asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the price of petrol caused by trusts and combinations of the producers, he will consider whether steps should be taken to enable commercial alcohol to be used as fuel for internal-combustion engines and to alter the duty so that this could be done?

The question of the use of alcohol as a fuel for propelling motor vehicles was considered by the Industrial Alcohol Committee, and I would refer the hon. Member to the recommendations of that Committee, as given in their Report dated 23rd March, 1905 (Cd. 2472), paragraphs 28, etc.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will specify the lands, buildings, and property in Ireland vested in or held in trust for His Majesty, with their extent and value, respectively, and where situate?

It would be impossible to give the detailed information within the limits of an answer; but, assuming that the question relates to property under the management of the Commissioners of Woods, the following information may be of service to the hon. Member. The Crown property in Ireland consists of quit and other fixed rents, amounting to about £25,000 per annum, issuing out of private lands in various counties. The area of lands under the Commissioners' immediate management is about 910 acres, of which about 630 acres are subject to common rights. These lands are situate principally in the counties of Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Queen's and Wexford, and produce a revenue of about £1,1000. Certain mineral and fishing rights also belong to the Crown, but the income derived is small and fluctuating.

asked whether the Gibbings estate, Tiernaur, Newport, Mayo, has yet been offered for sale through the Congested Districts Board; and whether the necessary maps and papers have been lodged with the Board?

The estate referred to has been offered for sale through the Congested Districts Board, and the necessary maps and documents have been lodged.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners gave a building grant to Hugh Ward, Peter Ward, and M'Mahon, tenants placed on the estate of T. S. M'Cann, county Meath; and whether the grant was expended for the intended purposes?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that no building grant was sanctioned in any of the cases mentioned in the question.

asked whether some untenanted land situate at Moynalty, county Meath, has been offered for sale to the Commissioners by the owner, John E. J. Farrell, D.L.; and, if so, with what result?

The Estates Commissioners acquired under the provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act certain lands in county Meath from the owner named in the question and such lands have been allotted.

asked whether Patrick Eginton, Grennan, near Oldcastle, county Meath, was granted a pension by the local committee which was disallowed by the pension officer, Appeal No. 2,798, although four aged respectable persons made affidavits that he was over seventy years of age; and whether he will state if any officer on behalf of the Local Government Board visited Eginton, and what opinion he formed as to his age?

The facts are as stated in the question, but it appeared from the Census Returns that Patrick Eginton was not born in 1841, and was only three years old in 1851, which would make him now sixty-four years of age. The Local Government Board did not consider it necessary to send an inspector to visit Eginton.

asked the Prime Minister what safeguards he proposes to offer for the continued maintenance of Queen's University, Belfast, as heretofore, in the event of the Government of Ireland Bill becoming an Act?

No safeguards are necessary other than the general safeguards in the Bill.

asked the Prime Minister what security of tenure there will be, in the event of the Government of Ireland Bill becoming an Act, for professors and other persons appointed by the Statutory Commissioners acting under powers conferred upon them by the Irish Universities' Act of 1908?

The Government of Ireland Bill does not alter the tenure of the professors.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now say what the status and powers of the Statutory Commissioners, acting tinder the powers conferred upon them by the Irish Universities Act, 1908, will be; and if he can see his way to safeguard the powers of the above Commissioners by excluding them from the operation of the Government of Ireland Bill?

The powers of the Commissioners under the Irish Universities Act have already determined and the Commissions as such have ceased to exist.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the cost of the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland is included in the sum of £127,500, the estimated expenditure of the Consolidated Fund on Irish services mentioned in Appendix B of the Outline of Financial Provisions in the Government of Ireland Bill [Cd. 6154], and, if so, to what amount; whether the sum of £169,500 mentioned in Class II. of the same appendix is the same sum as is mentioned under the heading in the same Paper, page 4, of Land purchase, (2) Other charges; and whether any and, if so, how much of the sum of £42,000 for valuation in Class II. of the same appendix will be charged against the United Kingdom as expenses in connection with valuation or collection of taxes, or any other matter?

As promised by the Prime Minister in his reply to the hon. Member for West Islington on the 16th instant, a Paper will be issued explaining in fuller detail the figures given in the White Paper circulated with the Bill.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State's attention has been called to the Report of the Sub-Committee of the International Cotton Committee, making certain recommendations in respect of the cultivation of Indian cotton; and whether these recommendations will be brought under the notice of the Government of India?

