asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state if any secret service money was disbursed at the instance or on the advice of Sir Robert Anderson; and, if so, whether he can state the total amount?

For obvious reasons I can make no statement on this subject.

asked what safeguards are in operation to prevent money disbursed in connection with the Secret Service Fund being improperly or waatefully employed?

No charge is admitted by the Comptroller and Auditor-General against the Vote for Secret Service unless covered by a certificate by the Minister of the Crown responsible for the payments, solemnly declaring that the interests of the public service required them to be made out of the Secret Service Fund and that they were properly so made.

Has the Treasury any reason to think those safeguards are sufficient, and is there any record as to whether any part of the £50,000 -which was offered by "The Times" newspaper to P. J. Sheridan was to come from the Secret Service Fund?

There are no such records at all that I know of.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that large sums of money were paid out from the Secret Service Fund to agents provocateurs for giving information with regard to plots which they themselves were organising with money supplied by the Secret Service Fund?

I have no such information.

Who supervises or checks the expenditure of the Secret Service Fund?

I have already explained that the Minister responsible for the Department with which the particular expenditure is connected is responsible for the proper expenditure.

asked whether Mr. Munro received any gratuity from public funds on the termination of his appointment in Scotland Yard; and whether he was entitled to any pension?

The answer to both questions is in the negative.

Why is it that Sir Robert Anderson had an increase of salary, a pension and a knighthood whilst his superior official receives neither a pension nor a knighthood?

I am afraid I. cannot give any explanation of the freaks of fortune in the world.

Are there any records to show on whose advice Sir Robert Anderson received a knighthood?

That was the decision of a Government which has long passed away. I cannot investigate, justify or explain, still less impeach their motives.

Was the knighthood conferred on Sir Robert Anderson for services rendered to the Tory party?

I know nothing of the circumstances.

Who conferred the knighthood on Sir Robert Anderson?

The King.

asked what official position was being held by Sir Robert Anderson on the date on which Pigott and Mr. Soames got permission to visit John Daly and Dr. Gallagher in Chatham Prison; on the date on which a similar permit was issued to Inspector Littlechild; and on the date on which Pigott escaped?

Neither Inspector Littlechild nor Pigott appears to have visited Dr. Gallagher. At the time when the other visits mentioned took place, and also at the time of Pigott's escape, Sir Robert Anderson occupied the position of Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether Inspector Littlechild and Pigott were admitted to the prison to interview these prisoners?

My information is that they were not.

Well, that information is diametrically opposed to the information given to the Parnell Commission.

asked whether Sir Robert Anderson filed any official memoranda embodying the substance of the communications made to him by Le Caron?

No, Sir.

If no official report has been filed, what evidence have the Home Office that they ever got value for their money?

I suppose that the Secretary of State for the time being was satisfied that full value was received for the money.

May I ask whether value was not received in the fact that a great many of the crimes of the Nationalist party of that day were laid open to the public?

May I ask how much further time of this House is to be wasted by these fruitless and absurd inquiries?

The hon. Member is not entitled to make that observation.

asked whether there is any precedent for terminating the career of any Scotland Yard official on the ground that he wrote articles for a magazine?

The correspondence which led to Sir Charles Warren's retirement in 1888 originated in a magazine article written by him; but it would hardly be correct to say that that article was the ground of his retirement. Apart from that case, I know of no precedent.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the fact that the Home Secretary of that time, Mr. Matthews, now Lord Llandaff, declared explicitly in this House that the only cause for the censure passed on Sir Charles Warren and his subsequent retirement was that he wrote this article in "Murray's Magazine"?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is a not uncommon practice for high officials to write articles in various magazines?

If it is a not uncommon practice it is certainly one which should be discouraged when and if these articles trench at all upon subjects which are matters of controversy, and in respect to which the knowledge they have ac- quired has been due solely to their official position.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to answer the question I put to him, namely, whether the Home Secretary of the day declared in this House that the only cause for the censure passed on Sir Charles Warren was as stated in the question?

The hon. Member can find that out for himself. If there is any record in the Proceedings of the House, he will be able to find it.

I have found it out already.

