asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that two rural postmen above the age of twenty-one are employed at Alston, Cumberland, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the weekly wage of 9s. and 8s. 6d., and are having 4d. deducted from their wages under the National Insurance Act; and does he propose to take action in the matter?

I am making inquiries and will acquaint the hon. Member with the result.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what institutions have so far been approved by the responsible authorities in Ireland for the reception of persons suffering from tuberculosis and entitled to treatment therein under the provisions of the National Insurance Act?

The following institutions have been approved by the Local Government Board for Ireland:—Sanatorium at Heatherside, established by the Cork Joint Hospital Board; sanatorium at Crooksling, established by the Dublin Joint Hospital Board; the Royal National Hospital for Consumptives at Newcastle, county Wicklow; and the Foster Green Sanatorium at Newtownbreda, county Down.

asked the amount which the county of Cavan is entitled to receive under the National Insurance Act from the Grant for the erection of sanatoria, etc.?

If the whole of the Irish share of the Grant were distributed between county areas in proportion to population the share of the county of Cavan would be £3,014. I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for North Belfast on 24th July.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Departmental Committee on Tuberculosis recommended that the schemes to be organised by county councils should be so framed as to secure the co-operation of the sanitary authorities, para- graph 35, that special regard should be given to securing the co-operation of the working practitioners in the working of the scheme, paragraph 38, and assumed that the formulation of a county scheme would rest with the county medical officer of health, paragraph 38; is he aware that there are no such officers of health in Ireland; can he say whether the county medical committee may be regarded as an equivalent to such officer; is he aware that the Local Government Board for Ireland has issued to the county councils of Ireland a scheme or schemes ignoring those recommendations, and intimating that no money would be provided out of the insurance fund for any other schemes than their own; and can he say whether the claim of a county to a share in the tuberculosis Grant is dependent upon its adopting the scheme of the Local Government Board?

The facts generally are as stated in the first portion of the question, but it may be observed that paragraphs 35 to 38 of the Report of the Departmental Committee relate to England and Wales and not to Ireland, and that the Committee clearly recognised that the recommendations referred to in the question either would not be applicable to Ireland or would require considerable modification before being applied, having regard to the special circumstances of this country and to the absence of county medical officers of health. Copies of the Report were furnished by the Local Government Board to all county authorities, and the services of the Board's medical inspectors were placed at the disposal of the councils, and have been generally used. The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in regard to the two last paragraphs of his question. The Local Government Board are following the general lines suggested by the Departmental Committee, and have not formulated any scheme of their own for acceptance by the county councils. The Board are prepared to make contributions from the sanatorium Grant for any county scheme which makes adequate provision for the treatment of tuberculosis.

asked the Secretary for War whether he is aware that the name of the Royal Oak Benefit Society (No. 141) has been omitted from the list of approved societies published by the Army Council as admitting soldiers, although that society has signified its willingness to admit men serving in the Army; and whether he will arrange for this omission to be immediately rectified?

No reply has been received from the Royal Oak Benefit Society to a letter of the 8th July asking whether they would admit soldiers as members as freely as civilians. Inclusion of their name in the list awaits their reply to this letter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, having regard to the fact that, out of £656,894 of dividends on Guaranteed Two and Three-quarter per Cent. Irish Land Stock payable on 1st July last, £371,359 was exempt from Income Tax, to what public Departments or what persons the sum thus exempt was payable; what amount thereof was payable to each such Department or person; and why, and under what Sections of what Acts, each such amount was exempt from Income Tax?

The dividends, amounting in round figures to £371,000, which were exempted from Income Tax consist of:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state when the new pension scheme for national teachers will come into force; and will teachers who retire and come out on pension on 1st August or afterwards be entitled to the benefits which will accrue from this scheme or, if not, when will they become entitled to its benefits?

I will refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for North Monaghan on 25th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it is that public Departments receive dividends from public stocks without paying Income Tax thereon; and, inasmuch as such Departments only receive and expend public moneys, will he consider whether, in order to avoid paying out of one public pocket into another, those Departments should be debarred from receiving the dividends on public stocks as well as from paying the income Tax thereon?

