asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he proposes to appoint a successor to Sir John Harrington in Abyssinia?

The question of appointing a successor to Sir John Harrington is under consideration; the business of the Legation is meanwhile being conducted as usual by the Charge d'Affaires.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any report to the effect that the Indo-European telegraph line has been cut by the Shah of Persia's troops between Tabriz and Julfa; and, if so, what steps he has taken in the matter?

As I stated in my reply to a question from the hon. Member for the Ripon Division on Tuesday, the answer to the first question is in the affirmative, and to the second that the Russian Government, who are more directly interested, have, I understand, already made the necessary representations to the Persian Government, and that it is proposed to await the result. With reference to the statement in my reply to the hon. Member for the Ripon Division that the company is not a British one, I should explain that this is not technically correct, the company is incorporated under the British Companies Act, but it works under concessions from the Russian and Persian Governments, the concessions from the Persian Government having been obtained through the Russian Government. The British Government has no official representative on the Board of the company. Care must be taken to distinguish between the Indo-European Telegraph Company's line and the lines of the Indo-European Telegraph Department, which are entirely different systems, and have a separate origin.

You have not yet informed the House whether it has been amended or not.

No. As far as British capital is invested, if there is any claim for damages it will receive our support in the ordinary way in which private or British enterprise does in any country.

Is it not a fact that the whole of this telegraphic line is worked by the department of the India Office east of Teheran? If, therefore, the communications with India are cut off, that is certainly a subject for representation on behalf of the British India Company.

The communications with India are not cut nor are the communications with Teheran. This is not the line of communications on which we depend or which we prefer for our own communications.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state at what date the Report upon Egyptian affairs by Sir Eldon Gorst for the past year may be expected; and whether he has any information as to the inclusion in that Report of any announcement of a constructive policy in the matter of the appeal for the establishment of a modern national university in Egypt?

It is not possible to fix any date for the appearance of the Report. I have no information as to whether it will contain any announcement of the nature mentioned, but no doubt I shall receive the Report at about the usual time in the spring, and it will be laid in due course.

asked whether the new Cairo police commandant has demanded that all the Kism Mamours shall be transferred from the Civil to the Military Department and shall wear the uniform of the latter; and, if so, upon what grounds the measure has been taken?

I have received no information on the subject, but the matter is one of internal administration in which I do not think it would be desirable for His Majesty's Government to interfere.

Suppose there should be found to be ground for grave dissatisfaction and reprehension among the natives at the transformation of a Civil Department into a Military, does not that constitute a ground for investigation?

Of course, if it turns cut on further investigation that the matter is of wider scope and of larger importance than I assume it to be, I will reconsider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that, after several refusals, the Egyptian Government have recognised the expediency of establishing committees of natives and others to aid the authorities in the repression of crime, he will advise the British Consul-General to recommend the appointment at Cairo of a committee or committees of competent persons interested in sanitation, to promote the co-operation of the public with the authorities in the working of the forthcoming drainage scheme for Cairo?

That is a matter which I consider should be left entirely to the discretion of the Egyptian Government.

asked whether the Egyptian Government are contemplating the establishment of a tobacco monopoly in Egypt, and the concession of such monopoly to the British-American Tobacco Company or any other body?

I have received no information to this effect, but I will inquire as to the fact.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if there are in force any treaties between this country and Portugal by which Portugal binds herself to put an end to slavery in her Colonies; whether, in the year 1838, representations were made by Lord Melbourne to Portugal to the effect that England would not longer refrain from taking effectual measures for preventing slavery in Portuguese territory; and whether he can say what effectual measures have been taken in order to bring about the discontinuance of this traffic?

With regard to the first two parts of the question, the answer is in the affirmative. With regard to the third part of the question, if the hon. Member alludes to the system of contract labour in force in San Thomé and Principé I have nothing to add to the replies given to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury on 11th December last, and to the hon. Member for Gloucester, Forest of Dean, on the 2nd instant.

What are the treaties between this country and Portugal which prohibit slavery?

Perhaps the hon. Member would give notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can say what is the death rate amongst the slaves employed in the cocoa plantations of San Thomé and Principe; whether he has any information to show that slaves that are brought down shackled to the coast, and those who are incapable of going further, are shot down; and whether he has recommended any firms who manufacture chocolate or cocoa in this country to continue to use for the present slave-grown cocoa, as by that means they are in a position to bring special pressure to bear upon the Portuguese Government?

The system in force upon the cocoa plantations of San Thomé and Principe is described as contract labour. The latest statistics in the possession of His Majesty's Government give the mortality among the labourers in San Thomé as about 3.1 per cent., and in Principé as about 11.7 per cent. With regard to the second and third parts of the question, the answer is in the negative; I have not advised any firms as to where they should purchase cocoa.

Can the right hon. Gentleman throw any light on the difference between the death rates—3 per cent, in one case and 11 in the other?

No, I have not got any information.

Are we to understand that he does not consider that there is slavery in these particular districts?

These particular places are not British territories. We are not responsible for the system described as being contract labour. It has been the subject of discussion, and it has been stated frequently that it is not satisfactory, and reports have been published showing that even now it is under the consideration of the Portuguese Government. We have from time to time been in communication with them with regard to introducing such reforms as will remove the reproach from the system.

Have we no power under our treaty to insist on this contract system being terminated?

The hon. Member must realise with regard to the enforcement of any treaty that the first stage is always diplomatic negotiation. We are in that stage now.

