asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received complaints as to the gratuities of pension officers and as to injustice in the distribution of the grant; and whether he will have these complaints inquired into?

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the number of protests which he has received in connection with the distribution of the gratuities of office under the Old Age Pensions Act he will cause the matter to be inquired into, in order that justice may be done to all the officers?

asked what steps the right hon. Gentleman proposes to take to ascertain whether the complaints as to inequality in distribution of the Old Age Pensions Act remuneration to pension officers are well founded?

I will answer these three questions at the same time. Some representations on this subject have been addressed to me, and they are now being carefully inquired into.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received communications from hospitals and similar institutions suggesting a rebate of the duty on spirit used for the purpose of preparing medicines; and, if so, can he state what action, if any, he proposes to take in regard to the matter?

I have received some communication on this subject. I must refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 20th inst. to my hon. Friend the Member for Montrose Burghs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the tax on a barrel, 36 gallons, of beer would be 48s. instead of 7s. 9d. as at present if taxed on the same principles as whisky; and will he explain why this disparity exists between the taxation of an English and an Irish industry?

Assuming the beer to have been brewed at the standard gravity of 55 degrees, and attenuated to a gravity of 8 degrees, the figures given by the hon. Member are approximately correct. I am afraid I cannot, within the limits of an answer to a question, deal with the second point raised by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the materials on which his estimate of the taxable capacity of Ireland as being approximately one-fourteenth of that of Great Britain is founded?

I explained to the hon. Member in the reply which I gave to him on the 19th instant that my calculation was based on the yield of the various duties which are levied in Great Britain and Ireland at uniform rates, i.e., all Imperial taxes except licence duties, railway duty, and inhabited house duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what. was the proportion for 1907-8 and 1908-9 between Ireland and Great Britain in respect of gross assessment to Income Tax, net assessment to Income Tax, and yield of Income Tax and what were the actual figures in each case?

The statistics are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will grant an abatement of the tax on motor cars the property of officers of the Army Motor Reserve, having in view the fact that these cars are employed on the public service and on which the Government possesses a lien at the time of national emergency, and an abatement of the 3d. per gallon tax on petrol consumed by the cars of Army Motor Reserve officers when on duty, considering the fact that, the allowances to these officers are based on a scale commensurate with the price of petrol before the new tax came into existence?

I do not as at present advised see my way to grant the abatements suggested by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the imposition of a Dog Licence Duty in Ireland equal to that in Great Britain?

By the Dogs Regulation (Ireland) Act, 1865, a licence is required to be taken out annually for every dog kept in Ireland, and the licence is issued by the petty sessions clerk of the district in which the dog is kept upon payment of 2s. for each dog, with the addition of a 6d. stamp on the certificate of registration which is required to be endorsed on the licence. I do not propose to make any alteration in regard to this licence or to impose a Dog Licence Duty in Ireland equal to that payable in Great Britain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the appointment of a Departmental Committee to investigate the various current proposals for the conversion of the National Debt?

I hardly think that there are grounds at the present time for the appointment of a Departmental Committee for the purpose suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what figures he bases his estimate of the contribution per head of the population in England, Scotland and Ireland, of the additional revenue expected to be derived from the increased duty on spirits and licence duties in 1909-10?

The apportionment of the additional revenue estimated to be derived from spirits is made in the same proportions as the figures of "True Contribution," shown in the annual Financial Relations Return (House of Commons Paper No. 216 of 1908). The estimated yield of the licence duties in the three Kingdoms is based upon such statistics as are available of the number and annual value of licensed premises, but these are very incomplete, and the estimate is therefore subject to revision when fuller information has been obtained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has given any instructions to the Income Tax authorities that Income Tax at the rate of 1s. 2d. in the £ must be deducted from dividends now being paid for the half-year ending the 31st March last; and, if so, on what ground were such instructions given?

The usual instructions have been given for the deduction of Income Tax at the rate of 1s. 2d. in the £from such foreign and Colonial dividends as fall under the law to be charged at the rate in force at the time of payment. These instructions do not apply to the dividends of companies registered in the United Kingdom.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the petition presented in 1908 by the joiners employed in the Admiralty Works Department has yet been replied to; and, if it has, will be state the nature of the reply?

