asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Committee considering the adjustment of Imperial and local taxation are empowered to hear, and will hear, evidence?

The Committee are empowered to hear evidence. Whether they will do so or not depends on their own choice.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention had been drawn to a meeting held in Dublin on Saturday last of representatives of the various Irish Asylums, forming an Irish Division of the Asylum Workers' Association; whether he had noted that this meeting passed resolutions in favour of the principles of the Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Newton; could he state what consideration the Irish Government intend to give to the proposals for the betterment of the position of Irish Asylum Workers; and whether he will assist the passage into law of the Bill now before Parliament in the protection of their interests?

I have seen a newspaper report of the meeting referred to, at which resolutions were passed in favour of the principles of the Bill. The Bill has only recently been circulated, and I have not yet had time to consider its proposals.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government Board have yet decided the appeal in the case of Thomas Casey, Anhid, Croom; whether he is aware that Casey's claim was passed three times by the local pension committee; what is the reason of the Local Government Board not having decided the last appeal, it having been made in August, 1910; has the Local Government Board been informed by the applicant that in 1847 he was imprisoned in Croom bride-well for one week on the charge of having been caught in the act of stealing a turnip from the garden of a local gentleman, Casey having been at that time eleven years old; and, in view of such a statement, will the pension be kept from him?

On 3rd April the Local Government Board gave a decision upholding the pension officer's appeal against the decision of the local pension sub-committee of 10th August, 1910, awarding Thomas Casey a pension of five shillings a week. It is not the fact that Casey's claim was passed three times by the sub-committee, as, on a question raised by the pension officer on the ground that Casey had not reached the statutory age, they determined on 9th May, 1910, that he was not entitled to a pension, a decision against which Casey appealed. The delay in dealing with the claim allowed by the pension sub-committee in August last was due to the failure of the clerk of the sub-committee to forward the necessary documents. Casey made no statement to the Board as to his having been imprisoned in 1847.

asked the Chief Secretary if representations have reached the Estates Commissioners from the Crannagh, Tynagh, county Galway, tenants on the estate of the Earl of Westmeath; is he aware of the state of congestion which exists in this district; and will he take steps to secure the grazing farms in the Crannagh district in the interests of the small farmers of the neighbourhood?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the memorial referred to has been received, and will be considered by them when this estate is being dealt with in order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that in November, 1907, the Estates Commissioners wrote to the hon. Member for Mid-Cork, who was then acting as secretary to the Cork advisory committee, stating that Cornelius Geary's application for reinstatement in a holding on the Lady Annaly estate had been inquired into, and that his name had been placed on the approved list; if he can state whether any steps have since been taken to carry out the intentions of the Commissioners by providing this man with a suitable holding; and if he will state how the matter stands at present?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from Cornelius Geary for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him on the estate of Lord Annaly, county Limerick, and provisionally noted his name for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land acquired by them. On further inquiry and consideration the Commissioners decided to take no action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will furnish a copy of the deed of trust signed by the trustees for Moorestown lands on behalf of the town tenants of Kilfinane; can he state who recommended these trustees to the Estates Commissioners, and what security each of them has given for the due and effective discharge of his trust; have the conditions of the trust been so far equitably carried out; and if there be a breach of it, in whose hands will the remedy lie?

A copy of the form of undertaking signed by the trustees referred to, can be obtained at the office of the Land Commission by any interested party on compliance with the usual conditions. The trustees were appointed by the Estates Commissioners after due inquiry and consideration in the exercise of the discretion vested in them. The scheme will be prepared under Sections 4 and 20 of the Irish Land Act 1903, and will contain the statutory provisions for the appointment of new trustees if necessary, and for an appeal to the Lord Lieutenant by any person aggrieved by any action or omission of any trustee in carrying the scheme into effect, and for enabling the Lord Lieutenant on the hearing of any such appeal to make such order as may appear to him just.

