I beg to present a Petition from 11,000 mistresses and servants in Liverpool and district protesting against Clause 84 of the National Insurance Bill, believing the inclusion of domestic servants an unnecessary tax upon both mistresses and servants, and calculated to destroy the happy family relations now existing. The Petition further complains that the tax is out of proportion to the benefits offered and that it is calculated to prevent thousands of mistresses with limited incomes continuing to employ servants. Further, the mistresses protest against being made tax collectors for the Government.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the abandonment of the Canadian Navy scheme by the present Canadian Government, the acquisition by the Canadian Government of H.M.S. "Aboukir" will now be carried out?

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension, as no proposal for the purchase of the "Aboukir" was made by the Canadian Government.

Have there been any proposals from the Canadian Government for the purpose of acquiring any ship?

Yes, there was a proposal in connection with another vessel and that matter is in suspense.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the last occasion on which an increase of pay was given to the coopers, petty officers first class, was in March, 1877; and whether he will consider the advisability of granting to the coopers a similar increase to that recently given to plumbers and painters?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; but it should be noted that, although the pay of this rating has not been altered since 1877, the position of the class as a whole was improved in 1891 by the introduction of the rating of 2nd cooper, and by the cooper being classed as petty officer 1st class instead of petty officer 2nd class. The conditions of service of the several artisan ratings cannot be completely assimilated, and it is considered that the increase suggested in the cooper's pay is not required.

Are we to understand there has been no corresponding increase to the coopers to that given to the plumbers and painters?

I have stated that in 1891 the position of the class was improved.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether he is aware that, of the fourteen fully commissioned battle and armoured cruisers attached to the Home and Atlantic Fleets, three are in dockyard hands and seven are absent from Home waters, and whether four cruisers are adequate to carry out the duties which should be performed by fourteen; (2) whether ninety-eight battleships, cruisers, scouts, and destroyers were in full commission in the Home and Atlantic Fleets on 23rd November, and that at least forty of that number were then in dockyard hands or absent from Home waters, including twenty armoured ships out of thirty-six; and whether the ships actually available were sufficient for the defence of the country in case of need; (3) whether, in view of the fact that the German high-sea fleet comprises seventeen fully commissioned battleships, and that the British Atlantic Fleet of six battleships is now at Gibraltar, and has been there since early in October, he can assure the House that these six ships are immediately available to reinforce the Home Fleet of sixteen fully commissioned battleships in order to ensure the superiority of the British battle forces in the North Sea; (4) whether he is aware that six protected cruisers are nominally attached to the battle squadrons of the First and Second Divisions of the Home Fleet and the Atlantic Fleet, and that of these six ships the "Bristol," "Dartmouth." and "Gloucester" are in dockyard hands at Devonport; and whether he will explain how the remaining vessels represent a sufficient cruiser complement for three battle fleets totalling twenty-two battleships?

I propose to give one answer to the hon. Member's four questions dealing with the readiness of the Fleet for war. The situation is perfectly natural and need cause no anxiety. This is the season of the year when it is usual and convenient that a considerable number of vessels should undergo their annual refit. To neglect these necessary repairs would be to ruin the Fleet. These considerations press with at least equal force, at this season of the year, upon the fleets of other Powers. The movements of the Fleet are always regulated after due consideration alike of international politics and of strategic possibilities. It would certainly not be useful to embark on any discussion of these at Question Time. With regard to the facts and satisfies which the hon. Gentleman has collected, I do not propose, unless I am assured during the course of the Session that there is a general wish on the part of the House for detailed information, to make any statement, further than to point out that my hon. Friend has omitted from his minute and ingenious calculations the battleships and cruisers of the Third Division of the Home Fleet, which, with their attendant destroyers and submarine flotillas, are ready for service and could proceed to sea at very short notice and would be manned entirely by active service ratings.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that scare-mongering is not subject to any seasonal fluctuations?

Is it normal that nearly 50 per cent. and sometimes more of our battle fleet should be laid up at one time?

At this season of the year it is necessary that repairs should be executed as required in the dockyards, but that process is always carried out with careful regard to considerations that can properly regulate the distribution of the fleet.

I understand the right hon. Gentleman does not dispute my figures?

