asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the latest estimate of the numbers of the white and coloured population respectively in each and all of the Colonies now concurring in the formation of a South African Union?

, in reply, supplied the following figures:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can say when the President of the Joint Court in the New Hebrides will be appointed?

His Majesty's Government are in communication with the French Government with a view to the making of the appointment. The buildings required for the accommodation of the Joint Court are expected to be finished by 1st November next, and it is hoped that the President and the other members of the court will be on the spot and ready to enter on their functions not long after that date.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, what was the total number of applicants supplied with land and included in schemes under the Small Holdings Act up to 30th June, 1909?

Up to the weekending the 3rd instant we had received 465 schemes, covering an area of 38.287 acres, and in addition 88 compulsory orders had been made dealing with 5,674 acres, making a total of 43,961 acres. It is not possible as yet to give the number of applicants by whom this land is or will be occupied. I may add that during the last three weeks schemes and orders covering an additional area of 2,934 acres have been made, making the total area up to the 24th instant 46,895 acres.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that a number of parents have been misled by the wording of Form Q, issued under the Vaccination Order of 1907, into believing that they are at liberty to make a declaration under the Vaccination Act, 1907, within four months and seven days of the birth of a child provided the vaccination officer receives the declaration within that period, whereas the declaration is void if made after four months have elapsed from the birth; and whether he can in some way alter the wording of the form to prevent any further misconception on this point?

I have received some representations on this subject, and I will give consideration to them. I may, however, point out that in the Notice of the Requirement of Vaccination which is given by the Registrar of Births and Deaths to the parent or other person registering the birth of a child it is expressly stated that the statutory declaration must be made within four months from the birth of the child.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the East Riding County Council continue to refuse to carry out the duty imposed upon them by the Yorkshire Registries Act, 1884, as to appointing a properly qualified registrar; and whether, in view of the fact that the Bill which is being promoted by the council is not likely to become law this Session, he can state whether it is proposed to take any steps to enforce obedience to the directions of the statute, or whether he approves of the council's refusal to appoint?

I am not aware that any complaint has arisen to the effect that the work of the East Riding Land Registry is not being efficiently performed by the officer appointed by the county council. I understand that the appointment is temporary, and is made under the provisions of the Act dealing with temporary appointments. In the meantime, as the hon. Member has been informed, legislation is pending with the view of altering the Act of 1884 so far as it compels the county council to go to the great cost of appointing a barrister or solicitor who must devote his whole time to the work. Under the circumstances, I see no reasons for taking any steps against the council, but any person aggrieved may, of course, take the opinion of the counts on the matter.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he will state how many margarine factories there are in Ireland, and the districts in which they are located?

There are six premises registered in Ireland for the manufacture of margarine, viz., two in the county borough of Cork, two in the county borough of Limerick, one in county Dublin (at Blanchardstown), one in county Wexford (at Enniscorthy).

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the office of Registrar of Petty Sessions Clerks in Ireland is to be vacated at the close of the present year by the operation of Rule 65; whether in such an event it is intended to assign to his successor the same salary as he now receives, namely, £800 a year; and whether, in the event of an existing Civil servant, entitled to superannuation, being appointed to the office, what arrangements, if any, will be made as regards the eventual superannuation of the person so appointed in respect of his combined and continuous service to the State?

The matter has not engaged my attention, as, even if subject to the operation of the 65 Rule, the present Registrar of Petty Sessions Clerks must hold office for some time. The arrangement consequent upon his retirement, when it takes place, will be carefully considered.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the total amount of the bonus paid in respect of advances made by the Land Commission up to 1st July, 1909; the total amount of 2Þ per cent. Stock created for the purpose of providing cash for such bonus; the total amount of purchase money represented by pending agreements at the date named, upon which the 12 per cent, bonus would be payable, the amount of cash required to pay the bonus on these pending agreements; and the amount of 2Þ per cent. Stock which it will be necessary to issue for that purpose?

The total amount of bonus paid to the 1st instant is £3,055,124, which, calculated at the average price of the stock already issued, would represent £3,466,807 7s. 6d. stock. The purchase money applied for in pending agreements in direct sales entered into prior to the revision of the bonus percentage and lodged in the Land Commission up to the 1st instant amount to £48,706,995, and, calculated on the basis of the price of the last issue of stock, £6,796,324 8s. 4d. stock would be required to pay a bonus of 12 per cent, thereon.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state whether the committee clerks under the Old Age Pensions Act for county Cavan have been paid their salaries due to them since 31st March last; if not, when will the same be paid; and is this delay exceptional in the case of county Cavan?

