asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a series of resolutions, from a meeting of the Dunleary line fishermen recently held, respecting the condition of the sea fisheries of Ireland and suggesting certain remedies; whether he has taken them into consideration; and whether the Government proposes to take immediate action thereon to safeguard the interests of the fisheries and fishermen of Ireland?

I have received the resolutions referred to. All practicable steps are being taken by the Department of Agriculture, having regard to the funds at their disposal for fishing purposes, to safeguard the interests of the fisheries and fishermen of Ireland, and the suggestions contained in the resolutions will be carefully considered.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any action recently in respect of the reinstatement of the evicted tenant, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, of Dromina, Charleville, county Cork, No. E 30176/1908; and whether, in view of the fact that two inspectors have visited the holding, and that the present holder is willing to accept a holding elsewhere where the Commissioners may acquire land, steps will be taken to expedite the reinstatement of this widow and her family?

The Estates Commissioners hope that it may be possible for them at an early date to provide the present occupier of Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's former holding with another farm on lands, for the purchase of which they are in negotiation.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will say why Thomas Cullinan, Ballygriffy, Ennis, was not reinstated into the farm at Deerpark, Dangan, Quin, county Clare?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they instituted proceedings under the Evicted Tenants Act with a view to the compulsory acquisition of the lands, but on consideration of the objections filed by the owner they decided that the lands could not be acquired compulsorily under the Act. Cullinan's name has been noted by the Commissioners for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that Bernard Fox, who was evicted from a farm in the townland of Ballymacanallon, parish of Tullylish, county Down, in 1879, has made repeated application since 1903 for reinstatement; that he has been visited by an inspector acting on behalf of the Estates Commissioners, but that nothing has yet been done, notwithstanding the fact that the Duke of Manchester's and other adjacent estates have been sold out since; and will the Estates Commissioners expedite the case?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Bernard Fox's former holding is in the occupation of another tenant. His name has been noted by the Commissioners for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that on the 8th April a writ of summons was issued on behalf of the Irish Society and the proprietors of the Foyle and Bann Fishery Company, and, at their relation, by His Majesty's Attorney - General, against the fishermen in the congested district of North-East Innishowen, claiming not only to stop drift-net fishing outside the Foyle, but the use of any such nets anywhere within territorial waters in the ocean; that the expense of defending such action is wholly beyond the means of the poor fishermen, in which case a decision obtained in favour of the plaintiffs would impair the rights of the public and the Crown, and create vested rights in the Irish Society and their lessees to the exclusive right to fish for salmon in the ocean anywhere oft the Northern Coast; and, in view of the possible consequences to the fishermen and their calling and livelihood, and also to the public right, will he state the circumstances under which His Majesty's Attorney-General is named as plaintiff therein, and also hold an inquiry into the merits of the case, and, if satisfied that the consequences mentioned would follow, he will direct that the costs of defending the public rights will be defrayed out of the public funds?

I am informed that an action has been begun in the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice in Ireland as stated in the question. The questions involved are partly of a private and partly of a public nature. Objection has frequently been taken by Boards of Conservators, and persons interested in angling and inland fisheries generally, to the use of drift nets by fishermen at the mouths of salmon rivers in such a manner as, it is alleged, to prevent the free passage of salmon up the rivers, and one of the questions raised in this action is whether this practice is legal or not. For the determination of this question the Attorney-General is a necessary party to the suit, and he has accordingly allowed his name to be used as a plaintiff by the relators. By doing so, according to the ordinary practice, he does not in any way support the plaintiff's contentions. He merely allows the question at issue to be brought before the Court for determination in point of law, being satisfied that a prim´ facie case has been made out by the relators, who are the real plaintiffs, to be brought before the court for determination. It would be quite out of the question for me to hold an inquiry into the merits of the case, which it is for the Courts to determine. The Court also will have power to award the defendants their costs if the plaintiffs' claim is not established. I could not, without usurping the jurisdiction of the Courts, direct the costs of the defendants to be paid out of the public funds.

asked the Chief Secretary what compensation was paid by the ratepayers of the county Waterford to Lord Ashtown for the explosion which occurred at his residence, Glenahiery, county Waterford, in 1907; and what amounts were paid by the ratepayers for law costs in connection with the trials and investigations which took place with reference to this explosion?

