asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can say what was the total shipping tonnage built in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Germany respectively for each of the years 1901 to 1908 inclusive?

The following statement, which has been compiled from Lloyd's "Annual Summary of Shipbuilding at Home and Abroad for the Year 1908," gives the information desired by my hon. Friend:—

Table showing the Number and Tonnage of Vessels of 100 tons gross and upwards (excluding Warships) launched in the United Kingdom, the United States, France and Germany in each of the years 1901 to 1908, inclusive:—
Year.			United Kingdom.		France.		Germany.		United States.
			No.	Gross Tons.	No.	Gross Tons.	No.	Gross Tons.	No.	Gross Tons.
1901	…	…	639	1,524,739	92	177,543	101	217,593	286	433,235
1902	…	…	694	1,427,558	99	192,196	108	213,961	251	379,174
1903	…	…	697	1,190,618	75	92,768	120	184,494	246	381,820
1904	…	…	712	1,205,162	69	81,245	149	202,197	227	238,518
1905	…	…	795	1,623,168	43	73,124	148	255,423	200	302,827
1906	…	…	886	1,828,343	48	35,214	205	318,230	242	441,087
1907	…	…	841	1,607,890	50	61,635	188	275,003	255	474,675
1908	…	…	523	929,669	50	83,429	120	207,777	238	304,543

I may add that Lloyd's figures, being compiled on a uniform basis for all countries, are more suitable for international comparisons than the official figures of the various countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that the number of screw-coupled vehicles is largely on the increase, owing to the use of screw-up couplers on fast goods trains, so that the increased risk applies to a constantly-increasing proportion of stock; and whether the cost of using central automatic buffer couplers would be actually less than that of the present screw-coupling and side-buffers?

My advisers inform me that they are not aware that the number of screw-coupled vehicles is largely on the increase as compared, that is, with loose-coupled stock, and they doubt if the cost of central buffers with automatic couplers would be materially less than that of side buffers and screw-couplings. The increased risk in coupling-screw coupled

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that when, in accordance with Sub-section (3), Section 33, of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, traders apply to the railway companies (particularly in Scotland) asking them to render an exact account as to how a specific rate is made up, they refuse to give this but render only an account of the maximum rate they are legally entitled to charge, the result beingthat the advantage meant to be conferred on the trader by the statute is practically nullified, and traders have no option but to apply to the Railway and Canal Commissioners for an order on the railway companies enjoining them to supply the information; and whether, in view of this, he will take such steps as may be necessary for the better enforcement of the Act?

I believe it is the case that some railway companies, in analysing rates, show the maximum charges for each particular service, and the total difference between the sum total of such charges and the actual rate, without showing how much of the actual rate is attributable to each service. It is not for me to express an opinion on the legal question whether an analysis on this principle is in strict compliance with the provisions of the law, but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with details of any particular cases he has in mind, I shall be happy to consider whether there are any steps which I can usefully take in the matter.—[Publication of Question and Answer delayed.]

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the total amount of superannuation allowance and annuity on which Mr. George Games, head master of the Churwell Council School, Leeds, has been retired; at what age such retirement took place; and after what number of years' service as a certificated head, master in public elementary schools?

I must refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division of Shropshire on 26th October last.

asked what is the total amount of the superannuation allowance and annuity on which Miss E. Ansell, late of Basnett-road London County Council School, Battersea, and now of 12, Old Deer Park-gardens, Richmond, Surrey, has been retired; at what age such retirement took place; and after what number of years of service as a certificated head teacher in public elementary schools?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division of Shropshire on 26th October last.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether Mr. Nagle has been appointed to the position of director of Irish produce shows in Great Britain rendered vacant by the death of the late Mr. Harper; and, if so, what is the salary attached to this position; what salary was Mr. Nagle receiving when employed as assistant to Earl Carrick; what qualifications had he for the latter position; how long did he serve in it; what is his age; and what was his occupation before he entered the service of the Department?

