asked the First Commissioner of Works what purpose is served by scattering small sharp pointed stones on the stone roads in Hyde Park, which are used almost entirely by traffic with rubber tyres; and whether he can attain his purpose by some method less destructive to india-rubber?

The object of scattering granite screenings upon the macadam roads in Hyde Park is to bind the surface together. This is necessitated by the wear and tear of surface incidental to the use of rubber tyres. Undoubtedly the laying of wood pavement would furnish a surface more agreeable to rubber; but the cost of this would be prohibitive at present.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if an inspection of buildings available for a county court has been made under his instructions at Brynmawr, Breconshire; whether he is aware of the application made to the Lord Chancellor by the Monmouthshire County Council for additional courts in the county at Abertillery and other places; and what steps he proposes to take?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. I have been informed by the Lord Chancellor that it is in contemplation to hold sittings of the county court of Tredegar at Brynmawr, and it has been ascertained by inspection that the police court at the latter place possesses the desired accommodation. The matter now rests with his Lordship. I am not aware that any application has been made to the Lord Chancellor for additional courts at Abertillery or other places in Monmouthshire.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty yacht is maintained by the nation solely for use upon official work?

I understand that in recent times the general practice has been that when the Admiralty yacht has been used official purposes have been in view. I daresay the hon. Member, who is a great student of naval history, could find many instances during the last hundred years when the official purpose was not directly apparent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Arthur Harry Hurrell, aged sixteen, was sentenced at Teignmouth police court on 24th February, 1910, to six weeks' hard labour for stealing £15 15s., and that this was his first offence; and whether he proposes to remit any portion of the sentence?

I have caused inquiry to be made into this case, and regret that, having regard to all the facts, I cannot recommend any reduction of the sentence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the cotton goods exported from the United Kingdom to India are of a kind and quality not made in India; and what proportion compete with similar goods made in India?

I have no information which would enable me to give a definite reply to this question. The Noble Lord will, however, find some information which may help him to frame some estimate of the nature he requires in the "Review of the Trade of India in 1908–9," published by the Indian Commercial Intelligence Department, which gives certain particulars as to the character of the imports into India and of the production of Indian spindles and looms, and shows that over 90 per cent. of the imports of both yarns and piece goods came from the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of revenue did the increased duty on beer realise in Ireland for the ten months May, 1909, to February, 1910?

The amount paid in Ireland during the ten months in question was £2,406.

asked for an approximate estimate for the year ending 31st March, 1910, of what will be the revenue adjusted to give the true contribution of Ireland, and the total expenditure on Irish services; and what, if any, will be the contribution of Ireland to Imperial services for that year, on the same basis as the calculation in the Revenue and Expenditure Return No. 208 of Session 1909?

The amount contributed by Ireland to the revenue of the current financial year will, so far as I am at present in a position to form an estimate, be approximately £8,674,000. The estimated total expenditure upon Irish services (including the Supplementary grants of this Session) is £10,935,000. The revenue from Irish sources will thus be insufficient to defray the cost of purely Irish services by approximately £2,261,000. In view, however, of the uncertainty which exists with regard to the amount of revenue which will be received between now and the end of the financial year, these estimates are very conjectural.

asked whether instructions are issued to the Income Tax assessors to take into consideration the compound allowance made to owners in fixing the assessment against a house for Income Tax and Inhabited House Duty?

The allowance made to an owner in respect of properties of which tenants' rates are paid by him is such as is provided for by Section 63 (Rule 10) of the Income Tax Act, 1842, which directs that an allowance is to be made for sums bonâ fide paid by the landlord for parochial rates payable by the occupiers, and the assessors are instructed accordingly.

asked if officers of the Territorial Forces attending schools of instructions, whether obligatory or voluntary, will have to produce a certificate showing that in consequence of their attendance their civil avocations have been interfered with, and they have thereby sustained financial loss, before they can receive pay and allowances, and if they have not sustained this Toss, whether they will receive pay or allowances; and, if not, what was the object of this order?

