asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can now say whether a conference dealing with affairs in South-Eastern Europe is likely to be held; and whether he can make any statement on the present situation?

asked the Secretary of State whether he is now in a position to communicate to the House the result of the negotiations in which His Majesty's Government have taken part in connection with the recent infractions of the Berlin Treaty; can he state whether the settlements arrived at piecemeal between the States immediately affected by these infractions are conditional upon their adoption by the signatory Powers in conference assembled, or have they already been adopted by the Powers; and is it proposed that a conference shall take place; and, if so, what will be its scope and functions?

In reply to this question and that of the hon. Member for Ripon, I cannot yet say whether a conference will take place or not. The alterations of the Treaty of Berlin referred to have in the first place formed the subject of negotiations between the Powers whose legal rights were directly affected. The settlements arrived at, in so far as they involve alterations of the Treaty of Berlin, will require to receive the assent of the signatory Powers, and, owing to the various agreements which have been made, will, I trust, soon do so.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether there is any peculiar interest attaching to Great Britain in this respect, such as is not possessed by any other signatory Power?

We have been acting as one of the signatory Powers to the Treaty of Berlin.

asked the Secretary of State whether any danger to the European residents in Tabriz is anticipated; and, if so, what steps is he taking to protect them?

The Europeans at Tabriz are subject, of course, to the risks incidental to residence in a town which is under siege. The Persian Government have been warned that if any harm happens to His Majesty's Consulate-General or to British subjects or property, they will be held responsible to His Majesty's Government. His Majesty's Minister at Teheran has quite recently been requested to repeat this warning to the Shah, and the Russian Government are being asked to send similar instructions to their representatives.

May I ask the right hon. Baronet whether, in view of the proximity to Tabriz of the Russian and Turkish frontiers, arrangements can be made for the entrance into that city of strong consular guards for Eussia and for Turkey to act as a check in case of an attempt being made to massacre the inhabitants?

That concerns the Bussian and Turkish Governments. There has been a general understanding if any reinforcement of the consular guards takes place protection will be given to the residents not only of the nationality of the countries sending the reinforcements, but to all foreign residents in the place.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is yet in a position to make any statement as to the length of time during which it is intended by the Government of India to keep in prison the nine British subjects who were deported from their homes without charge or trial in December last?

(Mr. Buchanan): I am unable to add anything to the answer I gave to the hon. Member's question on the same subject last Tuesday.

Is the Secretary of State aware that neither at the time of their arrest, nor at any time since, have any of these prisoners been informed of what offence they were charged by the Government of India, and that their continued imprisonment is regarded by Liberals in this country as contrary to natural justice?

That is a question put to me on several occasions, to which I have often given the same answer.

Is the Secretary of State aware of these facts?

Certainly he is aware of them.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether it is proposed, by regulation or otherwise, under the Indian Councils Bill to impose any electoral or political disqualification upon British subjects who have been deported from their homes without being convicted of any criminal offence?

The Secretary of State is not yet in a position to give a full answer to this question; but the fact of a candidate having been arrested under Regulation III. of 1818 will not be prescribed as a definite and permanent disqualification for a seat on a Legislative Council.

May I ask whether it is desirable that the Government of India should make its antagonists its advisers?

That is a question of opinion, I think.

May I ask whether before any disqualification, permanent or otherwise, is imposed upon anyone deported he will be informed of the offence for which he was deported?

That is an ingenious attempt of my hon. Friend to get in for the second time the question put to me a moment ago.

With great respect—

Order, order. The hon. Member will put any further questions down.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in possession of the full text of the judgment of the special court in Natal which tried Dinizulu; if so, will he say whether the court acquitted Dinizulu on no less than 20 counts, and those the most serious ones of the indictment, including even the charge of inciting to rebellion; and whether he can state what action the Secretary of State proposes to take in regard to the future of Dinizulu?

Yes, Sir, the text has been received and will shortly be laid before Parliament. The indictment contained 23 counts, and the prisoner was convicted on counts 7, 16, and 5. I do not think that I can usefully make any statement at the present moment.

Is it a fact that he has been acquitted of all the serious charges in the indictment?

He has been acquitted of the more serious charges.

Does it not impair the dignity and authority of a self-governing Colony to be given such assistance in governing one particular subject?

I think it is very proper that this House should be informed in these matters.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it has come to his knowledge that some 150 British-Indian merchants and others, domiciled in the Transvaal from before the late war, are at present undergoing hard-labour sentences in the gaols of that Colony for refusal to re-register in the terms of the Registration Law; whether they have established their identity and titles to domicile after investigation by the Transvaal authorities; whether they are now being deported from South Africa to India in spite of their protests; and whether His Majesty's Government proposes to take any action?

I fear that I am not able to add anything to the replies which I gave to an oral question addressed to me on the 1st and to a written question on 2nd April regarding the treatment of Indians.

