asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the expenditure from Votes (Exchequer Issues) and on Capital Account on the Army, Navy, and Civil Services in the years 1883–4, 1893–4, 1898–9, 1908–9, and the Estimates for this year, in the form contained in the Report from the Select Committee on National Expenditure, Parliamentary Paper, No. 242, of Session 1903?The HON. MEMBER also asked the same right hon. Gentleman whether he can give for the years 1883–4, 1893–4, 1898–9, and 1908–9 a summary of the permanent capital expenditure, whether paid for out of loans or income, for each of the Departments, Army, Navy, Civil Services, and Revenue?

The classification of expenditure in the Return referred to in the question was based, not on the character of the expenditure itself, but on the manner in which it was met—i.e., whether it was borne upon Votes and defrayed out of the revenue of the year, or defrayed out of moneys borrowed under special Acts of Parliament. The Estimates of Expenditure under special Acts for the current financial year will not be available until my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made his financial statement. When these Estimates are available, it would be possible to give an analysis of the expenditure of 1908–9 and the estimated expenditure of the current year on the same basis. Any analysis of voted expenditure on the basis suggested in the second question would be impracticable, since the distinction proposed to be made is one which has never been recognised in our public accounts relating to annual expenditure. It would be very difficult to arrive at a satisfactory definition of "permanent capital expenditure," and whatever definition might be adopted there would necessarily be a large number of items the classification of which would provide a fruitful field for controversy.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that Patrick Reilly, of Drumulla, Rockcorry, county Monaghan, was granted a pension of 5s. per week by the local old age pension committee, and that the pension officer appealed against this decision to the Local Government Board, who allowed his appeal; will he now state the grounds on which the Local Government Board arrived at this decision; will he state if Patrick Reilly some time back lodged a fresh application for a pension, which so far has not been considered or dealt with; and can he now state when it will be considered, and what is the cause of the delay?

The Local Government Board gave their decision in this case in March, 1909, upholding the pension officer's appeal, as the wife of the claimant had been in receipt of non-medical indoor relief after 1st January, 1908. The second claim referred to in the question has not come before the Local Government Board on appeal, and I have therefore no information with regard to it.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Lizzie Murphy, of Corrick, Keshcarrigan, county Leitrim, was in receipt of an old age pension from the Drumshambo Committee, and that on appeal by the pension officer her claim was confirmed by the Local Government Board and her pension continued, but that again she was deprived of her pension without any explanation; and whether he will state upon what grounds her book has been lifted the second time?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in supposing that the Local Government Board confirmed Mrs. Murphy's claim. On the contrary, the Board upheld the appeal of the pension officer on the ground that the applicant had not reached the statutory age. The case has only been before the Board on one occasion.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Sarah Foster, of Teehogues, Randalstown, has been deprived of her old age pension on the ground that, having been baptised in 1841, she had not attained the qualifying age; whether several reputable witnesses have testified that she was not baptised until she was five or six years old, and was in fact at school; and whether, in view of these circumstances, he will see that the pension is restored to her?

No appeal has been lodged with the Local Government Board in this case, and my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary is not therefore in a position to give any information with regard to it.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will give the total number of persons disqualified from receiving old age pensions in county Limerick during the year 1909 and from 1st January, 1910, to 31st March, 1910, respectively; how many of these cases wore disqualified by the local committee and how many on appeal to the Local Government Board; and whether any cases have been reconsidered?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question asked yesterday by the hon. Member for North Longford.

asked what is the cause of the delay in providing Archibald M'Farland, Fort Lee, Ennis-killen, an evicted tenant, with a holding; and is he aware that it is now some years since M'Farland was listed as a suitable person and that other local evicted tenants, whose applications were later, have got holdings and money grants, while M'Farland, a very poor man, is left unprovided?

The Estates Commissioners have noted Mr. M'Farland's name for consideration in the allotment of any untenanted land which they may acquire, but they are not yet in a position to state definitely when his case will be dealt with.

asked whether Thomas Stack, a former tenant on the Miss Brown property, at Cahirdown, Listowel, has made a claim as an evicted tenant on the estate; and whether his claim has been inquired into with a view to reinstatement and, if so, with what result?

