asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the whisky money paid from local taxation (Customs and Excise) to the county of Huntingdon has decreased from an average of £2,200 for some years to £1,378 for the financial year just ended, he can hold out any hope of the grant to the local education authorities being placed on a more reliable basis?

I must refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 5th instant to my hon. Friend the Member for Merionethshire.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that the maximum wage of the senior watchers of His Majesty's Customs is only 24s. a week, even after thirty or forty years' service, he will give further consideration to the claims of thie branch of the service, with a view to making some concessions which may improve the position of those serving in it?

So far as the question of the maximum wage is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor to the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin on 16th March, 1908. Certain other points affecting the Customs watchers were put before me by a deputation which waited on me in December, 1908, and are still under consideration, and on this matter I would further refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Deptford on the 22nd ultimo.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Mrs. Kate Connell, Cloonlaheen East, Miltown Malbay, West Clare (No. 4, 423/748), was allowed a pension (No. 4328/748), to date from 1st January, 1909, but that the pension officer raised a question as to the age of the applicant, with regard to which the pension committee on 14th September, 1909, decided in favour of the applicant; that the pension officer appealed to the Local Government Board, which decided on 1st February, 1910, that pensioner had not attained the age of seventy years; and whether, in view of the consideration that the pension committee devoted to the matter on this point, he will consider Mrs. Connell entitled to the pension and that a reconsideration on the part of the Local Government Board is called for?

As I informed the hon. Member on the 21st ultimo, I am aware of the facts of this case. I have no power to alter or review the decision arrived at by the Local Government Board on appeal that the pensioner had not attained the statutory age of seventy.

asked an explanation of the delay which has occurred in the payment of the salaries and fees due to the clerks of the pension sub-committees in county Kilkenny for the quarter ended 31st December last, payment for this quarter not having yet been made to them; and whether in future such payments will be made within a month of the end of the quarter?

The delay in the payments under reference is consequent on the non-receipt of replies to certain queries addressed to the clerk to the pension committee for county Kilkenny. No undue delay occurs in the examination of accounts, but the date of payment depends upon (1) the date of receipt (which in this case was more than a month after the close of the quarter), and (2) the degree of accuracy with which the account is rendered. No general rule such as is suggested can therefore be laid down.

asked why Mary M'Quaid, of Relagh, Kilskeery, county Tyrone, was, in July last, deprived of the pension granted to her in January, 1909?

No appeal appears to have been lodged with the Local Government Board in this case, and I have therefore no information with regard to it.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Local Government Board for Ireland construed the circular issued to pension officers, directing them to appeal in all cases where documentary evidence of age was not produced, as a direction also to them to disallow pensions in all such cases; and whether he will state in how many such appeals have pensions been allowed by the Local Government Board?

The Local Government Board never received or heard of this circular until quite recently, and have not allowed it to influence them in any way whatever. The Board have allowed pensions in a very large number of cases, in which documentary evidence of age was not produced. They cannot give the exact figures, as no separate record is kept of such cases.

asked what inquiries were made by the Local Government Board before they decided that the income of Matthew Lenihan, of Knocknaboul, Scaroglin, pension committee, county Kenny, was over £31 10s.; whether he has for himself and his wife only £8 a year, and a room in his son's house; what value does the Local Government Board place on the maintenance of such a man living on a small farm in a poor district; and whether, in London, pension committees consider 7s. a week as the maximum which would be put on such maintenance?

The Local Government Board, when coming to their decision in this case, had before them the acreage, valuation, and rent, of the holding on which the claimant lives, with a summary of the stock and crops, and a Report as to the general circumstances of the household. It is true that by the terms of the agreement made with his son the claimant reserved £8 a year and a free room, with some other privileges, but the Board were satisfied that the benefits he derives from living on the farm, which contains fifty acres and carries ten cows and numerous other stock, were worth more than £31 10s. a year. I have no information with regard to the matter referred to in the last paragraph of the question, but there can be no comparison between claimants for pensions living on farms in Ireland and similar persons living in London.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state why Michael Farrell, Brockagh, Dromard, has been refused a pension by the Local Government Board; whether he is aware that this man's pension was granted by the Skreen sub-committee of county Sligo in 1909, and that the Local Government Board then decided that Farrell would not be entitled to a pension until January, 1910; and whether he can explain why instructions have not been given to pay this man his pension since January last?