I am informed that Lord Ashtown was paid £140 as compensation, £288 5s. 11d. for costs in the county court, and £20 for costs of the appeal in connection with the explosion at Glenahiery.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether Trincomalee Harbour has been dismantled; and, if so, what use, if any, can be made of its batteries, submarine mines, equipments, stores, and boats?

The naval establishment at Trincomalee was reduced to a cadre early in 1900. The submarine mining equipment, stores and boats were taken over from the War Office, and such of them as were serviceable were appropriated for naval use.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the repair of a motor car belonging to the lieutenant commanding His Majesty's torpedo-boat destroyer "Earnest," on which were employed for about four days about the 31st of April in Chatham Dockyard an engineer, an artificer, and a stoker, was executed at the expense of the Admiralty or of the owner?

The officer's chauffeur was occasionally assisted by an engine-room artificer, who had just been granted re-engagement leave, and so was working in his own time. No Government stores were used, and the officer was perfectly justified in his action in the matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give the names of the principal firms between whom the orders for auxiliary machinery have been distributed since 1st January, 1908, together with the total value of such orders in each case?

The preparation of such a return involves a very considerable amount of labour, which cannot be provided at the present time without great inconvenience to the public service. It would, further, be undesirable to quote the prices.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the allotment of orders for auxiliary machinery amongst firms of accepted standing, any preference is given to the firm making the cheapest tender; and whether any regard is paid to the equal distribution of such orders among the different districts from which tenders are invited?

Preference is given to the lowest tender, unless there are cogent reasons in the public interest for taking a different course. The Admiralty make such endeavours as are consistent with our duty to distribute the orders among the various shipbuilding districts.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a recent statement of Mr. Paul Taylor, the Marylebone magistrate to the effect that the working of the clause in the Children Act relating to admission to licensed premises was having the effect of extending the public-house bar to the public footway, and that it was questionable whether the second state of things was not worse than the first in this respect? and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the working of the Act?

The Secretary of State has seen a newspaper paragraph to this effect, and he has called for a full report upon the working of this provision of the Act in London.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Chief Commissioner is now making a charge of 2s. 6d. each on all cabdrivers after their failing to pass a second time; and whether, considering the poverty of the majority of these men, more particularly in the later stages, he will remove this tax and grant them an unlimited number of tests, the same as as observed when being examined as to their knowledge of London?

Representations were made to me that the rule which formerly existed, under which a candidate for a motor cab driver's licence was only allowed to present himself three times for examination at Scotland Yard, operated in some cases as a hardship. I have therefore recently approved new regulations, under which additional tests are allowed unless it is manifest that the man is lacking in the qualities necessary to make a competent motor cab driver. I have found it essential, however, to impose a small charge of 2s. 6d. for the third and every subsequent test, in order to prevent men from presenting themselves before they are properly qualified, and so adding unncessarily to the work of the examining staff, which is already unduly heavy.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he is aware that expenditure incurred now by county councils for small holdings, though repayable by the Treasury, is not actually repaid until the annual figures have been audited in September or October, 1910; and if the Board can arrange to repay county councils without such a long delay?

Expenditure incurred in proceedings in relation to the acquisition of land is repaid by the Board as soon as it has been paid by the county councils. It is only in the case of the expenses of ascertaining the demand for small holdings that the Treasury regulations require that the accounts of the Council shall be audited before repayment is made. These expenses at the outset may be considerable, but the recurring annual charge will probably be quite a small one, and the date of its payment in future years is not likely to be inconvenient so far as the financial arrangements of County Councils are concerned.

aksed the hon. Member for South Somerset if an application or applications have recently been made by those interested in fishing on the north-east coast for an inquiry as to the extension of the season for net salmon fishermen; whether such inquiry has been refused; and if so, can he state the reason for such refusal?

