asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will give a ruling on the seniority of assistant clerks employed in His Majesty's Civil Service similar to that in force for the second division; and whether this ruling will apply to all assistant clerks, new class, irrespective of date of original appointment or transfer?

It has been held that a similar rule as to seniority to that applicable to the second division—viz., that seniority depends on length of service as a. whole, and not on length of service in any particular department—should obtain in the case of assistant clerks transferred subsequently to the Order in Council of 21st December, 1907. I am not prepared to agree that this ruling should extend to assistant clerks transferred prior to that date.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that a number of frauds have recently been discovered in Customs bonded warehouses in Liverpool, and can he state the extent of the defalcations; whether such results so frequently recurring are regarded as justifying the system of supervision of bonded warehouses obtaining in that Department; and if he can state why that system is not applied equally to all Customs ports?

During the last 15 months some irregularities have been detected in Customs bonded warehouses in Liverpool—involving duty to the extent of £243. The whole amount has been recovered, and the Crown has sustained no loss. These irregularities are not regarded as justifying any alteration in the present system of supervision of Customs bonded warehouses, which is in force at all Customs ports, subject to any variation deemed necessary in the interests of the Revenue.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the great inconvenience caused by the delay in the payment of their salaries to the clerks of sub-committees of local pension committees in Ireland; that in one case a clerk who has been working since 1st October, 1908, has as yet received no payment, although his account was furnished on 31st December; and whether steps will be taken to secure punctual payment to the clerks of these sub-committees?

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to a similar question put by the hon. Member for Kilkenny City on Monday, the 1st ultimo, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is yet in a position to state the intentions of his Department as to the demands of the preventive men of His Majesty's Customs in regard to payment for overtime?

It has not yet been possible to determine the rate of payments for overtime, which involve charges partly upon the Crown and partly upon traders.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Vitaldas Manjee, a British-Indian expelled from the Transvaal for non-compliance with the registration laws of that Colony; whether the man referred to is the lawful holder of a certificate of domicile issued by the Government of the Transvaal during Lord Milner's Governorship; whether such expulsion is in pursuance of an arrangement with the Government of Portuguese East Africa whereby the latter are to detain British-Indian subjects put over their borders and ship them to India; and whether His Majesty's Government intend to take any action?

I have no official information in this case, but the following telegram has been communicated to the Secretary of State:—"27–3–09."To South Africa British Indian Committee, London."Vitaldas Manjee deported Delagoa Bay for India. Domiciled in the Transvaal. Possesses Milner registration certificate. Father domiciled. Prisoner at Volksrust. Urge prevent deportation."TRANSVAAL, BRITISH INDIAN ASSOCIATION."It is not alleged in this telegram that the Indian in question is being illegally expelled from the Transvaal. As he cannot remain in the Transvaal, and he appears to be a prohibited immigrant under the law of Mozambique, his deportation seems to be unavoidable. The Secretary of State does not see how he could press the Transvaal Government or the Portuguese Government with any prospect of success to suspend the operation of the law unless it can be shown that the action of the authorities is in some way

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of cases of Malta fever, and also of simple continued fever, which has occurred among the civil population of Malta during each of the years from 1897 to 1908, inclusive?

I will make inquiries, and endeavour to procure the information which my hon. Friend desires.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the number of cases of Malta fever and simple continued fever, respectively, among the troops in Malta in each of the years 1897 to 1906, inclusive?

The figures are as follow:—

Year.		Malta Fever.		Simple Continued Fever
1897	…	279	…	1275
1898	…	200	…	1509
1899	…	275	…	1107
1900	…	158	…	1158
1901	…	252	…	1059
1902	…	155	…	981
1903	…	404	…	781
1904	…	320	…	1350
1905	…	643	…	1199
1906	…	161	…	508

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if there is any objection to opening the Imperial Institute to the public on Sundays for the same hours as the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, is now open?

The opening of the Imperial Institute on Sundays would involve considerable expense; but my hon. Friend's suggestion shall receive consideration.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the Annual Report on Trinidad and Tobago, wherein it is stated that 9,494 acres of land were sold during the year 1907–8; and whether it is the intention of the Government to take any action to check the rate of sale of the freehold of public land?

I am aware of the figures referred to. These sales are made under the Trinidad Land Regulations, which are framed with a view to encouraging the settlement of a peasant proprietary on the land, of which a very large area still remains unalienated.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that specific charges were brought of maladministration on the part of the Resident Commissioner and his subordinates in the Gilberts; that it is complained that a thorough and impartial investigation into these matters was not held by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Sir Evarard im Thurn; and that the latter's statement that there was no ground for the charges of cruelty to the natives and other maladministration brought against the Resident Commissioner was incorrect; and will the Secretary of State for the Colonies have His Excellency's report of his visit to the Gilberts placed upon the Table of the House?

