asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he would state the total number of civil servants and the total strength of the military and police force now employed in Somaliland, showing the numbers of British, Indian, and Africans employed, respectively; and how these military and police forces and civil servants were distributed?

The total number of Civil servants employed is 107, of which 31 are British. The remainder are Africans, Indians or Goanese, but it is impossible to give the exact numbers. All the Civil staff is concentrated at the three posts of Berbera, Bulhar and Zeila. The police number 206 in all, 126 being stationed at Berbera and Bulhar, and 80 at Zeila. They are entirely composed of Africans. The military force is as follows: The 127th Battalion Baluchis and the Indian Contingent consisting of two companies. The above are at Berbera, with the exception of small garrisons of the Indian Contingent at Bulhar and at Zeila. There arc also three special service officers.

Does that represent the permanent force that is proposed to be kept in the Protectorate?

I think it would be highly undesirable to give precise details in military matters of this kind.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will lay Papers generally on Somaliland in addition to those we have already had; and secondly whether he will lay the Reports of the Sirdar and Sir Rudolph Slatin on the Table?

In reply to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's question we will lay Papers almost immediately, and as soon as we have got further information which we have sent for. With regard to the second part, as Lord Crewe said in the House of Lords the other day, I cannot very well lay the Report of Sir Reginald Wingate and Sir Rudolph Slatin, because it was never intended for publication.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he would give details of all the fighting that had occurred since 21st March last between the Mullah's followers and the Somali tribes, hitherto described as friendlies, stating place, date, tribes engaged, and losses on both sides, both in men and animals; and whether any cases had been reported of our tribes joining the Mullah?

The details for which the hon. Member asks in. the first part of his question will be given in the further Papers which are being laid almost immediately before the House. No cases have been reported of our tribes joining the Mullah.

Is it not a fact that the time Somaliland was taken over one of the conditions was that we should protect the natives, and how does the right hon. Gentleman think the present conduct with regard to the withdrawal of troops is carrying out that condition?

I should think that that is a matter for debate, and a great deal can be said on both sides. I do not think you could deal with a question of that kind by question and answer in the time available, but I should be glad to give an answer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to put the Colonial Office Vote down for an early day?

If the hon. and gallant Member will make his request through the ordinary channels I am sure the Prime Minister will consider how soon he will take the Colonial Office Vote. As far as we are concerned, the sooner the better, hut a great many other people want Votes taken.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he was aware that when the Legislative Council of Trinidad recently decided to ask permission to import Indian coolie immigrants to the number of 3,200, every unofficial member who voted in favour of such introduction was an interested party; whether he had seen a full report of the debate in question; and whether, in view of the increasing emigration and unemployment of the native population, he would promise to review the whole question carefully before any further permission was granted for the introduction of immigrants?

I have seen a newspaper report of the debate to which my hon. Friend refers, and I do not find in it anything to alter the view that the number of immigrants settled for the coming season does not exceed what is required in the interests of the Colony as a whole. The whole question of coolie immigration has been most carefully investigated by a Departmental Committee, as my hon. Friend is aware, and their report will offer an opportunity for careful review of the policy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he could give any information with regard to the railway extensions in Trinidad; whether a satisfactory survey of the Tabaquite Rio-Clara line had now been made, carrying out the original project as approved of; if so, whether the work is to be at once begun; whether he had any official information showing that the delays and difficulties in the case of the Siparia line were due to the endeavour on the part of the general manager of railways to favour certain large landowners to the south-east of Siparia village by running as far east as possible, and that all difficulties would disappear if the' original project of a railway from San Fernando to Siparia were carried out; and whether he would explain why the offers of Messrs. Tennant and others of a free passage were not taken advantage of and a line run almost due south from San Fernando to a terminus on the actual southern edge of Siparia village?

Surveys of the routes of the proposed extensions of the Trinidad Government Railway have been made, but the routes selected cannot be regarded as definitely and finally settled until the surveys have been considered by the consulting engineers whom it is in contemplation to appoint. The surveys already made indicate that the route proposed for the Tabaquite Rio-Clara extension in 1898, to which my hon. Friend no doubt refers as the original project, would be difficult, if not impracticable, for railway construction. The Secretary of State has no official or other information which would justify the statement that delay has taken place owing to an endeavour to favour certain landowners. As regards the last sentence in the question, it is obvious that the selection of a route for a railway must depend both on engineering considerations and on the nature and extent of the traffic to be expected.

asked whether he had received any complaints that the non-official members of the Legislative Council of Trinadad had failed to discuss the municipal question and that they had neglected the general interests of the Colony, concerning themselves only with the questions appertaining to their own private interests; and, if so, whether he would consider the advisability of abolishing, by legislation or otherwise, the existing legislative, and substituting therefor a wholly elective, council, in which all classes shall have the right of representation?

I do not think that there is any evidence showing that widespread discontent exists with regard to the existing Legislative Council, or that there is any foundation for the charges implied in the question. The Secretary of State is confident that the Governor will not fail to bring before the Council any questions which it may be in the general interest of the Colony for them to discuss.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether since the prosperity of the British Colony of Trinidad chiefly depended upon the sugar industry, and since the sugar industry chiefly depended upon indentured British-Indian labour, the Secretary of State would inquire if any steps could be taken to further promote the comfort and convenience of British-Indians, who emigrate to Trinidad for the benefit of that island and to the relief of unemployment in overcrowded portions of British India?

