asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he was now in a position to say whether the procedure was the same in China when a Chinese was accused of having killed a British subject and when a British subject was accused of having killed a Chinese; whether, in the case of John Mears, a British subject, accused of having killed Yu-Fa-Cheng last April, all inquiry was refused until July, then conceded under commercial pressure, but held in camera, and a regular trial before the British Court of Shanghai was still refused; and whether this was the procedure when a Chinese was accused of having killed a British subject?

China being a country in which His Majesty exercises extra-territorial rights, British defendants are tried in. British courts and Chinese defendants in Chinese courts. To this extent, therefore, the procedure is different. The hon. Member's sketch of the course of events in the case of Police Inspector Mears is not in accordance with facts.

Will the hon. Gentleman tell us what the facts are?

The facts are that Mears was accused of having contributed to the death of the Chinese, and an inquiry was made into the circumstances by the British Consul, who considered that there was no case to send for trial, the evidence of the doctor being that the man had not received any injuries.

asked if the hon. Gentleman would inform the House of the result of the trial of the chief British accountant of the Canton-Kaulung Railway on a charge of embezzlement?

According to telegrams in the Press the accused has been sentenced to two years' hard labour, but I have no official information on the subject at present.

asked whether the hon. Gentleman can communicate the result of his inquiries on the alleged misdeeds committed under the control of the English Peruvian Amazon Company?!

Since the date of the hon. Member's last question, the nearest British source of official information, namely, the Consul at Iquitos, has been communicated with; but as this place is some hundreds of miles distant from the scene of the alleged misdeeds his report neither disproves nor corroborates the allegations. I hope, however, to receive very shortly a report from a gentleman who has recently travelled through the district affected, and the United States Government have also been asked what is the nature of the information stated to have been supplied to the United States Consul at Iquitos.

Has the hon. Gentleman received any demand from the English Peruvian Amazon Company for an inquiry into this matter?

No; I am not aware of any.

Is not the Consul at Iquitos in England at the present moment?

Not that I am aware of.

asked when the whale stations in the north of Norway were burned down by the fishermen and what was the reason adduced, and when the Act prohibiting landing of whales in Norway was passed by the Storthing?

I have no information in regard to the first part of the hon. Member's question. As regards the second part, paragraph I of the Norwegian Law of 7th January, 1904, prohibits the landing of whales in the provinces of Nordland, Tromso, and Finmarken. This Act was passed by the Storthing on 11th December, 1903, and came into force on 1st February, 1904.

In view of the fact that whale stations were burned down in Norway, will the hon. Gentleman obtain the information that I ask for, namely, any particulars he can get with regard to the occurrence?

I cannot make a promise on the subject, but I will consider the matter.

asked when the Report of the Shanghai Opium Commission will be published?

A few copies of the Report of the International Opium Commission have now been received at the Foreign Office, and will be placed in the libraries of the House of Commons and House of Lords as soon as possible.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state, with regard to the Kinlea police hut, the cost of erection of the hut, the rent, if anything, paid to James Griffin, J.P., the total annual cost of the maintenance of the police stationed there, including their pay and all incidental expenses?

The erection of the police but cost £122, and the cost of the maintenance of the police there amounts in round figures to £485 a year. A rent of one shilling a year is paid to Mr. Griffin for the site.

asked whether the Chief Secretary has heard complaints from labourers in the Killadysert Union, West Clare, that the provisions for the erection of labourers cottages under The Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1906, are being carried out slowly and with much impediment; and whether he will look into this matter so as to extend the benefits of the Labourers Act more actively and more widely than at present?

The Local Government Board have received two complaints from individual applicants for cottages. An order was made last year authorising the erection of 33 cottages in the district, and 27 of these have been completed or are in course of construction. Fourteen additional cottages were authorised this year, and the arbitration proceedings preliminary to taking possession of the lands have just been completed. Forty-seven cottages have, therefore, been authorised within the last two years as compared with a total of only 52 built between 1883 and 1905. In view of these facts I see no reason for moving in the matter.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that town tenants in Ireland suffer under disadvantages similar to those which were formerly experienced by tenant farmers; and whether he can hold out a prospect of early legislation with regard to these citizens which shall have for object the fixation of fair rents, compensation for improvements, and due facilities for the purchase of the properties tenanted?

I would remind the hon. Member that the Town Tenants (Ireland) Act, 1906, provides for compensation to certain classes of town tenants for improvements and for unreasonable disturbance. The Government do not contemplate further legislation on the subject.

asked, with reference to the escape of Cavanagh from custody at Shrinrone barracks, whether the prisoner was allowed to walk outside the barracks with the police whilst he was in custody, whereas men who had been arrested in the same district for cattle-driving were kept handcuffed and in close confinement; and, if so, what explanation was offered of the difference in treatment?