Certain charges of maladministration in the Gilbert Islands Protectorate were made some years ago. The High Commissioner who visited the Protectorate in 1005 to inquire into these charges made a report which satisfied the Secretary of State that the complaints had no solid foundation. The report contained so much personal and confidential matter that it could not be published.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the number of troops in the St. Elmo Barracks in Malta during each of the years 1897 to 1908 inclusive; and what was the number of cases of Malta fever and simple continued fever respectively therein during the same years?

As regards the first part of the question there are no figures available in the War Office previous to 1st January, 1905. As regards the second part of the question there are no figures for individual barracks at Malta available at the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether troops stationed in Dublin, when proceeding to and from Kilbride, march the entire distance, 18 miles, between Dublin and Kilbride camp; whether baggage is conveyed to and from that camp by cart along the road, which for the greater part is so steep and heavy that the horses frequently become exhausted and unable to draw the loads; and, seeing that the Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway runs within a short distance of Kilbride, whether this service will be utilised by the military authorities in future for the conveyance of troops and baggage to and from Kilbride?

This Question has been referred to the. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief the Forces in Ireland for report.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether non-commissioned officers and men will henceforth be allowed to commute their pensions before they reach the age of 50; and whether he San see his way to concede a similar privilege to Army warrant officers, having regard to the difficulty experienced by middle-aged men in obtaining employment, and the advantage it might be to them to be able to turn their pension into capital for starting in business?

The abolition of the age limit of 50 announced in my memorandum on the Army Estimates of this year applies to warrant officers as well as to lower ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the name of the firm which obtained the contract this year for soap supplied to the Army Department, Island Bridge. Dublin; what firm obtained the contract last year; and what were the respective prices?

The contract for yellow soap for Dublin was held last year by Messrs. J. Barrington and Sons. This year Messrs. Wheen and Co. offered the lowest quotation which was accompanied by a satisfactory sample, and they were accordingly accepted. Particulars as to prices cannot be disclosed.

asked how many dirigible balloons have been acquired by, or are being built for, the German Government; and if he can give any particulars of the garages and stations being prepared to shelter them?

supplementing his oral answer: The garages and stations for dirigible balloons are reported to be as under:—

Place.	Stations and Garages.	Description
Friedrichschafen	1	Floating shed.
Do.	1	Tent shed.
Wilhelmshafen	1	Shed
Manzell	1	Fixed shed
Griesheim (near Frankfort)	1	Shed (a gasometer being built in connection with shed).
Berlin (Tegel)	1	Military airship station.
Metz	1	Military station.
Cologne	1	—
Darmstadt	1	—
Lyck	1	—
Reinickendorf	2	Military station.
Do.	1	Shed for dirigible.

Of these only two, those at Friedrich-schafen and Berlin, are reported to be built. In addition, a private company has been formed for constructing stations on certain main lines of communication, but, so far as is known, no steps have been taken to commence any of them.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state whether Austria will have any "Dreadnoughts" ready by the end of the year 1911, and also by the end of the year 1912; and, if so, how many by the end of each of those years?

We have no official information with regard to the intentions of Austria to build "Dreadnoughts."

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the notice issued by the Chelsea Electricity Supply Company by which it appears that they intend to change the method of charging for the current supplied, which will be to the detriment of a number of consumers in the district; and whether the Board will inquire into the matter and make representation to the company thereon?

My attention has been called to the notice referred to by my hon. Friend, and the Board of Trade have been in communication with the company in the matter. I understand that the notice only applies in the case of about one-fourth of the consumers in the district, and the company state that these will be prejudiced very slightly, if at all. It is, of course, open to any consumer who prefers it to require the company to supply him at a fixed price per unit. If any consumer objects to the method of charging referred to in the notice, I would suggest that he should communicate with the company, who express their willingness to confer with him as to the system which it would be to his interest to adopt.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that four Arab seamen were sentenced by a naval court held at Naples during 1908 for disobedience to the lawful commands of the master of the steamer "White Jacket"; whether he is aware that they were sent as prisoners on the steamer "Ormuz" to undergo their term of imprisonment in this country; whether he has received any report from the Consul with regard to the case; and, if so, whether he will lay a copy of the report upon the Table of the House?