Such public Departments as receive dividends free of Income Tax are exempted by Statute. The suggestion in the second part of the question is inaccurate, as the greater part of the holdings is held in trust, e.g., for depositors in Post Office and other savings banks, etc., and cannot be regarded as public moneys.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the basis upon which the surveyor of taxes at Stroud or the Commissioners of Taxes at Cirencester estimated the duties payable in 1911 on income derived by the Rev. J. Priestley Foster, J.P., of Cirencester, from foreign possessions?

The additional Commisioners of Income Tax for the Division of Cirencester made the assessment in question under their statutory powers in the absence of a return by Mr. Foster. I may add that the local Commissioners subsequently consented to discharge the assessment on a return being made to the Special Commissioners.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how much of the following Grants have been repaid, with particulars in each case, namely. 1899, Gold Coast, £29,441; 1900–01, Gold Coast, £200,000; 1901, Gold Coast, £200,000; 1901, Loan to Wuchang Viceroy, £75,000; 1910–11, Uganda Railway Extension, £120,000; 1911–12, £60,000; 1911, Baro-Kano Railway, Bauchi Extension (Northern Nigeria), £10,000 and £140,000; 1901, £3,000,000, and 1902, £3,000,000, to the Transvaal and Orange River Colony; and 1877, £35,000, in aid of Fiji revenues?

The particulars are as follows:—

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners caused any special inspection to be made of the holding of Timothy Crawley on the Wallis-Adams estate, near Millstreet, county Cork; whether a purchase price was put upon the farm as a result of this inspection; if so, what was the amount and was the figure communicated to the tenant; and whether the holdings have been yet vested in the tenants?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the vendor to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, at prices agreed on between the parties. The holdings have not yet been vested in the purchasing tenants. Craw-

asked if any steps have recently been taken to acquire the untenanted lands on the Smith estate, at Ballymanty, Bruff, county Limerick; and, if so, with what result?

The Estates Commissioners are informed that the owner is not willing to negotiate for the sale of theselands to them under the voluntary provisions of the Land Purchase Acts. The question of acquiring the lands compulsorily has not yet been considered by the Commissioners.

asked if the unteuanted land on the Miss Croker and Lady Dwyer estate at Ballybricken, county Limerick, and at Kyle, county Limerick, has been purchased; is there fifteen acres Irish at Kyle, Bruff, among the lands purchased; if so, will steps be taken to see that these lands will not be handed over to the present occupier, as he has the lands only from year to year; and, in view of the representations which from time to time have been made by the local public bodies, including the county council, the rural council, the United Irish League executive, and the labour executive, with regard to the handing over of those fifteen acres to the evicted tenant, John Raleigh, will their request be acceded to, and prevent any outbreak of trouble which will take place should any other person come by those lands?

This estate is being sold direct to the tenants by the vendors, who have included in the proceedings for sale some twenty-six acres of untenanted land on the townland of Kyle, which they offer with other untenanted land for sale to the Estates Commissioners. This estate has not yet been reached in order of priority, and the Commissioners are not in a position to make any allotment of the land until acquired.

asked if the Estates Commissioners will communicate with the representatives of the late Mr. Thomas Gubbins, of Dunkeille, Cork, with a view to the purchase of the untenanted land at Bottonistown, Knockaney, county Limerick, for distribution among the small holders and labourers in the district?

The Estates Commissioners instituted proceedings for the compulsory acquisition of some 350 acres of the lands of Bottomstown, on the estate of J. H. Gubbins, county Limerick, under the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and the owner filed objections under the Act, on consideration of which the Commissioners did not proceed further in the matter. If the owner wishes to sell the lands to the Commissioners under the voluntary provisions of the Land Purchase Acts he should institute proceedings for sale in the prescribed manner.

asked when the purchase, agreements were lodged in the estate of Colonel John M. Low, county Limerick, Record No. 3865; has the owner applied for stock or cash; is there any dispute as to title, etc.; what is the cause of delay in having vesting orders issued; and, in view of the fact that estates in the same neighbourhood which were purchased at a later date than the above-mentioned have been dealt with, will steps be taken to carry out the agreements entered into and thus give the tenants the same benefit as that afforded to their neighbours?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the vendor to the tenants. The agreements signed by the tenants for the purchase of their holdings were lodged with the Com- missioners in May, 1906. The estate is on the principal register of direct sales (all cash) and will be dealt with in order of priority. The Estates Commissioners anticipate that it will be reached in its turn during the financial year beginning 1st April next.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board has made an offer to Mr. T. H. B. Ruttledge, Bloomfield, Hollymount, county Mayo, for the sale of his Barbersfort estate, near Tuam, county Galway; and, if so, what has been the result of the negotiations?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet made an offer for this estate.

asked what area of untenanted land the Estates Commissioners have purchased, or arranged to purchase, in county Cavan; who are the owners; what are the prices paid; and the number of acres purchased from each owner?

Up to the 31st March the Estates Commissioners acquired some 2,680 acres of untenanted land in the county Cavan and negotiations are pending for the purchose of a further area of some 475 acres. Particulars of the lands purchased are given when resold in the Monthly Returns presented to Parliament, and it would be contrary to the Commissioners' practice to give the particulars asked for in regard to lands which are still the subject of negotiation.

asked the Chief Secretary whether it is intended to appoint Mr. Florence O' Sullivan, of Farranfore, county Kerry, to be a justice of the peace for the county of Kerry; whether this is the same gentleman who, when he was an ex-officio justice of the peace by reason of his position as chairman of the Kil-larney Rural District Council, refused, at the Castleisland Petty Sessions, to return for trial fifteen men charged with unlawful assembly and assaults on the police, the sheriff, and his bailiffs, by throwing boiling tar and lime into their eyes when these officers were executing at Kilmurry a writ of possession from His Majesty's High Court of Justice; and, if so, in view of the fact that Mr. Florence O'Sullivan's refusal to take action on this occasion prevented the defendants from being tried, will he explain why he now proposes this agentleman for appointment as a justice of the peace?

The Lord Chancellor informs me that the name of Mr. Florence O'Sullivan has been submitted as a candidate for the county Kerry magistracy, but that he has not yet made a decision in the matter. I understand that Mr. O'Sullivan, when formerly an ex officio magistrate, did participate in the hearing of the charges referred to. I personally have had nothing whatever to do with the proposal that this gentleman should be appointed to the commission of the peace.

asked on what grounds an old age pension has been refused to Mrs. Norah O'Neill, Killelan, Caherciveen, in view of the fact that she is seventy-five years of age?

Mrs. Norah O'Neill's claim for an old age pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal on the grounds that her means as calculated under the. Acts were in excess of the statutory limit.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will cause further inquiry to be made into the claim of Francis Farrelly, 81, Bridge Street, Dundalk, for an old age pension, having regard to the fact that the Census Return of 1841 goes to prove that his father and mother were married in 1838, and that the name of his younger brother John is to be found in the Census Return of 1841; and whether he is aware that the local pension committee have carefully inquired into this case, and have passed it unanimously on four different occasions?

The only child recorded in the claimant's family in the 1841 Census Return is John, and the Local Government Board were not satisfied that the claimant Francis was older than him. Before deciding the case, the Board caused a special seach to be made throughout the records of the civil parish of Castlerahan in the 1851 Census Return, but the claimant's name was not recorded. They also had the case investigated locally, but could obtain no evidence to show that Farrelly had reached the statutory age. His last claim was decided on the 11th July, 1912, and the Board have now no power to reopen consideration of it. The answer to the last paragraph is in the affirmative?

