asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange that in the design for the new coinage Wales shall be represented?

The matter is receiving consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether land held by trustees for purposes connected with buildings used for divine worship is being charged Land Tax with his sanction, in view of the exemptions granted in Acts of Parliament?

The land in question, if settled to charitable and pious uses prior to 1693, is exempt from the old Land Tax, made perpetual in 1798; but, if so settled after that date, it is chargeable under the Laws regulating the Land Tax.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can say whether, when the Estates Commissioners instituted proceedings to compulsorily acquire the untenanted lands of Cappananty and Cappanahane, in the county of Limerick, the landlord's objection was on the question of price, or on what other grounds; and whether it is their intention to take any further steps to purchase these lands for the purpose of relieving congestion in the district?

No petition as to price was lodged by the owner in this case, as before any offer was made he filed a series of objections, on the hearing of which it was decided that the lands could not be acquired compulsorily under the Evicted Tenants Act. As I stated in my reply to the hon. Member's question on 27th April last, the Estates Commissioners do not propose to institute proceedings for the compulsory acquisition of these lands under the Irish Land Act, 1909.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can say whether the Estates Commissioners have received from the secretary of the Coolcappa branch of the United Irish League a list of applicants for the untenanted lands of Mount Henry, Coolcappa, in the county of Limerick, the property of Miss Delmege; whether the Commissioners have yet purchased these lands; and, if not, can he say how the matter stands between them and the landlady; and will he say whether the Commissioners will consider the claims of those submitted to them in the list of applicants when the lands are purchased?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 19th April last to his question as to this estate. The Estates Commissioners have received the communication referred to, and it will be considered when the estate is being dealt with in order of priority.

asked why Bernard Smith, of Corless, Crossmaglen, county Armagh, who was granted an old age pension by the sub-committee on 13th January, 1910, had his pension of 5s. withdrawn on appeal by the Local Government Board on 16th April, 1910, while his age had been fully verified from the Census of 1851, giving his age then as eleven years?

The Local Government Board decided that Smith was not entitled to any pension on the ground that he had not yet attained the statutory age. In the Census of 1841 he was returned as six months old, and in the Census of 1851 as eleven years old. The Board accepted the earlier Census, as having been taken at a date nearer to the claimant's birth. In this instance it was, moreover, more precise, and, therefore, in all probability, more accurate. Smith will become qualified for a pension in December next.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will say upon what grounds the Local Government Board deprived Patrick M'Nally of the pension granted to him by the pension sub-committee of Armagh, he having been paid the pension for six months and his age having been verified to the satisfaction of the sub-committee?

The Local Government Board disallowed the claim of Patrick M'Nally, of Newtownhamilton, because he failed to produce satisfactory evidence that he had attained the statutory age.

asked the Chief Secretary if be can say whether the Estates Commissioners have come to any agreement with the landlord, Lane Joynt, for the purchase of the two evicted farms at Aughanish, in the county of Limerick, with the view to reinstating Mrs. Hayes and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, who were evicted from them over twenty years ago; and, if not, whether they could see their way to put the compulsory provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act into force in these cases?

Proceedings have been instituted by the owner for the sale of these and other lands to the Estates Commissioners under the Irish Land Act, 1903. A formal proposal to purchase is in course of preparation, but it will not be ready for some time, as special provision is being made therein as to the upkeep of embankments and works on the estate, and its protection against injury from floods. As the owner is voluntarily selling the lands the question of compulsory acquisition does not arise.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he was aware that on 9th November, 1907, the Board of National Education called on their inspectors to furnish a specially confidential reply to a specially confidential query as to premiums paid by teachers to managers for appointments in national schools, and that on no previous occasion had equal precautions been taken by the Board for the protection of their inspectors from disclosure and intimidation; that on 20th November a chief inspector attempted by the surprise and menace of certain questions to induce a senior inspector to divulge, in the presence of two other persons, the contents of his reply, and that the inspector on 23rd November reported this attempt to the head of the department; that shortly afterwards the chief inspector divulged and commented on to several persons what purported to be the contents of the reply, and also admittedly, without any justification, withheld the inspector's next increment of salary and secured his premature removal to a distant centre; and whether the Board will take effective measures to protect inspectors in future from official intimidation in the discharge of their duty?