I am informed by the constabulary authorities that the hon. Member is mistaken in supposing that Cavanagh was allowed, while in custody, to walk outside the barrack premises from which he escaped. The seventeen men arrested for cattle-driving in the same district were handcuffed while being brought to the barrack, and also when being taken on to Limerick, this precaution being considered necessary owing to their number.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how this prisoner, Cavanagh, escaped if he was not allowed outside?

If the hon. Gentleman will ask me privately I will give him the information.

asked whether the Chief Secretary's attention has been called to the resolutions passed by the committee of management of the Down asylum and other asylum committees in Ireland with regard to the resources of the local taxation account being insufficient to meet additional demands, and to the probability that in future the grants may have to be reduced; and whether inquiries will be made as to the advisability of a readjustment of the financial arrangements?

I have received a number of resolutions on the subject. The matter is receiving my attention, but I am not in a position at present to add anything to my reply to the question asked by the hon. Member for West Limerick on the 17th June last.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that Mr. John J. Smyth, of Mason Brock, Loughrea, sold out his estate situated in the townlands of Derry French, Bornakulla, Cormack, Lisheen, Brackla, and Garvaneath, so long ago as November, 1904; is he aware that Mr. Smyth has been paid the purchase money by the Estates Commissioners since August, 1907; whether he is aware that the tenants are still paying interest at the rate of 3½ per cent. on the purchase-money; and whether, in view of the fact that the landlord's interest has long since been cleared, he will direct the Commissioners to place the tenants on the annuitant rate of interest on the rents now falling due, and at the same time have the Commissioners to remit to the tenants the surplus interest paid by them since the date when the purchase money was paid to the landlord?

The purchase money of the estate referred to was advanced to the owner in August, 1907, by the Estates Commissioners, who purchased the property from him under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903. A large number of the holdings had to be re-arranged, improved and enlarged at a considerable expenditure out of the reserve fund in conjunction with an adjoining estate which has also been acquired by the Commissioners. Section 18 of the Act provides that the interest in lieu of rent shall be at the rate of not less than 3½ per cent., and in their purchase undertakings purchasing tenants agreed to pay interest at that rate until the lands were vested in them. The lands will be vested in the tenants at an early date. Meanwhile the tenants are not required to pay any interest on the increase of prices consequent upon the money expended by the Commissioners on improvements which have been now completed.

asked whether the Chief Secretary was aware that with regard to the proposed reinstatement of Mr. William Bulman in his former holding on the estate of Mrs. Sarah Hyde, Ballindangan, county Cork, the Estates Commissioners were informed that the owner accepted the estimated price offered by them for the holding; and whether the delay in the completion of the sale and purchase and consequent reinstatement of Mr. Bulman was caused by the refusal of the owner or her agent, Mr. William Rochfort, to carry out the original arrangement for the acquisition of the holding in question on voluntary lines; and what steps do the Commissioners now intend to take in this matter?

The lands in question cannot be acquired by the Estates Commissioners under the Evicted Tenants Act as the eviction took place since the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1903. The former tenant can, therefore, only be reinstated by agreement for purchase and sale under the Act of 1903 between him and the owner. No such agreement has yet been lodged, although the owner has expressed her willingness to sell at the price.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the agent will not take any further proceedings until the Land Bill is passed, and, if that be so, can the Estates Commissioners not take Bulman's case into consideration with a view to his reinstatement?

I do not think that the circumstances referred to could be usefully brought to the attention of the Commissioners.

asked the Under-Secretary for India, whether the last Report issued on the administration of the Bengal Police shows that the crime of gang robbery, not infrequently accompanied with murder, in Eastern Bengal, has been carried on to a great extent by extremists belonging to the educated classes; whether the Inspector-General of Police remarked that the increase in the number of riots and serious offences against persons and property is the indirect result of the organised efforts of agitators to weaken the authority of government and to bring its officers into contempt; whether, until the Secretary of State lately posted a detachment of a native regiment at Dacca, the police were the only representatives of law and order in the towns and villages of Eastern Bengal; and whether, in view of the want of support the police receive in the detection and prevention of crime from the educated classes in Eastern Bengal, the Secretary of State will consider the propriety of advising the Government of India to strengthen the force by the provision of a larger number of European inspectors?

As regards the first and second questions of my hon. Friend, the Secretary of State proposes to place in the Library a copy of the Inspector-General's Report, from which Members can draw their own conclusions. The answer to the third question, using the words in the sense given to them by the hon. Member, is in the affirmative, but the term "police" of course includes Military Police. Steps for strengthening the force, numerically and in respect of superintendence, are being taken.

asked whether the senior assistant professor at the Medical College, Madras, and the senior assistant surgeon at the General Hospital, Madras, are Eurasian military assistant surgeons lent to the civil medical department; whether he can state their medical qualifications and salaries, with the salaries of the civil assistant surgeons under them; and whether it is proposed to open these posts to well-qualified Indians?

