asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the sixty candidates from the Customs and Excise service interviewed by the Committee of Selection for positions under the National Insurance Act were selected by a Customs and Excise department committee; if so, will he state how many members of that committee belonged to the Excise and how many to the Customs service before the amalgamation; whether the senior official on the committee belonged to the Customs or Excise before the amalgamation; how many of the sixty candidates interviewed belonged to the Customs branch and how many to the Excise branch of the amalgamated service; whether he is aware that dissatisfaction has been created in the Customs branch by the result of the selection; and if he is aware that there is in the Customs service a belief that Excise candidates were unduly favoured and that some of the best qualified Customs candidates were not sent to the Insurance Commission to be interviewed?

The Board of Customs and Excise, in compliance with the wishes of the Insurance Commissioners, forwarded a list of those members of the Customs and Excise Department whom, they considered best qualified for appointment to posts on the outdoor staff of the Commissioners. The responsibility for that list rested with the Board. I understand that of the sixty-three men invited to be interviewed by the Selection Committee appointed by the Insurance Commission and the Civil Service Commission twenty-four belonged to the former Customs branch of the amalgamated service and thirty-four to the former Excise branch, but they did not all accept the invitation. As regards the last part of the question, I can only say that if there is such a belief as the hon. Member suggests it is entirely without foundation.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the importance of the question to the men concerned, he is yet in a position to reply to a letter addressed to him on 6th March, 1912, by the Association of Civil Service Assistant Clerks (New Class)?

It is not the practice of the Treasury to communicate direct with an association of clerks respecting the conditions of service obtaining in a particular Department.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the extension of the lists of successful candidates at the last examination for assistants of Customs and Excise and for clerks of the second division; whether, in view of the fact that several hundreds of assistant clerks have at previous examinations taken far higher positions than these candidates now declared successful, he is taking any steps to prevent the appointment of the latter as assistants of Customs and Excise and to the second division of the Civil Service, with maximum salaries of £300 per annum; and whether he will consider the advisability of taking the present opportunity to promote some of the 1,800 assistant clerks who are eligible by length of service, and hundreds of whom have at previous examinations proved themselves academically superior to the present candidates, and who are in a state of discontent at their lack of prospects and their present rate of salary?

I am aware of the extension of the lists of successful candidates referred to by the hon. Member. No candidate has been appointed who was not in the opinion of the Civil Service Commissioners duly qualified for the appointment for which he had offered himself in open competition. With regard to the latter part of the question, while the Treasury are always willing to consider such recommendations for the promotion of assistant clerks as heads of Departments feel justified in making, I would remind the hon. Member that such promotions require, under paragraph 45 of the Order in Council of 10th January, 1910, to be made on grounds of special merit in each particular case.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will advise the Board to furnish a copy of the 25-inch Ordnance Survey maps of county Longford to the county council for the use of the members of the council?

The 25-inch Ordnance Survey maps of county Longford have not yet been published. Any application for presentation copies of the maps should be addressed to the Treasury.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he can state the extent to which investigations as to the mineral resources of county Clare have been carried out; and whether the reports show that it is possible to obtain coal or any mineral product in payable quantities in county Clare?

The Geological Survey of Ireland have surveyed the county Clare, and the maps and memoirs compiled by this survey contain information regarding the occurrence of minerals in the county. These memoirs indicate that coal occurs in thin seams in some portions of the county. The Department's economic geologist will, when time permits, make a further investigation with a view to ascertaining whether coal is likely to be found in payable quantities. Some years ago the Department had an inquiry made regarding the occurrence of lead in different parts of Clare, where some mines had previously been worked. Their expert reported that a large expenditure of money would be necessary to reopen the abandoned shafts, etc., with the object of ascertaining whether the deposits would be worthy of exploitation.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether the attention of the Fisheries Branch has been called to the damage alleged to be done to the herring fishery in county Donegal by the destruction of spawning fish during the first four months of the year, and by the practice of shooting nets before sundown; and whether it is intended to take any steps in the matter?

