asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there had been any movement of the Russian troops at Kazvin in the direction of Tehran; if so, could he state the reason for such movement, and if it was due to the outbreak of an epidemic in Kazvin; and whether he was aware of any reason why these troops should not now be withdrawn altogether or marched to a position nearer their point of embarkation on the Caspian?

There is no forward movement on Tehran, but I understand that the Russian troops at Kazvin have been transferred to a camp some eight miles outside the town, in the direction of Tehran, which is about 80 miles distant from Kazvin. This step is believed to have been taken for purely sanitary reasons. As regards the last part of the hon. Member's question, I must refer him to statements already made and answers previously returned in this House, and to the declaration of the Russian Government themselves.

asked whether the Anglo-Russian Convention justified interference by one of the two parties, as to the precise position in Persia to be occupied by troops of the other party, in a case in which the introduction of the troops of one party was authorised and approved by both parties?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the text of the Anglo-Russian Agreement, which, as he is aware, has been published as a Parliamentary Paper, and from which he will see that the point is not mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he had received complaints as to the manner in which the tenders for the Tientsin-Pukow Railway were being manipulated; whether, in the case of tenders opened on 17th June for the 21 engines required by the Chekiang Railway, the railway company handed all the tenders over to one of the tenderers to open and adjudicate upon; whether he was aware that on the northern section of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, which was under German domination, none but German tenders were considered, whereas on the southern section, which was supposedly under British domination, tenders were thrown open to the world; whether, as a protest against the discrimination exercised and the apathy displayed by the British Legation at Pekin, the Agent-General of the British and Chinese Corporation, through whom all the existing railway loans had been raised, resigned during the week of 18th June; and whether, under existing circumstances, he would say what action he proposed to take in the interests of British manufacturers in China?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the third part, we have no reason to believe that Article 18 of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway Agreement has not been fairly carried out. That Article is to the effect that German Asiatic Bank and the Chinese Central Railways shall act as agents of the railway administration during construction for the purchase of all materials, etc., from abroad; and that at equal rates and qualities goods of German and British manufacture shall be given preference over other goods of foreign origin for the northern and southern sections respectively. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative, but the Railway Bureau ultimately decided to reject all the tenders and to purchase nothing. The irregularity in procedure referred to has already been the subject of representation. As to the last two parts of the question, the resignation of the Agent-General of the British and Chinese Corporation is a matter which concerns the corporation alone. We have received no complaints from them, nor have we any reason to suppose that they consider that His Majesty's Minister at Pekin has in any way neglected their interests in the Far East. I do not know of any case where Sir John Jordan has failed to display a zealous watchfulness over British interests, and any charge of this kind against the British Legation is entirely unfounded and unjust. I know no more strenuous and loyal public servant than Sir John Jordan, and I take full responsibility for his action. In any case which arises I am prepared to give full support to well-founded British claims, if it is required.

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that this Article 18 has, or has not, been carried out?

We have no reason to believe that Article 18 has not been fairly carried out.

asked whether there has been any opportunity during the last month to impress upon His Majesty the. Czar's Ministers the desirability of paying to a British subject the damages for sinking and destroying the steamer "St. Kilda," which were ordered and admitted by the Supreme Court of Appeal in St. Petersburg on the 24th December last?

The Supreme Prize Court have already given a decision admitting, in principle, the claims of the owners of the "St. Kilda" to compensation. The precise amount of that compensation was not settled by the Supreme Court, and remains to be assessed by the Libau Court, which, I am informed, will sit in the course of the ensuing autumn. His Majesty's Embassy at St. Petersburg have done all in their power to expedite the hearing of the case.

Does that mean that it will be 12 months before British subjects will obtain any relief?

The question in principle has been decided in favour, but the amount of compensation cannot, I understand, be assessed till the court sits in the ordinary course.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether, in view of the dissatisfaction generally expressed by those interested at the malversation and misuse of religious and charitable endowments, it is proposed to take any steps whereby the Government can more properly discharge its duties as ultimate trustees?

