asked the Postmaster-General whether he has considered the concession of a weekly half-holiday to Post Office servants in Ireland when the local representative bodies approve of that concession; and if it is to be granted, when will it come into operation?

The matter to which the hon. Member refers has been considered. Applications for relief on one day in the week are always dealt with as favourably as circumstances permit. The concession has already been granted in many cases in Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that German agents are extensively buying three-year-old horses suitable for army purposes in England, Ireland, and Wales; and is it a regulation of the War Office that horses shall not be bought under four years old?

The War Office has no detailed information as regards the numbers and ages of the horses purchased in this country by agents of foreign Governments. As a general rule horses in times of peace are purchased by the War Office between the ages of four and six years, but occasionally a few three-year-olds are purchased if of a specially suitable stamp.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the meritorious service medal and annuity can be awarded to a soldier who has served continuously for 21 years, but whose service has been partly in the Royal Marines and partly in an infantry regiment of the line?

The man is eligible for the meritorious service medal and annuity provided that subsequently to his transfer from the Royal Marines he served in the rank of sergeant or above in a unit of the regular army.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Elizabeth O'Brien at the Westminster police-court on Monday, when it was alleged that she was paid ¼d. per pair for putting footstraps on cavalry overalls, which took nearly half an hour to do; that the price to make right out a pair of riding breeches for the Territorials was 8d.; whether those rates are permitted by the War Office?

asked the Secretary ot State for War, if he will cause inquiry to be made into the case of Elizabeth O'Brien, a widow, who attempted to commit suicide because unable to earn a sufficient livelihood while working for the Police and Army contractors, Dolan and Company; whether he is satisfied that Messrs. Dolan and Company were paying standard rates of wages in the finishing of soldiers' uniforms; and, if not, what action he proposes to take?

The firm by whom Mrs. O'Brien is stated to have been employed were removed from the list of Army contractors some years ago, and have not since received War Office orders. In all War Office contracts for clothing a minimum wage for the women workers is now prescribed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that two Yorkshire Special Reserve infantry regiments have been ordered to go to Port Clarence for their training; whether there is at Port Clarence, beyond the fields they will hire for camping, any land in which they can manoeuvre as in warfare; whether they will be brigaded with other arms as they would be in the event of war, and what special value will there be in sending these two regiments to Port Clarence beyond that which they might gain at Strensall?

The 3rd battalion West Yorkshire Regiment and 3rd battalion Yorkshire Regiment will train at Port Clarence. There is no War Department land there, and therefore arrangements for securing land for manœuvres would be made by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief. No troops of other arms will be trained there. The arrangements for tiaining special reserve units are made by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief concerned, and it is not proposed to interfere with his discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for War what will be the cost of sending two special reserve infantry regiments to Port Clarence in excess of that they would incur by going to Strensall?

The extra cost for travelling may be taken at about £60.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to a report and statistics published by Dr. Braddon, State surgeon of Negri Sembilan, in the Federated Malay States, supporting the theory that bere beri is caused by uncured stale white rice being used as food; and whether he will consider the advisability of requiring that only cured rice shall be used for the food of lascars on British ships?

I am aware of the theory held by Dr. Braddon and other medical men that beri beri is attributable to the consumption of uncured stale white rice; and of the investigations into the question which are being conducted in the Federated Malay States. The Board of Trade are in communication with the Royal College of Physicians in regard to the steps to be taken for the prevention of the disease on board ship, and when their views have been received the suggestion made by my hon. Friend in the latter part of his question will be considered.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a young married woman, a patient in the maternity ward of the Hammersmith Workhouse, 14 days after the birth of her child, was mounted on steps and set to wash the paint on the walls, and that in answer to a protest it was stated that this patient was put to do what all other patients do, and there was no reason why she should not do it; whether he is aware that this patient was ill and under treatment before and after she left the workhouse; whether it is in accordance with the rules of the Local Government Board that the inmates of the maternity wards of workhouses should be put to hard manual work shortly after confinement; and, if not, what does he intend to do in the matter?

I understand that the case referred to is that of an unmarried woman who was admitted to the infirmary of the parish of Hammersmith on 3rd March last and confined on the following day. I am informed that it is not the fact that the woman was mounted on steps and set to wash the paint on the walls. The woman left the infirmary on 3rd April, and is believed to have been married two days afterwards. I do not understand that she was ill and under treatment other than for a normal confinement before leaving the infirmary. There are no rules of the kind referred to in the latter part of the question, and at the Hammersmith Infirmary all work performed by the patients is stated to be purely voluntary, and of a very light character.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has any information which he can give to the House as to alleged improper appropriations from the Irish Guarantee Fund in respect of excess stock raised in connection with advances under The Irish Land Act, 1903, and as to the allegation that the sinking fund in respect of such excess stock is being collected both from the person liable to repay the advance and also from the Irish Guarantee Fund?

