asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that on 8th February, 1912, an attack was. made on the house of a farmer named Denis Cahill, at Ballymurphy, near Kilfenora; whether about a dozen gunshots were discharged into the house by a party of men; and whether any arrests have been made in connection with this outrage?

The police inform me that one shot was fired into an unoccupied room of Cahill's house and a number of other shots outside. No arrest's have been made.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been called to a sermon delivered on 17th December, 1911, by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Killaloe in Ennis Cathedral, referring to various outrages which had taken place in the district, and especially to the murder of a farmer's wife in East Clare, and the shooting of a postman in the neighbourhood of Crusheen, crimes he attributed to the system of intimidation and outrage that had been rampant for a long time in certain districts of the county and to the immunity from punishment enjoyed by the moonlighter in deeds of crime; whether there is any improvement in the condition of this part of Ireland since these statements were made; and, if not, what special steps are being taken to prevent such occurrences?

I have seen a newspaper report of the sermon referred to. The police authorities inform me that while the state of the county is still very bad a certain improvement has taken place in some districts. There is a large extra force of police in the county, and special measures have been, and are being, taken, for the protection of life and property and the prevention of outrages.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if either of the representatives in Parliament of this county have expressed any condemnation of these outrages?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman not to take any notice of that insult. It is a gross insult.

asked how many cases of firing into dwellings and firing at the person, respectively, were reported during the year 1911; and how many cases of similar outrages have so far been reported during the present year?

The police authorities inform me that during the year 1911 there were forty-two cases of firing at the person and thirty-one of firing into dwellings. So far this year there have been seventeen cases of firing at the person and eleven of firing into dwellings.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that shots were fired into the house of a national school teacher, near Abbeyfeale, county Limerick, and an attempt made to burn the schoolhouse; and what steps are being taken to protect the schoolmaster and to bring the perpetrators of this outrage to justice?

The facts are as stated. The house fired into was not a schoolteacher's residence, but the house in which he lodged. The police are giving all necessary protection and doing all that is possible to bring the guilty persons to justice.

Has any arrest been made?

No.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his attention has been called to the statements of the Lord Chief Justice at the opening of the Spring Assizes at Ennis on Saturday; that the calendar contained one case of murder and three deliberate attempts to murder; that there were nine cases of threatening notices in which no one had been made amenable; and that this indicated that in some parts of county Clare people were so utterly demoralised that they would not come forward to assist the authorities; if it has been found necessary to postpone the trial of a prisoner charged with murder because of the feeling of terror which prevails in the county amongst witnesses and jurors; and if he will state how he proposes to deal with this state of affairs?

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been called to the address of the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland to the Grand Jury at Ennis Assizes on Saturday, 2nd March, in regard to the reign of terror now existing in county Clare; and what steps, if any, he proposes taking to cope with the situation in that part of Ireland?

I have seen a newspaper report of the address of the Lord Chief Justice. The case referred to has been postponed for the reasons stated. There is a large extra force of police in the county who are doing all they can to prevent intimidation, but the difficulty is to obtain evidence, and I am not aware of any measure which would meet that difficulty.

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman, arising out of his answer, whether he is not aware that these lamentable outrages have been condemned by the people generally and by every public body in the county of Clare, by the bishop, and also by the Parliamentary representatives for the district; and whether it is not true that outside a limited area in which these occurences took place the county of Clare is quite as free from crime as any county in the United Kingdom?

It is no doubt the fact that these lamentable and detestable outrages, which I am glad to say have met with great condemnation in all parts of the county, are confined to particular black spots in the county.

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is the case that county Clare requires forty-six policeman to every 10,000 of inhabitants, whereas only ten policemen are required for every 10,000 inhabitants in Antrim and Down?

That fact only proves the truth of what I have said, or at all events it is not inconsistent with the truth of what I have said, that these lamentable outrages are confined to small localities in the county.

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it was in this county Head Constable Whelahan was stationed for many years, and whether it was in this county Whelahan employed Cullinan at 10s. per week for the purpose of getting up outrages, and that under a Tory regime?

asked whether he is aware that the parish of Geevagh, county Sligo, contains several unsold congested estates, namely, those of Messrs. Utred Knox, Carnadargney, Hewson, agents Messrs. Robinson, Sligo, J. L. Powell, Tinnicarra, Boyle, and F. Frazer; whether the great majority of the holdings on these estates are valued at £6 and under, although they contain large tracts of untenanted land; whether the owners refuse to sell through the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, what steps it is proposed to take in order to have sales brought about?

The Congested Districts Board have decided to make an offer for the purchase of the Knox estate, and expect to complete arrangements for the purchase of the Powell estate in a few weeks. The estate of the Misses Frazer has recently been offered for sale to the Board, and it will be inspected as soon as practicable. I understand that a number of holdings on the Knox and Frazer estates are valued under £7.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman can state why the road promised to be made in connection with land purchase in the townland of Aughrim, Newtowndillon, on the Blacker-Douglas estate, has not been, made; and whether he will state whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any practical step to carry out this work, in view of the needs of the people of the district?

The Estates Commissioners hope to take the necessary steps in this matter at an early date.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make representations to see that this work is carried out before the landlord gets his purchase money?

