asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the creation of a Colonial Board in Japan to superintend affairs in Korea, Formosa, and the Japanese part of Saghalien; whether His Majesty's Government infers from this, or has reason to believe from other information, that the formal annexation of Korea by Japan is contemplated; and whether, in such event, His Majesty's Government will take steps to safeguard the commercial rights of British merchants in Korea secured by existing treaties between Great Britain and that country?

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative. In the event of the annexation of Korea by Japan being decided upon His Majesty's Government would carefully consider the best means of safeguarding their commercial interests in the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the facts that the Russian troops in Northern Persia are now distributed over a number of stations; that they are in many places quartered on the inhabitants; and that bitter complaints are made by the inhabitants of the conduct of the troops; whether he can give a list of the places where Russian troops are now stationed; and whether he is now in a position to state approximately when the Russian troops will be withdrawn from Persia?

As regards the first three points in the hon. Member's question, I have received no information of the kind. As regards the fourth point, so far as I am aware there are Russian troops at only three places in Persia: Tabriz, Kazvin, and Ardebil. As regards the fifth and last point, I have nothing to add to the reply returned to the hon. Member for Brighton on 27th June on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the new Japanese tariff, which comes into operation on 1st July, 1911, will exclude British goods now exported to Japan to the estimated amount of nearly £1,000,000 annually; and if he will state, in view of the official announcement of the Foreign Secretary of Japan that as Great Britain has what is called a Free Trade policy there is no room for a convention with this country, the methods by which he proposes to protect British trade interests in Japanese markets?

I cannot admit the figures quoted by the hon. Member, and I would also point out that the new tariff comes into operation on 17th July, and not on 1st July as stated in the question. I have nothing to add to the replies returned to the hon. Member for Maidstone and other Gentlemen yesterday on this subject.

Is it not a fact that nothing can be done except to politely ask them to lower the duties?

The hon. Member is a little previous in his anticipations. It would be better to wait until the negotiations with certain other Powers are over. Then we shall be able to judge as to how the results obtained compare with the results obtained by other Powers.

Is there any reason to suppose they will be better than in the case of the French tariff?

The results obtained with regard to the French tariff compared very favourably with the results obtained by other Powers.

asked whether the British Government have declined to take part in the International Hygiene Exhibition, to be held at Dresden in 1911; and, if so, for what reason?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. His Majesty's Government considered that it would not be practicable to arrange an official exhibit, owing to the reluctance of manufacturers in this country to incur the heavy expenditure involved in frequent participation in large international exhibitions, and in view of the other engagements entered into by His Majesty's Government in respect of other exhibitions to be held during this year and next.

asked whether there is any intention of raising a fresh Egyptian loan?

I have no information to show that the Egyptian Government intends at present to raise a fresh loan.

asked whether it is intended to propose for the acceptance of the Government of Egypt another convention with regard to the Suez Canal concession?

I am not aware whether the Suez Canal Company intend to propose a fresh arrangement with the Egyptian Government. Such a step would be one for the company, and not for His Majesty's Government to take.

asked if the British Government has on several occasions declared that vessels engaged in the slave trade are pirates and can be captured as such, irrespective of any treaties; and if this declaration would by the Brussels Act be limited to vessels of under 500 tons?

Whatever declarations may have been made by the British Government in the past, and I am not aware of any, the right of visit, search, and detention is limited to vessels of under 500 tons by the Brussels Act.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the slave trade has been declared by Act of Parliament to be piracy?

I was not aware of that point at the moment, and I do not say that it is not so. I was asked a specific question as to declarations made by the British Government. I do not say there have not been such declarations. I only said I was not aware of any.

Is it proposed to take any steps to increase the amount of tonnage?

The Amendment of the Brussels Act is under consideration at this moment, and, of course, if there is any reason to amend it in this respect that point will be considered.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now say what progress has been made in respect of the proper heating and cleansing of Irish national schools?

This matter is now the subject of discussion between the Irish Government and the Treasury.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that I got exactly the same answer from the Chief Secretary a long time ago?

The matter is being discussed between the Treasury and the Irish Government.

Is it proposed by the Government to postpone this till the autumn, when it will be too late to do anything for the coming winter?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the reasons that actuated the Government in their decision to enter a nolle prosequi in the case of the King against Richard J. Walsh, Kilmurry, and others at the Kerry Summer Assizes; and whether the Government intend in future to refuse to prosecute in all such cases of throwing boiling whitewash and tar by well-armed mobs over members of the Royal Irish Constabulary in the execution of their duty?

The men accused in this case were tried at the spring assizes on the main charge arising out of the resistance of the sheriff, and were acquitted. In these circumstances, and having regard to the improved state of the district, I considered that it would have been an overstraining of the matter to proceed to trial on the subsidiary charges.