I carefully avoided either challenging or endorsing them.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the conditions governing the promotion of writers from the second to the first grade have not yet been communicated to the clerical staff, he will arrange for them to be promulgated at once?

If my hon. Friend refers to the regulations now in existence governing the entry, classification, pay, and promotion of the writing staff, I have no doubt the members of that staff are fully acquainted with existing conditions, inasmuch as they have now been in force for over four and a half years. If, however, he refers to changes which may result from the recommendations of the Committee which inquired into the conditions of service, etc., of the writing staff in 1908–09, I have already informed him that the Report of that Committee is still the subject of communication between the Admiralty and the Treasury.

asked what further qualifications are required to enable the secretaries to the constructive and engineering managers to become eligible for appointment as secretaries to the admiral superintendents?

It is not considered that the nature of the training and experience of the principal writers in the constructive and engineering departments, to whom I conclude my hon. Friend refers, fit them for appointment as secretaries to Admiral Superintendent.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that vacancies have existed for senior writers in the engineering and constructive departments at the Home dockyards for several years past; that provision has been made in the Navy Estimates for these posts; and will he say on what service the money so provided has been expended?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative; part of the money provided has been expended in the payment of substitutes; part has not been expended. Some of the posts in question have been abolished, in accordance with the report of the Writers' Committee. Proposals for filling the remainder are now before the Board.

asked whether it is contemplated in future to fill any vacancies on the directing staff of the expense accounts department from the writing staff?

The claims of the writing staff will receive due consideration.

asked how many docks there are upon the east coast capable of taking a "Dreadnought" drawing 32 feet of water?

I am informed that there are no docks on the East Coast capable of taking a "Dreadnought" drawing 32 feet of water. The floating dock now building at Wallsend-on-Tyne, to be stationed in the Medway, will be capable of taking such a vessel. The dock is to be launched to-morrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government are aware that the Khedivial ss. "Saidieh," flying the British flag, fouled a hidden mine while entering Smyrna harbour on 3rd December; whether the ship in question was being piloted by a local pilot at the time; and what precautions are in future to be taken to safeguard British seamen and British ships against a recurrence of similar accidents?

His Majesty's Government are aware that the vessel entering Smyrna struck a mine, which did not explode. The vessel was under the escort of a pilot boat. His Majesty's Consul-General at Smyrna has entered a protest, and His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople was at once instructed by telegraph to express the earnest hope of His Majesty's Government that every possible precaution would be taken in the interests of neutral shipping to prevent the recurrence of such accidents, and to emphasise the importance of employing efficient pilots at ports where mines have been placed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can obtain information as to the number of officials engaged and paid out of public funds in connection with the imposition and collection of protective tariffs in France, Germany, and the United States of America respectively?

I do not suggest that the information desired by my hon. Friend would not be interesting, but I fear it would not be practicable to obtain it, as it would involve a very great amount of labour and a decision in the case of each particular officer as to whether his duties were confined to dealing with Customs duties, and, if so, to what extent the Customs duties were protective; and even then the information obtained would not be very definite.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he proposes to issue any regulations to the effect that all British troops employed in Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, and the Federated Malay States must be of pure European descent on both sides; and whether the special difficulties arising from racial conditions apply to the troops as well as to the civil and police forces in these countries?

The composition of the Imperial troops in Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements is a matter for the Army Council. No Imperial troops are stationed in the Federated Malay States. My hon. Friend appears to be confusing the question of officers with that of the rank and file. The police forces are not composed exclusively of Europeans, and the Secretary of State does not understand what he means by civil forces as distinct from police.

asked on what date the Colonial Office abandoned its previous practice of admitting British subjects not of pure European descent on both sides to appointments in the civil and police services of Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, and the Federated Malay States; what changes were then made in the published regulations, and in what respect did they differ from the new regulations which have recently come into force; whether any announcement was made to Parliament of this change in Imperial policy; and whether any protests have been received?

The regulation excluding candidates who were not of pure European descent from the examination for cadetships in the Civil Services of Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, and the Federated Malay States, was made in 1904 and came into force at the examination held by the Civil Service Commissioners in August, 1905. Previously the regulations had required that candidates must be natural born British subjects. The present regulations differ from those in force since 1905 in that the expression "pure European descent on both sides" has been substituted for "European descent" in order to avoid any possible ambiguity. As regards candidates for the police forces, the regulation has been in force since the institution of the system of recruiting officers for those forces by open examination. The Secretary of State is not aware that any announcement was made to Parliament at the time or that any protests have been received.

