asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether in the Paddington district certain private residents who had sent cheques in payment of Income Tax had the cheques returned with a request that payment might be withheld; and, if so at whose instigation, and under what authority, did the Income Tax collector so act?

I have no knowledge of such a thing having taken place. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of a specific case I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that, in the case of a licence holder brewing his beer in a brewhouse adjoining his house, and where the licensed house and the brewhouse are assessed separately for Poor Law purposes, the Inland Revenue are, for the purpose of Property Tax, assessing them as one, thereby considerably increasing the Licence Tax, which same action is putting an extra tax on the man who brews his own beer on the premises; and if he proposes to take any steps to alter this procedure?

If the hon. and gallant Member will furnish me with particulars of a specific case where such action is being taken by the District Commissioners, I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Commissioners of Income Tax have his authority for contending that in the case of a person dying on 6th April, 1010, and his income ceasing at death, Super-tax is payable by his executors in respect of the year 1910–11; and whether the Super-tax, when imposed, was intended to be retrospective?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. and learned Member for Cambridge University on the 16th ultimo.

asked why the claim to an old age pension made by Maria Sweeney, Castlebar, county Mayo, had been disallowed by the Local Government Board; if he is aware that, as no record relating to the claimant could be found in the Census returns of 1841 and 1851, she produced a certificate showing that she had been married fifty years on 12th March, 1911; and whether, having regard to this certificate, to her general appearance, and the unanimous decision of the local subcommittee that she was the statutory age, he will ask the Local Government Board to reconsider her case?

Maria Sweeney's age could not be traced in the Census returns, and a marriage certificate was produced as stated. The Local Government Board upheld the pension officer's appeal, as they were not satisfied that the claimant had reached the statutory age, and they can only re-investigate the case if Mrs. Sweeney makes a fresh claim which comes before them on appeal.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed at a meeting of the clerical managers of the Enniskillen deanery held in St. Michael schools, Enniskillen, on Tuesday, 18th April, the Very Reverend Canon Keown, P.P.V.G., presiding, relative to the withholding by the Treasury of building grants for necessary schools and improvements in Ireland; and whether he will state what steps, in the interest of primary education in Ireland, the Government intend taking to have these grievances remedied?

I have received the resolution indicated in the question. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question addressed to me on this subject by the hon. Member for East Mayo on the 20th instant.

asked the Chief Secretary what sum of money has been paid to, or on behalf of, the evicted tenants in Cavan; who has drawn the pay-orders or cheques; upon what banks have the same been drawn; and, if not to the evicted tenants, will he give the names to whom the same were made payable since the year 1908?

The Estates Commissioners have approved of free grants and advances to county Cavan evicted tenants, amounting to £7,836, of which £7,148 has been expended to date. The expenditure of these grants and advances are made through the Commissioners' inspectors, in whose favour the imprests are drawn by the accountant of the Land Commission. Up to 31st March, 1910, these drafts were drawn on the Bank of Ireland, and since that date they are drawn on the Paymaster-General.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board had received any reply to the communications addressed by them to the owner of the Fuller estate, Cappagh, near Caherciveen; and whether they had also communicated direct with the agent on the subject of the interview which he held with the tenants on the 23rd of March; and, if so, what action they now proposed to take to complete the purchase of the estate?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that they have received a reply from the agent, but that the estate has not yet been offered for sale to the Board. They have no information as to the alleged interview, and do not intend communicating with the agent on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been called to the memorial of congests living on the seaboard district of the parishes of Lacken and Kilcummin, Killala union, county Mayo, for a continuance of turbary rights enjoyed by them from time immemorial from the bogs of Ballybeg, Carrow-machane, and Carrowmore, on the Pringle estate, recently acquired by the Congested Districts Board; and whether, in view of the poverty of the petitioners, their isolated position, and of the fact that a fuel supply can be obtained from no other source within reasonable distance, the Congested Districts Board can arrange for them to remain in undisturbed enjoyment of the turbary facilities they have hitherto possessed?

My attention has been called to the memorial referred to. The Congested Districts Board inform me that if the cutting of the bog on the Pringle estate continues at the same rate as during previous years there would in a few years be no turf left for the tenants. In these circumstances the Board directed that persons who were not tenants on the estate and had been purchasing turbary there from year to year were to be notified that they could no longer be supplied. The bogs will be very carefully surveyed, and if they are satisfied that any turbary can be set aside for persons who are not landholders on the estate they will be glad to do so. Turbary will be supplied on usual terms this year to a restricted number of those persons who had been in the habit of getting it on the property, and who cannot for this season obtain a supply elsewhere.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the tenants on the Palmer estate, near Ken-mare, are desirous of purchasing their holdings, and that the estate has been offered to the Congested Districts Board, who would arrange for a valuation of it as soon as possible, he can now state the probable date of the valuation of the estate referred to; is he aware that there are six tenants on the Palmer estate, five of whom are bonâ fide farmers whose valuation ranges from 30s. to £6 10s., and that the owner of the sixth holding does not live on the farm, which is let to a grazier, who is willing to sell the farm to the Congested Districts Board for distribution amongst the other tenants, and that the landlord is also anxious to have the same divided; and will he institute inquiries in the matter and have the holding divided amongst the remaining five tenants, as this is the only farm on the estate where there is any turbary?