asked the Chief Secretary if he will say what the Local Government Board means by stating that in the case of a person who has applied for an old age pension, but whose age cannot be found in the Census or in the local register, they are willing to accept evidence as to applicants' legal right to pension from persons who may be conversant with their lives and who could say, without any hesitation, that the statutory age of seventy had been reached; and, if the spirit of the Act is carried out, on what specific grounds has the Local Government Board refused the claim of Ellen Fleming, of Ballylanders, county Limerick, in face of the amount of evidence given on her behalf by many people, and especially by the Rev. F. Barry, P.P., who is convinced that this woman is beyond the age limit, or have instructions been issued to pension officers to treat the clergy with contempt in such cases?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, the Local Government Board are prepared to consider all evidence submitted to them in cases which come before them on appeal. They did so in Ellen Fleming's case, but the Board were unable to regard the evidence submitted to them as sufficient for the purposes of the Act to establish that she had reached the statutory age. Pension officers are not under the jurisdiction of the Board, and they are not aware of any instructions having been issued to pension officers such as those referred to in the question. The whole point in dealing with anybody's evidence, clerical or lay, in cases of this kind is to consider what are his means of knowledge.

asked how soon the Kilmallock Rural District Council may expect the report of the Local Government Board inspector who held an inquiry some months ago into the additional half-acre scheme?

Copies of the inspector's Order in this matter were sent to the rural district council by the Local Government Board on 19th July.

asked what steps, if any, are taken to notify the public of the facilities provided for the safe custody by the Court of Probate of the wills of living persons under Section 98 of the Court of Probate (Ireland) Act, 1857; and how many such wills have been deposited there for safe custody since 1st January, 1901, distinguishing the number for each year?

Rules and Orders of the Supreme Court, Ireland, are issued from time to time to notify to the public the facilities provided for the safe custody of the wills of living persons under the Section of the Act referred to. One such will has been deposited under the Act in each of the following years, namely, 1903, 1904, 1908, 1909, and 1911.

asked whether any Rules of Court and schedules of forms and fees have been made for the Irish County Courts, under the Rivers Pollution Act, 1876, and the Public Roads (Ireland) Act, 1911; and, if no such rules and schedules have been made, will he direct the attention of the Rules Committee to the necessity for making them, having regard to Section 10 of the former Act and Section 1, Sub-sections (5) and (6), of the latter Act, as the absence of such rules renders the Acts useless in Ireland?

The Lord Chancellor informs me that no special Rules of Court have been made in Ireland under the Rivers Pollution Act, 1876, inasmuch as by Section 11 of that Act it is provided that the ordinary rules and procedure of the County Courts in civil matters shall apply to proceedings under that Act, and no necessity has been shown to exist for the making of any further rules. The attention of the Rules Committee of the County Court Judges has already been called to the provisions of the Public Roads (Ireland) Act, 1911, in respect of the making of rules under that Act.

asked what steps, if any, have been taken to provide improved facilities for fishing boats at Waterville, county Kerry?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, the Congested Districts Board offered in 1903 to co-operate with the Kerry County Council in improving the landing accommodation at Waterville, but the council did not accept the offer.

asked whether, in view of the repeated applications for a pier at Ballinskelligs, without which the fishing industry cannot be properly developed, steps will be taken to provide the necessary facilities?

The question of affording improved facilities at Ballinskelligs Pier has not been considered by the Congested Districts Board since 1906, when they decided that in view of the large expenditure necessary they could not undertake the work.

asked whether James Shiels, the county Cavan evicted tenant, has yet been reinstated; will he say when it was decided to restore this man to his old home; and who is responsible for the delay in dealing with this case?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to his previous questions on this subject, to which I have nothing to add at present.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Commissioners of National Education have received a copy of a resolution, unanimously adopted at a recent meeting of the County Down Teachers' Association, calling upon the National Board to withdraw Rule 127 (b), as its enforcement tends to lower the average daily attendance at the national schools in Ireland, and thereby decreases the Grant for primary education from Imperial sources; and can he state what, action the Commissioners have recently taken in this matter?

The Resolution referred to has been received and will be submitted to the Commissioners of National Education. The Commissioners have recently modified materially the terms of the Rule in question, by waiving the Rule where the existing grade salary of a teacher would be reduced in consequence of its application.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, seeing that the late out- break of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland has been confined to one small area in county Dublin and is now practically stamped out, he will consider the desirability of declaring the county free from disease and advise the Board of Agriculture in this country to that effect?

