asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what steps have been taken to obtain land for the applicants for small holdings in the parish of Colne, in the county of Huntingdon, since Mr. Cheney's statement a month ago that he saw no obstacle now in the way of the carrying out of the proposed purchase of the Colne field farm?

I am unable to add anything at present to my reply to a similar question by my hon. Friend on the 12th ult.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether the Kent County Council has yet dealt with the case of the Dunton Green applicants for land; whether the land applied for belongs to a member of the small holdings committee of the council, and is at present let at 10s. per acre to a tenant willing to give it up; whether the rent asked by the county council is 35s. per acre; if so, whether this is alleged to be necessary to provide the compensation required by the outgoing tenant; and whether, if the county council provide neither this nor any other land for applicants, the Board of Agriculture will take any steps in the matter?

The Kent County Council have not yet been able to provide land for the Dunton Green applicants. The Board understand that the facts as to the land applied for are as stated in the question; but the tenant will not consent to give up less than 60 acres, and he asks £500 compensation. In these circumstances the rent to the small holders might amount to 35s. an acre, but no definite amount has been stated by the county council. The county council are arranging for their agent to visit Dunton Green shortly and to inquire into the position. All necessary steps to provide land for suitable applicants will be taken by the Board.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether there exists any record of common lodging-houses for women in the United Kingdom, giving particulars of accommodation, prices, etc.?

I am not aware of the existence of any such record.

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

supplied the following particulars:—

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the representations being made as to the postponement of the legislation on shops hours promised in the King's Speech; and whether the Bill will be shortly introduced and pressed this Session?

Yes, Sir. The Bill will, I hope, be introduced soon, but I cannot say whether it will be possible to pass it during the present Session.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he is aware that the officers of the Indian Telegraph Department employed in Persia are under the control of the India Office, and that there is a Minute in the India Office, dated 6th May, 1896, which admits that the Indian Income Tax Act does not authorise the levy of Indian Income Tax from officers serving outside India; and on what principle Income Tax is levied from officers of the Indian Telegraph Department serving in Persia?

The deduction which has been made froth the salaries of the officers in question has been made under the orders of the Government of India; and it is considered proper that they should be consulted in regard to the point raised in the hon. Member's questions.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the qualifications which enable a post office to obtain for its staff the privileges of being included in Class III.; whether towns with a population of 7,000 to 10,000 have been granted these privileges; and why the post office at Ashford, Kent, which is a through correspondence and depôt office, has not been included in Class III.

The effect of the Parliamentary Committee's recommendation is that the classification depends first on the volume of work and is modified where the cost of living is shown to be specially high or low. For Class III. the minimum qualification is 240 units of work. At Ashford the volume of work is represented by 233 units, and the cost of living is only slightly above the normal. The office thus, with its present units, falls naturally into Class IV.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to his promise to consider the advisability of establishing a Wages Conciliation Board, he is yet in a position to make an announcement on the matter?

I have no announcement to make on the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the cost of living in the city of Durham; and how does it compare with the cost in Sunderland?

The cost of living in Durham is represented by the index number 102. For Sunderland the index number is 99. The units of work are respectively Durham, 183; Sunderland, 598.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, contrary to the recommendations of the Select Committee, duties proper to the class of sorting clerks and telegraphists have been assigned to the postmen at the Westbourne (Bournemouth) Post Office; whether, as a consequence, two male sorting clerks will be removed from that office; and whether the two postmen concerned will receive pay appropriate to the class of sorting clerks and telegraphists?

The arrangements at the Westbourne Post Office are temporary only, and the best that circumstances permit pending the settlement of various points under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland on what ground the Estates Commissioners refused to act as conciliators in the case of Mr. Richard J. Walsh, who is at present being evicted by his landlord, Mr. Pierce Gun Mahony, Cork Herald of Arms, Dublin Castle; if it is on the ostensible ground that Mr. Walsh refused to pay his rent; who informed them of such refusal; and did they at any time make inquiries from the tenant?