Have you entered into communication with the Portuguese Government on the subject?

We have been waiting for the result of inquiries by the Portuguese Government themselves. It is a very old subject, and has been receiving consideration with a view to further communications.

asked the Solicitor-General for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners take any steps to notify an evicted tenant of the date on which an appeal lodged by a landlord or landlord's representative against an order to acquire an untenanted holding is to be heard; and, if not, will the Commissioners undertake in future to give notice to evicted tenants of the date of hearing, and also of the grounds upon which the appeal is based?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that in all cases in which it is proposed to acquire, under the Evicted Tenants Act, a holding now in the landlord's occupation and to reinstate the former tenant, they will give notice to the tenant of any petition filed by the owner, and of the date fixed for its hearing. This has already been done in any cases in which the Commissioners considered it desirable.

I desire to ask the hon. Member whether it was by his directions that in the case of several men who were charged at Frenchpark, Roscommon, on 3rd March, with intimidating John Connor proceedings were instituted under the Petty Sessions Act; whether there is any power to bind to the peace under that Statute; and whether in this case the accused persons were made amenable?

The proceedings in his case were quite regular. They were taken by summons before the magistrates at Petty Sessions, but the jurisdiction to bind to the peace does not arise under that Statute. The cases are at present sub judice.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can do anything to hasten a reply to a question directed to the Estates Commissioners, of which an acknowledgment has been given that it is under consideration; and will he say how long a simple question should be under consideration before it is answered.

The Estates Commissioners received upwards of 50,000 letters last year. Some of the letters received related to estates which will not be reached in their order of priority to be dealt with for some considerable time, and cannot be considered until the estate has been inspected and ruled on by the Commissioners. Other letters are considered and replied to as soon as practicable.

I wish to ask the Solicitor-General for Ireland whether the Local Government Board have informed the Cork County Council that they are in receipt of certificates from the Irish Land Commission and the Commissioners of National Debt showing the actual arrears in purchase annuities under the Land Purchase Acts, 1891, 1896, and 1903, which must be deducted from the estate duty grant payable to the Council next month amounting to £5,641; whether he can say how much of this amount is in default in respect to the years 1891–1896 and 1903 respectively; whether he has seen a copy of the Resolution of the Cork County Council, passed unanimously at its last meeting on the 4th inst., requesting that the Council should be furnished by the Land Commission with particulars as to the names of such persons in this county as are in arrears, number of years' purchase in each case, and whether on first or second term rents, what steps the Commissioners are taking for the recovery of these arrears, if arrears be recovered will amount be placed to the credit of the Council; and whether the Land Commissioners will furnish the required particulars for the information and guidance of the Council?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to a question asked by the hon. Member for Waterford on 25th February, in which full details of the matters raised appear. I have seen a copy of the Resolution referred to. Immediate steps are taken in the county courts at the earliest possible date for the recovery of arrears, and the amounts so recovered or otherwise paid are duly paid over to the Guarantee Fund, and credited to the counties. Full particulars of the matters referred to by the hon. Member are to be found in the Annual Report of the Land Commissioners, which is available for the information of the Councils.

The hon. Gentleman has not answered the whole of my question.

The reply given by the Chief Secretary, to which I have alluded, deals with the other points. Details of the arrears due are given under their respective headings. Any action must be taken by the Irish Land Commission.

The hon. Member has not answered my question with regard to the number of years' purchase under which the annuitants have incurred these liabilities.

Those particulars appear in the annual report of the Land Commission, to which I have referred.

Will the Cork County Council have any claim in regard to holdings in respect of which they will be called upon to pay arrears?

My impression is that the county councils themselves will not.

Order, order. Hon. Members must give notice of these difficult questions.

asked the Solicitor-General for Ireland if any progress has been made since last Session in the work of restoring to their farms the balance of the Massa-reene evicted tenants; and, if not, whether he can state what the nature of the obstacle is which stands in the way?

I am informed by the Estates Commissioners that there are only four outstanding cases of evicted tenants in connection with this estate. The position of these men, whose former holdings are in the possession of other tenants, is engaging the attention of the Commissioners and every effort is being made to arrive at a satisfactory arrangement in their cases.

I wish to ask the hon. and learned Member if he will state who has been appointed as chancellor of the undenominational University at Dublin founded by the Act of last Session?

His Grace the Most Reverend Dr. Walsh, D.D., was unanimously elected Chancellor of the National University of Ireland by the Senate of the University.

May I ask if the Government consider that appointment affects the undenominational character of the University?

Order, order. That is a matter of opinion.

asked the hon. and learned Gentleman if he was aware that proceedings were taken during the present month by the Government against James Hogan, J.P., and several others for boycotting at Kenvarra; that the justices refused the application by a majority, the resident magistrate dissenting; that the Crown solicitor and the county inspector advised further proceedings against the accused; and that the Attorney-General refused to send up a bill against them to the grand jury; will he say why this course was adopted in precisely similar circumstances in the Riverstown case and departed from here; and what is the reason for the discrimination?

I am informed by the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary that no such case occurred at all as that stated by the hon. and learned Member, nor is there anyone of the name of James Hogan living in the district referred to. There is no foundation for the other matters suggested in the hon, and learned Member's question.

As this is a question which affects my Constituency, may I ask whether the allegations contained in the question against Mr. Hogan of boycotting are not entirely devoid of any foundation?

The Solicitor-General has already replied to that question.