The hon. Member has placed newspaper extracts at my disposal, and, so far as public accounts go, his statement is not out of harmony with those accounts, but I am informed by the Home Office that the retirement of Sir Charles Warren was not the writing of the article, but the discussion and correspondence which proceeded from that original act.

May I ask if that applies to Ministers of the Crown who write articles descriptive of the Departments for which they are responsible?

Every case must be judged entirely on its merits or demerits.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that a Petition from the parish council of Perth was presented to the Secretary for Scot land, on 9th February, 1905, praying that the parishes of Perth and Kinnoull should be amalgamated for the purposes of Poor Law administration; that an inquiry into the merits of the question was held by the Local Government Board for Scotland in the summer of 1907; that up to the present date the result of that inquiry has not been communicated to the petitioners; and that, owing to this delay and the con sequent uncertainty which prevails on this question, annoyance has been aroused in the districts affected; and, in view of the preparations now in progress for the forthcoming elections to the parish councils, will he take steps for the decision of the Local Government Board for Scotland to be made without delay and communicated to the interested parties in the parishes of Perth and Kinnoull?

I am aware of the application in question and of the inquiry held by the Sheriff of Perth. The issues raised in the case made it advisable to await the Report of the Poor Law Commission before coming to a decision. The matter is one for determination, not by the Local Government Board for Scotland, but by the Secretary for Scotland, and I understand that a' communication will be made to those interested at an early date.

Can the Lord Advocate give any indication of what an early day will be?

Within a fortnight.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the average daily number of prisoners in custody in Scotland in 1908 was greater than during any previous year since 1878; whether the drink traffic in Scotland is conducted under much more restrictive legislation than in any other part of the United Kingdom; and whether the Government will therefore decline to give facilities to the Temperance (Scotland) Bill?

The answer to the first two portions of the question is in the affirmative; the answer to the concluding portion is in the negative.

May I ask whether, since restrictive legislation seems to lead to an increase of crime, the Government will reconsider their decision in regard to the Bill?

It does not lead to an increase of crime.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what the increase in the population has been between 1878 and 1908?

I must ask the hon. Gentle: man to give notice of that question.

May I ask the Lord Advocate whether, in view of the fact that there has been a great betrayal of Ireland, and that the Budget is now to be passed with the Licensing Clauses, this Bill has become unnecessary?

May I ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that in the past year, which is not included in the question, the state of affairs was very different?

That is quite correct.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the two cases of lead poisoning at Pilkington's Tile Works, Manchester, recently the subject of inquiry, stood alone; and whether he will cause investigation to be made as to the amount of raw lead used in the glazes at Pilkington's?

Besides the two cases referred to in the question, only one of which, however, was found by the medical referee to be a case of lead poisoning, communications have been received calling attention to the cases of two other workers at these works. Both cases have been investigated, and in neither have any grounds been found for regarding them as cases of lead poisoning. With the exception of a case in 1903 of a man who, after a short period of employment at these works, died as a result of disease set up by long-contiuued work in lead processes in other works, there had been no cases at these works since 1899; and the arrangements at the works are exceptionally good. I see no ground for issuing any special instructions to the Factory Department in the matter.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any reason whatever why this attack is being made on a factory that has the best health register of any factory in the country?

How can the right hon. Gentleman answer that question?

asked whether the canvas required for the manufacture of mail bags has been ordered from firms who will supply canvas manufactured abroad, as was the case last year, or whether the contracts have been placed with British firms who will supply British-made canvas?

I have been able to arrange that all contracts for the supply of canvas required for the manufacture of mail bags during 1910–11 should be placed with British firms, who will supply canvas manufactured in the United Kingdom.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the cases of alleged intimidation during the recent Parliamentary election in the Eddisbury Division of Chester brought against Mr. Charles Bell, of Norley, a justice of the peace for Cheshire, ac the Oakmere Petty Sessions, held on 12th April, and to the admissions made by Mr. Bell in cross-examination of the reasons why he dismissed two of his workmen, who had been in his employ for eight years and five years respectively; and whether, in view of these admissions, the Lord Chancellor proposes to allow Mr. Bell to remain one of His Majesty's justices of the peace?

May I ask whether it is not a fact that the bench unanimously dismissed the charge against Mr. Bell, and whether the Lord Chancellor never removes names from the commission of the peace in connection with charges which are dismissed because the conclusion is that there is no case?

