asked the President of the Board of Trade what number of applications for British patents were received from persons resident in Germany, France, Austria, Hungary, Canada, and the United States of America during; the seven months ending 31st July in 1909, 1908, 1907, and 1906, respectively?

The following statement gives the information desired by my hon. Friend:—Number of applications for British patents received from persons resident in Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, Canada, and the United States of America, from 1st January to 31st July, inclusive, during the years 1906, 1907, 1908, and 1909.

Year.				No. of Applications received from all Countries.	Number of Applications received from:
					Germany.	France.	Austria-Hungary.	Canada.	U.S.A.
1906	…	…	…	17,273	1,920	580	280	108	1,918
1907	…	…	…	17,560	2,000	620	253	129	1,910
1908	…	…	…	16,803	1,822	670	234	107	1,595
1909	…	…	…	17,869	1,735	560	192	118	1,579

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the value of the machinery imported into the United Kingdom during the years 1906, 1907, and 1908, and the value of the machinery exported from the United Kingdom during the same period?

The following statement gives the information desired by my hon. Friend:—

UNITED KINGDOM.
Imports and Exports of Machinery, 1906–1908.
(Extracted from the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom, 1908.)
Year.				Total Imports of Machinery from all Sources.	Re-Exports of Machinery.	Net Imports, i.e., Imported Machinery retained in the U.K.	Exports of Machinery of United Kingdom Manufacture.*
				£	£	£	£
1906	…	…	…	5,126,972	1,463,240	3,663,732	28,440,481
1907	…	…	…	5,311,68l	1,432,770	3,878,911	34,23,965
1908	…	…	…	4,552,904	1,100,543	3,452,361	33,594,796
* Including propelling and other machinery fitted into new ships exported.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will obtain from the railway companies now desirous of powers to amalgamate or form legal working agreements a statement of the advantages they believe will result to the public if they are permitted to work together, and an explanation of what benefit they propose to give, in rates or facilities to traders and agriculturists, in consideration of concessions made to them; and whether he will invite the Board of Trade

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the average monthly prices of best ox and heifer market hides in the London market for each month from February, 1908, to July, 1909, inclusive?

The following statement gives the information asked for—

PRICES OF OX AND HEIFER HIDES IS LONDON FEBRUAHY, 1908—JULY, 1909.
Month.	Ox Hides (95 lbs. and over).	Heifer Hides†
	per lb.	per lb.
1908.	d.	d.
February	3·85	3·91
March	3·67	3·75
April	4·13	4·16
May	4·30	4·44
June	4·63	4·61
July	5·13	5·05
August	5·25	5·38
September	5·09	5·38
October	4·96	4·92
November	5·06	5·00
December	5·50	5·06
1909.
January	5·18	4·94
February	6·03	4·8
March	5 13	5·00
April	5·48*	5·50
May	6·03	6·00
June	6·16	6·09
July	5·98	6 00
* On and from 16th April, 1909, the prices are those of hides weighing 96lbs. and upwards.
† From February, 1908, to 16th April, 1909, the prices quoted are for hides 75 to 84lbs. in weight. Afterwards the prices relate to hides 70 to 79lbs. in weight.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what, if any, records there are in his Department showing that wireless telegraphy has prevented standings, collisions, and delays to shipping in fog?

The Board of Trade have no records which would be of any value in estimating the number of such cases, as in the ordinary course they would not be reported to the Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to take any, and, if so, what, steps to secure the abolition of the bounty of 15 marks per ton granted by the Deutsche Stahlen Verbund on steel billets and similar articles exported from Germany to England?

I must refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Yarmouth (Mr. Fell) on the 21st June, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that applicants from the Belfast districts for postmasterships are required by the surveyor to fill in a query sheet, which is not in use at other districts, and is so worded as to discourage applicants; and if he will give instructions to have this sheet withdrawn?

The form referred to is required only when the records do not contain complete information as to the candidate's service and the duties of which he has had experience. The form is not so worded as to discourage applicants, and the information asked for is necessary.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the hours of labour, the wages paid, and the number of men employed on the mail-cart service in Leicester and Wolverhampton?

further asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the hours of work for carters and drivers employed on railway work in Manchester are less and the wages more than in the case of the mail-cart drivers employed in that city; and will he take steps to, at least, place the drivers of mail vehicles on an equal footing with other workers engaged on similar employment?

