have decided not to take any action on the application for reinstatement lodged by Dumphy as the representative of a former sub-tenent of the holding in question.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any further steps towards bringing about the reinstatement of the two evicted tenants on the Morphy Scrahan estate, County Cork; and Whether, in view of the fact that the planter tenant is willing to surrender these holdings on receiving some compensation, that the agent is willing to see the evicted tenants reinstated, and that the ratepayers have been saddled with the cost of four or five extra policemen in connection with these evicted holdings for over twenty years, the Commissioners will take all possible steps to expedite the reinstatement of these tenants. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The matter is engaging the attention of the Estates Commissioners. The present occupier is not willing to surrender the holdings in question unless he is given equivalent lands in County Cork, and up to the present the Commissioners have not found it possible to do this. The three policemen in the hut at Scrahan are not extra police, but belong to the free force of the county.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state whether the Earl of Erne has sold portion of his estate to his tenants in the townlands of Knockninny and Glenawley under the 1903 Act; does this include his entire estate; and, if not, will the fact be carefully borne in mind by the Estates Commissioners when this estate is mature for inspection. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that the Earl of Erne has instituted proceedings for the sale to his tenants of certain lands, including those mentioned in the Question. The Commissioners are not at present in a position to say whether the entire estate is included in the proposed sale.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what quantity of land Mr. Alexander Boyle and his son, Mr. James Boyle, of Aghmacart, Queen's County, have purchased under the various Land Purchase Acts; and what Was the total amount of the advance made to those purchasers for farms purchased in Queen's County and County Tipperary. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Advances amounting to £3,000 were made to Alexander Boyle under the Land Purchase Acts prior to 1903 for the purchase of 197 acres in the counties mentioned. No advances have been made to him under the Act of 1903, and no advances have been made to James Boyle under any of the Land Purchase Acts.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the negotiations for the purchase of James Brett's farm, Tannerhill, from Captain Walker, with a view to restore the evicted tenant, has been successful; and, if not, will the Estates Commissioners take up the farm compulsorily and sell it to the evicted tenant. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) No purchase agreement in respect of this farm has as yet been lodged with the Estates Commissioners, but the estate is pending for sale and will shortly be inspected, when the matter will be further inquired into.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in the case of a claimant for an old-age pension who has lodged his claim and who would be entitled to a pension on 1st January next, if his claim dealt were with before that date, the claimant will be entitled to receive the pension retrospectively from 1st January to the date on which his claim shall have been dealt with and admitted. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) The answer is in the negative, since under Section 5 (2) of the Act the pension does not commence to accrue until the first Friday after the claim has been allowed.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the recent disaster of fishing boats in Sheephaven, County Donegal, following on a somewhat similar occurrence about twelve months ago; and whether, in view of the importance of the herring fishery to the County Donegal, steps will be taken to create a more secure harbour for fishing boats on this part of the coast. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) My attention has been called to the loss of the boats and gear in Sheephaven during the past two years, and the matter has been fully considered by the Congested Districts Board. I am informed that a work providing reasonable shelter for the fishing fleet in such an exposed bay would cost something like £40,000. The Congested Districts Board have no funds for a work of such magnitude, and I cannot hold out any hope that the money can be provided from other sources.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty Whether, with regard to the question recently under consideration of empowering His Majesty's dockyard authorities to make to employees who have attended recent camps as members of the Territorial Army such residual payments in respect of the time spent in camp as will provide that they will not suffer loss through their action, he will be able to announce a decision before the prorogation of Parliament.

It has been decided that the men who attended camp during the current year shall receive the difference between their civil and military pay, in accordance with the Treasury Circular. This decision relates only to the current year, and the policy for future years is under consideration.

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the further Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Coastguard has been now presented to the Admiralty; and whether he will undertake that, before the House of Commons is asked to pronounce upon the wisdom of the policy of the Admiralty in regard to the Coastguard, the Report of the Committee shall be presented to the House.

I cannot add anything to the Answer I have already given on this subject to the hon. Member for the Holborn Division of Finsbury.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his official estimate of £27 19s. 6d. as the total cost to the country of a Special Reservist from the date of enlistment to the end of his six months' training includes the expenses of permanent and instructional staff, and of barrack accommodation or other housing; and will he further state what items of cost his estimate does include.

The estimate of £27 19s. 6d. includes barrack accommodation, clothing, pay, bounty, messing allowance, provisions, equipment, arms, ammunition, and charges for travelling, fuel and light, enlistment expenses, barrack stores and all other expenditure which can be regarded as personal to the man. It does not include any portion of the cost of the establishment of Regular soldiers assigned to a Special Reserve battalion.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what is the estimated total inclusive cost, per man per annum, of that portion of the Special Reserve which has concluded its preliminary training of six months, but which is still liable to be called up for service.