The Board of Trade have received from his Britannic Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Naples the report of a naval court held there on 24th February last, when four Arab seamen of the "White Jacket" were sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment under section 221 (b) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. The men were sent to this country on the ss. "Ormuz" under section 67 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, to complete the remainder of the term of imprisonment. It is not the practice of the Board of Trade to publish reports of the proceedings of Naval courts, and I do not think there would be any advantage in laying this report—which is a lengthy document—on the Table of the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the steamer "Mohawk," of Bristol, signed a crew on board at South Shields, on 22nd March, 1909, instead of engaging the crew at the mercantile marine office; whether he is aware that only seven deck hands were engaged instead of nine, as provided by the Board of Trade Regulations; whether only four of the deck hands were qualified A.B.'s; whether the men signed on as sailors produced any continuous discharge books to prove they were qualified; whether the manning of this ship was reported by the deputy superintendent to the principal detaining officer; whether any of the Board of Trade surveyors visited this ship for the purpose of testing whether the crew were efficient; and whether he intends to take any steps with a view of seeing that all crews engaged under such circumstances are tested for the purpose of ascertaining whether they are efficient for the duties for which they are engaged?

The crew of the s.s. "Mohawk" were engaged on board the vessel at South Shields on 27th March last. The deck portion of the crew consisted of one carpenter, four duly qualified A.B.'s, and three sailors, of whom two produced discharge books and the third had a satisfactory reference from another similar vessel. The vessel, whose tonnage is less than 5,500 tons gross, accordingly carried eight efficient deck hands, the number required by the Instructions recently issued. The deputy superintendent, who witnessed the engagement of the crew, had no reason to believe that the requirements of the Instructions were not complied with, and he did not, therefore, communicate with the detaining officer, as he would have done if the requisite number of efficient deck hands had not been engaged. As at present advised the Board of Trade do not propose to issue any further instructions on the subject of manning.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that on 25th March, 1909, at seven p.m., the steamer "Thornaby," of West Hartlepool, engaged a crew on board at South Shields instead of at the mercantile marine office; whether, of the six deck hands, only three were qualified A.B.'s, the remainder being engaged as sailors, without producing discharge books; whether the deputy superintendent, who witnessed the engagement, reportd the inefficient manning of this ship to the detaining officer; whether any officers of the Board of Trade visited this ship for the purpose of testing the efficiency of the crew; and whether any report on the matter has been submitted to the Board of Trade?

From information I have received from the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at North Shields it appears that the crew of the steamship "Thornaby" was engaged on. board the vessel at that port on 24th March last. The deck portion of the crew consisted of three duly-qualified A.B.'s and three sailors. Of these six men, four produced continuous discharge books and two stated that they had lost them. The superintendent reports that the requirements of the Instructions recently issued as to manning were complied with.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that on 25th March, 1909, the steamer "Kenilworth," of Newcastle, engaged a crew on board at South Shields instead of at the Mercantile Marine office; whether he is aware that of the seven deck hands only three were qualified A.B.'s, the remainder being engaged as sailors, without producing continuous discharge books; whether the deputy superintendent who witnessed the engagement of the crew reported the inefficient manning of this ship to the detaining officer; whether any officers of the Board of Trade visited this ship for the purpose of testing the efficiency of the crew; and whether any report on the matter has been submitted to the Board of Trade?

I have received a Report from the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at South Shields respecting the engagement of the crew of the ss. "Kenilworth" on board the vessel at that port on 26th March last. The deck portion of the crew consisted of one boatswain, one carpenter, two duly qualified A.B.'s, and four sailors, of whom two produced discharge books and one a certificate of discharge showing service in the coasting trade. The deputy superintendent who witnessed the engagement of the crew had no reason to believe that the requirements as to manning were not complied with, and did not, therefore, communicate with the detaining officer, as he would have done if the vessel had not the requisite number of efficient deck hands.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the steamer "Gladiolus" signed a crew on board at South Shields on 22nd March, 1909, instead of engaging the crew at the mercantile marine office; whether he is aware that only four deck hands were engaged instead of six, as provided by the Board of Trade Regulations, and whether only two of the deck hands were qualified A.B.'s; whether he can state if any of the Board of Trade surveyors visited this ship for the purpose of inquiring whether she had an efficient crew; and whether the deputy superintendent who witnessed the engagement of the men reported this vessel to the principal detaining officer?

