asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can say whether, under the provisions of the National Insurance Bill, a milliner's apprentice over sixteen years of ago receiving a nominal payment of from 1s. to 2s. 6d. a week will have to contribute 3d. a week, or will she be entitled to a certificate of exemption on the ground that she is ordinarily or mainly dependent for her livelihood on some other person?

If she is in fact ordinarily and mainly dependent for her livelihood on some other person she will be entitled to a certificate of exemption on that ground, but the question is one of fact in each case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the feeling of the Excise Service with regard to the terms in the recent General Order (54, 1911) issued by the Board of Customs and Excise regarding the interpretation by them or the Treasury of paragraph 169 in the Report of the Hobhouse Committee which definitely states that new increments and arrears of pay to the officers concerned shall take effect from the 1st April, 1909, and not from the 1st April, 1910, as stated in this General Order; whether he will insure that the recommendations of the Committee in this respect shall be carried out; and whether, in view of the promise of the Secretary to the Treasury in August last that the Clause in question would be operative from the 1st April, 1909, as recommended by the Committee, he will state what action he proposes to take in order to deal with the matter?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Edinburgh on this subject on the 11th instant.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the number of district councils in Ireland which formulated schemes for building labourers' houses in Ireland under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, 1883 to 1906, by provinces, giving the number of houses built in each province, the average for all Ireland, and the average for each of the four provinces?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Return No. 192 presented to Parliament in June last, which gives the information required. The average numbers of cottages actually built per district on 31st March last were: Ulster, 103; Munster, 247; Leinster, 215; Connaught, 46; and all Ireland, 166.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the number of labourers' houses built in each province in Ireland during the period in which The Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1883, was operative, and the cost of erection in each province; what was the rate of interest on loans obtained under that Act; and the names of the counties in Ireland which built no houses under the Act of 1883?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Return. No. 194 presented to Parliament in June, 1906, which gives particulars of the working of the Labourers Acts up to the 31st March, 1906. The only county in which no cottage had been provided was Mayo. The rates of interest at which the loans were granted varied from time to time between 1883 and 1906, but prior to the passing of the latter Act the annuity covering principal and interest on a fifty years loan, the longest period then allowed, was £4 17s. 2d. per cent.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the Local Government Board have issued a circular stating that, in dealing with new schemes under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts and the granting of local inquiries into the same, they will have due regard to the extent to which the Labourers Act has been already put by the petitioning district council, he will instruct the Local Government Board to also take into account the number of districts in Ireland which immediately availed themselves of the provisions of The Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1883, and borrowed money at a very high rate of interest, thus incurring loss to the ratepayers; are these districts which availed of this first Act to be now discriminated against, whilst the districts which are below the average will now receive a premium for their inactivity; and whether he will instruct the Local Government Board to recall the circular and allot the money to the councils in the order in which they filed their petitions?

The Local Government Board are not prepared to recall the circular as they consider that priority must be given to the districts where the labourers are most in need of proper and healthy house accommodation.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that during the past twenty-six years the Wexford Rural District Council built 843 labourers' cottages of a design which, having been improved scheme after scheme, received the approval of the Local Government Board on no less than nine occasions; that the council have since July last been trying to get the Board to sanction this same plan in connection with their proposed new scheme; that the Board on the 3rd ultimo laid down the conditions under which they were prepared to sanction the plan; that one of these conditions was that the cottage proposed to be built should contain a certain cubic capacity; that the clerk of works to the council found that, out of the four apartments in the proposed cottage, three would contain 153 cubic feet in excess of the Board's requirements and the other was 28 cubic feet short; that to meet the Board's views the council proposed to build the houses a foot longer; and that, notwithstanding, the Board still decline to sanction the plan, requiring, in addition to all the concessions the council have already made, the cottages to be a foot wider; and whether, having regard to the improvements made by the council on this plan for the past quarter of a century and the further improvements now proposed, he will see that the Local Government Board will no longer withhold their sanction to it?

