asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he will give the following information as to small holdings in Essex, namely, the number of applicants for small holdings and the number of cottages and total acreage applied for in each of the Parliamentary Divisions of Essex; the number of applicants approved, and for what number of cottages and total acreage in each of the Parliamentary Divisions of Essex: the names of applicants already supplied by the county council with small holdings and cottages, stating where situate, for each of the Parliamentary Divisions of Essex; what steps, if any, are being taken by the county council to meet the requirements of the approved applicants; and whether approved applicants are being informed as to when they may approximately expect to be supplied with land and cottages?

The following letter from the clerk of the Essex County Council gives the information for which my hon. Friend asks, so far as it is available:—County of Essex.A. 24029/1909.Shire Hall, Chelmsford,2nd July, 1909.Sir,SMALL HOLDINGS.With further reference to your letter of the 29th ult., I now beg to give you the following information:—

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if a communication has been received from the Royal Gardens, Kew, Employes' Union, appealing for a reduction of their working hours, and pointing out that their hours in summer are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., whereas the men at the Royal parks, London County Council parks, and Bushy and Richmond parks have much better working conditions, and, further, that the later employés enjoy a much longer leave of absence; and, if so, can he state what action it is intended to take in order to bring about more reasonable hours of labour?

We have received the communication to which my hon. Friend refers, and it is receiving careful consideration.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that one of the candidates for the Springburn School Board was permitted during the recent election to make an announcement to the children during school hours, in Albert School on 26th March, and in Wellfield School on 30th March, dealing with his candidature for that board; and whether in view of the fact that the regulations of the Scotch Education Department forbid this method of procedure, he will take steps to prevent such in the future?

In reply to inquiry, the Department are informed by the clerk to the School Board of Springburn that no such permission as stated in the question was given by the board. I am not aware to what specific regulation the hon. Member refers. The General Order regulating the triennial election of schools boards contains nothing bearing upon the point at issue.

asked the Lord Advocate if three sentences of birching passed by Sheriff-Substitute Baillie at Jedburgh on three boys of 12 or 14 years of age, have yet been executed in regard to a prosecution for taking rabbits out of a trap in Lord Campbell's park; whether any of these children have been previously convicted; and whether, in similar cases, the First Offenders Act or the Children Act has been brought to the notice of the courts in Scotland?

I am informed that the sentences referred to have been duly carried out. None of the boys had been previously convicted. On the passing into law of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1907, and the Children Act, 1908, respectively, the attention of judges in the summary criminal courts in Scotland was directed to the provisions of these Acts by circulars issued from the Scottish Office, and I am further informed that in selecting the form of punishment which ho considered the most judicious in the circumstances the Sheriff-Substitute had fully in view the various methods of dealing with these cases open to him under these Acts.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that when the Education Department of India was reorganised in 1896 the Secretary of State decided that directors of public instruction under local Governments and Administrations who had served three years in that capacity, and whose service was approved, should be eligible for a pension of Rs.6,000, and that, therefore, Mr. E. Giles, C.I.E., in being allotted a pension of Rs.6,000 per annum only received what he was practically entitled to, and no extra reward whatever for his specially meritorious services; whether any pension in excess of the amount permissible under the regulations has ever been sanctioned in terms of Article 924 of the Civil Service Regulations; and, if so, to whom?

In a Resolution of the Government of India dated 23rd July, 1896, regarding the reorganisa- tion of the educational service in India, it was laid down that directors of public instruction will be eligible for an additional pension of Rs.1,000 a year, making Bs.6,000 in all, provided that they have rendered not less than three years of effective service in the appointment, and provided also that in each case during such service they have shown such special energy and efficiency as may be considered deserving of the concession. The pension of Bs.6,000 granted to Mr. Giles is, therefore, not what he was practically entitled to, but includes an additional pension of Rs.1,000 a year, which is admissible only to officers of special merit. Since 1877 only one pension exceeding Rs.6,000 a year has been granted to a civil officer not being a member of the Indian Civil Service or of the class of officers to whom Article 642 of the Civil Service Regulations is applicable. The case was that of Mr. B. Gay, formerly Comptroller and Auditor-General, to whom a pension of Rs.7,000 a year was specially granted in 1892.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will say when he intends to proceed with the Milk Bill?

I am afraid that I cannot fix a date at the present time.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what steps he has taken to compel the urban district council of Ramsey to make proper provision for the safety of the town against scarlet fever and epidemics arising from the bad water and bad drainage to which his attention was called a year ago; how many cases of fever have occurred in the last month and how many deaths have been due to disease arising from the insanitary condition of the town in the same period; and what steps he now proposes to take to save further loss of life in the district?

