asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland upon what grounds the Local Government Board reduced the pension of 5s. per week to Is. granted by the Castlerea Pensions Committee to Patrick Coyne, Thomastown, Castlerea, in view of the fact that his sole dependence for a livelihood is upon a small farm, the valuation of which .is £2 5s. with a rent of £l 13s. 6d.?

Patrick Coyne had been in receipt of a pension of Is. a week, and raised a question to have it increased to 5s. The Local Government Board dismissed his question on the grounds that his means were too great to justify the increase. The farm in question contains twelve acres, five of which are under tillage, the remainder being used for grazing. His stock includes three cows, two yearlings, two calves, in addition to pigs and fowl. He has also free turf and has half interest on a sum of £60 in the bank.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the meaning of the word "travellers" in the Shops Act as applied to motor and cycle dealers; does it mean that on the early closing day in a town only those who have travelled at least three miles from their last night's sleeping place can be supplied by motor and cycle dealers, or can all callers for motor and cycle goods be supplied; and, if the former, what course is open to a motorist who may have met with an accident or requires petrol within the distance limit?

The meaning of the word " travellers," as used in the second Schedule to the Shops Act is not defined in the Act, and I have no authority to give a definition; but I think I may so far answer the questions put by the Noble Lord as to say that it clearly would not be permissible under an exemption which is limited to travellers to supply all persons who may come to the shop; and that no three miles limit is imposed, but that a traveller may be supplied in any place "where the necessity arises

asked the Home Secretary what political offences there are for which it is the duty of the Public Prosecutor to institute proceedings?

The Director of Public Prosecutions has no special or defined duty to institute criminal proceedings for offences which may be described as political; but, under the directions and subject to the control of the Attorney-General, it is the Director's duty to prosecute where "the offence or the circumstances of its commission are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest"; and where "owing to the importance or difficulty of the case, or to other circumstances, the action of the Director of Public Prosecutions is necessary to secure the due prosecution of the offender."

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board of Trade has any power to regulate and control the number of persons who are carried as deck passengers; and if he will inquire, or direct the Court of Inquiry to ascertain, whether decent food and sanitation is provided for such persons, and, in the event of shipwreck, if there would be adequate life-saving apparatus for the persons carried at times as deck passengers?

The Board of Trade have powers to deal with the number of persons carried as deck passengers. The food and the sanitary arrangements for all passengers (except cabin passengers) on vessels clearing from the United Kingdom as emigrant ships are governed by statutory regulations under the Merchant ' Shipping Acts, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. As deck passengers are not allowed outside the limits of the home trade, I doubt if the subject referred to by my hon. Friend would be considered relevant by the Court of Inquiry into the loss of the "Titanic," but the adequacy of life-saving appliances on all classes of British passenger steamers is now under consideration by the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee.