asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the admission of the Board of the prevalence of the practice of trawling without lights in Start Bay, South Devon, and of the inability of the Devon Sea Fisheries Committee, by bringing the offenders to justice, to put an end to such practice, the Board will consider the advisability of themselves taking steps to put an end to this practice so dangerous to other shipping?

I am informed that 39 prosecutions have been instituted by the Devon Sea Fisheries Committee since October, 1900, for illegal trawling, and many of the vessels concerned were showing no lights. In such cases the Board do not intervene, as the failure to exhibit lights is really only a part of the primary offence of illegal trawling. I have, however, recently informed the Devon Sea Fisheries Committee that the Board are ready to institute proceedings under the Merchant Shipping Acts for non-exhibition of lights in any case other than those re-ferred to above upon receipt of the necessary evidence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state whether he has received a copy of the proposed regulations which have been prepared by the Port of London Authority with reference to the regulation and licensing of barges and other river craft; and, if so, will he say when they will be placed upon the Table of the House?

I have received an application from the Port of London Authority for an order under Section 11 (2e) of the Port of London Act, fixing the limits of the fees which may be imposed in respect of the registration or licensing of craft and boats pending the confirmation by Parliament of a Provisional Order under the same section. I have not, however, yet received an application for the confirmation of the recently advertised "Bye-laws for the regulation and registration of river craft in the Port of London," which, among other things, prescribe the actual registration fees proposed to be charged. There is no statutory provision requiring these Bye-laws or the Order prescribing the maximum fees to be laid upon the Table of the House, but the Provisional Order will, of course, be submitted to Parliament for confirmation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that at the recent International Horse Show in the Argentine almost every European country was represented by special commissioners; and whether His Majesty's Government can see their way to appointing British commissioners for subsequent, large agricultural shows held in the Argentine and South America?

I have no official information with regard to the first part of the Noble Lord's question. A commissioner will be appointed to represent His Majesty's Government at the forthcoming Agricultural and Railway Exhibitions at Buenos Aires in 1910. As regards other exhibitions, I can give no general answer. Each case will be dealt with on its merits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state for the Prussian State railways and the British railways, respectively, for the years 1906, 1907, and 1908, the amount of net profit, and the percentage of profit on the capital employed?

It is not possible to give fully comparable figures with regard to the capital employed in the railways of the United Kingdom and Prussia respectively. The only figures available with regard to the capital of the Prussian and Hessian State Railways are those representing the actual cost of construction and equipment of the lines, whilst in the United Kingdom the available information relates to the total paid up capital. With these reservations the following figures may be given:—

I. UNITED KINGDOM.
Years.		Paid-up Capital.		Net Earnings.	Proportion of Net Earnings to Paid-up Capital.
		Total.	Total exclusive of nominal additions.		Inclusive of nominal additions.	Exclusive of nominal additions.
		£	£	£	Per cent.	Per cent.
1906	…	1,286,883,000	1,090,420,000	44,446,000	3.45	4.08
1907	…	1,294,066,000	1,097,011,000	44,940,000	3.47	4.10
1908	…	1,310,533,000	1,112,991,000	43,486,000	3.32	3.90

II. PRUSSIAN AND HESSIAN STATE RAILWAYS.
Years ended 31st March.			Cost of Construction and Equipment.	Net Earnings.	Proportion of Net Earnings to Cost of Construction and Equipment.
			£	£	Per cent.
1906	…	…	451,031,000	33,480,000	7.42
1907	…	…	467,095,000	34,323,000	7.35
1908	…	…	487,615,000	31,180,000	6.39

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a whaling station has been established on the island of Inishkea, off the coast of Mayo, and that it is now proposed to establish a second one at Ardelly Point, Blacksod Bay, a short distance from the former one; is he aware that whaling stations have been removed from the shores of Norway on the grounds that they are injurious to the fishing industry and a nuisance to society; that no two stations are allowed to be established within 50 miles of one another in Canada; that they have been removed from Shetland on the

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to the questions on the same subject asked by the hon. Member for North Fermanagh on the 23rd instant, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Prime Minister whether this House will be adjourned when the Finance Bill goes to another place?

I am not in a position to make any statement on this matter.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the grants in connection with the Unemployed Workmen Act for England, Scotland, and Ireland for 1908–9?

Of the total sum voted (£300,000), the following sums were placed by the Treasury at the disposal of the Local Government Boards for England, Scotland and Ireland:—

				£
England	…	…	…	227,000
Scotland	…	…	…	47,253
Ireland	…	…	…	13,750
Total	…	…	…	£288,003

The following sums were paid by the Local Government Boards for the three Kingdoms to central bodies and distress committees under the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905:—

		£
England and Wales	…	*220,485
Scotland	…	47,253
Ireland	…	13,750
Total	…	£281,488
* In addition, appropriations to works executed during the winter of 1908–9 of balances in the hands of distress committees derived from the Grant of 1907–8 were sanctioned by the Board to the extent of £12,253.