In future is it intended not to prosecute in these cases?

There is, of course, an intention to prosecute where evidence is available.

Why was it not done in this case?

It was done.

The facts mentioned in the question were stated by the Chief Secretary, and, under the circumstances, why was the law not put in force and these people prosecuted?

The whole transaction was gone into, and as the main accusation was disposed of the minor matters also fell through.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that in the town of Dunamanagh, county Tyrone, the Protestants have for fifty years past erected arches on Orange anniversaries, that the Nationalists have never erected any on their anniversaries, that the town is owned by Protestants, except for the publican and the national schoolmaster; whether, seeing that there has never been any breach of the peace in connection with these arches during fifty years, he will explain why the Government, at the request of the Nationalists, drafted seventy police into the town to prevent these arches being put up this year; and why in all other parts of Ulster the usual practice has not been interfered with?

The Inspector-General informs me that in the village referred to the population is about half Protestant and half Catholic. I understand that for the past thirty years the former have erected arches on the occasion of Orange anniversaries. On 17th March last the Catholics proposed to erect arches, but the Orange party objected, and the Irish Government, in the interests of public peace, prevented the proposal being carried out. This course was also adopted for the same reason on 12th July last. The Irish Government acted with strict impartiality on both occasions.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that for fifty years there have been no disturbances in this particular locality in connection with these celebrations? Why does he anticipate any in 1910?

We had local reports to the effect that the action now being taken was likely to lead to a breach of the peace this year.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman cite a single instance in Ireland of any outrage worth talking about arising out of these celebrations? Why should he interfere with the custom of fifty years in this particular locality?

asked if Protestants in Kinsale, including the Protestant curate, have recently had their houses attacked by a Nationalist mob because they refused to join in a boycott of a family called Bradfield; and what action do the Government propose to take in the matter?

The police authorities inform me that there was a good deal of disorder in Kinsale between 15th and 25th June in connection with an evicted farm held by a man named Bradfield. The windows of the houses of some shopkeepers who supplied him were broken, and also the window in the house of the Protestant curate who had dealings with him. One of the party who broke the window in the latter house was summoned by the police, but the charge was dismissed at the Kinsale Petty Sessions. A force of twenty extra police was drafted into the town to preserve order. I understand that the boycotting and disorder have now ceased. The matter is being closely watched, and full protection will be afforded to any persons who may require it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this dispute has been amicably settled by the intervention of Catholic and Protestant gentlemen in the district?

asked a like question, and further inquired: Has this matter anything whatever to do with religion?

And will the right hon. Gentleman also answer that part of the question which suggests that Driscoll is of American nationality? Is it intended to give him a farm at the expense of the British taxpayer?

Those points are not mentioned in this question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my question whether this dispute has not been amicably settled? Has not the boycott now ceased?

I have already stated that the boycott has ceased.

Was this family boycotted because they would not give up the farm to Driscoll? Are the Estates Commissioners going to reinstate Driscoll, who is an American citizen?

Will the right hon. Gentleman suggest the advisability of a conference between Driscoll and the hon. Member for North Armagh?

He would come off second best if he tried on that.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of agrarian outrages under each of the headings, firing at the person and firing into dwellings, respectively, which were reported to the police in Ireland during the month of June last?

During the month of June last there were two agrarian cases of firing at the person and five of firing into dwellings.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will instruct the Fisheries Board not to open Dundrum Bay, county Down, for trawling, and not to increase the present existing hours for trammel-net fishing, in view of the damage any alteration would inflict on the line-fishing industry carried on at Ardglass, Killough, Dundrum, Newcastle, Annalong, Kilkeel, and other smaller villages round the bay, where, in the majority of instances, such line fishing is the people's main means of livelihood; whether he can say if an influentially-signed petition was received against any alteration; if so, what reply was made by the Fisheries Board; how many cases of illegal trawling and net fishing inside the Bay of Dundrum have been reported in the past five years; and how many prosecutions instituted and the amount of fines imposed?

I have no power to give any such instructions. The matters referred to were the subject of a statutory inquiry held yesterday, when, no doubt, the views of all concerned were heard. An appeal will lie to the Lord Lieutenant in Council against any by-law made as a result of the inquiry. A memorial against previous proposals of the Department was received and forwarded to the Lord Lieutenant in Council, and the memorialists were so informed. A large number of reports of illegal fishing in Dundrum Bay have been received, and the Department have instituted proceedings in twenty-three cases during the past five years, and fines amounting to £91 have been imposed.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state when the Return of Agricultural Prices for 1908–9 will be issued by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction; and whether he will endeavour to expedite it, in view of the fact that the Return for the previous year was presented to the Lord Lieutenant in December, 1908?