On a point of order, may I ask if an hon. Member of this House is entitled to use his position within the House for the purpose of disseminating matter of a scandalous character with re- spect to the Constituency of any hon. Member of this House, when such matter is entirely devoid of foundation?

Certainly not; and I hope the hon. Member will not consider that this question comes within the category he has mentioned. This is a place where we seek to ascertain the truth.

I beg to ask the Solicitor-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the statement that in the counties of Roscommon and Clare the cruel mutilation of cattle has lately been of constant occurrence; and whether this allegation is borne out by the police reports, or whether he has any official information showing that it has any foundation in fact?

My attention has been called to the statement mentioned. The Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary informs me that there are no grounds for the statement that such offences are of constant occurrence in the counties referred to. In the years 1906–7–8, there were in the county of Clare six, eight, and nine of these cases respectively, and in the county of Roscommon two, one, and three respectively.

In view of the fact that this statement has appeared in the editorial columns of "The Times" last Tuesday, I wish to know whether there is any method known to the law of preventing the publication of such slanders?

That is hardly a question which the hon. and learned Gentleman can answer. This House cannot be responsible for what appears in the newspapers.

asked the hon. and learned Gentleman if he accepts the refusal by three magistrates, members of the United Irish League, to bind Mr. Keane to be of good behaviour and keep the peace as conclusive vindication of the law on the part of the Government; whether his attention has been drawn to Mr. Keane's announcement of his intention to proceed with the intimidatory articles for which the Government proceeded against him; if he can now state whether an application will be made to the King's Bench Division against him, as in the case of the hon. Member for Longford; and, if not, on what grounds is discrimination made?

The matter is under the consideration of the Attorney-General.

I desire to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the attention of the Secretary of State has been drawn to paragraph 352 of the Report of the Royal Commission on Decentralisation in India, in which mention is made of a complaint by Sir John Hewitt, the Lieutenant-Governor of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, with reference to the encroachments of the Director of Criminal Intelligence upon his sphere of administration; will be state what are precisely the duties attached to the post in question; and whether, in view of the fact that the Commissioners comment upon the reception of similar complaints from other provinces as to what is regarded as the undesirable activity of this officer, it is proposed to afford him other facilities for justifying his existence?

The Secretary of State has seen the paragraph referred to. The duties of the Director of Criminal Intelligence include the collection of information regarding organised forms of crime, such as the operations of gangs of robbers working over large areas, and the like offences. With regard to the third question, the paragraph in the Report explains how the complaints referred to arose, and expresses the belief, in which the Secretary of State concurs, that the Director is "a distinctly valuable agency" in discharge of the functions of his office.

asked whether a scheme, approved by the Government of India, for the creation in Calcutta of a large office establishment in connection with the" post of Controller of Military Supply Accounts, came into operation on 1st April, 1908; were some 200 men brought from various parts of India to take up positions in the office, and advertisements inserted in the press during the last days of March, 1908, calling for candidates for clerkships to appear and sit for examination; what amount of public money was spent upon this scheme; was the sanction of the Secretary of State previously obtained; and what is the present position in regard to the matter?

The Government of India are empowered to sanction an increase of minor clerical appointments within a certain limit of charge. If the hon. Member will furnish me with further information with regard to his case the Secretary of State will inquire.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has yet received a communication from the Trinidad Working Men's Association in regard to the Sunday-closing Ordinance about to be adopted; and, if so, can he state what action the Government intend to take in regard to the matter?

No communication has yet been received.

asked if the Secretary of State for the Colonies has received from the Trinidad Working Men's Association a memorandum on the question of the importation of indentured coolie labour into Trinidad, and in which they point out that wages on the cocoa estates are now 35 cents per day as against 60 cents 20 years ago, such reduction being due to the continued introduction of such labour; that the indentured labourers' wages are more like 3s. per week instead of the 5s. 2½d. promised as a minimum; that 46 per cent, of the committals to prison are for breaches of the Immigration Ordinance; that a radical change for the worse has taken place in the condition of the laburers, such being due to the continued importation of indentured labour; and, if so, whether the Government are prepared to abolish the export tax on produce of £13 per head, and place the whole of such cost on the planters requiring such labour, especially in view of the fact that to raise any part of the cost of introducing indentured labour by means of an export tax on produce is to compel all engaged in the industry to pay for indentured labour?

Yes, Sir; the Secretary of State has received the memorandum of the Trinidad Working Men's Association; but he is advised that the statements contained in it are not in all respects correct. The best information goes to show that 60 cents a day has never been paid on any cocoa estate except occasionally to a highly skilled pruner as an exceptional case. The statement which suggests that 5s. 2½d. a week is promised as a minimum to indentured labourers has already been corrected in the reply which was given to my hon. Friend on 18th February, 1908. It is the case that a large percentage of the committals to prison of recent years have been for breaches of the Immigration Ordinance, but the suggestion that the condition of the labourers is deteriorating in consequence is emphatically denied by the Colonial Government. His Majesty's Government are, accordingly, not prepared to take the steps indicated by the question—at any rate, without much fuller inquiry into the circumstances of Trinidad, and the labour supply of Trinidad. As my hon. Friend is aware, an inquiry has just been opened into the subject of coolie labour by a strong Committee, and, no doubt, important evidence from Trinidad will be tendered in due course.

asked if the Legislative Council of Trinidad has been asked by the Secretary of State to express an opinion as to whether there was an adequate supply of labour in the Colony without recourse to indentured labour from India; whether there existed any general feeling in favour of throwing the whole charge for the introduction of coolie immigrants upon the planters; if so, what was the nature of the reply to the same; and can he state the nature of the business of each of the unofficial members comprising the Legislative Council?

