asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state in how many cases during the year 1910 ordinary leave of absence was granted to surveyors of taxes, where sick-leave was applied for supported by a doctor's certificate; will he say whether this practice has his sanction; and, if not, will he have the usual practice reverted to?

The number of cases referred to by the hon. Member is seven. The circumstances of each case must determine whether sick-leave should be granted when a balance of ordinary leave is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether His Majesty's Government have taken, or propose to take, any steps to cause Reports to be made and rendered available to the public of the subject-matter of, and decisions upon, appeals to referees under the provisions of Section 33 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if, in relation to the sums of £12,415,000 and £435,014 required this year for old age pensions, he can give an approximate estimate of the amounts, respectively, required for England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland?

Only a rough estimate can be given. Subject to this qualification, the total provision may be allocated as follows. (Figures for Wales cannot be separately given):—

Old Age Pension Vote, England and Wales	£8,387,700
Old Age Pension Vote, Scotland	1,260,000
Old Age Pension Vote, Ireland	2,767,300
Total	£12,415,000

Other Votes—England and Wales.	£289,332
Other Votes—Scotland	43,673
Other Votes—Ireland	102,009
Total	£435,014

Totals—all Votes—
England and Wales	£8,677,032
Scotland	1,303,673
Ireland	2,869,309
Total	£12,850,014

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state whether Margaret Higgins, of Mill Rock, Cavan, P.O.R. No. 24, is receiving a pension, and, if not, will he state why she has been refused; and, if she is now qualified, will instructions be issued to have her paid at once, not only the pension, but arrears due to date of first payment?

I am inquiring into this case, and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked why the Local Government Board, on the appeal of the pension officer, deprived David Sheelan, of Tournafulla, Newcastle West, county Limerick, of an old age pension, having regard to the fact that three old men, whose ages range from seventy-five to ninety years, and who knew him from childhood, stated to the local pension committee that he was seventy-two years of age?

The documents relating to this case are not now in the possession of the Local Government Board, but they have no record of having received the testimony of more than one old person as to David Sheehan's age. Sheehan's parents were traced in the Census Return of 1841, but they were not recorded as having any children at that date, the presumption therefore being that Sheehan was then unborn. Under the circumstances the Board upheld the pension officer's appeal on the ground that there was no satisfactory evidence of Sheehan having reached the statutory age.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, on his recent visit to Dublin, the chairman of the Road Board invited representatives of the Corporation to meet him, or agreed to receive such representatives, for the purpose of discussing the exclusion of boroughs from the benefit of the Road Fund, and did meet them for that purpose; whether, after having listened to them, he informed them that the Road Board had already arrived at their decision and would not alter it; and whether he acted in the matter with the concurrence of the other members of the Board?

The Road Board, at the request of the Corporation of Dublin, agreed to receive representatives for the purpose of conferring with them as to application made by the corporation for advances out of the Road Improvement Fund. At the Conference the Chairman of the Board, after hearing the representatives of the corporation, informed them that the Board were not prepared to make any grant to the Corporation of Dublin at the present time. The Board have concurred in this decision.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury is responsible for the fixing of the small sum proposed to be allotted to Ireland under the Road Improvement Act; whether he has received representations of protest from Irish public bodies on the subject; and what action does he propose to take in reference thereto?

The Road Board have allocated for the purpose of Irish grants a sum of approximately £150,000 out of the estimated amount of the Road Improvement Fund up to the 31st March, 1912, and the Board propose out of the sum so allocated to make grants towards approved schemes of road improvement in Ireland. All such grants will be subject to the approval of the Treasury. Representations have been received from some Irish public bodies expressing dissatisfaction with the amount allocated to Ireland. No action is proposed to be taken in reference thereto.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the cases of Foreign and Colonial securities held by trustees residing in this country, in trust for a person residing abroad, the interest or dividends on such securities are exempt from the payment of Income Tax under Section 71 of the Finance Act, 1910?