The allegation in question is incorrect, and is based on a misapprehension. Sinking fund at the rate of one-half per cent. on what is known as "excess stock," raised to provide money for advances, is charged on the Ireland Development Grant (as the first constituent of the Guarantee Fund applicable for that purpose) under section 36 (6) of the Irish Land Act, 1903. The suggestion that sinking fund on the same "excess stock" is being collected from the tenants as well is apparently based on the assumption that the tenants' annuities are necessarily payable for exactly 68½ years (the period in which a sinking fund of ten shillings accumulating at 2¾ per cent. interest would amount to £100 cash). But the effect of the Act (section 45 (2)) and of the Treasury Rules (Rules 16 and 17) is to fix no precise period, but to provide that, whenever the actual accumulations of sinking fund are rufficient to buy £100 stock in the market at whatever price it may stand, and so enable that stock to be cancelled, the tenant's annuity ceases, and he is free. The period after which this will be the case may be more or less than 68½ years, according as the average rate of interest at which the sinking fund has accumulated during the period has been less or more than 2¾ per cent.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what Irish historical manuscripts it is proposed to publish this year by both the Record and Historical Manuscripts Commissions?

Statement of the Irish historical manuscripts which it is proposed to publish this year:—

(1) By the Public Record Office.—A Calendar of State Papers, Ireland, 1669–1671, is making good progress at press, and will probably be issued before the end of the present financial year. Entries relating to Ireland are also included in several other volumes of Calendars now in the press, and dealing with the British Dominions generally. One of these, a. "Calendar of Entries in the Papal Registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland," 1427–1447, which is mainly Irish, was published about two months ago.

(2) By the Historical MSS. Commission.—Vol. II. of the Report upon the Egmont Papers has been almost entirely passed for press, and should be published in the course of the next few weeks. Reports on the Eyre Macham MSS. and the Knox MSS., which contain a proportion of Irish matter, are well advanced at press. Owing to the lamented death by accident of the late Mr. C. Litton Falkiner progress with the Calendar of Ormonde MSS., Vol. VI., was necessarily stopped. A new editor has now, however, been appointed to complete the volume, and progress has been resumed, and the volume may possibly appear before the end of the year. Index to the two volumes of the Report by Sir John Gilbert on the Ormonde MSS. The volumes were issued unindexed, and the index, now on the eve of being published separately, will, it is thought, ber cordially welcomed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he could make any statement with regard to the state of affairs in Morocco and the safety of British subjects in that country?

The general state of affairs in Morocco appears to have improved lately. So far as is known, British subjects in Morocco do not appear to run any special risks, provided they remain in those parts of Morocco where the Sultan's authority is recognised.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any information regarding the food supply for Tabriz; and whether it has reached that city, or how soon it may be reasonably expected?

On 25th April His Majesty's Minister at Teheran reported that the Shah had sanctioned the introduction of food into Tabriz with no limit as to time or quantity. On 27th April he reported that eight tons of flour had arrived there from Basminch on the previous day, and that Samad Khan had sent in a considerable amount of corn, and appeared to be encouraging the villagers to bring in provisions.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many of the Church elementary schools surrendered or closed since the Education Act, 1902, came into operation were trust schools; how many were privately owned; and how many were closed owing to the average attendance being under 30?

One hundred and ninety-five Church schools have been transferred, of which 92 were privately owned. The remaining 103 may be taken as being held under some trust, expressed or implied. Two hundred and fifty-seven Church schools have been closed, of which 62 were privately owned, and the remaining 195 may be taken as being held under some trust, expressed or implied. Forty-two were closed owing to the average attendance being under 30. Among Church schools are included not only those in which the trust required the giving of Church of England instruction, but also those in which it is stated to have been given as a matter of usage.

asked the Prime Minister what are the circumstances which lead him to believe that under existing conditions the Navy of the United States of America, for the practical purposes of the two-Power standard, would not enter into the account?

This is a matter which cannot adequately or conveni- ently be entered into in an answer to a question. The matter will no doubt be fully debated on the Motion of which the hon. Member has given notice.

asked the Prime Minister whether all legislation with regard to the unemployed problem is to be in the hands of one department; and, if so, what department?

