asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the total amount of the German Navy Estimates raised by loan and the percentage this formed of the total Navy Estimates for the year 1905 and each subsequent year, including 1909; and whether he has any information as to what works of a naval character, such as the enlargement of the Kiel Ship Canal, are financed by loans which are not included in the German Navy Estimates?

:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the number of short-service men in the Navy, giving the various ratings?

The number of special service men in the Navy on 15th April, 1909, the latest date for which complete returns have been received, was 7,306, namely:—

849 able seamen.

786 ordinary seamen.

5,671 stokers (first and second class).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that new petitions from dockyard employés have to be delivered before the 12th instant, he can state when an answer to the last petition of the inspectors of trades in His Majesty's dockyard at Devonport may be expected?

Replies to the last petitions of the inspectors of trades in His Majesty's dockyards will probably be issued within a few days.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the number of the unemployed in the district, he will, before the pending discharges take effect in His Majesty's dockyard at Devonport, cause inquiries to be made as to the possibility of more of the work now being let out to contract being retained in the dockyard?

The question of the number of men borne for Vote 8 work at Devonport Dockyard in relation to the authorised programme of work for that yard is at present under investigation, but no decision has yet been given for any discharges on reduction to take place there.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the length of the period during which the petition of the men of the Admiralty Works Department has been under consideration; and whether a reply may be expected at an early date?

The Admiralty are aware of the length of the period during which the petitions have been under consideration. It is due to certain questions of principle which are involved, but the matter is now under immediate consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in reference to the draft schemes recently issued for the following schools, in the county of Warwick—namely, Atherstone Grammar School, Solihull Grammar School, Stratford-on-Avon, King Edward's Grammar School, and Sutton Coldfield Grammar School—he will reconsider the provision that no boy shall remain in the school after the end of the school year in which he attains the age of 18, with a view to providing that boys may be retained with the permission of the governors, which may be given upon the recommendation of the head master, until the end of the school year in which the age of 19 is attained, in order to encourage boys of the middle or working classes of exceptional ability to proceed directly from these secondary schools to continue their education at Oxford or Cambridge?

In the case of the draft schemes for the Atherstone and Sutton Coldfield Grammar Schools, it has already been decided to raise the age-limit, as suggested in the question, in consequence of a request to that effect received from both the governing body of the school and the local education authority, and in similar circumstances the same course will be adopted in other cases in this county.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether depots for the Special Reserves will be created; and, if so, whether he will consider the claims of Welshpool in this behalf?

As a general rule the depot centre for a Special Reserve battalion is the depot of the regiment of which the, battalion forms a part. Regimental depots are already fixed, and it is not probable that such a depot will be established at Welshpool.

asked whether the Report of the Railway Conference had been received?

The Report has been received by the Board of Trade, and was circulated yesterday (Monday).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he could state the date on which the steamer "Hurford" engaged a crew at South Shields; whether the articles were deposited at the Mercantile Marine Office at that port; whether, afterwards, they were sent on to the Mercantile Marine Office at Cardiff; if, at the time of the completion of the engagement of the crew at that port, the master of the "Hurford" had signed the agreement; whether the master was present at the time the crew were engaged, and whether the AA form had been granted prior to the agreement being duly executed; whether he could state the number of men employed for the deck department, how many of them were qualified A.B.'s, and how many were deck hands or sailors?

I have no information at present with regard to this matter; but I am making inquiries of the superintendents at South Shields and at Cardiff, and will inform the hon. Member of the result in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state at what hour of the night the steamer "Bentley" signed on a crew at the port of Sunderland the fast occasion the vessel was at that port; whether the AA form was issued prior to the agreement of the crew being duly completed; if the superintendent obtained permission from the Board of Trade to suspend section 118 of the Merchant Shipping Act before granting the AA form; whether he can state how many A.B.'s were able to produce three year's sea service; if the Board of Trade instructions are being insisted upon which require that foreign-going steamers of over 2,500 tons gross, or more than 320 feet in length, are carrying eight efficient deck hands?