The Under-Secretary of State understands that the Departmental Committee on Emigration from India has received a considerable body of evidence bearing on the condition of Indian immigrants in Trinidad and other West Indian Colonies, and he anticipates that the Committee's report will deal with any points in regard to which the improvement of the lot of the immigrants is possible. If on the receipt of the Committee's report further inquiry in the direction indicated by my hon. Friend should appear to be desirable, the Secretary of State will be happy to take into consideration any suggestions which may be made to him with that object.

Will the Commission consider how far the public body in Trinidad, which inspires these questions, is really representative of the people in Trinidad?

I have dealt with that.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government was about to> send another Commission to Malta to investigate further the question of Mediterranean fever; and, if so, what was to be the composition of such Commission; and whether, in view of the fact that the conclusions of the last Mediterranean Fever Commission had been gravely called in question, steps would be taken to ensure that one or more unprejudiced persons would be included in the new Commission, who would be competent and willing to take into serious consideration the sanitary conditions of the island and of the quarters provided for the garrison, and their bearing upon the question of Maltese fevers?

:.The question of appointing another Commission to inquire into Mediterranean fever is under consideration; but the only question which appears to require further investigation is the manner in which goats, which have been shown to be the main, if not the only, source of the disease in man. become themselves infected. It will not, therefore, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, be either necessary or desirable to include within the scope of the Commission the matters referred to by my hon. Friend.

Will it not be necessary to include impartial persons?

I hope the Committee that will be appointed will be strictly impartial.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the expenses of Mr. Pearson, C.M.G., who accompanied Sir Charles Lucas on his recent tour, were defrayed by His Majesty's Government or not?

Yes.

Is it not a fact that this, journey was taken to carry out the spirit of a recommendation of the Imperial Conference, for the purpose of making officials of the Colonial Office acquainted with the Colonies at first hand; if so, would it not be wiser—

The hon. Member i? making a speech.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government recognised the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina without the consent of the other signatories of the Treaty of Berlin; if so, how could he explain his statement on the subject made at Wooler on 7th October, 1908; and, if not, would he explain why His Majesty's Government had abandoned the proposal for a European conference?

His Majesty's Government did not recognise the annexation till the consent of the other signatories of the Treaty of Berlin was forthcoming. Their action has, therefore, been entirely in accord with the speech referred to. The answer to the last question is that His Majesty's Government, while insisting that Treaty alterations must receive the assent of all signatory Powers, were from the first in favour of direct negotiation between the-Powers most closely interested, and they even suggested that matters might perhaps be arranged by other means than a conference, pointing out that they were anxious to see an agreement reached, but were not particular as to the method adopted. The proposal for "some step such as a conference" did not emanate from His Majesty's Government.

asked whether an agreement had been come to with reference to the Congo boundaries?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he could state the number of cases from January, 1900, to January, 1910, inclusive, which had come to the notice of his Majesty's Ambassadors or Ministers in which specific requests for tariff concessions from other countries had been granted in the case of the United States of America, Canada, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, and Great Britain, respectively?

We have not made the enumeration suggested by the Noble Lord's question. It would be impossible to arrive at a conclusion of any value in this way. As has already been stated, a general survey of the new French tariff and its effects is being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he could say if the Egyptian Government intended to abide by the decision of the National Assembly, and to refuse to extend the Suez Canal concession; whether that decision was arrived at after consultation with Sir Eldon Gorst, the British Agent, and with his consent; and whether, as a consequence of this decision, the interest of the British Government in the Suez Canal Company, now valued at £25,000,000, would determine with the concession?

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second question, the answer is also in the affirmative, as regards abiding by the decision of the Assembly in this instance; but I must refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 17th March, in which it is made clear that His Majesty's Government did not in any way influence the decision not to extend the concession. The reply to the third question is in the affirmative.

Was the action of the Egyptian Government due to pressure brought to bear upon them by the Egyptian Nationalist party, fortified by a seditious Press, and a certain number of Radical Members in this House?

The action of the Egyptian Government, as I understand it, was brought about by a decision of the General Assembly which was practically unanimous.

asked how many deaths from pneumonokoniosis, bronchitis, and other lung diseases, respectively, had occurred in each of the years 1907, 1908, 1909 in those enumeration districts in the valley of the Don above Sheffield in which Ganister mines are situated; what rates those deaths formed of the population of those districts, and how they compared with the rates of mortality from similar diseases for England as a whole; and what would be the mortality figure for those districts from those diseases if calculated on the lines of Table IV., Vol. II., of the last decennial supplement to the Report of the Registrar-General?

I have communicated with the Registrar- General, who states that causes of death are not classified for areas less than registration districts, and that while it would be possible to furnish death rates for the diseases mentioned in the district principally affected during 1907 and 1908, the effect of any special mortality among the miners would be masked by the general mortality of the district, and that the rates themselves could not be taken as reliable in view of the time that has elapsed since the last Census. This would also prevent any mortality figure being prepared. I think the best course will be to leave the matter to the Royal Commission on Mines, who will be making inquiry into the working of the special rules for rock-drilling, and will doubtless consider what statistics can be obtained. I may add that the inspector informs me that there is far less dust, and the ventilation is much better now in these mines, and that workers and officials are agreed that the effect of the special rules has been most beneficial.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say with what period the present condition is compared when he says the ventilation is better now?

I do not know exactly, but since the introduction of the present rules there has been a noticeable improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he would consider the question of bringing waiters and waitresses employed on licensed premises within the scope of the promised legislation on shop hours, in view of the hours now commonly worked by such persons?