Does the hon. Gentleman mean all these questions have been answered.

I looked through the question carefully, and also the question to which I referred, and I think so; if there is any not covered, if the hon. Member will put down a question to-morrow, I will answer it.

Has the hon. Member explained to the Hindu subjects the special advantage of being subjects of the Empire?

I have already explained the advantage to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Thomas Bickley and William Parks, who were convicted of night poaching and in being in possession of 12 rabbits, at the Bingham Petty Sessions, on the 25th inst.; that the sentence passed on them was six months' hard labour, at the expiration of which they were bound over in £20 self and a surety of £20 for two years; that if they cannot secure a bondsman for £20 for their good behaviour for two years they will have to serve a further term of 12 months, making, in all, 18 months; and whether he can see his way clear to reduce the sentence?

I have made inquiry into this case, but I regret that, in view of the characters and antecedents of the prisoners, I feel precluded from recommending any reduction of the sentence.

Am I to understand that these two prisoners received these sentences for the crime they committed, and with which they were charged, or for previous crimes?

I cannot speak of the reasons which influenced the court which gave the sentences, but I may mention that 32 previous convictions, extending over 30 years, for stealing, shop breaking, causing wilful damage, trespassing in pursuit of game, night poaching, and other offences, were proved against one man, and against the other man, Bickley, 26 convictions, extending over 44 years, were proved, including four terms of penal servitude for grave crimes.

I would ask whether in view of the fact that these two men will be imprisoned for eighteen months, presuming that they cannot get anyone to go bail, the right hon. Gentleman will see his way to allow them out on their own recognisances?

No; I see no reason at all to interfere in this matter.

May we take it for granted that most of these convictions are for similar offences as that of the crime of poaching, which in the eyes of good sportsmen is no crime at all?

No; the poaching was only a variation of crime.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman who the rabbits belonged to?

They certainly did not belong to the men who took them.

I am not quite sure about that.

May I ask whether it would not be advantageous to have a clear distinction between sentences for the lighter offences and the heavier offencs?

That is a matter of argument.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the speed at which taxi-cabs habitually travel in the streets of London, and the number of accidents daily occurring; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Yes, Sir; these matters are engaging my attention and that of the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner has under consideration the question of providing additional safeguards for the public, and hopes to be able to check the excessive speed of public motor vehicles by requiring the use of an apparatus which will give audible warning when the speed limit of the vehicle is exceeded.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been called to the speed at which motors travel during foggy weather—during the recent foggy weather, for instance.

Oh, yes; the speed is excessive very often in clear as well as in foggy weather.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the escape of a nun from St. Mary's Roman Catholic Convent, East Bergholt, Suffolk, on 15th February last, and to the fact that force was used to compel her to return to the convent; whether he will consider the advisability of granting the prayer of the memorial recently presented to the House, signed by 750,000 inhabitants of the United Kingdom, asking for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the necessity, if any, for Government inspection into all such institutions; and, if not, what other steps he proposes to take in the matter to secure the liberty of such inmates who desire their freedom?

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask whether he has made any inquiry as to the remarkable circumstances attending this case?

I have made inquiry, and have received a full report from the Chief Constable of East Suffolk, from which it appears that no attempt was made to use force to bring the lady back to the convent, and that she did not, in fact, return. Two sisters overtook her when on the way to the railway station, and tried to induce her to go back with them, but she refused to do so. The Chief Constable tells me that the reports of this case published in the Press were of a garbled and sensational nature. There is no ground for any further action on my part.

The right hon. Gentleman replied upon information received from the Chief Constable; is he prepared to accept documentary evidence given at an interview with the young lady herself in regard to the circumstances as stated in the question, and may I ask whether, in view of this private interview, he will make further inquiries into the matter and not take the report he has received?

Certainly I shall be prepared to consider any information, written or otherwise, which the hon. Member may have, but I think that the report of the Chief Constable has been founded on information from the lady herself?

The statement of the Chief Constable is altogether different from the information which the lady has given herself.

I only stated that such was my impression.

Will you accept it from me?

Has it come to the right hon. Gentleman's knowledge, and is it a fact that the two ladies who followed this lady, who escaped at night, only asked her to go back in order that they might provide her with proper clothing and money to go to her home in London, and whether it is not a fact that neither the two ladies nor the lady who was running away had any money to pay for her fare to London, and it was only owing to the kindness of the station-master that she was able to travel to London with a ticket he gave her.

I really cannot say what the two ladies concerned said to the third lady, but I know that the lady who left the convent had no money, and that money was found by the stationmaster.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to receive documentary evidence in this matter from the Orange Lodges of Belfast?

Will he make further inquiries as to the facts of this particular case?

