asked the Home Secretary whether the Chief Commissioner of Police has recently been giving licences for men to be employed as drivers on the London Electric Tramway system without enforcing the usual tests of their capability?

No, Sir. The hon. Member has been misinformed. The practice until recently was to accept the certificates of the London County Council, or the London United Tramways Company, as to a candidate's ability to drive an electric tramcar, and, provided the police inquiries as to character proved satisfactory, to issue the licence on that certificate. Recent events have made the Commissioner think it desirable to alter this practice as regards the London United Tramways Company. Candidates nut forward by that company are now required to satisfy the police of their ability to drive as well as of their character. The certificates of the London County Council are accepted as heretofore.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has previously stated that, in cases where applications are made to the Commissioner of Police to approve the exhibition of notices inside and outside cars, no reasonable request is refused; if several applications have since been made, but the approval of the Commissioner of Police has been withheld; and, if so, can he state why they were considered unreasonable?

The statement in the answer which I gave on 14th December last to the hon. Member for Hoxton related to printed notices in metropolitan stage carriages of matters affecting the public in relation to traffic working. The Commissioner of Police informs me that, so far as he is aware, no application to exhibit notices relating to traffic arrangements, or other matters for the public benefit, has been refused.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the advisability of amending the regulations by which property lost in public vehicles in the metropolitan area is sent direct to Scotland Yard, in order that the lost property may remain in the locality for 48 hours, and a description be sent to Scotland Yard, so that the authorities there would be fully informed should there be an application either personally or by letter?

I do not think that the alteration suggested would be to the public convenience, for reasons which I explained on 14th December last in answer to a question by the hon. Member for the Norwood Division of Lambeth.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what steps the Commissioners of Woods and Forests are taking to meet the demand for houses at Bromham created by the recent development of small holdings cultivation on their estate

The President, as a, Commissioner of Woods and Forests, has offered to recommend to the Treasury the advisability of erecting additional cottages provided the Bromham Parish Council will pay a reasonable percentage on the cost by way of additional rent.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset what is the present position of the negotiations which have been carried on for some time between the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, as landlord, the parish council, as representing the sub-tenants of the Crown, and the owners of contiguous property, with reference to the proposed new road leading from the Crown small holdings at Bromham to the railway; whether he is aware that the Great Western Railway has lately erected a new halt and siding for the more convenient handling of the produce of these holdings; and whether, in view of the importance to the village of obtaining by means of this new road a shorter outlet to the new halt, he will expedite the negotiations and secure the speedy construction of the road?

The President, as a Commissioner of Woods, has had' negotiations for the purchase of some land with a view to facilitating the formation of the new road referred to, but owing to the vendors requiring, in addition to the full price of all the land, conditions relating to the position and use of the road, which were considered to be contrary to the interest of the Crown, the purchase has not been proceeded with. The President understands that a new halt has been provided by the railway company, which will doubtless be a convenience to the residents in the district.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether the President of the Board of Agriculture has been officially informed that Reading University College has decided to close the poultry farm at Theale; and, if so, whether in view of the valuable work which has been for some years carried on at this institution for the development of the poultry industry, the Board will make a grant for the purpose of enabling this poultry farm to continue its educational and experimental work?

Yes; we have received a communication from the Reading College to the effect suggested in the question. There is no doubt as to the value of the instruction given at. Theale, and we hope that it may be possible to arrange for the continuance of the farm either as an integral part of the work of the college or tinder a separate governing body. The funds at present at the disposal of the Board are insufficient to enable them at present to promise a grant, but, as my hon. Friend is aware, the whole subject of the assistance given to agricultural instruction is now under consideration.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he will take steps to enforce the law against foreign vessels trawling within the restricted areas?