I will call the attention of the Commissioners to the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state when the Turfarney portion of the estate of the late Arthur Owen, Queen's county, will be inspected, and also the conditions under which a tenancy was created of part of the property in question by the late Arthur Owen, one of the owners becoming tenant, of a large portion of the untenanted land; whether a memorial was received by the Estates Commissioners, subsequent to the late Arthur Owen's death, requesting them to purchase this holding for distribution amongst the occupiers of uneconomic holdings adjoining; whether an attempt is being made by another large landholder in the district to create a tenancy and get an advance for the purchase of this untenanted land; and can he state what course the Estates Commissioners propose to adopt in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on 21st March, 1910. The matters referred to by the hon. Member will be inquired into by the Estates Commissioners when this estate is reached in order of priority.

asked what steps, if any, it is proposed to take with regard to the action of Mr. John Mulhall, who refuses to sell his Knocknagee and Carricknagat estates, situate in the electoral division of Ballinakill, Sligo union, to the Congested Districts Board; whether the great majority of the holdings on this property are under £7 valuation; and whether the owner is the same gentleman who occupies the position of chairman of the General Prisons Board and who has publicly stated that he will not sell until the Act of 1909 is amended?

The Congested Districts Board communicated with the agents regarding a sale of this property, but no reply has so far been received. A further communication will now be addressed to them. The Board have received information regarding the circumstances of the estate on behalf of the tenants, but they know nothing of the statement referred to.

asked whether the Coonela estate, the property of the late Mr. Jackson, of Ballintogher, Cullooney, county Sligo, and now in the hands of a trustee named A. Gillmor, J.P., Bally-mote, county Sligo, has yet been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board; and, if not, whether, seeing that this estate, Coonela, consists for the most part of large grazing tracts, from which fourteen families were some years ago evicted, and that it is situated in the centre of a congested district, steps will be taken by the Board to acquire it, compulsorily or otherwise?

The estate referred to has been offered for sale through the Congested Districts Board, and a decision will be arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable.

asked whether the Castleneno estate, situate in the electoral division of Ballinakill, union of Sligo, has yet been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board?

The Congested Districts Board cannot identify the property referred to in the question without fuller information as to the name of the owner and the townland comprising the property.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the tenants on the Leahy estate, Castletown, Bere, county Cork, though having arranged for the purchase of their holdings, are still paying their full rents; and, in view of the fact that these tenants are rack-rented, whether he will have arrangements made that in the future annuities of interest will be paid in lieu of the rents until their holdings are vested in these tenants?

The Estates Commissioners cannot, from the particulars given, identify this estate as the subject of proceedings for sale before them at present under the Land Purchase Acts. The sales of the only estates of this name in county Cork which were the subject of such proceedings before them have been completed and the holdings vested in the purchasing tenants.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Canon Geraghty, President of the Glynsk and Crosswell branches of the United Irish League, occupies a farm of 279 acres in a congested district of Glennamaddy union, county Galway; that, on the public recommendation of Canon Geraghty, a holding of land on the Pollok estate was allotted to a teacher named Michael Lennon, a man who holds no qualification as a tenant on the estate, while on the same estate fifty bonâ fide tenants still hold uneconomic holdings, and the postmaster of Gortnadieve was disallowed additional land to his one-acre holding because he was publicly denounced by the Glynsk and Crosswell branches of the United Irish League; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The Estates Commissioners have no information as to the accuracy of the statements in the first part of the question, nor can they find that any person named Michael Lennon was allotted a parcel of land on the Pollok Estate. The application of William Naughton, who appears to be the person referred to in the last part of the question, for a parcel of land on this estate was fully considered by the Commissioners, and they decided to take no action on his application. They are not aware that he was publicly denounced as stated.

asked if the right hon. Gentleman will say whether the Treasury or the Commissioners of National Education are responsible for not paying teachers on their retirement on a pension the portion of their salary designated augmentation and residual Grant earned on date of retirement; whether he is aware that teachers retired in June do not receive this moiety of their salary for over nine months after, as in the case of the teacher of the Kenmare Boys' School, who retired at sixty-five on 30th June last; and will he see that this arrangement is remedied, so that the employé may get his wages without delay in future?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the Grants referred to are, under Regulations sanctioned by the Treasury, payable annually in the month of April in respect of the year ending on the previous 31st March. The Parliamentary Vote out of which these payments are made does not become available until the month of April. A teacher retiring in the month of June cannot, therefore, be paid these Grants in respect of his service since the preceding 1st April until the month of April in the following year.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the number of cases of surcharge and the nature of such surcharges made by the Local Government Board of Ireland in 1910 and 1911 against district councils and county and borough councils?

The actual number of surcharges could only be obtained by the examination of every audit report furnished during the two years in question. The Board keep a record of the number of appeals made to them against surcharges, and particulars of these will be found on page 309 of the Board's Annual Report for 1909–10, and page 278 of their Report for 1910–11. These appeals relate to almost every phase of expenditure of local authorities. These surcharges are not made by the Local Government Board for Ireland, but by the Local Government auditors.

Will the right hon. Gentleman find out the number of surcharges to which my question refers?

The hon. Member will find information on referring to the pages I have given him. In 1909–10 the total number of appeals to the Board against disallowances and surcharges were 213, and in 1910–11 the total was 436.