The Return in question was presented to Parliament on the 25th inst., and will be available to Members at an early date.

asked whether Michael Burke, of Ballyduggan, is boycotted; if so, for what reason; whether any persons in Loughrea have been warned not to supply him with anything under threats of having their place burnt; whether these threats have been put into execution; and whether any steps are being taken to bring the offenders to justice?

The police authorities inform me that Mr. Michael Burke is not boycotted. No person in Loughrea has been warned against supplying him with goods, but in January last a publican received a letter warning him not to supply Mr. Burke's employés with drink, or his house would be wrecked or burnt. On 7th February the publican's shop was discovered to be on fire, and for this injury he was awarded compensation at quarter sessions. Every effort has been made by the police to bring the offenders to justice.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman take steps to see that such letters written by the police warning a publican not to supply drink will be withdrawn in the interests of Dunville's Distillery, in Belfast?

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state upon what evidence the Local Government Board disallowed the old age pension of Martin M'Nicholas, of Cloontubret, Castlebar, county Mayo, which he had received without question for over twelve months; was any record of the pensioner's birth or age found in the Census Returns of 1841 or 1851; and, if no such record was found or could be found, how did the Local Government Board come to the decision, in face of the unanimous finding of the Castlebar (No. 1) subcommittee to the contrary, that M`Nicholas had not attained the statutory age?

The Local Government Board inform me that this man did not know the date of his birth, and the only evidence he produced was a certificate of his marriage in 1872. The Board had no option, therefore, but to disallow the pension.

On what evidence does the Local Government Board discontinue a pension granted regularly to a man twelve months before?

It is the duty of a claimant to prove his age to the satisfaction of the Local Government Board, and the decision of that body was that no evidence of a satisfactory character was forthcoming.

I ask upon what evidence a pension which was in existence for twelve months was discontinued?

The man was called upon to prove that he was seventy years of age, and he failed.

On what grounds do you call upon a man who has proved his case twelve months previously to prove his age again, he having proved it to the satisfaction of the regular tribunal of the time?

There is plenty of authority for reopening the question of age. That has been decided by the courts in Ireland.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the case of pensions an arrangement was come to between the Treasury and the old age pensions committee to have these questions decided by law and if need be taken to the House of Lords, and whether under these circumstances he will prevent the Local Government Board interfering with any of these pensions, pending a decision?

I think the suggestion of my hon. Friend is scarcely practicable, because it would involve the payment of a pension in the meantime pending the decision, which might be held contrary to law.

Was this one of the numerous class of Nationalists who refused to accept a shilling from the British Treasury?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state by whose instructions and by what authority the following have been deprived of their old age pensions through their books having been taken from them, namely, Margaret Rock-hill, Anastasia Green, Bridget Walsh, Margaret Day, Margaret Cunningham, and Catherine Delany, all in the pension district of Clonmel and station of Carrick-on-Suir?

The pension was stopped in each instance in pursuance of directions from the Board of Customs and Excise.

On what ground were the pensions stopped by the Local Government Board?

In all these cases, unless the pension had been stopped, it would have been obligatory to recover the amount which was paid, and it was better to prevent it being paid than to pay it and get it back afterwards. It was not thought fitting to give the pension and then get it back afterwards.

I asked on what ground was the pension stopped?

That is outside my province entirely. It was finally stopped on the authority of the Local Government Board.

To whom shall I apply for information? I put a question to the Chief Secretary, and he requested me to put it to the representative of the Treasury. Then I put it to the representative of the Treasury, and he is not able to give me the information.

I beg the hon. Member's pardon. I have answered the question. The pensions have been stopped by the authority of the Board of Customs and Excise.

What power have they to stop the pensions?

That is to be found in the Old Age Pensions Act and the Regulations made under it.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Castlerea sub-pension committee granted an old age pension of 5s. a week to Thomas Montgomery, of Corrastown, Ballintubber, that the pension officer lodged an appeal on the ground that the man was not the required age, and the Local Government Board refused the pension, notwithstanding the following circumstances: that, it being impossible to find evidence of age from the Census Returns of 1841 or 1851, applicant produced the baptismal certificate of his eldest child, showing that the child is now fifty years of age; produced his marriage certificate; and that the committee were fully satisfied that applicant was the required age; and, having regard to the fact that applicant has offspring fifty years of age, whether the Local Government Board will assume the age of seventy years established and grant the pension?

