asked whether the demand of the Russian Government, supported by His Majesty's Government, is that future appointments of foreigners to official positions in Persia must be made subject to approval by Russia, in the Russian sphere and by His Majesty's Government in the British sphere; and is this power of veto to extend to the Gulf Region of Persia, and, if so, which Power is to have the veto there?

The demand is that Persia should not engage foreigners without the previous consent of the British and Russian Legations: there is no mention of spheres of interest in the demand. His Majesty's Government were informed beforehand that this demand would be made and they acquiesced; but they were not asked for their support. In practice until recently the two Governments have been consulted about appointments of foreigners.

asked what precedent there was for the inclusion, without the approval of Parliament, of Article 8 in the Anglo-Japanese Commercial Treaty (1911), limiting the freedom of action of the Imperial Parliament in imposing duties upon goods imported from a foreign country?

I am not aware of any previous Treaty which contains an Article exactly similar to that mentioned, but all Commercial Treaties limit the action of Parliament in one way or another. Moreover, the Article mentioned makes special provision whereby Parliament can, if it pleases, recover its freedom without prejudice to the remainder of the Treaty. As regards the present Treaty it will be remembered that it was laid as a White Paper one month before it was ratified, a course which gave Members full opportunity for considering its provisions before they came into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he is aware that the action of the British Consul-General at Shanghai, in giving notice to all traders of British nationality that they must not provide either of the belligerents in the Chinese Empire with supplies of any kind, while it is left open to traders of other nationalities to sell goods to such belligerents without any interference on the part of the representatives of their respective Governments has resulted in diverting trade into other than British channels; and whether, under these circumstances, the notice can be withdrawn or, alternatively, uniform action be secured in this matter on the part of the Governments of all foreign nations whose subjects carry on trade at Shanghai?

As far as my information goes, the action of His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai was confined to calling the attention of British subjects to the Order in Council of 1904, by which British subjects are forbidden to assist in any way in the carrying on of war, insurrection, or rebellion against the Government of China. But I will request His Majesty's Minister in China to report on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if there is any reason for the continuance of the restrictions on the removal of store pigs from Ireland to England; and, if not, will he take steps to have such restrictions annulled?

Yes, Sir, the restrictions in question are necessary in order to prevent the spreading of swine-fever from Ireland to Great Britain, and I do not think they could be withdrawn with safety at the present time. I may add that similar restrictions are in force with regard to the movement of store pigs from one district to another in Great Britain.

asked whether the Committee appointed to inquire into the practice of shuttle-kissing has finished its inquiries; and, if so, when its Report may be expected?

The inquiry has been delayed by the death of one of the members of the Committee, but it is now concluded, and the Committee hope to have their report ready early in next year.

asked the Home Secretary why so small a percentage of ex-Service men, namely, 32.50, are employed under the Home Office; and whether, in view of the fact that many ex-Navy and ex-Army men are well qualified for such posts as messengers and attendants, he will give instructions that the percentage of men employed under the Home Office be raised to at least 50 per cent. as soon as possible as vacancies occur?

This low percentage is rather misleading, because the numbers include ten temporary employés under eighteen years of age. But for them, the percentage would have been 43.3. I find that since 1901 twelve out of sixteen persons appointed to the post of messenger or the like have been ex-Service men, or 75 per cent.

asked the Home Secretary whether the attention of the Government has been called to the position of high sheriffs of counties and to the objection of certain persons to undertake this office; and whether, in view of the character of the duties, he will propose legislation either abolishing the office of high sheriff or removing the grounds of complaint?

My attention has not been called to the subject; but, even if a case could be made for legislation with regard to the office of high sheriff, there is no prospect at present of finding time for it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see whether it is not possible to exempt men who are already doing large public duties, like the chairmen of county councils, from these onerous burdens?

I do not know. I think that would be taken into account in appointing the sheriffs.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is not now the rule to take, that into account? May I further ask whether the duties of this office are not confined to giving luncheons to judges before the assizes, and then executing their victims after the assizes, and whether these duties are hardly suitable to give to hard-worked county gentlemen at the present time?

The hon. Gentleman had better put the question down on the Paper.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has received a report from the advisory committee concerning the wages scale for Dowlais; and whether, as the dispute was settled ten weeks ago, the firm of Guest, Keen, and Nettlefold is again eligible to tender for contracts for his Department?

All restrictions on the works of this firm other than Dowlais were removed several weeks ago. The Admiralty have little connection with the Dowlais works. The Departments having concern with Dowlais now being satisfied, the Admiralty will remove their restriction.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the firm of Thornycroft, Southampton, are discharging workmen employed at the rate of wages agreed upon between masters and men, namely, 30s. per week, and taking on men at a wage of 22s. per week, thus violating the Fair-Wages Clause; and whether he will have inquiry made with a view to enforcing compliance with the Clause in question?

Investigation is now being made into this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General if representations have reached him to the effect that, in connection with the impending transfer of the National Telephone Company's undertaking to the Post Office, no statutory provision has been made to retain the property as rateable hereditaments, and that, in the absence of such statutory provision, the local rates must suffer unless the Government continues to pay local rates on the telephone undertaking after the transfer or makes an equivalent contribution in lieu thereof based on the full annual value of the undertaking; whether such representations have been considered; and, if so, can he state the result?

Representations to this effect have reached me. Statutory provision to make Crown property rateable would be unusual, and is, moreover, unnecessary. As I have already stated in reply to earlier questions, the Government is 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. Returns of assessments are being furnished by the National Telephone Company, and have to be considered.

asked why both sorting clerks and postmen are employed in recording parcels and sorting inward correspondence at the Hull General Post Office, seeing that, previous to March, 1911, these duties were performed only by qualified sorting clerks?

