asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Dampier, who was promoted in the Customs Statistical Office for high mental capacity and general intelligence, obtained only 36 per cent. in English composition at his entrance examination for assistant clerkships, was engaged on duties officially described as routine work, and had experience of only one branch in the office, he can state how it was possible to determine his general intelligence in view of the nature of his duties; and, in considering his claims for promotion, was any attention paid to the general intelligence he exhibited at his entrance examination?

I have nothing to add to my answers of 4th November and 28th February last.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he had received a petition from the assistant clerks employed at the Government Laboratory, addressed to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury and dated 22nd September, 1909; if so, can he say when a reply might be expected; and, if the petition has not been received, will he kindly cause inquiries to be made regarding its whereabouts?

The petition referred to by the hon. Member has been received. No decision has been come to upon it pending the report of a Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the question of the organisation, etc., of the Government Laboratory.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is acquainted with the circumstances under which Edward Carpenter, of Newnham, Winchfield, has been deprived of his old age pension; whether the pension was taken from him on the ground that he had received parish relief; and whether, having regard to the fact that Carpenter is an old soldier eighty years of age, and that during the whole of the time he was in the Winchfield Union Workhouse he paid 7s. a week for his board and lodging, reserving 1d. a day for himself, he will recommend that the old man's pension be restored to him?

Perhaps I may be allowed to reply to this question. I have received an appeal against the discontinuance of the old age pension in this case, and the matter is being investigated. I may say, however, that the Local Government Board have been advised that the disqualification arising from the receipt of poor relief is not removed by the repayment of such relief.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether instructions have been sent to the Income Tax officials of Maldon, Essex, not to issue collector's duplicates, and to recall those already issued; whether instructions have been given to all the collectors in the same district to deposit with the Income Tax Commissioners all duplicates, demand notes, and receipt books; whether the surrender of these documents by the collectors makes it impossible for them to receive payment of Income Tax, as they have no receipts to give and no means of reference as to the amounts due by the Income Taxpayers who are willing to pay; whether he has any official information showing that payment of Income Tax has been tendered to collectors in the above-named district, and that the voluntary payment of three-quarters of the whole Income Tax payable in the district is a reasonable estimate of the collections probable to this date if the books and receipt forms had not been withdrawn; and whether the Treasury will at once issue instructions through the proper channel for these obstructions to the financial business of the country to be at once withdrawn?

The collector for the division referred to is appointed by the Local Commissioners of Taxes, with whom rests the decision in regard to the course to be pursued under the circumstances at present affecting the Income Tax. In the absence of sufficient notice to allow me to make inquiry, I am unable to say what decision has been reached by the local Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that if cabdrivers commit an offence of a minor character and are punished by the magistrate and fined, when the driver appeals for the renewal of his licence at the end of the year it is suspended because of this offence for possibly two or three weeks, thus practically punishing a man twice over for the same offence; and whether he will take steps to remedy this grievance of the cab-drivers?

A licence is never revoked or suspended for an offence of a minor character. If a driver is convicted of a serious offence, such as excessive speed or driving dangerously or recklessly, he is cautioned, and if he is again convicted of a similar offence, the recent practice is to suspend his licence for a short period immediately after the conviction, instead of adopting the more severe course of revocation. In view of the very serious number of accidents caused by cabs it is not desirable in the public interest to relax the present rules.

asked whether administrative medical officers can receive any remuneration other than their fifteen days' training pay, seeing that all officers appointed to headquarters except these officers receive £150 a year?

These officers receive no other remuneration than their pay for training. They have a staff officer in receipt of £100 a year. In one or two cases where there is a vacancy for a staff officer they are allowed £80 a year during the vacancy. The hon. and gallant Member is mistaken in supposing that all officers appointed to headquarters except these receive £150 a year.

asked whether the proposed new 303 ammunition with pointed bullet will consume its own gases in the barrel of the short service rifle?