The accounts of the County Cavan Pension Committee and sub-committees for the quarter ended the 31st December, 1908, were sent in more than three months after the prescribed date. Fees were claimed for dealing with 6,032 claims, and as the number reported by the pension officers to have been dealt with was less than this, inquiry was made into the discrepancy. The true number is now shown to be 5,736. The payment of the account for the following quarter has been delayed pending the inquiries. The case of Cavan is exceptional.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that this House has never in its history granted free railway tickets and free entertainments at the public expense to Members and their families, he will open a subscription list in the Library for Members to pay for this cost; and whether he will ask Members of this House who are directors of the railway company carrying this pleasure party on 31st July for free railway tickets?

My right hon. Friend does not see his way to adopt either of my hon. Friend's suggestions.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the jurisdiction of the Central Judicial Commission was confined to investigating claims with regard to goods requisitioned by the military authorities in South Africa during the Boer War; whether he is aware that the Commission investigated and decided upon the claim of Mr. S. Michaelson, of Pretoria, who alleged that he had supplied goods under contract to the British Army in occupation of Pretoria in June, 1900; by whose authority or direction was Mr. Michaelson's claim referred to the Central Judicial Commission; whether Mr. Michaelson was informed of such proceedings; whether he consented to have his claim so adjudicated upon; whether he is aware that Mr. Michaelson accepted the sum of £12,000 awarded to him by the Comsion under protest, and still claims a balance of £36,163 7s. 8d. as being due to him; and whether the Government will refer the question as to whether the goods were requisitioned or supplied under contract to the arbitration of some impartial tribunal?

The Central Judicial Commission only investigated cases of requisitions, and accordingly investigated this claim, presumably satisfying itself that this was such a case. The claim was referred to the Commission by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Africa, and Mr. Michaelson was informed of these proceedings. There is no record of his objecting to this procedure, and he duly appeared before the Commission. Mr. Michaelson accepted the sum of £12,000 in full payment. I do not propose to take any further steps in the matter, as, after investigating the matter personally, I am satisfied that the goods were requisitioned.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the hardship caused to, and to the probable detrimental effect on, the Special Reserve by the issuing of the Western Command Orders of the 19th instant, paragraph 3, whereby information is given that the conditions regarding proficiency pay issued by the Command Orders of 18th June, 1909, paragraph 5, are not applicable to the Special Reserve; and whether he will take steps to have such Order cancelled or modified?

The conditions for proficiency pay have been somewhat relaxed temporarily in the case of the Regular forces in view of the more stringent musketry standards to avoid loss of proficiency pay which would otherwise have happened in many cases. The special reservist never drew proficiency pay before this year, and the higher musketry standard does not, therefore, inflict any loss on him in this respect. There is, accordingly, no intention of modifying the present arrangements.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in the county of Notts the checkweighmen at collieries have taken the time, day by day, of the actual time required for winding men at the usual speed, and that the times allowed by the inspectors under the Coal Mines (Eight Hours) Act are in all cases in excess of the time actually required; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have no information to the effect suggested in the question. No complaints from the Nottinghamshire collieries have reached either myself or the inspector for the district. The times actually taken to lower or raise a shift are required to be shown in the register kept under the Act; note will be taken of these by the inspectors on their visits to the mines, and should the times allowed prove to be more than is reasonably necessary they will be reduced.

asked the Home Secretary whether, seeing that sub-section (5) of Clause 1 of the Coal Mines (Eight Hours) Bill provides that the time of winding shall be such time not exceeding the time reasonably required for the purpose, he will consult the Law Officers of the Crown on the legality of his action in granting periods of 25 per cent, longer than is actually required to colliery owners; and whether he is aware that the effect of his action compels day men to work in many cases half an hour per day extra without any corresponding pay?

My answer last week was not intended to convey that 25 per cent, had been allowed over and above what was actually required for the lowering or raising of a shift. What has been done is this: the time occupied at the particular mine in lowering one full cage-load of persons was taken and multiplied by the number of cage-loads in the shift. To the result thus obtained, which gives the theoretically quickest possible time that would be taken in lowering the shift, supposing there were no intermission, delays or hitches of any kind, an addition of 25 per cent, was made for minor contingencies. It is obvious, I think, that the bare minimum without any such provision would be unreasonable as regards the owner who is under a statutory obligation not to exceed the time allowed by the inspector, and dangerous as regards the men as being likely to lead to hurry in winding. I am not sure to what the last part of the question refers, but I am informed that in some cases it has been arranged between the representatives of the owners and of the men that the haulage hands shall go down first and come up last. This, however, is not a consideration which can be taken into account by the inspector in fixing the times reasonably required for lowering and raising.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will say if the 25 per cent, increased time granted to colliery owners on the time actually required for winding men is in substitution of Clause 3, sub-section (1), which gives colliery owners the right to work an additional 60 hours per annum; and, if so, whether he is aware that this 25 per cent, is on the average considerably more than 60 hours per annum?