The average cost of an Infantry private of the Special Reserve after his recruit year is about £9 a year.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what is the basis of the official estimate, given by the Secretary of State for the Colonies on behalf of the Government, that to increase the number of men annually trained in the manner in which the Special Reserve is trained, to a figure which would ultimately produce a total of 1,000,000 men thus trained and still available for service, would entail an addition of £20,000,000 to the Array Estimates.

This rough estimate was based on the estimated normal annual cost per head of the present Special Reserve.

asked whether to train 150,000 men annually for this cost per head would not produce a total of £4,250,000, not £20,000,000.

was understood to reply that, worked out on the basis of the Special Reserve, the cost would be over £20 per head, which would give £20,000,000 for 1,000,000 men.

But I ask the right hon. Gentleman not what it would cost to train 1,000,000 men every year but sufficient men to produce 1,000,000 men eventually for service.

It is to that figure I have addressed my Answer. To keep going 1,000,000 men in the country it would cost on an average over £20 per man a year.

May I ask why it should cost £20 a year to train a man-one of a million—and only £9 a year to train a man for the Special Reserve?

The hon. and gallant Member has quite misunderstood my Answer. I said it cost nearly £28 for the initial training of the Special Reserve; it cost £9 thereafter; If you take into account wastage, the cost works out at something over £20 a year for the average Special Reservist, counting together those who are under training and those who are in the Reserve. With 1,000,000 men you would soon have to provide additional barrack accommodation.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state what are the powers of the Small Arms Committee with regard to improvements in small arms or ammunition.

The Small Arms Committee has no powers with regard to improvements of small arms or ammunition. It is merely an advisory Committee to consider questions referred to it and to report what is recommended. Expenditure of money cannot be incurred by it without authority.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether Captain V. C. Gauntlett, who has been recently brought into the King's Regiment, is junior in original date of commission to no fewer that six subalterns of the regiment and has seen no active service, whereas many of the officers over whose heads this gentleman has been placed have had experience in the field; whether Major Carter has been brought into this regiment from the Lancashire Fusiliers to be supernumerary, thus blocking the expected promotion of the senior captains and also indirectly that of the subalterns; whether, regard being had to the fact that with one exception, that of the adjutant, no subaltern of this regiment has been promoted since the disbandment of two battalions in 1901, when an undertaking was given by Mr. Brodrick, the War Secretary of the day, that no injustice would be done to the junior ranks of this regiment whose senior first lieutenant has a service of ten years, what is the explanation for the further blocking of the promotion in this regiment, which has been exceptionally slow, by the bringing of officers from other regiments into it; and whether, having regard to the feeling of disappointment produced by this action of the War Office, what steps, if any, will be taken to rectify it.

The first-named officer is junior in original date of commission to the five senior lieutenants of the Liverpool Regiment, but he is nearly six years older than the senior subaltern. Consequently his eventual superannuation will cause him not to affect adversely the prospects of those junior to him. He has seen no active service, but age and seniority, and not active service, have been taken into consideration in placing transferred officers in their new regiment. The second-named officer has been brought in supernumerary to establishment; the Liverpool Regiment is not singular in this respect, other regiments having been similarly treated. As regards the other points raised in the Question I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to a similar Question on this regiment put by the hon. and learned Member on 23rd November.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the great discontent among the officers of the regiment at having unknown men of junior standing placed over their heads?

There is always discontent in cases like this, but we have acted in the general interest.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the recent action of the general commanding at Aldershot abolishing military piquets and appealing to the honour of the soldier to insure good behaviour on the part of all ranks of the garrison when outside barracks; whether this innovation on the part of General Smith-Dorrien has been attended with successful results; if so, can he see his way to issue orders to the other generals commanding to adopt a similar rule; and whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a Departmental Committee to inquire into the necessity of retaining the military foot and mounted police as an integral part of the military forces of the Crown, having in view the diminution of all categories of offences amongst soldiers, more especially that of drunkenness, during the last ten years.