The reply is in the negative, unless the case is one which falls within the provisions of Section 13 of the Revenue Act, 1911.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many gallons of homemade and foreign spirits respectively were Duty paid for Home consumption during the year ended 31st March, 1911?

This information will be published according to the usual practice with the Trade Returns for the month of April.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the number of labourers holding union cottages in Ireland who have been provided with turbary under Section 24 of the Labourers Act, 1906?

The statistics of the Estates Commissioners do not segregate the number of agricultural labourers who have been deemed occupiers of land for the purposes of the turbary regulations under Section 21 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and Section 24 of the Labourers Act, 1906.

asked whether the purchase money of the estate of W. L. Marshall, Callinaferry, Milltown, county Kerry, was paid to the vendor in July, 1909; that one of the tenants wrote to the Estates Commissioners in June, 1909, asking for the cause of the delay in vesting their holdings in the tenants, and no reference was then made to the delay in executing the deed regarding the embankment; whether the Chief Secretary is aware that all interest ceased to be paid to the vendor in July, 1909; and whether he is aware that, as there is no untenanted land, and as no improvements whatever have been made, and no expense incurred in this estate since then, the National Debt Commissioners have made a profit of over £270 per annum since on this estate; whether the Estates Commissioners who are responsible propose any compensation to the tenants for this loss?

The purchase money of this estate was advanced in July, 1909. The Estates Commissioners cannot trace the receipt of the letter referred to, and they cannot admit any responsibility for the delay. The income derived from estates purchased by the Commissioners goes to a common fund, which is utilised by the Land Commission to meet, not only the interest payable to vendors, but also the interest payable to the National Debt Commissioners on the purchase money from the date of the advance, as well as the expenses of management and the payment of local rates and taxes on untenanted land pending resale. The tenants on this estate are paying the minimum rate of interest laid down in the Act of 1903, and the Commissioners have no power to devote the surplus income derived from any particular estate to the improvement of that estate, as suggested by the hon. Member. If improvements are considered necessary, they are provided for from the Land Commission Vote.

asked whether the following estates have been offered to the Congested Districts Board for purchase, namely, the Sugene estate, Coomacullen, Glenflesk, the O'Connell estate, Scart, Gortalea, the Steward Hisbit estate, Glenflesk, and the Eager estate, Glenflesk, all in East Kerry; and whether, seeing that, owing to the size and character of the holdings, they are peculiarly suited for the operations of the Congested District Board steps will be taken to secure for the poor people on those estates the benefits of purchase as well as the assistance which the Congested Districts Board gives only to estates which they have purchased?

None of the estates referred to in the question have been offered to the Congested Districts Board with the exception of the O'Connell estate. This estate was offered to the Estates Commissioners, who recently suggested that the Board should purchase it, and the matter is at present under consideration. A decision will be arrived at as soon as possible.

asked whether any inspection has yet taken place on the Ormath-waite estate, in North Kerry, in connection with the numerous complaints made by the tenants, who have signed purchase agreements, as to the continued flooding of their lands and the necessity of the upkeep of the embankments; and whether adequate protection will be given to these tenants by the Estates Commissioners before vesting orders are issued to them?

I have nothing to add to my reply to a similar question asked by the hon. Member on 28th November last.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have purchased the estate of Colonel B. T. Mahons, situated at Monivea, county Galway; if not, are negotiations, with a view of purchase, still going on; and whether, with a view to facilitating the relief of congestion in the locality, if the Board will secure the division of the Belleville estate in conjunction with the Ryehill and Ablurt estates?

The estate of Colonel B. T. Mahon, in county Galway, has been inspected, and the Congested Districts Board have decided to make an offer for it.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received from the Kerry County Council a resolution complaining of the negligence of the Estates Commissioners in dealing with the evicted tenants in Kerry; and what steps does he propose to take in the matter?