As two further cases of foot-and-mouth disease occurred on the 1st instant at Swords, it is not possible for the Department to take the action suggested by the hon. Member at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to resuscitate the compulsory cadet training which was originally a part of the policy of his predecessor in office?

I am not aware that compulsory cadet training was a part of the policy of my predecessor in office. There is no intention of adopting such a policy as part of our Army policy.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the cost per head per annum of the compulsory cadet training now carried out in Jersey?

There is no information available in the War Office on this subject. I presume that the information required could be obtained at the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State what measures are being taken to strengthen our garrisons and armaments and the defences of our naval bases in Egypt, in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and in the Caribbean Sea, following on the concentration of our naval strength in Home waters?

I am not in a position to make any statement upon this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the event of the polling in North-West Manchester being fixed for a date when a large number of Territorial units are out in camp, facilities will be granted to officers and men of the Territorial Forces to enable them to record their votes?

Yea, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state whether the nine Territorial Field Batteries now on Salisbury Plain are all short of horses, and in what numbers; whether the 6th London Brigade is over forty short; whether any horses are available for the 7th London Brigade; and how he proposes to meet the difficulty of the latter?

It appears on inquiry that the nine batteries on Salisbury Plain are not all short of horses. The 5th Brigade, which has just left camp, had sufficient horses, and the 7th Brigade has just taken over the horses from the 5th Brigade. The 8th Brigade has the correct number of horses. The 6th Brigade arrived in camp short of forty horses, but took over horses from the Wessex Brigade.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether cases have occurred in which promotion in or to the rank of non-commissioned officer have been made by mistake; and whether, in such cases, a Memorandum, issued September, 1911, provides that the pay of the higher rank shall be paid for the period prior to the discovery of the error?

A few such cases as those referred to in the first part of the question have occurred. As regards the second part of the question, the Memorandum mentioned provides that the pay of the higher rank is admissible only from the date on which the non-commissioned officer is absorbed into a vacancy, but that no recoverey of pay drawn erroneously before the mistake is found out shall be made from the man. It does not, as suggested in the question, legalise the issue of pay until the discovery of the error.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what reason the promotion of staff-quartermaster-sergeant to sub-conductor on 21st May, 1910, was cancelled, and under what regulation the promotion was ruled out of the duplicate attestation paper; and whether Staff-Quartermaster-Sergeant Stickney ought, in view of the Memorandum issued in September, 1911, to have received the pay of the higher rank until he was properly reduced according to the regulations?

I regret that I can add nothing to previous answers to questions on this case.

asked the Secretary of State fro War if he is aware that an employer of labour in Aberdeen has on more than one occasion dismissed men who have attended camp for Yeomanry training, and has tried to impose conditions by demanding that the men should hand over half their pay and forfeit the holiday week; and what steps he would propose to take to deal with such cases?

I shall be obliged if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will furnish me with particulars of specific cases.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the commandant of a voluntary aid detachment of the Territorial Force is empowered to strike a member of the detachment off the list for having been imprisoned as a suffragette; and why Miss Madeline Caron Rock, after being imprisoned for the second time for offences of a relatively trivial nature and devoid of moral turpitude, had her name struck off the list of the Chelmsford detachment, whilst Mrs. Marshall, a prominent member of the Women's Social and Political Union, who has been arrested six times and imprisoned three times for similar offences, is allowed to remain a member of the Epping division voluntary aid detachment?

The voluntary aid detachments to which these ladies belong are organised and administered by the British Red Cross Society. The question raised does not therefore come within the cognisance of the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the various recent developments in wireless telegraphy and the desirability of the more extended application of this science for military uses in the field; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

My attention has been called to the recent remarkable develop- ments in wireless telegraphy, and I have decided to appoint a Committee to consider the application of these developments to the needs of the Army.The members who have kindly consented to serve on this Committee are:—

asked the Secretary of State for War whether scaracoptic mange has broken out amongst the horses in Marlborough barracks, Dublin; and, if so, whether, seeing the infectious nature of this disease, he will countermand the removal of the regiment to the Curragh until all danger has disappeared?

