asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the salaries of the 117 officials appointed on a temporary basis as valuers; whether any annual increment has been promised; whether these officials are entitled to a retiring gratuity, and, if so, to what amount; and at what notice are the Commissioners of Inland Revenue entitled to dispense with their services?

The salaries of the officials referred to are at varying rates, without annual increment, and subject to a month's notice. Officers appointed on a temporary basis may under certain conditions become entitled to gratuities on retirement, but it is not possible to say whether the conditions will be fulfilled in this instance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to a letter from a surveyor of taxes in answer to an inquiry as to the effect of the increase in the Licence Duty imposed by the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, on payment of Income Tax, Schedule A, stating that no appeal against the annual value of the licensed premises could now be entertained in respect of the year ended 5th April last; and whether the surveyor was authorised to make that statement.

My right hon. Friend's attention has now been called to the letter referred to by the hon. and gallant Member. The surveyor's statement that no appeal now lies against the annual value of the licensed premises in respect of the year ended 5th April, 1909, was made on 30th May last, and is in accordance with the law governing the right of appeal against assessments to Income Tax, Schedule A, for the year 1909–10.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the steps which it is necessary for a county council or other public authority to take in order to obtain from the Road Improvement Fund a Grant or loan; and whether it is proposed to open a Road Improvement Fund Account in the books of the Bank of Ireland in addition to the account already opened in the Bank of England under the provisional Regulations recently made by the Treasury?

Applications for Grants or loans from the Road Improvement Fund should be addressed to the Road Board. The account of the Fund will be operated upon by that Board, whose offices are in London, and it will probably not be necessary to open a banking account at the Bank of Ireland in addition to that already opened at the Bank of England.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that when two ships' stewards' assistants belonging to the Chatham division were promoted to ships' stewards on 11th March last there were at Portsmouth twenty-eight assistants senior to one and thirty-two senior to the other, and at Devonport eighteen senior to one and twenty-two senior to the other; and whether he can see his way to introducing a general roster for all men of this rating?

I would refer the Noble and Gallant Lord to the answer I gave to a similar question on 31st March last. With regard to the individual cases referred to, advancement is made at each port division from the men belonging to that port division, and is not necessarily by seniority alone, the commodores of the depots being responsible under the regulations for the selection of the men in their respective port divisions, who are best entitled by character, ability, and service.

asked the Chief Secretary what was the number of persons receiving police protection on 31st May in each of the years since 1904, distinguishing those receiving constant protection and patrol protection?

The following are the required figures:— Year. Constant Protection. Patrol Protection. Total. 31st May, 1904. 39 119 158 31st May, 1905 33 139 172 31st May, 1906 42 160 202 31st May, 1907 47 163 210 31st May, 1908 70 232 302 31st May, 1909 71 265 336 31st May, 1910 66 274 340

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the number of extra police employed in the counties of Clare, Galway, Roscommon, and Westmeath on 1st June, 1910, and the charge made against the taxpayers of those counties for extra police in the year ending 31st March, 1910?

The particulars asked for are as follows:— Counties. Numbers of extra police employed on 1st June. 1910. Charges against local rates for extra p lice in respect of the year ended 31 st March, 1910. £ s. d. Clare 56 2,523 16 7 Galway 203 7,570 6 10 Roscommon. 56 2,402 7 9 Westmeath 15 228 5 5

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state for each county in Ireland the number of cattle-drives reported to the police from 1st January to 1st June, 1910?

The following table gives the required information:— Counties, etc. Cattle-drives from 1st January to 1st June, 1910. Antrim Nil Armagh Nil Cavan Nil Donegal Nil Down Nil Fermanagh Nil Londonderry Nil Monaghan Nil Tyrone Nil Carlow Nil Dublin Nil Kildare Nil Kilkenny Nil King's I Longford Nil Louth 1 Meath 5 Queen's 1 Westmeath 18 Wexford Nil Wicklow Nil Galway, East Riding 3 Galway,West Riding 26 Leitrim 1 Mayo 9 Roscommon Nil Sligo 14 Clare 10 Cork,East Riding 3 Cork,West Riding Nil Kerry 1 Limerick 5 Tipperary, North Riding 3 Tipperary,South Riding Nil Waterford Nil Total 101