The hon. Member appears to be misinformed as to the evidence in this case. Montgomery's name could not be traced in the Census Returns, he produced no marriage certificate, and the baptismal certificate of his eldest child shows that she is now only forty-five years of age.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet come to any decision upon the appeals made on behalf of James Lavelle, of Ardoley, Westport, county Mayo, labourer and quarryman, whose residence adjoins the Ardoley farm, recently acquired by the Board; whether he is aware that Lavelle's principal means of livelihood have hitherto been acquired by labour in a quarry which belongs to this farm; and whether, having regard to the fact that through the operations of the Board he has been deprived of his means of living, and that he has an aged mother and young family depending entirely upon him, the Board will assign a portion of this farm to him as a purchasing tenant?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that, notwithstanding an injunction which has been obtained against him, Lavelle persists in trespassing upon a quarry on the farm referred to. The Board are prepared to allow him to work portion of the quarry, but they will not do so while the land near his house remains undisposed of.

asked whether the tenants of the Healy estate, Folkscourt, county Kilkenny, have agreed to purchase their holdings; whether it is the intention of the Estates Commissioners to exercise their influence with the representatives of the owner with a view to having the tenants of the village of Johnstown and Folkscourt included in the sale; and whether, in view of the fact that proceedings for the recovery of rent have been taken against some of the tenants of this village, the Chief Secretary will induce the Estates Commissioners to investigate those cases with a view of having a settlement arrived at?

The Estates Commissioners are unable to identify this estate as pending for sale before then.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. George M'Sweeney, who has been appointed by the present Government Crown Prosecutor for the city of Cork, Mr. Robert Donovan, who was appointed secretary to the University Commissioners and subsequently secretary to the National University, and the late Mr. Edward H. Ennis, who was appointed Under-Secretary for Ireland, were editorial writers for the "Freeman's Journal"; that Mr. J. G. M'Sweeney, who was appointed Local Government inspector, was editor of the "Weekly Freeman"; that Mr. M. M'D. Bodkin, who was appointed county court judge for Clare, was an editorial writer for the "Freeman"; that Mr. M. J. Cosgrove, who was appointed Local Government inspector, was a sub-editor in the employment of the "Freeman's Journal"; that the hon. Member for South Donegal, who has been appointed professor of law in the National University at a salary of £300 a year, chargeable on the Consolidated Fund, and the hon. Member for East Tyrone, who has been appointed professor of national economics in the National University, at a salary of £500 a year, chargeable on the Consolidated Fund, have also been editorial contributors to the "Freeman's Journal"; and whether, in view of the attitude adopted by the "Freeman's Journal" to the land settlement of 1903, he will explain why so large a portion of Government patronage has fallen to members of the "Freeman's" staff?

As to the appointment to a professorship in the National University that was no concern of the Irish Government. In the cases of the other gentlemen my right hon. Friend has no knowledge of their past connection (if any) with the journal referred to, and the fact, if it be a fact, that such connection at any time existed had no influence whatever upon their appointments.

May I ask if a vacancy now exists in the Chief Magistracy of Dublin, which is going to be given to a member of the "Freeman" staff; also whether the proposed revising barrister who is to be sent down to North Louth to revise my Constituency is a member of the "Freeman" staff?

With reference to the right hon. Gentleman's answer, can he name any newspaper in the three Kingdoms upon which such a shower of gold has ever fallen?

With regard to the first name of a gentleman appointed, was he appointed Crown Prosecutor with his consent; also was he aware chat Mr. M'Sweeney's connection with the "Freeman's Journal" before he appointed him?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer given in the name of the Chief Secretary. I said he was not aware that Mr. M'Sweeney, who was a friend of mine, was at one time a member of the "Freeman" staff. My predecessor appointed him.

I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman for an answer to my question whether the existing vacancy in the Chief Magistracy of Dublin is about to be given, in addition to all these extraordinary appointments, to another member of the "Freeman" staff, and will he have any objection also to state whether we can have a Select Committee of Inquiry into this extraordinary state of things—this attempt to corrupt public opinion in Ireland?

It is quite impossible for me at the present time, when the vacancy is still unfilled, to state what appointment will be made.

Can we have any assurance that the great City of Dublin is not going to be put under a journalist out of the "Freeman" office?

Is it competent for a person holding an honorary position on a county council to accept office under that council, and if that is so why is it that in the University College, Dublin, men holding honorary positions have been successful in getting into office?

I cannot see what that has to do with the matter.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman undertake that all future appointments shall be divided between the staff of the "Belfast News Letter" and the "Cork Free Press"?

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the fact that it is often more convenient for the wives of working men to attend classes in domestic economy in the daytime than in the evening when their husbands are at home, he will consider the advisability of urging the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction to make the fees paid for attendance at these classes in the daytime equal to those paid for attendance at night?

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. and gallant Member's question on this subject on the 21st instant.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman answer the first part of the question whether it is more convenient for the wives of working men to attend these classes in the daytime than in the evening?

I do not doubt in particular cases it would be.

asked what are the duties of the office to which Mr. Sydney Smith has been recently appointed by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction?