The reply is in the negative. No ammunition consumes its own gases in the barrel of the rifle.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the following particulars of the flight of the new bullet when fired from a 303 service rifle with the proposed service charge of M.D. cordite, stating in each case whether such particulars are estimated or ascertained, angle of departure for ranges of 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, and 2,500 yards muzzle velocity, remaining velocity at 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, and 2,500 yards, impact in foot pounds at 50, 100, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 yards, greatest height of trajectory for ranges of 500, 800, and 1,000 yards, ballistical co-officient, spin as compared with the present service bullet, and wind resistance, lateral, as compared with the present service bullet?

Angles of departure for the various ranges mentioned have not yet been ascertained, but trials are now in progress to obtain the sighting curve, and until this is obtained it is preferable not to give any calculated angle.The muzzle and remaining velocities are as calculated:—

		Muzzle.		Remaining.
500 yards	…	2,490 f.s.	…	1,503 f.s.
1,000 yards	…	2,490 f.s.	…	1,014 f.s.
1,500 yards	…	2,490 f.s.	…	820 f.s.
2,000 yards	…	2,490 f.s.	…	658 f.s.
2,500 yards	…	2,490 f.s.	…	522 f.s.

The striking energy is estimated as:—

50 yards	2,033 ft. lbs.
100 yards	1,819 ft. lbs.
500 yards	802 ft. lbs.
1,000 yards	365 ft. lbs.
2,000 yards	158 ft. lbs.

The height of trajectory from actual trials is:—

500 yards	2.4 ft.
800 yards	8.3 ft.
1,000 yards	16.6 ft.

As far as it can be calculated at present, the ballistic co-efficient is 387. As regards the spin, if the number of revolutions per second at the muzzle is required, it is 3,280, as against 2,680 with the present service bullet. As regards wind deflection, which is presumably referred to, sufficient data are not at present available to make a calculation.

asked whether the alteration of the sights of the 303 service rifles and machine guns, necessitated by the adoption of the new bullet, can be effected by regimental armourers without the return of these weapons to the Ordnance Department or to depots?

The method of altering the sights of the rifles for use with the new ammunition is under consideration. There is no reason to doubt that it can be done locally without return of the rifles to the Ordnance Department, but special armourers will have to be sent to carry out the work.

asked whether the new bullet is ogival in form; and what is its total length, length of curve, and radius of curve?

The new bullet is ogival in form; its total length is 1.269 inches; length of curve 762in., and radius of curve 2.3in.

asked what are the out-stations, referred to on page 77 of the Army Estimates, which it is proposed to supply with electric lighting; and whether the service will be provided by the installation of new plant at each out-station or by an extension of the present installation at Aldershot?

The out-stations referred to are Deepcut, Ewshott and Black-down. The lighting is to be provided by an extension of the present installation at Aldershot.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that the horse of Trooper Hauglin of the Worcestershire Yeomanry escaped from camp on the first night of the training last year and, in spite of all possible search having been made, has never since been heard of; that the authorities have refused to pay for the horse, on the ground that it did not die or have to be destroyed during the training; and whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to enable the authorities to pay to Trooper Hauglin the value of the horse?

A case, which is probably that referred to, has been reported. Compensation is allowed out of Army funds for the death or destruction of or fatal injury to a horse directly resulting from the performance of military duty. The grants paid to associations specifically cover the cost of insuring horses against loss of any other kind occurring during military duty. Any responsibility, therefore, for the loss in question, rests between the owner of the horse and the association.

asked the Secretary of State for War what number of subaltern officers of cavalry at home are actually serving with their regiments, exclusive of those seconded or serving on the staff or under instruction on courses; and what will be the number of subaltern officers required in regular cavalry on mobilisation?

As the object of the hon. Baronet's question appears to be to discover the condition of the Cavalry regiments of the Line at home on mobilisation, I have set out the figures required in detail. It is not correct to deduct officers under instruction on courses from the numbers available, as they would be immediately recalled on mobilisation. The figures are as follows:—Number of subalterns—

(a) Available with units on mobilisation	150
(b) Available on recall from courses of instruction	21
(c) Available from Special Reserve (excluding Irish Horse)	8
(d) Available from General Reserve of Officers	49
	228
Required on mobilisation for fourteen regiments of the line	196
Required on mobilisation for fourteen reserve regiments (the reserve regiments will be largely composed of officers from the half-pay and retired lists and from officers invalided and young officers on appointment)	210
	406

asked the Secretary for War whether Colour-Sergeant J. Smith, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, was paid by the Transvaal Government monthly in arrears according to the terms of his agreement; and, if so, will he explain how this man could have been paid by that Government from 11th January, 1908, till 9th April, 1908, seeing that he was retrenched on 11th January, 1908?

Colour-Sergeant Smith under the terms of his engagement was paid monthly in arrear. On being retrenched, instead of completing his three years' engagement, he received from the Transvaal Government pay from the date of his retrenchment up to and including the 9th April, 1908. From the 10th April he received pay from Army funds.

asked how many Territorial batteries of Horse and Field Artillery did courses of gunnery practice last year; on what ranges the practice was done, and how many batteries have done such practice?

Eight batteries of Horse Artillery and 142 batteries of Field Artillery carried out gun practice last year at the following places:—Lydd, Oke-hampton, Salisbury, Knott End, Brodie, Buddon, Shoeburyness, Bare, Redcar, Barrow, Yarmouth, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight, Swindon, Parkgate, Portskewitt, Trarafynydd, Flint. Six batteries of Horse Artillery and nine batteries of Field Artillery did not carry out gun practice last year.

asked the Secretary for War if he can state the total number employed in the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich at the present time; the minimum number which it is intended to employ; on what date that minimum is likely to be reached; whether any boys have been taken on the strength during the last six months; if so, how many, and on what terms?

The number of men and boys in the Royal Laboratory and Royal Gunpowder and Carriage Factories, for which an establishment was fixed, was 7,965 on 5th March, the latest date for which we have returns. The establishment was fixed for these factories at 8,000 to 8,400, but in view of the Admiralty not requiring the manufacture of naval mountings in the ordnance factories in future a reduction of the minimum establishment will be necessary. One trade lad and two workshop students have been taken on during the last six months. The above figures do not include the Torpedo Factory Central Office and Building Works Department, for which no establishment was fixed, and in which there were 2,981 men and boys on 5th March, making a total of 10,946 men and boys in the Arsenal factories on that date.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, with reference to House of Commons Paper, No. 34, of 1910, what was the value of the shrinkage of orders for materials and stores below that for which the grant of £1,083,000 was originally voted, and on what items and for what services this shrinkage took place?

The value of the work ordered from the factories was reduced by about £100,000, the falling off being on naval and Indian orders. This would ordinarily have led to a reduction of some £40,000 in the consumption of stores and materials, but as prices were higher than expected, the actual expenditure on that sub-head came very close to the Estimate.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will consider the desirability of establishing at the Deptford Victualling Yard a uniform working-day throughout the year, thereby obviating the many changes which now take place in the men's working hours?

The lighting arrangements at Deptford Victualling Yard do not at present render the adoption of a uniform working day practicable. The electric lighting of the yard is, however, being gradually proceeded with, and the question will not be lost sight of.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Admiralty to make a greater use in the future of oil fuel; has a large quantity of such fuel been recently ordered; has storage accommodation been provided at various depots; and has the Admiralty taken steps to secure an adequate supply of oil fuel in the future from independent sources?

The reply to the four questions asked is in the affirmative, but it is not in the public interest to furnish details of the arrangements made or contemplated.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many certificated teachers, who have been specially trained largely at the public expense, are at present unemployed; and what steps he proposes to take to so regulate the supply that it shall more nearly approximate to the demand?