My question is as to the number of surcharges, and not the number of cases of appeal. Will the right hon. Gentleman obtain that information?

That will entail a very long examination, because I should have to examine every Order of the Board furnished during the last two years.

asked whether a tenant of a labourer's cottage is entitled to sit, act, and vote as a rural district councillor on a local authority; is there any Section in the Irish Labourers Act which empowers those having charge of their administration to reject applications for cottages or plots, under a scheme formulated by a rural district council, on the sole grounds that the rural councillor in the electoral division in which such applicants were situated occupied a cottage and was tenant of the same to the council of which he happened to be a member; was any circular ever issued by the Local Government Board on the legality or otherwise of a tenant of a labourer's cottage acting as rural or urban councillor; and, if so, when and at what particular date was it issued?

It has been judicially decided that no legal disqualification for the office of rural district councillor attaches to a person by reason of his being the tenant of a labourer's cottage. There is no such Section in the Labourers (Ireland) Acts as that indicated in the question. A circular was issued by the Local Government Board on the 12th March, 1901, to every rural district council explaining the effect of the judicial decision referred to.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that quite recently in Limerick the County Court Judge rejected a number of applications for labourer's cottages because of the reasons set out in the question; and, in view of the fact that the Kilmalloch District Council are just now carrying through a scheme for the granting of 700 additional hall-acres, will the circular referred to by the hon. Gentleman be again sent to those having charge of the administration of the Labourers Acts, because, if not, this County Court Judge may inflict, in his ignorance of the law, a further penalty on the working classes of county Limerick.

If the circular has not been successful it must be repeated.

asked when the Local Government Board intend to hold the next inquiry into the scheme for labourers' cottages in the district of Tulla, county Clare?

The Local Government Board are not at present in a position to say when an inquiry will be held.

asked if the right hon. Gentleman will state how many teachers were promoted for highly efficient service, during the present financial year, to the first and second sections, respectively, of the first grade, and the number in each section who were not paid the resulting increment of salary to which they were entitled under the rules of the Commissioners, and the amount saved to the Treasury by the partial payment of arrears of increments to the twelve teachers whose cases were dealt with by the National Board in December last; and if he can now state when the teachers from whom the increased salary has been withheld may expect to receive what they regard as their just dues?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that, during the current financial year, they have promoted five men and eight women to first division of first grade, and twenty one men and thirteen women to the second division of that grade. The numbers in each grade and division are fixed by rule. As there were vacancies for the women they have all been paid the increased salary resulting from this promotion; but the twenty-six men are still awaiting vacancies. The twelve teachers referred to in the latter part of the question would have received £123 more if their promotion had entailed an immediate increase of salary. The question of increasing the number of teachers in the first grade is at present before the Treasury.

asked if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Meath County Council on Monday last, by twelve votes to six, decided that the university scholarships provided out of public funds should be tenable only at the National (Roman Catholic) University, and that condidates for such scholarships must pass in Irish; if any of the Irish county councils who have attached similar conditions to their schemes of university scholarships have modified their schemes in consequence of his declaration in November last that such restrictions were not in harmony with the spirit of the Irish Universities Act, 1908; and if he intends to take any steps to prevent Protestant students being penalised and the non-sectarian universities in Ireland being boycotted by Nationalist county councils?

I have seen a newspaper report of the proceedings of the Meath County Council on the occasion referred to. I have no information as regards the second paragraph, nor have I any control over the county councils in the matter; but, as I have already stated, I have some hopes of being able to establish a scheme of scholarships to enable boys to pass from primary to secondary schools, and ultimately to compete for county scholarships at the universities. Such a scheme will only be possible if the county councils refrain from drawing invidious distinctions between the different universities, all unsectarian, in Ireland.

If the right hon. Gentleman is unable to secure fair play to the Protestants under the Irish Universities Act, how can he expect the Protestant minority in Ireland to trust their liberties to the Nationalist party?

On what grounds does the right hon. Gentleman base his statement that the National University of Dublin is non-sectarian?

If the hon. and gallant Member will read the Act he will find that is so.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Dublin Corporation have stipulated that scholarships are to be held at Trinity College only if the Irish language is taken?

asked what work for fishermen in the Ballyvaughan district, county Clare, is under immediate consideration by the Congested Districts Board?

The Congested Districts Board have agreed to make at Derreen and Ballyinny landing places suitable for curraghs, which are the only boats used by the fishermen on that coast.

asked whether permission has been given by the spiritual director of the diocese of Ross to the local branch of a political body known as the Ancient Order of Hibernians to use the national male school-house at Skibbereen, county Cork, for the purpose of holding their weekly meetings; and, if so, whether such use has been sanctioned by the National Commissioners of Education for Ireland?

The Commissioners of National Education have no information on the subject. They have not sanctioned the use of any school in Skibbereen for the purpose stated.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether the use of this school could be granted without the sanction of the Commissioners?

No, Sir; I think not.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to a meeting held at Robins-town, near Trim, county Meath, on 1st February, when a certain individual was denounced by the Dunderry branch of the United Irish League as a grazier, and the audience were advised by the chief speaker to severely boycott the man so denounced; whether he has been able to ascertain the name of this speaker; whether a Government note taker was present; and whether he intends to take further action in the matter?