I have received the resolution referred to. There has been no negligence on the part of the Estates Commissioners in dealing with the applications of evicted tenants in county Kerry. Three hundred and twenty-three evicted tenants have been reinstated in their former holdings, or provided with other holdings, and the cases of any evicted tenants who have been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land will be dealt with as soon as practicable.

asked whether Mr. Frank Butler, an evicted tenant, of Cool-bane, Killorglin, has been sued for interest by the Estates Commissioners; whether the Chief Secretary has several times applied for the grant sanctioned in his case; whether immediate steps will be taken to have the grant given so that he may make the old house habitable and set to work on his land; how did the Estates Commissioners expect that a penniless evicted tenant was to work his farm as a dairy farm before he got a grant for stocking and building; and if steps will be taken to have the civil bill issued against him immediately withdrawn?

The holding formerly occupied by Butler was in the occupation of another tenant, who entered into an agreement to purchase from the landlord. Subsequently this tenant's interest was put up for sale, and was bought by Butler. The Estates Commissioners had the holding inspected, and as they did not consider it security for the advance applied for in the purchase agreement, the landlord agreed to accept the amount which they were prepared to advance. As already stated in reply to the hon Member's question for the 30th March the Commissioners also sanctioned free grants of £80 for stock, and £80 for buildings; but as their Inspector was informed that Butler had made a grazing letting of the lands, which would not expire till the present month, they held over the expenditure of the grant for stock until he had the farm available for it. The Commissioners are not aware that Butler has several times applied for the grant, and if he is now in a position to work the farm and so inform the Commissioners, they will take the necessary steps to expend the grant for stock, and will also expend the grant for building. Butler is liable under the purchase agreement for interest in lieu of lent, and the Commissioners have no power to remit this interest.

asked if the sale of salmon legally caught by rod and line in Ireland is prohibited in England between the 3rd September and 2nd February; and, if so, will he confer with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries with a view to the removal of the restriction which renders useless to a number of fishermen of the poorer class in Ireland the earlier opening of the angling season recently sanctioned by his Department?

Under the provisions of the statute law rod-caught salmon cannot be sold in England between 3rd September and 1st February. The only recent case in which an angling season beginning earlier than the 1st February was fixed by the Department affects part of the Killarney district, and the small amount of fish from such part that could be sent to England before the 1st February would not justify any change in an enactment which has for its object restriction on the sale of poached fish and the general protection of the salmon fisheries.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he had yet come to a decision as to how the funds contributed by the Irish county councils can be in part devoted to enabling exceptionally clever boys and girls from the primary schools to obtain a university training?

The Irish county councils can raise money to maintain clever boys and girls at the university. The gap between the primary schools and the university must, as the law now stands, be filled by funds derived from other sources. I do not propose to introduce legislation on the subject.

asked what was the total shortage in the payments to Irish local authorities from the Local Taxation Account (Ireland) for the financial year ending 31st March last, and what is the estimated shortage for the financial year ending 31st March, 1912?

The hon. Member presumably refers to the Local Taxation Account formed under Section 58 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898. The income of that account for the year ended 31st March last) inclusive of a balance brought forward at the commencement of the year, was insufficient by the sum of £56,357 to meet the sums payable from the account in the same period. It is not possible at the present date to estimate the assets and liabilities of the account for the financial year ending 31st March, 1912.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has again pressed the Treasury to make a grant sufficient to enable the Local Taxation Account (Ireland) to discharge its usual obligations to Irish local authorities, and with what result?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to a question asked on 3rd April by the hon. Member for South Berkshire. The whole question of local taxation is under the consideration of this Committee, whose report must be awaited.

asked the Chief Secretary the number of evicted tenants in the county Cavan whose cases have been inquired into and passed, but who have not yet been provided with land; and whether he proposes to take any steps to hasten the process of reinstatement?

There are twenty-four evicted tenants in county Cavan whose names have been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land acquired by the Estates Commissioners, but who have not yet been provided with holdings. The Commissioners are at present in negotiations for certain untenanted lands in the county, and it may be possible to consider the applications of some of these tenants in connection with these lands.

asked if the Estates Commissioners have listed the case of Thomas Sproulle, of Ederney, county Fermanagh, an evicted tenant on the Burnside estate, as one to be dealt with under the Evicted Tenants Act; and will they soon be in a position to deal with the case?

