asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the number of Chinese indentured labourers remaining in South Africa on 30th November, 1909, 31st December, 1909, and 31st January, 1910, respectively.

The number of Chinese labourers employed in the Transvaal gold mines was according to the figures supplied by the Transvaal Chamber of Mines as follows on the dates referred to:—

30th November, 1909	…	3,197
31st December, 1909	…	1,910
31st January, 1910	…	1,908

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury if he will state if the Chinese Labour Ordinance of 1904 terminated in March, 1908, under the provisions of the Transvaal Constitution; if the Ordinance was re-enacted for a period of two years in August, 1907, by the Transvaal Government; and, if so, if such re-enactment received the sanction of His Majesty, on the advice of His Majesty's Government, in December of the same year?

The facts are as given in the question, except that the Ordinance of 1904 did not, in fact, terminate in March, 1908, inasmuch as the Act of 1907, which came into force on 7th January, 1908, continued it in operation; and, further, the despatch in which the Governor was informed that His Majesty would not be advised to exercise his powers of disallowance was dated in November, not in December. The correspondence will be found in the Parliamentary Paper Cd. 3994.

asked the Postmaster-General what, if any, is the difference in the hours per day of their employment and in the rate of remuneration of Post Office employés in London and Liverpool; and what is the justification of such differentiation as may exist?

The hours of work for the Post Office staff, both in London and Liverpool, vary from day to day; but in both cities they are made up to the same weekly totals, which depend on the rank of the officer concerned. The rates of remuneration vary also according to rank, and are those laid down in the Report of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants, issued in 1907, and set forth in detail in the Parliamentary Paper (Changes in Wages, etc.), issued in July, 1908. In view of the greater cost of living and certain other conditions, they are generally higher for London than for Liverpool.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has seen and received complaints from Ireland owing to the breakdown of the telegraphic service between London and the North of Ireland on Monday last, 21st February, and on several occasions during the present year; and will he say if it is intended to take any steps to prevent a recurrence of this now frequent interruption of the telegraphic service?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the replies I have given to the questions asked me to-day by the hon. Members for Limerick, Mid-Armagh, and Belfast West.

asked the amount of duty paid on spirits taken out of bond up to the date of the latest Return for this month; and the amount paid for the corresponding period of 1909?

The amount of duty paid on spirits delivered for home consumption in the United Kingdom from 1st April, 1908, to 20th February, 1909, was £18,656,000; and that for the period from 1st April, 1909, to 19th February, 1910, was £16,484,000 (including deposits).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quantity of spirits was put into bond and what quantity was taken out of bond in Ireland during the nine months May to January, 1909–10; and whether he will give a similar Return for the corresponding period of 1908–09?

There are no records available of the total quantity of spirits put into bond in Ireland during the nine months May, 1909, to January, 1910, The quantity of spirits delivered from bond in Ireland on payment of duty in this period was £3,246,000 gallons, and during the corresponding period of 1908–9 (May, 1908, to January, 1009) 5,626,000 gallons. The difference in these figures is accounted for largely by the forestalments which took place towards the close of the last financial year.

also asked the Chancellor what quantity of spirits was taken out of bond during the nine months May, 1909, to January, 1910, and the amount of duty paid thereon; and whether he would give a similar Return for the corresponding period in the years 1908–9.

The quantity of spirits delivered for home consumption in the United Kingdom and the amount of duty paid thereon during the nine months May, 1908, to January, 1909, and May, 1909, to January, 1910, respectively, were:

	Quantity delivered.	Amount received.
	Gallons.	£
May, 1908, to Jan., 1909	28,405,000	15,625,000
May, 1909, to Jan., 1910	17,580,000	*12,742,000
*Including deposits.

next asked what quantity of spirits was taken out of bond in England, Scotland and Ireland, respectively, during the three months February to April, 1909, and the amount of duty paid thereon; and what quantity will require to be taken out in each country during the same months of this year the duty on which, when added to the amount paid during the preceding nine months, will be equal to the amount paid during the corresponding twelve months 1908–9?