The Commissioners of National Education issued a confidential circular to their inspectors on 9th November, 1907, but it was not of a specially confidential character, nor were any unusual precautions taken with regard to it. The Commissioners inform me as the result of inquiries made from the chief inspectors that there appears to be no foundation for the other allegations contained in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Earl of Leitrim has created two new tenancies at Cooladerry Mountain, parish of Clondavaddog, county Donegal, on 27th May, 1910; and, if so, what steps does he propose or direct the proper parties to take in the matter?

Neither the Congested Districts Board nor the Estates Commissioners have any knowledge of the matters referred to in the question. Section 16 (1) of the Irish Land Act, 1909, provides that no advance shall be made under the Land Purchase Acts in respect of the purchase of a holding if the tenancy was created after 15th September, 1909. I have no power to interfere in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether it was proposed at any time within the last three years to reinstate James Woods, of Cloughfin, Ballindrait, county Donegal, in part of the lands of Findrum, Convoy, county Donegal, from which he had been evicted; whether he was given to understand by officials of the Estates Commissioners that his application was being granted; and how does the case stand at present?

The Estates Commissioners have decided, after due inquiry, that they cannot reinstate James Woods in the holding at Findrum formerly occupied by him, but now in possession of a tenant purchaser. Woods' name has been noted for consideration in the allotment of any untenanted land which the Commissioners may acquire in the locality.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the lands on the Cleary Minors estate, at Athlacca, county Limerick, have yet been inspected and a price agreed upon; and, if so, when may the land be distributed among the deserving applicants in the district?

A preliminary inspection of these lands has been made. The formal proceedings for the sale of this estate under the Land Purchase Acts were only instituted in November last. The Estates Commissioners have not issued any proposal for the purchase of the lands, and at this stage of the proceedings they are unable to say when the lands will be distributed.

asked whether the untenanted lands on the Roche Kelly estate at Ballybricken, county Limerick, have yet been inspected and a price agreed to; and, if so, how soon may it be distributed among the deserving people in the district?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question of 28th February last, to which I have nothing to add.

asked whether the lands of Count de Salis, at Grange, county Limerick, have yet been divided; and, if not, how soon may they be expected to be placed in the hands of those it has been allotted to?

The proposal of the Estates Commissioners for the purchase of these lands has been accepted by the vendor. The estate will be dealt with in order of priority.

asked whether the estate of Lady Dyer, in the county of Limerick, has yet been inspected; whether the Commissioners have agreed to purchase the untenanted land on the estate; and will the Commissioners, when they are dealing with the matter, take the case of John Raleigh, of Kyle Bruff, county Limerick, into consideration, with a view to giving him back the sixteen acres of land on the bounds of his present holding which was taken from his father just prior to 1879, and which is since in the hands of the landlord, and now to be handed over to the Commissioners?

Purchase agreements in the case of this estate were lodged in January, 1906, and the owners have included 110 acres of untenanted land which they propose to sell to the Estates Commissioners. When the estate is being dealt with in order of priority the applications of John Raleigh and others for allotments of untenanted land will be duly considered.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can say upon what date Constable Treacy left Clonaslee, and where he is at present stationed; and whether he is engaged in ordinary police duties?

Constable Treacy left Clonaslee on 14th May and is at present stationed at Coolgreaney. He performs ordinary police duties.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners are negotiating at present with Miss Griffith to acquire the untenanted farm situated at Rathnavague, Dunkerin, Roscrea, county Tipperary, for distribution; and, if the lands are acquired by the Estates Commissioners, whether preference will be given to the applications of the representatives of the tenants who were evicted from the aforesaid lands?