The inquiries which I am making respecting the conditions of employment of the mail-cart drivers at Leicester, Wolverhampton, and Manchester are not yet complete. I am ascertaining the hours of labour and the wages paid in these localities for similar work in order that I may be in a position to determine whether the Fair Wages Clauses in the contracts are being complied with. This involves considerable investigation, but I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been directed to the remarks of Mr. Sheriff Campion at Dumfries, on 13th July, in the trial of a test case against certain fishermen, when he said that it was a great pity they had these periodical cases, both in the criminal court and in the civil court, and that it was very desirable that the question should be settled by some legis- lation; and whether he will take them into consideration with a view to the introduction of remedial legislation at an early date?

My attention has been drawn to the remarks of the sheriff made in the, course of the case alluded to by my hon Friend. The long-standing series of disputes as to fishing rights in the Solway Firth indicates a very unsatisfactory state of matters, and my Noble Friend the Secretary for Scotland, is considering most carefully whether, and to what extent, remedial legislation is required. At present, however, my information is that the case above referred to has been appealed to the High Court of Justiciary, and that an analogous question has been submitted to the civil courts for decision. Under these circumstances I cannot promise immediate action on the part of the Government.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he can give the total-number of cattle imported for slaughter from foreign countries and the Colonies in each of the years 1905, 1906, 1907, and 1908, and in the first seven months, 1st January to 31st July, in each of the years 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, and 1909?

The following Tables give the information for which my hon Friend asks:—

Total number of Cattle Imported into the United Kingdom for slaughter from Foreign Countries and the Colonies in each year from 1905 to 1908.
—			1905.	1906.	1907.	1908.
Canada	…	…	148,718	160,689	125,753	121,075
United States of America		…	414,906	398,887	344,461	260,711
Totals	…	…	563,624	559,576	470,214	381,786

Number of Cattle Imported into the United Kingdom for slaughter from Foreign Countries and the Colonies from 1st January to 31st July in each of the undermentioned years.
—			1905.	1906.	1907.	1908.	1909.
Canada	…	…	66,249	76,128	62,877	45,832	53,264
United States of America		…	246,272	248,091	214,447	166,139	112,390
Totals	…	…	312,521	324,219	277,324	211,971	165,654

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether he can give the total number of fat cattle, as distinguished from store and milch cattle, returned as entering the markets at places in England scheduled under the Markets and Fairs (Weighing of Cattle) Act, 1891, in each of the years 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, and in the first seven months, 1st January to 31st July, in each of the years, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, and 1909?

The following Table gives the information for which my hon. Friend asks:—Statement showing the number of Fat Cattle returned as entering the markets at places in England scheduled under the Markets and Fairs (Weighing of Cattle) Act, 1891, in each of the years 1905–1908, and in the first seven months #of each of the years 1905–1909:—

Year.	Total for Tear.	Total, Jan.—July.
1905	*662,399	*381,542
1906	680,678	391,763
1907	706,407	412,103
1908	677,903	399,462
1909	—	413,453

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state how many persons in England and Wales have, during the ten years ended 31st December, 1908, been convicted of murder and executed; so convicted and not executed, or convicted of attempted murder; and how many in each class had not been previously convicted either for felony or misdemeanour, had been once so previously convicted, had been twice or oftener so previously convicted, or might be described as habitual criminals?

presented the following table, showing the number of persons in England and Wales who have, during the ten years ended 31st December, 1908, been convicted of murder and executed, so convicted and and not executed, or convicted of attempted murder, showing how many in each class had not been previously convicted either of felony or misdemeanour, had been once so previously convicted, or had been twice or oftener so previously convicted:—

Year.		MURDER.								ATTEMPTED MURDER.
		EXECUTED.				NOT EXECUTED.				Total.	Not Previously convicted.	Once Previously convicted.	Twice or oftener Previously convicted.
		Total	Not Previously convicted.	Once Previously convicted.	Twice or oftener Previously convicted.	Total.	Not Previously convicted.	Once Previously convicted.	Twice or oftener Previously convicted.
1899	…	15	13	2	—	14	11	—	3	14	9	2	3
1900	…	13	12	—	1	7	7	—	—	8	7	—	1
1901	…	15	11	3	1	13	8	4	1	25	19	3	3
1902	…	22	18	1	3	11	11	—	—	21	17	1	3
1903	…	27	18	7	2	14	13	1	—	20	12	3	5
1901	…	16	12	2	2	12	11	—	1	11	8	1	2
1905	…	17	13	1	3	15	12	—	3	13	10	2	1
1906	…	9	5	1	3	18	17	—	1	14	12	2	—
1907	…	9	5	3	1	11	10	1	—	26	20	1	5
1908	…	13	11	1	1	12	10	1	1	15	11	1	3

I cannot undertake to review the several cases and decide in each whether the offender might properly be described as an "habitual criminal." The number of previous convictions is not a decisive test on this point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ladies have been sent to prison for offences in connection with the suffrage agitation, differentiating between those who have been sent for refusing to enter into recognizances for good behaviour or for attending unlawful assemblies, and those who have been sentenced for acts of violence, such as assaulting the police or breaking windows?

