asked whether, on the occasion of the King's birthday, it is intended to grant the same holiday to the men employed at the Deptford Victualling Yard and the West India Dock Naval Stores as to those engaged at Woolwich and Pimlico?

It is not proposed to make any change in the present year.

Will a holiday be conferred on the Navy on account of the King having won the Derby?

When these men get a holiday do they get any pay?

Yes; the holiday on the King's birthday is at present paid for, but I do not think that is the substance underlying the question of the hon. Member for Deptford.

asked what, in the opinion of the Admiralty, are the relative values, for the purpose of computing the two-Power standard, of battleships of identical fighting power at Kiel, Toulon, Pola, Nagasaki, San Francisco, and New York?

May I ask, before the question is answered, whether any useful purpose is served by answering the question in view of the fact that the two-Power standard has been abolished?

The relative values of battleships of identical fighting power in these respective ports would be one of equality.

But for the purpose of the two-Power standard which is that of an aggressive fleet of foreign ships against a defensive fleet of British ships in home waters, what would the relative value of those ships be?

The hon. Member has not stated to me where he pre-supposes the battle fleets are to come in contact with each other.

asked how many battleships, armoured cruisers, other cruisers, scouts, and destroyers were present at the review of the Fleet at Spithead on 12th June; were all these ships in full commission; and how many of each class were laid down since 1st April, 1906?

24 battleships, 16 armoured cruisers, 7 other cruisers, 4 scouts, 46 destroyers. All were in commission with full crews. Three of the battleships, the "Bellerophon," "Tememire," and "Superb," 1 armoured cruiser, the "Invincible," and 1 destroyer, the "Mohawk," were laid down since 1st April, 1906.

In view of the fact that only 10 per cent. of these ships were provided by the present Government is there any intention at once to proceed with the four additional battleships?

I do not see the immediate connection between the premises and the conclusion.

asked for what purpose the South Atlantic Squadron was constituted in 1904; and why it was abolished the same year?

The South Atlantic Squadron was constituted for convenience of administration in 1903 from the vessels employed on the South East Coast of America and West Coast of Africa. The squadron was withdrawn at the end of 1904 as part of the general scheme of redistribution of the fleet which took place at the time.

Could the right hon. Gentleman answer my question? For what purpose it was constituted? What was the object of placing the ships in those waters?

I think any question as to the purpose of the administration in 1903 had better be addressed privately to the hon. Member for Fareham.

Am I to understand that I am not to address the right hon. Gentleman as the responsible Minister in charge of the Admiralty?

The hon. Gentleman asked me about the purpose for which a change was made in 1903. I suggest that any question as to what the purpose may have been should be addressed to the hon. Member for Fareham.

asked what number of Royal Marines were on shore and embarked on each 1st April for the last five years?

The number of Royal Marines who were on shore and embarked on each 31st March for the last five years were as follows:—

Does not this great diminution in the number of Marines ashore greatly diminish their military efficiency?

No, I do not think that follows.

asked how many active-service ratings remained available on shore on 12th June?

This information cannot be given without reference to the Home Ports, and cannot be obtained in time to answer this question on the day for which it is put down.

asked whether steps are being taken to fit warships with any guns capable of firing at such an elevation that they may be used conveniently against airships?

The design of mountings suitable for this purpose has been commenced with a view of supplying them to ships should future experience show this to be desirable.

asked whether the Royal Naval Reserve is trained on ships with nucleus crews or in full commission; and what was its strength on 1st April last, and on the same date in 1906?

As a general rule the training of executive officers and seamen and stokers of the Home Royal Naval Reserve takes place in ships with nucleus crews—that is to say, the Third Division of the Home Fleet; but when more convenient—for instance, when ships are in Scotland—men are embarked for training in fully-manned ships. Warrant engineers and engine-room artificers of the Royal Naval Reserve carry out their training in fully-manned ships. The strength of the Home Royal Naval Reserve on 1st April, 1906, was 1,965 officers, 27,209 men; total, 29,174. And on 1st April, 1909, 1,836 officers, 20,216 men; total, 22,052.

May I ask whether this diminution of 7,000 may not be due to the objection of the men to serve in the nucleus crews of the ships?

Oh, no, Sir; the diminution was contemplated at the time the change was made in 1906.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any official information to show that one of the capital ships of the German naval (1909) programme is to be constructed in the imperial yard and the contract for the other would be placed with a private firm; and whether, having regard to the previous announcement that the contract for these vessels would be withheld until after the conditions for tendering had been drawn up late in the summer, the provision made in the present Navy Estimates for the laying down of four battleships in the current financial year is sufficient?

We have no official information as to the facts alleged in the first part of the question.

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman has any unofficial information on the subject?