An application has been received by the Estates Commissioners from Thomas Stack applying for reinstatement in a holding of two acres. As his application was not lodged till October, 1908, it has not yet been inquired into.

asked why the Estates Commissioners have decided not to institute proceedings for the compulsory acquisition under the Evicted Tenants Act in the case of James Kenny, Earlshill, county Tipperary, in view of the fact that his farm is at present on the landlord's hands?

It would be contrary to the established practice to state the grounds on which the Estates Commissioners, in the exercise of their discretion, decided not to institute proceedings for the compulsory acquisition of these lands.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether is aware that the Commissioners of Intermediate Education have so arranged the dates for the examinations this year that obligatory subjects will be taken on two days which are during the Jewish Pentecost, and that no Jewish candidates will be able to compete; and will he suggest to the Commissioners a change of date, or special arrangements for Jewish candidates, and advise the Commissioners to avoid such an error in future?

It is, I understand, the fact that the examination in one obligatory subject is fixed for a day which is a Jewish holiday. I am informed that the arrangement was made without knowledge of the fact, the Commissioners not having received any notification on the part of the Jewish body, such as I understand is usual in dealing with other educational authorities, of the dates of the Jewish holidays. The Commissioners fear that it would not be possible at this stage to make any alteration in the time-table.

asked the Irish Chief Secretary whether he has received any resolutions from county and district councils, corporations, chambers of commerce, and other representative bodies in Ireland supporting any of the provisions of the Budget of 1909; and, if so, how many?The same HON. MEMBER asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received any resolutions from county and district councils, corporations, chambers of commerce, and other representative bodies in Ireland, protesting against any of the provisions of the Budget of 1909; and, if so, how many?

My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary has received resolutions both for and against the Budget, but he has kept no record of the number.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state what was the amount of the Exchequer Grant made to the county Antrim in respect of labourers' cottages in the year ending in 1906; and what was the amount available from the same source in the year 1909–10?

I am informed that the total share of county Antrim in respect of the year 1905–6 was £4,551 18s. 7d. This sum included an unissued balance from previous years of £2,098 14s. 8d. The amount available in respect of the year 1909–10, on the new basis of distribution laid down by Section 18 of the Labourers Act of 1906, is £394 11s. 3d. Under that Section the various districts receive shares from the Exchequer Grant at a uniform rate per cottage for all cottages provided before 1st November, 1906. Previously the grant was distributed without any relation whatever to the number of cottages actually provided.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware, that a number of people in the Portballintrae district earn their livelihood by fishing, and that they are handicapped by reason of the want of proper harbour accommodation; whether an inspector of the Department of Agriculture inquired into the condition of the harbour some years ago; and, if so, what were the recommendations he then made; and is the Government prepared to take any steps to remove the grievance of which the fishermen complain?

Portballintrae has been inspected, but the construction of any useful work at such an exposed place would involve so large an expenditure that it is doubtful whether the county council could see its way to provide a reasonable proportion thereof. In any case it would be quite beyond the power of the Department in the present state of their funds to entertain the question of making a substantial contribution.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if the untenanted lands on the Miss Brown property at Cahirdown, Listowel, have been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners for division amongst the poor people of the district; have the lands been purchased; and, if so, when will they be divided amongst the poor; and whether he is aware of the feeling in the district that the labourers and economic holders are entitled to a division of the lands?

The estate of G. D. Gun-Browne, to which the hon. Member presumably refers, has been acquired by the Estates Commissioners who-have referred the papers in connection with it to one of their inspectors with a view to the lands being distributed as soon as possible.

asked what steps the Estates Commissioners have taken to acquire the farm from which a man named Quin was evicted, situated at Coolcor-mack, Templemore, county Tipperary; and whether Quin's representatives have been noted as fit persons to obtain a holding?

The Estates Commissioners have decided not to take any steps for the acquisition of the holding in the townland of Coolcormack, formerly occupied by the late Richard Quinn, and they do not intend to take any action with reference to the application for the reinstatement of his representatives.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any steps to acquire untenanted lands in the parishes of Killea, Clonmore, Clonakenny, Couraganeem, county Tipperary, for re—distribution, with a view to enlarge the uneconomic holdings in the district; and whether any untenanted lands have been offered to the Estates Commissioners in the foregoing districts?

