asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Mr. L. Emerson, of 30, Walford Road, Stoke Newington, was taken to the Hackney Infirmary by order of the Commissioners of Lunacy in 1904, and there detained in a padded cell as a pauper lunatic; if the papers applying for his incarceration were signed, as required by law, by his immediate relatives with whom he lived, and, if not, by whom were they signed; if he will say whether any application has been made by the said Mr. L. Emerson that his name should be erased from the public records as a pauper lunatic, and for compensation for false imprisonment; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The proceedings taken in Mr. Emerson's case were under Sections 13 and 20 of the Lunacy Act, 1890, which do not require that a petition should be signed by a relative. Mr. Emerson was found by an Inspector of Police on 11th May, 1904, in circumstances which indicated that he was a lunatic not under proper care and control. The Inspector took the necessary steps under Section 13, and removed him on the same day to the workhouse in pursuance of Section 20 of the Act. Mr. Emerson was examined on 13th May by a Magistrate, who made an order for his reception into Claybury Asylum, to which he was transferred on the 18th May. He was detained in the Asylum about four months, being discharged "relieved" to the care of his friends on the 15th September, 1904. I understand from the Commissioners in Lunacy that Mr. Emerson has applied to them for his name to be erased from the records as a pauper lunatic and for compensation, but that the Commissioners have not been able to comply with his request. It is not in my power to take any steps in the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a new postmaster has yet been appointed for Seaview, Isle of Wight; if so, will he state the name of the person so appointed, his qualifications for the post, and upon whose representation; and under what regulation or rule of the service the appointment was made?

Mr. T. F. Sheath has been appointed Sub-Postmaster of Seaview, Ryde. The vacancy was publicly advertised in the usual way and the appointment was made in the ordinary course after careful consideration of the qualifications of the candidates.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that one of the Post Office surveyors in Scotland has issued an order compelling the adult night messengers in his district to repair the official cycles; if he will inquire into this matter; whether, as these messengers are primarily employed for the purpose of delivering telegrams and express letters, they are to be regarded as incompetent officers because they are unable to do work which can only be efficiently done by skilled tradesmen; and, in order to allay the feeling of insecurity prevalent amongst these officers, will he reaffirm the statement of the late Postmaster-General that the existing adult night messengers are not to be disturbed?

I will have inquiry made.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether his attention had been called to breakdowns in the telegraphic news service to Dundee on 17th January and following nights, whereby it was alleged that great business inconvenience was caused; and if steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of the difficulty?

My attention has been drawn to this matter. The only way of lessening the dislocation of telegraph communication by storm is to put telegraph lines underground, and on that point I may perhaps be allowed to refer to my answer to the hon. Member for Dundee on the 1st instant.

asked the Postmaster-General on what grounds the out-mail on Sundays in Trim has been changed from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.; and whether, having regard to the inconvenience which the change has caused to the people of the town and district, he will direct that the old service be restored?

No such change has been made; but, as the Trim mail car leaves Navan so early as 5.0 a.m. and does not get back there again until about 10.30 p.m., I am inquiring whether in the interests of the local post office employés, a somewhat earlier return from Trim on Sundays could be arranged without causing any public inconvenience.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, with reference to his statement that certain changes in the administration of the Poor Law resulting from the recommendations of the recent Royal Commission have been made, or are in contemplation, whether he will give a summary of such actual or contemplated changes?

I hope to have an opportunity before long of indicating to the House what action I am taking in regard to the recommendations of the Royal Commission.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many copies have been sold to the public of the Reports of the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws and Relief of Distress in the original folio edition, of the Majority Report in octavo form, of the Minority Report in octavo form, of the Report on Scotland, and of the Report on Ireland; and whether the result of the experiment of publishing in octavo form is such as to warrant other Reports being issued in this convenient form?