I have pressed the subject of sewage disposal on the district council. They have directed some temporary measures to be taken, but they urge that the expense of providing a new system of sewers, which would also necessitate a water supply, would be prohibitive. As I stated in reply to a previous question, I have not received any such complaint of default on the part of the district council with respect to sewerage and water supply as would enable me to take compulsory action under the Public Health Act. No outbreak of infectious disease in the district has been reported to me during the present year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the decree with regard to the legal status of slavery in the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba has now been promulgated; and, if not, whether he can give the definite date when it will be?

The decree has been signed, and it was published in the "Zanzibar Gazette" to-day.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the 5th Battalion, the Queen's, has seven detachments and only five instructors; that it is at its full strength and has enlisted 700 men since 1st April, 1008; and that under paragraph 623 of the Territorial Force Regulation an association is financially penalised for men found inefficient; what steps have been taken to supply the two extra permanent instructors required, regarding which urgent representations were made by the Surrey Territorial Force Association to the War Office on 6th January, 1909, and again on 2nd March, 1909, and by the General Officer Commanding Home Counties Division on 1st January, 1909, to the headquarters Eastern Command; and why these representations have been completely ignored by the War Office and no answer given?

The hon. and gallant Member is under a misapprehension. The representations he refers to have not been ignored by the Department, but have been carefully considered, in conjunction with several other questions of a similar nature. I may state that it has been decided to allow this battalion an additional instructor, making six in all. Official notification of this decision will shortly be issued.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the exhibition of prizes for the London Territorials by private traders; if he is aware that the President of the Association had to beg window space for their exhibition of certain London stores; and whether the War Office would undertake its own advertisement, apart from that of a single trading establishment, by placing at the disposal of the association space in some public building for such exhibitions?

I presume the hon. Member is referring to the sports held at Shepherd's Bush on the 26th ult. If so, I have no official information on the subject, but I understand that the prizes were privately subscribed for, and that no public funds were expended on these sports. The advertising arrangements were entirely a matter for the association, and the War Office is not concerned.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether the arbitration begun in 1908 between the Midland Railway Company and the Midland and Southwestern Junction Company has come to any conclusion; and, if so, what that conclusion was?

I understand that the matters in dispute have not yet been brought before the Arbitrator, but it is expected that they soon will be.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can give any information in relation to the claim for an old age pension of Bridget Cassidy, Hillhead, Ardara, county Donegal, who made application in the usual way, and was informed that she would get 5s. weekly, as per form 4a, dated 31st December, 1908, Glenties sub-committee, but has not since heard anything about the pension nor received any sum whatever thereunder; and, if an appeal has been taken in her case, why has the result of that appeal not been communicated to her, and why for a period of six months has this woman, having been awarded a pension, received nothing and not been given any information whatever on the matter?

An appeal having been made by the pension officer against the Committee's decision of 28th January last on a question raised by him, the Local Government Board, after communicating with Miss Cassidy, determined on 2nd April that she was not entitled to any pension, on the ground that evidence had not been produced to show that she had reached the statutory age. This decision was communicated to the Glenties No. 1 pension sub-committee on 3rd April, and it then devolved upon the Committee to inform Miss Cassidy of the result.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will state the average prices of the various classes of sheep, respectively, in Ireland in June, 1909; the average June prices of the previous years since monthly prices began to be recorded; and the percentage the prices of last month are over or under the previous June average?

The following are the average prices per head of sheep in June, 1909, together with the average prices in June of the preceding nine years, and the percentage of decrease this year:—

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that on the 26th instant an Orange party, returning from the unfurling of a banner at Banbridge, marched through the Catholic quarter of the village of Loughbrickland, contrary to a rule made by the local magistrates to the effect that Orangemen and Catholics should keep to their respective quarters of the village; and whether he will take steps to see that the rule is observed in future?

I am informed by the constabulary authorities that on this occasion it was necessary for the Orange party to pass through the quarter of the village of Loughbrickland referred to in the ques- tion in order to get home from Banbridge. The local magistrates some years ago advised both parties to try to keep to their own quarters of the village except on special occasions, and this rule is duly observed.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the specific grounds on which the application of Mrs. Saragh O'Regan, county Cork, evicted tenant, was dismissed by the Estates Commissioners?