The policing of the fisheries off the coast of England and Wales, so far as trawling by foreign vessels within territorial waters is concerned, is under the supervision of the Board of Trade and the Admiralty. No restrictions as to trawling apply to any extra territorial waters off the coast of England and Wales.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether there are any old age pension claimants in the district of Manorhamilton, county Leitrim, who applied previous to November and whose claims are still unconsidered, and, if so, for what reason; and whether such cases will be dealt with before the inquiry into pensions granted is gone into?

There are 23 old age pension claims dated prior to November, 1908, in the districts referred to which have not been considered by the pension committees. The delay is due to the fact that satisfactory documentary evidence of age has not been produced. The cases have been referred to the Census Office for search in the Census Returns.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many claims for old age pensions have now been lodged more than five months with the pension officers for the county of Meath, and are not yet reported on to the pension committee; whether the delay is due to the want of a sufficient staff in the Census Office, and to priority being given to searches against existing pensioners; and whether the claimants whose claims are deferred will be paid their pensions for the period covered by this delay on the part of the pension officers and Census Office?

I regret that this information is not available. Every effort is being made to expedite the searches in the Census Returns in the case of persons not already in receipt of pensions and such searches are being given precedence over searches with respect to existing pensioners, an adequate staff of searchers being employed. There is no power under the Act to pay a pension in respect of any period prior to the date of allowance of a claim by the pension authority.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if the scheme proposed by the Government of India in their letter to the Bombay Government of 4th December, 1907, on the subject of the improvement of the sanitary services in India and of the development of the exist- ing establishments, is completed; and whether any, and, if so, what special provisions are made therein to give effect to the view set forth in that letter that a sanitary service offers a suitable and congenial career for educated natives of the country, and that by fully utilising that source of supply the Government will avoid the expense of materially enlarging the Indian medical service

The scheme has not yet been completed. The Secretary of State attaches great importance to the inclusion in any such scheme of special provisions of the kind to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state the number of examiners for the medical degrees of the University of Madras; how many of them are Indians; and what is the remuneration received by each?

The examiners are appointed by the University authorities, and the Secretary of State has no official information as to their number or the remuneration received by them; but it appears from the Calendar of the Madras University for 1908–9 that in that year there were 15 examiners for medical degrees, of whom one was an Indian.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the higher grades of the medical service of the Native States of India are generally filled by Indians, to the satisfaction of the Government and the public; whether less than 10 per cent. of such positions in British-India are held by Indians; and whether he is aware that the exclusion of native Indians from these well-salaried posts is regarded in India as part of the settled policy of the Indian Government?

The Secretary of State has no detailed information on the first point, but he has no reason to doubt that the answer is in the affirmative. As regards the proportion of Indians in the Indian Medical Service, the hon. Member is no doubt aware that that service is recruited by competitive examination, and is freely open to natives of India. It is further the policy of Government to encourage the growth of an independent medical profession in India, and to throw open to the profession in general some of the appointments now held by members of the Indian Medical Service. The Secretary of State proposes shortly to present to Parliament papers on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will grant a Return giving the names of the officers of the cavalry and infantry regiments of the Indian Army who have been superseded by their juniors on the general roll of that Army by reason of the operation of the rule giving permanent Army rank to officers obtaining the post of commandant of their regiment or by holding certain staff and administrative appointments?

The Government of India will be asked to furnish this Return.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether purchase agreements in the matter of the sale of the Wynne estate, Ballaghameehan, county Leitrim, have been lodged with the Estates Commissioners, and, if so, how many; and whether he would recommend the Estates Commissioners to intervene in this sale, with a view of bringing about a complete and speedy arrangement?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that this estate is being sold by the owner direct to his tenants. Formal proceedings were only instituted on 5th instant, and up to the present 95 purchase agreements have been lodged. If, when the property is being inspected in its turn, there are found to be tenants who have not arranged to purchase, the Commissioners will consider what action they will take?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the case of the Leigh evicted tenants has been placed before the Estates Commissioners; whether the Commissioners have communicated with the landlord, Mr. Leigh; and can he say what are the prospects of those tenants to get back to their homes?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that proceedings are pending for the acquisition under the provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act of 239 acres of land on the estate referred to, but the lands have not yet been acquired.1:

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, during the period when Mr. Ball acted as county inspector of Kildare, a sergeant and a constable of the 'Royal Irish Constabulary were dismissed for misappropriating 10½d. for car hire; and, if so, why such punishment should be meted out to the rank and file, seeing that District Inspector Rogers is merely being reprimanded for misappropriating nearly; £40 for forage allowance?

The Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary informs me that a sergeant of the Kildare force was discharged in 1900 for furnishing a false voucher in support of a fraudulent claim for repayment of car hire falsely stated to have been expended on public duty. District Inspector Rogers was not reprimanded for misappropriating public funds, but for not having reported that he had no horse at his headquarters while continuing to draw forage allowance. He appears to the Inspector-General to have thought that he was entitled to draw the allowance while he possessed an effective horse and performed the requisite duties on another horse while his own was away. He should have known that this was not permissible, and he has therefore been directed to refund the amount of the forage allowance drawn by him while his horse was improperly away from his station.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any complaints were made to the Inspector-General as to the inefficient policing of Enniscorthy during the nine months that the officer's horse was working at that gentleman's farm in Kildare; whether either the county inspector or the Inspector-General were aware of the animal's absence; and, if horses are not necessary for the efficient performance of police duty, whether the Government will consider the advisability of abolishing them as part of an officer's equipment?

No complaints as to the inefficient policing of Enniscorthy during the period referred to were made to the Inspector-General. Neither he nor the county inspector were aware of the absence of the district inspector's horse. The Inspector-General considers that officers of the force could not be deprived of their horses without detriment to the public service.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, with the view of providing suitable homes and holdings for the evicted tenants as well as to meet the needs of small holders, cottiers, and thrifty and industrious labourers, he will consider the advisability of introducing a clause into his Land Bill to empower the Estates Commissioners to purchase tenants' interests when these are tiered for sale at a reasonable price; and whether he will consider the possibility in this way of providing many evicted tenants with suitable holdings in the neighbourhood of their old homes where they could be materially helped in a fresh start in life by their friends, and of providing land for the purposes of redistribution and the substantial increase of the number of peasant workers upon the soil?

Advances from the Land Purchase Acts cannot be made for the purchase of tenants' interests, and it does not appear to me practicable to provide for the purchase of such interests by the Estates Commissioners as suggested in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have purchased the Lahiff estate, near New Inn, county Galway, and, if so, will he see that the grass land is distributed between small holders in the neighbourhood and not given to graziers?

The Estates Commissioners have not yet acquired the estate referred to, but they have made an offer for its purchase to the Land Judge under section 7 of the Irish Land Act of 1903. The applications of small holders in the neighbourhood will be considered in the distribution of the untenanted lands.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners are prepared to make any advance, and, if so, what amount, to Joseph Mole, who has applied for a sum of £3,275 for the purchase of a farm on the Hopkins estate, Errill, Ballybrophy, Queen's County, which was untenanted, and let on the 11 months' system prior to 29th April, 1905?

The Estates Commissioners are not prepared to make any advance to Joseph Mole for the purchase of the holding in question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state how many days the sergeants and constables drafted into county Meath from the reserve in the year 1908 remained in that county?

The force in question remained in the county of Meath from 4th August to 3rd October, 1908.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, if the same rate of reduction was applied to the police force in the county of Meath as was applied to the counties of Carlow, Cork, Kerry, and Limerick, from which it received drafts in the year 1907, the county would be entitled to a free force greater than that allotted to it, together with the drafts from other counties

further asked whether, if in the last redistribution of the police force the same ratio of reduction w as applied to the county of Meath as to the other counties of Ireland, excluding cities, taken as a whole, the county of Meath would be entitled to what is known as a free force of 233 men, which is in excess of the free force in the county, the drafts from other counties, and the reserve combined, which only amounted in the year 1908 to 222 men; and whether, having regard to the fact that Meath was exceptionally treated by being subjected to a greater reduction in its free quota than the rest of Ireland, the Chief Secretary will inquire into the circumstances of its particular case with a view to arriving at an equitable decision as to levying the cost on the ratepayers of the county?

