asked the Secretary of State for War whether the English journalists representing the British public, and who were the guests of the War Office at the recent manœuvres given in honour of the Colonial journalists at Aldershot, were called upon to pay first-class fare to and from Aldershot by the special train engaged by the War Office; and whether the Colonial journalists were called upon to do the same?

No expenditure from public funds was incurred for the railway travelling of the journalists on the occasion in question. The London and South-western Railway kindly placed accommodation at the disposal of the Imperial Press delegates. It is understood that the British delegates paid for their own tickets.

asked if the War Office will take the necessary steps to provide a rifle range in Huntingdonshire for the half battalion allotted to the county at an early date, and so enable the men to make use of it during the summer season?

The Kingsland range, which was used in the past, is still available, and will be used for the musketry training of the four companies allotted to Huntingdonshire.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what steps the Department is taking to prevent the transfer to a private individual of land which may be required for the development of the harbour accommodation at Ballycastle, county Antrim?

The Department are in communication with the Board of Trade with reference to this matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state what is the cause of the delay in the distribution of the untenanted land on the Caldbeck estate, Ballacolla, Queen's County; whether the Estates Commissioners have got possession of this land; and, if so, what use are they making of it?

The Estates Commissioners have not yet obtained possession of this estate. The proceedings for sale have been retarded by the death of the owner.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the number of vesting orders issued by the Estates Commissioners during each month from 1st November, 1908, to 31st May, 1909, the number of estates to which they relate, and the amount of purchase money involved, together with similar figures for the corresponding months of the previous year?

presented the following Return giving the number and purchase money of holdings vested in purchasing tenants in direct sales under the Irish Land Act, 1903, during each month from 1st November, 1908, to 31st May, 1909, and in the corresponding period of previous year; also number of estates upon which such holdings are situate:—

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the total number of estates in which agreements under the Act of 1903 have been lodged with the Estates Commissioners from the passage of the Act up to 31st May, 1909, the number of such agreements, the amount of purchase money, the number of estates and holdings in which vesting orders have been issued during the same period and the amount of purchase money to which they relate, the amount of purchase money actually paid, and the number of pending agreements, stating how many of these have not yet reached the stage of definition?

presented the following Return, giving, in respect of the period from the commencement of the Irish Land Act, 1903, to 31st May, 1909, the number of estates for the sale of which proceedings have been instituted by owners direct to tenants, the number of purchase agreements lodged, and the amount of advances made and applied for:—

The estates of which the purchase money has been advanced have been declared, pursuant to section 98 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, fit to be regarded as separate estates for the purposes of the Act; the remaining estates have not yet reached that stage.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have received a claim for reinstatement from Mrs. Bessie Meehan, St. Mary's, Tullagh, county Dublin, who claims as the represent-

tative of her uncle, John Phelan, who was evicted in June, 1882, from a holding situated at Raheen, Queen's County, estate of representatives of George W. M'Question; and can he say what steps, if any, have been taken towards the settlement of Mrs. Meehan's claim?

The Estates Commissioners have decided to take no action with reference to this application.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the circumstances under which the Town Hall, Ballymena, was refused for a public meeting of ratepayers by the urban council on 7th instant?

I understand that at their monthly meeting, on the 7th instant, the Ballymena Urban District Council made a bye-law that the Town Hall was not available for political meetings. The

Local Government Board have no knowledge of the circumstances in which this decision was reached.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, considering certain ratings, namely, writers and ships' stewards' assistants, have to purchase marks of good conduct to wear on their arms, for which they alone of all ratings in the Navy receive no pay, he will consider the advisability of issuing these badges for good conduct free, or cause these ratings to be paid for the same.

The question referred to by my hon. Friend will receive the careful consideration of the Board.

asked the Prime Minister whether permission may be granted to officers of the Army and Navy on the active list to become members of aerial societies?

