asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the case of a carpenter, named McCulloch, who was an inmate of the Hanwell Asylum from the beginning of December, 1908, to the 17th of May, 1909, and whose furniture was sold by order of the Hampstead Board of Guardians to maintain him while he was an inmate of this institution, although he had a wife and two children dependent upon him; whether he is aware that when this man was discharged from the asylum he found his home broken up, his tools and implements of trade in possession of the guardians, who refuse to give them up unless he pays for them; that it is impossible for this man to get employment at his trade unless he has his tools; and whether, under those circumstances, he can see his way to take some action in the matter?

I have made inquiry about this case. I am informed that at the time of his removal to the asylum McCulloch was living apart from his wife and children, and that his wife declined to have anything to do with his effects, which, with the exception of his tools and implements of trade, were accordingly sold under a justice's order. The proceeds were applied towards the cost of his maintenance. The tools and trade implements were taken care of by the guardians. McCulloch was discharged from the asylum on 17th May. He called at the workhouse on the 3rd instant, and was then informed that he could have the articles in question. He promised to send a conveyance for them, but, up to the present time, he has not done so.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the authorities of the Chase Farm Workhouse School have discontinued the practice of vaccinating children placed under their charge whose parents are opposed to vaccination?

I am informed that the guardians now obtain the consent of parents before children in the Chase Farm Schools are vaccinated.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will say in what position matters now stand in reference to the negotiations for the sale to the Commissioners of the lands of Corraduff, in the occupation of Mr. Michael Flynn and on the estate of Sir Henry Burke; and whether he is aware that the Commissioners had intimated to Patrick Curley, of Knock, Loughmaconnell, Ballinasloe, that he would get a farm on this land, of which Mr. Flynn has a judicial tenancy, but, it appears, is anxious to sell to the Commissioners?

The Estates Commissioners have been in negotiation with Mr Flynn with a view to acquiring the holding in question, but it has not yet been acquired.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Castlesampson (county Roscommon) tenants on the estate of Mr. John O'Kelly had made arrangements and signed agreements on 3rd May, 1907, for the purchase of their holdings; that the estate was subsequently inspected in October, 1908, and nothing further heard of the matter; whether he will say if the Commissioners have made an offer for this land; if so, whether this offer has been accepted; and what is the cause of the delay in bringing to a successful conclusion the negotiations entered into between landlord and tenants?

Proceedings are pending for the sale to the Estates Commissioners of the estate referred to under the provisions of Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the papers in connection with the estate have been referred by the Commissioners to one of their inspectors for further report.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state whether the land purchase agreements entered into between R. W. Waithman and the tenants on his Ballinlig, county Roscommon estate, dated 1st February, 1909, were lodged with the Estates Commissioners soon after; whether the estate was inspected on behalf of the Estates Commissioners by a gentleman named Carroll in June, 1907, and again inspected on their behalf in October, 1908, by a gentleman named Kenny; whether those inspectors have reported that the holdings are not security for the advances agreed to between the landlord and the tenants; and what action the Estates Commissioners are taking towards the completion of the sale, as the tenants have been paying interest on the purchase money in the agreements for over four years and a half.

Proceedings for the sale of this estate are pending before the Estates Commissioners under the provisions of Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the Commissioners have made an offer to purchase to the owner. The matter is held over pending a decision as to the rate at which bonus will be payable.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state how much money the Estates Commissioners had lent to Mr. Michael Flynn for the purchase of land before he became tenant - purchaser in November, 1908, of one of the Milltown farms on Captain Mahon's Dysart (county Roscommon) estate; and what is the largest amount of money the Estates Commissioners can lend to yearly tenants like him for the purchase of land under the powers vested in them by the Land Purchase Act of 1903?