If the hon. Member will refer to the Government Shops Bill introduced last Session, he will see that, with the exception of the provision prohibiting employment after 8 p.m. on more than three days in the week the provisions of Part I. of the Bill as to hours of employment, meal times, etc., apply to any person employed in serving, or otherwise in connection with the sale of, intoxicating liquors or refreshments for consumption on the premises. Waiters and waitresses so employed on licensed premises are therefore included in the scope of the Bill.

asked the Postmaster-General if he was aware that the postman on the Inch route from Kingussie was compelled by the Department to discontinue the use of a horse cart and adopt a bicycle, for which this route was quite unsuited, being for many weeks under water or blocked by snow; was he aware that during last winter the road was impassable for a bicycle for many weeks, and a horse and trap had to be hired at considerable additional expense; and whether, under the circumstances, he would reconsider his decision and permit this postman again to use a horse and trap?

I am aware that a bicycle is now used on this post, the weight conveyed being quite insufficient to justify the expense of a horse and cart. The new arrangements were explained to the hon. Member by my predecessor, and I am assured that they are working satisfactorily; and, as they also provide for an additional despatch from Feshiebridge for which application has been made, I see no reason for reverting to the old service. The hire of a horse and trap when cycling is not practicable is a part of the new arrangement, and, notwithstanding this special expense, there is a substantial saving in expenditure on the post, the cost of which in any case will greatly exceed the revenue.

asked the Postmaster-General if he was aware that the arrangement whereby the mail train leaving Inverness at 9.50 a.m. did not stop at Beauly during the months of July, August, and September, 1909, caused inconvenience to the inhabitants of Beauly and district, and greatly impaired the postal service in the district, the letters for Muir-of-Ord, Redcastle, Muirlocay, Avoca, and Fort-rose in the one direction, and Strathconon in the other, often being twenty-four hours later than when the train stopped; whether arrangements could be made to obviate this difficulty; and if, before sanctioning such a proposal for this year, he would ask a surveyor to meet a committee of the inhabitants of the district?

I am in communication with the Highland Railway Company, with the view of arranging, if possible, for the maintenance of the stop of the down night mail train at Beauly during the coining summer season, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the officer in charge of the Pentonville Labour Exchange (No. 9) recently offered six machinery moulders positions abroad to the unemployed, but refused to tell them to which country they would have to go, and that anyone accepting the work would have to pay his own fare; and, if so, whether, in all such cases, he would see that full information was given and means found of giving temporary financial assistance to deserving persons?

A notice intimating that six moulders for machinery castings were required for vacancies abroad was exhibited at the Finsbury Labour Exchange, in the Pentonville Road. The notice stated that applicants proceeding to these vacancies would have to pay their own fares. No suitable workmen applied for any of these positions. Had any done so, all the information in the possession of the officials at the exchange would have been afforded. The Board of Trade have no power to give temporary financial assistance in the manner suggested by the hon. Member's question, but may advance fares in certain circumstances by way of loan, to be repaid by the employer or the workman in accordance with the published Regulations.

Does the granting of temporary assistance apply to employment in foreign countries?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he could supply information regarding the comprehensive measure of social insurance introduced into the Reichsrath by the Austrian Government in November, 1908?

The Bill referred to proposes to amend and extend the existing laws as to insurance against sickness and accidents and to introduce a general scheme of obligatory old age and invalidity insurance on a contributory basis. I understand that the measure is still under the consideration of the Austrian Parlia- ment. I shall be happy to afford my hon. Friend facilities for the inspection of the text of the Bill, which forms a very voluminous document.

asked what steps had, so far, been taken to put the Trade Boards Act into operation in Ireland?

Detailed inquiries have been made both amongst employers and workers in Ireland, and meetings have been held at which the Act has been explained. Regulations for the establishment of Trade Boards in Ireland for certain branches of the tailoring trade and for the paper-box trade are now under consideration.

When is anything practical likely to be done?

In the course of a very few weeks, I hope.

Is shirtmaking within the scope of the inquiries?

No; we have confined our inquiries to the scheduled trades.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he had any official information as to the purchase of horseflesh for consumption as food by the poorer classes in London?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am not aware of any place in London at which horseflesh is sold for human food under the provisions of the Sale of Horseflesh Regulation Act, 1889. In a Report made by the Medical Officer of Health of the London County Cuncil it is, however, suggested that some of the meat sold as cats' meat may in fact be used for human consumption.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the recommendation made by the Railway Conference in 1908 for the modification of the owner's risk conditions in contracts for the carriage of milk cans in passenger trains, to the effect that nothing in such agreement should exempt the railway company from any liability which they would otherwise incur in respect of loss suffered by the consignor through non-arrival of milk at the station of destination, or through delay exceeding twenty-four hours in transit thereto, except on proof that such loss or delay had not been caused by negligence or misconduct on the part of the company or their servants, was construed by the Board to mean that the onus of proof of wilful misconduct would, after such modification, no longer be upon the consignor, but that the onus of proof that no negligence or misconduct of any kind had been committed would thereafter be upon the railway company if the latter was to claim exemption from liability; and whether any of the railway companies had adopted, or were to the knowledge of the Board taking steps to adopt, the above recommendation?

The new form of words regarding the liability of railway companies for loss or damage to milk conveyed at owners' risk expressly states that in certain specified cases the company will remain liable except on proof that the loss or damage, etc., was not due to the negligence or misconduct of themselves or their servants, and I should certainly understand that in such cases the onus of proof is on the railway company. In other cases the conditions are unchanged, and in such cases the burden of proving that loss or damage was due to wilful misconduct of the company's servants will, I imagine, still rest with the person claiming compensation. It will, of course, be understood that the Board of Trade have no authority to give a binding legal interpretation of the words in question. The Railway Clearing House informed the Board of Trade in November last that effect would be given throughout Great Britain to these recommendations of the Railway Conference on and from the 1st January.

