asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any of those responsible for the atrocities on the Putumayo have been executed; and, if not, what hopes there are that they will be shortly brought to justice?

The only information that I have is that the Prefect of Loreto has informed the Peruvian Government of the arrest of a man called Adolfo Lopez.

asked whether the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907 has been in any way modified by recent negotiations between the two Governments?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Russian Government have undertaken to withdraw any of their troops from Northern Persia?

In a communication made to the Press after my recent meeting with Monsieur Sazonoff it was stated that in order to expedite the withdrawal of foreign troops from Persia both Powers are carefully considering how far they could best assist in strengthening the Persian Government for the purpose of enabling the latter to re-establish order and to secure the safety of the trade routes. My hon. Friend will gather from this that the assurances of the Russian Government referred to in the answer to a question of the hon. Member for Burnley, on 30th July last, still hold good.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the re-assembling of a new Mejliss in Persia?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he had received any definite reply to the representations made to the Government of the United States in regard to the Bill which was then passing through Congress for regulating the Panama Canal dues; and whether His Majesty's Government are making any further representations, now that the Bill has become law, so as to secure equitable treatment for British and Canadian ships?

The Panama Canal Bill underwent some alterations in the course of its passage through Congress, and after it was passed towards the end of August we informed the Government of the United States that we would address a communication to them after we had received and had time to consider the full text of the Bill as signed by the President and his Memorandum respecting it. It was added that, should there eventually be a difference between the two countries respecting the interpretation of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty that could not be settled by any other means, we should ask that it be referred to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the existing Arbitration Treaty concluded with the United States in 1008. The whole subject is one of great importance, and together with the views of the legal advisers of the Crown upon it is now under consideration of His Majesty's Government. As soon as we are in a position to do so we shall be glad to make a further statement to the House.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he has noticed the remark of President Taft that the British representation was made rather tardily?

I have not seen that remark. I shall be glad to know the date when that remark was made, because the Bill, as I stated in my answer, did not pass in its final form—which is the important matter—until towards the end of August, and immediately after the news that the Bill had passed we stated that we would consider it in its final form and make a further communication.

Did not the British Government make representations before the Bill was passed?

It is quite true that we did express our views while the Bill was in progress through Congress of course, it was impossible to make a final communication with regard to the Bill which was being shaped. We therefore expressly stated that we would address a further communication when the Bill had reached its final form.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of postponing these further representations until after the American elections?

I have said that the subject is one of great importance, and when we do make our communication it, ought to be the result of the very fullest consideration from all the legal points of view. That we hope to complete this month. We shall then address our communication to the United States. Of course, I cannot say that it will be dependent upon the internal affairs of the United States, but it must take a little time.

asked whether it is part of the duties of the pension officers to attend the meetings of the sub-committee and give any information to them that may be necessary or desirable?

Attendance at the meetings of the local pension committee or sub-committee is the right, but not the duty, of a pension officer. Provision is made in the Regulations for the information necessary for the determination of claims or questions to be forwarded by the officer, in a written report, but if the committee desire his attendance for a particular purpose, it is the practice for him, if practicable, to comply with their wish.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can say on what ground the pension officer appealed from the decision of the Ballingarry sub-committee, county Limerick, awarding Michael Hallinan, of Rylands, Rathkeale, a pension of 4s. a week; and whether, as Michael Hallinan's age is over seventy years and he has no income but his board and lodging in his son-in-law's house, he can say how it is that the pension officer is not satisfied with the subcommittee's decision?

The pension officer appealed on the ground that Hallinan's means exceeded £31 10s. a year.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give particulars of how the pension officer made up the income of £31 10s?

I will consider whether that can be done. I do not think it is desirable.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he could state at whose request were extra police quartered in Banbridge, county Down, Ireland, on the 10th August, 1912, or, if no requisition were made, by whose authority were extra police sent to that town on that occasion?

From information received by the Constabulary Authorities it was deemed necessary to take these additional precautions in the interests of the public peace at Banbridge on the date referred to.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether he can give to the House the names, addresses, occupations, and qualifications of the persons appointed to the commission of the peace in the county of Tyrone during the present year; and if he will say upon whose recommendation in each case the appointment was made?

The Lord Chancellor has sent me the names, addresses, and occupations of the fifteen persons appointed to the county Tyrone magistracy during the present year. If the hon. Member is desirous of obtaining the list, I am ready to supply him with a copy. Eight of the persons were appointed on the recommendation of the Vice-Lieutenant of the county; the other seven were appointed on recommendations from other sources, and the Vice-Lieutenant assented to their appointment.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state how many of the Nationalist magistrates appointed are able to write their names?

Will the right hon. Gentleman circulate the names with the Votes, in order that they may be published?

And also whether they are illiterate or not.

May I ask whether the gentleman who asked the supplementary question was appointed a Deputy-Lieutenant at the same time?