The meeting referred to was held at Robinstown, on the 3rd February, and a police shorthand writer was present. The language used by the hon. Member for South Meath, who was the principal speaker, has been carefully considered, and I am advised that, in the circumstances, further action would not be justified.

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman when he considers action would be justified in cases of this sort?

All I can say is I have here the opinion of the Attorney-General on the subject, and in his opinion, having regard to the evidence which was taken down by a shorthand writer, action would not be justified.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, the reasons why the Local Government Board sustained the appeal of the pension officer against the award by the local pension sub-commttee of a penson at the rate of 5s. per week to Mrs. Alice Murphy, of Collooney; and whether he will direct special inquiry into this case in view of the unanimous decision of the committee in applicant's favour?

The appeal of the penson, officer in this case was upheld on the ground that the claimant was unable to furnish sufficient evidence of having reached the statutory age. The Local Government Board have no power to reopen consideration of the case.

asked upon what evidence the Local Government Board reversed the decision of the Fermanagh old age pension committee sitting at Kesh, county Fermanagh, on 24th November, 1911, awarding a pension of 5s. weekly to Mary Timlin, of Ballynant, Kesh, county Fermanagh; whether some years ago the late Dr. Baptist Graham certified that claimant was older than he; that as they were reared beside each other he remembered her when he was a boy; that she was older than he, and that at the time of giving the certificate he was seventy-one years old; that such certificate signed by Dr. Graham was sent by Mrs. Timlin to the Local Government Board on an appeal some years ago by her against the decision of the then committee; whether at the meeting of the committee on 24th November last Mr. James Aiken, merchant and postmaster at Kesh, went before the committee and gave evidence that he knew Mary Timlin when hired with a relative of his and when she was fourteen years old; that at the time he was giving evidence he was seventy-six years old and that the claimant was at least seventy-five; and seeing that the only question is one of age, and there being no suggestion that the claimant is not of full qualifying age, the Local Government Board can see their way to send one of their inspectors to investigate the case?

The facts generally are as set out in the question. The pension officer reported to the Local Government Board that on questioning Dr. Graham further the latter stated he was not sure whether Mary Timlin was younger or older than himself. Claimant was not born in 1841, according to the Census Records of her parents' family; and the statements made by Dr. Graham and Mr. Aiken could not be accepted as being sufficient to prove that she was of the statutory age. The claim has been disallowed by the Board, and they have no power to reopen the case.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the Castlecomer old age pension subcommittee have had before them the claim of a Mrs. Mary M'Donald for an old age pension; that the committee, having a local knowledge of the case and after full inquiry, considered that the claimant was. entitled to the full pension of 5s., and allowed the same to her; whether he is aware that the pension officer calculated the means of the said claimant at £34, and had not recommended her for the pension, and appealed against the decision of the committee, and that the Local Government Board on 26th February decided that the claimant was not entitled to any pension; and, seeing that this woman's husband died intestate, and she having four children whose labours on the farm have helped to keep it from being sold, and who are by law entitled to two-thirds of the father's property, she being entitled to but one-third, he will see that the circumstances of the case be reviewed, with a view to have the law as regards intestacy observed, and that she be granted the full pension?

The facts generally are as stated in the first part of the question. It appeared, however, that Mrs. McDonald was the actual occupier of the farm, and that it was purchased in her name under the Land Purchase Acts. Her claim for pension was accordingly disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal, and the Board have now no power to reopen the case.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will explain in what manner the Local Government Board calculated the means of Mrs. Norah Kenny, of Ballylinnen, in the Castlecomer subcommittee district, through which calculation they decided the above-named woman was not entitled to a pension?

The decision of the Local Government Board in this case was based on the size and nature of the farm on which claimant resided, and on the number of stock and the extent of the tillage As the claim has been disallowed the documents are not now in the Board's possession, and the exact circumstances cannot be stated.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that a pension was granted by the local pension committee to Mrs. Kate Lavery, of Herbertstown, county Limerick, and that an appeal was lodged by the pension officer; and, if so, will he say on what grounds; and will the statements made by the officer in Ms appeal form be furnished to the local pension committee, so that the latter may be able to see if there has been any alteration made in the statements made before the committee when the claim was passed, and then going to the Local Government Board?

An appeal was made to the Local Government Board against the pension granted to Mrs. Lavery on the grounds that her means exceeded the statutory limit. The pension officer made no statement on his appeal form regarding claimant's means other than what was placed before the pension sub-committee.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a force of police prevented the Ballinagh band from marching on the public road on the 23rd February last; were any members of the band batoned; and whether he has received any report in the matter, giving the substance of same?

Prosecutions are pending in connection with the occurrence referred to. I cannot, therefore, make any statement in the matter at present.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the cost of living has substantially increased in all parts of the United Kingdom since the year 1901, the date of the last inquiry into the pay of the rank and file of the Royal Irish Constabulary; and that the pay of almost all other classes of public servants has been revised since that date, and especially that the rates of pay of nearly all the British police forces have recently been substantially increased; and whether he proposes to take steps to secure similar treatment for the Royal Irish Constabulary?

I am aware that the cost of living has increased in all parts of the United Kingdom since 1901. The last increase of pay was granted to the rank and file of the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1908, not 1901, as suggested, and, as I have already stated, it is too soon to reopen the question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what was the increase of pay—was it not a mere trifle?

