asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state the amount received in respect of wholesale and retail licences for the sale of wines, spirits, etc., in the years 1908, 1909, and 1910?

also asked the numbers of wholesale and retail licences, respectively, for the sale of wines, spirits, etc., issued in 1908, 1909, and 1910?

The numbers of licences issued to vendors of intoxicating liquors and the net receipt of duty in the financial years ending 31st March, 1908, 1909, and 1910, are shown at page 37 of the 51st Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Cd. Paper 4226), page 32 of the 52nd Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Cd. Paper 4868), and page 63 of the 1st Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise (Cd. Paper 5302) respectively. I regret that I am unable with regard to 1910 to anticipate the statements which will be made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in introducing the Budget for next year.

asked whether the Roads Development Commissioners have any powers to levy local rates on land values in connection with projected new roads; and whether His Majesty's Government will see that no scheme of road development is put into operation unless it includes satisfactory means for recovering for the community the increased land value?

The Road Board have no power to levy local rates on land values in connection with a projected new road. I may, however, refer the hon. Member to the provisions of Section 11 (1) of the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act, 1909, empowering the Road Board to acquire land on either side of a proposed new road.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if his Department are now prepared to sanction the proposal of the Post Office Department to extend trunk telephone facilities to Sligo?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether, owing to the number of persons over seventy years of age residing in Ireland who cannot produce birth certificates, or whose names cannot be found in the census books of 1841 or 1851, he will issue instructions to the pension officers to accept the sworn declaration of persons who are either old age pensioners or are admittedly over seventy years themselves as proof of age; and if he will order the withdrawal of the regulation directing pension officers to appeal in cases as above stated where they are of opinion that applicants are over seventy years?

I see no reason for modifying the instructions issued to pension officers in Ireland in regard to cases where no documentary evidence of age can be produced in support of a claim to an old age pension. These instructions do not require the officer to appeal against the grant of a pension by the Committee if he himself is satisfied that the claimant has attained the statutory age.

asked the conditions upon which the board of works handed over the working of the canal between Navan and Drogheda to its present owners; and whether the board has taken any steps to ensure a compliance with the terms they imposed?

Section 6 of the Boyne Navigation Transfer Act of 1896 provided that within two years within the passing of the Act the Boyne Navigation Company should execute all the works necessary to secure a navigable depth of 4 ft. 6 in. at least, from end to end of the navigation, and that they should for ever afterwards maintain that depth, and efficiently repair, work, develop, manage, and maintain the navigation to the satisfaction of this board. As regards the improvement and efficiency of the navigation, the board satisfied themselves that the company had complied with their legal obligation; and with regard to the development, maintenance, and working of the navigation, no complaint has been received of the failure of the company to carry out the obligations imposed upon them by the Act, and the Board consequently have not interfered in the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is by his instruction that surveyors of taxes are insisting, in connection with claims under Section 69 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, on detailed statements by occupiers of the cost of maintenance and repairs of farmhouses and cottages in each of the last five years, and refuse to accept a general statement of this expenditure by estates as shown in the estate books; and whether he is aware that the expense of extracting these details would in many cases absorb the whole of the benefit intended to be bestowed under this section by Parliament?

In connection with claims under the Section referred to by the hon. and gallant Member, a detailed statement of the cost of maintenance and repairs of each holding is not required. The owner is asked to state, for each of the five years, the aggregate expenditure on the maintenance and repairs of lands, including farmhouses, and the similar expenditure on houses not exceeding £8 annual value. The total expenditure shown in the estate books cannot in all cases be accepted as the basis of the claim, as such total expenditure would include expenditure on property in respect of which no additional allowance is admissible under the Section in question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, within a few weeks after the retirement on pension of Sir John Franks, late secretary to the Irish Land Commission, and the appointment of his successor, it was found necessary to again place the services of the former at the disposal of the Commissioners; if so, will he say for what period and upon what terms has Sir John Franks been reemployed; whether, before proceeding to make an appointment to the vacant secretaryship, the Commissioners considered the desirability of selecting for the position a person possessed of legal qualifications with practical knowledge and experience of the working of the Irish land laws; and if the successor to Sir John Franks is so qualified?

