asked the Secretary to the Treasury to state the grounds upon which the pension officer at Cashel calculated that the means of Mrs. Mary Ryan, Graystown, Killenaule, Thurles, exceeded the statutory limit?

I am making inquiries into this case, and will communicate further with the hon. Member when they are complete.

asked on what grounds an old age pension has not been granted to Bridget Sullivan, Coomavoher, in the Derriana district, in view of the fact that she has reached the statutory age, and that, though search has been made in the Census records of 1841 and 1851, no trace has been found of her family in the town-lands where she lived as a child?

The Local Government Board upheld the appeal of the pension officer in this case on the ground that there was no proof that Bridget Sullivan had attained the statutory age. The family of her parents was traced in the Census Return of 1841, but her name did not appear in the list of members, and no satisfactory evidence as to her age was produced.

asked on what grounds Patrick Lynch, of Aughametta, county Leitrim, has been deprived of his old age pension, which had been granted by the Manorhamilton sub-committee on the 8th of May, 1911, on the strength of evidence of the family Bible record and certificates produced; and whether the Local Government Board would reconsider their decision in this case?

Patrick Lynch was not deprived of a pension, but his claim was refused because he failed to prove that he had reached the statutory age. The family Bible referred to did not belong to claimant's family but to a neighbour whose age was recorded in it and who said Lynch was born in the same year. It is not open to the Board to reconsider their decision.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Development Commissioners have received from the Dingle harbour board a memorial requesting a grant for the improvement of the pier and harbour; and whether, seeing this is the largest fishing port in the whole of Ireland, that practically nothing was spent from any Government source in its development, that the fishing industry is the only one in the whole district, and is considerably retarded on account of inadequate pier accommodation, he will urge on the Commissioners the necessity of making a substantial grant to an object that will help very considerably an important industry?

The Commissioners have received the memorial and propose to deal with it in connection with a general application recently received from the Congested Districts Board for Ireland. I understand that the chairman and another member of the Commission will probably visit the locality at an early date. I have no doubt that they will give due weight to the considerations mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked when the labour exchange in Galway will be opened; and what is the cause of the prolonged delay?

I regret that I am not in a position to state the date upon which the proposed labour exchange in Galway will be open. The delay is due to the difficulty experienced in finding suitable premises.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in future, where Local Government Board inspectors are inspecting proposed sites for labourers' cottages in Ireland, and having in view the fact that heretofore changes of site were agreed on without consulting the sites committee or applicant, the Local Government Board will issue instructions to their inspectors to notify the sites committee and applicant when an inspection of the change of the proposed site will be made?

The arrangement proposed by the hon. Member would not, in the opinion of the Local Government Board, be a desirable one. It would be difficult to carry out in practice, and would cause very great delays.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in how many cases of plantations having been cut or in progress of cutting have the Estates Commissioners been notified according to Section 32 of the Land Act (Ireland), 1909, in county Cork; and have the proprietors of holdings on which plantations are situate received any notice of the requirements of this Section?

Four applications under Section 32 (2) of the Irish Land Act, 1909, for consent to the felling of trees by tenants were received by the Department of Agriculture from county Cork. Consent was given in three cases, and the fourth application is still under consideration. The Estates Commissioners inform me that a copy of the Section referred to is forwarded to each purchasing tenant to whom it may apply when the holding is vested in him by the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the sporting rights on the estate of R. A. MacNamara, No. M 211, situated at Ballydavid, Littleton, Thurles, are at present leased; and whether the purchase agreements provided for these rights reverting to the purchasing tenants upon the expiration of the lease?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the sporting rights on the estate referred to are leased for ninety-nine years from 1892. The answer to the final paragraph is in the affirmative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Congested Districts Board has been frequently requested to complete the marine works at Glen Cove; whether he is aware that over thirty boats have to be placed on the roadside during the winter months for want of accommodation; and whether steps will be taken to complete before next winter the extension of the boat slip, the construction of a boat yard, and the provision of a capstan for the hauling up of the boats?

The Congested Districts Board have received several applications to provide additional accommodation for over thirty boats at Boat Cove, Glen, county Kerry. The matter is at present under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary what steps have been taken by the Congested Districts Board to expedite the purchase of the Trinity College estate in Portmagee, Caherciveen, and Valentia Island; whether he is aware that an engineer surveyed the whole property on behalf of the college several months ago; and whether renewed representations will be made to the college with a view to completing the purchase without delay?

