asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that dissatisfaction prevails among the preventive men of His Majesty's Customs because when approved for acting duty as preventive officers, and when discharging the duties of preventive officers, they are paid only at the rate of 4s. a day, while preventive officers are paid at the rate of 7s. a day; and whether he will take into consideration the question of readjusting the pay of preventive men when discharging the duties of preventive officers, so as to make them more approximate to each other?

The pay of preventive men and preventive officers, lower section, in the Waterguard branch of the Customs and Excise Department is not fixed by the day. The former class are on a scale of 18s. a week, rising to 33s. a week, and the latter are on a scale of £95 per annum, rising to £150 per annum. In accordance with the rule applicable to other ranks in the Department, preventive men are required on occasions to undertake the duties of preventive officers in the absence of the latter, when there are no other preventive officers available for the duty. I see no reason for altering these arrangements.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any arrangements have yet been made for the Board of Customs to receive a deputation from the Customs Preventive Men's Association on the subject of their appeal for a service scale of pay?

:Before considering whether they will comply with a request from the Preventive Men's Association to receive a deputation, the Board of Customs and Excise have asked the Association to put into writing the arguments advanced in favour of a service scale of pay

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer can he state for each of the years 1894–5 to 1908–9, both inclusive, the total aggregate amount of incomes on which Income Tax was actually charged and paid within the year; the increase or decrease per cent, of such aggregate amount from year to year; the total amount of Income Tax levied and paid thereon; and the rate per cent, over all of the tax?

The following statement shows:—(1) The total aggregate amount of incomes subject to Income Tax for each of the years 1894–5 to 1907–8 and the increase per cent, from year to year; (2) The total net produce of the Income Tax levied on such incomes for each year; and (3) the average virtual rate per cent, of the tax. Figures for the year 1908–9 are not yet available, and those for the year 1907–8 are estimated in the absence of actual figures which cannot be compiled owing to a necessary change in practice due to the provisions of the Finance Act, 1907:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer can he state what course has been pursued by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue with reference to Income Tax on and since 6th April, 1909; has payment of it in some cases been required and made; in other cases required and not made; in yet other cases, though not required, yet tendered and received; and in other cases, though not required, yet tendered and refused; if so, can he say what were the reasons actuating the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in taking each of these four courses at the time they were taken; in view of the fact that the Bank of England proposes now to repay all Income Tax deducted by them from dividends on and since 6th April, 1909, do His Majesty's Government propose to take the same course with regard to such deducted Income Tax as has been received by them on and since that date; and do they also propose to return to those who have paid it all other Income Tax assessed and paid at the rate of Is. 2d. in the pound for the year beginning 6th April, 1909, the collection and receipt whereof is not authorised by any Act of Parliament?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has dealt very fully with the policy of the Government in regard to Income Tax, especially in the speech which he delivered in this House on Monday afternoon, and I am afraid that I am hardly in a position to add anything to the statement which he then made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state, for each of the years 1894–5 to 1908–9, both inclusive, the total amount of the nine Death Duties, namely, Estate Duty, Settlement Estate Duty, Probate Duty, Inventory Duty, Account Duty, Temporary Estate Duty, Legacy Duty, Succession Duty, and Corporation Duty, actually received during the year; the total number of estates (including those vested in corporations); the total capital amount on which those duties were actually charged and paid (as well in the case of Corporation Duty as in the rest); and the average aggregate rate per cent, over all of the whole nine duties?