Since Sir John Franks's retirement from office the Irish Land Commissioners have obtained authority to call upon his services as expert adviser on matters of finance and administration, in which he has a unique experience; and particularly for the purpose, of bringing to a conclusion certain important matters which were pending when he resigned office. This arrangement holds good to 31st March of next year, and the emolument is at the rate of £300 a year. Sir John Franks's retirement was due to ill-health, occasioned in large measure by the strain of overwork, but his health has considerably improved since he was relieved of the heavy burden of his office. When accepting Sir John Franks's resignation, and before considering the selection of his successor, the Commissioners having regard to the long and valuable experience possessed by Sir John Franks, decided upon the desirability of retaining his services in a temporary capacity for a limited period, if and so far as his health might permit. The Commissioners consider that the gentleman whom they, with the approval of the Lord Lieutenant, appointed as their secretary possesses in a marked degree the qualifications and experience necessary for the post, and he has since proved his competency to their entire satisfaction.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he would state the number of persons in Irish workhouses who became qualified to receive old age pensions on the 1st January last; the number of such persons who have received pensions; and the number, if any, who have relinquished them and returned to the workhouses?

According to the figures supplied to the local Government Board by the Clerks of the several Unions, the number of paupers in the workhouses in Ireland at the end of last year who were over seventy years of age was 7,670, and of these 2,024 were awarded old age pensions by the committees. Appeals, however, against these awards have been lodged in some cases and in others the claimants have returned to the workhouses, but the Board are not in a position to state the exact number.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is able to state the total amount which boards of guardians in Ireland will be required to pay in the current financial year towards the cost of old age pensions granted since the 1st January to persons who were previously disqualified through having received Poor Law relief?

I must ask the hon. Member to await the proposals of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked what are the circumstances under which Mr. Edward Westropp, J.P., was fired at and wounded on 1st February; whether cattle-drives have recently taken place on Mr. Westropp's property; and whether any arrests have been made in connection with this outrage?

About 9.30 o'clock p.m. on the 31st ultimo, while Mr. Edward Westropp, J.P., was cycling home from Askeaton, two gun shots were fired at him from behind a wall, seriously wounding him. His life is not in danger. Mr. Westropp is a large grazier, and two cattle-drives have taken place on his property, one on 8th January last. No arrests have been made.

asked the Chief Secretary if he could state approximately what proportion of the land of Ireland had been inspected and passed by the Estates Commissioners for the purpose of land purchase?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that it is estimated that the area of land in Ireland for the sale of which advances have been made under the Land Purchase Acts, 1870 to 1909, amounts to 6¼ million acres, and the area of land pending for sale under these Acts amounts to 4½ millions, making in all 10¾ million acres sold or pending for sale, and representing about four-sevenths of the agricultural land of Ireland.

asked the Chief Secretary how many tenant purchasers of land in Ireland were, at the end of 1910, subject to the payment of interest in lieu of rent pending completion of purchase; what is the longest period during which any of these have been paying this interest; and can he now say in what order they will be relieved of his burden which is not in the agreements signed by them?

The Land Commission inform me that there were 157,295 tenant-purchasers who on 31st December last were paying interest in lieu of rent in cases where advances applied for had not then been made. In some instances the estates for sale have been pending since the year 1905. The agreements for purchase signed by the tenant-purchasers especially provided for the payment of the interest referred to. The order in which advances are made is governed by the provisions of Section 4 of the Irish Land Act, 1909, and the regulations made thereunder.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that in many of the cases of persons getting parcels of untenanted lands the Estates Commissioners have refused to make any grant for stock, or even for the building of fences to separate the parcels; and whether the Estates Commissioners have discretion to make grants for such purposes according to their judgment?