May I ask whether it is perfectly clear in which of the two cases referred to in the answer to the question the onus of proof is on the consignor, and in which it is on the railway companies?

I do not know. I should imagine it would be perfectly clear. I do not think the Board of Trade are arbitrators in the matter. It would be another authority.

Is it a fact that the Board of Trade have interpreted this agreement in a sense hostile to the railway companies in so far as their liability is concerned?

No.

If they did not, then in that case what validity has the interpretation of the Board of Trade in that behalf?

I can only repeat what I said in my answer. It should be understood that the Board of Trade have no authority to give a binding legal interpretation of the words.

What was the decision and what was the character of it?

May I ask whether there is any serious doubt of the Board of Trade interpretation of it, and whether this matter requires judicial interpretation?

I do not think there is any doubt about it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can inform the House how far railway companies are responsible for negligence or undue delay causing deterioration or damage to milk while on the premises belonging to the companies, and on whom the burden of proof of such damage rests; and whether it is in any, and what, way affected by the Railway Conference of 1908?

When milk is consigned at the railway company's risk rate, the company concerned is under the ordinary carrier's liability for the due delivery of the traffic. When it is consigned at owner's risk the companies have until recently made it a condition that they shall not be liable for loss of or damage to the traffic except where such loss or damage has been due to the wilful misconduct of the company concerned or its servants. The Railway Conference recommended certain amendments of these conditions, as shown in page 6 of their Report, a copy of which I am having sent to my hon. Friend, and these recommendations-have been adopted by the railway companies of Great Britain. The effect of the amendments appears to be to transfer to the railway company in certain specified cases the burden of proof as to the responsibility for damage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the Report of the Consul-General for Antwerp with reference to the engagement and discharge of British crews at that port in 1809; if he is aware that of 16,258 seamen engaged only 3,523 were British subjects, that of 4,729 sailors engaged only 282 were British subjects, and of 4,868 firemen engaged only 133 were British subjects; and whether, owing to this displacement of British seamen by foreigners, and the consequences to British seamen in not being able to obtain employment on British ships at Continental ports, he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to making some alteration, so that British seamen out of employment at Continental ports may have some means of obtaining employment on British ships?

My attention has been called to the Report referred to in the question. I may, however, point out that His Majesty's Consul - General in his Report attributes the small number of British seamen engaged at Antwerp to the comparatively small number of British seamen available, and not to any difficulty they experience in obtaining employment. It should be added that the proportion of British seamen engaged at Antwerp has not declined, but has risen slightly during the last few years. The proportion at this particular foreign port bears, of course, no relation to the proportion of British seamen in the merchant service as a whole.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that on 26th March, 1910, the steamship "Cranmore," belonging to Messrs. Johnston and Co., of Liverpool, engaged a crew at Rotterdam; that Thomas Noble, an able seaman belonging to Liverpool who was out of employment, applied for a berth, showing the chief officer his continuous discharge book, in which was recorded nineteen voyages all marked very good for ability and conduct; whether he has information through the Consul at Rotterdam that this seaman was refused employment on board this British ship on account of his being a British subject; and, if so, whether he will, for the purpose of providing employment for as many British seamen as possible, take some action to prevent British ships bound from Rotterdam, Antwerp, or Hamburg to ports in the United Kingdom from paying off their crews at any of the Continental ports?

I have no information as to the facts of the particular case referred to in the question, but I am making inquiries, and the result shall be communicated to my hon. Friend. With regard to the latter part of the question, the Board of Trade have no power to prevent masters of British ships from paying off their crews at Rotterdam, Antwerp, or Hamburg, if, under the articles of agreement, the crews may be so discharged.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what action has been taken in regard to the inspector's report on the insanitary condition of the village of Keyingham, in the area of the Patrington Rural District Council, Holder-ness; and if any steps are being taken to examine the drainage of other villages in the district which are reported to be in an insanitary condition?

I have addressed a letter to the Rural District Council in regard to the insanitary conditions of Keyingham and Patrington which were reported on by the inspector. As regards the other twenty-four parishes in the district, I am considering whether it is necessary to direct inspection by one of the Board's inspectors.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the fact that at the recent board of guardians election in the borough of St. Marylebone one candidate unsuccessfully presented himself for election in no less than seven wards; and that in six out of the seven of these wards there would have been no contest had it not been for this candidate, who only secured an aggregate vote of 225; and whether he will consider the propriety of introducing legislation to limit vexatious candidatures in order to prevent needless cost being forced upon the ratepayers?

I have received a communication on the subject to which the question relates. It has not hitherto been found necessary to provide expressly against such proceedings as are alluded to, but the point shall be noted.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has any information concerning the consignment of Chinese pork which was condemned in London and Liverpool as unfit for human food and has been landed in the Isle of Man; and whether such pork is being manufactured into bacon?

The facts are not quite correctly stated in the first part of this question, and perhaps I may be allowed to refer the hon. Member to my replies to similar questions of the 10th and 14th ultimo. I have no information as to the last portion of the question beyond statements made in the public Press.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the terms of reference to the recently appointed Departmental Committee on the British export trade in live stock with the Colonies and other countries will admit of the consideration of the best means of putting a stop to the attempts on the part of unscrupulous exporters to nullify the value of the tuberculin test in the case of pedigree cattle by its repeated application at short intervals, resulting in the discredit of, and loss of trade to, the general body of British breeders and exporters; and, if not, whether the Board will specifically widen the terms of reference so as to include the consideration of this question?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Parliamentary. Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will consider the advisability of appointing a veterinary inspector for every port from which old and decrepit horses are transported to the Continent, with instructions not to permit any horse to be embarked for shipment without a certificate from him that such horse is fit to undergo the passage?