I am having inquiry made into this matter and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that dissatisfaction prevails in the county of Glamorgan owing to the failure of the education authority to administer the Provision of Meals Act in an effective manner; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the matter on the spot, in order to ascertain if necessitous children are really being left unfed by this authority?

Representations have been made to the Board with reference to the matter referred to in the first part of the question. I must remind the hon. Member that the Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1906, is permissive in character and that it rests with the local education authority to decide whether they will take any steps under it. An order was issued by the Board in June last sanctioning expenditure under the Act in certain parishes in the county of Glamorgan up to 31st March, 1912. If the hon. Member will bring to my notice any instances of inability on the part of children, owing to lack of food, to take full advantage of the education provided for them, I shall be glad to communicate with the local education authority in respect of them.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can give any assurance that the Census (1911) Returns will be published at an early date, and, if so, when?

It is hoped that the volumes dealing with the populations of various classes of area will be issued during the spring and early summer of next year, and those dealing with social statistics (such as age, occupations, etc.), in the early part of 1913.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks of the judge and foreman of the jury in the case of Arlidge v. Conolly and Lawrence upon the conduct of the Local Government Board and of the Camberwell Borough Council; whether he proposes to indemnify Mr. Arlidge for the expense to which he has been put by the action of the Camberwell Borough Council and the methods of the Local Government Board; and whether he will introduce legislation amending the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, to restore to individuals the right to appeal to a judicial tribunal in order that similar cases may not occur again?

I must refer the Noble Lord to the reply which I gave on the 6th instant to a question on this subject put by the hon. Member for St. Pancras (West). I see no reason for adopting the suggestion in the last part of the Noble Lord's question.

asked whether the Legislative Council in Ceylon has been dissolved; if so, how it is proposed to reconstitute it; and whether it is intended that in future there will be no member of the Legislative Council directly representing the interests of the European commercial community?

I am not aware whether the council has yet been dissolved but, if not, it will be dissolved very shortly in order that a reformed council may be appointed. The constitution of the new council is shown in the correspondence published last year in Cd. 5098 and 5427. The interests of the European commercial community will be adequately represented by the urban and rural European members, and there will be no member to represent that community alone.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a strong feeling in Colombo, particularly among the European community who represent both the import and the export traders, that they ought to be represented specially on the council?

No, Sir.

Considering that one of the seats was taken from the Europeans, will the right hon. Gentleman not take this opportunity of restoring the balance?

No. A representative has not been taken away from the European community. One of the representatives of the Colomban Chamber of Commerce has represented firms of all nationalities.

asked the estimated loss of revenue which will be due to the operation of Clause 2 of the Finance Bill, giving separate figure for loss under Sub-section (1) and under Sub-section (2).

The estimated loss of revenue for a complete year is £100,000, namely:—

• £70,000 under Sub-section (1)
• £30,000 under Sub-section (2)

asked the imports of cocoa butter into this country in the years 1890, 1895, 1896, 1897, and 1900?

The imports of cocoa butter prior to the 7th August, 1896, cannot be stated, as cocoa butter was not then separately distinguished in the Accounts. The figures for 1896 (from 7th August), 1897 and 1900, are as follows:—

Year.				Lbs.
1896	…	…	…	242,940
1897	…	…	…	1,601,132
1900	…	…	…	1,259,821

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Thomas Cousins, Kenmare, has applied to be allowed to purchase his holding on the Lansdowne estate on the same terms as the other tenants who have purchased; and whether the Estates Commissioners will take steps to secure that his application is complied with?

The holdings on this estate in respect of which purchase agreements were lodged with the Estates Commissioners under the Act of 1903 were sold direct by the owner to the tenants. No purchase agreement has been lodged in respect of the lands referred to, and the Commissioners have no compulsory powers in the matter.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board were now prepared to complete the purchase of the Colomb estate, near Cahirciveen?

The Congested Districts Board cannot yet say whether they will purchase this estate, which is now being inspected.

asked the Chief Secretary whether in the distribution of the lands of the Pollock estate, county Galway, the Estates Commissioners granted Father Geraghty, parish priest, Crosswell, president of the Glynsk and Crosswell branches of the United Irish League, who acted for the tenants during the negotiations for the sale of the property, Skehard House and the home farm, and the Roman Catholic curate at Glynsk an additional six acres of the property to his house and other holding; whether it is the practice of the Estates Commissioners to make allotments to parish priests; and, if so, can he state the acreage owned by them in Ireland?

This house and demesne were not allotted to Canon Geraghty, but were resold to the vendor of the estate under Section 3 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and were vested in him in pursuance of the provisions of that Section. No advance has been sanctioned to the Roman Catholic curate, but three plots, comprising some 10 acres, have, on the resale of the property, been sold to the Diocesan Trustees, two of the plots being for national school teachers' residences, and the third an addition to the holding occupied by the local clergy. Where the Commissioners allot sites for teachers' residences or schools on estates purchased by them the allotments are vested in trustees, of whom the parish priest or the rector is usually one. The Commissioners have no separate record of the number of cases in which this has been done.

asked when the estate of Francis Boxwell, Esq., Butlerstown Castle, will be vested in the tenants?

This estate is being sold direct to the tenants by the owner under the Irish Land Act, 1903. It is on the principal register of direct sales, and, having regard to the claims of other estates, the Estates Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be reached.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have purchased the Blackburne estate, situate at Footstown Great, country Meath; and, if so, when would a distribution scheme be prepared?

The Estates Commissioners have not yet acquired this property, but are in negotiation with the owner.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Memorandum issued by the Commissioners of National Education dealing with the grant of a moiety of the cost of heating and cleansing Irish national schools restricts the grant to the whitewashing or otherwise cleansing of the exterior of the schoolhouses and the emptying and cleansing of the pits of the outhouses; and whether he will have the conditions so amended as to cover the cleansing of the walls and disinfecting the floors, desks, and benches in the interior of the schools?

The provisions of the Memorandum are as stated. The Commissioners of National Education did not consider that the sum of £21,000 would be sufficient to meet a moiety of the cost of cleaning and whitewashing the inside of the schoolrooms as well as the outside. The suggestion that the rule should be extended so as to include both has also been made by the Catholic Clerical Managers' Association, and I have asked the Commissioners to consider it, but I have not yet received their observations. When I do I will communicate with the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to bear in mind that in many cases the exterior fabric of the national schools is in perfect order, and that no further expenditure is necessary upon it, but that the interior requires constant cleaning?

Yes. I think that is one of the points I will call attention to.

asked the Chief Secretary whether at a meeting of the board of guardians, South Dublin union, on Wednesday, the 15th November last, a lady member moved that a child already baptised as a Protestant at the written request of its mother by Archdeacon Walsh be allowed to remain a member of the Church of Ireland; that the guardians defeated the motion by a majority of five and decided that the question of the child's religion be left in abeyance pending inquiries; and whether he will give the necessary orders that the child be brought up in the religion its mother desired and in which it was baptised?

At the meeting of the board of guardians on the 15th November a proposal was made that the deserted child referred to should be registered as a Roman Catholic, and an amendment was moved to the effect indicated in the question. The guardians adjourned the consideration of the question of the religion of the child's parents for inquiries, and at their next meeting unanimously decided to take no further action and to leave the child to be brought up in the faith in which by its mother's wish it had been baptised.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the composition of the bench of magistrates in the Castlecomer Petty Sessions district is mostly of the Tory and Unionist personnel; and, seeing that the Lord Chancellor of Ireland has had the names of several properly qualified gentlemen of popular tendencies recommended to him by the local bodies and by the Member of Parliament for the Division, whether he will see his way to accede to the request of the people and appoint additional magistrates?

The Lord Chancellor informs me that he does not know the political views of the magistrates referred to. The names of certain gentlemen have been suggested to the Lord Chancellor for appointment to the Commission of the Peace in connection with the Castlecomer Bench, and will be duly considered.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Castlecomer Board of Guardians, in order to try and repress the tramp evil, instructed the workhouse master to institute proceedings for vagrancy against all tramps whom he could prove were vagrants, and that in carrying out that order of the guardians the master had some tramps whom he could prove offenders under the Vagrancy Act brought before Mr. Butler, the only justice of the peace in the town of Castlecomer; and, seeing that this justice of the peace, instead of convicting the said tramps, allowed them off without any punishment, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I am aware that the Castlecomer Board of Guardians have issued instructions as stated. Proceeding's have been instituted against certain vagrants, and in one case the magistrate inflicted a sentence of seven days, and in the others cases discharged them with a caution. I understand that there are four magistrates in Castlecomer. The Government cannot interfere with the judicial decision of the magistrate in these cases.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he intends introducing, in next Session, a small drainage Bill applicable to Sillies River and its tributaries in Fermanagh county?

I cannot undertake to introduce legislation on this subject next Session.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman do something, seeing the damage that is caused by these great floods?

I cannot, of course, deny that a great deal of damage is done, but I am afraid that I cannot undertake to deal with it next Session.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to a resolution of the Ennistymon Rural District Council condemning the action of the Board of Works in allowing the works at Lisconnor Harbour, West Clare, to remain unfinished, so that numbers of workmen have in consequence been thrown out of employment; and whether he can state what steps will be taken to complete the works necessary to render the harbour serviceable?

The resolution of the district council appears to be founded on a misapprehension of the facts, which were stated in my reply to the hon. Member's question of the 9th November. Owing to recent silting, which does not interfere with the navigation, the harbour bottom is now at least as safe as it would be if further expenditure were incurred in rock-cutting. The physical conditions of the harbour are such that unless a very large expenditure were incurred no substantial improvement in its present condition can be made.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to incur that larger expenditure which is necessary and which would be very salutary?

I have no doubt that it would be salutary, but the doubt is whether I should be able to find the money.

Could it not be dealt with by the Development Commissioners?

The people interested in it have only to bring it before the Development Commissioners.

Is it possible for the people of the locality to make their case before the Development Commissioners? I ask that because I understood that it was necessary that it should go through some third party.

I believe that it is usual for some Department of the Government to bring it forward. Unless it is brought forward they will not undertake it themselves.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter personally, when I am sure he will agree that it is deserving of consideration?

I have been to this harbour, and I am quite satisfied that this is an exceedingly hard case, but that it would cost from £30,000 to £40,000 to undertake the work which the hon. Gentleman has in mind.

£5,000.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether on the 1st July last the stock of reserve small arm ammunition of the present pattern, and not more than five years old, was depleted or up to full quantity usually stored; and whether there was a large or small quantity of the new pointed ammunition in store at that time?

It is not in the public interest that any details of stocks of reserve of small arm ammunition should be disclosed. It may, however, be stated that during this year prior to 1st July the new pointed ammunition was manufactured in lieu of the old pattern so as to obtain a sufficient stock to allow of a rearmament at an early date, and the stock of the old pattern was in consequence gradually reduced, though always remaining at an adequate figure.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give me any reply as to the old pattern ammunition? I may take it that it was easy to say it was satisfactory if it was actually satisfactory. With regard to the pointed bullet, what was the object of having a large stock if you had not rifles to fire them?

With regard to the first part of the question, as to whether the ammunition was satisfactory, I have said that it is not in the public interest that details should be issued. I may say at once, if the Noble Lord is anxious, that on the date named there were more than twice as many cartridges in this country alone as were fired during the whole of the South African war, a period of two years and three-quarters. With regard to the pointed bullet, there is always inconvenience in a transition period; but we endeavoured to see that no risk was run during that period.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state what the stock is at the present moment?

