asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the practice of certain Charity Commissioners who are seeking to compel leaseholders to pay the Reversion Duty under the provisions of the Finance Act; and whether he will take steps to prevent a public, or semi-public, body from attempting to thus violate the clearly expressed intentions of the Act?

No such case has been brought to my right hon. Friend's notice.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the surveyors of taxes stated, in a memorandum addressed to Members of Parliament in 1898, that nothing in a surveyor's office can be kept from the knowledge of the unestablished clerks, not even an assessment by the Special Commissioners which is supposed to be strictly confidential; if so, will he say whether it is only in the case of emergency that an unestablished clerk has access to such an assessment by the Special Commissioners?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The statement referred to was made by the clerks themselves, not by the surveyors. As regards the second part, I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for the St. Albans Division of Hertfordshire on the 9th instant.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether he has read the recent reply of the secretary to the Kerry County Council with reference to land purchase losses, stating that the certificate of the Land Commission and National Debt Commissioners is of no assistance to county secretaries, as it merely gives the total payments into and out of the Guarantee Fund, but gives no particulars, no outstanding arrears, and no balances; whether he will have an audited copy of these accounts, the Guarantee Fund, etc., prepared showing in the ordinary way the receipts, expenditure, outstanding arrears, and balances, submitted regularly to the various councils concerned; whether he has also observed that, though there were deducted from the Kerry County Council grants sums amounting to over £3,000 in two years, February 1909 and 1911, not one shilling of this amount was subsequently remitted to the council; whether he is aware that there were in previous years other deductions for defaulting annuitants which also were not remitted, and will he therefore say how he arrives at the fact that there have been no losses to the ratepayers, as all these deductions have been charged on the rates and not subsequently remitted to the councils, even though it is asserted that the amounts have been collected from the annuitants and that there are practically no irrecoverable arrears; and whether he will consider the suggestion to alter in the manner suggested the dates for payment of the dividends on the Land Stock so as to give more time for the collection of the annuities before the deductions are made from the grants or, in other words, to allow in all cases for a hanging gale, and thus obviate all this trouble, and put an end to the dislocation of the local government finances that is taking place and will continue to take place until some such change is made?

My attention has been drawn to the letter of the secretary to the Kerry County Council of the 14th instant. As regards the statement that no part of the arrears when recovered is remitted to the council, this is explained by the fact that, as the annuities payable in the county increase with each successive gale owing to further advances, so the arrears, which average a certain proportion of the annuities, will naturally increase. It follows that the arrears when recovered are only sufficient to meet in part the arrears of the following gale, and the excess has to be drawn from the guarantee fund. While, therefore, there is no permanent loss to the ratepayers, there is a temporary charge on the guarantee fund which may be expected to increase by a small amount each year so long as advances are being made, but which will remain more or less constant when advances cease, and will revert to the ratepayers when the annuities determine. The accounts of the various Departments connected with Irish land purchase are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General, and there does not appear to be any necessity for preparing further detailed accounts with respect to each council concerned, as, having regard to the number of annuities in existence, the trouble involved would entail more expense than the results would justify. The dates for the payment of the dividends could not now be changed without the consent of all the stockholders. Such a change would be of no advantage in the manner indicated, as the date when arrears shall be charged to the guarantee fund is fixed by Section 36 (4) of the Act of 1903, and has reference to the gale day, and not to the date when the dividends are payable.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give the ap- portionment over the various counties of Ireland of the £100,000 announced by the Road Board to be spent in that country on road improvement; and whether he will state the basis for the distribution in the different counties and the reason for such apportionment?

The Road Board have indicated to the County Councils of Ireland the undermentioned sums as the grants they are prepared to make as contributions towards approved schemes of road improvement. The allocation is made broadly on the basis of population modified so as to permit of larger grants being made to counties which have a comparatively small rateable value and a comparatively large mileage of important roads to deal with.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when an opportunity will be given to discuss the action in Ireland of the Development Grant Commissioners?

It is presumed the matter can be discussed on the Estimate for the Development Fund as a whole or on the Estimate for the Treasury.

asked how many candidates presented themselves for examination in Irish at the July examinations for teachers of 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1910; and how many of these qualified for certificates of competency to teach that language in each of these years?

The following statement gives the information reauired:—

asked how many King's scholars presented themselves for examination in Irish for the years 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1910 from each of the colleges; and how many of these qualified for certificates of competency to teach the language, specifying the number of these latter from each college?