Yes, representations on this matter have been received from the Tyne, Esk and Wear Fishery Boards. It was the subject of careful enquiry by the Royal Commission on Salmon Fisheries, who reported against the proposal. The Board see no reason to differ from the conclusion at which the Royal Commission arrived.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset if he is aware that net fishermen are prevented from catching salmon after the end of August; that rod fishermen are permitted to catch salmon up to the end of October; that the restriction in the first case is imposed to protect the fish when about to spawn; and, if so, can he state why the men who fish by rod for pleasure should have two months' longer period than the men who fish in the sea by net for a living?

The net fishing season closes in most districts on the 31st August; the rod season two months later. The object of the restriction in the former case is to allow fish to reach the upper parts of the stream for breeding purposes, which they cannot do without considerable difficulty during the netting season. The difficulty does not exist to anything like the same extent in the case of rod fishing, and on this account a longer season can properly be allowed for that class of fishing. The practice is one of very long standing, and its validity was recognised by the Royal Commission on Salmon Fisheries of 1902, as well as by previous Commissions.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset what are the names sanctioned by the Agricultural Department under which water-blended butter may be legally sold in Great Britain and Ireland?

The names at present approved for mixtures of butter and milk or cream are: Alimo, Bradlac, Brenco, Camlaw, Casa, Casana, Casmon, Casoa, Casora, Casova, Consumo, Dalphine, Debeco, Essbee, Esselbee, Froco, Fromaid, Iveldale, Iveldene, Ivelette, Ivelmore, Jensa, Kingstyle, Maldar, Me-no, Nolax, Pearks' Breadmate, Pearks' Bredspred, Pearksown, Samaline, Seeandwi, Subrut, Ve-vo, and Vivum.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether any progress has been made in supplying the applicants in Derbyshire with small holdings; and, if not, whether the President of the Board of Agriculture will appoint an assistant commissioner to assist the Derbyshire County Council in the work?

One of our commissioners visited the county last week, and conferred with the officers of the council as to the administration of the Act. Any further assistance that the council may require will be given them. Progress is being made; one farm of 219 acres has been purchased, and the acquisition of another of 324 acres is under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can state any reason for the removal of Broadway Post Office at Belfast; and whether, in view of the inconvenience caused through this change, he will have inquiries made for the purpose of meeting the postal requirements of this district?

It was necessary temporarily to close the Broadway town sub-office, Belfast, at which a very small amount of business is transacted, owing to the resignation of the late sub-postmaster. A suitable candidate for the appointment is now forthcoming, and the office will shortly be re-opened.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is his intention to convert the present town sub-office at Upper Baker-street into a salaried sub-office; and whether, in view of the position occupied by this office and the large staff employed, he will consider the question of its conversion to a branch office?

It is the intention to make the town sub-office in Upper Baker-street a salaried sub-office. The conversion of the office to a branch office is not warranted.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the British postal officials impose a fine or surcharge on all letters from Australia that have the portrait of Queen Victoria on the postage stamps, on the ground that such stamps are not current six years after the demise of the Sovereign; whether he is aware that such action on the part of the British postal officials continues to excite the indignation of the Federal Government of the Commonwealth of Australia; whether any answer has been sent to the protest forwarded by the Postmaster-General of Australia on 7th April last; what clause and Act of Parliament justifies the British postal authorities in surcharging letters because the stamps on them bear the portrait of our late Queen; and whether he is aware that Australian coinage if it bears the portrait of Queen Victoria is a legal tender?

