asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state if men who at the time the Militia was converted into Special Reserve neither joined the Special Reserve nor took a free discharge, but elected to remain Militiamen, and who received their non-training bounties up to and including February, 1909, are entitled to the payment of the non-training bounty until the termination of their engagement; and, if not, do these men remain liable to service until the termination of their engagement and receive no compensation for the liability?

These men are not entitled to the payment of non-training bounty after 1st February, 1909, and in order to prevent any possible misunderstanding a notification to this effect was issued on 8th August, 1908. These men remain theoretically liable to service until their engagement terminates, but they are free to terminate it at any time.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he will give information as regards the applications received from the Southern Parliamentary Division of Oxfordshire under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, arranged according to parishes, stating in each case the name of the parish, total number of applicants, acreage applied for, number of applicants approved by county council, number already provided with small holdings, and the number estimated to be provided for under schemes submitted to the Board, but not yet carried out?

We will ask the county council to supply us with the information asked for, and on receipt of it I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he can state the total amount, allocated by the Department to county schemes for the development of agriculture, the total available funds for such purpose, and the amount by which it has been decided to reduce the grants; and whether any protests against the reduction of the grants have been received?

The Department's annual income available for purposes of agriculture is about £107,000. From this source a sum of £55,500 has been provisionally allocated by the Department, with the concurrence of the Agricultural Board, for the purposes of the agricultural schemes to be administered by county committees in the year 1909–10. The amount allocated for this purpose in 1908–9 was £55,400. It is not at present proposed to reduce the amount of the grant hitherto made to any county, but, in view of the strain to which the Department's funds are now being subjected, owing to the rapid expansion of the general work, it has been considered desirable to urge upon county committees the necessity of having extreme regard to economy. No protests in the matter have been received.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that the average price for linen yarn in 1902 was 3s. 11½d. and in 1907 7s. 11½d., while the average price for flax was 6s. 3d. in 1902 and only 6s. 9d. in 1907; whether he can state the reason why the flax growers did not benefit by the rise in prices in the same proportion as the spinners; whether he has any official information showing that through the agency of the Flax Supply Association, or of a combination working in sympathy with them, the flax growers in Ulster are deprived of an open market and compelled to accept a standard price arranged by the agents of the association or the combination; and whether it is proposed to take any official action to prevent the establishment of the American trust system in connection with the linen industry of the North of Ireland?

The Department have no official information which would enable them to test the accuracy of the figures given with regard to yarns. In the case of flax the prices furnished to the Department gave an average for 1902 of Gs. 5d. per stone, and in 1907 of 7s. 0½d. per stone. As regards the alleged combination among buyers of Irish flax, I can only repeat what I said in answer to a previous question by the hon. Member on 2nd March last, that complaints from flax growers alleging the existence of an arrangement of the nature referred to have been received by the Department, but the Department have no record of any specific instance of such an arrangement. I am fully alive to the fact that the condition of the flax-growing industry in Ireland is not satisfactory, and I propose to appoint a Departmental Committee to inquire fully into the whole question at the earliest practicable date.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the number of assistant clerks, new class, now serving in London whose homes are in Ireland, and who in consequence have been endeavouring to effect transfers to offices in Dublin; whether he will see that arrangements are made with the Civil Service Commission when vacancies occur in Dublin offices that these men may be given priority of appointment to such vacancies in order of their seniority over new entrants to the class?

I will make further inquiries to see whether the suggestion of the hon. Member is feasible.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when the volume of Historical Manuscripts, laid upon the Table of the House in November last, will be published?

The volume of Historical Manuscripts referred to (Cd. 4382) is in type, but awaits the return for press of the Index. I undertand that this will take about three weeks to complete, so that copies of the volume can hardly be available in any case in less than five weeks.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many district councils have asked for and obtained powers to accept gifts in each year from 1897 to 1908, both inclusive, distinguishing between urban councils and rural councils?