The suggestion made by my hon. Friend is under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if his attention has been called to the outbreak of a disease believed to be a special form of anthrax at the farm of Dalleagles, in the parish of New Cumnock, Ayrshire; and whether inquiries have been made as to the nature of the disease and the remedies therefor, and the proper precautions to prevent the spreading thereof, or whether he will cause inquiries to be made on these subjects and publish the information obtained?

Our veterinary officers are satisfied that the disease to which my hon. Friend refers is malignant catarrh, and not anthrax. It is not a disease which spreads from farm to farm, and is well known to qualified veterinary practitioners.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what proportion of the total work of the revaluation of the city of Dublin has been done; when exactly was the revaluation commenced; and can he say approximately when it will be completed?

About half the total work of revaluation has now been completed. The work was begun in 1907, and the valuation lists are expected to be issued in from two to three years from now.

asked the Lord Advocate when he expects that the. House of Lords appeal in the case of Stewart v. Williamson will probably be reached?

I am unable at present to say when this appeal will be reached. I am informed that it is now set down on the list of Scottish Appeals ready for hearing, and will be heard in due course.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any reasonable chance that the case will be heard before the end of the month?

I think not before the end of the month.

Is it the case that most sheep lets are made at the Whitsuntide term, and therefore that, owing to the Government having delayed dealing with the matter, as promised by the Lord Advocate himself, no legislation upon this subject can now be of any use for another year?

The matter does not arise out of my answer. There will be no delay on the part of the Government.

asked the hon. Member for the Stroud Division, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether he is aware that the Return of Endowed Charities (County of Wilts), made by order of the House of Commons on 9th August, 1901, and which was ordered by the House to be printed on 20th February, 1905, contains the provisions of the scheme of 1891, which was in force prior to that which has recently been submitted to a meeting of the ratepayers of the ancient parish of Lavington and to which they take exception, and that the receipt of Poor Law relief is not made a disqualification in the scheme of 1891 and that it does not appear that there was any such disqualification in the bequest under Alderman Dauntsey's will, and that local feeling is so strongly in favour of the removal of the provision in the new scheme as to disqualification on account of Poor Law relief that it is the intention of the parish council to obtain a legal decision on the point should the Charity Commissioners insist on maintaining the inclusion of such a clause, disqualifying, on account of receipt of Poor Law relief, applicants for admission to the Dauntsey Almshouses in their new scheme; and whether, under the circumstances, the Charity Commissioners will remove the disqualifying provision from their new scheme and take whatever steps may appear to them necessary, if any, to legalise their position due to the removal of this disqualification?

The scheme of 1891 was made under the Endowed Schools Acts, and did not affect the qualification of almspeople as prescribed in Alderman Dauntsey's will, which did not expressly disqualify persons in receipt of Poor Law relief. It has already been explained, however, that a rule of law laid down by the Court of Chancery disqualifies such persons, and that therefore the Commissioners consider that they would not be justified in removing the disqualifying provision from the new scheme. The rule can only be altered by legislation, as to the possibility of which I must refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister. As to an appeal by the parish council against the proposed scheme, I may draw attention to the provisions of Section 8 of the Charitable Trusts Act, 1860, and Section 10 and 11 of the Charitable Trusts Act, 1869.

Arising out of that reply, I desire to ask the hon. Member whether, in view of the Prime Minister's declaration on Friday last that both parties are agreed as to the removal of the Poor Law disqualification from the Old Age Pension Act, he will use his influence with the Prime Minister to facilitate the passage of a short Bill that will enable the Charity Commissioners to remove the Poor Law disqualification from this and other schemes for the administration of charities?

I fear that my influence with the Prime Minister in this matter would be small.

asked the Prime Minister whether.the conditions for the recognition of the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the part of Great Britain, as expressed by him on 12th October, 1908, in reply to a question by the right hon. Member for South Dublin, have been fulfilled; if so, can he say when all the interested parties, including Servia and Montenegro, have signified their consent to it; and, if not, will he consider the advisability of calling together a European conference in order to give these changes international validity, as was stated by him at Leven on 7th October, 1908, and to regularise all other questions, removing thereby grave causes for friction among the Powers?

In so far as Turkey is concerned, the conditions indicated in the Prime Minister's reply made on 12th October, 1908, have been fulfilled. Servia, in a Note communicated to the Austro-Hungarian Government in March, 1909, agreed to abandon an attitude of protest against the annexation, and both Servia and Montenegro agreed to abide by the decision of the Powers in regard to Article 25 of the Treaty of Berlin. The changes, in so far as concerns Article 25 of the Treaty of Berlin, already possess international validity by the consent of the signatory Powers, and there is therefore no need for a conference for this purpose. Nor is one required to remove friction amongst these Powers, which, happily, does not exist at the present time.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is proposed to send a battleship of the "Dreadnought" type to the Mediterranean Fleet; and, if so, what ship will be sent?

It is not in the public interest to give information of the prospective movements of His Majesty's ships.

asked if there was any official information to show that the design of the crane for the Thames Ironworks Company submitted by the German firm was greatly superior to that of the British firm.

