asked the Postmaster-General if he can say if there are some officers of the rank and file in the Dublin Sorting Office employed on clerical duties for a number of years; and whether he intends to carry out the recent instructions as regards the rotation of clerical duties at Dublin?

On a few writing duties requiring special qualifications some sorting clerks have had lengthened periods of employment. A scheme is under consideration which will considerably extend the system of rotation on writing duties in Dublin.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state how many new entrants have been taught tracing duties in the Inland Telegraph Branch during the last three years; and whether he will state what is the value of the training, having regard to the fact that the officer is transferred to the London postal service five years later.

The number of new entrants taught tracing duties in the branch referred to in the last three years is 106. The training is valuable inasmuch as it provides for necessary work on the lines recommended by the Parliamentary Committee. At the end of five years' service the officers in question have the option of being employed entirely on sorting duties.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the tendency in the Dublin telegraph office is in the direction of increasing split duties; and can he say how does the number of split duties now existing compare with the number in vogue at the time the Bradford Commission was granted?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. The number of split duties in the Dublin Telegraph Office is now about 16 per cent. less than in 1903, when the Bradford Commission was granted.

asked the Postmaster-General what sum is paid to the Department by the Commercial and Anglo Cable Companies for the services of relay clerks at Dublin; will he state if it is usual for the Department to utilise the clerks paid for by the companies for its own purposes; and is he aware that on recent occasions the clerk who should have been employed at the Commercial Company's relay was sent to the Corn Exchange telegraph office for purely Post Office business?

The amount paid by the two companies in respect of relays at Dublin is approximately £l,050 a year. This covers the provision of apparatus and of the staff necessary for the continuous working of the relays, but the contract does not require the employment of any particular officers.

asked the Postmaster-General if it is by his instructions that women sorters employed in the general manager's office, Post Office telephones, Carter-lane, have been threatened with the extension of their summer holiday period over the months of December and January, by limiting the number to one per period, unless they are prepared to perform overtime duty arising from inadequacy of staff; and whether he will consider the advisability of increasing the staff so as to reduce the overtime duty to a minimum?

I am assured that no such statement has been made. The present staff appears to be adequate and the amount of overtime performed has not been excessive.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has refused to grant a licence under the Wireless Telegraph Act to Mr. C. E. Kelway in connection with, and thereby stopped the establishment of, proposed installations of his sound-locating system at Dover and generally on the South and South-East coasts of England; and, if so, whether that refusal is due to objections raised by the Admiralty?

Mr. Kelway's sound-locating system involves the use of wireless electric signals, and I was sorry to be compelled some time ago, after consultation with the Admiralty, to refuse the grant of a licence to him for its installation at Dover or on the South or South-East coast of England. The reason for the refusal was the risk involved, in connection with the working of the system, of interference with the naval and commercial wireless telegraphy which is so largely carried on in those regions. A licence was, however, offered to Mr. Kelway for the trial of his system in some locality where this objection did not apply.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that letters which reached Bundoran at 9.15 a.m. were not delivered in that town on 21st August till 11.45 a.m., owing to the want of a proper staff; and whether, having regard to the fact that undue delay in the delivery of letters in this town after the arrival of the morning mail is of frequent occurrence, immediate steps will be taken to remedy a system attended with inconvenience to the people of the locality?

I am inquiring into this matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any steps with a view to the reinstatement of Mr. J. Cahill, who was evicted from the Short property at Cappagowlara, Killooley, King's County, about 12 years ago; whether the tenant in possession is satisfied to give up the farm on getting adequate compensation; and, if so, will the Estates Commissioners bring this case to a conclusion and relieve the evicted tenant?

The Estates Commissioners have inquired into Mr. Joseph Cahill's application for reinstatement in a holding in the townland of Cappagowlara, on the estate in question, and have decided not to take any action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary why the Estates Commissioners have not sent an inspector on the estate of Can-field French in Kinnetty and Gurlasior, King's County, although the estate has been purchased and agreements signed since June, 1906?

The purchase agreements in respect of the two Canfield French estates in King's county which are for sale before the Estates Commissioners were not lodged until February and August, 1907, respectively. The estates have not, therefore, been dealt with as yet, having regard to their place on the priority list. Neither of the townlands mentioned in the question appears to be included in these estates.

asked the Chief Secretary when the sale of the estate of Maria Waldock, in the townland of Coolruss, parish of Ballingarry, in the county of Limerick, will be completed; and whether the estate will be inspected by on Estates Commissioners' inspector before the purchase money has been paid?

