asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give instructions to the Inland Revenue authorities to issue a circular intimating that freehold rent-charges are outside the scope of the Increment Duty Clauses of the Finance Act, and that in the case of sales of reversions expectant on terms of years having more than ninety-nine years to run, they will dispense with the usual particulars and will impress the Increment Duty stamp on the instrument on application, accompanied only by Form I.V.D. ( a ), and a short description of the property sufficient for purposes of identification?

A circular conveying the information referred to by my hon. Friend will shortly be issued by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in determining the amount of income for the purpose of returns for Super-tax the allowance of one-sixth or one-eighth for repairs and of 5 per cent. for management may be deducted?

If the return is based upon the net assessment under Schedule A of the Income Tax Acts, the allowance of one-sixth or one-eighth will have already been made and cannot therefore be claimed again. If, however, the return follows the gross rent, the allowance can be claimed. The additional allowance contemplated by Section 69 of the Finance Act will be administratively applied to the Super-tax year 1909–10 and will for that year be made by repayment and not at the time of assessment. Accordingly, no claim for such allowance should be inserted in the return for assessment for that year.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the widow of Elias Farnham, of Sully, Glamorgan, a member of the Twentieth Century Equitable Friendly Society, applied for the death benefit, in accordance with the rules of the society, and such benefit has not been paid; and whether he will take action on behalf of this widow, who is in poverty?

A communication was received by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies on behalf of the widow of Elias Farnham to the effect that she was unable to obtain the money payable on the death of her husband. The explanation of the Society was asked for, and the Secretary wrote to the Registrar on the 8th instant saying he had received no demand for payment, neither had he received any certificate of death as required by law before any claim can be paid. He stated, had the claim been made in the proper course it would have been already dealt with. The Chief Registrar is making further inquiries with a view to assisting the widow.

asked what is the annual subsidy paid by the British Government to the Cunard Steamship Company; for what special services is it paid, and for what period is it payable; and if any portion of this subsidy is recouped by Foreign Governments in consideration of the more rapid route for the carriage of their mails afforded by these subsidised British ships?

The annual subsidy paid to the Cunard Steamship Company out of the Post Office Vote is £68,000. The main service performed in respect of this subsidy is the conveyance of letter and parcel mails by the weekly mail ships from Liverpool and Queenstown to New York. The company is also required, subject to certain reservations, to convey, without additional payment, letter and parcel mails from this country to the United States and parcel mails from New York to Queenstown and Liverpool by any steamships of the company performing the service for their own purposes. The contract was twenty years, terminating on 15th November, 1927. A total sum of about £10,000 per annum is recouped from foreign and Colonial administrations, but it cannot be stated how much of this is in consideration of the more rapid service afforded by the ships in question. The annual subsidy paid to the Cunard Steamship Company out of Navy Votes is £150,000 (namely, £75,000 each in respect of the "Mauretania" and "Lusitania." In consideration of this payment the company is bound during the term of the agreement to hold all their vessels at the disposal of His Majesty's Government to be hired or purchased upon certain conditions. The agreement is for twenty years from 16th November, 1907.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why the claim for a pension was not allowed in the case of Mrs. Frances Casey, Morrogh, Ballyvaughan, county Clare; whether Mrs. Casey enjoyed a pension for some time; and what were the grounds on which it was withdrawn?

I understand that the pension originally granted to Mrs. Casey was revoked in 1909 by the Local Government Board on a question raised by the pension officer, and that a second claim preferred in 1910 was also disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal. The reason for the decision is not stated on the notice sent to the pension officer.

asked the same right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the grounds upon which an old age pension was refused to Miss Maria M'Aleese, of Ardnaglass, county Antrim, were that the Census Return for 1841 showed that her mother, Bridget M'Aleese, was then sixteen years of age, and that Bridget M'Aleese herself made a declaration that she was nineteen years of age when she married; whether he is aware that Thomas Hillis, who is over seventy years of age, has made a sworn affidavit that he always regarded Maria M'Aleese as being about two years older than himself, that Alice Graffon made a sworn declaration that Maria M'Aleese's mother is now about ninety-six years of age, and that Bridget M'Aleese has sworn that her daughter must be over seventy years of age; whether he is aware that Father Bradley, of Ahoghill, has certified that he searched the register of marriages for 1837 but could not find the names of Maria M'Aleese's father and mother, because the register was in part missing for that year, but that he believed the statement that they were married in May in 1837 to be perfectly bonâ fide , that Alexander Kennedy, who is eighty-two years of age, has sworn that Maria M'Aleese is about seventy-two years of age, and that other sworn testimonies support this claim; and, seeing that it is well known that the Census Returns in Ireland for 1841 have over and over again proved to be unreliable, whether, under all the circumstances, he will direct that this claim be admitted?