The answer to this question is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Brighton Aquarium, which has come into the possession of the town council, is opened for entertainments on Sunday, with charges for admission, made contrary to the law; and what steps he proposes to take?

I am informed that the Corporation of Brighton provide concerts of classical music in the Aquarium on Sunday afternoon and evening, and that small sums are charged for admission. I do not propose to take any action in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether many petitions have been received by him from public bodies during the last year in favour of the payment of the expenses of jurors attending assizes and quarter sessions; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

No petitions of the nature indicated have been received at the Home Office during the last twelve months. I do not see my way to take any action in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in the Returns presented to the House of sentences of corporal punishment inflicted upon prisoners between 1st January and 31st December, 1907 and 1908, respectively, the number of strokes ordered by the respective judges were in fact inflicted; whether there were any cases during the said period in which the whole or any part of the sentence was remitted or was not imposed; and, if so, whether he will give the number and state the details of such cases mentioned in the Return?

The number of strokes ordered by the judges was inflicted in each of the cases mentioned in the Returns. To prevent misunderstanding, I may point out that the Returns relate only to indictable offences, and do not include sentences of whipping under the Vagrancy Acts. Several sentences of whipping under the Vagrancy Acts were remitted in the years 1907 and 1908.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can say what number of the employés in the Dublin telephone room are relations of the higher officials of the Post Office; and will he say if it is the intention to introduce open competition for the appointments referred to?

Five telephonists at Dublin are relatives of higher officials of the Post Office. The question of recruiting the class of telephonists has been fully considered on previous occasions. As I have already stated, candidates for such situations, besides having the prescribed educational knowledge, must possess certain qualifications, such as pitch of voice and clearness of enunciation, which cannot be tested except by personal examination; and the substitution of open competition for the present method of appointment, by selection and nomination, would not appear to be satisfactory.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the duty of the medical officer in Dublin is very frequently performed by a substitute; will he say if it is the rule to allow a doctor's private practice to interfere largely with his duties as medical officer to the Post Office; and when it is intended to introduce the scheme recommended by the Hobhouse Committee with regard to medical attendance?

The duty of medical officer to the Post Office in Dublin is only performed by substitute during the absence of the official medical officer or in cases of emergency or exceptional pressure. It is the rule that a doctor's private practice shall not be allowed to interfere with his duties as medical officer to the Post Office. The alterations in the system of free medical attendance recommended by the recent Select Committee were brought into force on 1st October.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, in accordance with a promise given by himself that where men desire to appeal against punishments copies of their official records will be furnished to them, Mr. J. J. Brady, of Dublin, applied in May last to be furnished with such copy; that early this month he repeated his application, but a copy has not yet been furnished; and whether he will inquire into the matter?

I will make inquiry into the case mentioned by my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that at Gloucester and Worcester the stripe adjustments following the circular of November last have not yet been made, and that nothing but indefinite replies are received to applications made by the men concerned; and whether he will issue instructions that the matter shall be attended to at once?

I will make inquiry as to the stripe adjustments in the case of postmen at the offices mentioned.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can state the reason of the delay in coming to a decision with reference to the revision of the postal arrangements at the Cork Post Office, which has been under consideration since February, 1908; and when a decision is likely to be come to?

I hope that the revision of the Cork indoor force, to which the hon. Member presumably refers, will be carried out shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General whether complaints have been received within the past month of delay in dealing with Press or commercial telegrams at the Cork Post Office, whether he can state how many commercial telegrams were delayed 30 minutes and upwards in the Cork office on the 9th and 12th instant respectively; what limit of delay is permitted in the Cork office in dealing with commercial telegrams; whether any steps are being taken to remedy the state of things complained of; and whether any increase of the telegraph staff at the Cork office is under contemplation, and, if so, to what extent?

I will have inquiry made on the subject, and communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether on the 9th July instant the military engineering staff were unable to put the telegraph apparatus between Buttevant and Cork into working order, and the postmaster at Mallow had, in consequence, to apply to the superintending engineer for a competent man to do the work; whether important telegraph work in connection with the Cahirmee fair suffered serious delay in consequence of the incompetence of the military engineers to provide suitable outlets; and whether he will arrange to have the military officials referred to replaced by competent engineers of the civilian staff?

I will make inquiry, and communicate with the hon. Member.