asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount produced in 1909–10 by the licence duties transferred to county and county borough councils in England and Wales under the Finance Act, 1908; and what amount it is estimated that these will produce in 1910–11?

As these licences have now passed out of the control of the Treasury I am unable to give the information asked for by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to allocate the sum of £328,000 annually out of Exchequer funds as from the beginning of the financial year 1909–10 to local education authorities in respect of education other than elementary; and, if not, how does he propose to make good to such authorities the loss suffered during the last financial year owing to the depletion of the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Residue Grant consequent upon the increased taxation and reduced consumption of whisky?

The proposal is to substitute a fixed annual Grant of an amount equal to the proceeds of the duties in 1908–9 for the present Grant, which varies with the proceeds of the duties for each year. The new arrangement will be made operative as from the beginning of 1909–10, and the local authorities will receive, in addition to the amounts which they have already received in respect of that year, a further sum of approximately £328,000, namely, the amount by which the proceeds of the duties last year fell short of the proceeds in the preceding year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has considered that the sixth paragraph of the Super-tax regulations made by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, and first effectively laid upon the Table of this House on 16th June, 1910, presumes to declare what shall be deemed sufficient service of a Super-tax notice; will he agree to the annulling of that paragraph, and thus leave the question of what is or is not sufficient service to be decided according to the provisions of the Act of Parliament relating thereto; is he aware that Super-tax notices are being sent by letter to addresses which the addressee has left for over fifteen months, which sending, if the regulations be effectual, would be deemed to be sufficient service although the addressees may never receive the letters; and will he instruct the Inland Revenue Commissioners to abstain in future from going beyond the letter of Acts of Parliament in order to presume to affix by regulations of their own a construction on such Acts possibly unwarranted by the Acts them selves?

The answer to this Question appeared in the OFFICIAL REPORT for Friday, 1st July—Col. 1291.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state (1) for what purpose, connected with the Super-tax or otherwise, is information of the names of the occupiers required under direction (B) on page 2 of the Return for Super-tax, more particularly in the cases of cottages and allotments of which the owner, and not the occupier, is the person assessed for Property Tax on the annual value; (2) whether he will state which of the occupiers, in the cases of weekly properties and tenement houses, is to be returned under Direction (B) on page 2 of the Return for Super-tax; and whether any, and, if so, what benefit will accrue to the Treasury from the mass of such information obtained at considerable expense and trouble to the taxpayers?

I may refer the hon. Member to my statement made in the House on the 22nd ult., in which I dealt with the whole question of the particulars required in connection with Returns of income for assessment to the Super-tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will lay upon the Table a statement showing the details of the sum of £230,000, appearing in the Supplementary Estimate recently presented under the head of fees to local assessors of taxes?

I have no objection to laying such a statement if desired.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any attempts have been made to commute the perpetual pensions of Earl Nelson, the heirs of the Duke of Schomberg, and Seignor d'Auver-querque; and, if no such attempts have been made, whether he will state the reason?

In view of the opinion expressed by the Select Committee of 1887 the Treasury has not felt justified in considering the question of commuting these pensions on terms more favourable to the annuitants than twenty-seven years' purchase. Inquiries have been made since that date by the holders of the two pensions first named, but upon being so informed they have not proceeded further in the matter. The D'Auver-querque pension now belongs to the Bank of England, having, as I understand, been acquired by them upon terms which would make it impossible for them to entertain an offer of commutation on the basis above indicated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, where under Section 13 of the Inland Revenue Act, 1862, a licensed trader applies to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for an occasional licence to sell liquors at a place other than his licensed premises, such application having the consent in writing of a justice of the peace usually acting in the district within which the place of sale is situate, the Inland Revenue authorities have authority or power to refuse to grant such occasional licence; whether he is aware that in the case of a licensed trader in Holywood, county Down, Ireland, presenting a consent in writing duly signed by a justice of the peace authorising the issue of an occasional licence in connection with the 12th July holiday, the Inland Revenue authorities in Belfast declined to grant the same; and whether he will take steps to secure that the Inland Revenue authorities at Belfast are not permitted to override the statutory powers conferred on a justice of the peace signing the consent referred to, as stipulated by Section 13 of the Inland Revenue Act, 1862?

Section 13 of the Revenue Act, 1862, authorises the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to issue occasional licences for the sale of intoxicating liquor, with the written consent of justices of the peace, whenever the Commissioners consider it conducive to public convenience, comfort, and order. I cannot therefore admit that the Commissioners exceed their powers in refusing an occasional licence in a specific case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the appointment of a new Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Treasury on University College Grants in the place of Dr. Woods, resigned, has yet been made; and whether it is proposed to vary the terms of reference to the Committee so as to bring within its purview all State aid rendered to university education?

The matter is under consideration, and I am not able at present to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what resolutions in Committee of Ways and Means are necessary in connection with the Finance Bill; and when it is proposed to report them to the House?

The Ways and Means Resolutions required for the Budget proposals are those for the two temporary taxes—namely, Tea Duty and Income Tax, and the usual Resolution for Amendment of Law. The Resolution for the duty on tea, which was agreed to in Committee on Thursday, is down for Report on Monday. It is not possible to say when the other Resolutions will be reported until they have been agreed to in the Committee.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state on what grounds Peter M'Conville, Tully-quilly, Rathfriland, county Down, has been refused an old age pension, seeing that the Poor Law valuation of his holding is only £9, and that, being unfit for hard work, he has to pay for assistance in labouring his holding; whether the fact of his son holding land in the proximity is one of the reasons for the decision; and, if so, whether he can state what Section in the Old Age Pensions Act authorises the pensions officer to take such a consideration into account?