The figures asked for are as follows:—

	Copies Printed.		Copies Sold.
(Cd. 4499) Report for England and Wales, Majority and Minority Reports in I volume—folio	10,000	…	6,820
Octavo Reprint of the above—Volume I. Majority Report, part of	6,000	…	1,230
Volume II. Majority Report, completion	6,000	…	1,310
Volume III. Minority Report	6,000	…	1,630
(Cd.4922) Report for Scotland—folio	5,000	…	1,790
(Cd. 4630) Report for Ireland—folio	5,000	…	450

In reply to the last part of the question, it seems doubtful whether the cost of reprinting the Reports in octavo form has been justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been paid to the authorities as deposits on the various items of revenue against the final legalising of the Budget, and how much remains to be collected through the non-payment of the deposits?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to my reply on the 3rd instant to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for King's Lynn, in which I dealt with this point.

asked what was the last date on which demand notes for the Income Tax for the year 1909–10 were issued in Scotalnd?

I am informed that the Scottish Assessment Notices (combined with the usual "notice to pay") had practically all been issued by the second week in December last. No demand notes for the year 1909–10 have yet been issued by Revenue officers.

asked how many gallons of homo-made spirits have been duty paid for home consumption from 1st April, 1909, to 28th February, 1910, and the quantity in the corresponding months of 1908–9; and how many gallons of foreign spirits have been duty paid in the same periods?

The clearances of spirits during the periods in question were as follows:—

		1st April, 1909, to 28th Feb., 1910.		1st April, 1908, to 28th Feb., 1909.
		Gallons.		Gallons.
Home-made	…	20,009,000	…	28,626,000
Imported	…	4,277,000	…	6,020,000

also asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many gallons of homemade spirits were duty paid for home consumption during the month of February last, and the amount of revenue received in respect thereof; how many gallons of foreign spirits were duty paid in the same month and the amount of revenue thereon; and what were the respective amounts of Wine and Beer Duty received in the same period?

The particulars requested as to the clearances of spirits, wine, and beer during the month of February, 1910, are as follows:—

	Quantity.		Amount or Duty and Deposit received.
	Gallons.		£
Home-made Spirits	1,298,000	…	896,000
Imported Spirits	311,000	…	234,000
Wine	—	…	87,000
Beer	—	…	982,000

asked what was the total amount of money received for duty on both home and foreign spirits cleared for home consumption from 1st April, 1908, to 28th February, 1909; and, assuming that the additional Spirit Duty is legalised by statute as from 30th April, 1909, what is the corresponding amount for this year?

The total duty paid on home-made and imported spirits cleared for home consumption from 1st April, 1908, to 28th February, 1809, was £19,055,000. Assuming that the additional Spirit Duty is legalised by statute as from 30th April, 1909, the total duty payable on spirits cleared for home consumption from 1st April, 1909, to 28th February, 1910, is £16,983,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, at the end of every distilling period, distillers or their principal managers must sign and deliver to the proper officer a return in the prescribed form, specifying, amongst other things, the quantity of each description of material used in making wort or wash during the period; if bushels of malt is one of the particulars as specified as being required; how many such returns of materials used were made and dated in the week, 21st to 28th February, 1910; and how many such returns were made in the corresponding week of 1909, and what is the total amount of malt so returned as having been used from 1st October, 1909, to 28th February, 1910, and the quantity used in the corresponding months from 1st October, 1908, to 28th February, 1909?

The returns referred to by the hon. Member are furnished by distillers, and specify the quantity of malt used, I regret, however, that information as to number of returns received and quantity of malt used during portions of a distilling year is not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury whether the last of the Chinamen imported into South Africa have now been sent back to their own country; whether he can give figures showing separately the numbers of white men and of natives employed in the mines in the year preceding the importation of the Chinese coolies and in each succeeding year, and the numbers of Chinamen leaving South Africa and remaining there in the period during which their repatriation has been going on; and whether he can give figures showing the output from the mines where the Chinese coolies were at work, beginning from two years before the Boer War down to the present time?

The following are the numbers of white and native labourers employed in January, 1904 (which was before the Chinese arrived), and in the same month in the following years:—

	Whites.		Natives.
January, 1904	12,814	…	75,027
January, 1905	15,536	…	89,895
January, 1906	18,582	…	93,933
January, 1907	17,874	…	102,477
January, 1908	17,522	…	133,515
January, 1909	19,801	…	169,537
*December, 1909	23,077	…	168,665
* Being the last month for which official figures are available.