The Estates Commissioners are not aware that Michael Flynn got any advance for the purchase of land before November, 1908. If the hon. Member has reason to believe that such an advance was made and will furnish particulars, I shall be happy to make further inquiries, but I cannot ask the Commissioners to undertake the elaborate search which, in the absence of such particulars, would be necessary before they could make a definite statement on the subject. The limits of advances are £7,000 in the case of holdings to which the Land Law Acts apply, and £5,000 in the case of holdings to which those Acts do not apply.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that inspectors of the Local Government Board for Ireland are in the habit of ignoring Article 39 of the regulations made under the Labourers Act, 1906, which provides that the services of local shorthand writers are to be employed where available at inquiries; whether the appointment of reporters is made in consultation with the local authorities who have to pay for their services; and whether he will instruct the inspectors in future strictly to carry out the terms of Article 39 and take into consideration the views of the local authorities in this matter?

The hon. Member presumably refers to Article 49 of the Regulations under the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1906, which prescribes the scale of payment for shorthand writers and the travelling expenses to be allowed in cases "where competent local shorthand writers are not available." When a rural district council express a wish that a particular shorthand writer should be employed the Local Government Board communicate their desire to the inspector appointed to hold the inquiry, and if he is satisfied that the local shorthand writer is competent and experienced he is, as a rule, employed. The notes of evidence are primarily for the information of the inspector to enable him to make his award, and a very high degree of proficiency and knowledge of the Acts is essential to secure a verbatim report of the evidence at these inquiries, where the witnesses, who are generally labourers, give their evidence with volubility and rapidity. It does not always happen that the local shorthand writer possesses the requisite qualifications. In these circumstances the Board cannot safely lay down any rigid rule binding the inspectors in the selection of local reporters.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Board of Agriculture in England has any powers for the eradication of noxious weeds similar to the powers proposed to be conferred upon the Board of Agriculture in Ireland by the Weeds and Agricultural Seeds Bill recently introduced by the Vice-President of the Board of Agriculture in Ireland; and, if not, whether the Board will consider the desirability of extending the provisions of that Bill to England and Wales?

The Board have no such powers as those mentioned. The Bill in question has been drafted to meet the special conditions of agriculture in Ireland, and it could not be extended to England and Wales without considerable modifications. It is doubtful whether British agriculturists would favour legislation on the subject at the present time, but the suggestion of my hon. Friend will be borne in mind, and the views of agriculturists-respecting it will be noted and carefully considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any regulations have been issued to the Revenue authorities in Ireland directing them to-enforce his proposed Clause 44 of the Finance Bill in its present form; and will he have the authorities notified that they are not to assess Death Duties on the full market value of farms in the case of persons dying after 30th April, 1909, in Ireland?

Payment of Death Duties is only accepted on the basis of the relative Budget Resolutions. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to accede to the request contained in the latter part of the question.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that old age pensions are paid through the post offices, he will take steps to abolish the carrying on of post offices on licensed premises in Ireland, or make a definite and binding rule that in no case will a licensed person be appointed postmaster or sub-postmaster, and that in no case will old age pensions be paid in post offices situate on licensed premises?

Post offices are not established on licensed premises if other suitable arrangements are reasonably possible. To lay down an absolute rule, such as that suggested by the hon. Member would result in subjecting the public, and in particular a considerable number of old age pensioners, to grave inconvenience.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the fair wages clause is inserted in all contracts for erecting, altering, repairing, or extending Post Office premises; and whether his Department takes any steps to see that the clause is carried into effect?

In all contracts into which the Postmaster-General enters for the alteration or repair of Post Office premises the fair wage clause is inserted. Careful investigation is made into any alleged breach of the clause.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, in view of the way the bulkheads in engine rooms and boiler rooms of His Majesty's ships suffer from continual damp and contaminated bilge water, whether the Board are in the habit of testing these compartments to ensure that the bulkheads will not give way if the ship suffers an accident from collision, grounding, or explosion?

Engine and boiler-room bulkheads are frequently surveyed, and due care is taken to maintain their neces- sary strength. They are not water tested, except when first built, as this is unnecessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the details of the money paid for the land for the Rosyth Dockyard?