asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will explain the cause of delay in vesting in the tenants of the Galbraith Estate, in North Longford, the holdings they purchased nearly six years ago; whether he is aware that this is a poor estate, the tenants on which are not able to continue indefinitely the payment of the 4 per cent. annuity in lieu of rent to which they were compelled to agree at the time of sale; and will he direct the Estate Commissioners to expedite the sale so as to relieve them of a heavy burden?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the landlord to the tenants under the Irish Land Act 1903. The agreements signed by the tenants for the purchase of their holdings were lodged in October, 1907. The sale of the estate has been delayed by the refusal of the tenants to consent to a right of way to a bog through their holdings. The Estates Commissioners have sanctioned a free grant towards the making of this bog pass, and until this matter is settled the Commissioners cannot sanction the advance of the purchase money and the holdings cannot be vested in the tenants.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board contemplate dealing at an early date with the O'Callaghan-Westrop estate, county Clare?

The Congested Districts Board are at present negotiating with Colonel O'Callaghan-Westrop respecting the purchase of his estate, but they are not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the tenants of the Mountshannon and Ballyguiry (parish of Killofin, rural district of Killadysert), portions of the estate of Captain Vandeleur in West Clare, have, on several occasions during the past five years, made offers in regard to sale, and that these offers have been refused; whether the fact that these estates are held by middle landlords (Mr. Marcus Keane, for Mountshannon, and Miss Helena Barclay, for Ballyguiry) forms any obstacle to the operations of the Land Act of 1909; and, if not, whether steps will be taken by the Congested Districts Board, without further delay, to deal with these estates?

The Congested Districts Board have no information regarding the offers of the tenants referred to. They have been in communication with Captain Vandeleur's solicitors as to the purchase of the fee-simple of the lands referred to held by Mr. Marcus Keane. The existence of the middle interest is a difficulty in the way of purchase, but the case is at present receiving the Board's attention. The Board have no information with regard to Miss Helena Barclay's farm at Ballyguiry.

also asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, in regard to the Westby estate, West Clare, the Congested Districts Board has received a memorial from the tenants desiring that the estate should be dealt with according to the provisions of the Land Act, 1909; whether the delay of the Congested Districts Board in dealing with the estate has permitted a considerable portion of this estate to be alienated from the use of the tenants who formerly occupied it; and whether, in view of the local feeling excited by negotiations in contravention of the Land Act, 1909, he can give assurance that this estate will be dealt with as soon as possible by the Congested Districts Board?

The Congested Districts Board received the memorial referred to and forwarded it to the Estates Commissioners, who are dealing with the matter. This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the landlord to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the matters referred to in the memorial will be inquired into by the Estates Commissioners when the estate is being inspected in its order of priority.

further asked the Chief Secretary the progress of the negotiations undertaken by the Congested Districts Board with regard to the Blackhall farm on the Armstrong estate, at Noughaval, West Clare; whether he is aware that the delay in arriving at a settlement has caused unrest in the district; and whether the matter will be dealt with speedily?

This matter is at present engaging the attention of the Congested Districts Board, but no decision has yet been arrived at.

asked the Chief Secretary on what grounds an old age pension was refused to Lawrence Dennigan, although the same was on two occasions passed for him by the Ballinamuck Sub-committee; whether he is aware that the assignment of his farm to his son was effected by the direction of the donor in the interest of Dennigan's son; and, if so, whether it is proposed to deprive this man of the only means of support he can have, since his son has entered into possession of the farm?

Lawrence Dennigan's claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit. The Board were not satisfied that the assignment to the son was a valid one. In any case, having regard to the extent of the farm and the stock and crops thereon, even if it did belong to the son, claimant's maintenance on the farm would, in the opinion of the Local Government Board, be worth more than £31 10s. a year. The Board have no power to reopen the case.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks of Mr. Justice Boyd in the Dublin Court of Bankruptcy on the 12th instant, in connection with the boycotting of a trader named Kilby, at Creggs, that the performace at Creggs was a disreputable and criminal one, that trade and commerce could not be carried on if such work were allowed, and that there were engaged in this operation of boycotting forty branches of an organisation, against which he would only say what he found before him in this case; and what steps the authorities are prepared to take to limit the activities of the organisation above referred to?