Peter McConville's claim to a pension was disallowed by the local pension committee on the ground that his yearly means exceeded £31 10s.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will say, in the case of a judge who retires from the bench on account of ill-health, how long such judge must have served before he becomes eligible for a pension and the amount of such pension; and if the pension depends upon the number of years the judge has served?

A fixed annuity of £3,500 per annum may be awarded to any ordinary judge of the High Court of Justice or of the Court of Appeal in England, without regard to length of service, if he is disabled by permanent infirmity.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many applications the Commissioners of National Education have before them for grants for new schools; how long have some of these applications been before the Commissioners; whether, in many instances, the old school buildings have been condemned again and again as utterly unfit for school purposes and dangerous to the health of the school children; whether, in many cases, the Commissioners have intimated that, owing to want of money, no grant can be given now or perhaps for years; whether there is any ground for the statement that the Commissioners have not got sufficient money for this purpose; and, if there is no ground for the statement, whether some way will be found to bring official pressure to bear on the Commissioners to compel them to grant the sums necessary?

The Comissioners of National Education have before them 236 applications for grants towards the erection of school-houses to replace old and unsuitable buildings, many of which have been condemned by the Board's inspectors. Some of these applications have been before the Commissioners for years owing to legal or other difficulties, and in some instances although the preliminaries have been completed action has been suspended for the present, owing to the available funds having been allocated to other cases. The Treasury have undertaken to provide in the Parliamentary Estimates for the present and two following financial years a sum of £40,000 a year, besides re-voting the unexpended balances of the three previous years. The amount sanctioned for those three years was £120,000, of which some £86,000 has been expended, leaving a balance of £34,000. There will thus be a total of £154,000 available during the next three years, but the Commissioners have already sanctioned grants which will absorb the whole of this sum. The question of providing further sums in order to deal with urgent cases is at present the subject of correspondence between the Irish Governmnt and the Treasury.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Irish Cyclists' Association has asked the Board of Works for permission to hold their inter club cycle races in the Phoenix Park, and have been refused; whether he is aware that these races have previously been allowed; and whether, seeing that these races have been well conducted and afforded enjoyment to the citizens of Dublin, and that all other forms of sport are allowed in the park, he will grant the privilege asked for by this association to hold their inter-club cycle races this year?

This matter was carefully considered by the Irish Government in 1907, when it was decided to prohibit the holding of cycle races in the Phoenix Park for the future, on the ground that such races are an obstruction and a source of danger to the general public. Many other forms of sport, such as golfing and horse racing are for similar reasons prohibited in the park.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the permission formerly given to the Irish Cyclists' Association to hold their races in Phoenix Park has not been granted this year; whether this is in consequence of betting having formerly taken place at these races; and whether, in view of the fact that it is improbable that, owing to the Street Betting Act, there will be any betting this year, the Board of Works will reconsider their decision?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to the question asked by the hon. Member for the College Green Division.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Mrs. Ryan, of Craughwell, county Galway, in connection with the protection of whose workmen Constable Goldrick was shot dead on 22nd January, 1909, continues to be boycotted at the present date; and whether he will enumerate the overt acts of outrage directed against her land and her property since she entered into occupation of her holding?

Mrs. Ryan is still boycotted. Save for the occurrence which led to the murder of Constable Goldrick, she has not been the object of any definite offences since 1907. In that year stones were thrown and shots were fired through the windows of her house and of the cottages of her workmen, a cock of hay belonging to her was burnt, and the walls of her farm were knocked down, while in 1906 the hair was cut off the tails of five of her cattle.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Mrs. Hall, of Clooney, county Clare, a widowed lady eighty years of age, is still boycotted; whether there has been any improvement in her condition since attention was drawn to her case by the hon. Member for Cambridge University on 25th March, 1909; whether the lady and her property continue to receive special police protection, and what is the number of constables engaged in this duty; and whether any person has been brought to justice for the malicious burning of her hay and barn?

I am informed by the Constabulary authorities that Mrs. Hall is still boycotted, and that there is very little improvement in her case. She is still protected by a sergeant and three constables. The persons who burnt her hay and barn last year were never discovered.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in order to remove doubts which have arisen, he will issue instructions to all who have to administer oaths in courts of justice that witnesses who object to take the oath in the new form sanctioned by the Oaths Act, 1909, shall have the oath administered to them either in the old form by kissing the book, or, if they prefer it, in the Scotch form by holding up the right hand, authorised by Section 5 of the Oaths Act, 1888.

A circular has been issued to petty sessions clerks and coroners calling attention to the Oaths Act, 1909, and pointing out that in the case of any person objecting to be sworn in the manner prescribed in that Act, the oath may be administered in any form which is now lawful. No instructions on the subject was issued to officers of the Supreme Court or of the county courts, who perform their duties in such matters under the directions of the presiding judge.

asked the Chief Secretary if the Mr. George M'llroy who has been appointed a resident magistrate is the gentleman who acted as election agent to Mr. T. W. Russell in the recent election in South Tyrone; and what are his qualifications, if any, for this appointment?