The making of grants to purchasers under the Land Purchase Acts for the purchase of stock or for improvements is a matter entirely within the discretion of the Estates Commissioners, who make such grants in any cases where they deem it expedient to do so.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state what progress the Congested Districts Board have made in the purchasing of the White estate, Newtown Manor, county Leitrim; when will the waste lands be divided; and will there be a stay put on proceedings against tenants for recovery of arrears of rent pending the completion of sale and purchase?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that an order has been made by the land judge accepting the Board's offer for the untenanted lands on the estate referred to. A contract has been made with the owners for sale to the Board of the tenanted land through the Land Commission. In the meantime the tenants will be required to pay rents as usual. No arrangements can be made for the distribution of the grass lands before the estate is vested in the Board.

asked what steps, if any, the Estates Commissioners and Congested Districts Board intend to take in order to prevent the cutting of woods on estates acquired by them?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that where estates, the subject of proceedings for sale before them, contain woods which it is desirable to preserve, the inspector calls attention to them in his report, and the matter is then brought under the notice of the Department of Agriculture, or the county or rural district council, with a view to their purchasing the woods under Sections 4 and 20 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and Section 18 of the Irish Land Act, 1909. Section 32 (1) (b) (2) of the latter Act also provides for the preservation of timber on holdings sold, or agreed to be sold, since the passing of that Act. The Congested Districts Board take all steps they deem necessary for the preservation of woods and plantations on estates acquired by them.

asked whether the large tract of grazing land at Rathregan, in the parish of Batterstown, union of Dunshaughlin, county Meath, being a portion of the Athlumney estate, has been disposed of by the Estates Commissioners to purchasers under the Act of 1903; whether Anthony Allen, who is the tenant of this grazing ranch, has obtained an advance under the Act of 1903, and, if so, what is the amount; if Anthony Allen has not obtained an advance for the purpose of purchasing these lands, or if the same have not been sold direct to the Estates Commissioners, who are the purchasing tenants of this farm; and whether it has been ascertained that the purchasing tenants are genuine tenants or if they were merely created for the purpose of practising fraud on the Treasury?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the estate referred to is not being sold to the Commissioners but direct by the landlord under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The Commissioners have refused to make the advances applied for by Anthony Allen and the Messrs. Wallis, who hold the lands of Rathregan as judicial tenants. Allen appears to have already obtained an advance of £5,162 for the purchase of other lands under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can explain the delay in vesting the Franklin Baldwin estate, at Crossmahon, Lissarda, and Tarelton, county Cork, in the tenants, seeing that other estates in the county purchased about the same time have already been vested; and when does he expect the money to be advanced for the purchase of this estate?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the estate referred to will be dealt with in order of priority-Having regard to its position on the principal register of Direct Sales and the claims of other estates in priority to it the Commissioners are unable at present to say when its turn will be reached, but when so reached it will be dealt with as rapidly as possible.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have received applications for the purchase of the estate of the representatives of the late W. F. Gilchrist, St. John's, Sligo; whether the Board have entered into negotiations with the proprietors; and when the sale is likely to be carried out?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that they have received an application in connection with the late W. F. Gilchrist's estate, county Sligo, and have communicated with the representatives of the owner, who, however, have not so far signified an intention to sell the estate.

asked what steps have been taken by the Congested Districts Board to acquire for the purposes of the Land Act of 1909 the Middleton estate, Boss's Point, county Sligo?

The Congested Districts Board have communicated with the agent of the Middleton estate, county Sligo, asking whether the owner is willing to negotiate for sale of his property, but no reply has been received.

asked the Chief Secretary what effect it was intended to give to the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the Irish Flax-growing Industry which has recently issued its report; whether the Department of Agriculture proposes to carry out experiments on the lines indicated by it, and can he outline any measures which it may take for the revival of flax-growing in those districts where the industry is now almost extinct; how far will it encourage and aid co-operation amongst flax-growers and the establishment of societies for the promotion and protection of their interests; and will it seek any fresh powers for the purpose of enabling it to deal adequately with the various suggestions of the Departmental Committee for the development of flax-growing in the different parts of Ireland which experience has shown to be well suited for the cultivation of this industry?