The Estates Commissioners are authorised by the regulations to offer their services as conciliators when differences exist between landlord and tenant in connection with the terms and conditions of purchase, and the Commissioners have reason to believe that their intervention would be beneficial. The regulation does not apply to the present case, because Walsh is not now a tenant, the landlord having acquired his interest at a sheriff's sale. I understand however, that the Commissioners' inspector, when inspecting the estate on Thursday last, visited Walsh's late holding at the request of the landlord's agent and estimated the price of the farm. The inspector also, with the agent's consent, obtained from Walsh a statement in writing as to the price at which he was willing to purchase and the amount he was prepared to pay in respect of arrears and costs. Walsh's offer was conveyed to the agent for communication to the landlord. I have not heard the result.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board will consider the advisability of utilising that portion of the channel between Valentia Island and the mainland, extending from Reenard to Portmagee, for the mussel industry, which has been proved to be remunerative in other parts of county Kerry, and thereby provide an alternative industry to that of mackerel fishing?

The possibility of establishing a mussel fishery between Reenard and Portmagee has been under the consideration of the Department of Agriculture, who have not yet completed their investigations?

asked the Chief Secretary if he can say what steps have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to complete the transfer to the occupying tenants of the Drummond estate, in the parish of Beaufort, county Kerry; and, in particular, can he state whether the claims to turbary by individual tenants have been equitably settled?

The purchase agreements in respect of this estate were not lodged with the Estates Commissioners until October last. Due inquiry will be made with regard to the turbary when the estate is being dealt with by the Commissioners in its proper turn.

asked the Chief Secretary how many labourers' cottages have been built or are in course of erection in the Poor Law Unions of Antrim, Ballycastle, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Belfast, Larne, Lisburn, and Lurgan (part of, in Antrim) respectively; and what is the average rent paid for cottages in each of the Unions mentioned respectively?

The Local Government Board are unable to state the precise number of cottages in course of erection, but the number provided in each case on 31st March, 1909, and the weekly rents charged were as follows:—

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the slate quarry at Benduff, Rosscarbery, which was practically unworked for some years, has recently been taken over by a new company under favourable conditions as to capital; and whether, seeing that this resumption of work was urgently needed in a district in which nearly 300 men were thrown out of employment by the suspension of the quarry, that Benduff quarry is handicapped by the cost of transit to the nearest railway station, which is 12 miles distant, and that the old Cork grand jurors guaranteed a considerable amount for the construction of the extension of the railway from Clonakilty to Glandore, viâ Rosscarbery and Bendufif, on condition that a Government grant should be obtained to assist the local efforts, he will make inquiries into this project for encouraging local industries with a view of giving a grant for the construction of this extension from Clonakilty to Glandore?

I am informed that there have recently been negotiations with an English syndicate with a view to the reopening of these quarries which were closed about two years ago. The resumption of work would no doubt be of advantage to the district, but the number of persons thrown out of employment by the closing of the quarries appears to be largely over-stated. I understand that there were only about 30 men employed there in 1904. The nearest railway station is about 10 miles away. The presentment of the Cork Grand Jury in favour of an extension of the existing railway was conditional on a free grant of £35,000 being given, but the Government of the day did not feel justified in making the advance. Quite apart from the merits of the project, there are no funds now available.

asked the Chief Secretary whether an agreement had been come to by the Estates Commissioners and the person in occupation of Mrs. O'Brien's farm at Tulliecasky, Clonakilty, for the purpose of reinstating the evicted tenant; and, if so, what is the cause of the delay in carrying the arrangement into effect?

The Estates Commissioners understand from the agent for the estate that he is the tenant of the holding formerly occupied by Margaret O'Brien, and that he does not intend to sell it.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will give particulars of the several outrages on persons and property committed during the past three years arising out of the occupation of untenanted lands at Rineen, in the Corofin district, county Clare, and will he state whether any persons have been made amenable for such outrages?