The numbers of King's scholars in the various training colleges who were examined in Irish at the July examinations of 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1910, and the number in each college who qualified for certificates of competency to teach the language in national schools, are as follows:—

asked whether, in the sale of estates under the Irish Land Act, 1903, where a minority of the tenants have refused to sign agreements for the purchase of their holdings, it is still in the power of the Estates Commissioners to have these estates inspected and valued; can they include in such sale the outstanding tenants at a price which their inspectors consider fair and equitable between landlord and tenant; and, in the event of the landlord refusing to accept the award of the Commissioners, have they still power to refuse to sanction the sale of such estates?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that before either declaring or refusing to declare any lands fit to be regarded as a separate estate they ascertain whether the vendor owns any other lands in the neighbourhood of those included in the proposed estate, and inquire into the reasons for the exclusion of any such land, and into the cases of any tenants who have not signed purchase agreements, and the Commissioners' ultimate decision is arrived at after consideration of all the facts.

asked the Chief Secretary what has been the result of the negotiations entered into two or three years ago between the Estates Commissioners and the owners of the Porter estate, situated near the town of Carrickmacross, in the county of Monaghan, for the purchase and sale of 337 acres of land from which between forty and fifty tenants were originally evicted; whether the owners of the property in question are prepared to sell on fair terms; and, if so, whether he will make such representations to the Estates Commissioners as will lead to the division of the before-mentioned land among tenants who will bring it under cultivation and thus render it of more value to the neighbourhood in particular, and to the country in general than it now is as let for grazing purposes under the eleven months' system?

The Estates Commissioners have instituted proceedings for the acquisition of 346 acres on this estate under the provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907. The owner has lodged objections to the acquisition of these lands by the Commissioners, and these objections have not yet been determined.

asked the Chief Secretary what reasons the Estates Commissioners hold to justify them in dealing with an estate in advance of its strict order of priority; and whether those brought under his notice last December with reference to the Browne estate, Westmeath, justify dating the priority of that estate as from the time of the first inspection of it?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that before deciding to recommend the Lord Lieutenant to approve of the acceleration of the proceedings in connection with any particular estate pending for sale before them they have regard to the circumstances of such estates and those of others in priority to it. The Commissioners will deal with the estate referred to in its proper order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary what effort, if any, the Estates Commissioners have made to acquire for distribution the untenanted ranch of Lisclogher, on the Tighe estate, Westmeath; whether the agent's assertions have prevented them sending an inspector on the land; and whether they will now ascertain the local facts making this a suitable estate to acquire compulsorily for distribution?

This estate is being sold direct to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and when it is being inspected in order of priority inquiry will be made with reference to the untenanted land referred to.

asked the Chief Secretary from what stage of the procedure the priority of an estate for sale dates in the Estates Commissioners' register; why it is that in the case of the Paget estate, Westmeath, where all the agreements were lodged with the Commissioners on the same day five years ago, one portion was dealt with two years ago, and the tenants on the other portion are still paying interest in lieu of rent in addition to the agreed prices; and if he can now say when they will be relieved of this burden by completion of the sale?

Estates pending before the Estates Commissioners are dealt with in the order of priority laid down in the Regulations made under Section 23 (8) of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and Section 4 of the Irish Land Act, 1909. As regards the property referred to it was sold by the owner in two divisions as two separate estates, and prior to the issue of the existing regulations the Commissioners decided to expedite the proceedings in respect of one estate so as to vest certain holdings without delay in certain evicted tenants reinstated on that estate. The second estate will be dealt with in order of priority.

asked when a vendor of an estate for direct sale to the tenants under the Land Acts of 1903 and 1909 demands a higher price from one or two than from the rest, or when for special reasons purchase is claimed at a lower price, the tenants being willing to buy at such prices as their holdings are found on inspection to be worth, and the vendor forces signature of his agreements by threats of seizure and eviction, whether the Estates Commissioners recognise agreements so obtained in zone cases as valid; and whether, if specific instances are brought under their notice, they will have the holdings valued and the prices cut down to the value?

