asked the Secretary of Mate for War how many men and horses were required to bring the Field Artillery Brigade which paraded at Aldershot on 11th June up to war strength; and from how many different units and from what commands these men and horses were drawn?

To complete this brigade to war establishment, which includes the ammunition column and second line transport, neither of which services forms part of a brigade during peace, nine officers and 479 other ranks and 694 horses were required, and all were taken from units in the Aldershot Command. Of these nine officers, 372 other ranks, and 314 horses came from two field artillery brigades, and 107 other ranks and 380 horses from the Royal Engineers, Cavalry, and Army Service Corps.

Can the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the fact that the horses are drawn from so many different units, say where the horses for the brigade are to come from on mobilisation?

We are building up a reserve of horses as fast as we can. We have 25,000 registered at present, which is an increase this year, and I daresay the hon. Member will have observed that we are taking a census. Devonshire alone shows 43,000 horses, of which probably 10,000 will be good for army purposes. If other counties turn out in the same way no doubt we will be able to mobilise very easily.

Will all the horses be fit for artillery?

Out of the 10,000, I should hope that a very considerable number will be fit.

Are they trained?

The hon. and gallant Member knows that reserve horses are not trained. In that respect we are just in the same position as Germany, France, and Austria.

In regard to the 10,000 horses in Devonshire, will the Government have an actual call upon them?

That has always been so. The machinery for that has been somewhat improved in the Army Act of this year.

asked the Secretary for War why the Dorset Yeomanry were not supplied with the number of saddles they required at the commencement of their training?

There had been a recent increase in the strength of the unit, and also a demand was made for saddles with unusually large girths. In consequence, difficulties arose in meeting this immediate demand.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has any reserve for the Yeomanry cavalry?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Secretary for War whether the oats and meat supplied to the Dorset Yeomanry during their training came from abroad or were English products?

Oats and meat for the Yeomanry are obtained in the same way as for the Regular Army; no stipulation is made that either shall be English products, quality and prices alone governing the supply. The information required is therefore not available.

Would the right hon. Gentleman in future stipulate that these should be home products in view of the great difficulty which farmers in the South of England have in making both ends meet?

No, certainly not; I have no such intention.

Is the quality of foreign oats better than that of English oats?

I do not suppose it is better, but I have no reason to think it is worse. We have a standard.

Can you not get much better meat in Wales?

asked the Secretary for War what assistance, in money or in kind, is given by the War Office to the National Rifle Association; and upon which Vote and sub-head of the Army Estimates can this subsidy be discussed.

The National Rifle Association has received £50 annually for some years from Army Funds towards the prize list for their Bisley Meeting, which has been allotted to the prize called that of the Secretary of State for War. The Association also gets the benefit of the services of officers and non-commissioned officers for range duties, and of a reduced rate for a certain number of rifles, and a certain quantity of ammunition, also of the use of military camp equipment. There is accordingly no one Vote which meets the cost of the various aids given to the National Rifle Association, but the £50 is charged to Vote 4 F.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say approximately what is the total value of the assistance now given?

I could not say offhand. It is a very small thing.

asked the Secretary for War whether the War Office requires that any rules in connection with the practice of musketry shall be observed by the National Rifle Association as a condition of receiving the official subsidy granted at the public expense?

No rules have hitherto been imposed on the association as a condition of receiving the assistance specified in the reply to the previous question.

Is the matter under consideration by the War Office?

It is under consideration.

asked the Secretary for War whether members of the Territorial Forces can be excused their annual training in order to enable them to take part in the competition known as the Territorial Aggregate, held at Bisley under the auspices of the National Rifle Association; if so, how many men have been thus excused during the past 12 months; and whether the conditions of this competition are in harmony with the system of musketry approved by the War Office as affording practical training for purposes of war?

The grant of leave from annual camp is regulated by paragraph 307 of the Territorial Force Regulations. The numbers of men excused for the reason stated is not known at the War Office. The conditions of the Territorial aggregate competition are based on bull's eye shooting only, and cannot therefore be said to harmonise with the musketry system now approved by the Army Council.

Is it proposed to continue to let men off their military musketry training in order to take part in competitions of this kind, which do not harmonise with the practical training of the troops?

It is not expedient to do all these things all at once. I hope we shall get a more satisfactory condition of things in a very little time.

asked the Secretary for War whether the musketry test for proficiency pay in the regular Army has been recently made far severer; and what saving he hopes to effect by the large consequential decrease in the number of private soldiers who will in future be eligible for proficiency pay?

The present musketry courses represent a higher standard of rifle shooting altogether than the courses of previous years, and the difficulty of qualifying for proficiency pay has correspondingly increased. It is not contemplated that the course will prove so difficult next year, when the men become accustomed to the new targets. Provision has already been made to prevent the severity of the standard from pressing unduly on the men financially the first time they fire the course without lowering the actual standard of shooting. There is no question of endeavouring to secure a saving of public money at the expense of the men.

asked the Secretary for War if he will lay upon the Table of the House the rule or minute by which lads are automatically dismissed on reaching the so-called age limit.