I am quite satisfied with the information I have at present, but if the hon. Member gives me any information which casts doubt upon that, or will throw fresh light upon the matter, I shall be glad to give it the attention it deserves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that there is a rule in prisons, made during January of this year, that the directors have power to dismiss any prison officer who procures, or attempts to procure, the intervention of a Member of Parliament in respect to a grievance or any other matter; whether the rule was made with his knowledge and consent; and whether he will lay a copy of the rule upon the Table of this House?

No new rule has been made, but in January last the Standing Orders for Prisons were amended for the purpose of bringing clearly to the notice of prison officers an essential and well-established rule of the service: That it is a serious offence for a prison officer, as well as for any other officer connected with the Department, to attempt to obtain the intervention of persons of influence, including Members of Parliament, for the purpose of favouring his personal advancement, or for the purpose of making charges against his fellow officers.

Is there any particular reason why Members of Parliament should be deprived of this valuable and useful information?

What information?

As I understand, a prison official is not to give a Member of Parliament information.

He is not to give information to a Member of Parliament for the purpose of procuring his personal advancement, or for the purpose of making charges against his fellow officers. If he were allowed to do that it would be impossible to maintain discipline.

Is that rule a regular one throughout the services, including the Army and Navy. If so, can the right hon. Gentleman account for some of the questions that are put here?

I cannot answer for the Army and Navy, which are naturally under different regulations, but practically the rule that I have quoted also applies to the Post Office. I will refer my hon. Friend to an answer which I gave in the House on 5th of April, 1906, which showed that I have altered other arrangements and given prison officials free right of meeting to discuss their grievances, and for the purpose of appealing to the Secretary of State.

Does that apply to the Government prisons as well?

Oh, certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that in the city of Liverpool there are arrears of from £5 to £50 for ordinary industrial and reformatory school fees outstanding against casual labourers, whose incomes in some cases are as low as 15s. per week; and whether he will consider the advisability of such arrears being revised with the object of relieving these men of the penalty of being sent to gaol periodically on warrants issued by the police for such arrears?

It is the practice of the Reformatory and Industrial Schools Department, in dealing with parental contributions, not to take proceedings against parents except where the failure to pay is due to wilful neglect. Arrears, therefore, sometimes accumulate, but never to such an amount as £50. The lists of parents in arrear are examined quarterly, and all proper cases submitted to me for remission; and at the end of last year I remitted the arrears in no less than 300 Liverpool cases. The hon. Member may rest assured that the enforcement of parental responsibility, which is under the control of the Chief Inspector of Reformatory and Industrial Schools, is conducted with fairness and discrimination, and that any case of apparent harshness brought to his notice is most carefully considered.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at this moment there is a man in prison for not paying 1s. a week, who was out of employment when the man was committed.

That may be so, I agree, but that it not necessarily included in the question. If my hon. Friend wishes to draw attention to the case I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in the Post Office Circular of 23rd March there appeared an advertisement for a full-time male assistant for Erith sorting office, competent to perform full postal, counter, and telegraph duties, at a scale of pay ranging from 3d. to 6d. an hour and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of recommending a more adequate remuneration for such responsible positions.

The rates of pay offered in the advertisement in question for officers over 19 years of age are those recommended by the Parliamentary Committee. The rates under 19 years of age are granted according to age and qualification, as is usual in such cases.

asked whether, in view of the fact that the Post Office authorities are reducing head offices to the rank of sub-offices, instructions exist forbidding the allocation of established indoor staff to sub-offices; and whether in future surveyors shall be instructed that at Crown offices, under the direction of sub-postmasters, any duty among the indoor staff needing the services of an assistant for eight hours per day should be performed by an established sorting clerk and telegraphist?

As I stated in reply to a question asked in this House on 26th February, there is no intention of reducing more than a very limited number of head offices to sub-offices, and that for purely administrative reasons. No instructions exist forbidding the allocation of established indoor staff to sub-offices. Each case is decided on its merits.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the subsidy paid during the financial year 1908-9 to the Caledonian and Glasgow and South-Western Railway Companies respectively for the Ardrossan and Arran mail service; what were the summer and winter services to be provided by the companies in the same year; and whether he has made any alteration either in the amount of the subsidy or the mail service to be performed during the current financial year?

A payment of £500 a year has since July, 1907, been made to the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company in respect of the Ardrossan and Arran Mail Service and a service between Greenock and Rothesay. The arrangement with the company provides for two trips a day on the Arran service during the period from 1st June to 30th September, and one trip a day during the remainder of the year. A payment of £25 a year has, since January, 1908, been made to the Caledonian Steam Packet Company for the conveyance of mails by any steamers the company run between Ardrossan and Arran, but the Post Office has no control over the running of these steamers. No alteration has been made in the amount of the payment to either company in regard to the current financial year, and I am not aware that any alteration in the frequency of the steamer services is contemplated. I will, however, make inquiry on this point.

Was the contract by the Glasgow and South-Western Railway for the winter months fulfilled satisfactorily?

