asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that the demand made upon the county council of Galway for the cost of extra police amounts to £13,809; that the county council's account is overdrawn to the extent of £20,000; and if the Government intend to remit or modify the amount of their demand?

The outstanding claims against the Galway county council for extra police amount to £10,804. I am informed that the council's bank account is overdrawn by over £18,000, but this is no doubt due to the fact that the rates for the half year ending 30th September, which usually amount to about £35,000, are practically all collected in August and September. The answer to the concluding paragraph of the question is in the negative.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, considering that this extra ex- pense for extra police has been incurred through the policy of the Government in this county, will he reconsider the matter?

No, Sir.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state how many persons were tried at the last Belfast Assizes for riot, assaults on the police, and kindred offences committed within the week ending the 15th July in the neighbourhood of the Falls-road; how many were convicted on such charges; what were the sentences imposed; how many of those so convicted were Protestants; if he is aware that the riots in question were carried on in the Nationalist quarter of the town, in an exclusively Roman Catholic district, and were solely directed against the police without interference from any other party; and if it is proposed to take steps to further strengthen or augment the police force in this part of West Belfast?

Nineteen persons were tried at the last Belfast Assizes for riot in the neighbourhood of Falls-road during the week ended 19th July last. Seventeen were convicted of riot and two of riot and assaults on the police. Fifteen were sentenced to 12 months, and three to eight months' imprisonment with hard labour, while one (a boy) was discharged on his father's bail. I understand that none of those charged were Protestants. The statements in the remaining portion of the question are correct. The responsible police authorities do not consider that there is any present necessity for increasing the police force in West Belfast.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that on the night of 10th July the flag was stolen off Brantry Church, county Tyrone, and that with the view of avoiding disturbance an arrangement was made with the sergeant of police at Caledon that, on condition that Orangemen would refrain from taking their drums past the local Hibernian Lodge, the Hibernians would be prevented from parading past the church and Orange Hall; whether he is aware that this arrangement was honourably kept by the Orangemen but broken by the Hibernians: and whether he has any explanation of the action of the police in this matter?

I am informed by the constabulary authorities that a flag was stolen from Brantry Church as stated. This caused some ill-feeling, and the local sergeant of police saw the leader of the Hibernians on the subject, and understood him to promise that his party would not parade past the church or Orange Hall until this feeling had subsided. The Orangemen then agreed not to go near the Hibernian Hall on the 30th ultimo, for which night a drumming parade had been arranged. The leader of the Hibernians, however, denied that he had given the undertaking attributed to him, and the Hibernian party accordingly marched past the church on the 2nd instant, but without any disorder. As the route had frequently been used by both parties the police refrained from using force to prevent the passage of the Hibernians.

Is it not the duty of the police to respect an arrangement come to with the object of preserving the peace?

Well, I really do not know that the police were concerned in this internecine strife. So far as they can, they do their best to see that the peace is preserved, but misunderstandings sometimes arise, even in this House, between Whips and the opposite party.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that when an understanding, honourably acquiesced in by the police, is broken it should invariably be broken by the Nationalist party?

No, Sir, I cannot; neither do I accept the statement as true.

Is it not a fact that the Hibernians had proceeded past this place without any disturbance, and that there was no reason for the interference of the police?

Well, I have answered the question. No disturbance occurred, and I should have thought the matter might be forgotten.

Inasmuch as the Hibernians were denounced by Cardinal Logue as an irreligious and political body, would it not be well to take that fact into consideration?

Neither the hon. Member nor myself have anything to do with Cardinal Logue.

Order, order. It is making a mountain out of a molehill.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if the permanent officials to be appointed on the new Congested Districts Board under the Irish Land Bill will be subject to the Civil Service rules as regards age and superannuation?

The permanent members of the Congested Districts Board will, under the provisions of the Bill as drafted, be paid out of the funds at the disposal of the Board, but their individual salaries will not be borne on the Votes. They would not, therefore, be Civil servants, and would not be subject to Civil Service rules as regards age or superannuation.

Is it a fact that under the Bill dealing with this matter introduced by the right hon. Gentleman in November last that such officials were to be Civil servants, and subject to their rules; if so, what is the need for the change?

I do not know that that is so. The Bill as at present drafted is in accordance with the answer I have given.

But the right hon. Gentleman in a former reply to me stated that in the Bill of last November Civil Service conditions would apply?

Another alteration has taken place.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why?

