asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state what treaties with foreign countries would be affected if the present duty on imported wines was increased?

If the hon. Member means to ask whether it would be an infringement of any treaty to increase the duties on imported wines, the answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is proposed to lay papers before Parliament relating to the conditions of unrest in India which have been held by the Government to justify the numerous repressive measures directed during the last two years against the freedom of the Press, the right of public meeting, the right of trial by jury, and the right of the subject not to be deprived of his liberty except after sentence by a court of justice?

The answer is in the negative.

Will no papers be laid at any time?

I think not.

asked whether the Under-Secretary was now in a position to inform the House of the nature of the Report made by Mr. Commissioner Macpherson as to the conduct of the police affected by the strictures of the High Court of Calcutta in the Midnapur conspiracy case; whether the Secretary of State is aware that the three police officers most gravely implicated have been given long leave of absence; and whether he has given his approval to this being permitted?

The Secretary of State has not yet received Mr. Macpherson's report. It was completed and submitted to the Government of Bengal early in November, when the local Government took special measures to expedite its examination and consideration by them. According to the information received by the Secretary of State, it is not the case that the three police officers most gravely implicated have been given long leave of absence; Mr. Hyde, superintendent of police at Midnapur, has been granted a year's leave, but he was in no way concerned, and only took charge at Midnapur in September. The deputy-superintendent and an inspector against whom allegations have been made were granted respectively three months' and one month privilege leave on the conclusion of the Commissioner's enquiry, but they are available whenever they are required.

Have they returned to their duty?

I have said that they are on leave at present.

asked whether the Secretary of State has yet received any official information as to what steps the Government of the Punjab has taken to punish the policemen found by the sessions judge at Rawal Pindi as long ago as 12th June to have tortured by racking one Ghulam Mohammed into a confession of the crime of murder; or whether it is the intention of the Executive to take any criminal proceedings consequent upon the grave view taken by the judge on the action of the police?

The Secretary of State has now received official information on the subject of the case referred to in the question. The sessions judge did not find it proved that Ghulam Mohammed had been tortured by the police into a confession. He said (after enumerating matters which seemed to him suspicious) that the police investigation in the case seemed to him to call for inquiry. The Lieutenant-Governor has now made the inquiry suggested, and has come to the conclusion that the charge of torture is false, and that no blame attaches to the police.

May I ask whether the judge did not say that marks were visible on the man's arms and legs, and that the man had been threatened that he would be taken back to the place where he had been formerly racked?

The judge did refer to marks on the prisoner which called for inquiry, and all the circumstances were taken into consideration in the inquiry which took place.

By whom was the inquiry made into the conduct of the police?

That is the same question as was put by the hon. Member in another case of torture or alleged torture, and I replied that the Lieutenant-Governor was responsible for the report.

To what are these marks on the man's arms and legs attributed? How do they come to be present—what is the theory?

I cannot really carry in my mind the whole of the reports of these inquiries. The Executive Government went very carefully into these matters, and came to the decision which I gave to the House.

There were marks of violence on this man said to have been produced by torture. To what are those marks attributable?

The hon. Member must give notice of his question.

Was the inquiry conducted in secret without opportunity of cross-examining on the evidence?

The inquiry was conducted precisely in the same way as in the other ease, and in accordance with the usual practice.

In secret?

The Lieutenant-Governor carefully examined the records in the case.

asked whether, in regard to the Gulab Bano case, he would lay in the Library of the House a copy of the full proceedings in the trial before the sessions judge, and also a copy of the judgment of Mr. Justice Robertson and Mr. Justice Rattigan reversing the judgment of the sessions judge?

As I have already stated, I am prepared to lay on the Table a copy of the Resolution of the Punjab Government. The Secretary of State does not think it necessary to present any further papers.

Has the India Office a copy of the full proceedings?

The India Office has.

Then why is the House of Commons denied a copy?

Is it a fact that the judges in this case indicated their intention to reply to the Resolution of the Executive, and has a reply been given?

No, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State is aware of the statement made to the jury by the judge in the recent libel case brought by Mr. Lajpat Rai against a London paper, that the plaintiff had been deported by Lord Morley, in whom the public had great confidence; and whether, in view of the fact that the deportation had been thus used to the detriment of the plaintiff, the Secretary of State will now enable Mr. Lajpat Rai to meet such a reflection upon his character by informing him of the grounds upon which he was deported, and who were his accusers?

The Secretary of State has seen a report of the proceedings in the case referred to. He sees no reason to take the action suggested.

Is it fair and honourable that this man should not have the opportunity?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there are statistics in his Department showing that there are countries where unemployment does not exist; and, if so, will he enumerate them?