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

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state whether the Estates Commissioners intend acquiring by compulsory powers the lands of Cullinagh, Kilmeaden, county Waterford, now on the hands of the landlord, Mr. Kelly, with the view of reinstating Mr. Michael Hickey, the former tenant; if the landlord has declined to accept the sum of money which the Commissioners considered to be the full value of the lands; and can he state why the lands are not acquired by compulsory powers?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that these lands are subject to a land purchase annuity, and cannot be acquired compulsorily under the Evicted Tenants Act.

asked the Chief Secretary if, in view of their interest and importance from an antiquarian standpoint, he will cause inquiry to be made with a view to the preservation of the ratebooks of Irish unions prior to 1864, and also the tithe applotment records, as well as the existing and future Census returns?

As I informed the hon. Member in reply to a question on the same subject asked by him on 9th July last, the rate books of the Irish Poor Law unions are the property of the local authorities, and are not under my control. The tithe applotment records are carefully preserved in the office of the Irish Land Commission, and the existing Census Returns partly in the Public Record Office and partly in the General Register Office.

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been called to a correspondence which has taken place between the Enniscorthy (county Wexford) rural district council and the Local Government Board in connection with arbitration proceedings at an inquiry held in Enniscorthy in January last, relative to sites acquired for labourers' cottages at Ryane and Ballyroe; and if he will explain the difference in the amounts of compensation awarded in each case?

The Local Government Board have had the correspondence in this case under consideration. The arbitrator, who has had considerable experience in determining the value of plots taken for the purpose of the Labourers Acts, allowed £23 8s. and £39 respectively, for all interests in the two one-acre plots referred to, and he has stated that, in his opinion, the lands were not by any means of the same quality.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state when the untenanted lands on the J. D. Crosbie estate, situate near Ballylongford, North Kerry, will be divided among the evicted tenants and the poor people of the district?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that a scheme for the distribution of these lands is being prepared.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state why the untenanted land on the Blacker-Douglas estate at Tullihinal, Ardee, North Kerry, has not been divided amongst the poor people of the district; and whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists in the locality owing to the delay in handing over possession to the tenants of the allotted holdings?

Agreements for the sale of the lands at Tullihinal, as parcels, have been lodged with the Estates Commissioners, and will be dealt with along with the agreements for the rest of the estate, which is being sold by the owner direct to the tenants.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Robert Stratford Tuite, of Dublin, has purchased his holdings at Killeen, Granard, from Mrs. Wilson Slater, although he declines to sell a farm of 11 acres, the only tenancy on the estate, to James Reilly, the tenant thereof; and will he request the Estates Commissioners to see that this sale is not sanctioned unless and until Tuite sells to his own tenant, Reilly?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that their inspector will inquire into and report upon the cases of any sub-tenants on this estate when it comes to be inspected in its proper order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the ground upon which the old age pension was taken from Anne Connolly, No. 762 in pension officers register of Longford district, No. 2 station; whether the income of this woman was calculated on her rent before purchase or her instalment after purchase; whether he is aware that upon the latter basis her net income would only be £20 3s., which would entitle her to full pension; and will he direct the Local Government Board to reconsider the case?

The Local Government Board considered that Annie Connolly was disqualified for a pension on the ground of means, which were not calculated by the Board on the basis of either rent or purchase annuity, but on the basis of the stock and crops on her holding. It is not open to the Board to reconsider their decision.

asked the Chief Secretary to state on what grounds a pension has been withdrawn in the case of the application of a man named Fitz-patrick, of Kiltycreevagh, county Longford, to receive an old age pension, and whether he will furnish a copy of the report of the pension officer in this case?

The Local Government Board are unable to identify the case referred to. They have had no case before them of a pension granted to a person named Fitzpatrick giving the address mentioned in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Mr. Joseph Mole has been returned to the Estates Commissioners by the owner or agent of the Hopkins estate, Errill, Ballybrophy, Queen's County, as tenant on the property; and, if so, can he say for what quantity of land; in what townland is it situated; and when the tenancy commenced?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that an agreement for the purchase of 120 acres 2 roods and 3 perches of the land of Lyroge was lodged on 1st August, 1905, signed by Joseph Mole, who is described therein as holding the lands as yearly tenant under an agreement dated 29th April, 1905.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland if he will state whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to carry out the recommendations of the Commission which inquired into bankruptcy law and bankruptcy procedure; and, if so, will Ireland be included within the scope of any proposed legislation?