The Department are not prepared to take any steps to prevent the capture of spawning herrings. The practice of taking such fish by the fishermen of the United Kingdom has gone on from time immemorial. Many of the best herring fishings are for "full herrings"—that is, for herrings taken just before or during spawning time. It is very difficult in some places to stop the practice of shooting herring drift nets before sundown. Off parts of the Donegal coast the only announcement of sunset is the hauling down of the flag at the coastguard stations. In failing light and at a distance from the station it is often practically impossible to ascertain whether the flag has been hauled down or not. A suggestion was made by the Department that the time of sunset might be more clearly notified to certain fishermen by the firing of a rocket gun from Mulroy and Sheephaven stations; but this suggestion it was not found possible to adopt. The Department caused a notice to be distributed cautioning fishermen against a breach of the law in regard to the time before which herring drift nets should not be set; and legal proceedings will be instituted in any case in which the Department are furnished with particulars sufficient to justify such action. The commanders of the patrol vessels are also aware of the law, and will see that it is enforced whenever they have the opportunity of doing so.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the cause of the delay in completing the purchase of the Reginald Crawford estate, county Cavan, seeing that terms were agreed upon over six years ago?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the vendor to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and is on the principal register of direct sales (all cash). It will be dealt with in order of priority, and the Estates Commissioners anticipate that it will be reached in its turn next year.

asked the Chief Secretary how many applications for sub-division of purchased holdings have been received for the last five years by the Irish Land Commission; how many of these applications have been granted; will he state in the cases where applications were refused the several grounds of said refusal; and in how many cases did the Commissioners refuse to consent to subdivision?

In the five years ended 30th June, 1,657 applications for the consent of the Land Commission to the subdivisions of purchased holdings were received; in 1,467 cases consent was given, and in the remaining 190 cases consent was refused. It is within the statutory discretion of the Commissioners to give or withhold their consent, and they do not consider it desirable to publish the grounds upon which the several applications were refused. The Commissioners do not usually withhold their consent unless the proposed sub-division would result in the creation of uneconomic holdings or the impairment of the security for the advance.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have any representatives in county Cavan who advise them as to lands obtainable for reinstating evicted tenants; is he aware that in the present year several farms of land in county Cavan could have been acquired for evicted tenants and enlarging uneconomical holdings; and will he say whether the Estates Commissioners have been so informed, and what, if any, steps they took?

The Estates Commissioners make such inquiries as they may consider necessary as regards lands which they may require for the purposes of the Evicted Tenants Act, and the relief of congestion on estates the subject of proceedings for sale before them. The Commissioners cannot identify the farms alluded to in the question from the particulars given by the hon. Member.

asked why the Estates Commissioners failed to fence the portion of land in Kiltegan apportioned to Hugh Byrne, when all the other plots, save one, were fenced by that body; and why has an exception been made in Byrne's case?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the plot allotted to Hugh Byrne is contiguous to that allotted to the guardians of Baltinglass Union for a dispensary residence, and the Commissioners are under no obligation to fence either plot. They have, in the exercise of their discretion, erected fences in the case of some allotments made to small farmers, making the cost repayable as part of the purchase money, but they are not prepared to make a loan to Byrne for the purpose. It is open to the guardians to protect themselves by fencing their own plot.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the urban councils of Galway, Athlone, Longford, and Nenagh have definitely decided to have nothing to do with the Shops Act, and have refused to appoint any officers to secure its effective administration; and whether he will consider the desirability of obtaining power by legislation, if necessary, to carry out the Act where local authorities neglect to do so?

I am informed that the urban councils mentioned have, so far, failed to carry out the duties imposed on them by the Shops Act, 1912; but that it is not anticipated that this inaction will be of long duration in the cases of some at least of these councils. The question of taking steps to compel local authorities to enforce the Act is at present engaging the attention of the Law Officers of the Crown.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, if the Government of Ireland Bill becames law, the Irish Parliament will have power to repeal or alter the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act and the Railway Clauses Acts?

Yes, Sir; so far as they relate to matters exclusively Irish.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that in connection with the proposed tubercular dispensary system the medical officers to be appointed are required to have the diploma of public health, and that many of the present dispensary medical officers, although performing the duties of medical officers of health, do not possess this diploma and cannot obtain it except upon conditions which in many cases are impracticable; and if, in these circumstances, he will endeavour to arrange that dispensary medical officers may be eligible for appointment as county tubercular officers, subject, in the absence of the diploma of health or a bacteriological certificate, to the successful candidates satisfying the Irish Local Govenment Board by examination as to their fitness for the position?

It is not proposed that the medical officers to be appointed in Ireland in connection with the dispensary system referred to in the question shall be required to have a diploma of public health.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many ships upon the active list, and of what classes respectively, were in dockyards on Tuesday, 9th July, 1912, and how many officers and men, respectively, were on board of them; and how many officers and men, respectively, had been withdrawn from them for service upon other ships in the review at Spithead?