The records of the Estates Commissioners are not kept by parishes, and they are therefore unable to supply the information asked for.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the farm of Leitrim Hill, situate near Tubbercurry, county of Sligo, and forming a portion of the Harlech estate, sold to the tenants some years ago under the Act of 1903, is still in the possession of Mr. Charles Phibbs, J.P., An extensive landlord and grazier; whether this Mr. Phibbs, who owns extensive farms and estates in Sligo and elsewhere, has yet been approached by the Congested Districts Board with the view of the purchase of this farm; and, if so, can he say with what result?

As my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary stated in reply to a previous question asked by the hon. Member on 25th March, 1908, the farm in question does not now form part of the Harlech estate, but is the property in fee simple of Mr. Phibbs. The Congested Districts Board have not approached Mr. Phibbs with regard to it.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that owing to the periodical floodings of the Owenmore river, in the county of Sligo, quantities of hay and other crops are annually destroyed, to the ruin of hundreds of small farmers residing in the vicinity of that river, and that the county council and other public bodies in Sligo have, by resolution and otherwise, repeatedly urged this matter on the attention of the Government for a number of years; and whether, fleeing that the areas affected by these floodings are now prepared to contribute a tax towards the work of draining this river the newly-constituted Congested Districts Board will give a grant-in-aid to enable a drainage scheme to be carried through?

I am aware that much damage is caused by the flooding of the Owenmore River and that the attention of the Irish Government has often been called to the matter. I understand that in a similar case, that of the River Robe, County Mayo, the Congested Districts Board have offered either to contribute towards the cost of the work, or to have it executed, if the landowners, whose lands are affected by the proposed drainage, form a legally constituted Drainage Board, which will repay to the Board the whole or a substantial portion of the expenditure, as may be agreed upon, and which will undertake the proper maintenance of the work after it is completed. It is probable that the Congested Districts Board would deal in a similar manner with this case if a Drainage Board were formed.

asked how many Irish national teachers' residences have been built by loans from the Board of Works; how many of these loans are being repaid by the Commissioners of National Education and the teachers of the schools to which the residences are attached; in how many instances is the local moiety paid by persons other than teachers; and, when the last moieties are paid by the Commissioners and the teachers, to whom does the property thus paid for belong?

One thousand one hundred and sixty-eight teachers' residences have been provided by means of loans from the Board of Works. In twenty-seven cases the loan has been redeemed, and in twenty-two the Commissioners of National Education are unable to make any contribution owing to non-fulfilment of the necessary conditions. In the remainig 1,119 cases the loans are being repaid conjointly by the Commissioners and the local parties interested. It would not be possible without an exhaustive examination of the school returns to say in how many cases the local moieties of their redemption money are paid by the teachers and in how many cases they are being paid by others. The ownership of the premises would not appear to be affected by the repayment of the loan.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state at what stage the negotiations for the purchase of the Cambie estate, at Killoran, county Tipperary, are at present; and whether he can state when the Estates Commissioners will be in a position to reinstate Frank Moore in his (Moore's) former holding?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the owner has accepted their estimated price. Formal proceedings for the sale of the lands to the Commissioners were instituted in November last, and the sale will be proceeded with as rapidly as possible.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the number of labourers' cottages and plots provided by the Gortnahoe, Slievardagh, Cashel, Tipperary, Thurles, Nenagh, and Roscrea rural district councils under the Labourers Act of 1906; whether he will state the number of cottages and plots completed and let to labourers in each of the foregoing rural districts on 1st March, 1910; and whether he can state the reason why it took over three years to complete them?

The Local Government Board cannot give the precise information asked for, but they inform me that loans have been sanctioned under the Labourers Act of 1906 for providing cottages in the several rural districts mentioned in the question as follows: Gortnahoe, 37; Slievardagh, 80; Cashel, 193; Tipperary (No. 1), 142; Thurles, 140; Nenagh, 149; Roscrea (No. 1), 78. The number of cottages and plots let in the several rural districts on 31st March, 1909, will be found on page 174 of the Board's last Annual Report, which has been presented to Parliament, and corresponding figures for 31st March last will be published in the Board's next Report. No complaint as to delay has been received by the Board from any of these rural districts.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the county Leitrim is one of the most congested counties within the scheduled area; and whether, having regard to the fact that its claims have been overlooked in the past, he would consider the desirability of appointing a local representative on the Board?