The Estates Commissioners, after inquiry and in the exercise of their discretion, refused to take any action in this case. It would be contrary to the established practice to state the reasons which actuate the Commissioners in the exercise of their discretion.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any district councils in Ireland have recently appointed as inspectors under the Cowsheds and Milkshops Order local sub-sanitary officers who also held the position of relieving officers, as well as other positions under the rural district councils; if so, can he give the names of the district councils, or of any one of them, who have made such appointments; and will he state whether the Local Government Board intend to give their sanction to appointments of this nature, in view of the fact that the time of these gentlemen ought to be already fully occupied if they are to efficiently perform the duties appertaining to the other offices held by them?

I understand that in 68 districts the sanitary sub-officers, who frequently hold the position of relieving officers as well, have been appointed to act as inspectors of dairies. I am forwarding a list of these districts to the hon. Member. The Local Government Board consider it unnecessary to press local authorities to appoint separate inspecting officers of dairy premises in localities where the dairying industry does not assume large proportions. A sanitary sub-officer has opportunity of observing defects or insanitary conditions in dairy premises, and there is no reason to suppose that his time is so fully occupied with other official duties as to prevent his carrying out such inspections. Moreover, under the Board's Sanitary Orders of May, 1900, it already forms part of his duties in a district where no inspector of dairies has been appointed to inspect dairies, cowsheds, and milk-shops, and to report to the sanitary authority thereon. The sanction of the Board is only required so far as concerns the remuneration of officers under the Dairies Order.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can say when the sale of that portion of Lord Southwell's estate, situate at Ballyallinan, in the parish of Rathkeale, in the county of Limerick, will be completed?

The Estates Commissioners are not in a position at present to say when the sale of the holdings on this estate, which have not yet been vested in the tenants, will be completed.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have been in communication with Major Roche Kelly, of Islandmore, Croom, county Limerick, with a view to the purchase from him of 400 acres of untenanted lands situated in the townlands of Friars-town and Rockstown, in the parish of Ballybricken, county Limerick; and, if they have, what has been the result of the negotiations?

The Estates Commissioners approached the owner of these lands, who has now instituted formal proceedings for their sale. The lands will be inspected in due course, having regard to the prior claims of other estates.

asked the Chief Secretary if the Estates Commissioners have purchased the untenanted lands on Miss Croker's and Lady Dyer's estate situate in the townlands of Ballybricken and Stonepark, in the parish of Ballybricken, county Limerick; and, if the lands are purchased, what is the cause of the delay in not distributing the land among the labourers and economic holders in the district?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that this estate is being sold by the owner direct to the tenants. It will be inspected and dealt with in order of priority.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state how much of the receipts of duty on spirits for June, 1909 and 1909, was paid on home-made and imported spirits respectively?

Duty received in the months of June, 1908, and June, 1909, on home-made and imported spirits, respectively:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Papers relating to land taxation in Frankfort and other German towns will be issued to Members of Parliament?

I hope that the volume in question will be circulated tomorrow evening, or on Friday at latest.

asked the Home Secretary why it is necessary that licensed men should be required to lose a day's work, as well as incur the cost of railway and other fares to and from London, in order to attend at New Scotland Yard to be photographed, in accordance with a police order issued by the Superintendent of the Public Carriage Office, New Scotland Yard?

Licensed drivers and conductors have to attend at New Scotland Yard to be photographed because the necessary apparatus is not installed in any of the local police stations. The Commissioner of Police informs me that in practice this gives rise to very little inconvenience, even in the case of men working in the outlying districts of London. As I informed the hon. Member on 24th June, men are only required to come to Scotland Yard for this purpose once in three years, and they may attend at their convenience on any day during the month preceding the expiration of their licences. Cab drivers usually take the opportunity to come after they have put down a fare in the neighbourhood. The Order requiring licences to have attached to them a photograph of the holder was not issued by the Superintendent of the Public Carriage Office, but is in my Order of 30th December, 1907, relating to cabs and stage carriages generally in the Metropolis.

asked the Home Secretary whether, when a fee is charged by a justice of the peace for signing a vaccination exemption order, it is paid into a public fund; and, if so, whether he is aware that some justices keep the fee for their own use?

No fee is payable to a justice for taking a declaration under the Vaccination Act, 1907, or for any other act done in his magisterial capacity. A fee is chargeable by the justice's clerk if he is present and performs the service in respect of which the fee is authorised. Such fees have to be paid by the clerk into the county or borough fund. No complaint has been made to me of any justices keeping them for their own use.

asked the Home Secretary if he can state how many fatal and non-fatal accidents have happened on the new post office in King Edward-street since the commencement of the work up to the present time?

It has not been possible to ascertain by a search through the records of the Department how many reportable accidents have occurred during the 2½ years the works have been in progress, but the accidents entered in the register kept at the works are as follows: One fatal, six serious, 36 slight.