I presume the hon. and gallant Gentleman refers to sarcoptic mange. One case of this disease occurred on 7th July in a horse of the 5th Lancers. Prompt measures were taken to prevent the spread of the disease, and all in-contact animals were strictly isolated. The squadrons and troops free from contact have proceeded to camp for training under careful veterinary supervision. The conditions do not necessitate countermanding the war training of the regiment.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office by what means the military in Ireland are supplied with butter; if by contract, how is the latter carried out, yearly or half-yearly; are tenders invited; and, if so, are any advertisements issued; who have been the suppliers during the years 1910, 1911, and 1912; and what average price per hundredweight has been paid?

Butter is not a Government supply except in the case of hospitals and detention barracks. For these services Government contracts are made yearly, tenders being invited by advertisements in the public Press. As separate contracts are made for the various hospitals and detention barracks the list of contractors for three years or even one year is too lengthy to detail on the present accosion; but if the hon. Gentleman desires to call attention to any point and will supply me with particulars inquiry shall be made. I am afraid that information as to prices must in the public interest be treated as confidential and cannot therefore be disclosed. Butter for the troops is supplied to canteens by canteen contractors, and all contracts are made by commanding officers with such contractors.

asked the President of the Board of Education why art students who do not attend technical schools or schools of art aided by the Board of Education are prohibited from sending in works for the national competition; whether the Board refused a work submitted by a student in March last who was working at a well-known technical school solely on this ground; and whether they will revise their rules immediately so as to include the work of any British subject whether working in a State-aided institution or not?

The facts are as indicated in the question. The rule, which is of long standing, is due to the origin of the national competition in a desire to afford encouragement to students in State-aided schools. I have the whole question of the reform of the national competition under consideration, but I am not prepared at short notice to make the alteration the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to why Inspector Peel of the Metropolitan Police, with a body of police, removed a number of sailors and firemen from the Mercantile Marine Office at Connaught Road, Victoria Docks, on 31st July; whether he is aware that the Mercantile Marino Office is the seamen's labour market; whether Inspector Peel exceeded his duty in entering the premises and assaulting the men who were waiting for employment; and, if so, will he take steps to prevent a repetition of such conduct on the part of the police inspector?

I understand that it has for some years been the custom for the delegates of the Sailors' and Firemen's Union to attend outside the Mercantile Marine Office in Connaught Road for the purpose of collecting members' contributions, and no objection was taken to this by the police while it was done in a reasonable manner, but of late the number and demeanour of the persons attending for this purpose has been such as to cause obstruction and trouble, and the police have been compelled to require them to move away. Two delegates who went inside the Board of Trade offices were also required to go away; they had no legal right to be there, and their conduct was complained of, but there was, I understand, no arrest or assault. At the present moment, when there is special risk of conflict between unionists and non-unionists, the police are bound to take every precaution against any proceedings which might lead to disturbance or breach of the peace.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that nearly 160 steerage passengers bound for Canada on board the "Pretorian" were put on the quarantine island in consequence of two cases of small-pox having been diagnosed, in spite of the fact that all these steerage passengers had been examined for marks of vaccination a few days previously, and that those whose marks were not satisfactory were vaccinated; and whether he proposes making representations to the public health authorities of Canada on the matter?

I have received a complaint to this effect, and have communicated it to the Canadian Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how much money the Government is annually spending in India on experts in cotton growing, seed farms, and other experimental work in cotton growing?

The information is not available from the returns of the expenditure of Indian Agricultural Departments. Expenditure on cotton growing is not classed separately from expenditure on other descriptions of crops in which India is equally concerned.

asked the Under-Secretary for India if he can state in general terms how many millions of acres of land there are in India suitable for cotton growing beside the 20½ millions under cotton in 1911–12?