I have already explained to the House that the regulation as regards the patrolling of the streets of garrison towns is permissive, that the practice is not universal, and that the question as to the necessity or otherwise of employing men on this duty should be left to the discretion of the General Officers Commanding-in-Chief. As regards the military police, my hon. friend has evidently forgotten that the preservation of good order among soldiers is but a minor part of their duties, and that the Provost Establishment of a Field Army can only be formed from such a body. The suggestion, therefore, of their abolition is quite impracticable.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has yet concluded his inquiry into the rates of pay granted to writers of the Army Ordnance Department at out-stations; if so, whether, in the event of it being contemplated to make any improvements in the existing scale, he will direct that such changes shall take effect from 1st April, 1907, thereby putting these clerks on an equality with similar employees of the Admiralty who received a general rise of pay from that date; and, if the inquiry has not yet been concluded, will he say when it is likely to be.

Yes, Sir. It has been decided to improve the rates of pay granted to writers of the Army Ordnance Department at out-stations, to take effect from 1st April, 1909. A circular letter notifying the new rates will shortly be distributed.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to a matrimonial dispute between a native of India, who is a member of the Indian Civil Service, and his English wife; and whether any and, if so, what steps can be taken to warn English women of the risk they run in marrying natives of India, and who are not by such marriage in Britain debarred from marrying other wives in India.

The case to which I understand the hon. Member to refer has been reported in the newspapers, and the Secretary of State does not think any exceptional action of the kind suggested is called for.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that something should be done for the protection of English women in this behalf?

Sufficient publicity has already been given to the danger they incur.

Is not this the first case of the kind that has occurred in our Courts, and is there any ground for the general reflection upon Indians contained in the Question?

I do not know.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that several cases have; occurred, though they do not come into Court?

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give the amount of opium shipped from Bombay during the year 1906, the names of the six largest shippers of the same, and the respective amount shipped by each of these.

The Secretary of State will ask the Government of Bombay if they can supply the information which the hon. Member requires.

Shall I get the Answer in January?

I am writing out for the information, and hope to get an early reply.

In the Ides of March?

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether a new penal law has been passed by the Government of India abolishing, for those accused under it, the right of trial by jury and depriving them of the right to bail as long as there is reasonable ground for inquiring into the charges against them, and making evidence against them the depositions of witnesses who may be prevented by death or absence from giving oral testimony at the trial; whether the same law makes highly criminal the mere membership of certain associations without any specific crime having to be proved against the individual; and, if so, whether he will state the precise offences against which this law is directed and whether there is any precedent for such an enactment.

I beg also to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Bill for the trial of prisoners accused of sedition in India provides that the prisoner is in no case to be allowed bail; whether there is any, and, if so, what, reason to distrust the proper action of the Courts in India by depriving them of the discretion as to granting bail; does the Bill also provide that the depositions taken at a preliminary inquiry of witnesses who have died before the trial are to be admissible in evidence if against the prisoner but not if in his favour; will he state whether this Bill requires, or has received, the assent of the Secretary of State for India; and will the Government take all necessary steps to secure that under exceptional legislation of this kind prisoners are guaranteed a trial at least as consonant with the principles of justice as they would be entitled to if they were tried under martial law.

The Bill was passed at a meeting of the Governor-General's Legislative Council on Friday last. The Secretary of State had already sanctioned its introduction. All Acts of the Legislative Council become law at once, but are subject to disallowance by the Crown on the advice of the Secretary of State. It will at once be laid upon the Table of the House. Meanwhile, perhaps hon. Members will excuse me from giving an Answer to their questions in detail. The Act deals with murderous outrages and kindred offences, and not with sedition.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the petition of Mr. Colenso charging the Governor of Natal and two other persons with specific oppressions and abuses, under cover of martial law, since the date of Dinizulu's arrest; and whether the Secretary of State proposes to hold any, and, if any, what, investigation into these charges before advising His Majesty to allow the last Natal Indemnity Act.

Yes, Sir, the Secretary of State has seen the petition referred to. It is not possible for him to hold an inquiry, but the Natal Government has promised to hold an inquiry into the allegations of flogging made by Miss Colenso. Ministers have not felt themselves able, up to the present, to deal with these allegations, but the Secretary of State is still in communication with the Governor regarding them. I would add that the Secretary of State cannot admit the justice of the reflection on Sir Matthew Nathan made in the petition referred to.

Will the Government be represented at the inquiry?

No, that would be quite irregular; but the inquiry will no doubt shortly be held.

Was not this matter brought under the notice of the Natal Government so long ago as August last?

It was a long time ago.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Governor of British Guiana did, by his casting vote against the almost unanimous objection of the elected members of the combined Court of the Colony, decide, on 3rd November last, on the abolition of the office of medical inspector of estates' hospitals; whether the salary of that office, which was instituted for the protection of Indian immigrants indentured for service on sugar plantations, is secured by the law of the Colony; whether the Government of India has been consulted and has agreed to the abolition of this office; and whether the Secretary of State proposes to take any action in the matter.

