asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many minor staff officers in the Customs Statistical Office are engaged on duties which were, prior to the creation of the minor staff officer class, performed by allowanced assistant clerks; how many minor staff officers have to perform disciplinary duties which did not devolve upon allowanced assistant clerks before the minor staff officer class was created; and how is capacity to preserve discipline discovered?

The answer to the first part of the question is eight, and to the second nine, but some assistant clerks with allowances formerly exercised certain disciplinary functions in the absence of superiors. The capacity to preserve discipline is gauged by observation on the part of the superiors in the office.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Mundy estate, Dingle, county Kerry, has been offered by the agent, Mr. Fitzgerald, to the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, what steps have they taken, or do they propose to take, regarding it?

The estate referred to has not been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Hickson estate, Maharees, county Kerry, has been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, what steps have they taken or do they propose to take in the matter?

The estate of Mr. G. A. E. Hickson in the Castlegregory Electoral Division has been offered to the Congested Districts Board and will be inspected and valued in due course.

asked the Chief Secretary, seeing that William Neill, of Bansha, Killorglin, held lands at Ballyseedy, Tralee, as agricultural tenant, paying a yearly rent up till 1885, would he request the Estates Commissioners to state their grounds for thinking he did not hold these lands as a tenant; were any inquiries made by any inspector regarding this farm, and, if so, when; whom did the inspector get his information from, and did he visit or make any inquiries from the evicted tenant himself?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that William O'Neill's application was fully inquired into by an inspector in 1909, and as a result of the inquiry it appeared that O'Neill did not hold the lands as tenant. It would be contrary to practice to make any statement as to the persons from whom the inspectors obtain information.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the names and situation of the estates in North Sligo purchased up to date by the Congested Districts Board for the purposes of the Land Act of 1909; the names of estates in the division offered for sale to the Board by the landlords or their representatives, but not yet purchased; and whether, if no separate return is available for the Parliamentary Division, he will give the facts asked for applicable to the whole of county Sligo?

The estate of Dr. H. C. Tweedy, in the Electoral Divisions of Lisconny and Carrickbaragher, Union of Sligo, has been purchased by the Congested Districts Board. The estates in county Sligo offered for sale are as follows:—C. S. Boyd, Granville H. Knox, Ellen and A. Lyons, Colonel J. C. Duke, Sir J. Gore Booth, Utred A. Knox, Wm. Jas. Griffith, John Knox, Hugh A. Moss-man, Lord Harlech, Sir Roger Palmer, M. O'M. Knott, Henry M. R. Crichton, Alex J. Crichton, Jas. C. Worthington, Reg. H. Knox, P. Connolly, R. J. Verschoyle, Ellen T. O'Connor, Owen Wynne, Mrs. A. O. Crichton, M. C. Dodwell, H. F. Knox, Miss C. A. Sullivan and Trustees of A. W. H. Hippsley. No return of estates is kept according to Parliamentary Divisions.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have received applications from tenants on the estates of Edward Lloyd Clarke, Kilboglashey; Colonel Campbell, Abbeytown; Alexander Sim, Streamstown; representatives of William Phibbs, Carricknagat and Knox Park; G. and T. Pollexfin, Kilgboglashey; and Richard J. Verschoyle, Tarrago Intake, all near Ballisodare, county Sligo; will he say what steps, if any, the Board have taken to acquire these lands for distribution for the purposes of the Land Act of 1909 and the settlement of the problem of congestion in this district; and if he can undertake that the purchase of these estates will be accelerated by more prompt and decisive action on the part of the Board?

Applications have been received by the Congested Districts Board from the tenants of the estates referred to, and the landlords were informed that the Board were willing to negotiate for the purchase of these estates. The owner of the Verschoyle estate alone so far has offered to negotiate for sale, and the Board are making arrangements to have this estate inspected. A further communication is being made to the other landlords named.

asked why the Local Government Board have refused to send to the Newcastle West District Council the Provisional Order made by their inspector in pursuance of an inquiry held by him on 31st October last into an improvement scheme made by the council under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts?