The Estates Commissioners have received an application from Thomas Sproulle for reinstatement in a holding on the Burnside estate formerly occupied by him, and now in the occupation of another tenant, and have decided to take no action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary when the Return of the Agricultural Prices (Ireland), moved for by the hon. Member for Enfield on the 22nd February, will be available?

I understand that this Return was circulated yesterday.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can explain the circumstances under which Mr. Patrick J. Clarke ceased to be stocktaker for the Dundalk Union; whether he acted as stocktaker for the past eight years without any complaint whatever being made against him; has he been deprived of his position by the guardians because of his political opinions; is he aware that they have elected in his stead a man named John Ward; is he aware that this man, when stocktaking eight years ago, sent in a return showing that the then master had a certain amount of tea in stock, and that a committee of the guardians found, when examining the stock, there were nine chests of tea short; and is it the intention of the Local Government Board to sanction the appointment of this man?

Stocktakers are appointed for each half year, and on the last occasion the guardians selected Mr. John Ward. Mr. Clarke, who appears to have acted as stocktaker from 1904 to 1909 inclusive, was also a candidate for the position, but the Local Government Board are not aware why the guardians selected Mr. Ward in preference on the last occasion. The sanction of the Board is not necessary to Mr. Ward's appointment, but they will make inquiries as to the irregularity mentioned.

asked the Chief Secretary why the board of management of the Glin district school have not got the full grant to 30th September, 1910, for medical and educational purposes; whether he is aware that the deficit amounts to £97 3s. 7d.; and whether he will press on the Treasury the great necessity there is for giving the full grant for the efficient working of this school?

Owing to the insufficiency of the amount paid under Section 58 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, to the Local Taxation (Ireland) Account in the year ended 31st March to meet the sums payable thereout in the same period under the Section, as amended by the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1902, the Lord Lieutenant deemed it necessary, in pursuance of the provisions of Subsection (5) of Section 58, to make an Order directing a proportionate abatement of the sums as payable, having regard to the said insufficiency. In accordance with this Order, full recoupment was not made in the case mentioned by the hon. Member, the board of management being duly informed of the fact. The amount of abatement is as stated. I am not aware of any reason why the Glin District School should be treated differently from any other Poor Law institution in this matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if representations have been received from the Commonwealth of Australia Government respecting the case of Mr. John Orme, a native of Victoria, Australia, who was employed under the director of the Imperial Military Railways during the South African War, and whilst serving in that capacity suffered an accident which caused permanent disablement; whether, in response to such representations, the case has been further investigated; and, if so, with what result?

No such representations have as yet been received.

asked whether, in view of the fact that the Coronation day and the day following will be public holidays in the county of London, it is intended that the workpeople employed in the Enfield Small Arms Factory, Pimlico Clothing Factory, Woolwich Arsenal, and Waltham Abbey Gunpowder Factory shall be granted and be paid for such holidays?

Enfield and Waltham are not in the county of London and the question as regards the workpeople employed there is being considered. With these exceptions the answer is in the affirmative. I will inform my hon. Friend as soon as the question of Enfield and Waltham has been decided.

asked if companies of boys' brigades are no longer allowed the privilege of hiring camp equipment except they become recognised as cadet units through the Territorial Force associations; whether the Under-Secretary for War is aware that acceptance of official recognition by the Army Council would be detrimental to the primary object of boys' brigades; and whether further consideration will be given to the question with a view to restoring to the brigades the privilege thus withdrawn, as otherwise the cost of camp will become prohibitive?

asked whether the recent decision arrived at to refuse the loan of camp equipment for encampments to boy scouts, unless they receive official recognition, will in some cases prevent the boys from having their usual annual encampments; and whether he will sanction the issue of this equipment from ordnance stores, provided that it is available, in order that the valuable work that the boy scout movement is doing shall be encouraged as much as possible?