The Legislative Council of Trinidad was requested to discuss the whole question of the increase in the number of immigrants for the coming season proposed by the Colonial Government, and of the supply of labour in the Colony, with special reference to a despatch in which the Secretary of State had required a report on the subjects indicated by my hon. Friend. The debates in the Legislative Council showed that the opinion of the Council was decidedly in favour of a negative reply to the two questions raised by my hon. Friend. I am unable to state the nature of the occupation of each of the unofficial members of Council.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is able to make any statement with reference to the future control and working of the Lourenco Marques railway and port?

asked if the Transvaal Government have obtained a lease of the Delagoa Bay Railway from Portugal; and, if so, on what conditions?

In answer to these questions, I have to state that I have no information on this matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the British-Indian residents of Boksburg, Transvaal, have been served with notices of removal from the town into locations specially set apart for Asiatics outside, and contiguous to the Kaffir location; whether he is aware that a similar requirement from British-Indians by the Government of the late Transvaal Republic was opposed by His. Majesty's Government then in power; and if the Government will make friendly representations to the Government of the-Colony in the matter?

My attention has not been drawn to the notices referred to, but if the hon. Gentleman will furnish me with-a statement inquiry shall be made of the Governor. Representations were made to-the Government of the South African Republic in 1899 on the ground of the un-suitability of a site proposed for an Indian-location near Johannesburg.

Can the hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that we are-approaching a settlement of this very critical and dangerous matter?

I am not in a position: to make any statement at present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his. attention has been drawn to the re-imprisonment last week of 130 British-Indians in the Transvaal for non-production of registration certificates under the-registration law; and whether His-Majesty's Government are taking, or intend to take, any steps to protect this unrepresented class of His Majesty's loyal subjects from further suffering and loss?

According to information received from the Governor the total' number of Asiatics in prison on 4th March for contravention of the Immigration Act and the Asiatics Registration Amendment Act, was 111. At the end of February three were also in prison for contravention of the law on revenue licences. His Majesty's-Government have been in communication with the Transvaal Government regarding the Indian question, and further correspondence on the subject will shortly be laid before Parliament.

Is there any hope that this matter will be reviewed by the Union Government?

I think it would be unwise to anticipate the future. It might perhaps be better to wait until the Papers are laid on the Table, which I think will be shortly.

asked whether Mr. Gandhi is for the third time now undergoing a sentence of imprisonment with hard labour for non-production of a certificate under the Transvaal Registration Law; whether the ostensible object of such registration was identification of domiciled Indians of that Colony; and, if so, whether it is contended that there is any risk of Mr. Gandhi's identity being mistaken should he not carry on his person such a certificate containing a description of his personal peculiarities and his pedigree; and does His Majesty's Government propose to take any action?

Mr. Gandhi is now in prison for a third time because he will not comply with legislation against which he is determined to protest, and His Majesty's Government have no power to prevent the lawfully constituted authorities of the Transvaal from enforcing the requirements of the law with regard to production of certificates and other matters. They have been in communication with the Transvaal Government on the whole question of the position of the Indians, and correspondence will shortly be laid before Parliament.

May I ask whether the Colonial Government or the India Office have taken into consideration the effects of this kind of treatment upon the Indians themselves?

Certainly, Sir. It has been under our consideration, and also under the consideration of the India Office. But if this gentleman breaks the law, of course the consequences must be what they are.

Will the Government give these men the same moral support that they gave the passive resisters in this country?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the delay of over two years since the earthquake in re-erecting the Government buildings in Kingston, Jamaica, has been caused by some valid reason; and, if so, what reason; whether something can be done to expedite this work; and whether his Department have been or are endeavouring to help forward the work by assistance, either in advice or financially?

A contract for the reconstruction of the Government buildings at Kingston has been executed, under which King's House is to be completed by 4th April, 1910, and the Post Office and Treasury by 31st May, 1910. The Secretary of State has no reason to think that there has been any avoidable delay in carrying through this matter, having regard to the precautions necessary to provide buildings capable of withstanding earthquake shocks in the event of their recurrence. The Governor of the Colony paid a special visit to England last year in connection with the matter, and his efforts have received full support from the Colonal Office.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a fair wages clause is inserted in Crown Colony contracts placed in this country; and, if not, whether he will make representations to the agents of the various Crown Colonies and other dependencies with a view to the insertion of such a clause?

It has not been the practice to insert a fair wages clause in contracts made by the Crown Agents for the Colonies on behalf of the Government of a Crown Colony or Protectorate; but the matter has already received consideration, and the Secretary of State has decided that the Crown Colonies must, as regards the contracts to which my hon. Friend refers, conform to the practice of the United Kingdom in this matter.

put.a supplementary question, to which

That is another matter which I think had better be the I subject of another question.

asked whether a British gunboat and a company of soldiers from Sierra Leone had been sent to Liberia; and, if so, for what purpose?

Some soldiers in the Liberian service, whose pay was in arrears, having threatened to mutiny and burn Monrovia, the capital, His Majesty's Consul-General telegraphed for protection for British lives, which were said to be in danger. The telegram was received on 4th February last, and orders were at once cabled to His Majesty's ship "Mutine" at Ascension to proceed to Monrovia. The "Mutine" arrived there on 10th February and found a situation of great unrest, but by 24th February the commander reported that the crisis was over, and that he had gone to Sierra Leone. No troops were sent from Sierra Leone.

