asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will circulate with the Votes a list of the investments under the Land Act of 1909 which have, up to the present, been sanctioned by the Public Trustee?

Securities sanctioned by the Public Trustee (Ireland) under the Land Act of 1909, to date:— Argentine Government 4½ per cent. (1888) Sterling Loan. Argentine Government 4 per cent. Loan, 1908. Brazilian Government 4 per cent. Bonds, 1889. Brazilian 4 per cent. Rescission Bonds. Chilian Government 4½ per cent. 1886 Loan Bonds. Chinese Government 4½ per cent. Bonds. Hungarian 4 per cent. Gold Rentes. Mexican Gold Loan 4 per cent., 1904. Finland 4½ per cent. Government Railway Bonds. Russian 4 per cent. Consolidated Railway Bonds I. and II. Japanese Government 4½ per cent. Sterling Loan (First Series). Japanese Government 4½ per cent. Sterling Loan (Second Series). Japanese Government 4 per cent. Sterling Loan. Japanese Government 5 per cent. Bonds, 1895–96. Japanese Government 4 per cent. Sterling Loan, 1905. New York Central Railway 4 per cent. 1934 Debentures. Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul 4 per cent. 1934 Gold Bonds. 1755 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company (Pittsburg and Lake Erie Division) 4 per cent. Bonds. Louisville and Nashville Railway Unified 4 per cent. Gold Bonds. New York Central and Hudson Railway 3½ per cent. Gold (Lake Shore) Bonds. Union Pacific Railway 4 per cent. First Mortgage Bonds. Union Pacific Railway 4 per cent. Sterling Gold Bonds. St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba Railway 4 per cent. Extension Bonds. Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fé Railway Adjustment Bonds. Mexican Southern Railway 4 per cent. First Mortgage Debentures. Argentine Great Western Railway 5 per cent. Debenture Stock. Central Argentine Railway 4 per cent. Rosario Debenture Stock. Buenos Ayres and Pacific Railway 4½ per cent. Consolidated Debenture Stock. Buenos Ayres and Great Southern Railway 4 per cent. Debenture Stock. Buenos Ayres Great Western Railway 4 per cent Debenture Stock. Canadian Pacific Railway 4 per cent. Debenture Stock. Northern Pacific Great Northern Railway's 4 per cent. Joint Bonds.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the total number of centre superintendents appointed by the Intermediate Education Board for Ireland to carry out the examinations this year; the total number of Roman Catholics appointed; the total number of centres amalgamated at the end of the first week of the examinations; the total number of Catholics who were left in charge of amalgamated centres; the total number of Catholics who were employed for the second week; and will he say on what principle did the Board act in selecting superintendents for the amalgamated centres?

I understand that the total number of superintendents was 322, of whom one-half were Roman Catholics. I am not in a position to reply to the remainder of the question, as there has been no opportunity of bringing it before the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary when the Estates Commissioners propose to issue the vesting orders to the tenants on the estate of M. A. Kirwan, county Longford, who signed their agreements so far back as 1905; aid whether vesting orders will also be issued in the case of the other tenants on the estate, or how their cases will be dealt with?

The purchase agreements in this case were lodged in January, 1906, and the sale takes priority accordingly on the principal register of sales under the Regulations of 15th February last. At this stage of the proceedings the Commissioners are not in a position to say when vesting orders will be issued or how the cases of the tenants who have not signed purchase agreements will be dealt with.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will direct an inspector to be immediately sent to deal with the claim for reinstatement of Charles Lynch, the evicted tenant on the Humphrys estate, county Cavan?

Lynch's application has already been inquired into by an inspector, and as his former holding is in the occupation of another tenant his application has been noted for consideration in the allotment of such untenanted land as the Estates Commissioners may acquire for distribution.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will say whether the Estates Commissioners have lost sight of the claim for reinstatement by John M'Nally, the evicted tenant on the Sclator estate, county Cavan; and will an inspector be sent to deal with this and other similar cases in county Cavan at once?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that M'Nally's former holding is in the occupation of another tenant. His application has been inquired into by an inspector and has been noted for consideration in the allotment of such untenanted land as the Commissioners may acquire for distribution.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state how long the application of Winifred Wynne for reinstatement has been under consideration; will this case have to await the vesting of the Morley estate, county Cavan, in the tenants; or will he say when, approximately, this lady may hope for relief under the Evicted Tenants Act?