A Return made to an Order of this House on 2nd November, 1909, showed that, out of the 4,384 teachers who satisfactorily completed their course of training during the year ending 31st July, 1908, 4,069 (or about 93 per cent.) were known or believed to have obtained employment by 31st July, 1909. The Board do not yet possess precise information as to the teachers who satisfactorily completed their course of training during the year ending 31st July, 1909, but they have reason to believe that no great difficulty is likely to be experienced by the great majority of trained teachers in obtaining employment within the year after they complete their course of training. There are, of course, more ways than one of adjusting supply to demand. One method is to increase the demand. The Board have taken some steps in this direction by the new requirements as to staffing, which have been inserted in the Code for 1909. These requirements have been made in the interests of the children, which must always be the first concern of the Board; but there is every reason to suppose that as their full effect begins to be felt they will lead to a considerable increase in the demand for trained teachers.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the new appointments to the Local Government Board in Scotland will include a veterinary surgeon whose duty it will be to maintain an equal standard of inspection of meat throughout the various districts under the Board?

No special provision has been made for such an appointment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps, if any, are taken by the Board to prevent imports into Ireland transhipped to Great Britain being reckoned twice in the Board of Trade Returns, first as a consignment into an Irish port, and second as a consignment into a British port?

The Import Returns of the United Kingdom are based on the particulars furnished to the Customs authorities by the persons who clear the goods, on forms filed when and where the goods are landed from abroad. If such goods are subsequently removed from Ireland to Great Britain, similar forms are not required to be filed, the goods being dealt with as coastwise traffic, which is not included in the Trade Returns. There is therefore, no chance of duplication.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, on the transfer of the Metropolitan Employment Exchanges to the Board of Trade, several of the staff, with over two years' service, were drafted to the provinces at very short notice; and whether any allowance has been granted to them for the cost of removal?

Allowances on a scale approved by the Treasury will be made to those members of the staff of the Metropolitan Employment Exchanges who were taken over by the Board of Trade and transferred to other Exchanges in the provinces.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he can state how many licensed Chinese boarding-houses there are in Poplar and Limehouse; whether he can state the names of the persons licensed to keep such houses; and how many boarders those houses are licensed to accommodate?

There are at the present moment no Chinese boarding houses in Poplar or Limehouse licensed under the Merchant Shipping Act, but By-laws have recently been made by the London County Council and approved by the Board of Trade, and an Order in Council directing that none but persons duly licensed in pursuance of such By-laws shall keep seamen's lodging houses or let lodgings to seamen has been made. Steps are also being taken by the London County Council to require all keepers of seamen's lodging houses within their area to make application to them for licences.

asked the Under-Secretary for India if the proposed duty of 4d. per ounce on silver bars imported into India would restrict local consumption there; and whether, looking to the probable consequences to the cotton mili industry in Western India, the Secretary of Statè will consider the justice of taking such steps in the way either of raising the import duty on Lancashire goods, or of abolishing the countervailing Excise duty, so as to neutralise the effect of this new impost on the indigenous industry?

The Secretary of State is unable to predict to what extent the increased duty will restrict the importation of silver into India on private account, but the Government of India do not anticipate any serious diminution. So far, the effect of the Indian duty on the price of silver, which is governed by much more powerful causes and considerations, has been extremely small. A fall in the China exchange affects the Lancashire as well as the Bombay industry. The Secretary of State, therefore, sees no reason to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked if an import duty is levied upon oil imported into India from Burma; and, if so, if an equivalent excise duty is levied upon Burmese oil consumed in Burma?

The answer to both questions is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture when the President of the Board of Agriculture expects to be in a position to give a reply to the petition of the twenty-seven artificers of the Ordnance Survey-Department, who asked permission to be-included in the contributory pension-scheme recently authorised for the civil assistants of the Ordnance survey.

The matter is under the consideration of the Treasury. We hope to be in a position shortly to reply to the petition.

asked the Chief-Secretary for Ireland if he can state on what grounds the Board of Works in Ireland have served notice of eviction on Mr. Andrew Moore, of Athlone, from lands adjoining the River Shannon, which he has held from them for a number of years; whether their reason for doing so was his refusal to allow a neighbouring landowner to place a barbed wire fence in the centre of his holding; and whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Moore has offered the portion of the land now proposed to be taken from him, free of charge, for the purpose for which it is required, he will advise the Board of Works to reconsider their action and withdraw the notice they have served on Mr. Moore?

Mr. Moore holds a field of about five acres from the Board of Works on a yearly tenancy terminable at three months' notice, and notice to terminate his tenancy has been served on him. The reason is not as stated in the question. It is, I understand, that the Board propose to let a part of the field to another person, who intends to erect a boat slip upon it; this slip will be useful to boat owners on the river. The Board are not in a position to reconsider their action. They did offer Mr. Moore to re-let to him the greater part of the field at a reduced rent, but this offer was not accepted. The Board are not aware of any offer by Mr. Moore to give the land required for the purpose for which it is wanted. No such offer by him could have any validity, since his occupation of the land is, as stated, only from year to year.

asked the Chief Secretary what steps, if any, the Estates Commissioners have taken to provide a holding for Mrs. Delany, 49, Marlborough Road, Donnybrook, Dublin, representative of the late John Delany, who was evicted in 1887 from a holding of 111 Irish acres, situated at Roskeen, Adair estate, Mountmellick, Queen's County, and whose claim has been admitted, entitling her to an equivalent farm instead of that from which her late husband was evicted, and which is in the possession of a planter?

Mrs. Delany's name has been noted by the Estates Commissioners for consideration in the distribution of such untenanted land as they may be able to acquire.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have lost sight of the case of Thomas Flanagan, Clonoghadoo, who was evicted from a holding on the Adair estate, Mountmellick, Queen's County, in 1887, and whose farm is in the hands of a planter; and can he say whether the Commissioners intend making an advance to the planter, Guinan, in this case, to purchase the holding, or what provision they propose making for Flanagan, who at present is in occupation of a labourer's cottage?

Flanagan has been provisionally selected for a holding on an estate which is being acquired by the Estates Commissioners.

asked if the Estates Commissioners have yet considered the claim of William Murtland, who was evicted from his holding on the Cather estate, in the townland of Carrowmuddle, Myroe, county Londonderry, for reinstatement under the Evicted Tenants Act; and, if so, at what decision they have arrived?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Murtland's application for reinstatement was not lodged within the period mentioned in Section 2 (a) of the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and cannot be dealt with under that Act.

asked what acreage of land is rented for the purposes of the Clonakilty station and school of the Agricultural Department; and what is the annual rent paid?

Three hundred and forty-seven acres of land are rented for the purposes of the Clonakilty station. The annual rent is £200.

asked what acreage of land is rented for the purposes of the Ballyhaise station and school of the Agricultural Department; and what is the proposed purchase price for the same?

Eight hundred and thirty-five acres of land are rented for the purposes of the Ballyhaise station. The proposed purchase price is £19,000.

asked what has been the number of apprentices at the Athenry station of the Agricultural Department during the years 1907, 1908, and 1909; whether they are in residence, and, if so, for how many months in each year; and what premium, if any, is paid by them?

The number of farm apprentices at Athenry Agricultural station during each of the years 1906–7, 1907–8, and 1908–9 was ten. This is the largest number that can be accommodated. The apprentices reside at the station, and are allowed twelve months' training. They pay no premium.

asked whether the fees paid by the students attending the agricultural schools of the Department at Ballyhaise and Clonakilty include board and residence; and, if so, for how many months in each year?