Mr. Smith's duties are to carry out the instructions of the Department of Agriculture in connection with the development in Great Britain of the trade in Irish Agricultural produce.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state what officials in the public services in Ireland are supplied with motor cars by their respective Departments; will he state whether these officials were paid travelling expenses before the introduction of motor cars; if so, whether he has any information at his disposal to show whether the provision of motor cars has effected a saving on the amount formerly paid for travelling expenses; and will he state whether these officials are allowed to use the motor cars supplied to them by the Department for private purposes?

Motor cars have been supplied for the official use of the superior officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary and of the Congested Districts Board. The Estates Commissioners and the Resident Commissioner of National Education also have authority to hire motor cars when necessary. All these officials were formerly paid travelling expenses, and the use of motor cars has tended to economy and efficiency. The Department of Agriculture have purchased a motor car, the upkeep of which is defrayed from the Department's Endowment Fund. There is no reason to believe that officials are allowed to use the cars for private purposes.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman supply me with a statement showing the comparative cost before and since the adoption of motor cars?

Are the Department liable for accidents to these cars? We have had one case already.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, in view of the fact that the occupying tenant in Ireland is liable for the rates on buildings, if he will instruct the occupying tenant of Baron House, Moydow, county Longford, or the Paymaster-General of the Constabulary in Ireland to pay the rates, as the extra constabulary occupy his mansion; and is he aware that the rate collector is bound to pay these rates, under Order No. 2 of the Local Government Board?

The Inspector-General informs me that the police occupy two rooms in Bawn House as a protection post. The police pay neither rent nor taxes, and have never been required by the landlord to do so.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the claim of the representatives of John Bennett, an evicted tenant; is he aware that this man was evicted from his farm of 353 acres on the estate of Smith-Barry at Darrarah, near Clonakilty, in the year 1886 for a sum of £327 10s., being a year and a third of a year's rent; that at their own request the Estates Commissioners were repeatedly furnished with all documents and particulars concerning this eviction, including the writ of summons out of which the eviction took place and a copy of the judicial order fixing a fair rent, which shows that the late John Bennett was a judicial tenant at the time of his eviction; that this farm was subsequently taken by a planter named Daniel O'Leary; that under his will it passed into the hands of the Bishop of Ross and Monsignor O'Leary as trustees or tenants; that the Estates Commissioners, on the 31st January, 1905, wrote to John Bennett, then alive, stating that his application for reinstatement had been duly received and recorded, and adding that, should the Commissioners acquire any untenanted lands in the neighbourhood of his former holding, his application for another farm in lieu of the one from which he had been evicted would be considered; that the Estates Commissioners, notwithstanding this, wrote on 4th November, 1909, to Mr. C. J. Harold stating that the reason that they decided to take no action on the claim of Mr. Bennett's daughters was that the application was not lodged within the time prescribed by the Evicted Tenants Act of 1907; that Mr. Bennett's farm of 343 acres has since been purchased, with the aid of public money, by the Bishop of Ross and Monsignor O'Leary; is this same evicted holding now used as an agricultural station by the Department of Agriculture; and seeing, from the Estates Commissioners' letter of 1905, that they regarded this claim as a bonâ fide one, will he now state the grounds on which it was rejected, and whether he has sanctioned a Department of the Irish Government being at this moment the tenants of an evicted farm?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that in 1904 John Bennett made application for reinstatement in the holding described in the question, which was then in the occupation of other tenants. The Commissioners understand that Bennett owed £577 at the time of his eviction. In January, 1905, the Commissioners wrote to him stating that his case would be considered in the event of their acquiring untenanted land in the neighbourhood. His application was subsequently inquired into, considered, and refused. An application on behalf of his daughters made after the date prescribed by the Evicted Tenants Act was also inquired into by the Estates Commissioners and refused. The lands in question are now held by the Bishop of Ross and Monsignor O'Leary, who appear to have acquired the tenant's interest under the will of Daniel O'Leary. They have agreed to purchase the lands under the Irish Land Act, 1903. I understand that the lands are now used as an agricultural station, and I see no reason why they should not be so used.

asked the Prime Minister whether, as the relations between the local education authorities and the Labour Exchanges cannot be settled satisfactorily by either the Board of Education or the Board of Trade alone, and still less by casual and haphazard arrangements made locally, he will take steps to ensure that this question, involving the care, direction, education, and control of boys and girls between the age when they leave school and the age of man and womanhood, shall be properly considered and settled by Parliament, and the limits of control to be exercised by the education authority on the one hand, and the trade authority on the other shall be constitutionally defined?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Special rules dealing with this matter have been made by the Board of Trade after consultation with the Board of Education, in pursuance of Regulation IX. of the Statutory Regulations for Labour Exchanges approved by Parliament under the Labour Exchanges Act, 1909. The Education (Choice of Employment) Bill recently introduced by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education proposes to confer certain powers on local education authorities in England and Wales with respect to this question. In Scotland the powers of such authorities have already been defined by the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908. I have no reason for thinking that the existing and proposed machinery will be inadequate to deal with this important problem, which, in my opinion, can only be satisfactorily solved by cordial co-operation between the education authorities and the Labour Exchange authorities. I may add that I have every reason to anticipate that this cooperation will be forthcoming.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give facilities for the Choice of Employment Bill to pass before the Recess?

asked the Prime Minister if he can state to the House the date upon which Field Marshal Lord Kitchener was officially informed that he was no longer a member of the Committee of Imperial Defence; and whether the reason given was that he declined to accept the honour of the position of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in the Mediterranean?