The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland have only just received the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Flax Growing Industry in Ireland, and until they have had an opportunity of giving very careful consideration to the several important recommendations made by that Committee they will not be in a position to determine to what extent they will take action thereon.

asked whether the Oldcastle Rural District Council reduced the rents of some labourers' cottages and the Local Government Board refused to sanction it; if so, will he state their reasons; and whether the district councils have power to acquire untenanted land for pasturage for the use of labourers' cows?

In October, 1909, the Oldcastle Rural District Council proposed to reduce the rents to 10d. and 6d. per week for cottages with acre plots and with half-acre plots respectively, the existing rents being 1s. 3d. and 11d. The Local Government Board, however, declined to sanction the proposal, as they considered that the existing rents were very moderate having regard to the circumstances of the locality and the expenditure of the Council under the Labourers' Acts. As regards the final paragraph of the hon. Member's question I would refer him to Section 4 of the Irish Land Act of 1903 and Section 18 of the Irish Land Act of 1909.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland at what date were the purchase agreements between Mr. Leigh White and the tenants of Dursey Island, Castletown Bere, lodged with the Land Commission; and whether he can state when the holdings will be vested in the tenants on the said island?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the agreements for the purchase of the estate referred to were lodged in December, 1905. The estate has been inspected, and the Commissioners hope to be in a position to vest the holdings in the tenants at an early date.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention had been called to the fact that a crowd of Nationalists congregate nightly at the corner of Mill Road, Whitehouse, county Antrim, and keep up rowdyism till a late hour to the detriment of good order in the neighbourhood and the annoyance of the peaceable inhabitants; and will he give the necessary instructions to the constabulary to disperse such gatherings in the future?

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. The Inspector-General informs me that it is not a fact that a crowd of Nationalists congregate nightly at the place referred to. A few boys occasionally stand there, but they are ordered by the police to move on. Six youths have been summoned during the past twelve months for causing an obstruction at the corner. The attention of the police has been directed to the matter with a view to prevent further cause of complaint.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, having regard to the number of young people who have been forced by want of land to emigrate from the vicinity of the Magan-Topping estate, Westmeath, the further number who must follow this year unless the untenanted land on that estate is distributed, and the statutory power of the Estates Commissioners to do this for sufficient reasons, whether the Commissioners will take these facts into consideration as sufficient and urgent reason for dealing with this estate without further delay?

The Estates Commissioners are negotiating with the owner with a view to the purchase of the estate referred to, and at this stage of the proceedings they are not prepared to make any statement on the matters referred to in the question.

asked, in view of the complaints of the intentions of Parliament being defeated by the purchase and consolidation of grass farms in the vicinity of uneconomic holdings and landless people, whether the Chief Secretary will say what precautions the Estates Commissioners take against this abuse; whether they prevent it when specific instances are brought under their notice; and whether they will prevent it in the case of Mr. Telson, a purchaser under the Act of 1903 on Lord Longford's estate, now trying to purchase, under his own name or that of his only son, another grass farm on the Pollard-Urquart estate, on which there is congestion unrelievable except by distribution of this grass farm?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that if a case of the kind referred to in the question arises it will be dealt with by the Commissioners in accordance with the provisions of the Land Purchase Acts. The Commissioners cannot trace the name of any tenant of the name of Telson on the Pollard-Urquart estate pending for sale before them.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will say at what sum the Estates Commissioners estimated the value of the untenanted land on the Reid and M'Endoo estate, Westmeath; whether they proposed to purchase it at that sum for relief of congestion; at what price was it subsequently sold to the rancher by the Land Judge; is any public money to be advanced to carry out that sale; how many uneconomic landholders and landless men in the neighbourhood applied to become purchasers of portions of the land for the full value; and what alternative, other than emigration, do the Government now offer to those men?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they received certain applications from persons asking to be allotted parcels of the lands referred to if required. As stated in the reply to the hon. Member's question for the 22nd November last these lands were not the subject of proceedings for sale before the Estates Commissioners, and they made no estimate of its value. The lands were sold by public auction in the Land Judge's Court, the price, £7,400, being paid by the purchaser in cash. No public money was advanced in connection with the sale.

asked the Chief Secretary what answer, if any, he has given to the resolution sent to him by the Westmeath Nationalist Executive with reference to the neglected evicted tenant Mrs. Riggs, whose case is within the Evicted Tenants Act, and whose old farm is unoccupied; whether he will inform the House on what grounds Colonel Smythe refuses to reinstate her or sell the farm for that purpose, and why the Estates Commissioners do not acquire it compulsorily; and whether it is the practice of the Commissioners, when refusing a statutory right, to give no reason for the refusal?