The crew of the steamship "Gladiolus" were engaged on board the vessel at South Shields on 26th March last. The deck portion of the crew consisted of three qualified A.B.'s, two sailors, and two apprentices of over two years, and 18 months' service respectively. The vessel accordingly carried the number of efficient deck hands required by the Instructions recently issued, and the deputy superintendent who witnessed the engagement of the crew had no reason to think that the vessel was not properly manned. Accordingly he did not communicate with the detaining officer, as he would have done under the Instructions if sufficient number of efficient deck hands had not been engaged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the number of deck hands who have engaged on British ships at the Port of London from 1st January, 1909, to 25th March, 1909; how many of the seamen were qualified able seamen, i.e., men who could produce certificates of discharge proving three years' sea service, as required by The Merchant Shipping Act, 1906; and the number who were signed on as deck hands or sailors, in consequence of not being able to prove the three years' service, as required by the Act?

The statistics asked for are not at present available, but they are being obtained from the superintendents of mercantile marine offices in the Port of London, and I will communicate them to my hon. Friend when received.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many applications for speed limits (under section 9 of the Motor Act, 1903) have been received during the years 1905, 1906, 1907, and 1908, and up to 31st March,. 1909; and how many have been granted?

The following table gives particulars as to the number of cases in which applications were made to the Local Government Board under section 9 of the Motor-Gar Act, 1903, and in which Orders were granted or promised in each of the years referred to:—

Year		Number received.	Number granted or promised
1905	…	5	—
1906	…	4	3
1907	…	25	5
1908	…	48	12
1909	…	13	19
Total	…	95	39

During this period five applications have been refused and 12 have been withdrawn or are in abeyance. There are 41 cases in which correspondence is still proceeding.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many children in England and Wales are boarded out outside their own union, and what is the number of the Local Government Board inspectors having supervision over them; how many children in England and Wales are boarded out within their own unions; whether these children are also subject to inspection by such inspectors; and, if not, whether the Government propose to take any steps for placing these children under similar regulations and conditions to those now applicable in the case of children boarded out outside their own unions?

According to the latest Returns, the number of children boarded out beyond the union is 1,941. There are three inspectors of children of this class. The number of children boarded out within the union is 6,664. The duties of the boarding-out inspectors do not extend to these children. The matter referred to in the last part of the question is under consideration, and I have not at present arrived at a decision with regard to it.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is proposed to carry out the recommendations contained in paragraph 553 of the Report of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants to the effect that postmasters at the larger offices should be granted increased powers of decision and widened scope of responsibility generally?

The recommendations contained in paragraph 553 of the Report of the Select Committee are being considered in detail by a Committee which I have appointed for the purpose.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he received a petition in May, 1908, from the Grimsby staff regarding the classification of that office; whether any answer has been given to that petition; and whether, at the present time, the units of work and the cost of living justify the promotion of the Grimsby office to a higher class?

A petition relating to the classification of Grimsby was received from the staff at that office in May last, and was answered by the general announcement on the subject of classification in the Post Office Circular of 8th July last. According to the latest available returns the promotion of Grimsby to a higher class than its present class is not warranted either by the volume of work or by the cost of living.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he will state the number of indictable offences known to the police in Scotland during the year 1907 and the number of such offences per 100,000 of the population, the number of persons convicted for such offences, with the number of convictions per cent, of the offences known to the police, and the number and percentage of such offences for which no persons were made amenable?

The law of Scotland does not enable me to distinguish indictable from non-indictable offences, but the number of persons tried on indictment in Scotland in 1907 was 2,235 (or 50 per 100,000 of the population), of whom 2,012 were convicted.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state in what parishes in the county of Inverness the 48,500 acres of land now in the hands of the Congested District Board are situated, the price paid for the land, the number of crofter holdings to be formed on this land, and the approximate cost to the Board of creating such holdings?

The lands "now in the hands of the Congested District Board" are in the parishes of Kilmuir, Snizort, and Barra, in Inverness-shire. The price paid for the Kilmuir estate in Snizort and Kilmuir was £80,000, and for Vatersay, Barra, £6,250, a total of £86,250. I cannot as yet give the particulars regarding the prospective formation of holdings desired by my hon. Friend.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the apparatus and materials used for science teaching are imported into Ireland from England; if so, will ho state approximately what sums of money are leaving Ireland annually from the various technical schools where science is taught under the supervision of the Department; and what steps, if any, will he take to give Irish firms a preference of these orders should science teaching continue in the future to the extent that it has been carried on during the last five years?