I will answer these two questions together. The hon. Member's calculations appear to be correct, but the statutes bearing on the subject of the redistribution of the Constabulary force do not contemplate that any common arithmetical basis should be adopted for the purpose of arriving at the free forces to be allotted to the several counties and cities. On the contrary, they provide that the number in each case shall be such as the Lord Lieutenant may consider to be required. That principle was uniformly adopted at the last triennial revision, and the county of Meath was then assigned the free force which it required. The case of that county does not call for any inquiry.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state how many days the police drafted into county Meath in the year 1908 from the counties of Carlow, Cork, Kerry, and Limerick respectively, remained in the county of Meath; whether, having regard to the fact that they were sent to replace men who were drafted out of the county in the same year, they can fairly be regarded as extra police; whether, when police are required for two successive years, they should be regarded as part of the normal force necessary for the preservation of the law; and whether, as section 6 of the 11 and 12 Vic., c. 72, only authorises the Inspector-General, with the authority of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to charge the county with men temporarily sent and gives no authority to charge the county for men necessary for the normal force for the county, he will abandon the idea of charging the county council of Meath with the cost of alleged extra police?

It would not be possible for me to state within the limits of an oral reply the number of days during which each of the sergeants and constables referred to in the question remained in Meath. The detachments in question were not sent to replace men drafted out of the free force of the county, but were in excess of that force. There is no power to vary the free quota of a county except triennially, and any men in excess of such quota required in a county in the interval between the distributions are charged for under Statute.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in cases of estates on which the vast majority of the tenants signed agreements before 1st November, 1908, which were filed with the Estates Commissioners, but one or a few tenants did not sign for some exceptional reasons, these will, if they now enter into agreements, be regarded for the purposes of the bonus as being included in the original sale; have any such cases been brought under the notice of the Estates Commissioners, and, if so, will he state what course has been followed in regard to them; that within the past few weeks agreements have been signed on the Colthurst estate, county Cork, on which it has been agreed that the full bonus of £12 per cent. shall be paid; and seeing that on several estates tenants are being kept outside the sale owing to this difficulty, will he consider the advisability of having some clear understanding come to as to the position of tenants in the circumstances mentioned?

Where some of the tenants on an estate purchased their holdings prior to the 24th November, 1908, and others have either not purchased or have purchased after that date, it is the practice of the Estates Commissioners in a proper case to declare the lands comprised in the holdings purchased prior to the 24th November, 1908, a separate estate in respect of which a bonus of 12 per cent. is payable, but in respect of the holdings purchased after that date a bonus of only 3 per cent. is payable.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will consider the question of facilitating the issue of county stock by Irish county councils to enable them to develop local industries and for other purposes; and if he will introduce legislation dealing with the question next Session?

I have not received representations from county councils which would indicate that there is a general desire that the county rates should be applied to the development of local industries, and in the absence of any such general desire I do not think the Government could undertake to consider the question of legislation for the purpose. I understand, indeed, that in many districts the existing burden upon local rates is already considered excessive.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners can state when they hope to effect the reinstatement of Mrs. Catherine Gleasure in her former holding at Moneen, Glanworth, on the Roberts estate, county Cork, seeing that more than a year has elapsed since this case was referred to an inspector; whether the Commissioners are aware that Mr. Joyce, the present tenant of the holding, who lives near Cork City and merely uses the farm as accommodation land, would not be unwilling to surrender it to the Commissioners in favour of the evicted tenant; and if inquiry will be made into the matter?