There is no rule or minute such as is inferred in the question. Under 21 years of age boys or lads are employed on rates below the minimum rate of wages allowed for men. On reaching 21 years of age they become men, and are entitled to the minimum rate of wages sanctioned for men. If there are no vacancies for men in the factories they cannot be taken on as such, and they cannot well be continued after 21 as boys on a less rate of wages than is approved for men of 21 and over.

If there is no formal minute on the subject, will the right hon. Gentleman give the conditions which govern this matter in reply to an unstarred question?

Certainly.

asked the Secretary for War if he is aware that during the last few weeks more lads have been discharged from the Woolwich Arsenal; if he will consider the case of the lad, E. Gomm, discharged on attaining the age-limit for lads, and who has lost an eye, possibly from injury received while working; and, if so, whether work could be found for him in the torpedo factory?

As long as there are no vacancies for men, lads must be discharged on reaching the age of 21. The case of E. Gomm has been considered. He did not lose an eye from injury received while working in the Ordnance factories. It may be found possible to give him temporary employment in the torpedo factory.

asked the Secretary for War whether the oats and hay supplied to the Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry during their training on Salisbury Plain were of home or foreign growth; and what were the respective prices paid for the same?

The contract contains no stipulation as to place of origin, and it is consequently impossible to state definitely whether the forage was of home or foreign growth. It is the practice to treat prices of Army contracts as confidential.

May I ask if in order to encourage the farming class joining the Yeomanry the right hon. Gentleman would insist on home-grown products?

I am very anxious to encourage the farming class to join the Yeomanry, but to revert to a system of Protection would, I think, be rather a high price to pay for that.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any objection to making provisions that, quality and price being equal, home farmers will be given the preference?

We always do try to please people in that respect, quality and price being equal; but it is where quality and price are not equal there is the difficulty. In this case we did not go into the source of origin. We simply gave the standard of quality, leaving the contractors to supply.

asked the Secretary for War whether the meat supplied to the Warwickshire Yeomanry at Salisbury Plain and to the Lincolnshire Yeomanry during their training was English or foreign?

The meat supplied to these Yeomanry regiments during their training was of the same quality and description as that supplied to regular troops, and was obtained under contract, the specification of which includes stringent safeguards as to the quality of the meat, and provides that the beef supplied on four days a week must be fresh ( i.e., from cattle slaughtered in the United Kingdom), that imported frozen beef may be issued on two days and mutton (which may be either fresh or imported frozen) on one day a week. Quality and price alone govern the supply, and no stipulation is made that the cattle slaughtered in the United Kingdom should be English or foreign.

May I ask whether in view of the increased taxation of Ireland under the new Budget he will insist upon all beef being bought in Ireland for the Army?

May I ask if the wines and cigars consumed by the officers are British manufactured?

I am sure they are not.

asked the Secretary for War what are the present rates of pay for non-commissioned officers and troopers of the Imperial Yeomanry as compared with those previous to 1st April, 1909; and what are the rates respectively of the old corporals and the recruits who joined last year before 1st April?

The hon. Member presumably intends to refer to April, 1908. The rates are as follows:—

Is he aware it is possible that a lance-corporal at the present moment may be actually in receipt of smaller pay than a private who joined quite lately?

I do not think so, but perhaps the hon. Member would put a question on the subject.

May I show him the details?

asked the Secretary for War whether the Imperial College of Science and Technology has received any communication to the effect that the college would be allowed to have an officers' training corps distinct from that of the University of London, whether students of the Imperial College have not hitherto formed a part of the University of London contingent, and, if permission is to be granted for the formation of this distinct corps, will he explain why this departure has been made from the principle so far recognised that officers' training corps should only be attached to universities, and not to the separate schools of any university?

An application has been received on behalf of the Imperial College of Science and Technology to form an officers' training corps distinct from that of the University of London, and the application has been acceded to. Eighty students of the college have already joined The University contingent. There has been no departure from the principle on which the formation of contingents of the offiecrs' training corps is based. The Imperial College is at the present time a separately governed institution, and not a college of the University.

May I ask whether those eighty students will remain members of the University of London Corps; and whether similar permission would be given to one of the colleges of the University of Cambridge or the University of Oxford to form a corps separate from that of the University of Oxford or of Cambridge; and whether, owing to the fact stated by him that the Imperial College—

The hon. Member had better put that series of questions on the Paper.

May I ask whether the action contemplated in his reply will not run counter to the official regulations for the Officers' Training Corps, under which the University of London has undertaken to furnish a contingent from the students of its colleges

It does not run counter?

May I ask whether those eighty students will remain members of the University of London Corps or be a separate corps?