Do I understand that the effect of the regulations as recently altered is to make it now impossible for any native to apply for competitive examination?

That only applies to the officers of these particular forces, not to the rank and file.

Do I not understand that these regulations apply to the whole of the police and civil services in these Colonies?

No, Sir. It applies to the officers of these particular forces.

And the civil services?

I was referring to the military forces. With regard to the civil services, if my hon. Friend will put down a question I will explain to him how far the regulations apply to the different classes.

I had better ask the Secretary for the Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will publish Papers showing the evidence on which he has come to the conclusion that it is desirable to close the civil and police services in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Federated Malay States to all British subjects who are not of pure European descent on both sides; and whether he will publish any correspondence on the subject?

The Secretary of State does not consider that it would be practicable to publish any Papers on this subject.

Is this House to have no opportunity of forming an opinion as to a change which affects the status of about 350,000,000 of British subjects?

I will represent what my hon. Friend says to the Secretary of State.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he is aware that the superintending valuer of the West Riding Division has laid it down that a notice of objection to a provisional valuation is not in order unless it states, as an amendment required, the sum at which the owner values his property; and whether, in view of the provisions of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, he will direct the superintending valuer to discontinue this practice?

I am not aware that any such practice as is referred to by the hon. Member has been laid down. The Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, does lay down that with a view to an amendment of the provisional valuation the owner may state to the Commissioners the amendment he desires.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry, and if he finds that this has been the practice laid down will he put an end to it?

I will make inquiries.

asked how the total yield of the Excise Duty on the purchases of intoxicating liquors in clubs under Section 48 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, in respect of each year for which it has been payable compares with the estimate of £100,000 as the probable yield of this duty given on 9th September, 1909; and what steps, if any, are taken to check statements of purchases of intoxicating liquor furnished by clubs under that Section?

The yield of the Club Duty has been as follows:—

1909–10	…	…	…	£45,954
1910–11	…	…	…	£50,749

The estimate given on 9th November, 1909, was, as will be seen on reference to Hansard, especially stated to be purely conjectural. Where statements are not certified by an accountant, very full particulars are required to be furnished. These are carefully scrutinised and inquiry made when considered necessary.

asked how the yield of the increase in the Liquor Licence Duties collected for the year 1909–10 from England (including Wales), Scotland, and Ireland compares with the approximate estimate given on 24th May, 1909, of the respective proportions to be drawn from England, Scotland, and Ireland?

No absolutely final figures are yet available, but the percentages work out roughly as follows:

• England—91 per cent.
• Scotland—Between 6 and 7 per cent.
• Ireland—Between 2 and 3 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that innocent persons are frequently summoned before the magistrates for contravention of the Swine Fever Order of 1908 for visiting a swine fever infected place within the meaning of the Order without any knowledge or means of ascertaining, in the absence of any notification upon the premises, under Article 2 (4) of the Order, that it has been so declared by a notice, in the Form A set forth in the Schedule, served by the inspector of the local authority upon the occupier; and whether, in view of the annoyance and expense consequent upon such proceedings, he will so alter the wording of Article 2 (4) of the Order as to make it obligatory instead of, as now, permissive for the inspector to acquaint the public, by a notice or mark upon such premises, that they are for the time being an infected place?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, but I should be glad to make inquiry with regard to any specific cases which may have been brought to the hon. Member's knowledge. I do not think the procedure suggested in the second part of the question is necessary. A notice prohibiting the entry of unauthorised persons into the place where diseased pigs are kept is always served upon the occupier of the premises, and in ordinary circumstances this should be sufficient to secure isolation. In some cases it may be desirable that special attention should be called, by placard or otherwise, to the fact that disease exists on the premises, but this may well be left, as at present, to the discretion of the local authority.

Arising out of that answer, I should like to ask whether it is not desirable it should be left to the discretion of the police officer whether these notices should, or should not, be upon the premises?