The Chinese repatriated:—

in 1904–5 were	1,317
1905–6 were	3,008
1906–7 were	5,158
1907–8 were	29,210
1908–9 were	13,731

The last figure is to March, 1909, since when there do not appear to be any official figures. The Chinese employed in January, 1907, when the number was greatest, were 53,856; in January, 1908, 33,849; in January, 1909, 11,534; and in January, 1910, 1,908.I cannot give figures for the output of the mines where the Chinese were employed, but the following are the figures for the whole gold output since 1897:—

1897	£11,653,725
1898	16,240,630
1899	15,452,025
1900	1,481,442
1901	1,096,051
1902	7,301,501
1903	12,628,057
1904	16,028,883
1905 (6 months to June)	10,075,682
1905–6	22,087,937
1906–7	26,640,490
1907–8	28,508,368
1908–9	30,985,966

asked whether the experiment of working the Rand gold mines in South Africa by indentured Chinese labour has now come to an end; whether the number of white labourers there employed has largely increased; whether the miners now employed, whether black or white, are free from the servile conditions under which the Chinese were engaged; and whether he has any official information showing that the effect of the change has been beneficial or disastrous to the mining industry?

The last indentured labourers from the Rand are now at Durban awaiting shipment to China. In January, 1907, when the maximum number of Chinese were employed, the number of white labourers on the Rand mines was 17,198. In December last the number had increased to 23,077. The comparative figures for other classes of labour for the same months are:—

January 1907	Natives	94,221	Chinese	53,856
December 1909	Natives	168,665	Chinese	2,038

The Chinese were engaged on special conditions which do not apply to any other form of labour, and have come to an end. In connection with the last part of my hon. Friend's question, it will be sufficient to quote the following figures from the reports of the Transvaal Government Mining Engineer:—

Output of Gold 1906–7	…	£26,640,000
Output of Gold 1907–8	…	28,508,000
Output of Gold 1908–0	…	30,986,000

Number of tons milled per year for each coloured labourer employed:—

1906–7	…	…	…	110 tons.
1907–8	…	…	…	113 tons.
1908–9	…	…	…	123 tons.

Working cost per ton:—

				s.	d.
1907–8	…	…	…	19	7
1908–9	…	…	…	17	4

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the increase per cent. of total imports into Great Britain, Germany, and the United States since 1880?

The following Statement shows the Value of Merchandise Imported for Home Consumption ("Special Imports") into the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States in the undermentioned years:—

Country.	1880	1908.	1909.
	Million	Million	Million
	£	£	£
United Kingdom (Declared Values at British Ports)	347·9	513·3	533·4
Germany (Official Values at German Ports;	138·6	376·8	*
United States† (Declared Values at ports of shipment)	130·7	243·4	268·2

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of the principal lighthouses on the south coast of Ireland from the Fastnet Rock on the west to the Tuskar Rock on the east, including the latter; what are the names of the fog-signal stations on the same coast, and what distance are they from each other; and can he say whether any vessels have been lost owing to fog on this coast during the last ten years?

The fog-signal stations on the same coast are, excluding Fastnet, as follows:—

1.	Kinsale (Old Head)	42 miles from Fastnet.
2.	Daunts Lightship	12 miles from Kinsale.
3.	Roches Point	4½ miles from Daunts.
4.	Poer Head	4½ miles from Roches Point
5.	Ballycotton	10½ miles from Poer Head
6.	Hook Tower	43 miles from Ballycotton
7.	Coningbeg Lightship	12 miles from Hook Tower
8.	Barrels Lightship	10 miles from Coningbeg
9.	Tuskar	9 miles from Barrels.

It appears from the records of Wreck Inquiries that there has only been one vessel lost on this coast during the past ten years, the loss of which was attributable wholly or partly to fog. This vessel was lost on the Tuskar Rocks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now lay upon the Table further Papers on the affairs of Persia?

Further Papers will be laid, but I cannot yet fix a date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the terms on which the Anglo-Russian loan has been offered to the Persian Government; and whether the Persian Parliament has objected to these terms?