They will belong to the Imperial College of Science and Technology Corps, but they will probably train together, and I do not think there will be any confusion in practice.

asked the Secretary of State for War what progress had been made with the issue of the new cavalry sword?

No deliveries have yet been made by the manufacturers.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the reason for this very long delay?

It is a new sword, and it was very important to get the right material.

Has it not taken four years?

The question what was the best pattern took a long while to decide. The matter was referred to a strong committee, and, as soon as the pattern was settled, orders were given.

Was not the pattern settled twelve months ago?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there was a shortage of candidates for cadetships at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; whether there was to be any examination for entrance to it in June; and what tests beyond the medical examination would there be to ensure efficiency?

The number of qualified candidates who have applied for admission to the Royal Military College is less than the number of vacancies available on this occasion. It is not therefore necessary to hold a competitive examination this month for entrance to that institution. All candidates are required to produce a leaving or qualifying certificate, as defined in the regulations, to show that they have attained a fair standard of general education, and to be within the usual limits of age. It must be remembered that the number of vacancies available is abnormally large, owing to the increase in the establishment at the depôts.

Is not this qualifying examination intended merely as a minimum to sift candidates, and may not the absence of competition have a very serious result

As the hon. Member knows, the qualifying examination is a sifting examination for the purpose of ascertaining the increased standard of education desired—

A minimum?

Certainly. Obviously when you have got your minimum it is no use having an entrance examination into Sandhurst if there are more vacancies than candidates; it would be waste of time. The important thing is how the men come out at the end of the course.

In view of this most serious record, and the fact that there are more vacancies than have ever existed before, may I ask whether it is not to a certain extent due, as stated in the newspapers, to the continuance in the Army of the pernicious system of confidential reports; and whether it would not be better—

The hon. Member is now advancing an argument.

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will answer my first question.

It has nothing whatever to do with confidential reports. The main reason is that 220 officers are being appointed for the depôts, and consequently there is a larger demand than there has been before.

rose to put supplementary questions.

I must remind hon. Members that there are 88 questions on the Paper, and if every one was to give rise to three or four supplementaries we should not get through them.

asked whether there was any shortage in the officers for the Special Reserve; and, if so, what number was deficient?

The present shortage of officers in the Special Reserve is 1,021.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the officer in command of the 1st Garrison Regiment, which was disbanded after the South African War, was, by being placed on half-pay, treated differently to all the commanding officers of the other garrison regiments who were retained on full pay; whether he thus lost his brevet-colonelcy and all the advantages that pertain to that rank; and if, through no fault of his own, he was subjected to this treatment, would the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to rectify the matter.

The garrison battalions were broken up gradually. Three of the officers had completed four years in command by the time their battalions were broken up. The remaining three officers had necessarily to go on half-pay when their battalions were broken up, and it was impossible to retain them on full lieutenant-colonels' pay when their services were no longer required as such; accordingly the officer alluded to in the question was not the only one who had to go on half-pay before the completion of the tenure of his command. In view of the fact that his present appointment will enable him to secure the maximum pension of a lieutenant-colonel, it is not apparent that he has suffered any pecuniary disadvantages. This case was fully considered two years ago, and I am not prepared to reopen it.

asked what was the strength, by districts and arms, of the Territorial Force at the beginning of this month?

The figures asked for by my hon. Friend are too long to read out to the House; I will have them printed in the Votes and Proceedings. ( See Written Answers this date. ) I may say generally that, notwithstanding one-year men going out, there has been an increase since 1st May of 5,105 non-commissioned officers and men. The present total of the force stands at 9,313 officers and 259,463 non-commissioned officers and men, being a percentage of 83 of the establishment in the case of officers and 86 of that of non-commissioned officers and men respectively. I cannot give the exact number of the increase of officers since the last figures we gave, nearly two months ago, but it is somewhere between 300 and 400.

asked the Secretary of state for War whether he could state the grounds on which the officer commanding the 16th Infantry Brigade in Ireland declined to release from the Army a boy named Cunningham, although the boy's father, Michael Cunningham, of Dungannon, county Tyrone, produced certificates showing that the boy was less than 18 at the time of his enlistment in the 2nd Battalion of the Munster Fusiliers, and paid £10 for his discharge; and whether this sum of money had been refunded?

Under Paragraph 390 (VI.) (b) of the King's Regulations the Brigade Commander can, at his discretion, either discharge or retain for service a soldier over 17, but under 18, years of age who made a misstatement as to his age on enlistment, and the Army Council does not interfere with the discretion left to the Brigade Commander. If this lad has less than three months' service he can claim his discharge on payment of £10 under section 81 of the Army Act; if he has more than three months' service he may be granted his discharge as an indulgence on payment of £18. Nothing is known at the War Office of the particular case mentioned.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ensure that the Commanding Officer either discharges the boy or returns the £10 which the father paid for his discharge? He has kept both.