The petition in question has not been replied to, but the matter is now under immediate consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the establishment in His Majesty's dockyards has been suspended, and that the hired men engaged as skilled labourers, employed working machine tools, not being on the establishment, are thus not qualifying for pensions, he can see his way to revise the decision, recently issued by the Admiralty, and grant such men the nominal status of machinists, without necessarily any addition to their pay, in order that they may thereby become eligible for membership of the great engineering trades unions, and thus provide for their old age?

The matter was carefully considered quite recently, and a way cannot be seen at present to revise the decision which was issued in the Admiralty letter of the 4th instant.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the various markings placed on official documents, with their meanings, as indicating the degree of secrecy and importance of the documents?

As regards books and circular letters officially issued, they are marked according to their description either as "Confidential," or "For the Information of Officers in His Majesty's Service only." As regards official correspondence intended to be treated as confidential, letters, as a general rule, are marked with the word "Confidential" only; occasionally they are marked as "Secret and Confidential," etc.; but this depends upon the authority of the Board, and follows no prescribed procedure. In certain cases documents and letters are marked "Secret," where they deal with subjects which, according to the War Office procedure, would be so marked.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the official inquiry held by the Admiralty into the rela tive merits of British and Norwegian granite is now completed; and whether, in view of the public interest in the matter, he will lay the Report upon the Table?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It is not considered to be in the public interest to lay the Report upon the Table?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the contract price of the two battleships recently tendered for and included in this year's Estimates?

It is considered inconsistent with the public interest to give the information asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether on the arrival at Kinsale on the 3rd February last, from service abroad, of the 1st Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment, trading passes hitherto usually granted to two clothiers from 'Cork and Kinsale, etc., to enter the barracks with a view to obtaining orders for the supply of civilian clothes to the men about going on furlough or leaving the Army, were refused, and the sole right to enter the barracks as clothiers granted to an English firm, Messrs. Patterson and Company, Alder-shot; whether Messrs. Patterson were also allowed the use of a large room inside the barracks to show their goods; who is responsible for permitting this English firm to use the barrack store as an outfitting shop and refusing the right of entry to Irish firms; and whether any consideration was given for the privilege granted to Messrs. Patterson.

Before the regiment left India certain contractors wrote to the officer commanding the battalion for permission to sell civilian clothing to the non-commissioned officers and men going on furlough, and to the reserve on their arrival in Ireland. After the comparison of estimates, Messrs. Patterson and Co. were selected. As this firm had obtained the contract, passes to other clothiers were refused. The firm was allowed to use a shed which they fitted up with a temporary counter and shelves. The officer commanding the battalion is responsible for the arrangements. No consideration was given by the firm in question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he could state how many seamen failed to join British foreign-going ships in the United Kingdom from 1st January to 31st March, 1909, inclusive, and how many continuous discharge books were suspended during that period, distinguishing the port of failure to join?

The number of seamen who failed to join British foreign-going ships in the United Kingdom during the three months from 1st January to 31st March last was 1,840, and the number of continuous discharge books suspended for failure to join under section 65 (2) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, was 84. It is gratifying to note that the figures of failure to join show a marked improvement on the returns for the three months ended 30th September last, asked for in my hon. Friend's question of the 10th December last, in which the number of seamen failing to join was shown as 2,969.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the circumstances under which the steamer "Ben-cliff" engaged a crew at Sunderland on 14th May; if he is aware that a tugboat conveyed the crew from South Shields to Sunderland; whether he can state if the Board of Trade official who was present at the signing on of the crew was an outdoor officer of the Board of Trade or a deputy-superintendent; whether the AA form was granted to the master of the ship before the agreement had been duly executed; whether he can state how many of the A. B.' s produced a certificate proving three years' sea service; if the firemen produced continuous discharge books; and whether they were qualified for the work for which they were engaged?

I am informed that the crew of the "Bencliff" were brought from South Shields to Sunderland in a tugboat, and that they signed the agreement in the presence of two deputy superintendents. The clearance certificate AA was issued in accordance with the customary practice in cases of urgency before the whole of the crew had signed the articles on the master giving a written undertaking to complete the engagement of the crew. The seamen who were rated as A. B.' s proved the three years' service entitling them to that rating, four of the five firemen produced continuous discharge books, and I have no reason to believe that they were not qualified for their work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can furnish Parliament with a copy of the General Instructions issued by the Board to superintendents of mercantile marine offices under the general administrative powers conferred on the Board by the Merchant Shipping Act, Part XIV.?