Although the Bench unanimously dismissed the case it by no means follows that the Lord Chancellor is bound by the action of the Bench. He may exercise, and must exercise, an independent opinion on the facts. The Lord Chancellor has considered the proceedings in this case, as reported in the "Manchester Guardian." It appears that the ground of dismissal, as alleged by Mr. Bell, was that the action of the men in wearing Liberal colours while in a motor car was an insult to the owner of the motor car, who had lent it to Mr. Bell, and had complained of the men's conduct. This appears to the Lord Chancellor a very poor reason for dismissing men from their employment, but it was, if believed by the Bench, a sufficient answer in law, and the bench accepted it. The Lord Chancellor's authority to remove a magistrate from the bench en complaint being made is for misconduct alone, and he considers that the action of Mr. Bell, however arbitrary and reprehensible, cannot be treated as misconduct justifying so strong a step as removal from the Bench.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that a gentleman who can be guilty of such gross tyranny can exercise a judicial faculty?

That is not a question for the right hon. Gentleman, but for the Lord Chancellor?

Is not it a fact that a man is perfectly entitled to discharge anyone who is in his employment for what is undoubtedly a most dishonourable action?

I do not know what the hon. Member refers to as as undoubtedly dishonourable action. I am not aware of any action, undoubtedly or otherwise dishonourable in what is related of the voter in this case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a dispute has existed in the works of Messrs. Varian and Co., Dublin, brush contractors, for now close on six months; whether this firm has refused the offer of arbitration made by the Lord Mayor and corporation of Dublin; whether this firm holds a Government contract; if he is aware that it is alleged that boy labour is employed in the execution of this contract; and whether, in view of the Fair Wages Resolution of this House and his refusal to settle the dispute by arbitration, he will continue this firm on the list of contractors to the Government?

The dispute affecting the firm referred to began in October last, and I understand that the negotiations which have been conducted at the instance of the Lord Mayor of Dublin did not, unfortunately, result in a settlement. I am informed that the firm are contractors to the Board of Public Works, Dublin; if the hon. Member has information that the firm are not complying with the Fair Wages Clause of their contract, perhaps he would communicate with the Department concerned.

Considering the efforts that have been made by the Lord Mayor and Corporation of Dublin to settle this unfortunate dispute, and the refusal of the firm to entertain proposals for arbitration, does the right hon. Gentleman consider that this is a firm to which Government contracts should be given. I would also ask whether this firm is not carrying out Government contracts at lower wages than those recognised in the district, and if the right hon. Gentleman will take action to stop that?

That raises the question whether the Fair Wages Clause is, or is not, carried out. That is not within my discretion. It is within the discretion of the Board of Works in Dublin. If the hon. Member would communicate with I them and get further information I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Postmaster-General how long it would take the Australian mails to go from London to Sydney by the route of the new Andes railway; what is the time now taken for the mails by the Suez Canal route; and whether any change is under consideration?

The time of transit for mails from London to Sydney by the Suez Canal route is thirty days sixteen hours. I am unable to say what the time of transit would be by the route of the new Andes railway. It would depend largely on the speed of the service between Valparaiso and Sydney. There is no such service at present, and I am not aware that it is proposed to establish one. It is clear, however, that the total transit from the United Kingdom to Australia would be considerably longer than by the route of Suez, even if a trans-Pacific service were provided of the highest speed attainable under existing conditions.

In view of his reply given now, is it untrue that the right hon. Gentleman made representations to the Australian Government that by the new route the mails would be conveyed in twenty-seven days?

I have made no such representations.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the application of the recommendation of the Hobhouse Committee with regard to the pay of third-class clerks, Superintending Engineers' Office, London, at a scale of £65 per annum, rising by annual increments of £7 10s. to £185, with an allowance of £15, has been complied with; and, if not, will he indicate the reason for this delay of over two years in the enforcement of the recommendation?