Can you say whether any of this unrest is due to encroachments by the neighbouring Powers?

No, Sir. Encroachments from outside have nothing to do with it. I believe it is due to internal disturbances.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if any provision has been made for granting the market rate of wages to labourers and gardeners employed in the Dublin parks and gardens by the Board of Works; and can he say from what source the information was received to guide the Board of Works in recommending the present rate of 16s weekly for a city of Dublin workman?

The provision for the wages of labourers and gardeners m the Phoenix Park and St. Stephen's Green has been made upon the basis of the market rates for such wages modified so as to allow for the value of the special privileges enjoyed by workmen in the employ of the State. The information was collected from nursery gardeners and private employers in the immediate neighbourhood of Dublin.

Might I ask what is the rate of wages paid to ordinary labourers in London, and whether the hon. Gentleman will pay the Dublin men at the same rate?

I will inquire.

Is 16s. per week a fair wage for these men in a city like-Dublin, where house rent is so high?

was understood to-assent to the fact that house rent is high.

From what source did the Board of Works get this information that 16s. is a fair rate of wages for these men?

The information was-collected from employers of labour in and about Dublin, and by private inquiries.

Would not that rate of wages apply to the county and not the city of Dublin?

Order. The hon. Member should give himself the trouble to put-some of his questions down.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if a housing allowance, where paid to officials, is made without regard to the fact that the Minister already resides near his office; and if any undertaking is required that the money so paid shall be spent on house accommodation?

The accidental circumstance that a Minister or official happens to reside near his office would not, I think, as a rule, constitute a reason for depriving him of part of the recognised emoluments of his post. The answer to-the second question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he could explain the cause of the delay in issuing the loan applied for conjointly by the Corporation of Kilkenny and the County Council of Kilkenny for the reconstruction of St. John's Bridge in Kilkenny city and sanctioned many months ago by the Treasury; and will he see that the money is paid over at once so that the erection of the bridge may be proceeded with?

I am informed by the Board of Public Works that the case, which is the first of its kind, presented numerous legal difficulties, which have now, I understand, been disposed of; but the question of the period of the loan has not yet been settled, and is not without difficulty. As soon as it has been settled, Treasury sanction for the loan will be sought.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if an appointment has been made to the post of Assistant Curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin; if so, who is the gentleman appointed; whether he is a stranger to the city of Dublin; whether there were not any qualified men in the service with as great experience of all classes of plants who might have been appointed.; and whether he will say what were the qualifications of the lady who has been appointed as clerical assistant; and the salary to be paid to each of the newly-appointed persons?

The appointment to the post of assistant keeper of the Royal Botanic Gardens was made on 21st June, 1907, when the present holder, Mr. C. F. Ball, was appointed thereto from the post of out-door foreman in the gardens, to which he was appointed on 13th December, 1906. Mr. Ball was trained at Kew. "There were no men in the Department's service with the special qualifications and experience required for this post. Mr. Ball's salary for the present year is £110. The holder of the post of technical assistant to the keeper is Miss R. Pollock, who also acts as shorthand writer and typist. Hiss Pollock was appointed in November, 1904. Her salary for the present year is £110. Miss Pollock is a trained lady gardener and botanist, part of her training having been received in the Royal Botanic Gardens, and she is also proficient in shorthand and typewriting, and deals with foreign correspondence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a lady, being a delegate of a branch of the Women's Freedom League, and bearing a copy of their petition to the Prime Minister, was admitted to St. Stephen's Hall on the 18th ultimo between 5.0 and 5.30 p.m.; whether he is aware that she sent in her card in the usual way to the Prime Minister and other Members, and subsequently left quietly on the cards being returned; if he will explain why a similar course was not taken in the case of Mrs. Despard, Miss FitzHerbert, and other ladies, who on the same afternoon presented themselves on a similar errand a few minuts later; and why, instead of being admitted in the ordinary way, these ladies were forcibly repelled by the police and subsequently arrested?

The police have no knowledge of a lady as delegate of A branch of the Women's Freedom League being admitted to St. Stephen's Hall on 18th February, between 5.0 and 5.30 p.m., but she would have been admitted if she had come in the ordinary way, asking to see a Member. Mrs. Despard, Miss FitzHerbert, and the other ladies had that day been informed that the Prime Minister would not see them. They caused the collection of a crowd, declined to move away when asked to do so, as the approaches to the House had become obstructed, tried to force their way in, and were arrested.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has read the evidence given in the case of these ladies who were tried, and whether he read the evidence of one witness, a lady, who stated that she arrived, carrying a resolution from her branch, being one of the delegates, a good deal earlier than the others, and that she was admitted without question, and whether the only obstruction that was caused arose from the fact that a few minutes later a cordon of police was drawn up—in other words, whether the police were the only obstruction?

I have read the evidence, and I have consulted the learned magistrate. I am afraid I have nothing to add.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the fact of the methods adopted by the police having hitherto entirely failed to check the recurrence of these disorders, and that it is so repellent to the general sense of justice and fairplay that these women should be imprisoned as second-class misdemeanants, he will consider the advisability of considering other methods in future of dealing with these disorders?