I have received the resolution in question, and have nothing to add to the replies already given to the numerous questions asked by the hon. Member regarding the case of Mrs. Riggs.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been directed to the fact that information denied by him last November, pending the next Annual Report of the Estates Commissioners, has since been given to other Members of this House and published by them on 18th January last; and whether he will take any steps to have the Land Acts administered impartially and himself informed correctly?

I understand that certain figures which were not available in November last were furnished to an hon. Member who applied for them at a later date. If the hon. Member had himself applied for the information at the later date he would have got it. There are no grounds for the suggestion that the Land Acts are not being impartially administered.

asked the Chief Secretary why the grant to the Intermediate Board from Ireland's share of Customs and Excise Duties, which amounted in 1900 to £71,400 and has decreased annually until in 1910 it only amounted to £16,000, has not been supplemented; has the Intermediate Board during the period just referred to reduced the prize money annually paid from £18,000 to £7,000; is he aware that English and Welsh secondary education receive a Treasury grant of £776,740 and Scottish secondary education a grant of £187,000; will he say whether Ireland receives a Treasury grant; and will this entire question have his immediate consideration?

The figures given in the question with regard to the falling-off in that part of the income of the Intermediate Education Board which is derived from Customs and Excise duties, the sums spent on prizes as distinguished from school grants, and the amounts voted for grants for secondary schools and the instruction of pupil teachers in England and for continuation classes and secondary schools in Scotland are substantially correct. There is no Parliamentary Vote for secondary education in Ireland. Proposals for supplementing the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Duties were indicated in the Budget speech of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in June last.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he is aware that the Dundee Naval Volunteers only have one 6-inch quick-firing gun, and one 5-inch breech-loading gun to drill at; and whether he intends to replace them by modern guns?

The Dundee Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve have also one 4.7-inch Q.F. gun, one 12-pr. field gun, one 3-pr. Hotchkiss, one Maxim. As more modern guns become available, the claims of the Naval Volunteer Divisions are carefully considered.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there has been any delay in the construction of the Italian Dreadnought "Dante Alighieri"; if so, to what causes the delay was due; and whether it is likely to affect the date of her completion?

Nothing official is known of any delay having taken place in the construction of the "Dante Alighieri."

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is intended to rename the battleship "New Zealand"; and what is the new name to be?

It is not proposed to rename the battleship "New Zealand" at present.

asked what is the greatest length of time that any battle ship now in commission has been out of dry dock; what is the name of that battleship; what is the period of time beyond which it is not considered advisable for a battleship to remain with her bottom uncleaned; and what is the greatest length of time that any battleship docked since the beginning of last year has had to wait?

I regret that the information asked for takes longer to obtain than the time available to enable the question to be answered to-day, and I would ask the Noble Lord to be good enough to postpone his question until Monday next.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the total number of officers now waiting for employment in the Ordnance Department of the Army who have passed through the Ordnance College since the year 1906; and will he specify the numbers for each of the four years 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1910?

The figures are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for War, what number of officers are now in the Ordnance College preparing for employment in the Ordnance Department?

There are eighteen officers studying in the Ordnance College. I have no information available to show how many of these are studying with a view to employment in the Ordnance Department as differentiated from other employments for which such a course qualifies them.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes to publish in book form or otherwise the opinions of other members of the Army Council upon the subject of compulsory service, or whether the Memorandum by the late Adjutant-General represents the views of the Army Council?

The memorandum contained General Sir Ian Hamilton's personal views and was originally prepared for my own information. The reply to the rest of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the minimum rate of wages per hour for navvies and labourers now accepted as fair for the men employed upon the new barracks at Pudford, near the Firth of Forth, within the terms of the Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons?