By their decision of 13th January, 1909, the Local Government Board upheld the pension officer's appeal on the ground that the claimant had not then reached the statutory age. No such decision as that stated in the second part of the question was given by the Board.

asked on what evidence the Local Government Board withdrew the pensions of Ellen Cawley, Magheraboy, Sligo, Catherine Scanlan, Ropewalk, Sligo, Mary Rooney, Holborn Street, Sligo, Terence Scanlan, Ropewalk, Sligo, Thomas Leonard, John Street, Sligo, and James Corcoran, Holborn Street, Sligo; on whose appeal the Local Government Board considered the claims of these parties; what communication relative to the discontinuance of their pensions was sent to the Sligo local pension committee; and who were the members of the Local Government Board who considered and decided on these appeals?

In all these cases, except that of Mary Rooney, the pensioner's name was not found in the Census Returns of 1841, although the parents' family was traced. Ellen Cawley was recorded as eight years old and Mary Rooney as nine years old in the Census Returns of 1851. The other evidence furnished by the pensioners in response to inquiries made by the Board was not sufficient to show that they had reached the statutory age. The appeals in all these cases were made by the pension officer, and the procedure required by the Act and regulations was duly carried out. The Vice-President of the Board is responsible for the decisions of the Board in all the cases mentioned in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that Maurice Kenneally, of Duncaha, Shanagolden, in the county of Limerick, was recommended for a pension of 5s. a week by the local subcommittee; that he has no visible means of support but is living on the bounty of his brother; that his baptismal certificate proved he was seventy years of age last January; and whether he can say on what grounds the Local Government Board on the appeal of the pension officer decided that he was not entitled to the pension?

The pension officer appealed against the local sub-committee's decision allowing a pension of 5s. a week on the grounds that the claimant's maintenance on his brother's farm was worth more than £31 10s. a year, and the Local Government Board upheld the appeal. The farm contains fifty-six Irish acres of good land carrying seventeen cows, and is otherwise well stocked and cropped. The claimant's age was satisfactorily proved.

asked on what ground the Local Government Board, on the appeal of the pension officer from the decision of the local sub-committee, refused the old age pension to Kate Lane, of Newcastle West, in the county of Limerick?

The Local Government Board upheld the appeal of the pension officer, as it was not proved that this claimant had reached the statutory age.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that Michael Moore, of Glensharrold, in the county of Limerick, was awarded a pension of 5s. a week by the Glin pension sub-committee and the pension officer; that he was in receipt of this pension for a year, and until another pension officer questioned his right to the pension on the ground that he was not seventy years of age; that the sub-committeee, reviewing his case, maintained that he was from the fact that his sister's baptismal certificate (who is two years older) proves that she is 74 years; and whether, having regard to the fact that his name is not on the Census records or in the parish register where he was baptised (it going back only 68 years), he will state on what grounds the Local Government Board on appeal deprived him of the pension?

The right of this man to pension was questioned by the pension officer, who appealed to the Local Government Board against the decision of the local committee. It was sought to prove the claimant's age by reference to that of his sister, but the Board were unable to obtain any conclusive evidence as to the interval in age between them. The pensioner's age was recorded as nine years in the Census Returns of 1851, and the Board were not satisfied that he had reached the age of seventy years.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Hugh Curran, of Carrigans, Londonderry, was informed on 14th March, 1910, that the decision of the Local Government Board for Ireland on questions raised on appeal to them by the pension officer was that he had attained the age of seventy years on 1st February, 1910; and, if so, whether he can state the grounds on which Hugh Curran has since been deprived of his pension?

The decision of the Local Government Board is correctly stated in the question. (The case has not since come before them, and I have therefore no information with regard to the concluding portion of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the local pension officer objected, in October, 1909, to the continuance of a pension to Mary M'Daid, of Letterkenny, county Donegal; that the local committee overruled the objection, and that the pension officer appealed to the Local Government Board; will he say whether, on this appeal, the Local Government Board decided that Mary M'Daid was seventy years of age on 8th August, 1909; and, if so, on what grounds and on whose instructions she has since been deprived of her pension?