I have given careful consideration to this case, but have no power to review the decision of the pension authorities or to direct them to allow the claim to a pension.

asked on what grounds Daniel Healy, Castlequin, Cahirciveen, has not been allowed the full amount of old age pension passed by the local subcommittee, in view of the evidence submitted by the claimant concerning a remittance received from America in 1907 and the handing over of his farm to his daughter in consequence of his inability to work it as he has attained the age of seventy-seven?

The pension sub-committee allowed Daniel Healy a pension of 5s., the pension officer having recommended 1s., but the Local Government Board on appeal decided in January, 1909, that the claimant was only entitled to a pension of 1s. In February, 1909, the pensioner assigned his holding to his daughter by deed, and in March raised a question that he was entitled to the full pension of 5s. This amount was allowed by the committee, but the question was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal, having regard to the terms of Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act. Healy subsequently raised a second question that he was entitled to the full pension, but the Board again determined in May last that he was not entitled to a pension at a higher rate than 1s. a week.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on 11th January, 1909, a claim to an old age pension from Mrs. Katherine Tobin, of Cleen, Knockvicar, county Roscommon, was submitted for the consideration of the Boyle (No. 1) pension sub-committee, and that the pension officer in the prescribed form reported that the claimant, Mrs. Tobin, attended the meeting of the subcommittee and produced evidence that satisfied the sub-committee that she was seventy years and upwards, and therefore entitled to a pension of 5s. per week, all the other conditions being fulfilled; that on 24th September, 1909, the second claim from Mrs. Tobin came before the committee, and was accompanied by a return from the 1841 Census, showing Mrs. Tobin to be seventy-two years of age, and therefore showing her to have been over seventy-one years when the committee allowed her claim; will he say whether the sub-committee was entitled to grant the pension on evidence other than a return of the Census, and whether having done so invalidates the grant of the pension; and, if not, why the Local Government Board persists in witholding the pension first granted on the first claim made, seeing that Mr. Hanley, supervisor of Inland Revenue, admits that injustice has been done in witholding this poor woman's pension, and that Mrs. Tobin was fully entitled to the pension when the claim was first made?

The facts regarding Mrs. Tobin's two claims are correctly stated, so far as the Local Government Board are aware. It rests with the pension subcommittee to decide what evidence of age they consider sufficient, and when Mrs. Tobin's first claim came before them they concluded, from her appearance and from her own statements, that she had reached the age of seventy years. The pension officer, however, appealed against this decision. When the case came before the Local Government Board on appeal the claimant did not produce any satisfactory evidence of age, nor did she furnish the necessary particulars to enable her to be traced in the Census Returns. In these circumstances the Board were obliged to disallow her claim. Mrs. Tobin, therefore, did not receive a pension in pursuance of her first claim, because she failed to prove that she complied with the statutory condition as to age.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will have the case of Bridget M'Neeve, of Camogue, county Roscommon, reconsidered with a view to having her pension, granted by the subcommittee, restored, seeing that the subcommittee, in granting the pension, had before them evidence of age other than the Census Returns, and the Local Government Board, in withdrawing the pension, had no proof that Bridget M'Neeve had not attained the statutory term of seventy years?

The Local Government Board have no power to reconsider their decisions. The facts are as follows: The Pension sub-committee allowed a pension of 5s. to Mrs. M'Neeve. The pension officer appealed, and the Board disallowed the claim, inasmuch as the claimant could not furnish any satisfactory evidence that she had attained the statutory age. When an appeal is made to the Board on the ground of age it rests upon the claimant or pensioner to show that the statutory condition as to age is fulfilled.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state the number of national teachers in Ireland who, having qualified for promotion by training, position in school, ability and general attainments, length and character of service, and seniority, have been denied promotion on account of insufficient average consequent on the operation of Rule 127 b ; has the grade salary of any national teacher been reduced owing to the fall in average attendance at his school due to the operation of Rule 127 b ; and, if so, what was the amount of the reduction?