I know of no such statistics or country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the importation into this country of foreign-made porcelain with well-known trade marks of English firms printed upon the same; whether he has any power to prosecute and punish those who perpetrate such frauds; and, if not, will he seek powers to at once do so?

Only one case of attempted importation into the United Kingdom of foreign-made porcelain bearing a trade mark of an English firm has been reported during the last twelve months, and in this case the goods were refused admission. The Merchandise Marks Acts provide for the prohibition of the importation of goods bearing forged trade marks and also for the imposition of penalties upon persons selling or having in their possession for sale goods so marked. The Board of Trade may undertake prosecutions in cases of this sort which appear to them to affect the general interests of a section of the community or of a particular trade. If my hon. Friend has in his possession any information regarding the existence of such a practice as that to which he refers I shall be glad to receive and consider it.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if his officers have directed his attention to the peculiar method of enamelling porcelain, giving the foreign marks, and so that the enamel can be rubbed off directly it passes the Customs and sold with the English trade mark attached to it?

No, Sir; but if my hon. Friend would like to have an opportunity of explaining the process, and of giving the evidence to an expert, I will arrange that he has the fullest opportunity of doing so.

I have one in my possession which will provide a sample of the process, and I will present it to the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is now in a position to state when the Congested Districts Board's scheme of settlement for Vatersay is likely to be completed; would he state the number of squatters at present on the island and the number of their children for whom no education is provided?

I trust that the scheme of settlement may be satisfactorily adjusted by the end of this month. About 60 persons with their dependents are at present on the island and the plans proposed for a school provide accommodation for 100 children.

Can he say the percentage of squatters who have been imported from the mainland?

No, Sir.

asked the Lord Advocate, in view of the fact that crofters in the Highland crofting counties suffer serious loss through deer from the adjoining deer forests devastating their crops, and seeing that these crofters owing to want of means Are not in a position to take action for the recovery of compensation, will the Government arrange to take proceedings to enforce Clause 2 of The Agricultural Holdings Act, 1906, which provides for compensation for damage to crops by deer?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Lord Advocate whether, in the event of a Commissioner being sent to inquire into matters affecting the herring fishery in Scotland, he will see that special attention is given to the question of the advisability of establishing a close-time for herrings?

There is no present intention to make a special inquiry into the matters referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give the number of accidents occurring to workmen employed upon the new national harbour, Dover, during the whole period of its construction, giving the fatal accidents separately?

The following figures have been supplied to me by the contractors through the Admiralty:—The number of non-fatal accidents from the commencement of the works in February, 1898, to the 1st of the present month was 2,690; of these, 1,001 involved no absence from work or absence for not more than one week, 1,115 involved absence for more than one week and less than four; 424 for more than four and less than 12, 109 for more than 12 and less than 26; leaving 41 in which the absence lasted more than 26 weeks. The number of deaths and fatal accidents that have occurred on the works is 36, of which 10 are stated not to have been accidents due to the nature of the work. The weekly average number employed during the whole period has been 1,017.

Can the right hon. Gentleman account for the statement issued by the contractors on the day of the opening ceremony that there had been no fatal accidents?

I have not seen that statement. I have given the answer supplied.

It was in consequence of that statement I put the Question.

asked what number of licensed houses have been closed under the Licensing Act, 1904, in the county of Staffordshire during the years 1905, 1906, 1907 and 1908; what was the total sum paid in compensation for such closing; and what sum was paid to the licence holders and what sum to other parties?

All the information desired by the hon. "Member is to be found in the volumes of licensing statistics for each of the years in question. It cannot conveniently be compressed into an answer to a question, except perhaps that I may give the grand totals for the four years, namely: In the whole county of Stafford, including the county boroughs therein, 231 on-licences have been extinguished under the compensation provisions of the Act of 1904 at a total cost of £151,854, of which £9,080 13s. 6d. went to the licensees and £142,773 6s. 6d. to other parties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention had been called to an accident by which a boy, named Richard Smith, was killed on the new dock works at Newport (Mon.) on 21st October last; whether the boy was killed by an engine running over level ground, the driver of which could see anything on the line at least 100 yards ahead; what was the speed of the engine at the time of the accident; and whether, in view of the fact that this man has been warned by the coroner for his share in a similar previous fatality, he will place the evidence before the Public Prosecutor, with a view to further proceedings.