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the steamer "Bencliff." I am informed that the crew were signed on at midnight on 14th May. 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 two seamen engaged as A.B.s had the three years' service entitling them to that rating. The Board of Trade instructions to which my hon. Friend refers are being strictly carried out.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of British able seamen, deck hands, seamen, ordinary seamen, firemen, and trimmers who were actually selected for engagement at the Mercantile Marine Office, Poplar, during the period from 1st January to 31st March. 1909, inclusive, for engagement on British foreign-going ships, as distinguished from seamen who were selected on board ship or elsewhere; how many such seamen signed agreements at the Mercantile Marine Office and how many on board the vessels; whether he can state the number of Chinese able seamen, deck hands, seamen, ordinary seamen, firemen, and trimmers who were actually selected during the same period for engagement at that office, as distinguished from those selected on board ship or elsewhere; how many such seamen signed agreements at the Mercantile Marine Office, and how many on board the vessels; how many vessels completed the signing on of the crews at the Mercantile Marine Office, and how many on board ships; and whether he will state the total cost of the maintenance of the Mercantile Marine Office at Poplar?

No record is kept of the number of men selected for engagement at the Mercantile Marine Office at Poplar. The number of British able seamen, deck hands, seamen, ordinary seamen, firemen, and trimmers who signed agreements at the Mercantile Marine Office during the quarter ending 31st March, 1909, is estimated at 518, and the number who signed on board at 686. During the same period 194 Chinese seamen and firemen were engaged at the Mercantile Marine Office, and 82 Chinese firemen on board. The crews of 51 vessels were engaged at Poplar at the Mercantile Marine Office, and the crews of 30 vessels on board. The total cost of maintenance of the Mercantile Marine Office at Poplar amounted to £2,250 for the year ended 31st March last. This includes the salaries and travelling expenses of the officers engaged in the work of the Mercantile Marine Office, and incidental expenses, but not the charges in respect of buildings, furniture, fuel, light, etc., which are borne on the Office of Works Vote.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of British able seamen, deck hands, seamen, ordinary seamen, firemen, and trimmers who were actually selected for engagement at the Mercantile Marine Office, Victoria Docks, during the period from 1st January to 31st March, 1909, inclusive, for engagement on British foreign-going ships, as distinguished from seamen who were selected on board ship or elsewhere; how many such seamen signed agreements at the Mercantile Marine Office and how many on board the vessels; whether he can state the number of Chinese able seamen, deck hands, seamen, ordinary seamen, firemen, and trimmers who were actually selected during the same period for engagement at that office, as distinguished from those selected on board ship or elsewhere; how many such seamen signed agreements at the Mercantile Marine Office, and how many on board the vessels; how many vessels completed the signing on of the crews at the Mercantile Marine Office and how many on board ships; and whether he will state the total cost of the maintenance of the Mercantile Marine Office at Victoria Docks?

No record is kept of the number of men selected for engage- ment at the Mercantile Marine Office at Victoria Docks. The number of British able; seamen, deck hands, seamen, ordinary seamen, firemen and trimmers who signed agreements at the Mercantile Marine Office during the quarter ending 31st March, 1909, was 726, and the number who signed on board, 1,157. During the period in question the only Chinese seamen or firemen engaged at Victoria Docks were 13 firemen, engaged at the Mercantile Marine Office. The crews of 95 vessels were engaged at the Mercantile Marine Office, and those of 71 on board. The total cost of maintenance of the Mercantile Marine Office at Victoria Docks amounted to £2,347 for the year ended 31st March, 1909. This includes the salaries and travelling expenses of the officers engaged in the work of the Mercantile Marine Office and incidental expenses, but not the charges in respect of buildings, furniture, fuel, light, etc., which are borne on the Office of Works Vote.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of British able seamen, deck hands, seamen, ordinary seamen, firemen, and trimmers who were actually selected for engagement at the Mercantile Marine Office, Dock Street, London, during the period from 1st January to 31st March, 1909, inclusive, for engagement on British foreign-going ships, as distinguished from seamen who were selected on board ship or elsewhere; how many such seamen signed agreements at the Mercantile Marine Office; how many on board the vessels; whether he can state the number of Chinese able seamen, deck hands, seamen, ordinary seamen, firemen, and trimmers who were actually selected during the same period for engagement at that office, as distinguished from those selected on board ship or elsewhere; how many such seamen signed agreements at the Mercantile Marine Office and how many on board the vessels; how many vessels completed the signing on of the crews at the Mercantile Marine Office and how many on board ships; and whether he will state the total cost of the maintenance of the Mercantile Marine Office at Dock-street?

