asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it will be permissible for persons holding the office of King's Tax collectors, and who concurrently carry on the business of auctioneers and valuers, to act as valuers against the Crown in the negotiation and settlement of land valuations under the Finance Act; and, if not, whether any notification will be issued to such persons to abstain from such business?

Assessors and collectors of taxes are appointed in the great majority of cases by the District Commissioners, with whose responsibility I have no power to interfere.

asked whether any new scheme for the erection of labourers' cottages in the district of Hillsborough, county Down, is now under consideration; and, if so, when it will be carried into effect?

On receipt of a letter from the Local Government Board inti

mating that the fund of four and a quarter millions provided by the Labourers Act of 1906 was already earmarked, the rural district council adjourned the question of making a new scheme sine die.

asked whether the Irish Local Government Board will ascertain if the contract for milk supplied to the Lurgan Union was given to the contractor who sent in the lowest tender; and, if not, what is the estimated total difference in cash on the three years' contract between the accepted tender and the lowest tender?

The lowest tender was not accepted, as it was considered by the board of guardians as being practically that of the father of the man who sent it in, a former milk contractor whose contract the guardians had cancelled with the approval of the Local Government Board. The clerk of the union estimaes the difference between the lowest tender and that accepted as about £240 in the three years covered by the contract.

asked how many resident magistrates have been appointed in Ireland since 1st January, 1910; and will he state their names, addresses, and previous professions?

The following is a list of the resident magistrates appointed since 1st January, 1910:— Name. Address. Previous Profession. Robert Sparrow Dublin District Inspector Royal Irish Constabulary. James Roche Omagh Solicitor. George McElroy Aughnacloy Solicitor. Patrick Sarsfield Brady Belfast Solicitor. Walter Gordon Duff Navan District Inspector Royal Irish Constabulary. Joseph Carroll Newry Solicitor.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the names of the local authorities in Ireland which have applied for loans for housing under the Housing of the Working Classes (Ireland) Act, the amount applied for, and the amount granted, in each case; and whether he can state the names of the local urban authorities in Ireland which are unable to avail themselves of the provisions of the Act owing to their having already passed the limit of their borrowing powers?

The following table gives the particulars asked for in the first portion of the hon. Member's question. Besides the instances in which loans have been sanctioned, the Local Government Board have under their consideration seventeen cases in which inquiries have been already held into applications made by local authorities; in four further cases inquiries have yet to be held, and in ten cases the Board are in correspondence with the local authorities with a view to the holding of inquiries. No such inability exists as that referred to in the concluding portion of the question, as under Section 2 of the Act of 1908 money borrowed for the purposes of the Housing of the Working Classes Acts is not to be reckoned as part of the debt of a local authority for the purpose of the limitation on borrowing contained in Section 238 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878:—

Operations under the Housing of the Working Glasses (Ireland) Act, 1908, up to 20th June, 1910:— Urban District. Amount Applied for. Amount Sanctioned. £ s. d. £ s. d. Arklow 2,000 0 0 — Armagh. 700 0 0 700 0 0 Athlone 4,000 0 0 4,000 0 0 Athlone 2,200 0 0 — Ballina 7,500 0 0 — Ballymoney 3,500 0 0 — Belfast 116,342 5 0 — Birr 5,000 0 0 — Blackrock 14,500 0 0 14,500 0 0 Blackrock 500 0 0 — Carlow 3,000 0 0 — Cashel 450 0 0 — Castlebar 4,000 0 0 — Cavan 3,500 0 0 — Clonmel 5,000 0 0 — Dalkey 1,200 0 0 1,200 0 0 Drogheda 15,000 0 0 — Dublin 17,400 0 0 17,250 0 0 Dublin 8,200 0 0 8,200 0 0 Dublin 18,207 0 0 — Dungarvan 3,870 0 0 3,870 0 0 Ennis 12,516 15 9 — Enniscorthy 3,000 0 0 — Fermoy 1,100 0 0 1,100 0 0 Fermoy 11,160 0 0 — Galway 320 0 0 320 0 0 Galway 1,332 0 0 — Galway 9,384 0 0 — Granard 4,500 0 0 — Kells 1,900 0 0 1,900 0 0 Kilkenny 6,450 0 0 6,000 0 0 Kingstown 9,000 0 0 9,000 0 0 Kingstown 3,000 0 0 3,000 0 0 Letterkenny 6,000 0 0 — Listowel 4,500 0 0 4,500 0 0 Navan 2,600 0 0 — Omagh 1,700 0 0 — Omagh 900 0 0 — Tipperary 650 0 0 650 0 0 Tipperary 6,000 0 0 — Tralee 7,000 0 0 7,000 0 0 Trim 2,800 0 0 — Waterford 16,000 0 0 — Westport 2,000 0 0 — Wexford 7,000 0 0 7,000 0 0 Town Commissioners (non-Urban). Bandon 4,028 4 0 — Bantry 1,300 0 0 1,300 0 0 Callan 4,000 0 0 — Maryborough 7,000 0 0 — Mullingar 3,000 0 0 — Newcastle 2,400 0 0 3,000 0 0 Roscommon 7,000 0 0 —