The Congested Districts Board are again communicating with the agent in reference to the preparation of the necessary maps and documents. They have no information regarding the survey which is stated to have been made of the property.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the practice of the Estates Commissioners when the owner of an ample estate is also tenant of a grazing ranch on an adjoining congested estate for sale to the tenants; whether they make the relief of that congestion by distribution of the ranch a condition of allowing the sale to go through; how much land E. W. Purdon holds in Meath and Westmeath; what total amount of advances he has applied for under the Land Purchase Acts; and, in view of the fact that the ranch he now holds as tenant on the Shaen-Carter estate, Westmeath, was formerly used by the congested tenants on that estate, whether the Commissioners will take advantage of the sale of that estate to acquire the ranch compulsorily or otherwise for relief of congestion and complete settlement of the estate in one transaction?

In carrying out sales under the Land Purchase Acts the Estates Commissioners proceed in accordance with the provisions of those Acts, and in dealing with each estate they have regard to its circumstances. Mr. E. W. Purdon does not appear to have instituted proceedings before the Commissioners for the sale of any lands in counties Meath and Westmeath, nor can the Commissioners identify any application by him for advances. The estate referred to in the final paragraph does not appear to be the subject of proceedings for sale before the Commissioners.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have yet inspected the estate of Hugh Massey, Rivers-dale, county Limerick; if so, was the farm of William Hanly, Ballyglanna, Galbally, inspected; are the Estates Commissioners aware that this man Hanly has been paying a rack rent during the past forty years, and, if he purchased on the same terms as the other tenants, would not be able to pay the annuity; and, in view of the circumstances of this particular case, will the Commissioners refuse to sanction the sale of the remainder of the property until this man is fairly dealt with?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for direct sale from vendor to tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. When it is being inspected due inquiry will be made as regards any tenants who have not signed purchase agreements. Hanly appears to hold under a judicial rent. The Estates Commissioners cannot express any opinion as regards the final paragraph of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether a petition was recently presented to Lord Aberdeen, signed by upwards of a thousand magistrates and other leading citizens, praying for an investigation by business men into the grievances of the rank and file of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and is it proposed to take any action in the direction indicated in the petition; has his attention been drawn to the complaints repeatedly made on the subject of promotion and the over-expenditure on the officering of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and in particular to the allegation that officers with very unequal duties have the same salaries; that the county inspector of Carlow with sixteen stations to inspect has the same salary as the county inspector of East Cork with ninety-two stations to inspect; and will he consider the advisability of some attempt to put the force on a more businesslike basis, both as regards command and promotion?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for the Holborn Division on the 17th May last. I have seen some anonymous letters in the newspapers containing complaints of the nature indicated in the question, but they do not appear to me to show any adequate ground for the revision of the present organisation of the force. It would obviously be impossible to fix the salaries of county inspectors solely with reference to the number of stations they may have to inspect.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will now settle the claims that the Beer fishermen have against some of His Majesty's cruisers for damage to their fishing since these claims have been brought to the Admiralty's attention on several occasions during the last four months?

Payment of the amounts claimed by these fishermen is being made.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that, early in 1910, the War Office undertook to supply the Notts Royal Horse Artillery with the Ehrhardt gun in time for the annual camp training of that battery, and that the guns in question were delivered in Nottingham after the battery had left for the camp on Salisbury Plain; what was the cause of the delay; whether he is aware that the War Office early in 1911 undertook to supply the guns in question with new and improved sights, of which a telescope, with spirit-level attached, forms an essential part, in time for the practice camp of the battery on Salisbury Plain on 29th July; that the sights arrived, but without the telescopes, and that the telescopes arrived on 1st August after the battery had completed its firing exercise, and what was the cause of the delay; whether the sights in question have to be fixed by a special artificer sent from His Majesty's Ordnance Office; whether, in the case in question, the artificer arrived without the proper appliances, wrote to Tynemouth asking that a forge should be sent from Woolwich to heat his rivets; whether the sights were ultimately fixed with the help of a civilian at the expense of the officers of the battery; and whether the War Office will refund the money so expended?

No definite undertaking was given by the War Office that this battery would be supplied with the Ehrhardt gun in time for the annual camp training in 1910. The delay was due to the necessary repairs in the factories to the guns proving more extensive and requiring a longer period than was at first estimated. No undertaking was given by the War Office to supply the guns with improved sights in time for practice on 29th July, 1911. The sights without telescopes had been completed before but the contractors failed to deliver the telescopes until that date, when they were immediately despatched to the camp. As regards the last part of the question, enquiries are not yet completed.

asked the President of the Board of Education what sum or sums have been expended by his Department, either directly or by way of grant to some institution, for the encouragement of agricultural education during the past five years?