asked whether the son of Mrs. Ellen Galvin, Baurnecourt, stated to be an evicted tenant, is now restored to the holding formerly occupied by his family; if so, why has his mother been allotted sixty acres of the lands of Moorestown, Kilfinane, thus depriving the poorer inhabitant occupiers of the town of Kilfinane of small allotments; have the thirty acres given to trustees for the Kilfinane town tenants been subdivided into thirty plots and allocated to certain tenants; will any provision be made for the forty remaining landless householders of the town; has a plot of land been given to an ex-sergeant of the Royal Irish Constabulary named John Caughlan, and another plot to a man named Thomas Roche, who is now disposing by auction of land already in his possession: and have two more plots been given to shopkeepers well able to purchase land if they need it, whilst deserving labourers and artisans are kept out of any portion of this land?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Mrs. Galvin's son has not been allotted any land on the Moorestown (Little) Estate, county Limerick, but Mrs. Galvin, who is the widow and representative of an evicted tenant, has been allotted a holding on this estate. The Commissioners are not aware that her son has been restored to his parents' original holding. A scheme for the user of the thirty acres referred to has not yet been framed. The Commissioners cannot trace the names of John Coughlan or Thomas Roche amongst the allottees in the division of this estate.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that three evicted farms in the townlands of Coolalisheen, Ballynaparka, and Letrim, respectively, all on the estate of Mrs. Caroline Bourke, Ilicklach, Fermoy, were published in the "Dublin Gazette" of 17th June, 1910, for compulsory acquisition; was the Coolalisheen farm inspected in July last by the Estates Commissioners' inspector, and was a notice objecting to the acquisition of it lodged by Mrs. Bourke; as a result, have the Estates Commissioners withdrawn all proceedings for the compulsory acquisition of the farm; if so, can a copy of the notice of objection and a copy of the inspector's report be laid upon the Table of the House, or, failing this, can the documents be inspected at the Estates Commissioners' Office, Dublin; and when, approximately, will the farms, Ballynaparka and Letrim, formerly occupied by Patrick Myles, be in the hands of the Estates Commissioners?

The Estates Commissioners instituted proceedings for the acquisition, under the compulsory provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, of the lands of Coolalisheen, Ballynaparka, N., and Letrim, on the estate of Mrs. Bourke, county Cork. The owner lodged an objection under Section 2 (1) of the Act, and the Commissioners after consideration discontinued the proceedings as regards Coolalisheen. They have made an offer for the other lands, but the owner has lodged a petition under Section 2 (5) of the Evicted Tenants Act, which has not yet been determined. The objection lodged by the owner is a filed document and can be inspected at the offices of the Commissioners. The reports of the Commissioners' inspectors are not available to the public.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Miss Mollie Hayes, of Lodge Hospital, county Limerick, an applicant for admission to one of the dairy schools conducted by the Department of Agriculture, received a letter on 30th March from the Secretary of the Department asking if she was in readiness to enter Cookstown School on 4th April, and, if she was not, stating that her name would be erased from the list of applicants, is he aware that Miss Hayes replied in the affirmative, and on the strength of the message from the Department gave up her employment and expended money on the purchase of the necessary outfit; and that, on the eve of her departure for Cookstown, she received a telegram from the Department informing her that there was no vacancy at Cookstown School; and will the Department make her any allowance in compensation for the loss of her employment, or engage to find admission for her to a dairy school without further delay?

I am informed by the Department of Agriculture that a notice inquiring whether Miss Hayes would be in readiness to enter the Ulster Dairy School, Cookstown, on the 4th instant, provided a vacancy for her was found to exist, was sent to Miss Hayes on 28th March, and it was expected that some additional vacancies would occur. It did not state that Miss Hayes' name would be erased from the list of applicants it she was not ready to enter. The notice was not an admission order, but stated distinctly that admission orders would be issued to applicants for whom there were vacancies. The additional vacancies did not occur, and Miss Hayes was notified to that effect as soon as it was ascertained that she could not be admitted. She was at the same time informed that her name would be retained on the register for admission to the session beginning in July next. This is the earliest date on which she could be admitted to the Ulster or other Dairy School. As any loss which Miss Hayes may have sustained through resignation of her employment is due to her having acted in anticipation of receiving an admission order, the Department cannot accept any responsibility in the matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Turkish Government have given a contract to a British firm to build two "Dreadnoughts" without guns at a cost of £51 a ton; whether for an identical standard of vessel the British Government is paying £63 a ton; whether the difference in cost is due to a combine amongst the English makers of armoured plate; and, if so, whether the Admiralty propose taking any action in the matter with a view to safeguarding the interests of the British taxpayer?