The estate mentioned has been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board, and the maps and rentals relating to it have been sent to the inspector with instructions to make a valuation and report for submission to the next Board meeting. There are eight tenants on the estate. In five cases the valuations do not exceed £7. In three cases the valuations are above £7. The Board cannot consider the question of the distribution of the lands until they are purchased.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners received an application from Widow Sammon, of Carrowkennedy, West- port, county Mayo, to be reinstated in a holding from which she, with her young family, was evicted by the Marquis of Sligo twelve or thirteen years ago, or to be provided with a suitable holding in lieu of the one from which she was evicted; and can he state what steps the Commissioners have taken, or proposes to take, regarding her application?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on the 15th March to the question on this subject addressed to me by the hon. Member for Cork City.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that James McGoing, now of Ballinamorroge, Islandeady, who was evicted from his holding of land at Arderry, Aughagover, Westport, county Mayo, by the Marquis of Sligo, in 1886, applied to the Estates Commissioners Ior reinstatement, or for a holding in lieu of the one from which he was evicted; that his case was investigated by an inspector of the Commissioners so far back as 1906; that the inspector, Mr. Thomas Barrett, reported favourably upon the application and can he state why no steps have since been taken by the Commissioners to provide McGoing with a holding?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from James McGoing for reinstatement in a holding which he stated was formerly occupied by his mother and himself on the estate of the Marquis of Sligo. His name was provisionally noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land acquired by the Commissioners, but on further inquiry the Commissioners decided to take no action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Ellen O'Calla-ghan, who, with her young family, was evicted from her holding at Drimdoo, Carra, county Mayo, in 1885, by her landlord, Mr. Walter Joyce, has recently applied to the Estates Commissioners for a holding, which was refused on the ground that her application was not received within the prescribed time; and whether, having regard to the fact that this illiterate woman with her family had to emigrate to Scotland after the eviction, and that she resided there since, and had no knowledge of the provision as to the period within which such applications should be made, the Estates Commissioners may be induced to consider her claim on its merits?

Mrs. O'Callaghan's application for reinstatement in a holding on the Joyce estate, county Mayo, formerly occupied by her mother, was not lodged within the period limited by the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and the Estates Commissioners have no power to deal with it under that Act. If the Estate on which her mother's former holding is situate comes before the Commissioners for sale under the Land Purchase Acts they will inquire into the application.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state what restrictions are placed upon the wearing of decorations which have been awarded to officers and men of the Royal Navy, all branches, by foreign Powers for services other than those connected with State ceremonies?

The wearing of foreign Orders by officers of the Royal Navy is governed by the King's Regulations, which are the same as those issued by the Foreign Office for all subjects of the Crown. The hon. Member's question should therefore be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the navvies and labourers employed on contractors' work at the new dockyard at Dover, such as drainage, concreting foundations, concrete-block making, etc., for the new buildings, are being paid at the rate of 22s. per week; and whether he will endeavour to ensure that such workmen are paid at a rate of not less than 6d. per hour?

I am having further investigation made as to the rate of wage paid for this class of work by good employers in the Dover district, and I shall be in a position to reply to my hon. Friend's question when the investigation is completed.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state the amount received for the last twelve armoured cruisers and battleships sold for breaking up, and the amount spent on each ship for large repairs for ten years previous to the date they were sold out of the service?

supplied the following particulars:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War at what date does the War Office intend to send back to the Regular battalions the officers on the Regular establishment, as laid down in the Army Estimates for the current year; and will he say whether he will consider the advantage of availing himself of the services of these officers with the line battalions now during the training season, rather than leaving them at these depôts where the recruits are of such small numbers, and their services wasted?

The officers on the Regular establishment will be absorbed as opportunity offers. It is, however, proposed to leave them with their reserve battalions until after the training of those battalions is over, when they will return to their line battalions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state under the provisions of what Act of Parliament the Government are authorised to take compulsorily horses, in respect of which the registration fee of 10s. has been paid, in cases other than those of great national emergency?

The registered horses can be compulsorily acquired by the Secretary of State under the articles of agreement made with the owner. These articles specify that the powers can be put in force either if the Secretary of State certifies in writing that the country is in a state of national danger or if a proclamation is issued under the Reserve Forces Act, 1882.

asked the Secretary for the Home Department whether, in order to save candidates for assistant inspectorships of quarries residing in Cornwall and other distant counties the expense of travelling to London, he will arrange that examinations for such assistant inspectorships should be held locally in convenient provincial centres?

It is the intention to hold a separate examination in each of the six divisions into which the country will ultimately be divided for inspection purposes, and a statement to that effect appears in the memorandum on these appointments which is being issued for the information of applicants.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he would state how many recruits of the Special Reserve were undergoing recruits' drill at the twelve extra Special Reserve depots in Ireland on the 30th September, 1910, and 31st March, 1911, respectively, and the number of recruits on these dates at each of the extra Special Reserve depots?