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when Charles Lynch, of Killycannon, the evitced tenant on the Humphrys estate, county Cavan, first applied to be reinstated; what has been done for him since; who is responsible for the delay in this case; and will his claim even now have immediate attention?

The Estates Commissioners received in January, 1904, an application from Lynch for reinstatement in a holding now in the occupation of another tenant. After inquiry his name was provisionally noted for consideration in connection with certain lands which the Commissioners proposed to acquire under the Evicted Tenants Act. The owner, however, filed objections, and it was decided that the lands in question could not be acquired compulsorily. Lynch's application will be considered in the allotment of such land as the Commissioners may be able to acquire.

asked, with reference to the proposed reinstatement of a former tenant named Myles Doyle in his former holding at Tallaght, County Dublin, whether all the parties concerned have agreed to the steps necesary to be taken for such reinstatement; and, if so, what is the cause of the delay in dealing with the case; and when do the Estates Commissioners expect to have this matter finally closed?

I am informed by the Estates Commissioners that the delay in this case is due to the fact that a small portion of Doyle's former holding is held by the present occupiers as tenants, whereas they hold the residue as owners. They are not in a position to sell to the Commissioners the small portion they hold as tenants, but it is understood they have come to an arrangement with their superior landlord, under which he will sell the portion in question to Doyle. When the necesary legal documents for the sale to Doyle have been lodged with the Commissioners, they will proceed with the matter, meanwhile they cannot take any further action.

asked whether John Tully, an evicted tenant on the Head-fort estate, county Meath, has applied to the Estates Commissioners to be reinstated in his former or an equivalent holding; and what action has been taken in his case?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, the Estates Commissioners have no record of the receipt of an application from John Tully for reinstatement in a holding on the Headfort estate.

also asked whether Thomas Cruise, Mullingstoghan, Moynalty, county Meath, has applied to be reinstated in a holding from which his brother was evicted; and what action has been taken in his case?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 16th March last to a question on the same subject asked by the hon. Member.

further asked whether Mathew Brady, Stonefield, Virginia, county Meath, has applied to be reinstated in his former holding; whether the Estates Commissioners have recently acquired un-tenanted land near to his former residence; and if his claim will be considered prior to its distribution?

As I have already informed the hon. Member in reply to a question asked by him on 13th July, 1908, the Estates Commissioners have decided to take no further action on Mathew Brady's application.

asked what were the gross and net amounts of capital respectively which came under the review of the Inland Revenue authorities for the purpose of Death Duties during the year ending 31st May, 1910?

I regret that the information required by the hon. Member is not yet available.

asked the Home Secretary what steps have been taken to withhold the Royal Assent in the case of the Bill passed by the House of Keys for the purchase of the Villa Marina estate?

I have considered the Petition with respect to this Bill, and, so far as it rests with me to advise, I do not see any reason why the assent of the King in Council should be withheld.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that dissatisfaction exists among school teachers at the working of the Teachers Superannuation Act of 1898; and if he will appoint a Departmental Committee, on which teachers' representatives can serve, to consider the best way of applying the fund to which they are compelled to contribute?