Recent local investigation showed that the rate at present recognised in Edinburgh for competent builders' labourers is 5½d. per hour. The rates paid to labourers employed on pick and shovel work varied considerably, but from 5d. to 5½d. an hour appear to be the wages generally prevailing in practice among good employers for this class of work. Although Redford—to which place the hon. Member presumably alludes—is some little way from Edinburgh, it has been thought right to provide in the contract for the erection of the barracks for the payment of the recognised Edinburgh rates for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is possible for a man in receipt of an Army pension of 1s. per day, whose character and record of service have been very good, who is less than forty-five years of age and of certified good health, and who is of proved capacity as a market gardener, small holder, or allotment holder, to obtain a sufficient sum by commutation or part commutation of his pension to enable him to emigrate with his family to one of the Australian Colonies to carry on similar work there as a settler; whether the War Office will pay on behalf of such a man the £50 deposit repayable upon his arrival in the Colony; and, if not, whether the Government will, in justice to ex-soldiers of good character who find it difficult decently to support their families in England, make further and better provision to aid their emigration to a British Colony in all cases approved by its Agent General?

The experience of the War Office has shown that the commutation of small pensions is rarely to the pensioners' advantage, and it is not proposed to extend the present regulations, which only allow the commutation of any part in excess of 1s. a day, or to give large advances of pension, as even the moderate advances of six months now allowed are frequently found to lead to difficulties. It would appear that the suggestion of the hon. Member is aimed mainly at overcoming the difficulties caused to emigrants by the requirement of a large deposit. I would suggest that, if the Australian Colonies wish to encourage the immigration of suitable ex-soldiers, the case would more properly be met by their foregoing the deposit, upon the recommendation of the Agent General, than by a loan from army funds.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the the case of Henry Davies, who enlisted in the Shropshire Light Infantry, in November, 1904, and was discharged from Netley Hospital on 20th December, 1910, suffering from consumption, as notified by the Army Medical Department, which he contracted during his service; whether it is according to the regulations of the War Office that this man should have been discharged with a temporary pension of 8d. a day; and whether the War Office makes no provision for cases of this kind?

As I have already explained to the hon. Member this man was awarded the maximum pension permissible under the Regulations. It has not been found practicable for the War Office to make any special provision for such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a soldier having seven entries in his regimental sheet incurred during his first nine years of service is eligible for the good conduct medal in the event of his getting one entry for gallant conduct as a set-off?

Under paragraph 1744 King's Regulations a soldier, who is otherwise eligible for recommendation for the Good Conduct Medal, is not disqualified by reason of seven entries for offences incurred during the first nine years of his service, if he has one entry for gallant or distinguished conduct which may be counted as a set-off against one of the offences.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the amendment of the King's Regulations 417, 1,743, 1,744, regarding the assessment of an exemplary character as affecting eligibility for the good conduct medal, as under the present War Office ruling a soldier with possibly eighteen years' service who has only one offence, but several entries for gallant conduct, the offence being committed during the last nine years, is not eligible to receive the good conduct medal?

The conditions for an exemplary character are laid down primarily with a view to the assessment of character on discharge, and it is essentially in the interests of soldiers generally that the characters given on discharge should accurately represent their value for civil employment. I think that the hon. and gallant Marquess will, on further consideration, agree with me that it would not be expedient to reduce the value of these certificates in the direction suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, as the rank and file of the regular infantry of the line receive £1 13s. 2d. clothing allowance quarterly for upkeep of kit and boys only receive 17s. 11d., both having the same kit to keep up, and seeing that a boy's ordinary pay is only 8d., out of which 4½d. goes daily in messing and washing, he will consider the raising of a boy's clothing allowance in order to prevent him being in debt, as is usually the case at present?

I have fully considered this question. Taking the boy's pay and allowances and the charges he has to meet as a whole, he gets quite sufficient pocket money.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the possible effect of his statement to the deputation of workmen from Government arsenals on 8th February, he will take any steps to secure that men discharged from Government employment shall not be prejudiced thereby in seeking work elsewhere?