The quantity of home-made and imported spirits duty paid in England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively during the three months February to April, 1909, and the amount of duty paid thereon were:—

			Quantity		Duty.
			Proof gallons.		£
England	…	…	5,600,000	…	3,120,000
Scotland	…	…	4,328,000	…	2,381,000
Ireland	…	…	2,493,000	…	1,370,000

Assuming that the additional spirit duty is legalised by statute as from 30th April last, the quantity required to be duty paid in each country during the same three months of 1910 (February to April), the duty on which, when added to the amount paid during the preceding nine months (May, 1909, to January, 1910), will be equal to the amount paid during the corresponding twelve months 1908–1909 (May to April), is approximately:—

			Proof gallons.
England	…	…	5,656,000
Scotland	…	…	4,417,000
Ireland	…	…	2,808,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in relation to the settlement of returns for Inland Revenue purposes, it is the practice of surveyors of taxes to exercise their discretion in making allowances for obsolete machinery; whether that practice is founded upon any minute or official authority, and, if so, by whom the same was issued and when; and whether, in the interest of the public and of the service, he will see that important and far-reaching questions of this kind should not be left to the unfettered discretion of an Inland Revenue official and a practice continued which has not the sanction and authority of Parliament?

also asked the Chancellor if the discretion exercised by surveyors of taxes in making allowances for obsolete machinery can be so exercised without the authority of Parliament; and, if so, whether he will give directions to the surveyors to approve profit and loss accounts submitted by taxpayers in support of their returns for the purpose of assessment which contain such allowances for depreciation of machinery, provision for bad or doubtful debts, and ascertained loss on the capital value of trade premises, as is customary and essential to ascertain the net result of the year's trading?

I will answer both questions together. The determination of claims for allowance in respect of obsolete machinery rests with the District Commissioners of Taxes and not with the Surveyors of Taxes.

further asked the Chancellor whether he is aware that the practice ruling in different districts, and even between individual surveyors, is widely divergent as to the allowances for obsolete machinery; and whether he will accord to taxpayers the right of appeal against the decisions of the Commissioners as to questions of fact, including the assessment of allowances.

I am not aware that there is any wide divergence of practice such as is suggested by the hon. Member. As regards the second part of the question, the facts in cases of the Kind referred to are simple, and I do not see any reason why the decision of the District Commissioners of Taxes on questions of fact should not be final in these as in all other cases.

also asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, if further legislation is necessary to enable the existing practice under which allowances for obsolete machinery are made, to be legalised, he will proceed to effect it by an Amendment of the Budget in this respect, or initiate legislation by a separate Bill?

I regret that I cannot see my way to accept the hon. Member's suggestion.

—	Quantities of Spirits Cleared for Home Consumption.		Amounts of Duties and Deposits Received.
	Total.	Amount of (1) on which the extra duty of 3s. 9d. a gallon was deposited.	Duties paid on (1) at rates in force before 30th April, 1909.	Deposits of extra duty of 3s. 9d. a gallon on (2).
	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
	Proof gallons.	Proof gallons.	£	£
Home-made Spirits—
December (4th–31st)	3,315,000	2,415,000	1,812,000	453,000
January	1,614,000	1,567,000	876,000	294,000
Imported Spirits—
December (4th–31st)	809,000	689,000	464,000	130,000
January	401,000	374,000	231,000	70,000

asked how many gallons of home-made spirits were duty paid for home consumption during the months of December, 1909, and January, 1910, respectively, and the amount of revenue received in respect of these clearances; how many gallons of foreign spirits were duty paid in the same months and the amount of revenue; and what were the respective amounts of Wine