No certificate is required by the Regulations. The question of fact is left within the discretion of the local military authorities, and I have no intention of interfering with that discretion. If an officer fails to satisfy the military authorities, he does not receive pay and allowances. The Regulation in question refers only to day schools when officers live at home and attend intermittently. It does not apply to courses like Hythe, where the officers attend for a continuous period and reside at the school.

asked the Secretary for War, with reference to his Memorandum on the Army Accounts Department, dated February, 1910, and appended to the copy of Army Estimates for the year 1910–11, whether he has made arrangements whereby the changes made in the Army Accounts Department shall not materially affect the claims and former prospects of promotion of the civilian assistant accountants serving in that Department; and whether he will give the assurance that the status conferred on those assistant accountants by appointment to the Army Accounts Department shall be duly recognised in the future?

The assistant accountants retained for permanent service will be those who were transferred without competition or examination from the Second Division. The increases of pay given to them on transfer are retained, and they also retain a due share of promotion on the new establishment, into the ranks and scale of pay for which they were eligible under the conditions in force before 1st January last. Some reduction of the higher grade of the establishment has been found necessary in the interests of economy, but I have been able to arrange for the very favourable rate of absorption of one in three vacancies.

asked what is the establishment of the Special Reserve of Officers of the Army Veterinary Department, and what its actual strength was on 1st March?

There is no establishment of Special Reserve Officers of the Army Veterinary Department. There is only one such officer at present.

asked if all the claims for the necessary change in uniform for officers on transferring from the Volunteers to the Territorial Force have been settled, and, if not, how many claims are outstanding and when they are likely to be settled?

Apart from claims from officers which have necessarily been delayed pending their absorption into the Territorial Force establishments, etc., no further claims are now being entertained. Consideration of the claims of about 250 officers is now being completed, and it is hoped that all will be settled before the end of the month.

asked the Secretary for War whether he has had any report of the number of deaths from pneumonia and phthisis which have taken place during the past six months amongst the Territorials present at last year's camps owing to peculiarly wet conditions?

The reply is in the negative. The deaths of members of the Territorial Force who might die after the closing of camps are not specially reported to the War Office unless they were treated in military hospitals. Only one case has been reported to the War Office of a death from pneumonia.

asked the Secretary for War whether he will make an order to provide wood tent-bottoms for Territorial camps, so as to minimise the danger of pneumonia and phthisis to men usually employed in warm factories and sleeping, in warm houses?

The regulations provide that if, in the opinion of the medical authorities, the conditions prevailing when camps are in progress render it necessary to provide tent-bottoms, issue of tent-bottoms may be made. They are not ordinary articles of camp equipment. Waterproof ground sheets are issued when tent-bottoms are not supplied.

further asked the Secretary for War whether he will consider the advisability of providing an iron-building in each Territorial camp, to be fitted with two stoves and with clotheslines and hooks, so that clothes can be readily dried?

It must be remembered that the Territorial Force are provided with a second suit of clothes, and further that their period of attendance in camp is for only fifteen days. It is not, therefore, considered necessary to make special provision for the erection of the buildings and the plant proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will explain the circumstances under which Jeremiah Corcoran, caretaker of the sewage and irrigation works at Ballincollig Barracks, was forced to surrender the position and to give up the tenancy of the field attached; was the promise made to him by Major Hammond, in the presence of Mr. Denis Ford, that if he gave up possession he would be substantially compensated; for how many years was Corcoran a tenant of the War Department; did he receive satisfactory certificates as to the manner in which he discharged his duties from time to time from military engineering inspectors; did he last year, owing to the action of the departmental authorities, lose his labour and his crops; is there a quantity of manure belonging to him at present in this sewage field, and, if so, will opportunities be given to him to take it away; and, having regard to all the circumstances of this case, will he consider the desirability, in the interests of a peaceful settlement, of making a reasonable grant to this man for his loss of labour, loss of crops, and loss of position?

This field was in proximity to the barracks, and it was of vital importance that it should be kept in a sanitary condition. In spite of repeated complaints by the medical officer, this man allowed the field to lapse into a condition which endangered the health of the troops and the station generally, and he was accordingly given notice to quit on 25th April, 1908, under the terms of his agreement. He had been tenant since 26th March, 1900. The notice to quit was extended to 24th August, 1908, with the express object of allowing him to clear his crops for that year, and the extension was accepted by him. After the notice to quit the complaints continued, and on temporary remedies being effected certificates were given to show that this had been done; but this did not in any way affect the fact of his unsuitability to retain the tenancy. When the tenancy expired and the new tenant came to take possession Corcoran threw him into the road and violently abused the officer who accompanied him. As he refused to give up possession he was ejected by legal process, but has since frequently committed trespass. I am informed that there is no manure in bulk on the land, and in any case he would now have no claim to it. There was no promise of compensation and there is no intention of giving any compensation.

asked the effect of the new Indian Import Duties on the cost of living, and especially of beverages and tobacco, the prices of which are being advanced for the British troops in India; and whether the Government of India will give an increase of pay or some other mitigation to the troops in face of the burden which they are now called on to bear?