The making of the order by the inspector has in this and some other cases been deferred pending the provision by Parliament of additional funds for the purposes of the Labourers Acts, as no money is at present available for new schemes.

asked on what ground an appeal has been brought by the pension officer against the decision of the Monegay (county Limerick) sub-committee in granting Bridget Dalton, of Temple Athea (number in pension officers' register 348) a pension of 5s. a week; whether he is aware that, although her age cannot be found in the Census Office or in the parish books, she has certificates of her age from three of the oldest and most respectable members of the parish who knew her since her childhood, testifying that she is over seventy years of age, and who would not have given those certificates unless they were sure she was of that age; and whether, under these circumstances, the Local Government Board will carefully investigate the case?

The Local Government Board are unable to state on what grounds the appeal they have received in this case has been made, as the documents relating to it have not yet been forwarded. They will duly consider all evidence submitted.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many messengers under twenty years of age have been discharged from the Admiralty for reasons other than of health or conduct, and how many have been engaged, during each of the last five years; and whether he will make arrangements so that no boy be engaged unless the Admiralty can hold out to him, if he prove satisfactory, a reasonable prospect of permanent employment?

During each of the five years 1906–1910 the number of boy messengers entered and discharged for reasons other than health or misconduct, were as follows:—

	Numbers entered.	Numbers discharged on attaining age limit.
1906	7	2
1907	14	2
1908	12	1
1909	7	7
1910	16	5
	56	17

Boy messengers at the Admiralty, in common with other public Departments, are employed under regulations laid down by the Treasury, and are subject to discharge on attaining the age of eighteen years. The Admiralty are accordingly in no position to offer reasonable prospects of permanent employment, though places are often found for suitable lads when opportunity occurs.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the chargemen of trades in Devonport Dockyard will receive an answer to their petition asking for an increase of charge pay?

The petition is being dealt with in connection with the annual petitions from various classes of dockyard employés. We hope to announce the Board's decision on the whole of the petitions in the course of a few weeks.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received a resolution from Aldershot protesting against the present system of camp trading; and whether he will inquire into the matter and have the complaint remedied?

A resolution to this effect was received in July last, and my hon. Friend has been good enough to send me a copy of it also. The whole question has been fully considered, and the conclusion reached is that the existing system of the supply of goods to regimental institutes in the Army is the best that can be devised, having regard to the interests of military efficiency, which is the chief object in view.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the allowance made to Territorial sergeant instructors for lodgings when stationed outside the county of London amounts to only 1s. 3d. per diem, and includes the provision of at least two rooms as lodgings, hire of furniture, fuel, and light; whether he is aware that such sum is wholly insufficient for such non-commissioned officers compelled to obtain quarters in the urban areas surrounding the county of London, and that owing to high rents and rates of living in such areas these men are consequently compelled to make up the deficiency in their weekly expenses out of their pay, in order to maintain the position their status in the service demands, and which is necessary if they are to be of any use far recruiting purposes; and whether he will consider the advisability of assimilating future grants in the areas referred to to those made in the county of London?