Much of the apparatus and materials used for science teaching in Ireland has been manufactured in Ireland. A large number of pieces of apparatus for the teaching of science cannot be obtained in Ireland, and are therefore necessarily imported. It is not possible to state, even approximately, what sums of money are leaving Ireland annually for the purchase of apparatus. The Technical Schools in Ireland are administered by committees of local authorities, and purchase for themselves what they require. The Department in their own practice obtain such equipment as is possible through Irish firms, and they believe that this is generally the practice with the committees of Irish technical schools.

asked what is the cost annually and what has been the total cost up to the present of the summer courses given for science teachers; how much longer is it contemplated to continue these courses; and whether the hon. Member has any official information showing that several teachers attend these courses year after year, and go through work with which they are already thoroughly familiar?

The average annual cost of summer courses for science teachers is £3,689 8s. 11d., and the total cost of such courses up to the present is £29,515 11s. 8d. It is not the intention of the Department to continue these courses any longer than is necessary, but in view of their absolute necessity and usefulness the Department cannot fix a limit to their continuance. It is not the fact that several teachers attend these courses year after year and go through work with which they are already thoroughly familiar.

asked whether the secretary and principal of the Waterford Technical Institute has been imported from England; what teaching experience he had previous to his appointment by the Waterford Borough Committee; what university qualifications he has, if any; what is his total salary and other emoluments annually whether the manual instructor, the assistant science master, the art master, the commercial instructor, the domestic economy instructress, and the millinery instructress attached to the institute are all non-Catholics; what total annual salary is each receiving; who is responsible for these appointments, and what share of responsibility does the Department bear; what are the conditions of each of these appointments, and by whom were they framed; and whether it is the local committee or the Department that has the right of dismissing any of these officials?

Mr. O'Shaughnessy, the principal and secretary of the Waterford Technical Institute, is an Irishman, and was employed in England prior to his appointment by the Waterford Technical Instruction Committee. He has no university qualifications, but is an Associate of the Royal College of Science, London, where he had teaching experience, is a trained chemist, and has had considerable experience as manager of a works chemical laboratory. His salary is £270 per annum. The Department have no information of the religious beliefs of the staff of the institute. The salaries of the staff are as follows: Manual instructor, £170; assistant science master, £120; art master, £120; commercial instructor, £150; domestic economy instructress, £100; millinery instructress, 5s. per lesson of two hours. The technical instruction committee of the county borough of Waterford are alone responsible for these appointments, which are in all cases subject to the approval of the Department. The appoint- ments are terminable by one calendar month's notice on either side. The conditions of appointment are framed by the local committees, who also have the right of determining the appointment of any of their officers in accordance with the conditions of appointment.

asked what are the conditions attached to the appointment of inspectors under the Department; how many inspectors are there; what are their names; what were their addresses when making application for the position; what salary is paid to each, and what is the amount of expenses paid individually; how many of these men have university degrees; how many are Irish-born and Roman Catholics; and whether the Irish and Catholic inspectors are receiving a lower salary than that paid to aliens?

Inspectors employed under the Department are required generally to possess scientific training and practical experience such as would fit them for the duties on which these officers are respectively employed. Their names urn given in Thorn's Directory, pages 870–1. The amounts provided for their salaries and expenses are shown in the Estimates. I decline to supply information on the other points mentioned in the question.

asked what amount of money has been spent by the Department during the 12 months ended 31st December last on the teaching of science in all institutions over which the Department exercises jurisdiction in respect of science teaching; and whether, after the educational experiments of recent years, the Department would consider the advisability of devoting a portion at least of the public money set aside for science to other educational purposes more in harmony with the requirements of the country, seeing that the results of such expenditure in the past have not justified the expenditure?

It is not possible to give the amount of the money spent by the Department in respect of the teaching of science for the twelve months ended 31st December last. The academic year does not end until 31st July, and the Department cannot furnish a statement of the expenditure until after (he completion of the year. The Department's expenditure of money in respect of the teaching of science in the past has been completely justified by the results.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will explain the delay in reinstating Denis Conway, an evicted tenant in the county of Waterford; whether a defect in the title of the new tenant who has agreed to accept compensation can effect the title to his former holding in which it is proposed to reinstate Mr. Conway; and, if not, whether he will be forthwith put into possession?

The matter is engaging the attention of the Estates Commissioners, who hope to be able to effect the reinstatement of the evicted tenant at an early date. I cannot discuss the question of law raised in the latter part of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether some owners or vendors of land who have been communicated with by the Estates Commissioners under the Land Act of 1903, with reference to land which was held by former tenants, as defined by the Act, allege that since the former tenants were evicted the land has become demesne or has acquired the character of a home farm; and, if so, whether the Estates Commissioners have allowed such a plea or have tested or are about to test its validity?