Having regard to the prior claims of other estates, the Estates Commissioners are unable at this stage of the proceedings to say when the sale of this estate may be completed. Before the sale is completed an inspector will visit the estate.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the tenants of the Connor estate, at Ballineen, county Cork, have signed agreements to purchase their farms; whether Denis O'Sullivan, an. evicted tenant on the estate, is included in the scheme for the purchase of their farms; whether his was an ordinary tenancy outside the demesne boundaries; and, if so, will steps be taken by the Estates Commissioners to refuse to create those lands an estate for the purpose of sale unless O'Sullivan shall be included in the scheme of purchase?

Proceedings for the sale of the estate of Mr. H. D. Connor, county Cork, have been instituted before the Estates Commissioners. The Commissioners have inquired into and considered Dennis O'Sullivan's application for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him and have decided to take no action in the matter.

asked the 'Chief Secretary whether 200 acres of the Goring estate, Ballynonty, county Tipperary, is at present held on the 11 months' system by a man named Hughes who has other large farms; whether it is intended to create a tenancy for him so as to make Trim eligible to purchase this farm; and, seeing that there are a number of uneconomic holdings around this land and some evicted tenants in the locality, will the Commissioners refuse to entertain any proposal from Hughes?

The Estates Commissioners cannot trace proceedings for the sale of the lands of Ballynonty as pending before them under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and they have no information as regards the creation of a tenancy in the Mr. Hughes referred to.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the conduct of Mr. B. R. Purdon, resident magistrate, when presiding at Schull on 4th February, 1909, at a meeting of magistrates called for the purpose of electing a clerk of petty sessions for the districts of Goleen, Schull, and Ballydehob; is he aware that at this meeting Mr. Purdon threatened to take it on himself to disallow the vote of a justice of the district, Mr. Piers Hughes Townsend, and that when a solicitor present protested against this course and stated that it would be regarded as an electioneering dodge, Mr. Purdon insisted on a vote being taken of the magistrates present as to the right of Mr. Townsend to vote; is he aware that when the poll was taken Mr. Purdon and all the supporters of one of the candidates voted with the object of depriving Mr. Townsend of his right to vote; and whether, as the action of the resident magistrate was calculated to intimidate Mr. Townsend from voting in favour of a particular candidate, the Chief Secretary will consider the propriety of the resident magistrate for the district concerning himself in a local election of this kind, and will steps be taken to prevent a recurrence of such conduct in future by a paid official?

I understand that Mr. Purdon, who was the chairman of the bench of magistrates at Schull Petty Sessions on 9th February last, on the occasion of the election of a Petty Sessions clerk, informed Mr. P. H. Townsend that, in his opinion, he was not entitled to vote, as he had not the requisite number of attendances. He then put the question to the magistrates whether Mr. Townsend's vote should be taken. The magistrates were equally divided, those in favour of one candidate voting one way, and those in favour of the other candidate voting the other way. Mr. Townsend's vote was then taken and counted. Mr. Purdon, as chairman, felt bound to direct attention to the Regulations governing the election. I see nothing in his action calling for comment, or for any change in the existing procedure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are various classes of authorities, as county councils, municipal corporations, and the like, in England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively, who are included in the words local or rating authority in Clause 24, Sub-section (1), as amended, of the Finance Bill; whether the classes of authorities as stated in the answer practically exhaust the meaning of those words; and what are the authorities referred to in Clause 24, Sub-section (2), who raise their rates in the first instance by a precept, certificate, or other instruments, and requiring payment from authority or officer?

I regret that it is impossible to give a list either of the various authorities who are included as local or rating authorities in Clause 24 of the Finance Bill or of those authorities who raise rates by means of a precept. In the former category all local authorities in the ordinary sense of the word will be included; and the best illustration I can give my hon. Friend of the latter class of authority is that of the county councils in England who raise their county rate by precepts to guardians.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the aggregate liabilities of the State on 31st March. 1906, and on 31st March, 1909, respectively; and what was the balance in the Exchequer on 31st March, 1906, and 31st March, 1909?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Parliamentary Return Cd. 4,657 of 1909. The aggregate gross liabilities of the State were, on 31st March, 1906, £788,990,187, and on 31st March, 1909, £754,121,309. The Exchequer balance on the former date was £10,451,487, and on the latter £6,350,427.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the value of the manufactured furniture and cabinet ware imported into the United Kingdom from foreign countries and British possessions, giving the imports from the two sources separately, during the years 1906, 1907, and 1908?