The position of the Government in regard to Indian religious and charitable endowments was explained in an answer given to the hon. Member on the 27th July, 1908. The Secretary of State cannot accept the position stated in the question that the Government are "ultimate trustees" of these endowments: it was the express object of Act 20 of 1863 to divest the Government of any duties as such trustees. The Bill referred to in the answer of July, 1908, is still before the Legislative Council of the Governor-General, and has been circulated for the opinion of those concerned. The Secretary of State is not aware which course the Government of India propose to take in regard to it.

asked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether the Government has yet acquired any reliable information regarding the relations between big game and tsetse fly in Central Africa; and, if so, what bearing such information had upon the policy of game preservation and of prevention of sleeping sickness?

The relation between big game and tsetse fly in Central Africa is a much debated question. A strong Committee has been recently appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to organise entomological research in tropical Africa, and I have no doubt that this question, among others, will receive their earnest consideration.

asked the President of the Local Government Board when the Royal Commission, appointed to inquire and report what methods of treating and disposing of sewage may properly be adopted, held its first sitting; how many sittings has since been held; how many Reports have been issued, and at what price per volume, and how much taxpayers' money has been already expended upon this Royal Commission; and whether he can say how many more Reports will be issued, when the final Report may be expected, and what the total cost of this Royal Commission is likely to be?

The Royal Commission held its first meeting on the 21st June, 1898. There have been 93 formal meetings for taking evidence, in addition to a large number of other sittings. Six Reports have been issued in several volumes, varying in cost from a few pence to 14s. 9d. Up to the 31st July last the total cost of the Commission was £57,578, including the net cost of stationery and printing, but excluding the cost of accommodation. I understand that it is hoped that the final Report will be issued in the course of the next 18 months, and that it is possible that in the meantime there may be a further Report on standards for sewage effluents. I am informed that an estimate cannot at present be framed of the further expenditure which may be required.

asked whether the Local Government Board auditor has presented his audit of the financial transactions of the London County Council in connection with the sale of the Thames steamboats; and, if not, will he say when this audit will be made?

I understand that the sums paid for the boats have all been received during the financial year ending on the 31st March next. Hence the matter will come before the auditor when he holds his audit of the accounts for that year. This he will do as soon as practicable after its close.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether, considering the serious nature of the sale, he will give special attention to this matter, with a view to holding a public inquiry?

The whole of the facts and circumstances connected with the steamboats will be brought before the auditor when he holds his inquiry.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any power to prevent the London County Council from selling steamboats which cost £6,000 for £300?

I sincerely regret I have not.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that the urban district council of Chiswick has suspended one of its members, viz., Councillor M'Connell, for three months, in consequence of him disobeying the ruling of the chairman; and whether he had sanctioned any standing orders giving the council power to suspend one of its members for three months?

I learn that the circumstances are as stated in the question. The standing orders of a district council for the transaction and management of their business do not require any confirmation or approval on my part.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received a memorial urging that, as four years have elapsed since the Committee appointed by the Admiralty to consider the humane slaughtering of animals reported that, in the interests not only of humanity but of sanitation and economy, private slaughter-houses should be replaced by public abattoirs, action should now be taken to give effect to that reform in the metropolitan district; and whether he will take the necessary steps to carry out the recommendations of the Committee, by legislation or otherwise?

I have received the memorial referred to. Legislation would be necessary to give effect to the suggestion of my hon. Friend, and the change proposed would involve considerable financial and other difficulties. I could not undertake to introduce legislation on the subject at the present time.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he could publish the report of the medical officer of health on the consignment of frozen meat landed by the Peninsular and Oriental steamer "Palermo" at the Royal Albert Docks from China?

I have no doubt that the medical officer of health for the City will ultimately deal with this matter in a report to the Sanitary Committee of the Corporation, which will be printed and issued in the usual way. No general report can be made for some time, as the carcases will not be thawed and examined all at once, but only as they are required for trade purposes. So far less than five per cent, of them have been thawed and examined.

Is it not the fact that the City Corporation medical officer of health is making an examination of these carcases, and, inasmuch as they may not be free from disease, is it not possible to publish the report?