It appears from the Madras Civil List that the two officers mentioned are military assistant surgeons; the Secretary of State has no information as to whether they are Eurasians, or as to their medical qualifications; their total emoluments are, respectively, Rs.575 and Rs.255 a month; the civil assistant surgeons in the medical college, who hold appointments of equal rank, draw either Rs.250 or Rs.200 a month. As was stated in reply to a question on 2nd March, the Secretary of State has no reason to suppose that duly qualified Indian assistant surgeons will not be held eligible for these posts in the event of vacancies occurring.

asked whether the Committee appointed to inquire into the affairs of the Northbrook Society had completed its labours; and, if so, when the report may be expected; and whether it would be made public?

The Secretary of State has received the Report of the Committee, and has it under consideration. For reasons that my hon. Friend will appreciate, he does not propose to make it public.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he was aware that the death-rate among Indian indentured labourers in the Federated Malay States in 1908 amounted to 84.8 per thousand; and whether the Government of India are taking any steps for the protection of the lives of British-Indian subjects who are indentured for labour on the rubber plantation in the Malay States?

The figures referred to by the hon. Member have been brought to the notice of the Secretary of State, and the report of the Resident-General containing them has been communicated direct to the Government of India, whose views on any action that it may be practicable to take will be received in due course. As the hon. Member is aware, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary for the Colonies, in reply to a question on 4th October, undertook to make inquiries of the High Commissioner.

May I ask whether the percentages given in the question are correct?

I understand that the facts as stated are correct, and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies is making inquiries.

Does this matter come within the purview of the Committee recently appointed to inquire into the case of the indentured labourers in the Colonies?

I am not sure, but I will make inquiries.

There is also the case of the Mauritius?

asked the Under-Secretary for India what steps have been taken to give effect to the following recommendations of the Report, dated 5th March, 1908, of the Committee on Indian Railway Finance and Administration, that Government should provide every year £12,500,000 for the expenditure of the railways; that, in addition to this sum, further funds should be provided through the agency of the companies; and that Government should not interfere in matters of detail, but leave to the companies a wide discretion as regards detail and the responsibility for efficient working; and whether any, and, if so, which, of the specific recommendations of the Committee's Report has been carried out?

further asked (1) whether, in the years 1908–9 and 1909–10, the amount allotted for railway expenditure was £10,000,000 only, instead of £12,500,000 as recommended by the Committee on Indian Railway Finance and Administration; and (2) whether he will explain why recent orders of the Government Railway Department, such as Resolutions No. 431 R.A. of 4th June, 1909, and No. 566 R.A. of 3rd September, 1909, were issued, in view of the recommendations of the Committee on Indian Railway Finance and Administration that Government should not interfere in matters of detail, but leave to the companies a wide discretion as regards detail and the responsibility for efficient working?

I will answer my hon. Friend's three questions together. The Committee on Railway Administration and Finance recommended in March, 1908, a capital outlay of £12,500,000 in normal years. The financial arrangements for 1908–9 had been made when this recommendation was submitted, so that the first year in which it would have been possible to give effect to it was 1909–10; but the financial position at the beginning of that year was not normal, and did not justify a large increase of expenditure. The programme of capital outlay was, therefore, not raised above the level of £10,000,000, at which it has stood for some years. As regards the raising of money through railway companies, various schemes to facilitate this in particular cases have been considered by the Secretary of State. One of them has been embodied in a contract between the Secretary of State and the Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway Company, which enabled the company to raise £600,000 in the present year. It is hoped that contracts will in due course be made enabling other companies to raise capital; but, as the House will understand, it is not possible to give detailed information while negotiations are pending.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the abolition of the consulting engineer took place before the Committee Report, and that it cannot be said that the doing of that was in any way the result of the Committee Report?

In regard to the abolition of the consulting engineer, that also abolishes a large amount of the details of which the hon. Member complains.

asked whether Eurasian military assistant surgeons lent to civil and medical departments in India are not generally statutory natives of India, and in that case equally qualified with natives of India proper for all and sundry appointments reserved for natives of India; and whether natives of India, Europeans, and Eurasians are as such in any way disqualified from employment in the Civil Medical Department?

The reply to the first question is in the affirmative. Indians are equally eligible with Europeans for admission to the Indian Medical Service, which Service contains many Indian members. As to the Civil Medical Department, I beg to refer my hon. Friend to the Papers recently presented to Parliament.

asked whether the Secretary of State for India has any information which he can impart to the House regarding the steps taken by the Maharaja of Patiala to stamp out sedition in his State?

The Secretary of State has no official information on this subject, but he expects to be furnished with a report in due course. When it is received I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he will place in the library a copy of the Report for 1908 of the officiating Inspector-General of Police for Bengal?