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state for each county in Ireland the number of persons boycotted, either wholly or partially; and the number of persons under police protection, either constant or by patrols, on 1st June, 1910?

submitted the following Statement, showing the number of persons wholly and partially boycotted, and the number of persons under police protection in each county in Ireland, on 1st June, 1910:—

Counties, etc. Wholly Boycotted. Partially Boycotted. Total Number of Cases of Boycotting. Total Number of Persons Boycotted. Number of Persons under Police Protection. Number of cases. Number of Persons comprised in cases. Number of cases. Number of Persons comprised in cases. Constant. By Patrol. Total. Antrim … … … … … … … … … … … Armagh … … … … … … … … … … … Belfast City … … … … … … … … … … Cavan … … … … … … … … … … … Donegal … … … … 1 1 1 1 … … … Down … … … … … … … … … … … Fermanagh … …… … … … … … 1 1 Londonderry … … … … … … … … … … … Monaghan … … … … … … … … … … … Tyrone … … … … … … … … … … … Carlow … … … … … … … … … … … Dublin … … … … … … … … … … … Kildare … … … … … … … … … … … Kilkenny … … … … … … … …… … … King's … … … … … … … … … 1 1 Longford … … 6 24 … … 6 24 4 2 6 Louth … … … … … … … … … … … Meath … … … … … … … … 2 … 2 Queen's … … … … 1 3 1 3 … 1 1 Westmeath … … … … … … … 4 5 9 Wexford … … … … … … … … … … … Wicklow … … … … … … … … … … … Galway, R. Riding … 1 2 2 4 3 6 14 81 95 Galway W. Riding … … … 2 9 2 9 3 32 35 Leitrim … … 10 65 … … 10 65 1 11 12 Mayo … … … … … … … … … 18 18 Roscommon … … … 2 3 2 3 3 5 8 Sligo … … … … … … … … 2 3 5 Clare … … … … … … … … 5 68 73 Cork, E Riding … … … 2 10 2 10 5 14 19 Cork W. Riding … … … 1 5 1 5 4 4 8 Kerry … … … … … … … … 13 13 29 Limerick … … … … … … … … 4 2 6 Tipperary.N.Riding … … … … … … … … … Cork S. Riding … … 1 17 1 17 2 12 14 Waterford … … … … … … … … … 1 1 Total … … 17 91 12 52 29 143 66 274 340

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state for each county in Ireland the sums awarded by county court judges at the last two quarter sessions as compensation for malicious injuries?

It would take some little time to obtain this information, but if the hon. Member will move for a return I will consider whether it can be given.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state for each county in

Ireland the number of all outrages, agrarian or otherwise, committed in Ireland by the use of firearms from 1st January to 1st June, 1910, with the results of police proceedings, if any?

Counties, etc. Number of Offences. Proceedings. Number of cases in which Persons were made amenable. Number of cases in which per-sons were returned for trial. Number of cases in which informations were refused.Number of cases in which Persons were convicted at Q S. or Assizes. Number of cases in which Persons are awaiting trial. Antrim … … … … … … … … … Armagh … … … 2 2 2 … … 2 Belfast City … … … 1 1 1 … … 1 Cavan … … … … … … … … … Doregal … … … 1 1 1* … … … Down … … … … … … … … … Fermanagh … … … … … … … … … Londonderry … … … 1… … … … … Monaghan … … … 2 1 1 … … 1 Tyrone … … … … … … … … … Carlow … … … … … … … … … Dublin … … … … … … … … … Kildare … … … … … … … … … Kilkenny … … … … … … … … … King's … … … 1 1 1 … … 1 Longford … … … … … … … … … Louth … … … … … … … … … Meath … … … 1 … … … … … Queen's … … … … … … … … … Westmeath … … … 1 1 1 … … 1 Wexford … … … 2 2 … 2 … … Wicklow … … … … … … … … … Galway, E. Riding … … 6 … … … … … Galway W. Riding … 9 2 1 1 … 1 Leitrim … … … 1 … … … … … Mayo … … … … … … … … … Roscommon … … … 2 … … … … … Sligo … … … … … … … … … Clare … … … 18 3 2† 1‡ … 1 Cork, E. Riding … … 9 5 4 1 2 2 Cork W. Riding … … 1 … … … … … Kerry … … … 8 …… … … … Limerick … … … 2 1 1 … … 1 Tipperary, N. Riding … … … … … … … Tipperary S. Riding … 1 … … … … … Waterford … … … … … … … … … Total … … 69 20 15 5 2 11 * "No Bill" found at Q.S. in this case. † "No Bill" found at Assizes in one case. ‡ In this case the accused was bound to the peace.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that it is the practice of the management of the Government works at Enfield and Waltham to lay off workmen from time to time, namely, to discharge