The recommendation referred to by the hon. Member has been carried out as far as possible, but certain officers have not yet decided whether to keep to the old scale of pay or to adopt the scale recommended by the Select Committee. The representations that have been made by these officers are now under consideration.

asked what are the circumstances under which it has been decided that the report of a superintending engineer as to fitness for promotion of a third-class clerk under his control to the next higher clerical grade should no longer be regarded as a reliable basis upon which to make such promotions; and whether the same principle will be applied to the clerical establishment of the Engineer-in-Chief's Office and the other departments of the Post Office?

The circumstances are that the clerks in question are now on one list for promotion purposes and that promotions must therefore be settled by a central authority. Similar circumstances do not obtain with regard to the clerical establishment in the Engineer-in-Chief's Office and in other departments of the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any foreigners are employed by his Department as telegraph operators; and whether alien operators are employed on the East Coast of Yorkshire, and elsewhere, at stations and offices through which communications to and from the Fleet would be made in time of war?

Only British subjects are now eligible for appointment to the establishment of the Post Office. So far as I am aware the sole foreigner employed in a post office on the East Coast is of Greek nationality and has resided in this country since he was nine months old. I know of no other aliens employed at post offices through which communications to the Fleet would be made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these frequent insulting references to foreigners are deeply resented by many people?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether in any legislation dealing with the matter it is the intention of the Government to arrange that compensation shall be granted to farmers owning their own land in the same way as to tenant farmers, in the event of some of that land being compulsorily taken for small holdings or allotments?

Owners of land whose property is taken compulsorily for small holdings and allotments are under existing enactments entitled to compensation, and the Government has no intention of introducing further legislation on the subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the spread of black scab in potatoes in several districts in England, and its special prevalence in Scotland, whence many English potato growers are obtaining seed potatoes with the object of increasing the weight of their crops and reducing the risk of potato disease, the Board will take steps, if necessary by statutory enactment, to prohibit the sale of all seed potatoes infected with the scab, and to penalise all persons selling such potatoes with full knowledge of their diseased condition?

The Board have under consideration the issue of an Order which will render it an offence to sell potatoes for seed if they are known to be affected with scab. The disease in field crops, from which seed potatoes are obtained, is rare in Scotland. It is practically confined to cottage gardens.

Is not it a fact that potatoes for Scotland have been sold extensively for seed purposes in Lancashire and Cheshire particularly?

I will inquire.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will modify or postpone the requirement of the Board as to the minimum floor space per child in public elementary schools in country towns and in rural places?

I am unable to draw the distinction suggested. I am not aware of any reason why children and teachers in country towns and in rural places should be deprived of the advantages we seek to secure for children and teachers in other localities.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform me what the additional burden on the local authority will be as a result of this inquiry?

I do not think that that arises out of this answer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state how much taxation amounted to in England in 1908 per capita and how much in Germany; and how much Germany has in her savings banks compared to England?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, can he tell us how much of this taxation is indirect taxation of food and how much direct taxation on property?

I cannot answer that without being given time to ascertain the facts. In reply to the hon. Member for West Hampshire, the total tax revenue of the United Kingdom for the financial year 1908–9 was £125,346,000, or £2 16s. 3d. per head of the estimated population as on 30th June, 1908. The amount due to depositors in the Trustee Savings Banks on 20th November, 1908, was £51,715,950, and in the Post Office Savings Bank on 31st December, 1908, £160,648,214.

I regret that I am not able to give the corresponding information in regard to tax revenue and savings banks in Germany. The revenue figures would require an analysis of Imperial and State Returns and a discrimination of the various heads of revenue into "tax" and "non-tax," which in many cases would be a matter of opinion rather than of fact. The German savings banks statistics are also very complicated.

I should like to ask whether the figures referring to England refer only to Imperial taxation and not to local taxation, or whether they include local taxation?

I think they include grants towards local taxation from Imperial sources.

The figures do not include the amounts which are paid by the ratepayers in this country?

Oh, no.

In view of the fact that this question has been asked for many times in Parliament, and that it is a matter of very acute controversy, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it would not be of advantage to Parliament if his Department made an analysis of such figures and supplied a correct and accurate statement?

Is it not a fact that the information was published last year in connection with the Budget, and that it supplies a good deal of what is asked for?