I have received no complaints. If the hon. Member has any complaint to send me I will make inquiry into the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that the London and North-Western Railway Company have discontinued running a separate first-class dining care on the down day mail train from Holyhead; and, in view of the fact that this is a violation of the undertaking given by this railway company that there would be no reduction of the facilities heretofore obtainable on this train, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I will make inquiries in the matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, as only Welsh steam coal is used in the ships of His Majesty's Navy, he will state what arrangements have been made to keep in store on the North-East Coast an ample supply of such coal to be available in case of a stoppage in the Welsh coalfield by strikes, lock-outs, or other causes; and, in case no such arrangements have yet been made, will he consider the claims of the Tyne as a suitable place for such storage?

If any necessity for coal storage should arise, the Tyne would be given full consideration with other ports on the East Coast.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the statement in the Press to-day that a near foreign Power is storing large quantities of coal?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death from beri-beri of an Asiatic fireman named Noshee Balla, one of the crew of the ss. "Karonga," of North Shields, on 2nd November, 1908; whether he is aware that this disease is attributed to insufficient and improper food; whether any inquiry was held; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining the ship; whether he had any previous sea service; and whether any previous cases of beri-beri have occurred on this ship?

Yes, Sir. The, man referred to by my hon. Friend died in hospital of beri-beri after harving received medical attention at Philadelphia and New York. The cause of beri-beri has not yet been definitely ascertained, but it is probable that bad and insufficient food may predispose to the disease. Inquiry was held by the Vice-Consul at New York, and further inquiry will be made, if possible, on the return of the vessel to this country. I am informed that it is the practice for the crews of all vessels belonging to the owners of the "Karonga" to be medically examined when engaged at Calcutta, but I am not aware whether this particular man had been so examined. As he was first tindal he doubtless had had previous sea service. No previous death from beri-beri occurred on board this vessel since July, 1905.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the supposed suicide at sea of an Asiatic fireman named Cheong Chung on the ss. "Moyune," of Liverpool, on 12th November, 1908; whether any inquiry was held; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining the ship; whether he had any previous sea service; whether the Board of Trade surveyors have satisfactorily reported upon the ventilation of the stokehold; if he can state the amount of coal the firemen and trimmers were required to work in each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this ship?

Yes, Sir. Inquiry was held in the case referred to by my hon. Friend by the pro-Consul at Shanghai, the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Victoria Docks and the principal Board of Trade officer for London. The man had been medically examined and had had previous sea service. The surveyors report that the ventilation was satisfactory, and the work at the time of the man's disappearance is stated to have been light. The man disappeared on the day of leaving Labuan after coaling. The coal consumption was 43 tons per day, and the number of firemen and trimmers was 16, including a spare man. No other case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance in this vessel has been reported in the last three years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the suicide at sea on,14th November, 1908, of an Asiatic fireman named Sin Cheong, on the ss. "Kennebec," of London; whether any inquiry has been held; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining the ship; whether he had any previous sea service; whether the Board of Trade surveyors have satisfactorily reported upon the ventilation in the stokehold; if he can state the amount of coal the firemen and trimmers were called upon to work each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide or disappearance have occurred on this ship?

Yes, Sir. Inquiry has been held in the case referred to by my hon. Friend, by the Vice-Consul at Port Said, and further inquiry will, if possible, be held on the return of the vessel to this country. I am not aware whether the man had been medically examined or had had previous sea service. As the vessel is trading between New York and the East, the Board's surveyors have not yet had an opportunity of reporting on the ventilation of the stokehold. The owners state that the consumption of coal was 32 tons per day, and the number of firemen and trimmers was 16. One previous case of suicide from this vessel has been reported in the last three years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the disappearance at sea on 25th November, 1908, of an Asiatic trimmer named Vong Kay on the ss. "Trocas," of London; whether any inquiry has been held; whether the seaman was medically examined prior to joining the ship; whether he had any previous sea service; if he can state the amount of coal the firemen and trimmers were required to work each 24 hours; whether the Board of Trade surveyors have satisfactorily reported on the ventilation of the stokehold; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this ship?

Yes, Sir. Inquiry was held in the case referred to by my hon. Friend by the Vice-Consul at Shanghai, and further inquiry will, if possible, be held on the return of the vessel to this country; I am not aware whether the man had been medically examined or had had previous sea service. The coal consumption was 30 tons per day, and the number of firemen and trimmers was 13. As the vessel is trading in the East, the Board of Trade Surveyors have not yet had an opportunity of reporting on the ventilation of the stokehold. No previous case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance in this vessel has been reported during the last three years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the disappearance at sea on 11th December, 1908, of an Asiatic fireman named Sheik Emam Lull Choy on the ss. "China," of Belfast; whether any inquiry has been held; whether the seaman was medically examined prior to joining the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; whether the Board of Trade surveyors have satisfactorily reported upon the ventilation of the stokehold; if he can state the amount of coal the fireman and trimmers were required to work in each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, missing, or disappearance have occurred on this ship?

