asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the case of attempted suicide of Elizabeth O'Brien, heard at Westminster on Monday, 26th April; whether he is aware that this woman, who was a widow, was employed as a tailoress by a firm of contractors making Government clothing; whether he is aware that the hours of employment were 10½ a day, and that the most that could be earned by this woman by continuous work was less than 1s. a day; that the rates of pay for making outright Territorials' riding breeches was 8d., and that it was impossible to make two pairs in a day; that a farthing a pair was paid for putting footstraps on cavalry overalls, and that this took half an hour;

if so, whether he will say who the firm of contractors are; whether the fair wage clause inserted in Government contracts was inserted in this case; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the woman named was a tailoress working for a firm of Government contractors making uniforms for the Territorial Force; that her earnings by continuous work was something less than 1s. a day; that the price paid her for making riding breeches for the Territorial Force was 1s. 6d. per pair; and whether he intends taking action to make the conditions of this contract conform to the terms of the fair wages clause?

My attention has been drawn to this case. As I have already informed the House, the firm by whom Mrs. O'Brien is stated to have been employed was removed from the list of Army contractors some years ago. The Territorial Associations make their own arrangements with contractors for supplies of clothing, but if the hon. Members can supply me with the name of the association concerned I will make representations to the association in regard to the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any inquiries are made of immigrants into this country as to whether or not they have undergone training as conscripts in foreign armies, and if any record is kept of the number of such ex-soldiers who remain in this country and their respective nationalities; and whether such ex-soldiers are bound to report themselves to their respective Embassies in this country?

There is no information at the War Office in regard to the first and second parts of this question. As regards the third part of the question such ex-soldiers who are reservists do not, as far as is known, have to report to their respective Embassies or Legations. In most cases they report personally to the nearest Consulate, but in some cases they are only required to report in writing to their reserve districts in the home country.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers was called upon, in September, 1907, to resign, as an alternative to dismissal; and if he will state the reason for that order?

No officer in that battalion was called upon to resign in September, 1907.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of draught horses which a battery of horse and a battery of field artillery should possess to be at war strength what is the number and present supply to them; and what provision is made to ensure an immediate supply of the additional horses to bring batteries up to war strength in case of emergencies?

The war establishments of draught horses are 134 for a battery of Royal Horse Artillery, and 130 for a battery of Royal Field Artillery. The peace establishments are:— Royal Horse Artillery—higher establishment 62 Royal Horse Artillery—lower establishment 42 Royal Field Artillery—higher establishment 62 Royal Field Artillery—lower establishment 38 To ensure an immediate supply of horses in case of emergencies over 18,500 draught horses are registered on the reserve of horses.

asked the Secretary of State for War if any record of character is required or heeded in the case of an applicant for a commission in the Army; if he will explain the circumstances in which an officer summarily expelled from Thorneycroft's Horse Regiment in South Africa in 1900 obtained a captaincy in the Royal Irish Regiment in 1902; and the reasons for which the Commander of the Forces in Ireland called upon him to resign his commission in 1908?

As regards the first part of the Question, all candidates or applicants for commissions in the Regular Forces, Special Reserve, or Territorial Forces are required to produce certificates as to character. As regards the second part of the Question, no such officer can be traced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state what proportion of the estimated income of £350,000 from the duty of ½d. in the pound on undeveloped land and ungotten minerals is derived from each of these sources of revenue separately?

This question was asked on behalf of the hon. Member yesterday by the Noble Lord the Member for Chorley, and the reply is printed in column 737 of the Official Parliamentary Debates Report [3rd May].

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the office of Registrar of Deeds for the East Riding of Yorkshire has been vacant since December, 1908, and that under the Yorkshire Registries Act, 1884, it is the duty of the East Riding County Council to appoint a duly qualified registrar; and whether he will draw the attention of the East Riding County Council to the fact that they have not as yet taken any steps to perform their statutory duty, and suggest that an appointment be made as required by the Act without further delay?