It is information which I shall have to get from the Foreign Office. I shall certainly communicate with my right hon. Friend and do my best to get the information for the House.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, if he prepares any information of this sort, include in his Return the amount invested by the British working classes in friendly societies?

asked if the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been drawn to the deficiencies in the grants paid to local education authorities under The Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act, 1890; if he is aware that the estimates of many of these authorities have already been framed for this year; if he can hold out any hope that these deficiencies will be made good; and whether he will consider the possibility of taking the necessary steps to see that these grants for higher education are placed on a sounder and more permanent basis?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and I also understand that the facts are as stated in the second part. The Government recognise that it is undesirable that so important a matter as education should be dependent on a fluctuating source of revenue, and they have decided to take steps to place it in future on a more stable basis.

In view of the satisfactory condition of the national finances, which the right hon. Gentleman announced yesterday, can he hold out any hope that at a very early date the local education authorities will be encouraged by further grants for this purpose?

I promise to consider the matter.

Will the change take place in the present financial year?

Does the Noble Lord mean the year 1910–11?

Yes.

Yes, I hope it will be possible; in fact, it is the intention of the Government that it shall be dealt with in this financial year.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any official information showing that land in irrigation colonies in the Punjab in one or more cases fetched £3,000 an acre?

The instance in which the exceptional price of £3,000 the acre was obtained from market sites in a proposed new town in the Chenab Colony is mentioned in the Report on the Punjab Irrigation Colonies for 1908–9. Particulars of other land sales are given in the Report, but in none of them was a similar price reached. The Secretary of State has caused a copy of the Report to be placed in the Library of this House.

Will the Secretary of State consider the advisability of giving publicity to this illustration of the way in which British administration is impoverishing British India?

The hon. Member will be able to draw his own conclusions from the Report in the Library.

asked how many evicted tenants have been reinstated in county Donegal from the date of the passing of the Land Act, 1903, to the date of the passing of the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907; how many have been reinstated under the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907; how many estates in county Donegal have been sold to tenants, and the acreage and number of tenant-purchasers; and how many estates still remain unsold, and the acreage and number of tenants?

Since the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1903, seventy evicted tenants, or representatives of evicted tenants, in county Donegal have been reinstated in their former holdings or provided with other holdings. In one case the lands were acquired under the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907. From the passing of the Act of 1903 to the 31st ultimo, ninety estates in that county, comprising an area of 67,166 acres and 3,071 holdings, have been vested in the purchasing tenants, and proceedings are pending before the Estates Commissioners for the sale of 168 estates in that county, comprising 8,084 holdings and an estimated area of 322,734 acres.

asked what was the date on which a Mr. Scrimgeour was appointed as a horticultural superintendent at Glasnevin Agricultural Training College; what is the annual salary attached to the office, including allowances; and whether his appointment was a nominative one?

I understand that Mr. Scrimgeour was promoted on 1st November, 1909, to the post of gardener at the Albert Agricultural College, Glasnevin, with salary at the rate of £104 per annum, with a house and coal. Mr. Scrimgeour completed his training in horticulture at the college in November, 1903, when he was given an appointment in connection with the fruit-growing experiments of the Department of Agriculture. He has been continuously in the employment of the Department since November, 1903.

asked whether the case of R. Barry, Annascaul, Dingle, evicted tenant on the Ventry estate, has been investigated; and what steps have been taken, or are proposed to be taken for the purpose of his reinstatement?

The Estates Commissioners have not received any application for reinstatement from R. Barry.

asked what steps have been taken to reinstate Thomas Crohan, of Ballykeen, Dunquin, Dingle, and Patrick Moore, of the same district, and both on the Ventry estate?

The Estates Commissioners have noted Patrick Moore's name for consideration, and have decided to take no action in the other case mentioned in the question.

asked when will the decision of the National Board to make a second language essential for the scholarship examination be a rule and become operative?

The Commissioners of National Education hope to be in a position to make a second language obligatory at the King's Scholarship Examination for 1912.

asked if he will explain why the Commissioners of National Education do not pay expenses to teachers who attend lectures at the Irish colleges (Dingle, Ballingeary, etc.), while expenses are paid to those who attend courses in cookery, kindergarten, physics, rural economy, etc.?