The Estates Commissioners have noted Mrs. Catherine Gleasure's name for consideration in connection with the distribution of such untenanted land as may be acquired by them. They have no information as to the alleged willingness of the present occupier to surrender her former holding, but will make inquiries.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he has yet nominated any person to fill the vacancy in the Board of National Education in Ireland; and, if he has not, will he consider the propriety of selecting some person having tin— confidence of the teachers and the working classes in Ireland, as they are most largely concerned in the matter?

The question of filling the vacancy is still under consideration. As regards the latter part of the question, T would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question asked by him on 21st April last.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if, in view of the reasons given to him by the union and district councils of Athlone, county Westmeath, he will advise the Irish Local Government Board to reconsider their refusal to sanction the appointment of two clerks, instead of one joint one, for the two hoards, both candidates being properly qualified and the circumstances exceptional, owing to the fact that the district is divided by the River Shannon?

I understand that the alternative proposals are to continue the clerk of the union as the clerk of both rural district councils as heretofore, and to pay him about £200 a year, or to appoint a clerk of the union at £100 and two separate clerks of the district councils at approximately £70 a year each. I am informed that one official has always been able to discharge the duties of the combined offices, and the view the Local Government Board take is that it is more to the advantage of the ratepayers to have one competent responsible officer, paid an adequate salary, than to appoint three men to do work which can be performed by one at salaries on which it is almost impossible for them to live. The Board do not believe that the services of experienced and competent persons willing to undertake the responsible work of the sanitary and general administration of the districts could be obtained at such low figures. It is true that the rural districts are separated by the Shannon, but there is a bridge in Athlone, and the two councils meet and have their offices in the same building.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the suggestion made by Mr. Louis J. Walsh, B.A., solicitor, at the Magherafelt Quarter Sessions on 3rd May, that a copy of the Douay testament should be supplied for the use of Catholics requiring to be sworn; and whether he will cause representations to be made in the proper quarter to have this suggestion acted upon, not only in Magherafelt, but in every court in Ireland?

I am informed that, as a matter of fact, a copy of the Douay testament for the use of Catholics is supplied to every petty sessions court in Ireland. Why the copy at Magherafelt was not available on the occasion referred to in the question I do not know. The Recorder of Derry, who was the presiding judge upon the occasion, on his attention being drawn to the matter, at once stated that he would have the necessary steps taken to have a copy of the Douay Bible available for use in court as well as the revised version of the New Testament.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that several managers of Irish creameries have refused to send butter to the Department's surprise competitions owing to the appointment by the Department of an incompetent creamery instructor, and the Vice-President's refusal to receive a deputation from the association on the question of future appointments to that position, and that in cases where the managers have so objected the Department have written to the presidents of the creameries with a view to compel managers to forward exhibits and whether, in view of the fact that such action is likely to further embitter the relations between the Department and the creamery managers and thereby militate against the successful working of the Department's schemes in connection with creameries, the Department will cease to resort to this practice?

The Department are aware that an Association of Creamery Managers is endeavouring to induce creamery managers to boycott the Surprise butter competitions which are part of the Department's scheme for the improvement of creameries, with a view, apparently, of forcing the Department to select instructors solely from among its own members. I am not aware that letters of the kind referred to in the question have been written, but the attention of the chairmen of some creameries has been drawn to the fact that sending butter to surprise competitions is an essential condition of registration under the scheme, their participation in which is voluntary. In my judgment the chairmen and committees of such creameries, if they desire to make use of the schemes for the improvement of the industry, would be ill-advised in countenancing this boycott on the part of their employés. There is no ground for the statement in the question that an incompetent instructor has been appointed by the Department.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the Department has taken any further action towards establishing a system of winter dairying in Ireland; and, if so, what progress has been made in the direction of this agricultural reform?