I understand that the fees paid by the students include board and lodging. They are not, however, sufficient to cover the actual cost of board, lodging, and instruction. At Clonakilty all the students are in residence for about ten and a half months. At Ballyhaise there are three classes of students, namely, apprentices in cheesemaking, who are in residence for about five and a half months; creamery students, who are about four and a half months in residence; and agricultural apprentices, who are in residence for one and sometimes two terms, each of about five and a half months' duration.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that the principal register of direct sales, referred to in the provisional regulations made by the Lord Lieutenant under Section 4 of The Irish Land Act, 1909, contains cases in which the purchase money had been lodged in bank or distributed before the notice of the Estates Commissioners was published in the "Dublin Gazette" of 18th February; whether, to prevent persons searching the said register being misled as to the number of cases and amount of purchase money having priority of their own claims, he will state the number of such cases, their record numbers, and the total amount of the purchase money comprised in them; and whether he will direct that the register should be corrected by striking such cases out of it?

I am informed by the Land Commission that the principal register referred to in the question was prepared in pursuance of the regulations of the Lord Lieutenant, dated 15th February, 1910, under conditions of extreme urgency, and was as far as possible a correct return of the pending cases. When first prepared the particulars of over 5,600 cases were entered thereon, and by inadvertence a very few cases where the purchase money had been advanced were included. This register does not at present contain any cases in which the purchase money has been so advanced, and cases where the purchase money has since been advanced have also been eliminated. It should be understood that the register will alter week by week as advances are made.

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention had been called to the recent cases of cattle-driving near Drumraney, South-west Meath, from lands in the hands of the Estates Commissioners; if he is aware that the local branch of the United Irish League have denounced those acts; and whether, in view of these outrages following so quickly on the firing of shots for the alleged purpose of intimidation on 8th October last, he will have an inquiry held so as to afford an opportunity of showing who are the authors and instigators of these illegal acts?

The constabulary authorities are satisfied that there was no cattle drive on the occasion referred to, and that the firing of the shots in October last was not an outrage but a mere act of wantonness. There is nothing in these matters calling for a special inquiry.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the number of outrages, both agrarian and non-agrarian, in which firearms were used, committed in Ireland between 1st January, 1909, and 1st March, 1910?

During the period mentioned there were ninety-three agrarian cases in which firearms were used, and sixty-one non-agrarian.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of an old man named Robert Monaghan, of Bangor, county Down, who applied during the past year for an old age pension; whether the claim was disallowed, not on the ground of age, but because a little over a year ago when he went for treatment to the Belfast Union he was placed for a short time in one of the ordinary wards, owing to the pressure of space; whether Dr. M'Leish, the medical attendant at the Belfast Union hospital, gave a certificate, stating that Monaghan had never been anything else but a patient, and never an ordinary inmate; whether on the strength of this certificate Monaghan made a fresh application for a pension last week; whether the local pension committee passed his case; whether the local pension officer gave notice of appeal to the Local Government Board, although he had previously given a sort of assurance that he would accept the evidence produced through Dr. M'Leish; whether Monaghan is an exceedingly worthy old man, and is suffering from an incurable disease; and whether, under the circumstances, he will direct the Local Government Board to admit Monaghan's claim forthwith?

The Local Government Board are not aware that Monaghan was placed in the ordinary wards owing to lack of space in the infirmary. He was relieved on two occasions. On the first after being a week in hospital he was transferred to the ordinary wards. On the second he was in the ordinary wards all the time. Monaghan made a fresh claim in January last, and the visiting medical officer has since given a certificate to the effect stated in the question. The pension officer has appealed to the Board against the decision of the pension committee on the fresh claim, but the Board are not aware of his having given any sort of assurance to Monaghan, and they have no knowledge regarding the latter's character or disease. The new claim will receive due consideration from the Board.

asked whether any steps are being taken by the authorities to have a full inquiry made into the circumstances of the recent burning on the Mortlestown farm, Fethard, county Tipperary, as there was reference made to a criminal prosecution at the hearing of the case when compensation for criminal injury was made by the occupying tenant?