During the past three years in the neighbourhood of Rineen, Michael O'Connor has been fired at three times, Michael Casey twice, and John Murphy once. Shots were also fired outside Michael Casey's house on two occasions. Two out of the three men were temporary occupiers of untenanted land at Rineen, and the third man was the brother of an occupier. The motive of the offences can only be a matter of inference. The police have not succeeded in bringing the offenders to justice.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Michael O'Connor, who was fired at and wounded in the head when walking along the road at Ballyyogan, in the Corofin district, county Clare, on 27th May, was fired at on two previous occasions in the same locality during the past three years; and will he ascertain from the police whether the only motive assignable for these serious acts of crime is the occupation by O'Connor of untenanted land at Rineen which is coveted by members of the Ruan branch of the United Irish League?

This is one of the cases referred to in the last question. The answer to the first part of the present question is in the affirmative. It would be contrary to practice for the police to assign motives for offences. It is, however, the fact that O'Connor is in the occupation of untenanted land at Rineen.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have allotted a holding on the Molyneux estate to John Glynn, of Breole, county Roscommon; whether Glynn was previously prosecuted by the Crown and bound to the peace for intimidation arising out of a cattle drive in the same locality; and, if so, will he obtain from the Commissioners an explanation of their action in the case, having regard to the undertaking given by him in this House that persons made amenable for such acts of intimidation would be disqualified from receiving holdings?

The Estates Commissioners in May, 1907, allotted a farm on the estate in question to a man named John Glynn. A man of the same name was in the following December bound to the peace for cattle driving but the Commissioners have no knowledge that this was the same man who had been allotted a holding.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have made arrangements for the purchase of the untenanted land at Athlacca, county Limerick, from Cleary Minors; and, if so, when will they be in a position to divide the land?

This estate is the subject of proceedings in the Court of the Lord Chancellor. The Estates Commissioners understand that his Lordship has authorised the institution of formal proceedings for sale under the Irish Land Act, 1903. When proceedings are instituted before the Commissioners the estate will be dealt with by them in its order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he afforded police protection to bailiffs making seizures of cattle on the Kenmare estate, county Kerry, on the lands of Messrs. Cournane, Coolick; Denis O'Connor, Ardagh; Denis Lucy, Kilbrean, and others, on the 12th June; whether this estate is at present before the Estates Commissioners, and these tenants have not signed purchase agreements because of legitimate objections to price and other matters; and whether he intends to afford police protection for further execution of distress warrants not authorised by any court of law?

I am informed by the Constabulary authorities that on the occasion in question the agent for the estate notified to the police that his bailiffs were about to distrain for rent on certain farms. A sergeant and three constables were sent on patrol to the locality to preserve the peace should necessity arise. The police did not accompany the bailiffs or afford them protection. The estate is at present before the Estates Commissioners, and the tenants of the farm in question have not signed purchase agreements. The reasons why they had not signed will be inquired into by the Estates Commissioners when they are dealing with the estate in its proper turn. Meanwhile the tenants continue to be liable for rent as heretofore. The duty of the police in cases of distraint is strictly limited to the preservation of the peace.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can yet state the nature of the obstacles which stand in the way of the restoration to their homes of the balance of the evicted tenants of the Massareene estate, in the county of Louth?

I am not in a position at present to add anything to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Solicitor-General for Ireland to the question asked by the hon. Member on 11th March.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Miss Rose A. O'Reilly applied for reinstatement on a farm on the estate of Craven Wade, Gibbonstown, county Meath; whether the Estates Com- missioners refused her application on the ground that they had supplied her brother with a farm; if he is aware that the applicant has no brother alive; and if he will direct that further inquiries be made into her case, as the Commissioners are apparently confusing another Philip O'Reilly with that of her deceased brother, who bore the same name?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Miss O'Reilly aplied to be provided with a holding as the representative of her father. On inquiry it appeared that the father had been sold out of a holding on the Wade estate by a mortgagee and that the lands are now occupied by another tenant. The Commissioners decided to take no action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in connection with the application to the Estates Commissioners from Philip O'Reilly and his daughter Rose O'Reilly for reinstatement in a holding on the Wade estate, county Meath, and of the fact that, having provided Philip O'Reilly with a farm, the Commissioners propose to take no further action, he will cause this case to be further inquired into, as the relationship between the applicants is not as stated, and the claim of Rose O'Reilly is a distinct one in itself, and not identified with the claim of any other person bearing the same name?