I only know the circumstances which are known to the hon. Gentleman opposite. He probably read the statement in the newspapers which I have read.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has yet received the promised Report on the jury system in the Gold Coast Colony and West Africa generally; and, if so, will he lay it upon the Table?

The Governors of the West African Colonies and Protectorates have been requested to furnish the reports to which the hon. Gentleman refers; but, as it will be necessary for them to consult their law officers and the judges, and, having regard to the time required in any case to receive replies from the Governors by post, I am afraid that it will be some time yet before all the Reports are received.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the number of natives indentured for labour inside the New Hebrides group during 1908 and 1909; and how many were indentured for labour outside the group, male and female respectively, and to what territories they were assigned?

The particulars at present available are as follows: For the year ended 31st December last the British Resident Commissioner issued 20 licences to recruit a total of 730 labourers for service with British subjects within the group. Up to the 31st October last the engagement of 155 labourers under these licences had been notified. For the current year the Resident Commissioner has issued three licences to recruit 85 labourers for service with British subjects within the New Hebrides. No natives of the New Hebrides have been recruited for labour outside the group in any place under British control. Further particulars, with which I shall be happy to supply the hon. Gentleman, are expected to arrive in a few weeks.

May I ask if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will secure the figures covering the natives recruited for other British territories outside, such as New Caledonia?

Well, as I explained in my answer, no natives can be or will be recruited for New Caledonia outside the group by our own officials, but under the condominium it is possible for French agents to recruit for work outside the group. On that I will endeavour to obtain information, but it may be difficult to get it.

May I ask if the Government do not require their Resident Commissioner to send these figures regularly, so that we may have a general understanding as to the recruiting of natives, both for our own territories and others outside?

I think the figures will be available, but I wish to enter a caveat, and state that we are dealing with this matter under the condominium between England and France. I am not quite certain that the figures will be available, but I will endeavour to get them.

May I ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman whether he will publish the terms under which licences to recruit are granted?

Of course, the terms of the agreements have already been made public, but if there is any general wish that I should lay further Papers on the subject I will be glad to do so.

It is the form of the licence granted to the recruiting agents I refer to.

If my hon. Friend will put down a question on the Paper I will be glad to answer it.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman inform us whether the recruiting of women and children is prohibited by the French?

That I am not quite sure of.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman endeavour to ascertain?

I will.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to give the promised information respecting the recent dismissal of three British inspectors of education in the Orange River Colony, and, in particular, what are the reasons alleged for such dismissal; and whether any opportunity was given to the officials to explain or defend themselves against the charges, if any, made against them?

The Secretary of State has not yet received a full statement of the facts, but has been informed by the Governor that in the opinion of his advisers the inspectors in question were guilty of perverse misconstruction of Ministerial and Departmental instructions in regard to the recent Education Act, thereby showing want of sympathy with the purposes of the Act, if not actual opposition to it, and rendering their further retention of office impossible. No definite charges are understood to have been preferred. The action taken appears to have been within the competence of the Government, and has been approved by the Legislative Assembly. It is understood that any leave and pension privileges which the officers may possess will be recognised.

Do His Majesty's Government propose to take any action with regard to this matter, or are they awaiting further information on the subject?

I am not very clear what action we could take, because the matter is one within the competence of a self-governing colony. In any case I think it would be no doubt wise to wait for further information. I observe in yesterday's papers that Mr. Brown, who is not unfavourable to the British official view, was reported to have defended the Government on this matter, and I think, to have said that the Government has been unfairly treated. That was in the "Morning Post" of yesterday, so that there must he some further information which has not yet come to hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the agreement between Russia and Persia providing for certain preferential and exclusive rights in respect of railways within the latter, in favour of the former, country is still in force?

I am not aware that there is any such agreement as is described by the hon. Member. But if he refers to the Agreement which formed the subject of the reply to the hon. Member for the Ripon Division on the 10th instant, the answer is that that Agreement is still in force, as far as His Majesty's Government are aware.

May I ask whether there was any agreement in existence before the recent troubles came on?

Not that I am aware of. The hon. Gentleman is aware that there was no agreement for the construction of railways.

asked whether any steps have yet been taken to reform the administration of the Works Department in Egypt?

All the information in my possession on this subject is contained in the last paragraph of section 25 of Sir Eldon Gorst's Annual Report for 1908. (Egypt, No. 1, 1909, page 24.)

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the late Consul-General for Egypt reported that the administration of this Department was simply scandalous?

I think if the hon. Gentleman will refer to that paragraph he will see that reforms have been effected and are now at work.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the letter addressed by Mr. Roosevelt to His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington, in which acknowledgments were expressed to Ireland and Sir Horace Plunkett, was forwarded to the Irish Office?

My right hon. Friend has already in effect answered this question. He has stated that he consulted the Chief Secretary for Ireland as to whether there was any reason for departing from the usual practice of not publishing officially private communications of this nature. Of course, my right hon. Friend asked the Chief Secretary to peruse the letter.