I am not sure what my hon. Friend means by the word directly" as opposed to "by way of grant." The assistance which the Board are able to give to agricultural as to other forms of education is given in the form of grants-in-aid and advice furnished, as a rule, by their inspectors. The Board endeavour to secure that the curricula of the various schools and institutions (elementary, secondary, and technical) which they aid with grants shall be adapted to the needs of the localities in which the schools are carried on, and in schools of all types they are giving assistance to agricultural education in some form or another. It is, however, impossible to state precisely what sums are devoted to agricultural as distinct from other forms of education. The grants administered by the technical branch of the Board are in some cases given specifically for technical work in agriculture, but in the case of these grants also it is frequently impossible, owing to the system of block grants under which they are administered in some areas, to distinguish the sums paid for this particular form of instruction. My hon. friend will find as full information as it is possible to give in reply to his question in. the White Paper issued by the Board in 1909 [Cd. 4569] and in the Memorandum of Arrangements between the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Board of Education in regard to Agricultural Education, issued in September, 1909 [Cd. 4886]. The Memorandum on the Principles and Methods of Rural Education issued at the beginning of this year, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, will also be found useful.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is the usual practice of the Board of Education to nominate for the purpose of the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898, and rules the medical officers employed by the Post Office; and, if so, on what ground is this practice adopted?

Yes. The medical officers employed by the Post Office are selected with a view to work of a character similar to that which is required of doctors nominated for the purpose of the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898. They are also conveniently distributed over the country. For these reasons it has been the usual practice of the Board, with the concurrence of the Post Office, to nominate them for the duties in question.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the difficulties in the way of obtaining forage for horses in London owing to the dislocation of the carrying trade and to the obstacles placed in the way of those who are ready to work to prevent suffering and loss; and is he taking any steps of a special character to cope with the situation so created?

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that forage contractors who applied to him received adequate protection for their vehicles transporting forage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government have decided to make use of the military forces of the Crown to intervene in the labour dispute in London; and, if so, whether he can state what new emergency has arisen to justify this step?

There can be no question of the military forces of the Crown "intervening in a labour dispute" in the proper sense of the words. That, so-far as it can be done by the Government, is a function of the Board of Trade. It is only when a trade dispute is accompanied by riot, intimidation, or other violations of the law, or when a serious interruption is caused or likely to be caused to the-supply of necessary commodities, that the military can be called on to support the police; and then their duty is to maintain the law, not to interfere in the matter in dispute.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies on what date the new commission of inquiry will hold its first meeting in Malta; and whether ample notice will be given for the preparation of evidence?

I expect that the Royal Commission will hold its first meeting in Malta at the end of October or beginning of November next. Ample notice is thus given for the preparation of evidence.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether any prospect exists of finding coal in British East Africa; and, if so, whether he will appoint a mineralogist to the staff there with the view of searching for it?

Some coaly shale has been discovered in the Protectorate, but the examination which has been made of a specimen of it in this country shows that the high percentage of ash furnished by it renders it valueless as fuel. Its occurrence in a formation of shales and sandstones is stated to be a promising feature, and this point has been brought to the notice of the Governor, who will no doubt consider the advisability of making further search.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has noticed that candidates for appointments in the Egyptian Public Works Department are ineligible, though natural-born British subjects, if the father is not naturalised; that the same rule applies to the Indian Public Works Department, but not to the Indian Medical and Indian Civil Service; and if he can see his way to establish an equality of privilege for all natural-born British subjects?

The regulations affecting admission into the Egyptian Public Works Department are drawn up by the Egyptian Government; and the decision on questions of such detail must be left to the discretion of the authorities on the spot.

asked the Prime Minister whether, now that the Parliament Bill has been passed and in view of the Preamble to the said Bill, he will take steps to summon a representative conference at an early date to consider and draft a constitution for a reformed Second Chamber?

My right hon. Friend is afraid that he cannot undertake at present to do more than consider the hon. Gentleman's suggestion.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether a site for a school was recently purchased at Southend; and, if so, what was the acreage, what was the purchase, price, what was the date of the purchase, and what was being taken as its annual value for rating at the time of purchase?

The Essex County Council last year proposed to purchase a site for a school at Southend, the area being 3.4 acres. The purchase price was £3,358 or about £987 an acre. I cannot state the actual date of purchase, nor do I know the annual value of the site for rating purposes at the time of purchase.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether part of the Grange estate, at Kilburn, was recently purchased for public purposes by a combination of local authorities and private subscribers, and, if so, what was the acreage of the land so purchased; what was the price paid for it; what was the date of the purchase; what was being taken at the time of purchase as the annual value for rating of the property of which it formed part; and by how much that annual value for rating has been reduced by reason of the severance of the purchased portion?