I shall be glad to place a copy in the Library when a supply of copies is received.

asked the Under-Secretary whether his attention has been called to the statement made in the Report for 1908 of the officiating Inspector-General of Police for Bengal, that the cases of murder were of the usual type, most of them being the outcome of intrigues, domestic differences, and land disputes; and whether the Secretary of State has any reason to doubt the accuracy of the Inspector-General's view in regard to the origin of these crimes?

further asked whether his attention has been called to the statement in the Report for 1908 of the officiating Inspector-General of Police in Bengal, corroborated by the Lieutenant-Governor, that the increase in the cases of cognisable crime was to be attributed principally to the high price of food and the distress consequent thereon; and whether the Secretary of State has any reason to doubt the correctness of the conclusions arrived at by the Lieutenant-Governor and the Inspector-General?

The Secretary of State has read the passages referred to, and he has no reason to doubt the correctness of the views therein expressed.

asked whether the Secretary of State's attention has been called to statements made by police and other authorities to the effect that the difficulties of the Indian police in Bengal in dealing with crime arise in a great measure from the fact that the educated classes do not co-operate with the force or render it proper assistance; and whether the Secretary of State has any official information to this effect?

The Secretary of State has seen statements in the sense indicated; the hon. Member will find official information and a review of the facts by the local Government in the "Bengal Police Report for 1908," a copy of which the Secretary of State proposes, as I have just stated, to place in the Library.

May I ask whether it is a fact that the Report of the Police Commission appointed by Lord Curzon found that the want of co-operation on the part of the people of India was due to terrorism by the police, and the Commission found that they did not wonder that the people shrank from taking any part in the investigation of crime?

I am not sure that that is quite a correct summary of the Report. It is true that the Commission finds that the investigations on the part of the police were sometimes unnecessarily oppressive. If the hon. Member will allow me, I will quote two or three lines from the Report, and at the same time I regret to have to refer to certain characteristics of the Indian people:—

"Neither do the Commission forget that much may be said in excuse for the misconduct of the police in the generally indifferent attitude of the people in respect of crime; in the encouragement of corruption by the readiness with which the people offer illegal gratifications; and in the low pay and poor prospects of tihe police service."

May I ask whether I am not perfectly correct in stating that the Report textucally states that there can be no wonder the people are said to be in terror of the police and to abstain from taking any part in the investigation of crime? Are not those the words of the Report?

It must be read in connection with the context.

May I ask whether any assistance is given to the Government of India in improving the police by wholesale denunciations in this House of the character of those we have heard?

May I ask as to his remark about the character of the Indian people whether other people would not be liable to corrupt influences when they are willing to be corrupted?

That is a general question on which hon. Members can form their own opinion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the India Office had received a resolution unanimously adopted at a meeting of the members of the medical profession, held under the auspices of the Bombay Medical Union, submitting that the present system of reserving all high and important posts in the medical service of India for military officers of the Indian Medical Service had led to the systematic exclusion of Indian doctors from them, no matter how highly qualified or deserving those Indian doctors might be; whether he was aware that the system in question had given rise to discontent and imposed unnecessary expense of over £100,000 on the Indian revenue; and what steps it was proposed to take in the matter?

The Secretary of State has not received the resolution referred to; on the general subject, I would refer the hon. Member to the correspondence recently presented to Parliament as to the steps that are being taken to promote the growth of an independent medical profession in India by throwing open to the profession in general some of the various Civil appointments now held by officers of the Indian Medical Service and other similar appointments which may be created in future.

In making these changes has the Secretary of State had regard to the needs of the large number of English officials in India?

Both the Secretary of State and the Viceroy are making inquiries.

Would not the expense of Indian administration be greatly increased if military medical officers were not engaged in Civil employment in time of peace, inasmuch as a double set of officers would have to be retained?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the death rate in the Federated Malay States in 1908; and whether he would give the figures for rubber plantations, as well as for the general population, if available?

The death rate in 1908 was approximately 38 per 1,000. No separate statistics are available as regards the death rate amongst labourers on rubber plantations.

Can the hon. Gentleman give any explanation of the difference between a death rate of 38 per thousand and the previous figure of 84?

The death rate given in reply to a previous question, to which I think the hon. Member refers, was for Indian indentured labourers. This is the general death rate. We have not the figures for all the labourers, but if the hon. Gentleman wishes us to obtain them we will try to do so.

I think the House and the country would like to have them.

I will endeavour to obtain them.

Has the hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the fact that the indentured labourers are adults—men in the prime of life—whereas the figures he has just given relate to the whole population?

Yes, that is why I said I would try to get the figures. If the facts are as grave as they appear, it is certainly a very serious matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he could inform the House of the number of foreign firms or companies carrying on business within the United Kingdom; and whether he could give an estimate of the capital employed therein?