I am aware that the office mentioned in the question has been vacant for some time past, and that it is the duty of the county council to appoint a duly qualified person to fill it. The subject is not one with respect to which I have any authority over the county council. I drew the attention of the Lord Chancellor to my hon. Friend's question, but I find that he disclaims any jurisdiction in the matter, except as to approving a name if submitted to him. I do not think I can interfere, except by sending a copy of the question to the county council. This I will do.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to Dr. M'Vail's statements, at page 59 of his Report, to the Poor Law Commissioners, that, in some unions, married women who are ill and need relief in the workhouse infirmary are unable to obtain it unless the husband himself comes into the workhouse, because the guardians believe that they cannot legally admit a wife without a husband; whether he had noticed Case 14 at the same page, where the guardians believed that they could not take into the workhouse a mother and three children who were suffering from itch unless the father (who was free from that complaint) came in also; and whether he will send a circular to the Poor Law inspectors and guardians informing them that married women and children who are destitute of the medical attendance, nursing, and accommodation requisite for their condition of illness may legally be admitted to the workhouse infirmary without the husband or father coming into the workhouse?

In poor law unions, in which the Outdoor Relief Prohibitory Order is in force, an able-bodied person requiring relief must be relieved in the workhouse, together with such of the family of such person as may be resident with him or her, and may not be in employment. This rule, however, is subject to exceptions in certain cases, one of which is where the person requires relief on account of any sickness, accident, or bodily or mental infirmity affecting such person or any of his or her family. The inspectors are well aware of the law on this point, and I have no reason to suppose that guardians and their officers generally are not acquainted with it. I will, however, instruct the inspectors in their communications with the guardians and their officers to bear the matter in mind, and to remove any misapprehension which they may find to exist with regard to it.

asked the Postmaster-General if he could say when the long-promised cable will be laid on Clare island, county Mayo?

I hope the cable ships will be in Irish waters in about six weeks' time, and that it will be possible then to lay the Clare Island cable.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that inconvenience is caused to the inhabitants of the postal district of Shramore, Newport, county Mayo, by the delivery of letters on only one day each week; and will he see that a more frequent delivery is established?

I am having inquiry made on the subject, and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General for what reason the Bristol district sub-post offices of Fishponds, Kingswood, Staple Hill, and Downend are placed in Class 3 and the St. George office in Class 2?

The chief reason for the distinction lies in the distance of the sub-districts from the head office of Bristol. The St. George Post Office is but 2½ miles from the Bristol head office, and it seemed proper to place it in Class 2, that is one class below that of the head office. The offices at Fishponds, Kingswood, Staple Hill and Downend are situated at distances varying from nearly four to five miles, and, therefore, fall into Class 3. By this classification the postmen at all the offices in question benefit by an increased maximum.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the powers of the Board over the training of teachers in Wales have been transferred to the Welsh Department; and, if not, why this has not been done?

The powers of the Board of Education are exercised by the President. I have no intention of delegating or transferring those powers to any Department of the Board. The administration of questions relating to the training of teachers in Wales is not conducted through the Welsh Department, inasmuch as they are intimately bound up with questions relating to examinations and other matters which must necessarily be dealt with on the same lines, both in England and Wales.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will give the number of students at the day training departments of the university colleges at Aberystwyth, Bangor, and Cardiff, respectively, who were successful at the final certificate examination of the Board of Education, or its equivalent, in 1908, and also the number who failed in that year?

supplied the following particulars respecting the final examinations of students at the day training department of the University Colleges at Aberystwyth, Bangor, and Cardiff (1908):—

Entered. Passed. Did not Pass. Men. Women Total. Men. Women Total. Men. Women Total. (1) The Board's Final Examination as a whole:— Aberstwyth — — — — — — — — — Bangor — — — — — — — — — Cardiff — — — — — — — — — (2) An Examination qualifying for a University Degree, with the Board's Examination in professional subjects:— Aberystwyth 17 13 30 8 10 18 9 3 12 Bangor 10 6 16 8 5 13 2 1 3 Cardiff 14 11 25 8 6 14 6 4* 10 (3) A University Examination not qualifying for a Degree, with the Board's Examination in professional subjects:— Aberystwyth 6 11 17 2 4 6 4 7 11 Bangor 9 3 12 4 2 6 5 1 6 Cardiff 17 30 47 12 23 35 4† 7 11 (4) An Examination conducted by a Joint Examining Board, with the Board's Examination in professional subjects:— Aberystwyth — — — — — — — — — Bangor 9 15 24 8 12 20 1 3 4 Cardiff — — — — — — — — — Total of (2), (3) and (4):— Aberystwyth 23 24 47 10 14 24 13 10 23 Bangor 28 24 52 20 19 39 8 5 13 Cardiff 31 41 72 20 29 49 10† 11* 21 *In addition, 1 woman deferred examination. †In addition, 1 man deferred examination.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he could give the House any information regarding the