A shilling after six years.

Is it not a fact that the increase of pay was among the higher ranks, and not among the rank and file?

The whole question has received my careful attention. I quite agree it would be desirable, were it possible just now, to make some improvement in the conditions, but I really cannot hope to carry it out.

Will the right hon. Gentleman promise to make an inquiry into this matter?

I am just as anxious to do everything I can for the Royal Irish Constabulary as the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a memorial was presented to the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction by ship inspectors attached to the veterinary branch of the Department at the different ports throughout Ireland, praying that a recommendation be made to the Treasury to extend the age limit for retiring from sixty to sixty-five, as in the case of all other branches of the Civil Service, including veterinary surgeons of the Department; whether, under the present regulations, thoroughly experienced and capable men are forced to retire at an age when prospects of further employment are remote; and whether, under the circumstances that most of the men are poor with families to maintain, he will favourably consider the question and recommend the Treasury to extend the age limit to sixty-five?

The memorial mentioned was duly received, and has been replied to in the negative. The ship inspectors employed by the Department are mostly police pensioners. The rule requiring them to retire at sixty is regarded as being in the interests of the service. It was adopted, after full investigation, by the Treasury, about nine years ago. It has been applied in a very large number of cases since, and the Department are not now prepared to recommend its modification.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, seeing that in a letter dated 7th November, 1911, he promised to inquire into certain circumstances connected with the female school at Tarbert, county Kerfy, he will now say whether he is satisfied that the answer supplied him in reply to a question by the hon. Member for East Down on this subject in November last was false; have the little girls who were expelled from this school on the 28th February, 1911, attended this school during the past twelve months; are their names still on the roll-books of this school in order to deceive the school inspector and the school attendance officer; is the manager of this school a member of the local school attendance committee; has he influenced the attendance officer to avoid this school in particular; have three more little girls been expelled from this school within the past month and, if so, for what reason; and will anything be done by the authorities to protect little girls from the treatment they are subjected to by the teacher and manager of this school?

I have made inquiries as promised, and find that the Commissioners directed the re-admission of these three children. One of them did not return, and a second left after three days because the schoolmistress refused to teach her without payment as she was over fifteen. Although the Commissioners have pointed out to the manager and the child's parent that her exclusion on the ground of non-payment, was unauthorised, she has not returned. The third child left after a fortnight, and is now in service. The manager of the school is not a member of the school attendance committee, and the Commissioners of National Education cannot say whether he has any influence over the attendance officer. They will make inquiries as to the other matters referred to in the question, and if they find that any pupils have been unjustly treated they will take measures to prevent such injustice and to safeguard the interests of the pupils concerned.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that two steam trawlers are continuously trawling in the inner harbour of Bantry Bay; whether this system of fishing is destructive of the spawn of the fish and causes injury and loss to hundreds of trammel and line fishermen who fish in Bantry Bay; and whether he will have an inquiry held in connection with this matter?

The Department are not aware that trawlers are fishing in the inner harbour of Bantry Bay, in which area all trawling is prohibited. The question of placing further restrictions on trawling in Bantry Bay was fully gone into at an inquiry held in 1910, and the Department are not aware of any circumstances calling for a further inquiry into the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, under the changed circumstances of the harbour, seeing there are now two harbours, make further inquiry locally?

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister what was the precise reference to the Committee on Irish Finance?

As I have frequently stated, the Report of the Committee is a confidential document, prepared for the use of the Government. I cannot, therefore, answer any questions as to the terms of reference or as to the contents of the Report.

Is there any reason for shrouding the proceedings of this Committee in such extraordinary mystery?

There is no shrouding or mystery. As I said before, this was a confidential inquiry undertaken by the Government for their own information.

Does it matter very much what the Report is?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that a majority of this House has affirmed the principle that authority for the manage- ment of purely local affairs, on the lines of powers now possessed by a constituent province of the Dominion of Canada, shall be delegated alike to both Scotland and Ireland, he is in a position to state that the proposed policy of the Government coincides with the expressed wish of a majority of the House?

I can say nothing beyond that the Government could clearly not pass any legislation which did not meet with the approval of the majority of the House. The matter is obviously too large to be adequately dealt with in answer to a question.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will introduce the Home Rule Bill before the Easter Recess?

The answer is in the negative.

May I respectfully press for a more satisfactory answer. [HON. MEMBERS: "Speak up."] Have some little decency. May I ask the Prime Minister whether it is unreasonable for an Irish Member, now that all but a month has passed in the third Session of this short Parliament, to inquire about and obtain some information when we shall hear of a Bill which we have been waiting for for six long years?

No, it is not at all unreasonable, and I never said it was. But the exigencies of the Parliamentary business are such that it is impossible to introduce the Bill before the date mentioned in the question.

Has the right hon. Gentleman arrived at that decision since the defeat in South Manchester?

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the official Return under the Census of Production Act dealing with Irish agriculture has yet been presented; and, if so, can he state approximately when it will be published; and whether, in view of the steps now being taken for the preparation of schedules for the next Census of Production, he will state whether any, and, if so, what special suggestions have been put forward by the Department to secure an exhaustive return of Ireland's agricultural industry?