Yes; there are now in the country three and a half times as many cartridges as were fired during the whole of the South African war.

asked whether the Under-Secretary for War is aware that Captain Bryce Wilson served in the Army for nineteen years with continuously favourable reports, but that in September or October, 1906, an unfavourable confidential report was sent in by Lieutenant-Colonel Graham, D.S.O., and was not shown to Captain Bryce Wilson till 17th December, 1906, and was then undated and sent by a junior officer; whether this is against the Regulations; and whether, in view of the fact that this report by Lieutenant-Colonel Graham stated that Captain Bryce Wilson had not a good influence in the regiment, and that Major-General Scobell stated that for the sake of the 5th Lancers he hoped that Captain Bryce Wilson would never rejoin, and his patronymic was Flash Wilson, which described him aptly, and as no reasons were given, Captain Bryce Wilson was entitled, under Section 42 of the Army Act, to an inquiry; and, if so, why was it refused before he was turned out of his regiment and placed on half-pay?

The reasons for the action taken in the case of Captain Bryce Wilson were fully explained by the Secretary of State for War in the Debate on Army Estimates on 27th June, 1910. To the statement then made I have nothing to add.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman know perfectly well the fact that the reasons given were personal reasons for getting Captain Wilson out of the regiment?

I think the Secretary of State's answer is adequate, and I cannot accept any reflection on the gallant officer, Colonel Graham.

Is it not a fact that the reason given by Colonel Graham was a personal reason?

I do not think it is wise at question time to go into a complicated case. I cannot accept the inference of the hon. Gentleman and I do not think it is at all fair.

Are we to understand that officers can be got rid of on the mere personal wish of one man?

No, Sir; certainly not.

asked whether any members of the Royal Engineers are being used for land values work; and, if so, to what department will their services be charged?

Nothing is known in the War Office of any such employment of Royal Engineer officers.

Have these officers been employed in this service, and will the right hon. Gentleman inquire and communicate the information to the President of the Board of Agriculture forthwith?

If the Noble Lord has any information to give me I shall be very glad to receive it. We know nothing except that they filled up the forms.

Who filled them up?

The Royal Engineer officers who were fortunate enough to have property which rendered them liable to fill up the forms. Nothing else has come to our knowledge. I have made careful inquiry.

Have they been employed as land valuers?

I have said that I know nothing about that.

asked whether the Home Secretary's attention has been called to the fact that on 5th December the Alien Immigration Board for London admitted into this country a Russian woman with her child, who was certified by Dr. Willoughby to be suffering from favus, which he explained was an almost incurable infectious disease, and therefore likely to be transmitted to English children; whether this case forms a precedent for admitting diseased aliens into this country; and whether such persons when admitted will be allowed to enter elementary schools or factories in company with healthy English people?

Yes, Sir. A Russian child suffering from favus was admitted with her mother by the London Immigration Board last Tuesday; and it is a fact that favus is an infectious disease which is difficult to cure. The circumstances of the case were exceptional, seeing that both mother and child had already lived in this country and were returning, after a visit to Russia, to join the father here. The Board stated clearly that the case was not to be regarded as a precedent: and, further, put the father under a guarantee to have the child treated with a view to curing the disease. The case will be carefully watched.

Was this child sent to a public elementary school?

The child is at present only four and a-half years old.

Are we to cure all aliens who come over her?

That is neither our business nor our wish.

asked whether the Home Secretary could give an estimate of the number of Parliamentary voters there would be in each of the next five years on the assumption that the promised Electoral Reform Bill passed into law and provided that the qualifying age was raised to twenty-five years, that those under twenty-one years of age already enrolled retain their electoral right, and that the franchise was extended to women of twenty-five years and over who possessed the qualifications entitling men to enroll or were the wives of voters?

It would be impossible for me to give the figures asked for even if the provisions of the Bill as regards residence and other qualifications were defined in the question. Moreover, I have no statistics, and could not possibly obtain any, of the ages of existing electors. If my hon. Friend desires it, and will put down an unstarred question, I can give him estimated figures of the adult male and adult female population above twenty-five years old for the five years he mentions, and can exclude aliens, paupers, and certain other disqualified persons; but that is all I can do for him.

asked whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Victor Duval, who was sentenced at Bow Street on Tuesday last to a fine of 10s. or imprisonment for five days, which sentence he has now served; whether he has noted that, though the charge was for obstructing the police, the admitted facts were that Mr. Duval was not originally in the crowd but on the green, and that he was dragged into the crowd by the police, and further that the learned magistrate apparently held that the obstruction occurred after arrest; and whether, under these circumstances, he will consider the advisability of the sentence being quashed?

I am informed that the facts are not accurately given in the question. During the disturbance in Parliament Square Mr. Victor Duval was seen to be trespassing on the green within the iron railings of the square. When he was removed he endeavoured to force his way back through the police cordon, and he was then arrested and charged with obstructing the police in the execution of their duty. He behaved with much violence both before and after his arrest. The offence for which he was dealt with took place before his arrest. The magistrate held that the police were right in removing Duval from the enclosure, he found the charge of obstruction proved, and he made no suggestion that the obstruction occurred after the arrest. My hon. Friend has no doubt been misled by an inaccurate newspaper report of the magistrate's remarks.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the magistrate sentenced the prisoner for obstruction after, not before, arrest?

The hon. Member is misinformed. He must have got his information from a newspaper report.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that my information is not from newspapers, but from a verbatim report of the case taken on behalf of the prisoner?

asked if the Home Secretary can state how many explosions of a serious character have occurred in coal mines since 1872, and in how many of them has there been reason to suppose that the intake air road has been either the seat of origin of the explosion or has shown evidence of as great or greater violence of the explosion than did the return airway?

