asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that in the murder charge against Arthur Garrod the Treasury solicitor was granted £18 18s. and the Treasury counsel £33 11s. in fees, is the Home Secretary aware that the solicitor for the defence received only £2 2s. for the work incidental to the defence and two days' attendance at the assizes, and counsel for the defence only received £2 2s.; and whether, in view of the object of the Act to provide a poor prisoner with legal aid in preparation and conduct of his defence, he will consider the desirability of an allowance of costs on a more liberal scale than that of which the foregoing is an example?

As at present advised I do not feel justified in altering the regulations as to paying the legal costs of a prisoner's defence so as to throw a heavier burden on the rates; but I may point out that it was within the discretion of the court to have given higher allowances than those mentioned if in its opinion this was justified by the length or difficulty of the case.

asked the Postmaster-General if the plates for the new issue of stamps were prepared by the Mint, and not, as under the former contract, by the contractors; and if the division of responsibility between the Mint and the new contractors has worked satisfactorily?

The plates for the new series of King George V. stamps were prepared by the Mint. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can say whether the present contractors for the supply of postage stamps have recently been working by day, by night, and on Sundays to cope with the actual consumption?

The present contractors have recently been working overtime, not for the purpose of coping with the actual consumption, with which they are capable of dealing in normal working hours, but with the object of accumulating reserve stocks.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can say approximately what proportion of the recent deliveries of stamps by the new contractors have been printed from the De la Rue plates?

The approximate proportion of deliveries within the last fortnight of stamps printed from De la Rue plates is 40 per cent. of the total deliveries during the same period.

asked if the printing of the higher denominations of stamps is to be undertaken in the Inland Revenue printing department of Somerset House?

The denominations of adhesive stamps to be printed at Somerset House are the 6d. and 2s. 6d. unified postage and revenue, the 5s., 10s., and £l postage, and all the revenue and fee stamps proper.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state what is the average number of days per month that overtime is performed for the preparation of the Monthly Board of Trade Returns in the British and Irish Export Branch of the Customs Statistical Office; on how many days has overtime been performed during the months of May and June, 1911, respectively; what is the reason this branch has been understaffed for a considerable period; and when will such additional staff be granted to this branch as will allow the present monthly overtime to revert to normal conditions?

The average for the past year is slightly over seven days per month. The number of days for May, 1911, was six, and for June thirteen, the increase being due to arrears caused by the three public holidays which occurred in the latter month. The question of additional staff has been delayed pending the settlement of certain departmental changes which would affect the work of the office generally, but it is now under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when it is proposed to inspect the Leslie Wren estate, Mill-town, county Kerry; and whether immediate inquiries will be made as to the refusal of the landlord to give purchase to Messrs. Cronin, Murphy, Flynn, and Wren?

This estate is being sold direct to the tenants by the owner under the Irish Land Act, 1903. It is one of the estates to be dealt with during the present financial year, and when it is being inspected in order of priority the Estates Commissioners will direct inquiries to be made regarding the cases of any tenants on the estate who have not signed purchase agreements.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the offer made by the owners of the Foote estate, Blossomford, Ballyclogh, Mallow, that they were willing to hand it over to the Estates Commissioners, the Commissioners have ordered an inspection; and, if so, what is the nature of the report made by the inspector?

The Estates Commissioners have had a preliminary inspection made of some 190 acres of the lands of Blossomford, county Cork, the property of Miss Foote, with the view of estimating the price which they could offer for them. Their inspector's report has been received, and is with others awaiting the directions of the Commissioners.