I have been asked by my right hon. Friend the Secretary for the Home Department to answer the question of the hon. Member. There is no information in the possession of the Board of Trade as to the number of foreign firms carrying on business in this country. The number of foreign companies incorporated outside the United Kingdom (including Colonial companies) which have established a place of business in the United Kingdom and have effected registration with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies is 889. I am, however, unable to give the hon. Member an estimate of the capital employed by such foreign companies in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention had been directed to a disease affecting certain workers in the printing trade known as carbon-monoxide poisoning, arising from the fumes of a gas mow being largely used in heating the metal pots attached to linotype composing machines; and whether he would cause an inquiry to be made with a view to the disease being scheduled as an industrial disease under the Workmen's Compensation Act?

I have made inquiry into the case of which the hon. Member has been good enough to send me particulars, and the reports would appear to show that it was a case of gradual poisoning by carbon-monoxide. Such cases are extremely rare, and no other case of the kind in connection with linotype work is known to the Department. Poisoning by carbon-monoxide is, of course, not uncommon, but it is almost invariably more or less sudden, and of the nature of an accident, so as to come clearly under the main provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act. The question of scheduling carbon-monoxide poisoning as a disease was considered by the Industrial Diseases Committee, but they were unable to regard the evidence as sufficient to justify their recommending its inclusion. In view, however, of the present case, I will give instructions for the matter to be carefully watched by the officers of the Department.

Is it not a fact that gas companies of late years have introduced carbon-monoxide into their gas in much larger proportions than used to be done?

That may be the case. Does my hon. Friend mean that that would account for the poisoning?

It might result from a slight leakage.

asked what were the estimated numbers of those who were on the Parliamentary register by virtue of the lodger franchise and of the service franchise, respectively, in England, Scotland, and Ireland?

The available figures are given in the Return of Parliamentary Constituencies (Electors, etc.), (United Kingdom), issued in March last (House of Commons (64), 1909). The figures for lodgers are complete (see page 20 of the Return). As regards service franchise, the figures for England and Wales are given on page 12 (Occupation Voters, Division II.), but the figures for Scotland and Ireland are not distinguished from other occupation voters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he could state whether there was to be an inquiry into the reform of the Manx constitution; and, if so, when such inquiry would take place?

I hope that the inquiry announced in the spring will take place before long. It has been delayed by the pressure of Parliamentary work and by Ministerial changes, and I am not yet in a position to name a date.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the people in the Isle of Man were paying their quota by taxation to the cost of old age pensions, he would make representations to the Lieutenant-Governor of the island with a view to the early adoption in the island of the Old Age Pensions Act?

There has been no increase in the contribution which the Isle of Man makes to the Imperial Exchequer, and I do not know on what ground it is suggested that the people in the Isle of Man are paying any quota to the cost of old age pensions. The provision of old age pensions in the island depends upon the ability to raise revenue adequate to their cost. The question has been, and is, under the careful consideration of the Lieutenant-Governor, but it is a matter solely in the discretion of the insular Legislature.

asked the Home Secretary whether, having regard to the renewal of sectarian disturbances in Liverpool and the danger of further outbreaks, he would explain why the appointment of a Commissioner to hold a sworn inquiry had been delayed, and state what action, if any, in the interests of peace and order, he proposed to take?

The reason for the delay is twofold: First, that the city council were unable to send a final reply for a month to my letter of September 6th asking certain necessary questions as to the arrangements for the inquiry; and secondly, that on October 6th they passed a fresh resolution asking that the inquiry should be held only if the evidence could be taken on oath. To take the evidence on oath will require legislation, and I am considering whether a short Bill for that purpose can be introduced.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he was aware that the plan of common lands made in respect of and referred to in the Act of Parliament, 24 Geo. III., 1784, which divided and enclosed such common lands, was missing, and that the owners of land in the district affected were unable to tell if their land was or was, not part of such common lands; and whether he would obtain from the lord of the manor a copy of such plan to which Members of this House might have access?

I beg to answer this question on behalf of my hon. Friend. I presume that the lands alluded to are those dealt with in the Kingswinford Enclosure Act, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the then Home Secretary to a question on this subject on 27th July, 1897 (Hansard, Volume 51, column 1223). Though the matter is not one that comes in any way within my authority, I have communicated with the solicitor to the Earl of Dudley, who is lord of the manor, and he informs me that the plan originally deposited in the parish church has been missing for many years, but that it is believed that there are other copies in the district; and that persons interested in the enclosed land have been permitted to see the maps in Lord Dudley's possession, and recently a copy was furnished on payment of the cost to an applicant.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset if he could give any information as to the cause of death of five cows which died suddenly on the farm of Mr. T. J. Hollis, of Betchcott, Leebotwood, Salop; and if the Board had made inquiries into this mysterious malady?