There is no foundation whatever for the allegations conveyed in the question. No stamps, Australian or other, are regarded as obsolete here, unless they have been declared by the country of issue to be no longer current. Many of the stamps now valid in States of the Commonwealth bear the head of Queen Victoria. I received an inquiry on April 8th from the Post Office of the Commonwealth with regard to a surcharge said to have been raised on a particular letter addressed from Brisbane to a firm in London, on the ground that the stamp was obsolete. Inquiry was made, but the addressee stated that he had destroyed the envelope and could give no particulars. A reply to this effect was despatched on 16th April. The envelope in question must have been marked for surcharge in Australia, as it is not customary to disallow stamps which have been accepted as valid by the office of origin.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the case of Mr. A. Knight, late private of the Northumberland Fusiliers, temporary postman at Horsham, who has on several occasions applied unsuccessfully to be made a permanent official of the Post Office; and whether, having regard to the fact that this man's second period of service as a reservist with the colours in South Africa was exemplary and that during his first period he only had two charges of a serious nature against him, he will consider favourably his application?

Mr. Knight's record while serving with the colours was not sufficiently satisfactory to make him eligible for appointment to a permanent situation in the Post Office, and, apart from this, his medical history is unsatisfactory. Under the circumstances I regret I cannot offer him the situation he seeks.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the notice which has been issued at Sunderland and other places that before an officer can be promoted to an acting assistant inspector of messengership it is very desirable that he should be fully qualified in all respects for promotion, and that attention is drawn to the fact that a knowledge of drill is a necessary qualification; and will he say whether applicants lacking a knowledge of drill, but capable in all other respects, will be debarred from such positions?

The notice to which my hon. Friend refers was the result of Instructions which were recently issued on the subject of drill qualifications. It is very desirable that an officer promoted to an acting assistant inspectorship of telegraph messengers, or, indeed, to any situation in the Post Office, should be fully qualified in all respects for promotion. A knowledge of drill is one of the essential qualifications for the post of acting assistant inspector of telegraph messengers, and the notice referred to was issued with the view of making this fact quite clear to the staff and of urging candidates for these posts to obtain the necessary drill qualification. I may add that, generally speaking, any officer fully qualified in all respects except drill would be given an opportunity of acquiring the necessary drill knowledge.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of subscribers on the Post Office telephone system for the financial years ending in 1906, 1907, 1908, and 1909; the number of complaints received from subscribers concerning overcharges for calls during those years; and in how many cases of complaint against overcharges have allowances or rebates been made on accounts for calls in those years?

The statistics for which my hon. Friend asks are available for the Post Office system in London. It would be difficult to give them in a verbal reply, and I am, therefore, sending them to him. Similar statistics are not available for the Post Office telephone system in the provinces.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the large number of small local post offices that are compelled to be kept open at stated hours on Sunday, thereby depriving the postmaster or postmistress of their Sunday day of rest without any remuneration, and in view of the very considerable saving that would be effected by doing away with the Sunday service, he will make special inquiry into the public sentiment on the matter?

Sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses receive remuneration for Sunday attendance. As I stated in my reply to my hon. Friend's question on the 10th instant, it is my wish to discourage Sunday labour as far as possible in the Post Office. With that end in view I have taken steps to ascertain local opinion on the question of restricting the hours during which Post Offices are open on Sundays in England and Wales and Ireland. The hours in Scotland are already restricted.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has now received a Report of the Board of Trade inquiry into the total loss of the "Isle of Erin" with all hands off North Ronaldshay on 19th October, 1908; if his attention has been directed to the finding of the court that a large part of the shipping between established between North Ronaldshay and Sanday, not only on the ground of the advantage to the 460 inhabitants of the island, but with reference to the fact that a large part of the shipping between the North Sea and the Atlantic passes the lighthouse at North Ronaldshay, which would form a desirable signal station, so that in the event of any ship being in distress effectual assistance could be promptly rendered from neighbouring ports in Orkney; and if the experiments in wireless telegraphy are now sufficiently advanced to enable a telegraphic station to be established at North Ronaldshay without further delay?