It is perfectly true that the port sanitary medical officer is making a close examination of these carcases, and we have also instructed the medical inspector of the Local Government Board to pay special attention to this subject.

asked the President of the Local Government Board concerning David Elliott, Leng Road, Newton Heath, Manchester, who was 70 years of age in February, and who, to secure a pension, appealed from the decision of the Manchester pension committee, whether, seeing that the decision was in his favour, he will arrange that it shall date from his first application, and not from the date of the appeal which he was compelled to make?

In the case referred to the Local Government Board directed that the pension should accrue from the same date as that from which it would have accrued had the decision of the local pension committee been in favour of the claimant. Under the Act this would have been not the date of the application for a pension, but the first Friday after the claim was allowed by the Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the delays that are occurring in the mail service to Tobermory; and what steps he can take to remedy the loss and inconvenience which the public are suffering in consequence?

The delay which has recently occurred in the afternoon Mail Service to Tobermory has been due partly to the late arrival of the mail train at Oban and partly to the loss of time on the steamer service, the delay in both cases being largely attributable to the pressure of holiday traffic. The contractors for the steamer service have, recently employed, during a temporary emergency, a steamer which is rather slower than that usually employed; but they have promised to replace the present steamer by a faster boat in the course of a few weeks.

ask the Postmaster-General whether he was aware that reductions in the staff of the National Telephone Company still continued; that the users of the Company's system were suffering inconvenience owing to the negligence of the Company in the carrying out of alterations and repairs and the placing of new plant; and whether he was prepared to adopt some line of action which would obviate this systematic starving of the system prior to the Government taking it over?

I understand that the National Telephone Company have discharged a certain number of construction hands during the present year owing to a slight diminution in the amount of new work and orders. I have no evidence before me that the National Telephone Company are causing inconvenience to subscribers by failure to carry out alterations or repairs to their existing plant. The condition of the plant will be taken into account in the settlement of the purchase price in 1911, and the company have, therefore, a direct interest in keeping the plant up to date. I have just concluded an arrangement with the company for the continuance of certain new works involving the provision of spare plant for use after 1911; and I am in communication with them as to a further arrangement for the establishment of new exchanges in districts served by their system.

Has any definite date been fixed for the valuation of the stock and plant prior to the Government taking them over?

Under the agreement the question of valuation will arise in due course.

Has the right hon. Gentleman kept the promise which I remember he made that steps would be taken to prevent dismissals of the staff?

We are desirous of doing that.

Is it not the case that the National Telephone Company have parted with their canvassers? Cannot some arrangement be made by the Postmaster-General whereby the services of these men can be retained?

But surely that is not the case.

Is it not the case that shortly after joining this House I warned the right hon. Gentleman that the National Telephone Company would do something of this kind?

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept documentary evidence from me on this point?

I shall be very glad to do so. If my hon. Friend has any information to give me on this matter I shall be very glad to consider it. But it is to the direct interest of the National Telephone Company to keep the plant in a proper state of efficiency, as the question of price will depend largely on the efficiency of the plant.

Is not the question of the extension of the system equally important with the maintenance of the efficiency of the plant?

That is another point.

asked the Postmaster-General what other occupation is followed by James Steel, sub-postmaster at Mosside, county Antrim; how far distant from Ballintoy is Mosside; and under which Government was Steel appointed sub-postmaster?

Mr. Steele, the Sub-Postmaster of Mosside, county Antrim, is a publican, grocer and farmer. Mosside is 7½ miles from Ballintoy. The sub-postmaster was appointed in 1879.

Did the temperance enthusiasts in county Antrim, who protested against the appointment at Ballintoy, protest against the appointment of a Unionist publican as postmaster?

I have no information on that point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Jersey Education Bill was carried, on its third reading, by 28 votes to 21; whether he is aware that the provisions of the Bill were contrary to the wishes of the Catholic population of the island, who had no representative in the States; and can he state when the Privy Council will be prepared to consider Petitions against the Bill?

It is the case that there is no Roman Catholic in the States; but representative Roman Catholics were heard before the Education Committee, and afterwards by counsel before the States. The Act has been received from the States, and it is now open to persons concerned to present Petitions to His Majesty in Council.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to cases in which His Majesty's inspectors of mines, having allowed too much time for lowering and raising the men in the mines, have refused to reduce that time; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?

