asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the judgment of Mr. Garlick, magistrate of Dinagepore, in Eastern Bengal, in a recent dacoity case in which he refers to the fact that the wives of the accused persons were sent for by the police, and adds that it is a common practice of the police when they wish to recover stolen property to send for the wives of the persons accused and try to get them to reveal where it is; and to the further remark by the magistrate in the same judgment that the police frequently quickened the witnesses' answers with a cut from their riding canes, and that without such methods of examination he did not suppose that the police would get any information at all; and whether the Secretary of State proposes to make any inquiry into these allegations?

further asked the Under-Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the circumstances of a trial at Tezpur, in Assam, in which two men stood charged with murder in connection with the attempted loot of treasure which was being conveyed to the Bindakuri tea estate; to the fact that a third man originally sent up for trial committed suicide in gaol, after recording on the prison wall that although he was innocent of the crime he had been coerced and frightened by the police; to the fact that a fourth man turned approver, and that on his evidence the first two accused were, at an earlier trial, found guilty and sentenced to death; to the fact that the High Court ordered a retrial on the ground of improper police evidence, and that at this retrial they were acquitted; and to the further fact that the Criminal Investigation Department officer connected with this case was Inspector Shevagat Ali Chowdhry, whose conduct had previously been condemned by the High Court in the Commilla shooting case of 1907 and the recent Nattore mail robbery case; and if the Secretary of State will inquire whether the services of this police officer, whose grave faults have so often been brought to notice, are still retained by the Government?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will permit me to answer his two questions together. The Secretary of State has seen newspaper reports of the cases referred to, and these, no doubt, engage the attention of the Lieutenant-Governor. The authorities, as I have repeatedly stated, are trying to effect improvements in a police force that is drawn almost entirely from the Indian people. Isolated cases of misconduct in so large a force are inevitable, but the local governments, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, must be trusted to deal with such cases as they arise.

Will not the Secretary of State make some inquiries with regard to these illegal practices, which are described by the magistrate as quite common?

The Secretary of State, as I have already said, is of opinion that these cases should be dealt with by the Lieutenant-Governor or the local governments.

Have the Indian Government communicated with Mr. Garlick and asked him if he made the statements alleged to have been made and reproduced in the printed report of the judgment as to practices which ought not to be allowed in any civilised service?

The Secretary of State has only seen the newspaper reports of the cases referred to. He is of opinion that they should be left to the discretion of the Lieutenant-Governor.

Does not the Secretary of State think the gravity of this matter sufficient to call for inquiry?

I have given the Secretary of State's answer and I cannot add to it.

Will the Secretary of State direct the attention of the Indian Government to this matter?

No doubt the questions and the replies thereto will in due course reach the Government of India. They will see them in the newspapers. I am unable to add to the reply I have given.

Will the Under-Secretary represent to the Secretary of State the very strong feeling in the House of Commons on this matter?

Perhaps hon. Members will put down further questions.

May I point out that the hon. Gentleman has answered two questions together, and the supplementary questions have all been in reference to one. I proposed to put some in regard to the second?

There have already been six supplementary questions. That is quite enough.

All on one question.

asked whether any appointments of assistant engineers in the Indian Public Works Department have recently been made; and, if so, how many are Europeans and Indians respectively?

Thirty-nine assistant engineers have recently been appointed to the Indian Public Works Department. Thirty-six are Europeans and three Indians.

asked how many technical schools are provided by the Government of India for training students in engineering, together with their accommodation, length of course, average number of students in attendance during the last five years, and distribution throughout India?

I think the hon. Member will find the information he requires at pages 168–175 of Parliamentary Paper Cd. 4635.

How many technical schools are there?