I do not think that it would be desirable to lay upon the Table of the House the General Instructions to superintendents of mercantile marine offices. These Instructions are issued solely for the guidance of the officers of the Board of Trade, and are of a confidential nature.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the last Report, ordered by section 78, subsection (2), of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, was presented to Parliament; whether that Report contained any record of the suspension of section 118 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and the grounds upon which the section was so suspended; and, if no such Report has been presented, are the suspensions which have been in force for over 12 months regular and binding; and whether, in the event of no Reports having as yet appeared, the date on which such Reports will be presented to Parliament, in accordance with the terms of the Act of 1906, can be given?

The latest Report, for the year ended 31st May, 1908, of the cases in which the Board of Trade have exercised their powers under section 78 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, was presented to Parliament in July, 1908. In no case have the Board exempted a ship from the requirements of section 118 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, under section 78 of the Act of 1906.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that an Asiatic fireman named Mowla Bux Madir Bux, who died of consumption at Hong Kong on 30th December, was employed for some time before his death on board the steamer "Gregory Apear," of Calcutta, where his condition of health was a source of danger to his fellow workers, will the steamship company concerned and other companies be recommended to arrange for the medical examination of crews before they are engaged; and, in the event of infectious disease disclosing itself in the course of a voyage, will steps at once be taken to isolate the sufferer?

As the "Gregory Apear" is owned and registered in India, and is trading in Eastern waters under Articles of Agreement issued by the Indian Govern ment, the Board of Trade have no specific details of all that was done in regard to the illness of Mowla Bux Madir Bux. I understand, however, that it is the practice of many lines employing Oriental seamen to have their crews medically examined before joining, and that it is usual to isolate, as far as possible, members of the crew who become sick on board. I will, however, make further inquiry with regard to the case if my hon. Friend will furnish me with any particulars in his possession.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the proposed Trade Boards Bill is intended to relate to Ireland?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the application of Mr. James Donaldson for reinstatement in his former holding on the estate of Mrs. Caroline Bourke, Rilworth, county Cork, has yet been considered by the Estates Commissioners; if the case has been inquired into and reported upon by one of their inspectors; and when do the Commissioners anticipate being able to effect the reinstatement of the evicted tenant?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Donaldson's application has been inquired into. His former holding is in the possession of another tenant, and the Commissioners are not satisfied that his is a case which should be considered in the allotment of untenated land. Further inquries will, however, he made when an inspector is next in the district.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have received a claim for reinstatement from the late John Kavanagh, who was evicted in 1884, for a holding of 300 acres on the estate of Lady Grattan-Bellew, situated in Ballygeehan, near Rathdowney, Queen's County; and can he say what steps, if any, have been taken towards the reinstatement of his representative, Miss Kathleen Kavanagh, Newcastle, county Down?

No application for reinstatement has been received by the Estates Commissioners from either the late John Kavanagh or his representative, Miss Kathleen Kavanagh.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that despite the recommendations of the recent Belfast Health Commission, buttermilk is still brought into Belfast in manure carts; and whether he will take immediate steps to prevent this danger to the public health?

The Local Government Board understand that it has never been the practice to bring buttermilk into Belfast in manure carts. The empty vessels, however, have been taken into the country in these carts, and the local authority are endeavouring to put a stop to this most objectionable custom.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the property of Mrs. Owen, situated at Kilgrena, Hollymount, county Mayo, was offered for sale last August to the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, what was the price asked for it; are negotiations taking place for the purchase of this property, either by the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board; and has the landlord's official been engaged in marking out 40 acres for the herd?

I am informed by the Estates Commissioners that formal proceedings for the sale of this estate have not yet been instituted under the Irish Land Act, 1903, but at the request of the owner the Commissioners have had a preliminary inspection with a view to estimating the price which they would be prepared to advance. The answer to the concluding portion of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state by whose authority the governor of the Galway Prison acted when he refused admission to Mr. Michael O'Donohoe, J.P., chairman of the Gort District Council, to visit prisoners on 27th March last?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question on the subject asked by him on 28th April, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware of the fact that delegates representing the Gaelic Athletic Association, from the county Galway, at the annual congress of that body held at Dublin on 28th February last, were shadowed by detectives of the Royal Irish Constabulary; whether, on a former occasion, 25th February, 1907, five delegates from the same county were photographed by police detectives at Thurles, county Tipperary; whether these photographs were afterwards exhibited at the police stations at Gort and Athenry, and shown by the police authorities in both towns to various parties with a view of identification; and, having regard to the non-political and non-sectarian aspect of the association, will he explain the object of such proceedings?