action taken by the Secretary of State in order to promote the welfare of students from India who come to this country for the completion of their studies?

My hon. Friend will find the information he desires in an official statement which appears in this morning's newspapers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give the House any information regarding the result of the prolonged trial at Alipur?

No information as to the result of the trial has yet reached the Secretary of State. The official report will no doubt come to him in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has ever considered the matter of applying the Summary Trial Act to those charged with sedition rather than Regulation III. of 1818; and, if not, will representations be made to the Government that in all cases of sedition in India in future the provisions of the Summary Trial Act shall be applied to the accused?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for the Henley Division on 16th March.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the formula employed in certifying approved conduct for the grant of ordinary increments of salary to boy clerks, assistant clerks, second division clerks, and upper division clerks in the Treasury; and what is the authority for using this formula?

The formula employed in the case of assistant clerks, second division clerks, and upper division clerks is: "I hereby certify, in accordance with the provisions of clause 20 of the Order in Council of the 29th November, 1898, that the conduct of …. during the year ended the …. has been approved." In the case of boy clerks the formula is in the same or similar terms, although the Order in Council does not actually apply to boy clerks. These formulae are employed under the authority of the Board of Treasury.

asked the Secretary of the Treasury if he can state the terms of reference of the Committee recently appointed in regard to the work of His Majesty's Customs?

The terms of reference are: To consider the conditions under which the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise Departments, rendered necessary by the Finance Act of 1908, can best be carried out with regard to the particular classes of officers affected by such amalgamation.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of men now employed by Messrs. Easton, Gibbs, and Co. at Rosyth; what number of temporary or other houses have been erected at or near the site for the accommodation of the men now employed; and what steps, if any, are the Board of Admiralty taking to properly house the body of workmen who must soon be engaged upon these works?

The number of men employed by Messrs. Easton, Gibb, and Son at Rosyth is 212. Some temporary shelters have been erected on the works by the contractors for the men to eat their meals in on wet days. A lodging house to accommodate about 60 men has been built, apparently by private enterprise, at Jamestown, not far from the site, and there are rumours that others are about to be built. As regards the last part of the question, the Admiralty provided in the contract for handing over to the contractors a plot of land (about six acres) for the purpose of constructing buildings for the workmen if they desired to do so.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, should their Lordships decide to reopen the list of established men in the Royal Dockyards, they will take into their favourable consideration the cases of those men who since the list was closed have exceeded the age limit?

In the event of the establishment being reopened, the question of considering the cases of men who since it was closed have passed the age limit will not be lost sight of.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether the roadway in Park Square East (Regent's Park) is maintained by the Office of Works or by the local authority; whether his attention has been called to the bad state of the roadway; and whether he will take steps to secure the proper repair of this approach road to Regent's Park?

The roadway in question is not maintained by my Department, but by the Crown Estate Paving Commissioners, to whom I would refer my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary if he can state how many cases of prison officers obtaining the assistance of Members of Parliament for the remedying of an alleged grievance have been brought before his notice; and what is the punishment which was meted out in these cases?

The only case that has been recently brought to the Secretary of State's notice is that of a prison officer who, after being removed from a position of great responsibility on account of the unsatisfactory manner in which he had discharged the duties attached to the post, attempted to procure his reinstatement through the intervention of a Member of Parliament, and made through him various unfounded charges against certain of his fellow officers. In view of all the circumstances of the case, the Secretary of State considered it enough to convey to the officer a strict warning that if he repeated the offence he would be unable to retain him in the service. If such conduct were to become commoner it would be impossible to treat other offenders with equal leniency.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the disappearance at sea on 16th January, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Man You on the steamer "Auchenblas," of Glasgow; whether any inquiry has been held, and, if so, by whom; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining, and how long he had served on the vessel; whether he was on duty at the time; whether he had any previous sea service; what amount of coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; whether the engineer's log, as to the consumption of coal, has been produced for the inspection of the Board of Trade surveyor; what was the temperature of the engine-room; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?