I am aware of the finding of the Board of Trade. The data regarding a wireless installation between North Ronaldshay and Sanday are still incomplete, especially as regards the cost and the annual charges for working and maintenance, which, I fear, may prove to be prohibitive.

asked the Postmaster-General why the officers who qualified at the recent examination for sub-engineers have not been furnished directly by the Civil Service Commissioners in the usual way with a statement of the marks obtained by the candidates?

The examination in question was a qualifying examination for officers already in the service of the Department, and I have ascertained that in such cases the Civil Service Commissioners do not as a rule communicate the result to the candidates.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the scheme which he proposes introducing with reference to sub-engineers was formulated as a consequence of the Hobhouse Committee's Report; if so, whether he will state if the promotion of the 63 qualified officers will take effect from the date of that Committee's Report; and, if not, whether he will state on what date the officers referred to will be promoted?

Those sub-engineers who have recently passed an examination qualifying them for promotion will be promoted as soon as practicable. Their promotions will take effect, in ordinary course, from the dates on which they take up the higher duties, provided that they have then been granted certificates as second-class engineers by the Civil Service Commissioners.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a communication from the secretary to the Society of the Post Office Engineers with reference to the recent examination for sub-engineers; and, if so, when the secretary may expect to receive a reply to the same?

The communication in question has been received and is under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that it was stated in the Post Office Circular of 15th December last that an announcement would shortly be made regarding the method of procedure to be followed by persons afflicted with telegraph cramp, he can state when this announcement will be published?

Some inquiry was necessary before the announcement could be published. I recently approved it, and it will appear next week.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the continued unemployment and the advantage that would accrue to the public service, he will now cause to be carried out the contemplated work of placing underground the telegraph wires to Dundee and the North of Scotland?

As my hon. friend is aware, the amount of money which can be expended on underground work in each year is limited by financial and other considerations, and gives equal employment wherever it is expended. As he is also aware, the present year's expenditure is to be devoted to the continuation or completion of certain lines which have already been begun.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that at the Oldham office 23 male telegraphists out of a number of £4 are weekly listed for some form of night attendance; whether the majority of these officers have for a long period been compelled to perform overtime involving in some cases two or three extra attendances; whether vacancies have been in existence for a considerable period; and whether, in view of the frequent complaints made by the staff, he will inquire into the conditions prevailing at this office and cause the necessary permanent staff to be provided?

Twenty-two of the 24 duties for male sorting clerks and telegraphists at Oldham involve attendance either after 8 p.m. or before 6 a.m., the recognised period of night duty. Certain vacancies have existed for some time, but only in the case of one officer has more than one additional attendance been required on this account. The vacancies will be filled as early as circumstances permit, and it is hoped that some improvement in the attendances will be practicable.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what alterations have recently been made in the Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, to make the place more attractive and useful?

The alterations and improvements made in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, during the last three years are so numerous that I will hand to my hon. Friend a list of them rather than trouble the House by reading it in full.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he will state on what date the Palace of Holyrood, Edinburgh, is to be open for the first time on Sunday, for what hours, and if on every Sunday, whether any arrangements have been made to give the men employed a day of rest through the week, and if any change is to be made in their wages?

By permission of His Majesty the Palace of Holyrood House will be opened for the first time on a Sunday on the 13th proximo. It is proposed that the historical apartments shall remain open on Sunday afternoons from April to September inclusive, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m., and during the remainder of the year from 1.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. The palace will be closed to the public on Fridays throughout the year to enable the necessary cleaning to be done. The warders will be relieved from duty in the galleries on Fridays, but one man will be required at the front entrance on that day to prevent the admission of unauthorised persons, and he will be relieved from attendance on the following Sunday. The warders will also receive an addition of 1s. per week to their wages.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will cause inquiries to be made through His Majesty's representatives in foreign countries, more especially in France, Germany, Austria, and Hungary, and report what measures have been taken by the Governments in those countries to prohibit gambling in futures and options, particularly in foodstuffs, in the produce exchange markets?