I cannot make any statement of the terms while they are still the subject of negotiation. The answer to the second part of the hon. Member's question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received a letter from the leading inhabitants of Tabriz protesting against the continued presence of Russian troops and against the conduct of the Russian soldiers, and asking the British Government to exercise its influence in favour of the withdrawal of these troops?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Patrick Hayes, a soldier pensioner, who served twenty-one years and seven months in the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, eighteen years and seven months of this time being spent in India, and who was discharged twenty-one years ago on 1s. per day pension, and whose claim is that his pension should have been 1s. 1d. per day; and, taking into account this man's age and the fact that he states that his sons have joined the Army and that he has no help, whether the penny per day could be restored to him and made retro spective?

One shilling a day is the maximum rate of pension to which this man is entitled.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the employés of the War Office and other Government workers in Ireland will be granted a holiday on St. Patrick's Day; whether he is aware that the day is recognised as a Bank Holiday by the Government; and, if so, will he make it one of the holidays granted to Government workers in that country?

I am aware that St. Patrick's Day is a Bank Holiday in Ireland. The rule for the War Department is that employes shall be granted St. Patrick's Day as a public holiday on the same conditions as for Admiralty employés, namely, without pay and without the right of making up lost time.

asked what are the special circumstances which called for the creation of the appointment of Inspector of Medical Services; and what are the particular duties performed by this officer which are not already performed, and have been in the past, by administrative Army medical officers of divisions and districts?

The appointment of Inspector of Medical Services was made on the recommendation of the Inspector-General of the Forces with a view to placing the Medical Services in line with the other arms of the Service in regard to independent inspection. The special duties of the inspector are to report to the Army Council as to the manner in which the sanitary and administrative work of the Army is being carried out and to assist in co-ordinating methods of medical inspection. These duties are fully set forth in paragraph 26, King's Regulations.

asked the Secretary for War if he is aware that, in the case of warrant officers and non-commissioned officers in the Army Pay Corps, no concessions have been made to replace the service pay of 6d. or 7d. a day in force before 1st October, 1906, and that, in consequence, a warrant officer who now extends his service will received 1d. a day less than the quartermaster-sergeant under him; and whether, in view of the inequality thus arising, be will continue the payment of service pay during re-engagement to those previously drawing it where no other concessions or pay has been substituted?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, there is no intention of continuing the grant of service pay on re-engagement in the cases mentioned. The possibility of a temporary anomaly of the kind to which he alludes does not justify the continuance of what is held to be an unnecessarily high rate of pay.

asked what course is proposed in the present year for the Army (Annual) Bill?

I understand that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury is in communication with the right hon. baronet the Member for the Wellington Division of Somerset as to this matter, and perhaps my right hon. Friend will repeat his question to-morrow.

asked the Secretary for War why, when the leave granted to Colour-Sergeant J. Smith, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, on his retrenchment by the Transvaal Government, from 11th January, 1908, was cancelled, he should not have received pay from Army funds from that date till his discharge on 9th April, 1908, and whether he will order a court of inquiry into this case?

Colour-Sergeant Smith was paid by the Transvaal Government during the period in question and was not entitled to pay from Army funds in addition. No inquiry, therefore, is necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it was after consultation and with the approval of His Majesty's Government that the Government of India imposed the heavy Import Duty upon silver announced on 25th February?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will make representations to the Legislative Council of India to reduce the proposed duties on importations of tobacco and cigarettes; and whether he is aware that if the proposed duties come into force they will result in several hundreds of workpeople in Liverpool and Bristol being thrown out of employment, with the consequent hardships, and will inflict considerable losses upon British manufacturers?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave this afternoon to the hon. Member for South Bristol.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he will represent to the Government of India the loss of trade and employment in the United Kingdom which would be caused by the proposed increase in the duties on tobacco and cigarettes imported into India, and urge the expediency of a reconsideration of the said increase?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave this afternoon to the hon. Member for South Bristol.

asked the Lord Advocate what are the latest figures with regard to the diminution of drunkenness in Scotland since the increase in the duty upon spirits?