We have not received any information as to the deaths of the animals mentioned, nor should we in ordinary course do so unless they were reported to the police as affected with, or suspected of, any of the contagious diseases scheduled by Order under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894. We will, however, have inquiry made, and I should be much obliged if the hon. Member will be good enough to supply me with any information he may have on the subject.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he could give any information as to the decrease of horses in London during this and the last three years respectively?

The returns collected by the Board relate only to horses used for agricultural purposes, and mares kept for breeding and unbroken horses. They do not therefore supply the information desired by the hon. and gallant Member with regard to London.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell me to whom I can apply for the information?

I will inquire.

asked what land on the estate of the Earl of Gainsborough was recently offered for small holdings, and where is it situated?

So far as we are aware, no land has recently been offered for small holdings on Lord Gainsborough's estate.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he would state for what proportion of the births occurring from 1st January to 30th June, 1909, were declarations made under the Vaccination Act, 1007; and how many declarations were actually made during that period?

The number of births in England and Wales registered in the first two quarters of 1909 was 466,216. It cannot at present be stated in respect of bow many of these children statutory declarations of conscientious objection to vaccination have been made. The number of declarations received by the vaccination officers during the first six months of the present year may be stated approximately as 88,500.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he could say how many parish councillors there were in England at this date, and how many of them were women?

It is estimated that the number of parish councillors in England and Wales is about 58,000. I am unable to say how many of them are women.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he could now state what steps had been taken to secure the publication at an early date, for use outside the United Kingdom, of the promised directory of exporting manufacturers of Ireland; and could he state in what languages the necessary information would be given?

Circulars and memoranda calling attention to this proposed directory will be issued in the course of a few days to the Press and Irish exporting manufacturers. The necessary information will be given in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he was aware that it was the practice, where a pension officer had appealed against a pension which had already been granted and for which payments had begun, to suspend payment until the appeal had been determined; whether, seeing that the pension had become in such cases a charge upon the public funds, he would say under what statutory or other authority this payment became suspended by an administrative Act?

Under Section (7) (1) (c) of the Old Age Pensions Act the allowance of a claim by a pension committee is, in the event of an appeal being made against it, not operative, but the claim stands referred to the central pension authority, and no pension can commence to accrue under Section 5 (2) of the Act until it has been allowed by that authority. In such cases the pension does not become a charge upon public funds until the appeal has been determined, and any payment made before notice of appeal was given is to be deemed to be a payment made in error.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state when the successful candidates at the last preventive officers' examination in connection with His Majesty's Customs are likely to be appointed, and the causes which have contributed to the delay in regard to the matter?

Successful candidates at the Departmental examinations for posts of preventive officers are promoted to such posts as vacancies arise. Of the 39 officers successful at the last examination, 13 have already been promoted, but there are no more actual vacancies at present, and it is not possible to state how soon the remaining 26 can be absorbed.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the total amount of the superannuation allowance and annuity on which Mr. J. T. Francombe, headmaster of the Redcliffe Boys School, Bristol, will be retired on 27th October next, and at what age such retirement takes place, and after what number of years of service as a certificated teacher in public elementary schools?

Mr. Francombe's certificate has not yet expired, and his case has, therefore, not yet been referred to the Treasury for consideration with a view to the award of a superannuation allowance and annuity. Mr. Francombe's certificate was continued for a year after he reached the age of 65. The period of extension will expire on 24th October, at which date he will be 66 years of age, and will have served for 37 years as a certificated teacher.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us an idea as to the scale on which the pension will be based?

Not at present; the matter has been referred to the Treasury.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has been recently promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet?

The reply is in the negative

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company, of Govan, the London and Glasgow Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, of Govan, Messrs. John Brown and Company's Shipbuilding Company, of Clydebank, Messrs. W. Beardmore and Company's Shipbuilding Company, of Dalmuir, and Messrs. Yarrow and Company, of Scotstoun, pay the labourers in their employ 4½d. per hour; and whether, in view of these facts and of the fact that 4d. per hour only is paid by Scott's Shipbuilding Company, of Greenock, to their labourers, he will take steps to enforce the fair wage clause in this case?

Having regard to the relative geographical positions of the firm of Messrs. Scott and of the other firms named in the first part of the question, it has not been considered necessary to make any inquiry as to the comparative rates of pay of labourers employed by Messrs. Scott and by those other firms. The Fair Wages Clause enforces the payment of the rates current in the district, but does not enforce the same rate in different districts.

asked whether, in view of the depressed state of the shipbuilding industry and the consequent curtailment of employment and the near approach of winter, the orders can now be placed for the second-class cruisers for which tenders were received by the Admiralty upwards of a month ago?

There will be no delay in the placing of these orders.

The suggestion of the question is that there has been delay. May I ask if the delay is on account of an alteration in the plans or the abandonment of the intention to give the orders?