The following table gives the information desired:—

Statement showing the value of manufactured furniture and cabinet ware imported into the United Kingdom in each of the years 1906, 1907, and 1908, distinguishing the consignments from foreign countries and British possessions respectively:— 1906. 1907. 1908. Consigned from £ £ £ Foreign Countries 595,119 552,027 436,128 British Possessions 17,383 13,402 11,804 Total 612,502 565,429 447,932

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he would be prepared to make representations to the Great Southern and Western Railway of Ireland to stop the 3.55 p.m. train from Limerick to Dublin at Castleconnel, as under present arrangements it stops only when there are passengers for Nenagh and stations beyond it, thus causing inconvenience to those who may want to get out at Castleconnell and causes them to remain in Limerick for several hours longer, whereas if it stopped every day it would be a convenience to the public?

I have communicated with the railway company, and have received a reply, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state upon what dates applications for grants from the Vote for Harbours were first referred to the Harbour Grants Committee; and upon what dates did the Committee report in favour of granting the same in the cases of Craster, Pwllheli, and Newlyn respectively?

The Harbour Grants Committee was appointed on 8th June, 1899, since which date all applications for grants in aid of harbours in England and Wales and Scotland, which comply with certain preliminary conditions laid down for the administration of such grants, have been referred to them. The Committee reported in favour of grants in the cases mentioned in the question on the following dates:—Craster, 11th May, 1907; Pwllheli, 25th October, 1901, and 17th August, 1907; Newlyn, 12th August, 1907, and 10th May, 1909.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can take any steps to expedite the payment of salaries of clerks of pension committees so as to avoid the delay which at present arises in connection with such payment?

The delay which has taken place in connection with the accounts for the first two quarters has been largely due to the unfamiliarity of the clerks of the pension committees with the work of accounting and the regulation governing the accounts. As a result of this, numerous queries have been necessary before the accounts could be paid. The staff in the Treasury which deals with the accounts has, moreover, recently been strengthened, and I anticipate that for both these reasons the increased staff will be able to deal much more rapidly with the improved accounts which may be expected to be received for the present and future quarters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can inform the House of the reason for the considerable reduction in the number of pottery glazes sent for analysis and the determination of the amount of lead present and proportion existing in the soluble condition, recorded in the report of the principal chemist of the Government laboratory for the year ended 31st March last?

No rule has been laid down as to the number of samples to be sent for analysis, and it necessarily varies from year to year. In 1906–7 only six or seven samples were sent; in 1907–8 the number was 97 (including samples of glazed pottery); and in 1908–9 it was 26. In the five months since 31st March last 47 samples have been taken for analysis. When the Lead Committee has reported it may perhaps be possible to lay down some rule as to how many samples should be taken, but it is obviously desirable that it should be done at uncertain intervals and not at stated times.

asked how many inspectors, sergeants, constables, and detectives of the Metropolitan Police were on duty outside the Metropolitan police district during the late visit of the Czar; whether any payment will be made for this police service; and, if so, will this payment include every charge?

A detachment of Metropolitan Police—104 in number—was sent to Cowes on the occasion of the recent visit of the Emperor of Russia. The expense falls in the first instance on the Metropolitan Police Fund; but, as I intimated in answer to a question on 14th June, I am in communication with the Treasury as to the grant of an increased contribution from Imperial Funds in respect of the Imperial duties now performed by the Metropolitan Police.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether any reduction has been recently made by the Bermondsey guardians in the granting of out-relief; and, if so, for what reason?

I am happy to say that there has been recently a considerable reduction in the number of persons in receipt of outdoor relief in the parish as compared with the corresponding period last year. This will be seen from the following figures:— 1908. 1909. Decreases. 3rd Week in July 2,913 2,595 318 4th Week in July 2,850 2,560 290 5th Week in July 2,852 2,552 300 1st Week in Aug. 2,819 2,555 264 2nd Week in Aug. 2,900 2,601 299 3rd Week in Aug. 3,130 2,617 513

There has, I understand, been a diminution in the number of applications for relief both from able-bodied and non-able-bodied persons. As regards the latter, this is presumably due in some measure to the operation of the Old Age Pensions Act, whilst, as regards the former, considerably fewer applications are being received on account of distress from want of employment than was the case last year.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, pending legislation dealing with the care-of the feeble-minded and epileptics, he will decline to sanction any new Poor Law buildings for the accommodation of such cases, or the establishment of any new combinations of Poor Law unions or other local authorities with a view to dealing with such cases, until it is decided by legislation whether Recommendation XXVIII. of the Royal Commission on the Care and Control of the Feeble-minded (England and Wales) should become law?