There are no materials from which even a conjectural estimate can be framed. Of the total cropped area of 250,000,000 acres in British India, a considerable portion at present under crops other than cotton is no doubt suitable for cotton, but what that portion is it is not possible to say. The total cultivated area in native States is not returned.

also asked if the Government is promoting the establishment of co-operative cotton-selling societies in India, so as to secure the best price for the cotton grown by the natives?

The Secretary of State is not aware that co-operative societies for the special purpose of dealing in cotton are being promoted in India. Efforts are being made to promote co-operative societies for dealing generally in agricultural produce.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether the Government of India proposes to construct a branch line from Salur, in the Visagapatam district, up the Eastern Ghauts to the plateau of Jeypore, Visagapatam; whether he is aware that the proposed extension of the Bengal Nagpore Railway from Dumberi to Jagdalpore and Kotpad will not benefit the extensive upland region of Jeypore, now bereft of railway communication, the produce of which cannot stand the long lead by rail to Bombay and Calcutta by way of Dumberi and Raipur, but will continue to use the cart road down the Ghauts to Salur and on to the port of Bimlipatam or Visagapatam; whether he is aware that the traffic of this branch has been estimated by local authorities to be more than sufficient to justify the construction of the proposed branch and of a harbour at Visagapatam; whether he is aware that such harbour would serve as a port of refuge for vessels of the Royal Navy as well as for those of the mercantile marine, no such harbour now existing north of Colombo; and whether the Government, in consideration of these circumstances, will move the Governments of India and Madras to construct the branch from Salur to Jeypore with the aid of the chief zemindars and others concerned?

I understand that representations have been made to the Government of India as to the desirability of the provision of a light railway from Salur to the Bastar country, but the Secretary of State has received no communication from the Government of India on the subject. The question of the construction of a harbour at Visagapatam is under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary for India the amount of depreciation, irrespective of interest received, represented by the difference between the cost price of securities held in the gold standard reserve and the middle market price to 31st July, 1912, or at the most recent date for which the calculation is readily available?

The difference between the cost price of securities now held in the gold standard reserve and the middle market price at 31st July, 1912, is £932,759.

also asked the Under-Secretary for India the highest amount in gold held in India and England, respectively, on account of the gold standard reserve in October, 1907, and the lowest amount in August, 1908?

The highest amount held in gold in India on account of the gold standard reserve in October, 1907, was £144,000. In August, 1908, no gold was so held. In neither month was any gold held in England on account of the reserve, all the sterling assets of the reserve at that time being in other forms.

further asked the Under-Secretary for India whether, in the financial year to the 31st March, 1912, any part of the cash balances held in London represented sums withdrawn from India at a loss in exchange by Secretary of State sales in India under 1s. 4d.; and. if so, to what extent?

Bills and telegraphic transfers on India to the amount of Rs. 67,42,000 were sold by the Secretary of State during the year 1911–12 at prices below 1s. 4d., namely, 1s. 3 31–32d. and 1s. 3 15–16d. The sterling realised was £448,446.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he will state the average rate of interest received during the year to 31st March, 1912, on the balances in England lent out to approved borrowers against security, and on deposits with banks without security, respectively?

The average rates of interest received during the year to 31st March, 1912, on the balances in England lent to approved borrowers against securities and on deposits with banks were approximately 2.6 per cent, and 2.43 per cent, respectively.

asked the amount of sterling securities belonging to the Gold Standard Reserve sold between 1st October, 1907, and 31st August, 1908, and the difference between cost price and the amount realised?

The nominal value of the securities referred to was £7,625,498. The amount realised was less than the cost price by £65,565.

asked the value on a gold basis of the rupee portion, £12,053,333, of the gold standard reserve in October, 1908, when the sterling portion reached the lowest figure, namely, £5,966,724 at market value; and how many rupees did the sum of £12,053,333 represent?