The appointed members of the Congested Districts Board hold office for five years under the Irish Land Act, 1909, and there is no reason to anticipate a vacancy. It is therefore premature to raise the question of a new appointment.

asked the Chief Secretary if the salary of the assistant teacher in Mulnahorn girls' school, Dungarvan, has been withdrawn because she has been unable to satisfy the requirements of the inspector in her knowledge of oral Irish; if the principal of the same school has been threatened that unless she qualifies before 1st July in oral Irish she will also be dismissed; and do the Commissioners propose to put down new branches on the programme and issue orders to teachers that, unless they are qualified within a certain time to teach them, they will be removed from the service?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the manager of this school appointed a new assistant mistress in May last. The school is in an Irish-speaking district, and one of the conditions for the recognition of a new appointment in such cases is that the teacher should have an oral knowledge of Irish. It was found on inspection that the new teacher did not fulfil this condition, and the manager was informed that she could not be recognised as an assistant in the school. Salary was paid to her up to the end of 1909. The Commissioners consider that this is a school in which the bi-lingual programme should be taught and have told the manager so. The principal teacher has been allowed up to 31st July next to qualify for a certificate in Irish, but has not been threatened with dismissal. The Commissioners may from time to time make additions to their programme, but in all such cases they afford the teachers facility for making themselves proficient in the new subjects before requiring them to be taught in the schools.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he could see his way to issue instructions that in future all workmen taken on at the Deptford Victualling Yard shall be engaged through the local Labour Exchange, as was being done by the Greenwich Hospital Works Department?

Full use will be made of the local Labour Exchanges in the recruiting of men for the Royal yards and Admiralty establishments generally.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that ship's stewards enter this branch of the service as lads after passing an examination; that they are of or about the age of twenty-one, and of three years' service, when they pass their examination for the rating of ship's stewards; that they have to wait for about five years or more before they are promoted to the position of ship's steward; that until they are so promoted their pay is only 1s. 10d. a day, and that as they are on their promotion to the rating of ship's steward, and are of about eight years' service, it is impossible for them within their twenty-two years of service to obtain the progressive rates of pay in excess of 4s. a day; and whether he will take any steps to remedy this state of things and improve their position?

The statement as to the pay and conditions of service of ship's stewards' assistants is subtantially correct, but the statement that a ship's steward's assistant promoted to ship's steward after eight years' service cannot obtain more than 4s. a day pay during his twenty-two years' service in the Royal Navy is inaccurate. Under existing regulations such a man would receive 5s. a day after eighteen years' combined service as ship's steward and ship's steward's assistant. The question of the slowness of promotion in the ship's steward branch has been engaging the attention of the Board of Admiralty for some time past.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the officers of the 5th Battalion Suffolk Regiment sent in claims, under paragraph 408, Territorial Force Regulations, amounting to £121 11s. 4d., and that of this amount only £11 7s. was allowed; and whether the Army Council will reconsider I this case, in view of the hardship caused to the officers concerned?

I am aware of the circumstances of this case, which has been fully considered. The officers incurred expenditure which was not authorised by the regulations, and I cannot approve any further payment.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that, under the recent reorganisation of the Army Accounts Department, thirty civilians and forty-four officers of the Army Pay Department, redundant to the revised establishment, are being retained pending absorption; whether the eighteen redundant assistant accountants who entered the Army Accounts Department by the intermediate scheme of open competition are to be dismissed unless they accept transfer to other departments on terms involving loss of seniority, and, in the majority of cases, acceptance of inferior appointments for which they never competed; and whether he will consider the possibility of treating these eighteen men with the consideration extended to other redundants?

There is no redundancy of officers in the Army Pay Department, though a number of paymasters will be replaced by assistant paymasters in due course. Thirteen of the thirty civilians to are in fact employed in Army Pay Department vacancies for the present. The fact that these supernumeraries exist is scarcely an argument for increasing their number at large expense to the public. It has been decided not to employ in the War Office or Army Accounts Department any men recruited by the intermediate competition and the eighteen redundants referred to are being treated in accordance with the rules prescribed for Civil servants so situated, except that I have been able to obtain for them the special privilege of a period of delay during which they are offered a choice of the appointments of their class which become available in other departments.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can hold out any hope of relieving the congestion at present existing in the Royal Garrison Artillery as regards promotion of subaltern officers?