The number of colliery explosions that have occurred since the year 1872 in which twenty-five or more lives have been lost is forty-five. It is impossible to give a definite reply to the last part of the question. In many cases the point of origin of the explosion was not discovered, but it is probable that in fourteen the explosion originated in the intake airway. Further, the question whether the greater violence was displayed in the intake or return airway cannot in many cases be determined from the reports, but in sixteen cases it is clear that greater damage was done in the intake. It must be remembered, however, that the greater violence as a general rule will be displayed in the haulage roads owing to the presence of dust, and the intake is much more commonly used for haulage than the return. In the recent disaster at the Hulton mine, much greater violence was displayed in the return because the haulage was in the return and in addition to coal dust a small quantity of gas was also present.

asked the Home Secretary if he can state the total number of boys and men injured and killed in the shipbuilding yard of Messrs. Cammell, Laird, and Company, Limited, Birkenhead, during the past two years, and the verdicts given in cases where inquests have been held; and whether the chief inspector of factories and workshops is satisfied that all reasonable precautions are taken by this firm to prevent accidents in their shipbuilding yard?

During the two years ending 30th November last, the total number of accidents reported from this yard was 1,102, of which 187 occurred to young persons. The great majority of the accidents were very slight. Sixteen were fatal—namely, thirteen to adults and three to young persons. The verdicts in all cases were "Accidental death," and in no case was the firm blamed. In two cases, where the work was being executed by contractors, the jury recommended that the lighting should be improved, and the firm took steps to remedy this in such cases in the future. It is reported to me that this firm takes all reasonable precautions to prevent accidents, and that the recommendations contained in the special report on accidents in shipbuilding yards, issued by the Home Office in 1908, are well carried out.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state the number of the men employed in this shipyard altogether?

I think the number is about 2,500.

Is not that an extraordinary proportion of injured?

No; I do not think it would be extraordinary, as the accidents reported include a great many which are very trivial.

It is fifty out of every one hundred employed.

Not quite. In the course of a year it is not to be unexpected that a great many trivial accidents, slight injuries to hands and feet, should be reported.

Do I understand that in these works, with 2,500 men employed, there were sixteen men killed during the course of the year?

Two years.

Even in two years is not that an extraordinary number for the number of men employed?

Is this known as the human slaughter-house?

How do those figures compare with Armstrong's or Barrow?

I must have notice of a question of that kind.

Who was it reported that the regulations have been properly carried out in this yard?

The Home Office inspector.

Is one of the regulations that the men should meet with accidents like this—it is abominable!

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that organised attempts are being made by certain interested persons to break up public meetings, held on open spaces set apart for such public meetings, especially on Streatham Common; that at this latter place persons conducting the meetings have appealed to the police for protection, and such protection has been refused on the ground that it was the business of the attendants and park-keepers to preserve order, and that on these latter being appealed to they declined to act as the police were present; and, if the facts are as stated, will he instruct the police to deal impartially with all persons guilty of conduct likely to lead to a breach of the peace at these and suchlike meetings?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers this question, may I ask if he admits the suggestion contained in this question that the police did not do their duty?

I think the hon. Gentleman will find a reply in the course of my answer. I have made inquiry, and am informed that the facts are as follows: There is no foundation for the allegation that the police have referred persons appealing to them for protection to the park-keepers, nor is there any foundation for the statement that there is organised opposition to the holding of meetings on Streatham Common or elsewhere, beyond the fact that the provocative language of certain speakers has made it necessary for the police to protect those speakers from injury at the hands of persons to whom it has given offence. I am satisfied that the police have, in difficult circumstances, performed their duty without any partiality.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that those provocative statements are of exactly the same kind as the statements that one of his right hon. colleagues in the other House formerly wrote in books, and that two other colleagues on the same bench, one a right hon. Gentleman and the other an hon. Gentleman, have given utterance to in public lectures up and down the country without being interfered with?

Oh, no, Sir, I understand that the language used on Streatham Common was of an entirely different character.

As the gentleman who was accused of that conduct has been removed by the action of the police, and as to the gentleman who have been there since, I would like to ask if any verbatim report or any statement has been taken down as to what those men actually have said which gives the right hon. Gentleman the right to say that their statements are provocative; I am not speaking of Mr. Boulter, I am asking a question as to the speakers since?

With regard to Mr. Boulter's language——

There is no dispute between us.

With regard to the other persons the question now raised is whether order is to be preserved on Streatham Common or not. The police have been called in to protect certain lecturers. They have done their best but cannot undertake to protect them if they continue to lecture—that is to say, the state of feeling in Streatham is such as that it requires they should not lecture on Sunday mornings.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has considered the effect of what he says that gentlemen wishing to lecture on Tariff Reform amongst people who are actually hostile to it and do not want to hear such lectures, that they are to be subject to assault from the crowd without protection by the police?

They are protected, and as a matter of fact the police have protected those lecturers and either one or two persons have been fined or sent to prison because they obstructed or interfered with those lecturers. The state of feeling now is such on Streatham Common that it has become necessary in the public interest that those people should not lecture. I have no doubt if my hon. Friend lets a little time elapse feeling will die down and things will go on again in the ordinary course.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his colleague the Under-Secretary of State for War lectured yesterday morning on a United Irish League platform?

Yes, but there was no interruption of any kind.

Would not the Public Meeting Act, 1908, introduced by the Noble Lord opposite (Lord Hugh Cecil) meet this case, and could it not be enforced to protect the rights of speakers?

I will look into the question of the Act mentioned by my hon. Friend. At the present moment on Streatham Common it is merely a question of keeping order.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will cause inquiry to be made as to the loss sustained by Irish dealers in live stock owing to the pooling arrangements entered into by Irish railway companies and cross-Channel steamship companies?

I have received no complaints in this matter, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any cases of hardship I shall be happy to ask for the observations of the railway companies concerned.

Can the hon. Gentleman not get the information from the Railway Clearing House, and is it not the fact that throughout Ireland people in business were in the habit of getting rebates which have now been taken from them by this pooling arrangement?