—	December, 1909.		January, 1910.
	Quantity.	Amount received as duty and deposit.	Quantity.	Amount received as duty and deposit.
		£		£
Home-made Spirits Proof gallons	3,478,000	2,384,000	1,614,000	1,170,000
Imported Spirits Proof gallons	857,000	631,000	401,000	301,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many gallons of home-made spirits were duty paid for home consumption in December and January last respectively, at 11s. a gallon, and on how many the extra duty of 3s. 9d. a gallon was deposited, and the respective amounts received; and what were the amounts received in the same manner in respect of foreign spirits and the number of gallons cleared?

submitted the following statement, showing the quantities of home-made and imported spirits duty paid for home consumption in the United Kingdom in the months of December, 1909 (from 4th to 31st), and January, 1910, respectively, the amount of duty received thereon, and the amount of extra duty deposited at 3s. 9d. the proof gallon:—Duty and Beer Duty received in the same months?

The quantities of home-made and imported spirits duty paid for home consumption in the United Kingdom during the months of December, 1909, and January, 1910, respectively, and the amount of Revenue received thereon, were:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will amend the Budget or initiate separate legislation to improve the tribunal of the local Commissioners of Income Tax as at present constituted, so as to ensure the exercise of an independent judgment and discretion in relation to the appeals heard by them.

I am unable to admit the implication contained in the hon. Member's Question; and I do not see my way to adopt his suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the resolution passed and repeatedly reaffirmed by the Association of Chambers of Commerce, stating that, while welcoming the Report of Sir Charles Dilke's Committee as tending to more equitably adjust the burden of Income Tax, the Association regrets that no steps have been taken to carry out the suggestions made by the Departmental Committee in 1904, with a view to affording the commercial community some allowance for the depreciation on buildings that takes place from year to year, and trusts that steps will be taken to provide for a more adequate allowance for depreciation on plant and machinery, the same to be a uniform rate for each particular trade throughout the Kingdom; and whether he has taken, or contemplates taking, any, and what, action thereon.

I am aware of the resolution in question. I may point out to the hon. Member that so far as depreciation of plant and machinery is concerned there is no restriction in the sum the District Commissioners of Taxes may, in their discretion, allow, but I do not think it would be either feasible or desirable to adopt uniform rates for each particular trade, owing to the variety of machinery and plant in use, and the diver gent circumstances in which it is used do not propose to take any action in the matter at present.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware with reference to the promotion of Messrs Da Silva, Rule, Gill, and Dampier in the Customs Statistical Office, that Mr. Dampier, who passed over ninety men obtained ninety-ninth place at his entrance examination for assistant clerkships; that sixteen assistant clerks are at present serving in the office who obtained higher places at the same examination; and whether the high mental capacity referred to in a reply of the 25th October, 1909 referred to Mr. Dampier, and, if so, how is such capacity determined?

The facts are a stated in the first and second paragraph of the question. Mr. Dampier's qualifications for promotion were, as I informed the hon. Member on 4th November last gauged by his official superiors, who have the opportunity of judging his genera intelligence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the inaccuracies in the recent Return issued by his Department of the number of persons who have been made Peers since 1832; can he explain how those inaccuracies arose; and whether it is intended to issue a corrected Return?

My attention has been called to certain inaccuracies in the Return, and I propose to issue a corrected Return. I understand that the mistakes in the Return—which was not compiled in the Home Office—were mainly due to the fact that a Peer created under one Administration is often not introduced until there is another Administration, or never takes his seat.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he can say whether there is still any foot-and-mouth disease among cattle in the Netherlands; and whether the British ports are open to the importation of hay from there?

We are not aware of the occurrence of any case of foot-and-mouth disease in the Netherlands since September last. The reply to the latter part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he could state why, when the period of service in British regiments previous to joining the Indian Army allowed to count for pension was increased from two to five years, a similar extension was not granted to officers who had previously served in the Royal Marines; and whether the Secretary of State would rectify the inequality thus created?