The Commissioners have no funds out of which they could pay the expenses of teachers who attend the colleges referred to for the purpose of learning Irish. A qualified substitute may be employed by the teacher of a national school during his attendance at any of these classes, and the service of such substitute is recognised as service given by the teacher. A payment of £5 is made to the college for each teacher who passes the examination at the end of the course, and who subsequently teaches Irish satisfactorily in a public school for one year. The Commissioners have not so far recognised a college for the teaching of Irish at Dingle.

asked what provision is made in each of the training colleges recognised by the National Board for the training of King's scholars both in Irish and methods of language teaching, the number of students from each college who presented themselves for examination in Irish last July, and the number who obtained certificates?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that provision is made for the instruction of the King's scholars in Irish in all the training colleges, except the Church of Ireland Training College in Dublin, by (the appointment of a professor or teacher of Irish. The Commissioners examine any students presented to them by the authorities of the colleges with a view to their recognition as being qualified to teach Irish. The question of providing training in the methods of teaching Irish and in the principles of bilingual teaching is under consideration. The number of students presented for examination in Irish last July and the numbers who qualified were as follows:—Marlborough Street Training College—fifteen presented, one qualified; St. Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra—fifty-nine presented, seven qualified; Blackrock Training Oollegie— thirty-one presented, five qualified; St. Mary's Training College, Belfast—twenty-three presented, six qualified; Limerick Training College, twenty-two presented, one qualified.

Do these figures not show that the training colleges have either an insufficient number of professors or that they are not giving sufficient time to the teaching of the subject?

The only conclusion I draw from it is that the examiners very wisely have to consider a high standard of excellence, and I hope they will adhere to it.

Does the right lion. Gentleman still propose to waste public money to the extent of £10,000 a year in teaching a language which even the students do not care to acquire?

The hon. and learned Member will surely recognise that when a language of this sort is being taught gradually and scholastically for the first time there must be considerable difficulty in obtaining the requisite standard of excellence. So long as a standard of excellence is maintained I, at all events, am quite satisfied.

Can the right hon. Gentleman suggest that in view of these figures there is any national want for instruction in this language?

Yes. Obviously there is a great desire to learn the language.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether there are more schools teaching the Irish language in the constituency of the hon. and learned Gentleman than in any other part of the North of Ireland?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will give the name of the official who is responsible to the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction in Ireland for the carrying out of the various schemes of horticulture throughout the country; whether he will state how many instructors are working under the Department; what are their qualifications and the salary paid to each; the amount of travelling expenses incurred under this head during 1909; what positions were held by each inspector previous to getting his present position; whether these appointments were made by nomination or as a result of a competitive examination; and how many are of Irish and Scotch birth, respectively?

The supervision of the work of the thirty-two instructors employed in connection with county horticultural schemes is part of the duty of the Department's horticultural overseer, Mr. Irving. The instructors must have an adequate knowledge of horticulture and ability to give instruction in it. Their salaries vary from £104 to £200 a year, but the latter rate is only paid by one county committee. The total amount paid to them for travelling expenses could not be ascertained except by applying to all the county committees. Some of the instructors were in the employment of the Department prior to their engagement by the county committees. The county committees usually advertise vacancies, and the Department test the qualifications of the candidates. So far as is known to the Department, all the instructors are Irishmen and trained at Glasnevin.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the University College, Dublin, has taken a lease of the premises Nos. 82 to 86, Stephen's Green, Dublin, known as the Jesuits' College; and, if so, what rent is payable for them and for what term; and if this rent is received by the Roman Catholic archbishops and bishops of Ireland in whom the premises are vested?

I am informed by the college authorities that they have taken the premises referred to for three years at a rent of £450 a year. I understand that the Roman Catholic Bishops are the owners of the premises.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if Roman Catholic students at Maynooth are now taught and examined by Maynooth professors, and thereupon eligible for degrees in the national university without leaving the precincts of Maynooth; and, if so, will he state how this condition of affairs differs from actual affiliation of Maynooth. College in the national university?

St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, is a recognised college of the National University, and the conditions under which students of a recognised college are admitted to degrees are laid down in the charter and statute of the university which have been presented to Parliament.

What is the difference between this college and a college properly affiliated?

I am under no obligation to answer questions of this sort. It is not a Department of State. If the hon. Member reads the charter and statutes he can see for himself.