The facts stated in the first part of my hon. friend's Question are generally correct, and the action of the Governor was in accordance with the law, which expressly provides that he shall have both an original and a casting vote, but I may explain that if, as is proposed, the separate office of medical inspector is abolished, arrangements will be made for the efficient discharge of the duties hitherto attached to it, experience having shown that they are not sufficient to occupy the whole time of one officer. It has not in the circumstances been considered necessary to consult the Government of India. The law of the Colony imposes no obligation to appoint a separate officer for the sole purpose of medical inspection, although it empowers the Governor to appoint such an officer at a salary not exceeding £1,000 per annum. At the Governor's instance, the whole matter has been deferred for the present, pending further discussion in the combined Court.

Was not the sole object of this appointment the protection of British Indians at Demerara, and does the right hon. Gentleman realise the supreme importance than that protection should be adequately maintained?

We are fully cognisant of that, and it has not been lost sight of in the Colony; indeed, it is stated that the change will not reduce the amount of supervision.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any official information in connection with the recent political crisis in Victoria; and, if so, whether he can give the House any information on this matter.

The Government of Victoria were defeated in the Legislative Assembly on 3rd December on a Resolution of no confidence, and the Governor, in the exercise of his discretion, after consulting his Ministers, and after the fullest consideration of all the circumstances, decided to grant a dissolution. My attention has been directed to a newspaper paragraph which intimates that there is local dissatisfaction with the action of the Governor. I have not heard of anything of the kind, and it may not be unfair to surmise that in the paragraph there is confusion, as to the political and party issues involved as distinct from the constitutional position of the Governor.

Did not the objectionable paragraph referred to appear in the columns of the veracious Times?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the periods for which vessels arriving in Spain from Liverpool have been detained in quarantine on account of recent cases of plague in Liverpool; whether he is aware that the detention has amounted to as much as twenty days, although the International Sanitary Convention of 1903 (to which all European countries, except Spain, Greece, and Norway, were parties) decided that a period of five days quarantine, computed from the date of isolation of the last-known case of plague at the infected port, was sufficient; and whether he will make representations to the Government of Spain with a view of bringing the usage of that country into accord with that prevailing in other European, countries, so as to minimise the loss and inconvenience to which British shipowners and merchants are subjected.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. I am not aware that detention in quarantine in Spanish ports has amounted to as much as twenty days. Twelve days was the period fixed in the first instance by the Spanish Sanitary Regulations; but representations were made by His Majesty's Ambassador at Madrid, and subsequently the Spanish Government gave free pratique to healthy vessels arriving from Liverpool, subject to certain reservations in accordance with the Venice Sanitary Convention, to which Spain is a party. His Majesty's Government recognise the importance of securing uniformity and a common standard of regulations, as provided by the Paris Convention, and will do all in their power to facilitate its general application.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has now received any information from Brussels or elsewhere respecting the alleged state of affairs in the Lado enclave, the lawlessness that is said to prevail there, and the waste that is being committed in that territory.

We have not yet received any information on the matter. We have already instructed the authorities in the Soudan to inquire as to the facts.

asked as to telegrams received from Khartoum and the Soudan.

If the hon. Member will supply me with the information on which he appears to have based his Question, I will make further inquiry.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any official information showing that a cargo of ivory of the value of £7,000 has been shipped from the Lado Enclave down the Nile through the Soudan; and, if so, will he consider the possibility of placing an embargo on further shipments, which appear to be in direct contravention of the intenational game convention.

We have received no official information confirming the report mentioned. His Majesty's Agent and Consul-General at Cairo has been instructed to recommend the Soudanese authorities to take any steps that may be within their power to prevent the destruction of elephants in the Lado Enclave, if the reports to that effect which have appeared in the public Press can be verified.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Census Returns of 1901 are not placed at the disposal of the pension officers for the purpose of assisting them, to test by the readiest and most unprejudiced evidence the statements of age made by applicants; and why the Census Returns should not be accepted until disproved by birth certificates or other undoubted evidence.

A pledge was given by the Government upon the schedules sent out in connection with the Census of 1901 that the information supplied would be treated as confidential and world not be used for purposes other than those of the Census. It would accordingly be impossible to make use of the Returns of that Census in the manner suggested.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if, with a view to the guidance of district sub-committees in Ireland, he will state whether, in the case of a husband and wife living apart, one of whom was in receipt of outdoor relief, the other, who neither sought for nor gained anything from said relief, is disqualified from obtaining a pension grant if otherwise eligible.

I am advised that poor relief given to a wife in all cases disqualifies the husband. In the circumstances mentioned in the Question the wife would not be disqualified by poor relief given to the husband.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the difficulty experienced by sub-committees in Ireland under the Old-Age Pensions Act, if he will state whether a person who, under medical advice and because of illness, goes to the workhouse infirmary, now generally termed district hospital, and stays there some time to avail of proper medical treatment but is unable to pay for it, is disqualified from receiving a pension if otherwise eligible.

The point raised in the Question was dealt with in my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Kilkenny on the 9th instant, to which I do not think I can usefully add anything.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that nearly all the allowances on the export of British spirits do not now go into the pockets of the distillers, but into those of exporters, who are blenders and often shipping or forwarding agents; and whether, seeing that the revenue officers, in their supervision of spirits in bond, do in the course of racking, blending, bottling, and other numerous operations which are constantly going on, a great deal of work which traders would otherwise have to do and pay for themselves, he will consider the advisability of withdrawing these allowances.

As at present advised, I am not prepared to propose an alteration of the law on the subject.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a person who would be eligible for an old-age pension by reason of age on 1st January, 1910, would become ineligible if such person during the year 1909 received outdoor relief, no matter how small the amount; and whether, if such is the case, and that, old people must run the risk of starvation under such circumstances, he will propose some alteration of the law to prevent the hardship and suffering that must ensue in such cases.

The Answer to the first Question is in the affirmative. The prospect of obtaining an old-age pension will, no doubt, prove an additional incentive to people to submit to privation rather than to apply for poor relief, but as the latter alternative (under which they will, even for the period to 31st December, 1910, be in no worse position than if the Act had not been passed) is still open to them, there is no necessary increase in the risk of starvation. The whole question of the disqualification on account of poor relief is receiving the careful consideration of the Government, but I am not yet in a position to add anything to the statements made by my right hon. friend the Prime Minister and myself when the Bill was before the House.

suggested that Irish boards of guardians should be asked to warn poor people of this result of getting relief.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the absolute increase or decrease in the number of men condemned to penal servitude for the third time at least in 1907 as compared with the similar number for 1887; and also the proportionate increase or decrease compared with the total of sentences to penal servitude in those years.

I am afraid that the precise figures desired by my hon. friend are not available, and could only be obtained, if at all, by a very long and laborious research; but if he will refer to Table 36 in the Annual Volume of Criminal Statistics he will find a quantity of information with regard to the previous convictions of prisoners.

I beg to ask the Secretary if State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the Metropolitan Police force is undermanned for the great increase of duties recently thrown upon it, thereby subjecting the force to an undue physical strain, he would be prepared, if so desired by the Metropolitan Borough Councils, to advise Parliament to grant such an increase in the Metropolitan Police rate as would provide an addition to the number of the men sufficient to cope with the situation.

There has for some years been a rapid growth in the charge for Metropolitan Police pensions, and it is now so heavy that for the past two years it has not been possible to make the normal increase in the number of Metropolitan Police to keep pace with the growth of population. The question of increasing the police rate is likely, therefore, to arise soon, and any expression of opinion by the Metropolitan Borough Councils would have weight with me in this matter.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to an incident which occurred on 3rd November last near Uckfield, when a carted deer hunted by the Surrey staghounds, being dead-beat, and with one of its forelegs hanging from the fetlock, broken in an attempt to jump a fence, was worried by the hounds while vainly trying to limp away until the huntsman came up and killed it with a knife; whether he is aware that on 6th November last another carted deer, hunted by the Berks and Bucks stag-hounds, broke its neck in the course of the run in leaping into a lane; and whether, in view of the fact that such incidents are of frequent occurrence, and are inevitable when the sport is pursued under such conditions as prevail in the home counties, he will consider the desirability of so amending the Acts for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animls that such cases may be brought within their operation.

My attention was not drawn to these particular incidents. I have stated before, in answer to a Question, that I think the hunting of carted deer is open to strong objection, but I regret I am not in a position to make any promise of legislation.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a private Member's Bill before the House which the Government could, by consent, press through?

Yes, I am quite aware of that, and the Bill can be brought in again next session.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can now give the result of his inquiry into the case of Barber, and of the sentence he received at the Dove Quarter Sessions in Herefordshire.

The case presents features of difficulty, and I am not yet able to add anything to the reply which I gave the hon. Member on 1st December. I hope to let him know my decision very shortly.

Will it be before the end of the present session?

Yes, Sir.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government will appoint a Commission or Committee to consider the difference of police procedure in different parts of the country in regard to the preservation of order in public meetings, and to report whether any general and uniform practice could be established throughout the country; and whether any fresh legislation is required to protect the right of public meeting and free speech.

I propose, as soon as I can, to appoint a small Departmental Committee to consider this subject.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men were imprisoned in Brixton prison during the year 1906 for failure to pay the full amount due from them under a separation order; what has been the average length of such imprisonment; what was the average amount due when the imprisonment began; and what was the largest due in any one particular case when the imprisonment began.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is 286; to the second, twenty-eight days; to the third, £7 19s.; and to the fourth, £217 13s. 6d. Prisoners of this class were not received at Brixton prison prior to 1st June, 1908.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of women enduring imprisonment at the present time owing to circumstances arising out of the Suffragist agitation, and of the imprisoned women how many are suffering imprisonment by a sentence passed by a Judge on conviction after a trial by jury; what is the period of the imprisonment and in what division, how many under sentences inflicted by magistrates, and for what terms and in what divisions have they been placed, and how many for failure to give securities to be of good behaviour although they have been convicted of no offence, and the sentence of imprisonment from which there is no appeal is regarded by law as no punishment; and whether, having regard to the circumstances and the fact that these ladies have not been guilty of any offence savouring of moral degradation, he will consider the desirability of advising the Crown to exercise its prerogative for their release in order to enable them to spend Christmastide in their homes instead of in a prison.

Three ladies are at present imprisoned. They were sentenced by a Metropolitan magistrate, two to three months, and one to ten weeks imprisonment, in default of finding sureties to be of good behaviour. They are being treated under the rules for second division prisoners. As regards the last part of the Question, I must ask my hon. friend to excuse me from making any statement at the present time.

IS not the treatment accorded to these ladies slightly different from that accorded to Dr. Jameson, C. B., and his confederates?

Are not these ladies treated with far greater severity than the cattle-drivers in Ireland?

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can give the number of men employed at the Oakeley quarries and the Votley and Bowydd Quarry. Blaenau Festiniog, during 1907; how many of these men were employed underground and above the surface, respectively, in each quarry; what were the number of accidents reported during that period, distinguishing those to men employed underground and outside in each quarry respectively.

At the Oakeley Quarries 906 persons were employed in 1907; 357 underground, and 549 above ground. The number of accidents was ten; six underground, and four above the surface. At the Votley and Bowydd Quarry, the number employed was 357; 188 underground, and 169 above ground. The number of accidents was five; four underground, and one above the surface.

Were any of the accidents fatal?

I will inquire.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State or the Home Department whether, in view of the large number of accidents to workmen employed on buildings in course of construction and demolition, he will consider the advisability of issuing special regulations under the Factory and Workshop Act embodying the recommendations of the Departmental Committee.

As I have pointed out in answer to previous Questions this session, the recommendations of the Committee cannot be carried out without further legislation, and it was for this purpose, among others, that I introduced this session the Building Operations and Engineering Works Bill. I hope to reintroduce the Bill early next session.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give the number of work places carried on by religious institutions in London that have been added to the Home Office registers under Section 5 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1907.

The number of premises in the administrative County of London, forming part of institutions carried on for charitable or reformatory purposes, which have been added to the Home Office registers under Section 5, is sixty-four.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the men employed on fire wood-cutting at the Church Army Homes in the Metropolis are paid their wages partly in kind; whether deductions are made for other purposes; and, if so, whether, in view of the provisions of Section 5 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1907, he proposes to take any steps to prevent any contravention of the law relating to truck.

I understand that these men are paid piece-work rates, and that a deduction is made from their earnings to cover the cost of their board and lodging. As I have stated in answer to previous Questions on the subject, it is not at all clear that the Truck Acts apply in cases of this kind, and the further consideration of the matter must await the Report of the Truck Committee, which is expected shortly. Section 5 of the Factory Act of last session does not affect the question of the application of the Truck Acts.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister when the Report of the Welsh Church Commission may be expected.

The Chairman informs me that he expects the Draft Report will be under the consideration of the Commissioners in a few days' time.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of the lack of employment in West Ham and of the fact that turning men out of the workhouse tends to increase the evil; and whether, in view of the duty of the guardians to give employment in such cases in accordance with 43 Eliz., C. 2 and 4, and 5 Will. IV., c, 76, he will communicate with the West Ham Guardians and with the Local Government Board inspector of the district so that the law may be carried into effect.