As regards the first part of the question it is not the practice to send detectives belonging to the Royal Irish Constabulary to do duty in Dublin, which is not within the constabulary area, and the police authorities inform me that they were not sent on this occasion. There does not appear to be any ground for the allegations contained in the latter part of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, on the 1st May last, a police patrol reported that they were attacked by a number of men on a grazing farm at Castletown, near Gort, county Galway, whom they alleged were driving cattle off the farm, shots being exchanged on both sides; whether a rumour prevails in the locality that this outrage is a bogus one, and that no shots were fired on the occasion but by the patrol themselves; whether the police authorities ascertained from the herd of the grazing farm that the cattle were not disturbed on that night; and, in view of all the circumstances connected therewith, will the Government hold a sworn inquiry into this alleged outrage?

I am informed by the Constabulary Authorities that on the night of the 24th April last a police patrol saw a number of men beginning to drive the cattle off the farm in question. The men ran on being challenged, and, on being pursued, fired on the police, who returned the fire. The herd refused to give any information to the police, but the owner found that the cattle had been disturbed. I have no reason to doubt the accuracy of the police report, and I see no ground for any inquiry.

asked the Chief Secretary whether a tenant who took a lease in 1896, with a covenant therein precluding him from going into a court to have a fair rent fixed, will come within the operations of the clause in the Land Bill dealing with future tenants; and, if not, will he consider the position of the tenants who have entered into leases of the kind mentioned?

As I have already informed the hon. Member for North Longford, in reply to a question asked by him on the 4th instant, the provisions of the Bill, as introduced, apply to every case in which a tenancy, which gave the right to have 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 whether the rules of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland require teachers to give lessons in civic duties to the children; and whether the Commissioners can explain how they expect this duty to be satisfactorily performed when the same rules preclude the teachers from fully knowing or taking part in the performance of such civic duties themselves?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the Rules of the Commissioners of National Education do not require teachers to give lessons in civic duties to school children, but in the programme for National schools and in the notes for teachers it is suggested that, as an alternative to the study of a special period of Irish or British history, a course of lessons on citizenship or civic instruction may be taken up in the highest standard of large schools. Such lessons may deal with the broad outlines of the British Constitution, and include a simple explanation of the more important institutions of government, both local and Imperial. The Commissioners are not aware that there is anything in their Rules to prevent teachers giving such instruction in a satisfactory manner.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have purchased or are in negotiation for the purchase of the Lysaght estate, near Mallow, county Cork, for the purpose of providing allotments of land for evicted tenants and others; and whether the Commissioners will take into consideration the claims for reinstatement of the personal representatives of Mrs. Katharine Hennessy, who was evicted from the holding of Kilmacoom on the estate in 1879, and has since died?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that proceedings are pending for the acquirement of portion of the lands of Ballybrack on the Lysaght estate under the Evicted Tenants Act. The Commissioners are unable to trace the lodgment of any application for reinstatement to the holding at Kilmacoom from any person claiming as representative of Mrs. K. Hennessy.

asked the Chief Secretary how many estates have been inspected and valued for purchase in Ireland by the Congested Districts Board, the sales of which have been delayed because the Treasury refused to provide the necessary purchase-money; and what is the gross total purchase-money at which the Board valued all these estates?