The hon. Gentleman is in error in assuming that there has been any delay. There has been no delay; there will be no delay.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Committee appointed to make selection from among the candidates for employment in labour exchanges has been instructed to make provision of a sufficient number of employés able to read, write, and speak the Welsh language for service in the exchanges in Wales and Monmouthshire; and whether, in making selection for appointments in Wales and Monmouthshire, preference will be given to candidates possessing the bilingual qualification?

No instruction of the kind suggested has been issued to the Committee of Selection. In the allocation of officers to the various districts regard will, however, naturally be had to ability to deal with the special local conditions.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the prospective crofters and cottars in the island of Vatersay have been requested by the Congested Districts Board to sign agreements; whether these agreements differ from the terms of the Crofters Acts; and whether all these crofters and cottars have accepted these terms?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The agreements provide for the tenure being that of the Crofters Acts, subject to the terms of the agreements, which, in accordance with precedent in similar cases, include specific regulations on various points of estate management made in the general interest of the various townships. The agreements have so far been signed by 51 out of 58 applicants.

Have any of these crofters been threatened with eviction if they do not sign these agreements?

No.

In no cases?

No.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he will publish the further correspondence regarding Vatersay which has passed between the cottars and squatters and the Congested Districts Board, the Secretary for Scotland, and the Lord Advocate; also the correspondence which has passed between the agent for the Congested Districts Board and the agent for the cottars and squatters, Mr. Donald Shaw; and also the correspondence between this gentleman and the secretary to the Congested Districts Board?

The correspondence will be published, if desired, in due course; but arrangements for the settlement of the farm are at present going on, and it would not be expedient to publish any correspondence until they are concluded.

May I ask when the conclusion will be arrived at, and when we may expect the correspondence to be published?

I cannot say the precise date.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is very great interest in this experiment?

asked the Lord Advocate whether, in view of the fact that two members of the crew of the fishing-boat "Children's Trust" were prepared to give evidence on oath with reference to the identity of the vessel charged with contravention of the law for the regulation of whaling stations, and of the feeling that has been aroused by the abandonment of the prosecution, he will state whether the duties of the procurator fiscal were undertaken by someone else, and, if so, by whom?

The duties of the procurator fiscal were performed by himself.

May I inquire, in view of the fact that the Bill for the regulation of whaling stations in Shetland was blocked by the ex-Member for King's Lynn, at the instance of Messrs. Salveson, and that there is a very uneasy feeling that the same gentlemen still exercise an entirely unjustifiable influence, he will publish the evidence which the fishermen in question were prepared to give?

No, Sir.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the prevalence of unemployment, he will issue the same instructions as he did last year for the employment of auxiliary labour during the Christmas pressure?

also asked the Postmaster-General if he can state the number of unemployed persons who were engaged by the Post Office authorities at Christmas, 1908; if the venture was a success; and if he will continue the same procedure for 1909?

I will answer these two questions together. As regards the figures asked for by the hon. Member for Gateshead, I could not supply them without considerable labour. But my specific instructions were that genuinely unemployed men should be, as far as possible, employed; and I know that these instructions were carried out. I have already issued instructions to the Controller of the London Postal Service to the postmasters and others concerned similar to those of last year. They are shortly as follows: "The Postmaster-General desires to remind you that in selecting men for casual assistance during the Christmas pressure it is desirable to engage men who are genuinely unemployed, if suitable men can be found, in preference to those already in work. Married men should be preferred." Where a labour exchange, or if there be no labour exchange, where a local distress committee exists, communication should be opened with the exchange or committee, and a certain number of the men employed should be selected from those recommended by them. It will be desirable to point out to the exchange or local committee the importance of recommending men of good character and suitable for the work.

Is it expected that more men will be employed during the forthcoming Christmas than is normally the case?

I cannot say at present. The circular issued is on the same lines to that issued last year.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us who are men genuinely unemployed, having regard to the fact that there may be no work for men who want it?

I should say generally if I were to give a definition that it was men who really were anxious to obtain work and were unable to get it.

Is it intended to set up a new inquisition by the Post Office in regard to these men?

I do not understand what is meant by "a new inquisition." We receive applications for the work, and those who apply have to fill up a form to show where they have been employed before in order that we may be able to see if they are really men who, as I said, really desire to work, and are not mere loafers.

May I ask if an age limit has been set up?

The age limit was a little lower, and I have raised it to 45. We have found that is about the age we can go to. But if I find active men about that age we might consider their case.

Are there any men out of employment who would not work if they got the opportunity?

So far as we can, we employ those whom we know are used to the work.

What is the nature of the preference given to those applicants whose applications come from places where labour exchanges do not exist?

I said, "Where labour exchanges or distress committees exist." It does seem to me that these having been created under Statute, and being under the control of the Local Government Board, we ought as far as possible to consult them in regard to the men we should employ.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that much unestablished indoor labour, both male and female, is employed at the King's Lynn office, and that for some while telegraph messages have been despatched by a female learner receiving no wages; and whether he will inquire into the administration of that office with a view to restricting the amount of unestablished and untrained labour there employed?