If the £10 was paid under the Regulations the boy is entitled to his discharge. I will make inquiries and see if the £10 was actually paid. Certainly if it ought not to have been paid it ought to be refunded.

asked whether concessions entered into with private individuals or syndicates could properly be referred to Parliament for ratification, modification, or alteration; and, if so, what notice would be given to those affected?

It has not, so far as the Secretary of State is aware, been the practice to lay before Parliament for ratification, improvement, or alteration, concessions granted to private individuals or syndicates in the Colonies, nor does the Secretary of State consider that it would be practicable to adopt such a plan. As the hon. Member is aware in matters of this kind—which are purely administrative—the responsibility must rest with the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he would state for what special purposes export duties were originally imposed in the Leeward Islands, and to what special purposes the revenues from the existing export duties were devoted; and what was the nature and extent of such duties?

The Leeward Islands are divided into five Presidencies, each of which has its own system of taxation. It is impossible within the limits of an answer to set out the various export duties which have been imposed in the past in each Presidency or the objects for which they were imposed. At present export duties are in force in four Presidencies. In St. Kitts-Nevis export duties are imposed on sugar and rum. In Dominica, Montserrat, and the Virgin Islands export duties are imposed on a number of articles, including cocoa, coffee, cotton, limes, animals, skins, fruit, etc. It would take too long to give a full list of the articles taxed, with the rates of tax in each case, but I shall be happy to furnish the hon. Gentleman with further information as regards any particular Presidency or any particular commodity if he desires it. The revenue derived from these taxes is paid into the Treasury of the Presidency and devoted to defraying the expenses of the Government.

If I put down an unstarred question, can I have an answer in full?

I should be glad to give the hon. Gentleman all the information we have.

asked whether, under the provisions of the Declaration of London, 1909, all foodstuffs consigned to ports in this country which ports were bases of equipment or supply for our armed forces, would in time of war be considered as contraband of war and be liable to capture; whether any definition had been arrived at between the signatories of the Declaration as to what was a base of supply; and whether foodstuffs consigned to a base of supply in Germany or France would be immune from capture if landed at Antwerp or Rotterdam, or other neutral port?

The effect of Articles 33 and 34 of the Declaration is that, if neutral ships carrying foodstuffs consigned to ports in this country which are bases of equipment of supply for our armed forces are seized by the enemy, the onus of proof in the prize court that the foodstuffs are not destined for our armed forces, or for a Government Department will rest on the owner of the goods; if he is unable to produce such proof, the foodstuffs will be liable to condemnation as contraband. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the third part of the question, I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer given him on 31st March last, and to point out that under Article 35 conditional contraband, if consigned to neutral ports, is not liable to capture.

Can the hon. Gentleman give me any information as to what is meant by a base of supply?

I cannot give any other information than was given in the Debate on the subject. We have already had one Debate on the subject, and a promise has been given that there will be another. I think, therefore, it will be more convenient to discuss argumentative questions in Debate than by question and answer across the floor of the House.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in the populous and prosperous neighbourhood within a few miles of Downpatrick, along the Killaugh Road, county Down, there are only two postal deliveries in the week; and whether, in view of the inconvenience caused, he will arrange for at least one postal delivery daily?

I am having inquiry made on the subject, and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can say whether he has received a memorial from the people of Ballinleeny and district expressing regret at the dismissal of Patrick M. Cullinan from, the office of sub-postmaster of Ballinleeny, Kilmallock, in the county of Limerick, and also of the position of rural auxiliary postman to Fort Edmund, which he held for many years, and stating that they always found him most careful in the discharge of his duties, and praying that his case be reconsidered with the view to giving him another chance; and whether, under these circumstances, and having regard to the fact that Ballinleeny is more central than Granagh for the post office and that the removal of the post office to the latter place is an inconvenience to many of the inhabitants, who live three miles from there, he will reconsider the matter as requested?

I have received the memorial referred to, and propose further to consider the case, though I cannot hold out much expectation of a reversal of the decision come to.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he can state on what dates within the four weeks ending 12th June the "Helga" has visited the fishing district of Ballinskelligs; whether he is aware that two steam trawlers have been trawling within a half-mile of the shore about a mile inside the Bolus headland, in other words, five miles inside the legal limits; that the trawler "Petunia" was caught by Dingle fishermen fishing inside the limits, with sails covering her name and number; whether he is aware that at least two poachers, the "Tyne" and "Cariama," have been again in the district, and that the "Cariama" had a previous fine of £60 imposed on the master in Cahirciveen; and can he state what steps will be taken to prevent the destruction of shell-fish along the headlands and the spawning-grounds by these trawlers, which are a constant source of danger to the Transatlantic cables?