The report to which the hon. Member refers has not reached the Secretary of State. If and when it is received by him, its recommendations will be carefully considered.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War the comparative figures, as between England and Wales on the one hand and Scotland on the other, of the establishment, the strength, the percentage of establishment to population, the percentage of strength to population, and the percentage of strength to establishment of the Territorial Force as at 1st April, 1912, and the corresponding figures for each of the counties of Scotland?

The information is as follows:— — Establishment All Ranks. * Strength (1–10–11) All Ranks. Percentage. Establishment to Male Population. Strength to Male Population. Strength to Establishment. England and Wales … … 258,177 218,344 1.48 1.25 84.6 Scotland … … †55,111 †45,819 2.39 1.99 83.1 Aberdeen … … 2,135 1,726 2.75 2.22 80.8 City Aberdeen … … 2,957 2,426 3.98 3.27 82.0 Argyll … … 1,503 1,387 4.24 3.92 92.3 Ayr … … 3,064 2,339 2.35 1.80 76.3 Banff … … 529 430 1.78 1.45 81.3 Berwick … … 349 285 2.46 2.01 81.7 Bute … … 255 218 3.19 2.72 85.5 Caithness … … 483 459 3.19 3.03 95.0 Clackmannan … … 364 336 2.48 2.29 92.3 Dumbarton … … 1,181 1,056 1.69 1.51 89.4 Dumfries … … 636 589 1.82 1.68 92.6 Dundee, City of … … 2,206 1,628 3.06 2.26 73.8 Edinburgh, City of … … 6,066 4,915 4.23 3.43 81.0 Elgin … … 1,127 839 5.50 4.10 74.4 Fife … … 2,064 1,734 1.56 1.31 84.0 Forfar … … 1,247 960 2.28 1.76 77.0 Glasgow, City of … … 10,392 9,170 3.62 3.20 88.2 Haddingcon … … 525 399 2.45 1.86 76.0 Inverness … … 2,026 1641 4.77 3.87 81.0 Kincardine … … 539 315 3.76 2.20 58.4 Kinross … … 121 112 3.34 3.10 92.5 Kirkcudbright … … 506 374 2.80 2.07 73.9 Lanark … … 2,982 2,877 .69 .66 96.5 Linlithgow … … 503 493 1.20 1.17 98.0 Midlothian … … 1,393 1,119 1.51 1.22 80.3 Nairn … … 68 68 1.57 1.34 85.3 Orkney … … 570 426 4.65 3.48 74.7 Peebles … … 241 164 3.41 2.32 68.0 Perth … … 1,751 1,379 3.00 2.36 78.8 Renfrew … … 2,772 2,424 1.83 1.60 87.4 Ross and Cromarty … … 1,576 1,195 4.07 3.08 75.4 Roxburgh … … 514 399 2.38 1.85 77.6 Selkirk … … 369 307 3.26 2.71 83.2 Stirling … … 718 669 .87 .81 93.2 Sutherland … … 643 453 6.53 4.60 70.4 Wigtown … … 244 173 1.62 115 70.9 Zetland … … 242 181 1.92 1.44 74.8 Total … … †54,861 †45,655 — — — * The Establishment and Strength include officers and non-commissioned officers and men, but exclude the Territorial Force Reserve Officers on the unattached list and officers of Officers Training Corps, and Royal Army Medical Corps Officers of General Hospitals and Sanitary Service available only on mobilisation. † The difference between these numbers is accounted for by Medical and Veterinary Officers, and others not allocated to counties.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, whether the general manager of the South African Railways has notified that all soldiers travelling with third-class tickets are entitled to second-class accommodation on a train that is occupied by Natives, so that they are not compelled to travel in the same compartment as Natives; and, if so, what are the regulations as regards travelling in other Colonies where British soldiers are stationed?

I am informed that the South Africa Railways have arranged that on sections of the line when third-class accommodation separated from natives and Asiatics is not provided, non-commissioned officers and rank and file are permitted to travel second class. In North and South China non-commissioned officers and men travel second class. In Ceylon when parties of European soldiers proceeding by rail do not exceed nineteen, second class accommodation is used. There is no further information as regard other Colonies available in the War Office.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies when the first meeting will be held of the Imperial Trade Commission; and whether its deliberations will be in public or in private?