I understand that the information prepared by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction is practically ready for publication, and it will, I hope, be published shortly. Special suggestions have been made by the Department with regard to the next Census of Production, and I shall be happy to discuss these suggestions with my hon. Friend if he will communicate with me.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the pensions of Commissary officers in India, not deputy or assistant Commissary officers, were, in fact, increased in 1904, as stated in answer to a question on 16th November, 1911; and, if so, by what amount; what is the amount of such pensions now as compared with those fixed in 1881; are not those pensions lower than the pensions of officers holding similar rank in the home service; and, if so, will steps be taken to increase the pensions of those Commissary officers and put them on an equitable basis?

In 1904 the pensions of Commissaries paid in India were raised from Rs. 2400 to Rs. 2592. This rate is lower than the highest which it is possible for an officer holding similar rank in the home service to earn; but I am advised that the methods of calculating service for pension in the two services are so different that the rates of pay do not compare unfavourably. I will bring the hon. Member's question to the notice of the Government of India, in case they may wish to make any recommendation to the Secretary of State.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the highest pension that can be secured is something like £216 a year; is there any appreciable difference between that and what was fixed in the year 1881; and, having regard to the increase in the cost of living, will he further consider the matter?

The suggestion of the hon. Member shall be brought to the notice of the Indian Government.

Does the increase apply to the Commissary, or only to his deputy and assistant?

It applies to the Commissary.

asked the Under-Secretary for India, whether his attention has been called to the conduct of Mr. Jackson, joint magistrate of Chingleput, who on 6th January last, after sentencing a prisoner, described the application of pleader for the accused for a copy of judgment, with a view to sentence being revised, as gross impertinence and impudence; and, having regard to the fact that the pleader was within his legal rights in asking for copy of judgment, steps will be taken to prevent such conduct on the part of Mr. Jackson or any other such magistrate in future?

The Secretary of State has no information on the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Chidambaram Pillia, who was convicted of sedition, and whose sentence on appeal was reduced to six years' transportation, which has not been carried out, the prisoner still being in gaol undergoing rigorous imprisonment; and whether, in view of the fact that prisoners sentenced to transportation obtain many relaxations denied to those in the ordinary gaols of India, there is any reason why such amenities should not be given in the case of Mr. Pillia?

The Secretary of State has carefully considered this case in all its aspects. The sentence of transportation for life passed on Chidambaram Pillia was reduced by the Madras High Court on appeal to one of transportation for six years. Originally all convicts sentenced to transportation were sent to the penal settlement in the Andamans, but under an Indian Act of 1882 the Executive Government have been empowered to appoint certain gaols in India where prisoners sentenced to transportation may be confined; and now only life-sentence convicts are usually sent to the Andamans. Pillia is accordingly serving his sentence in an Indian gaol. The conditions of detention are so different that the special rules mitigating the severity of convict life in the Andamans are not applicable to gaols in India. I may add that on the occasion of the Coronation Durbar Pillia was granted a remission of six months of his sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that there were in the county of Somerset during the year 1910 one case of murder, four cases of indecency with males, six cases of indecent assault on females, three cases of defilement of girls, six cases of sacrilege, twenty cases of burglary, forty cases of housebreaking, six cases of arson, and three cases of killing and maiming of cattle; and can he state how many of these crimes were committed in the Wells division of Somerset?

The figures quoted are the figures of crimes reported to the police as given in the Criminal Statistics. The Secretary of State has no information with regard to the latter part of the question.

In how many cases were the guilty persons brought to justice?

asked the Home Secretary whether compensation is to be paid to Members of the Metropolitan Police Force who were employed during the strike in South Wales in November, 1910, in respect of the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in providing their own food through the breakdown which occurred in the commissariat arrangements of the local authorities; and whether he will consider compensation for overtime owing to the long duties performed, which in many cases amounted to continuous day and night duty, often performed without change of clothes?

The Metropolitan Police who were sent to South Wales all received many months ago extra allowances on a liberal scale in respect of the period for which they were absent on this special duty. No question of any further payments by way of compensation could be entertained.

asked the Home Secretary when he proposes to publish the Return of Illiterate Voters moved for by the hon. Member for Salisbury on 15th February?

The Secretary of State is not able to grant the Return desired by the hon. Member showing the number of persons who voted as illiterates at the General Election of December, 1910, as under the provisions of the Ballot Act, 1872, all ballot papers are destroyed after twelve months from an Election. My right hon. Friend wishes me to point out that a Return giving this information in respect of the January Election in the same year was given and published as a Parliamentary Paper.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the inconvenience caused to Members of this House and to the public by the large crowd which assembled in Whitehall on Monday evening last; and if he will in future give orders to the police to prevent any large assemblage in Whitehall, as was done on the occasion of former disturbances by disorderly persons of both sexes?

Careful police arrangements were made on Monday evening with a view to minimise inconvenience to Members of Parliament and others, but the Commissioner of Police would not have been justified in removing the public from so important a thoroughfare as Whitehall unless there had been stronger reasons for so drastic a course than existed that evening.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that on the occasion referred to in the question the crowd were kept back by a police cordon at the Trafalgar square end of Whitehall, and would it not minimise the inconvenience if that arrangement were reverted to.

That question will be considered.

asked whether the sittings of the Committee appointed to inquire into the discipline of reformatories have been completed; and when the Report will be issued?

