Written Answers
Royal Marines (Clothing)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether blue serge and white duck are the only dress available for the Royal Marines on board ships for shore campaigns; whether he is aware that the former is a prominent target and the use of the latter would lead to chills; and, if so, whether he can state what steps the Admiralty propose to take to enable the Royal Marines to light on shore on equal terms with foreign troops without undue delay in receiving stores of khaki from England?
Khaki is not considered suitable for the general duties of Royal Marines afloat; adequate arrangements are made for its supply in cases where its use may be necessary.
Naval Strategy And Tactics
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the work of preparing war plans and all questions of strategy and tactics and organisation of the same have been entrusted to the junior flag captain on the admiral's staff of the Home Fleet instead of being given to the captain of the Fleet, who is a commodore on the admiral's staff in the same ship?
The distribution of staff duties is within the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief.
Mercantile Marine (Employment Of Asiatics)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention had been called to the death at sea from beriberi, on 4th July, 1908, of an Asiatic seaman named Li Ching, whilst serving on the steamer "Queen Amelie," of Glasgow; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; and whether any previous cases of death from this disease had occurred on this vessel?
further asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether his attention had been called to the death at sea from beriberi of an Asiatic seaman named Hossbinallee Semjoor Meah, whilst serving on the steamer "Clan Cunning," of Glasgow, on 12th April, 1909; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; and whether any previous cases of death from this disease had occurred on this vessel?(2) Whether his attention had been called to the death at sea from heart failure, on 9th April, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Mahd Kohl Chidia Ali, whilst serving on the steamer "Arracan," of Glasgow; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; whether he was on duty at the time; what was the temperature of the engine-room; how much coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; whether the engineer's log-book had been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors; and whether any other cases of death from heart failure, heat stroke, suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance had occurred on this vessel; and(3) Whether his attention had been called to the disappearance at sea, on 30th May, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Esmal Sul Sk Alley, whilst serving on the steamer "Lord Kelvin," of Liverpool; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; whether he was on duty at the time; what was the temperature of the engine room; how much coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; whether the engineer's log book had been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors; and whether any other cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance had occurred on this vessel?
I have made inquiry into these cases.I am not aware whether the seaman referred to in the first question was medically examined before joining. He had served on the vessel since the 31st March, 1908, and had had previous sea service. Only one other death from beriberi has occurred on this vessel during the last three years.The seaman referred to in the second question was medically examined before joining. He had served on the vessel since 24th July, 1908, and had had previous sea service. No other deaths on this vessel from beriberi have occurred during the last three years.The fireman referred to in the third question was medically examined before joining. He was engaged at Rangoon on 8th January last. I am not informed whether he had any previous sea service, but he is stated to have been an experienced man. He was on duty when taken ill in the afternoon watch on 7th April, but not at the time of his death. At noon on 7th April the temperature of the engine-room was 106 degrees, of the stokehold 90 degrees, and of the bunkers 84 degrees. The coal consumption was about 32 tons per day, and there were nine firemen, and nine trimmers. The engineer's log-book has been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors. No other death from heart failure, heat-stroke, suicide, or supposed suicide has occurred on this vessel during the last three years, but there was one case of disappearance, that of the chief engineer.I do not know whether the seaman referred to in the fourth question was medically examined before joining. He had served on the vessel since 24th May last. He had had previous sea service. He was on duty at the time. The temperature of the engine-room was 100 degrees, of the stokehold 94 degrees, and of the bunker 100 degrees. The coal consumption was 24 tons per day, and there were nine firemen and six trimmers. As the vessel has been trading abroad since the occurrence, the engineer's logbook has not been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors. No other cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel during the last three years.
Labour Exchanges Appointments
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in appointments under the Labour Exchanges Act, he will be able to see that preference is given to candidates holding appointments in existing Labour Exchanges, such as that carried on for some years past at the Polytechnic, who will now be thrown out of employment?