IRISH UNITS. Corps and Regiments. Killed or Died of Wounds. Died of Diseases. Wounded. Total. Officers. W. O. 's, N. C. O.' s and Men. Officers. W. O.' s, N. C. O.' s and Men. Officers. W. O.' s. N. C. O' s and Men. Officers. W. O.' s. N. C. O' s and Men. 5th Royal Irish Lancers 1 3 1 15 8 22 10 40 — 16 — 12 1 52 1 80 6th Inniskilling Dragoons — — — 1 — — — 1 4 31 1 42 10 81 15 154 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars — 1 — 12 — 2 — 15 3 12 — 19 8 40 11 71 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling 6 88 3 22 16 222 25 332 Fusiliers 2 8 1 30 1 28 4 66 1st Battalion Royal Irish 2 32 — 19 9 88 11 139 Fusiliers — 8 1 25 2 8 3 41 2nd Battalion Royal Irish 1 16 — 8 8 95 9 119 Fusiliers 3 20 1 33 1 53 5 106 1st Battalion Connaught — 48 — 20 10 228 10 296 Rangers — 10 — 26 6 24 6 60 1st Battalion Leinster Regiment — — — 1 1 — 1 1 1 3 4 64 — 31 5 98 2nd Battalion Royal Minister — 2 — 4 — 3 — 9 Fusiliers — — — 1 — — — 1 1st Battalion Royal Dublin 3 70 — 27 8 219 11 316 Fusiliers 1 13 — 10 5 38 6 61 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin 3 41 — 17 10 151 13 209 Fusiliers — — 1 31 1 — 2 31 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards — — — — — — — — — 1 — — 1 1 1 2 1st Battalion Irish Guards — — — — — — — — 1 4 — — 1 1 2 5 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regi- — — — — — — — — ment 5 39 1 39 8 87 14 165 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling — — — — — — — — Fusiliers 1 — — — 3 5 4 5 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles — — — — — — — — 3 31 — 23 11 106 14 160 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment — — — — — — — — — — — 6 1 9 1 15 1st Battalion Royal Munster — — — — — — — — Fusiliers 5 13 — 43 4 70 9 126 Total 45 510 14 550 134 1,664 193 2,724

The upper set of figures refers to losses in Natal.

The lower set of figures refers to losses in Cape, Orange River and Transvaal Colonies.

The first meeting will be on 13th June, and the proceedings will be private.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what was the number and percentage of the total casualties from wounds, disease, and death in the Irish regiments engaged in the South African war?

The information is as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the fact that in White Abbey, county Antrim, large local employers of labour who are also owners of the houses in which their employés reside make it a practice to stop the rent of these houses out of the weekly wage; that they never issue receipts or rent books to their employés, with the result that the latter are penalised when trying to get houses elsewhere; and whether he will take action to remedy this condition of things?

I have not had sufficient time since the question appeared upon the Paper to inquire into this case, with regard to which I have at present no information. I may say, however, that the facts mentioned do not disclose any infringement of the Truck Acts. Section 23 of the Act of 1831 expressly allows deductions for rent, provided there is an agreement in writing with the workman, but the Acts do not impose any further requirements as to the giving of receipts or the keeping of rent books.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Departmental Committee on the jury system has yet reported; when the Report will be issued; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation on the subject this Session?

The Committee has not yet reported. I shall not be able to introduce legislation on the subject this Session.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, whether tantalum has been discovered in Bengal; and, if so, what facilities will be offered by the Government of India for its working?

The Secretary of State understands that columbite and tantalite have been found in several localities in Bengal, but he has no recent information as to whether these minerals exist in payable quantities there, or as to what action to exploit them is being taken. If the minerals are the property of the State, as is the case in the greater part of India, facilities for working them are obtainable under the ordinary rules for the grant of mining concessions.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received a resolution passed by the guardians of the poor of the parish of St. Mary, Islington, asking that such steps shall be taken as may seem necessary to prevent the disfranchisement of men who had to accept Poor Law relief in consequence of the coal strike, although in no way responsible for it; and if he can see his way to take any action in the matter?