No, Sir.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that on Sunday evening, 18th July last, on the return of the Hibernians from Dundalk, where they had been attending a demonstration, they fired several shots out of the train when passing Altnaveigh Orange Hall, which is situated about a mile from Newry, convenient to the railway line; whether he is aware that, on the same occasion, shots were also discharged from the train into the waiting-room at Bessbrook Railway Station, and it was only by accident that someone was not shot; and whether he can state if the matter was brought to the notice of the police and if any arrests were made?

I am informed by the constabulary authorities that on the occasion in question two shots were fired from an excursion train while passing at full speed near the Orange Hall, outside Newry, and that another shot was fired while the train was leaving Bessbrook Station. No arrests were made and none were possible. The matter was subsequently reported to the police, who examined the part of the station where the shot was fired, but could find no trace of shot or bullet.

Is there any restriction whatever on the carrying of arms by these Hibernians when they go for their holidays?

No, Sir; I am not aware that there is.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will see that when the Orange party are travelling they will not be allowed to discharge firearms in Catholic quarters?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Orange party has not fired a shot this year?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government has any information regarding the measures taken by His Highness the Maharajah Sindhia to stamp out sedition in the Native State of Gwalior?

The seditionists made efforts to excite disloyalty to the British Government in Gwalior, but His Highness the Maharajah, who, as the House is aware, is one of the most important loyal and efficient of Indian princes, at once took effective steps to cope with the situation. Thirty-nine persons have recently been tried by Courts of the Gwalior State, apparently as members of a secret society in Gwalior engaged in a conspiracy to use criminal force. Of these 33 were sentenced on the 4th instant to various terms of imprisonment ranging from seven years to three months, two were pardoned, and four acquitted.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the complaint of English manufacturers that samples supplied with the tenders for the supply of ironmongery for buildings and furniture for the Egyptian State railways are of French manufacture, and consequently offer difficulties for English manufacturers to work to; and whether he can suggest to the Egyptian Government a method by which English manufacturers shall no longer be under any disability in tendering?

I have not heard of the complaint to which the hon. Member alludes, but if he will give me particulars I will inquire.

asked whether the Government of India has yet reported to the Secretary of State regarding the nine gentlemen deported from Bengal in December last; and whether he is now in a position to inform the House when these subjects of the King, who have never been charged or tried, shall enjoy their freedom?

Before the hon. Gentleman answers that question, may I ask I him if he is in a position to tell the House to what use these gentlemen are likely to put their freedom when they are allowed to enjoy it?

The Secretary of State has not yet received a report from the Government of India on these cases. He is not yet in a position to make any statement as regards the latter part of the question.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether these deported persons have yet been enabled to utilise the powers secured to them under the Ordinance of 1818 for making representations as to the grounds of their deportation by being informed of the grounds?

I am afraid I can add nothing to the statement made in this House by the Secretary of State, and also to the statement made in my own speech on the Indian Budget.

asked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether it is the intention of the Government of Nyasaland to maintain in a navigable condition the Shire River between Port Herald and Villa Bocage; whether he is aware that during the dry season barges have practically to dig their way through to Port Herald; whether £4,000 a year is collected in taxes as road and rives dues; and what proportion of this amount is spent on the river between Port Herald and Villa Bocage.

The Secretary of State has no recent information as to how this matter stands, but will cause inquiry to be made of the Governor of the Protectorate.

How long will it take to complete the consideration with regard to the magistracy in view of the turbulance?

That is our difficulty. We do not know the precise nature of the turbulance.

asked the Under-Secretary if he can state what is the latest news he has received from Tristan da Cunha as to the condition of the inhabitants; whether it is his intention to appoint a magistrate there; and whether any arrangement can be made for periodical visits of ships to the island?

Information has been received up to April last, from which it appears that the health of the islanders had not been very good and the attempts to open up trade with the Cape had not so far been successful. Some trouble has been caused by certain turbulent persons on the island, and the appointment of a magistrate is under consideration. Further attempts are being made to open up trade, and, if successful, a vessel will no doubt be able to visit the island at more or less regular intervals.

asked whether British settlers in the New Hebrides have been expressly forbidden to engage native married women; and whether, consequently, large numbers of male native labourers are now lodged in compounds in those islands without their wives?

In reply to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question, I may refer him to the answer which I gave on Tuesday last to the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for St. Andrews Burghs. In reply to the second part, it is expressly provided that the wives of native labourers may accompany their husbands; native labourers in the New Hebrides live on their employers' estates, but not in compounds. The total number of men recruited for employment by British subjects last year was 230.

asked whether French settlers in the New Hebrides are permitted to engage native married women, with the consent of their husbands and under the terms of contract regulated by the New Hebrides Convention?