I think five or six. The matter is fully dealt with in the Papers.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether the notice of the Government of India has been drawn, by Petition or otherwise, to the fact that a Hindoo merchant in Bombay, named Mr. Premchand Kesavji, who is a native of Jamnagar, has been sentenced to a term of ten years' hard labour and confiscation of property, by His Highness the Jam, on certain criminal charges without any regular trial by the judicial courts of the State; and whether any information as to the nature of the charges, the mode of trial, and the punishment inflicted is in the possession of the Government; and, if not, would he obtain, as soon as possible, the particulars of this act of the Jam?

The Secretary of State has no information relating to this case. It is the established policy of the Government of India not to interfere in the internal affairs of a Native State, except in the case of gross mal-administration. In the absence, therefore, of any authentic statement of the whole facts, the Secretary of State is not prepared to move in the matter.

Am I to understand that the hon. Gentleman will get the necessary information and will ascertain if the facts are as stated in the question?

I do not think it is necessary. If the facts are as stated they will be reported in due course to us by the Resident in that particular State. I do not think it is necessary to add anything to the reply of the Secretary of State.

Does the hon. Gentleman give answers without having the facts before him?

I have stated we have no information. If the facts are as stated, they will in due course be reported to us by the Political Resident.

Will the hon. Gentleman convey to the Secretary of State the grave disapproval with which the withholding of information with regard to Indian matters from Members of this House is viewed?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a mass meeting of Indians was held last Sunday in Zanzibar to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with recent legislation limiting their liberties and injuriously affecting their commercial interests; and whether he will inquire into the matter with a view of remedying the grievances of the Indian population in Zanzibar?

also asked whether attention has been called to the fact that a mass meeting of Indians was held on the 12th instant at Zanzibar to protest against certain laws passed since 1908, limiting their liberty and injuriously affecting their commercial interests; and what steps the Secretary of State is taking to protect the rights of His Majesty's Indian subjects in Zanzibar?

I will reply to this question and to that of the hon. Member for Brentford together. I have received a telegram from the chairman of the meeting, stating that a memorial has been addressed to me. Until that memorial reaches me I shall not be in a position to consider the matter, as I am unaware of the nature of the grievances alleged; but I shall, of course, give it due consideration when the facts are before me.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position of the claims by British subjects against the Russian Government for compensation in the cases of the "St. Kilda" (cotton and rice), "Hip Sang," "Oldhamia," "Knight Commander," and "Calchas," respectively; have the Russian prize courts finally dealt with these cases, and, if so, to what effect; has the Court of Appeal at St. Petersburg decided that cotton is absolute contraband; have the Russian Government declined the proposal of the British Government to refer disputed cases to the arbitration of the Hague tribunal; and does he propose to make further diplomatic representations in any of these cases?

As regards the cargo of cotton and rice on the "St. Kilda," the Supreme Prize Court has dismissed the claims. I would also refer the hon. Mem- ber to my reply to the hon. Member for the Lowestoft Division of 8th July last. In the case of the "Hipsang" I must refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 22nd February last. Since that date the Russian Government have informed His Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg (in May last) that the evidence of an important witness on their behalf at Vladivostock was still outstanding, but that the case was otherwise completed for hearing by the Supreme Prize Court. His Majesty's Government have repeatedly pressed that the hearing should be accelerated. With regard to the "Oldhamia," the judgment of the Supreme Prize Court has been received. Its effect is as stated in my reply to the hon. Member of 22nd February last. I understand, however, that the owners are awaiting a further report from the advocate in charge of the case. In the case of the "Knight Commander," the position as regards the owners of the vessel is unaltered since my reply to the hon. Member of 22nd February last. The assessment of the claims of owners of innocent cargo is, however, to come before the Libau Prize Court; but I understand that the case may not be heard at the next sitting of the court, which is fixed for this month or next, as it was heard in the first instance by the Vladivostock Court, and so is new to the Libau Court. There has been no development of the case of the "Calchas" since my reply to the hon. Member of 22nd February. In two cases the Supreme Prize Court has decided that the cotton on board was absolute contraband, and as regards the question of these cases being submitted to arbitration, I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for the Lowestoft Division of 8th July last. In the cases of the "Malacca," "St. Kilda," "Ikhona," and "Foxton Hall," the claim to some compensation has been conceded.

Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly answer the last clause of my question?

The cases are not yet all concluded. We are doing what we can to accelerate the hearing of them, but I cannot answer that particular question of the hon. Member until the decisions in all the cases are actually known.

asked whether the Government will grant a Return showing the names of the persons in India who are now in confinement under the provisions of Bengal Regulation III. of 1818 and kindred Regulations, and the places in which they are confined?

The answer to the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the policemen affected by the allegations of torture, outrage, and manipulation of evidence made by the judges of the Punjab Chief Court eight months ago in the Gulan Bano case have been, and are still, retained in the service of the Punjab Government; and, if so, whether he can say upon whose advice, and after what inquiry, the views of Mr. Justice Robertson and Mr. Justice Rattigan as to the conduct of the police have been set aside by the Executive?

The Chief Court did not find that the allegations of torture by the police made in this case were proved. They were of opinion that on the evidence before them there was a strong case for a departmental inquiry. This inquiry has been held and the report has been submitted to the Government of India who have asked the local government for further information on certain points. Until a final report has been received the Secretary of State is unable to make any statement on the subject.

Has the Government of India issued orders forbidding all kinds of torture in the prisons?

I do not agree with the hon. Member that torture has taken place.

Is it not the fact that the judges of the High Court in all parts of India have found and complained of torture?

That does not arise out of this question.

Is it the practice of the Government of India, when grave reflections have been cast upon the conduct of policemen by the High Court of Justice, to retain those policemen in their service, and does the Secretary of State approve of that practice?

That does not arise out of this question of the hon. Member. I have stated that the Governor of India and the Secretary of State were awaiting a final report on this case. Until that final report is received, it is not possible for me to answer the hon. Member's question fully. If the hon. Member will put down his question at a later date, when we have received the information, I will endeavour to reply to it.

With great respect, this is the third time to my knowledge in this House—

The hon. Gentleman is not entitled to make a statement of that kind—especially a controversial one.

May I ask—

Will the hon. Member put it down?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the attention of the Secretary of State has been called to the judgment delivered on 12th June at Rawal Pindi by Mr. Dundas, the sessions judge, in the case of six men charged with murder upon a confession alleged to have been extorted from one Ghulam Mohammad by torture, the torture being described by the learned judge as racking, and the marks having been seen by him on the accused's legs and arms; whether the judge held that the investigation by the police was open to the charge of bribery as well as of torture, that their conduct called for inquiry, and: that the accused ought to be acquitted; and whether he can state what steps the Government of the Punjab has taken to bring home to the policemen concerned, their responsibility for what took place?

The Secretary of State has no information on this subject. He has no doubt that the local government will deal sternly with any members of the police force against whom, offences of this nature may be proved. He will inquire as to the facts.

asked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies if his attention has been called to the fact that the Transvaal Government have appointed a small commission to visit Westphalia, Germany, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the men employed in the collieries there are suitable for the Transvaal mines; that there are at the present moment hundreds of good miners unemployed in the Transvaal; and, if so, whether he can see his way clear to approach the Transvaal Government in regard to the matter?

The Secretary of State has no information as to the appointment of any Commission for the purpose stated, but inquiry will be made.

Do I understand that I shall have an answer when the information is received?

If the hon. Member will put down a question I will give him all the information we can obtain.

Is it a case in which the Transvaal Government could make inquiries?

I do not know anything about the matter. If the hon. Gentleman has any information which he can give me I shall be very glad if he will do so.

What is the meaning of the word "approach" in this question? What power does this Government claim to interfere with the Transvaal Government on such a question as this?

The hon. Member must put that question to the hon. Member below him who used the word.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many officials, established and non-established, including non-pensionable employés, were in the service of the Local Government Board on 31st March, 1906, and on 30th June, 1909, respectively?