It is obvious that a plan of a labourer's cottage which had to be improved scheme after scheme must have been a very poor one, and the fact that cottages have been built on this plan with the assent of the Local Government Board must not be regarded as an indication that the Board ever approved of the plan as being in every respect what it ought to be. On the contrary, the Board repeatedly suggested amendments, and after the passing of the Act of 1906 renewed their efforts to get one of their model plans or some other suitable plan adopted by the Council, sending down their senior architect to discuss the whole matter with the Council, who, however, declined to fall in with the Board's views. Bather than block the 1907 scheme altogether the Board decided not to press their objections "in deference to the Council's wishes." A new scheme having been now submitted, the Board thought it right to endeavour to have a better plan adopted and correspondence has ensued as stated with some beneficial results in the matter of amendments, but the Council have not as yet brought their plan up to the standard which the Board think must be realised under the Act of 1911. The cottages built under the old Acts have been found to be defective in many ways and the Board are quite determined that the feature of the new Act shall be a really satisfactory healthy and comfortable dwelling for the labourers. The figures of the council's clerk of works as to the cubic capacity of the different apartments are not accepted as correct by the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary under what Acts of Parliament owners of land and local bodies in that country can obtain advances of money from public funds for the erection of cottages in the rural districts; what is the total number of cottages so erected, and the total amount of money so advanced to owners and local bodies, respectively; what number of cottages, if any, have been erected by public bodies, other than local bodies, during the last thirty years; what are the names of such public bodies; what is the total amount of money advanced or spent by such public bodies for such purpose; what is approximately the average rent charged in an agricultural county or other agricultural district in Ireland for cottages which have been erected by owners, on public money advanced to them for the purpose, by local bodies and by public bodies, other than local bodies, respectively; and what is approximately the average amount of land attached to each cottage erected in recent years in the rural districts?

The erection of cottages in rural districts for the accommodation of agricultural labourers is carried out by rural district councils acting in pursuance of the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, 1883 to 1911, and the hon. Member will find full particulars showing the working of these Acts up 31st March last in the Return No. 192, presented to Parliament in June last. The average rent of these cottages is 1s. or 1s. 1d. per week, and in recent years the tendency of district councils has been to give the maximum garden allotment of one statute acre. The Local Government Board have no recent particulars regarding operations under the Housing of the Working Classes Acts in municipal towns which are non-urban, and therefore merged in rural districts, but the number of cottages provided by Town Commissioners is practically negligible in comparison with the number erected by rural district councils under the Labourers Acts. Public bodies other than local bodies have certain powers under Sections 67 and 68 of the Housing of the Working Classes Act of 1890, but the Board have no information as to how far these powers have been exercised.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners have sanctioned a sale between two brothers, John R. Daly and Daniel R. Daly, of part of the lands of Shandrum, county Cork, whereby the latter, who is a bank clerk, and never occupied the lands as tenant, has received an advance from the State and the former has received a sum as purchase money and bonus; will he state what is the sum involved in these transactions; and whether the Treasury propose to take any action in the matter?

The Estates Commissioners are unable to identify this estate as the subject of proceedings for sale before them under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Mr. Frederick St. Claire Hobson has offered his land at Drominicar and Mortgage, Feedamore, county Limerick, for sale to the Estates Commissioners?

The reply is in the negative.

asked what steps the Estates Commissioners have taken to acquire the untenanted lands of Clounreask, near Askeaton, in the county of Limerick, on the estate of Everard Hewson, and what progress has been made in the matter of purchase of these lands; whether the Estates Commissioners will consider the application of the town tenants of Askeaton for a portion of them; and whether they will grant facilities to the town tenants on the property to purchase their houses under the Land Purchase Act, 1909?

The Estates Commissioners formal proposal for the purchase of over 200 acres of untenanted land on the townland of Cloonreask on the Hewson estate, county Limerick, has been accepted by the owner, and in the allotment of the lands, when acquired, the Commissioners will have due regard to the wants and circumstances of the tenants. The Commissioners cannot express any opinion as regards the holdings of the town tenants, which do not appear to be the subject of proceedings for sale before them.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the town tenants of Athea, in the county of Limerick, have sent a memorial to the Estates Commissioners to have them included in the sale of the Goold Verschoyle estate, and also to give them a portion of the untenanted lands on the property when purchased and acquired; and whether the Estates Commissioners will accede to their request?

The Estates Commissioners have received a communication from the town tenants on this estate which will be duly considered.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have yet purchased the untenanted lands of Ballynorth, near Askeaton, in the county of Limerick, on the O'Grady property; and, if so, when may the lands be divided amongst deserving applicants?

The Estates Commissioners have had an inspection made of the lands of Ballymort on the O'Grady Estate, and have communicated to the owner their estimate of the amount which they would be prepared to advance if the owner instituted formal proceedings for the sale of the lands to the Commissioners. The owner has intimated that he will accept the Commissioners' price, and, when formal proceedings for sale are instituted, the estate will be dealt with as soon as practicable.

asked if any progress has been made by the Congested Districts Board since 9th May last towards the purchase of the Rappa, Estate, county Mayo, of Mr. R. A. Knox; and, if not, will the Board consider this to be a suitable case for the exercise of their compulsory powers?