Statistics applicable to the whole of Scotland are not yet available, but taking for the three cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee the number of convictions for the offences of (1) drunkenness and drunk and incapable, (2) drunk and disorderly, (3) drunk in charge of a child, etc., (4) drunk or drinking in a shebeen, (5) disorderly on licensed premises, etc., (6) habitual drunkenness, together with (7) breach of peace, where the person was under the influence of drink when apprehended for the offence, the figures for each of the months July to December in the years 1908 and 1909 are as follows:—

		1908.	1909.
July	3,341	…	2,462
August	2,797	…	2,176
September	2,610	…	1,979
October	3,129	…	2,149
November	2,564	…	1,844
December	2,648	…	1,742
Total	17,089	…	12,352

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he can now give a date for the completion of the Queen Victoria Memorial in St. James's Park?

I anticipate that the work will be finished within twelve months from now. But it is impossible to state an actual date.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will explain what steps have been taken by the Estates Commissioners in the way of acquiring the lands of Longfordpass, on the Langley estate; and, in view of the necessity which exists for the distribution of these lands, will he indicate the time when these lands may be dealt with?

The Estate Commissioners have made an offer to purchase these lands which has been accepted, and a scheme will be prepared as soon as practicable for their allotment after they have been vested in the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the money provided by the Labourers Act is now exhausted, he will take steps to provide further funds in order to allow such district councils as may have embarked on supplemental schemes under the Act to carry them out without seeking a loan from private sources, which will necessarily entail a higher rate of interest and mean a burden upon the rates of the district?

The Government are at present considering the question of introducing legislation with the object of re-enacting Section 18 of the Labourers Act, 1883, so as to enable loans to be made to local authorities for the purpose of erecting labourers' cottages on the system which existed before the passing of the Act of 1906.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the total number of students who presented themselves for examination in the modern literary course of the Intermediate Education Board for Ireland last year; the number in Division I.; the number in Division II.; the number and value of exhibitions given to each of those divisions; and whether he will take steps to secure that students taking Irish will not be penalised in favour of those taking German in all future examinations?

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the number of students who presented themselves for examination in the modern literary course of the Intermediate Board, Ireland, last year; the number who presented themselves in Divisions I. and II. respectively; the number and value of exhibitions awarded to each of those divisions; and whether he will secure that in future students presenting themselves in Irish will not be penalised in favour of students presenting themselves in German?

It is impossible to give the number of students who presented themselves for examination in the Modern Literary Courses. Students do not, as I am informed, now present themselves for examination in courses but in subjects. The subsequent classification into courses is only for the purpose of the exhibition and prize lists. I understand that at the last examinations forty-four exhibitions, of the total value of £640, were awarded in Division I. of the Modern Literary Course and forty-nine, of the value of £845, in Division II. For more detailed statistics I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on my behalf in reply to the question asked by him on 21st September last. The rules for 1911 are now being considered by the Board of Intermediate Education, who will doubtless give the question of the relative position of Irish and German in their examinations careful consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary whether a bog-slide has taken place in the neighbourhood of Castlerea, county Roscommon; and, if so, whether he can state the extent of the damage and what steps, if any, have been taken to repair the damage?

I understand that a portion of a large bog on the Worthington estate began to move on last Wednesday afternoon. Two of the inspectors of the Congested Districts Board visited the bog, and considered that it was desirable to tap the water at the back of the bog in order to prevent considerable damage being done. Thirty-four men were accordingly immediately employed for this purpose, and the Board's inspector reports that there is no reason in his opinion to fear any further movement of the bog. About twenty acres of bog has moved about forty yards, part of a potato garden belonging to a tenant on the estate has been buried, and he has lost some of his potatoes which were in pits in the garden. No other damage has been done. Three tenants who left their homes when the bog began to move have now returned to them.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can say if the bog-slide reported to have taken place in county Roscommon during last week is of a serious character; what is the extent of the damage; and what steps have been taken to succour the people affected?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply which I have just given to the question asked by the hon. Member for South Roscommon.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the decision of the Court of Appeal in Pawley's case, the Local Government Board still claim the right to withdraw at any time old age pensions which have been granted by local pensions committees with the assent of pension officers and enjoyed, often for a considerable period, in the absence of new facts; whether a subsequent examination of the Census Returns is held to constitute a new fact; and whether it was the duty of the pension officers to have satisfied themselves in the first instance of the age of each applicant before the pension was allowed to be issued?