An Asiatic fireman known as Man You was seen to drop from the "Auchenblas" when off Dendra Head, Ceylon, and swim towards a fishing boat, which presently made sail and outdistanced the ship's boat which was sent in pursuit. It is, therefore, not definitely known whether the man was drowned or not. It is supposed that he had shipped under a false name, as a bad discharge under another name was found amongst his effects. Inquiry was made by the shipping master at Bombay, and further in- quiry will be made on the arrival of the vessel in this country. I am informed that it is the practice in this vessel for all seamen to be medically examined before joining. This man had served eight days in the "Auchenblas," and professed to have had previous sea service as fireman. The owners state that the consumption of coal was 30 tons of Indian coal per day, and the number of firemen and trimmers 12. As the vessel has not been in this country since the occurrence, the engineer's log has not been seen by the Board of Trade Surveyors. The temperature of the engine-room was 106, and of the stokehold 98. Two other cases of suicide in this vessel have been reported during the last three years.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the cause of delay in acquiring the untenanted lands of Monedarragh, on the J. W. Bond estate, in North Longford, which were offered for sale by the landlord to the Commissioners over 12 months ago; and when a sub-division of these lands will be made?

Proceedings for the sale of this estate were not instituted under the Irish Land Act, 1903, until November, 1907. It will be dealt with in its order of priority, but some time must elapse before its turn comes.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the number of police allotted to county Longford under the quota system; how many extra police are at present there; whether he is aware that at the recent assizes and quarter sessions in the county a state of almost absolute crimelessness was revealed; and will he now consider the advisability of reducing the police force in the county?

The free quota of police for county Longford is 110, and the number of extra police now serving in the county is 34. While the county is in a satisfactory state so far as regards ordinary crime, boycotting and intimidation have by no means ceased. So long as these continue, the police force cannot be reduced.

asked the Chief Secretary when a reply may be expected by the Estates Commissioners to their demand for compulsory sale of untenanted lands on the Douglas estate; whether the time has elapsed for the hearing of the landlord's appeal; why it has not been disposed of; and what is the cause of the delay?

The Estates Commissioners have published a notice in the "Dublin Gazette" of their intention to acquire these lands under the Evicted Tenants Act with a view to providing holdings for evicted tenants, but the lands cannot be acquired until the prescribed time for appeals has elapsed and the other requirements of the Statute have been complied with.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any originating statement or request has yet been lodged with the Estates Commissioners to purchase the untenanted lands of Clonfin for distribution amongst uneconomic holdings in North Longford; and, if not, will the Commissioners communicate with the agent, Mr. Deane, of Dublin, on the subject, asking the cause of the delay?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that proceedings for the sale of this estate were instituted in October last under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The property will be dealt with in its order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Butler estate, Springhill, Queen's County, has been sold to the tenants through the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, can he state the total amount of the purchase money and the bonus, the amount allotted the receiver and the solicitor, having carriage of sale, respectively, and also the names of the several persons entitled to a share of the purchase money, the amount paid to each, and the dates upon which payment was made?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the purchase agreements in connection with the sale of the estate of John Edward Butler, to which the question presumably refers, were only lodged with them in September last. A considerable time must therefore elapse before the advances applied for can be sanctioned, or the title to the claims on the estate examined. Meanwhile it would not be possible to give the particulars asked for with respect to the distribution of the purchase money.

asked the Chief Secretary whether it is intended that the provisions in the Land Bill dealing with future tenants shall apply to the case of tenants who, under duress of eviction or threatened eviction, have been recently compelled to enter into agreemnts with, their landlords which would prevent them availing of the Act of 1881?