The Congested Districts Board have had inspected and valued for purchase five estates in respect of which negotiations have been postponed owing to want of funds. The total valuation put upon these five estates by the Board's chief land inspector was £313,800.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have yet approved of the proposed sale of the Hopkins' estate, Errill, Ballybrophy, Queen's County, to the tenants; can he say how many holdings valued at £10 and under are on the estate; what was the area of untenanted land on the property on the date upon which the agreements were signed; and will he see that this sale is not approved unless the untenanted land is sold to the Commissioners for the enlargement of the uneconomic holdings and the settlement of the evicted tenants in the neighbourhood?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the advances applied for on this estate, which is being sold by the owner direct to the tenants, have not yet been sanctioned. Three holdings on the estate appear to be under £10 valuation. The owner appears to hold 113 acres of untenanted land, and to have made a new letting, at the time of sale, of 120 acres to Joseph Mole as a yearly tenant. The advance applied for in Mole's case has been refused, and the owner has been asked whether he will sell the untenanted land for purposes of distribution.

asked the Chief Secretary whether there is any rule disqualifying a poor law officer from appointment to the higher positions in the poor law service in Ireland; and, if not, can he explain why no poor law officer has ever been appointed to the inspectorship or auditorship staff of the Local Government Board for Ireland?

It has been the rule when a vacancy occurs to appoint the candidate who in the opinion of the President of the Board is best fitted for the post. There is no qualifying rule disqualifying a poor law officer as such from the positions referred to in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware of the feeling in Ireland in favour of immediate legislation on the subject of poor law reform; and whether he will see his way towards appointing a Commission on the lines indicated in paragraph 299 of Volume I. of the Vice-regal Commission Report, so that a thorough reform of the poor laws may be immediately taken up?

It would not be possible for a Commission to make any progress towards carrying into effect the changes incidental to the recommendations made in the Report referred to until it is decided whether or not county rating is to be substituted for union rating for poor law purposes.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state at what date payments to poor law officials for their work in preparing Returns for the Royal Commission on Poor Laws may be expected; and if he will see that refunds will be made to boards of guardians of the amounts directly paid to officers by them for this work?

The allocation and distribution of Ireland's share of the Treasury Grant to poor law officers for statistical Returns furnished to the Royal Commission on Poor Laws will be made with as little delay as possible, but it is not practicable at present to state the date, as the basis of distribution has not yet been definitely settled.

asked the Chief Secretary if the Estates Commissioners have taken any further steps to secure the reinstatement of Mr. John Reidy, of Kill-eentierna, county Kerry, or to provide him with a holding?

The Estates Commissioners inform me Reidy;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 if he can say whether there is any clause in the Irish Land Bill by which tenants who purchased the interest of the middleman under the 24th and 35th sections of the Act of 1881 can now purchase the interest of the head landlord and have a charge or mortgage on the lands redeemed; and, if not, will he, if it can be shown to him that cases of the above kind exist, insert such a clause and give those tenants an opportunity of becoming the owners of their land?

The Bill as introduced does not in any way deal with cases of tenants who had completed their purchases under the earlier Acts upon less advantageous terms than those granted to tenants under the Act of 1903. If any of these cases are dealt with, it appears to me to be fair that all of them should be, and that would open up a very wide question, which it would not be possible to consider during the present Session, having regard to the size of the Bill and the time available for its discussion.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a sheriff's bailiff named John Ryan, of Bally-gar, county Galway, in executing a writ for costs incurred in a case of contempt of court against Messrs. Hans and Ward on 31st December, 1908, refused to give a receipt for more than £55 11s. 7d., although he insisted on being paid £59 10s., which amount was paid to him in the presence of Sergeant Tourner, Royal Irish Con- stabulary; and whether upon investigation it was proved that he extorted the sum of £3 18s. 5d. beyond what he was legally entitled to, which sum was returned by the sheriff; whether the Crown intend to take criminal proceedings against this man; and whether he will be retained as sheriff's bailiff?

I understand that the bailiff mentioned in the question claimed and was paid more than he was legally entitled to in this case. He seems to have thought that as he had to travel 17 Irish miles to effect the levy he was entitled to charge the additional amount— £3 18s. 5d. — for expenses. The amount overpaid has been, by direction of the sub-sheriff, refunded to the defendants. The question of the dismissal of the bailiff is one entirely for the sub-sheriff to deal with. A prosecution was instituted by Mr. Hans, one of the persons who made the original overpayment, against the bailiff at the Mount Bellew Petty Sessions on the 11th instant, but the magistrates refused informations.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the county council of Roscommon has made repeated protests against the amounts charged in the constabulary accounts for the removal of prisoners, for which recoupment has been obtained from the ratepayers of the county, and that as recent instances the county council have drawn attention to the charge of £15 for a brake and two cars for the conveyance of prisoners from Bally-gill to Ballinasloe, a distance of 4½ miles, £2 for two cars from Kilbarry to Stokes-town, a distance of 13 miles, and for subsistence and cycling allowance to 13 policemen on the same occasion amounting to £5 2s. 2d.; and whether there is any method of putting a check upon the Royal Irish Constabulary in regard to matters of this kind?