Am I to understand that the Foreign Office considers that this communication from President Roosevelt was a private communication, and not intended for publication?

Certainly it was a private communication.

Is it not a fact that this letter has been published by Sir Horace Plunkett, both in America and in Ireland, until we are all sick of it?

It has been published.

I would say that the hon. Member for East Mayo (Mr. Dillon) should speak for himself.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there has been any change of plan with reference to the evacuation of the island of Crete by the troops of the protecting Powers?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will explain the rules or practice governing the opening of the letters of private persons while passing through the Post Office, especially how it is that, while there is no instance of crime being prevented or detected by opening the letters of known criminals, letters to and from persons acting in the public interest and from public motives, if troublesome to the Government, are opened in transit; and whether the right of the Department to open private letters is claimed in the public interest or only in the interest of the Government for the time being?

The only provision in the Post Office Regulations of the kind re- ferred to by the hon. Member is that authorising the opening of letters which prove to be undeliverable, for the purpose of securing their return to the senders. The Postmaster-General and his officers have no power to open letters for any other purpose, except under the express authority and direction of a Secretary of State, or, in the case of Ireland, of the Lord Lieutenant, issued in virtue of section 56 of the Post Office Act, 1908, which reproduces the earlier statutory enactment contained in 1 Vic., cap. 36, section 25. It is not within my province to deal with the other points raised in the hon. Member's question.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the inquiry into a complaint made in January of last year respecting the firm of Charles Webster, Limited, mail contractors, not observing the fair wage clause in the payment of the farriers in their employ has yet been completed; if so, will he state with what result; and whether he can state the amount of the present contract, and when it terminates?

I have recently called upon Messrs. Charles Webster, Limited, to increase the wages paid to the farriers whom they employ in connection with their contract for mail cart services; and I hope to arrive at a satisfactory arrangement with them. The contract will terminate on 30th June, 1910.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the medical men attached to his Department are refusing to accept persons for employment unless they can exhibit good marks of primary and secondary vaccination; and whether this is done with his sanction?

Candidates for employment in the Post Office who have a conscientious objection to re-vaccination are allowed exemption therefrom on making a statutory declaration to the effect that they conscientiously believe that re-vaccination would be prejudicial to their health. Primary vaccination is, however, necessary. There is no reason to suppose that the rules are not properly observed; but if any case thought to have been improperly dealt with is brought to my notice I will have inquiry made.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state why Mary Mulhern, Stragally, Strabane, who received the old age pension for over four months, has now been refused further payment at the post office at Commeen; and will he say whether she can renew her application and prove that she is over 70 years of age, if that be the ground of refusing her the pension?

I have already asked the hon. Gentleman to postpone the question for a week or 10 days. That time has not yet elapsed, and we have not yet obtained the further information that he asks for. If he puts down the question for this day week I hope then to have the information.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it has been postponed three times?

Yes.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the Congested Board propose to take any steps to provide land for the landless families of six cottars of South Shaldbest, who recently, to save their children from starvation, planted potatoes on a corner of Dalbeg Farm, Island of Lewis; and whether he is aware that the heads of these families are men of unblemished character, and all have served for long terms in His Majesty's military and naval forces?

The men referred to, whose description as given by my hon. Friend I have no reason to doubt, have chosen to take the law into their own hands by entering on and utilising land for which another person pays rent, and I cannot admit that such action constitutes a claim on the Congested Districts Board. As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 28th April, the Board do not propose to take steps in the direction indicated, as the proprietor, having given full consideration to the cottars' application, is not prepared to subdivide the farm for this purpose.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to ask the Secretary for Scotland to do something for these unfortunate people, or whether it is the practice in any civilised country to send their soldiers and sailors to gaol for preventing their families from starving, and will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to inquire into the matter?

May I ask whether one of the objects for which the Congested Districts Board was instituted was to take land for landless people?

That does not arise out of the question.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state the name of the new Fishery Board cruiser; whether her trial trip was satisfactory; and what waters she has been detailed to patrol?

The official trial trip of the new fishery cruiser "Norna" was run on 4th May, and proved quite satisfactory. The Board's cruisers have no fixed patrol, but are moved about according to the exigencies of the service.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that the members of the Edenbridge land club recently applied to the Kent County Council for a farm known as Skeynes farm, which was then vacant and suitable for division into small holdings, but that, owing to delay on the part of the council in taking steps to secure it, the farm has now been relet; whether any report has been made by the Commissioners to the Board with regard to this parish; and, if so, whether the Board will now forward the report to the county council, under the terms of the Act, so as to ensure the provision of land for these applicants?

We are in communication with the county council as to the acquisition of the farm mentioned, and have forwarded to them a copy of the report of our inspector who visited the parish.

