asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the number of clerks to surveyors of taxes on Scale A, and how many of such clerks have reached their maximum salary; whether he will consider their case with a view to promoting some of them to staff rank after long and meritorious service; and whether he can state why these clerks are allowed less leave than the rank of assistant inspector of postmen?

There are eighty-two clerkships (Class A) to surveyors of taxes, of which three are now vacant. Thirty-eight of these clerks have reached the maximum (70s. a week) of their class. I do not understand what the hon. Member implies by the words "staff rank." But I am informed that the maximum, £182 per annum, of their existing scale is adequate to the simple clerical work which these clerks are called upon to perform. The amount of the annual leave of these clerks is fixed with reference to that allowed to the analogous clerical classes in the service.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of agrarian outrages in Ireland during each of the ten years ended 31st December, 1911, and the proportion of cases in which a conviction was obtained?

presented the following return of agrarian outrages in Ireland for the ten years ending 31st December, 1911, and of the number of cases in which a conviction was obtained:—

asked the Chief Secretary by what authority the police made an attack upon the people near Sixmilebridge, county Clare; if he is aware of the violence exercised; and if he will cause an inquiry to be made into the whole matter.

Proceedings are pending with regard to the occurrence referred to by the hon. Member and I cannot, therefore, make any statement about it.

asked the Chief Secretary when the Congested Districts Board proposes to proceed with the distribution amongst the local tenants of the unallocated portion of the Claremount property, known as the Claremorris Racecourse, purchased in 1904; and whether, in view of the requirements of the local tenants, he will take steps to see that the unallocated portion is immediately divided?

The Congested Districts Board decided some time ago to retain the lands referred to in their own hands for the present for the purpose of affording grazing accommodation to the people in the neighbourhood. It is intended at a later stage to convey the lands to local trustees to be used for the same purpose.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that William Coughlan, of Stukeens, Kilmallock, was on three different occasions allowed an old age pension by the Kilmallock sub-committee, that the Kilmallock sub-committee from their knowledge of the facts laid before them believed that William Coughlan was over the statutory age of seventy years, and that as proof of the age of the claimant the written testimony of six respectable witnesses has been laid before the Local Government Board; and will he explain why, under the circumstances, the Local Government Board has refused to sanction the pension to this deserving applicant?

The facts are as stated in the question. William Coughlan's claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal on the grounds that he was unable to produce satisfactory evidence of age, the testimony of the witnesses referred to being merely expressions of opinion, and not sufficiently conclusive. The Board's inspector, who personally investigated the case locally, was unable to report that the claimant was obviously over seventy years of age.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the dispatch vessel "Alacrity" has now been in continual active commission on the China station for over a quarter of a century; and when is it proposed to supply the Commander-in-Chief on that station with a new dispatch vessel.

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The replacement of this vessel is under consideration, and will be arranged for when necessary.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the ship's company of His Majesty's ship "Lapwing " have not been paid prize-money for captures of arms in the Persian Gulf, seeing that the ship's company of His Majesty's ship "Fox" have received their prize-money, and that both of these ships were in commission at the same time, from 1909 to 1910?

The services performed by the ships named do not bring them within the scope of the Prize Proclamation, and the grant of any award is therefore a matter of discretion and not of right. The award that has been paid to the "Fox" was in respect of an earlier service. The cases of the "Fox," the "Lapwing," and other ships in respect of later services are still under consideration.

also asked how many applications have been received by the Admiralty from naval surgeons for accelerated promotion to staff surgeon under the regulations issued by the Admiralty on the 31st October, 1903; how many of these applications have been granted; and how many applications it is the intention of the Admiralty to grant?

The reply to the first part of the Noble Lord's question is fourteen, eleven of whom were found to be ineligible for various reasons. As regards the second part, two have been promoted and a third will be promoted next month. In reply to the third part of the question, each case will be dealt with on its merits, full consideration being given to the officer's record and his professional ability.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has yet completed his inquiry into the question of the re-enagement for second period of petty officers second class; and whether he will see that petty officers second class who have had to revert to leading seamen when taking on for their second period are reinstated in their former rating until such time as vacancies occur for their promotion to petty officer (new system)?

Advancements to petty officer second class ceased in October, 1907, but men who then held that rating were allowed to retain it. This rule still applies to men who re-engage but not to men who have severed their connection with the active service and wish to reenter. The latter are required to re-enter as leading seamen, the rating of petty officer second class having been abolished.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty why, when men have to be dismissed at Chatham Dockyard, men with several years' service are dismissed and those recently engaged retained; and whether he will see that a preference is given to men of long service by retaining them as long as possible when the establishment has to be reduced, and by taking them on first when the establishment has again to be increased?

When reductions are being made in the numbers of men employed in His Majesty's dockyards those men are discharged who are reported by their officers to be the least fit for their positions. All other things being equal, the men first to go—except in the cases of ex-apprentices—are those who have been the shortest time in the service. Men of long service are therefore retained as long as possible, and are taken on first should the numbers again be increased, provided that their previous conduct and service have been satisfactory, and that they are immediately available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the pecuniary interest the town of Cheltenham possesses in the drill hall property recently offered for sale by the War Office, he will, before completing the sale, give the town the opportunity of making an offer of purchase or hire of the property, or consent to postpone the sale in accordance with the numerously signed requisition that has been addressed to him?

I regret that the course suggested by the hon. Member is impossible, as the contract for purchase has already been signed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that captains on the active list have recently been appointed as Territorial brigade majors at £500 a year, being extra pay amounting to about £250 a year; whether these appointments are limited to officers who have passed through the Staff College; whether retired officers who were previously appointed as Territorial brigade majors are only receiving £100 a year for exactly the fame work; and whether, in view of the fact that the work of Territorial brigade majors has been largely increased, the Army Council will raise to the same scale the pay of officers previously appointed, so as to give them at least £250 a year?

The officers of the Regular Army appointed to be brigade majors of the Territorial Force Brigades receive consolidated rates of pay of £500 a year. These appointments are not confined to officers who have passed through the Staff College. Retired officers who were appointed as brigade majors receive £100 a year, and during training acting staff pay of 10s. a day, together with the usual allowances; they also retain their retired pay, if any. The present policy is to confine the appointments to officers on the active list, and there is no intention of raising the emoluments drawn by the retired officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Return moved for by the hon. Member for Chelsea, with reference to the Grants made by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to meet private benefactions, is now ready; and whether, in that event, he will publish it without delay.

The Return has been sent to the printers, and will be issued in a few days.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is proposed to issue postage stamps in rolls designed for use in stamp-affixing machines; whether it has been yet decided what stamps are to be issued in that form; and what are proposed as the sizes and prices of the various rolls?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to fix a date for the issue, but the process of manufacture is proceeding. Both penny and halfpenny stamps will be supplied in roll form. The rolls will contain 1,000 and 500 stamps respectively. A charge of 2d. will be made for the larger rolls, and of 1½d. for the smaller ones, in addition to the face value of the stamps.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if the First Commissioner will consider the advisability of providing a hut where for a small charge model yachts may be housed near the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens?

A boat-house for the storage of model yachts is already provided, and, as far as the First Commissioner is aware, this provides adequate accommodation.