The Estates Commissioners have no power to purchase lands under the Irish Land Act, 1903, unless the owner offers them for sale. It is, therefore, assumed that the hon. Member refers to lands proposed to be acquired compulsorily under the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907. In any case where an owner of evicted lands proposed to be acquired compulsorily under the Evicted Tenants Act alleges that they have been incorporated with his demesne, or have acquired the character of a "home farm," and under section 7 of the Act cannot be acquired, the matter is inquired into and decided in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state on what grounds the Local Government Board have refused a pension to John Early, of Queen Street, Newry?

The pension officer appealed against the decision of the local committee to allow John Early a pension, on the ground that he was in receipt of relief. The Local Government Board upheld the pension officer's view, as they found that the claimant remained in the Workhouse Infirmary suffering from general debility, and had thus rendered himself disqualified.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state on what grounds the Local Government Board have taken away the old age pension awarded to Mrs. Alice Hollywood, of Corrinchago, Newry; and whether, in view of the fact that the claimant put in papers showing that she was 74 years of age, that her rental was £8 11s., and that the stock in her possession would not be sufficient to put her outside the statutory limit, he will take immediate steps to have this case fully inquired into?

It is not correct to say that the Local Government Board took away this woman's pension, as she never received one. The pension officer reported that claimant's means exceeded £31 10s., and the Local Government Board ascertained that she occupies a farm of 16 acres close to the town of Newry, and had four acres of oats, an acre of potatoes, and another of flax, besides other crops and live stock. They considered that the grounds upon which the pension officer decided that the claimant was not qualified for a pension were fully justified.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if it is intended that the compulsory powers conferred both on the Congested Districts Board and on the Estates Commissioners in the pending Bill dealing with Irish land should apply in the case of land bought out by the occupying owners under the Land Purchase Acts; and, if not so intended, why are not the same specifically excepted, as in section 1 of the Evicted Tenants (Ireland) Act, 1907?

It is not intended that the compulsory powers conferred by the Bill should extend to such cases. Those powers can only be exercised on the failure of negotiations to purchase under the Land Purchase Acts, and lands for the purchase of which advances have already been made cannot be the subject of such negotiations. An exception was necessary in section 1 of the Evicted Tenants Act, as that section applies to any land which it may be deemed expedient to acquire for the purposes of the Act.

asked on what grounds the Inspector-General ordered that the children of policemen who inhabit the married houses outside the depot should, if over 18 years of age, be compelled to find sleeping accommodation elsewhere; and whether these buildings are, for all practical purposes, private dwellings entirely separate and distinct from the depot main building?

The Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary informs me that the quarters provided for married members of the force stationed at the depot form part of the depot barracks. The regulations of the force empower the Inspector-General to allow children under 16 years of age to live in the barracks with their parents, and in exceptional cases this permission can be extended to children up to 18 years of age, provided the available accommodation is sufficient. This rule had not been enforced until January last, when the attention of the Inspector-General was called to the matter owing to some of the rooms in the married quarters having become overcrowded. He then directed that all children over 18 years of age should reside outside the barracks, as provided by the regulations.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that many months ago it was contemplated to supply six baths at the Royal Irish Constabulary depot for the use of the reserve and recruits, and that two only have since been supplied, which have been allocated to the offices' quarters; and what steps are being taken to supply the rank and file of this large establishment with washing accommodation?

There are four bathrooms fitted for hot and cold water for the men at the Royal Irish Constabulary Depot. It was not found possible to include provision for additional baths in the Estimates for the current year. The application, therefore, stands over for consideration in next year's Estimates. No additional baths have been provided in the officers' quarters, but one was provided last year in the cadets' quarters.

asked when the Congested Districts Board propose to distribute the O'Connor farm at Burris, Irishtown, county Mayo, which has been in the Board's possession for three years?

I understand that there are immediately adjacent to this farm some very small agricultural holdings on estates which the Congested Districts Board have hitherto failed to acquire. The Board are of opinion that these holdings should be enlarged, and they have therefore decided to retain this farm in their hands until they are in a position to acquire the adjoining estates.

asked as to the time when the Congested Districts Board will renew operations in the improvement of lands in the counties of Mayo, Galway, and Roscommon; and whether, considering that many thousands of labourers from these counties are about to migrate to England and Scotland, facilities will be given to the Board so as to have the work of improvement taken up immediately in the interests of economy and cheap labour obtainable on the spot, as well as for the purpose of accelerating the work in connection with the breaking up of grazing ranches now in the hands of the Board on which they intend to plant persons from other congested areas, who are kept in a state of poverty and uncertainty owing to the want of money to carry out the much needed improvements in the vast areas named?