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of my question as to whether a report has been made by the Commissioners to the Board with regard to this parish?

We have sent a copy of the report of our inspector to the county council.

Am I to understand that the county council will be obliged within six months to carry out a scheme in that parish?

You are to understand nothing of the kind.

Are there any circumstances in which the Board will be willing to issue a report to the county council for the enforcement of the Act?

The report has been sent to the county council.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether there exist at the Board of Agriculture well-authenticated cases of infection from Argentine cattle, slaughtered at ports of disembarkation in the United Kingdom, being communicated to cattle and herds in this country; and, failing such records, will the Board of Agriculture reconsider its decision to prohibit the entry of Argentine cattle here, even though slaughtered at entry here?

There is no record of the occurrence of any cases of the character to which my hon. Friend refers, but, as I have already stated in reply to a similar question by the hon. Member for the Kirkdale Division, the Board are not in a position, in view of their statutory duties in the matter, to adopt the course suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue a circular to provincial police authorities pointing out that he proposes gradually to introduce into the regulations of the Metropolitan Police the system of a weekly rest-day for that force, and urging the provincial, county, and urban police authorities to make similar arrangements for the police forces under their control.

This matter rests entirely upon the local authorities. The Committee which reported on this matter recently recommended that the Bill applying to the whole of England should not be proceeded with. No doubt the action of the Government in regard to the Metropolis, in deciding to give the police a day of rest, may influence authorities outside the Metropolis.

Is it not a fact that different counties have already power to grant one day's rest to the police?

Yes, and one borough has already done what I suggest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the number of samples of worts or beer taken from brewers for sale for analysis of the original gravity during the period when the Inland Revenue staff, through work in connection with the Old Age Pensions Act, was insufficiently manned, say, during each of the half-years ending the 31st March, 1908, and the 31st March, 1909, with, for each of these periods, the number of brewers sampled and the number of cases in which the original gravity was found to exceed by one degree or more the gravity entered by the brewer; the number of surcharges of duty; the number of compromise fines inflicted, stating the highest and lowest fines; the number of prosecutions in court; and the number of cases pending?

I am causing to be printed with the Votes the information asked for by my hon. Friend. [ See Written Answers this date. ]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount of revenue he estimates to receive from the proposed tax on the manufacture of cider for sale?

As was stated in the answer given on the 20th May to the hon. Member for the Ross Division of Herefordshire, I am not in a position to give an exact estimate of the revenue to be derived from these licences.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state the number of persons who keep cider for sale?

I will inquire into that.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this tax will fall with special severity on Somersetshire and other places in the West of England where cider is made?

I hope to be able to give a more definite answer in a short time with regard to that.

asked if clay will be classed as a mineral under the Finance Bill; and, if so, whether the whole of the land of the Thames Valley will be subject to the tax on ungotten minerals?

asked whether the term mineral includes liquid minerals, such as metalliferous waters produced at Harrogate and Bath, and natural gas produced at Heath-field, Sussex?

I will answer these two questions together. Any minerals which have a separate market value as such will be liable to duty under the Finance Bill.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the question whether clay is a mineral is already before the House of Lords on appeal?

The hon. Gentleman knows very well that these minerals in the Thames Valley have no separate market value at all.

asked whether any one or more of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have had any practical experience of the valuation of houses and also of land, including agricultural land; and, if so, where and how that experience, in the case of each of the Commissioners, has been gained?

The Commissioners of Inland Revenue are not presumed under the Finance Bill to be technical experts. Their function will be to exercise practical judgment in deciding valuation questions with the aid of the professional staff with which they will be supplied.

Am I to understand that the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have had no experience of the valuations which are mentioned in the question?

I am not aware that they are technical experts, but they decide as judges with the assistance of technical experts.

The question I ask is have they or have they not had practical experience? I gather from the right hon. Gentleman that I must understand his reply, in the absence of definite information, to mean that they have not had practical experience.

I have given a most definite answer.

asked whether, under the Finance Bill (clause 50), residents in the Isle of Man will be able to claim exemption, abatement, or relief under the Income Tax Acts, or whether they will, for the purposes of these Acts, be regarded as residing outside the United Kingdom?

The Isle of Man is not included in the United Kingdom for purposes of taxation, and persons resident in the island are not resident in the United Kingdom for the purposes of clause 50 of the Finance Bill.

asked whether it is still intended that the yield of the taxes on motors and petrol should be earmarked for road improvements and administered by a central road authority; whether it is intended to make grants from the produce of these taxes to local authorities to defray the cost of ordinary road maintenance; and, if so, whether, if agricultural land is to be relieved of highway rates to the extent of 4d. in the pound by this means, any money will be left at the disposal of the central road authority for road improvements?

asked whether it is intended to devote any portion of the proceeds of the petrol duty or the extra licence duty on motor cars to the reduction of the existing highway rates?