I understand that in the case referred to the Court of Appeal decided that Pawley had no right to raise the question which was raised, and this case does not debar the Local Government Board from deciding questions properly raised as to the statutory right of pensioners to continue to receive pensions. In view of the recent decision of the King's Bench Division in the case of Sinnott v. the Wexford Pension Committee, an examination of the Census Returns is held to constitute a new fact. The pensions officers are not under my direction, and any question as to their duties should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Court of Appeal, in the case of the King (Pawley) v. the Local Government Board for Ireland, to the effect that that Board had no jurisdiction in the matter; and whether steps have been taken to have old age pensions restored in this and all similar cases, together with the arrears due?

I understand that the Pawley decision applies only to a very few cases which have come before the Local Go vernment Board. The question of the best means of dealing with cases governed by it is under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Thomas M'Cormack, of Longford pension district, and his wife, both of whom are over 70 years of age (admitted), have been refused a pension because the old woman had been getting a little out-door relief in respect of the maintenance of an orphan grandchild, both of whose parents died leaving her to their care; whether he is aware that the relief in this case was solely given for the benefit of the child and not for the benefit of either Thomas M'Cormack or his wife; and whether, in the circumstances, he will direct the Local Government Board to give these old people the pension, and also arrears due?

I understand that Thomas M'Cormack's wife received 1s. 6d. a week out-door relief, as proved by the Relieving Officer's Application and Report Book. If such relief were intended for the grandchild referred to, the Board of Guardians were empowered under the Pauper Children (Ireland) Acts, 1898 and 1902, to board the child out with Mrs. M'Cormack and to pay for its maintenance, which they did not do. In view of the terms of Section 3 (1) (a) of the Old Age Pensions Act, M'Cormack and his wife appear to be disqualified for receiving pensions.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have purchased the lands of Newrath, Kells, county Meath; and, if not, will he state what they have done in the matter, and how it now stands?

The Estates Commissioners have not purchased these lands, but they have recently had a preliminary inspection made at the request of the owner, and have intimated to him the price they would be prepared to offer should he institute proceedings for sale under the Land Purchase Acts?

asked the Chief Secretary whether it is the duty of the police under the Poaching Prevention Act, 1862, to search any person whom they meet and have good cause to suspect of having been on lands in pursuit of or killing game without having authority to be on such lands, or of having in his possession any game unlawfully obtained, and in the event of detection to seize and detain the game, and to apply to a justice of the peace for a summons against such person; whether an instruction has been issued to the police in Ireland prohibiting their employment in the enforcement of any of the Acts relating to the laws for the preservation of game; if so, what is the date of such instruction; and will he ascertain if it is the fact that the police have construed this instruction as superseding their statutory duty under the Act of 1862?

The Royal Irish Constabulary are prohibited by the Constabulary Act of 1836 from enforcing any Acts relating to the laws for the preservation of game. The attention of the police was by direction of the Irish Government called to this matter by circular in 1906, but they were at the same time informed that they should continue to enforce the provisions of the Act of 1862. The Constabulary authorities have no reason to suppose that the police have misunderstood these instructions.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the English Board of Agriculture are considering the question of removing the embargo upon the importation of live cattle from the Argentine; and whether, having regard to the injury which would result to the Irish cattle industry from such a step, the Irish Department of Agriculture ore taking any measures to safe guard Irish interests in this matter?

I understand that the Argentine Government have made representations to the English Board of Agriculture and Fisheries that owing to the absence of foot-and-mouth disease for a year animals should again be admitted into Great Britain for slaughter at the port of landing only. These representations are under consideration, and the Irish Department of Agriculture is in communication with the English Board on the subject. No question arises as to the importation of store cattle.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will explain what steps the Estates Commissioners have taken to provide a farm for Michael Buckley, Toom, Cappawhite, county Tipperary, seeing they have admitted his claim as an evicted tenant?

Buckley's name was provisionally noted by the Estates Commissioners for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land, but on further inquiry the Commissioners have decided not to provide him with a farm. It appears that on his eviction from his former holding in 1894 it was relet to his wile and father-in-law, who paid up all arrears and who subsequently sold it for £520 to the present occupiers.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether purchase agreements on the estate of Mr. Edward E. Leigh White, situate in Dursey Island, county Cork, were lodged with the Estates Commissioners in December, 1905; and whether the holdings have been vested in the tenants; and, if not, what is the cause of the delay?