The numbers are as follows: On 31st March, 1906, 697; on 30th June, 1909, 798.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been directed to the claim of the Post Office on a small sum of money deposited in the name of Christopher Robert Edwardson, lately deceased; and whether, in view of the fact that Miss Edwardson had brought the deceased up from infancy and had provided him with board and lodging for 40 years, and had also transferred to his credit a sum of money which stood in her name, he will order the payment of the money standing in the deceased's name to be paid to Miss Edwardson, and to which she is legally entitled for expenses out of pocket?

I am aware of the claim to which my hon. Friend refers, but I have no power to act in the matter. Any application for the money must be addressed to the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer at Edinburgh, and Miss Edwardson has been so informed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the terms of the changes made by the new tariff of the United States as affecting steam yachts built in countries other than the United States?

Steam yachts are free of import duty under both the former and the new Customs Tariff of the United States. Section 37 of the new United States Tariff Act, however, provides for the levy of an annual tax at the rate of seven dollars per gross ton upon the use of every foreign built yacht, pleasure boat, or vessel not used or intended to be used for trade, owned or chartered for more than six months by citizens of the United States. This annual tax may be commuted by the payment of a single sum at the rate of 35 per cent. ad valorem.

Is it the fact, or what the hon. Gentleman believes to be the fact, that in the case of some of the more expensive yachts this annual subsidy to the Government would mean about. £2,500 sterling, or commuted would be about £30,000?

Yes; of course it all depends upon the amount of the original cost, or the value of the yacht. As I have said, it is seven dollars per gross ton, or 35 per cent. ad valorem

Is there any reason to believe that the figures I have quoted are correct?

It is all a question of calculation.

Yes, but my question is one of fact.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the numbers and tonnage of steam yachts built on the Clyde and the Forth for citizens of the United States from the year 1890 until the present time?

I am informed that from the year 1890 to the present time 20 steam yachts, with an aggregate tonnage of 18,723 tons (Thames measurement) have been built on the Clyde, and 10 steam yachts, with an aggregate tonnage of 8,755 tons, on the Forth, for citizens of the United States.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, concerning the refusal of the local authority at Dudley to approve the establishment of a Labour Exchange, what action his Department proposes to take in such cases; and whether the regulations will provide for exchanges being efficiently worked in cases where local authorities may decline to assist them?

The Labour Exchanges Bill empowers the Board of Trade to establish and maintain exchanges "in such places as they think fit," and, although the Board may co-operate with other authorities such co-operation is not essential to the establishment of any Labour Exchange. I hope that in all cases Labour Exchanges established by the Board of Trade will be efficiently worked.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he intends to publish particulars relating to the appointments it will be necessary to make for the organisation of a system of Labour Exchanges; and, if so, whether he will allow a reasonable interval of time to elapse, after publishing the said particulars, before the applications are dealt with, in order to give reasonable opportunity for persons possessing the necessary qualifications to apply?

The appointments referred to by the hon. Gentleman are as follows:—

Is it not possible to get perfectly competent men at salaries of £2 a week?

No; I think £250 a year is not an excessive salary for persons who will have considerable demands made upon them, and persons who require to be of high character.

Is it not the fact that a mining manager gets only £2 to £4 a week for most responsible work?

Notice should be given of that.

Will these appointments be filled by patronage or by competitive examination.

No; they will not be filled by competitive examination. They will be filled by the selection of a Committee, of which notice has already been given to the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the fact that the Great Southern and Western Railway Company (Ireland), which pays 4½ per cent. on its ordinary shares, makes no provision for warming third-class carriages in cold weather on most of its trains, even for long runs like that from Dublin to Waterford, and prohibits the servants of the company, without, obtaining special permission, from providing third-class passengers with foot-warmers; and will he have representations made by has Department to this company with a view of changing the present system, which inflicts hardship on third-class passengers who may not care or may not be able to pay the fares charged by this company for first and second-class tickets?