The designs were not submitted to the Admiralty, who therefore are unable to express any opinion as to the relative merits of the British and the German designs for floating cranes. The order given by the Thames Ironworks Company was naturally and properly given on their own responsibility. The English firm who tendered for the contract are on the Admiralty list, which is a sufficient assurance of the high opinion which we have formed of the excellence of the firm's work.

asked the First Lord whether he will state what the armament will be of the German "Dreadnought" cruisers?

No official information has been received regarding the armament of the ships in question.

asked how many rounds per gun, from 12- to 6-inch inclusive, do the Governments consider an adequate reserve to keep in store in peace time at home depots and at foreign depots for ships based thereon respectively, and is it in contemplation to increase the present reserve on the outbreak of hostilities?

It is not in the public interest to publish these details.

asked what naval provision now exists on the West Coast of South America for the protection of British lives and property in the event of war between two South American States (Peru and Ecuador)?

His Majesty's ships "Shearwater" and "Algerine" are the two vessels employed on the Pacific Coast of America.

May I ask are not these two vessels at Vancouver, and are they not only sloops of 1,000 tons; and whether it is a fact that a comparatively short time ago six British war vessels were actively employed in protecting British subjects during one of the South American wars?

The last part of the question shows how easy it is for the British Admiralty to send warships wherever they may be required. The answer to the other parts I believe to be in the affirmative, but if the hon. Member will put them down I shall be glad to answer them.

Are we to understand that there are no British ships nearer than these two vessels, and that these two are only useless sloops'?

No. Sir, the hon. Member is not to understand what he says in the latter part of the question.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that Vancouver is a satisfactory position for those ships to be stationed?

No, Sir. If the ships had been intended for the defence of people in Peru and Ecuador they would not be stationed at Vancouver. These are the two ships upon the station, and they are the nearest to the coast of Ecuador.

Will the interest of British subjects, which are distinctly at stake, be properly safeguarded?

Yes, Sir. We shall take the advice of the Foreign Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer whether he is yet in a position to give the names of the Development Commissioners; and if, in considering the qualifications of the representatives from Ireland, account will be taken of their knowledge of agriculture and arterial drainage?

also asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is in a position to announce the names of the Development Commissioners; and whether he will see that Ireland is represented on the Board by a member who is in sympathy with agricultural development and arterial drainage?

I hope shortly to be able to announce the constitution of the Development Commission. I shall be glad to take into consideration the suggestion made by the hon. Members and also to consider any names which they may care to submit to me.

Is the suggestion conveyed in the question that there may be more than one representative of Ireland well founded?

I think it is rather premature for me to give an answer upon that subject now.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government have received representations from Irish sources as to the desirability of amending the Finance Bill, 1909, in respect of all or any of the following subjects; the increased Whisky Duty, the Manufacturers' Licence Duty on small breweries, further safeguards for small owners from the new Death Duties and the new Stamp Duties, declaratory words clearly exempting agricultural land from the Land Taxes, and the exemption of agricultural land from revaluation; and whether it is proposed to amend the Finance Bill, 1909, to meet Irish objections on the above points, or in any other way to secure the removal of Irish opposition to that measure?

The hon. Member can hardly expect me to anticipate my financial statement by replying to the latter part of the question. As regards the first part, like every other Chancellor of the Exchequer, I have been in receipt of representations on every portion of the Budget from all quarters of the United Kingdom. There are people in all parts of the Kingdom who prefer that others should pay taxes instead of themselves, and Ireland is no exception to this rule.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the speech made by the hon. Member for Cork City (Mr. William O'Brien)?

That does not arise out of the question.

Did the right hon. Gentleman give a qualified assent to the concessions set forth in the speech of the hon. Member for Cork?

That does not arise.

Has the right hon. Gentleman given a conditional undertaking to accede to any of the representations made from Ireland on the Budget?

The hon. Member had better put down that question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposed relief of taxation which is to be granted to the Irish taxpayers in respect of their burdens under the Budget of 1909–10 will be made in the Budget of 1909–10, or will be embodied in the Budget for the present financial year?

also asked whether it is still the intention of the Government to reimpose as from December last all the taxes and duties which were embodied in the Finance Bill of last year?

As I have already stated on several occasions, I cannot deal with questions of this kind in anticipation of the statement which I shall make early next week.

If the right hon. Gentleman agrees to the reimposition of these duties will they apply equally to all parts of the United Kingdom?

I think the hon. Member will be quite satisfied about that when he hears my statement next week.

asked if the Budget for the year 1910–11 will not be presented until after the spring holidays; and, if so, can he give any estimate of the losses that will be incurred through the delay in its presentation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second, I am not aware of any appreciable loss that is likely to be incurred.

asked if the Financial Resolutions leading to the Budget of 1910–11 will be brought in shortly to legalise the collections made and to be made of duties and taxes since 31st March?

I cannot yet give a date for the introduction of the Financial Resolutions for the Budget of 1910–11.

Under what authority is the Income Tax, and other taxes now being paid, collected?

I hope they will be legalised before the Budget of 1910–11.

The present collection I am asking about?

My answer is in reference to that collection, and I hope that collection will be legalised before the Budget of 1910–11.

Under what authority is it being collected?

How does the Budget of last year affect the question of the present time and the present year?

We will propose the Budget of 1910–11 in the ordinary course, but before we reach that we must legalise the collection of last year and that will be the first step.

Is not the ordinary course to bring in the Budget for the year in April?

If the Income Tax is collected voluntarily, why does the right hon. Gentleman discourage its collection in so many instances?

The hon. Gentleman is quite wrong in his facts. I am not discouraging it. On the contrary, I have given every encouragement to the collection of the Income Tax voluntarily paid. I have gone so far that an hon. Member on the other side put a question last week complaining that I was encouraging the collection of voluntary Income Tax in Glasgow.