I have said, at the end of my answer, it might be left to the discretion of the local authority.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether, notwithstanding the promise that no official in the Customs or Excise services should suffer in prospects or promotion through amalgamation, port clerks of the Customs will under the Hobhouse Report be merged in the general body of officers and deprived of their present superior classification, which provides for promotion without examination through the various grades to the highest positions in the service; (2) whether in consequence of the proposals for amalgamation of the Customs and Excise services, senior lower section clerks of the second class, in addition to a diminution in general prospects, will be deprived of immediate increases in salary to which they are now entitled, amounting in some cases to £50; and that senior upper section clerks will not only be relegated to a class whose maximum is less than their present salaries, but will be subjected to a competitive examination, arbitrarily imposed as a new condiion of promotion; and, if so, what action will he take in the matter; and (3) whether, in connection with the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise services, steps will be taken to meet the cases of those seniors who, just when they are in turn for promotion, will be faced by new and unfavourable conditions which must deprive many of them of hitherto certain advancement; and whether the principle hitherto observed towards civil servants of granting at least one step of promotion before existing conditions are altered to their detriment will in this case be recognised?

The Amalgamation Committee considered the probable effect on the various classes of the application of the new scheme proposed by them, and their report contains proposals for special arrangements in the case of certain classes, including the upper and lower section clerks referred to. I must refer the hon. Member to paragraph 135 of the Committee's Report, showing that they kept in mind the general question of expectations of promotion, and to paragraphs 156 and 157, showing the special terms given to these clerks.

Do I understand the case of those who are expecting promotion is to be met by the new regulations?

Yes; that was the object of the special terms I referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the report for the quarter ending the 25th October, 1911, of the Burnley and District Weavers, Winders, and Beamers Association, in which the members are advised to shun the non-members as if they were possessed of some plague or fever, and to refuse to assist them in any way, or to associate with them; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent workmen being prejudiced in consequence of their refusal to join a trade union?

I have not seen the report referred to in the question. I should, of course, much regret the use of language of the kind indicated, and I can only say that language which is calculated to lead to a breach of the peace can be dealt with under the existing law.

Will the right hon. Gentleman allow me to show him the report afterwards?

Yes, Sir; certainly.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware many employers of labour compel their workers to leave the trade unions as a condition of employment?

This is a case of the use of language of a rather violent kind.

Is it not rather violent action on the part of the employers to impose that condition?

That does not arise out of the question.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that the last panel of common jurymen at the Glamorgan Assizes concluded in Cardiff this week were detained fifteen days from their occupations; and whether he will give instructions that for the future extra jury panels shall be provided at assizes so that jurors shall not again be penalised in such a manner?

My attention has not been previously called to the matter in question. I have no authority to issue instructions with regard to it, but the hardship involved is one that may properly be brought to the notice of the Committee on juries which has now been appointed.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will bring this particular case to the notice of the Committee now sitting on the subject?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state from what source the Government proposes to meet the cost of the extra police aid in the Tonypandy riots, in view of its decision not to proceed with the Expenses of Aid to Police Bill?

I am in communication with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in this matter, but I can assure the hon. Member that in no event is it proposed to allow the charge to fall on the Metropolitan ratepayers.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not customary that this expense should fall on the local rates?

By local rates the Noble Lord does not mean London rates. I think there is a usual practice of that sort.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether in this case he has decided to make the Glamorgan ratepayers responsible?

No, it is a legal question. I have no power to decide the point.

May I ask whether the Home Office, cannot take action against Glamorganshire?

It depends whether they are legally liable or not. It is no use taking action if they are not legally liable.

Is it not a fact that the Home Office did take action, and that it was proved they had no legal right?

At this stage I would rather not go further into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a number of boys, aged over fourteen, are employed as van boys, messenger boys, and errand boys in connection with places which are not under the Factory and Workshops Act or the Shops Act, and in consequence such boys are worked for excessive hours; and whether he will consider the desirability of extending the protection of either the Factory and Workshops Act and Shops Act to such young persons?

I am aware that a considerable number of boys are employed in occupations of the kind mentioned in the question, and that in some cases long hours are worked by them. As the Noble Lord is aware, the general question of the employment of boys in occupations of this character has been under consideration, but I am not able to give any pledge as to introducing legislation to deal with the hours or other conditions of work. In any event, the conditions are so different from the conditions of the stationary occupations which are regulated by the Factory and Shops Acts that the provisions of those Acts would not, I think, be applicable.

asked the Prime Minister if the fact that there is no secret arrangement of any sort or kind which has not been disclosed is applicable to treaties which exist between this country and Powers other than France?