I am not in a position to furnish the figures asked for in the first part of the question. The Commissioners of National Education inform me that their preparation would involve much time and labour, and that they would be of little educational advantage. The Commissioners are not aware of any case in which the grade salary has been reduced owing to a fall in the average attendance caused by the operation of Rule 127 b . If any case of hardship, either as regards non-promotion or loss of salary owing to Rule 127 b , is brought to the notice of the Commissioners it will be investigated.

asked whether the estate of Thomas Francis Fay, of Trim, county Meath, a bankrupt, has been under the control of the Court of Bankruptcy for the past twenty-six years; whether it has ever been offered to the tenants for sale; whether an effort has been made by the person entitled to the estate next after the bankrupt to get the estate out of court in order to sell to the tenants, and whether such effort has failed; and why the estate has not been offered for sale to the tenants?

I understand that Mr. Fay was adjudicated a bankrupt in 1886. He had a life interest in certain lands in Meath, and as there was a difficulty in effecting a sale, the official assignees collected and distributed the rents. The assignees have expressed their willingness to concur in a sale if their interest is provided for, but they have not been able to accept the offers hitherto made by the bankrupt and remainderman for that interest.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the agricultural tenants on the Blake-Foster estate, Kinvarra, have signed agreements to purchase their holdings, that a portion of the town of Kinvarra is built on the estate, and that the town tenants have requested the Estates Commissioners to include the town in the sale; and whether, having regard to the feeling which exists amongst the townspeople in regard to the purchase of their houses, the Estates Commissioners will take steps to include the town portion of the property in the sale?

This estate is not pending for sale before the Estates Commissioners, who do not appear to have received the communication referred to.

asked the Chief Secretary with reference to the second assistant teacher in school roll No. 15,622, circuit 11a, formerly assistant in school roll No. 739, circuit 12a, whether he will state the annual average income of this teacher from all sources under the Board of National Education during the three years preceding the adoption of the revised scale of payment in 1901; the portion of that income, if any, made up of capitation or other allowance special to him as senior assistant; his income for the same period in the same school had he been second assistant with the same service; the amount of his salary for the same triennial period had the revised scale been in force during the period of his service in school roll No. 739; the portion of the sum mentioned which, under the revised scheme, was withheld till the end of the financial year under the name of capitation allowance; whether the operation of the revised scale of payment has resulted in this teacher being deprived of an integral portion of his income under the results system; whether he is aware that his service under the results system gave him considerably less advantage than if given under the scheme adopted in 1901; that he has been thus doubly penalised; and whether he will advise the Board to remedy this treatment by the payment to this teacher of the sums withheld since the date of his appointment to school roll No. 15,622.

I am informed by the Commissioners of National Education that Patrick McDonnell was assistant in Harolds Cross national school, Dublin, from 8th November, 1893, to 31st August, 1901. He has been assistant in Chapelizod Boys' national school since 25th April, 1904. The revised system of payments to national teachers was introduced on 1st April, 1900. Mr. McDonnell's average income from all State sources for the three years ended 31st March, 1900, was £72 16s. 6d. Part of this was a special bonus of £9. His income as second assistant would have been the same. The amount of his salary for the same period on the supposition that the revised scale had been in force prior to 1900 cannot be estimated as the revised scale was not in force. Eight pounds fifteen shillings out of a total consolidated salary of £73 awarded to him in 1900 was withheld till the end of the financial year and paid as capitation. The Commissioners are not aware that he has been deprived of an integral portion of his income under the results system, nor are they aware that he has been in any way penalised. This teacher has been paid fully in accordance with the regulations in his present school, but as this school is much smaller than his former school, his capitation payment is diminished. He has, however, a total income of £79 per annum from the Commissioners at present.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received detailed evidence that thirteen statements furnished to him by the secretaries to the Board of National Education during the Sessions of 1908 and 1909 were in essentials at variance with fact; and whether any measures have been taken to ensure in future the accuracy of official information furnished to him by the secretaries to the Board for use in reply to questions in this House?

I have received a statement to the effect mentioned in the question. The Commissioners of National Education have no reason to believe that any of the official information furnished from their office in relation to Parliamentary questions has been at variance with fact.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have finally abandoned proceedings under the Evicted Tenants Act for the acquisition of the farms of Kilbreedy and Aghaboe, on the Stubber estate, Queen's County; and will they reconsider the proposal to substitute other and inferior lands in lieu of those two farms, seeing that the tenant evicted from Aghaboe in 1884 is still living and claims reinstatement, and that the farm of Kilbreedy, being in the centre of a congested area, is particularly suited to the enlargement of the small holdings in the neighbourhood?