I will answer these two questions together. I must refer the hon. members to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Barkston Ash Division.

Is there to be only one central authority or is there to be one for each country?

That question does not arise at all out of this. I would like to have notice of it.

asked what is the estimated yield in the Metropolitan area, during the present year and a full year, respectively, of the new licence duties on publicans' full licences and hotels and restaurants respectively, assuming the number of licences to remain unaltered?

also asked what is the estimated approximate yield in the present year and a full year, respectively, of the new licence duties on publicans' full licences and hotels and restaurants, respectively, assuming the number of licences to remain unaltered?

I will answer these two questions together. The duties on publicans' full licences and hotels and restaurants are made subject to provisions by which, in the case of hotels and restaurants, the duty on the licence is to be charged by reference to the proportion which the receipts from the sale of liquors bear to the total receipts from the business of all descriptions carried on in the premises; or, at the option of the applicant for a licence, may be 33 per cent. of the annual compensation value, which will have to be ascertained and certified; and in the case of public-houses of an annual value exceeding £700, the duty on the licence may, at the option of the applicant for a licence, be an amount equal to half the annual compensation value, which will a minimum duty of £350. The existing definitions of an hotel and a restaurant are not continued, and it is impossible to say how many existing licences granted as for public-houses will be renewed as for hotels or restaurants as now defined in the Bill. I am unable, therefore, to give any reliable estimate of the yield of the new duties for these houses either in the Metropolitan area or generally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state whether the proposed motor taxes are in substitution for those existing, or if they are calculated as a charge by way of Super-tax?

The proposed motor taxes are in substitution for the smaller existing licence duties on motor cars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to take any action with regard to the numerous complaints which have been addressed to him as to the inadequacy of the gratuities given to Excise officers and supervisors for the amount of extra work caused by the introduction of old age pensions?

further asked whether, seeing that Excise officers were promised adequate payment or remuneration for the extra work of old age pensions, the right hon. Gentleman will explain why this was afterwards altered to insufficient gratuities?

I have already expressed my appreciation of the excellent manner in which the pension officers performed their duties in connection with the introduction of old age pensions. A sum of £40,000 was voted by the House for the payment of gratuities to the officers concerned, and I do not propose to ask for an increase of this grant. I may add that the gratuities awarded increased the salaries for the quarter ended 31st December last of the officers to whom they were granted from 10 to as much as 75 per cent.

The right hon. Gentleman did not answer the question whether he promised adequate payment for the extra work, and why he has only given gratuities, which are insufficient?

I do not agree that they are insufficient. Inquiries have been made into some of the complaints, and it has been found that they are without foundation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will explain why, in view of the fact that the printed regulations of the Excise service state that an officer will be paid double duty allowance for every day he is responsible for such duty, the Excise officer of Bridgnorth first station was only paid double duty for 53 days for the period ending 11th January, 1909, although he actually did double duty for 73 days; and is he aware that other officers have been treated in the same way?

The printed regulation is as stated, but the principle underlying this regulation is that double duty should be paid only where an officer is required to perform more than a fair day's work in one day. In consequence of the cessation of the local taxation licence work and certain relaxation in the survey of Excise traders authorised during the last quarter of the past year, there was a considerable decrease of Excise work in many stations, and consequently it was decided that double duty should not be paid where an officer was required to perform the work of more than one station unless the combined duties constituted more than a fair day's work. This modification of the regulation was applied in the case quoted, and I am assured that the officer was paid double duty on every occasion upon which he performed more than a fair day's work.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the additional duties proposed to be levied on chloroform, ether, and collodion are to be imposed for the purpose of raising further revenue or for the purpose of protecting whisky and other potable spirits from unfair competition?

I am afraid that I do not quite understand the hon. Member's question. If he means to imply that there is any serious risk of chloroform becoming a substitute for whisky and other potable spirits, the supposition, if he will pardon my saying so, seems to me to be somewhat absurd.

What is the object of making the tax on collodion and chloroform 6s. and on whisky 3s. 6d.?

It is not a duty on products. It is purely a duty on spirits, and it is to meet the practical difficulty of exercising the necessary supervision in every chemist shop and of making special exemption of small amounts of spirit included in these separate preparations.

We are still in the dark as to why the tax is put on these medicines.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can inform the House by whose authority the picture in the National Gallery of the Marchese Cattaneo, by Vandyck, bears an inscription stating that it was purchased with the aid of a donation from Messrs. Colnaghi; whether all other subscribers to purchases are entitled to he similarly honoured; whether he can state what was the price paid for this Vandyck and the sum contributed by Messrs. Colnaghi, and what proportion their contribution bears to the total profits of the firm over the sale; whether it is to mark the gratitude of the nation for the munificence of the firm to the National Gallery that the portrait of the late Mr. D. Colnaghi has been placed on exhibition there; whether there is any intention of placing on the recently-acquired Norfolk Holbein an inscription stating that it was purchased with the aid of a donation from Messrs. Colnaghi; and, if so, whether arrangements can be made for such inscription to state also the amount of such donation and the firm's profit on the sale?

The answer to the first part of the question is that the inscription referred to was placed on the picture by the authority of the Trustees of the National Gallery. It is in accordance with the usual practice of the Trustees to record such a donation both on the frame and on the notice board of donors. The price paid for the Vandyck in question was £27,000, towards which Messrs. P. and D. Colnaghi contributed £2,000. There were no other private donors. I have no information as to the cost price to the vendors (Messrs. Colnaghi and another) of the picture. There is no portrait of Mr. D. Colnaghi in the National Gallery. The hon. Member is confusing Messrs. P. and D. Colnaghi, of 13, Pall Mall East, with the late Mr. Martin Colnaghi, of the Marlborough Gallery, Pall Mall, whose portrait was given by Mrs. Colnaghi, in November, 1908, and accepted by the Trustees as a memorial of that gentleman's munificence in bequeathing four pictures, and also in making the Gallery his residuary legatees subject to his wife's life interest The question of what inscription, if any, shall be placed on the Norfolk Holbein is one for the decision of the Trustees of the National Gallery.

May I ask whether it is the hon. Gentleman's view that a mere abatement of price by the vendor can be regarded as in any sense a cash contribution?

I cannot give an answer on a matter of opinion. I can only state the facts.

Does the £10,000 given by the nation go into the pockets of Messrs. Colnaghi as profit?

I do not know. I understand they did make a profit out of the transaction, but whether that particular £10,000 I cannot say.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the extra duty of 3s. 9d. per gallon on spirits will mean 6s. per gallon extra duty on rectified spirits of wine, so largely used in pharmacy, in the preparation of medicines, ether, chloroform, salvolatile, balsam, tinctures, etc.; whether he is aware that wholesale druggists are already charging 6s. per gallon extra; and whether, in these circumstances, he can relieve the friendly societies' medical associations by exempting spirits used for medicinal purposes only?

I am aware of the fact mentioned by the hon. Member, and have given the matter very sympathetic consideration. I should have been glad if it could have been feasible to exempt from the additional taxation spirits used for medicinal purposes only, but, as I have already explained to the House, the practical difficulties are very serious.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the purchasers of petrol for commercial purposes other than for use in motor cars will recover the penny a gallon which they will lose through the operation of the Finance Act; and what is the estimate of the expense of the collection and return of this duty?

I am afraid I cannot undertake to advise on the first point raised by the hon. Member. If the price of petrol is raised by an amount exceeding the duty of 3d. a gallon, it is clear that either a profit is being made out of the duty or the additional increase in price is due to some other cause. The cost of collection of the duty and of the arrangements for rebates may be expected to amount to about £30,000 per annum.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman, in the statement he made last week, say that the extra price was 4d., and that it must necessarily exceed 3d. to the sellers to recoup them for the extra capital they will have to employ?

I am quite certain that I never expressed any opinion. I do not know what the hon. Gentleman is referring to.

Is it not the case with all import duties?

The statement was that 4d. is the extra price now being charged.

The other penny may be attributable to the normal rise in the market price and not to the taxation.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, with a view to discussion of the Irish Land Bill, if he will state the number of land-purchase annuitants in Ireland, and the number of these in whose cases legal proceedings were instituted for recovery of overdue purchase annuities at 1st December, 1908, and 1st June, 1909, respectively; the numbers of payers of interest in lieu of rent; and the number of these proceeded against, at those dates?

The Land Commission inform me that the number of land-purchase annuitants now on their books is 142,976, while the number of payers of interest in lieu of rent is 168,517. Proceedings for the recovery of the arrears of instalments of land-purchase annuities which fell due at 1st November and 1st December, 1908, have been taken by the Commissioners in 4,964 cases, while proceedings for the recovery of the interest in lieu of rent which accrued due at 1st November last have been similarly taken in 9,476 cases. In the great majority of cases in which proceedings are taken, the amounts due are recovered before the next gale day. No proceedings have yet been taken for the recovery of the instalments and interest now in course of collection in respect of the gales due 1st May and 1st June, 1909.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, when a landlord refuses to sell an evicted and untenanted farm to the Estates Commissioners for the purpose of reinstating the evicted family under the Evicted Tenants Act, do the Commissioners acquiesce in his refusal without reason stated; and, if they require a reason in every case, what objection is there to stating the reason given by Colonel Smythe, of Barbavilla, for refusing to sell the Riggs evicted farm on his estate for the reinstatement of the evicted family?