If I can manage, as I stated, to secure the co-operation of all concerned in keeping down the prices of production in the Ordnance factories I hope that no necessity for discharges need arise. I do not think, however, that anything I may have said on the occasion of this deputation will in any way prejudice the prospects of discharged workmen of obtaining work elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that at Leeds on 10th February, a Territorial summoned for absenting himself was discovered to be deaf; and whether he can state who is responsible for his enlistment?

It appears on inquiry that this man who was enlisted in 1908 only became deaf last year.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can state how many men in the Army have been raised from the non-commissioned to the commissioned ranks during each of the past five years?

The number of com missions from the ranks for the past five years is as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Army Council have made a payment of £400 to the Winchester Town Council in aid of the council's legal expenses incurred in appealing against the decision of the High Court of Justice in the matter of Hobbs v. the Corporation of Winchester; and whether, if so, by what authority was such payment made from funds levied for war purposes only?

As the case arose out of the seizure of meat supplied to the troops the Army Council considered that there were good reasons for affording the Corporation some assistance from Army funds. The greater portion of the £400 mentioned in the question fell upon the Civil Vote for law services.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether he is aware that about June last year a considerable number of English police-constables were engaged for service in Ceylon, and by the terms of the agreement entered into with them they were to have the rank and pay of police-sergeants; that on arrival many, if not all, of them, in breach of the terms of their engagement, were required to do point duty and other duty proper to constables and not sergeants; whether the duty of police-constables in Ceylon is, under ordinary circumstances, performed entirely by natives; and whether, seeing that a considerable number of the English constables who have been so treated have now returned to England, it is proposed to give them any compensation, and, if so, what, for the treatment they have received?

Yes, Sir, a number of English police constables were engaged as police sergeants in Ceylon. Some of these men were, for good reasons, employed on duties which a constable could perform, but none were employed on any duties which a sergeant could not legitimately be expected to do. I understand that all police constables in Ceylon are now natives, but it was desirable that the European officers should have a higher rank—though the holding of this rank did not debar them from being employed on the special duties for which they were intended. The sergeants who wished to resign were allowed to do so at once. Not only was no claim made upon them for the refund of the bonus of £15 paid on enlistment and for the cost of their passage out, but they were given free passages home. There is no ground for granting any further compensation.

asked the Home Secretary whether the concession, which results in public thoroughfares and pavements assuming the conditions naturally associated with a skating rink, was granted with a view to promoting the physical welfare of the rising generation or merely as an act of benevolence on the part of the Home Office?

No concession has been granted by the Home Office. All I have done has been to refuse sanction to a bye-law which would have imposed new restrictions to be enforced by criminal procedure on the rights of recreation now enjoyed by the young in London. I would refer the hon. Member to the full explanation of the matter which I gave yesterday and the day before in answers to the hon. Members for North Islington and Maidstone.

asked the Home Secretary whether, for the information of Members, he will place in the Vote Office a few copies of the examination papers which were submitted to applicants for appointments as mine inspectors and as sub-inspectors respectively.

The papers set in recent examinations for the appointment of His Majesty's Inspectors of Mines are published by the Civil Service Commission and can be purchased in the usual way. I have desired a copy to be sent to the Noble Lord. As regards the new grade of Sub-Inspectors, the scheme for their appointment has not yet been settled and no examination, therefore, has been held.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is prepared to give effect to the view favoured by his predecessor at the Home Office and appoint a Select Committee to consider the advisability of issuing regulations making it compulsory upon all manufacturers of medicines liable to patent medicine duty to print on the label of the bottle or other vessel in which such is sold the full ingredients of such bottles or vessels, as well as the diseases which they purport to cure?

I am making inquiries, and will inform my hon. Friend of the decision in due course.

asked when the Minutes of the Electricity in Mines Committee will be printed?

