asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to an alleged assault committed on the part of the chief engineer of the British steamer "Arrino," on the 12th October last; whether he is aware that the solicitors to the Shipping Federation have been in communication with the Board with regard to the alleged assault; whether he is aware that the Chinamen were unable to pass the language test; if he can state at what mercantile marine office the Chinamen were engaged; why the superintendent permitted them to sign the articles of agreement when unable to speak the English language; whether he is aware that, at the hearing of the case for the charge of assault at the Grays police court on Friday, 5th March, an interpreter was employed to explain to the Chinaman the charge which was preferred against him; and whether he can explain why the charge was withdrawn?

This case had not previously been brought to my notice, but inquiries are being made, and the Board of Trade will inform my hon. friend of the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a number of Spanish firemen were serving on board the British steamer "Murcia," official number 104,852, who were unable to speak or understand the English language; and whether he will make inquiries as to under what circumstances those men were allowed to engage when unable to pass the language test?

This case had not previously been brought to my notice, but inquiries are being made, and the Board of Trade will inform my hon. friend of the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any report from the master of the British steamer "Selsdon" with regard to the loss of an able seaman by drowning from that vessel on the 12th December last; whether he is aware that, in consequence of the defective condition of the boat gear and the smallness of the number of men employed, there was considerable difficulty in launching the lifeboat; and whether it is the intention of the Board of Trade to hold an inquiry into the circumstances of the drowning of the seaman in question?

The Board of Trade have received a report from the Vice-Consul at Port Said relating to the loss from the "Selsdon" of a sailor named Samuel Ellis. The "Selsdon" was outward bound when the fatality occurred, and has not since been in the United Kingdom; but on her return an inquiry will be held and the result communicated to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the effect upon some candidates of the postponement of the Excise examinations till July; whether he is aware that these candidates who would have been under the age limit if these examinations had been held in January and May, as originally fixed, will be over the age limit in July; and whether, as they have spent much time and money in preparation, and would under the new arrangement be disqualified through no fault of theirs, he will direct that candidates who would have been eligible in January or May will be eligible at the next examination?

No date has yet been fixed for any future examination for as sistantships of Excise and Customs, and it is at present quite uncertain when it may become necessary to hold such an examination. Before an examination for assistantships of Excise and Customs is held it will be necessary to draw up fresh regulations, and the Civil Service Commissioners state that in framing the rules in regard to age the circumstances alluded to by the hon. Member will be borne in mind, but no pledge of any kind can be given.

asked the Lord Advocate whether, seeing that old age pensions statistics are not compiled on the basis of counties in Scotland, he will state on what basis they are compiled?

The statistics in Scotland are based upon the Returns from the areas allotted to pension officers, which do not coincide with the boundaries of counties. There are about 200 pension areas in Scotland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the expediency of placing a tax according to their horse-power on all motor cars used otherwise than for business or professional purposes?

I will consider this suggestion, together with the other suggestions which I have received for raising the money to meet the financial requirements of 1909–10.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the present wording of the regulations for the supply of sugar to merchant vessels, which call for good white granulated or crystals or cane sugar of equal quality, is likely to cause the impression that good white granulated or crystals cannot be made from cane sugar, he will cause the regulations to be amended?

I am advised that the meaning of the regulation to which the hon. Member refers is that the only kinds of beet sugar allowed to be supplied to merchant vessels are good white, granulated or crystals, brown beet sugar

being excluded. Any cane sugar equal to the prescribed kinds of beet is admitted. I am not aware that the wording of this rule, which was issued in September, 1907, has caused any misapprehension in the trade, but the point raised by the hon. Member will be considered when the regulations are next revised.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the approximate cost of, and number of, persons employed in the collection of the income tax and the death duties, respectively, for the last five years?

, in reply, presented the following statement:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give the exact amount of 2½ per cent. Consols on 1st March, 1908, and on 1st March this year?

I shall deal with the question of the amount of Debt (including Consols) redeemed during the current financial year when I make my annual Financial Statement, and it would not be in accordance with precedent to anticipate this by giving a part of the information as to the progress of the reduction, in advance.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have any objection to stating on what grounds they have declined to take action on the application for reinstatement of an evicted tenant, Mr. Thomas Taggart, of Corbally, Katesbridge, County Down; and whether the case will be reconsidered?

The Estates Commissioners are not prepared to depart from the decision they have already come to in this case after careful consideration, and it would be contrary to practice for them to state the reasons which actuate them in the exercise of their discretion.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state the names of the solicitors who have been instructed during the past year to act for the Land Commission in proceedings for the recovery of arrears or annuities?