The owner having offered alternative lands under Section 8 of the Evicted Tenants Act, the Estates Commissioners decided to discontinue proceedings under that Act for the acquisition of the lands mentioned in the question. They do not propose to reconsider their decision.

asked whether there is any regulation requiring the inspectors of the Land Commission or Estates Commissioners to operate in districts removed from their homes and personal friends; in how many cases have such inspectors been allowed to work in localities whilst residing in their own homes; and is it intended to continue a system causing transactions or delays which can be avoided by sending those men to work in districts where they are not up against personal friends daily?

The Estates Commissioners exercise their discretion in regard to the allocation of districts to inspectors, but as a general practice inspectors are not sent to districts in which they reside. In some cases, however, it is necessary to depart from that practice, but the Commissioners cannot say in how many instances this has been done, as the number of inspectors working in any particular district or county varies according as estates situate in such districts or counties come up in order of priority for inspection.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the action of the Stourbridge Urban District Council in advertising an order, dated 16th February, 1910, declaring certain provisions of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907, to be in force in the urban district of Stourbridge, in a newspaper printed and published in another town, and without the circulation in the district possessed by a newspaper printed and published in Stourbridge; and, seeing that it is the duty of the local authority, in issuing such orders, to bring them to the notice of the ratepayers in the district affected in the most effective manner, whether he proposes to take any steps in this and similar cases, with the object of reminding local authorities of the necessity of securing the greatest possible publicity for their orders, in the interests of the persons whom they affect?

My attention was called to this matter. The Order referred to is required to be published by advertising it once at least in one or more of the newspapers circulating in the district, and this, I understand, was done. I do not think it necessary to take any further steps in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the number of boys and girls respectively who were committed to certified industrial schools between 1st April, 1907, and 1st April, 1908, between 1st April, 1908, and 1st April, 1909, and between 1st April, 1909, and 1st April, 1910?

The numbers are as follows:— ENGLAND AND WALES. Boys. Girls. 1907–8 2,189 … 588 1908–9 2,046 … 571 1909–10 2,052 … 605 SCOTLAND. Boys. Girls. 1907–8 706 … 259 1908–9 649 … 249 1909–10 526 … 237

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has received a petition praying for the release of Mrs. Hannah Smith from Broadmoor Asylum; whether he can state when he last received a medical report concerning the mental and physical condition of Mrs. Smith; whether that report is such as to warrant her removal from Broadmoor Asylum and her restoration to her friends; (2) if his attention has been called to the case of Hannah Smith, wife of Thomas Smith, who on 30th July, 1894, was convicted of the murder of her child at Thornton-in-Craven; that it was deposed at the trial that, in the opinion of the medical superintendent of the Wakefield Asylum, Mrs. Smith was suffering at the time of the murder from homicidal frenzy as the result of puerperal insanity, and that Mr. Justice Grantham remarked that everyone must sympathise with the prisoner, and hope that after a time her mind would recover its balance, and that eventually she would be in such a state that she could return to her friends; and, seeing that Mrs. Smith is still confined in Broadmoor Asylum during His Majesty's pleasure, whether her case will now receive consideration?

I have received an application in the case of Mrs. Hannah Smith, and I am fully aware of the circumstances which led to her being found insane and sent to Broadmoor Lunatic Asylum. The case has from time to time received careful consideration from my predecessors, but her condition has hitherto been such that she could not safely be discharged, and even the last annual report received—that for the year ended 30th April last—was unfavourable. Since then, however, there has been a noticeable improvement in her condition, and if this continues for a few months, and her friends are able to make provision for her being properly cared for at home, I hope to be able to consider favourably an application for her conditional discharge.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the firm of Mitchell and Muil, bakers, Aberdeen, holders of a Royal Warrant, purveyors to His Majesty, have issued a notice to their workpeople that any of them spending their earnings with the co-operative society, and not patronising private traders, their services will be no longer required; whether he is aware that the firm in question do not conform to the agreement between the Operative Bakers' Union and the Employers' Association with regard to conditions of labour, and that, therefore, the shop is not a fair one; and whether, in view of these circumstances, he will make representations in the proper quarter for the removal of the Royal Warrant?

I have no information as to the circumstances set out in the question, and I have no jurisdiction in the matter of the Royal Warrants which are granted from the Lord Steward's Department. If, however, such a notice as is described in the question has in fact been issued, it would appear to be an infringement of Section 6 of the Truck Act, 1887, and should be brought to the notice of His Majesty's Inspector of Factories.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any decision has been arrived at regarding the system of lighting in the interior of the Hull post office; and, if not, whether, in view of the possibilities of injurious effects to the eyesight of the staff and the general dissatisfaction which has been expressed with the present system, he will give the matter his early consideration?