Mr. M'llroy's qualifications for the post of resident magistrate are the knowledge and experience acquired during eighteen years' practice as a solicitor. In the course of his duties as a solicitor he acted as Mr. Russell's election agent.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the nature of the special circumstances referred to in the Land Purchase Regulations of 24th May, 1910, Wider which the Estates Commissioners, with the approval of the Lord Lieutenant, can take an estate out of its ordinary priority for distribution of purchase money; how many estates have been so dealt with since 24th May; and will the special reasons for each be available for the information of Members of the House, and if the fact that such an estate has been the object of intimidation, cattle-driving, boycotting, or local agitation, constitutes a special reason for priority within the meaning of the Regulation?

The Regulation in question only applies to estates sold to the Commissioners. Their proposal to proceed with the purchase of four estates, representing purchase money to the amount of £24,183, out of the order of priority has been approved by the Lord Lieutenant. These four estates consisted mainly of un-tenanted lands, which were urgently re- quired for the relief of congestion or to provide holdings for evicted tenants. No estate has been given priority for any of the reasons mentioned in the concluding portion of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Sergeant Thomas Jenkins, Royal Irish Constabulary, station Greenore, holds the position of port inspector at Greenore under the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction; if so, whether this is in accordance with the rules of the force; and whether he receives police pay while absent in England on work connected with the office of port inspector?

Sergeant Jenkins, who is stationed at Greenore, acts as ship inspector there under the Department. Other members of the force perform similar duties elsewhere, and there is nothing in the Constabulary Regulations to prevent their doing so. Since he took up this duty the sergeant has only once been in England, when he went over for a few days as a witness in a prosecution under the Diseases of Animals Acts. He received constabulary pay during his absence.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that Mr. W. J. Johnston, barrister-at-law, acted as revising barrister for West Belfast at the last revision sessions, and is a member of the United Irish League; that since the last revision he personally canvassed the electors of Derry City for the Nationalist candidate at the election in January; and whether he will take steps to ensure that a person who has openly identified himself with one political party by acting as a canvasser shall not again be appointed to act as revising barrister in constituencies where the majority on one side or the other is small and party feeling runs high?

Mr. Johnston acted as revising barrister in West Belfast. I cannot say whether he is a member of the United Irish League or not. I understand that he, like many other revising barristers, did take part in the last General Election. The exclusion from revising barristerships of all members of the Bar who have identified themselves with a political party would make it all but impossible to find a sufficient number of candidates eligible for these posts, and it is not proposed to take any steps in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that seizures for the payment of rent have taken place within the past week in the town of Kinvarra; whether the Sharpe estate on which seizures have taken place is at present being sold to the agricultural tenants; and whether he will advise the Estates Commissioners to include the town tenants in the general settlement of the property?

I am informed by the police authorities that seizures for rent were made last week in the case of two publicans in Kinvarra. The Estates Commissioners cannot identify the estate referred to in the question as pending for sale before them.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that, on Sunday morning, 26th June, several trains carrying Nationalist excursions passed through Portadown from the Coalisland direction towards Dundalk, and again on the return journey in the evening, and, without any provocation except that the inhabitants of the town are mainly Protestants, discharged a fusillade of revolver shots at houses and persons; will he say what steps he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of this conduct; and if the police have made any inquiries into the circumstances with any effective results?

I am informed by the constabulary authorities that a number of shots were fired from excursion trains passing through Portadown on the date mentioned, but without causing any injury to person or property. Such demonstrations are unfortunately not uncommon in the North of Ireland, and it is extremely difficult to prevent them. The police have made, and are making, inquiries with the view of tracing the persons who fired the shots, but so far without success.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that on 29th October last an armed party of men visited the houses of several holders of grazing farms on the Newhall estate, and warned them, in breach of their legal rights, to give up the land; whether Mrs. Daly, mother of the man recently shot, was one of the graziers so visited and warned; and what action, if any, the Government propose to take or have taken in the matter?

Mrs. Daly and three other persons, who held grazing on the Newhall estate, were visited by an armed party in October last, and warned as stated in the question. The members of the party were not identified. The police are taking every possible precaution to protect the persons visited.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that articles of an intimidatory character in regard to the holders of grazing lands in Clare were published in tile "Clare Champion" prior to the recent outrage on Patrick Daly; if the police took any steps to prevent the continuance of such articles; and with what results?

I have nothing to add to my reply to the question regarding this newspaper asked by the hon. Member for South Antrim on 14th June last.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state the total amount, advanced by the Department of Agriculture credit societies, and how much has been repaid?

The total amount advanced by the Department to credit societies is £17,911, and the amount repaid is £8,211.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the town tenants of Kilfinane, county Limerick, have submitted the names of three solvent trustees in connection with the land allotted to them on the Morristown property; and having regard to that fact, will he explain what is the necessity for applying to the Kilmallock District Council to act as trustees in the matter?

The appointment of the trustees is a matter for the Estates Commissioners, who will consider the names which have been submitted when the matter is being dealt with by them. The Rural District Council were asked whether they wished to act as trustees, having regard to the provisions of Section 18 of the Irish Land Act, 1909.

asked the Chief Secretary why Mrs. Bridget M'Donnell, of Behee, in the Killala union, county Mayo, has been deprived of her old age pension; if he is aware that Mrs. M'Donnell was in receipt of a pension of 5s. per week from 1st January, 1909, for nearly six months, when the pension officer raised an age objection; that Mrs. M'Donnell was consequently put to the expense and trouble of procuring a certified copy of the 1841 Census Return, showing her to have then been five years of age; that her pension was then restored for a brief period; and that the pension officer again intervened and without cause stated has deprived her of her pension?