The Local Government Board decided, on appeal, that Mary M'Daid had attained the age of seventy years on 5th August, 1909. They are not aware that she has since been deprived of her pension.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners received an application from Mary Ann Eccles, of Ash-grove, Castlefin, county Donegal, for reinstatement on the farm on the estate of Alfred G. Hastings, county Donegal, from which her father, Joseph Mortland, was evicted; that they undertook to provide her with a farm in 1905 or in 1906, or in each of these years; that, acting on the report of their inspector, Mr. Hammond, they promised her a farm on 27th February, 1907; that their inspector, Mr. M'Kinley, recommended her for a farm in February, 1908, first on Fenwick's estate, and then on Stewart of Ards' estate; that another inspector, Mr. Frizell, offered her, on 2nd February, J910, a farm in county Fermanagh; and that she accepted the offer, and has been recently informed that it is not the intention of the Estates Commissioners to deal with her application; and, if so, what reasons do the Estates Commissioners offer for the numerous delays in this case and the disappointments caused to the applicant?

Mrs. Eccles applied to the Estates Commissioners for reinstatement in a holding formerly held by her father, but the hon. Member is under a misapprehension in supposing that the Commissioners promised her a farm; all they said was that they would consider her application in the event of their acquiring untenanted land in the neighbourhood. After full consideration, the Commissioners have decided not to take any action in the matter. It would be contrary to the established practice to state the reasons which actuated them in the exercise of their discretion.

asked when and why the Crown solicitorships of Donegal and Londonderry were amalgamated; when and why were the same offices for Fermanagh and Tyrone amalgamated; and is it proposed to amalgamate any more of these offices?

In accordance with the practice which existed prior to 1883 the Crown solicitorship of Donegal and Lon- donderry has been held by one person since 1857, while that of Fermanagh and Tyrone has been held by one person since 1881. The present practice, which was adopted on the recommendation of a committee of inquiry in 1883, is to appoint a separate Crown solicitor for each county.

asked who fixes the salaries of the Crown solicitors; what is to be the scale of salaries for these appointments when amalgamated with the office of Sessional Crown Solicitor; and the reason for the variation between the salary of £160 paid in King's County and that of £600 paid in Galway?

In pursuance of the recommendations made by a Committee of Inquiry in 1883 the offices of Crown and Sessional Crown Solicitor have been amalgamated in most counties as vacancies have arisen. The salaries are fixed from time to time, with reference to the particular circumstance of each case, by the Treasury in communication with the Irish Government. There can be no comparison between King's County and county Galway; and, furthermore, the offices have been amalgamated in the latter county and not in the former.

asked the Chief Secretary what steps, if any, have been taken to enforce the Regulations under the Trawling in Prohibited Areas Act in the district of Ballinskelligs Bay, county Kerry; whether, in view of the damage caused to local fishing by the operations of steam trawlers and to the Transatlantic cables, one of which was broken within the last fortnight, he can state when the "Helga" will again visit that district; and can he state how many captures have been effected by the "Helga" off the Kerry and Cork coasts during the past twelve months?

I understand that the Department's cruiser "Helga" patrolled the Cork and Kerry coasts at least once, and often twice or three times, in each of the last twelve months except January. The Coastguard have co-operated in enforcing the law, and instructions on the subject have also been given to the master of the steamship "Granuaile," belonging to the Congested Districts Board. A man is specially paid by the Department to watch Ballinskelligs Bay. Trawling by steam vessels off the coasts mentioned is principally carried on from thirty to fifty miles out. The officers of the "Helga" did not observe any steam trawler infringing the law in that locality during the last twelve months, but one conviction was obtained on the evidence of local fishermen. If the fishermen will furnish the Department with particulars of any cases of illegal trawling the Department will take such steps as may be possible to deal with them. The question of injury to telegraph cables is a matter for the Postmaster-General.

asked what is the cause of the delay in making a grant to Mrs. Burke, evicted tenant, Castlemaine, county Kerry; and whether steps will be taken to have her case dealt with as soon as possible?

The particulars given by the hon. Member are not sufficient to enable the Estates Commissioners to trace the application referred to.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received a resolution from the Skibbereen and Schull Railway Company in Cork requesting assistance for the relief of the ratepayers from the burden of taxation caused by this line; and whether, as the line passes through a poor country, he will have inquiries made as to the reasonableness of this claim?

Applications to the effect stated were received from the Railway Company in 1906, but not since. The Treasury already contribute £l,140 a year to this line under the Tramways and Public Companies (Ireland) Act, 1883, and I understand that a further contribution of £738 was made to it on the report of the Commissioner of Valuation this year under the provisions of Sub-section 4, Section 58 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act (1898). I regret that I am not in a position to hold out hope of further relief to the ratepayers.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have power, and, if so, will they exericse that power, to purchase compulsorily tenanted lands in the western counties of Ireland where the landlord refuses to sell to the tenants on his estate, and also where the landlord and tenants cannot agree on a price?

The Congested Districts Board possesses compulsory powers, and, if necessary, they will be prepared to exercise them.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state the area of land sold or agreed upon to be sold to the occupying tenants in Ireland under the several land purchase schemes up to and inclusive of 1st January, 1890?

further asked as to the area of land sold under land purchase schemes in Ireland from 1st January, 1890, up to the latest returns received from the Department; and (2) as to the area of land in the hands of occupying tenants in Ireland remaining unsold?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Return presented to Parliament in November, 1908 (Command Paper No. 4412), which gives the last available figures as to the area of lands sold or agreed to be sold under the Land Purchase Acts, and also as to the area of the lands in respect of which proceedings for sale had not been instituted. The Monthly Returns of proceedings presented to Parliament give particulars as to the number and purchase money of holdings sold and agreed to be sold under these Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that a memorial was some time ago sent to the Estates Commissioners, signed by a number of small holders on the Massy estate, situate at Glenville and Ballylin, Ardagh, in the county of Limerick, and by other deserving applicants in the district, requesting the Commissioners to purchase the untenanted lands on the estate with the object of enlarging the uneconomic holdings there and providing holdings for the others; whether the Commissioners have yet come to terms with the landlord for the purchase of those untenanted lands; and, if not, will they take steps without delay to put the compulsory provisions of the Irish Land Act, 1909, into operation with regard to these lands to relieve the congestion which exists in the district?

The memorial has been received. As regards the remainder of the question I have nothing to add to my reply to the question on the same subject asked by the hon. Member on 3rd March.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state what is the cause of the delay of the sale to the tenants of the late Arthur P. Stewart's estate, situated in the county Donegal, it being directed by the will of the late A. P. Stewart that the estate should be sold find the money distributed to the several legatees at the earliest opportunity?

I understand that the Solicitors having carriage of the sale are in correspondence with the Congested Districts Board with a view to obtaining the consent of the Board, as required by Section 58 of the Irish Land Act, 1909, to the purchase of this property by the Estates Commissioners. The matter will be dealt with by the Board when they have been furnished with particulars in the prescribed form which will be issued as soon as the new regulations under Section 79 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, are made.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have had under consideration the cases of the following tenants of the Farrihy (Stacpoole) estate, West Clare, Simon M'Grath, Carrowmore South, evicted 25th July, 1900, John Haugh, Carrowcloughmore, evicted 11th January, 1908, and Thomas Blake, Farrihy, whose father was compelled, about eighteen years ago, to relinquish possession through inability to pay the high rent; and whether he can state when these tenants will be reinstated in their holdings?

These applications will be considered when the estate is being dealt with under the Irish Land Act, 1903. Meanwhile the Estates Commissioner cannot take any action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state why the Estates Commissioners have refused to take any action in the case of James Goodwin, Killurin, who was ejected in 1888 from the Sweetman estate, and whose case the Estates Commissioners promised to consider in the event of their acquiring untenanted land?

The Estates Commissioners have inquired into Goodwin's application for reinstatement in his former holding which is in the occupation of other tenants, and have decided that they cannot interfere in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary was or were any person or persons licensed for sale of intoxicating liquor appointed to be a justice or justices of the peace in the county of Tyrone within the past six months, and on whose recommendation; is a gentleman named M'Girr, who holds or held a public-house in Aughnacloy, now a justice of the peace for county Tyrone, and what was the date of his appointment as a justice; was the Vice-President of the Board of Agriculture in Ireland the person or one of the persons who recommended the appointment of Mr. M'Girr; is. Mr. M'Girr still a licensed publican; if not, when did he cease to be, and to whom has his licence been transferred, and when; and does this justice reside on the licensed premises?