Will the hon. Member kindly refer to the full statement which I made on this subject in debate on Army Estimates on Tuesday, 8th March, and to which I have nothing further to add.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of officers deficient in the Special Reserve, giving their respective ranks; and what is the number of non-commissioned officers and men deficient in the Special Reserve.

The figures are as follows:—

Arm of the Service.

Lieut.-Cols.

Majors.

Captains.

Lieuts.

2nd Lieuts.

N.C.O.'s and Men.

Establishment.

Strength.

Deficiency.

Establishment.

Strength.

Deficiency.

Establishment.

Strength.

Deficiency.

Establishment.

Strength.

Deficiency.

Establishment.

Strength.

Deficiency.

Establishment.

Strength.

Deficiency.

Cavalry (unattached)

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

1

…

…

…

…

…

8

…

…

…

…

Clavery Irish Horse

…

2

2

…

10

10

…

8

8

…

10

11

…

16

11

5

886

709

177

Royal Field Artillery

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

70

…

…

30

…

…

37

…

12,000*

7,538

4,462

Royal Garrison Artillery

…

2

2

…

3

3

…

15

15

…

15

10

5

8

4

4

1,440

891

549

Royal Garrison Artillery (unattached)

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

1

…

…

2

…

…

5

…

…

…

…

Royal Engineers†

…

2

2

…

2

6

…

7

9

…

14

16

…

12

12‡

…

1,200‡

1,242

…

Royal Engineers (unattached)

…

…

…

…

…

4

…

…

14

…

…

13

…

…

42‡

…

…

…

…

Infantry

…

101

111§

…

128

155

…

536

633

…

1,107

280

827

808

278

530

58,588

55,823

2,765

Army Service Corps†

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

1

…

…

10

…

1,000†

211

789

Royal Army Medical Corps†

…

…

…

…

…

3

…

…

17

…

…

36

…

…

…

…

1,000†

991

9

Army Veterinary Corps

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

1

…

…

…

…

50

1

49

Totals (shewing net deficiency)

…

107

117§

…

143

181

…

566

768

…

1,146

400

746

844

407†

437

76,164

67,406

8,758

*Provisional Establishment, which will eventually be reduced to 6,000.

† In addition to the Establishments shown for these Corps, Establishments have been allotted for Special Reservists supernumerary to the Territorial Force, culled category B. of the Special Reserve, which is now in process of formation.

‡ These figures include 5 officers with units, and 28 unattached officers, on probation.

§ Includes 10 officers on the Unattached List.

¶The total Establishment will eventually be reduced by 6,000 in accordance with the first footnote.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of the Government to improve the position of adjutants of the Territorial Force by means of an increase of pay or allowances, or both, and by giving them facilities for going on active service should an opportunity arise while serving with their Territorial unit?

The question of the position of these adjutants in these and other respects is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any decision has yet been reached on the subject of the proposed increase in the retiring allowances of quartermasters and riding-masters holding the rank of major?

The question has presented considerable difficulty, and is still under consideration, but I think that a solution is now in sight.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that members of an organisation calling itself the Red Cross Society are enlisting support in Scotland on representations that the War Office anticipate the invasion of this country by Germany; and whether the society in question has any connection whatever with the War Office or is in any way authorised to use its name in connection with its propaganda?

The only Red Cross Society officially recognised by the Army Council is the British Red Cross Society. This is empowered by schemes issued by the Army Council to raise voluntary aid detachments to succour the sick and wounded in the event of war. A pamphlet is issued by the society dealing with medical organisation in case of invasion, but, of course, no foreign nations is specified in it. I am not aware that any branch of the society is enlisting support by special reference to any one foreign Power, and I would strongly deprecate any such action.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private Patrick Maguire, No. 1,797, 4th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, a Special Reservist, heretofore in receipt of a non-training bounty, has not been paid the instalments usually paid in December and February; and will he state what is the cause for stoppage of payment, and take steps to have payment resumed?