I have received resolution from the Islington Guardians to the effect mentioned. Perhaps I may refer the hon. Member to the replies already given this Session to previous questions on this subject.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that for the past thirty-seven years medical officers of health and inspectors of nuisances have had powers, under Section 117 of the Public Health Act, to seize, if diseased or unsound, live animals exposed for sale for human food; and, if so, why have such powers not been exercised in the interest of the health of the community?

The powers referred to, which are contained in Section 116 of the Public Health Act, 1875, have been exercised by the officers mentioned in the section, but difficulty often arises in negativing the contention that the animal was not intended for the food of man. In 1907 I caused a circular to be issued to local authorities bringing the matter under their notice, in order that they might, as far as possible, exercise supervision over the cattle in their districts with a view to anticipating, and so averting, possible or intended infringement of the law. I also suggested that suitable officers of the local authority should be instructed to watch closely the cattle markets, slaughterhouses, and knackers yards in the district, with the view of satisfying themselves that no animal, the condition of which appears to render it unfit for human consumption, is disposed of in such a manner that it is likely to be used for this purpose.

asked the President of the Local Government Board the number of children over three years of age at present reared in the Dover workhouse; whether, in the autumn of 1911, the boys' dormitory was overcrowded and beds had to be placed in the boys' play-room; whether he can state how much the board of guardians expended in boarding-out children for the half-year ended 30th September, 1911; whether he is aware that the master of the workhouse stated at a recent meeting of the board that neither the boys who were at school nor those who had left school had any industrial training; and whether he will urge upon the guardians the necessity for the immediate removal of all children over three from the workhouse?

The number of children over three years of age at present in the Dover workhouse is 139. I am informed that no beds for the boys were placed in the boys' playroom, but another room with ample floor space was converted into a dormitory with twelve beds. For the half-year ended 30th September, 1911, the Guardians expended £13 in boarding-out children. I have no information as to the statement attributed to the master of the workhouse. I have already urged the guardians to remove healthy children of school age from the workhouse, and the matter is receiving their attention. I am strongly in favour of the immediate removal of the children, and have instructed my inspector to confer with the guardians on the subject.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will expedite the decisions in the inquiries recently held regarding applications for the restriction of speed limits in various important thoroughfares, including Hammersmith Broadway?

My decision has already been communicated to the parties to all the applications for the restriction of speed limits in the Metropolis in respect of which inquiries have been held.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there is at or near Cardiff some ninety acres of foreshore vested in the Board of Trade; whether the Cardiff Railway has recently been built, shutting off public access to this foreshore from the land side; whether the railway company are charging rents for rights of way to this land; and whether the Board propose to take any and, if so, what steps to protect the rights of the public to this land?

A considerable extent of foreshore at or near Cardiff is vested in the Crown and is under the management of the Board of Trade, but some of the foreshore which is nearest to the railway has been sold subject to public rights. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars as to the exact position of the foreshore to which he refers, and as to the means of access in respect of which rents are stated to be charged, I will make further inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in spite of the provisions in the Coal Mines (Minimum Wage) Bill that there should be separate district boards for South and West Yorkshire, he is aware that recognition has been given to the appointment of the same miners' representatives on both these Boards; whether this will involve the consequence that miners from another district will be called on to decide questions relating to wages and rules and conditions of working upon which they can have no full or adequate knowledge; whether he is aware that considerable loss and inconvenience has already been caused by the necessary delay to the operations of these Boards, consequent upon the same body of representatives being on both Boards; and whether, in view of the strong protests received from the employers both in South and West Yorkshire, he will take steps to secure separate and independent representation of both parties for each district on the two new Yorkshire District Boards?

The West Yorkshire Joint District Board under the Coal Mines (Minimum Wage) Act was appointed at a later date than the majority of boards owing to various circumstances which required the consideration of the Board of Trade. Amongst these was an objection taken by the employers to the composition of the men's side of the board. After careful consideration and having heard both parties, the Board of Trade were satisfied that the composition of the men's side of the Board was in accordance with the wishes of the miners of the West Yorkshire district, and they therefore did not see their way to interfere with the discretion of the men in the choice of their representatives. I have accordingly recognised the Joint District Board subject to any variation that the Board of Trade upon the recommendation of the independent chairman, might sanction with the object of securing that the Joint District Board is fairly and adequately representative of the workmen and employers in the district.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, on the occasion of the sinking of the Peninsular and Oriental steamer "Oceana" after collision with the "Pisagua" on 16th March last, the second boat which left the "Oceana" was in such a leaky condition that in spite of constant bailing it was only just kept afloat, and was on the point of sinking when its occupants were rescued by the Eastbourne lifeboat; and, seeing that these facts were established in evidence given in the Admiralty Court on the hearing of the action between the Peninsular and Oriental Company and the owners of the "Pisagua," whether he will take immediate steps to see that no passenger steamer leaves port without having had its boats previously inspected by an officer of the Board of Trade and certified by him to be seaworthy?