The sittings of the Committee have not been completed, and it cannot yet be stated when the Report will be ready.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that statistics already compiled and easily obtainable by his Department have been recently refused to a number of branches of the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association; whether he is aware that a stereotyped and indefinite answer is being given both nationally and locally to officers of that association; and whether he will direct that information obtainable by his Department, and essential in the preparation of evidence, shall either be given or definitely refused?

I am not aware of any case in which statistics already compiled have been refused to the staff of the Post Office. I am willing to afford all reasonable facilities to the staff for the preparation of evidence for the forthcoming inquiry, but as I have already indicated to the hon. Member, the question whether any particular information is given or refused depends on whether it is readily available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has caused any inquiry to be made into the dangers which have been stated to arise from the use of telephones by persons suffering from open tuberculosis; and, if so, whether he is in a position to state the result of his inquiry?

A prolonged investigation was undertaken by the eminent bacteriologist. Dr. Spitta, at my request and has recently been completed. It extended not only to telephones used in public call offices, but also to certain telephones which were installed at a sanatorium for the regular and exclusive use of patients in all stages of tuberculosis. As a result Dr. Spitta reports that, in his opinion, "the transmission of tuberculosis through the medium of the telephone mouthpiece is practically impossible." I propose to issue a full statement to the Press, as the subject is naturally one of considerable public interest.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the whole of the telephone business being now in his hands, he is prepared to abolish area boundaries, and so remove the in conveniences and inequalities arising from their existence?

I cannot abolish boundaries for local business, as that would involve the abandonment of all trunk fees. But for inter-town business I am anxious to substitute as soon as possible a uniform system of charges on a zone system for the present anomalous area system. But as the agreements with subscribers for a local service are based upon existing areas, the change can only be effected gradually, and after careful examination of all the conditions.

In view of the fact that all the areas have disappeared by reason of the Government having taken over the telephones, and that, as a result of this change, there is no need for maintaining the area basis, and the hardships of the system can be removed, will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the desirability of doing away with that basis?

The areas have not been created on account of the business having been partly in the hands of the National Telephone Company. The area is necessary in order to determine what are local calls and what are trunk calls. If I were to abolish local areas it would mean that I should get no revenue for trunk calls between, say, London and Liverpool, or London and Manchester.

Is it not a fact that the area merely maintained the control of the National Telephone Company and that these junctions are not junctions at all; and seeing that the National Telephone Company as such has disappeared is there any need for maintaining the junctions and the hardships which the junctions cause?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. Wherever there was a Post Office telephone exchange there was also an area attached to that exchange.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now prepared to order that all Post Office telephone ex changes shall be kept open for calls continuously, as was the case under the National Telephone Company; and whether, in those Post Office exchanges where a disturbance fee for night calls is made, he will now discontinue that practice?

Is is my intention to maintain a continuous attendance at all the exchanges taken over from the National Telephone Company. In the last few years the Post Office has opened a large number of exchanges in very small places in rural districts which were not served by the National Telephone Company on account of the unremunerative character of the business. At a number of these exchanges extra fees are charged for night calls because the ordinary subscriptions are insufficient to cover even, the cost of the day service. I think it is better to open exchanges on these conditions rather than withhold telephonic communication, but the circumstances of each case are kept constantly in view, and a continuous service is given without, extra, charge as soon as the increase in the number of subscribers justifies such a step.

Is it not a fact that the company in all their systems had a night service, and in view of the fact that the telephone can only be of use to meet requirements of emergency, will not the Government see its way to keep the continuing system of the National Telephone-Company and have an all-night service in towns?

I have already stated that I propose to continue the practice of the National Telephone Company in all their exchanges. Wherever our exchanges are similar in character to those of the company there will be a similar service, but there are one or two small villages, with only one or two subscribers,, where it is not possible to give, without extra charge, an all-night service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state if any vacancies exist at the present time for relay clerkships; if so, whether they will be recruited from the ranks of the sorting' clerks and telegraphists; and, if not, whether he can state in what manner any existing vacancies will be filled?

No further appointments will be made to the class of relay clerks; and the work at the relay stations will in future be done by sorting clerks and telegraphists and overseers temporarily detached from certain large offices to which the relay stations will be affiliated.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to have the new post office at Stafford ready for the transaction of public business?

It is expected that the building will be ready for the transaction of public business within, fifteen months from this date.

asked whether postmasters and postmen will be allowed to undertake the work of acting as local agents under Part II. of the National Insurance Act (Unemployment) as well as sub-postmasters and registrars of births, deaths, and marriages?

It is open to any person who can provide the necessary accommodation and give the requisite amount of time to apply for the post of local agent. The Board of Trade are in communication with the Post Office on the question whether salaried servants of the Post Office can be permitted to act as local agents.

asked whether friendly societies and trade unions giving benefits similar to the sickness benefit under the National Insurance Act, and which do not wish to bcome approved societies under the Act, are compelled to bring in a scheme under Section 72, or whether they may be dissolved in accordance with their existing rules under the provisions of the Friendly Societies Acts, or continue their business in their own way without bringing in any such scheme?