I have received from the Land Commission a list of the solicitors who at present act in the County Courts in the recovery of arrears of Land Purchase Instalments due to the Land Commission. I will furnish the hon. Member with a copy of the list.

asked the Chief Secretary of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners can now state what are the latest steps which they have taken in respect to the evicted tenant, Timothy E. Barrett, on the Grehan estate, Banteer, county Cork, who claims reinstatement on his untenanted holding, which was gazetted for acquisition by the Com- missioners several months ago; and if the landlord has appealed, whether the Commissioners will notify the evicted tenant of the date on which the appeal will be held and the ground upon which it is based?

The Estates Commissioners informs me that a petition has been filed praying that the lands in question be not acquired compulsorily. The petition has been listed for early hearing, and Barrett will be duly notified of the date on which it is to be heard.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that a special order applying only to Belfast intimates that, on and after 1st July next, sergeants and constables of the Royal Irish Constabulary who have been for five years and upwards on station or police court duty shall revert to the ordinary service; if he can say why this order applies only to Belfast; and whether, in view of the fact that a considerable number of men will be affected and the fact that magistrates and solicitors in Belfast have unhesitatingly condemned the changes outlined by the order, he will consider the advisability of having it withdrawn or giving some explanation for its enforcement?

An order was recently issued by the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary that members of the force in Belfast and several other towns in Ireland holding special posts of various kinds should only hold the appointments for a limited number of years. The order, which was issued in the interests of the public service, and is to come into force on 1st July next, applies to members of the force holding appointments in the police offices and courts in Belfast, Cork and Londonderry. The number of sergeants and constables who will be affected by the order in Belfast is 21. So far as the Inspector-General is aware only one magistrate has expressed his disapproval of the order.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland from what area it is proposed to recover the cost of the extra police force employed in affording protection to the person and property of Mr. Clarke, D.L., of Holycross, county Tipperary, and to his employees; and what will be the incidence of the rate required for the purpose based on the number of extra men now employed?

The matter is under consideration, and until it is determined it is impossible to say what the incidence of the rate will be.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the fact that the Hob-house Committee recommended that care should be taken to reduce inconvenient split attendances, and that since the publication of their Report compulsory split attendances have been added on week-days, for which time off is given on Saturdays, he will now direct that all attendances for such purpose shall form part of a continuous duty and not necessitate a separate attendance?

It is my endeavour to reduce the number of split duties to a minimum; but, as I stated in reply to a question asked by the hon. Member on the 2nd instant, split duties cannot be dispensed with as it is necessary to adjust the attendances to the incidence of the work.

asked the Postmaster-General which of the Atlantic cable companies is principally employed to convey messages intended for transmission over the Pacific cable; and what is the nationality of that company?

Telegrams for or from the Pacific cable which are not ordered by the sender for transmission by any particular route across the Atlantic, are divided equally between the Anglo-American Telegraph Company and the Direct United States Cable Company (both British Companies) on the one hand, and the Commercial Cable Company (an American Company, whose cables are landed on British territory) on the other hand.

asked what are the land lines employed to convey across the American continent messages intended for transmission over the Pacific cable; and whether any portion of these lines passes through non-British territory?

In normal circumstances telegrams to or from the Pacific cable are transmitted across the American Continent over lines which pass solely over British territory. The route followed is viâ Montreal, and the lines are mainly those of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the maximum wage of women sorters has been raised for 24 years; and, if not, seeing that the cost of living has very materially increased during that period, he will favourably consider the granting of an increase or, at least, provide some avenue of promotion for the class?

It is hardly correct to say that the maximum wage of women sorters has not been raised for 24 years. Previous to 1885 the maximum was 20s., and in 1885 a first class of women sorters was created with a maximum rising to 30s. In 1897 classification was abolished, and the general body were allowed to rise to 30s., with an efficiency bar at 21s. 6d. The case was considered by the Parliamentary Committee, who recommended an improvement of the yearly increment, but no increase of the maximum. The Committee pointed out that these officers are eligible for certain appointments carrying supervising allowances.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can state when will postmasters and sub-postmasters be paid for the work they have done in connection with the Old Age Pensions Act; and if they will be paid monthly for this work, as they are already paid monthly for other Post Office duties performed by them?

Payment has already been made for the preliminary work done by sub-postmasters in assisting applicants to fill up their forms, so far as I have received the necessary returns. Arrangements are being made under which sub-postmasters will receive a provisional addition to their monthly payments to cover their work in connection with the payment of old age pensions. These provisional payments will be reviewed and adjusted where necessary as soon as reliable particulars of the work are available. In the case of salaried offices the old age pensions work will be taken into consideration when the salaries come up for revision in the ordinary course.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the fact that women sorters appointed to the money order branch had to make arrangements, in accordance with official regulations, to live within a reasonable distance of the office in the City and with their parents or guardians, whether he will grant them some monetary consideration on the removal of that branch to Upper Holloway, seeing that the enforced change of office is bound to necessitate additional expenditure in travelling to and fro from the new office?