The Department's steam cruiser "Helga" was in the Billinskelligs district for about three days, and the s.s. "Granuaile" was there on two other occasions within the four weeks ended 12th June. These vessels have also been in the neighbourhood during the past week. No illegal steam trawling was observed on the occasions of the visits of these vessels. The Department have received reports of alleged illegal trawling by the steam vessels "Petunia" and "Tyne." Legal proceedings are being instituted in the case of the illegality committed by the former vessel. The Department are not aware that the "Cariama" has been observed fishing within the area off Ballinskelligs in which trawling is prohibited, nor have they any record that this vessel was ever previously detected and the master fined for illegal fishing off the Irish coast. The Department will continue to use all the means at their disposal to suppress illegal trawling.

Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman's Department finds it quite impossible to properly police the coast of Ireland with one steamer, the "Helga"? If that is so, will he report to the Treasury the necessity of providing funds for a second steamer or more?

We do our best; that is all we can do.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) when the Report of the Department for 1908 will be presented to Parliament, and what has been the cause of the protracted delay?

The Department are informed by the printers that they hope to have copies of the Report available in about a fortnight. The Report is of considerable bulk, and the printing and binding of a large number of copies necessarily takes some time. So far as the Department are concerned, the Report was completed on 27th May.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is prepared to print and circulate as a Parliamentary Paper the recent report of the inspectors of the Board of Education on the schools in the city of Bradford?

My right hon. Friend does not consider it advisable to depart from established practice in the direction of printing particular reports as Parliamentary Papers.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to landowners in the West Riding of the county Cork in consequence of the delay in the appointment of registrar of titles under the Local Registration of Title (Ireland) Act, 1891; whether transfers of land can be registered or sales completed under existing conditions; and, if not, will an appointment be made without further delay?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension as to the difficulty which has arisen in regard to registration of title in the county of Cork. There is no vacancy in the office of registrar, and no appointment to be filled up. The Local Registration of Title Act, 1891, provides that the Clerk of the Crown and Peace of each county shall be, ipso facto, the registrar of titles for that county. The difficulty arises from the fact that Cork having two Ridings has two officials, each of whom, as I understand, claims that he is entitled to the office. The duties of the office have hitherto been performed by the Clerk of the Peace for the East Riding. In the month of December last, however, the Clerk of the Crown and Peace of the West Riding obtained leave to issue a writ of quo warranto claiming the office, and litigation between the two officers is still pending. Until it is concluded it is impossible to make any final arrangement as to the registration, but I have communicated with the Lord Chancellor, who is endeavouring to make some working arrangement with the two contending officials, so as to enable the registration to be carried out pending a final decision of the dispute.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state on what ground the Congested Districts Board have now definitely abandoned the proposed scheme of migration from the Island of Lewis to the mainland, after allowing so long a period as nearly four years to elapse in considering the scheme; and will he explain how it is now proposed to deal with the cottar problem in the Island of Lewis, the cottar population in the island being 7,500, or one-fourth of the entire population?

As I informed my hon. Friend on 26th April, the proposals made to the Congested Districts Board for the migration of Lewis cottars to the mainland were not found, upon consideration, to offer the prospect of any practicable mitigation of the Lewis cottar problem, and on that ground it was decided to take no further steps in the matter. I cannot undertake to expound a policy for the Lews within the limits of Parliamentary question and answer.

Do I understand that the Secretary for Scotland and his colleagues are utterly incapable, and is their Department incapable, of formulating and carrying out a scheme for the population of the island of Lewis? Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he intends to do anything for the population? Has he no policy?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in signing the Declaration of London, we have admitted the right of belligerents, without adjudication in a prize court, to sink neutral shipping carrying contraband of war in cases where the success of the operations in which the captor was engaged at the time might be endangered if she were to take her prize into court; and whether, if we have admitted this right, we have departed from the principles of international law which we maintained in the case of the "Knight Commander"?

Article 49 of the Declaration of London admits the right of a belligerent, in the circumstances supposed, to sink a neutral ship, before the prize court has adjudicated on the case, provided that she is carrying contraband to an amount exceeding the half of her cargo. This right is, however, subject to subsequent adjudication in a prize court, because the obligation of the captor to bring all the circumstances before the court, and there justify his action, or pay compensation if he fails to do so, is not affected. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. We have given up the contention that, under no circumstances, can a belligerent sink a neutral prize; but, on the other hand, the position taken up by the Powers claiming this right is modified to a very important extent by the safeguards introduced in the Declaration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information showing that a British merchant ship has had several shots fired at her by a foreign ship of war, whereby four men were wounded and the ship damaged; and, if so, whether he can make any statement with regard to the incident?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information stating that one of the gunboats of the Russian Imperial squadron, escorting the Russian Imperial yacht "Standart," fired upon the British cargo steamship "Woodburn" as it was leaving Frederickshaven in charge of a pilot on 17th June, seriously wounding a fireman and damaging the steamship; has he inquired into the present condition of the fireman and into the cause of the attack on this ship; and what is he going to do to prevent similar attacks on English ships during the cruise of the Czar?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information with regard to the firing upon a British cargo steamer by a Russian warship in Finnish waters on Thursday last?