The first year of the extended series of experiments, referred to in my reply to a question on this subject from the hon. Member in February, 1908, terminated on the 30th ultimo, but the results have not yet been furnished to the Deparment. Until the results of this series are available the Department do not contemplate further action.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the wages dispute between the shipowners and seamen still continues in the North and South Shields; if he can state under what circumstances the superintendent at North Shields granted to the master of the s.s. "Eastville" on the 8th inst. the AA form, which denotes that the crew have been signed on in the superintendent's presence, before he had finally completed the signing on of the crew; whether he is aware that the AA form must be produced to the Customs officers before he can clear his ship; and whether he will issue instructions directing superintendents in future not to grant the AA form until the signing on of the crew has been properly completed?

I am informed that a wages dispute still continues, to some extent, on the Tyne. I have ascertained that in the case of the steamship "Eastville" the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at North Shields issued the certificate of clearance outwards before the engagement of the crew had been actually completed, and that this was done under his general instructions, in order to prevent delay in the clearance of the vessel. These instructions have been in force for many years at allports in the United Kingdom, and no change of practice has taken place recently. I fear that grave inconvenience might, in some cases, be caused to British shipping if the instructions were amended in the direction desired by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. W. H. Glover, a certificated second mate in the mercantile marine, who was rejected for colour blindness on coming up for examination in London for a mate's certificate; whether he is aware that, on Mr. Glover's appeal to the Board of Trade, a special test of his sight was ordered by the Department, with the result that he was declared to be colour blind; whether he is aware that, on the case being further investigated by the London Local Marine Board, before whom a distinguished pathologist testified that Mr. Glover's visual powers fitted him for any position in the mercantile marine, judgment was given to the effect that the appellant was not incompetent on the grounds alleged, and his certificate was ordered to be returned to him; and whether, having regard to these circumstances, and to the fact that in the years 1905, 1906, and 1907 20 out of 51 persons rejected on the ground of colour blindness successfully appealed, the Board of Trade will consider the whole subject of sight tests as affecting the mercantile marine?

My attention has been called to this case, and I am aware of the facts, as stated in the question. It is open to any candidate who fails in the colour vision tests in the Mercantile Marine to appeal to the Board of Trade, who remit the case to special examiners for final decision. The tests are based on the recommendations of a Committee of the Royal Society in 1892, and the special examinations are conducted with the assistance of eminent scientific experts in colour vision. The whole subject of the sight tests and the method of conducting them is under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he would get a Return from all the railway companies of Great Britain and Ireland showing the number of free passes issued during the year including 31st March last?

I hardly think such a return would possess sufficient public interest to warrant its compilation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a demand for income tax was recently made to the trustees of the Temperance Society, Loughrea, county Galway, Ireland, on account of the house which the Temperance Society occupies in that town; whether he is aware that the society is carried on entirely for purposes of temperance and philanthropy; is he aware that the house was purchased some time ago by the trustees of the Temperance Society by cash raised entirely in the bank, which presses on the society; and, having regard to the mission of the Temperance Society and the benevolent work which it carries out, will he advise the Commissioners of Income Tax to exempt this building from the tax imposed on house property generally?

I have inquired into the, case to which the hon. Member refers, and I find that there is no provision of the law under which exemption from income tax could be granted in respect of the building in question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether tenants who have purchased their holdings in Ireland under various Land Acts would, on receipt of their vesting orders, be liable to pay income tax, and upon what scale and valuation; whether the re-valuation of Ireland was for the purpose of forming a new basis of taxation; and, if not, for what purpose it was proposed to carry it out?

Tenants who purchase their holdings under the Irish Land Acts become liable to income tax, schedule A, on the poor law valuation, and at the rate in force for the year, subject to exemption if their total incomes do not exceed £160 a year. The new valuation throughout the United Kingdom is to be undertaken in connection with the proposed new land value duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, under the new scheme of taxation, would be the rate applied and the total income tax levied on an income of £2,015, of which £1,995 was earned and £20 was unearned, if the person in receipt of the income had one child under 16 years of age and if the same person had two children under 16 years of age?