The Estates Commissioners are the judges in each particular case whether the land is suitable for their purpose and whether any valid objection has been raised to its acquisition. They have exercised their discretion in the present case, and have decided not to acquire the lands.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state the reasons given by the landlord?

It is not expedient to state the reasons.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will explain why the Estates Commissioners, while in theory holding a vendor's bailiff or servant incompetent as a sole witness of a purchase agreement, still in practice enforce payment of interest in lieu of rent, with costs, under an agreement in their possession witnessed only by the vendor's bailiff, and further vitiated by duress; and whether, in view of the hardship this imposes upon poor people and the danger of the agreement becoming confirmed without any investigation, the Commissioners will consider the advisability of rejecting all such agreements in the first instance?

As the hon. Member has been informed on more than one occasion, it is the practice of the Estates Commissioners to inquire, when an estate is being dealt with in its order of priority and before the holdings are vested, into any allegations that the tenants were induced to sign purchase agreements under duress or by other improper means. It is not proposed to alter this practice.

May I ask is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Commissioners have actually obtained a decree, and will he say are the Commissioners collecting this money for the landlords entitled to seize the necessaries of life, and do they intend in this case to seize the cow which supplies the widow and her children with milk, there being no other property worth seizing?

I have no particulars of the case.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that a man named William Jones, of Rap- paree Hill, county Longford, who is under police protection, makes it a practice to parade the streets of Longford in the most defiant manner on the market days, and on one occasion at least presented his revolver at the crowd in the market place, thereby endangering the peace of the town and the lives of the people; and what proceedings have the authorities taken to prevent such conduct on Jones's part?

So far as the police are aware, this man never paraded the streets of Longford in a defiant manner. It is true that he once drew his revolver, but on that occasion he was surrounded by a hostile mob, and some stones had been thrown. The police told him to put up his revolver, and he did so.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the reason Margaret Murphy, aged 74 years, of Killnacarrow, Tasheny, county Longford, was refused an old age pension by the Local Government Board for Ireland, as she seems justly entitled to one on account of her age and poverty?

This woman's claim was disallowed on the ground that her means, as calculated under the Act, exceed £31 10s. a year. I am informed that she has a farm of 12 Irish acres, on which there are six head of cattle and other livestock in proportion; and three acres of the holding are under potatoes, oats, roots, and hay.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state what steps have been taken by the National Board of Education to inquire into the claim for increment in salary due to Mrs. Sullivan, of Direendaragh school, near Kenmare; can he state the reason of the delay, extending over eight months; and can he state when the increment will be paid?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the question under consideration in this case is not merely whether an increment of salary can be granted, but also whether the teacher can be promoted from the second to the first section of the first grade. Before granting such promotion, the Commissioners require a very high degree of proficiency and exceptionally good reports, and they must be satisfied that the in- stitution in which the teacher is serving is, from an educational point of view, a first-class primary school. Had all these conditions been fulfilled, Mrs. Sullivan might have been promoted more than a year ago, but the reports at that time were not sufficiently satisfactory to warrant it. The Commissioners are still in correspondence with the manager as to the school curriculum, and until this correspondence is completed they cannot come to any final decision on Mrs. Sullivan's case.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will place on the Order Paper at an early date for consideration in Committee on the Irish Land Bill the Amendments rendered necessary by the proposals of the Finance Bill increasing the burdens and liabilities of annuitants, and of the whole population of Ireland?

I am not aware that the proposals of the Finance Bill necessitate any Amendments in the Irish Land Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many applications for reinstatement have been received by the Land Commission from evicted tenants in North Monaghan; how many of these cases have been inquired into and reported on and how many have been rejected; how many have been reinstated in their own holdings, and how many have been provided with other farms, and in how many cases have the claims been approved by the Commissioners and the applicants noted as suitable persons to be provided with holdings; and will he state if the compulsory powers under the Evicted Tenants Act have been put in force in any case in North Monaghan; and, if so, will he give the names of the cases and the result of the proceedings?

The statistics of the Estates Commissioners are not compiled according to Parliamentary Divisions. The figures for the county Monaghan are as follows:—550 applications have been received from persons seeking reinstatement as evicted tenants or as representatives of deceased evicted tenants. Of these 190 were not lodged within the time specified in the Evicted Tenants Act, and have not been inquired into. After inquiry 150 applications have been rejected, 187 applicants have been reinstated in their former holdings or provided with new holdings, and 23 have been provisionally noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land. One hundred and twenty-six acres of untenanted land have been acquired under the Evicted Tenants Act on the estate of Thomas Keenan in county Monaghan.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Mr. Jeremiah Harrington, of Knockahur, county Kerry, a tenant on the Drummond estate, now before the Estates Commissioners, was evicted last week; and whether the Commissioners have taken or propose to take any steps to effect a settlement?