The Estates Commissioners are in negotiation with the owner for the purchase of a portion of these lands. If they are acquired by the Commissioners the claims of the evicted tenants will receive full consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the number of under-graded teachers, that is, teachers who are not in the grade corresponding to their classification, in the service of the National Board on 31st December, 1909; and whether he can state the date on which the memorial on their behalf was considered by the Commissioners of National Education?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the gradation of teachers under the regulations which came into operation in 1900 is not identical with the classification which existed previously, and that there is no necessary connection between the two. On 31st December last there were 2,569 principal and 1,089 assistant teachers whose gradation under the existing rules was lower than their old classification. This does not, however, imply that such teachers were, either in rank or emoluments, in a worse position than they would have been under the system which prevailed prior to 1900. A memorial from certain teachers, whose gradation under the new rules did not correspond with their classification under the old, was received by the Board on 6th April, 1909, but the Commissioners did not deem it necessary to take any action upon it.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state what reply the Estates Commissioners can give to the application of Jeremiah Bowe, New Birmingham, Thurles, an evicted tenant who was reinstated, for a grant to enable him to build a dwelling-house and work his holding; whether he is aware that Bowe's house was allowed to become dilapidated during the time of his eviction; and that Bowe signed his agreement for reinstatement on the understanding that he would be allowed a free grant for building by the Estates Commissioners?

Jeremiah Bowe did not purchase his holding through the Estates Commissioners, but in the Land Judge's Court. The Commissioners have no power to expend money on improvements unless the property has been purchased through them in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Land Act, 1903. It is open to Bowe to apply to the Board of Works for a loan for building purposes under the Land Improvement Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a petition was lodged by James Geehan, Tullowmacjames, against the building of a labourer's cottage on his farm, and that, on the hearing of the petition, the county court judge allowed the petition subject to Geehan giving an alternative site; whether he is aware that the Local Government Board refused to allow the council to build the cottage; and whether, considering the circumstances, he will advise the Local Government Board to permit the district council to build the cottage on the alternative site?

The county court order made in this case set out that the site should be disallowed, and made no reference whatever to an alternative site. In these circumstances the Local Government Board could not legally grant the request of the Thurles Rural District Council to authorise the substitution of an alternative site.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state whether the final rules are yet published under the Land Act of 1909, in reference to Section 65 of that Act; and, if so, will he state when the same were published; and will he say whether applications to fix fair rents under that section can be brought before the county courts, and if the tenants who apply to the court are in every case called upon to prove their ownership or otherwise of the buildings and fences?

The Provisional Rule dated 16th December, 1909, made by the Land Commission under the Section referred to was sealed as a final Rule on 16th March, 1910, and published as a Statutory Rule on 1st April last. (Statutory Rules and Orders No. 307 of 1910.) The Rule does not provide for applications being made to the Civil Bill Courts. As regards the concluding portion of the question, the Sub-Commission Courts are governed by the Statutes and the judicial decisions interpreting the law as to the fixing of fair rents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the Report of Miss Martindale, the chief lady inspector in Ireland, in which she alleges that a medical officer of health refused to require the walls and ceiling of a workshop to be lime washed, although it was admitted that no cleaning of this kind has been done for nearly seven years, and stated that the workshop in question was no dirtier than his own consulting-room; will he state whose was the workshop, and who the medical officer referred to; and what action has been take in the matter by the Home Office?

I am aware of the case referred to in the question. It would not be in accordance with the usual practice in these matters to furnish the names of the occupier or the medical officer, and no useful purpose would, I think, be served by my doing so in the present case. The lime washing of workshops is not required to be done at fixed intervals, as in the case of factories, but the local authority have a discretion to require it when it is considered necessary for the health of the workers, and the Department can only intervene when there has been default on the part of the authority. The question of taking proceedings in this case in default of the local authority was carefully considered; but it was decided that the circumstances were not such as to make this course advisable.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state or agree to a Return stating the number of persons under the age of twenty-one who have been imprisoned by Metropolitan magistrates during each of the last three calendar years in default of paying fines?