I do not know whether that is a fact, but inquiries will be made, if the Board think it is proper to address them, to the Irish railway companies.

I can give every evidence of it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Advisory Committee has now come to a decision regarding the rates of wages to be paid at Dowlais; and whether the same has been communicated to the different spending departments?

I am informed by the chairman of the Advisory Committee that, in view of the recent readjustment of wages between the firm and the unions concerned, the contracting departments, which had referred certain matters relating to the Dowlais works to the Committee for investigation, have now informed them that they no longer require the advice of the Committee on the matters referred to them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, inasmuch as further legal proceedings appear to be threatened in connection with the winding-up of the Birkbeck Bank and Building Society, the Board of Trade or the Official Receiver possess any powers by which the assets of the bank may be protected from being spent upon litigation?

Notice has been given of an appeal from the recent decision of Mr. Justice Neville in the case of the Birkbeck Permanent Benefit Building Society. Neither the Board of Trade nor the Official Receiver has any power to prevent such an appeal.

Has the right hon. Gentleman been made aware, through the Official Receiver, that a large majority of the depositors of this bank, something like five-sevenths, are quite willing to accept the decision of Mr. Justice Neville; and, if that be so, would it be possible for the Official Receiver to take a poll of the depositors, and act upon their decision?

It would not be possible as the law stands. It seems a case for action of another kind.

Am I to take it, then, that these depositors have no protection from the Government?

None of our Departments has power to interfere in that way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction of the public who were served by the Great Southern and Western Railway of Ireland with the delay in carrying goods over that line; whether he had any official information showing that such delay arose from insufficiency of rolling stock; whether he was aware that at last Fethard (county Tipperary) fair on the 21st November there were not sufficient wagons to convey cattle, and that similar complaints arose after other fairs; that at Waterford, on the 5th December instant, five steamers were in harbour with coal and only fourteen wagons were available, so that merchants had to pay large demurrage; and would he take steps to compel the railway company to provide sufficient rolling stock at once?

I have asked the railway company for their observations on the hon. Member's question, and will communicate with him on receipt of their reply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention had been drawn to the recent winding-up of the North Wales Quarries, Limited, with a total liability of £40,101; and whether, in view of the interest that this experiment in co-operative working had aroused and the sum for which the company had failed, he could see his way to recommend the appointment of a small committee to investigate and report on the causes of failure?

My attention has been drawn to a report in the Press as to the affairs of the North Wales Quarries, Limited; but, as at present advised, no useful purpose would appear to be served by the appointment of a committee to investigate and report on the causes of failure.

As this company was originally formed entirely free of the capitalist connection, is not its utter failure a matter of real national interest?

If the hon. Member has any further information to give it will be considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there was any regular means of obtaining an official Government chemical analysis in this country; if not, whether he was aware that in France, Germany, and Russia such official analyses were a regular part of the trade systems of those countries, and that, in the absence of means of obtaining such official guarantee of the chemical contents of samples, British traders were placed at a disadvantage both in cases of dispute with foreign Customs authorities and in offering samples in order to effect sales in foreign countries, and in settling disputes with foreign traders as to deliveries; and whether he would arrange for the Government laboratory at the Customs House, London, E.C., to undertake such analyses in future and grant certificates, as was done by foreign countries, on payment of a fee that would not compete with the business of private analysts?

There are no regular means of obtaining official analyses of samples, but in certain cases, where apparent hardship has been caused to British traders by foreign Customs decisions, analyses of the goods in question have been obtained from the Government Laboratory or from the Imperial Institute. I have not, up to the present, been aware of any dissatisfaction among British traders in this respect, but if the hon. Member has any definite information to that effect I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he had recently received a deputation, representing all branches of textile industry, to protest against the new tariff as sanctioned by the French Government; whether at such deputation a statement was made that as regards cotton goods the new duties imposed constituted in effect a protectionist measure to prevent the importation of goods which France had commenced to manufacture for herself, and that the imposition of such duties would be inimical to the continuation of the friendly relations between the two countries; whether a subsequent announcement was made by the French Government, postponing the alteration in tariff as affecting England alone to midnight on 31st December; whether the continuance of our friendly understanding with France was to be made dependent on special tariff concessions being granted to this country; and whether as a result of any negotiations the hands of this country would be tied with regard to any import duties which she might in the future determine to levy on French goods without giving Parliament an opportunity of discussing such negotiation?

No, Sir; no deputation has recently been received with regard to the French tariff. A deputation representing a number of important chambers of commerce was, however, recently received with regard to the new tare regulations of the French Customs authorities, and their effect upon certain classes of British goods (especially textiles) imported into France. Prior to the deputation, the operation of the new regulations (which do not affect the United Kingdom alone) had been postponed to 1st January, 1912. Communications on the subject are proceeding with the French Government, and in the meantime the operation of the regulations has been further postponed for two or three months. The last part of the question does not arise.

May I take it that the precedent in the case of Japan will not be followed in the case of France?

Negotiations are actually going on.

Will our hands be tied in the negotiations as they were in the case of Japan?

I do not know of any tie in either case.

asked to whom official bags for the conveyance of papers and correspondence were issued; and whether any register was kept either in the Stationery Office or the departments of the persons to whom these bags were issued?

Requisitions on the Stationery Office for official bags for the conveyance of papers and correspondence are signed by an authorised officer of the department requiring them. This officer is also responsible for the issue of the bags.

Are they issued to Members of this House other than those connected with Government Departments?

Not as far as I am aware.

To any officials connected with the United Irish League?

Not as far as I am aware.

Why does the hon. Member for South Galway have one?