I am informed that Jeremiah Harrington was evicted on the 5th instant. He had not signed an agreement for the purchase of his holding, and was therefore liable for payment of rent to the owner. The case is not one in which the Estates Commissioners can intervene.

Having regard to the fact that this tenant offered £102 out of £109, will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Estates Commissioners to prevent any more evictions on the estates in county Kerry?

I really do not think I can interfere in a matter of this sort. The hon. Member appears to be under the impression that evictions have already ceased in Ireland. That is not the case unless agreements have been come to for the purchase of the land.

Would the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the Estates Commissioners, because they certainly can prevent evictions?

I have no business perpetually interfering with the discretion of the Estates Commissioners. If the hon. Member likes I will communicate with them in this particular case.

I do ask him to communicate with them on this and the other cases in county Kerry, because they seem to be altogether on the side of the landlord.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a promise was made by the Estates Commissioners last October that compulsory powers would be put into operation for the purpose of acquiring the farm from which Daniel O'Leary was evicted from the landlord, Mr. Beamish, Muckross, Clonakilty, in whose hands it is, with a view of reinstating O'Leary; and, if so, what steps have since been taken to give effect to that promise?

The Estates Commissioners tell me that no such promise was made. The hon. Member was informed in October last that the Commissioners contemplated proceedings for the acquisition of the holding in question under the Evicted Tenants Act. The Commissioners have since made further inquiries, and have directed the publication of a notice of their intention to acquire the lands.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he was aware that, in view of the unsatisfactory progress made by the Estates Commissioners in the reinstatement of the evicted tenants in South Cork, a request was recently made by the direction of the local executive calling on the Commissioners to send down an inspector to the constituency for the purpose of selecting certain cases presenting no legal difficulty for immediate reinstatement; and, if so, will the Estates Commissioners comply with the request?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they cannot trace the receipt of the communication referred to. Their statistics are not compiled according to Parliamentary Divisions, but the following figures will show the progress which has been made in reference to applications received from persons seeking reinstatement as evicted tenants or representatives of evicted tenants in County Cork:—1,077 applications were received, of which 138 were not received within the period specified in the Evicted Tenants Act, and have not been inquired into. After inquiry 603 applications were rejected, 163 applicants have been reinstated or provided with new holdings, and 173 others have been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land to be acquired by the Commisioners. An inspector is at present engaged in county Cork in connection with the reinstatement of evicted tenants.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has noticed that in the statutes made by the Commissioners for the new university at Belfast the Irish language is not expressly included in the subjects of the faculty of arts, and has, if any, only a secondary and indefinite position there, and agriculture is not included in the subjects of the faculty of science; and whether, having regard to the importance of the language and of agriculture in Ireland, he will make representations to the Commissioners for the national university at Dublin, unless already assured on the point that those two subjects shall be given their due position in the statutes now in preparation?

In the statutes for the Queen's University of Belfast Celtic languages and literature are included in the subjects of the faculty of arts. Agriculture is not named as a separate subject in the faculty of science, but it is open to the senate from time to time to make additions to the subjects if they think fit. As regards the remainder of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the statute for the National University of Ireland, which has recently been issued as a Parliamentary Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the establishment of the 28th County of London (Artists) Rifles was reduced from eight companies to four companies when allotted as an Army troops infantry battalion; whether all the other 23 battalions Army troops in the Territorial Force, with the exception of the infantry of the Honourable Artillery Company, have an establishment of eight companies; and, if so, why a distinction has been made in the case of the Artists Corps, whose present strength is approximately 700?

When the London corps were originally arranged into divisions and brigades, the Artists Corps was omitted from any brigade group owing to shortage of men enrolled, but was retained to be an officers' training corps, with the establishment of four companies, to which its existing strength entitled it. Subsequently the corps declined to become an officers' training corps, and it was decided to allot the unit for Army troops. After careful consideration, it has been decided that if this unit can undertake that a percentage of its members will be prepared to join the Territorial Force as officers, if required, on mobilisation, the War Office will be justified in giving the corps in exchange for this undertaking a full establishment of eight companies.

What percentage was asked for?

We have not stated the percentage so far. We will state that afterwards. I have reason to think that arrangement will be agreeable.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the horses of the Shropshire Yeomanry during this year's training did not receive enough oats to keep them in condition, that the oats were of bad quality, and some of the hay unfit for anything but store cattle, he will state what action he proposes to take?

The horses of the Yeomanry receive the same ration of forage as that authorised for horses of the Regular Army, which is considered sufficient to keep them in good condition. The forage is obtained by contract, the specification of which should ensure both oats and hay being of good quality. No report has been received of any complaint from this unit; the matter rests with the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make some inquiry about it? What I have been told is very definite.

Complaint should be made to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

asked the Secretary of State for War why men in the Territorial Army are prevented under present regulations from receiving a marksman's badge, however good their scores may be?