With regard to the first and second parts of the question, I must refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave on the 12th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford. As to the remainder of the question, it is the Admiralty policy in the matter of shipbuilding that—with the exception of a small number of specialities manufactured abroad, a list of which is set forth on page 2 of the Return in the name of the hon. Member for Worcester, and dated the 8th June, 1910, all material should be made under inspection in this country. This policy restricts the area of competition, but it is the fact that, consistent with it, we have been able to make substantial re- ductions in the cost of armour plate within the past few years.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to a notice issued at Woolwich Arsenal on or about 18th March stating that, under order of the Master-General of Ordnance, with the exception of seventeen men, no more transfers from the torpedo factory were to take place this financial year, and that all previous approvals were cancelled; whether he is aware that some time previously to last March in the case of a number of men transfers to other departments in the Arsenal had been arranged, but that in some instances such transfers were at the moment not carried into effect on account of certain work of a skilled nature that was required before the closing down of the torpedo factory; and, seeing that these men so retained to suit the temporary convenience of the authorities have now lost their chance of transfer and are under notice of dismissal, will he state what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The men referred to have not lost their chance of transfer or re-engagement, but until work is available for them in other departments it is not possible to give them employment. Such discharge does not in any way interfere with the reckoning of previous service when re-engaged provided gratuity has not been paid.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the extended facilities for pursuing degree courses which it was proposed to offer to students in training at universities would be offered also to students in training at university colleges in receipt of Treasury grants?

The facilities referred to will be available to students in training at all university colleges in receipt of Treasury grants which are able to comply with the conditions laid down in the forthcoming regulations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he could state the number of vessels sailing under the British flag, and the number collectively of their crews, according to his latest information; the date on which such record was made up; the number of British-born subjects employed on board these vessels; the number of foreigners employed on board those vessels, exclusive of Asiatics; the number of Lascars and other British subjects; and the number of Chinese and other Orientals employed on board those vessels?

The number of vessels belonging to the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, Channel Islands, and British Possessions, and registered under Part I. of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, was in 1909, 38,798, amounting to 13,348,013 tons. No information is available as regards the number of persons employed on Colonial vessels, and as regards vessels belonging to the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands, all the information available was contained in the reply to the question of the hon. and gallant Member for Bodmin on the 3rd April.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he could state the number of British vessels on board of which Chinese were engaged as members of their crews which arrived in the River Mersey during the last 12 months for which he had particulars; the date on which that 12 months ended; the number of such Chinese so engaged; how many deserted or were paid off in the Port of Liverpool during that period; and whether he could state the average rates of wages paid to Chinese sailors and Chinese firemen and the equivalent in English money, and the average rates of wages paid to British sailors and firemen during that period?

The figures asked for in the first part of the question were given in my reply to the question put by the hon. Member on Monday last week. I have no detailed information as to the rates of wages paid to Chinese seamen engaged on articles of agreement opened in the Far East, as the articles of agreement in such cases are not deposited with the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, as are those opened in this country. I understand, however, that the usual rates for sailors and firemen engaged in Hong Kong are 14 and 16 dollars per month, equivalent to 28s. and 32s. respectively. The latest figures showing average rates of wages paid to seamen engaged in this country are those given in the Report on standard Time Rates of Wages at 1st October, 1910 (Cd. 5459), pp. 114,115. The monthly rates for voyages from Liverpool to the East Indies and China were as follows:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he could state the amount of light dues collected from owners or agents of vessels during the last twelve months for which he has a Return, and the date of such Return; whether he could state which countries, other than Great Britain, impose light dues on ship-owners; whether he is prepared to introduce legislation remitting light dues so charged to owners of British vessels who employ all British crews; and, failing this, whether he is prepared to introduce legislation applying light dues so collected to provide training ships for British-born boys with a view to a greater employment of British seamen on board British vessels, and the consequent reduction of foreigners employed aboard British vessels?

The last account of the General Lighthouse Fund presented to Parliament on the 24th November, 1910 (No. 332), shows that the light dues collected from British and Foreign owned vessels and paid into that Fund in the year ended the 31st March, 1910, amounted to £462,651, of which £148,100 was collected from foreign owned vessels. Light dues are charged eo nomine in Norway, Sweden, Turkey, Greece, Egypt and some other countries. In the case of various other countries (including, as far as my information goes, the United States and most of the European maritime countries) the cost of the lighthouse service is defrayed, in part at least, out of taxes levied on shipping in the shape of tonnage dues. As at present advised I am not prepared to introduce legislation in the directions suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there was any official information with regard to the working of the co-partnerships or profit-sharing industrial enterprises in Europe or America during recent years; and, if not, whether he can state where such information can be obtained?