I was not aware that he had one.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries into the matter?

asked what principle was followed in the Civil Service when, for reasons other than the specific reasons of efficiency or economy, it was decided to supplant one class of established officers by another; whether the prospects of promotion of existing members of the supplanted class were safeguarded; whether a common principle obtained in the different Departments; and, if not, whether the variations in different Departments could be stated?

I am not aware of any instances of the substitution of one class of established officers for another effected for reasons other than those of efficiency or economy. Officers entering the public service do so on the understanding that the organisation of the Department to which they are assigned is subject to any alteration which may be required in the public interest from time to time, and it is, of course, impossible to recognise the right of any individual to promotion to a higher situation.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it was the general practice for postmasters in the various head office districts in Ireland to personally undertake the work of post-testing and checking of sub-office accounts, while their more important duties at the head offices were being performed by officers in the majority of cases in receipt of small salaries and who received no extra remuneration for the added responsibility thus cast upon them; and whether he would consider the advisability of a rearrangement which would give effect to the principle that the officer in receipt of the higher salary should at all times perform the more responsible duty or, failing this, that officers placed in temporary charge of head offices should be remunerated at a rate equal to the salary of the postmasters whom they substituted?

I can hardly say that it is the "general practice" in Ireland or elsewhere for postmasters to undertake personally this or that duty. The importance of a duty varies according to the circumstances of the case. I have no reason to doubt that postmasters generally undertake personally the work which from time to time calls most for their personal attention, and I have no information which would point to the necessity of making any rearrangement.

asked from what date the tax on undeveloped land would be due, seeing that the valuation of it was not yet completed; and at what approximate date it was likely to be completed?

asked whether, when the provisional valuation of land liable to pay Undeveloped Land Duty had not been made or finally settled till a prolonged period of time had elapsed since the commencement of the Finance (1909–10) Act 1910, the payment of such Land Duty would be demanded by the Treasury for the financial year ending 30th April, 1910, and every subsequent financial year, or only from the date when such provisional valuation was made or finally settled?

Undeveloped Land Duty will be collected for the financial year ended 31st March, 1910, and for each subsequent year, subject to the limitation provided by the concluding words of Section 19 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910. I anticipate that the valuations will be completed in sufficient time to prevent any serious loss of duty arising from this limitation.

Will all the arrears of duty be collected, however late the date on which the valuation is completed?

There is a limitation in the Finance Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he would state the percentages of the amounts drawn from the duty on retail liquor licences, distinguishing on-licences and off-licences relating to England (including Wales), Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, for the years 1908–9, 1909–10, and 1910–11?

If the total amount of duty levied on retail liquor licences in the United Kingdom in respect a of (1) on-licences, and (2) off-licences be apportioned between England (including Wales), Scotland and Ireland respectively, the percentages are as follows for the 1908–9:—

	England.	Scotland.	Ireland.
(1) On-licences	84.69	7.47	7.84
(2) Off-licences	54.44	34.26	11.30

No reliable figures are available for the two following years.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that the Kells sub-committee granted a pension to Mrs. Bridget Meehan, but that, on appeal by the pension officer to the Local Government Board, her claim was disallowed because no baptismal certificate could be found, although she produced the testimony of a man, admittedly over eighty years of age, that he knew her from childhood, and that she was over seventy years of age; whether she also submitted her marriage certificate showing she was forty-three years married and thirty years of age when she got married; and whether, having regard to all the circumstances, the Local Government Board would again consider her case?

The Local Government Board disallowed Bridget Meehan's claim on the ground that the evidence submitted as to her age was not sufficient to show that she had attained the statutory age. It is the fact that a man claiming to be over eighty years old stated that he had known the claimant from her childhood, and that in his opinion she was "over age," but no evidence as to this man's age was submitted, and in any case his statement of belief cannot be regarded as conclusive evidence. The claimant was married forty-three years ago, but her age at that time was not entered on the marriage certificate. It is not open to the Board to reconsider their decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he was aware that Nyasaland had a large surplus of unemployed native labour and placed every obstacle in the way of natives being recruited for or emigrating to Rhodesia, where they were urgently needed and were paid from two and a-half times upwards the rate of wages paid in Nyasaland; and was he prepared to advise the Governor of Nyasaland to make such regulations as would permit surplus labour to emigrate to or be recruited for Rhodesia under suitable Government control?

As at present advised I am not prepared to sanction the recruitment of labour in Nyasaland for employment in Rhodesia. The policy at present approved is that natives desirous of proceeding to Rhodesia on their own initiative receive passes enabling them to do so, and then proceed to Rhodesia under full supervision and with every precaution for their welfare. The whole question, however, is at present forming the subject of correspondence.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention had been called to the recent decision of Justices Hamilton and Banks in the case of Jones and another v. Lee to the effect that the law provided no redress for a cyclist, motorist, or other road user who sustains injury from animals which had been allowed to stray on the highway, and imposed no obligation on farmers or others to keep their fences in such a condition that animals could not stray on the road; and whether he would initiate legislation to amend the law in this regard?

The effect of this judgment is not so far-reaching as my hon. Friend suggests. I will consider the desirability of introducing amending legislation.