It is the universal rule of the Post Office service that officers must attend at their ordinary place of duty at their own expense. Long and ample notice has been given to the staff of the proposed removal of the Money Order Department, for the change will not take place until the summer of 1911. The site for the new office was very carefully selected with a view to facility of access, and for a large portion of the staff there will be a saving both of time and expense.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can state whether it is the intention of his Department to pay the men at Sunderland for the overtime worked during the New Year week, such extra work being caused by the snowstorm at that time; and, if so, when such payment may be expected?

asked the President of the Local Government Board in respect to the working of the Midwives Act, whether the

The claims will shortly be paid.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will extend the East Central postal boundary so as to include the whole of the City of London; or, failing this, if he will extend the boundary so as to include the whole of and both sides of the Minories, Houndsditch, and that part of Aldgate west of these thoroughfares?

The question of extending the area of the Eastern Central Postal District has been carefully considered on several occasions by my predecessors and by myself, and I regret that I do not see my way to adopt the suggestion made.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will furnish a statement classifying under their proper designations the indictable crimes in which firearms were used in 1906, 1907, and 1908, respectively, distinguishing between agrarian and non-agrarian crimes of this character.

, in reply, presented the following particulars:—

Committee of Inquiry can be made to include a representative of the National Association of Midwives; and, if not, how it is proposed to make the work of the committee complete and satisfactory?

I have been in communication with the Privy Council on this subject, and I find that, in the opinion of the Lord President, the Departmental Committee is sufficiently large for the practical objects of the inquiry, and that these would not be served by the addition of representatives of special interests. Their views will be properly considered in connection with any evidence that may be given. I understand that a letter was sent to the National Association of Midwives at the end of January last, intimating that the Committee would be pleased to consider any application they might make to tender evidence, but no answer to this invitation has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Natal has ceased to pay any contribution towards the military expenditure of the Empire, and, if so, why?

Natal ceased to pay an annual military contribution from 1st April, 1907. At the present time, however, the colony is paying the cost of providing barrack accommodation at Pieter-maritzburg. Under present conditions in South Africa it was not desirable to treat Natal exceptionally in the matter of contribution.

asked what was the strength of the garrison at Mauritius, the estimated cost of maintaining that garrison, and the contribution received towards that cost from the Colony in the years 1895–6, 1905–6, 1906–7, 1907–8, and 1908–9; and what are the corresponding Estimates for the year 1909–10?

The figures are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of British soldiers now quartered in Mauri- tius and to what regiments they belong; what the military staff consists of, and whether the General in command ever exercises the duties of Governor; and, if not, where the necessity arises for a general officer, seeing that two years ago, when the garrison was three times its present strength, the command was entrusted to a colonel with the local rank of brigadier-general?

The establishment of the British troops in Mauritius is 1,256 all ranks, and is composed of a company of Royal Garrison Artillery, a company of Royal Engineers, a battalion of infantry, and other details. The Staff (excluding those taken in the regimental establishment above) consist of one major-general, one general staff officer, one deputy assistant adjutant and quartermaster-general, one aide-de-camp, one paymaster. The General Officer Commanding Mauritius holds a dormant commission to assume the administration of the Colony in the absence of the Governor and the Colonial Secretary. It was considered necessary that, owing to the responsibility in time of war of the officer commanding there, in consequence of the isolation of his command, he should have the rank of major-general.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the number of fatal and nonfatal accidents in each of the inspector districts in the United Kingdom, also the number of tons of coal raised during 1909 in each district; and whether he can state when the inspector's report will be out?

The figures for nonfatal accidents for 1908 are not yet available. The number of fatal accidents in mines under the Coal Mines Regulation Act and the output of coal in each district during 1908 are as follows:—

I should add that these figures are provisional only, and subject to correction. The reports of the Inspectors of Mines will, as in previous years, appear about the months of May or June.

asked what is the total annual cost of the garrisons maintained in South Africa, including cost of transport, of training, and pensions, and of all items which are charged to the Government of India in connection with the garrison of India; and whether any contribution towards this cost is made by the South African Colonies.

The estimated annual cost of the garrison of South Africa on the 1909–10 establishment, including sea transport, home effective charges, and pensions is £1,655,000. No military contribution is paid by the South African colonies.