With the exception of the total number of estates, the information desired by my hon. Friend was given in the reply of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer last Ses- sion to a similar question asked on 15th September by the then hon. Member for Norwood. The particulars of the estates are as follows:—

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners advanced to Captain Robert Leslie, of Tarbert, county Kerry, 26¼ years' purchase for the agricultural holdings on his property; was there an inspection of this estate; who was the inspector, and when was the inspection carried out; did the tenants get any intimation that an inspection was to be made; can he explain the circumstances under which the landlord was permitted to buy up 240 acres in six separate lots outside his demesne and in three different townlands; is he aware that there are forty-five landless families living on this property for whom no provision was made to distribute even a small portion of the grass lands among them; that the Estates Commissioners already have to employ the aid of the sheriff and his bailiffs to seize the goods and cattle of some of the tenants on this property, as the annuity is so large that the tenants are not able to meet it; and why was this landlord treated so much better in the matter of price than any other landlord in Kerry?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the tenants on this estate agreed to purchase their holdings direct from the owner under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The average number of years' purchase was 24.7 in the case of second term judicial rents, 22.2 in the case of first term judicial rents, and 22 in the case of non-judicial rents. The holdings were visited by a surveyor in October, 1908, and in December following such of the holdings as were liable to inspection for the purposes of security were visited by an inspector, who gave due notice of his inspection. The owner repurchased under Section 3 of the Act 382 acres, in connection with which he gave a considerable amount of employment locally, and which the Commissioners did not consider necessary for enlargement of holdings. In the case of only four tenant purchasers out of sixty-eight on the estate have the annuities been recovered by the sheriff. As already stated, this was a direct sale agreed on between the owner and his tenants, and the Commissioners are not aware that he was exceptionally treated.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will make representations to the Treasury with a view to having those teachers who were promoted to the higher grades in the national schools of Ireland paid the arrears of salary due to them consequent on the operation of standard numbers, over which teachers themselves have no control?

The answer is in the negative. Any material increase in the standard number of teachers in the first grade would eventually entail a very considerable annual charge, and teachers who have to wait for vacancies cannot be deemed to have a claim to retrospective payment.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state what position James Dunnican holds as occupier of an evicted farm on the Boyd-Rochfort estate, near Dysart, South Westmeath; whether he will be accepted as a purchasing tenant under the Land Commission for the same; what will be the position of the son of the former occupant, named John Gavagan, who is now a minor, but entitled to reinstatement under the Acts of 1903–7; and whether, when he reaches the age of twenty-one years, his application for reinstatement will be eligible for consideration?

The Estates Commissioners have decided to take no action in the matter of John Gavagan's application for reinstatement in the holding on the above estate at one time occupied by his father, and now in the occupation of his sister's husband, James Dunnican. The latter has signed an agreement to purchase the holding as tenant under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The estate will be dealt with in order of priority, but its turn has not come and the holdings have not therefore yet been vested in the purchasing tenants.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Saunderson estate, county Cavan, is yet vested in the Estates Commissioners; whether it is the intention of the Estates Commissioners to exclude the village of Mullagh from the agricultural portion of the estate; and whether they have been approached on the subject with the view of its inclusion?

This estate is not being sold to the Commissioners, but direct to the tenants. The memorial received by the Commissioners on the subject of the inclusion of the village holdings at Mullagh in the sale will be duly considered when the estate is being dealt with in order of priority. Its turn has not yet come.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will request the Estates Commissioners to cause an inspection to be made of the village of Kilworth, county Cork, on the estate of Lady Harriet Smyth, with the view of having the village included in the sale, agreements for the rural portion of the estate having been already lodged?

When this estate is being dealt with in order of priority the question of the inclusion of the village holdings at Kilworth in the purchase proceedings will be duly considered by the Estates Commissioners. The Commissioners are not in a position to say when the estate will be inspected.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the attention of the Board of Works has been called to the delay in completing the extension of the pier at Downings, county Donegal; whether he is aware that more than five years have already been spent upon this work, and that much inconvenience and loss has been caused to fishermen, fish-buyers, and others; and whether he can take steps to have the works expedited, so that the pier may be completed before the commencement of the May fishing season?