The agreements for purchase in the case of this estate were lodged in December, 1905, but the holdings have not yet been vested. The Estates Commissioners anticipate that the matter will be finally dealt with in the course of the next few months.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what is the cause of the delay in advancing the purchase money on the estate of Dwyer and others at Scart, Kilteely, county Limerick, as the tenants signed their agreements in June, 1905, and are since paying a high rate of interest, whereas tenants in the neighbourhood who did not sign purchase agreements for six months after them are now paying the usual 3¼ per cent. annuity?

As I have already informed the hon. Member in reply to the question asked by him on the 28th ultimo, the purchase agreements in this case were not lodged with the Estates Commissioners until January, 1906. The property will be inspected at an early date.

asked whether in the experiment which the Department was making with the four Normandy sires will mares be put to them, and, if so, how many to each horse; what breed will the mares be; have they to be purchased by the Department, and, if so, at what cost; is it the intention of the Department to import any more of these sires; and, if it be, will they consult the county committees in the matter?

These sires will be used for the service of mares belonging to the Department only. It is not proposed to purchase more sires of this breed at present.

asked how many mares the Board of Agriculture (Ireland) have on the farms at Foxrock and elsewhere; of what class are these mares; how many of them are to be put to the Normandy sires; and what is eventually intended to be done with the produce?

The Department have at present twenty-seven mares at their own stations which are principally used for farm work. They are not yet in a position to say how many mares will be put to the Normandy sires, nor can they say at present what will eventually be done with the produce.

asked whether any attempt will be made this Session to simplify the drainage laws, so as to hand over the drainage of rural districts in Ireland either to the county or rural district councils?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for the Leix Division en 28th February.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Wexford District Council are at present working a scheme for giving an additional half-acre to the agricultural labourer; can he say how many additional half-acres are being given; and whether the land was voluntarily or taken compulsorily?

The Wexford Rural District Council propose to acquire, by agreement with the persons interested, 144 half acres to be added to the like number of half-acre plots already provided, so as to bring the allotment in each case up to the maximum of a statute acre allowed by the Labourers Acts. No scheme has been submitted to the Board, and the council, who are apparently proceeding under Section 2 of the Act of 1906, are at present negotiating with the parties as to the terms of purchase in cases where these persons are disposed to give the plots voluntarily.

asked the Chief Secretary how soon may the Little estate at Moorestown, Kilfinane, be distributed; and whether provision has been made by the inspector in charge of the estate to safeguard the interests of the town tenants of Kilfinane who have long since applied for allotments and whose application has been supported by many public bodies?

These lands have been inspected, but a scheme has not been prepared by the Estates Commissioners for their distribution. The applications received from the town tenants of Kilfinane will be considered in the allotment of the lands.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners have served notice on Captain Sholto Douglas withdrawing their notice to compulsorily acquire 500 acres of the Douglas estate, county Longford, which two of their inspectors had visited and valued for the purposes of purchase; why such action was taken; and is there to be nothing done to provide homes for the ninety-seven evicted tenants in North Longford who have been expecting reinstatement under the Evicted Tenants Act on these lands?

The Estates Commissioners published a notice in the "Dublin Gazette" with a view to the compulsory acquisition of these lands, but decided, after inquiry, to discontinue the proceedings. The evicted tenants in county Longford whose applications have been approved have, with two exceptions, been reinstated or provided with new holdings. In the case of these two persons proceedings are pending for the sale of their former holdings to the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state why the entire Box-well estate, at Duncormack, county Wexford, has not been acquired for the benefit of the evicted tenants; have the Estates Commissioners acquired some of the property and left other portions un-acquired; and, if so, will he give particulars of the portions which have been acquired and those which have not been taken over, and the reasons for the decisions in each case?

The Estates Commissioners have not yet acquired any portion of this estate. Proceedings were instituted under the Evicted Tenants Act for the compulsory acquisition of some 580 acres, but on consideration of objections filed by the owner under Section 2 of the Act the Commissioners decided to discontinue proceedings in regard to some 140 acres, and made an offer for the remaining 440 acres. Against this offer the owner has filed a petition which has yet not been determined.