I understand that Mr. Peter McGirr, of Aughnacloy, county Tyrone, was in December last appointed to the magistracy for the county Tyrone by the Lord Chancellor upon his own responsibility. The appointment was recommended to him by the Vice-President of the Board of Agriculture and by other persons in whose judgment his Lordship had confidence. Mr. McGirr is the proprietor of the Imperial Hotel at Aughnacloy, and in that capacity is believed to hold a licence. Persons in a similar position have been appointed on previous occasions by successive Lord Chancellors.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that the magistrates at Roscrea, county Tipperary, refused to sit on 4th April as a protest against the insanitary and dilapidated state of the court-house; whether any complaints have previously been received on this subject by the responsible authorities; whether any action is being taken in the matter; and whether the Local Government Board have power to insist on the county council making the necessary repairs?

I understand that the magistrates at Koscrea Petty Sessions on the 4th instant adjourned the court on account of the state of the court house. I am informed that the county court judge had previously made complaints on the subject, and that the justices had already brought the matter under the notice of the county council, who directed the county surveyor to prepare a specification for the necessary works of repair and maintenance. As regards the powers of the Local Government Board in such cases I would refer the hon. Member to Article 15 (3) of the Schedule to the Local Government (Application of Enactments) Order 1898.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the number of Catholic magistrates in the county of Kilkenny and the number of magistrates of other persuasions, and the respective populations of the creeds in county Kilkenny; whether he will also state the manner in which names are submitted for appointment and as to how the appointments are made; and whether he will take steps to have magistrates appointed who are in sympathy with the people?

I understand that there are 127 ordinary county magistrates in the county Kilkenny, of whom fifty-five are believed to be Roman Catholics and seventy-two to be Protestants. In addition to the above there are eight ex officio county magistrates who are believed to be Roman Catholics, and there are fourteen magistrates whose jurisdiction is limited to that part of the county which comprises the urban district or borough of Kilkenny, of whom twelve are believed to be Roman Catholics. According to the Census of 1901 the total population of the county and city of Kilkenny in that year was 79,159, of whom 74,830 were Roman Catholics. Names are submitted to the Lord Chancellor by public bodies and responsible persons, and the Lord Chancellor also receives recommendations from the lieutenant of the county. Appointments are made by Commission under the Great Seal. The Lord Chancellor is.always ready to consider the appointment of any properly-qualified persons whose names may be submitted to him.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the General Assembly of the Irish Presbyterian Church, at its meeting in June, 1909, passed a resolution giving a general and cordial ap- proval to the Bill of the hon. Member for East Down (Captain Craig), intended to provide funds for the heating and cleansing of national schools; that, when it became known that the Bill would not meet with the general approval that had been expected, the assembly's committee on elementary education concurred in the alternative suggestion, as a provisional arrangement, that the managers should endeavour to raise half the cost in case the other half were provided by the Treasury; whether he is aware that, in response to a letter from the Countess of Aberdeen to the clerk of assembly, the general assembly, at its meeting in October, cordially approved the suggestion of Her Excellency that managers should raise their half and spend it in the early part of the winter, Her Excellency having stated that such a course would have a great deal of effect upon the Treasury, and that in this event the Chief Secretary had great hopes of being able to effect what he desired in the spring; whether the Treasury has consented to provide this Grant; whether it is his intention to include it in the Irish Education Estimates for the year; and, if not, will he say why this will not be done?

I have within the last few days received copies of the resolutions and correspondence referred to. As regards the concluding parts of the question, I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for East Down on 23rd February. The matter is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a carpenter employed at Carrickfergus has been granted increased wages at the rate of 36s. a week; whether he is aware that the Dublin trades union wage is higher than that of Belfast; and whether the case of the two carpenters employed at Island Bridge will be reconsidered and these workers be granted 36s. a week as from 1st April, 1910?

The pay to the workman at Carrickfergus is for work superior to that of the ordinary carpenter. The pay of the two carpenters at Island Bridge is, therefore, not affected.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the rates of pay, privileges, etc., of viewers employed inspecting articles made in the Royal Dockyard, Woolwich; whether viewers in charge of departments or subsections receive any extra pay or privileges; how many principal viewers and assistant principal viewers there are; whether, if a viewer is receiving annual leave, he forfeits the same when he receives a rise of pay or when he reaches his maximum rate; how long a man is employed as a viewer before he is placed upon the establishment or receives a rise of pay; and whether seniority counts in favour of promotion?