I am informed by the Board of Works that there have been two works of extension at this place—the first begun in 1905 and completed in 1906; the second begun in 1908 and now nearly complete. Additional works of protection are also being carried out, which will not be completed before the commencement of the May fishing, but it is hoped to have the wharf side of the pier free for the use of the Fleet at that time.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in allocating amongst tenants that part of the lands of Ballyboc, county Donegal, the property of Messrs. Wilson and Irvine, which the Estates Commissioners are about acquiring compulsorily, the Estates Commissioners propose to reinstate thereon Scott Elliott, of Carrick-brack, Convoy, county Donegal; whether he is aware that Scott Elliott is a bond fide evicted tenant of a holding on this estate which is now being acquired by the Commissioners; whether the Commissioners have received from Scott Elliott an application for reinstatement; and what action do they propose to take in the matter?

The Estates Commissioners have received an application from Elliott, but it was not lodged within the time prescribed by the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and cannot be dealt with under that Act.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have considered the memorial which they have received from the people of Gortnahoe and New Bermingham, county Tipperary, requesting them to provide a farm for the present occupant of the farm from which a man named M'Donnell was evicted; whether the present occupant of the farm has intimated to the Estates Commissioners his willingness to accept a farm elsewhere from the Estates Commissioners; and whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any steps to provide a farm for him in lieu of the one he now holds, and from which M'Donnell was evicted, with a view to reinstate M'Donnell in his former holding.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have received the memorial referred to, and it has been noted for consideration. They are not at present in a position to provide the present occupier of the evicted holding with another holding.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that in the case of Mrs. Mary Dimond, of Oldtown, Deer-park, Bellaghy, county Derry, no record of her age can be found in the Census Return and no baptismal entry can be found; whether he will explain why she is not well qualified for an old age pension; whether claimants, believed to be of ninety years or upwards, would be disqualified in the-absence of such evidence; and, if not, whether he can state on what definite principle such claims are decided?

No record of Mrs. Dimond's age has been found in the Census Returns or in a baptismal register. Her claim was accordingly disallowed by the pension sub-committee, and when she appealed to the Local Government Board they confirmed the decision of the committee after giving her an opportunity of furnishing proof of her age. The onus of showing that the age of seventy has been attained rests upon the claimant, and the Board are prepared to consider any evidence which may be laid before them. Claimants believed to be ninety by the Local Government Board would undoubtedly receive pensions

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will inform the House when the petitions presented by the workmen of Devon-port dockyard in May, 1909, will be answered?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Chatham on the 10th of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make inquiry respecting the manner in which the store accounts at Island Bridge have been kept up to a recent date; whether he will have inquiry made as to irregularities in the public accounts for which the clerk in charge was held to be responsible; will he say if these matters were reported to the War Office or what other action was taken; and if the store accounts have been manipulated in a manner forbidden by the Departmental regulations?

further asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that recently a clerical subordinate at Island Bridge was brought to notice for inefficiency, who had several times been brought to notice for neglect of duty; and whether he will say why this subordinate is differently treated to Mr. Holland, who was supposed to have been discharged for inefficiency?

These questions appear to refer to the case of a foreman writer who committed some minor breaches of the Departmental regulations. It is considered that the disciplinary action taken was quite sufficient, and I do not propose to make further inquiry. The case of Mr. Holland, who was discharged for incompetency, is quite different.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state on what lines investigation as to the loss of stores within the Department are conducted at Island Bridge; and whether the subordinates or others charged with the custody of stores have any choice as to the workmen they employ under their supervision?

The local inquiries are always carried out in accordance with the instructions contained in the King's Regulations. The subordinates charged with the custody of stores have no choice as to the workmen employed under their supervision. It should be added, however, that only men of good character are engaged.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any steps are taken to provide men retiring from the Railway Battalion, Royal Engineers, with employment upon the British railways; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of devising a scheme by which the services of such men shall be available to the nation on emergency?