An alteration in the lighting arrangements at the Hull Post Office with a view to protecting the eyesight of the staff has already been sanctioned, and I have given instructions that no time is to be lost in carrying it out.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state when the Towyn Church School first became a public elementary school; whether that school is governed by any trust deeds, and, if so, what provisions do they contain with regard to denominational religious instruction, and ascertaining the wishes of the parents in that respect; whether any education endowment is connected with this school, and, if so, what is the amount of its annual income; and how has it been dealt with under the Education Act, 1902?

The Towyn Church School appears to have been placed on the list of public elementary schools earning annual Grant in the year 1874. The school appears in part to be governed by a deed of 9th January, 1861, and in part to be affected by the trusts of a free school supposed to have been established in or about the year 1717 by Vincent Corbett. The deed of 1861 declares it to be a fundamental regulation that the Bible be read daily in the school and the Catechism of the Church of England be taught to all children educated free under Lady Moyer's endowment and to any other children whose parents do not object, and that the

Description of Fish. Exports Or Fresh Fish of British taking. To Germany. To Netherlands. To Belgium. To France. To other Countries. Total. Quantity. Herrings cwts. 708,113 19,631 25,844 831 5,101 759,520 Salmon cwts. 662 268 2,014 6,292 140 9,376 Cod cwts. 3,612 5,274 14,895 4 670 24,455 Mackerel cwts. 346 46 2,495 6,515 531 9,933 Haddocks cwts. 7,042 599 15,896 22 72 23,631 Shell Fish (all sorts) cwts. 596 320 8,580 5,960 644 16,100 Other sorts cwts. 30,865 12,570 59,073 15,136 4,470 122,114 Total … 751,236 38,708 128,797 34,760 11,628 965,129 Value. £ £ £ £ £ £ Herrings … 287,503 10,348 13,069 540 3,096 314,556 Salmon … 6,556 2,303 14,559 55,358 1,231 80,007 Cod … 4,107 2,740 14,652 10 653 22,162 Mackerel … 211 42 3,022 9,487 556 13,318 Haddocks … 7,554 569 19,708 33 109 27,973 Shell Fish (all sorts) … 1,953 1,262 27,050 12,669 842 43,776 Other sorts … 39,969 10,402 79,555 28,672 8,090 166,688 Total … 347,853 27,666 171,615 106,769 14,577 668,480

vicar shall be superintendent of the moral and religious instruction of such of the children as shall be educated in the principles of the Church of England. The school appears to be in receipt of £4 per annum from Corbett's Charity, eleven guineas per annum from Lady Moyer's Gift, and £9 4s. 6d. from Lewis Lloyd's Charity. No action has been taken under the Education Act, 1902, with regard to these endowments, which do not appear to be subject to the operation of the proviso to Section 13 of that Act. A scheme has been prepared with regard to the last-mentioned charity under the Welsh Intermediate Education Act, 1889.

asked the quantity and value of fresh fish caught by British fishing boats during the year 1909 and exported abroad, the names of the various countries to which the fish was exported, the quantity sent to each, and the amount of duty levied in each country on fresh fish?

The following statement shows the total quantity and value of the various descriptions of fresh fish of British taking, exported in 1909, and the quantity and value exported to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France:—

The following statement shows the rates of duty leviable on fresh fish on importation into the four countries named:—