May I ask—

Any further questions must be put down.

asked whether returns are kept of the amounts refunded to payers of Income Tax in respect of abatements allowed for incomes below £700?

Yes, Sir; this information is given in the Annual Report of the Board of Inland Revenue.

Are the Returns not yet published?

They are not yet published for this year.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants on the Morphy estate, Aglish, East Kerry, had been negotiating for purchase with their landlord under the Act of 1903, and that, after having agreed as to terms, the landlord refused to complete the sale on account of the danger of a reduced bonus; and whether, seeing that this small estate, of which Lord Ventry is head landlord, adjoins the Ventry estate which is being purchased by the Congested Districts Board, as the landlord refuses now to sell under the Act of 1909, and as the holdings are small and the tenants poor, the Board will request the landlord to sell to them, and if he refuses put their compulsory powers into operation?

The ease of the Morphy estate will be carefully considered by the Congested Districts Board, but I am not in a position at present to say what action they may take in the matter?

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that Patrick J. Cullen, the tenant of an hotel in French-park, county Roscommon, considers himself unfairly treated by the Congested Districts Board; whether he is aware that Mr. Cullen had been tenant of this property since 1876, was induced by an agent of the Congested Districts Board to give up possession in order to enable the Board to make some repairs, and now finds himself in the position of caretaker, subject to eviction without compensation, the hotel in question having been sold to a middleman, named M'Dermot; and "whether the Board will compensate Mr. Cullen for disturbance?

I understand that the facts of the case are as follows. At the time of purchase of the De Freyne Estate by the Congested Districts Board, Mr. McDermott, of Castlerea, held under a lease a plot, upon which is the hotel in the town of Frenchpark, at a ground rent of £2 0s. 6d. per year. Mr. Cullen was the sub-tenant in occupation. Since the Board purchased the estate the lease expired and the Board took over formal possession of the premises from the occupier, Cullen, who was re-admitted as caretaker. Cullen asked to be made a tenant of the holding with buildings thereon, and have the premises sold to him under the Land Purchase Acts. Mr. McDermott applied that the premises should be sold to him on the ground that, although his lease had expired, and the valuable house property upon the holding which have cost his predecessor several hundred pounds, had legally fallen into the ownership of the landlord, it would be an injustice to take the property from him without compensation, and to sell it to the sub-tenant who never contributed towards the erection or maintenance of the buildings. The Board, after full consideration of the facts of the case, decided to sell to Mr. McDermott for cash the fee-simple of the premises, for the price they had paid to Lord De Freyne for the ground rent, plus an amount expended on repairing the buildings. Cullen who continues in occupation of the premises as tenant, as heretofore, does not appear to have anything to complain of.

asked the grounds on which the Local Government Board for Ireland refused to continue the pension granted to Bridget Collum, Ballybofey, county Donegal, by the Stranorlar sub-committee from the 1st January, 1910; whether the Local Government Board considered the evidence that Bridget Collum's name does not appear in the Census of 1841 on account of her being living at that time with her grandparents in Cloughernymore, county Donegal, a district in which no policeman was then allowed to set foot; whether the Local Government Board took into consideration the facts that this woman's eldest son is at present over fifty years of age, and that she can prove that she is two years older than her brother Michael, who is returned as two years old in the Census of 1841; and whether, in view of these facts, the Local Government Board are prepared to reconsider their decision depriving her of her pension?

The Local Government Board allowed the pension officer's question in this case as they were not satisfied from the evidence submitted that the pensioner had reached the statutory age. No information was before them as to her residence with her grandparents when the Census of 1841 was taken. According to her own statement, her eldest child is now forty-six years old, and there is no satisfactory proof that she is older than her brother Michael. It is not open to the Board to reconsider their decision.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that James O. Mahoney, Mill Road, Mill-street, was granted a pension on the 1st January, 1909, and continued to receive it till the 23rd March, 1910, when it was withdrawn on the appeal of the pension officer; whether he had produced testimony from respectable men who know him intimately that he is eighty years of age; whether he would state on what grounds his pension was disallowed; and would further inquiries be made with a view to having this old man's claim allowed?

The Local Government Board disallowed the question raised by the pension officer in this case as the pensioner's age was recorded in the Census-Returns as being only one month in 1841 and ten years in 1851. The testimony of those who supported his claim was to the effect that they believed him to be about seventy-two years of age. Having given their decision the Board have no power to take further action in the matter as. suggested.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners had taken steps to comply with the requests of the tenants on the Going estate, at Earls-hill and Ballynonty, county Tipperary, to inspect the estate, with a view to declaring it a congested area within the Land Act of 1909; and whether he could state when the question would be considered and ruled upon by the Estates Commissioners?

The Estates Commissioners have received the memorials referred to, and will deal with them and others of a similar nature in due course. I am not in a position to make any more definite statement on the subject at present.

asked whether the Chief Secretary is aware that for the second time the Commissioners of Intermediate Education in Ireland have rendered it impossible for a number of Jewish candidates to compete at the annual examination by fixing the date coinciding with the holy days of Pentecost; have the Commissioners alleged that this arose from inadvertence; will they make some special arrangement for the Jewish students satisfactory to their clergy; and, as the Commissioners appear to be unable to recollect the Jewish holy days, will he consider the desirability of giving them a Jewish secretary or assistant to enable them to avoid giving annoyance to the Jewish community in Ireland, or appoint a, Jew to the vacant Commissionership?