The arrangement made with the War Office regarding the cost of carrying out the decision referred to by the hon Member does not cover the case of the officers who entered the Indian Army from the Royal Marines, but the question of a similar concession to these officers is already under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the proposals of the Government of India in regard to the memorials of the Bombay political officers have yet been received; and, if so, what decision the Secretary of State has come to on the question?

The Government of India's proposals are now under the consideration of the Secretary of State in Council, who will shortly arrive at a decision upon them.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by the joint committee of the Westmoreland and Cumberland Territorial Army Associations, on 31st January last, to call the attention of young men to their existing liabilities under the Militia Ballot Act, and advising that lists of men between 18 and 22 years of age liable under the Militia Ballot Act should be annually prepared by the chief constable and furnished to the Associations; and to the speech of Colonel M'Connell in proposing that resolution; whether a copy of this resolution has been received by the Army Council; and, if so, whether it has received their consideration and approval or disapproval?

My attention has been drawn to the resolution and the speech mentioned in the question. The Association has been informed that the Army Council are unable to approve of the suggestion. If my hon. Friend will kindly refer to the Militia Ballots Suspension Act, 1865, which is annually enforced by the Expiry Laws Continuance Act, he will find that the preparation of such lists can only be authorised by Order in Council, and then only in anticipation of putting the whole machinery of the Ballot Acts in force as soon as the period of annual suspension has expired.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can state on what grounds Patrick Dockery, formerly a private in the 2nd Coldstream Guards, who was discharged from the Service on the 24th March, 1905, being then found unfit for service owing to an injury received in the discharge of his duty, has been deprived of his pension; and whether, in view of the fact that Dockery is injured for life, he will recommend that a permanent pension be awarded to him?

This case has been considered several times by the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, who are of opinion that the man has recovered from his disability, and that his wage-earning capacity is not impaired.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that soldiers of certain ranks in the Artillery, Engineers, Army Medical Corps, Army Service Corps, and Army Ordnance, who have completed twelve years' service, and who are eligible for, and desirous of, re-engaging to complete twenty-one years' service, so as to qualify for a pension, can only re-engage upon terms that they lose 7d. a day during the extended service; and whether, in view of the desirability of retaining the services of such experienced soldiers and in fairness to them, he will consider the possibility of permitting their re-engagement on the footing of their receiving an equivalent for service pay on the scale in force before 1st October, 1906?

As regards the arms mentioned, other than the Artillery, the facts are as stated in the question. These men have been allowed to continue in the receipt of Service pay for the full period for which they originally enlisted, but there is no right to re-engage; and if they are permitted to enter on a fresh period of service they can do so only on the terms now current in the arm to which they belong.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, now that the county associations are expected to find certain horses for the Regular Army, he will provide any funds to enable them to register horses?

It is proposed to make a grant to county associations to cover the cost of classifying the quota of horses which they are required to provide on mobilisation. It is not proposed to pay a registration fee in the sense of a retaining fee for the right to call any of the horses.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, if he will state the total pay and emoluments, from all official resources, received by occupants of the office of First Sea Lord since the year 1895?

The emoluments of successive First Sea Lords since 1st April, 1895, have been as follows:—Sir FREDERICK RICHARDS.—Salary, £1,500 per annum and a furnished official residence. Half pay, 1st April, 1895, to 28th November, 1898, £766 10s. a year (as Admiral); 29th November, 1898 to 18th August, 1899, £1,222 15s. a year (as Admiral of the Fleet).Lord WAITER KERR.—Salary, £1,500 per annum and a furnished official residence. (House allowance of £500 was paid from 19th August, 1899 to 24th February, 1902, while the official residence was not available.) Half pay, 19th August, 1899, to 20th March, 1900, £593 2s. 6d. a year (as Vice-Admiral); 21st March, 1900 to 15th June, 1904, £766 10s. a year (as Admiral); 16th June to 19th October, 1904, £1,222 15s. a year (as Admiral of the Fleet).Lord FISHER OF KILVERSTONE.—Salary, £1,500 per annum and a furnished official residence. (House allowance of £500 was paid from 20th October to 5th December, 1904, while the official residence was not available.) Allowance of £1 a day as Principal Aide-de-Camp; half pay, 20th October, 1904 to 3rd December, 1905, £766 10s. a year (as Admiral); 4th to 29th December, 1905, £1,222 15s. a year; 30th December, 1905, to 24th January, 1910, £2,000 a year (as Admiral of the Fleet).