As has been stated, there were no secret engagements with France other than those that have now been published, and there are no secret engagements with any foreign Government that entail upon us any obligation to render military or naval assistance to any other Power. They are none of them of recent date.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the recommendation of the Select Committee appointed in 1902 to inquire into the ventilation of the House of Commons that a further inquiry should be instituted into problems of ventilation still unsolved, he will appoint another Select Committee to conduct such an inquiry?

I am informed that the expenditure incurred in carrying out the recommendations of the Select Committee of 1902 ceased in June, 1907. Until more precise methods have been demonstrated, from whatever source, for dealing with the outstanding problems of ventilation, the time seems hardly ripe for pursuing these questions by the establishment of another Select Committee.

May I ask the Prime Minister whether it would not be possible to go back to the old-fashioned way of opening the windows? This used to be an extremely comfortable and pleasant House to sit in.

That simple process would involve very little expenditure.

asked the Prime Minister if he has considered whether it is possible to create some means, by a committee or otherwise, for keeping Parliament in closer touch with foreign affairs; and whether, in view of the existence of a feeling that foreign affairs are becoming more and more the subjects of secret settlement, he will at least set up a committee of inquiry to report on the whole subject?

The Government have not as yet seen any proposal in this direction which seems to them practicable or consistent with the maintenance of the undivided responsibility of the Executive.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of my question?

I thought I had answered by implication. Until we see some proposal to be submitted to the committee I do not see that there would be any great advantage in setting it up.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in order to allay the anxiety in Ireland caused by a certain recent ministerial announcement, he will say whether the Cabinet, will undertake to pass the Home Rule Bill through the House of Commons in three consecutive Sessions before the present Parliament is dissolved?

I do not know to what announcement the hon. Member refers. I trust that the Bill in question will have a smoother course than he seems to anticipate, but, if it becomes necessary, the Government intend to use all the constitutional means at their disposal to pass it into law during the lifetime of the present Parliament.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that some of the omnibus conductors in London work sixteen hours out of twenty-four, he can see his way to bring in legislation to prevent men from being overworked to this extent?

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. I have made some inquiry, and I understand that some of the conductors of horsed omnibuses (which I may remind the hon. Member are rapidly diminishing in number) have a 15½ hours day, but this includes liberal intervals for meals and resting between journeys. The longest period for motor omnibus conductors is, I am informed, fourteen hours, which also includes similar intervals. I am afraid I cannot undertake legislation on this subject.

Are we to understand that under the Free Trade system people have to work these hours?

Are we to understand that these men have to work about sixteen hours a day?

I have been given to understand that this is in consequence of the reduction in the number of horse buses.

Can the right hon. Gentleman see his way next Session to bring in legislation to stop this disgraceful state of things?

If the hon. Gentleman will help to pass legislation next Session devolving some of the work of this Parliament upon another assembly, I might be able to do something to meet his desire.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of introducing a Bill at an early date to reduce the hours of labour allowed for young persons and women in non-textile factories to those allowed in textile factories?

The legislation suggested in the question would involve an important amendment of the Factory Acts and, as I stated in reply to a question by the Noble Lord on 23rd November, I am not in a position at present to make any statement as to future factory legislation.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now able to make any announcement with regard to the appointment of a committee to report on the jury system?

Yes, Sir; the Committee have been appointed to-day, and an announcement will appear in the newspapers to-morrow morning. I may tell my hon. Friend at once that Lord Mersey has consented to be chairman of the Committee, and the names of the other members in alphabetical order are:—

• Mr. Ernley Blackwell, C.B., Assistant Under-Secretary of State.
• Mr. Tufnell Burchell, Acting Under-Sheriff for the county of London.
• The hon. Member for Southern Carnarvon (Mr. Ellis W. Davies).
• The hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Rupert Gwynne).
• Mr. English Harrison, K.C., Chairman of the General Council of the Bar.
• The Right Hon. Henry Hobhouse.
• His Honour Judge Parry, and
• The hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Philip Snowden).