The Congested Districts Board are able to provide a. sum of £40,000 for improvement works on the estates now in their hands during the six months ending 30th September next. This sum includes £25,000 balance of a special lean of £50,000 obtained from the Treasury. £18,000 can be provided for the following six months. Further funds cannot be obtained in the year 1909–10 unless they are provided by Parliament.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the pensions officer allowed 4s. per week to John Joyce, Drimeely, Cong; Darby Duffy, Drumshiel, Cong; and Mary Reilly, Knocknageeha, Kilmaine, all in the Cong sub- district, county Mayo; that, after due consideration, the pensions committee increased the allowance to 5s. per week in each case; that an appeal was lodged by the officer; and that the Local Government Board refused to grant any pension to either of the claimants, notwithstanding the fact that the pensions officer, after the necessary inquiry, satisfied himself that these persons were each entitled to 4s. a week; if so, will he state on what grounds the pension granted by the sub-committee on the report of the pensions officer has been disallowed; and whether he will give instructions to have the sum originally granted given to these poor people from 1st January last?

The facts are as stated is the question. The pension officer appears to have determined the incomes of these claimants on the basis of the rent payable by them. When the appeals were made, the Local Government Board, with a view to ascertaining the various sources from which the claimants derived income, caused inquiry to be made as to their stock and crops, and were satisfied, from the information received, that the statutory limit was exceeded in each case. Joyce, who occupies 12 Irish acres of land, appears to possess three head of cattle, 11 sheep, 3 pigs, and a considerable number of fowl; whilst he obtained crops of potatoes, oats, wheat, hay, mangolds, and turnips from his holding. The particulars regarding the means of the other two claimants were substantially the same. The Board's decision in each case is final, and cannot be reconsidered by them.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will ascertain from the Board of National Education what is the cause of the delay in paying fees for Irish and mathematics in certain instances to teachers who taught these as extra subjects during the year ended 30th June, 1908; and when the payments still outstanding will be paid?

As I have already informed the hon. Member in reply to a question asked by him on 18th March last, the only cases in which such fees are unpaid are those in which the rules governing payment were not fully complied with. One of those rules required that the subjects should be taught throughout the school year. The Commissioners of Na- tional Education have now received Treasury authority for allowing either full or pro rata payment of fees for the past school year for Irish and mathematics in all cases where not less than 40 hours' in situation was commenced not later than 1st January, 1908, and where all other essential conditions were fulfilled. The payment of fees in the cases covered by this sanction will be effected with the least possible delay.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the damage to the local fishing interests and to the trans-Atlantic cables off Ballinskellig's Bay, county Kerry, caused by steam trawlers, he will introduce a bye-law preventing fishing by steam trawlers from the outermost point of the Great Blasket to the outermost point of the Great Skellig, and thence on to the Bull and Calf Rocks; and whether he can arrange to have this portion of the coast patrolled by two steamers during the months of April, May, June, and July, whilst the mackerel boats are fishing?

There is no power to made a fishery bye-law with the object of protecting telegraph cables. A bye-law made in the interests of the fisheries and prohibiting steam trawling during the months of April, May, and June is in force in the area referred to. The cruiser belonging to the Department of Agriculture will, patrol the prohibited area as frequently as possible during the months mentioned.

asked the number of acres of untenanted land the Estates Commissioners have distributed, the number of acres they have purchased but not yet distributed, and the number of acres they have proposed to purchase but not yet succeeded in purchasing, in each of the counties of Galway, Kerry, King's County Meath, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Westmeath, and Wicklow, to 31st March, 1909?

The area of untenanted land situate in the counties referred to which had been distributed, which had been purchased but not distributed, and for which offers had been made but which had not been acquired by the Estates Com- missioners on the 31st ultimo is as follows:—

County.	Area purchased, and distributed.			Area purchased but not yet distributed			Area for which offers had be made but which had not been acquired
	a.	r.	p	a.	r.	p	a.	r.	p
King's	2,959	0	24	Nil			2,352	0	2
Meath	4,305	1	15	Nil			3,703	1	14
Westmeath	4,651	0	6	Nil			630	0	3
Wicklow	1,020	3	30	Nil			205	0	10
Galway	53,332	1	24	31	3	30	22,069	2	18
Roscommon	6,847	1	38	174	1	0	3,985	2	18
Sligo	6,847	2	17	Nil			1,171	1	9
Kerry	3,646	3	21	Nil			1,732	2	19
Tipperary	7,109	2	20	Nil			3,450	2	12

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can say when the agreements for purchase on the Cromore estate, Portstewart, county Antrim, were signed; whether any progress has since been made towards completion; and, if not, what is the cause of the delay?