The Board of Trade are in communication with the railway company in this matter, and I shall be glad to inform the hon. Gentleman of the result?

asked the Lord Advocate if he can state in what year the late chairman of the Prisons Commissions reached the age of compulsory retirement; how often was his appointment extended beyond that age, and for how long were these extensions; and whether applications for the position of chairman of that Board were during these extension periods being received by the Scotch Secretary from all parts of Scotland?

The chairman of the Prison Commissioners for Scotland reached the age of retirement in 1907. There have been two extensions, covering a total period of two years and four months, during which various applications for the post were received.

asked the Lord Advocate when he will be in a position to fill the post of stipendiary magistrate for Glasgow; and will he say what has been the cause of the delay?

The conditions proposed by the Corporation of Glasgow for the appointment have been recently submitted to the Scottish Office and are now under consideration. No unnecessary delay will occur in filling the appointment after the conditions are adjusted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the case of John Meyrick, an unemployed labourer, sentenced in Manchester on 10th September to two months' imprisonment for failing to provide food for his children; whether the man repeatedly announced his ability and desire to work if he could secure it, but refused to enter the workhouse as requested by the guardians; and whether, had he agreed to enter the workhouse, any sentence would have been imposed.

I have made inquiry in this case. There would have been no prosecution if the man had taken the means afforded him by the law for obtaining food for his children. He refused to do this though repeatedly warned of the consequences if he allowed his children to starve. The provision enacted by Parliament last year in the Children's Act leaves no doubt as to his obligation to obtain poor law relief if he could not otherwise provide for his family; and I much regret that, in view of all the circumstances, I hardly think the case is one in which I could recommend any interference.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the course of the trial the man himself explained that his entry into prison would mean the breaking up of his little home, and consequently a greater difficulty after emerging from prison to get his home and family together again?

The real facts of the case are that the refusal of the man to take advantage of the law resulted in semi-starvation to a number of children, and at present, while he is in prison, his children will be provided for. I think the hon. Member may be assured that they will be well looked after.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a report of an experienced workman being killed on 13th September at the print works, Hayfield, Derbyshire; whether the machinery was considered to be properly guarded; and whether he can take some action concerning the opinion of the jury that there should be a different method of doing the work?

The accident was duly reported and investigated. It arose from the workman stepping over a guardrail and putting china clay on a revolving disc on the inrunning instead of the outrunning side. I am informed that no one had been seen to do this before, nor can any reason be assigned for this unusual and erroneous action. The guardrail was sufficient protection if the work had been done in the usual way, but in view of the accident, the boxing over of the inrunning side has been suggested to the firm by the inspector.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the quantities of wines at 27 to 30 degrees of strength imported into this country during the months of June, July, and August of 1908 and 1909 respectively?

I regret that the Departmental records do not enable me to give the information asked for by my hon. Friend. I would refer him, if he is not already acquainted with it, to Parliamentary Paper No. 76 of 1909, which will give him some information on the subject.

asked whether anything has yet been done to make Consols more accessible to the small investor by their issue in smaller denominations, say, of £50?

There has been no issue of Consols since 1902, and existing Consols are transferable in the books of the Bank of England in amounts of one penny and any multiple of a penny. I assume, therefore, that my hon. Friend refers to the issue of Stock certificates to bearer. Such certificates may, under the provisions of the National Debt Act of 1870, be issued for amounts of £50, and, though at present they are not in fact issued for smaller amounts than £100, my right hon. Friend does not think there would be any difficulty in issuing £50 certificates, if there were any public demand for them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state what are the reasons which caused him to refuse the request of the Mines Royal Commission for a grant to make experiments on the use of electricity in mines; and whether, in view of further recent explosions believed to be due to electricity, causing the loss of large numbers of men, he will reconsider his decision in this matter?

My right hon. Friend has not received any such request from the Royal Commission.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the Report of the Royal Commission it was definitely stated that the Chancellor of the Exchequer refused to make this grant?