NOTE.—Since 31st March sums amounting to £1,420 6s. have been refunded by English authorities in respect of grants in the year 1908–9.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that several inspectors of national schools are being unfairly treated as regards their salary, increments, etc., by a few of the higher officials in the National Education Office; and, seeing that these officials refuse to bring appeals for redress from aggrieved inspectors before the Board, and as there are a number of cases of this kind of which the general body of Commissioners know nothing, for the reason above stated, whether he will, in the interests of education, have an inquiry held into the conduct of the higher officials in question?

further asked whether the salary increments of some inspectors of national schools have been withheld during the past few years; and, seeing that the higher officials, including the resident Commissioner, who are responsible for withholding the increments in question, refuse to specify any reason whatever for their action, how, under the circumstances, aggrieved inspectors can obtain redress for conduct of this kind on the part of their official superiors?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for North Louth on 2nd April last. The Commissioners of National Education inform me that there is no increment withheld at present in the case of any inspector save one, who has been depressed by order of the Board to the rank and pay of a junior inspector.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that Michael Devaney, of Carrowkeel, Ballysodare, county Sligo, was deprived of his pension by the Local Government Board on 12th August last; if he is aware that the Local Government Board have given no grounds whatever for their decision; if he is aware that Devaney was recommended by the local pension officer a weekly pension of 2s., and that the local pension committee, after full consideration of the case, allowed him a weekly pension of 5s. on 15th December, 1908; whether he is aware that Devaney is 80 years of age, and that his only means of subsistence is derived from his tenancy of a small plot of ground, six acres in extent, the rent of which is £4 8s. yearly, and that his only stock on this plot of ground consists of one horse and two sheep; and whether, in these circumstances, he will cause Devaney's case to be reconsidered by the Local Government Board, with the view of having paid to this man the full pension of 5s. per week, which he is evidently entitled to?

The Local Government Board disallowed this man's claim as sufficient evidence was not produced to satisfy them that he had reached the statutory age of 70 years. Before disallowing the claim the Board gave the claimant an opportunity of submitting any evidence on the point which he could obtain. The only way in which the case can be reopened is by the, lodgment of a fresh claim.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Irish Land Commission, when taking proceedings for land purchase annuities or interest in lieu of rent, issues a writ of summons out of the superior courts where the amount due is over £20, instead of proceeding in the county court, which has jurisdiction up to £50; if he can state the difference in costs to the defendant where a writ for, say, £40 is served as compared with a civil bill process for the same amount, and the respective costs of a superior court judgment and a civil bill decree for the same amount; whether he is aware that the sheriff's charges on the execution of a judgment are also considerably higher than when executing a civil bill decree, and that the recovery of a judgment is published, which destroys the tenant's credit, even though he ultimately pays the amount, which would be avoided if the proceedings were by civil bill; and whether, in view of the fact that the legal value to the Land Commission of a civil bill decree is the same as that of a superior court judgment, he will represent to the Land Commission the advisability of resorting to the civil bill courts wherever the amount sued for brings the case within their jurisdiction?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question by the hon. Member for North Louth on 18th April, 1908, in which I dealt with the several points now raised. I have nothing to add to that reply beyond stating that the Land Commission now proceed in the Superior Courts only in cases where the amount to be recovered is over £30.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the total value of money and other property received by the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland in 1908; the total amount dealt with by them in that year; the actual market value of all property held by them or under their control at the end of that year; the reason why the auditor has not required them to add their money columns and present their annual report and abstract of accounts like other accounting bodies; why he has not reconciled with each other the groups of figures on pages 3 and 5 of the last annual Report; and why he has allowed property of private origin to be described on page 5 as Government funds?

I am informed that the total amount of cash received by the Commissioners in 1908 was £59,506, and that the total cash paid by them was £55,816. The amount of the stocks purchased by or transferred to the Commissioners during the year was £69,935, while the amount sold or transferred by them was £11,622. The cash receipts include £6,691, the proceeds of stock sold, and the cash payments include £22,017 invested by the Commissioners. The market value of the securities held by the Commissioners on any given day could only be ascertained by the employment of a stockbroker or other expert valuer. The auditor has no duties or responsibilities in relation to the Annual Report of the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the present amount with compound interest of the residue fund of £5,538 9s., which in 1848 stood to the credit of the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the Paymaster of Civil Services in Ireland, available to the board of control of the Royal Canal for the purposes of repairs of that canal in default of the Midland Great Western Railway Company discharging its obligations in that respect; to whose credit that money now stands; whether the board of control can now draw upon it in accordance with 11 and 12 Vic, c. 76; if not, when and how the board lost that power; whether compensation will be paid out of that fund to traders and boatmen now injured by the neglected condition of the canal; and whether the Irish Government can see its way to closing that account by transferring the fund to local trustees for the purpose of establishing and working on commercial principles a suitable manufacturing industry in Mul-lingar?