I am aware that the county council have expressed dissatisfaction with the charges contained in the constabulary claims furnished to them. In the first of the two cases referred to in the question, £15 was paid for two cars and a brake for the conveyance of 11 prisoners and their escort from Ballygill to Ballinasloe. The double distance was nine miles. The car owner would not go for a less sum, and no one else would undertake the duty. In the second case 12 prisoners had to be conveyed 13 miles. The police could only obtain two cars for hire at a cost of £1 each for the double journey of 26 miles, which is not an unreasonable charge. Four police transport cars had also to be used, for which no charge was made against the county council. The constabulary authorities inform me that the circumstances of the case rendered the road escort of 13 police cyclists absolutely necessary.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Edward Hudson, Lisgarr, Ballyroddy, Elphin, county Roscommon, who had an old age pension granted to him by the Boyle sub-committee, and had the pension disallowed, on appeal by the pension officer, on the grounds that the record of the claimant's birth was not forthcoming; and whether, seeing that this record, with a number of other documents relating to the parish, were burned after the death of Father Egan, P.P., and that it is claimed that Hudson was born on 1st October, 1838, and was married on 3rd February, 1873, the pension will be granted in this case?

The Local Government Board disallowed Hudson's claim, as the evidence he furnished was not sufficient to justify them in holding that he had reached the required age. Apart from his marriage certificate, which afforded no support for his contention, the only evidence he put forward was the mere expression of belief on the part of a neighbour that he had attained the statutory age. It is not open to the Board to reconsider the decision already given, but a fresh claim can be made if additional evidence is forthcoming, and if made will be considered on its merits.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state the amount of the advance made to Thomas Kenny for the purchase of a farm situate at Kilcarron, North Tipperary, formerly Trench estate; and whether he can state the amounts advanced to and the acreage purchased by the above in Galway, King's, and Queen's Counties?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that an advance of £3,260 was made to Thomas Kenny under the Act of 1885 for the purchase of 447 acres of the lands of Kilcarron and Kilquast in connection with the sale of the estate referred to. In the absence of further particulars for the purposes of identification, the Commissioners are unable to furnish the information asked for in the concluding portion of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the police are engaged watching the cattle of Mr. Potts, at Long Island, near Shannon Bridge, county Roscommon; how many police are so occupied, and what is the number of cattle on the island; whether Mr. Potts's herd resides three miles away and visits the place once in every 24 hours; whether the actual herding of the cattle, such as driving them back to the island if they get on to the mainland and the prevention of trespass, is done by the police; whether this is a portion of their duty; and, if not, whether he will see that in future they will not act as herdsmen, but confine themselves to their proper functions?

I am informed by the Constabulary authorities that no police are engaged in watching the 22 cattle on Long Island. Five police arc stationed at Shannon Bridge, and one of their duties, with a view to the prevention and detection of offences against the criminal law, is to patrol occasionally to Long Island. The owner's herd lives over three miles from the island and visits the cattle at least twice daily. Part of the farm is on the mainland and the cattle can pass between it and the island. The police do not act as herdsmen or interfere with trespass.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, from 1897 to 1907, the number of applications by the West Riding Rivers Board for sanction to take proceedings under the Rivers Pollution Acts was 105; whether sanction was withheld in more than 10 of these cases; how many applications have been made to him by the West Riding Rivers Board under section 6 of The Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1876, since 31st October, 1907; how many of these have been dealt with by the Local Government Board; how many have been ignored; and how many public inquiries have been held concerning these cases?

The number of applications between the 1st January, 1898, and the 31st December, 1906, was 104. Of these, 18 were withdrawn by the Rivers Board. The decision of the Local Government Board was postponed in five cases, in four of which this course was taken at the request of the Rivers Board. Sanction to proceedings was given in 72 cases, and withheld in nine. The number of applications received since the 31st October, 1907, is 39. Of these, 13 have been withdrawn by the Rivers Board, inquiries have been held or promised in two, in one case a decision has been postponed at the request of the Rivers Board, and in the remaining cases the Board have not felt able, on the information before them, to take further action.

asked why no local inquiry was held in the two cases submitted to him upon 29th July, 1907, by the West Riding Rivers Board; whether it is incumbent upon him, or whether it has been usual for the Local Government Board, in administering the Rivers Pollution Acts, 1876 and 1894, to hold a local inquiry concerning each application for sanction to take proceedings under those Acts; and whether it is competent for the Local Government Board to refuse such sanction without a local inquiry?