The total number of ships in commission that were in dock- yard hands on Tuesday, the 9th instant, was thirty-seven, made up of seven battleships, six first-class cruisers, three second-class cruisers, two torpedo gunboats, eight destroyers, five torpedo boats, and six submarines. The answer to the last part of the question is six officers and 570 men. With the exception of one officer, none of them were withdrawn from Third Fleet ships, but only from the three gunnery training tenders that carry special complements. In addition, it is probable that a few warrant officers were also withdrawn, but this would be arranged locally, and there is no information on this point at the Admiralty.

asked the Secretary for War whether he is now in a position to give the result of the inquiry into the alleged violation of the Fair-Wages Clause by Messrs. Albrecht and Albrecht and Messrs. R. B. Brown, of Leeds?

The reply is in the negative. The inquiry is still proceeding.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if his attention has been called to the fact that the firm of Leslie and Company, of Chelsea, who are carrying out work for the Government, are paying sawyers and wood-working machinists in their employ from 4s. to 10s. per week less than the rate of wages current in the district; and whether he will take steps to compel this firm to comply with the provisions of the Fair-Wages Resolution?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The rates of wages paid by Messrs. Leslie to sawyers and wood-working machinists have been ascertained, and an invetigation is proceeding in regard to the rates generally accepted for these trades in the London district. Any breach of the provisions of the Fair-Wages Resolution which may be discovered will be immediately dealt with.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to give the decision respecting the conditions governing leave off duty on Saturdays as affecting the labourers employed in the Army Ordnance Department?

The question is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary for War whether he can now give the decision of the Department respecting the wages of the labourers employed in the Army Ordnance depôts in His Majesty's Gun Wharf and Tipnor Magazine, Portsmouth.

The reply is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the average prices and the maximum prices usually paid by the military authorities in time of peace for remounts for Cavalry and for light and heavy draught horses, respectively; whether, in buying horses for military purposes on mobilisation, it is the practice of the War Office to issue instructions to the persons employed by them to buy horses as to the average prices and the maximum prices to be paid for such horses; whether such average or maximum prices are higher than the prices usually paid for the same class of horse in time of peace; whether the census of horses recently compiled by remount officers contains any statement as to the market value of the horses included in the census or the prices at which it is anticipated that these horses can be acquired on mobilisation; and, if not, what steps have been taken or will be taken to ensure that horses will not be taken by the military authorities on mobilisation whose market values are largely in excess of the prices which the military authorities usually pay?

The average price usually paid for remounts for Cavalry is £40, and for light draught horses £42, and for heavy draught horses £55. There is no maximum price, as it is within the competence of the purchasing officer to vary individual prices according to market, so long as the average is not exceeded. Instructions as to prices are issued. The prices paid depend upon the state of the market at the time. The census contained no information as to prices. As regards mobilisation, instructions will be issued that horses of a greatly superior class to that usually employed for military purposes are not to be bought so long as other horses are forthcoming.

asked the Secretary for War whether he is aware that William P. Hallissey, late driver in the 93rd Battery, Royal Field Artillery, was discharged on the 18th April, 1912, after having met with an accident on duty whereby his right arm was injured; whether this injury was the cause of his discharge; and, if not, why he was discharged; and whether, seeing that Hallissey has since sent forward a medical certificate showing that he is unfit for manual labour owing to the accident referred to, whereby he is incapacited from working at his former trade of smith's helper, he will explain why, under these circumstances, he has been refused a pension?

On W. Hallissey's discharge on 18th April last he was certified to be medically fit for service. The reason for his discharge was unconnected with the injury which he received in March, 1911; but in view of the statement that this injury has incapacitated him from following his trade in civil life, I will consult the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital and ask them to give the case further consideration.

asked the Secretary for War whether he is aware that in January, 1911, the Regulations wore so amended as to forbid the vaccination and revaccination of the wives of soldiers of the British Army in India without their own consent; whether a similar regulation is in operation in the case of the wives of soldiers serving in the British Isles; and whether a similar regulation applies to the children of soldiers, unless the sanction of their fathers has been obtained?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. In reference to the last part of the question as regards India, the reply is in the affirmative and as regards the British Isles in the negative. Families of soldiers of the British Army must have been vaccinated before embarkation.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in considering the disposal of the casts in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the desirability of placing a selection of them in the South Court of the Museum amongst corresponding original works will be kept in view?