I have made inquiries with regard to this accident. It happened on a straight piece of line, but on the side from which the boy approached there was a ganger's cabin close to the line which to some extent intercepted the view. The coroner informs me that the statement that the driver had previously been warned by him for his share m another similar fatality is a mistake; so far as he is aware, the driver has not been in an accident of the kind before. He is of opinion that there is no evidence of negligence which would justify proceedings against the driver.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the advertisement inviting tenders for the supply of cloth, tartan, tweed, etc., for the Royal Irish Constabulary, in which it is stated that patterns and specifications of the various kinds of materials can be inspected at the Royal Army Clothing Department, Gros-venor-road, London, and the Chambers of Commerce at Bradford, Galashiels, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, and Bristol; why no mention is made of the Dublin or Belfast Chambers of Commerce; and whether he will take steps to ensure that Irish firms are given facilities for tendering for materials required by the Royal Irish Constabulary?

My right hon. Friend has already pointed out in reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for Kilkenny, on 25th October last, that there would be no increase of convenience to intending contractors in having patterns and specifications left at the Chamber of Commerce in Dublin, as they can be inspected at the office of the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary, which is close by. The contracts for 1910 have already been made, but as regards future years the constabulary authorities see no objection to furnishing the patterns to the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, and they understand that the Chamber is willing to receive and exhibit them. Instructions have been given that this shall be done.

Does that apply to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce?

It is not necessary, because the head office is so close and it is quite sufficient to have it there.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain why Belfast was excluded this year?

The only reason why Belfast was excluded was because it was not considered likely that contractors in Belfast would tender. There is no clothing manufacture of the kind in Belfast.

Why then, if that is so, is it intended to include Belfast next year?

Because Belfast seems to wish it.

asked what steps have the Estates Commissioners taken to reinstate Mrs. John Cormody, an evicted tenant on the Wren and Stokes estate, in North Kerry?

The Estates Commissioners have inquired into this case, and have found that there was no eviction. The applicant's uncle, by arrangement with her mother, went into occupation of the holding giving her mother a freehold of the house and 5 acres free of rent in exchange. This freehold has been held by applicant for 23 years.

The information I have is that there was an eviction in this ease, and will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Estates Commissioners to inquire again into it?

If the hon. Gentleman will supply information to the Estates Commissioners which will tend to show that the report is incorrect, I am quite sure they will inquire into the matter fully again.

I will forward the information I have at my disposal.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will say why Michael Mulvihill, of Shroneowen, an evicted tenant on the Ormathwaite estate, has not been reinstated in his holding?

The Estates Commissioners have acquired certain lands on Lord Ormathwaite's estate with a view to providing holdings for three tenants evicted from the estate, including the man referred to in the question, but he has refused to purchase the lands offered to him by the Commissioners.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the sale of the estate was agreed to on a promise on behalf of the landlord that he would reinstate all those tenants, and that the agent of the landlord consented to that course?

I understand that that is so, but a dispute arose as to what was the holding of this particular tenant. That was as to mountain land, which the landlord said had never belonged to the holding. A compromise was arranged by the agent that portion of the mountain land should be added to the low lying portion of the holding, but the man refused to take that.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can say when John Diggins, an evicted tenant at Ballyline, near Ballylongford, was reinstated; whether any grant of money was given to him to buy stock and build houses; and, if not, will he say why this was not done, in view of this man's circumstances?

I understand that this man was reinstated in May last. The Estates Commissioners have sanctioned an advance in his case for the erection of buildings and a free grant for the purchase of live-stock, and have directed one of their inspectors to arrange for the expenditure of the money as soon as possible.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when that money will be expended? He has been reinstated since May and has not received anything yet.

I really could not say. The hon. Gentleman knows that there are thousands of those cases and they must be dealt with in their order.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he could say if the Hussey estate, situate near Duagh, North Kerry, was offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners; and whether the estate was inspected; and, if so, what was the result of the inspection?

The owner has instituted proceedings for the sale of this estate to the Estates Commissioners. The property has been inspected, and an offer has been made which has not yet been accepted.

Pending completion of the sale, will the Estates Commissioners see that the landlord does not proceed against the tenants for a year's rent where an agreement has been come to?

Not having agreed to sell, the landlord has all the rights of a landlord as against the tenants. We cannot compel him to accept the offer.

But pending an agreement, will the Estates Commissioners get the landlord to abstain from proceeding for recovery of arrears?

It would not be at all convenient for the Estates Commissioners to interfere with the landlord in the exercise of his rights. If the landlord enters into an agreement to sell, I am sure nothing will be done pending the completion of the sale.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that the intermediate Board for the first 25 years of its existence, when publishing the exhibition and prize lists, always gave after the students' names the total marks which counted for these awards; and whether, seeing that teachers, parents, and pupils were desirous of having these totals published, he would request the Intermediate Board to supply this information for the last and for all future examinations?