In direct sales under the Land Purchase Acts the terms of sale are arranged between the vendor and the tenants, and purchase agreements embodying these terms are lodged with the Estates Commissioners. Where the prices come within the zone provisions of Section 1 of the Act of 1903 the holdings are under the Statute security for the agreed prices. Holdings not coming within the provisions are inspected for the purposes of security, and the Commissioners only advance the amount they consider to be secured. When dealing with estates the Commissioners inquire into any allegation that the tenants had been induced to sign purchase agreements by duress or other improper means.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in the case of the estate of A. E. Edgeworth, Esq., D.L., Edgeworthstown, county Longford, for which purchase agreements were lodged two or three years ago, any application has been made to the Estates Commissioners by the landlord or his agent or solicitor to have the agreements amended so as to permit of the addition of a subsequent agreement for the sale of the houses in the town of Edgeworthstown on the property to be included in the sale; whether the Commissioners, in the exercise of their powers under the Act of 1903, have power to amend the said agreements on the basis that where the Commissioners did not fix the value of the joint property to be value for the advance proposed, the tenant in occupation would provide the balance in cash; whether any such amendment would hinder the progress of the sale or affect the priority or bonus; and, if not, will he request the Estates Commissioners to communicate with the solicitors having carriage of sale and request them to carry out the promise made by the landlord to have all the houses and lands joined together in one sale?

The reply to the first paragraph is in the negative. The Estates Commissioners have received a memorial from the town tenants asking that their holdings may be included in the sale of the estate. It is open to the owner to enter into separate agreements for the sale of the town holdings at such prices as may be agreed upon between the parties, and when the estate is reached in order of priority the Commissioners will consider what sums could be advanced on the security of the sites, and the difference between such sums and the prices agreed on could be lodged in cash by the purchasing tenants. These agreements would be future agreements under the Act of 1909, and the annuities would be at 3½ per cent., and the bonus would be on the scale fixed by the first schedule to that Act.

asked why Michael Mahon, Pound Road, Granard, has not been given his old age pension as passed for him by the Granard pension sub-committee; who objected to his being placed on the pension list, and on what grounds; and will it be now paid to him, as his age entitles him to it?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, the Local Government Board have not received any appeal in the case of Michael Mahon, and they have, therefore, no information as to why he has not received a pension.

asked whether, having regard to the fact that the only objection to giving Bridget Reynolds, of Cartrancard, Coolarty, her old age pension in 1909 was that she was then in receipt of outdoor relief, and that this disqualification has now been removed, her claim for the pension since 1st January, 1911, will be admitted and paid as from that date?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on 20th February. The case has not yet come again before the Local Government Board. A pension can only be paid as from the Friday following the date on which a claim is allowed.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, having regard to the shrinkage in the funds available for intermediate education in Ireland due to recent legislation, he will press on the Government the necessity of putting on the Estimates for the present year such a sum as will not only make up the deficit, but will also put Ireland on a footing of equality with England, Scotland, and Wales as regards the grants for intermediate education?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement of my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in the Debate on last Friday that the question of education in Ireland will come under the purview of the Committee proposed to be set up to consider the relations between Imperial and local taxation.

asked why the officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary in county Longford are now all of the Protestant denomination; whether he is aware that until three years ago the county inspector and two of the three district inspectors were Roman Catholics; and whether any religious test is applied in making appointments to the several counties in Ireland, more particularly in those in which any agrarian difficulty exists?

It is impossible to regulate the distribution of the officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary exclusively by denominational considerations. Nor is there any reason for doing so. No religious test is applied in making appointments to the several counties in Ireland.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the wording of the Army Order, dated 20th March last, part of which prescribes: sash, gold and crimson, 2¾ in. wide, two outer rows of gold net, each ¾ in. wide, and a centre row of scarlet net 1¼ in. wide; what steps have been taken to correct such conflicting instructions; why was gold net, which pulls out of shape and is delicate and unreliable, chosen instead of gold lace, which is firmer and more suitable for such a sash; why was not the gold Infantry waistbelt, still possessed by many officers, to go with the present slings, reintroduced for ceremonial wear; and why were the leading military houses not consulted on this matter before the decision was actually arrived at, when the Order itself would have been more clearly worded, and the best choice would have been made?

With the exception of the substitution of "crimson" for "scarlet," it is not admitted that the order could have been made clearer in any way. It must be remembered that the supply is governed by the sealed pattern. Sashes always have been made of net, which is more lasting than lace. It is not considered desirable to reintroduce the old infantry waistbelt. The War Office is in touch with the trade in these matters, and the best choice has been made.

asked the result of the inquiry ordered by the Army Council into the application of John M'Namee, of Ballymahon Street, Longford, for a pension for long service and disease acquired in the Army?