No record is kept of the number of men selected for engagement at the Mercantile Marine Office at Dock-street. The number of British able seamen, deck hands, seamen, ordinary seamen, firemen, and trimmers who signed agreements at the Mercantile Marine Office during the first quarter of the present year was 770, and the number who signed on board 456. No Chinese were engaged during the first quarter of the year at Dock-street. The crews of 73 vessels were engaged at the Mercantile Marine Office, and 23 on board. The total cost of maintenance of the Mercantile Marine Office at Dock-street amounted to £2,927 for the year ended 31st March last. This includes the salaries and travelling expenses of the officers engaged in the work of the Mercantile Marine Office, and incidental expenses, but not the charges in respect of buildings, furniture, fuel, light, etc., which are borne on the Office of Works Vote. I hope these figures will enable my hon. Friend to revise the inaccurate statements which he made on this subject on the introduction of the Labour Exchanges Bill on the 20th May.

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been called to the delay in the office of the Irish Land Commission in replying to correspondence and supplying information to members of the public communicating with the Estates Commissioners; and, if this delay is due to the limitations on the staff in the offices, does he propose to take steps to increase the staff at once so that communications may be replied to within a reasonable time and the work of the Department carried on with expedition?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the letters received in their office are answered as soon as possible, but that considerable difficulty is at times experienced in identifying the particular cases referred to owing to insufficient or inaccurate particulars being quoted by correspondents. Many of the letters also relate to estates which, having regard to their place on the priority list, will not be dealt with for a considerable time, and, in many instances, such letters cannot be considered until the estates to which they refer have been inspected and ruled on by the Commissioners. Such delays are unavoidable, and would not be obviated by any increase in the clerical staff. Over 50,000 letters were received and dealt with by the Commissioners last year.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have had an inspection made of the holding on the Sherlock estate, Araglen, county Cork, formerly occupied by Mr. David Riordan; whether the Commissioners have estimated the price that they are prepared to offer for the holding; and has the owner intimated his willingness to accept it?

The Estates Commissioners have had an inspection made of the holding in question, and have intimated to the owner their estimated price. They understand he is prepared to sell the holding at this price, and they are in communication with his solicitors on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have been made aware that the holding on the estate of Mrs. Caroline Bourke, Kilworth, county Cork, formerly held by James Donaldson, evicted tenant, and now reported to be in the occupation of another tenant, is merely in the possession of William Doran, a caretaker, who is paid 9s. per week for his services, and that the cattle and stock thereon are the property of the landlord; whether the Commissioners are also aware that the inspector who has reported unfavourably upon Donaldson's claim for reinstatement never had an interview with him to inquire into the case before sending in his report; and whether, seeing that Doran does not possess the status of a present or future tenant, the Commissioners will direct a full inquiry to be made into all the circumstances before deciding against Donaldson's claim for reinstatement?

The Estates Commissioners understand that the person now in occupation of the holding in question is only a caretaker, and that the holding is being working by the owner. They inform me that their inspector interviewed Donaldson's son, who stated that he had come to represent his father. As I have already informed the hon. Member, in reply to a question asked by him on 24th May last, the Commissioners will have further inquiries made when an inspector is next in the district.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the result of the communications which the Estates Commissioners have had with the owner of the farm of Curriheen, Conna, county Cork, regarding the reinstatement of the former tenant, John Mulcahy, whom the Commissioners consider to be a suitable person to work the holding?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the owner is not willing to sell this holding to the evicted tenant at the price estimated by them. The Commissioners have recently published in the "Dublin Gazette" a notice of their intention to acquire the lands compulsorily under the Evicted Tenants Act.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the names of several old persons, claimants for old age pensions, were sent up from the Newry district to the Census Office for searches to be made four months ago, and that no Returns have as yet been received; whether it was understood that new claims were to be dealt with first at the Census Office; whether, in view of the fact that all the names referred to were new claims, he can explain the cause of this delay; and whether, as most of the claimants are from 75 to 80 years of age, the pension officer will be allowed to take certificates from persons of good repute in the district as to the age of these claimants?

I am aware that there is congestion in connection with the search work at the Census Office, but it is unavoidable, as it is impossible with the space available to increase the searching staff. Every effort is being made to expedite matters. Pensions cannot be granted except upon evidence of age which is satisfactory to the pension authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is intended by clause 25 of the Finance Bill to exempt land held by the universities, colleges in universities, and endowed schools?

The hon. Member will observe that clause 25 refers only to land occupied and used for public and charitable purposes, and, in so far as concerns such land, it will certainly be applicable to that held by universities, colleges, and endowed schools. I may add that I am about to receive a deputation from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in regard to the land proposals contained in the Finance Bill, and I think it would be preferable that I should hear the views which they have to lay before me before going further into the matter.