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave on Tuesday to the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for St. Andrews Burghs.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Thomas Greghan, of Newtown, North Walsall, Staffordshire, has been refused an old age pension on the ground of want of proof of age; and whether, seeing that evidence is forthcoming that he was married 51 years ago, the question of granting him a pension will be reconsidered?

No claimant of the name of Thomas Greghan can be traced at Newton in the Walsall district. If the hon. Member will give me additional particulars of the case further inquiry will be made.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the special circumstances in the case of the Customs boatmen which induced the Treasury to allow them the privilege of counting their full unestablished service for pension while denying the similar privilege to clerks and assistant clerks in the Statistical Department of the Customs who have complied for years past with the practice laid down by the Secretary to the Treasury, that practice being to count for pension any temporary service followed by established service so long as such service was continuous with and similar in character to the pensionable service that followed it?

I beg to refer the Noble Lord to the answers which I gave to questions on this subject by the hon. Member for Exeter on 15th July, 28th June, and 27th April last.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the total amount of money provided from Imperial funds for fishery research through English committees and Irish or Scottish boards; and what percentage of this total reaches the county of Cumberland?

The answer is a long one, and, if the hon. Member will allow me, I will circulate it with the unstarred answers.—[See Written Answers this date.]

asked whether it is intended to carry out the recommendations of the Treasury Committee to form a Central Council for Fisheries on which Ireland and Scotland will each have two representatives; and, if so, will there be representatives of the north-western counties of Cumberland and Lancashire on the council?

It has not been found at present possible to carry out the recommendations of the Committee on Fishery Investigations in favour of the establishment of a Central Council for Fisheries.

Is the proposal dropped?

No, I do not say it is dropped, but it is exceedingly difficult, and for the moment impossible.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why Lancashire and Cumberland should bear the whole expense, while other places on the sea board receive a grant?

I must have notice of that question, but I cannot admit the allegations contained in it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a case tried before the magistrates at Blyth on 27th July in which H. Collins, J. Malone, J. Kelley, and R. Bolsbridge were charged with trespassing in a hayfield; whether he is aware that the defence set up was that the defendants saw a boat capsising with 12 occupants, and that their sole object in running across the field was to give aid to persons in danger; that a fine of 2s. 6d. each with 6d. damage was imposed; and whether he will take steps to have the fines and costs remitted?

I have inquired into the circumstances of this case, and I find that a defence upon the lines indicated in the question was set up. The justices, however, who had the whole of the evidence before them, were satisfied that wilful damage had been committed, and that the excuse put forward was untrue. There was no question of anyone being in the slightest danger. In the circumstances, I scarcely feel justified in taking any steps for the remission of the fines or compensation for damage. No costs were imposed.

Did these men commit an offence by going into the field?

That is a question of law. I understand there was wilful damage.

asked how many laundries have been inspected under The Factory and Workshop Act, 1907, and in how many cases the managers of such laundries have requested that no inmate should be examined except in the presence of one of the managers?

I understand the hon. Member's question to refer to institution laundries under Section 5 of the Act of 1907. There are 358 of these on the registers of the Department, all of which have been inspected. One hundred and eighty-one of them have made the request mentioned in the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Prison Commissioners recently tendered for the supply of brushes and brooms to a London gas company; that this tender, being the lowest, was accepted, and thus cut out the fair firm employing ordinary labour which previously held the contract; if he will state what steps, if any, the Commissioners took to find out, before tendering, what the ordinary market price for the district was so as not to tender below that price; and whether he will take steps to prevent the Prison Commissioners in future tendering for contracts, in view of the risk involved of undercutting the market prices?

It is the fact that the Prison Commissioners recently tendered for the supply of brushes and brooms to a London gas company. Out of the eight items included in the tender, the Commissioners received the contract for one only, representing in value less than £30, the contract for the other items being given to private firms. The Prison Commissioners, in tendering, are most careful to fix fair and reasonable prices, and, in this, they have experience to guide them, as well as special inquiries. In view of the great importance which is attached by all competent authorities to the finding of suitable occupations for prisoners, in order that their period of imprisonment may have the reformative effect which is desired, I cannot absolutely prohibit the Prison Commissioners from tendering; but the greatest care is taken, and will be taken, to tender only at fair prices, which will not have the effect of under-cutting market prices.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been drawn to a decision by Sheriff Macaulay Smith, in the Berwickshire County Court, in which it has been held that a farm servant is only free to attend a hiring fair for the purpose of securing employment when he can do so subject to the convenience of the farmer by whom he is employed; and whether, seeing that this deprives the farm servants of Scotland of an immemorial right to attend these fairs which is the recognised method of obtaining employment, he will say whether he proposes to take any, and, if any, what, action in the matter?