The numbers are as follows:—

For refusing to enter into recognizances for good behaviour, or for attending unlawful assemblies	156
For acts of violence, such as assaulting the police or breaking windows	195
Total	351

These numbers are the totals of committals. In many cases the same person has been committed more than once.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Departmentwhether he has made the promised inquiry as to the connection of Mr. Thomas Abraham Bayliss, who has been placed on the Commission of the Peace for the county of Worcester, with a fraudulent company promotion; and, if so, with what result?

I am informed by the Lord Chancellor that he has caused inquiry to be made, as mentioned in my answer to the hon. Member's former question, but that he has not yet received all the information he requires. He hopes to receive it before long.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the fact that in reply to an application to the principal of the Portsmouth Day Training College from Janet M. John, of the Park Council School, Rhondda, who had duly passed the Board of Education preliminary certificate examination, and thereby was qualified for admission into a training college, the principal of the college had informed the applicant that, other things being equal, she preferred English girls, meaning thereby that she preferred English girls to Welsh girls in the said training college; whether the practice obtaining at the college is in accordance with the regulations under which the college receives grants from public moneys; and, if it is not so, whether he will inquire how long the practice referred to has been followed by the principal, and how many Welsh girls have been penalised in consequence thereof, and give directions for the practice to be immediately discontinued?

I have no information as to the case referred to, but if an appeal is made to the Board full inquiry will be made as to whether the action of the training college authorities is reasonable. The Board allow a preference to be given to candidates coming from particular areas, provided adequate cause is shown for the preference.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the names of and the average attendance at the schools which have received building grants under the £40,000 a year arrangement or to which grants have been promised, as well as the localities in which such schools are situate, the religious denominations of their managers, and the distance in each case from the next nearest national school?

I am unable to give the particulars for which the hon. Member asks. I am informed by the Commis- sioners of National Education that grants have been either made or promised to 393 schools. It would be necessary in order to give the required information to make a careful examination of each case, and this would withdraw the members of the Commissioners' staff who deal with such matters from their ordinary work at a time of great pressure, and would cause considerable inconvenience to the public.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the number of cases in which it has been found necessary, down to 30th June, 1900, to take legal steps and incur expenses for the recovery of overdue purchase annuities in county Limerick under the Land Act, 1903; and what is the total amount due up to 31st June, 1909, from purchasers under the 1903 Act?

The total number of cases of tenant purchasers in County s Limerick under the Irish Land Act, 1903, which have been referred to the solicitor to the Land Commission for legal proceedings since the passing of the Act is 290. No proceedings have as yet been instituted in respect of the instalments due 1st June last. The total arrear due by land purchase annuitants under the Act of 1903 at 31st July last was £2,299 3s. 3d., of which £2,245 1s. 6d. in respect of instalments due 1st June last and only £54 1s. 9d. in respect of all previous gales.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, as the result of the bayonet charge which took place at Cappamore on 6th May last, the district inspector, Mr. M'Carthy, of Newpallas, who ordered the police to charge on this occasion, has been transferred to Newport, county Mayo, which is one of the smallest stations in the West of Ireland; and, if so, will he say whether this punishment on the inspector is due to the orders given on the occasion; and, in view of the conduct of the police authorities in connection with this matter, will the Government compensate the four men who were injured on the occasion?

District-Inspector McCarthy was transferred because the Inspector-General considered it desirable in the public interests to move him to another district. Newport, to which he has been transferred, is considerably larger than New Pallas, and the district attached to it is also larger than the New Pallas district. The men who were wounded on the occasion in question were members of a disorderly crowd. If they consider themselves entitled to compensation it is open to them to assert their claims in a court of law.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the gross expenditure in each of the last 20 years on railway and other engineering works in the Crown Colonies and Protectorates; the amount of it spent under Departmental control and under contract after public tender respectively; and the totals for the whole period?

A considerable amount of information on expenditure on railways in Crown Colonies and Protectorates is given in the House of Commons Returns, Nos. 331 and 336 of 1907. The Return in the form suggested would necessitate reference to all the Governments concerned, and heavy work in abstracting in each Colony or Protectorate the figures for the "engineering works," in accordance with such definition of that term as might be selected for the purposes of the Return.