The numbers of recruits of Special Reserve undergoing recruits' drill at the depots were as follows:—There were no other recruits present at the depots:—

asked whether at the extra Special Reserve depots at Dublin and Downpatrick, as well as other depots, no recruits undergo drill for six months of the year, while the full establishment of regular officers is maintained during that period; and, if so, what do the officers occupy their time at during the period?

The conditions to which attention is drawn are similar to those which formerly existed in the case of certain militia battalions. In certain extra reserve battalions local conditions, such as the requirements of labour and agriculture, make it desirable that the training of the recruits should not, except in a few individual cases, be carried on during certain seasons of the year, and in these cases the period during which the recruits are not under training may extend to six months. This was the case with the depots referred to. Under the arrangements prescribed by Special Army Order of 27th February, 1911, the regular officers with an extra reserve battalion will in future consist of an adjutant and quartermaster only, as the services of the other regular officers are not required for ordinary duties at a depot.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, owing to the depletion of the stock in hand of certain component parts necessary for the manufacture of the Army rifle, the authorities at the Small Arms Factory, Enfield, have been obliged to suspend for some days past a number of employés; and what measures he proposes to take to maintain sufficient stock in order that any necessary process of manufacture may not have to be suspended owing to shortage of material?

Owing to the rearrangement of work entailed by the impending completion of orders for conversion of long rifles to charger loading at a time when the orders for the current year had not been finally determined, there was a temporary shortage of work caused which affected about sixty men. The suspension of men practically ceased on Tuesday, only three men having been Bus-pended yesterday. There has been no shortage of material.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Messrs. Priddy and Hale, case-makers, of Wood-field Road, and Messrs. Clarke and Co., case-makers, of Grove Road, are, or have been recently, employed in making cases under Government contract; if so, what rates of wages are, or have been, paid by these firms to the case-makers employed; and how do these rates compare with those paid by good employers to members of the City Case-makers Society?

Both firms hold War Office contracts for packing cases. The contracts contain the Fair Wages Clause requiring the payment of wages not less favourable than those commonly recognised by employers and trade societies or in practice prevailing among good employers in the trade in the district where the work is carried out. If it is considered that these provisions are being infringed an investigation shall be made if my hon. Friend is able to send me particulars of the alleged infringement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, if he will state the individual earnings of the four highest and the four lowest machinists in the G and I divisions of the Army Clothing Factory since the reduction in the price of machining service dress trousers came into

submitted the following particulars of (1) Individual earnings of the four highest and four lowest machinists in G and I Divisions since the reduction in price for machining service dress trousers commenced; (1) The number of trousers stitched by each machinist, and the loss of wages sustained by each owing to the reduction.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether officers who entered the Special Reserve under the old regulations for twelve months with the intention of ging into the Regular Army will only be allowed under the new regulations to serve for six months?

Yes, Sir. Infantry officers who are candidates for commissions in the Regular Army are not allowed to be attached to a Regular unit for more than six months, even though they commenced the attachment at the time when the regulations demanded a year of such service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the Shops Bill is to be con- sidered by Grand Committee upstairs on Thursday, the 27th April; and if the Papers to be laid, setting forth the views of deputations of various trades attending at the Home Office, will be in the hands of Members before the Committee meets?

I am making every effort to secure that copies of the Paper in question shall be available for Members before the Committee meets on Thursday. The amount of matter to be printed, and the fact of the holidays intervening, have made it impossible to produce it earlier.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention had been called to the proposal to take brine in large quantities in pipes from the Cheshire salt districts to the vicinity of the Manchester Ship Canal for the manufacture of salt; whether he is aware that damage to lands and buildings is caused by brine pumping in Cheshire; and whether, seeing that Parliament has for many years prevented the removal of brine from the Cheshire salt districts by inserting restrictive clauses in Railway and Canal Acts, and by rejecting the Preamble of a Bill seeking to sanction the removal of brine outside the county of Cheshire, and that the present proposal will affect the towns of Northwich, Wins-ford, Middlewich, and Sandbach, by continuing the effects of subsidence without the compensating advantage of trade and employment, he will cause full inquiry to be made into the circumstances of the case, and take such steps as may be possible to prevent this proposed removal of the brine?

My attention has been called to this proposal, and I have heard statements in regard to it made by the local authorities concerned. I propose shortly to hear the other side of the question from the representatives of the Salt Union. Until I have heard both sides it would, I think, be premature to consider what steps, if any, I should take in the matter.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the Government proposes to take any action upon the report of the Royal Commission on Registration of Title in Scotland?

The answer to my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative. The legal bodies in Scotland are now, I understand, considering the question of a new Conveyancing Bill, and, with their co-operation and aid, I hope next Session to introduce a measure.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he would consider the advisability of placing a few benches on each side of the Mall?

The First Commissioner is of opinion, in which the police authorities concur, that it would not be advisable to place benches in the Mall, as suggested in the question.