Yes, Sir, inquiry was held in the case referred to by my hon. Friend by the Vice-Consul at Marseilles and the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Tilbury. I am not aware whether the man had been medically examined or had had previous sea service. He was acting as servant to the chief engineer, and had never been employed in the stokehold. The vessel is now abroad, and the Board of Trade surveyors have not had an opportunity of reporting on the ventilation of the stokehold since the man's disappearance. The coal consumption was 90 tons per day, and the number of firemen and trimmers was 67. One previous case of suicide in this vessel has been reported during the last three years.

May I ask whether the solicitude for the welfare of Asiatic seamen evidenced by this question is calculated to promote or to restrict their employment in British ships?

That is a matter of opinion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the suicide at sea, on 6th December, 1908, of an Asiatic fireman named Chong Yung, on ss. "Bendoran," of Leith; whether any inquiry has been held; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining the ship; whether he had any previous sea service; whether the Board of Trade surveyors have satisfactorily reported upon the ventilation of the stokehold; if he can state the amount of coal the firemen and trimmers were required to work in each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this ship?

Yes, Sir, inquiry has been held in the case referred to by my hon. Friend by the Vice-Consul at Marseilles, the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Poplar, and the Principal Board of Trade Officer for London. I am not aware whether the man had been medically examined, but he had had previous sea service. He had been off duty over a fortnight before his death, and had been seen by a doctor. The Board of Trade Surveyors reported satisfactorily on the ventilation of the stokehold, and were of opinion that the men were not specially hard worked. The consumption of coal was 25 tons of Welsh or 26 tons of Japanese coal, and the number of firemen and trimmers was nine, but there were three greasers and two spare firemen employed in the engine-room. No previous case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance in this vessel has been reported during the last three years.

Does the Board of Trade receive at first hand, or from any recognised association representing Asiatic seamen, complaints of this character?

No. We receive no complaints, but when we have questions in the House we make inquiries of the owners of the vessels and get the information from them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death at sea, on 8th December, 1908, from beri- beri, of an Asiatic seaman named Goofoy on the ss. "Karonga," of North Shields; whether he is aware that this disease is attributed to insufficient and improper food; whether any inquiry was held; whether the seaman had any previous sea service; and whether any previous cases of deaths from beri-beri have occurred on this vessel?

Yes, Sir. The man referred to by my hon. Friend died at sea of beri-beri on a voyage from New York to the East, via Malta. The cause of beriberi has not yet been definitely ascertained, but it is probable that bad and insufficient food predisposes to the disease. Inquiry was held by the Acting-Collector of Customs at Malta, and further inquiry will, if possible, be made on the return of the vessel to this country. I am not aware whether Goofoy had had previous sea service. One previous death from beri-beri occurred on board this vessel.

asked what was the value of wood pulp and timber of all descriptions imported into this country in each of the years 1907 and 1908?

The declared value of the imports of wood pulp in 1908 was £3,625,808 and the declared value of the imports of wood and timber £24,306,169, or, excluding furniture woods and staves, £21,399,622. The corresponding figures in 1907 were wood pulp £3,312,347, and wood and timber of all kinds £27,093,054, or, excluding furniture woods and staves, £24,131,243. These figures are all published in the monthly trade accounts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death by accident of Frederick Styles, a brakesman, formerly in the employ of the Rhymney Railway Company; whether he is aware that the evidence at the inquest elicited the fact that the deceased rode on the buffers, and that this was a common practice; whether he is aware that it was also stated that if there had been a brake van the man would probably have remained in it until the engine, which is supposed to have knocked him down, had passed; that it was stated that the deceased and his light could not be seen, but that if there had been a brake van a light could have been seen; and whether, in view of the danger resulting to railway men through the absence of brake vans on this line he will state what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

My attention has been called to the accident, and an inquiry has been ordered into its causes.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the reason why Northumberland best steam coal is considered unsuitable for use in British warships; and will he consider the desirability of a fair proportion of such coal being used in future, so as to accustom the stokers to the use of the same, in case Welsh coal is not procurable owing to stoppages in the Welsh coal field or from other causes?

Northumberland best steam coal is less suitable for general use in His Majesty's ships because of its lower calorific value, lower specific gravity, and its higher smoke-producing properties.

Would the right hon. Gentleman kindly answer the second portion of my question with regard to the use of the coal by the stokers?

I regret I did not give a reply in the first instance. A certain amount of North Country coal is now wharfed, and the stokers are practised in using this. It is not proposed to extend it for general use.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what is the number of county councils to whom compulsory powers to acquire land under the Small Holdings Act, 1907, have been granted; can he give a list of such councils; and which of them have exercised the powers?