I have seen a newspaper report of the learned Judge's remarks. Four men were sentenced by him on the 16th inst. to six months' imprisonment for contempt of Court in connection with this case, and an appeal has been lodged against this decision. The Government have no evidence that branches of the United Irish League have been engaged in the operation of boycotting the trader Mr. Kilby, but the Attorney-General is about to call for copies of the evidence on which Mr. Justice Boyd's judgment was founded, and, if it affords materials for a prosecution, he will direct one against every person who was a party to the alleged conspiracy.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will call the attention of the Congested Districts Board to the urgency for the erection of a landing pier for the safety of the fishermen in the Ballyvaughan district of the county Clare?

The Congested Districts Board at their meeting on the 13th instant directed estimates to be prepared for works proposed at Deveen and Murrough. Upon receipt of the estimates a decision will be arrived at.

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been called to the necessity of effecting an Amendment of the law whereby the wives and families of tenants of labourers' cottages cannot be relieved by guardians of the poor, although they are deprived of the means of existence by reason of their husbands being in hospital; and if he intends to propose legislation on this subject this Session?

The wives and families of labourers, if eligible for out-door relief on account of illness or disablement, are not debarred from this form of relief by reason of the husband being in occupation of a labourer's cottage. The prohibition of out-door relief to a landholder only applies to the husband himself. I see no necessity for any legislation on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can explain the circumstances under which a demand was made upon the tenants of labourers' cottages in the Macroom rural district for an increase in their rents equivalent to 3s. 4d. per year; whether the original agreements entered into by these tenants were for monthly lettings at 3s. 4d. per month; were these agreements changed at any time into weekly tenancies; if so, can he state the date and whether there is any resolution of the district council making the change; was it ever communicated to the tenants affected that their tenancies were being altered from monthly to weekly ones; is he aware that discontent exists amongst the labourers in connection with this matter; and can he state whether any steps are being taken to restore the rents to the figure which the several tenants originally agreed to pay?

In February, 1910, the Macroom Rural District Council, in pursuance of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1906, adopted regulations for the future letting of their cottages and allotments which provide that in the case of lettings subsequent to the date of the regulations the tenancies shall be weekly and at a slightly increased rent. It was expressly specified in the regulations that letting agreements previously entered into would not be affected. As far as the Local Government Board are aware, the council are acting in accordance with these regulations, and no complaints have been received from labourers in the district of attempts by the council to interfere with agreements existing prior to the date of the regulations.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many agrarian offences were reported in Ireland during the year 1911; how many agrarian cases of firing at the person and into dwellings respectively; how many cases of serious and minor boycotting, and how many persons were affected thereby respectively; how many persons were receiving constant police protection; and how many were protected by patrol during the year ending 31st December, 1911?

During the year 1911 the number of agrarian offences reported was 324, of these twelve were cases of firing at the person and fourteen of firing into dwellings. On 31st December, 1911, there were twelve cases of serious and seventy-nine cases of minor boycotting, affecting fifty-eight and 318 persons respectively, and sixty persons were receiving constant protection and 268 persons protection by patrol.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state how many cases of malicious injury are represented by the sum of £9,789 awarded as compensation during the year 1910?

The number of cases is 568.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) whether he is aware that in the county of Glamorgan frequent applications have been made by teachers in non-provided schools to the county education authority that they may be paid salaries granted by that authority to teachers of like service and qualifications in council schools; whether he is aware that, although the local authority have received reports from their officials justifying the applications, no steps have been taken by the local authority to give effect to the provisions of the Education Act, 1902, as interpreted by the House of Lords; whether the Board are now prepared, having regard to the application made on 21st June last, to advise the local education authority that, the question of law having been finally determined, they should now proceed to give effect to the Act of Parliament; (2) whether he is aware that the Cardigan- shire education authority differentiate in their treatment of non-provided and provided schools, thereby violating the Education Act of 1902 as interpreted by the House of Lords in the Swansea case; whether the managers of certain schools appealed in October last to the Board of Education thereon; whether the Board are now prepared to give the necessary instructions to the local education authority; (3) whether he is aware that the Merthyr education authority has refused to pay to teachers in non-provided schools salaries equal in amount to those paid to teachers of similar qualification and experience in provided schools; whether he is aware that the town clerk of Merthyr has advised the local authority that, having regard to the decision of the House of Lords in the Swansea case, the local authority should now pay the same rate of salary in all schools; and whether the Board will be prepared to advise the local authority in accordance with that Report?