The hon. Member must give notice of his question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the statement, offered on oath, by Mrs. H. W. Nevinson relating to the arrest on the 18th ultimo of Mrs. Duval, now a prisoner in Holloway; and whether he will now, on a review of the evidence, direct the release of Mrs. Duval?

A copy of the statement referred to was submitted to me before I answered the question of the hon. Member for Sunderland on the 4th instant with regard to the case of Mrs. Duval. I have nothing to add to that answer.

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the question of granite supply for Rosyth and other Government works?

No, Sir, I think not. I see no grounds for the appointment of such a Committee.

Is it not the fact that 50 per cent, of the granite dressed in Aberdeen and Peterhead is imported from abroad—

The hon. Member must give notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister whether any of the English Departments, other than the Board of Education, have a regulation forbidding representation to its staff on borough councils?

I am not aware that any Government Department, except the Board of Education, enforces regulations of the kind described by my hon Friend.

Will the Prime Minister withdraw the embargo on the Education Department?

I am not the person responsible. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put his question to the President of the Board of Education.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability of appointing a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole question of water supply and the conservation and use thereof?

The hon. Member is no doubt aware of the recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal in their third Report with regard to the waste of water and its abstraction from one district for distribution in another. These recommendations have received the consideration of the President of the Local Government Board in connection with the Bill relating to Rivers Pollution and Water Supplies which he hopes to introduce this Session. In these circumstances, the appointment of a further Commission as suggested seems to be inexpedient.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Miss Maud FitzHerbert, now a prisoner in Holloway, declared during examination in Court that she was desirous of entering the precincts of the House in order to see the hon. Member for West Donegal; and under what regulation or instructions the police refused to allow her to communicate with the hon. Member?

The following extracts from the notes of Miss FitzHerbert's evidence appear to answer the hon. Member's question: "I had not made up my mind, but I should have asked for one Member. I generally victimise my cousin, Mr. Hugh Law. I should have seen him that evening. I have seen him before.… I had not made up my mind which Member to ask for."

Will the right hon. Gentleman state whether it is not the fact that the police gave Miss FitzHerbert no time at all to make up her mind to ask for anybody, and can he state the number of minutes which elapsed between the time she arrived and the time of her arrest?

I suppose if she came with a distinct object she would have already made up her mind whom she wanted to see.

Does it not happen sometimes that when a person comes here she does not always know who is in the House, and she may have to ask to see more than one Member?

That may be so; I do not know. For instance, she might have asked to see my hon. and learned Friend the Member for South Donegal.

Oh, no, no, no. I have not the honour of the lady's acquaintance.

Are all these prisoners being subjected to the same treatment during their sojourn in prison, or are exceptions being made, some being allowed privileges which are being denied to others?

That is not the case.

Is it not time to put an end to this cowardly persecution of women?

Will the right hon. Gentleman afford me the same protection against my creditors as he affords me against my relatives?

When the hon. and learned Member needs that protection, if he will come and inform me of the precise circumstances, I will give him a reply.

Has not Lady Constance Lytton had privileges which have been denied to others?

She would not take them.

That does not arise out of the question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary for the Home Department how many yards of 52-inch mail-bag canvas is represented in the sum of £5,314 15s. 5d. spent on brown canvas as detailed in Command Paper 10; and where has the foreign-made mail-bag canvas been manufactured?

116,400 yards of 52-inch brown canvas manufactured in France is represented in the sum of £5,314 15s. 5d.

asked the Secretary for the Home Department with regard to his instruction to immigration officers that in all cases in which immigrants coming from the parts of Europe which are at present in a disturbed condition allege that they are flying from political or religious persecution, the benefit of the doubt, where any doubt exists, as to the truth of the allegation, will be allowed, and leave to land will be given; whether he will say what parts of Europe immigration officers, by instruction or otherwise, at present regard as disturbed; upon what information they act in this matter if they are not instructed by him; whether any parts of Europe have been scheduled as disturbed, and, if so, what is the date of the schedule; and upon what disturbances the discrimination of certain parts of Europe as disturbed is now based so as to bring them within the scope of the instruction of the 9th March, 1906, already quoted?

The answers to the four parts of this question are: 1. None, so far as the Home Office knows. 2. They act on common sense and common knowledge. 3. None. 4. None, so far as the Home Office knows.

asked the Secretary for the Home Department whether he is. aware that a prisoner charged with theft was brought up at the Westminster police court on the 29th December last and was charged in a false name; that the stipendiary magistrate subsequently admitted that he knew the name to be false and that he was aware of the prisoner's correct name; that the prisoner's recognisances were made out in the name which the magistrate has admitted he knew to-be false; and, if so, whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to prevent the correct names of prisoners being suppressed?

I have made inquiry, and find that the name under which the prisoner in question was charged and dealt with is the only name known to the magistrate. It is not the case that he stated that he knew the name to be false, and, in fact, at the present time he does not know whether the name is false or not, or, if it is false, what the defendant's real name was. He knew no more of her than of the hundreds of other defendants charged before him, and there is not the slightest ground for suggesting that he, in any way, countenanced the suppression of the name. The insinuations against the magistrate which have appeared in the Press are absolutely baseless, and ought, never to have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the nature of the propaganda which is being carried on from India House, Highgate; whether he is aware that seditious pamphlets or articles are written there and sent to India and circulated amongst the natives; what are the reports on which the police have felt it necessary to shadow Indian students who use or frequent India House; and what other steps, if any, are being taken to prevent England being used as a centre for the encouragement of sedition in India?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It is obviously undesirable to make public the steps that the police may think necessary to take in this matter, and I would strongly deprecate questions being addressed to me for such a purpose.

asked the Secretary for the Home Department if he can state if any Orders in Council have been made under the Poisons and Pharmacy Act, 1908; and, if so, when they will be laid before this House?