The Congested Districts Board recently arranged to have this estate inspected, but, so far, the necessary documents have not been furnished by the owner.

asked if over five years have elapsed since the Congested Districts Board acquired the Gibbons estate, Belderrig, county Mayo; and if he will say when the Board hope to have the holdings conveyed to the tenants, and the cause of the delay in effecting the transfer?

This estate was vested in the Congested Districts Board in February, 1908. Some 1,600 acres were in the occupation of one tenant, and the Board took proceedings to resume possession of this holding. Considerable delay occurred in connection with these proceedings before the Board obtained the necessary order. They are now dealing with the question of resale, and it is expected that sale agreements will be ready for signature by the majority of the tenants before 31st March next.

asked when the Local Taxation Committee will issue its Report?

I am unable to say when the Local Taxation Committee will issue its Report.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland will he take steps to prevent the Local Government Board from ignoring the old age pensions committees in Ireland; is he aware that many of the latter bodies are about to resign unless some change takes place; and if he will explain why the representations of the local men, who are judges as to the age, etc., of applicants are, in nearly all cases, disregarded, and the word of an official, who, in many cases comes from Wales and England, adhered to?

The Local Government Board do not ignore old age pension committees in Ireland, but give the fullest consideration to their representations regarding every claim. When, however, a pension officer or claimant for a pension appeals to the Board against the decision of a Committee it is obvious that Parliament intended that the Board should give the matter independent consideration, and should not defer to the opinion of the Committee in every case in which their decision was appealed against. The Board are not aware that many of the pension committees contemplate resignation.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can say why the masters of some workhouses, such as Bantry and Kilrush, are allowed to collect pensions from old age pensioner inmates of these institutions and lodge the amounts to the credit of the union funds, as maintenance cost of such inmates, while the master of the Rathkeale workhouse is not permitted to do so by the pension officer of the district; and whether different regulations under the Old Age Pension Act apply in different unions; if not, will the master of the Rathkeale workhouse in future be allowed to collect the pensions from the pensioner inmates?

Further particulars of the circumstances in each of the cases mentioned would be required before an explanation of the apparent anomaly could be given. The Old Age Pensions Regulations of 1911 apply to every union in Ireland. The question of administration of the Old Age Pensions Acts by pension officers is one for my hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury, to whom I would refer the hon. Member.

asked if the Local Government Board will reconsider the disallowance of an old age pension in the case of Mrs. Ellen Munnelly, of Carrowgarve, Crossmolina, county Mayo, in view of the evidence she is able to produce that her age, as given in the 1851 Census records, is inaccurate and that she has passed the statutory age?

This case does not appear to have come before the Local Government Board. In any event, if the claimant is now able to show that she has reached the statutory age it is open to her to make a claim.

asked the Chief Secretary why the claim of Thomas Padden, Deveane, Clogher, Belmullet, county Mayo, to an old age pension has been declined, seeing that the Census records of 1841 and 1851 afford no information respecting him, and in view of the evidence of old persons that Padden has passed his seventy-third year; and, in view of the absence of official records, if he will say how long Padden must live before he can qualify for a pension?

The claimant was not found in the list of his parents' family in the 1841 Census Return, from which it would appear that he was not born at that date. No other satisfactory evidence of age being produced the Local Government Board disallowed the claim on the ground that Padden had failed to show that he had attained the statutory age. The Board are not called upon to state when Padden will be entitled to a pension, as the onus of supplying evidence that he is over seventy years old rests upon him.

asked why the claim of John Kennedy, Gornagran, Moygownagh, county Mayo, to an old age pension has been disallowed; and if he is aware that several persons who have known Kennedy from childhood, and who are themselves admittedly over seventy years of age, are prepared to swear that Kennedy is more than seventy years?

John Kennedy's claim was disallowed for want of satisfactory evidence that he had reached the statutory age. In reply to the request of the Local Government Board for evidence as to his age, Kennedy furnished statements of belief by three men of unspecified ages, who claimed that they had known the claimant for over twenty-five years. Mere statements of belief, however, unsupported by evidence, are not sufficient to enable the Board to determine a person's age.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the grounds on which the Local Government Board have deprived George Irwin, Gore Street, Killala, county Mayo, of an old age pension to which he had been, admitted at the commencement of the Act; and whether he is aware that, in the opinion of some of the most respected residents of the district who have known Irwin all their lives, including the Right Reverend Monsignor O'Hara, P.P.V.F., Irwin has passed the statutory qualifying age?