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the fact that the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, expires on 31st December next, and whether, in view of the detrimental effect of the present uncertainty with regard to this Act upon agricultural interests, due to its recent continuance for so short a period as nine months, His Majesty's Government can give an assurance that it is their intention to extend its operation for a further term of years?

The matter will, of course, be considered, but I am not prepared, at the moment, to give any assurance.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many local authorities have adopted the Notification of Births Act, the names of such local authorities, and what diminution in the infant death rate under one year has taken place?

The Act is now in force in 195 areas of local government, namely:—(1) The whole of the Administrative County of London, comprising the City of London and the 28 metropolitan boroughs; (2) 46 county boroughs; (3) 46 non-county boroughs; (4) 57 urban districts; (5) 17 rural districts. (In the case of four non-county boroughs, seven urban districts, and 16 rural districts, the Act is in force by virtue of its adoption by the Worcestershire County Council.)The names of the areas are as follows:—

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners took steps to acquire a portion of the Rupert Collum estate, county Fermanagh, under the Evicted Tenants Act; was the owner willing to sell, and was the price ascertained by order of Mr. Justice Wylie; have the Commissioners now refused to acquire the land because they could not take it at their own price, or for what other reason; and will he call the attention of the Commissioners to the very small progress, if any, made in the restoration of evicted tenants in county Fermanagh?

The Estates Commissioners instituted proceedings for the acquisition of 42 acres on this estate under the Evicted Tenants Act, and fixed the price at £3,000. This was increased on appeal to £3,216, and the Commissioners pursuant to the powers conferred on them by Section 2 (14) of the Act served notice on the owner discontinuing the proceedings. As regards the concluding portion of the question sixty evicted tenants in county Fermanagh have already been reinstated in their former holdings, or provided with other holdings.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is with the knowledge and approval of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland that one of their chief organisers, Mr. M'Elwee, is recommending the teachers in the national schools of Ireland to use the drawing publications of a Scotch publishing house, and is advising the teachers to become subscribers to the school journal issued by the same house, and that he carries specimens of both with him on his visits to schools and brings these samples under the notice of the teachers; whether he sanctions this organiser's action in recommending Scotch publications to the detriment of Irish trade, more especially as the Irish publishers have specially brought out at great expense Irish handbooks to meet the requirements of the existing programme in drawing; and is he aware that the Scotch drawing publications are more expensive than similar publications produced in Ireland?

The Commissioners of National Education have referred this question to the organising inspector of drawing, who states that he has no connection, financially or professionally, with any publishing firm, and that he does not carry specimens or samples of school journals or of drawing publications or books for the purpose of bringing the same under the notice of teachers during his visits to schools. Further he states that he does not make, nor has he ever made, a practice of recommending teachers to use the drawing publications of a Scotch publishing house, or of advising them to become subscribers to a school journal of any description. With regard to the latter part of thg question the Commissioners have no information.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any steps to acquire the untenanted lands of Fanningstown, Croom, in the county of Limerick, the property of James F. Bannaytine, with the view to having them apportioned among the evicted tenants, small holders and labourers in the locality?

The Estates Commissioners instituted proceedings under the Evicted Tenants Act in reference to these lands, but having subsequently ascertained that they were being worked by the owner mainly as an experimental tillage farm, they decided to discontinue the proceedings.

also asked whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired the untenanted lands of Carrigeen, Croom, in the county of Limerick, the property of Lord Dunraven; if not, whether they have taken any steps to do so; and whether, in the event of their acquiring these lands, they will consider the claims of the small holders and labourers in the locality for a portion of the same?