Information on this subject was procured at the instance of the hon. Member and published in the Paper Cd. 3,280 of 190V. I will have inquiry made as to whether any changes have been introduced into the legislation of the countries specified in the question since the date of the Paper referred to.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether the Norwegian Government give a preference to Norwegian manufacturers, apart from the usual Customs duties, in granting Government contracts; and what is the amount of the preference?

The answer is in the affirmative. The preference is understood to amount to from 10 to 15 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether reports were made to the War Office in August, 1907, that several thousand Martini-Henry rifles had been sold in New Zealand to a British firm; and whether he can account for the fact that a number of these rifles have been smuggled into Afghanistan?

The Reports to the effect stated were not received in the War Office until January, 1908. The Governments of the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand have intimated a course of action which will prevent such sales in future.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the intention eventually to arm the Yeomanry with swords, he can say about how much time out of the annual fortnight's training will be given to learning the use of the sword; and whether he is aware that German troops who use the sword are trained for three years?

It is not proposed to devote any of the annual training to learning the use of the sword. As regards German troops, if the hon. Member is alluding to the cavalry the statement is accurate.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that he has given their mobility as a reason for depriving the Yeomanry of bayonets, he will say how near opposing troops armed with bayonets are to be allowed to approach before Yeomanry retire; is he aware that the German cavalry are in future to be aimed with bayonets as well as swords; and what cavalry, if any, will be attached to the Territorial Army who could oppose the cavalry of an invading force?

In the first part of the question, which can scarcely be intended to be serious, the hon. Member has overlooked the fact that the object of the mobility of mounted troops is to take offensive action. As regards the second part of the question, he has been misinformed: the German cavalry are experimenting with the bayonet with the view of its replacing the sword. The last part of the question is purely a matter concerning plans for home defence, upon which I do not propose to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Yeomanry are to be armed with the short rifle; and whether he can state when these rifles will be issued?

The Yeomanry are to be armed with the short rifle, and orders for the issue of the rifles were given yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes to maintain the bayonet as a weapon for the Yeomanry; and, if not, whether there would be a saving to public funds if the bayonets at present issued to Yeomanry were recalled, so as to be available as a reserve until the new bayonet had been issued to all the infantry of the Regular Army and Territorial Army?

The reply to both questions is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether, in view of the fact that on the 10th May it was stated that the Yoemanry will not be armed with the sword, and on 11th May that it is not the intention to issue sword-bayonets to the Yeomanry after they are supplied with short rifles, he is aware of the principles of the employment of cavalry indicated in section 144 of cavalry training, 1907, issued by command of the Army Council; and whether he will consider the question of so arming and training the Yeomanry as to fit them to carry out what is acknowledged by our own and all foreign military experts to be the most important role of mounted troops?

In view of the limited period available for training the Yeomany, at all events until they are embodied, it is impossible to do more than instruct them in the use of the rifle, together with the other important mounted duties specified in section 2 of cavalry training as modified by section 210.

asked the Secretary of State for War what incident occurred between 10th May and 11th May which caused the apparent change in intention with regard to the arming of the Yeomanry, seeing that on 10th May it was stated that the Yeomanry would be armed, as at present, with rifles and sword-bayonets, while on 11th May it was stated that it is not the intention to issue sword-bayonets to the Yeomanry when the new short rifle is issued to them; whether there is any object in retaining the sword-bayonet in the meantime; and whether the new short rifles are likely to be issued during the current year?

There was no change of intention between the two dates mentioned. The reply of 11th May was intended to be an amplification of that given on 10th May. Orders for the issue of the new rules were given yesterday.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he has received a statement of the cost to the ratepayers of Cambridgeshire caused by circular 709; and whether, having regard to the high standard of the schools in this area, he will modify his demands?