The policy of the Government towards such bodies as the Boys' Brigades and the Boy Scouts has been fully explained to the House. It is not considered justifiable to give military aid to bodies which do not comply with any military requirements and maintain no military connection.

asked what are the reasons for making the new appointment of a retired officer employed as messing adviser at the War Office, in addition to the director of supplies and the deputy-assistant director; what are the duties attaching to the office, and by whom were these duties previously performed; what are the expenses that bring the total vote for this new office to £800, though the salary is only £300; and who is to be the first holder of the office?

It is considered necessary to appoint an officer having special qualifications as a messing expert and judge of the quality of the various articles of diet, to visit units and advise commanding officers both as regards price and quality of supplies other than those of the free issue, and as to best methods of cooking and serving, and thus ensure a certain standardisation of messing arrangements throughout the Army. Such duties have not hitherto been specifically allotted to anyone. As regard the Vote, the sum of £800 is composed of £500 for the retired pay of the retired officer and £300 for the salary of the post. The name of the officer will be announced in due course.

asked if, in view of the non-existence of quarters for officers quartered at Tidworth, necessitating their residing at Salisbury and Andover, the same facilities for medical attendance by civil practitioners may be granted to officers residing at Andover as to those residing at Salisbury?

Under the regulations officers are only entitled to medical attendance at stations such as Salisbury, where there is a regular or civilian medical practitioner employed for attending on the troops, and then only if their residence is within the prescribed mileage limit. I regret to say that it is impracticable to make any exception to this rule at present without involving considerable extra expense for which no funds are available. But the matters shall be carefully considered.

asked the Home Secretary whether Sir E. Ruggles-Brise, K.C.B., attended the recent International Prison Congress held at Washington, in the United States, as representing the United Kingdom; and whether, in view of the wide public interest in the subject of the Congress, he will lay the Report made by the British representative upon the Table?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the second part, the Report was laid on the Table of the House on the. 27th ultimo and will, I am informed, be issued to Members this week.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether gold coins constitute an important form of currency in India; if so, where and to what amount are they current; whether his attention was drawn to the Simla dispatch of the Government of India to the Bombay Chamber of Commerce, referring to the experiment of 1900 when a million and a quarter sovereigns had been forced into the circulation, and which states as the result that the Treasuries, the Post Office, and the Presidency banks co-operated in special measures for the issue of gold, but the great bulk of these issues promptly came back to the banks and the Treasuries, and the experiment had ultimately to be abandoned; whether the experiment has since been renewed so that gold coins are now an important form of currency, as the Under-Secretary states; and, if so, what sovereigns are to-day estimated to be current outside the Treasuries, the Post office, and the banks?

The Government of India reported in 1906 that in their opinion the balance of evidence supported the conclusion that the use of sovereigns as currency was increasing; and they have subsequently drawn the Secretary of State's attention to further indications of its extended use. Moreover, since 1906 there have been very considerable net imports of sovereigns into India from abroad, and there has also been a steady flow of sovereigns from and into Government treasuries in India. These are some of the grounds for holding that sovereigns are an important form of currency in India. But the hon. Member will understand that I am not able to state either the exact number or the exact location of the sovereigns now in circulation, and I am unwilling to offer information that is not exact. No communication from the Government of India answering to the description given by the hon. Member appears to have been submitted to the Secretary of State; but, if the date is supplied, it will, no doubt, be possible to trace the letter. No attempt is made in India to force gold into circulation; but gold coins are issued, where practicable, from Government treasuries to persons who wish to receive them in payment for sums due from the Government or in exchange for rupees.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, whether of the estimated eighteen millions sterling of gold absorbed by India during the past year the Indian currency reserve retained only £1,300,000; and, if so, did the balance of £16,700,000 pass into hoards, or did a considerable portion pass into currency?