The rate mentioned is the combined rate for lodgings, fuel, and light for married colour-sergeants on the permanent staff of the Territorial Force outside London. This rate is considered adequate to provide lodgings for these non-commissioned officers on the scale recognised for non-commissioned officers of their class in the Army. It is not considered necessary to extend the grant of the extra 6d. per diem to non-commissioned officers stationed outside the London area.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether consign- ments of Chinese frozen pork have been landed at Douglas, Isle of Man, with the object of being transformed into bacon and ham; and whether he can state if carcases have been smuggled into Ireland under the guise of musical instruments?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have no knowledge of such proceedings as are suggested in the latter part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention had been drawn to the sale of Coronation buttons as British, though made in the State of New Jersey, United States of America; what inquiry had been made into the matter; and whether, in view of the provisions of the Merchandise Marks Act, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The allegation has been brought to my notice, but my informant stated at the same time that the sellers were believed to be acting in ignorance. If the hon. Member is in a position to furnish evidence that any firm are knowingly selling as British goods which were actually made in the United States, I shall be happy to consider it with a view to possible action.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can state at what hour exactly the mail car from Caherciveen reached Waterville post office on each day in the first week of April; whether, in view of the time occupied in delivering letters at the cable station, hotels, and private residences, reasonable facilities were in fact given for the answering of urgent letters before the mail car returned to Caherciveen; and whether, seeing that the delay of practically an hour has been caused by the action of the railway company in altering the time of arrival at Caherciveen, steps will be taken, in the interest of the residents at Waterville, to revert to the former time table?

The times were as follows: On 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th April, 11.45 a.m.; on 4th April, 11.40 a.m.; and on 8th April, 11.48 a.m. As the despatch for the outgoing mail is not made up until 2.30 p.m. reasonable facilities appear to have been afforded for replying to urgent letters. I am assured by the railway company that they are unable to maintain the times indicated in the former time table.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the proposal to give an allowance of only 3s. 6d. for the first three nights of absence and 2s. for the next twelve nights to Ordnance Survey assistants employed on land valuation work and who are moved from a division office to the field will not meet the out-of-pocket expenses of these men; whether he will arrange either to increase the scale of the proposed allowance or make an additional allowance as extra pay as in the case of men employed on tithe redemption work; also (2) whether the travelling allowance proposed to be given to Ordnance Survey assistants employed on land valuation work will only be given for the first fifteen nights after the men are moved from a division office; whether, as in the case of men employed on tithe redemption work and one-inch redemption work, the allowance will be given each time the men are moved; whether he will arrange that these allowances are paid to the men as a right, and are not liable to be given or withheld at the discretion of a Departmental superior; and whether he is aware that the out-of-pocket expenses of men who have houses are the same to the men whether notice is given of such movement or not?

The special allowance to be given to assistants moved from a division office to the field at very short notice for land valuation will be paid for the first fifteen nights only. With this exception the ordinary regulations under which assistants are employed in the field will apply. The work in question does not differ in character from the normal work of the Survey, and it would not be possible, therefore, to justify the adoption of the differential arrangements suggested in the question. In the case of tithe redemp- tion work and one-inch revision work the assistants are as a rule absent for a short period only. The question of the sufficiency of the allowances paid in connection with the work of the Survey generally is under consideration by Lord Ilkeston's Committee.

asked whether attention has been called to the recent prosecutions under the Sale of Milk Regulations, 1901, in the north-eastern counties, and particularly to the decision of the Recorder of Middlesbrough at the April quarter sessions in a milk appeal case, which came before him on the 7th instant; whether he is aware that the effect of the Recorder's decision has been to make the presumptive standard of the Sale of Milk Regulations an absolute standard, so that it is now useless for farmers in this district to defend cases in which their milk has been found to fall temporarily below the standard set up by the Sale of Milk Regulations; and whether, in view of the special liability of milk in this district, as is proved by the scientifically conducted experiments at Garforth experimental farm and the Offerton Hall dairy farm, as well as by the practical experience of dairy farmers in all parts of this district, to fall below this standard temporarily, especially at this period of the year, he will consider the advisability of immediately suspending the Sale of Milk Regulations, 1901, in the north-eastern counties pending a full inquiry into the administration of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, as they affect the dairy industry?

My attention has been called to the case to which the hon. Member refers, but so far as can be gathered from the newspaper reports the decision of the Recorder does not put any new interpretation upon the law. The Board are making enquiry as to the administration of the Food and Drugs Acts in relation to milk generally, but until further information is available they do not see their way to adopt the suggestion made in the last part of the question.