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, in view of the increasing interest shown by the public in the Debates of this House, and the number of persons from all parts of the Empire attending in the Galleries, he will cause arrangements to be made for the installation of indicators in convenient positions to inform strangers of the names of speakers, as is done for the convenience of Members themselves in the Libraries and other rooms within the precincts of the House?

The First Commissioner regrets that, with the funds at his disposal, he will not be able to afford the convenience desired.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is yet in a position to make any statement as to the provision of a telephone service in the town of Longford from Mullingar or Dublin?

I am sorry to say that I am not yet able to make any definite statement as to the prospects of a telephone service being provided for Longford. I am, however, in discussion with the Treasury as to the general conditions on which telephone extensions of this kind can be undertaken and am taking steps to obtain an early decision.

asked the Postmaster-General whether notice has been given to the persons supplied by a Sunday delivery of letters from Edgeworthstown to Ballinalee that in future the postman must return at the end of an hour to Edgeworthstown instead of, as for many years, in the evening at 6 p.m.; whether he is aware that this will prevent persons replying to their morning mail on Sundays as they have done for many years; whether he is aware that six large country mansions are served by this mail; and will he immediately direct that this change will not be persevered in?

I am having inquiry made in the matter, and I will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the transfer of the National Telephone Company's undertakings to the Crown will result in a loss to the local rates throughout the country and an addition to the rate burden now borne by farmers, small holders, and shopkeepers; and whether, to avoid this loss, the Government propose to continue to pay rates in respect of such undertakings or, alternatively, to pay an equivalent grant in lieu thereof based upon their annual value as appearing in the valuation lists?

The Government have considered the matter; and, as I have already stated in reply to earlier questions, they are prepared to make some contribution in lieu of rates on the buildings and plant to be acquired, but the precise basis of the contribution has not yet been settled. Some delay has occurred owing to the necessity of awaiting certain returns of assessments which the National Telephone Company is furnishing.

Will these contributions be equivalent to what would have been received from the undertaking formerly?

I cannot give an answer to that. I have stated that the precise basis of the contribution has not yet been settled.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that some private businesses and municipal tramways have been able to organise an express parcels delivery service at a profit; and whether, with a view to diminishing undesirable forms of juvenile employment and substituting adult for juvenile labour, he will consider the possibility of organising an efficient express parcels delivery service for the use of traders and others in populous areas?

I am quite alive to the expediency of economising boy labour, and a Standing Committee on this subject which I have appointed has before it the question of doing so as far as possible in connection with express delivery. The Post Office already has an efficient express delivery of letters and parcels, which is performed by telegraph messengers in connection with their other duties, and I do not think that an adult service such as the Noble Lord seems to have in view could be substituted with advantage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state whether legal proceedings in connection with the distribution of the assets of the Birkbeck Building Society and Bank are now at an end; and, if so, whether he can state when the Official Receiver is likely to authorise a further payment in the pound to the holders of current and deposit accounts with the bank?

Notice of appeal from the recent decision of Mr. Justice Neville was given last Monday, and the Official Receiver will not therefore be able to make any further distribution of the assets of the Birkbeck Building Society until after the appeal has been heard.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Board of Trade or the Official Receiver has any power to restrain the wasting of the assets of this company in litigation?

I must ask the hon. Member to give notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the attention of the Board is directed to the financial condition of any company, whether the Board, in the public interest, go beyond the merely technical check required for filing; and, in view of the character of the last balance sheet of the Guardian Bank, and the character of a collecting society run by one of its officials on bank premises and partly with bank money, whether the Board will have the affairs of this joint concern investigated on the 31st of the present month and the result made public.

The Registrar of Joint Stock Companies has no power to audit any statement in the form of a balance-sheet which is presented to him for filing by a company, but any such statement is required to be audited by the company's auditors in accordance with the provisions of Section 26 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908. The only power of investigation into the affairs of a company which is not in liquidation possessed by the Board of Trade is that contained in Section 109 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, in accordance with which the Board of Trade may appoint an inspector to investigate the affairs of a company on the application of members holding not less than one-tenth of the shares issued. No such application has been received by the Board of Trade in the case of the company referred to by the hon. Member, and consequently the jurisdiction of the Board of Trade to appoint an inspector has not arisen.

asked whether, in insurance cases involving poor persons to whom the remedy of an action is not available, the Board of Trade can enforce equities, as certain directors of the London and Provincial Assurance Company, having run in Ireland an Irish provident assurance company, collected money from poor people, depreciated the value of the property entrusted to them, and then transferred it to themselves as directors of the London and Provincial Company; and whether the Board of Trade will require those English directors to perform their Irish contracts out of their corporate or personal property?