The pension officer raised a question in this case in October, 1909, on the ground that the Census Return for 1851 showed Mrs. M'Donnell to have been only seven years old at that date. The Local Government Board on receipt of the pension officer's appeal gave her full opportunity of showing that she had reached the statutory age, but she merely alleged that she was five years of age in 1841, furnishing neither a copy of the 1841 Census Return, nor any other evidence to support her assertion. The Board accordingly decided that she had not yet attained the age of seventy years.

asked on what grounds Patrick Weir, of Ballydarrig, in the Ballina old age pension sub-district, county Mayo, has been deprived of his pension by the Local Government Board; if he is aware that the pension officer after full investigation recommended Weir for a pension of 4s. a week; that the sub-committee considered him to be entitled to 5s. per week; that the pension officer appealed to the Local Government Board against the committee's decision; that the Local Government Board, without hearing any evidence in support of Weir's claim, ruled that he was not entitled to any pension; and whether such decision was wholly irregular on the appeal submitted, namely, as to whether Weir's pension was to be 4s. per week or 5s. per week?

I understand that Weir was allowed a pension of 5s. by the subcommittee, and that the pension officer, who had recommended only 4s., appealed. The Local Government Board, when considering the appeal, had before them full particulars as to Weir's holding, and, esti- mating that his means exceeded the statutory limit, they disallowed his claim. They point out that this decision was perfectly regular, inasmuch as when an appeal is made in respect of a claim the claim itself stands referred to the Board for final adjudication, and not merely the point in dispute between the pension officer and the sub-committee.

also asked the same right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that Mary Killeen, of Ballinlena, in the Killala pension district, county Mayo, has been deprived of her old age pension because of her inability to find proof of her age either in the Census Returns or parochial registers; that Mary Killeen is well known in the Killala district to be over seventy years of age, and that persons known to be her junior in years but who have been able to find proofs of age are now in receipt of pensions; and whether there is any ground for hope that Mrs. Killeen, either by effluxion of time or the evidence of neighbours, will ever be able to satisfy the Local Government Board that she has reached seventy years of age?

The Local Government Board disallowed Mary Killeen's pension on the ground that she had failed to prove that she had attained the statutory age. She has now lodged a fresh claim, which is before the Board on appeal, and she will be given an opportunity of furnishing any evidence which may be likely to afford proof of her age.

asked whether the Local Government Board, before deciding on the claim of Michael Devane, of Cloonrane, Ballindine, county Galway, to a pension, will refer the case to the pension officer on the question of age.

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether, in view of the Treasury Minute requiring Sessional Crown Solicitors on attaining the age of seventy years to send in to him their resignation of the office, he will say whether George K. Sherlock, who is Crown Solicitor for the West Riding of the county of Cork, who is now 74 years of age, has complied with the Treasury Minute; and, if not, will he call upon him to send in his resignation or supersede him in his office.

Mr. Sherlock was appointed Sessional Crown Solicitor for the West Riding of Cork prior to the adoption of the Departmental Rule referred to in the question, and he is not therefore subject to it.

asked the number of hours per week worked by the Irish judges; how many hours, if any, they sit on Saturdays; and how many weeks in the year the courts are closed for vacation.

The sittings of the Irish Judges are each day, except Saturdays, from 11 to 4; on Saturdays they rise at 2 o'clock. The Courts are not closed during vacation, but during vacations only one of the Judges sits for the disposal of business arising in respect of all the Divisions of the High Court. The days for the commencement and termination of the vacations are specified in Order LXII. of the Rules of the Supreme Court (Ireland), 1905, a copy of which has been laid before Parliament.

asked whether it is in accordance with the rules of the National Board of Education to refuse the training diploma to a teacher and to award to him or her the triennial increment of good service salary, though refusal of the training diploma leads to withdrawal of salary altogether, and apparently the merits which would entitle to triennial increment would seem a fortiori to entitle to the diploma?

The conditions for earning an increment of good service salary are not so onerous as those for the award of a diploma, and a teacher may therefore be granted the former who is ineligible for the latter.

asked who is in occupation at present of a farm on the Barron etsate, at Coolnahorna, county Waterford, from which a Mrs. Coffey was evicted; have the Estates Commissioners endeavoured to negotiate with the present occupier with the view of abstaining this farm for Mrs. Coffey, and, if so, with what results; and, if the Estates Commissioners fail to acquire the Coolnahorna farm for Mrs. Coffey will they take steps to acquire another farm for her elsewhere?