By leave of the House, I should like to make a personal explanation arising out of certain questions that arose during the discussion on the Third Reading of the National Insurance Bill. I am sorry to have to refer to the matter, but there are two points. One arose out of a certain challenge which I gave to the Noble Lord the Member for Hitchin (Lord Robert Cecil). On Friday I gave notice to the Opposition Whips that I proposed to raise these matters, but I understood that it would be inconvenient then. I have since had an intimation from the Noble Lord that he proposes to make a statement on the subject. I shall therefore wait for what he has to say, as it may be unnecessary for me to make any further statement in reference to that matter. I shall confine myself for the moment to a certain statement made by the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Worthington-Evans), the Noble Lord, and the Leader of the Opposition, on a book, for which I accept full responsibility, published under my name in reference to the Insurance Bill. The statement was that I had misled the public by implying, in a paragraph quoted by the hon. Member for Colchester, that the Post Office insurers could draw an unlimited amount in respect of disablement benefit, and that I did not make it sufficiently clear that the amount they could draw was limited to the amount of their deposits, the State contribution and the employers' contribution, and such bonus as would be received under the tontine arrangement. If it rested entirely on the paragraph quoted by the hon. and learned Gentleman, I agree, the words are ambiguous. But it does not. On page 25 of the book—and I call attention to it because the thing has been quoted outside by a writer who usually sits opposite—I enter very elaborately into the provisions for Post Office contributors, and there I make it amply clear that the amount which a Post Office contributor would draw is limited to those amounts. I not only state it, but I emphasise it, and I say that the Government deliberately made that arrangement in order to induce people not to become Post Office contributors, but rather to enter friendly societies. I say:—

"We shall distribute the funds first of all in medical needs. They have paid their own contribution, and there is the contribution from the State and the contribution of the employer. You will make a deduction for medical relief, and for sanatoria, and you will distribute the balance on purely deposit principles. There are societies in this country which do this thing now: it is really a kind of banking transaction. You pay an amount in and you draw to the extent you paid in."

Then I proceed to say that in addition you get a bonus derived from the lapses of other Post Office contributors. I go on:—

"Therefore those who are inside the Post Office Society will be able to draw to that extent upon the fund, and will get that additional advantage."

I go on, and I have a separate heading for the next: "No inducement to become a Post Office contributor."

"It is quite clear that there is no inducement to join the Post Office contribution, and we do not want that there should be."

On page 51 I again call attention to the fact that they can only draw to the extent of those contributions, and I do it again on pages 86 and 87, and once more on page 140, where I head it: "The Advantages of the Friendly Society and the Post Office." I say:—

"But if a man is not in a friendly society, all he gets will be benefits to the extent of the money he has contributed."

After giving figures, I end:—

"From this you will see that there is every inducement held out to a man to join a friendly society. We have framed our scheme deliberately on these lines, because it is our object to make it worth everybody's while to do so. We desire to make use of the experience and organisation of these bodies."

Four times do I explain, not merely what deposit insurance means, but I emphasise its limitations, in order to induce people not to become Post Office contributors. When I come to the paragraph which the hon. Gentleman quoted I simply say:—

"Men and women whom friendly societies will not take in, work on the deposit principle in the Post Office."

After my four explanations it would have been fairer to me if the hon. and learned Gentleman (Mr. Worthington-Evans), in making the statement he did, had called attention to the fact that I had four times already emphasised the limitations of these contributors. I say that also of the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Bonar Law), because he used very strong words in the Debate. He said, "My hon. Friend below the Gangway has pointed out the misrepresentation—made by him on his own responsibility—as more scandalous than has ever been made on any Bill by any Minister in any Government."

Hear, hear.

I think I am entitled to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he had known that I had already explained four times what the deposit principle meant, whether he would have made that statement? Supposing, in the by-election leaflet from which I quoted, the benefits of the Bill had been four times stated, and at the end there had been a sentence which did not fully explain them, would he consider the quotation of the sentence the same as referring to all the passages together? I think I am entitled to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, after my explanation, he was justified in using the strong language he did?

As we could have been perfectly certain of in advance, the explanation of the right hon. Gentleman is an attack upon somebody else. As regards my share of it, I was careful to say—a charge of misrepresentation "more scandalous, etc.," it is true, had been made by my hon. Friend—that my charge against the right hon. Gentleman was, not that that charge was well or ill-founded, but that with it unanswered, he himself should have made charges against anybody else. I am perfectly certain that what the right hon. Gentleman has said just now represents his intention in regard to this book, for which he is responsible.

I say what is in it.

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will wait until I have finished. What, when examined, is his defence, stated by himself in the best way he can state it? His defence is that in one part of the book explanations are made which are not made, and are distinctly contradicted, in that part of the book to which we took exception. There are no qualifying words whatever in that part of the book to which my hon. Friend drew attention—none! Undoubtedly, if a book is published under the sanction of the right hon. Gentleman, with the position of the deposit contributors clearly stated in it, use will be made of that part of the book without any reference to the explanation in the other part of it. What does the right hon. Gentleman say?

"Men and women whom friendly societies will not take in, work on the deposit principle in the Post Office. Their insurance will be 9d. per week: 4d. from the employé, 3d. from the employer, and 2d. from the State. Thus in five years they will have £10 to the good, 'and.' in addition to that they will have a bonus which will be given to them——"

"'But' in addition."

It is "and" here, but perhaps it does not matter.

"they will have a bonus which will be given to them as certainly a large number of these people will neither be ill nor die. If they are ill for thirteen weeks in the year, they will be allowed 10s. per week. That is to say, they will get back £6 10s. For fourteen weeks beyond that thirteen weeks, they will get 5s. per week."

That is to say that apart from bonus all those who are ill—for those who died do not come in now as I understand—apart from the bonus this pamphlet tells them they will get about £10 when the total amount which is available is something like £6. But that is only the beginning. He then goes on:—

"Then if the illness continues, they will receive an invalidity pension of 5s. per week."

That is to say, if a man continues an invalid for ten years, he will receive in addition to £10—which he could not possibly receive—£130 as well. I say, as I am always ready to say, I do not accuse the right hon. Gentleman of wilful misrepresentation, but I do say that in a book for which he was responsible it was utterly unjustifiable that a statement of that kind which could be quoted without the context of the rest of the book and which entirely misled everybody who read that statement, should be made.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer in answer to the statement I made on Third Reading, quoted from page 25 of his book.

We are not debating this matter. If the hon. Gentleman has any personal explanation to make, I am sure the House will be willing to give him the same indulgence as it gave to the two right hon. Gentlemen.

This was intended to preface my explanation.