Countries. Tariff Classification. Tariff Rates of Duty. English Equivalents. Mks. pfg. £ s. d. Germany … Carp, not living 100 kilogs. 10.00 Cwt. 0 5 0 Other fresh fish Free. Free. Marine molluscs, living or merely boiled or salted, also with the shell removed: Oysters 100 kilogs.(gross) 65.00 Cwt.(gross) 1 12 6 Other Free. Free. Sea turtle, living or dead 100 kilogs. 100.00 (gross) Cwt.(gross) 2 10 0 Marine crustaceans, living or not, shelled or not: Lobsters and crayfish (gross) 65.00 (gross) 1 12 6 Other (gross) 24.00 24.00 (gross) 0 12 0 Fresh water crustaceans: Living or merely boiled Free. Free. Shelled (crab flesh) 100 kilogs. 60.00 60.00 Cwt. 1 10 0 Holland … Fresh fish Free. Free. Belgium … Fresh fish of all kinds Free. Free. France Fresh water fish, fresh: Salmonoid family: Frs. cts. Trout … … … … 100 kilogs. 25.00 Cwt. 0 10 2 Other 100 kilogs. 10.00 Cwt. 0 4 0¾ Other kinds: (gross) (gross) Pike, carp, tench and eels (gross) 8.00 8.00 (gross) 0 3 3 Other (gross) 5.00 (gross) 0 2 0½ 0 2 0½ Salt water fish, fresh … … (gross) 20.00 (gross) 0 8 1½ 0 8 1½ Oysters, fresh: Seed Free. Free. Other Thousand. 1.50 Thousand. 0 1 2½ Lobsters and crayfish, fresh 100 kilogs. 15.00 Cwt. 0 6 1¼ Mussels and other shell fish … Free. Free.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated value of the exports in cotton piece goods, yarns, and other cotton manufactures, of the following countries for the following years, for the United Kingdom, Germany, France, United States, Holland, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Japan, Austria-Hungary, Straits Settlements, and India, for the years 1895, 1906, 1907, 1908; and what is the estimated consumption in these same goods in these same countries?

The following Statements show the value of cotton yarns, cotton piece goods, and other cotton manufactures exported from each of the undermentioned countries to all destinations in the years 1895, 1906, 1907 and 1908 respectively, so far as the information is available. As there is some difference of practice with regard to the classification of sewing thread in different countries, sepa- rate particulars with regard to the exports have been given below where possible:—

UNITED STATES. Calendar Years. Value of the Exports of Cotton Goods (Domestic Produce) to all Destinations. Yarns. Piece Goods. Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts. £ £ £ 1895. ‡ 2,104,000* ‡ 815,000 1906. 82,000 6,726,000* ‡ 1,705,000 1907. 61,000 3,104,000† ‡ 1,781,000 1908. 110,000 3,522,000† ‡ 1,433,000 NOTE.—In converting United States currency into £'s sterling, the dollar has been taken as equivalent to 4s. 2d. * Described as "Cotton cloths, uncoloured and coloured.' †Described as "Cotton cloths, unbleached, bleached, dyed, coloured or printed." ‡Cannot be given.

UNITED KINGDOM. Calendar Years. Value of the Exports of Cotton Goods (Domestic Produce) to all Destinations. Yarns. Piece Goods. Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts. £ £ £ £ 1895. 9,291,000 46,759,000 3,161,000 4,535,000* 1906. 11,836,000 75,372,000 4,026,000 8,345,000* 1907. 15,417,000 81,049,000 4,944,000 9,026,000* 1908. 12,845,000 70,231,000 4,342,000 7,637,000* * Includes "waste from worked cotton of every description." The value of this item in 1908 (the first year for which these particulars became available) was £861,000.

GERMANY. Calendar Years. Value of the Exports of Cotton Goods (Domestic Produce) to all Destinations. Yarns. Piece Goods. Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts. £ £ £ £ 1895. 524,000 3,522,000 312,000* 5,510,000 1906. 1,076,000 8,421,000 501,000* 9,354,000 1907. 1,189,000 8,304,000 668,000* 12,725,000 1908. 1,149,000 6.468,000 646,000* 10,575,000 NOTE.—In converting the German currency into £'s sterling, the "Mark" has been taken as equivalent to 11.8d. * Described as "Cotton Twist put up for retail sale oil wooden bobbins, on spools, or in balls, skeins, etc.," and probably includes some yarns intended for other than sewing purposes.

FRANCE. Calendar Years. Value of the Exports of Cotton Goods (Domestic Produce) to all Destinations. Yarns. Piece Goods Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts. £ £ £ 1895. 103,000 2,682,000 * 2,048,000 1906. 753,000 5,331,000 * 5,632,000 1907. 755,000 8,501,000 * 5,568,000 1908. 388,000 6,844,000 * 4,382,000 NOTE.—In converting French currency into £'s sterling, the franc has been taken as equivalent to 9.6d. * Exports of cotton thread for sewing, if any, are not separately distinguished in the French Official Trade Accounts.

SWITZERLAND. Calendar Years. Value of the Exports of Cotton Goods (Domestic Produce) to all Destinations. Yarns. Piece Goods. Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts. £ £ £ £ 1895. 713,000 1,465,000 14,000* 2,951,000 1906. 654,000 1,654,000 25,000* 5,997,000 1907. 644,000 1,558 000 28,000* 7,402,000 1908. 480,000 1,426,000 34,000* 6,035,000 NOTE.—In converting the Swiss currency into £'s sterling, the franc has been taken as equivalent to 9.61. *Described as "yarns put tip for retail sale."