There does not appear to be any previous instance in which the date of the Intermediate Examinations coincided with the Jewish holy days of Pentecost. The Commissioners have not alleged that this happened this year by inadvertence; the dates of the holy days in question did not appear in the Calendar usually employed in drafting the time table. According to the information furnished to the Commissioners twenty-seven Jewish students are affected, and a plan for dealing with them will be submitted to the Board for consideration at its next meeting. There is no necessity for the appointment of a Jewish secretary or assistant. I understand that the London Committee of Deputies of the British Jews furnish information as to Jewish holy days to other educational bodies, and if they will furnish similar information to the Commissioners all risk of a recurrence of the present difficulty will be avoided.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Patrick Whelan, planter on the Cloncurry estate, at Brittas, Boher, county Limerick, was offered a farm in the county Louth, in lieu of the one he holds at present; had Whelan accepted the offer of the Commissioners or had he not; and, in the latter case, what reason had he assigned for not accepting the terms offered?

The Estates Commissioners offered this man a farm in county Louth, but he declined to accept it, as he does not consider it an equivalent for his present holding.

Will this man be treated as an ordinary evicted tenant?

We will do what we can for him.

asked whether any record is kept at the Irish Office of resolutions received from public bodies and referring to questions of public interest; and whether such resolutions are invariably brought to his notice?

A record is kept at the Chief Secretary's office, Dublin Castle, of resolutions received from public bodies on matters of public interest, and such resolutions are brought to my notice. I have had the record examined as regards resolutions received on the subject of the Budget proposals of 1909, and find that resolutions against those proposals were received from two County Councils, four District Councils, one Corporation, four Boards of Guardians, and three Chambers of Commerce. Eight resolutions against and two in favour of the Budget were also received from bodies which cannot be correctly described as representative.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware of the belief entertained in Ireland that the Land Act of 1909 would relieve county councils of all liability in respect of land purchase; and whether he would state what was the total amount of the deductions made from the grants payable to these councils in February, 1910.

I am not aware of the existence of the belief referred to. Under the Act of 1909 the county councils are relieved of all liability in connection with the issue of stock for the purpose of land purchase, but they continue to be liable for arrears of annuities. While there were deductions amounting to £1,612 from nine counties on account of sums drawn from the Guarantee Fund in respect of arrears of purchase annuities there were, in the case of the remaining counties, additions amounting to £6,495 on account of arrears which had been recovered during the year and repaid to the Fund. There was consequently a net addition of £4,882 to the amount of the Local Taxation Grant for the whole of Ireland.

asked the Chief Secretary if he would state how many evicted tenants have been restored to their old holdings in East Waterford; and how many have been provided with new holdings by the Estates Commissioners?

The records of the Estates Commissioners are not kept by Parliamentary Divisions. The figures for the county of Waterford are as follows:—Forty-two evicted tenants have been reinstated in their former holdings or provided with other holdings by the Estates Commissioners, and thirty-one have been reinstated by landlords. In eighteen of these thirty-one cases the tenants were reinstated by the landlords at the instance of the Commissioners.

asked if the Government intended taking any steps to extend the provisions of the Public Trustee Act to Ireland?

The matter is under consideration, but I have not had any evidence of a general demand in Ireland for the extension of the Act, nor even if there was such a demand could I hold out a hope of legislation on the subject this Session.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he would state the average number of years' purchase paid for the land sold in Ireland under the Act of 1903 J

I would refer the hon. Member to the classified Return to Purchase Agreements presented to Parliament last year (No. 166), which gives the latest available figures for the various classes of rents.

asked what provision was made by the Treasury during the three years ending 31st March, 1910, for school building grants in Ireland; and whether any, and, if so, what, provision had been made for such grants during the next three years.

Provision was made in the Estimates for building Grants for national schools in Ireland during the three years to 31st March last amounting to £120,000. An additional sum of £70,000was to have been provided from the Irish Development Grant had that fund not been depleted. The Treasury have intimated to the Irish Government that they are prepared to include in the Estimates for each of the three financial years 1910–1911, 1911–1912, and 1912–1913, a sum of £40,000 for the same purpose, in addition to which any unexpended balance for previous years beginning with 1907–1908 may be re-voted. Of the £240,000 thus provided £31,373 had been expended at the beginning of the financial year just closed.

Am I to understand that the £70,000 in respect of which the Development Fund has been found deficient will be replaced by a further Grant from the Treasury?

There is no understanding from that point of view at all.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Departmental Committee appointed to report on the status of the Special Telegraph Reserve of the Post Office Rifles has completed its investigations; and, if so, whether he can say when the Report will be published?

An Interim Report has been made by the Committee, and this, with the remarks of the Army Council thereon, has been forwarded to the Postmaster-General for consideration.

asked the right hon. Gentleman if he will instruct commanding officers of units, when considering the casting of troop-horses, to follow a recent example by destroying such horses as, owing to disease or infirmity, are not fit for reasonable work rather than by disposing of them by sale?

Horses prior to casting are examined by a veterinary surgeon who, in each case, recommends to the approving authority whether the animal should be sold or destroyed. Orders to this effect have been in existence for many years, and there is no reason to believe that they are not carried out.

asked the right hon. Gentleman, whether the plant and the skilled artisans for making projectiles at Woolwich Arsenal are now being worked to the full extent of their possible output; and, if so, what provision exists for meeting the increased need of such projectiles in the event of war?

Full employment is found for the men now in the shops where projectiles are manufactured, but the plant is not worked to its full capacity. In case of increased need of projectiles the plant would be worked to its full capacity and the trade would be employed. Such reserve means of manufacture are considered ample to meet all requirements.