The viewers in the department of the Chief Inspector of General Stores in the Dockyard receive from 33s. to 45s. a week. Their privileges are set forth in the rules and regulations of the department, as I have already informed the hon. Member. Principal viewers in charge of sub-sections are on a scale of 9s. to 12s. a day and are ranked as foremen for pension and for other purposes. The number of principal viewers is fourteen. There are no assistant principal viewers. A viewer does not forfeit leave when he receives a rise in pay or reaches his maximum. His first rise in pay occurs normally after a year's service. Viewers, except when ranking as foremen, are not placed on any pensionable establishment, but a viewer may be placed on the regularly-employed list after three months' service or more according to circumstances. Seniority is one of the factors in selecting viewers for promotion.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the claim for a pension of ex-Corporal H. G. Wheatley, who entered the Army (Northamptonshire Regiment) on 31st August, 1904, and was discharged with a very good character on 21st June, 1909, as unfit for service; whether the facts of this case are that Wheatley, when first medically treated in June, 1908, although suffering from abscess in the buttocks secondary to a peritoneal fistula, and requiring to be treated by laying the whole track open, was only given ointments and such like palliative treatment until his discharge; and whether, under these circumstances, he will consider Wheatley's claim for a pension?

This man was discharged as medically unfit owing to his having declined to be operated upon for fistula. In these circumstances, and having regard to his short service, the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital decided that he was not entitled to any pension.

asked what is the number of officers on first appointment required now annually for the Regular Army; and what was the number required in 1890?

The numbers now required amount to 660, and in 1890 amounted to 624.

asked whether, now that the Militia Ballot Acts have become inoperative owing to the abolition of the Militia, there is any Statute under which the Crown would, in the event of any national danger, have the power to raise men for the purpose of safeguarding this country?

The Militia Ballot Acts and the Acts relating to the local Militia are still unrepealed and could be enforced if necessary. The machinery created by these Acts would, however, probably be found to be unsuitable for the circumstances of modern times. There are no other Statutes which confer such powers as are referred to in the question.

asked whether attention has been called to a complaint made by the Redditch Trades Council with respect to the wages paid by a Redditch firm of Government contractors, Messrs. S. Thomas and Son, to its workpeople, which are a violation of the Fair Wage Clause; and whether any action is being taken in the matter?

The inquiries made show that this case cannot be settled without a local inspection, which will be arranged in the course of a few days.

asked the Secretary for War whether ex-Army men who have not been trained in the trade of painting are employed as painters at Shoeburyness by the War Department; whether he has received representations from members of the Society of Ship Painters and Decorators upon the matter; and what has been his reply, if any?

Ex-Army men of the Royal Artillery who during their Service have learned painting are employed at Shoeburyness on such rough work as painting corrugated iron structures. A representation upon the matter from the Grave send branch secretary of the society mentioned has just been received, but no reply has yet been sent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state in the British money equivalent the amount of salaries paid in Germany, France, and the United States of America, respectively, to the Ministers of State who most nearly correspond to the Secretaries of State for Home, Foreign Affairs, and War, the First Lord of the Admiralty, the President of the Local Government Board and the President of the Board of Trade?

I will get the information in those cases in which there are individual Ministers whose offices correspond to those named in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the fishing nets of the boat "Pride of the Sea" were damaged and destroyed off Cape Clear in August, 1908, by the German cruiser "Hertha," and that the owner of the nets, Mr. John Cottrell, of Baltimore, county Cork, was refused compensation, though the commander of the "Hertha" admitted having destroyed some nets and damaged others; and will he take steps to secure compensation for Mr. Cottrell?

The case came before my notice in March, 1909. From the information at my disposal it appears that the commander of the "Hertha" did not admit that his ship caused the damage. Moreover, he urged—and this was confirmed after investigation—that the "Pride of the Sea" did not comply accurately with the regulations, inasmuch as the line of her lights did not properly indicate the direction of her fishing gear. After consultation with the Admiralty and the De- partment of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, it was deemed inadvisable to prefer a claim against the German Government, which would be resisted on this score, and could not be pressed on account of it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a resolution passed by the Sligo Harbour Commissioners pointing out the importance and necessity of opening a Labour Exchange in Sligo; and whether, in view of all the interests involved, he can now see his way to have such an exchange opened?

I have received a resolution from the Sligo Harbour Commissioners to the effect stated. I regret that I can add nothing at present to the answers I have already given to the hon. Member in reply to similar questions. As I have already stated, the further development of the Labour Exchange system in Ireland is under consideration, and the hon. Member may rest assured that the claims of Sligo will be carefully investigated along with those of other centres.

asked how many persons have been registered as applicants for employment in the Labour Bureaux from their foundation to 1st April, and the number who have obtained employment, giving the length of time each person was employed through this agency?