The principle suggested by my hon. Friend of giving preferential treatment to soldiers in regard to the incidence of taxation is not, I think, followed in this or any other country, and does not commend itself to the Secretary of State.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the reason for the change in time for the closing of the post office at Abingdon (Berks); and whether, in the interests of the public of that town, an arrangement can be made for an interchange of duties during the day which, while necessitating no extra hours of work for officials, would enable the authorities to keep the office open till a later hour?

I am having inquiries made in the matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the present congested state of business in the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, and to the fact that the trial of common jury actions has been suspended during the current week; and whether he will take steps to deal with the difficulty, either by carrying out the recommendation of the recent Commission by appointing two additional judges, or at all events by appointing additional commissioners of assize?

I am informed that the absence from illness and other causes of certain of the King's Bench Judges has served to aggravate the condition of business in that division. The Lord Chancellor has appointed two Commissioners of Assize, and by this arrangement two additional Judges have been enabled to remain in London. I may add that the Lord Chancellor is most desirous that a Bill should be introduced, without delay, and passed as a non-contentious measure providing, in accordance with the recommendation of the Joint Committee of the two Houses, for the temporary appointment of two additional Judges. I hope that this may be arranged, and the progress of business in the King's Bench Division facilitated accordingly.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have yet acquired the untenanted lands on the Mount Coote estate, at Kilmallock; and, if so, how soon may it be ready for distribution?

No proceedings for the sale of these lands would appear to be pending before the Estates Commissioners.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have received from Anne Carolan an application to be reinstated in her former holding on the estate of Lord Gormanstown, situate at Kingscourt; and what action has been taken in the matter?

The Estates Commissioners have received an application from Anne Carolan for reinstatement to a holding on the above estate from which her late brother was evicted, but they have decided not to take any action in the matter.

asked whether Miss Louisa O'Daly has applied to the Estates Commissioners to be reinstated in her former holding on the estate of J. L. Naper, Loughcrew, Oldcastle, county Meath; and what action has been taken in her case?

Miss Louisa B. O'Daly applied to the Estates Commissioners on 2nd January, 1907, for reinstatement in a holding on the estate of W. L. Naper. On 1st May, 1907, she signed an agreement with the landlord for the purchase of forty-seven acres of her former holding in which she was reinstated by him. The Commissioners do not intend to take any action in reference to the remainder of her former holding.

asked whether Michael Quinlan, J.P., and Dr. O'Callaghan, J.P., recently adjudicated in some assault cases at Hospital petty sessions, county Limerick; and will he say whether these gentlemen were entitled to adjudicate in this petty sessions district?

Mr. Michael Quinlan, J.P., and Dr. O'Callaghan, J.P., appear to have attended the Hospital petty sessions on the occasion referred to in the question. At the time of his appointment to the magistracy Dr. O'Callaghan was expressly authorised by the Lord Chancellor to attend the Hospital petty sessions and further inquiries are being made as to the petty sessions assigned to Mr. Quinlan.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Thomas Dowling and his wife, Julia Dowling, of Ardrahan, Ardfert, North Kerry, were in receipt of an old age pension from the Ballyheigue committee; that on appeal the Local Government Board disallowed the pension which the local committee granted, on the grounds that Thomas Dowling and his wife gave their land in marriage to one of their children on a deed under which Thomas Dowling and his wife received no pecuniary benefits; and whether, seeing that it has been the universal custom from time immemorial for land to be transferred in Ireland from parents to children on their marriage, the Local Government Board will reconsider their decision?