My attention has not been drawn to that statement. I am prepared to look at it. My information is as I have given it to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that Mrs. Mary McElduff, of Tullyvallon, Cullyhanna, Crossmaglin, county Armagh, was deprived of her old age pension in June last by the pension officer on the ground that her age could not be traced in the parish register; if he is aware that Mrs. McElduff forwarded to the Local Government Board her marriage certificate, showing that she was married on 15th February, 1863, and a written certificate from one of the witnesses of her marriage to the effect that, at the time of the marriage, the claimant was over 25 years of age; whether he is aware that the Local Government Board have never acknowledged the receipt of these documents, and, as the claimant is in poor circumstances, will he have immediate inquiries made; and whether it is to be taken to be the practice of the Treasury in Ireland to refuse pensions solely on the ground that the applicant's age is not on record, and that corroborative evidence admitted in England is not to be admitted in Ireland?

The Local Government Board allowed the appeal of the pension officer on the ground that Mrs. McElduff was shown in the Census Return of 1851 as only seven years of age, and that her name could not be traced in the Census of 1841. A marriage certificate was forwarded to the Board, as indicated in the question, accompanied by a statement from one of the witnesses to the effect that he believed the pensioner to have been 25 years of age at the date of her marriage. The Board were unable to accept this statement as sufficient to prove that the Census Return was incorrect. They inform me that it is not possible, owing to the enormous number of documents received in connection with appeals, to acknowledge each one, but they deal with them as rapidly as possible.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Census Returns are notoriously inaccurate, and has he seen the last part of the question as to why corroborative evidence which is accepted in England is not accepted in Ireland?

Although the Census Returns may be inaccurate, the recollections of persons 40 years ago is still more liable to error.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants on Lord Erne's estate, near Lifford, East Donegal, signed agreements to purchase their holdings in October, 1905, and no inspector has yet come down to inspect their holdings; and whether he can state what is the cause of this delay or when the sale of this estate will be completed?

Owing to its place on the priority list this estate has not yet been dealt with under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The Estates Commissioners hope to have it inspected shortly.

asked what are the terms offered to the evicted tenants at Lisgillock Glebe, on the Marsham estate, county Leitrim, with a view to their reinstatement; whether the annuities in future to be paid by the tenants are so high that the tenants are unable to accept such terms; and whether the amount of the promised grants have been reduced from what was agreed on at first?

With the consent of the owner the Estates Commissioners had a preliminary inspection made of the lands in question, but the majority of the former tenants have refused to purchase at the prices fixed by the Commissioners. The Commissioners have decided to make no grants to any of the former tenants save one. They are all in occupation of other holdings in the neighbourhood.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that John James MacNeill, of Drumcannon, Carrigallen, county Leitrim, who was formerly a member of the London Police Force, and is, since his retirement a few years ago, in receipt of a pension, going about the dis- trict giving offence to his Roman Catholic neighbours and making use of uncalled-for remarks with a view to raising sectarian strife and embitter feelings between people who have always lived on friendly terms with each other; whether he is aware that a statement has been signed, in the presence of the police of the district, by a man named John Dobson, of Druminshin Glebe, Carrigallen, who up to recently was on friendly terms with MacNeill, that MacNeill asked him to write threatening and boycotting notices and to post the same in the district, with a view to blackening the district and in order that the authorities might send additional police into the locality to protect MacNeill and his brother, with whom he lives and who is in occupation of an evicted farm; and whether, as MacNeill has been fined several times at Carrigallen Petty Sessions for drunkenness, and that, when he would be drunk, he has to get police protection on account of his offensive remarks about Catholics and calling himself an Orangeman, steps will be taken to prevent MacNeill from acting in such a manner in the future?

It appears from the reports which I have received from the constabulary authorities that Dobson and McNeill are not on good terms. McNeill accused Dobson of poaching, and Dobson retaliated by making the allegations contained in the question, but did not sign a statement in the presence of the police. McNeill was twice fined for drunkenness in 1908, and is under police protection owing to his association with a brother who has taken an evicted farm. The police are not aware that he is in the habit of making offensive remarks about his neighbours.