Perhaps I may be allowed to reply to these three questions together, as they all three deal with the same subject. The British Vice-Consul at Viborg reported on the 18th instant to His Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg that the steamship "Woodburn," of Newcastle, in passing Pitkagraasi, was fired at by a Russian man-of-war. The ship was damaged, and a fireman named Coyne was wounded. The wounded man was conveyed in a torpedo boat to the military hospital at Viborg, and immediately attended to by the Russian marine doctor. The wound was in the leg, and not dangerous, and I am glad to say that the latest reports show that he is doing well. His Majesty's Consul at Helsingfors reported to Sir A. Nicolson on the same day that he was leaving at once for Viborg to inquire into the matter and report. He added that the "Woodburn" was fired on by torpedo-boats on escort duty with the Imperial yacht. On receiving a report of the incident Sir A. Nicolson at once brought the facts to the notice of the Russian Government, and asked for an explanation. Subsequent information received is to the effect that the "Woodburn," with a Finnish pilot on board, was passing through the lines. According to the regulations to be observed by vessels approaching a Russian squadron at anchor, all vessels must pass between the shore and the squadron, and not through the squadron. I may add that these regulations have been published by the Board of Trade in their "Notices to Mariners" (page 78, 1st January, 1909, Baltic). The "Woodburn" was warned by a torpedo-boat to keep outside the lines, but in spite of this warning she continued on her course. Four blank shots were then fired, but as the vessel did not stop, and was heading towards the Imperial yacht, two live shots were fired. One of these hit the vessel and burst a pipe, and a portion struck and wounded a fireman. The Russian naval officer sent on board the "Woodburn" stated that the captain of The vessel declared that he was only executing the pilot's orders. I cannot make any further statement till the Russian official report has been received and the statement of the captain of the vessel is known.

Do these regulations apply to territorial waters only?

I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the regulations.

May I inquire whether the pilotage is compulsory or not?

I am not able to answer that.

May I ask whether it is true that this wounded fireman has been offered £20, and whether the Government will see that proper compensation is offered to this man?

I have no official information upon the subject. I have only seen the statement in the newspapers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be kind enough to inquire whether this man will get proper compensation?

Will the Government see that proper precautions are taken to prevent such regrettable incidents on the occasion of the visit to this country of the Russian Emperor?

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether this incident took place in Russian territorial waters or on the high seas? If it took place on the high seas may I ask if there is a treaty or convention which enables the Russian Government to make regulations and enforce them against British vessels?

I am sorry I cannot give the detailed information asked for by the hon. Gentleman without notice.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an answer to a portion of my question: I think he must have overlooked it?

Before an answer is given may I inquire whether this unfortunate incident can with any approach to propriety be described as an attack on British ships?

I do not think it would be at all right to reply to all these questions till we have further information.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the treaty with Siam now awaiting ratification, it is proposed to transfer to Great Britain any suzerain rights claimed by Siam over the Sultan of Kedah's dominions; whether the Sultan, State Council, or people of Kedah have been informed of or consulted in regard to such proposals; and what representations have been made by or on behalf of the State of Kedah to His Majesty's representatives?

By the treaty in question the King of Siam has transferred to Great Britain all his rights in respect of Kedah. His Majesty's Government have naturally no information as to what communications, if any, have passed between Kedah and Siam on the subject; and, having regard to the complete dependence of Kedah on Siam, which has been fully acknowledged by this country, His Majesty's Government could not with propriety receive any direct representations from Kedah until the treaty takes effect. I may add, however, that there is nothing in the provisions of the treaty which will prejudice the position of the Sultan of Kedah.

asked the Lord Advocate, having regard to the fact that the Congested Districts (Scotland) Board was established in 1897 mainly for the purpose of settling on the land persons residing in congested areas in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, will he state why, out of a sum of £188,392 1s. 3d. expended by the Board on land schemes, as much as £159,829 17s. 10d. was expended in Inverness-shire alone, and only £28,562 3s. 5d. in the whole of the other five crofting counties; and, seeing that the Board was not formed for the benefit of one county only, but for the purpose of assisting congested districts in each county equitably, will the Secretary for Scotland request the Board to apply to these other counties any money which it is found possible to allocate for land schemes?

My hon. Friend will find all the available information in regard to the transactions of the Congested Districts Board in their reports, which are published each year; and which I may remind him have been discussed in this House from time to time. The present Government have only been responsible for the administration of the Board for the last years. Schemes will continue to be, as they have been in the past, considered upon their merits by the Congested Districts Board, in whatever county the locality under consideration may lie.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been drawn to the reports of the medical officer of health and the county sanitary inspector for Inverness-shire condemning the water supply of Vatersay as being insufficient for 60 crofter families and liable to serious contamination; and what steps the Congested Districts Board intend to take to give to their proposed new settlers an adequate water supply free from any risks to health?