I have no doubt that the Committee of Selection in making their recommendations will give due weight to the previous experience of candidates in connection with Labour Exchanges.
Export Tariff On Mackerel
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what is the tariff on Irish-cured mackerel exported to the United States of America imposed by the new Dingley law in that country; and what was the tariff before the Dingley measure was passed?
Fresh, pickled, and salted mackerel are dutiable under the new tariff of the United States at the same rate as under the former, namely, one cent per pound.
Finance Bill
Market Gardeners' Glass-Houses
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under the Finance Bill, the glass-houses of a market gardener or nurseryman are treated as buildings, and therefore free from Undeveloped Land Duty, or are treated as land, and therefore liable to Undeveloped Land Duty?
This matter, in accordance with the promise which I gave during the Debate on the 1st instant, is receiving my attention in connection with the Amendments to the Finance Bill which it is proposed to introduce on Report.
Old Age Pensions (Poor Law Relief)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if a person over 70 years of age and who has not received Poor Law relief for a full 12 months is entitled to old age pension forthwith; and, if not, can he state what term must elapse after the 12 months before such a person becomes qualified for a pension?
All persons who have received poor relief (other than relief excepted under Section 3 (1) (a) of the Old Age Pensions Act) since 1st January, 1908, remain disqualified, in the absence of further legislation, until after 31st December, 1910. After that date the disqualification will, under the Act, as it at present stands, apply to persons in receipt of poor relief, only while they are actually receiving such relief, and receipt of poor relief in the past will no longer disqualify whether a period of twelve months has or has not elapsed since the last occasion on which relief has been received.
Bombay Political Officers (Memorials)
asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the proposals of the Government of India in regard to the memorials of the Bombay political officers have yet been received; whether the memorials have been before the Government of India for over 18 months; and when a decision may be expected?
The question, which is one of considerable complexity, has been under the consideration of the Government of India since October last, but I am not in a position to indicate the date when a decision may be arrived at. On receipt of the proposals of the Government of India, no time will be lost by the Secretary of State in Council in arriving at a decision upon them.
Indian Army Officers (Interpreters)
asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what decision has been arrived at as to the advisability of making officers of the Indian Army eligible for rewards for qualifying as interpreters in European languages other than Russian?
Indian Army officers have been made eligible for rewards for qualifying in French, German, Italian, Dutch, modern Greek, and Portuguese.
Postal Clothing Contracts (Scotland)
asked the Postmaster-General what was the value of contracts placed in Scotland for clothing, etc., for his Department during the last financial year; and will he say what proportion this bears to the total of such contracts placed?
The value of the contracts placed with firms having their premises in Scotland, during the financial year 1908–9, for uniform clothing and waterproof garments amounted to nearly £12,000. This sum represents about 5 per cent. of the total value of the contracts placed for such articles in the United Kingdom. No tenders for boots or headdresses were received from Scotland.
Classification Of Postal Employés
asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the desirability of raising the classification of postal employés at the towns of Ivy Bridge, South Brent, and Buckfastleigh, South Devon, to that enjoyed by postmen employed at Plympton, Ashburton, and Newton Abbot, the cost of living being just as high, if not higher, in the case of the former towns as in the latter?
I will consider the cases of Ivybridge, South Brent, and Buckfastleigh.
Census Returns Destroyed
asked the Postmaster-General if he can state under whose instructions and for what reason the Census Returns of 1861 and 1871 have been destroyed, while the Returns of 1841 have been preserved, and are now used to verify the ages of State pensioners?
My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question, which appears to relate to the Irish Census Returns. I understand that the destruction of the Returns for 1861 and 1871 was authorised many years ago by the Irish Government, as they could not be treated as Public Records, in consequence of an undertaking given on the householders' forms to the effect that the information would be published in general abstracts only, and that strict care would be taken that the Returns should not be used for the gratification of curiosity or for any other object than that of rendering the Census as perfect as possible. No such undertaking was given in connection with the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851 now in the Public Record Office. Before authorising the destruction of the Returns in question, the Irish Government ascertained that the Householders' Returns in connection with the Census of Great Britain in 1841, 1851, 1861, and 1871 had been destroyed.