Will steps be taken in the future to prevent this man from repeating such conduct as is going on at present?

If he violates the law in any way and the offence is brought to the knowledge of the police, I can promise that measures will be taken.

Is there any means of informing the inhabitants of these localities that Queen Elizabeth is dead and even that King William III. has passed away?

I think they are mostly aware of the two facts.

asked why Hugh Maguire, of Killameen, Corrawallen, Carrigallen, county Leitrim, is not receiving the full amount of the old age pension, his allowance being only 4s. per week; and, as the rest of his small farm is only £2 5s. yearly, will his case be reconsidered, with a view to granting him the full pension of 5s. per week?

The facts are as stated in the first part of the question. The Local Government Board allowed the appeal of the pension officer against the decision of the sub-committee granting Hugh Maguire a pension of 5s. a week on the ground that, in their opinion, the income from claimant's farm of 12 acres exceeded £21 a year. The Board have no power to reconsider the decision given, even assuming that there were any grounds for so doing.

asked when the Estates Commissioners will send down an inspector for the purpose of valuing and taking over the farm of land situate at Gortletteragh, county Leitrim, and known as Beirne's farm, on the estate of Mr. H. J. B. Clements, Lough Rynn, county Leitrim, and which Mr. Clements has agreed to sell to the Estates Commissioners for the purpose of reinstating some evicted tenants on his property; and, as those people are in a very destitute state, if the inspector could be sent down soon, with a view to those tenants being reinstated before the winter season?

As my right hon. Friend has already stated, in reply to the question asked by the hon. Member on 13th May last, proceedings for the sale of this estate were only instituted in April last, and the Commissioners cannot therefore deal with it for some time to come.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can explain the very low marks awarded to Irish and the high marks awarded to German in the recent intermediate examinations in Ireland; and whether, as a large number of students who took Irish were debarred from getting exhibitions owing to this system of marking, the Board intended this to discourage students from taking Irish in future?

The Commissioners of Intermediate Education inform me that the marks awarded in Irish and in German are in accordance with the judgment of the examiners in those subjects. The Board do not interfere with the discretion of the examiners with regard to their awards beyond prescribing the standard percentages for passing and for honours, and the distribution of marks as between the sub-divisions of the subjects. The standards are the same for all languages, and were prescribed for the recent examination in the rules and programme which were presented to Parliament in 1908. The total number of exhibitions allocated to the modern literary course, first division (Irish and French or German), was 44, while the number allocated to the second division (French and German) was 49.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that this year for the first time this extraordinary discrepancy has taken place, and whether, as a matter of fact, this difficulty was brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary when the new rule was introduced last year, and that what was expected has taken place?

The only explanation I can give is that it must be that the examiners in Irish were more severe this year than formerly or that the candidates were nor so well qualified.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that the examiners in German may have been more easy?

That may be so. I know nothing of these gentlemen.

Perhaps they fear a German invasion in the near future.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, having regard to the request of all the public schools in Ireland, he will ask the Commissioners to have a re-examination in the matter of Irish, as it is most important?

It is not at all likely that they will consent to have a re-examination. I do not think it is possible, because it would involve the expenditure of a large sum of money and cause a great deal of trouble. Candidates would have to be brought up from all parts of Ireland.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Papers are in the hands of the examiners, and that the re-examination of them would not involve the attendance of the candidates? The principle on which the marks were given would seem to have been unprecedented.

Does the hon. Member mean the re-examination merely of the papers by the examiners? I do not think there would be any difficulty about that.

Yes. Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Commissioners to do so?

I will.

asked the Chief Secretary whether a large portion of the farm from which the late Michael Branagan was evicted in 1882, situated on the Wells estate, Raheenduff, Attanagh, Queen's County, has been given to a Mrs. Wall, of Grennan; if he is aware that Mrs. Wall holds over 200 statute acres elsewhere and has no children, and that the son of the evicted tenant, who came home from New York, only got 33 out of the 84 Irish acres of which his father's farm was comprised; can he say who recommended Mrs. Wall for a portion of this farm; and whether the Estates Commissioners will reconsider their decision in allotting a portion of the farm to a well-to-do outsider to the exclusion of the son of the evicted tenant?

