asked the Postmaster-General, with reference to the visit which the senior assistant surveyor of the Northern postal district in Ireland paid to Derry in April last, if he can state the nature of the duties that he was called upon to discharge during the period that he remained in Derry; whether he is aware that upon the occasion of that visit, whilst in military uniform, he arrested a boy messenger, whom he brought to the local post office and against whom he preferred to the boy's superior a charge that he had found him loitering; whether he is aware that in respect to this charge the assistant surveyor was assured that the messenger was not on duty and would not be for some hours subsequently, whereupon he was released from custody, but without apology on the part of the assistant surveyor; and, if so, what steps, if any, will be taken to restrain the assistant surveyor in the future from this sort of action?

No complaint has been made to me in connection with the alleged incident.

asked the Postmaster-General how many surveyors and assistant surveyors are attached to the postal service in Ireland; what is the specific nature of the duties that they are required to perform; how many days were they respectively absent from their respective headquarters in the year ending 31st March last; what has been the amount claimed and allowed in respect of such absences by the surveyors and assistant surveyors in each district, first, in respect of personal allowance, and, secondly, as against the cost of locomotion within the period referred to; whether they are accorded a licence, by-right of their position, to absent themselves for lengthened periods from their respective headquarters; if not, by whom is supervision exercised; and what steps, if any, are taken to guard against the incurring of unnecessary expenses under these headings?

I am unable to see that any useful purpose would be served by collecting the information detailed in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state whether, with reference to the accidental shooting of the Rev. N. Hodgson, the detachment, of the 8th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment arrived in the plantation from which the shots were fired after the fatal occurrence had taken place?

The Proceedings of the Court of Inquiry showed that this detachment was in the part of the plantation in question during the manœuvres, but they contained no evidence that it had not arrived until after the accident. On further inquiry being made, it appears that this detachment had not reached the plantation until after the fatal occurrence had taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state whether, with regard to the smallness of pensions to quartermasters and riding masters, this is due to the non-liability of these officers to over-exercise the functions of command; whether, according to the words of the King's Regulations, officers of honorary rank shall at all times take command of such forces as are placed under them; and whether this makes them liable to exercise the functions of command?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the last part of the question, if the hon. and gallant Member will refer to paragraph 229 of the King's Regulations he will find that the answer to his question is in the negative. The reasons for the grant of the present scales of pension to these officers are explained in my answer to a question put by my hon. Friend the Member for the Stowmarket Division of Suffolk on 17th February, 1908.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the case of P-30 Gunner John S. Patton, late 27th Battery Royal Field Artillery, who was discharged on a temporary pension of 8d. per day, and, if possible, grant him a permanent pension for the injuries received by him when in His Majesty's service?

The disability was caused by a kick when playing football, and is not due to service or climate. The Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital state that, in these circumstances, they have no power to award this man a permanent pension.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many petitions have been received from the members of the Indian police asking that the recommendations of the Police Commission, recommending that officers be admitted to full pension after 25 years' service, should be carried into effect; whether all the members of the Indian Civil Service, Public Works Department, Telegraph Department, and Forest Department, are now entitled to these more favourable conditions of service; whether the conditions of service of the Indian police place a special strain, both mentally and physically, on the officers engaged in it; and whether, having regard to the necessity of maintaining the police force in the highest state of efficiency, the Secretary of State will reconsider his previous decision on the subject and give effect to the recommendations of the aforesaid Commission?

The Secretary of State has received from police officers numerous petitions having reference to the point mentioned in the question. He is considering the matter in consultation with the Government of India, and is unable at present to make any further statement.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether a head teacher is entitled to three months' notice, according to agreement, after the Board of Education has decided that the school in which he is serving may be considered unnecessary; and whether the local education authority or one of its officials can anticipate a decision of the Board of Education as to whether a school is necessary or not by giving notice to terminate a teacher's engagement while the matter is still sub judice at the Education Office?

I presume that the hon. and gallant Member's question refers to a teacher in a public elementary school, but he has not informed me whether the school in question is a school provided by the local education authority or a voluntary school. It is only in exceptional circumstances that the local education authority have power of their own motion to terminate the engagement of a teacher in a voluntary school. In the case of a teacher appointed by the local education authority in a school provided by them the rights of the parties are, of course, determined by the terms of the contract under which the teacher was engaged, and the Board have no power to decide questions arising under any such contract.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the fact that Canada, in faithful observance of the Treaty of 1817, maintains only one vessel on the great lakes while the United States of America maintain six armed vessels, in addition to three disarmed war vessels, the whole at present mounting 53 guns and 14 machine guns, or 66 guns in excess of what is allowed by treaty, whether the Government have received any communication from the Canadian Government proposing the resumption of the negotiations which fell through in 1890, and the framing of a treaty terminated by a longer notice than six months?