The Estates Commissioners have received an application from Mrs. Coffey for reinstatement in her former holding on the Barron Estate. The present occupier of this holding has purchased it under the Land Purchase Acts, and the Commissioners are unable to interfere in the matter, but they have noted Mrs. Coffey's name for consideration in the allotment of any untenanted land which may be acquired by them in the locality.

asked why the Commissioners of National Education (Ireland) have closed Crossan national school, county Tyrone; whether there are now six national schools under Roman Catholic teachers and only four national schools under Protestant teachers in the rural district of Trillick; whether he is aware that the national schools at Tummery and Knocknagor, two thatched cabins, under Roman Catholic teachers, are situate within a mile of each other, and that there is not a national school under a Protestant teacher within a radius of four miles from Crossan; what was the average attendance of pupils respectively at Tummery, Knocknagor, and Crossan schools for the year 1909; and whether the Commissioners have made any arrangements for conveying the pupils, who formerly attended Crossan national school, to the nearest national school under a Protestant teacher, or are the pupils expected to walk four miles to school and four miles back each day, if their parents should wish them to attend either of the nearest national schools under Protestant teachers at Dromore or Trillick respectively?

Crossan National School had for several years past an average attendance of less than twenty-five pupils—both Protestant and Roman Catholic—and the Commissioners, having reviewed the provision made in the locality for primary education, came to the conclusion that it was unnecessary to continue to maintain it as a separate institution, and they accordingly directed that it should be amalgamated with the Dromore (2) national school, which is under Protestant management and has Protestant teachers. The Commissioners realised that some of the Protestant children of the Crossan school would find a difficulty in attending at Dromore or at other national schools under Protestant management in the district, but they were prepared to sanction an arrangement by which such children could be conveyed to and from school by van. There are eight national schools under Roman Catholic managers and teachers and five national schools under Protestant managers and teachers in the rural district of Trillick, county Tyrone. Two of the schools under Roman Catholic teachers—Tummery and Knocknagor—are in bad repair, but the manager of the former is having the necessary repairs executed, and a Grant has been sanctioned to build a new schoolhouse to supersede the existing building at Knocknagor. Tummery and Knocknagor national schools, although within a mile of each other in a direct line, are two miles and a quarter apart by road. The average attendances of pupils at Tummery, Knocknagor, and Crossan schools for the year 1909 were: Tummery, twenty-five; Knocknagor, twenty-four; and Crossan, eighteen. There are at least three national schools under Protestant teachers within a radius of four miles of Crossan school.

asked the Chief Secretary if he has any information with regard to the existence of contagious vaginitis in Ireland; whether the disease is spreading or diminishing; and if, in view of the importance of the matter to Irish farmers and stock-raisers, he will obtain the best advice possible as to the treatment of the disease without loss of time?

The disease referred to is known to exist among cattle in Ireland. There is no reliable information to show whether it is increasing or diminishing. The Department are fully alive to the importance of the matter. It is engaging the attention of their professional officers, who are in touch with the best information and advice available on the subject.

asked how much of the loan of four and a half millions set aside for the building of labourers' cottages and the acquiring of plots of land under the Agricultural Labourers (Ireland) Act has been applied for and how much in loans has been granted; how much of this loan still remains; whether the instalments on the loans granted have been paid regularly; and whether any applications have been made which had to be refused owing to the fund having been exhausted?

The amount of loans sanctioned up to this date under the Labourers Act of 1906 is £4,102,371, and the balance £147,629 of the four and a quarter millions provided by Section 16 of the Act will, it is anticipated, scarcely suffice to meet the cost of certain improvement schemes which have already been lodged with the Local Government Board, but have not yet reached the stage at which the amounts of the loans can be definitely determined. I understand that the annuities in repayment of the loans have, as a rule, been paid regularly. New schemes were being proposed in several rural districts, but, since the issue of the Board's Circular in February last, stating that the four and a quarter millions would only finance the schemes then submitted, the councils concerned have suspended further proceedings for the present.

also asked how much money has been applied for by way of loans under the Housing of the Working Classes (Ireland) Act, 1908; in how many cases have loans been granted, and what is the total amount; and whether he will consider the possibility of granting such loans at the same rate of interest as the loans under the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1906?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a non-oral question on the same subject asked by the hon. Member for West Belfast, which was circulated with the Votes on 23rd June last. The rate of interest to be charged on loans under the Housing of the Working Classes (Ireland) Act, 1908, is laid down by Section 14 of that Act.

asked whether a claim has been received by the Estates Commissioners from Jeremiah Wallace, evicted tenant, Kilcullen, Donoughmore, county Cork, and has it been inquired into; and, if so, what action is to be taken on it?

The Estates Commissioners have received an application from Jeremiah Wallace for reinstatement in a holding on the estate of Charles Lynch, county Cork, at one time in his occupation and now occupied by another tenant. After due inquiry and consideration the Commissioners decided not to take any action in the matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his atten- tion has been drawn to a statement made by Mr. Francis Boydell, on 2nd March last, to the effect that when he called at Trinity House on behalf of a Yorkshire manufacturer on 28th February last to see the pattern of a scourer he found the sealed pattern was an article of German manufacture; and whether, if Mr. Boydell's statement is correct, standard patterns of scourers of British make will be substituted for the article made in Germany?

The Corporation of the Trinity House is not under the control of the Admiralty, and I would suggest that the hon. Member should apply to the secretary of the Trinity House for the information he desires.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, since the system of two-year commissions was instituted for fully-commissioned ships, any representations have been made to the Admiralty by commanding officers or others that this period is too short and that a reversion to the old three-year commissions would be advisable?

It is not advisable to make public reports received from officers on matters of organisation.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in consequence of the constant changes in the ratings carried by the ships of the Third Division of the Home Fleet, it has been found necessary to increase the clerical staffs of those ships; what is the average time spent in these ships by men of the seaman and stoker ratings who are drafted to them; and whether the Board are satisfied that this is a sufficient length of time to ensure the war efficiency of the ships?