So far as I am aware the evidence in the Admiralty Court did not deal with this matter. I presume therefore that the hon. Member is referring to the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry into the circumstances attending the collision. When I receive the report of this Court of Inquiry I will consider what action, if any, it will be necessary for the Board of Trade to take with regard to the question raised. As I have already stated, the boats of passenger steamers are inspected before a passenger certificate is granted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company insert conditions on their passenger tickets exempting the company from all liability to passengers for loss caused by reason of negligence of their officers or servants or improper navigation of their vessels; whether he is aware that such exemption of liability causes serious hardship to passengers, and particularly so in such cases as the sinking of the "Oceana," which the Admiralty Court has recently held to be due entirely to the careless navigation of that vessel and the negligent conduct and improper seamanship of its officers; and whether he will take steps to have the law altered and contracts with passengers containing such exemptions made illegal?

I will consider the question raised by the hon. Member, but I would point out that very large issues are involved in any proposal to restrict the insertion of conditions in contracts for sea carriage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that the Board of Trade has had brought under its notice during the past twenty years the results of, besides legislative and other facts arising out of, the international gambling systems; whether he can state what steps the Government propose to take in the economic interests of the country to prevent any further national disasters caused by the international gambling operations in options, futures and warrants in non-existent quantities of foodstuffs, raw material and finance; and (2) whether he is aware1 that a corner has been engineered in wheat futures for May delivery, thereby forcing artificially dear grain prices all over the world; whether he is aware that the French Cabinet held a meeting at Rambouillet recently to discuss the causes and the remedial measures to be taken; and that in order to prevent a further slump in French Rentes the Government has adopted certain new rules of taxation; whether he is aware that the Russian Government has taken measures with a view of breaking down the present corners in metals; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made into these matters and lay the facts before the House?

The hon. Member has frequently directed attention to this subject by questions in this House, and at his instance Returns have been compiled giving information as to the legislation in force abroad respecting the matter. A Return in continuation of those previously issued is now in course of preparation; but, as my hon. Friend has frequently been informed, His Majesty's Government, as at present advised, see no practicable means of putting an end to any evils that may be connected with this class of opera- tions without undue interference with legitimate trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has Any official information showing that a very large contract has been entered into for supplies of American steel bars for the works at Swansea and in West Wales; and, if so, whether he can give the delivery price as compared with the British manufactured article?

I have no official information on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of the sums disbursed under Section 544, Sub-section (3), of the Merchant Shipping Act since 1894, and the present balance to the credit of the Mercantile Marine Fund?

The approximate expenditure under Section 544 (3) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, has been as follows: From 1st January, 1894, to 31st March, 1899, £200; from 1st April, 1899, to present date, £555. The Mercantile Marine Fund was, however, abolished by the Merchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act, 1898 (61 and 62 Viet, ch. 44), which came into force on 1st April, 1899, when the balance was transferred to the General Lighthouse Fund. Since that date the payments of the nature referred to have been made out of the Mercantile Marine Services Vote, Class II., Vote 9.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, on the score of maintaining administrative uniformity, there has been a marked transfer of authority and power of decision, especially during the past year, from the officials of the Dublin stores branch to the Birmingham and London offices; and whether, on the findings of the Hobhouse Committee, he will consider the advisability of reversing this policy?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the staff officer at the Birmingham store depôt is now officially regarded as the immediate superior officer of the staff of the Dublin stores branch and, as such, will certify for their increments, make recommendations for promotion purposes, and generally deal with all disciplinary questions that may arise at Dublin; if he will state whether there is any other case in the Post Office service where the officer officially recognised as the immediate superior officer of a staff is stationed several hundred miles away from them; and will he say what steps he proposes to take to secure that in promotion cases the staff officer at Birmingham shall not give undue weight to the claims of the Birmingham staff, with whom he is necessarily in close personal contact during nine or ten months of the year, to the detriment of the Dublin staff, with whom he will be in personal contact for only one or two brief periods in the course of the year?