I am having inquiry made.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can see his way to recommend an alteration in the Post Office and Treasury regulations which provide for the stoppage of the pay of auxiliary postmen and other part-time officers during the time they are attending camp in the Territorial Forces?

I am not in a position to reopen this question at the present time.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can state what is the index number of units of work and cost of living in the Birtley and Chester-le-Street postal districts?

The number of units of work at Chester-le-Street is 26. There are no separate units of work for Birtley, which is a sub-office under Newcastle-on-Tyne. The cost of living at these places is estimated to be about normal. The staff at each office receive an increase in their various wage under the classification.

asked the Secretary of State for War if it is proposed to disband the Bourne half company of the 4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, whose strength is three officers and 41 men, in view of the fact that the regiment being already 142 men below establishment, the general officer commanding, in his report on the regiment, urged the importance of bringing up the battalion to its full strength; if it is customary to convey the decisions of the Army Council to the county associations before or at the same time as to the district headquarters; and if this was done in this case?

No action has been taken by the military authorities with regard to the proposed disbandment of this half company to which the hon. Member refers. Therefore if such a step is being considered it is on the initiative of the county association. Any Army Council decision affecting the work for which a county association is responsible is notified to the association as well as to the command headquarters if these are in any way affected. In the present case there having been no Army Council decision, no notification has been made.

asked what number and what percentage of five-year-old horses were employed on the recent cavalry manœuvres in the cavalry and artillery respectively?

In accordance with a decision given in July no horses under six years of age were permitted to be employed at manœuvres.

asked the Secretary for War whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent the same horse being hired for several different corps in the same year, thus making a false estimate of trained horses available for the Yeomanry and inviting confusion and disaster in case of war?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to a similar question put by the hon. and gallant Member on 12th July last.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries on the subject, as it is freely stated in Scotland that some of the horses served with three corps and some even with five?

I have no doubt that may be so, but we are discouraging it as far as possible, and as soon as we get a census of horses we shall have a better system.

I hope so.

asked whether the 11 men belonging to the 8th Hussars who were recently certified as unfit for service in India owing to defective teeth have been retained for service in the Home depôt, or whether they have been dis- charged from the Army, with or without a pension?

Of the 13 men of this regiment found unfit for service in India at a preliminary inspection four only have been finally rejected. These four men have been discharged from the service.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the reasons why the recent appointments of organising inspector of musical instruction and assistant organising inspector of musical instruction under the Commissioners of National Education, Ireland, were not thrown open to competition by examination so as to give all the teachers under the Commissioners of National Education an equal opportunity of competing; whether applicants for the position were required to state their religious views; and, if so, for what reason?

I am informed by the Commissioners of National. Education that the appointments in question were advertised in the public Press, and that it was open to any national teacher who felt qualified for either position to apply for it. The Commissioners consider that the course pursued by them in the selection of candidates secures the appointment of the most suitable officers. All candidates for appointments under the Board are required to give particulars as to their age, qualifications, and religious denomination, the information being required for administrative purposes.

What is the necessity for stating one's religious views in connection with the teaching of music?

For administrative purposes it is stated that in Ireland it is sometimes desirable to know. These things, to me, I confess, are inexplicable.

Will the right hon. Gentleman in future confine these appointments to those under the administration of the Board, so as to encourage a teacher to qualify for such examinations?

I will communicate that to the Commissioners of National Education.

It would be much appreciated.

asked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether the Government policy as regards the emigration of labour from Nyasaland has undergone any change since he replied to the question of the Member for Montgomery Boroughs on 15th September?

There has been no change either as regards the general policy or as regards the number of Nyasaland natives to be recruited. Only questions of detail remain under discussion.

May those interested in trade in Nyasaland take it that only 3,000 passes stand, and that no more will be issued this year?

Oh, certainly, Sir.

moved, in Sub-section (2), after the word "agriculture" ["other than agriculture"], to add the words "and if it could be developed without causing to contiguous or adjacent land in the possession of the same owner an injury countervailing the advantage he might be expected to derive from its development."

seconded the Amendment. I have known many similar cases to those brought forward by my hon. Friend.

I quite recognise the force of the arguments which have been advanced by the hon. Member, but I do not think he need have any apprehension on this point. I think the words of the Clause quite cover the sort of case he has mentioned I am not quite sure that the introduction of such words as he has proposed would not be really embarrassing. Take the case of the public-house which he has given as an illustration. I do not think that is a likely case.

I said it would be an unlikely one.

I think we may dismiss the public-house case at once. A valuer looking at the land would not be likely to say, "This is a good site for a public-house." Besides a licence is a very difficult thing to get.