The South Court of the Museum is devoted to the collections of the Department of Metalwork, and in the consideration of the questions regarding the disposal of casts, to which reference was made in the answer to the hon. Member's question of the 5th July last, no alteration in the arrangement of those collections is at present involved.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, besides placing the designs for various materials in proximity to the objects of cognate material in the galleries of the Victoria and Albert Museum, he will now cause the remaining portion not go used to be transferred to the departmental students' rooms?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of a boy, called Percy Hanson, now confined in the industrial school at Barnsley Court; for how long has he been sentenced; whether, since he has been there, his fingers have been severely injured in the course of his work; and whether, under all the circumstances, he can see his way to order his release?

I have had under consideration the case of Percy Hanson, who was committed to the Macclesfield Industrial School on 2nd November last, until the age of Sixteen (that is, until 25th November, 1913). By an unfortunate accident in a workshop, the boy lost the end of the third finger of the left hand, and a small portion of the tip of the second finger. I think that in all the circumstances, it is in Hanson's best interests that he should remain in the school for the present, and I therefore do not propose to interfere with the discretion of the managers in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary if he can give the names of the members of the Departmental Committee to consider the question of cow-pox being a scheduled disease under the Factory Acts, 1901–7; and what are the terms of reference?

The names of the members of the Committee and the terms of reference were published in newspapers on the 18th April last. I will send the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a beginning has been made in the direction of conscription in New Zealand and Australia, in conformity with the wishes of the National Service League?

Information in regard to the progress made in administering the laws for compulsory training in Australia and New Zealand is given on page 17 of Cd. 6091.

also asked the Secretary for the Colonies how many young men in New Zealand and Australia are sufferings imprisonment, are being compelled to wear convict garb, and have been deprived of their civil rights to vote for the rest of their lives, solely for refusing to undergo compulsory military training?

I have no information as to the number of men in Australia and New Zealand who have been punished for refusing to undergo compulsory military training.

asked whether an understanding has been arrived at between Russia and Japan regarding spheres of influence in Manchuria and Mongolia; if so, the approximate boundaries of each sphere; and whether His Majesty's Government is satisfied that British trade in Manchuria and Mongolia will not be adversely affected?

I have nothing to add on the first two questions to the reply given to the hon. Member for Blackburn. As to the third question, I have no reason to suppose that any agreement or understanding has been made or is contemplated that would adversely affect the principle of the "open door" for British commerce in Manchuria and Mongolia. I would call attention to Article 2 of the Convention between Japan and Russia signed 30th July, 1907 (published in State Papers, Volume 101, page 462), by which the two Governments recognise the independence and territorial integrity of China and the principle of equal opportunity there for the commerce and industry of all countries, and undertake to maintain the status quo and the observance of the above principle by all the pacific means at their disposal. I would also refer to the correspondence which took place in 1899–1900, published in China, No. 2, 1900.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to give the House regarding the reported attack on and blockade of the Dardanelles?

There has been no blockade of the Straits. As to the attack on the Straits, I can only refer to the official communications to the Press by the Turkish and Italian Governments, who alone are cognisant of the facts. According to our latest information, the channel for merchant vessels has not been closed. I hope that such a step will not be made necessary.

asked the Prime Minister whether lie has yet arranged for an opportunity for the discussion of the Vote for the payment of Members of this House?

I fear it, has not been found possible to arrange for an opportunity.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give directions that the Report of the Royal Irish Constabulary on the recent disturbances at Kilrea shall be communicated to the House of Commons?

In the particular circumstances of this case an exception will be made to the general rule that such communications are to be treated as confidential documents, and the police report will be published with to-night's Votes.

asked the President of the Local Government Board the numbers of male persons in England and Wales who exceed the age of twenty-one, twenty-five, and thirty years, respectively?

The following is an estimate of the numbers of males living in England and Wales who exceed the age of twenty-one, twenty-live, and thirty years, respectively, at the middle of the year 1912, based upon the age constitution of the male population in 1901:—

asked (1) the numbers of male persons and of female persons in England and Wales who stated their age to be twenty-one years at the last Census; (2)the number of male persons and of female persons in England and Wales who returned their age as twenty-five years at the last Census?

These figures cannot yet be given as the tabulation will not be complete for a few months yet.

asked the Secretary for Scotland (1) the numbers of male persons and of female persons in Scotland who exceed the age of twenty-one, twenty-five, and thirty years, respectively; (2) the numbers of male persons and of female persons in Scotland who stated their age to be twenty-one years at the last Census; and (3)the numbers of male persons and of female persons in Scotland who returned their age as twenty-five years at the last Census?