BRITISH INDIA. Years beginning 1st April. Value of the Exports of Cotton Goods (Domestic Produce) by land and sea to all Destinations. Twist and Yarn. Piece Goods. Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts. £ £ £ £ 1895. 4,539,000 1,284,000 4,000 72,000 1906. 7,140,000 1,454,000 8,000 70,000 1907. 6,209,000 1,443,000 8,000 96,000 1908. 6,663,000 1,460,000 8,000 94,000 NOTE.—Conversions into £'s sterling have been made at the rate of 1s. 4d. per rupee in all years.

JAPAN (EXCLUDING FORMOSA). Calendar Years. Value of the Exports of Cotton Goods (Domestic Produce) to all Destinations. Yarns. Piece Goods. Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts. £ £ £ £ 1895. 108,000 412,000† * ‡ 1906. 3,604,000 1,302,000 * 610,000 1907. 3,126,000 1,481,000 13,000 854,000 1908. 2,133,000 1,335,000 10,000 656,000 NOTE.—In converting the Japanese currency into £'s sterling the average value of the yen in 1895 has been taken as 2s. 1[...]d., and in 1906–7–8 at 2s.0½d. (the par value). * Exports of Cotton Thread for sewing, if any, were not separately distinguished in the Japanese Official Trade Accounts in these years. † Cotton tissues of all kinds. ‡ Cannot be separately stated; included with "Piece Goods."

ITALY. Calendar Years. Value of the Exports of Cotton Goods (Domestic Produce) to all Destinations. Yarns. Piece Goods. Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts. £ £ £ £ 1895. 86,000 678,000 3,000* 137,000 1906. 962,000 3,983,000 24,000* 321,000 1907. 891,000 4,313,000 19,000* 326,000 1908. 623,000 3,397,000 19,000* 262,000 NOTE.—In converting the Italian currency into £'s sterling, the lira has been taken as equivalent to 9.6d. * Described as sewing thread put up for retail sale.

RUSSIA (EXCLUDING FINLAND). Calendar Years. Value of the Exports of Cotton Goods (Domestic Produce) to all Destinations. Yarns. Piece Goods. Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts. £ £ 1895. 1,000 906 000 * * 1906. 20,000 2,620,000 * * 1907. 17,000 2,267,000 * * 1908. † 2,162,000 * * NOTE.—In converting the Russian currency into £'s sterling, the "credit rouble" has been taken as equivalent to 2s. in 1895, and the "rouble" (one-fifteenth of Imperial) in 1906–7–8 as equivalent to 2s. 1½d. * Exports of Cotton thread for sewing, etc., if any, are not separately distinguished in the Russian Official Trade Accounts. † No information.

SPAIN. Calendar Years. Value of the Exports of Cotton Goods (Domestic Produce) to all Destinations. Yarns. Piece Goods. Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts. £ £ £ 1895. 130,000 1,505,000 * 230,000 1906. 67,000 1,204,000 * 479,000 1907. 58,000 1,441,000 * 785,000 1908. 54,000 1,637,000 * 501,000 NOTE.—In converting the Spanish Currency into £'s sterling, the peseta has been taken as equivalent to 9.6d. * Exports of Cotton Thread for sewing, if any, are not separately distinguished in the Spanish Official Trade Accounts.

BELGIUM. Calendar Years. Value of the Exports of Cotton Goods (Domestic Produce) to all Destinations. Yarns. Piece Goods. Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts. £ £ £ £ 1895. 133,000 1,008,000 2,000* 94,000 1906. 267,000 489,000 25,000* 1,737,000 1907. 376,000 560,000 30,000* 1,823,000 1908. 336,000 579,000 16,000* 1,626,000 NOTE.—In converting the Belgian currency into £'s sterling, the franc has been taken as equivalent to 9.6d. * Described as "Cotton yarns—measuring 65,000 metres per ½ kilog.—put up for retail sale."

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY (EXCLUDING BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA). (Separate particulars for Austria alone cannot be given). Calendar Years. Value of the Exports of Cotton Goods (Domestic Produce) to all Destinations. Yarns. Piece Goods. Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts. £ £ £ £ 1895. 71,000 449,000 22,000* 47,000 1906. 383,000 2,097,000 119,000* 210,000 1907. 542,000 2,461,000 122,000* 271,000 1908. 380,000 1,438,000 76,000* 206,000 NOTE.—In converting the Austro-Hungarian currency into £'s sterling the value of the "florin" in 1895 has been taken as 1s 8d., and the value of the "crown" in 1906–7–8 as 10d. * Described as "yarns put up for retail sale."