No appointment has been made to the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Harper.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mrs. Susan Keelin, of Ballyherin, Kilmacrenan, East Donegal, who is over 70 years of age, and was granted a pension by the pensions committee, and afterwards received notice from the pension officer that she was not qualified; whether he will state why, and on what evidence, the pension officer overrides the decision of the committee; whether she can again go before the committee with proof that she is over 70; and whether she will then get the pension?

The pension officer appealed to the Local Government Board in this case on the ground that Susan Keelan had not reached the statutory age, being shown by the Census Return to be 67 years of age, and the Local Government Board upheld the appeal. If she can put forward sufficient evidence to show that she has reached 70 years of age it is open to her to make a fresh claim.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the attention of the Estates Commissioner has been called to the case of William Boyle, a tenant purchaser on the Forbes estate, Ray, near Kilmacrenan, West Donegal, whose farm in question was originally 54 acres but was years ago reduced to 25, the old rent remaining on the 25 acres, and he a future tenant, the landlord keeping in his own hand the other portion; and that when the tenants bought from their landlady Boyle considers he purchased the original holding of 54 acres, but can get no satisfaction; whether he can state the area of the holding in question purchased by Boyle and the amount of the annual instalments; and whether they are calculated on the rent of the 54 acres?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the owner has instituted proceedings for the direct sale of this estate to the tenants. William Boyle has agreed with the owner for the purchase of a farm containing 25¾ acres, and it is stated in the purchase agreement that he holds the lands as a judicial tenant, subject to a rent of £11 10s. He has also signed a purchase agreement for a second holding, containing 7½ acres; and it is stated in the agreement that he holds the lands as a judicial tenant, subject to a rent of £2. The advances applied for by Boyle in his purchase agreements are £250 and £44, and the annuities thereon would be £8 2s. 6d. and £1 8s. 8d. respectively. The Commissioners have not yet received the report of their inspector on this estate.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in the distribution of the M'Cann estate in the county of Dublin, 96 acres of land were given to one man, named Hickey, from another county, while 320 acres were divided amongst 16 other persons; if so, on what ground is such a differentiation made in favour of the person mentioned; and whether such a policy is to be persisted in as that of favouring men from a distance with specially large grants of land in Dublin county, while there is a large number of Dublin tenants and sons of Dublin tenants sorely in need of land?

The Estates Commissioners have allotted 96 acres to the Hickeys on the estate mentioned, in accordance with an arrangement whereby they surrendered, for the purposes of distribution, some 94 acres in the county Tipperary, where, in the opinion of the Commissioners, lands are more urgently needed for such purposes than in county Dublin.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will say who is responsible for appointments to the office of deputy-lieutenants in Irish counties; whether of the 21 deputy-lieutenants appointed for the county of Dublin only one is a Catholic and all belong to the Unionist side in politics, although the overwhelming majority of the population of the county are both Catholics and Nationalists; and, if so, whether the attention of the appointing authority will be directed to those circumstances in the filling of the existing vacancy in the office of deputy-lieutenant for Dublin county?

Under Section 30 of the Militia Act, 1882, the filling of vacancies among the deputy-lieutenants of any county rests with the lieutenant of the county, but before making an appointment he must ascertain that the Lord Lieutenant does not disapprove. There is no record of the religion or politics of deputy-lieutenants, but I am told that the facts with regard to county Dublin appear to be as stated. The Statute gives the lieutenant of the county the right to select his deputy-lieutenants, and the Government cannot make representations to him on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state if the instructions to Crown Solicitors, in reference to ordering jurors to stand by in case of trials of prisoners in Ireland, are to the effect that jurors are not to be ordered to stand by except when they are engaged in the retail licensed trade or in retail business of any kind; and, if so, whether he can state how many of the 47 jurors ordered by the Crown Solicitor to stand by at the trial of the case of the King versus John L. Tease at the last Donegal summer assizes were publicans or retail traders?