The following county councils have either made Compulsory Orders or given notice of their intention to do so, namely:—Cambridge, Devon, Gloucester, Huntingdon, Salop, Soke of Peterborough, Warwick, Carmarthen, Cornwall, Dorset, Leicester, Lincoln (Kesteven), Monmouth, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland, York (East Riding). Orders have been confirmed by the Board in the case of the eight counties first named. We have no reason to believe that the councils either have not or will not put the Orders in force at the earliest possible moment.

asked how many old age pensions granted to applicants in Ireland have been withdrawn consequent upon the recent inquiries of the Treasury?

I have no means of: giving this information at present.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the sum paid to counsel in the Treasury prosecutions in London during 1907 and 1908, and in the three months of 1909, as compared with the same three months of 1907; and can he account for the increase?

In reply to the hon. Member it may be well to remind him that since 1879 (when the Act creating the office of Director of Public Prosecutions was passed) the description "Treasury prosecution" has been both inaccurate and misleading. For practically 30 years all criminal cases, formerly conducted by the Treasury Solicitor, have been con-ducted under the Prosecution of Offences Acts by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and in such cases in 1907 the fees paid to counsel in London were £7,312 11s. 6d.; in 1908, £11,127 7s. 7d. The increased figure in this year was largely due to the trial of the Mile End guardians and the managers of the Poplar Sick Asylum. For the first three months of 1907 the amount paid to counsel in London was £2,277 1s. 10d., and for the corresponding period in 1909 the amount incurred was £3,945 12s. 6d., the increase in 1909 over the corresponding period of 1907 having been occasioned by the proceedings in Rex v. Bottomley and others.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is now aware of the fact that, under the contract between the Postmaster-General and the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, a sum amounting roughly to £2,000 per annum is retained by the Postmaster-General on account of the use by the company of the Carlisle Prer, Kingstown; whether the Treasury have given facilities to the London and North-Western Eailway Company to bring their steamers to this pier without any payment other than the 5s. per trip charged by the Board of Works; whether the railway company have so used this pier for a period of one year; and can he state how long the Treasury propose to discriminate in favour of an English company, and against an Irish company, in the use of a public harbour maintained by moneys voted by this House?

The answer to the first part of the question is that no money is retained by the Postmaster-General for the use of the Carlisle Pier, Kingstown, under the contract between him and the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company. A deduction of £2,000 is made from the subsidy payable to the company for the carriage of mails, in lieu of the share which the Postmaster-General enjoyed under former contracts of the gross receipts of the company in excess of £35,000 a year arising from and incidental to the passenger traffic between England and Ireland. The answer to the second and third parts of the question is in the affirmative, subject to the proviso that the existing arrangements with the London and Northwestern Railway Company are provisional only, pending the settlement of legal proceedings now in progress, and that the question of their user of the Carlisle Pier cannot be finally determined till those proceedings are settled. In answer to the fourth part of the question, there is no discrimination whatever between English and Irish companies, as each of the mail companies concerned, one English and one Irish, pays 5s. a trip for the use, not of the harbour, but of the pier.

May I ask is it not the fact that in the contract between the City of Dublin Company and the Postmaster-General a percentage of the passenger receipts is deducted from the Irish company which amounts to £2,000, and that no such payment' is made from the English company; that the English company has the same facilities for using this Royal harbour except that this Irish company has to pay £2,000; and is it not a fact that only last month the scale of payment was issued for the present year, which will preclude the Treasury from making any further arrangement?

The hon. Gentleman has repeated every question he put on the Paper, and which I have endeavoured to answer. With regard to the scale of dues, that has nothing whatever to do with the payment made for the use of the pier. The dues affect the use of the harbour, and five shillings per trip is paid for the use of the pier.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, in view of the difficulty of proving age for the purposes of old age pensions, if he will say in what way the census papers can be made available; to whom application should be made for their production; And the terms upon which such production can be obtained; and if he will issue rules upon the matter for the guidance of applicants?

Prior to the issue of the regulations under the Old Age Pensions Act the question was considered whether the census returns could be made available as evidence of age. The Registrar-General was consulted on the subject, and he expressed the opinion that reference to the records of the censuses of England and Wales would hardly be practicable, and would, moreover, be open to serious objections. I find from him that since then he has, at the request of the Inland Revenue authorities, caused a few searches to be made in the returns for evidence of age, but that the experiments have tended to confirm his previous opinion. In the circumstances I do not think I can take steps with a view of meeting the suggestion of the hon. Member.

asked Mr. Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the remarks made by the Recorder of London in summing up to the jury the recent case of Rex v. Stoddart and another; whether he is aware that this case occupied the attention of the Central Criminal Court for 23 days; and whether, having regard to these circumstances, he will consider whether any steps can be taken to somewhat curtail the extreme length of certain Treasury prosecutions?