The following table gives the number of local authorities upon whom have been conferred in each of the years mentioned the power of a parish council under Section 8 (1) (h) of the Local Government Act, 1894, to accept and hold any gifts of property, real or personal, for the benefit of the inhabitants of their district or any part thereof:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the price in London of the 4lb. loaf of bread; and the average market price of wheat in England about the 15th of each month since January, 1908?

supplied the following particulars:—Average "Gazette" price of British wheat in England and Wales, and predominant price of bread in London at the middle of each of the months from January, 1908, to August, 1909; and average declared value of imported wheat during each of the months from January, 1908, to July, 1909:—

asked the Postmaster-General what are the administrative reasons that have led to the reduction of head offices to the rank of sub-offices; and whether it is a corollary of changes for administrative reasons that the scale of wages should be lowered also?

further asked the Postmaster-General whether the assistants at the 36 reduced head offices perform precisely the same duties as the sorting clerks and telegraphists at the same offices as the sorting clerks and telegraphists did prior to the reduction of the offices to the rank of sub-offices; and will he state on what grounds similar scales of pay are denied to assistants who are directly employed by the Department?

I will answer both of my hon. Friend's questions together. The chief advantage of the changes is improvement of control. By placing small offices under closer control than is possible while they are head offices, the service is improved and the needs of the public are more promptly dealt with. The general effect of the change in status is to diminish responsibility, and to some extent the amount of work at the small offices concerned. In regard to the indoor staff at such offices, I have already stated that it is my intention to avoid introducing unestablished staff at salaried sub-offices, except to a very small extent in particular cases. Assistants who are directly employed by the Post Office receive the pay recommended for their class by the Parliamentary Committee. They are not employed to the same extent as sorting clerks and telegraphists on work of a responsible character.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the cause of the delay in filling up the vacancies for overseerships in the Dublin telegraph office; and will he see that the appointments are expedited and the class brought up to its normal strength?

Three vacancies for overseers in the telegraph office at Dublin have recently been filled. No others exist.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Mr. M. J. M'Conn has been discharged from the Dublin Post Office, although employed as temporary and full-time postman since 1894; and, seeing that his 15 years' good service gives him a claim to better treatment than being discharged without any gratuity while able and willing to perform his duty, whether an appointed post can be offered to Mr. M'Conn?

I am having inquiry made as regards Mr. M'Conn.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware, that the junior superintendent in the Telegraph Office, Dublin, is frequently guilty of discourteous conduct towards the staff; is he aware that the staff has complained both verbally and in writing of this officer's conduct, and will he see that some improvement in his manner takes place; can he say what qualifications, technical or otherwise, did this officer possess when promoted to his present rank; and if the Controller had occasion, in the presence of the staff, to censure this officer for his methods of supervision?

I have received no complaint upon this subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether there is any intention to reduce or abolish the method of recruiting Post Office clerkships (supplementary establishment) by limited competition among sorters and telegraphists; and has there been any departure recently from this procedure and the positions filled from any other source?

No, Sir; except that in the future, as in the past, occasional appointments may fall to assistant clerks of exceptional merit.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the mail-box at Charing Cross station for the posting of late-fee letters on Fridays for India and the East is at irregular intervals closed earlier than the time advertised in the "Post Office Guide"; and whether he can arrange for adequate notice to be given to the public when this is to be done?

The Railway Company find it necessary at times of exceptional pressure of traffic to run the mail train from Charing Cross direct to Dover instead of by way of Cannon-street Station. The late-fee bag from Charing Cross Station is normally taken by this train to Cannon-street, and there transferred to the sorting carriage, which starts from Cannon-street. On those rare occasions, when the Charing Cross train does not call at Cannon-street Station, this arrangement is not practicable, and in order that the letters may be dealt with in the sorting carriage on the journey to Dover they have to be taken by an earlier train to Cannon-street. The letter-box has, of course, to be cleared earlier on those occasions, and notice of the alteration is exhibited at the station at the earliest possible moment. The only occasions during the present year on which the box has had to be cleared before the usual time were the Fridays preceding the Whitsun and August Hank Holidays.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any decision has been arrived at regarding the civil pay during military training of the postal servants who are members of the North and South Irish Horse; and whether he can say if these men will be granted the additional leave which is accorded to English Territorials belonging to the Post Office?

The regulations respecting the grant of special leave to members of the Territorial Force employed in the Post Office now apply also to Post Office servants who are members of the North or South Irish Horse. Special leave, with full civil pay, is granted for six working days to all officers attending camp for as long as a fortnight.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the sailors and firemen employed on the Royal Mail steamer "Partridge" are only paid 28s. per week; that the company have recently compelled the men to sign an agreement to the effect that no extra pay is to be given under any circumstances; that Messrs. G. and J. Burns, Limited, are compelling their men to run extra turns without payment; that the Royal Mail steamer "Partridge" carries 1,000 passengers at times, and that only eight able seamen are employed; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to the conditions of labour on the mail steamers of Messrs. G. and J. Burns, Limited, with a view to preventing over-work and under-pay?