The figures quoted by the hon. Member are very considerably at variance with those supplied by the Government of India to the Secretary of State, which show that the net imports of gold into India in 1910 were as follows:

	£
Bullion	7,448,068
Sovereigns and other British coin	7,772,301
Other gold coin	198,794
Total	15,419,163

and that during the year the gold held in India in the paper currency reserve increased by £625,000. I cannot say what portion of the net imports of gold and of the gold issued from the paper currency reserve went into use as currency and what portion was employed for other purposes, such as hoarding. The hon. Member will understand that in India, as elsewhere, a Government inquiry into the number and amount of hoards accumulated by individuals would be extremely difficult.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether His Highness the Nawab of Junagarh, having died, the State has been taken under administration and a civilian appointed administrator over the heads of all the senior men in the Bombay Political Department; whether these administrators are regarded as the special prizes of the political service, and why the military officers of the Bombay political service have been nearly invariably passed over, and the administrations given to young covenanted civilians; whether he is aware that such action deprives the Bombay political service of the relief such appointments would give to the present block in promotion, besides casting a slur on the abilities of the officers as administrators; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made with the view of securing a fairer division of these appointments between the two services?

The Secretary of State has not yet received official information of the appointment, but he will inquire. I must dissent from the doctrine that because an officer of one department is appointed to a post a slur is cast upon the abilities of other officers of the same or other departments who have not been appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state when he expects to be in a position to state the results of recent negotiations between this country and Japan regarding the duties to be levied under the impendind new Japanese tariff?

The hon. Member will find the answer to his question in the Paper which will be laid before the House this evening.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he proposes to publish the Consular Reports in regard to the condition of affairs in the Congo Free State; and, if so, when?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It is my intention to publish a collection of Consular Reports when I receive those of two Consular officers who are at present on tour in the Congo State.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the advisability of appointing a Royal Commission on the Pictures in the United Kingdom similar to that of the Royal Commission on Manuscripts?

I am not quite sure that I understand the hon. Member's suggestion. The Historical Manuscripts Commission is engaged in calendaring and reproducing, with the consent of the owners, manuscripts of interest in private possession. I think that a similar proposal with regard to pictures would not be equally well received.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether children are liable to contribute to the support of parents in receipt of out-door relief; and whether he is aware that boards of guardians attempt to exact payments to the inconvenience and expense of working people?

Children who are of sufficient ability are liable to contribute to the support of their parents. Boards of guardians are entitled to obtain from the justices orders of maintenance upon relations who are liable to maintain any poor person.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is intended to abolish the office of collector of Customs at Llanelly, with the view to making it subordinate to that of Swansea; and, if so, whether, in face of the local opposition and the inconvenience which the change will cause to traders, he will reconsider the matter?

I am informed by the Board of Customs and Excise that no such proposal is before them.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the delay in sending through his Department any definite answer to communications sent by the secretary of Manchester Postmen, on 6th March, 3 909, to the surveyor, concerning the duties of head and assistant head postmen, and other communications concerning alterations applying to Bank Holidays occurring when men are on annual leave; and whether he can now cause definite replies to be sent to the secretary?

The general question of the duties proper to be allotted to postmen acting as head and assistant head postmen throughout the country has been under consideration, and as the matter is one of some complexity it has not been possible to give a definite reply to the representations from the Manchester branch of the Postmen's Federation. The inquiries are proceeding, and I hope that a settlement will soon be arrived at. A reply was sent last year on the question of Bank Holidays occurring during annual leave. I regret that there was some delay in dealing with a further memorial on the subject, but an answer has now been sent.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state what is the total capital cost up to date of the settlement of crofters in Kilmuir and Vatersay, respectively, and how many crofters have been settled; what further expenditure is anticipated, and how many more crofts are contemplated under it; and what is the annual cost of administering these estates?

Information on these questions will be given in the forthcoming Report of the Congested Districts Board for the year ending on the 31st of last month.

asked what was the total sum expended on the crofters' houses erected by the Congested Districts Board near Stornoway, recently condemned by the sheriff; and what is the rent now payable for these houses and lands?