The Estates Commissioners, in the exercise of their discretion, have allotted 38 acres of the farm in question to the children of John Holohan, who was evicted from a farm of 73 acres in the same county, which is now in the occupation of another tenant. As they are minors the purchase agreement has been signed on their behalf by their aunt, Mrs. Wall, as trustee. The Commissioners have allotted 54 acres to Michael Brannigan as representative of his father, who was evicted from the farm in 1882. They are not prepared to reconsider their decision.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any and, if so, what alterations have been made in the regulations under which regular troops armed with ball cartridges were recently sent from York to take part in the defence of the bridges across the Tyne at and near Newcastle-on-Tyne, which bridges were defended by Territorials armed with blank cartridges, with the result that neither party were allowed to fire their rifles, the usefulness of the operations being thereby impaired?

As I have already explained to the hon. Member in reply to a previous question on this subject, the object of the manœuvres was to test the mobilisation arrangements and accordingly the troops were armed with ball cartridge. The manœuvres were carried out as intended and the usefulness of the operation was not in any way impaired as the hon. Member supposes. There is no intention of making any alterations in the regulations as suggested.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether any inquiry has been made as to the connection or otherwise between this regulation and the fatalities that have recently taken place by the issuing to soldiers of ball cartridges?

It has absolutely nothing whatever to do with it. There was no firing, and therefore no fatality. It is a test of mobilisation, and not of firing.

I am afraid the right hon. Gentleman misunderstood me. The shooting took place afterwards by the soldiers, who had in their possession ball cartridges.

The Regular soldiers had ball cartridges because it is necessary that they should have the standard weight carried with them in the mobilisation test, but they did not fire them. They were returned to stock immediately after the mobilisation exercises were over.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, he can state the number of recruits for His Majesty's forces during the past 12 months who presented themselves for enrolment but were rejected as physically unfit to serve, and giving the numbers for each town over 100,000 population?

The figures are too long to read out to the House, and I will have them printed with the Votes and Proceedings. [See Written Answers this date.]

May I ask what proportions were rejected in the different parts of the United Kingdom?

I cannot give them offhand. When the hon. Member gets the figures he will see for himself.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give, in addition to the statistics, the reasons why the rejections took place?

No, I do not think it is possible. When the hon. Member gets the figures he will be able to see the numbers for himself.

May I ask if the number of rejections this year appears to be greater than in the past year?

No, I do not think so. That is another question as to which I have at present no information. If the hon. Member wishes further information he should put a question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can state the number of soldiers who have been dismissed from the Army suffering from consumption during the past 12 months; and whether any provision, and for what number, was made by his Department in order to enable them to cope with the disease?

The number of cases of discharges for tubercle of lung in 1908 was 272. Statistics for later periods are not available at the War Office, as the Returns are only made up annually, and a special Return would be necessary to secure the information. As regards the last part of the question, no special provision is made by the War Office, but the authorities of military hospitals endeavour to arrange locally for these men to be taken into homes on discharge.

In view of the great danger arising from infection through the discharge of these soldiers, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman does not think it is fit and proper that a Government Department should make arrangements for the reception of these men?

This matter has been fully discussed before. Whatever you do in this case you must also do in the case of the Navy and other public Departments. We cannot deal specially with one Department apart from the others.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to act on the suggestion of the President of the Local Government Board and relegate the majority and minority Reports of the Royal Commission on Poor Laws to the President of the Local Government Board, with power to do what he thinks fit with the recommendations contained in the Reports by regulation and order?

I understand that the suggestion of my right hon. Friend referred to in the question was thrown out in a jocular mood in the course of a recent speech; and it has not been considered by His Majesty's Government.