As stated in the question, the Local Government Board upheld the appeals of the pension officer against the committee's decisions awarding pensions to Thomas and Julia Dowling. The claimant and his wife put forward their claims on 24th February, 1909, after having on 11th February made over their holding to their son in consideration of a sum of £260 with maintenance and clothing. Even assuming that the transfer was made bonâ fide on the occasion of the son's marriage, the value of the maintenance on the farm, which contains forty-nine statute acres, rented at £23 per annum, would be, in the opinion of the Local Government Board, sufficient to disqualify the claimants for pensions.

asked whether the Kellet estate, Barley Hill, county Meath, had recently been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners; and what action they have taken in the matter?

I understand that portion of this property has already been sold under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and that the lands have been vested in the purchasers. No proceedings are at present pending before the Estates Commissioners as regards the residue of the property.

also asked whether the Estates Commissioners have prepared, and, if not, when do they propose to prepare, a distribution scheme concerning the lands of Newtown, Moynalty, county Meath; and whether, in allotting the lands, they will consult local representative men as to the selection of desirable tenants?

Proceedings have been instituted for the sale of the untenanted lands on the estate of Mr. F. A. Smith to which the hon. Member appears to refer. No distribution scheme can be prepared until the lands have been acquired by the Estates Commissioners.

further asked whether the Estates Commissioners, in preparing a scheme of distribution of the untenanted land on the Smyth estate, at Newtown, Moynalty, county Meath, will make inquiries into the number of labourers living on the estate and qualified by length of tenancy, under the Act of 1906, to parcels of land and give prior consideration to their claims?

The Estates Commissioners will consider the wants and requirements of labourers in the locality in the event of their acquiring the untenanted lands in question, which appear to be situated on the estate of Mr. F. A. Smith, county Meath, for the sale of which proceedings have been instituted.

also asked whether the Estates Commissioners compulsorily acquired land on the Nicholson estate at Drumharagh, Kells, county Meath; and whether there is any of the land still available for distribution among small holders in the district?

Ninety-seven acres of untenanted land on the Nicholson estate, county Meath, were acquired under the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, by the Estates Commissioners, and all the land so acquired has been resold for the purpose of that Act.

likewise asked whether purchase agreements, signed by tenants on the Kellet estate, Barley Hill, county Meath, have been lodged with the Estates Commissioners; whether there is a quantity of untenanted land on the estate; if it has been offered for sale to the Commissioners; and, if not, whether they will approach the owner with a view to acquiring the untenanted land for distribution?

As I have just informed the hon. Member, part of this property has been sold and vested in the tenants, and no proceedings are pending for the sale of the residue. As regards the untenanted land on the estate, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question on the same subject asked by him on 4th March last.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state how the loans, amounting to £3,936,631, sanctioned under The Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1908, are apportioned amongst the various Irish counties; how many cottages have been sanctioned or already built in each county under the provisions of this Act; how many improvement schemes are at present in progress in the various unions in Ireland; and what is the aggregate amount of the loans applied for in respect of them?

As regards the first part of the question, particulars by counties are not readily available, but I hope that the hon. Member will find sufficient information for his purpose in the statement by provinces which I have just promised to publish with the Votes. As regards the remainder of the question, seventeen schemes have been received by the Local Government Board for which orders have not yet been made. These schemes embrace over 800 cottages and 140 additional allotments, whilst in addition there are 1,200 cottages and 150 allotments included in orders made for which loans have not yet been sanctioned. It is estimated that these schemes will exhaust the balance of the fund provided under the Labourers Act of 1906.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Wexford Rural District Council has been informed by the Local Government Board that no part of the 4¼ millions provided by Section 16 of the Labourers (Ireland) Act of 1906 is available for the carrying out of a scheme to give an additional half-acre to each labourer which the council has at present on hand; can he say if the fund is exhausted; and, if so, will he consider the advisability of recommending the Treasury to grant a supplemental loan, on the terms provided by the Act of 1906, for carrying out the Labourers Acts?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the questions asked by the hon. Member for Mid-Cork on the 2nd instant, in which I have explained the meaning of the circular issued to rural district councils. 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 if he can state when the Estates Commissioners hope to complete sales in cases where the originating agreement was lodged in July, 1908?

The Estates Commissioners are not in a position at present to say when sales for which purchase agreements were lodged on the dates mentioned may be disposed of. The state of progress will depend on the funds available for land purchase, and the extent to which vendors may avail themselves of the option given them by the Act of 1909 to take the purchase money in part stock and part cash or all in stock.