I would like to know, seeing that public money is expended on the upkeep of those colleges, if it is not the duty of the right hon. Gentleman to answer questions which are addressed to him on the subject, and if it is not his duty, whose duty is it?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that, may I ask does he not recognise an obligation because he obtained those moneys from the House by representing that the institution would be undenominational?

I adhere to that statement perfectly. At all events, the Act of Parliament provided for the machinery for the government of those universities by their senates, by charter, and by statutes. Those charters and statutes have now come into existence, and have been laid on the Table of this House. Anybody who reads them can discover what the constitutions of those universities are. I really cannot undertake at this Table to answer questions of discipline, and to give an explanation of the various acts of those great bodies which govern themselves subject to Parliament.

Does the light hon. Gentleman suggest that Maynooth College is an undenominational college?

No, I do not suggest anything of the kind.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is not aware that the hon. Gentlemen are not always in a.state of mind that they can read?

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to keep up the myth any longer that this National University is undenominational?

The question has been answered.

asked if the Board of Studies have recommended the senate to make regulations that every student in the university should be compelled to go through a course in Irish and attend the lectures on Irish in the university college for one year before his degree is conferred; and if this regulation will be applicable to students at Maynooth College?

The authorities of the National University, to whom this question has been referred, inform me that the proceedings of the General Board of Studies are confidential and that they are not at liberty to make any statement on the subject. Resolutions passed by the Board must take the form of recommendations to the senate before they can be carried into effect.

May I ask, seeing that these proceedings which are supposed to be confidential become public at a very early date, it would not be better for him to give the fullest information when asked questions on this subject?

I do not think so.

When it suits him everything is confidential, and when it does not suit him—[HON. MEMBEBS: "Order, order."]

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, owing to Lord Clonbrock's refusal to grant to his labourers an increase of wages, a force of police has been drafted into the district; and whether, considering the reasonableness of their demand, and having regard to the fact that for six months of the year they were in receipt of 10s. per week, for two months 8s. 6d. per week, and for four months 7s. per week, he will secure that the people of the district shall not be called upon to pay for extra police?

I understand that a number of Lord Clonbrock's workmen, have struck for higher wages, and that the men who have taken their places are under protection, and five extra police have been sent temporarily to the district for that purpose. This does not involve any special charge on the locality.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state if the offer of the Estates Commissioners, to Mr. Nicholas Richardson for his Galway estate has been accepted; and, if so, whether the Commissioners will now be allowed to distribute the grass lands?

The owner in this case has expressed his willingness to sell at the price estimated by the Estates Commissioners, and his instituted proceedings for the sale of the lands, which will be dealt with in order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that two gentlemen at present occupying positions at the Athenry Agricultural College are in the habit of visiting neighbouring towns for the purpose of recruiting members for a secret sectarian organisation; and, if so, whether they are carrying on this practice with the consent or direction of the Vice-President, who is now at the head of affairs in connection with the Department of Agriculture in Ireland?

The Department have no knowledge of the matter referred to.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if either of those gentlemen was ever a candidate for the Royal Irish Constabulary?

Will the right hon. Gentleman say if either of those officials ever got a farm from the Government by State money?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the peaceful state of Benmore, Kilchreest, Kilrickle, Loughrea, and the county of Galway generally, and the absence of crime of any serious character, he will cause the extra police to be removed, and in this way relieve the taxpayers of the extraordinary tax which the presence of the extra police force imposes on them?

The county of Galway cannot be said to be free from crime. Part of the West Riding, including the districts round Loughrea to which the hon. Member refers, is still in a very unsatisfactory condition, and while this state of affairs continues no reduction in the extra force can be made.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long it is since the last cattle-drive took place in this district?

No; I cannot give the exact date.

Will the right hon. Gentleman wait until next week, when I will be able to give him some information -about the subject?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will now consider the advisability of withdrawing the extra police from the county of Galway, seeing that there is no crime or outrage whatever in any part of the county; and, in view of the peaceable condition of the people of that area, in face of provocation on the part of some landlords and graziers, he will, without further delay, remove the cause of such a tax on the ratepayers of the county as a further continuance of extra police would entail?