It is only in some matters of detail that there has been transfer from Dublin to the staff officer who is stationed at Birmingham; and there is no growing tendency to transfer to England stores duties which have been, and are being, performed in Dublin. The work which has been transferred from London to Birmingham was so transferred because of the local situation of Birmingham, and Dublin would have been even less suitable for it than London. I do not consider that the steps which have been taken are at variance with the recommendations of the Hobhouse Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that during the past year there has been a steady transfer of authority and powers of decision from the responsible officers of the Dublin Stores Department to London and Birmingham, and that concurrently with this transfer there is a growing tendency for stores duties formerly performed in Ireland to be transferred to England and for the Dublin branch to be shut out, as far as possible, from new developments in stores work, and that when stores work has been decentralised from London to the provinces it has all gone to Birmingham and none to Dublin; and will he say if this policy, which is opposed to the recommendations of the Hobhouse Committee on decentralisation, has received his sanction?

It is the practice at all the stores depots—those in London as well as those at Birmingham, Dublin, and Edinburgh—for the staff officer to be regarded as the "immediate superior officer," and as such to certify for increments and make recommendations for promotion. In some cases in the engineering department the "immediate superior officer" for the purposes of increment, etc., is stationed a long distance away. The existing safeguards appear to me to be quite sufficient to prevent undue weight being given to the claims of the Birmingham staff.

asked the Postmaster-General if the five men recognised as performing the best class of work at Dublin includes those unestablished porters who have been performing third-class storemen's duties for several months past; and whether he will state how many of the Dublin men's claims for promotion were considered before it was decided to import English officials to Dublin?

The fact is as stated. All the eligible officers at Dublin were considered in making the selections.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is still satisfied that no injustice will be inflicted on the Dublin stores staff if they are deprived of the right of succession to the storemen's vacancies in Dublin, in view of the fact that if the Government of Ireland Bill becomes law the Irish staff will not be entitled to compensatory appointments in Great Britain while appointments in Dublin will meanwhile be given to officers serving in Great Britain?

Pending the passage into law of the Government of Ireland Bill the administration of the Post Office must proceed upon the existing lines.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether there is any other depot of the Stores Department where clothing, stationery, and engineering stores work are dealt with by an interchangeable staff; whether he is aware that each unestablished porter now performing third-class storeman's duties at Dublin has experience of each of these branches of work; what steps are taken to secure that the service of the depot shall not suffer if these men are displaced by English officials who are specialists in only one, or, at most, two branches of work; and was this circumstance taken into consideration when it was decided to refuse the appointments to the Irish staff?

The Dublin depot is the only one in which clothing, stationery, and engineering stores are dealt with by an interchangeable staff; and it is practically correct to say that each unestablished porter now performing the duties of a third class storeman at Dublin has experience of each of these classes of work. These circumstances were taken into consideration in making the recent promotions, and I am satisfied that the work of the depot will not suffer.

asked the Postmaster-General if the bicycles obtained under the Irish contract have given satisfaction; how their cost compares with the highest accepted English tender, including cost of carriage to Ireland; whether, in view of the fact that the Irish machines have only been in use a short time, he will state how their extra cost, including maintenance parts, can be determined to be 25s. 3d.; whether the ultimate cost depends entirely on the behaviour of the cycles when in actual use; and whether, if the Irish machines wear better and require fewer maintenance parts, they may be actually cheaper to the Department than the English cycles, even if the initial cost be somewhat higher?

The bicycles have given satisfaction. Their prices, compared with the highest paid in England—including cost of carriage to Ireland—are about 3s. lower for the bicycle alone, and about 24s. higher for bicycle and maintenance parts. The cost of maintenance parts is based on the known rates of consumption in England during past years in conjunction with the prices for the same quoted by the Irish firms. It is the case that machines which wear better and require less maintenance may in the end prove cheapest, and I am not yet in a position to say whether or not the Irish machines will wear better.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of words transmitted by the deferred press service since its inauguration five months ago, in order that it may be known to what extent, if any, the news service in the Empire has been increased by this non-urgent system, liable to nineteen hours' delay, from the United Kingdom to Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, monthly, respectively, the home- ward deferred press service from these countries, the ordinary press service outward and homeward, say for the past six months, as a comparison, and also the ordinary deferred message service in noncoded language for the use of the public for the same period in comparison with the ordinary full rate message service.