I have consulted with the Treasury, and I fear that in present circumstances, and pending further experience as to the mortality of teachers, and the sufficiency of the fund to discharge existing liability, no useful purpose would be served by an inquiry, departmental or other, into the points referred to, and I am unable to entertain any such proposal.

asked the number of Grants made since 1902 to local authorities in Great Britain for the purpose of building training colleges for teachers, and what is the total of the sums thus granted?

Grants have been authorised in respect of seventeen training colleges or hostels amounting to £250,967. Of this amount £186,574 has actually been paid.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he will state the dates of the sentence and execution of Ananta Luxman Kanare, who shot Mr. Jackson, at Nasik, on 21st December, 1909?

Kanare was sentenced to death on 29th March, 1910, and executed on 19th April.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether, since the referendum in South Australia in 1896 on the education question, there have been any referenda taken in Australia other than those regarding the approval or disapproval of the proposed Federal Constitution, and those in the present year regarding the proposed amendments of the Federal Constitution; and whether, during the same period, the taking of a referendum has been provided for in any Statutes other than the Federal Constitution Act and Act No. 16, of 1908, of the State of Queensland?

A referendum was taken in 1907 on the question of the altera- tion of the provisions of the Commonwealth Constitution regarding the election of senators, and a referendum was taken this year on the question of religious education on the State Schools of Queensland. The latter referendum was taken under the provisions of Act No. 11, of 1908, of Queensland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the statement of Messrs. Houlder Brothers that they had not authorised the signing of the agreement of 21st May on their behalf, he will say whether any of the signatures to the agreement purported to be on behalf of Messrs. Houlder Brothers and Company; whether, in view of the fact that any question with shipowners arising at Newport is capable, in the event of difference occurring, of being subsequently raised under Clause 3 of the agreement of 21st May, he will say whether any, and, if so, what shipowners were parties to that agreement; and (3) whether the agreement purports to be signed on behalf of any and, if so, what shipowners; and, if so, by whom it purports to be signed on their behalf?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Debate which took place yesterday in the House of Commons on the question of the Newport dispute.

also asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that any question with other shipowners arising at Newport is capable, in the event of difference occurring, of being subsequently raised under Clause 3 of the agreement of 21st May, and in view of the fact that the members of the unions who were parties to the submission to arbitration of the principle at issue in the Newport dock dispute have declined to be bound by the award of the Board of Trade umpire, he proposes, if the same issue is raised by any other firm of shipowners than Messrs. Houlder Brothers and Company, Limited, namely, their right to employ men for the loading of general cargoes at daily rates of wages, to request those shipowners under the agreement in question to submit the same principle once more to arbitration; and, if so, whether it is intended to adopt this procedure in the case of each individual firm of shipowners by whom the question may be raised?

I cannot answer a hypothetical question of this ature.

further asked whether the National Amalgamated Labourers' Union and the Dock, Wharf, Riverside, and General Labourers' Union were parties to the submission to arbitration of the principle at issue in the Newport Dock dispute; and whether the award of the umpire is binding upon all the members of those unions?

The agreement submitting the dispute to arbitration was signed by certain officials of the unions named as representing the men on strike.

asked the Lord Advocate whether it is necessary for justices of the peace to take the oath of allegiance again at the beginning of a new Reign, looking to the terms of the oath already taken by them upon their first appointment to the office?

The question raised by my hon. Friend is at present under consideration with a view to the possibility of obtaining an authoritative decision on a point in regard to which different opinions have been held.

asked whether a fee of 5s. is payable by Justices of the Peace not only on the first, but on any subsequent occasion when they take the oath of allegiance; and, if so, under what authority or regulations such fees are exigible?

The fees payable to clerks of the peace are regulated by Act of Sederunt under the Licensing (Scotland) Act, 1903. The Act of Sederunt in force includes provision for a fee of 5s. "on qualifying," and I understand that any demand for payment of a fee on renewing an oath is based on this provision. I do not regard any such demand as justified by the terms of the Act of Sederunt.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, if he will give a list of all the enclosures made within the Skipton Parliamentary Division of the West Riding of Yorkshire between the years 1729 and 1845, and state in each instance the date, the acreage, and the name of the common, parish, and encloser?