The Estates Commissioners assume that the question refers to the estate of Robert A. C. Montague, Portstewart, county Londonderry. The purchase agreements in that case were lodged in February, 1906. The estate has not yet been dealt with as it has not been reached in its order of priority.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the children in the parish of Cold Norton, Essex, are still obliged to walk considerable distances to schools in other parishes than their own; whether he is aware that this has inflicted hardship on the smaller children especially during bad and wintry weather; what steps he has taken to secure redress of this grievance; and whether there is any prospect of a suitable school being provided in the parish without any further delay?

I am informed that the distances between neighbouring schools are not greater than those which the children have to walk in many rural parishes. It appears, however, doubtful whether the accommodation provided at one of the neighbouring schools is sufficient and suitable, and the Board are in communication with the local authority as to this and other points affecting the school accommodation of the district.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can say to what category of voluntary schools those mentioned on pages 22 and 23 of the Report of the Board, lately issued, belonged, whether as regards new schools opened or existing schools closed or transferred?

replied with the following statement:—

	England	Wales	England and Wales
Year ending 31st July, 1907.
99 Voluntary Schools transferred:—
Church of England	22	12	34
Wesleyan	19	—	19
Undenominational and others	34	12	46
	75	24	99
Part of 1 Church of England (England).
9 Voluntary Schools opened:—
Church of England	4	—	4
Roman Catholic	3	—	3
Undenominational and others	—	2	2
89 Voluntary Schools closed:—
Church of England	72	3	75
Roman Catholic	5	1	6
Wesleyan	7	—	7
Undenominational	1	—	1
	85	4	89
Year ending 31st July, 1908.
77 Voluntary Schools transferred:—
Church of England	25	3	28
Wesleyan	16	—	16
Undenominational and others	29	4	33
	70	7	77
Parts of 2 voluntary schools (1 Church of England, 1 Undenominational) (England).
20 voluntary schools opened:—
Church of England	9	1	10
Roman Catholic	5	—	5
Undenominational and others 5	—	—	5.
	19	1	20
101 voluntary schools closed:—
Church of England	68	8	76
Roman Catholic	1	1	2
Wesleyan	9	—	9
Undenominational and others	13	1	14
	91	10	101

asked the President of the Board of Education what was the percentage of income, under each of the following heads, during the year ending 31st July, 1908, or the nearest date thereto, of teachers' training colleges not maintained by local education authorities: endowments, voluntary subscriptions, students' fees and sale of books, Government grants, and other sources, if any, stating what the same are?

submitted in reply the following statement:—Income of training colleges for elementary teachers In England and Wales not maintained by local education authorities during the year ending 31st July, 1908:—

Source of Income.	Amount.			Percentage
	£	s.	d.
Endowment	1,003	16	8	·23
Voluntary Subscriptions	26,422	10	2	6·13
Students' Fees and Sale of Books	100,890	10	0	23·41
Government Grant	301,287	18	10	69·91
Other Sources	1,387	0	9	·32
Total	430,991	16	5	100

In addition to the Government grant included above a sum amounting to £53,189 13s. 4d. was raid by the Board to various colleges during the year in respect of personal grant to day students not resident in hostels. "Other sources" of income include £453 4s. 7d. "Proceeds of Sale of Land"; the remainder consists mainly of bank interest, together with some small miscellaneous receipts. In the case of three colleges the figures for 1907–8 are not available, and particulars for 1906–7 have therefore been substituted. The Upper Norwood (Blind) Training College has been excluded from the Return. Bangor Normal Training College has also been omitted, as this college was transferred to a joint committee of the Carnarvonshire and Anglesey local education authorities in April, 1908.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the number of convictions per hundred indictable offences known to the police in England and Wales in 1907, and the rate per cent, of such offences for which no persons were made amenable?

:

The total number of indictable offences known to the police in 1907 was	98,822
The number of persons convicted summarily of indictable offences was	39,893
The number of persons convicted on indictment was	10,379
The number of persons found guilty, but insane, was	33
Total	50,305

The percentage of convictions to indictable offences known to the police in the year 1907 was, therefore, 51. Such a percentage cannot, of course, be exactly accurate, as a considerable proportion of the convictions in any year relate to offences committed in the previous year. It is impossible to give the proportion of offences for which no persons were made amenable, as one conviction often covers a large number of offences.

asked the Home Secretary if he will lay upon the table a copy of the rules about to be made by him under section 109 (3) of the Children Act?

I hope that these rules will be made and published at an early date, and I shall then be glad to lay a copy upon the Table