I am informed by the Assistant Commissioners of Intermediate Education that the Board published the marks awarded to exhibition and prize winners up to i906, save in the years 1902, 1903, and 1904, when no exhibition or prize lists were published. Since 1906 the exhibition and prize lists have, in pursuance of a resolution of the Board, been published without the total marks, but teachers, parents, or pupils, desiring to know the totals counting towards exhibitions can obtain the detailed marks awarded at the examination.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that over 40 students in the Irish division of the modern literary course in the recent intermediate examinations scored higher marks for exhibitions or prizes than students in the German division of this course, and yet got lower exhibitions and prizes than the students in the German division; and whether he would circulate with the Votes a list of those students in the Irish division, containing their examination number and their net total of marks which counts for exhibitions and prizes.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the exemption of the Territorial Force from compulsory vaccination had had any effects detrimental to the health of the men; and, if not, whether he would issue orders to respect the conscience in this matter of recruits to both branches of His Majesty's Forces?

No statistics are available at the War Office to enable me to reply to the first part of the question. As regards the second part of the question, there is no intention of waiving the Regulations regarding vaccination in the Regular Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he vas aware that the pay of the captains and subalterns of the British Army serving in India was about 40 per cent, less than that of their fellow officers serving in the Indian Army; and whether the question of the pay of the lower ranks of commissioned officers was engaging the attention of the Army Council.

It is not at present proposed by the Indian Government to make any change in the relative rates of pay. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the negative.

asked whether the Government of India had taken any action on the memorandum received from the Bombay Chamber of Commerce concerning the adoption by natives of India of the names of natives of Europe for trade purposes?

The Bombay Chamber of Commerce has addressed the Government of Bombay, not the Government of India, on the subject. So far as I am aware, the Government of Bombay have come to no conclusions regarding it. I understand that it is engaging the attention of other chambers and associations, European and Indian, who are equally interested.

asked whether any statistics were available by comparison with which the work of the Indian police might be compared with that of the police of other Governments and Administrations in Asia; whether the British system which had been as far as possible introduced into India depends to a great extent upon the co-operation of the educated classes; and whether the police reports last received from Bengal and the Punjab indicated that such co-operation was wanting?

The Secretary of State is not aware of any statistics of police work in other Administrations in Asia which are comparable with those of India.

asked whether Lala Lajpat Rai was deported by the Secretary of State as stated by the judge in a recent libel case tried in London; or whether the Secretary of State for India supported the action taken in this behalf by the Governor-General of India in Council.

Lala Lajpat Rai was dealt with by the Government of India, not by the Secretary of State, under Regulation III. of 1818. The Secretary of State supported the action of the Governor-General in Council.

asked whether the extension of the Uganda Railway from Victoria Nyanza to Albert Nyanza had been sanctioned or was contemplated?

The question of constructing a short line of railway from Jinja on the Victoria Nyanza to a place on the Nile some 40 miles below the Ripon Falls is under consideration, but it has not yet reached the stage at which a definite decision can be given in the matter. This is the only extension which is contemplated at present.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that pension officers in Killarney and various other districts throughout the country were raising objections against pensioners who passed as eligible for pensions nine months ago on foot of Census Returns, which were cleanly incorrect and unreliable; whether they were being assisted in their efforts to deprive Irish pensioners of their allowances by the Irish Local Government Board; whether he was aware that local pension committees were largely disregarded by both pension officers and the Local Government Board; and whether he had made any inquiries on the subject with the view of safeguarding the interests of Irish pensioners and removing the anxiety caused by the recent methods adopted?

It is the duty of the pension officers under the Old Age Pensions Act and the regulations there under to raise questions as to the continuance of pensions in all cases in which they consider that the statutory qualifications do not continue to be fulfilled, and the Local Government Board are bound by law to adjudicate upon the questions so raised. I understand that the observations of the pensions committee on each case are fully considered by the pension officer and the Local Government Board. I am not in a position to judge as to the accuracy or otherwise of the Census Returns, but I would point out that if they have been accepted as evidence to disqualify for pensions, they have, on the other hand, been the means of admitting thousands to the benefit of the Act, who, without such evidence, would have been unable to establish their claims.

asked whether the Under-Secretary for India could give the House any information regarding the recent attempt on the life of Lord Minto?

The reports that have appeared in the newspapers concerning this outrage, happily unsuccessful, are substantially accurate, and I have no further information to give to the House.

asked whether the Home Secretary had considered the representations made to him in favour of the release of Mr. George Wise from Walton Gaol, Liverpool; and whether he had arrived at a decision in the matter?

I hope that the Royal Assent will be given to the Police (Liverpool Inquiry) Bill on Friday next, and I shall then be able to announce the Commissioner's name; and, when he has been appointed, I shall be in a position to take such action in Mr. Wise's case as may be deemed necessary or expedient in the interests of the inquiry.