I fear it would not be practicable to insert a fair wage clause in the contracts with steamship companies when the contracts are simply for the conveyance of mails. The staff employed by these companies is large, and the work performed in connection with the mails represents only a very small proportion of the whole work of the companies' servants. The other question raised by my hon. Friend respecting the number of seamen employed on the steamer "Partridge" is one which concerns the Board of Trade rather than the Post Office; and I have already referred a previous complaint on this point to the Board.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the ventilation of the telegraph office at Amiens-street Station, Dublin, is defective; whether there is any means of ingress for fresh air from outside the building, and whether the impure air of the platform alone has to be inhaled; can he state if the office is almost impossible to keep clean; and has the medical officer of the post office at Dublin recently visited the office and furnished a report?

I will inquire into the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the increase in recent years of the sale of quack medicines; whether he is aware that it has been proved that such nostrums frequently contain nothing but harmless drugs, coloured grease, coloured water, small quantities of aloes, pilules of sugar, etc., though advertised to cure a multitude of different maladies; whether he is aware that the chief cost of such quack medicines is in the advertising; and whether he will appoint a small Commission to inquire into and report upon the whole subject?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer on this subject which I gave to the hon. Member for North Lambeth on 12th March last. I understand that inquiries are being made, at the instance of the Lord President of the Council, as to whether the practice of medicine by unqualified persons is extending, and as to the effects produced by such practice. These inquiries will, no doubt, throw some light on the question of the use of quack medicines, and I think it will be advisable to await their result.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that two members of the Dublin metropolitan police accompanied a landlord named White when serving notice to quit on Monday, 16th August, upon a town tenant named Mary Broe, who has been in possession of her premises for 40 years; whether it is any part of the duty of metropolitan police to assist in the service of notices to quit upon town tenants who owe no rent; and whether he will introduce an amending Town Tenants Bill to meet the case of weekly and monthly town tenants?

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. The police authorities tell me that the landlord was not accompanied by police when serving notice to quit on Mary Broe, who, it is understood, had refused to pay him any rent. There is nothing in the case calling for legislation.

asked the Chief Secretary if, in view of the fact that motor cars travel about, the country at high speed, whereas slow-moving traction engines are compelled by law to have a man walking in front of them waving a red flag, he will take steps to amend the law relating to traction engines in Ireland so far as the flag waving is concerned?

The law requiring that a man should precede a traction engine with a red flag has been repealed in England and Scotland, and I see no reason why it should not also be repealed in Ireland. The matter will receive due consideration when a suitable opportunity arises.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will introduce legislation next Session for the purpose of developing Irish sea fisheries, by providing funds for the construction of piers and for the encouraging of boat-building and kindred industries in Ireland?

As regards the congested districts, it is proposed by the Irish Land Bill to endow the Congested Districts Board with additional funds for these and other purposes. I have no doubt that more money could also be usefully devoted to the same objects in other parts of Ireland if it were available. I am not, however, in a position to hold out any hope of early legislation on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state upon what date the Estates Commissioners received an application from Miss Margaret Clarke for reinstatement in her former holding at Posserstown, Nobber, county Meath; and whether the Commissioners have recently acquired the land from which she was evicted?

The Estates Commissioners received an application on 24th July, 1907, from Miss Margaret Clarke in respect of a holding on the estate of Mrs. Penelope Filgate, in county Louth. Miss Clarke states that she was evicted in 1894 from the holding which is now in the occupation of another tenant. The application does not come within the provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act, and the estate is not pending for sale under the Irish Land Act, 1903.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the police authorities in Dublin have discretionary powers to giant temporary extensions of licences to hotel-keepers on whose licensed premises balls or other festive gatherings may be held; if so, will he say to whom application for such temporary extension should be made; whether he is aware of the numerous extensions of a similar character that were granted in London last year; and if he will take steps to place the two capitals on terms of equality in this respect?