The Lord Advocate has made very full inquiry into this decision and he found that the Sheriff substitute and the Sheriff both accepted the proposition in law that a farm servant is entitled to have the opportunity of seek- ing fresh employment by attending a hiring market. But they both held—and rightly held—that this right must be exercised reasonably and with due regard to the interests of the employer. They further found, after hearing and considering the whole evidence, that the servant in this particular case did not exercise his right in a reasonable manner. In these circumstances the Lord Advocate considers that the Sheriffs have correctly laid down the law which regulates hiring fairs in Scotland, and decided on the facts that the servant did not exercise his rights reasonably. He does not consider that the decision deprives farm servants of any right or that any alteration in the law is necessary.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these fairs are held only every year, and if the servant is prohibited from attending the fair on that particular day, he is deprived of his chance of finding employment, and was not that the case on this particular occasion?

I do not think the hon. Member is quite accurate. No doubt the fairs generally occur once a year, but they are held on different days in different places in Scotland; but the real point in this case is that the master had engaged a threshing mill for Monday; the man knew that, but, on Monday night, after these arrangements had been made, he sent for his master and said, "I am going away to-morrow." The master said: "You cannot go"; but the man insisted on going.

Did not this man give his master notice that he was going to the Highland fair on that day, and why did the master, knowing the fair was on, engage the threshing mill for that day?

I do not know whether the hon. Member read the case. If he did, he would see he is wrong in his facts. The master was informed at seven o'clock on Monday evening, but the threshing mill was put in earlier. The servant might have given the information a week before. The hon. Member will agree with me that the sheriff was in a better position to know the facts than he or I.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now state the result of the inquiry into the number of apprentices being employed by Messrs. Cammell, Laird, and Company, Birkenhead, in the construction of torpedo-boat destroyers?

My hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead has also made representations to me on this subject, and inquiry is being made of the firm. I will communicate with both the hon. Members interested in the matter as soon as I know the result.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the numerous losses in fog, by stranding, collision, and delay to naval and mercantile shipping on the South and South-East Coasts of England, he will cause the withdrawal of the Admiralty restrictions to the use on those coasts of the Kelway sound-locating system, whereby it is claimed that such losses may be prevented or considerably reduced in number?

I know of no Admiralty restrictions on the use of the invention in question on the coast. The provision of sound signals on the coasts of the United Kingdom is not controlled by the Admiralty.

Having regard to the extreme importance of this invention, can the right hon. Gentleman tell me who the authority is that is preventing this system being put into operation?

The authority is Trinity House, but I must not be understood to say that Trinity House has stood in the way.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has overlooked the findings of the Conference appointed by the Government in 1907 in order to consider whether any article not now made in the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, could appropriately be made there; whether he is aware that page 9, paragraph 38, of the Report of this Conference stated that heavy gun-mounting work could be carried out there with slight modification of the equipment in the Royal Carriage Department, and that full consideration should be given to the resources of the Arsenal in distributing orders; and, seeing that the superintendent in his evidence said they could do this work economically, does he now see his way clear to place an order at the Arsenal?

The reasons which, in 1907, led to not adopting the proposals contained in this Report still hold good. It is not at present intended to place orders with the Royal Arsenal for heavy gun-mountings, but every endeavour is made to place as many orders as practicable with that factory.

I am not concerned about the orders. What I am asking is whether the right hon. Gentleman will use the facilities which are at his own service rather than go outside? You are neglecting your own opportunities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any representations have been made by the employes to the City and South London Railway asking for the formation of a conciliation board; if such a board is to be formed; and, if not, can he state the reason for the delay.

As I stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Newcastle on 20th May last, a request for the formation of a conciliation board was received from the employes on the City and South London Railway. The Board communicated with the railway company, and received a reply of which I am forwarding the hon. Member a copy. No further representations have since been made to the Board of Trade, or, I understand, to the railway company.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the danger to the travelling public arising from the length of trains under the charge of one guard on the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway; whether there is any regulation limit to the length of a train in charge of one guard; and whether, in the event of there being no such limit, he will take steps to secure powers to fix such a limit or endeavour to make an arrangement with the company by which trains beyond a certain specified length shall be under the charge of two guards?

also asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the length of passenger trains composed of from 20 to 25 vehicles, and in some cases of more than 25 vehicles, worked by only one guard on the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway; and whether his Department has power to fix or suggest any limit to the number of vehicles which shall compose one train carrying passengers as a means of safety to the travelling public and the men working the trains; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The railway company inform me that trains on their line which are worked by one guard are those calling at only one or two stations or non-stop trains, the number of vehicles averaging, as a rule, 16 or 18, and occasionally during busy times as many as 20 or 21. The company state that in deciding whether one or two guards shall be employed they have regard mainly to the amount of station work to be performed, and that they are unaware that their system is different from that of other railway companies in the United Kingdom. The Board of Trade have no regulation on the subject, and I am advised that there is no good reason on grounds of safety for requiring the employment of more than one guard.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, with reference to the monthly Returns of Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom, if he can see his way to introduce into the summaries of imports and exports a further classification of manufactured articles, dividing them into, first, partly or wholly manufactured articles mainly for use by manufacturers, and, second, wholly manufactured articles mainly for retail consumption?

I will refer the suggestion contained in my hon. Friend's question to the Departmental Committee of the Board of Trade and the Customs, which meets annually to consider proposals for alterations in the form and scope of these Returns. The next meeting of the Committee will take place during the autumn.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also recommend the inclusion in this compilation of goods that cannot be manufactured into anything else?

I must consider that. I should have thought that goods which cannot be manufactured into anything else ought to be considered wholly manufactured.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the practice of the Commissioners of Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues only to grant in certain cases new leases to tenants of Crown lands on condition that a largely increased annual rent is paid, a large fine is agreed to be paid, and considerable sums spent on building; and whether, having regard to the views of the Government upon this system, he can say what steps it is proposed to take to amend this procedure of letting Crown properties.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the practice of the Commissioners of Woods in granting new leases. That practice is in accord with the provisions of the Acts relating to the management of the Land Revenues of the Crown, and it is not proposed to alter it.

:Is it not a hardShip on the tenant to have to pay upon the commercial value?

If the hon. Member had been in the House yesterday at Question-time he would have known that the valuers of the Crown have to make a declaration that the value they put upon the property is the value of the day. I cannot see any hardship upon the tenant paying upon the commercial rate.

Then what hardship is there on the tenant paying upon the commercial value under an ordinary landlord?

That question does not arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would have been the revenue which would have been received from the Export Duty on coal if it had not been taken off during each of the past three years, and supposing such export had not been affected by such duty?

Under the conditions specified the revenue that would have been derived from the Export Duty on coal during the years 1906 to 1908 inclusive is estimated at:—

£8,000,000 or £9,000,000? Would that not be the amount required for the construction of "Dreadnoughts"?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what the reduction in wages will be on the East Coast of Scotland?

It is impossible for me to answer questions on these hypothetical details.

What is the amount of the fall in the miners' wages since this tax was taken off?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the advisability of referring to a small committee selected from the principal surveyors in the country the question of the cheapest method of providing funds for the erection of small houses; and whether the rents charged for leasehold houses are less than those charged for freehold houses, and generally which system will provide the best accommodation for tenants at the lowest rent?

My right hon. Friend will take this suggestion into consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the Government are going to establish a Sick Fund and pay probably four millions towards it, and would give a million a year towards insurance against unemployment, he could say when legislation to give effect to these promises would be introduced?

No legislation of this kind will be introduced during the current Session.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to carry out the establishment of the clerical staff of the surveyors of taxes; and whether these are being recruited from boy clerks, local and registered?

The Treasury have sanctioned the establishment of 200 out of the 629 clerks employed in the Tax Surveys, and 199 of them have actually been placed on the Establishment. The surveyors' unestablished clerical staff is recruited from Civil Service boy clerks and local boy clerks already in surveyors' offices; failing a sufficient supply of qualified men from these sources then from Civil Service boy clerks from other Departments, and occasionally, when none of these are available, from outside sources.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that at the last examination but one for posts under the intermediate scheme, where there were 27 vacancies for posts in other Departments and one vacancy for an assistant surveyorship of taxes, the Civil Service Commissioners had to go down as far as the sixtieth candidate who qualified before they could get one to accept the assistant surveyorship of taxes, and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the complaints of the surveyors of taxes as to the state of pressure of work that results in such difficulty to get candidates to accept the positions in the Tax Department?

The facts are not as stated in the first part of the question, and the second part does not therefore appear to arise.

had a question on the Paper asking the Prime Minister whether he will make arrangements to ensure the regular attendance of Ministers at Questions.

I shall not put this question now, because there has been sc much improvement since it appeared on the Paper.