Private Maguire did not render his life certificates in respect of the December, 1908, and February, 1909, payments, and so far has furnished no satisfactory explanation of his omission to render them. If a satisfactory explanation is received the bounties will be paid in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the interest and value of the information relating to the British Empire given by high officials and official representatives of the Colonial Office in our Colonies and Dependencies and Protectorates, and published by the Colonial Office under the title of Colonial. Reports; whether he will make arrangements to have these Reports sent to the schools of Great Britain and Ireland, to be read by the advanced scholars; and whether a similar arrangement can be made for the distribution and reading in our schools of the Diplomatic and Consular Reports showing the trade, commerce, and resources of all foreign countries, which are prepared and issued annually by the Foreign Office?

I quite agree with the hon. Member as to the interest and value of the information contained in some of the Reports referred to. The provision of suitable literature for schools is not, however, a matter for the Board of Education. It concerns rather the local education authorities in the case of public elementary schools, and in the case of secondary schools, for which this type of literature would appear to be more suitable, either the local education authorities, as regards schools provided by them, or the governors of endowed secondary schools, as the case may be. I have, however, received a communication from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies with regard to the subject-matter of the question, and I hope shortly to discuss the matter more fully with him. I hope also to discuss the question, in so far as it concerns Diplomatic and Consular Reports, with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India (1) whether he is yet acquainted with the resolution passed unanimously at the meeting of the medical profession held under the auspices of the Bombay Medical Union on 8th September, 1909; and what steps does he propose to take to allay the discontent amongst Indian medical practitioners, who are still practically excluded from the higher grades of the medical service of their country without coming to this country to sit for the competitive examination for joining the Indian medical service; (2) whether he would ascertain the reasons why the Government of Madras have selected military assistant surgeons, with only four years' course of medical studies and with a qualification not registrable under the Medical Acts, for the posts of senior assistant professor at the Medical College, Madras, and senior assistant surgeon, General Hospital, Madras, and rejected the applications of Indian civil doctors in subordinate medical service with university qualifications registrable under the Medical Acts and with a distinguished medical record; (3) what are the higher grade medical appointments reserved for military doctors belonging to the Indian medical service that have been opened to and filled by well-qualified and competent Indian medical practitioners since the publication of his scheme of reform adumbrated in the Papers recently laid before Parliament; and whether he is aware of the efforts made by officers of the Indian medical service to keep the highly paid posts to their own service?

As regards the resolution referred to, it is under consideration by the Government of India in connection with the general question. As to the other points raised in the hon. Member's questions, I must again ask him to refer to the numerous replies already given on the subject.

asked the Under - Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the protest of the educated Indian community in Madras against the appointment of the Maharajah of Bobbili to the Executive Council of the Governor of Madras, on the ground that he does not possess the confidence of any section of the community, as is shown in his repeated failure to be elected to a seat on the Viceroy's Council; and whether, in view of the necessity of securing for the Executive Council the confidence of all sections of the community, some assurance can be given that appointments to it will be made from those who can prove that they represent one or other of the important sections of the Indian people?

The Secretary of State has no knowledge of any protest against the appointment of the Maharajah of Bobbili to the Executive Council of the Governor of Madras. He made careful inquiry before making the appointment, and he has received telegrams from representative bodies in Madras expressing their satisfaction.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if Income Tax has been deducted from the pensions of retired officers; if so, if such deductions have been made with the sanction of the Secretary of State, and by what authority has such sanction been given?

Yes, Sir. In such matters the Accountant-General of the India Office is guided by the Board of Inland Revenue.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the management and staffing of the General Hospital at Madras gives and has for many years given satisfaction to patients and to the public concerned; and whether, seeing that abstention from employing military surgeons in this hospital and generally in civil employ in time of peace would involve increased expenditure at the cost of the taxpayer, since peace is the normal condition of affairs in India, the Secretary of State will advise the Governor of Madras to abstain from introducing any change into the present system?