The Local Government Board are not required to direct a local inquiry concerning each application for sanction to take proceedings under the Acts referred to; but an inquiry must be held before they give their consent to proceedings being taken. An inquiry was not held in relation to the proposed proceedings against the Dewsbury and Batley Corporations, which are the cases mentioned in the first part of the question, as the considerations applicable to them did not appear to be such as to render an inquiry necessary.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether, in reply to a deputation of the British Science Guild, on the 31st October, 1907, he said that he considered that manufacturers should be persuaded, and if not amenable to persuasion should be compelled, to deal with efffluents in such a manner as to make them innocuous, and that in many instances this might be done not only at no great. cost to themselves, hat actually to their own profit; and whether, upon that same occasion, he expressed a hope to bring in a Bill in the spring of 1908 to deal with the pollution of rivers by trade effluents; and, if so, what steps he now proposes to take?

The reply to the first two points in the question is in the affirmative. As I have previously intimated, the subject is receiving my attention with a view to legislation.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how he reconciles his administration of the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1876, and the West Riding Rivers Act, 1894, with his declaration 31st October, 1907, to a deputation of the British Science Guild; and whether he proposes to reduce those Acts of Parliament to a dead letter pending the introduction by him, at some unknown future date, of legislation to deal with the pollution of streams and rivers by manufacturers' and other trade effluents?

There does not seem to me to be any inconsistency in this matter. I see no reason to depart from the statements I made to the deputation, but I must necessarily have regard to the fact of proposed legislation in dealing with applications which are made to me to sanction proceedings under the Acts mentioned in the question.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many county councils, county borough councils, and district councils, respectively, have put section 85 of the Public Health Acts (Amendment) Act, 1907, into operation?

I beg to answer this question on behalf of my right hon. Friend. On the application of the local authorities concerned, I have made Orders declaring section 85 of the Public Health Acts (Amendment) Act to be in force in 33 boroughs and 32 urban districts. The Act does not empower a county council to apply for an Order.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the licensing benches in Wandsworth and other places have refused to sanction structural alterations in licensed premises to enable reasonable precautions to be taken by publicans for the safety of children and the prevention of their admission to the public bar by making separate and exclusive entrances to bottle and jug departments at which liquor may be sold, but not consumed, and to which children may be sent by their parents without danger; and whether this course has been taken under any instructions or hints given by himself or any other Department of the Government?

This matter is one entirely within the discretion of the local justices to decide. Neither the Home Department nor, so far as I am aware, any other Department, has any power to give any instructions, or has given any instructions or hints to justices in this matter.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the action of the magistrate at Old Street police court on 3rd May in dismissing a charge against W. H. Taylor, skirt manufacturer, for employing two girls under the age of 16 after the certificate from the district certifying surgeon that they were medically unfit had been refused; and whether, seeing that the two girls were verminous and likely to be a source of contagion, he proposes to take any, and, if any, what, action in the matter?

A Report has been submitted to me with regard to this case, and I understand that the magistrate dismissed the case under the Probation of Offenders Act, on the ground, apparently, that the offence was a trivial one. The certifying surgeon was acting in accordance with the Instructions issued to him from the Home Office, and I shall take such steps as may be judged necessary to enforce the law on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary if he will give a list of men and women who, within the past 15 years, have been placed in the first division, together with the offence for which conviction took place in each case?

The compilation of a list of names would he a very laborious task, such as I should not feel justified in imposing upon the prison staff, unless with some definite object of public importance in view. A summary list is, however, given in the Annual Report of the Commissioners of Prisons (Appendices 1.6a and 16b), which will, I think, serve the hon. Member's purpose.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give a list of the places in England and Wales where there is no Sunday delivery of letters, with an appropriate estimate of the population of such places; whether facilities are afforded on Sunday for obtaining letters by calling at the post offices during certain hours; and generally what is their nature?