presented the following statement of offences (agrarian or otherwise) in which firearms were used from 1st January to 1st June, 1910, with results of police proceedings:—

them subject to a summary notice to return if required, and that these workmen leave other employers that they have; found without notice and to the inconvenience of those employers; and whether, in the interest of the men, he will take steps to provide that the service they can offer, when discharged by the Government, should not be subjected to these summary demands to report themselves if required to return and to leave their engagements without notice?

It is not the practice of the management of the Ordnance Factories to discharge workmen subject to a summary notice to return if required, and no case such as is described in the question is known to the management. If a man is temporarily suspended on account of insufficiency of work, his name is retained on the books, and a notice is sent to him when further work is available. He is not ordered to rejoin on any given date, and it rests with him whether he rejoins at all, and if he does, what arrangements he makes with any employer with whom he has obtained work.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state whether, looking at the sums of money which have been expended on the wells for the water supply at Tidworth Barracks, the War Office will be represented at the forthcoming inquiry by the Local Government Board into the intention of the rural district council to compulsorily acquire land within a short distance of the War Office wells with a view to making wells there?

It is proposed that a representative of the War Department should attend the inquiry in question.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Julius Louis Zetland, who was on 24th November last charged with resetting before the sheriff substitute at Glasgow and sentenced to eight months' imprisonment and deportation to his native country; whether, with reference to the deportation part of the sentence, he is aware that Zetland has been resident in this country for eighteen years without previous complaint against him; that a memorial in his favour has been signed by twenty respectable traders of Glasgow who have for years done business with him; and that the articles found in his possession when apprehended could quite reasonably have been in his possession in the way of his trade; and whether, in these circumstances, he can see his way to remit the sentence of deportation?

Yes, Sir, my attention has been called to the case referred to, and, on consideration of all the circumstances, I have decided not to make an Expulsion Order.

asked the Home Secretary whether flogging as a punishment for breaches of discipline in prison can only be inflicted after the sentence of the visiting justices has been approved by himself?

I have received the resolution mentioned by my hon. Friend, which asks in general terms for an "inquiry into the working of our legal system," but do not find in it sufficient ground for any special action on my part.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how soon the Indian Financial Statement will be in the hands of Members?

I hope that the Statement will be distributed during the present week.

asked the Prime Minister on what day he proposes to take the discussion on the Indian Budget?

I cannot as yet fix a date, but full notice will be given to the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will ascertain the date and cause of death of Joseph Stephenson Mitchell, aged eighteen, steward on the steamship "Heather-side," who was left in hospital and in care of the British Consul, said to be suffering from a fever, in Resario in February, 1910, and who is said to have subsequently died; will he ascertain why the Consul did not advise the young man's parents (whose address he had) of his death, which was first reported to them by a shipmate who reached this country on 5th June, 1910; and why a letter from the parents addressed to the Consul (per the Board of Trade), posted on 31st March, 1910, has not been replied to by him?