The provisions of the Bill, as introduced, apply to every case in which a tenancy, which gave the right to have a fair rent fixed, has been determined, and a new tenancy created in the same tenant, debarring him from the right of having a fair rent fixed. Any clause or provision in the new contract of tenancy which prohibits the tenant from applying to have a fair rent fixed is declared to be void.

asked the Chief Secretary on what grounds Laurence Diffley, of Begnagh, No. 598 on the pension register of the Ardagh sub-committee, has been deprived of his pension; whether he is aware that this man's gross rental is only £4 5s. a year and that he is 77 years of age; and will his name be restored to the list?

The pension officer raised the point that the claimant's income exceeded the statutory limit of £31 10s. per annum, and on appeal being made to the Local Government Board they upheld that view. The statements in the second' part of the question are substantially correct. It is not open to the Board to reconsider their decision.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he could state what steps, if any, had been taken to carry out the recommendations of the Belfast Health Commission?

The recommendations of the Belfast Health Commission were so varied and complex that it is impracticable to give a general answer to this question which would accurately cover all details. The corporation dealt with certain matters pending the issue of the Report of the Commission, and have put other matters in train since its issue. The Local Government Board, moreover, after considering the reply of the corporation to the Report of the Commission, addressed the corpora- tion on 13th March last with regard to such of the recommendations as did not Appear to have received suitable attention.

asked the Chief Secretary of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the statement made by Mr. Spiller, the prosecuting solicitor, at the Children's Court, held in Belfast on 7th April, to the effect that if additional industrial school accommodation were not provided in Ireland the Children Act would become a failure there; and whether he contemplated taking any steps for the provision of the additional accommodation required?

My attention has been drawn to a newspaper report of this gentleman's observations to the effect stated in the question. Further experience of the working of the Act will be necessary before it is possible to say what additional accommodation, if any, will be required, or how such accommodation should be provided, whether in day schools or otherwise.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the number of schools in Ireland requiring class-rooms to which grants have been refused during the year ended the 30th of June last because Rule 127 (b) was not in force; whether, having regard to the spread of consumption in Ireland and to the number of unemployed in several districts, the Board of Works will be empowered to undertake the structural improvements of these schools; and can he state, in the event of these schools not being enlarged, what sum will be saved for the Treasury through this Action of the Commissioners of National Education in refusing grants?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that, as far as can be ascertained, there were three cases of applications for grants for the improvement of schoolhouses, by the addition of new classrooms, under consideration in the year ended 30th June last, in each of which it was necessary to call attention to the provisions of Rule 127 (b). In each of these cases it was explained to the manager that as there were infant boys under seven years of age enrolled in the boys' school contrary to that rule, it would be necessary in any scheme for the enlarge- ment of the schoolhouse that he should provide accommodation in the girls' school for these infant boys, or give an undertaking that on the occurrence of a vacancy for an assistant in the boys' school a mistress would be appointed. The Commissioners will be prepared to consider the question of the structural improvement of these schools on learning from the respective managers which of the above alternatives they are prepared to adopt. No saving would result to the Treasury in the event of these schools not being enlarged, as the money would be applied to other cases.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that hundreds of teachers of national schools have not yet been paid the triennial increments of salary to which, having complied with all the requisite conditions, they became entitled a year or more since; that letters from managers complaining of the delay are in many cases not even acknowledged; that even when acknowledged and early consideration of their contents promised, this consideration frequently means a delay of six, nine, or even 12 months; and whether, as the present condition of the National Education Office appears to be even worse than that of six to eight years ago, when, according to the resident Commissioner himself, it was hopelessly dislocated, he will advise His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant to have the present Board dissolved and an efficient and representative one appointed instead?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the award of increments to teachers is a process going on continuously from day to day in their office, and that there are always hundreds of pending cases. There are at present 300 cases under consideration that accrued before 1st April last, but of these nearly 250 accrued since 1st October last. The claims are dealt with promptly in all cases where there is evidence that the necessary conditions have been fulfilled, and all letters from managers are acknowledged. Complaints of delay in correspondence are rare, and all such complaints are strictly investigated. There does not appear to be any foundation for the statements made with regard to the condition of the National Education Office. The answer to the concluding paragraph of the question is in the negative.