The police authorities in Dublin have no power to grant extensions of licences to hotel-keepers in any circumstances for the purposes indicated in the question, but it has been customary for them to exercise a discretion as regards allowing persons engaged in social functions to remain on licensed premises after closing hours. The law regulating the closing of licensed premises in London differs from that in force in Dublin. It is not, therefore, within my power to comply with the suggestion contained in the last paragraph of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government Board have received from Mrs. Kate Foley, tenant of a labourer's cottage at Springhill, Lissarda, in the Macroom rural district, a statement of her position and of the alleged grievance which she suffers at the hands of the district council; that it is sought to demand rent from her for an uncompleted cottage and unfenced plot, and without any legal bond having been entered into by her with the council; and will he state what steps the Local Government Board propose to take in the matter?

The Local Government Board have received a statement from Mrs. Foley to the effect indicated in the question. The rural district council proposes to institute legal proceedings against the tenant, and in such cases the Board do not interfere.

asked the Chief Secretary whether it has come to his knowledge that Michael Buckley, of Carrigdangan, in the parish of Kilmichael, county Cork, was an applicant for an old age pension; that his age was established to be 78 years; that he had assigned his interest in a small farm to his son on 12th May, 1908, and was since only receiving his support out of it, being in the alternative entitled to an annuity of £10 a year for himself and his wife; whether Buckley was allowed a pension of 3s. per week by the pension officer of the Dunmanway subcommittee; was this amount appealed against by the pension committee, who held that he was entitled to the full amount; and, in view of the foregoing facts, will he state the grounds on which the Local Government Board decided that this man was entitled to no pension whatever?

I understand that the facts are substantially as stated in the question. The Local Government Board ascertained that the claimant lived on a good-sized, well-stocked farm, the rent receipts for which were still in his name; and having regard to the privileges enjoyed by him the Board were satisfied that his income, as calculated in accordance with the requirements of the Act, exceeded the prescribed limit.

asked the Chief Secretary who is the arbitrator appointed by the Local Government Board in connection with Part II. of the scheme formulated by the Tipperary (No. 2) District Council; what is the cause of the delay in not holding the inquiry; when may it be expected to be held; and, if the cause of the delay is due to the arbitrator, will the Local Government Board take steps to compel this official to make his inquiries as soon as possible?

The arbitrator is Mr. P. J. O'Neill, of Malahide, county Dublin. The Local Government Board are communicating with him with regard to the date of the inquiry.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the dull uniformity of the labourers' cottages erected in Ireland under the Labourers Acts; and whether the Government will consider the desirability of endeavouring to introduce a little variety into these cottages by placing more artistic, but not more expensive, designs before the local authorities?

The question of the artistic design of labourers' cottages was carefully considered by the Local Government Board before the model plans were circulated to the local authorities. Eleven different plans, any of which can be adopted by rural district councils in building cottages, have been published, and the Board are always willing to consider the propriety of sanctioning any other suitable plan which may be submitted by a rural district council. Of course, in such cases the paramount consideration is to give as much accommodation as possible to the labourer for the money available.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state if the fees for Irish have yet been paid to the National teachers; and, if not, whether he can say when payment will be made?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the fees for the teaching of Irish as an extra subject for the school year 1908–9 are in process of payment, and that the amounts accruing to the teachers are being remitted as rapidly as possible.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state for Carysfort Convent National School, Blackrock, county Dublin, Roll No. 14,586, the number on the rolls, the average attendance, the names and number of teachers of Irish and the dates of their appointment, the number learning Irish under each teacher, whether Irish is taught as an extra or as an ordinary subject, the standards taught, and the standard of Irish taught to the same; and whether he will give the above information for the session 1908–9 and the session beginning 1st July, 1909?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the number of pupils on the rolls of Blackrock Convent School on 31st December, 1908, was 504, and that the average daily attendance of pupils for the year 1908 was 401. Fifty-two of the pupils on the rolls on 31st December, 1908, were learning Irish as an extra subject, four in Fifth Standard, 30 in Sixth Standard, and 18 in Seventh and Eighth Standards. In October, 1908, Mr. Joseph O'Carroll was the teacher of Irish. At that date the pupils enrolled in each standard course in Irish were, 15 in Third Standard course, 25 in Fourth Standard course, 11 in Sixth Standard course. These particulars are taken from returns furnished by the conductors of the convent school to the Commissioners who are not in a position to furnish the additional information asked for in the question.