I must refer the Noble Lord to my right hon. Friend's answer to the hon. Member for Dublin County on 21st July. Lord Kitchener never became a member of the Committee of Imperial Defence.

Was Lord Kitchener, in fact, summoned to a meeting of the Committee of Defence?

Certainly not—that I know anything of.

Is it not the fact that Lord Kitchener considered himself to be a member of the Committee of Defence, and that the first intimation that he received of the fact that he was no longer to be on the Committee was the statement of the right hon. Gentleman to that effect as reported in the papers?

The hon. Member seems to have a knowledge of the mind of Lord Kitchener which I do not possess. I would suggest to the hon. Member, and to others, that it would be well to inquire of Lord Kitchener before they put that kind of question. I know nothing of it.

Was he not offered the post?

No, certainly not. In connection with the Mediterranean Command, there was to be a seat on the Committee, but Lord Kitchener did not take up the appointment, and he was never summoned.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that, in the interests of the nation, it would be a good thing if the services of Lord Kitchener were utilised on this Committee?

That question should be addressed to the Prime Minister, who, I believe, has already answered it.

(for Captain Faber) asked whether Lord Esher, who belongs to the Imperial National Defence Committee, ever belonged to the Regular Army; and, if so, for what period; and what superior claims he possesses to those of Lord Kitchener as regards his knowledge of military subjects for the purposes of knowledge of national defence?

So far as I am aware Lord Esher never belonged to the Regular Army. My right hon. Friend must decline to discuss the comparative claims of particular persons to sit on the Committee of Imperial Defence.

asked what progress has been made with the inquiry by the advisory committee into the conditions of service and wages of certain Government servants; and when is the inquiry likely to be concluded?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. As soon as the terms of reference relating to the minimum wage for adult male labour at Pimlico and Weedon were received from the War Office the Fair Wages Advisory Committee made arrangements to take evidence, and they have heard witnesses representing the War Office and the trade unions of employés at Pimlico and Weedon. They have collected information from various sources as to the wages paid in analogous employments, and Members of the Committee visited Pimlico yesterday, and are at Weedon today, in order to have the nature of the work explained on the spot. I understand that the Committee hope to be able to report their conclusions to the War Office at an early date.

In the event of advances of wages being conceded, will they be made retrospective?

That is a question for the War Office. The Committee's duty is to inquire and report, and it remains within the discretion of the War Office how and in what respect they shall carry it out.

asked whether provision can be made whereby any State Department which arranges a contract, the work of which is executed abroad, can impose upon the foreign employer conditions similar to those which would be imposed by the Fair Contracts Clause if the work were performed in this country; and, if so, will the wording of the Clause be amended accordingly?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Any well-substantiated complaint regarding a contractor executing work abroad would be taken into account by the Government Department concerned when any further contracts had to be made.

asked the Prime Minister if he will suggest as a subject of debate at the next Colonial Conference the question of the unification of all laws relating to trade marks and patents within the British Empire?

This question was before the Colonial Conference of 1907, and correspondence will be laid in a few days showing the action taken on the resolution of that Conference. In view of this correspondence, I do not consider, as at present advised, that the matter can be usefully discussed at the next Conference.

asked the Prime Minister if he has been able to lay before his colleagues the consideration of the setting up of an Estimates Committee, as promised in his reply to a question on 14th September, 1909; and if any decision has been come to?

My right hon. Friend desires me to say that he is not as yet in a position to make any announcement in reply to the question of my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state whether his attention has been called to the fact that, whilst the heaviest gun yet tested for the British Navy is 13.5, throwing a 1,250–1b: shell, the new German 14-inch gun is to throw a 1,600–1b. shell, and that, whilst the actual weight of a broadside fired by the heavy guns of British ships is only 147,900 lbs., that of Germany is 161,000 lbs.; if he is aware that the new German ships to carry the new 14-inch guns will be 8,000 tons heavier than the original British "Dreadnoughts"; and whether he will now consider the desirability of raising a loan of at least fifty millions spread over a term of years, with the object of placing our Fleet in a position of absolute supremacy?

I cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of the figures given in the hon. Gentleman's question. In any case, as the maintenance of the supremacy of our Fleet must be regarded as a permanent feature in our national policy, I do not think that such temporary expedient as loans constitute the best means of giving effect to it.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists as to some of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the appointment of justices of the peace; and whether, before the Government take steps to carry them into effect, the House will be given an opportunity of expressing its opinion on the subject?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of the existence of the dissatisfaction to which my hon. Friend refers. In reply to the latter part of the question he would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords on Tuesday.

asked whether the Houses of Convocation of the provinces of Canterbury and York respectively have met and transacted business since the death of King Edward VII.; whether new writs for the summoning of the Houses of Convocation of the said provinces have been sealed and issued since the death of King Edward VII. to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York respectively; and, if so, on what date or dates?

I understand the answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. I am informed that the Convocation of Canterbury met and transacted business on 5th and 6th July, and the Convocation of York on 25th and 26th May.

asked whether any steps are to be taken to obtain the recognition of the Dominion of Wales in the Royal Standard?

I have received certain representations on this subject which shall receive proper consideration.

asked whether inquiries will be made why the Scottish heralds took no part in the funeral of His late Majesty the King of Scotland?

I believe that the precedent of Queen Victoria's funeral was followed, but I have not been able to get full information on the subject. Lyon King-at-Arms was invited to the funeral of the late King at St. George's, Windsor.

asked, in view of the majority by which the Parliamentary Franchise (Women) Bill was carried on the Second Reading, what facilities would be given for its further stages in the present Session in this House?

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated on 23rd June, the Government cannot give any further facilities to this Bill in the present Session.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Government have yet considered the desirability of taking the opinion of the electorate on this matter by Referendum?

With reference to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 23rd June, is it not the fact that on that occasion the right hon. Gentleman said that this House, if it so desired, should have full opportunity for considering this question, and, in view of that statement, are not the Government prepared to stand by the promise made by the Prime Minister?

I think the hon. Member is mistaken as to the pledge given by the Prime Minister. The pledge given was that the Government in this Parliament would give an opportunity for effectively dealing with the whole question. But inasmuch as this Bill is so framed that the House of Commons cannot effectively deal with the whole question, but only with a part of it we certainly cannot give further facilities.

May I ask if the decision announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his first answer was arrived at in order to ensure that the will of the people, as expressed by their representatives, should take full effect during the lifetime of one Parliament?

I quite agree, but if Bills are so framed that you cannot even ascertain what the will of the people's representatives is, then there is no reason why special opportunities should be given for dealing with such Bills.

Is it not the fact that this House of Commons has declared by a majority that it wants this Bill to be passed into law, and is not the House of Commons to be permitted to give effect to its vote? May I also ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state what is the difference between the veto of a non-elected Prime Minister and the veto of a non-elected House of Lords?

No man can answer the second question, and the first question everybody can answer for himself.

Since the Government are not satisfied with the form of the Bill before the House, may I ask whether they are prepared to introduce one of their own to give effect to their own ideas on the subject?

The hon. Member should give notice of that question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that German firms applied for the whole of the machinery hall at the Allahabad Exhibition, and made the grant of the whole space available a condition of their exhibiting; and whether the authorities concerned have complied with this application, which implies the exclusion of British exhibits of this class?

The Secretary of State has no knowledge of the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers in his question, but if such an application was made, it would not be granted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will say what is the exact amount of the Australian public debt, and how much of this debt has been invested in reproductive public works, such as railways, tramways, harbours, and roads; if he can say what is the amount earned annually by the Australian railways; how much is expended in their working expenses; how much is devoted to interest on loans; whether he can state what relation the value of the railways and other public works has to the total of the Australian public debt; and whether there is any portion of the British Empire where the public debt is so largely represented in useful public works as in Australia?

I am indebted to the High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia for the following statement:—"The amount of the Australian Public Debt up to 30th June, 1909, was £251,733,533. Of this amount, £202,421,652 has been spent on reproductive works such as railways, tramways, telegraphs and telephones, water supply and harbours. In addition to the amount spent on the works specified above, the sum of £16,644,074 has been spent upon objects bearing immediately on the development of the country, such as roads, mines, advances to settlers, land purchase for settlers, loans to certain bodies, and rabbit-proof fences. This must be regarded as expenditure contributing largely to Australian progress, and a large portion is to be repaid. On public buildings and State schools, and other public works and purposes, a further sum of £16,380,884 has been spent. On immigration, which is a very important source of Australian progress, the sum of £3,254,005 has been spent. These items together amount to £238,700,615. The total earning of the Government railways was £14,750,000 for the year ending 30th June, 1909, and the total working cost was £8,826,000, which is equal to 59.84 per cent. of the gross earnings. The interest paid on loans for railways for the year ending 30th June, 1909, was £5,102,000, and the profit on the railways, after payment for interest, working expenses, and other charges, was £821,000." I fear I am not in a position to answer the last part of my hon. Friend's question. It would be very difficult, and might be invidious, to compare the public debts of the different parts of the Empire from the point of view of reproductiveness, but it is clear that, tried by this test, Australia would in any case stand very high.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, as a matter of fact, there is any country in the world which has better public works than Australia?