The Courts of Law alone have jurisdiction to enforce the performance of contracts, whether those contracts relate to insurance or to other matters, and the Board of Trade have no power to intervene on any question relating to a contract to which they were not parties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has had any complaints submitted to him with regard to delays by the railway companies in Ireland in the transit of Irish butter and the consequent injury to this important branch of industry; and if so, will those complaints be inquired into with the view of compelling those railway companies to carry out their statutory obligations to the trading public?

My hon. Friend has forwarded me several such complaints, which are now under consideration. I will communicate with him further as soon as the necessary inquiries have been completed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the share fishermen out of the port of Lowestoft do not receive from the owners a written or printed statement of accounts, and thus have no opportunity of verifying the correctness of the amount of money paid to them at the end of each voyage; and whether he will take steps to secure that such statements shall be supplied?

I have not received any complaint from fishermen at Lowestoft on the matter to which my hon. Friend refers. Under Section 388 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, every fisherman paid by share is entitled to demand a copy of the settling account which is required to show in detail the amounts for which the catch has been sold and the amount of deductions; and he is also entitled, in the event of a dispute arising, to inspect the owners' books and accounts. The Board of Trade have approved and issued a form of settling account, but it is for the fishermen themselves to assert their legal rights in this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether or not the figures frequently cited by the Government with regard to unemployment are taken from the reports of the 394 unions making regular monthly reports with regard to employment to the Board of Trade; whether it would be possible to obtain statistics more representative of trade unions generally; and, if not, will he undertake to print in the Board of Trade Gazette, by way of a footnote, that the total number of trade unions in 1910 was 1,153 and their gross membership 2,435,704, so that the readers of that journal may not be misled by the returns made from the 394 unions specified?

I presume that the figures referred to by the hon. Member are those published in the Board of Trade Labour Gazette, which are based on returns made by 394 unions. The scope and limitation of these figures are quite well known, and under present conditions I know of no means of obtaining better statistics, though I am always open to receive suggestions. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by printing the footnote suggested, which, it seems to me, would itself be calculated to mislead.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that several of the greatest trade unions in this country have had to suspend unemployed benefit entirely for several months this year?

Perhaps the hon. Member will give me the information. I have not heard it.

asked what are the duties charged on calicoes exported from Great Britain to Tripoli; and what are the duties on identical goods exported to Italy?

British calicoes are dutiable, on importation into Tripoli, at the rate of 8 per cent. ad valorem. The Customs Duties imposed on British cotton goods of all descriptions on importation into Italy are set out at length on pages 71 to 76 of the last issue of the Foreign Import Duties Return (Cd. 5297).

asked what duties could have been imposed by France on British cotton goods going into Morocco under the Anglo-French Agreement of 1904; and what duties can be imposed on similar British goods going into Morocco under the agreement now being negotiated between France and Germany?

Under our commercial treaty with Morocco of the 9th of December, 1856, the Import Duties on British goods imported into Morocco may not exceed 10 per cent. ad valorem. They were raised to 12½ per cent. by Article 66 of the Algeciras Act. Neither the Anglo-French Agreement of 1904 nor the recently concluded Franco-German Convention affects this figure.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to a case of Arlidge v. Conolly and Lawrence, which was tried on the 16th and 17th November, 1911, in the High Court of Justice, and to the fact that in the course of the case the learned judge who heard it expressed his astonishment that closing orders should ever have been made by the Camberwell Borough Council in respect of certain houses owned by Mr. Arlidge, and the jury expressed concurrence with the learned judge's observations; and whether, in view of the facts that transpired on the trial of the action, the Board will reconsider the question of allowing to Mr. Arlidge the costs of his successful appeal to the Local Government Board against the closing orders?

My attention has been drawn to the proceedings in the case referred to. I see no reason to reconsider the decision as to the costs of Mr. Arlidge's appeal.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think this a proper case for allowing this gentleman his costs who has been so completely vindicated both by the decision of the Local Government Board and the Law Courts?

I do not agree with the hon. Member.