Joseph Stephenson Mitchell, formerly of the steamship "Heatherside" is reported by His Majesty's Consul at Rosario to have died in hospital in that city from the effects of typhoid fever, on 24th February, 1910. With regard to the latter part of the question, inquiries are being made, and I will inform my hon. Friend in due course of the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Mr. O. W. Owen, superintendent of the Labour Exchanges at Newport, at the request of one of the trade union officials, addressed the men on strike at the Newport Docks, and, after appealing to them to give the award a fair trial, informed them that if it failed they could give notice in the ordinary way and reopen negotiations with the employers; whether any notice was provided for in the award; and whether it is in accordance with the administrative policy of the Labour Exchanges that the officials should address meetings of strikers and that they should encourage them to throw over an award the terms of which they dislike?

I am satisfied that Mr. Owen's efforts were directed solely to promote the acceptance of the award of the arbitration court, and that he said nothing that could bear the construction suggested in the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a statement by one of the strikers concerned in the Newport Dock strike that the men never agreed to submit the point in dispute to arbitration, and were told by the officials of their trade union that no award would be binding upon them; that after the award was made known Mr. Tillett, who acted as arbitrator for the men, said it could not be accepted; that he and the other union officials criticised the award in such a manner as to create a strong prejudice against its acceptance by the men; whether the officials of the Labour Department of the Board of Trade were informed by Messrs. Houlder Brothers and Company, Limited, before the agreement to arbitrate had been entered into, that the men had been advised that an arbitration award would not be binding upon them; and whether, before bringing pressure to bear upon Messrs. Houlder Brothers and Company, Limited, to agree with the officials of two trade unions to arbitrate upon the point in dispute, he satisfied himself that these officials represented the views and wishes of the men on strike, and were empowered by them to agree to arbitration on their behalf?

As regards the alleged statements of strikers and their leaders, the ordinary sources of information are as much open to the hon. Member as to myself. As to the action of the Board of Trade, I have nothing to add to the statement recently made by me in the Debate in the House of Commons.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the parcel postage rates to the island of Madeira, and to Portugal, respectively, and the maximum weight and dimensions of a parcel that can be sent by parcel post, and the amount of postage payable in respect of such maximum parcel?

The postage rates payable on parcels for Madeira are: For a parcel not exceeding three pounds, 1s. 6d.; seven pounds, 2s.; eleven pounds, 2s. 6d. The same rates are charged on parcels sent to Portugal by direct sea route from this country. Parcels may also be sent to Portugal by way of France and Spain, and for parcels sent by that route the charges are: For a parcel not exceeding three pounds, 2s. seven pounds, 2s. 6d.; eleven pounds, 3s. For each place the maximum dimensions allowed are a length, breadth, or depth of three feet six inches, with a maximum length and girth combined of six feet and the maximum weight is eleven pounds.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture bow many inspectors are stationed in North Wales; how many have a knowlelge of Welsh; and whether, in view of the fact that English-speaking inspectors stationed in North Wales have to be accompanied by an interpreter, he will, to avoid expense, appoint inspectors who are able to speak the language of the people with whom they have to deal?

The number of inspectors stationed in North Wales varies according to the amount of work to be done. At the present time there are three, two of whom are Welshmen by birth, though only one of them speaks his native language. Effect will be given to the suggestion made by my hon. Friend as far as is practicable, but, as a matter of fact, no real difficulty is experienced by English-speaking inspectors, and it has never been found necessary to pay fees for interpreters.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture how many of the inspectors of the Board stationed in North Wales have had scientific training in agriculture and forestry; and whether, in view of the difficulty experienced by men so trained in obtaining appointments, he will consider the desirability of securing their services for the Board of Agriculture?

All the inspectors at present stationed in North Wales are employed on work arising under the Diseases of Animals Acts. Their duties are, to a great extent, of an administrative character, and scientific training in agriculture and forestry is not necessarily required for their performance. The Board will, however, always be glad to give full consideration to any applications for appointment which may be made by men of the class to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been drawn to the hardship experienced by persons in receipt of outdoor relief, more especially when aged or infirm, in having to go out during inclement weather to meet the relieving officer at a fixed time; and whether, in the case of infirmity, the money due could be delivered to such persons at their own homes?

I am aware of the point to which the hon. Member refers, and in a circular which I recently addressed to boards of guardians I encouraged the abolition of pay stations. If the hon. Member has any particular case of hardship in mind and will communicate with me I will look into it.