I am aware of the circumstances connected with West Ham. It is no doubt the general duty of the Guardians to relieve cases of destitution where application is made to them for the purpose, but it does not appear to me that it is their duty under the statutes mentioned by my hon. friend to afford that relief in the particular way to which he refers.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that on 24th September last, in Volume 10, Clause 6, page 427, of the House Committee's Report of the West Ham Board of Guardians, the committee passed and submitted to the next board meeting a resolution directing the clerk to instruct relieving officers to give men who were frequently in and out of the workhouse orders for the casual Wards instead of house orders, and that only on the advice of the clerk was this direction withdrawn; whether he is aware that at the house committee's call-over on alternate Thursdays men are informed that the House is not the place for single men and that they must look for work, and if they remained in the House, they would be dealt with, and this notwithstanding that the men had no employment to go to and no means to maintain themselves, the following being instances: A. Sharp, Who said he had nowhere to go, and T. Hammaford, who had nowhere to go, no food, and no place in which to sleep, and who asked if he was to start stealing if he went out of the house; and if the President proposes to take any action in connection with these matters.

As regards the first part of the Question, the facts are as stated. As regards the second, I understand that, owing to the demands on the available accommodation in the workhouse for the sick, and for the old and infirm inmates, single men are informed, when they attend before the house committee of the guardians, that the workhouse is not the place for them, and that they should look for work, but no undue pressure is brought to bear upon them to leave the institution. With respect to the two cases mentioned in the Question, I am informed that Sharp is an able-bodied man, twenty-seven years of age, who was admitted to the workhouse on 20th October, partly on account of an injury to his knee. He took his discharge on 6th November last. The other case is that of an able-bodied man, twenty-three years of age, who during the present year has been admitted to and discharged from the workhouse on nine occasions, his stay in the establishment varying from six to eighteen days.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the fact that applications by local authorities to reduce the speed limit of motors to ten miles an hour are persistently opposed by motor or automobile associations, he will consider the advisability of taking steps, by legislation or otherwise, to throw the cost of inquiry upon such associations where the opposition might be held to be frivolous.

I will consider the suggestion of my hon. friend, but it would require legislation, and I cannot promise him that I shall find myself able to adopt it.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that subscription lists are presented to the nurses in the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, whose salaries range from £24 to £25 per annum, soliciting subscriptions for Christmas gifts to the matron and assistant matron, and day and night sisters, and also that the nurses are expected to give presents to the day and night servants, to the nurses rooms' servants and the gate porters; and whether he will communicate with the Asylums Board immediately, so that notices may be posted before the ensuing Christmas, discountenancing the system of the receipt of gifts by any of their officials.

I have communicated with the Asylums Board with regard to this matter, and I find that inquiries with regard to it have been made by them at all their hospitals. I understand that the replies received show that in the large majority of the cases nothing of the kind mentioned in the Question takes place; but that in one instance the practice referred to appears to have prevailed, and that in two or three others there has been some such practice, though of a more limited and partial character. I am glad to say, however, that instructions were given on Saturday last to the medical superintendent in each of these cases to the effect that the practice should be discontinued forthwith.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the Order issued by him, and known as the Outdoor Relief Order, dated 14th December, 1852, to guardians of the poor that relief must not be given outdoor to able-bodied men, or their wives and children, under the Modified Workhouse Test Order, where the man is in the workhouse under this Order for more than eight weeks in any one year, will compel more than 100 families to seek shelter in the workhouse before Christmas; and whether, to avert this, he will suspend or extend the Order for a few weeks.

My attention has been called to this matter, and on the 7th instant I informed the guardians that I was prepared to sanction a departure from the Regulations in force in the parish so as to enable the men now in the workhouse to remain there, and their wives and families to receive relief outside the workhouse, for a further short period in such cases as the guardians may recommend. In this way the point referred to in the Question will, I think, be satisfactorily met.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the Resolution passed by the Council of the Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture asking, among other things, that in all populous places and at cross-roads the speed-limit of motor cars should be reduced to ten miles an hour; and whether he will issue a circular to county and borough councils reminding them of the powers which they possess under the Act of 1903 to establish such a speed-limit with the sanction of the Local Government Board, and offering to co-operate with them in securing this partial protection against the dangers inflicted upon the public by inconsiderate drivers of motor vehicles.

May I also ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the Resolution passed by the Council of the Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture asking, among other things, that in all populous places and at cross-roads the speed-limit of motor cars should be reduced to ten miles an hour; and whether he will issue a circular to county and borough councils reminding them of the powers which they possess under the Act of 1903 to establish such a speed-limit with the sanction of the Local Government Board, and offering to co-operate with them in securing this partial protection against the dangers inflicted upon the public by inconsiderate drivers of motor vehicles.