No instructions have been given to the effect stated in the first paragraph of the question. It would not be in the public interest to state the grounds on which any of the jurors in this case were ordered to stand by.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of Patrick Moy, of Glenfin, East Donegal, who was in receipt of an old age pension from 1st January, and which was stopped at the end of June on the ground that his name did not appear in any Census; whether he will state on what evidence, if any, he was deprived of his pension; and whether, on ample proof that Mr. Moy is 70 years of age, he will take steps to have his pension restored to him, together with the money that is due to him since June last?

On a question raised by the pension officer the pension granted to Patrick Moy was discontinued in June last, in accordance with the decision of the local pension committee. There is no objection to a fresh claim being made by Patrick Moy if he has evidence to show that he has reached the statutory age, but I have no power to give retrospective effect to a fresh grant of pension.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the pension officer at Stranorlar, East Donegal, invariably took objection to all applicants for a pension who were found to be 12 years of age in the Census of 1851, and thus deprived them of their pensions for three months; and whether he can state whose instructions and what authority he had for treating the aged poor in this way?

The pension officer at Stranorlar raised a question as to the title to receive a pension of 17 pensioners whose ages were recorded as 12 in the Census of 1851. Each case was considered by the pension committee on its merits, with the result that in 13 cases the pensions were continued. In the other four cases, the pensions were withdrawn. The pensioners appear to have been satisfied with the justice of the decision, since they have not availed themselves of their right to appeal to the Local Government Board.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the pension officer at Stranorlar, East Donegal, who was satisfied at the time a number of pensions were granted by the pensions committee to accept a certificate from the parish clergyman that the applicants were over 70 years of age, now give them notice that owing to the fact that the names of their families cannot be found in the Census of 1841 or 1851, that their pension shall be discontinued; and whether he will state on whose instruction and on what proof this officer is acting?

Any question as to a pensioner's title to continue to receive a pension rests for decision, not with the pension officer, but with the local pension committee, subject to appeal to the Local Government Board. The pension officer at Stranorlar has not given notice to any pensioner that his pension is to be discontinued, but pension officers have instructions that, in cases where it is found necessary to raise a question, they are so to inform the pensioner, and to warn him that if the question is decided against him he will be liable to refund the whole amount drawn during the time that he has not been entitled to receive the pension.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what will be the salary of Lieutenant-Col. Sir Matthew Nathan as secretary to the Post Office; whether he will be in receipt of a pension in addition to his salary, and what will be the total emoluments from salary, pension, or other source from public funds?

I understand that Sir Matthew Nathan will not receive any other emolument from public funds in addition to his salary while holding the position of secretary to the Post Office. His salary in that post will be £2,000 per annum.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when the revised Return dealing with the Finance Bill (Charges on Property), which was ordered to be printed on 3rd November, will be in the hands of Members.

I hope that the Return will be in Members' hands by Monday next, or, at any rate, early in next week.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the event of the trunk telephone system being introduced into Mullingar, an extension will be made to Longford and Cavan on receiving from the local authorities of these districts a guarantee; and, if so, will he direct that a communication be addressed to both bodies pointing out the sum to be guaranteed and the number of private subscribers required in order that steps may be taken to get these guarantees given?

I shall be happy to quote terms for extensions of the trunk telephone system to Longford and Cavan if guarantees are forthcoming for extensions to Mullingar and Clones on which the extensions asked for are dependent. I am ascertaining the precise terms and will communicate them to the local authorities' concerned as soon as possible.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for West Essex (Epping Division), as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether an annual account of the receipts and expenditure of the Kitchen Committee is being prepared, as promised by the late Chairman.

The accounts of the Kitchen Committee are made up to the end of the year, and are then audited by the Government Auditor. These accounts are made up according to a form approved of by the Government Auditors, and are, as they always have been, open to the inspection of Members.—[Publication of Question and Answer delayed.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has made any representations to the United States Government with reference to cruelties perpetrated on natives of America by the Peruvian Amazon Company or its immediate predecessors in title; and if he has received any reply thereto?

No representations have been addressed to the United States Government on the subject, nor does there appear ground for such. As regards the information which has been received from that Government in reply to inquiries at Washington, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply yesterday to the hon. Member for North Hackney.