I have been in communication in regard to the matter referred to with the local education authorities of Cardiganshire and Glamorgan, and I expect to hear further from them after the next meeting of their respective councils. I have had no official communication in respect of the non-provided schools under the Merthyr Tydvil education authority, but I understand from a copy of the proceedings that the education committee adopted on 13th December, 1911, a recommendation of their salaries committee that after 31st March next the teachers in the non-provided schools should be paid at the same rate as the teachers in the provided or council schools. It must not be assumed to accept the statements of fact and of law contained in these three questions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of non-commissioned officers and men in Section D of the Regular Army Reserve in each arm of the Service on 1st February, 1912, the estimated strength of Section D in each arm of the Service on the 1st February, 1913; and if he will state what deduction in estimating the strength of Section D is made for men enlisting in the Special Reserve on compltion of their term in Sections A and B of the Army Reserve instead of re-enlisting in Section D, and the number of men who passed out of Sections A and B in 1911, and who re-enlisted in Section D, and the number of those who were reacted on medical grounds?

The strength of Section D by arms on 1st February, 1912, and the estimated strength on 1st February, 1913, are as follows:—

—		1st Feb., 1912.	1st Feb., 1913.
Household Cavalry	…	27	51
Cavalry of the Line	…	2,466	3,210
R.H. and R.F.A.	…	3,002	3,850
R.G.A.	…	177	118
Royal Engineers	…	604	883
Foot Guards	…	1,329	1,465
Infantry of the Line	…	14,560	18,624
Army Service Corps	…	692	984
Army Ordnance Corps	…	58	92
R.A. Medical Corps	…	423	585
Total all Arms	…	23,338	29,862

No deduction has been made for men enlisting in the Special Reserve on completion of their term in Sections A and B of the Army Reserve instead of re-enlisting in Section D, as no statistics are available.

The number of men who re-engaged for Section D from Sections A and B during 1911 was

6,842

As regards those rejected on medical grounds no statistics are available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the statement made by the Secretary of State for War on 14th March, 1911 (OFFICIAL REPORT, col. 2094), that He proposed to add 200 ex-soldiers to each of the twenty-seven Special Reserve battalions, and 10 per cent. of their establishment to each of the 3rd Battalion's Special Reserve, Regular Reservists, on completion of their service in Section D are permitted to enlist in the Special Reserve Infantry battalions?

The reply is in the affirmative, provided that they comply with the required conditions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of ex-soldiers enlisted for the 3rd and 4th Battalions Special Reserve respectively; the number of ex-soldiers who have served in Sections A and B, but not in D, before enlisting in the Special Reserve Infantry; the number of ex-soldiers who have served in Section D before enlisting into the Special Reserve Infantry; and if non-commissioned officers, after serving in Sections A and B and D of the Regular Reserve, are allowed to re-enlist in the Special Reserve, retaining the non-commissioned rank with which they left the Regular Reserve?

The number of ex-soldiers who joined the Infantry Special Reserve from 1st March, 1911, up to the 10th February, amounted to 512 in the 3rd Battalion, and 413 in the Extra Reserve battalions. There are no statistics available in the War Office to show what sections of the Reserve these men served in prior to joining the Special Reserve. Discharged non-commissioned officers have no claim to retain their previous rank on joining the Special Reserve.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the question of the revision and redistribution of the Grants to boards of guardians in respect of the cost of union officers, under Section 26 of the Local Government Act, 1888, is included in the reference to the Committee on Local Taxation; and can he state whether the Committee is likely to make its Report at an early date?

The question appears to be covered by the terms of reference. On the second part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the statements made in the Debate on Friday, the 16th instant.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has yet received, and will publish, the Report by Dr. Maiden upon the Isle of Wight disease in bees; and what steps are being taken to eradicate this plague, which threatens to exterminate the stocks of bees in this country?

The investigations which are being made as to the disease to which the hon. Member refers are not likely to be completed for some time, but I hope to receive an interim report about the end of March, and it will at once be published. I hope to arrange for the discussion of possible preventive measures with representative bee-keepers in the course of the next few weeks.