On behalf of my colleagues and myself, may I thank the hon. and gallant Member for his quite unsolicited tribute.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation or otherwise dealing with the Chantrey Bequest Trust, in view of the dissatisfaction that has been felt at the manner in which that trust is administered, and of the fact that the walls of a building which is national property is being used to exhibit pictures, many of which the trustees of the trust in question have purchased from themselves?

Any legislation on the subject of the Chantrey Bequest would appear to be of a controversial character, and I doubt therefore whether it would be advisable to attempt it in view of the terms of the original bequest. With regard to the latter part of the question, I wish to point out that the House of Lords Committee in 1904 distinctly stated their belief that there is no ground for any imputation of corrupt or interested motives against the trustees of the bequest.

I understand, then, that the Government are able to do nothing?

They are not inclined to do anything.

I should like to ask whether the Government could not give to the trustees of the Tate Gallery some power in regard to the selection of the pictures they hang there—

The hon. Member should give notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister when he proposes to move the appointment of a Committee to consider the Procedure of this House?

I am afraid that it would be difficult at this late period of the Session to secure the regular attendance of those Members whom, I am sure, that the House would wish to serve on a Committee of this character, and I propose accordingly to defer its appointment to next Session. The interval will enable the House to judge of the effect of the recent Amendment of the Standing Orders upon the acceleration and general conduct of business.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his phrase, "the late period of the Session," indicates that the Session is now drawing to a close?

Yes, I hope so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman carefully consider whether it would not be desirable, at any rate, to set up the Committee this Session, even if it does no work? I quite recognise there may be a difficulty in its doing work, but this is a Session when one does not know what may happen next Session.

I will consider it.

asked when the Committee stage of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Bill will be taken?

I am afraid that I cannot at the moment say when the Committee stage of this Bill will be taken.

May I ask whether, in view of the change that the proposal for a complete valuation will make in the Housing and Town Planning Bill, the Bill itself cannot be postponed until next Session, when we can take advantage of this valuation?

No, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the courts of law are no longer in session, he will consider the desirability of arranging that the House shall meet for business at an earlier hour of the day, as an alternative to sitting throughout the night?

I am sorry that I cannot accede to the suggestion of the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the establishment in non-commissioned officers and men of the infantry battalions of the line stationed in the Aldershot Command on 31st July; and what was the actual strength on that date?

The figures for the rank and file are as follows:—

asked how many noncommissioned officers and men serving in the infantry battalions of the line in the Aldershot command were under 20 years of age on 31st July?

The figures for the rank and file amount to 5,437.

Do I understand there are 5,000 odd men under 20 out of the total?

I should imagine they include men of 18 years.

asked what was the establishment and strength in non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Engineers serving in the Aldershot Command on 31st July; and what number were under 20 years of age?

The figures for the non-commissioned officers and men, excluding 36 trumpeters, buglers and boys, are as follow:—

As these are men who will form part of our striking force, how can they go anywhere at a moment's notice?

I suppose the hon. Member knows there is such a thing as the Reserve?

Is our striking force any use without calling out all our reserves?

Of course, it never was.

asked what are the developments in organisation which have caused the position of High Commissioner and Field-Marshal Commanding in-Chief in the Mediterranean to assume increased importance, and whether all troops outside the British Isles and India will be included in the command; and, if not, what countries are excluded?

The result of the Imperial Defence Conference has been to show that an opportunity exists for a better and more comprehensive organisation of the military forces of the Crown wherever they may be stationed. Without going into details, it has become evident that there is more work to do locally than can be done by the authorities at headquarters, including the Inspector-General of Forces. It is therefore important that the various sub-divisions of the problem of Imperial Defence as a whole should be studied on the spot by officers of high standing and wide experience, who have time at their disposal fully to consider the questions involved. Moreover, in the case of the Mediterranean command, there is the inspection of the regular forces throughout Africa, and the giving of military advice to the local authorities. It is not possible at present to foresee or define the extent to which such duties may expand in the future, but the Defence Conference has so modified the situation that large possibilities of work and organisation are opening themselves up. All troops outside the British Isles and India will not be included in the Mediterranean command, the duties and limitations of which I have already indicated in general terms.

Are we to understand this command is to have the whole of the troops in Africa under its power instead of having only the Mediterranean, as in former years?

The hon. Member cannot have listened to what I have said. I was referring to the work of inspection. That was the expression I used. This Commander-in-Chief will inspect the Regular Forces.

Do I understand Lord Kitchener will inspect the forces in South Africa?

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he can give the sums voted for agricultural education in the following countries: Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, United States, and Denmark; and what proportion this is to their respective populations?