It was not a Treasury prosecution in the wide sense in which that term is sometimes used. It was conducted by the City Solicitor. As Attorney-General I have no direct knowledge, but on inquiry I find that of the 23 days which the question states the case occupied only eight days were devoted to the case for the prosecution, so that one-third of the whole time, including the time given to cross-examination, was occupied by the prosecution. I may say the length of time occupied sometimes by prosecutions is owing to the extreme particularity re- quired by our law in such cases. I am not disposed to shorten the proceedings by-relaxing or diminishing that severity of proof in cases in which liberty and character are at stake.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. A. Duckett, 13, Kimboulton-avenue, Nottingham who, in filling up his return for the income-tax authorities, specifically stated that his income was £180 a year as salary from I. and R. Morley's; that, in the face of this statement, on a mere technical point, they insist on him paying one shilling in the pound; and whether his declaration in this simple case is not sufficient?

Section 19 (4) of the Finance Act, 1907, requires that claims to relief in respect of earned income must be preferred by September 30th. As Mr. Duckett failed to comply with this requirement his claim to relief could not be admitted.

May I ask whether the official must have been aware of the circumstances from the statement, and whether under those circumstances he will allow a remission?

The application must come from the taxpayer, and must be submitted by 30th September. If the application has not been received by that date, it is impossible to deal with it.

Can he say whether any person receives a salary without earning it?

Does not the hon. Member see it was evidently a technical mistake on the part of Mr. Duckett, and must have been seen by the Inland Revenue authorities; and is the Chancellor of the Exchequer prepared to endorse the action of their own official in taking advantage of a mere technical mistake?

No advantage was taken. The Act requires application to be made, and application was not made.

Can he say he will apply the same summary methods in the collection of Income Tax charged at a higher rate?

A great number of applications from other persons have been equally refused.

May I ask if any person with an income over £2,000 is called upon to make a declaration at all?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the grave and growing anxiety regarding the Navy, he will forthwith institute an inquiry into the working of the Board of Admiralty and Naval Administration, such an inquiry to be conducted by a tribunal appointed by the Government and commanding public confidence?

I am not sure that I correctly apprehend the scope or object of the proposed inquiry. I have no statement to make on the subject at present.

Does the right hon. Gentleman remember that there is a precedent for such an inquiry in the Select Committee appointed in 1888 after the resignation of Lord Charles Beresford?

No; I have not that fresh in my memory, but I will look it up.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the consideration now being given in the Colonies to the subject of the naval defence of the Empire, he will consider the desirability of calling an Imperial Conference before the year 1911 to discuss this urgent question?

I do not understand that any desire has as yet been expressed by the Colonial Governments for a special conference on the naval defence of the Empire. If any such wish were expressed on the part of the self-governing Dominions, His Majesty's Government would give it their immediate and respectful consideration. As the hon. Member is, no doubt, aware, the first Resolution adopted at the last Imperial Conference provides for subsidiary conferences being held.

May I ask whether the Government will take the initiative in this matter for once?

No, Sir. This is a matter which, if it is brought to an issue at all, must be brought to an issue by a general agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Colonial Governments.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if any land has been acquired by the Congested Districts Board or the Estates Commissioners in the neighbourhoods of Hillsborough, Dromore, and Tullyniskey, county Down, for the purpose of settling evicted tenants; and, if so, whether the evicted tenants will be from the South and West of Ireland, or whether these allotments will be allocated only to evicted tenants in Ulster?

The Estates Commissioners have given notice in the "Dublin Gazette" of their intention to acquire certain lands in county Down under the Evicted Tenants Act. These lands, if acquired, will be utilised for the purpose of providing holdings for tenants who have been evicted from farms in Ulster.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state under what jurisdiction, statutory or otherwise, the Estates Commissioners acted in awarding a portion of the untenanted land of the Montray estate, county Monaghan, to a man whose only occupation was that of gamekeeper?

No portion of the Montray estate was allocated to a person whose only occupation was that of a gamekeeper. The person to whom the question evidently refers was allotted a parcel of land on the Cordner estate, which he had occupied as gamekeeper, giving service in lieu of rent. The Estates Commissioners regarded him as a tenant, and allotted the land to him as such.

Is he an evicted tenant?

Yes.

Under what circumstances was he evicted?

I cannot say; but the allotment was made at the request of the Land Judge by whom the estate was sold under the Act of 1903.

Under what jurisdiction, statutory or otherwise, did the Estates Commissioners act?

He was not allotted the land because he was a gamekeeper, but he was allotted a parcel of land which he had occupied as gamekeeper, giving his services in lieu of rent.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any decision has yet been come to about the payment to the Drogheda distress committee of the £150 asked for by them from the Local Government Board to balance their account for expenses incurred in the relief of bond fide unemployed workmen belonging to the town of Drogheda last winter ; and whether he can state how much of the £300,000 voted by Parliament for the unemployed has been alio cated to Ireland?