Notice was published in the "London Gazette" of 16th February last that after the expiration of 40 days from that date it was proposed to submit to His Majesty in Council the draft of an Order in Council making regulations under Section 2 (3) of the Poisons and Pharmacy Act, 1908. When His Majesty makes the Order it will be laid before Parliament in accordance with Section 2 (5) of; the Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any suggestion has reached him, either from the French Government or been proposed by the French Tariff Commission, to substitute methods of hardening as a line of discrimination in the classification of steel, in lieu of the former proposal of differences in chemical analysis; and whether he will take no steps to agree to either suggestion without first ascertaining the views of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce?

No suggestion of the nature alluded to by the hon. Member has hitherto come under my notice. I need hardly say that I should at all times welcome any expression of views from representative bodies such as the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, with regard to any proposals for alteration of classification which they consider will effect their trade interests.

May I ask whether he has made any representations with regard to the effect which the proposed tariff if carried out would have on imports of steel from Sheffield?

I have collected a great deal of information from British representative bodies on this subject, but, as I said the other day in the House, I do not think it would be to the public advantage to make any statement on the other aspect of the question to which the hon. Gentleman refers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a rise in the duties on imported felt hats into Sweden, which rise in duties is detrimental to British trade; and whether he has made or will make any representations to Sweden on the subject?

I have no information as to any recent increase in the duty levied in Sweden on imported felt hats, and I am inclined to think that the hon. Member is misinformed as to the suggested rise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received an intimation from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce that they cannot but regard the proposed increase in the French duties on British manufactures as gravely prejudicial to the commercial interests of this country; and whether, in the representations he makes to France, he will especially consider the proposed increase in tariffs, in some cases amounting almost to prohibition, upon elastic goods, boots and shoes, cotton, and woollen textiles?

I have received from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce a copy of a resolution in the terms quoted by the hon. Member. I am not at present prepared to make any statement in reply to the second part of the question, beyond saying that full consideration is being given to the representations which I have received respecting the proposed increases of duty on various articles.

Has he received the resolution of the Manchester Chamber of Com merce passed by them by a large majority objecting most strongly to any Protectionist proposals?

I have not received the resolution, but I am very glad to know that such a resolution has been passed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the attention of his Department has been drawn to the fact that in the third-class carriages on the Underground Railway, in addition to seating accommodation for 48 passengers, about 70 hanging straps have been provided for those unable to secure seats; whether such encouragement and aid to systematic overcrowding has received the sanction of the Board of Trade; and, if not, whether representations will be made to the company upon the subject, with a view to the provision of more seating accommodation for third-class passengers?

I am aware that the accommodation provided in the third-class carriages of the trains of the Metropolitan District Railway Company is approximately as stated. Arrangements in regard to this matter on the line referred to do not require the sanction of the Board of Trade. I have, however, called the attention of the company to the hon. Member's question.

Has he ever travelled as a strap-hanger in one of those carriages?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that it is proposed by the new French tariff to treble the existing tariff on sea trout exported from Great Britain and Ireland to France; and, in view of the loss this will inflict on net fishings in the United Kingdom, he will take such steps as are possible to prevent this increase in duty?

I think that the Noble Lord is misinformed. I understand that the rate of duty at present levied on trout imported from the United Kingdom into France is 10 francs per 100 kilogrammes, and that the Customs Commission of the French Chamber of Deputies have proposed to increase this rate to 15 francs. I believe a larger increase has been proposed on the rate leviable on trout under the "General Tariff," but as we enjoy the minimum tariff this increase, if enacted, would not affect the United Kingdom.

Arising out of that, is the French Government given to understand we may possibly do something to penalise them?

I do not see that that arises out of this question in any way.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to a report made by the medical officer of the Port of London to the Common Council of the City of London, in which that officer stated that he had found nearly 600 diseased sheep livers in a cargo recently landed from the United States; whether he is aware that the boxes containing these livers have an official label representing that they had been inspected and passed by the United States. authorities before exportation; and what action he proposes to take in order to safeguard the consumers of this country j from the dangers to public health revealed by these circumstances?

I have seen the report, and am aware of the statements contained in it to the effect given in the question. This particular case is receiving my attention, but I may state that the action reported by the Medical Officer of Health was taken under the Public Health (Foreign Meat) Regulations, which I issued last year for the purpose of preventing danger to the public health from the importation of diseased meat, and which I have every reason to believe will be found effective for the. purpose.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the action of the Erith Urban Council in dismissing their clerk, after 17 years' service, on the sole ground that he is not a qualified solicitor; and whether he intends to propose any legislation to extend the powers of his Department in order to place clerks of urban councils in the same position as similar officials of boards of guardians and other local authorities?

My attention has been called to this matter. Under the Public Health Act the clerk to an urban district council is removable by the council at their pleasure, and I am afraid I could not promise to propose legislation with a view to-an alteration of the law in this respect.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that, in spite of a great deal of distress through unemployment in Somerset, the county council has not set up a distress committee; whether he will make representations to the county council with a view to the creation of a distress committee; or whether his Board will exercise its powers under Sub-section (2) of Clause 2 of The Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, by setting up a distress committee.