If any proposal of the kind referred to in the question is made to me I will bear in mind the recommendation made by the Royal Commission; but I do not think I could properly undertake that, pending legislation, I will in no case sanction the provision of new buildings for persons of the class mentioned or the establishment of new combinations for the purpose of dealing with them.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what rate in the pound is levied for local taxation in Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham, Leicester, and Bristol?

The table below gives the particulars according to the latest information available. In the cases mentioned the rate in the pound is not uniform throughout the borough, and particulars have therefore been given for each parish, and where necessary for parts of parishes, but an approximate average rate

Borough. Parish Total amount in the pound of the public rates made during the year 1907–8. Approximate average rate for the borough. s. d. s. d. Manchester … South Manchester … … 8 4 7 3¼ Burnage … … 8 2 Didsbury … … 7 8 Chorlton-cum-Hardy … … 7 6 North Manchester … … 7 6 Withington … … 7 6 Manchester … … 7 4 Moss Side … … 6 8 Liverpool … Everton … … *9 1½ 6 7½ West Derby (part) … … *8 9 Kirkdale … … *8 7¼ Toxteth Park (part) … … *8 6¾ West Derby (remainder) … … *7 11¼ Walton-on-the-Hill … … *7 9¼ Liverpool … … *7 8½ Wavertree … … †6 6½ Garston … … ‡6 5¾ Fazakerley … … *6 4½ Toxteth Park (remainder) … … §5 9 Birmingham … Balsall Heath … … 8 1 7 0 Harborne … … 7 11 Aston (part) … … 7 11 Edgbaston … … 7 7 Upwards of Birmingham … … 7 5¾ Aston (remainder) … … **6 11 Leicester … Leicester (part) … … 7 4 6 7 Leicester (remainder) … … 6 0 Bristol … Bristol (part) … … 8 5 7 6¼ Bristol (part) … … **7 6½ Bristol (part) … … **7 5 Bristol (part) … … **6 11 Bristol (part) … … **6 6½ Bristol (part) … … **6 0 Bristol (part) … … **5 11 Bristol (part) … … **4 11 Bristol (remainder) … … **3 5

Payable by owner. Payable by occupier £10 rental and over. Under £10 rental. s. d. s. d. s. d. Glasgow … … Glasgow … … … … ¶2 4.9 † †4 10 3 † †4 1 5 Govan … … … … ¶2 2.4 † †4 7 3 † †3 10.6 Eastwood … … … … ¶2 1.4 † †4 5.8 † †3 9.1 Cathcart … … … … ¶1 7 9 † †4 0.1 † †3 3.4 * Including a water rate of 6d. in the pound on all property, irrespective of any water supply. † Including a water rate of 4½d. in the pound on all property, irrespective of any water supply. ‡ Including a water rate of 3¾d. in the pound on all property, irrespective of any water supply. § Including a water rate of 3d. in the pound on all property, irrespective of any water supply. ** Approximate. ¶ Includes a public water rate of 1d. in the pound. † † Includes a domestic water rate of 5d. in the pound.

in the pound is given for each of the English boroughs. The particulars for Glasgow have been supplied by the Scottish Office:—

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has now considered the Reports of the sub-department as to the regulation of food supplies under Dr. Buchanan; and whether he proposes to issue regulations under The Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907, at the earliest date possible, to restrain the use of preservatives to disguise putrefaction in meat, poultry, and fish, and especially to carry out the recommendation of the Departmental Committee on Preservatives in 1901, and to absolutely prohibit the use of formaldehyde or its preparations in foods or drinks, and in express terms make it a criminal offence to soak, spray, fumigate, or otherwise impregnate meat, poultry, fish, etc., with any preparation of formaldehyde?

I have had before me reports made by the inspectors of foods on the subject of preservatives in food materials. Further inquiries and reports on other aspects of the subject are being made, and when they are complete I shall give consideration to the whole subject with a view of determining what action should be taken with regard to it.