I am informed by the Estates Commissioners that Philip O'Reilly who has been provided with a holding is the brother, not the father, of Miss Rose O'Reilly.

asked the Chief Secretary what action has been taken in the case of Edward O'Brien, an evicted tenant on the Nicholson estate, Balrath, Kells, county Meath; and whether, having regard to the fact that the farm from which he was evicted is scheduled as untenanted land and is still in the occupation of the landlord, the Estates Commissioners will exercise the compulsory powers vested in them in order to bring about his reinstatement?

The Estates Commissioners have notified their intention of acquiring, under the Evicted Tenants Act, certain untenanted lands on this estate for the purpose of providing holdings for O'Brien and another evicted tenant whose former holdings cannot be acquired having regard to the provisions of section 7 of the Act.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, in view of the systematic fraud practised in Great Britain in regard to the sale of butter misrepresented as Irish, he will consider whether it is possible to devise some scheme of co-operation between the Department and the authority responsible in Great Britain for the more efficient detection of these frauds and the prosecution of the offenders?

The question as to what further action can be taken with a view to the prevention of frauds in Great Britain in regard to Irish butter is at present receiving the earnest attention of the Department. The hon. Member may rest assured that the Department will Spare no effort to suppress the frauds.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the police arrested four men on last Saturday at Castleisland in connection with the eviction of Mr. Richard J. Walsh, and brought them before a resident magistrate; whether this indicates that the police force is to be offered to assist the bailiffs in carrying out evictions; whether he is aware that the present Lord St. Aldwyn, when Chief Secretary for Ireland, refused police assistance for evictions where the landlord acted unreasonably; and whether, having regard to the fact that Mr. Walsh offered the landlord a substantial payment on account within the last week, and agreed to leave the settlement of fair purchase terms to the Estates Commissioners, who have the estate at present before them; and also that Mr. Walsh's aged mother is lying dying in the house he regards it as reasonable to afford police protection in this case?

Four men were arrested by the police in connection with this case, and were taken before a resident magistrate and bound to keep the peace. It is the duty of the police to afford the fullest possible protection and assistance to the sheriff in the execution of writs of ejectment. The law upon the subject has been repeatedly laid down by the High Court in the most unmistakable manner. It has been held that the Executive Government have no power whatever to withhold police protection and assistance from a sheriff in the execution of writs of the courts. I am informed that Walsh has now offered to pay a year's rent—namely, £34—and to purchase the farm under the Land Acts, provided the annuity is not more than £20. I have no information as to whether the landlord will accept the offer, but I understand that Walsh owes upwards of £400 for rent due before he lost his tenancy and for costs. The question whether Walsh's mother is too ill to be moved is not one for the police, but for the sheriff, on whom the responsibility rests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a claim for an old age pension, made to the Naas North pension sub-committee by one Bridget Crogan, was referred to the Census Office for search of proof of the applicant's age as long ago as January of the present year; whether the result of the inquiry has yet been communicated to the said sub-committee; if not, what is the cause of the delay; are there any similar cases in the same district; and, if so, will instructions be given to the Department or officers responsible to expedite all necessary inquiries and communicate all required information as speedily as possible?

No claimant of the name of Bridget Crogan can be traced in the pension district in question, but there is, I understand, a Bridget Grogan, of whose case the particulars were sent to the Census Office on 9th April last. The result of the search, which shows the age of the claimant to have been five years in 1851, has now been communicated to the pension officer. There are no cases of the kind indicated in the question awaiting search in this district.

asked the names of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue who are. referred to in section 74, sub-section (2), of the Finance Bill as the Commissioners in any other part of this Act than Parts II., VI., and VII.?