The possibility of making a comparison of the nature suggested was considered by the recent Departmental Comimittee on Agricultural Education, and information was obtained by them as to the condition of agricultural education in some thirty countries. The Committee, however, reported that they had designedly refrained from printing the figures as they were of opinion that, owing to the different circumstances of the countries in question, the figures were not directly comparable. The Board agree with the conclusion at which the Committee thus arrived.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset if he can give the amount voted for agricultural purposes by the following Governments: Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, United States, and Denmark; and what proportion this is to their respective populations?

The conditions vary so considerably in the countries named that any figures which we could give as to the expenditure incurred for agricultural purposes would not be in any way comparable. An article on "State Aid to Agriculture in Foreign and Colonial Countries" was published in the "Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland" for 1908, which may, however, be of interest to the hon. Member in this connection.

Will not the hon. Gentleman give the figures asked for, quite irrespective of whether they are comparable or not?

I am informed they would be of no use.

Is not this a new departure on the part of the Board of Agriculture? We have had other similar Returns from the Board of Agriculture before, and I would ask the hon. Gentleman to reconsider the question.

I will certainly reconsider the question, but these figures would not compare with the figures already given.

If I put the question down again, would the right hon. Gentleman see his way to give the figures asked for?

I can only inform the hon. Member that the Board have gone very carefully into this matter and say the figures would be of no value.

Will the hon. Gentleman, in reconsidering the question, bear in mind that to give the proportion of expenditure to population would be most misleading?

May I ask on what ground the hon. Gentleman says the figures are of no value?

They cannot compare them owing to the different conditions of agriculture in the various countries.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether he can give the number of cases of red water in cattle reported in 1907 and 1908; if he has any official information showing that the University of Cambridge has discovered a drug which will destroy the disease; and, if so, will the treatment be fully described by the Board?

Red water is not scheduled as a disease under the Diseases of Animals Acts, and no information is available as to the number of cases that occur. The Board are not in a position at present to give official information as to the treatment of affected animals with the drug to which the hon. Member refers, but the subject has for some time past been engaging the attention of their veterinary officers.

This is of great importance both to this country and South Africa and other Colonies. Would the Board take it up and go into the matter?

I quite agree it is a matter of importance, but the funds at the disposal of the Board of Agriculture are not sufficient. We hope, however, when the Finance Bill passes to get these funds.

asked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies what meaning the Government attaches to the words of European descent used in the South Africa Bill [Lords]; whether the meaning of the words was discussed with the official representatives from South Africa, and with what results?

The term European descent has been used in various Acts of Parliament passed by the Legislatures of the South African States and in official documents used in this' country. There was a judicial decision in the Transvaal in 1905 as to the interpretation of the word "white" which was regarded as substantially identical with the term of "European descent," and administrative decisions have been given in this country, but it is not possible to state in precise terms what exact meaning will be attached to the words in the Bill, which may possibly become the subject of judicial decision. I would refer my hon. Friend to the report of W. P. Swarts, A. Swarts, and D. Appel versus the Pretoria Town Council, T.S., 1905, 621, to regulations for entry of naval cadets (Monthly Naval List for July, page 856), to Army Form E.536, and to "Regulations under which Commissions in the British Army may be obtained by Officers of Colonial Military Forces," page 15, note (e). The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative.

May I ask whether, in the event of a judicial decision in this matter, there will be an appeal to the Privy Council?

That is a matter of law, which is made plain, I think, in the South African Bill, but I presume that would be the case. I quoted from similar words in our own official documents, because it seems quite possible that ultimately the question might come before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council here.

Is a person with only one European parent entitled to claim to be of European descent?

Everybody has two parents. This question is one of great difficulty, and I cannot say what the decision would be in such a case. It is not clear, from cases already decided, how many parents are required to establish the qualification for European descent.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Collinstown Post Office is being fixed, after all, in the pig-sty outside the town; and whether he intends to take action in the matter?

The post office will not be placed in that portion of the premises which the hon. Member describes as the pig-sty.

Is it not the fact that a much better site was offered in the village—one which won the Leinster Cup for the best cottage in the distric—whereas this pig-sty is a long distance from the village. Why was the site refused, and people thereby compelled to travel a quarter of a mile beyond the village on bad road?

There was a great deal of difficulty about the site, but we have done our best. The post office has nothing to do with the pig-sty.

Were not two cottages offered at a rent of £5 10s. a year? Surely the post office could afford that.