The hon. Member is presumably referring to the three Royal Engineer Railway Companies stationed at Longmoor. Every effort is made there to give these men and men of other units of the Army such instruction in plate-laying, railway telegraphy, and signalling as will enable them to find employment when they leave the colours, and the majority of the men who have passed the tests have found employment. A scheme is under consideration by which the services of men experienced in railway working shall be available to the nation on emergency.

asked the President of the Board of Education what reason exists why his departmental statistics of schools closed for non-compliance with requirements should not discriminate between requirements of the Board of Education and requirements of local education authorities; and whether he will direct that statistics should in future separate those classes of cases?

The closure of voluntary schools may result from a variety of causes, and is not necessarily brought about by compulsion. In so far as it is compulsory, it is in practice impossible to draw a distinction between requirements originating with the Board of Education and those which originate with the local education authority.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state what is the difference in the terms of the contract entered into by the Kaffirs employed in the Rand mines as compared with the Chinese; how long do they contract for; are they confined to the compounds and only allowed out on a pass; what is the usual duration of their day's work, and how does it compare with that of the Chinese; what wages are they paid, and are these higher or lower than the wages paid to the Chinese; what is the general condition of the compounds; and is it better or worse in the matter of sanitation and general accommodation for the Kaffirs than it was for the Chinese?

I do not think that I can add anything to the answer which I returned to my hon. Friend on the 15th and to the questions on the subject addressed to me on Monday. The supervision of native labour, as I then pointed out, is a matter for the Transvaal Government, in whose hands it may safely be allowed to rest.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State had, on 15th March, 1910, a copy of the memorial resolved upon unanimously at the meeting of the medical profession, held on 8th September, 1909, under the auspices of the Bombay Medical Union; what is the cause of the delay in the transmission of the memorial to the Secretary of State by the Government of Bombay; whether he can say when it is likely to reach him; and when he proposes to give a reply to it?

No copy of the memorial referred to has yet been received from India. The Secretary of State has no information as to the cause of delay in its transmission, but will inquire.

asked whether the higher grades of the Civil Medical Service in British India are still filled by the military officers of the Indian Medical Service; whether similar posts in the Native States are efficiently held by Indian civil doctors on comparatively small salaries; and whether, in view of the fact that these military medical officers holding civil appointments form no war reserve, as, except for a few who are called to the front, they are usually left in their places in time of war, and are thus really recruited to hold civil posts to the exclusion of Indian civil medical practitioners, he will give instructions that no competitive examinations for the Indian Medical Service be held for the present, as the existing number is in excess of that necessary for the medical needs of Indian troops in time of peace and war?

I must ask the hon. Member to refer to the replies that have been made to numerous questions on the subject in this Session and in the last Parliament, and to the Papers referred to by me in my answer of 16th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the difficulty of rendering proper police assistance, he will reconsider the advisability of passing the One-Day General Election Bill into law?

It is possible that some inconvenience might be caused by motor cars moving about the country at excessive rates of speed to enable plural voters to record their votes five or six times on the same day; but, on the other hand, any incidental diminution of this gross abuse would probably lead to an abatement of political passion, as the local inhabitants would less frequently see themselves overborne and out-voted by numbers of persons who are domiciled elsewhere and take no part in the life of the constituency. I am advised that there would be no serious difficulty in making suitable police arrangements for the holding of all elections on one day. In France, Germany, and most other countries this problem has been satisfactorily solved, and I may add that the police of Liverpool, where there are nine divisions polling simultaneously, as well as of other great cities, have shown themselves fully equal to the task.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further information he can give to the House with regard to the French tariff?

I have to-day, in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Eccleshall, given some information with regard to the discussion in the French Senate so far as concerns certain classes of goods. The discussion of the French Customs Tariff Bill is now proceeding in the Senate, and I am not at present in a position to add anything to the statements that have already been made in reply to questions in this House.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in the forthcoming Census, he will cause a column or columns to be inserted in the Census papers in which the person making a return shall state whether each individual engaged in manual labour included in the return is in full employment, and, if not, the number of hours of work per week actually performed by such person; and whether he will consider the advisability of making the definition of full employment not less than forty-eight hours' work per week?

I do not think the machinery of the Census is suitable for the collection of information of the character described in the question.