As I have already stated, statistics relating to the working of the Labour Exchanges up to the end of March will appear in the next issue of the Board of Trade Labour Gazette, which will be published on 16th April.

asked the Prime Minister whether Sir Robert Anderson, formerly in the Home Department, retired from the public service with a pension or pensions from the public funds; and, if so, what was their nature and amount and for how long have they been enjoyed?

On his retirement from the post of Assistant Commissioner of Police in 1901 Sir Robert Anderson was assigned a pension of £900, which he still draws. It is payable partly from the Superannuation Vote and partly from police funds. He has no other pension.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he would state whether Sir Robert Anderson was in possession of a pension; and, if so, what was the amount; whether such a pension was in respect only of work done at the Home Office, or whether its amount was calculated on work of any special nature or work done in any other branch of the public service?

On his retirement from the post of Assistant Commissioner of Police, in 1901, Sir Robert Anderson was granted a pension of £900 a year. The service in respect of which this pension was awarded included service at the Home Office before 1877, service from 1877 to 1888 as Secretary to the Prison Commissioners, and service from 1888 to 1901 as Assistant Commissioner of Police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Mr. Monro, mentioned in Sir Robert Anderson's correspondence, was in receipt of a pension; and, if so, what was the amount of the pension he received?

Mr. Monro served as Assistant Commissioner and Commissioner of Police for about six years only, and, therefore, received no pension on his retirement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Homo Office has in its possession papers relating to the dynamite explosions that took place some years ago at the headquarters of the secret police, Exchange Court, Dublin, and at the Four Courts, Dublin; if so, whether he will lay these papers upon the Table of the House or allow them to be inspected at the Home Office; whether Sir Robert Anderson was at the time of those explosions an official of the Home Office or of the Criminal Investigation Department; and whether in the discharge of his duties he was in any way connected with the investigation in to the explosions referred to?

The only papers in the Home Office connected with these explosions relate to the visits of the Chief Inspector of Explosives to Dublin, and his examination of the sites and the debris. Sir Robert Anderson was the Assistant-Commissioner at Scotland Yard, and there is nothing either in the Home Office or in Scotland Yard to show that he was in any way concerned in the investigations.

asked the Home Secretary what percentage of convicted prisoners in the United Kingdom have been in prison before, and how this percentage compares with the second convictions of prisoners in America, France, Italy, and Germany?

The following table shows the figures for England and Wales for the whole period for which they are available, and for Scotland and Ireland for the year 1908. The increase in the proportion of convicted persons with previous convictions is due chiefly to the improved methods of identification. I am afraid that it is impossible to make any comparison between this country and the foreign countries mentioned by the hon. Member. In the United States each State controls its courts and prisons, and there are no national statistics on the subject. The figures contained in the French criminal and prison statistics are neither comparable or complete. The Home Office have no Italian statistics for recent years, and the German criminal statistics relate only to cases in the superior criminal courts.

asked the rates of pay, privileges, etc., of the viewers em- ployed inspecting articles in His Majesty's Stationery Office in Princes Street?

There are no persons employed as viewers in His Majesty's Stationery Office. Articles bought by the Department under contract are inspected by the heads of the various branches concerned, and by their assistants.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the plant for the production of what is known as the one-inch Ordnance Survey map for Ireland could be returned to Dublin for the production of the Irish work in Ireland?

The arrangement proposed would entail the duplication of the staff and unnecessary expense. The Board do not therefore see their way to adopt it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can state when the annual Reports of proceedings under the Diseases of Animals Acts, the Markets and Fairs (Weighing of Cattle) Acts, etc., for the year 1909 will be issued; and whether they will include an account of the working of the special regulations sanctioned by the Board in 1907 and put in operation by the local authority of the county of Lanark under Order No. 7182?

The Report will be issued at an early date. It is not proposed to deal with the particular matter mentioned, but if the hon. Member would wish to receive information respecting it I shall be glad to obtain it.

asked the Attorney-General whether, seeing that the Royal Commission on Land Transfer last published evidence in February, 1909, since when a large body of evidence has been taken, he can say when a further publication of evidence may be expected?

It is not the intention of the Commissioners to publish any further evidence pending the issue of the Report.