Assuming the hon. Member to refer to the crofters' houses at Aignish, I cannot accept his reference to them as having been condemned by the sheriff as accurate. The total cost of erecting the thirty-two houses was £4,735. The rents for the land, payable to the landlord amount to £94 4s. a year, in addition to which annuities to the amount of £142 2s. 8d. are payable to the Congested Districts Board.

asked what has been the average cost for the last three years of the administration of the Congested Districts Board and the Crofter Commission; and what percentage of the total rents fixed under the Crofters Acts does this represent?

The average administration expenditure for the three years ending 31st March, 1910, of the Congested Districts Board is £1,704 14s. 11d.; and that of the Crofters Commission is £4,211 14s. 4d. These two sums together represent 8.95 per cent. of the total rents fixed by the Crofters Commission down to 31st December, 1909. I would demur, however, to the possible inference that this percentage represents the full measure of the beneficial operation of the administrative system referred to.

asked how long the property of Syre has been administered by the Congested Districts Board; what is the annual value of this property judicially settled by the Crofter Commission; and what arrears of rent and interest have been accumulated on these judicial rents during the period of the administration by the Congested Districts Board?

The Board purchased the property of Syre from the Duke of Sutherland at Whit Sunday, 1901. There was no question of settlement of rent by the Crofters' Commission, as the holdings were not dealt with under the Crofters Act, but sold on the basis of payment by annuities spread over fifty years. An account of the scheme will be found in Appendix No. II. of the Third Report of the Congested Districts Board (1900–01), and the subsequent reports show the amounts payable and paid. Appendix X. to the Twelfth Report shows that the total amount payable for principal and interest to Martinmas, 1909, was £3,577 13s. 6d., while the amount paid was £3,005 5s. 3d.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he has any official information showing that the Scottish miners at four Lanarkshire pits have left work owing to the Poles, who claim to be in the majority, demanding that the British checkweighers should be displaced by Russians; if so, whether he will state what is the number of aliens employed at the pits referred to; and if he will give a guarantee that British checkweighers will not be displaced by aliens?

I have made inquiries, and am informed that at one of the four pits referred to, the Poles, being dissatisfied with the checkweigher, have attempted to substitute another, who, however, is also a Scotchman. The matter has now been brought before the courts, and is still unsettled. I am not aware that the Scottish miners have left work. The number of Poles employed underground at the pit is ninety-one, the number of British, twenty-five; the total number of Poles at all four pits is 140, of British, 336. The right of appointment of checkweigher rests with the men, and the mode of appointment is regulated by the statutes; and I have no power to take any action in the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture: (1) whether two or three hundred employés of the Ordnance Survey Department who have had previous experience in field work, but are now employed in the office, have been ordered to hold themselves in readiness for employment away from their homes on work required for the land valuation; and, if so, what allowances these men will receive when employed on land valuation work away from their homes; also (2) whether employés of the Ordnance Survey Department employed away from their homes on tithe redemption work, and on temporary transfer to the Board of Agriculture, and on the one-inch survey revision work are allowed travelling and subsistence allowance at the rate of 3s. 6d. per night; and, if so, whether it is proposed to make the same allowance to men employed on land valuation work?

About one hundred Ordnance Survey assistants at present working at the various survey offices have been informed that they will be required to take up revision work in the field for land valuation purposes. The work does not differ in character from the normal work of the survey and no special remuneration could properly be given in respect of it. But it is proposed that an allowance of 3s. 6d. for the first three nights of absence and 2s. for the next twelve nights should be given where an assistant is moved from a division office to the field and no sufficient notice can be given to enable him to make the necessary arrangements, and we have also asked for authority to pay an extra allowance when an assistant in the field is moved more frequently than is usually the case. An assistant employed away from his home on tithe redemption work receives an allowance of 3s. 6d. per night for the first three nights and 2s. per night afterwards. On temporary transfer to the Board he is allowed 3s. 6d. per night to include 1s. special London allowance and when he is employed on one-inch revision work he is allowed 3s. 6d. per night up to a maximum of ten nights at any one station.