No such communication has been received from the Canadian Government.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that a Mr. Robert Bailey, residing at Fawney Cross, in the division of North Derry, is the victim of boycotting and intimidation, and that his cattle is being maltreated, causing him considerable financial loss; can he state how many of Mr. Bailey's cattle have been injured, and the number that have died as a result; if he can give any reason, political or otherwise, for this conduct; whether, in view of the seriousness of this case, he will consider the advisability of causing a police hut to be erected on Mr. Bailey's farm for the protection of himself and property; and, if not, what action, if any, does he propose to take in the matter?

I am informed by the constabulary authorities that Mr. Bailey is not the victim of boycotting or intimidation. He has reported to the police that seven of his cattle have been maltreated during the spring and summer, and that as a consequence four of them have died. After careful investigation the police have been unable to find any evidence in support of his suspicions that these cattle were maliciously injured. They believe, on the contrary, that the losses of which he complains were due to illness or accident. They will, of course, continue to afford him and his property all necessary protection, but they assure me that this duty can be efficiently carried out by the ordinary method of patrols, and that there is no necessity whatever for the establishment of a police hut on his farm.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will ascertain whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application from Miss Mary O'Keeffe for reinstatement in a holding on the Wallis estate, Lisnabrien, Lower Curraglass, county Cork; and when may the application be inquired into by an inspector?

The Estates Commissioners have inquired into Miss O'Keeffe's application for reinstatement in a farm on the Wallis estate, at one time occupied by her father and now in the occupation of another tenant, and have decided to take no action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will inquire whether the application of Mrs. Helena Cunningham, Glass House, Currie-glass, county Cork, for reinstatement in two holdings on the Devonshire estate, has yet received the consideration of the Estates Commissioners; and when may it be expected that her claim will be investigated by an inspector?

Mrs. Cunningham's application for reinstatement will be inquired into and considered by the Estates Commissioners when the Duke of Devonshire's estate is being dealt with in order of priority under the Irish Land Act, 1903.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can say whether the Estates Commissioners have yet taken any steps to get for Denis Cronin, of Ballingarry, in the county of Limerick, evicted tenant, un-tenanted land in lieu of the farm from which he was evicted and which they promised to him over twelve months ago?

No application for reinstatement has been lodged with the Estates Commissioners by Denis Cronin, but one has been received from Mrs. Kate Cronin, of Ballingarry, and her name has been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land when acquired by the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a resolution proposed at a meeting of the county Clare pension committee at Ennistymon, on 4th September, 1909, by Daniel O'Loghlen, chairman of the Clare County Council, and seconded by Michael Leyden, chairman of the Ennistymon District Council, and unanimously adopted, calling attention to the decisions of the Local Government Board in cases where pension applicants have assigned their holdings according to ancient and long-established custom, and to the standard of income, based on maintenance, set up by pension officers and the Local Government Board, and asking for an inquiry to establish a fixed standard of value in all such cases in the interest of applicants for old age pensions, instead of leaving the question of income entirely in the hands of the pension officer; and whether he will indicate how he intends to meet the alleged grievances?

This resolution has already been brought to my notice. It would be impossible to fix a standard value of maintenance that would be applicable to all cases in which claimants have assigned their holdings to others. The circumstances and mode of living vary in different households; and the Local Government Board, therefore, deal with each case on its own merits, by making a separate computation of the value of the maintenance and privileges which the particular claimant enjoys in consideration of the assignment of his holding.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Mrs. Catherine Murphy, of Caher-murphy, Kilmihil, was granted a pension in November, 1908, on the basis of a favourable report as to age and means from the pension officer; that after she had been in receipt of this pension from 1st January to 1st May of this year a question was raised by the pension officer under Regulation 17 (2); that the sole question raised was as to age, and that this question was submitted to the pension committee on 24th May last; that the pension committee decided in favour of the continuance of the pension on the ground of age; that the pension officer appealed against this decision; whether the Local Government Board was satisfied that Mrs. Murphy had attained the necessary age; whether the Board reduced her pension to 3s. weekly on the ground of means; and whether the Local Government Board is entitled to decide on these grounds a case submitted to their consideration for another reason?

I understand that the facts are as stated in the question. The Local Government Board hold that they are bound to satisfy themselves that a claimant or pensioner, whose case comes before them on appeal, fulfils all the statutory conditions, and is not disqualified in any way for the receipt of a pension. In this instance they considered that the means of Mrs. Murphy, as calculated for the purposes of the Act, were about 10s. a week; and they accordingly determined that the amount of the pension she was entitled to receive was 3s. a week.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the reason that the Board of Works have closed up Dalkey granite quarry for so many years; whether the Board of Works require a granite supply in the neighbourhood; and whether he would consider the advisability of arranging that the quarries may be opened so as to give employment to the locality?

The reason that the Dalkey granite quarries have been closed for many years is because the Board of Works had at Kingstown Harbour a sufficient reserve of granite to meet all probable requirements. The Board do not re-require a granite supply in the neighbourhood. As to the advisability of arranging that the quarries may be opened so as to give employment in the locality, the Commissioners of Kingstown Harbour advertised in April, 1907, in the Dublin newspapers, inviting tenders for the renting of the quarries at Dalkey, with a result that they received no offer which they could entertain.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been called to the recommendation, on page 7 of the introduction to Irish imports and exports for 1908, that, if more complete and accurate returns are to be obtained it is necessary to establish a system which will ensure that the description, the weight or measure, and the value of goods, whether imported into or exported from Ireland, shall be clearly declared at the port of entry or shipment; and can he state what steps he has taken or intends to take in order to establish this system?

The difficulty referred to, of which I am well aware, can only be removed by legislation, and I am not in a position to make any statement as to when it may be possible to deal with the question. The matter has been for some time engaging the serious attention of the Department.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will state what approximately was the cost to the Department of its stand for dairy produce at the recent show of the Belfast Industrial Development Association; whether he is aware that the persons who made inquiries at the Department's stand, and whose names were transmitted to the creameries as probable customers were all persons who were financially unsound; is the Department aware that no customers have been secured by the exhibitors as a result of this show; and will the Department take steps to see that only inquiries from distributers who are financially sound will be transmitted to exhibitors?

The approximate cost incurred by the Department in exhibiting Irish agricultural produce at this show was £48. The answers to the other queries are in the negative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when he will be able to give a decision on the proposals submitted by the Postmaster-General arising out of the Departmental inquiry into the case of the supervising officers, London postal service.

The decision on this subject was communicated to the Postmaster-General yesterday.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a number of assistant clerks in the Patent Office and other branches of the Board in receipt of from £55 to £60 per annum at the age of 21; whether the Board considers such salary constitutes a living wage for Government clerks; and if he will institute inquiries?

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether there is in the Board's service a number of assistant clerks receiving at the age of 20 and 21 years only £55 per annum; and whether, seeing that such assistant clerks cannot live respectably without pecuniary assistance from relations, he will make representations on the subject?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The scales of salary authorised for these clerks were arrived at after careful consideration; and have been modified so recently as December last, and I see no ground for reconsidering the conclusions then adopted.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, in reference to the nine first-class battleships of the "Majestic" class, the eight first-class battleships of the "Royal Sovereign" class, and the two first-class battleships "Nile" and "Trafalgar," what were the last dates on which they raised steam and proceeded to sea?

The dates of proceeding to sea for the "Majestic" class are: "Prince George," October, 1908 (has since undergone long refit); "Hannibal," August, 1909. The remaining seven battleships of this class have been proceeding to sea daily from Lamlash.The dates for the "Royal Sovereign" class are:—"Hood," "Ramillies," "Repulse," "Resolution," September, 1909."Empress of India," "Royal Oak," "Royal Sovereign," November, 1908."Revenge" proceeds to sea daily. The dates for "Nile" and "Trafalgar" are November, 1908, and September, 1909, respectively. The "Empress of India" and "Royal Sovereign" raised steam to test machinery, etc., without proceeding to sea in July; the "Royal Oak" in June; and the "Nile" in September last.

also asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the comparisons which are made between the cost of ships built in the private and Royal dockyards, he can state if stores from ships which have been placed on the sale list or salved material from ships lost, like the "Montagu" and "Gladiator," have been utilised in ships built in the Royal dockyards; and, if so, whether all these stores were reckoned at their original cost in estimating the cost of building the ships?

Articles which have been placed on the sale list would not be used in the construction of ships building at His Majesty's dockyards. Salved materials would only be used when comprised of metal suitable for foundry purposes. In such cases their value would be assessed not at their original cost, but at their value as old metal (approximately their sale value), and provision would be made accordingly in estimating the cost of building ships.