I have received a copy of a Resolution passed by the Council of the Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture on the 9th instant, in relation to this subject, which, however, as forwarded to me, does not quite answer to the description given in the Question. I would remind the hon. Members that, in the circular which I issued in September last, I drew the attention of local authorities to their powers in this matter, and practically anticipated the suggestion now made. I will send them copies of the circular.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether, in the case of Mr. Rouse, of Harberton, South Devon, whose horse, borrowed in an emergency by the mail contractor after an accident to draw the mails to their destination, was destroyed, he will consider the possibility of awarding compensation more commensurate with the value of the horse than the sum offered.

I am laying the facts of the case before the Treasury for their consideration.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether Mr. J.W. Crawford, an assistant-controller in the London postal service, receives a salary of £800 per annum from the Department; whether this is the same person who acts as auditor to the Provident Clerks and General Mutual Life Assurance Association, for whose services the sum of £210 appears in the Association's balance-sheet for 1907; and, if so, whether the duties of assistant-controller are of such a character as to leave ample time for this officer properly to attend to his private practice, or does the Postmaster-General grant the assistant-controller special leave for that purpose.

The facts are as stated by my hon. friend, except that the remuneration of £210 is divided among three auditors. The duties of auditor to the Association in no way interfere with Mr. Crawford's official duties, nor make demands upon his official time.

Is special leave granted to this official for this purpose?

The information I have is that his duties as auditor in no way interfere with his official duties.

The do I understand that a controller in the London postal service has sufficient spare time to attend to the business of a society with an income of £1,500,000?

I can only repeat my Answer, that the efficient discharge of his official duties is not interfered with.

I beg to ask the postmaster-General whether he has been in communication with the Canadian Government on the question of the Atlantic cable rates, with a view to their possible reduction.

Advantage has been taken of the presence in England of Mr. Lemieux (the Postmaster-General of Canada) to discuss the question of Atlantic Cable Rates. We have arranged that representatives of the British and Canadian Governments should meet here in the spring to consider the subject.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether applicants for special Christmas work at Seacombe, Cheshire, have received forms stating that the pay is to be 5¼d. per hour, whereas previously I it was 6d. per hour up to 21st December, and 8d. per hour from that date until the work finished.

I will inquire and let my hon. friend know.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he can now state, in view of the sympathetic attitude of the Board of Trade, the Congested Districts Board (Scotland), and the Northern Lighthouse Commissioners, the willingness of the people to help as far as they can, and the isolation of so many people, if he will put the island of North Ronaldshay in communication with the outside world.

I fear that I cannot at present add anything usefully to the Answer I gave my hon. friend on the 30th ultimo beyond saying that as soon as I receive the estimate of the cost which I have called for I will let him know particulars of the guarantee which will be necessary.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether an ex-superintendent at the Taunton post office, who was invalided out of the service about two years ago on a pension of about £100 a year, is at present in the employment at the same office, for which he is also receiving wages; whether he has been in this employment for the past few months; and, if so, whether he will give instructions that persons wholly unemployed shall have preference for employment when the pension is of similar proportion to the above.

I will make inquiries in the matter.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if he will state under what enactments, if any, the Board of Education are entitled to require the inspection by officers of the Board of secondary schools not receiving any Government grant.

Under Section 9 of the Charitable Trust Act, 1853, the Board of Education, as successors of the Charity Commissioners under the Act of 1899, are authorised to examine and inquire by their inspectors into educational charities in England or Wales, and the nature and objects, administration, management, and results thereof; and under that section many endowed secondary schools not receiving grants from the Board of Education have been inspected. Whether or to what extent these powers are sufficient for all the purposes of a complete educational inspection of an endowed school on lines similar to those on which the inspection of secondary schools on the grant list is condacted, is a matter of interpretation, which has not been the subject of a judicial decision, and with regard to which, as the Board have recently been made aware, a serious difference of opinion has arisen in the last few months.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if he can state the number of pupils in the colleges and other centres for training teachers for elementary schools who were examined during the past year in gardening, horticultural, and rural science generally; and how many, if any, of such colleges and centres had land connected with them for the practical teaching of such subjects.

I must refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave upon this subject on the 12th March last. I may say that the first examination in the new optional, course in rural science was held this summer and that nine students entered for it.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if the following are grant-earning subjects in the syllabus for candidates for pupil teacherships in elementary schools: construction of a triangle equal in area to a given polygon, construction of tangents to a circle, construction of common tangents to two circles, construction of circumscribed, inscribed, and escribed circles of a triangle; and whether, seeing the number of these pupils who will be engaged as teachers in rural and semi-rural elementary schools, he will make horticulture, nature study, the elements of agriculture, and rural science generally compulsory subjects in the syllabus.