A payment of £150 has been made to the Drogheda distress committee to enable them to complete their operations under the Unemployed Workmen Act. The total sum granted from the Unemployed Fund in aid of Irish Expenses in the year ended 31st ultimo was £13,750.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any progress has been made in the work of restoring to their homes the balance of the Massareene evicted tenants; whether he can give the names of those who are still unprovidd for; and whether he can settle approximately the date when their cases will be dealt with?

I am not in a position at present to add anything to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Solicitor-General for Ireland to the question asked by the hon. Member on 11th March.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will grant the Return dealing with the amounts of old age pensions paid in the congested districts in Ireland, standing in the name of the hon. Member for South Antrim?

I understand that the Treasury are not prepared to grant this Return.

In view of the extraordinarily beneficial results which the old age pensions have had in relieving distress and poverty in the west of Ireland and the necessity of having accurate figures when you come to deal with the congested districts clauses of the Land Bill, will the right hon. Gentleman press the Treasury for this return?

I am desirous that the Treasury should give all information that it is in their power to give.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that on the 2nd March the secretary of the Eastbourne Clarion Fellowship made an application to Captain Pierce, the officer in command of troops at Eastbourne, asking for permission and terms for the use of the Barrack Field, Seaside Road, Eastbourne, for 8th to 13th July, for the purpose of holding Socialist meetings, and for a pitch in the field for the Clarion van, and that this application was refused by Captain Pierce, although he has admitted that this field has been used for temperance meetings, religious meetings, and for a circus; and, in consequence of the field being refused, does he propose to take any action thereon?

The practice of letting the Ordnance Field for any purpose other than naval or military has been discontinued for the past two years. The noise of meetings disturbed the patients in the Military Hospital, which is adjacent to and overlooks the field.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state if any honours are to be given to officers of the full rank of colonel commanding, Reserve Field Artillery, who are under orders to resign their command, after being in the service 30 years and over, and who have so far received no honours?

The grant of honours rests with His Majesty, and I am not, therefore, in a position to give the hon. and gallant Member any information on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange that contractors who supply canvas for his Department shall be bound, as in the case of contractors supplying canvas to the Admiralty, under their contracts to deliver canvas manufactured in the United Kingdom; and if he has inquired from the firms who now supply his Department with canvas whether that canvas is manufactured in the United Kingdom?

The War Department has an ample supply of canvas from English and Scotch manufacture of high reputation. I, therefore, see no reason for introducing into the contracts stipuations as to place of origin, and for making the inquiries suggested.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say definitely whether the canvas supplied is or is not made in the United Kingdom?

I believe it is made in the United Kingdom.

Have you ascertained definitely?

No.

Why do you not adopt the course followed in Admiralty contracts of putting in a clause that the ai tide is to be manufactured in the United Kingdom?

It is not necessary. As the article is supplied by English and Scotch manufacturers, we presume it comes from the United Kingdom.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the date of the first lease of guano phosphate property obtained by the Pacific Islands Company on Ocean Island, the amount the company therein agreed to pay the natives, and whether the company by this first lease obtained the whole or only a part of the land on which the guano phosphates are found; and if he will give for each year, from 1900 to date, the tonnage and the value of the guano phosphates exported from Ocean Island?

The date of the first agreement made by the Pacific Islands Company, Limited, with the natives of Ocean Island was 3rd May, 1900. The company agreed in it to pay the natives £50 per annum for the exclusive right to raise and ship all the rock and alluvial phosphate on the island. I am informed that, in addition to the sum payable under this agreement, annual and other sums (which amounted in 1908 to over £l,100) are paid to individual native owners. The tonnage of phosphates exported is as follows:—

Does the right hon. Gentleman happen to know is this company registered in London?

I do not.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will communicate to the House the latest information in regard to affairs in Somaliland?

No material change has taken place in the position in Somaliland since I made my last statement in the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that it is proposed to cease running a workmen's train which was put on 8th February last between Newport and the Western Valley, on the Great Western Railway; whether he can state the reasons for withdrawing this train; and whether, in view of the many workmen residing in Newport and at the various places en route who will be adversely affected by the stoppage of the service, he will make representations to the railway company with a view to its continuation?

I have communicated with the railway company, and am sending my hon. Friend a copy of their reply.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, as a further step towards the abolition of sweating, he will arrange to have all uniforms worn by Post Office servants made by labour employed directly by the Government?

I do not propose to do as suggested. The hon. Member is aware, however, that the fair wages clause is rigidly enforced; and I have lately introduced a minimum wage for the female workers under the Post Office clothing contracts.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that, in the returned letter office, London, there are employed at the present time 55 assistants (male) and 101 returners (female), although in his Estimates both for 1908-9 and 1909-10 the numbers appear as 63 and 97, respectively; and will he state whether it is proposed to maintain the numbers estimated for, or to fill the vacancies as they occur on the male establishment with females?

Certain duties performed by assistants have been transferred to returners because they are in every way suitable for women, and the same course will be followed in future if it appears to be desirable.