I have heard of no such cases.

asked the Home Secretary the result of the inquiries with reference to the explosion that took place on 19th July last in one of the purifiers at Hanley Gas Works?

I have received a report with regard to this explosion, from which it appears that the purifier in question was last emptied on 9th March of this year, and that three quarters of an hour intervened between the lid being lifted and the men entering the purifier. It would appear that a longer interval should have been allowed; and I am arranging for further inquiries to be made as to the practice at other works, and into the subject generally. I may, perhaps, add, that the Inspector informs me that 54 purifiers have been dealt with in the same way during the last two years at the Hanley Gas Works without any mishap.

asked the Home Secretary the number of foundries on the registers of the Factory Department; the approximate number in which advantage had been taken by employers of the Statutory Order No. 934, exempting foundries from limewashing; and the approximate number of cases in which action had been taken by factory inspectors under paragraph 4 of the said Order by requiring the occupiers of such places to limewash or otherwise cleanse the whole or part of their premises?

In 1904, the last year for which returns are available, there were 2,331 factories or departments of factories in which iron-founding was carried on, 1,790 in which brass casting, and 121 in which other metal founding was carried on. The information asked for in the last two paragraphs of the question is not available, and could not be obtained except at the cost of a laborious search through the registers and records of the different districts. If the hon. Member has any specific cases in mind, I shall be happy to consider them, if he will let me have the particulars.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention had been directed by the Suffragists' Vigilance League to the case of Miss A. C. Laws, who was charged on 9th July with police obstruction and sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment in the second division; whether ha was aware that this lady was convicted on the evidence of an inspector, who stated that she carried a scroll of paper in her hand bearing the word Petition on it, and that it was denied by Miss Laws and the hon. secretary of the Women's Freedom League that such a scroll was ever used by them; and whether he would cause an inquiry to be made with a view to seeing if a miscarriage of justice had occurred in this case?

My attention has been called to this case by the Suffragists' Vigilance League. I have made inquiry, and have seen the evidence. The inspector stated that Miss Hicks and Miss Cummins carried a petition which they wished to present to the Prime Minister, but he made no statement as to Miss Laws carrying anything. I see no reason to doubt the justice of Miss Laws' conviction.

Are we to understand that these ladies were convicted and imprisoned for carrying a scroll?

I have answered the question on the Paper.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the extradition aspect of the case of Franz Von Veltheim, who was convicted on 12th February, 1908, of demanding money with menaces from Solomon Baa1-nato Joel, and sentenced to 20 years' penal servitude; whether he is aware that Von Veltheim was outside the King's jurisdiction at the date of the alleged offence, and that he was sentenced two months before the Court of Criminal Appeal was established; whether the new evidence which has been procured since his conviction has been considered; and if he will give the evidence which is now available his personal attention, with the view to some remission of the sentence of 20 years' penal servitude?

I have carefully considered the case of Von Veltheim in all its aspects. The fact that Von Veltheim was outside His Majesty's dominions, at the time when he sent the blackmailing letter, appeared in evidence, and was consequently fully before the Court which tried him. Representations by and on behalf of the prisoner have been received in my Department since his conviction, and I have given them my careful consideration, but I am unable to find any grounds for advising any remission of his sentence.

Is it not the fact that after the trial was over a certain amount of evidence was put in by the police likely to prejudice the prisoner, considering the character of the judge who tried the case? [Cries of "Oh! Oh!"]

I did not quite catch the last remark of the hon. Member, but I am very doubtful if it would be admissible. Perhaps he will put it on the Paper.

I will do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention had been drawn to the case of a car conductor who had been sentenced by the Cardiff stipendiary to six weeks' hard labour for stealing a penny fare; whether he was aware that, if guilty, it was the man's first offence; and whether he would favourably consider taking action to secure a mitigation of the sentence?

I am still making inquiries with regard to this case, which presents difficulties of which I have not yet obtained any satisfactory explanation. If the prisoner was actually guilty I do not think it can be said that the punishment was necessarily excessive merely because the sum stolen was a penny. In such a case all the circumstances have to be considered, and not the mere amount which is the subject of the charge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange that those members of the Metropolitan Police Force who are employed on Sundays on point duty should be released from such duty, especially during the summer; and, if so, will be arrange that such men be immediately utilised in making a commencement in giving one day's rest in seven to members of that Force?