The Somerset County Council constituted a Special Committee under Sub-section (3) of Section 2 of the Act for the purposes referred to in that sub-section. They would not be empowered to appoint a distress committee, though under Sub-section (2) of the section they might apply to the Local Government Board to establish in the county a central body and distress committees with similar constitutions to those of the central body and distress committees in London. I have not received any such application. I was informed by the county council in January last that there did not appear to be much want of employment in Somerset, and I am not aware of any sufficient reason for adopting the course suggested in the question.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that many frozen carcases are imported without the lymphatic glands; and whether, in view of the probability that the lymphatic glands are removed to conceal the fact that the animal has suffered from glandular tuberculosis, he will prohibit the importation of all carcases which do not contain the lymphatic glands intact and in a healthy condition?

I understand that practically it is only in the case of pigs that the entire carcase is imported as frozen meat. The Public Health (Foreign Meat) Regulations deal with cases where the carcase of a pig is imported without the head in its natural state of attachment and is without the lymphatic glands about the throat and any other part of the carcase in their natural position. In any such case the Medical Officer of Health and the sanitary authority are required to take such action as will secure that the meat will either be exported or destroyed. The powers conferred by the Regulations are, so far as I am aware, duly exercised, and they appear to be sufficient to meet the object which the hon. Member has in view.

Is it a fact that the re-export of diseased meat is allowed?

Where it is not destroyed we compel the people to re-export it. As a rule, it is destroyed.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the Report of Dr. Herbert Williams, Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London, on the importation of frozen offal, and to the assertion that much diseased meat is imported in this way under the official seal of the United States Government; and whether, in the interests of the public health, he will prohibit the importation of offal in future?

As I have stated in answer to a previous question, my attention has been called to this Report. The offal referred to in that Report bore an official label indicating that the boxes containing it had been inspected and passed in the United States. The matter is receiving my attention; but I may point out that any label attesting official inspection abroad does not exempt meat of the kind referred to from inspection in this country, and that, under the Regulations, if it is found to be diseased it must be either exported or destroyed.

In view of the scientific statement that many cases of cancer have arisen in this country owing to this diseased liver, will he prohibit such liver in future?

I do not think there is any justification for the statement with regard to cancer. The Public Health Regulations of Food, which the House passed a year ago, gives us sufficient power to deal with any unsound meat attempted to be brought into this country, as we have discovered in this particular case.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received a petition, signed by men engaged on relief works in London, asking for work to be continued; if so, what action he intends taking in reply; and whether the closing of the registers on 6th March is an indication that the relief works will be closed during or at the end of March?

I have received the petition referred to. I am in communication with the Central (Unemployed) Body for London on the subject to which it relates, but I may state that the closing of the registers on 6th March is not intended to indicate that the works will all be closed by the end of the month.

asked the hon. Member for the Barnstaple Division, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether he is aware that in the parish of Eastbury, in South Berks, there are 10 acres of land known as the Poor's Furze, which was duly awarded in 1776 to the lord and lady of the manor for the time being of Eastbury as a fuel allotment in trust for ever for the poor inhabitants of the parish, and that the present lord of the manor is in the habit of letting the sporting rights over the Poor's Furze to a tenant who is not an object of the trust, without allocating any share of the rents and profit to the poor inhabitants; whether the Charity Commissioners will take steps to ascertain the amount of the rents and profits which have accrued to the lord of the manor; whether his action is in accordance with the terms of the trust; and what are the rights of the parishioners?

The facts appear to be as stated in the first part of the question. The Commissioners are taking steps to ascertain the amount of the rents and profits, if any, which have accrued to the lord of the Manor, whose action does not appear to be in accordance with the terms of the trust. The Award of 1776 provided for regulations for the user of the allotment. No such regulations seem to have been made, and until that has been done the rights of the parishioners cannot be clearly defined.

Is it a fact that the Charity Commissioners sent down an Assistant Commissioner to inquire into this, and that he reported—

The hon. Member will give notice of that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the statement made by the Prime Minister that retaliation was a boomerang inflicting far more and far severer wounds upon ourselves than upon our industrial rivals, he still contemplates in his negotiations with the French Government the possibility of retaliation as recently adumbrated by himself?

I have not seen the speech of the Prime Minister to which the hon. Gentleman refers, and I do not think I could usefully add anything at the present time to what I have said in regard to British trade relations with foreign countries.

Does he still adhere or desire to repeat his statement that a system of retaliation is impossible except on the basis of—

Is he aware that the hon. Member for North-West Manchester stated recently of him that he seemed likely to return to the Tory party on the question of retaliation?

I am aware that a great many stupid things are frequently said in the country.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he could state the number of applicants for small holdings in Kent, the number of applications approved, and the acreage applied for, the amount of land already allocated the number of schemes under consideration and the acreage involved in them, and the localities in which land had been allotted or would be soon allotted?

Seven hundred and thirty-two applications for 9,738 acres have been received, 488 of which have been approved. Sixty-five applications have since been withdrawn, and 71 are still under consideration. Nine hundred and fifty acres have been allocated, either directly or indirectly, by the Council, and five schemes, embracing 285 acres, are under consideration. Land has been allotted to the parishes of Bredhurst, Capel, Hawkhurst, Bilsington, Marden, Shorne, Sandwich, Tenterden, Woodnes-borough, Nettlestead, Northbourne, Appledore, East Mailing, and Snargate, and negotiations for the acquisition of further land in five other parishes is proceeding.