Mrs. Wynne's application for reinstatement in a holding at one time occupied by her mother was inqured into in 1907. The holding is now in the occupation of another tenant. Her application has been noted for consideration in the allotment of such land as the Estates Commissioners may be able to acquire for distribution. It will be dealt with irrespective of the vesting of the holdngs of the tenants on the estate referred to in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland are prepared to carry out the scheme recommended by their engineer for the improvement of the harbourage and landing facilities at Enniscrone in the interests of the local fishermen?

The condition of the Department's funds will not enable them to contribute to the cost of improving the landing facilities at Enniscrone. The place is, since the passing of the Irish Land Act of 1909, in a congested districts county.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government Board will direct that payment of his pension under the Old Age Pensions Act be made to Patrick Scanlan, of Ballygilcash, Drumore West, county Sligo, seeing that he has satisfied the local pension committee that he is of the qualifying age and has produced documentary evidence to them in support of the claim?

This case does not appear to have come before the Local Government Board on appeal, but in any case that Board have no powers or duties with regard to the payment of pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether regulations under Part II. of the Prevention of Crimes Act, 1908, have yet been drafted; and whether any opportunity for discussing them will be afforded before they come into operation

The Rules under Part II. of the Prevention of Crimes Act, 1908, have not yet been drafted. The draft of the Rules is required by statute to lie upon the Table of the House for thirty days during which the House is sitting before the Rules can be made.

asked the Home Secretary whether, if Part IV. and Part VI. of the Criminal Law and Prisons Bill were introduced as two separate Bills, he would endeavour to give, this Session, facilities to the two Bills, or either of them?

I regret that I cannot accede to my hon. Friend's request.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of appointing a matron or lady superintendent as head of the female staff at the female convict prison at Aylesbury?

There is a chief matron at the head of the female staff at Aylesbury Prison, under the general control of the medical head of the establishment. The comparatively few women in custody under sentence of penal servitude would not justify a reversion to the old rank of lady superintendent, and the directors are satisfied that the present system of control works well, and in the best interests of the prisoners.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is yet able to state the result of his inquiries into the adulteration of flour supplied for the making of bread, and the steps which are to be taken to protect the public?

The inquiry is still proceeding. I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what salaries are being paid to men and women registration officers in the Labour Exchanges; whether the actual salaries are accompanied by promise of increase or pension; whether there is a varying scale for towns of different units of population; what hours are worked; and whether payment is made for overtime?

The salaries paid to both men and women registration clerks in Labour Exchanges are fixed between £60 and £90 per annum, and are dependent upon the capabilities of individuals and the responsibility of the work they have to perform. These posts do not carry a fixed annual increment or pension rights; but in those cases in which the salary is below £90 periodical increments up to that sum may be granted. Registration clerks are, of course, eligible for promotion to higher posts on the occurrence of vacancies should they prove suitable for such posts. The nominal hours of work are eight hours per day. There is no provision for the payment of overtime; but, in view of the exceptional pressure of work at the inception of the scheme, a special overtime allowance has been sanctioned for the month of February.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any decision had been come to whereby Irishmen are debarred from postmasterships in their own country; how many applicants have sought such promotion during the past three months; how many Irish postmasterships have been filled during the last five years; and what percentage of these by Irish-born officers?

No such decision has been come to as that suggested. The information with regard to the country of birth of applicants for promotion to Irish postmasterships and of men appointed to the sixty which have been filled in the last five years would be troublesome to obtain, and would scarcely serve any useful purpose. But I may inform the hon. Member that over 75 per cent, of the postmasters in question were serving in Ireland when appointed to that position.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he will inform the House what statue or ornament will be placed upon the pedestal lately erected in the corner of St. James's Park opposite the Duke of York's Column?

The pedestal will carry a memorial to the officers and men of the Royal Artillery who fell in the South African War.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether the fourth panel on the front of the Gallery of the House of Commons immediately above the Gangway on Mr. Speaker's right represents the arms of Rhodri Mawr, King of Wales, or of Llewelyn, the last native Prince of Wales; whether the panel represents Wales as the other three panels represent England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively; and, if so, whether he will direct the attention of the proper authorities to this precedent, if it is determined to quarter the arms of Wales on the Royal Standard

I am obliged by the information conveyed in the hon. Member's question, and will transmit it to the proper authorities.