I have received through the hon. Member himself a statement of the estimated cost in this area, and I am referring the details to His Majesty's Inspector for examination. I have, however, ascertained that in a considerable number of cases the standard of staffing recognised by the local education authority themselves as desirable and embodied in their staffing scale is not in fact maintained. In those schools the improvements which the circular contemplates would, in any case, be necessary to satisfy the authority's own scale, and the cost of these improvements is, therefore, not fairly attributable to the new regulations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the yield in Trinidad of taxation per head for the years 1878 to 1908 inclusive; and what taxes, if any, have been remitted during that time, and what fresh taxes have been imposed, and when?

Particulars of the receipts from taxation in Trinidad are given in the Reports on the annual Blue Book which are presented each year to Parliament. The various taxes in force in any year are shown in detail in the Blue Book for that year, which can be consulted in the library at the Colonial Office. The different taxes and their rates cover several foolscap pages in each Blue Book, and, as many of them have been varied during the 30 years in question, if not actually "remitted" or "imposed," it would be quite impracticable to give the information asked for within the limits of an answer to a question. If my hon. Friend will limit the scope of his question I will endeavour to supply him with the information he desires.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state whether the Trinidad Government are arranging to hand over the telephone service to an outside company, giving at the same time power to restrict use and increase prices; and, if so, can he state whether it is the intention of the Government to intercede with a view to preventing such handing over, and so retain the telephones in the hands of the Government, the same as decided in this country?

The telephone system is not the property of the Government; the Legislative Council have had before them a Bill providing for the transfer of the telephone system from the present owners, namely, the Commercial Telephone Company, to a new company on certain conditions. This Bill has not yet received the Governor's assent, and its provisions are engaging the attention of the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state whether the Committee recently appointed to inquire into the duties of His Majesty's Customs and Excise will have under its consideration the various points as to service, scale of pay, overtime, promotion, etc., raised by the waterguard deputations a year ago; and, if not, can he state when replies to the points raised may be expected, especially in view of the increased responsibilities and vigilance due from these men owing to the increase of duty on tobacco and spirits?

The position of the waterguard does not fall within the reference to the Committee mentioned, but until the inquiry of that Committee is further advanced I fear I shall not be in a position to say whether the points raised by the deputations can be decided separately.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the intention of the Treasury to give the increase of £10 specified in the new scheme for assistant clerks to all those men who have completed five years on their present maximum, provided that their character and efficiency have been reported on as satisfactory?

The answer is in the negative. The further increases are intended, as the Treasury Circular of 22nd December last points out, to be applied to a limited number of cases only, and as a reward of special merit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in computing the value of a small holding to a claimant for an old age pension in Ireland, allowance may be made for the maintenance of a child necessarily employed on that holding; whether instructions have been issued to pension officers in England that such allowance should be made; and whether instructions to the contrary have been issued to pension officers in Ireland?

Where a net estimate of income is made on the basis of the rent payable no allowance is made, but where the gross profits of farms are computed from information obtained as to crops, slock, etc.. an allowance is made. No instructions in a contrary sense have been given in England.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state approximately the total amount of Imperial taxation expected to be levied in Ireland during the present financial year?

It is estimated that the total amount of Imperial taxes to be contributed by Ireland during the present financial year will be, approximately, £8,434,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received resolutions protesting against the imposition of increased Imperial taxation in Ireland from the All-Ireland meeting recently held in the Mansion House and from the Chamber of Commerce, Dublin, and many other representative public bodies in Ireland; and whether he intends to modify his Budget proposals in accordance with those resolutions, and to carry into effect the terms of the Union with respect to the taxation of Ireland?

I have received the resolution passed at the meeting referred to by the hon. Member, together with resolutions from the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and other bodies in Ireland. I do not, however, consider that adequate reasons have been adduced for modifying in their general lines the financial proposals which I laid before the House on the 29th ultimo, and which do not appear to me to conflict with the provisions of the Act of Union.