The Board of Trade published a report on profit-sharing (C 7458) in 1894 and the information given therein has been kept up-to-date by a series of annual articles in the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette." The references are:—July, 1895, p. 207; July, 1896, p. 208; September, 1896, p. 275; July, 1897, p. 195; August, 1898, p. 228; August, 1899, p. 227; August, 1900, p. 227; August, 1901, p. 231; March, 1902, p, 70; July, 1902, p. 183; October, 1903, p. 272; October, 1904, p. 293; September, 1905, p. 263; April, 1907, p. 101; January, 1909, p. 32; February, 1909, p. 44; December, 1909, p. 402; October, 1910, p. 333. A companion volume dealing with Gain Sharing (C 7848) and certain other systems of Bonus on Production was issued in 1895. These volumes mainly relate to the United Kingdom. Another report issued by the Board of Trade, in 1896 (C. 8233) dealt with "Contracts given out by Public Authorities to Associations of Workmen" in this and other countries. No foreign Government has, so far as is known to the Board of Trade, issued a report on any of these subjects, but the French society for the study of profit-sharing (Société pour l'étude pratique de la participation du personnel dans les Bénéfices) publishes a quarterly bulletin (Bulletin de la Participation aux Bénéfices) containing information with regard to schemes of this character in various countries. A file of these bulletins for several years may be seen at the Labour Department of the Board of Trade.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture how many swine fever inspectors there are in Scotland; where they are stationed; and whether they are personally capable of diagnosing the disease?

Eight veterinary inspectors are employed by the Board in Scotland. They are stationed at Ayr, Edinburgh, Forfar, Glasgow, Hamilton, Kelso, and Wigtown. All of them are capable of diagnosing swine-fever, but the ultimate decision rests, in every case, with the chief veterinary officer.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that a pig died in Perthshire on the morning of 23rd March, was not inspected, and, in consequence, could not be buried until the evening of the 25th; that part of the pig had to be sent to the Board of Agriculture in London for inspection; whether any answer has yet been received from the Board; whether the owner can kill or sell any of his pigs before a reply has been received; and whether it takes fourteen days to diagnose the disease, and if local inspectors are unable to perform this function?

A report that swine fever was suspected to exist on premises in Perthshire was received by the Board from the police on the 23rd ultimo. The nearest local veterinary inspector was at once instructed by telegram to proceed to the premises, which he did on the following day. He made a post-mortem examination of the dead pig and sent his report to the Board. As neither the owner or manager were present the local veterinary inspector arranged with the cattleman for the burial of the carcase and saw that the necessary grave was dug. So far as the Board are concerned there was nothing then to prevent the burial being completed. No part of the pig was sent to London for inspection. The restrictions which are always imposed as a matter of precaution when swine fever is suspected to exist were withdrawn on the 6th inst.

asked the Lord Advocate if he can state the number of unemployed persons on the registers of the Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen Distress Committees, respectively, at the 1st December, 1910, and the 1st March, 1911?

The numbers of unemployed persons on the registers referred to were as follows, for the week ended 3rd December, 1910, and the week ended 4th March, 1911, respectively:—

asked the hon. Member for the Doncaster Division, as Church Estates Commissioner, whether he can inform the House what financial addition has been made to the stipend of the in- cumbent of Christ Church, Spitalfields, to enable him to properly fulfil the increased duties that will be incurred when the proposed amalgamation of the Benefices of St. Mary's and Christ Church takes effect?

Under the scheme at present lying upon the Table of the House for uniting the Benefices of Christ Church, Spitalfields, and St. Mary's, Spital Square, the incumbent of the united benefice will, upon the union taking effect, be entitled to the whole endowment of Christ Church, and also, upon the cessation of the payment of a pension to the retiring incumbent of St. Mary's, to a portion amounting to £114 per annum of the endowment of St. Mary's. Under the provisions of an Order in Council, dated 12th August, 1907, ratifying a scheme of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the incumbent of Christ Church will become entitled upon the next vacation of the benefice of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, to an augmentation of £250 per annum out of the endowments of that living. Until either the £114 per annum or the £250 per annum above-mentioned falls in to the incumbent of the united benefice, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have, upon the recommendation of the Bishop of London undertaken to pay to such incumbent out of a fund under their control an annual sum of £100.