Sir Robert Chalmers, K.C.B., Mr. E. E. Nett-Bower, Mr. B. Mallet, and Mr. J. P. Crowly.

asked what is the Customs duty on a bottle and a half bottle, respectively, of champagne or other sparkling wine?

A "bottle" of sparkling wine, by which is ordinarily meant a reputed quart, is assessed as containing one-sixth of a gallon. The great majority of wines of this class fall within the lower rate of duty of 1s. 3d. per gallon, and are liable in addition to a duty of 2s. 6d. per gallon in respect of importation in bottle. The amount of duty on a "bottle," therefore, would be 7½d., and on a "half-bottle" 3¾d.

asked whether the tax on undeveloped land is intended to apply to land purchased for building purposes, but which, owing to the lack of demand for houses, has remained unbuilt upon; and on what basis is the valuation of such undeveloped land to be fixed?

The Finance Bill contemplates the payment of Undeveloped Land Duty in any case which is not covered by the exemptions proposed in the Bill. The basis of valuation will be in accordance with the provisions of Clause 10 (3) of the Bill read in conjunction with Clauses 14, 17, and 18.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the estimate of the amount of spirits which will pay duty and be retained for Home consumption in 1909-10 of 29,700,000 gallons will give less than the amount received last year at a lower rate of duty; and if, under these circumstances, he will reconsider his proposals?

I am aware of the fact referred to by my hon. Friend. But he must bear in mind that, as I stated in my Budget speech, considerable quantities of spirits which would ordinarily have been cleared in the current financial year, were duty-paid in 1908–9, and that, as I pointed out at the same time, the proposed increase of 3s. 9d. a gallon in the Spirit Duty will have the effect of diminishing consumption.

asked whether it is proposed that any Licence Duties will be payable on motor cars in addition to those specified in Part II., Schedule 5, of the Finance Bill, or whether these duties are in substitution for all existing duties?

As my right hon. Friend stated on the 16th inst. in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Orkney and Shetland, the proposed motor taxes are in substitution for the smaller existing duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the large number of contractors to the Post Office for the carrying of mails by motor vehicles are under a considerable increase in expenditure consequent upon the levy upon the petrol used by these vehicles in the performance of this work, he will in the circumstances exempt such vehicles from the payment of this duty during the continuance of the contracts in question?

My right hon. Friend does not see his way to grant a special exemption in the case of these vehicles in addition to the proposed rebate of 1½d. per gallon of petrol used by commercial vehicles.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to instruct the Commissioners to interpret the meaning of the word minerals under the Finance Bill according to the decisions of the English or the Scotch judges, or is the question so far as land in England is concerned to be decided according to English and so far as land in Scotland is concerned according to Scotch Law?

My right hon. Friend does not propose to issue any instructions to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, and I am not aware of any difference between English law and Scottish law with respect to the interpretation of the word "minerals."

asked whether it is the intention of the Government to charge the tax for ungotten minerals for land where excavation would destroy the land for building purposes or jeopardise the foundations of the buildings thereon; and whether land subject to the tax for undevelopment will be exempt from the mineral tax, or whether such land is to be taxed doubly in spite of the fact that development in building renders it unsuitable for mining, and mining renders it unsuitable for building?

The question whether the duties on undeveloped land and on ungotten minerals would or would not be payable either separately or conjointly, is one which can only be answered in a given case when the facts have been duly ascertained. I may, however, point out that in a case where mining operations would affect the value of land for building purposes, they would correspondingly affect the value subject to undeveloped land duty; and similarly the value of the mineral rights would he affected in a case where the fact of land being built upon would render it impossible to work the minerals beneath it without risk of incurring heavy charges for compensation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention had been called to the definition of mines and minerals in the Settled Land Act of 1882, section 2, sub-section 10; and whether he proposes to adopt that definition, or to substitute a new on?, therefor in the Finance Bill?

The attention of my right hon. Friend has been drawn to the definition in question, but it did not appear to him that the adoption of this definition would have been of any practical utility. As regards the latter part of the question, I must refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 16th inst. to the hon. Members for the Holborn Division and Darlington.