The rate of the proposed tax would be 1s. in the £ on £1,995 and l s. 2d. in the £ on £20, giving a total of £100 18s. 4d. As the total income specified is in excess of £500 per annum no deduction would be allowable for children.

asked the Lord Advocate if he is aware that in certain instances the medical profession has been warned against accepting certain appointments, owing to the treatment which has been received by the outgoing medical officers; and if any protection in such cases has been taken to safeguard the interests of the poor?

I am aware that circulars have from time to time been issued by a medical association warning members of the medical profession against accepting certain appointments. In regard to the second part of the question, I have to refer the hon. Member to the answer given by me on the 29th ultimo.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state the number of parishes in the Highlands and Islands that have from time to time, for longer or shorter intervals, been without any medical attendance for the poor, owing to the parish council medical officer having been dismissed from or resigned his appointment?

I am not aware of any instance in which a parish has been without medical attendance to the poor under the circumstnces described by the hon. Member. When a vacancy occurs temporary arrangements are made to provide such attendance until the appointment of a medical officer is made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what information he had respecting the rising in Northern Nigeria which resulted in the death of Lieutenant Vanrenen?

There has been no rising in Northern Nigeria. There was an attack by some Pagan natives on a small body of native police, accompanied by three British officers, one of whom, I regret to say, was killed. The disturbance was purely local, and occurred not far from a place where a detachment of the West African Frontier Force was present.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the American mails sometimes arrive in Queenstown after 3 p.m., the time when the Dublin train leaves; and that they are then taken on to Liverpool by steamer and not delivered in London until 5 or 6 o'clock next evening, which is too late for business purposes; and whether he will consider the advisability of landing those mails in Queenstown and sending them by the 7 p.m. train by Rosslare, which would enable them to arrive in London at 9 o'clock next morning and be delivered in the forenoon at all business places?

I have on more than one occasion in the past given careful consideration to the question referred to by my hon. Friend, and I have recently arranged for the Rosslare and Fishguard route to be used for homeward American mails for South Wales and the South of England when the use of that route will afford any material advantage over the Liverpool route. It appears, however, that the practical difficulties in the way of using the Rosslare route for the whole mails, which are of considerable bulk, are so great that I have not found it possible to adopt that route for the London portion. I will not, however, lose sight of the suggestion.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he would grant permis- sion to men in the postal service to attend in uniform Empire Day parades and open-air services, provided that they do so in their own time and without expense to the Postal Department?

No objection would be raised under the conditions stated to the attendance of postmen in uniform at parades or other functions on Empire Day.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the present rate of wages paid to adult night messengers was fixed by the Select Committee on the basis of the evidence submitted to it; whether the departmental witness acknowledged that the sole work of adult night messengers was the delivery of telegrams and express letters and parcels; whether these messengers are now to be compelled to perform other ditties as well, including the duties of trained cycle mechanics, for which they have not the requisite practical knowledge; and whether he will favourably consider the withdrawal of his recent circular to surveyors extending the duties of these messengers?

The Select Committee considered the case of the adult night messengers and fixed the pay of the class. These men are employed for the purpose of delivering telegrams; but I think it is very desirable that during the periods of waiting for messages they should be employed on indoor work of a simple character, instead of sitting idle. The hon. Member is mistaken in thinking that work proper to trained cycle mechanics is given to the men.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the postmaster of Bicester has reprimanded a man for not saluting him, and has issued an order that all men must do so, and whether, seeing that saluting is optional, he will issue instructions that both the reprimand and the order be cancelled?

I have not received any complaint from the staff at Bicester on the subject. They are no doubt acquainted with the Service Rule to the effect that if they have any grievance they should appeal to me before troubling Members of Parliament.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the negotiations for the direct transmission of sample parcels to Cuba, Venezuela, and Ecuador, to obviate the necessity for their being forwarded via France or Germany, as referred to by him in his Answer to a Question on 11th May, 1908, are likely to be concluded within a reasonable time?