Section 72 applies to all registered friendly societies, whether they decide to apply for approval or not, but not to trade unions or unregistered friendly societies. The Act does not deprive a society of any right to dissolve, existing under its rules. It is doubtful whether a society can exercise any such right before complying with the statutory requirements of Section 72.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman how the doubt he expresses is to be cleared up?

We are taking advice in the ordinary way.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in order to prevent confusion, he will say whether the Mr. F. J. Robertson, journalist, whose name appears upon the list of lecturers under the National Insurance Act for Scotland, is the same as a gentle- man of a simliar name and initials who is a prominent member of the Young Scot Society, or whether he is the same gentleman who acted as a Liberal election agent, or the same as another gentleman who was a Free Trade lecturer; and, if not, in what branch of journalism is he employed?

Before the hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask him to state in his reply, in order to prevent confusion, whether the Mr. Byers Black, whose name appears in the same list—

The hon. Member must give notice if he refers to some other person.

I am informed that the lecturer referred to is a member of the Young Scots Society, that he has lectured upon Free Trade, and that although not a political agent he has in the past acted as an. election agent for a Liberal candidate; that he has not himself been a candidate for Parliament; that he is a member of the Town Council of Edinburgh, a writer of distinction in various newspapers, and appears to be in every way qualified for the position which he at present occupies.

In order to prevent confusion, will the hon. Gentleman give a list of the lecturers and their antecedents? May I add that I had no intention of reflecting upon the capacity of this individual.

Is not Mr. Robertson also secretary of the Knox Club in Edinburgh, and is he not at the present moment employed in propaganda in connection with that club, lecturing and holding meetings in order to bring about the nullification of the Ne Temere decree, and in view of that fact will the hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of transferring the services of Mr. Robertson to lecture in Belfast?

The Secretary to the Treasury cannot be expected to know the life history of this gentleman.

Have the Insurance Commisioners in Scotland appointed any ex-Tory candidates to act as lecturers for the Insurance Act, and is it a more heinous offence to be a Young Scot or a Tory candidate?

Each Member must judge of that for himself. It is a fact that an ex-Tory candidate has been appointed.

asked what is the proportion to population of the official lecturers on the Insurance Act in England and in Ireland respectively?

There are fifty-three English and twenty-five Irish lecturers; in England one to about 635,000, in Ireland one to about 175,000.

Can we have the figures for Scotland?

I shall be glad to give them, if possible.

asked whether the Insurance Commissioners are interpreting Section 39 (2) of the National Insurance Act to mean that a village friendly society with less than 5,000 members cannot, under the Act, become associated with a large county society with upwards of 5,000 members, such as the Wiltshire Friendly Society, and at the same time retain its independence and self-government; and, if not, whether, under Section 78 of the Act and in view of the desire of several village societies to take this course, the Commissioners can and will modify the provisions of the Act accordingly?

No actual cases have yet been before the Commissioners, but I see no reason why the objects aimed at by Section 39 should not be affected by means of an association of societies some one or more of which at the date of the valuation proves to have more than 5,000 members.

Does the hon. Gentleman consider, after taking legal opinion, as I understand he has, that it is possible for such an association to take place?

As at present advised, yes.

asked whether, in the interests of the smaller friendly societies, especially in rural districts, the committees of which can only attend to friendly society work in their very limited spare time, and in view of the fact that the model rules for approved societies, under the National Insurance Act, were only issued on 27th February, that societies are instructed to send in copies of their future rules when applying for approval, and that the Insurance Commissioners propose to commence the process of approving societies on 19th March, giving priority to all societies applying for approval before that date, the above date will be postponed so as to afford sufficient time for the committees of the smaller societies to decide what course will prove most beneficial to their members?

It is a matter of great importance that approval should be given at the earliest date possible. If the Commissioners find that any society is unable to submit its proposed rules completed by the 19th March, but are in a position before that date to apply for approval subject to any such adjustments in its rules as may subsequently be found necessary, they will, so far as practicable, see that the society is not prejudiced.

Has any society priority over another society?

I think a good many societies think they gain advantages under those circumstances. The only advantage they may gain is a gain in numbers by being able to say they are approved societies.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these model rules were not issued to all societies on the same date, and that some are complaining of the others having an unfair advantage?

We will try to see that everyone has a fair chance.

asked what were the reasons for the delay in placing the contract for the fifth armoured ship in the 1911–12 Navy Estimates; whether the contracts for the last two unarmoured ships have yet been placed; if not, what is the reason for the delay; and whether the unexpended portion of the sums voted in the Navy Estimates for the construction of those ships will be devoted to other naval purposes during the current financial year?

The delay in placing the order for the fifth armoured ship of this year's programme has been due to reconsideration of the design. In the case of the two remaining protected cruisers, the delay is due, as the Noble Lord is aware, to my earnest endeavour to give the contract to the Thames. Some portion of the surplus which, for this and other reasons, has accrued under the contract shipbuilding Vote, has, with the sanction of the Treasury, been expended on other urgent services.

Would it not be bettor to put that fifth armoured ship into the 1912–13 programme instead of the 1911–12? It will really be a 1912–13 ship.

Oh, no. All the work of preparing the specifications, receiving the tenders, and adjudicating on the tenders, and allotting the contract has already been completed and the ship has now been placed and the work of collecting the material will go forward. The sum expended will not be very large, but at least four months off the full period of construction of the ship will count as falling in this year.