The accountant staffs of the Third Division battleships and cruisers have been increased up to the numbers allowed in their full sea-going complements, in view of the large number of supernumerary ratings borne in the ships for disposal or training. The average time spent by nucleus crews in their ships is twelve months. Ratings supernumerary to the nucleus crew complements, and borne for disposal or training, are frequently changed, and no average time can be given. The reply to the third part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the conditions under which lamp supplies are tendered for in the Aldershot district, whether by open competition after public advertisement in the local Press or by firms selected by the Army Council; and, if the latter, how many firms are upon the favoured list?

Lamps required at Aldershot are merged in the general requirements of the Army, and obtained by bulk contract made at the War Office, although very occasionally purchases of small value are made locally. Tenders are issued to firms selected for inclusion in the War Office list after full inquiry into their trade capabilities and their reputation as employers. Advertisements are periodically inserted in the public Press inviting makers to apply to be placed on the list, and all applications received at any time are most carefully considered. If the hon. Member knows of any firm who desire to be included in the list I shall be happy to consider their application.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department have recently received an application from Sergeant Stephen Dennis, of the 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, for the issue of a copy of his discharge to replace the original which has been lost in the post; whether the application has been complied with; and, if not, will he say why this has not been done?

Under Paragraph 421 of the King's Regulations copies of discharge certificates may not be issued to discharged soldiers. I may point out that this rule does not create any hindrance to the man in getting employment, as a statement of his record will be given to any employer who applies for it to his Record Office, and the man has been so informed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office has been accepting cordite below the standard test; and, if so, whether he could state the reason; and whether the reserves of cordite in the magazines are now equal to the usual amount so kept?

No cordite has been accepted which did not pass the standard test. The reply to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked whether any cordite manufactured at the Waltham Government Factory has been rejected by the inspectors at Woolwich?

Yes, some cordite has been rejected for ballistics, but practically all has been subsequently re-submitted after re-blending. Some of this has not yet been re-tested.

asked whether cordite can be manufactured without the use of acetone; and whether explosive so made is different in ballistic values and generally utilised under the name of ballistite?

Cordite can be made without the use of acetone. Acetic ether or ethyl acetate can be employed as a solvent for cordite, but it has not been used in this country on a commercial scale. Ballistite is made with soluble nitro-cotton, and for this alcohol can be used. The wet process is mixing wet guncotton with the nitro-glycerine instead of dry, and does not affect the solvent afterwards used.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, under the terms of the gracious pardon recently granted by His Majesty the King on his accession, deserters from the Army or Navy, who having made a false declaration on re-enlistment may now be in either service, will, on confession of the fact of their desertion, be relieved of all liability in respect both of desertion and of making a false declaration; and whether they will be permited in every case to continue serving in the units and services to which they now belong?

Deserters from the Army will, under the circumstances referred to, be granted a pardon if they surrender before 23rd July, 1910, at home or before 23rd September, 1910, abroad. They will be allowed to serve in the corps in which they are at the time of surrender, except those soldiers who come under the conditions of paragraph 526, King's Regulations. A deserter from the Navy who joined the Army would not be subject to military law at the time of his offence, and the pardon would not be applicable in his case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, when in his address to the Surrey Veteran Reserve on 18th June, he stated that the county of Surrey had alone produced such a reserve, he was aware that in the city of Gloucester a Veteran Reserve was formed in 1899, composed of ex-Regulars and ex-Volunteers, all of whom had completed full terms of service; that such reserve now musters over 200 men, who are properly enrolled and working under a properly constituted code of rules and carrying out annual musketry practice at their own expense, and that such reserve company have repeatedly petitioned the War Office for recognition as a Veteran Reserve; and whether any such recognition can be granted to them?

The Surrey Veteran Reserve has been duly registered by the Surrey County Association. If the Gloucester Veterans are desirous of joining the Gloucestershire County Veteran Reserve they should apply for registration to the county association, which will doubtless welcome their application. No Veteran Reserve can be recognised unless formed under the auspices of a county association.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Martin Spelman, at present residing at Ardgallon, near Boyle, county Sligo, has recently been discharged from the 4th Connaught Rangers after twenty-five years' service, without having received either pension or compensation allowance; and, if so, whether, having regard to his long service and good character, this man's case will be inquired into with a view of having a pension allocated?

The Chelsea Commissioners are at present investigating Spelman's claim to pension, and I will let the hon. Member know their decision in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that civilian labourers for the Army Ordnance depot, Enniskillen, are employed at tradesmen's work with no benefit or extra pay to themselves and to the loss of the local tradesmen; and will he take steps to remedy this state of things?

I am informed that these labourers are not put to do tradesmen's work.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any men of the detachment of Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Youghal have been obliged to do musketry on Sundays; and, if this is the case, whether steps will be taken to see that the men are not deprived of their Sunday holiday?

I am inquiring into this case, and will let the hon. and gallant Member know the result in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he would provide a copy of the time table of the Towyn Church School and a copy of the religious syllabus of that school which has been drawn up with the view of imparting such instruction as is known to be in accordance with the faith of the Church of England parents; if he can say whether any of the parents were consulted during the drafting of the syllabus; and, if so, could he say how many children of those parents are at the present time attending the Towyn Church school?