The police have inquired fully into the matter, and no prosecution is at present proposed.

asked the nature of the charges preferred against Sergeant Masterson, Royal Irish Constabulary, and other police constables, at an inquiry held at Gurteen, county Galway, in last January; how many witnesses were summoned, and how many attended?

I am informed by the constabulary authorities that Acting-Sergeant Masterson was charged at a disciplinary inquiry held by the County Inspector with a breach of good order and discipline. No summonses were issued for the attendance of witnesses, but seven witnesses were directed to attend and did attend.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the lands of David Dickson, of Drummond, Dungannon, county Tyrone, and of sixteen other occupiers of holdings in this and ad- joining townlands who are now compelled to pay drainage rate to the Upper Bann Drainage Board, are constantly flooded owing to the fact that the Board will not extend its operations sufficiently far along a tributary of the River Blackwater to drain these lands; and whether he will take immediate steps to induce the Board to deepen the watercourses for a sufficient distance to drain the lands in question?

I understand that the townland in question is assessable for the maintenance of the Upper Bann Navigation. The Navigation Trustees are bound by law to maintain the works in connection with the navigation, but the Irish Government have no power to call upon them to extend their operations as suggested in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, on the Second Beading of the Labourers (Ireland) Bill, 1906, the belief was expressed by the Chief Secretary of the day that the measure would hold out the hope to the labourer of bettering his condition, of being able to save, to improve his position by the exercise of industry and intelligence, and to take the position of a tenant farmer and then acquire a holding under the Land Purchase Act; whether a clause giving effect to this policy was embodied in the Bill and passed into law; how many labourers have had their condition thus improved by getting parcels of untenanted land and being raised to the position of tenant purchasers; and can he give the names of the estates, the counties in which they are situate, and the number of labourers in each instance who have benefited under Clause 19 of the Act?

I believe it is the fact that my predecessor expressed a belief that the Labourers Act of 1906 might have the results indicated in the question. Under Section 19 of that Act fifty-five parcels of untenanted land have been allotted by the Estates Commissioners to labourers. The persons to whom allotments have been made under Section 2 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, also worked in many cases as labourers, but are not separately classified as such. Full particulars as to all allotments vested in purchasers are given in the Monthly Returns of Advances, which are presented to Parliament.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that according to the last Report of the Commissioners of National Education there are upwards of 4,000 untrained teachers in the service of the National Board; will he say how many of these teachers applied for permission to each of the denominational training colleges for the session of 1909–10; how many were refused admission, and the reasons for such refusals; and whether he will suggest to the Commissioners of National Education and to the heads of the Irish denominational training colleges the advisability of admitting the Irish untrained teachers to all future courses, and of excluding extern teachers until the untrained staff at present employed in our national schools receive the benefits of a regular course of training?

According to the last report of the Commissioners there were 4,496 untrained teachers serving in national schools. The Commissioners cannot say how many teachers applied to the various denominational training colleges for admission to the current session. The names of 201 teachers who were can- didates for one year's course of training were submitted by the principals of these colleges to the Commissioners for approval. Although 190 of these teachers were approved, the college authorities, with whom lay the selection of King's scholars from among the eligible candidates, admitted only twenty-five. The reasons for excluding so many eligible candidates are not known to the Commissioners, but they think it probable that, owing to the difficulty of training teachers properly in one year, the college authorities selected only those who were best prepared to profit by the training offered. The one year's course of training has been abolished after the current session, and the Commissioners do not anticipate that untrained teachers will find any difficulty in future in gaining admission to the training colleges. The Commissioners have, however, decided to reserve to themselves the power to require each training college to set apart a certain number of places for untrained teachers serving in National Schools. As regards the concluding portion of the question, the Commissioners point out that many of the untrained teachers are old, and would not be likely to profit much by a course of training.