I have not this information, and I fear I cannot obtain it. The ages of prisoners above sixteen are not given in the commitments or recorded at the courts, and the statements they make at the prison are frequently inaccurate, and could not be made available without enormous labour out of all proportion to the value of the Return.

asked what facilities have been given to the clerical staff of the Home Office for beginning and leaving off work at earlier hours during the summer months; and to what extent such earlier hours have been adopted?

Arrangements have been made in most of the departments and sub-departments of the Home Office by which the majority of the junior staff—second division clerks and boy clerks—work during the summer months from nine to four instead of from ten to five. It has been impossible to extend this arrangement to the higher clerical staff or to make it apply to every member of the lower—that could only be done if the earlier hours were universal outside as well as inside the Civil service—but the great majority of those who prefer the earlier hours are allowed them. In two of the sub-departments the clerks preferred to retain, and have retained, the old hours. The arrangements described were introduced last summer and have been in force this year since the beginning of April, and I am informed that they are working satisfactorily.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the report of the Coroners' Committee upon the use of anæsthetics and the decision of the Court of Appeal in Bellerby v. Heyworth, he will consider the advisability of at once introducing legislation to protect the interests of the public at the hands of unqualified medical and dental practitioners?

The recommendations of the coroners' committee are now under consideration, and I hope, when time permits, to propose legislation with regard to them. As regards the question of unqualified practitioners, I understand that, in reply to a circular issued at the instance of the Lord President by the Local Government Boards of England, Scotland, and Ireland, a large body of information has been collected from medical officers of health, which will, it is hoped, be published at no distant date as a Parliamentary Paper. When this information is available, the Government will be in a better position to consider what action is desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the stagnation of promotion amongst the officers of the West India Regiment, especially amongst the subalterns, consequent upon the strength of the regiment having been twice reduced in the last eight years; whether, under the existing conditions, many of the officers now serving will attain the age of forty-five years without promotion, and be superannuated on a pension; and whether, seeing that rapid promotion in this regiment used to be considered a just compensation for continuous service in hot and unhealthy climates, he proposes taking any measures for ameliorating the hardships caused by the entire stoppage of promotion, such as by basing promotion on length of service, as in the Indian Army, Royal Engineers, and Army Service Corps, or by giving special promotions to the seniors, and utilising their services elsewhere until required for duty with their own unit?

I am aware of the slowness of promotion among these subalterns, and every effort has been, and is being, made to mitigate hardships in individual cases. I must, however, point out that within the last three months two lieutenants have been given regimental and one extra regimental promotion and three second lieutenants have been promoted. As the organisation of this regiment is similar to that of any other regiment of Infantry of the Line there does not appear to be any sound ground for introducing an exceptional system of promotion into this regiment. There is no present intention of specially employing senior officers of the regiment extra regimentally.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state on how many occasions during the training at Burghead of the Gordon Highland Infantry Brigade Territorial Force between 18th June and 2nd July, 1910, were the officers of the Territorial Force ordered to do written essays on tactics, on occasions when they might have been training the units under their command assembled in camp for that purpose; whether tactical essays and staff rides on paper can be more suitably performed during winter than when men are assembled in camp; and, if that is so, can he explain why public money should be expended in obtaining a manœuvring area and transporting a brigade over eighty miles if full advantage is not to be taken of such expenditure?

It appears on inquiry that the officers concerned did not write essays during the training. Before the field days, in the early morning, while the Men were being trained in elementary work under the adjutant and permanent staff, the officers were taught by the brigadier how to appreciate the situation that would arise, how to decide on their action and write their orders, so that, having thought out the reasons for their action, they might later in the day properly instruct their men. This work is closely connected with the practical side of their training.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received information as to the arrest of the British trawler "Onward" by the Russian transport "Bakau" for fishing in territorial waters off the Kanin Peninsula; and if he can state the sea limits within which the Russian Government claim exclusive territorial jurisdiction along their coast, and the distance from shore the "Onward" was fishing when arrested?