I do not think anything would be gained by printing the time table in the Votes. The time table allots a period of forty minutes at the commencement of the morning session to "Prayers and Religious Instruction." A similar period is alloted by the time table of the infants' class to "Scripture." I have no information as to the other matters referred to in the question.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to an allegation that the Akbar Reformatory for boys at Heswall, Cheshire, is conducted in a cruel way; that severe flogging is prevalent there, and that one of the forms of discipline is to disallow boys from sitting down or leaning against the wall; and whether he has made any inquiry regarding the matter?

The Secretary of State is making inquiry with regard to the statements about this school to which the hon. Member has drawn his attention. The chief inspector informs him that this school, which recently experienced many difficulties consequent on occupying temporary premises, has moved to new permanent buildings, and its condition is now satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that Sir Eldon Gorst has expressed his opinion to the effect that the Report of the Committee of the Egyptian General Assembly on the proposals for the extension of the Suez Canal Company's concessions was characterised by an entire lack of confidence in the intentions and good faith of the Government, and of the fact that the subsequent confirmation by the General Assembly of this Report adversely affects British financial and commercial interests, measures will be taken for the effective support of such interests by the adoption of the scheme proposed?

This is a matter which primarily concerns the Egyptian Government and the Suez Canal Company. There is no reason for the intervention of His Majesty's Government as far as British interests are concerned, and if they did use their influence in Egypt in a case of this kind it must be from the point of view of the interests of Egypt.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Chinese Government are a consenting party to the terms of the agreement signed at Paris on 25th May for the financing and construction of the Hankow-Szechuen Railway by representatives of certain British, French, and American groups; and whether the terms and conditions of this agreement were communicated to and approved by His Majesty's Government before its conclusion?

The Chinese Government are now to be asked to agree to the terms of the arrangement recently come to in Paris. His Majesty's Government were generally aware, and approved of the terms and conditions of the agreement before its conclusion.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will consider the desirability of expediting the consideration of Appeals under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908?

Every effort is made to deal with these appeals as expeditiously as possible. I may say that the number of appeals is very large, and some of them involve a good deal of correspondence. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in view, I shall be glad to do what I can to expedite it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of the s.s. "Rutherglen," of Glasgow, which arrived at Leith on 1st April last; whether he is aware that complaints were then lodged by the seamen as to the overtime worked on board and as to the insanitary condition of their quarters causing them to sleep in the open on deck; that the superintendent of the Board of Trade at Leith took up the position from the first that he did not believe the men and did not make the necessary investigation which he is paid to make; and that the men were thereafter and on account of these complaints presented with bad discharges, although some of them were Royal Navy Reserve men with good records from the Navy, and were persuaded by the officials in Glasgow of his Department to accept these bad discharges although they still sought for an investigation; and whether, in view of the fact that some of these men are still unemployed, he will cause his officials to thoroughly investigate the whole matter?

No complaints of any kind appear to have been made to officers of the Board of Trade when the crew of the "Rutherglen" were discharged at Leith. Complaints were made to the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Glasgow by several members of the crew who had received a "good" character for conduct instead of the character "very good." The master, with whom the responsibility of giving these reports rests, stated that he based the report on the men's general behaviour throughout the voyage. In the circumstances, I fear that I cannot usefully make any investigations into the matter, especially in view of the time which has elapsed since the discharge of the crew.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state what is the present position with regard to the purchase of the National Telephone Company's interests by the Government?

The general conditions of the purchase of the National Telephone Company's plant were settled by the agreement of 2nd February, 1905. The purchase is to take effect from 31st December, 1911, when the company's licence expires. Arrangements are being made with the company to ensure the transfer of the system on or as soon as possible after the date of purchase. The preparation of an inventory of the company's plant has been discussed with the company, and it is hoped that it will shortly be put in hand, and that it will be found possible for the Post Office check on this inventory to proceed concurrently with its preparation.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the maximum pay of the class now known as the assistant superintendents, Class II., in the London postal service, but formerly known as inspectors, was £280 per year in 1890, which was increased to £290 in 1897 and to £300 in 1903; that these increases were made concurrently with increases in the pay of the classes they controlled; whether the Department, in its evidence before the Hobhouse Committee in 1907, stated that these increases of pay had not met the increase in the responsibility of the supervising classes; whether the Hobhouse Committee had, notwithstanding their evidence, reduced the maximum pay of the inspectors' class to the position it occupied in 1890, whilst at the same time recommending further increases in the pay of the subordinate classes; whether the Hobhouse Committee accompanied its recommendation with a suggestion that the inspectors should be merged with a class which did not exist in the London postal service; and whether, in view of the mistake which has been made, he will take steps to place the class upon its proper footing?

The Select Committee, after full inquiry as to the duties to be performed, recommended a rearrangement of the superintending classes and the merging the old class of inspectors into them as assistant-superintendents second class; the Committee also framed the scale of pay which has been adopted for them, and which will be found in paragraph 414 of the Report. The recommendations were explicit, and I regret that I do not see my way to depart from them. I can find no suggestion in the evi- dence of the Department that the responsibilities of the inspectors were not adequately paid for.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a vacancy for an overseership in the Central Telegraph Office has remained unfilled for the past six weeks; and whether, in view of the general stagnation of promotion at that office, he will order that the vacancy shall be filled with the least possible delay?