I am aware of the report in question. The Congested Districts Board have also obtained reports from their expert advisers, and have sanctioned an expenditure of about £400 on the works which are recommended to them with a view to improving and safeguarding the water supply of the island.

Will the right hon. Gentleman lay upon the Table of the House the document to which he referred?

No; I do not think I could.

asked the Lord Advocate, in view of the fact that land is being provided for the landless cottars who, through stress of circumstances, seized land on the Island of Vatersay, Inverness-shire, will he explain why no efforts are made to find land for the landless cottars of South Shaw-bost, Island of Lewis, whose families are on the verge of starvation and in quite as deplorable a condition as the families of the Vatersay cottars?

I can only refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 16th June to a similar question.

Am I to understand that the Scottish Office have no intention of doing anything for these unfortunate cottars? Twenty-five per cent. of the population are cottars, and are liable to be moved out at the will of the landlord?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if steel billets from Germany imported into this country receive a bonus of 16s. 6d. a ton from the German pool or trust; if steel billets exported from this country into Germany receive no bonus on export and are met by a duty of about 30s. a ton on landing in Germany; and, if so, whether he will take steps to obtain a more favourable treatment for British manufacturers?

I am aware that from time to time export bounties are paid by certain German syndicates. So far as I am aware, no similar bounties are paid in the United Kingdom. The rate of import duty on steel billets in Germany is correctly stated. Any practicable suggestion to advance the interests of any class of British manufacturers which does not entail disadvantages to other British manufacturers or consumers will always receive my sympathetic consideration.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he has read the report which has been published of the speech of the chairman of the Ebbw Vale Steel Works?

I cannot say I have.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many gallons of collodion, ether, and chloroform were imported into this country last year; and what quantities of each were manufactured in this country in the same period?

The total imports of these articles into the United Kingdom in 1908 were as follows:—Collodion, 85 gallons; butyric ether, 341 gallons; sulphuric ether, 397 gallons. The imports of acetic ether and chloroform are recorded by weight, and amounted to 3,207 lbs. and 936 lbs. respectively. There is no official information available with regard to the quantities manufactured in the United kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the East India Steam Trade Conference refuse to ship goods from the South Wales ports to Calcutta; and whether he can take any steps to remove the disability under which South Wales traders are suffering by this preferential treatment of other ports and the districts which they serve?

also asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the East India Steam Trade Conference refuse to allow shippers to employ outside steamers loading at a South Wales port for Calcutta, except under the penalty of the forfeiture of deferred rebates on shipments made by their steamers from all other ports in the United Kingdom; and whether he proposes to take steps to prevent such penalising of an important manufacturing district?

I will answer the two questions of the hon. Member together. I am now considering the report and recommendations of the Royal Commission on Shipping Rings, and I should prefer to make no statement at present with reference to the operations of any particular conference.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board instituted any police prosecutions in any of the seven cases of margarine factories found unregistered by the Board's inspectors in the year 1908; and did they give the authorities in the district information that these factories were not previously registered?

We carefully considered the circumstances of each of the cases of non-registration to which the hon. Member refers, and inasmuch as we were satisfied that there was no intention to evade the law, we saw no reason to advise the local authorities to take proceedings.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether the Board instituted any police prosecutions in any of the 65 cases of butter factories found unregistered by the Board's inspectors in the year 1908; and did they give the authorities in the district information that these factories were not previously registered?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The butter factories mentioned were mot factories in the ordinary acceptance of The term, but consisted almost entirely of premises on which only the occasional reworking of butter was carried on. The occupiers of such premises were warned by our inspector of the necessity of registration, and where this was not carried out the attention of the local authority was drawn to the matter.

Is it only the practice of the Board to give warnings, and not to help the local authorities?

It lies with the local authorities in the first instance to take action.

asked the Prime Minister what funds will be made available in the current financial year for the Army and Navy, respectively, for the construction or purchase of dirigible airships and for the construction of suitable shelters for such ships?

I cannot at the moment say any more than that our requirements for the year cannot at present be estimated precisely, but funds will be forthcoming to meet such requirements.

May I ask the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that foreign types of these ships, which are available for sale, cannot be purchased in this country unless specific sums are allocated?

I must have notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister whether he could say on what day the Second Reading of the Milk and Dairies Bill will be taken?

No, sir. I am afraid that no date can be fixed at present.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government intend to give any special facilities for the passage of the Roman Catholic Disabilities (Removal) Bill during the present Session?

No, sir. I cannot promise facilities for any private Member's Bill at this stage of the Session.

asked the Prime Minister if he can say when the legislation necessary to give effect to the Declaration of London will be introduced; and if it is proposed to ratify this Declaration before such legislation has been approved by the Houses of Parliament?