The North Atlantic cable companies as a whole do not possess statistics of their traffic in a form which would permit of the detailed comparison desired by the hon. Member being made. The following figures relate to traffic passing over the North Atlantic cables during the first three months of this year: Class. To United Kingdom. From United Kingdom. Total. Words. Words. Words. Press— Deferred* 99,302 156,103 255,405 Other† 497,832 655,929 1,153,761 Ordinary— Half Rate‡ 277,415 243,040 520,455 Cable Letters§ 441,988 235,021 677,009 1,197,464 Full Rate† 2,757,477 2,761,765 5,519,242 * Traffic exchanged with Australasia, Canada, Newfoundland and United States. † Traffic exehanged with Australasia, North, Central and South America and West Indies. ‡ Traffic exchanged with Australasia, Canada, Newfoundland, United States, West Indies and (for part of period) Argentina. § Traffic exchanged with Canada, Newfoundland and United States.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will submit to Parliament for consideration and ratification any change of method and the scale of rates which will be proposed respecting the telephone service?

As I have frequently stated, if the revised telephone rates to be fixed after the settlement of the purchase price of the National Telephone Company's system are not generally acceptable, they will be submitted to the consideration of a Select Committee of this House or some other representative body.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the advisability of extending many rural telephonic facilities to small towns and principal villages so that rural post offices should be connected with the telephonic system and should be a public telephone call office, the local postmaster being authorised to send telegrams by telephone, leaving the present telegraphic centres to deliver telegrams?

A large number of call offices have been opened at village post offices in recent years, and I hope to be able to open many more. Where there is a call office at a post office at which the establishment of a telegraph office is not justified, callers can as a rule dictate telegrams to a telegraph office on payment of the telephone fees in addition to the telegraph charges.

asked the Postmaster-General, if, in the revision of telephone rates which he has promised, he contemplates adhering to the rates charged by the National Telephone Company, Limited, as set forth in the Fourth Schedule of the Agreement, dated 2nd February, 1905, between the Postmaster-General and the National Telephone Company, which were approved by Parliament, and are generally acceptable to users and profitable to the company, viz., an unlimited or flat rate service as the principal one, with supplementary services to meet all needs?

The Schedule in question did not prescribe any actual rates, but only limits within which rates of different kinds were to be fixed, if offered by the National Telephone Company. The company ceased on the 1st January, 1907, to offer to new subscribers outside London any unlimited service or flat rate except for lines to private residences. The various rates offered recently by the company are still in force for the exchanges transferred to the Post Office, and it is those rates, as well as existing Post Office rates, which I have undertaken to revise as soon as practicable, after the determination of the amount of the purchase money to be paid to the company.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the Atcham Union, Shrewsbury, had made an agreement with the National Telephone Company, prior to the transfer of the company to the Government, under which the poor rate assessment was to be revised annually so as to be in accordance with the constantly increasing value of the company's under- taking, the Government will reconsider their decision not to increase their contribution in lieu of rates when the value of the telephone system increases?

I regret that I am unable to make an exception in the case of the Atcham Union to the general principle that the assessments fixed before the transfer of the company's undertaking shall neither be increased nor decreased.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can say, approximately, the average number of words in each telegram, excluding press telegrams, either last year or any previous year?

The average number of words in ordinary Inland telegrams according to the latest available information is fifteen.

asked the Postmaster-General if any official of the Irish Post Office is empowered to make contracts and, if so, to what amounts; and will he now authorise the secretary, Dublin, or some other official of the Irish Post Office, to make store contracts for Irish requirements up to certain specified limits?

I assume that the hon. Member refers solely to contracts for stores—not for works or services. Contracts for stores exceeding £5 in amount and required for use in any part of the United Kingdom are made in London; for amounts below the contracts are made locally. I do not propose to alter this arrangement.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that complaints have been made to the district postmaster by a resident in Upper Hornsey Rise, North, that the first and last deliveries of letters often take place at 8.50 a.m. and 9.50 p.m.; that the delay in the delivery of morning letters until after he has left home on business is a cause of much inconvenience; that he has been informed that the lateness of delivery is because his house is one of the last of the round, and although, since he made the complaint the district postmaster appears to have endeavoured to make the deliveries a trifle earlier, he has expressed inability to accelerate them further; and, having regard to the lateness of these hours for delivery of letters to residents in London, can he see his way to effect an improvement?