The negotiations are still proceeding; but they have not reached a stage at which any forecast can be made as to the probable date of their completion. The proposed arrangements are in each case at present under consideration of the Governments of the Republics in question.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Committee now considering the recommendations contained in paragraph 553 of the Report of the Select Committee have taken or intend to take any evidence from the staffs; and whether the Report of this Committee will be laid before the House?

The Committee has taken evidence from surveyors, postmasters and others. When I have received the Report I will consider whether it is desirable to lay it before the House.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the vaccination officer for New Cleethorpes has served Mr. W. Truman, of 23, Bancroft-street, New Cleethorpes, with a notice of default, threatening him with prosecution under the Vaccination Acts unless he consents to the vaccination of his son a boy 12 years of age; will he say whether the unvaccinated condition of the child was discovered through the medical inspection at the school; and whether steps will be taken to prevent vaccination officers prosecuting parents of unvaccinated children in cases where such parents had not the opportunity of making a statutory declaration of conscientious objection to vaccination as is now the case with objectors to the practice?

A notice does not appear to have been served upon Mr. Truman, but I understand there was another case in which the vaccination officer, finding that a boy of 12 had not been vaccinated, served the parent with a notice, and perhaps this is the case to which my hon. Friend refers. The fact that the boy had not been vaccinated was discovered from the records in the possession of the vaccination officer, and not through any medical inspection at the school. It was open to the parent within a limited period after the passing of the Vaccination Act, 1898, to apply for a certificate of conscientious objection if he believed that vaccination would be prejudicial to the health of the boy. I cannot interfere with the operation of the law which makes him liable to proceedings if he did not obtain such a certificate.

asked the President of the Local Government Board when the assistant clerks (new class) employed in the office of the Board may expect to receive a reply to the petition which they forwarded to him on the 12th March last asking that a. proportion of the vacancies in the second division staff of that office may be filled by promotions from their class?

The memorial has received consideration, and I are about to send a reply to it.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the West Riding Rivers Board, in order to. administer The West Riding of Yorkshire Rivers Act, 1894, applied to him, upon the 6th January, 1908, in two cases, upon' the 21st February, 1908, in one case, upon the 10th April, 1908, in four cases, upon the 20th July, 1908, in two cases, and on the 19th February, 1900, in one case, under. section 6 of the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1876, for his sanction to take proceedings for alleged pollution of river or stream; whether he will say in which of these cases he has decided to grant of to withhold such sanction; and when he will acquaint the Rivers Board of his definite decisions concerning the remainder, if any?

The facts are substantially as stated in the question. In two of the cases referred to local inquiries have been directed. As regards three of the cases of April, 1908, the Local Government Board are not at present satisfied' that consent could properly be given to-proceedings, and a communication will be addressed to the Rivers Board on the subject. As regards the remaining cases, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the question he put to me on the 10th instant.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he, can say upon what date he intimated to the West Riding Rivers Board that he could not sanction proceedings to be taken under section 6 of the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1876, in the two cases submitted to him upon the 29th July, 1907; and upon what dates, and where, were the local inquiries held upon which he based his decisions?

A local inquiry was not held with regard to these cases. I have not formally intimated to the Rivers Board the view entertained by the Local Government Board with respect to them, to which I referred in the answer I gave to the question put to me on this subject last week. I will, however, communicate with them on the matter.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, in view of the evils arising from the position of thousands of mentally defective persons in our workhouses and the recommendations of the Poor Law Commission thereon, whether the proposals of the Commission have been considered by the Government; and whether some early action can be taken in the matter?

At present I can only say that the recommendations of the Royal Commission on this and other matters are engaging the attention of the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a contractor named Grigg, who is carrying out a contract for the War Department at Shorncliffe Camp, is paying the labourers employed on the job a halfpenny per hour less than the rate of wages current in the district; and whether he will take steps to compel this contractor to observe the conditions laid down in the fair wages clause?

I am making inquiries into this matter.