The Board are not able to supply the list for which my hon. Friend asks, as they do not possess the information that is required for its preparation.

asked, in view of the facts that certain samples of feeding stuffs were recently analysed by the analyst of the Devon County Council, and reported by him to contain 40.4 per cent. of sawdust, that the County council desired to institute proceedings against the sellers under the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1906, but that the Board of Agriculture refused to grant them leave to do so, what was the reason for such refusal; whether the samples corresponded with the analysis guaranteed by the sellers in their invoice, as provided by the above Act; and what steps the Board proposes to take to prevent farmers from being defrauded by the sale of adulterated feeding stuffs?

The Board did not consent to a prosecution, because they were advised by their legal advisers that the Report of the Chief Government Analyst was insufficient to establish the offence under the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, in respect of which the county council desired to take proceedings. If the Board's consent had been given, the county council would have been involved in a long and unsuccessful law suit, entailing a heavy charge on the rates. The sample of feeding stuff forwarded to the Government Laboratory did not contain any article that could properly be described as sawdust. It did contain the substance known as cellulose, but it was essentially different in character from the crude article from which it was derived. The invoice given by the sellers was not incorrect. The Board are taking steps to investigate further the composition of this substance and its suitability as a feeding stuff.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether county councils have hitherto been unable to appoint a medical officer of health under the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909; whether the reason is that such councils are unable to fix the salary of the medical officer until they are in a position to specify the duties of the office; and whether he will state when he proposes to issue the General Order setting forth the duties of county medical officers under the said Act?

The power of a county council to appoint a medical officer of health is contained in Section 17 of the Local Government Act, 1888, and many county councils have already exercised the power. As regards the last part of the question, I may state that the General Order prescribing duties is in an advanced state of preparation, and that I hope to issue it shortly.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will consider the advisability of rising by a small amount the rate of the contribution to the Equalisation Fund made by each metropolitan borough, thereby giving immediate relief to the more heavily rated boroughs?

To carry out the hon. Member's suggestion would require legislation, and, as he was informed in reply

UNEMPLOYED WORKMEN ACT, 1905.— Expenditure out of grants voted by Parliament. Year ended 31st March. Grant voted by Parliament. Expenditure. Grants paid to the Central (Unemployed) Body for LONDON and to Distress Committees elsewhere in ENGLAND AND WALES, including appropriations from any balances in hand from the grant of the previous year. England and Wales. Scotland Ireland. Total. For Belief Works. For Emigration. For Farm Colonies. For Women's Workrooms. Totals. £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 1907 200,000 105,420 7,552 11,050 124,022 70,091 §9,500 23,329 2,500 105,420 1908 200,000 *123,741 19,448 4,500 147,689 88,597 13,598 19,500 2,500 124,195 1909 300,000 †220,485 47,253 13,750 281,488 194,188 7,050 28,000 3,500 232,738 1910 200,000 ‡142,085 42,726 9,160 193,971 111,343 9,637 26,708 3,550 151,238 * Sanction was also given to the appropriation of £454 from balances in hand from the grant of the previous year. † Sanction was also given to the appropriation of £12,253 form balances in hand form the grant of the previous year. ‡ Sanction was also given to the appropriation of£9,153 form balances in hand form the grant of the previous year. § Of this sum £1,000 was afterwards appropriated to relief works (West Ham). Refunds of £253, £219, and £1,806, in respect of works not proceeded with were made, respectively, for the years ended 31st March, 1908, 1909, and 1910.

to a previous question, I cannot undertake to promise legislation on the subject during the present Session.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the total amount of Grants made by the Government under the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, for the financial years ending 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1910; the total amounts granted to the various distress committees for the years above mentioned, and the total amounts granted for relief works, for emigration, for farm colonies, and for women's workrooms during these years?

The sum voted by Parliament in aid of expenses under the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, for each of the financial years ended 31st March, 1907–10 was £200,000, except for the year ending 31st March, 1909, when the amount was £300,000. The particulars desired by the hon. Member, so far as they are in my possession, are shown in the following detailed statement:—