I am aware that 8½ acres of the Grange estate have recently been acquired for public purposes by contributions from certain local authorities. I do not know the date of purchase or the price paid for the land, nor have I any information as to the annual value for rating of the property.

asked the President of the Local Government what, according to the recent Census, are the numbers, distinguishing males from females, of persons over sixty-five and of persons over seventy, respectively, in England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, respectively?

I am unable at the present time to give this information, as the ages of the population enumerated at the recent Census have not yet been tabulated.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether any steps have been taken to carry into effect the amendments to the Boarding-out (Within Unions) Order, 1909, suggested by a deputation representing the Women's Local Government Society, in an interview with the President in July, 1910, to which suggestions he promised a. sympathetic consideration?

As I stated in the House on the 3rd instant, I am hoping to issue a revised Boarding-out Order very shortly. In framing that Order, I have not overlooked the suggestions made to me by the deputation referred to.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has now had an opportunity of hearing representatives of the Salt Union, Limited, in reference to the Mar bury brine case; if so, whether he has considered the representations made by both parties; whether he is of opinion that a conference of all parties, including the Cheshire County Council, convened by himself, would have good results; and, if so, whether he will call such a conference?

I have had an opportunity of hearing representatives of the Salt Union, Limited, and have considered very fully the representations made by both parties. I have been unable to take the view that a conference convened by myself would be likely to have good results at the present juncture.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that during the years 1906 and 1907 the Dominion Government of Canada paid two dollars a head to a number of immigration agents for placing immigrants on the land, and that one of these agents entered into correspondence with several emigrating societies in this country, including the Central (Unemployed) Body of London, for the purpose of obtaining British immigrants; whether he is aware that by the action of this agent a district in Canada was flooded with unskilled labour from this country in such a way that economic trouble followed in the winter months and a claim was made on the Central (Unemployed) Body for the support of the emigrants that body sent out at his request; whether this system of paying two dollars a head is still in force in Canada; and, if so whether His Majesty's Government will make such representations to the Dominion Government of Canada as will prevent their agents, for personal gain, attracting unskilled labour to Canada in the same way as in 1906 and 1907, and then officially placing the blame for the result of their actions on the voluntary societies in this country?

I understand that the Canadian Government had at the time in question, and still have, a system of payments to agents in certain districts of the Dominion for placing immigrants on the land. I have no knowledge of the particular case referred to, which, as I gather from the question, occurred some years ago. Under the existing Canadian immigration regulations, which provide for the close supervision by a Canadian officer in London of all emigration to Canada conducted by societies in this country, it is hardly conceivable that such a case as that alleged in the question could occur.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he was aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst the third and fourth class clerks in the employ of the Port of London Authority and formerly employed by the London and India Dock Company in consequence of the Authority not carrying out the agreement contained in the Act of Parliament constituting the Port of London Authority, namely, that the position of employés should not be worsened because of the transfer of their services from the company's service to that of the Authority; and, whether, with a view to settling their grievances, he would receive a small deputation from the men concerned?

I am informed by the Port of London Authority that the position of the clerks referred to by the hon. Member has not been worsened, but that owing to a recent classification of the staff the scales of pay have on the whole been improved. The Port Authority also inform me that in the early autumn there will be a selection made to fill a large number of vacancies in the higher grades, and that this will benefit a number of the clerks referred to. In the circumstances it would I think at least be premature to consider the question of a deputation.

asked the Postmaster-General if he could do anything to expedite the instalment of the telephone service at Chipstead, Surrey, where an exchange has been promised for over a year; and whether an appeal has been made to the courts for compulsory wayleaves to enable the wires to be erected?

Chipstead will be served from the existing Burgh Heath Exchange, and, as the wayleave difficulty has now been settled, I hope to complete the necessary extension very soon.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been directed to the fact that the office of postmaster at Church Hill, near Enniskillen, has been held continuously by members of the Wood family for upwards of 160 years, and that the present postmaster, Robert Wood, whose great-grandfather was appointed postmaster in 1750, has been in the service for fifty-five years without any complaint against him; and is it possible to bestow on Mr. Wood any recognition of such service in the form of pension or extra salary?