I am aware that complaints have been made to the district postmaster. There is no recent record of the first delivery having been made as late as 8.50 a.m. I am assured that, with the possible exception of the first delivery on Saturdays, the deliveries at the address in question are effected within the authorised times and that the circumstances do not warrant expense for the purpose of accelerating them. I will consider whether an improvement can be effected in the Saturday morning delivery.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been directed to the lack of postal facilities at Tinkiltagh, Portglenone, county Antrim; that the residents of that district have to travel two miles to post their letters in the village of Portglenone; and whether he can see his way to meet the requirements of the district by the erection of a pillar box at Tinkiltagh?

I am having inquiry made in the matter, and I will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the increase in Great Britain in recent years of swine fever, anthrax, and foot-and-mouth disease, the lack of exact scientific knowledge as to the origin, perpetuation, and transmission of these diseases, and the consequent difficulty, if not impossibility, of effective and economic administration of the Contagious Diseases of Animals Acts, he will seek to obtain from the Treasury a substantial sum of public money in order to prosecute much-needed research into the above diseases?

Scientific investigations of anthrax and swine fever are at present being actively conducted, and the Scientific Commission for the study of foot-and-mouth disease in India will leave England shortly. If further funds are required for this work I shall ask the Treasury to give the Board the necessary assistance.

asked the Attorney-General what judges in the King's Bench Division have sat on Saturdays in London, and on what Saturdays since the Prime Minister promised last Session that such a course would be taken?

The subjoined table shows the number of Saturday sittings in London of the judges in the King's Bench Division from Michaelmas, 1910, to Hilary, 1912. The Lord Chief Justice and other judges who sit in the Court of Criminal Appeal do not sit on Saturdays but are engaged in the work of the Court. The judges taking the commercial list and the judges presiding in the Railway Commission do not sit on Saturdays but devote extra time to the work during the week. In further answer I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by me to his question on the 22nd of April last.

Summary of Saturday Sittings of Judges in the King's Bench Division from Michaelmas, 1910, to Hilary, 1912:— Saturdays out of Fifty-Seven Saturdays. Lord Chief Justice 2 Grantham, Justice 8 Lawrance, Justice 10 Ridley, Justice 15 Darling, Justice 29 Channell, Justice 20 Phillimore, Justice 44 Bucknill, Justice 26 Bray, Justice 12 A. T. Lawrence, Justice 7 Pickford, Justice 16 Lord Coleridge, Justice 16 Hamilton, Justice 10 Scrutton, Justice 8 Bankes, Justice 17 Avory, Justice 6 Horridge, Justice 20 Lush, Justice 17

asked the Lord Advocate if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there have been inquiries made into the affairs of the City of Glasgow Friendly Society on five separate occasions and irregularities reported four times; and if, in view of these facts, he will undertake to direct a prosecution at the public expense?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to him on 2nd November, 1911. Since that date my attention has not been drawn to the affairs of the Society; but I shall make inquiry into the matters referred to in the question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the sentences recently passed on some youths at the Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court; whether he is aware that for the offence of stealing trees four of the youths, who were under sixteen years of age, were sentenced to receive a birching, and the other two, who were just over sixteen years of age, were sentenced to seven days' imprisonment; and whether, if it is not too late, he will remit the sentences of birching and release the two imprisoned lads?

My attention was drawn to the imprisonment sentences on 13th May. After communicating with the learned Sheriff, I felt justified in advising their remission, and the youths were discharged on 14th May. The other sentences had already been carried out.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if, under the new teachers' superannuation scheme, teachers will have an opportunity of checking the amount of their salary returned by the School Board for purposes of superannuation and yearly payments?

Under Rule 8 Sub-section 4 of the Superannuation Rules (Scotland) every teacher is entitled to a copy of the Department's receipt for his contribution to the Superannuation Fund. As the teacher's contribution is 4 per cent, of the salary actually paid to him, this receipt provides a sufficient check as to the amount of salary returned by the School Board.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he has yet decided to compare the Board of Trade standards with those preserved in the House of Commons; and, if so, when the comparison, will be made?

It is hoped to arrange for an examination of the standard weights and measures in the House of Commons shortly after the Whitsuntide recess.