This man has been awarded a pension of 1s. a day for life with effect from the 17th November, 1910. The hon. Member was so informed by letter dated 22nd instant.

asked whether the same facilities can be allowed to Territorial officers for acquiring books of instruction gratis as are now granted to officers of the Regular Army?

Each officer of the Territorial Force is at present supplied gratis with a copy of the Field Service Regulations, Part I., and a copy of the training manual relating to the arm to which he belongs. The extension of these grants proposed by the hon. Member would, I fear, involve a considerable sum of money, for which no public funds are available.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether unskilled labourers employed in the Army Ordnance Department at Woolwich are to have an increase of pay with a minimum wage of 24s. a week; and whether he will give consideration to the case of unskilled labourers working in the Army Ordnance Department at Aldershot, where the minimum wage at present is 19s. a week, with a view to granting them an increase at least as great, having regard to the high cost of living in Aldershot and the surrounding district?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The case of the unskilled labourer at Aldershot is still under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Education, whether he has received communications from the Incorporated Association of Assistant Masters in Secondary Schools requesting him to receive a deputation from that body with reference to matters vitally affecting secondary education; and, if so, whether he is able to accede to this request?

I have arranged to receive a deputation of the Incorporated Association of Assistant Masters in Secondary Schools on Thursday next, 30th March.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the representations made from time to time by His Majesty's Government to the Government of Portugal in connection with the conditions of labour existing in Angola and upon the islands of San Thomé and Principé have been wholly based upon the provisions of the Brussels Act; and whether it is on the Brussels Act alone that His Majesty's Government rely to justify present or future inquiries into, and representations concerning, the state of affairs prevailing in the dependency of a foreign Power?

Any representations which have been made have been of an entirely friendly character, and have been received in that spirit; it has not been necessary to base them upon any treaty provisions hitherto, nor will it, I trust, be necessary to do so in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what newspapers have been warned by the Egyptian Government in the last six months under the Press Acts, and for what reasons; and which newspapers so warned have subsequently been suppressed?

The "Lewa" and "Watan" have both been warned, but I cannot give a complete reply without time for further inquiry.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state, in connection with the number of cases of small-pox so far returned in England and Wales, exclusive of London, in how many cases have the patients been vaccinated, in how many cases have they been re-vaccinated during the last ten years, and in how many were they unvaccinated; and what have been the respective number of deaths in the above three classes of cases?

From the weekly summary of cases of infectious disease notified since 1st January, 1911, to 18th March, 1911, inclusive, eighty-four cases of smallpox were notified in England and Wales, exclusive of London. I have no information showing the vaccinated condition or otherwise of these small-pox patients.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what accommodation is specially reserved for cases of small-pox in small-pox hospitals or other buildings; and what additional accommodation would be available in case of a serious epidemic?

Some 2,000 beds are available at short notice for small-pox cases in London, and this number could be largely increased within no long time if necessity arose. Similar information for the rest of the country is not available in any complete form.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will grant a Return, giving the names, addresses, and previous occupations and date of appointment of all persons selected by the Board of Trade to fill posts in Labour Exchanges?

I presented to the House on 6th April last year a statement showing the principal officers appointed under the Labour Exchanges Act. As I have already stated on previous occasions, it is not customary to publish a detailed return with regard to individuals appointed to situations in the public service, and there does not appear to be any reason for departing from this custom in the present instance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if an inquiry was held regarding the railway collision at Newmarket, county Cork, in October, 1910; if not, why this step was not taken; and, if held, what was the decision arrived at?

No formal inquiry was held into the circumstances attendinng this collision, as the cause of it did not seem to be open to any doubt.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that on pages 106 and 107 of the Accounts of Trade and Navigation, under Sub-head J, the articles unenumerated, including acetate of lime, acetic acid, acetone, carbide of calcium, and sulphate of nickel, are not stated as to quantity, but in value amount to no less than £2,385,564, or more than the value of all the other articles put together that are separately enumerated under that sub-head; and, in view of the growing importance of some of these articles of trade, whether he can arrange in future for a more detailed and complete enumeration of them?