I understand from my right hon. Friends the First Lord of the Admiralty and the Secretary of State for War that the permission in question must depend upon the circumstances in each case.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the number of agreements and the number of estates to which they relate, and the amount of money involved dealt with by the Estates Commissioners so far as the definition of estate is concerned, during each month from 1st November, 1908, to 31st May, 1909, and similar figures for the corresponding months of the previous year?

The Return furnished in reply to the hon. Member's question, No. 18, gives the information asked for, the estates in column 6 thereof comprising the lands declared in the period named to be "estates" under section 98 of the Irish Land Act, 1903.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the area of untenanted land purchased by the Estates Commissioners and the Congested Districts Board under the Act of 1903 up to 31st May, 1909, and the amount of purchase money paid or agreed to be paid for same; the extent of such land given to evicted tenants; the purchase price of same; the number of those to whom it was allotted; the number of other new holdings created; the area and purchase price of same; and the number of additions made to existing holdings, with the area and price of these additions?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that it would take a considerable time to compile the information asked for up to the 31st of May, and would entail much labour on their staff, which is already fully occupied. From the Returns now in preparation for the purpose of their Annual Report for the year ended 31st March last, it appears that on estates purchased or agreed to be purchased by them up to that date there were 130,548 acres of untenanted land, including mountain and bog, the purchase money of which was £1,484,794. On that date 121,257 acres had been distributed as follows:—61,721 acres in the enlargement of 3,272 holdings, 30,322 acres to 589 evicted tenants, and 29,214 acres to 775 other persons under sections 2 and 4 of the Act of 1903. From the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1903, up to the same date the Congested Districts Board had purchased 89,557 acres of untenanted land for £630,899, and had distributed 26,773 as follows:—15,829 acres in the enlargement of 1,096 holdings, 673 acres to 36 evicted tenants, and 10,271 acres to 316 other persons. It is not possible to give the purchase price of the lands allotted to the enlargement of holdings, to evicted tenants, and to other persons respectively.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the total amount of Voted Accounts for 1908–9, and the estimated total amount for 1909–10?

If, as I assume, the hon. Member means by "the total amount of Voted Accounts" the total of the Votes taken or to be taken in Committee of Supply, he will find the information he desires in House of Commons Paper 115 of this year.

asked whether there are many assistant clerks in London who desire to exchange with others of the same class in Dublin, but find that disparity in length of service prevents them doing so; and whether steps will be taken with a view to remove this disability, which curtails the privileges granted to assistant clerks under clause 13 of the Order in Council dated 21st December, 1907?

I am not aware of any cases of the kind referred to; but clause 13 of the Order in Council of 21st December, 1907, was not intended to confer on assistant clerks any new privileges in the matter of transfer from one Department to another. The consent of the Departments concerned is, of course, necessary in every case of transfer.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether Captain McKendrick, who has been the expert advisor to a committee inquiring into malaria in Bombay, has been withdrawn and sent back to Coonoor; whether he will state why this has been done; whether anyone has been appointed to carry on Captain McKendrick's work in Bombay, and, if so, what are the special qualifications of the new officer; and what is his knowledge of Bombay itself?

The Secretary of State understands that Captain McKendrick has been recalled to Coonoor in order to take charge of the Pasteur Institute there, of which he is Assistant Director. The Director has been obliged to take leave. It is not known who has been appointed by the Bombay Government to continue the inquiry on which Captain McKendrick was engaged.

asked the Lord Advocate whether, in view of the fact that when a deputation of Scotch Members interviewed the Scottish Secretary he promised that Scotland would get an additional £100,000 for educational purposes, he will now say when the school boards of Scotland may anticipate the portion to be allocated to each district?

The sum of £105,722 to be received from the Treasury as an addition to the General Aid Grant at former rates will, after the deduction in favour of the fee grant prescribed by section 15 (6) of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, be paid into the Education (Scotland) Fund, the allocation of the whole balance of which fund is provided for by the Scheme of Allocation proposed in the Department's Minute of 3rd June, 1909.

asked whether the Secretary for Scotland will grant a free pardon to James Mundell, who was convicted at Glasgow on 7th May last year and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, but liberated on 28th October by the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the facts that the conviction was obtained in face of the judge's summing up, that no previous convictions were alleged against Mundell, and that since his liberation he has been unable to obtain employment on account of the conviction standing against him?