Cannot the Department find some buildings in Ireland other than public-houses and pig-sties in which to place post offices?

asked whether any increase in the proportion of telegraph messenger boys provided with permanent employment in the Post Office has taken place since the investigation conducted for the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws; and what was the total number discharged during 1908?

also asked if the suggestion made by the investigator to the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws, Mr. Cyril Jackson, that the length of the messengers' period of service should be increased so as to prevent the necessity for discharges has been considered; and what valid objection is there to such readjustment as would put the boys in the position of apprenticeship, so that, as in the skilled trades, only such numbers are admitted as will supply the adult service?

As the hon. Gentleman is aware, the difficulty which confronts the Post Office in regard to their boy messengers—to which I have more than once called public attention—arises from two facts. On the one hand, the public increasingly demand services of a nature which is suitable for boys. On the other hand, under an arrangement of many years' standing, made by the Government of the day, half the postmen and assistant postmen places have to be allocated to ex-soldiers or ex-sailors, instead of being available for the boy messengers. This, unfortunately, involves our parting each year with a considerable number of boys, as there are not sufficient openings in the Post Office service available for which they would be suited. The total number of boys so discharged during the year ended 31st March last was 4,300. The proportion of boy messengers who are provided with permanent employment in the Post Office is steadily increasing, and arrangements have recently been made whereby further openings to such employment will be available for them. The reason for parting with the boys at 16 instead of keeping them to a later age is that it appears easier for them to obtain outside employment at that age than if kept to a later age. The suggestions made by the Royal Commission and by others have received, and do receive, consideration; and I have lately been reviewing the question afresh, as I should much like to see my way still further to reduce the number of boy messengers whose services we are obliged to dispense with.

asked how many places in the various departments of the Post Office were filled by open competition during 1908; what reason is there to prevent the messenger boys being trained for these posts; what care is taken to obtain boys suitable for such training; and is the number stated by the Postmaster-General in his Memorandum to the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws to be discharged for idle and unsatisfactory habits due to bad selection at the beginning or to the effects of the messenger service?

The number of posts filled by open competition in the Post Office in 1908 would not assist the hon. Member, since a very large proportion of these are filled on qualifications entirely beyond the reach of telegraph messengers. Every care is taken to obtain boys of good character and some education; but it would not be feasible to recruit telegraph messengers on qualifications high enough to ensure their usefulness in widely different employment later in life, and to enable the superior appointments from being recruited from them exclusively. The number of places open to them by limited competition has of late been increased. As regards the last sentence of the question. I do not for a moment admit that the selection of telegraph messengers is careless or that the effects of their employment are bad.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Great Eastern Railway Company are now compelling blind people to sign a document freeing the company from all liability as to any injury or damage while travelling on the railway, and also to provide a guide to see them safely in and out of the train, and, failing the latter provision, the company may refuse them permission to travel; and, if so, what action, if any, it is proposed to take in regard to the matter?

The form of agreement which the company at present require blind passengers to sign only purports to relieve the company from liability for accidents arising from the passenger's defective sight. The requirement as to guides is as stated by the hon. Member. The Board of Trade have had this question under consideration for some time, and they have now informed the company that, in their opinion, blind passengers might reasonably be allowed to travel unaccompanied at their own risk.

Is it not the fact that by this agreement the company ask to be relieved of all liability for accidents to blind travellers?

No, I understand they only ask to be relieved in the case of accidents arising from the passenger's defective sight.

I think if the hon. Gentleman will refer to the agreement he will find it is not so.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in regard to the report of a serious accident at Salisbury, involving the death of seven Territorials and injuries to 20 others, if he had any statement to make to the House?

I know nothing of this very unfortunate and sad occurrence, except from the headlines of the papers contents bill. I have telegraphed for information, but have not yet received any reply. If the report is true it is a very serious and deplorable thing.

I desire to give notice that on an early day I will call attention to the conduct of the Deputy-Chairman of Ways and Means in his official position, and move a Resolution.

moved, in Section (1), to leave out the word "capital" ["There shall be charged, levied, and paid for every financial year in respect of the capital value of minerals …"].

My hon. Friend was probably rather taken aback by the fact that the Amendment was called on after the Government had announced their intention of withdrawing the clause. That is because our Rules rather absurdly insist that a clause shall not be withdrawn until you get to the end of it, so that the Chairman is absolutely bound to put every Amendment on the Paper. It will be a futile waste of time to discuss those Amendments, and I should think the sooner we proceed to the Question that the clause stand part of the Bill the better. On the Motion to leave out the clause the Government will probably be prepared to make some statement of policy, and that would be a legitimate occasion for discussion and for elucidating from the Government the grounds on which they have substituted a wholly new plan for the one originally brought forward. I hope we shall proceed as fast as possible to the final Amendment, which will decide the fate of the clause.