The information for which my hon. Friend asks could not be obtained without considerable labour and some expense. As a general rule a delivery to callers on Sundays, between about 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., is afforded at those provincial post offices from which there is a house to house delivery on week days, but not on Sunday. I am always prepared o consider favourably any proposals from local authorities for the reduction of Sunday labour in the post office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether some offices formerly open till 10 p.m. are being closed at 9 p.m. because of the Hobhouse Committee's restriction of women's hours of duty; whether the public are being inconvenienced in this matter because of the unwillingness of his Department to employ a male staff at these offices; and, if not, whether he will state the reason for this curtailment of postal facilities?

The only cases in which the hours of public business at post offices have been curtailed are those in which the work at the end of the day was found to be so small that it was not sufficient to justify the cost of and inconvenience to the staff required to deal with it, and that little or no inconvenience would be caused by the earlier closing.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received an application from the secretary of the Senior Postmen and Lobby Officers' Association, asking him to receive a deputation from that body with reference to the departmental interpretation of the Hobhouse Committee's Report; and, if so, can he state when he will be prepared to receive such deputation?

I have received the application in question, and a reply on the subject will be sent to the association itself.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a communication from the inhabitants of Dunlewy, county Donegal, complaining of the unsatisfactory nature of the existing postal arrangements; and whether he can now see his way to establish an office in the district?

I have received representations for the opening of a post office at Dunlewy from two persons, each of whom wishes to be appointed sub-postmaster. As I explained to my hon. Friend in December last, the amount of business to be transacted is not Sufficient to justify the opening of an office.

asked the Postmaster-General how many of the depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank on 31st December, 1908, had less than £1 standing to their credit, how many over £1 and under £2, how many over £2 and under £5, how many over £5 and under £100, and how many over £100?

I regret that the figures asked for by the Hon. Gentleman are not available. To obtain them would involve a large amount of labour and considerable expense.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what were the number of cases and deaths, and the corresponding rates per thousand, of enteric fever, cholera, plague, and smallpox, respectively, in the Native Army and among the European troops in India in each year from 1900 to 1908?

The Government of India will be asked to furnish a return giving the information asked for.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the conduct of Mr. R. G. Kilby, the additional deputy magistrate of Midnapore, in sucking out the poison from a wound inflicted on his chaprasie by a rabid dog, and that in consequence the deputy magistrate had to go on half-pay, and at his own expense undergo treatment, both himself and his wife, at Kasauli; and whether it is proposed to make any recognition of this act?

The Secretary of State has no information as to the facts, or as to the intentions of the Local Government, but he is glad to have the opportunity of recognising the fact that the conduct of the officer mentioned, if correctly described in the question, was greatly to his credit.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he can state if the sanction of the Treasury has yet been obtained to the appointment of a Departmental Committee to inquire into flax-growing in Ireland; and, if so, what is to be the composition of the Committee, and what the scope of its inquiries?

The Department have not as yet taken any action with regard to the appointment of a Committee of the kind referred to in the question.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he can state the names of places from which applications have been received by the Department for motor fishing boats; and to which loans have been granted in pursuance of such applications?

There was one such application from Arklow, two from the county Wexford, one from Moville, and one from the Island of Rathlin. These are being dealt with by the Department. Applications have also been received for motor engines from men already in possession of fishing boats. Correspondence is taking place in regard to other cases which may result in the receipt of applications for motor boats. One motor boat purchased by means of a loan from the Department's funds has been at work for over a year.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he can state when the Return of Irish Exports and Imports will be issued?

It is expected that the Report on the Imports and Exports at Irish ports for the year ending 31st December, 1908, will be ready for issue in July or August.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), in reference to the agricultural statistics just issued showing an acreage under the barley crop of 154,596 acres in 1908, as compared with 170,431 in 1907; and whether he will state the acreage of that crop for the years 1880, 1885, 1890, 1895 and 1900, respectively?

The particulars asked for are as follows:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, in regard to the transfer of the telephone system of Trinidad from the Commercial Telephone Company to a new Company by the Legislative Council of that Colony, if he can state whether it is the intention of the Government to take steps with the object of the Colony assuming possession of the telephone system?

The whole matter is under the consideration of the Secretary of State, who will shortly address the Governor on the subject. Pending further correspondence, I am not in a position to make a statement.