George Irwin's pension was discontinued by the Local Government Board as the result of a question raised by the pension officer that the pensioner was under the statutory age. According to the Census Return of 1841 his parents were only married in that year, and had no child at that time, while in 1851 George's age was recorded as being eight years. It would therefore appear that he is now about sixty-eight years of age.

asked whether the Director of Public Prosecutions in Ireland still expects to be able to institute proceedings against the directors of the London and Provincial Assurance Company for their conduct as directors of the Irish Provident Assurance Company and requires to retain for the next twelve months the documents sent to him for that purpose; and, if not, whether he will return those documents to the sender?

The Attorney-General has no information which would justify him in instituting proceedings against the directors of the London and Provincial Assurance Company. All the documents referred to have been returned to the sender by the Attorney-General.

asked whether persons who require the date of their birth as recorded in the Census Return of 1871 can obtain them in the office in Dublin on paying the necessary fee?

The Census Returns of 1871 are not now in existence.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will consider the advisability of giving the Coronation medals to adjutants in the Royal Engineers, seeing that the medal has been given to quartermasters in the Infantry regiments, but inasmuch as there are no quartermasters in the Engineers the work done by them is thrown on the adjutant, and in connection with the representative detachments that were sent up for the Coronation from the Engineers a good deal of the work and arrangements had to be made by the adjutant?

Fifteen Coronation medals have been issued to Royal Engineer officers holding honorary commissions, including eleven quartermasters. The corps of Royal Engineers was treated as a whole like other corps, and this is the proper proportion to which they are entitled.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if the inquiry into the rates of wages paid by the contractors for a recent painting contract at Hulme Barracks, South-West Manchester, has been completed, and, if so, what is the result?

The case has been investigated. There has been an infringement of the Far-Wages Clause, and, on the representation of the War Office, the contractor concerned has taken steps to pay the workers back pay to which they were entitled.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state what form the proposed Government contribution in lieu of rates on property transferred from the National Telephone Company will take; and on what basis it will be calculated?

I am sorry I cannot make a definite statement at present. It has been necessary to obtain certain returns of assessments from the National Telephone Company. These are only just available and will require examination before a decision can be arrived at.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will reconsider the question of connecting the village of Harold Wood, near Romford, with the telephone now that over fifteen persons living in the near vicinity are willing to become subscribers?

I am looking further into the question of establishing a telephone exchange at Harold Wood, and have called for estimates of the cost of the proposed extension. I am glad to learn that fifteen persons living in the near vicinity are willing to become subscribers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the Government's decision not to hold an inquiry into the grievances of the various classes of postal servants until 1913, and in view of the serious rise in the cost of living, he will take into consideration the nature of the effect of the aforesaid decision upon the case of the London postal porters, whose maximum wage has not been raised since 1882; and whether he will endeavour to make some arrangement whereby, pending the report of the Committee he proposes to appoint, those postal porters who by length of service have been entitled to the maximum wage for some time may be enabled to receive some additional pay?

It has now been arranged for the inquiry to take place next Session.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that at Worcester one established postman and one unestablished postman together were employed to substitute one sorting clerk and telegraphist for a period of thirteen weeks from 26th May till 12th August, inclusive, and 4th September till 16th September last; whether he is aware that during the major portion of that period an average of only six hours' overtime per day was performed by an available staff of thirty-seven male sorting clerks and telegraphists; and whether this procedure is in accordance with Departmental Regulations?

I am having inquiry made into this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he is aware that for telegraphic purposes twenty-five is charged as one word and twenty five as two words; and will he explain upon what principle such difference is based; (2) whether he is aware that for telegraphic purpose Herne Bay is charged as one word and Herne Hill as two words; and will he state upon what principle such difference is based; (3) whether he is aware that for telegraphic purposes New Brighton is charged as one word and New Broughton as two words; and will he explain upon what principle such difference is based; and (4) whether he can see his way to a revision being undertaken of the system under which two words in conjunction are charged as one word for telegraphic purposes, with a view to the removal of inequalities at present existing?

I will consider whether it is possible to improve the present rules relating to the counting of words for telegraphic purposes, but it is matter of no small difficulty to draw a line between the expressions in addresses which are to be counted as one word and those to be counted as two.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the reduced rates of Press cablegrams over the British Empire, he will consider the question of allowing a proportional reduction on the existing Post Office rates when transmitting the class of message referred to by the lines of the cable companies.

A proportional reduction of the Post Office share of the charges on the telegrams in question has already been made.