It is not clear that any legislation is required to give effect to the Declaration of London; the question will be considered in consultation with the Law Officers of the Crown. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has already stated that the House will have an opportunity of discussing the provisions of the Declaration of London. Such an opportunity will arise when the legislation for giving effect to the Convention for the establishment of the International Prize Court is introduced. I am not able to give any definite pledge, but it is not our present intention that the Declaration of London should be ratified until the legislation with regard to the Prize Court Convention has been introduced.

Will the Declaration be ratified before there is an opportunity of discussing it in this House?

My hon. Friend did not listen to what I said. I said, "It is not our present intention that the Declaration of London should be ratified until the legislation with regard to the Prize Court Convention has been introduced."

Oh! I beg pardon.

had given notice of the following question: To ask the Prime Minister whether he will consider the propriety of endowing the Lord Mayor of Cardiff and corporation with the privilege of personally presenting a Petition similar to that exercised by the Lord Mayor and corporation of Dublin on Thursday, 10th June?

This question is postponed.

No, I can answer it now. So far as I am aware, no desire has been expressed by the Lord Mayor and corporation of Cardiff for the privilege of personally presenting Petitions to this House.

That was the reason for which I wished to postpone the question.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the present state of the law regarding the publication of depositions taken at inquests, he will consider the advisability of proposing legislation which will transfer from the coroners to the Home Office the power to decide whether depositions shall be made public or not?

I beg to answer this question on behalf of my right hon. Friend. I see no necessity for any legislation on the subject. It is the usual practice of coroners to admit the Press and the public to inquests; but depositions taken at inquests, like those taken before magistrates, form part of the records of the Court, and it is for the Court to decide in any given instance what persons should be given access to its records.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that during the past few days a Metropolitan coroner has refused to allow the depositions to be made public?

No, Sir; I think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension.

asked the Prime Minister when it is intended to introduce the Shop Hours Bill?

I hope to introduce the Bill soon, but am not yet in a position to name a date.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether his attention has been called to the terms of an advertisement published in a Merthyr newspaper, of Saturday, the 12th instant, over the name of D. Jones, Dickenson, and Company, Limited, American Market, Dowlais, purporting to sell choicest centrifugal creamery butter from the leading dairies of Ireland, at 11d. per pound, made from fresh cream rising naturally from the milk; will an inquiry be made into this case; and if it is found that fraud has been attempted will a prosecution be ordered?

We are aware of the advertisement mentioned, and are in communication with the Irish Department of Agriculture on the subject.

Is not this the firm that was fined in January last at Cardiff for selling factory butter for creamery?

I have not the information to answer.

You ought to have the information. That is what you are there for.

Order, order. The hon. Member ought to put the question down if he wants specific information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Mr. Thomas Abraham Bayliss, who has been gazetted as a magistrate in Worcestershire, was one of the defendants in the appeal case of Barker versus Sullivan and others, reported in "The Times" of 31st October and 1st and 2nd November, 1901, and 17th April, 1902; that the jury found that the defendants, including Thomas Abraham Bayliss, had issued an untrue, false, or misleading prospectus fraudulently and recklessly, without reasonable grounds for thinking it was true; and that on appeal the verdict and judgment in favour of the plaintiff were allowed to stand, the question of fraud being considered as not having been dealt with at all in the Court of Appeal; and whether these facts were known to the Lord Chancellor when Mr. Thomas Abraham Bayliss was appointed to the office of a justice of the peace?

The Lord Chancellor informs me that he had never heard, until he saw this question on the Paper, of any of the facts or proceedings alleged by the hon. Member. He has directed inquiry to be made, and will be obliged if the hon. Member will supply him with any further information he possesses on the subject.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that pension officers make allowances for the maintenance of a young man or young woman working on their father's or mother's farm at from £8 to £10 per annum, while in the case of an aged father or mother maintained by a son or daughter the cost is estimated at from £20 to £30 per annum; and if he will explain how the cost of maintaining a man or woman over 70 years of age is calculated at double or treble the cost of a man or woman in their youth?

I am not aware of any case of the kind referred to in the question, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any such case I will make inquiry.

Has the hon. Member made any inquiry? It is the general practice of the Local Government Board in Ireland.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that several Old Age Pension Committees, including that of Tipperary, have over and over again by resolution asked the Local Government Board to supply them with the grounds on which they refuse on appeal to grant pensions sanctioned by those committees; and whether, as valid reasons can be produced in favour of the decisions come to by the persons closely in touch with the circumstances connected with each case locally, he will take steps to have the requisite information furnished?

A few resolutions to the effect indicated, including one from the Tipperary Pension Committee, have been received by the Local Government Board. As regards the remainder of the question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question asked by the hon. Member for North Meath on 25th March last. The Board carefully consider any opinion expressed by a Pension Committee with respect to the merits of any claim.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is a fact that the Pension Committees have over and over again asked the Local Government Board to provide them with information on which they refuse on appeal to grant pensions sanctioned by those committees, and in all cases they have refused to do so? Will the right hon. Gentleman in future undertake that these committees shall be supplied with the grounds of these refusals?