I cannot admit that the conviction was obtained in face of the judge's summing up, or that the considerations alleged by my hon. Friend would in themselves entitle Mundell to a free pardon. On other grounds, however, the circumstances of this case appear to me to justify the grant of a free pardon, and I understand that the Secretary for Scotland concurs in this view, and will recommend accordingly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether undeveloped land, not built upon but reserved by a manufacturer exclusively for the recreation and benefit of his own employés, would be exempt from the duty on site values?

If the land were used for purposes within the meaning of Clause 11 (3) of the Finance Bill it would be exempt from the Undeveloped Land Duty. This exemption does not, however, extend to the other duties on land values I contemplated by Part I. of the Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the rule which prescribes that dividends paid after 5th April, 1909, are liable to the enhanced rate of Income Tax, though they are earned before that date, is to be applicable to annuities earned before 5th April but payable after that date?

Ordinary annuities charged on property in the United Kingdom are liable to deduction of Income Tax at the rates in force for the period during which they have been accruing due. Annuities payable by municipal authorities to creditors on rates, or out of the revenue of a foreign or colonial State or company are chargeable at the rate in force at the time of payment.

asked whether the spirit dealer's additional retail off-licence, granted under 24 and 25 Vic, c. 21, authorises the sale of spirits in sealed vessels of less capacity than a reputed quart if the total quantity sold at one time is not less than the quantity which would be contained in a reputed quart bottle; and whether the spirit retailer's off-licence to be granted under the Finance Bill, subject to No. 2 of the provisions applicable to retailers' off-licences on page 53 of the Bill, will authorise the sale of spirits in sealed vessels of less capacity than a reputed quart?

The answer to the first part of this question is in the affirmative, and the answer to the second part of the question is also in the affirmative, provided that the quantity sold at one time to one person is not less than a reputed quart.

asked whether authors, dramatists, or composers may regard moneys received from the sale of copyright or performing right as capital, and as such not subject to Income Tax; and whether, in view of the fact that the duration of an author's, dramatist's, or composer's property in his own works has been limited by statute to 42 years or life and seven years, whichever is the longer period, the royalties and other payments which an author, dramatist, or composer may obtain in return for a lease or licence to publish or perform will be assessed as earned income whether they accrue due before or after the death of the author, dramatist, or composer?

Such moneys received by an author, dramatist, or composer are liable to Income Tax, as being the income of a profession, and would be treated as "earned income." But any payments received after his death would be income derived from property left by him, and could not be treated in the hands of his representatives as earned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the consumption of whisky per head of the population in England and Wales, Ireland, and Scotland for the years 1906, 1907, and 1908?

I regret that I am not in a position to give this information. As I stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member for North-West Manchester on 19th May, whisky is not shown in the revenue accounts separately from other British spirits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the estimated total site value of the land to which his proposed duties on land values will apply?

I am unable at the present time to forecast the total site values which may be indicated by the valuation contemplated by the Finance Bill.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he can state the cost of a licence to fish for salmon on the North-East Coast of Northumberland; whether such licence permits the holder to fish between high and low-water mark; and will he state the name of the authority entitled to receive the licence dues?

The Coquet and Tyne Boards of Conservators have jurisdiction on the North-East Coast of Northumberland, and issue licences under the provisions of sections 33–36 of the Salmon Fishery Act, 1865. In the Tyne district ( i.e., south of Newbiggin) the Salmon Licence Duties on instruments other than rod and line are:—

In each case the duties on rods and lines and other instruments not used in fishing for salmon in the sea are omitted.

The licences cover fishing for salmon within the limits of the district, which include the seashore and territorial waters, but they do not confer any right to fish in any place or at any time in or at which the licensee is not otherwise entitled to fish.