I am informed by the Board of Control of the Royal Canal that the enactments under which this money is held by the Paymaster-General in Ireland provide that it shall be held in trust for the Midland Great Western Railway Company, and that the interest shall be paid half-yearly to that company. There is therefore no accumulated interest available for the purposes specified in the question. The object of the enactment was to provide a fund to defray the expense of any works of restoration which the Board of Control may carry out with the Lord Lieutenant's approval. This is effected by enacting that, when any sum is expended for such a purpose out of this fund, the railway company shall be obliged to re- place it and shall not be able to declare a dividend until they have done so. The fund could not be diverted to other purposes save by legislation.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners are aware that the purchase agreements entered into by the tenants on the estate of the Rev. X. Gyles Carew, county Waterford, were signed by them on 22nd November, 1905, and were not lodged with the Estates Commissioners until 2nd March, 1906; that the tenants have had to pay 4 per cent. interest on their purchase money for the period during which the landlord delayed in having these agreements lodged; that the estate also lost its priority by the delay; whether the Estates Commissioners, at the request of some of the tenants, arranged to send down an inspector last May, but no inspection has yet taken place; when is such inspection likely to take place; and can the Estates Commissioners refund to the tenants, or can the tenants recover from the vendor, the amount of interest for the period referred to which they have been compelled to pay owing to the negligence of the vendor?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the purchase agreements, dated 22nd November, 1905, were not lodged in the Land Commission until 2nd March, 1906, from which date the estate takes its priority. In their purchase agreements the tenants contracted to pay interest in lieu of rent at 4 per cent., and the Commissioners have no power to vary the rate agreed upon between the parties. The Commissioners made no such arrangement as that stated in the question, and are not prepared to have the estate inspected out of its priority. The Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when the property will be reached for inspection.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state how the Local Government Board (Ireland) estimated the income of Mrs. Shanahan, of Lisnamuck, Croagh, in the county of Limerick, at more than £31, having regard to the fact that she assigned her interest in her place to her son, on his marriage over four years ago, for her board and lodging, which, on disagreement with him, was valued by her for £12 a year, and having regard to the fact that the pension officer allowed her 3s. a week, which she was dissatisfied with, and from which an appeal only was taken; and, having regard to the latter fact, will he say if the Local Government Board were entitled to go beyond the matter of appeal?

I understand that, under the assignment referred to, Mrs. Shanahan is, in the event of disagreement with her son, to be allowed £12 per annum and a room in her son's house. She herself estimated the board and lodging she at present receives as worth 10s. a week. The Local Government Board, however, considered that the value of the claimant's board, lodging, clothing and other privileges on a well-stocked farm, containing 78 Irish acres, exceeded the statutory limit. The Board hold that they are bound to satisfy themselves that a claimant or pensioner whose case comes before them on appeal is in all respects qualified for a pension and fulfils all the statutory conditions.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners are taking any steps to deal with the case of evicted tenants by way of securing untenanted land in that country?

Yes, Sir. The Estates Commissioners are taking steps to deal with evicted tenants in the manner mentioned in the question. For particulars I would refer to pages 17 to 21 of the Annual Report of the Commissioners which was presented to Parliament on the 2nd instant and to Table 28 appended thereto.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet decided to what use they intend putting the farms of Cragg and Ardcrone, county Kerry, now in their possession, besides affording grazing to large cattle dealers; whether he is aware that the holding of these farms is not only a loss to the Board but also keeps the evicted tenants claiming them out of possession of them; and whether the Board are prepared to consider a settlement in connection with the farms?

The Congested Districts Board intend to use these farms for the enlargement of small holdings in county Kerry. Pending arrangements for the distribution of the lands the Board are using them for grazing. The previous occupants were not tenants, but were tenant purchasers who, in the year 1893–4, lost their interests in the farms through default in the payment of their purchase annuities. It is not proposed to reinstate them.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the value of contracts for clothing materials, etc., placed in Scotland during the last financial year; and will he say what proportion this bears to the total of such contracts placed?

Orders for the following clothing materials were placed wholly with Scotch firms during the financial year 1908–9: Duck cloth and canvas for suits, about £17,000. Other clothing materials, i.e., woollen and cotton fabrics, are mainly Yorkshire and Manchester industries, and a comparison of the products of other industrial districts would seem to be of no advantage.