The Estates Commissioners have not yet acquired the lands referred to, but proceedings for sale are pending before them, and in the preparation of any scheme of allotment the requirements of small holders and labourers in the neighbourhood will be duly considered.

asked what steps had been taken by the Estates Commissioners to reinstate Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, an evicted tenant, Dromina, county Cork, in her farm at Kilabraher, the occupier being anxious to surrender the farm on getting occupation of another one of equal value?

The Estates Commissioners are in negotiation for the purchase of certain land on which, if acquired, they propose to provide the present occupier of Mr. O'Shaughnessy's former holding with a farm.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the Department of Agriculture will consider the advisability of being represented by a veterinary or other official at the forthcoming bull sale in Hereford on 9th March, with a view to enabling Irish purchasers to remove their purchases to Ireland without unnecessary delay?

There are so few importations from Hereford bull shows that the Department do not consider it necessary to incur the expense of sending a veterinary inspector there. No bulls were imported from these shows in 1907 or 1908, and only five in 1909. There was no unnecessary delay in the issue of the importation permits in these cases. Any intending importer can, on application to the Department, be sent the requisite forms to fill up at the show, and if the forms are then posted to the Department's Veterinary Branch, and are found to be correct, the permit can be telegraphed if so desired.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that James E. Chambers, formerly holder of an evicted farm on the Massereene estate, county Louth, agreed to give up the same and accept another farm at Grange, Lucan, in consideration of a building grant of £250 and a sum for expenses of removal equivalent to three years' rent of the holding on the Massereene estate to be paid or provided by Lord Massereene by agreement with Mr. Pinkerton, an inspector of the Estates Commissioners; and will he state what was the arrangement made by Mr. Pinkerton with Lord Massereene, and why the Estates Commission refuses to recognise the right of Mr. Chambers to be paid anything except the £250 building grant?

In consideration of his surrendering evicted lands on the Massereene Estate, Chambers was provided by the Estates Commissioners with another holding, and in connection therewith they sanctioned an expenditure of £225 for buildings and £25 for a road. The inspector explained to Chambers before he signed the agreement for the purchase of his new holding that no other allowance would be made to him. The arrangement come to between the owner and the Commissioners for the reinstatement of the evicted tenants of the Massereene estate was that he should recoup the Commissioners' portion of the expenditure incurred by them. The Commissioners consider that Chambers has been liberally dealt with, and they cannot see their way to make him any further grant.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can say what steps the Estates Commissioners have taken to bring about the reinstatement of Mrs. Hayes and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, evicted tenants on the estate of Lane Joynt, at Aughanish, in the county of Limerick; is he aware that they have been for over twenty years evicted from their holdings; and will he see that they are put back without further delay?

Proceedings for the sale of these lands to the Commissioners have been instituted, and they hope to be in a position at an early date to make an offer to purchase the lands with a view to the reinstatement of the evicted tenants.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have received intimation from the following planters in county Limerick, that they will give up their present holdings if provided with equivalents elsewhere; and, if so, have steps been taken to have them removed from the localities where they are now situated, namely, of planters: Patrick Whelan, Brittas Boher, Cloncurry property, Martin Ryan, Brittas Cloncurry property, John Griffin, Pallasgreen, Erasmus Smith property, James Lane, Pallasgreen, Erasmus Smith property?

The intimation referred to has been received by the Estates Commissioners. They have already provided another holding for the former tenant of the holding now occupied by James Lane, and are making inquiries with a view to providing other holdings for Patrick Whelan and John Griffin. The Commissioners have refused to take any action as regards Mrs. McCoy, who made application for reinstatement as the sister of the former tenant of the holding now occupied by Martin Ryan, and who is already in occupation of another holding containing over 100 statute acres.