I have been informed of the arrest by the Russian authorities of the British trawler in question. The limit within which the Russian Govern- ment claim for ordinary purposes exclusive territorial jurisdiction along their coasts is three nautical miles. I am making telegraphic inquiries of His Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg as to the circumstances of the arrest, and have instructed His Excellency to take such steps as they may warrant. According to a telegram from the master of the vessel the capture took place outside territorial limits.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what was the average daily number of prisoners in Bengal and in Eastern Bengal and Assam during the years 1904 to 1909, and the gaol mortality per thousand, and number of gaol floggings in each Province during the same period?

The statistics are as follows:— Gaol statistics, Bengal and Eastern Bengal and Assam. Year. Daily Average. Death-rate per 1,000. Gaol Floggings. Bengal. Eastern Bengal and Assam. Bengal. Eastern Bengal and Assam. Bengal. Eastern Bengal and Assam. 1904 14,797.02 6,895 19.5 21.90 182 82 1905 14,934.39 7,139 25.3 31.09 145 66 1906 15,774.39 7,727 23.7 27.95 113 58 1907 15,274.83 8,099 17.5 28.40 83 52 1908 16,852.84 7,766 31.1 31.29 116 45 1909 17,108.20 7,893 24.5 28.63 122 43

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he can say what facilities have been given to the clerical staff of the Local Government Board for beginning and leaving off work at earlier hours during the summer months; and to what extent such earlier hours have been adopted?

An arrangement was made experimentally last summer in order to afford facilities to the clerical staff who desired to attend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.. instead of from 10 to 5, and the experiment has been repeated this year. At present about 23 per cent. of the clerical staff are availing themselves of these facilities.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the inspectors of weights and measures are entitled to demand a tradesman to take his weights and scales to be tested to the inspector's premises; or whether it is the duty of the inspector to come and test the weights and scales at the tradesman's premises?

Section 44 of the Weights and Measures Act, 1878, contemplates that weights and measures shall be brought for verification and stamping to the place fixed by the local authority. In the case of the inspection of weights and measures already verified and stamped, there is no obligation on a tradesman to take his weights and measures to the inspector's premises.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is proposed to dismiss a number of call wire operators from the Cardiff telephone staff in consequence of a reduction in the number of call wires; and whether, in view of the qualifications for postal and telegraphic work these girls are known to possess, he will endeavour to provide suitable employment for them in the Cardiff post office?

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative. A reduction in the number of telephonists for call wire working was recently found necessary at Cardiff; but the officers displaced, who are known to possess qualifications for postal and telegraphic work will be provided for on suitable duties in the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state what steps have been taken to improve the postal arrangements in Ballingarry, Thurles, county Tipperary, with a view to give an earlier delivery of letters in the town and surrounding districts?

I regret that I am still not in a position to say what arrangements can be made respecting the postal service at Ballingarry, but I have given special instructions that the inquiries with regard to the considerable changes that have been proposed are to be completed as soon as possible. I will com- municate with the hon. Member as soon as I receive the Reports.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state what action will be taken in reference to a memorial forwarded to him by the people of Gortnahoe and the surrounding districts in reference to improving the postal facilities of the district by forwarding the mid-day mails by car from Thurles immediately after the arrival of the morning mail from Dublin; and whether the proposed arrangement will improve the postal facilities of a large district from Thurles to Freshford, including the towns and villages of Twomileborris, Gortnahoe, Urlingford, Johnstown, Clomanto, and Freshford?

I find that a memorial from the inhabitants of Gortnahoe and the surrounding district upon this subject was answered by the Secretary of the Post Office in Dublin in February last. I am, however, having further inquiry made, and I will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he will arrange for a visit to Argentina by a competent authority on cattle disease with a view to securing a report on the subject and to determining whether anything can be done to modify the present regulations affecting the importation of cattle from that country?

The Board have received a full official report of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Argentina, and it is now under consideration. No further report appears to be necessary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he has now made inquiries into the case of 3,236 bags of potatoes described as special Dunbars, grown in Holland, which were put on the London market early in June, 1910; and if the Board of Agriculture is prepared to take steps to prevent such proceedings in future?

The Board have not yet completed their inquiries in this matter and they are not therefore in a position as yet to express an opinion respecting it.