The vacancy referred to has been left unfilled pending the settlement of certain questions arising out of a recent revision of staff in the Central Telegraph Office which are receiving special consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the advisability of appointing a representative from one of the postal servants' organisations to the committee of inquiry into the question of boy messengers?

I do not think that the Committee which I have appointed to consider the question of boy labour in the Post Office is one on which a representative from one of the postal servants' organisations could be added with advantage, but the Committee will be glad to consider any evidence which these organisations may submit.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the delays in dealing with telegrams at the Cork post-office, and in order to cope with the expanding volume of business there, he intends to increase the Cork telegraphic staff, and by how many; whether, in some cases, Press telegrams from London received at Cork have been transmitted by letter-post; whether notification has more than once been given in some towns in sole telegraphic communication with Cork that telegrams can only be accepted for transmission subject to the risk of unlimited delay; and whether any steps are being taken to prevent telegraphic delays at the Cork office?

There are two vacancies for telegraphists and two for learners at Cork: these will be filled as soon as possible. Nothing is known of Press telegrams from London transmitted by letter-post. In the early part of the year Cork was cut off by storm from direct telegraphic communication with London, and no doubt the letter post may have taken the place of the telegraph in some cases. If heavy Press work is handed in without due notice, it would be right to warn the senders of the risk of delay. If the hon. Member will give me full particulars of the cases he has in mind I will make inquiry.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, in the receipt and delivery of Press telegrams at the Cork post office, precedence is given to one newspaper to the detriment of the other Cork papers, verbal instructions to this effect having been given by one of the higher officials in consequence of some complaints of delay from the favoured newspaper; and whether he will give instructions to put an end to the discrimination complained of?

I have been assured that there is no foundation for the suggestion in this question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that considerable loss and inconvenience is caused in Montgomeryshire to farmers and others by the fact that three-quarters of the county lie under certain restrictions as regards the sale of swine, and that farmers in Llanfyllin parish cannot take swine to their own market, though they may take them to more distant towns in the county; whether any objection exists to including the county with Cheshire, Stafford, and Shropshire as one area for the purpose of the Regulations; and what steps will be taken to abate the difficulties under which the county suffers?

The Board do not appear to have received any representations from Montgomeryshire farmers on this subject. The parish of Llanfyllin, with other parishes in the neighbourhood, was included in the Shropshire area at the special request of the Montgomeryshire local authority, but I gather from the question that some misunderstanding exists locally as to the position in this respect, and I shall be glad to cause inquiry to be made. The transfer of the whole county from the Welsh area to the English area named would be attended with considerable administrative difficulty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether any inclosures have been made of the common known as Hunter's Bark or Long Preston Moor, in the Skipton division, since 1889; whether he can state the names of the enclosers and the number of acres inclosed; and whether these inclosures have been approved by the Board of Agriculture?

The Board have not given their approval to any inclosure of the land to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what are the rates of pay and privileges of the labourers employed at the Stationery Office, Princes Street?

I do not know to which particular class or classes of employées of the Stationery Office the hon. Member refers, but if he will give me further particulars I shall be happy to make inquiries.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the fact that the Charitable Trusts Acts do not prescribe any general audit of the accounts rendered by trustees of charities, he will consider the desirability of introducing a measure to provide for the compulsory and early audit of such accounts?

There were 56,807 accounts rendered by trustees of charities in 1909, and the general audit suggested by the question would necessitate an enormous increase in the staff of the Charity Commissioners. I will give the matter consideration, but I cannot at present make any statement as to the necessity or practicability of legislation on the subject.

asked the Lord Advocate what number of men were engaged in the fishing industry in Scotland on board trawlers during the year 1909; and what number of men were engaged during the same year on board sailing vessels and steam liners and drifters?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the tables published in Appendix A of Part I. of the Fishery Board's Report for 1909 (Cd. 5190), which contains full particulars on the points to which he alludes.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state the number of hours the Scotch judges work per week, how many hours they sit on Saturdays, and how many weeks in the year the courts are closed for vacation?

My hon. Friend will find the information he desires as to the sittings of the Court of Session in the Statute 31 and 32 Victoria, chapter 100, and particularly Sections 4 to 8 thereof. The Lords of Session are also Lords Commissioners of Justiciary, and the number of times they have to sit in the latter capacity depends partly upon statute and partly upon the requirements of the Lord Advocate as Public Prosecutor. It is impossible to state the number of hours which the Scottish judges work per week. The hon. Member will recognise that the number of hours judges work is not measured by the number of hours they sit in court.

asked the Lord Advocate whether it is proposed to accede to the suggestion that the school boards of Scotland should receive notice of proposed changes in the code three months before the code is laid upon the Table of the Houses of Parliament; that three months should elapse between the time when the code is laid upon the Table and the time when it becomes law; and that reasonable facilities should be given for its discussion?

It has been the practice of the Department for a considerable period to give those interested as long notice as possible of any changes of importance which are under consideration for introduction into the code or to defer for a reasonable time the operation of new or revised articles. It is obvious, however, that all changes are not of equal importance, and it would scarcely be in the interests of smooth working and good administration to interpose the long delay suggested in the question as a rigid rule applicable even to changes of minor consequence. The extension of the statutory time for consideration of the code by Parliament and the granting of facilities for discussion in any particular instance are matters within the discretion of Parliament itself.