I am sorry that this suggestion is not a practicable one. The number of men employed on traffic points on Sunday is already reduced as far as is possible; and having regard to the partial depletion of beats on Sunday—nearly one-fourth of the men being absent on ordinary or annual leave—it is necessary to maintain the fixed points at working strength on that day.

Has the right hon. Gentleman made personal inquiry into this matter, or is this merely the report of the Commissioner?

I saw Sir Edward Henry yesterday.

Are there not some hundreds of men who can be relieved?

Not according to the information communicated to me directly by the Commissioner.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the attention of the Scottish Office has been drawn to the closing of paths through the precincts of Neidpath Castle, near Peebles; whether any communication on the subject has been received from the local authorities; and whether, in view of the frequency with which these public rights are now being set aside by the owners of land in Scotland, and the impossibility of defending them owing to the expense involved, the Scottish Office is considering the desirability of introducing legislation on the subject?

No communication on this matter has reached the Scottish Office; but I am informed that a special meeting of Peebles Town Council was called to consider the situation. It was stated that the Neidpath Grounds had been open to the public during living memory, and that the closing of them was regarded as a calamity to the neighbourhood. The town council unanimously passed a resolution thanking Lord Wemyss for having so long left the grounds open, and earnestly desiring him to reopen them. The preservation of public rights-of-way is an object with which the Scottish Office is in hearty sympathy, but at present it is not possible to give any undertaking to introduce legislation.

Is the Scottish Office really aware of the facts stated towards the end of my question, and in view of the frequency with which these, public rights are now being set aside, may I ask whether the Scottish Office will not do something to protect the public?

The difficulty indicated by the Peebles Town Council is very grave. It is a very great pity that the public should be deprived of the enjoyment of reasonable rights of way, but the hon. Member will see that the Scottish Office have nothing to do with the matter, and has scarcely power to interfere here, except by expressing a hope that the town council will be successful.

Will the Solicitor-General consult the Prime Minister as to the desirability of introducing legislation as to the whole of the United Kingdom?

I will communicate the hon. Member's view to the Prime Minister.

Is it not the case that the Scottish Office in the first year of this Parliament made a promise to deal with this question of rights of way in Scotland?

That scarcely arises out of this question. This is a case where the privilege granted for a long time has been withdrawn. There is no right to interfere, or the Scottish Office would gladly do so.

asked when the Report of the Royal Commission on Inland Navigation will be published?

As I informed the hon. Member for North Westmeath, on the 4th instant, the Royal Commission on Canals hope to be able to report on British canals before the end of the present year, and on Irish canals in the early months of next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to disturbances in Glamorgan due to men being imported from Lancashire to take the places of colliers involved in a dispute; and whether in such cases in this country he will, as in the case of the labour troubles in Sweden, issue warnings against persons being taken to the area of serious trade disputes?

I am aware of the dispute to which the hon. Member refers, which has been reported in the newspapers. I do not think that the circumstances are such as to call for any official statement.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if potatoes are imported into this country from Tasmania; and, if so, what precautions are being taken to prevent Irish potato blight being imported from that island into this country?

No potatoes have been imported from Tasmania for the last five years.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he can give the amount voted for agriculture by the Governments of France, Germany, United States, and Denmark?

I am afraid that it will not be easy to supply the information for which the hon. Member' asks, but we will bring his questions to the notice of the Foreign Office, and ask them to make inquiry on the subject. I will communicate with the hon. Member so soon as we receive a reply.

Are not the figures asked for published in a Blue Paper, copies of which can be obtained by His Majesty's Government?

asked whether the Government will consider the advisability of placing a high export tax on old horses sold in foreign countries?

If the hon. Member can show that any considerable revenue would accrue from the adoption of his proposal, perhaps he will bring it to the notice of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Board are not in a position to express any opinion on financial suggestions of this character.

Will the hon. Gentleman secure for me the figures of exportation if I ask for them?

I must ask the hon. Gentleman to give notice of that.