The question of the remuneration of the sub-postmaster of Church Hill, Enniskillen, has recently been considered, and I regret that an increase in the payment made to him is not warranted by the amount of business transacted at that office. The position of scale payment sub-postmaster, which is held by Mr. Wood, is unestablished, and does not, consequently, entitle the holder to any award under the Superannuation Acts.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether it is the policy of the Post Office to carry out the provisions of the Housing, Town-Planning, etc., Act in respect of providing proper and adequate accommodation for its employés?

I am, of course, in full sympathy with the policy of the Housing and Town-Planning Act, but no special obligations are placed upon me by its provisions nor any special powers in respect of housing.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Peter Kavanagh, rural postman, Coolerin, was accidentally drowned in the River Portobello, at Campile, South Wexford, whilst learning to swim by the aid of water-wings; and as he was the sole support of a widowed mother and a little sister, will he see if he has any fund by which he can relieve the extreme distress of the widow and orphan?

I am not aware of the circumstances referred to by the hon. Member, but I am having inquiry made, and will acquaint him of the result.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the event of a a guarantee being given by the Longford Urban Council for the extension of the trunk telephone from Mullingar to Longford, this extension will be made; and whether his Department will communicate with the urban council setting forth the terms of the guarantee required?

I will communicate at once with the Treasury as to the terms on which a guarantee can be accepted from the Longford Urban Council for an extension of the telephone system from Mullingar to Longford, and will inform the Council of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General why the mails are now despatched from Bruree, county Limerick, on Sundays about twelve o'clock noon, whereas for the past fifty years they were not despatched until 3.30 o'clock p.m; whether these mails are not despatched from the head office of the district, namely, Kilmallock, which is only three miles distant, until about 10 o'clock p.m.; and whether, to convenience the public of the district, he will direct that the time for despatch from Bruree be as formerly?

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to a question on the same subject by the hon. Member for Limerick West, on the 9th instant.

also asked the Postmaster-General whether certain members of the Limerick County Hunt Club have made repeated charges against certain post office officials in county Limerick within the past three years; whether those charges were found to be without any foundation; and, in view of such complaints and allegation, will instructions be issued to the Irish Secretary to furnish those aggrieved parties with the charges made against them, so that they may be in a position to justify themselves publicly?

I must refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him in this matter on the 31st ultimo.

asked the Lord Advocate what was the excess of births over deaths in Scotland during the first six months of the present year; and what was the excess of emigration from over-immigration to Scottish ports during the same period?

During the six months ended 30th June, 1911, there were registered in Scotland 63,645 births and 37,870 deaths. The excess of births over deaths during the period in question was therefore 25,775. The number of passengers between ports in Scotland and places out of Europe during the first six months of the present year was as follows:—

asked how many persons of Scottish nationality Have emigrated from the United Kingdom during the first six months of the present year?

The number of passengers between the United Kingdom and places out of Europe during the first six months of the present year who were stated to be of Scottish nationality was: — Outward, 48,677; Inward, 12,524. Excess outward, 36,153.

asked how many complaints have been lodged at the Scottish Office since December, 1905, against the administration in the Dundee Sheriff Court; and what action has been taken by his Department to inquire into these complaints, and, if justified, to have them remedied?

A number of complaints have been made since December, 1905, as to the administration of justice in the court referred to, and the matter is now under consideration, with a view to steps being taken under the 13th Section of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act, 1907.

also asked the Lord Advocate whether there is now any burghal local authority in Scotland which has not yet appointed one or more veterinary surgeons for the purpose of The Public Health (Scotland) Act, 1897, and the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Orders; and, if not, will he say when a veterinary surgeon will be appointed to the staff of the Local Government Board so that an uniform system and standard of meat inspection may exist throughout Scotland?

There is not any burghal local authority in Scotland which has not yet appointed one or more veterinary surgeons for the purpose of the Act and orders referred to by my hon. Friend. It is not proposed meantime to appoint a veterinary surgeon to the staff of the Local Government Board for Scotland.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the hoarding which surrounds the Artillery Memorial opposite the Duke of York Steps is intended to remain as a permanent addition to the Mall; and, if not, when it will be removed?

The opportunity was taken to retain this hoarding in. order that an additional tablet may be fixed to the memorial. It is hoped that the work may be completed within a month.

asked when work will be resumed on the new offices for the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries?

The contract for the superstructure is now being prepared, and the First Commissioner hopes that the work will be begun about the middle of October next.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been called to the deficiency of light in the Members' dining-room; whether at present the lights are too near the ceiling for effective illuminating purposes; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The First Commissioner's attention has not been drawn to this matter; but he will be happy to cause any necessary adjustment to be made.