The investigations of the Committee appointed by the Board of Trade to inquire into the Bankruptcy Law and its administration did not extend to Ireland. The question of appointing a Commission to inquire into bankruptcy jurisdiction and practice in Ireland, and to report whether the bankruptcy laws of England and Ireland can be assimilated is under consideration; but the bankruptcy laws in England and Ireland differ so much that I fear it would not be possible to include Ireland in any Bill dealing with the existing English practice, unless it was found expendient to extend the entire of the English system to Ireland.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention was drawn to the censure passed by Judge Johnson at the late Galway Assizes on the indiscriminate use of firearms by a bailiff named Egan, on the estate of Captain Persse, Roxborough, Loughrea; whether he is aware that Egan flourishes firearms with or without excuse; and, having regard to the disturbed state of the district, will he cause an investigation to be held by the police into the number of persons this bailiff fired at and the number of persons he threatened to fire at, with a view of instituting proceedings against him at the coming Assizes?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question on the same subject asked by him on the 7th instant. I am informed by the police authorities that there is no truth whatever in the allegation that the gamekeeper, John Egan, is in the habit of flourishing firearms with or without excuse. He is now nearly nine years in Gaptain Persse's employment as an assistant gamekeeper. During that time there has been no complaint made to the police against him as to his making an improper use of firearms. If any person has any accusation to make against Egan, he can proceed according to the ordinary methods, for vindication of the law.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware of the difficulty that has arisen in regard to the registration of labourers' cottage plots already included in the registration of purchased-out holdings; whether he is aware that in the Wexford Union a sum of £400 is the estimated cost of applying to such plots the provisions of the Local Begistration of Title Amendment (Ireland) Act of 1908; whether the ratepayers, including guardians and district councillors, after complying with all the requirements of the Labourers Acts, are now to be saddled with a new and unexpected expenditure; and whether, as there is some doubt and uncertainty as to the proper course to be taken, he will issue instructions to the district councils setting forth the law on the subject?

The Local Government Board inform me that on 30th January last they addressed to the clerk of each rural district council in Ireland an instructional circular fully explaining the importance of complying with the requirements of the Begistration of Title Act, 1891, in the case of plots of land acquired under the Labourers Acts on holdings dealt with under the Land Purchase Acts. The Board do not know what will be the total cost of carrying into effect the provisions of the Act of last year in the Wexford rural district, but whatever the cost may be, it will have been occasioned by the neglect to comply with the requirements of the law at the proper time, before the cottages were built. I have no power to relieve the ratepayers from the costs occasioned by the omission.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if anything will be done to remove the wreckage, which causes inconvenience to the fishermen, about Black-water, in county Wexford, and with regard to which repeated representations have been made to the Admiralty and to the Irish Lights Board, giving full particulars as to the nature and position of the wreckage, but so far without any result?

The Department understand that the Wexford County Council are endeavouring to obtain tenders for the removal of the wrecks along the Wexford coast and to secure the consent of the Board of Trade to the removal of those in Rosslare Bay. The Department have already intimated to the council that when these preliminaries shall have been settled they would be prepared to consider the question of contributing to the cost of carrying out the project. On the 10th ultimo the council passed a resolution postponing the consideration of the matter until the consent of the Board of Trade would be forthcoming. The council have not since communicated with the Department on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary if, in view of the facts placed before him in Towers' case, he will state upon what grounds this man is deprived of his licence and consequently of the means of earning his living; and if he will grant him his mechanical licence?

I do not think it would be desirable to enter into the details of this case. The Commissioner's action was taken in the public interest, and I regret that I must adhere to the decision given in my answer of the 19th instant.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Eliabeth O'Brien, at the Westminster Police Court, on Monday, where it was alleged that all she could earn by continuous work was 1s. a day; that the pay was 3¾d. for basting and finishing police trousers, nearly four hours' needlework; and whether these rates are permitted to be paid by contractors who supply police clothing?

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that Messrs. Dolan and Company, police and army clothing contractors, who employed the widow, Elizabeth O'Brien, lately charged with attempting to commit suicide, stated that she could only make 6s. a week if putting in full time; and whether he is satisfied that standard rates of wages were paid in the case of this firm?

I will answer these two questions together. The firms named do not hold a Metropolitan Police contract, and I have no power to supervise the terms of any contracts into which local authorities may enter for the supply of police clothing. Metropolitan Police contracts contain the fair wages clause.

asked the Home Secretary if the police were recently advised by the master of the Barnet Union of the kidnapping of a child called Susan Smith, aged nine years, by a man and woman of ill-repute; and if so, what steps have been taken by the police in the matter, and with what results?

It was reported to the police on 21st December last that the child in question, when returning from school to the workhouse, had been taken away by her reputed father, who was accompanied by a woman, not the child's mother, both persons being of bad character. The police made every effort to trace these persons, but were unsuccessful.

asked the Prime Minister if he can say when the Bill to amend the law in regard to inebriates will be introduced?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. This Bill will, I hope, be introduced soon, but I am not yet able to name a day.