The Secretary of State is not aware of any intention on the part of the Government of Madras to introduce changes in the administration of the General Hospital at Madras; and he is not prepared, therefore, to address them on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of cases of nervous diseases, including failing eyesight, which has necessitated railway companies discharging or reducing such employés in their service during the past two years?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. We have no information at our disposal on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the recent case of the driver of a taxi-cab being observed to be leaning over the steering wheel as though asleep while the cab was in motion, but who was found to be dead by a pedestrian who boarded the cab, which meanwhile had run on to the pavement and narrowly escaped knocking down four children; and, seeing the danger to which the public are thus exposed, will he consider the expediency of requiring all taxi-cabs and similar vehicles to be fitted with an appliance such as will enable an inside passenger to stop the cab in case of necessity?

My attention has been drawn to newspaper reports of this case. Such occurrences are very rare, and it is not easy to see how they may be guarded against. The remedy which my hon. Friend suggests would, by enabling nervous passengers to interfere with the driving, cause far more accidents than it would prevent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that on 20th June, 1907, the Charity Commissioners held a public inquiry at Burwell into the administration of all the Burwell charities: that the Trustees of the Burwell Church Lands Charity had requested the Commissioners to supply them with a copy of the Report of the Assistant Commissioner who held the inquiry, and were refused on the ground that the Report dealt chiefly with the Poors Fen Charity and was made for the confidential consideration of the Commissioners; that the trustees of the Poors Fen Charity had also applied for a copy of the Report; will he say whether it is usual to hold a public inquiry into the administra- tion of a charity and not publish the result; and whether he will lay a copy of the Report of the Assistant-Commissioner upon the Table?

It is the fact that a public inquiry into the administration of all the charities at Burwell was held by an Assistant-Commissioner in 1907. It is the fact that an application for a copy of the Report made by the Assistant-Commissioner was received from the trustees of the Burwell Church Lands Charity and that such application was refused. Reports made by Assistant-Commissioners in such circumstances are made solely for the information of the Commissioners and are always treated as strictly confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what was the total production of cocoa in San Thomé and Principé in 1900, 1905, and 1909, respectively; what percentage of this total production was purchased by British manufacturers; and what the amounts purchased represented in value for the respective years?

A trade estimate (understood to be reliable) of the production of cocoa in San Thomé and Principé gives, the following figures:—

1900	13,935,000 kilos=13,711 tons of 2,240 lbs.
1905	25,669,000 kilos=25,256 tons of 2,240 lbs.
1909	27,846,000 kilos=27,398 tons of 2,240 lbs.

The Portuguese trade returns indicate that practically the whole of the cocoa exported from Portugal originates in San Thomé and Principé, and the imports from Portugal into the United Kingdom may therefore be regarded as consisting of such cocoa. The imports in the years in question were as follows:—

	Tons.	Value.	About
1900	5,305	£356,136	·38 of whole tonnage
1905	6,550	£337,333	·25 of whole tonnage
1909	3,799*	£197,034	·13 of whole tonnage
* Including 42 tons imported from Portuguese West Africa direct.. There were no direct imports in either of the two other years.

There is no means of knowing how much of the San Thomé and Principé cocoa finds its way to the United Kingdom otherwise than from Portugal.

asked the Postmaster-General if, under the Telegraphs Construction Act, 1908, the Post Office, failing agreement, compulsorily break up live hedges growing on the freehold of a landowner and place telegraph poles therein without any compensation for damage or without payment for the use of the land?

Under the Telegraph Construction Act, 1908, the Post Office, failing agreement with a landowner, can appeal to a stipendiary magistrate or county court and can, if dissatisfied, further appeal to the Railway Commissioners for power to construct a telegraphic line over, along, or across a hedge, bank, or land within twenty feet of a road, and if such power is granted can proceed with the work. The landowner has an equal right of appeal to the Railway Commissioners. The court to which the appeal is made can impose payment for the use of the land. Compensation for damage done in the exercise of the powers conferred by the Telegraph Acts is provided for by the Act of 1863.

asked the Postmaster-General what wages are paid monthly to the Lascar sailors, firemen, and trimmers, respectively, employed on British vessels carrying His Majesty's mails; and what is the cost of provisions supplied to each man per month?