Speaking off-hand, I should doubt whether any country has better public works than Australia.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the £3,000,000 to which he alluded as being spent on immigration by Australia was spent on emigration from this country?

Well, most of it would be, because the greater proportion of the emigrants who go to Australia go from this country.

Can we have the particulars of the amount?

I do not carry them in my head.

No, Sir; but will you give them?

Yes.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now make a statement upon the case of the Oloye of Oye, who was recently ordered under threat of deposition to appear at Imo Hill, three days' journey from his home in Southern Nigeria; whether this order, amounting to virtual arrest, was given by Captain Blair, a travelling Commissioner, to whom the Oloye of Oye had sent two men who were robbers and murderers to be dealt with; whether this question was settled by Captain Blair before his return to England, or whether the Oloye of Oye and his native chiefs with him are still detained at Imo Hill; and whether the attention of the Colonial Office has been directed to the condemnation of this affair by the white population in Lagos as unjust to the native chiefs, and calculated to injure the high sense of British justice held by the natives?

The following is a summary of the report which has been furnished on the incident in question: On the 25th of March a Government messenger brought before the District Commissioner a man arrested near Oye for illegal rubber tapping. He had caught another man, but as he was unable to bring more than one with him, he sent the second man to the Oloye, and asked the latter to send the prisoner to the Commissioner at Oke Imo. The Oloye failed to do this, although he came to that place himself when sent for. He was told that he would have to remain at the town of Ilesha until he produced the man. This he did, on 19th April, and was allowed to leave. I am not aware of any expression of opinion on the matter by the European population in Lagos.

asked whether the Customs Duty on tea in Ceylon is 25 cents per hundredweight, on wheat and rice 50 cents, and on flour 1 rupee; whether in each case there is any corresponding Excise Duty; and whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to acquiesce in the maintenance of such duties?

The duty on tea is 25 cents a pound. In other respects the hon. Members figures are correct. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, and the answer to the third part in the affirmative.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the duties on rice, wheat, and flour are higher than anything proposed by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Birmingham (Mr. J. Chamberlain)?

I do not think that really arises out of the question, which refers to tea. I do not think we can discuss this matter by question and answer across the floor of the House. I shall be glad to debate it.

May I ask whether these duties are, or are not, higher than those proposed by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Birmingham?

I do not quite know to what particular proposals the hon. Member refers.

The hon. Member had better give notice of a question.

asked what progress has been made with the negotiations for an All-Red Route as outlined at the last Colonial Conference; whether any shipping or railway companies have been approached; whether any calculation has been made as to the cost; what subsidies or guarantees would probably be required; and whether any further information can be given as to the policy of His Majesty's Government?

I have nothing to add at present to answers which have previously been given in the House on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will instruct the Governor of Southern Nigeria that compensation should be awarded out of Government funds to the relatives of the native recently shot by Mr. H. Tressing, who was at the time an official in the Government service, and was convicted of manslaughter by the court, but not punished?

I do not consider that this is a case in which further compensation should be paid from public funds, in view of the fact that no recommendation to this effect was made by the Supreme Court before which Mr. Tressing was tried.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that only £3 has been received by the relatives of this man, who suffered in a most peculiar and unfortunate way, and who was the breadwinner of his family?

Oh, yes. He certainly suffered very much—he was killed. I think £3 was a very small sum to give him, but there are legal difficultes. It is a very long time since this occurred.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will instruct the Governor of Southern Nigeria that compensation should be awarded out of Government funds to the individual members of the church congregations at Imuku and Isere recently disturbed by Dr. Braund Kent, a Government official, who forced them to go out of church on Sunday and carry loads for him?

Compensation was offered by the Governor, and the offer was referred by Bishop Oluwele to his church council. The Bishop's reply was that the council were grateful for the kind spirit in which the offer was made, but unanimously agreed not to accept it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if the elected members of the Council of Government in Malta who have declined to concur in the appointment of a committee to consider further the origin of Malta fever, unless the inquiry is limited to the manner in which goats are infected, are paid officials who are largely responsible for the goat's milk theory; and whether he is aware that those members who are popularly elected are almost, if not quite, unanimous in their opposition to that theory?

The elected members, with the exception of two who receive remuneration as members of the Executive Council, are not paid by the Government; and their attitude on the question is as stated in the answer which I returned to my hon. Friend's question of 21st July.