It is expected that the Minutes of Evidence will be issued in about a week or ten days.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the case of the Camberwell Borough Council and Arlidge, and to the fact that in that case Mr. Arlidge appealed to the Local Government Board, in accordance with the provisions of The Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, against closing orders made by the council in April last in respect of three houses in Camberwell, and to the fact that Mr. Arlidge's request that the Board should inspect the premises with a view to deciding summarily whether or not the orders were justifiable was refused, and to the fact that the Board required that a local public inquiry should be held before one of their inspectors, which inquiry was held on the 15th, 23rd, and 27th June, 1910, and that on the 26th September the Board made an order quashing the closing orders, but refused to give the appellant any costs or to give any reason for depriving him of his costs, and also refused to supply the appellant with a copy of their inspector's report; and whether, in view of the facts mentioned, tending to show how unsatisfactory is the procedure that has to be followed on appeal from the local councils, the President is willing to consider the expediency of amending the Act by substituting a judicial tribunal in the place of the Local Government Board as the appeal tribunal?

I am fully aware of the facts of the case referred to. If the Act had passed in the form in which I introduced the Bill I could have complied with the appellant's request, and saved both time and expense. The Act was, however, altered in Committee, at the instance of the hon. Member's friends, so as to make a local public inquiry a statutory necessity before an appeal can be dismissed. The facts as to the inquiry and the order of the Board are as stated in the question, but I do not agree with the suggestion of the hon. Member that the procedure, in so far as it involves an appeal to the Local Government Board rather than to a judicial tribunal, has been shown to be unsatisfactory. On the contrary, I am inclined to think that the change of procedure in this respect brought about by the Act of 1909 has worked very satisfactorily.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the date of the last regulations made by the Board in reference to the number of lifeboats necessary to be attached to passenger vessels; and whether, having regard to the increased tonnage of modern ships, he will consider the desirableness of revising such regulations?

These regulations were last revised in 1894. The question of their further revision is engaging the serious attention of the Board of Trade, and I have decided to refer the matter to the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee for consideration and advice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that at the Croydon Labour Exchange, when selecting workmen to send to jobs, preference is given to non-society men, and that recently out of some 230 joiners sent to work at the Crystal Palace only twenty-four were trade unionists; and whether this system of selection has his sanction?

Between 20th November, 1910, and 10th February, 1911, 270 carpenters in all have obtained work at the Crystal Palace through the Croydon Labour Exchange. I am unable to say how many trades unionists were included in this number, since, as my hon. Friend is aware, no question on this point is put to applicants. I am satisfied, however, after inquiry, that in the selection of applicants from the register, no preference has been shown to non-unionists.

asked the Postmaster-General whether Salford is a sufficient address for letters and telegrams without the addition of the word Manchester; and, if not, can it be made so?

"Salford" is a sufficient address for telegrams, and it is usually a sufficient, although it is not a complete, address for letters or other postal packets intended for Salford, Manchester, if not posted in the neighbourhood of other places of the name of Salford.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether it is with his authority that the Woods and Forests, as owners of land adjoining the main London and Brighton road, refuse to give up a small strip of land in the parish of Handcross, necessary to enable the Cuckfield rural district council to do away with a blind corner at the junction of this main road with the road leading to Balcombe, and so make the main road safe for the motor and other traffic passing thereon, except on the condition of being paid by the district council the exorbitant sum of £10 10s. for costs; whether all the other landowners in the district have given up the land necessary for road widenings free of cost to the district council; whether the State ought not to be a model landowner and set an example in encouraging public improvements; and whether he can see his way to cause this condition to be removed, and so enable the district council to proceed with this public improvement, which is necessary for the public safety and convenience?

Before the appropriation of Crown Land for the road improvement could be sanctioned it was necessary for the Surveyors acting for the Crown to inspect the property and as the land is included in a lease a formal surrender of it out of the lease is requisite. An agreement with the Council respecting the fencing and other work to be done will also be needed. The sum mentioned is to cover the surveyors' charges and expenses and the preparation and completion of the two necessary deeds. No charge is made by the Commissioner of Woods for the land. As the Crown property at Hand-cross consists only of a cottage and small area of land which has been granted on nominal terms to the present occupants for their lives, the Crown's interest is not sufficient to justify expenses in the matter of the proposed road improvement.