In October, 1908, the rupees held in the gold standard reserve amounted to 1,808 lakhs. Their value on a gold basis, taking the rupee at 1s. 4d., was £12,053,333, the figure stated by the hon. Member. Taking the rate of exchange at 1s. 3 29–32d., the lowest rate at which the Secretary of State's bills were sold in the month in question, the value of the rupees was JE11,982,708.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the cards and envelopes supplied to applicants for employment at the Board of Trade Labour Exchanges in Ireland are printed in England; and will he give instructions that future supplies of printing for the Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance Offices in Ireland be obtained in Ireland?

Certain cards and envelopes have been supplied to Board of Trade Labour Exchanges in Ireland from the headquarters in London. In future, supplies of printing for the Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance Offices in Ireland will be obtained in that country whenever practicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can say what has been the cost to the Treasury of the "Titanic" inquiry?

No, Sir. The accounts are not yet complete.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the men in the electric light department of the General Post Office, who were promised an increase of salary to commence January, 1908, have not yet received it; and will he make arrangements to enable these men to receive their long-delayed back pay?

The payment of arrears to the electric light staff, consequent on the ante-dating of their revised rates of pay from October, 1910, to 1st January, 1908, has already been carried out in a number of cases, and the settlement of the remaining claims is being proceeded with as quickly as possible. The amount of work involved is considerable, as it is necessary to make a week-to-week examination of the pay-sheets for each man concerned during two years and three-quarters.

asked the Postmaster-General why the Ceylon mails, which were overcarried, through an error in the way-bill, past Naples in the s.s. "Osterley," and were not landed at Toulon through the further erroneous instructions on the way-bill, which indicated that they were intended for the all-sea route, when they arrived at Tilbury on the 24th May were even then not delivered until the 28th May?

The delay was due to labour difficulties at the docks.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a petition from the residents of Clondalkin, county of Dublin, requesting him to arrange for a morning delivery of mails on Sundays, and an evening delivery, in addition to the morning delivery, on week days; and, if so, whether he will give it his favourable consideration?

I have received the petition and have directed inquiry to be made. I will acquaint the hon. Member with the result.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what was the price paid for each of the eleven complete farms in Cambridgeshire, the twenty-eight complete farms in Somersetshire, and the thirteen complete farms in Worcestershire, purchased by the council of each county for small holdings purposes; and what was the total acreage of each farm?

The particulars desired are as follows:—

asked the Secretary for Scotland under what statute the Board of Agriculture for Scotland claims to have compulsory powers to take land for small holdings; and whether the rent of a new or existing small holding under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act is to be for the land alone and is not to include buildings, when the latter have been provided or paid for by the landlord in whole or in part?

Under Section 7 of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland may apply to the Land Court for the exercise of compulsory powers, which it is within the discretion of the Land Court to grant or refuse. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary for Scotland (1) if the Board of Agriculture for Scotland have in all cases in which they have engaged Highland pony stallions for service in the congested districts adhered to the rule that the stallion must be registered by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, whether the stallion, Rory of the Hills, engaged for service in Ross-shire during 1912, complies with these Regulations; and (2) if he will state the rules which govern the inspection of Highland pony stallions which are hired by the Board of Agriculture in Scotland, and if in every case these stallions are inspected by a qualified veterinary surgeon?

I understand that the Board has not made any regulations on the subject referred to, but the practice is that such stallions should either be on the register of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, or should have been examined by a qualified veterinary surgeon. Owing, however, to the shortage of stallions, an exception was made to the practice in the case of Rory of the Hills, which I am informed is one of the best stallions obtainable. Though not registered, he had been inspected by an official of the Board.

asked the Attorney-General what steps, if any, are taken to notify the public of the facilities provided for the safe custody at Somerset House of the wills of living persons under Section 91 of the Court of Probate Act, 1857; and how many such wills have been deposited there for safe custody since 1st January, 1901, distinguishing the number for each year?

Full instructions are given to anyone who applies for information. The number of wills of living persons which have been deposited at Somerset House in each year since the 1st day of January, 1901, are as follows: 1901, 22; 1902, 25; 1903, 16; 1904, 12; 1905, 15; 1906, 11; 1907, 12; 1908, 14; 1909, 16; 1910, 16; 1911, 15—total, 174.