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. Calendar Years. Value of the Total Exports of Cotton Goods to all Destinations(exclusive of inter-settlement trade). Yarns. Piece Goods. Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts. £ £ £ £ 1895. 174,000 762,000 16,000 127,000 1906. 274.000 1,258,000 17,000 392,000 1907. 226,000 1,294,000 17,000 352,000 1908. 196,000 1,020,000 17,000 322,000 NOTE.—Conversions into £'s sterling have been made at the rate of 2s 1½d. per dollar in 1895, and 2s. 4d. per dollar in 1906, 1907, and 1908.

NETHERLANDS (HOLLAND). Calendar Years. Value of the Exports of Cotton Goods (Domestic Produce) to all Destinations. Yarns. Piece Goods. Other Manufactures. Thread for Sewing. Other Sorts‡ £ £ £ 1895. 1,247,000† 2,239,000† * 700† 1906. 431,000† 4,348,000† * 300† 1907. 919,000† 4,384,000† * 1,000† 1908. 714,000† 4,448,000† * 600† NOTE.—In converting the Netherlands currency into £'s sterling, the gulden has been taken as equivalent to 1s. 8d. * Exports of Cotton thread for sewing, if any, are not separately distinguished in the Netherlands Official Trade Accounts. † The values assigned by the Netherlands Customs Authorities to the various descriptions of Cotton Yarns and manufactures, were fixed many years ago and have been unchanged throughout the period 1895–1908. The particulars given, therefore, bear little relation to the actual values prevailing in the respective years. ‡Particulars incomplete. (2) In the absence of reliable and detailed information as to the production of cotton manufactures in the several countries during the years specified, it is not possible to furnish any satisfactory estimates as to the relative consumption of cotton goods in those countries.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what amount is provided in the Italian Naval Estimates for this year in respect of battleships of the "Dreadnought" class; how many of such battleships are provided for; what is the amount allocated to each; and what are the dates by which it is estimated that such amounts will be expended?

The reply to the first part of the question is £1,020,725, and to the second part, four. The amount allocated to each is:— "Dante Alighieri" £567,151 "Conte di Cavour" £120,000 "Giulio Cesare" £182,251 "Leonardo da Vinci" £161,323 The financial year for the requirements of which these sums are voted ends on 30th June, 1911.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state whether consideration has yet been given to the petition presented to the Board on behalf of the hydraulic crane-drivers, chargemen of labourers, and the seamen on the steam lighter at Deptford Victualling Yard; and, if so, with what result?

The decisions on these petitions will be communicated with those affecting other petitions which have been received from dockyard and victualling yard employés.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any arrangement has been come to with the Corporations of Newcastle, Hull, and Grimsby with regard to the subsidising of the local dry docks for naval repairs; if so, what is the nature of the arrangement and the amount of the subsidy in each case; and whether a similar arrangement will be come to with Belfast?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of a resolution passed at a meeting of fish-curers, fishermen, and others held at Stornoway on 30th May, 1908, urging that His Majesty's Government should endeavour to effect an international agreement under which inshore waters, spawning banks, and other suitable areas for breeding purposes would be closed against beam and other trawling, will he state what action he proposes to take in the matter?

This is a question on which the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is not in a postion to add anything to what has been said as to the general policy of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to the effect that the United States of America are not prepared to concur in the establishment of the International Court of Appeal to deal with prize court cases established by the Hague Conference of 1907?

The hon. Member appears to be under a great misapprehension. The United States Government are not only prepared to concur in, but are most anxious to bring about the establishment of the International Prize Court at The Hague, and they took a prominent part in negotiating the Prize Court Convention, and were one of the first to sign it. A technical difficulty which has arisen since is now in a fair way to settlement.

asked whether it is improbable that the United States will ratify the Declaration of London in the form in which it has been signed?

There is, on the contrary, every reason to expect that the Declaration will be ratified by the United States.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the pay of a colour-sergeant in an Infantry regiment on being posted to the permanent staff of the Territorial Force is reduced from 3s. 6d. to 3s. per day, and that in addition he loses 6d. per diem which he received as company accountant; and whether, under these circumstances, he can see his way to adjust this grievance?

The question is under consideration.