The great diversity of the chemicals imported renders it difficult without undue elaboration to specify separately more than the principal kinds in the Monthly Trade Accounts, but I will see that the question of enlarging the detail given is referred to the Committee which meets annually to consider suggestions for improvements in the Official Trade Records. The hon. Member is probably aware that statistics respecting the particular chemicals mentioned in his question, which constitute only a small portion of the "unenumerated" group, are obtainable from the Annual Statement of Trade.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the reason why letters posted at Aberdeen, addressed to Blackburn, are often delayed a day, having first been sent to a small hamlet in Aberdeenshire, which has not even a post office, instead of to Blackburn, Lancashire; and will he ask the postmaster at Aberdeen to place a notice in the sorting room there that all letters addressed Blackburn without any distinction be sent with the English mail?

I am not aware that letters posted at Aberdeen addressed "Blackburn" are often delayed in the manner stated. In accordance with a well-known and general rule, such a letter should be sent to Blackburn, Lancashire (the only post-town of that name in the United Kingdom), unless indeed it happened to be known that it was intended for a resident in Blackburn, Aberdeenshire.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether, in connection with the free delivery of telegrams within the three-mile limit, the local postmaster is to compute the distance as from the office to the residence of the person by the ordinary public road leading from one place to the other, or as the crow flies in a straight line across country to the person's house; and whether any complaint has been received on the matter from local sub-offices in county Longford?

The distance is computed not as the crow flies, but by the shortest route ordinarily available. I have not received any complaint in the matter from local sub-offices in county Longford.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a resolution from the Sligo Corporation, asking for the instalment of the trunk telephone, not from Enniskillen, but from Dublin, viâ Mullingar, Longford, Boyle, and Carrick-on-Shannon; whether he is aware that this instalment loops up towns with many commercial joint interests, and therefore would be the more likely to be profitable; and will he now direct a further inquiry, with a view to making the connection from Dublin to Sligo direct, viâ Mullingar and Longford?

I have received a copy of the resolution passed by the Sligo Corporation to which the hon. Member refers. An extension of the telephone system from Mullingar to Sligo would be much more costly than the extension from Enniskillen, which forms the basis of the guarantee agreement into which I have entered with the Sligo Harbour Commissioners and others, and from which I am not prepared to depart.

asked the Attorney-General if any appointment had yet been made to the vacancy on the Edgeworthstown magisterial bench; whether, in the case of one gentleman whose name was submitted, any inquiry was made beyond the official inquiry; whether he is aware that any local inquiry is generally made from the political opponents of such gentlemen; and will he direct that a report from an independent source be called for?

No appointment has recently been made to the Edgeworthstown magisterial bench. The names of two local gentlemen are at present under consideration by the Lord Chancellor, and in respect of them the Lord Chancellor has not made any inquiries beyond the usual official inquiries. The Lord Chancellor invariably makes his inquiries regarding candidates for the magistracy in quarters which he is satisfied are independent and reliable.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the use in the Great Grimsby county court of a form of consent to a commitment order in the case of judgment debtors, and to sentences of imprisonment passed upon men on such a document alone, without proof, since the judgment, of means to satisfy the terms of the order made on the judgment; and whether he will state how many debtors have been sent to prison during the last year on such forms of consent, and the total number of commitment orders made during the last year for which the returns are available in the Grimsby district court?

Since my hon. Friend called my attention to this form of consent to a commitment order in the case of judgment debtors I have made inquiries and have been informed that the consent alone is not acted upon by the Court, but that a witness to prove that the debtor has had or has sufficient means to satisfy the order must also attend the court. The judge at the court in question does not always decide in accordance with the terms of the consent. Sometimes he varies these terms, and at others he refuses to make an order of commitment notwithstanding the consent. During the year 1910 the total number of commitment orders made in the Great Grimsby county court was 4,397; the number of consents to an order of commitment was 220, and the number of debtors imprisoned under orders of commitment who had signed forms of consent was 12.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will consider the advisability of reducing the price of the official journal of the Board, in order to secure a wider distribution of that periodical?

The price of the Board's journal was reduced from 1s. to 4d. as from April, 1904, and in 1907 free postage was also allowed. Any further reduction would entail a substantial loss, and the Board do not think that any increase of circulation would be gained. Indeed, the contrary result might arise owing to the fact that traders would be less inclined to push its sale. The suggestion of my hon. Friend will, however, be kept in view.