The tabulation of the ages of the population will be completed about three months hence. At present the ages of nearly three and a half millions—i.e., about three-quarters of the total population—are tabulated, and assuming that the age distribution of the remaining one and a quarter millions is the same as that of the three and a half millions tabulated, the estimated numbers at ages asked for are as follows:—

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the numbers of male persons in Ireland who exceed the age of twenty-one, twenty-five, and thirty years, respectively?

The estimated number of males in Ireland in the middle of the year 1912 aged twenty-one years and upwards, twenty-five years and upwards, thirty years and upwards, are 1,214,002, 1,051,956, and 878,536, respectively. These figures are based on the age distribution of the Census of 1901.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) the numbers of male persons and of female persons in Ireland who stated their age to be twenty-one years at the last Census; (2) the numbers of male persons and of female persons in Ireland who returned their age as twenty-five years at the last Census?

The information required in these two questions is not yet available.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can give a date for the publication of the Report of the Census (1911) in England and Wales?

The first and second of the series of population volumes giving figures for all administrative and Poor Law, or registration areas are now in the press, and will be on sale during this week. Further volumes of population statistics giving figures for Parliamentary and ecclesiastical areas, and a series of volumes of social statistics showing the ages, occupations, birthplaces, etc., of the population will be issued in due course, but it is not possible at present to state the approximate dates of publication.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the total number of declarations of conscientious objection to vaccination made in the years 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, and 1911, and the percentages of these declarations to the births.

The total number of certificates or declarations of conscientious objection to vaccination received by Vaccination Officers during the calendar years 1907 to 1911, inclusive, and the percentages of such objections to births registered during those years, were as follows, namely:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the late auditors of the Law Guarantee Trust and Accident Society, Limited, in liquidation, had paid over to the liquidators of that company the sum of £20,000 by way of settlement of any claim which the company might have against their firm for negligence in the performance of their duties; whether he is aware that the firm of auditors had effected a policy of insurance to cover any irregularities in the performance of their duties under the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908; and whether the Government contemplate any legislation which will make it a misdemeanour for any person upon whom certain duties devolve under the Act from laying wagers by way of policies of insurance or otherwise with any insurance company as to whether such persons will or will not be guilty of a breach of the duties cast upon them by the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, or any other statute?

I have read a report in the Press that a claim made by the liquidators of the Law Guarantee Trust and Accident Society, Limited, against the late auditors has been compromised by the payment of £20,000, and that the auditors were to some extent insured against such claims. The Government do not at present contemplate introducing legislation of the character suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the allegations against the management of the United Malaysian Rubber Company, and to the fact that 40 per cent, of the British shareholders desire a Board of Trade inquiry; and whether, under these circumstances, the Board has any power to order such an inquiry?

The only power of the Board of Trade to direct an investigation into the affairs of a company which is not in liqiudation, is that conferred upon them by Section 109 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, under which they may appoint an inspector to investigate the affairs of a company on the application of members holding not less than one-tenth of the shares issued. No such application has been made to the Board in this case, and consequently their jurisdiction to appoint an inspector has not arisen.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture how it is that at Bolton cows can be moved across the highway for the purpose of being milked, whilst at Egerton, only a very short distance from Bolton, they cannot be so moved?

The position with regard to the movement of animals both at Bolton and Egerton is identical. Some misunderstanding on the subject appears, however, to have arisen in the case of Egerton on the part of one of the officers of the local authority, with whom I am in communication with a view to prevent any further contravention of the Orders of the Board.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture how many outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease occurred in Great Britain during the ten years previous to the 27th June last; and whether the origin of those outbreaks traced?

One outbreak occurred in 1902, three in 1908, two in 1910, and nineteen last year. One outbreak, namely, the one at Penrith, occurred prior to the date named. As regards the source of these outbreaks, perhaps the hon. Member will allow me to refer him to the annual Reports presented to Parliament and to the Report of the recent Departmental Committee [Cd. 6222], which contain full information as to the inquiries made and their results in each case.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the large quantity of registered manuscript that went down with the "Titanic"; and whether the senders are to receive any indemnity?

The mails lost in the "Titanic" included a large number of registered packets. The question whether indemnities are payable to the senders in respect of these packets cannot be decided until the report of the recent inquiry is issued.