The conditions of service of the Lascar sailors, firemen, and trimmers employed on British vessels carrying His Majesty's mails are not embodied in the contracts for such carriage, and information of this nature with regard to the crews of ships is not available in the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Mr. Andrew Pierce, a postman at Stillorgan, county Dublin, performs four attendances a day, ranging from 7.10 a.m. to 6.40 p.m.; whether he is aware that his wages are only 13s. 3d. a week; and whether, in view of the fact that the actual time employed is practically six hours a day, and the recommendation of the Hobhouse Committee that the number of auxiliaries in Ireland was excessive, he will make the above post an appointed one and confer it upon Mr. Pierce?

I find that Mr. Pierce's normal duty consists of three attendances a day, ranging from 7.10 a.m. to 3.0 p.m. For this duty he receives wages of 13s. 3d. a week and 1s. 4d. a fortnight for Sunday duty. In addition, he has irregularly been allowed to perform an evening attendance for which a payment of 2s. 6d. a week is made. A revision of the outdoor postal services at Stillorgan is under consideration, and I hope that it may be possible to replace by established appointments auxiliary posts at that office; but I cannot promise that Mr. Pierce will receive an appointment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he has received a petition on behalf of the labourers of the Ordnance Survey asking that the existing pension scheme accorded to the civil assistants of the Ordnance Survey might be extended to them; and, if so, when he expects to be in a position to give an answer to such a petition?

The petition mentioned was only received on 18th ult., and I am not at present in a position to say when an answer will be given to it. It is, however, under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, seeing that foot-and-mouth disease has now been stamped out in France and that no case has occurred for over six months, he will consider whether the time has arrived for removing the embargo placed on the importation of French straw?

We are in communication with the French Government on this subject.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board if he will take steps to widen the area of investment of Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks funds so as to enable local authorities to obtain advances from such funds on the security of the rates or other property or funds which they are authorised to mortgage?

My hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I can only refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a question on the same subject addressed to me by the hon. Member for Colne Valley on 28th February.

asked the Lord Advocate, in view of the fact that the proprietor of the island of Lewis has expressed his willingness to break up the farm of Mangersta, in the parish of Uig, island of Lewis, for the creation of new holdings, will he state what progress has been made in the matter and the number of new holdings it is proposed to create?

Negotiations are in progress, and meantime it would not be expedient to make any statement.

asked if the Secretary for Scotland can see his way to so vary the basis on which crofting areas are defined congested as to bring within the congested districts poor parishes in the Highland crofting counties such as Lochcarron. Ross-shire?

The case of Lochcarron has been more than once before the Congested Districts Board, but in view of the general considerations involved they have not felt justified in departing from the basis originally fixed after mature deliberation.

PEESONS EMPLOYED.
—					Slate Mines.			Slate Quarries.
					Underground.	Above Ground.	Total.	Inside.	Outside.	Total.
1900	…	…	…	…	2,295	2,746	5,041	4,015	5,466	9,481
1901	…	…	…	…	2,179	2,516	4,695	3,202	4,931	8,133
1902	…	…	…	…	2,294	2,626	4,920	3,566	5,073	8,639
1903	…	…	…	…	2,494	2,719	5,213	3,701	5,437	9,138
1904	…	…	…	…	2,269	2,899	5,168	3,870	5,456	9,326
1905	…	…	…	…	1,975	2,672	4,647	3,659	5,288	8,947
1905	…	…	…	…	1,692	2,309	4,001	3,560	5,174	8,734
1907	…	…	…	…	1,496	2,043	3,539	3,297	5,014	8,311
1908	…	…	…	…	1,368	1,933	3,301	3,212	4,844	8,056
1909	…	…	…	…	1,202	1.916	3,118	3,105	4,721	7,826

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will inquire from the Great Northern Railway of Ireland why the train passing Monaghan Road Station at 5.20 p.m. has ceased to stop at this station except on Saturdays, notwithstanding the fact that a memorial extensively signed by the residents of the surrounding districts was presented to the company; and, further, will he ask them to explain why they have discontinued the service of the train to this station after a period of over twenty years, during which it always stopped at Monaghan Road?

I have communicated with the railway company on this subject, and have received a reply of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of men employed in the quarries, and mines (slate) in North Wales during each; of the last ten years?

The following are the particulars of persons employed in slate mines and quarries in North Wales during each of the years 1900–1909, inclusive:—