Untenanted Lands, Beaufort, Limerick
asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can say when the untenanted lands of Beaufort, in the county of Limerick, which have been purchased by the Estates Commissioners, will be apportioned amongst the evicted tenants; and whether they will favourably consider the application of Mrs. Bridget Windle, of Glensharrold, Ardagh, evicted tenant, for a portion of the land?
The lands in question have not yet been vested in the Estates Commissioners, but they expect to acquire possession within the next few months. Bridget Windle's application will be considered in connection with the allotment of the lands.
Civil Bill Appeal Cases (Belfast)
asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the committee of the Belfast Wholesale Merchants' and Manufacturers' Association, Limited, directing the attention of the authorities to the serious loss and inconvenience occasioned to the commercial community of the city of Belfast and district by reason of there being no court for the hearing of civil bill appeals from July to March, a period of eight months, and to the fact that the winter assize court which has been established in Belfast principally with the object of dealing with these appeals has not yet had conferred upon it the necessary jurisdiction to enable it to do so, although such court has been in existence for five years, and that, notwithstanding the repeated representations of the association, as well as of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce and other bodies representing the trade of the city, no step has been taken to remedy this state of affairs; and whether the Government now propose to take any action in the matter?
I have received a copy of the Resolution in question. The matter referred to has already engaged the attention of the Irish Government, but the inconvenience complained of can only be removed by legislation, which obviously cannot be introduced during the current Session.
Preventive Detention Of Prisoners
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that four prisoners, committed to the London Sessions on the 7th instant, had previously been convicted in all 43 times, and had received sentences aggregating more than 55 years of imprisonment; and that the chairman of the sessions stated, in again sentencing the prisoners, that he was satisfied they all lived entirely by crime and that he was astonished no indictment had been preferred against them under the Prevention of Crimes Act, 1908; and that he had, therefore, not the power to order them long terms of preventive detention; and whether he will say why in these cases no indictment under the Act was preferred?
The Prevention of Climes Act only came into force on the 1st ultimo, and it was not possible to put it immediately into force against all the prisoners to whom it might be applied. The arrangements are now complete for taking advantage of it—so far at all events as the Metropolitan Police are concerned, and I believe also with regard to other forces—in the case of such habitual criminals as properly come within its scope.
Education Return (Colleges)
asked the President of the Board of Education when the Return ordered on 17th June is likely to be issued?
Some delay has been occasioned owing to the replies from certain colleges having to be returned for correction, but I anticipate the Return will be issued very shortly.
Elementary Teachers (Superannuation)
asked the President of the Board of Education on what grounds the Education Department have refused to treat service by an elementary teacher under the National Board in Ireland as recorded service for the purpose of the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898; whether the effect of this refusal is that a teacher who has just had 20 years' service, of which 10 were in Ireland, can get a disablement allowance of only about half the amount which a teacher is entitled to who has had 20 years' service in England, though both teachers have been contributing to the deferred annuity fund for the same period; whether it is open to the Department, in prescribing the public elementary schools, service in which counts as recorded service, to include Irish elementary schools; and whether, if so, this will be done?
The Board are advised that having regard to the terms used in Section 1 (5) of the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898, read in conjunction with Section 13 of that Act, it is not open to them to record service in elementary schools in Ireland. The second paragraph of the hon. Member's question appears to be based on a misapprehension. Payments to the deferred annuity fund constituted under the Teachers' Superannuation Act are only made in respect of recorded service, or of intervals not exceeding six months between employment in recorded service. Consequently a teacher who has had 20 years' service, of which 10 were in Ireland, would only have contributed for 10 years to the fund, while a teacher who has had 20 years' service in England would have contributed during the whole period. The disablement allowance in the latter case would be considerably greater, though not twice as much as in the former.