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will state the number and estimated value of all classes of cattle, sheep, and swine, respectively, exported from Ireland in the three months July, August, and September, 1911, and in the corresponding three months of 1912, with the total cash difference between the two periods?

The answer will be circulated with the Votes.—[See Written Answers this date.]

Will the right hon. Gentleman state the exact figure showing the difference between the two periods?

Over £1,000,000 sterling.

May I ask whether there is any corresponding loss to owners of store cattle?

I would rather not enter into that.

asked (17) the Under- Secretary of State for India whether a final settlement has yet been arrived at in the case of the provincial engineers; will he state what are those parts of the Government of India's proposals which have been reserved by the Secretary of State for further consideration; and when a decision upon them will be taken; and (18), in connection with the case of the provincial engineers, whether it is proposed to restore, either completely or partially, to the Imperial Service those provincial engineers who have received their training at Indian engineering colleges?

As the hon. Member was informed on the 15th May last, orders have been passed sanctioning certain increases of pay to the provincial engineers. The subject reserved for future consideration is practically the one mentioned in the hon. Member's second question, namely, whether any change shall be made in the system of recruitment for the Imperial Service, and, if so, under what limitations and conditions, so as to allow the appointment or promotion to that service of engineers trained in India. This subject is covered by the terms of reference to the recently appointed Royal Commission on the Public Services in India.

asked whether the Secretary of State for India will arrange that the Members to be co-opted on to the Public Service Commission to represent the provincial engineer service shall be taken from those who may be duly elected for the purpose by the provincial engineers themselves?

The procedure to be followed in the matter mentioned has not yet been settled. In any case the selection of co-opted representatives will be for settlement by the Royal Commission itself.

asked whether the Government of India have submitted to the Secretary of State any proposals with regard to the recommendations made in 1909 by the Greevan Committee in connection with the provincial judicial service in the United provinces of Agra and Oudh; and when a decision upon the subject by the Secretary of State may be expected?

The Government of India have submitted proposals, orders on which will, it is hoped, be passed very soon.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the appellate judgment of the Calcutta High Court in the Midnapur case has received the attention of the Secretary of State, and, if so, what action the Secretary of State proposes to take in view of the effect upon public confidence in the administration of the law by the reversal of the original judgment, with severe strictures upon the proceedings of Mr. Justice Fletcher by Mr. Justice Woodroffe and the other appellate judges; and whether he will also state what was the cost of the said original trial and how much of the amount can be recovered from the nominal plaintiff in the case?

The Secretary of State has received the appellate judgment. He is not aware of the necessity for taking any action with the object indicated by the hon. Member. The cost of the original civil trial was estimated at about £10,000, but the Secretary of State is not in possession of the exact figures, and has no information as to possible recoveries from the plaintiff.

Will the Secretary of State take steps to inform himself of the loss of confidence in the administration of justice which has resulted from this case, and will he consider the case for compensation?

I will lay the hon. Member's question.

Were there any severe strictures on the learned judge or only differences of opinion on matters of law such as the appellate court often expresses in its judgment?

If the hon. Member will give me notice I will endeavour to obtain an answer to his question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether a chairman has been appointed to the Imperial Trade Commission in the place of Lord Inchcape?

The right hon. Arnold Morley was appointed on 22nd August to succeed Lord Inchcape as Chairman of the Royal Commission in question, and the appointment was immediately announced in the Press.

When will the Committee begin its sittings?

It is sitting.

was the appointment made as a result of the right hon. Gentleman's determination to keep the Commission free from party and fiscal bias?

Yes, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that four of the six representatives are known to be extreme Free Traders, and, in his opinion, is that a fair Commission?

I am not aware of that.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say on what day the first sitting was held?

I am not quite sure. I know that there was a sitting yesterday.

Yes. Yesterday was the date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a complaint has been lodged against the firm of John Lysaght, Limited, Bristol, contractors to the Crown Agents, for not observing the Fair-Wages Clause in the wages paid to their joiners; whether he is aware that the firm in question do not abide by the rules agreed to between the employers and workmen in the trade neither as regards hours, wages, nor overtime rates; and whether he will have careful inquiry made into the matter with a view to securing the due observance of the Fair-Wages Clause?

The Crown Agents have already inquired into this matter. The rules referred to in the question appear to be rules agreed between employers and workmen in the building trade only. I understand that the carpenters and joiners employed by Messrs. Lysaght are kept fully employed winter and summer and are paid for their time wet or dry; and it is not therefore thought, fair to apply to this firm an agreement made for the building trade, in which the condition of continuous employment does not generally exist, whatever may be the case in special instances.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is impossible for firms that pay fair wages to compete successfully with firms of this kind?

I expect that I will have to consult with the hon. Member on the whole matter.

asked if Mr. Stubbs, of the Colonial Office in London, has been appointed Colonial Secretary of Ceylon; and, if so, what length of service has Mr. Stubbs had in Crown Colonies abroad, and in Ceylon in particular?

I have selected Mr. Stubbs for the post in question. He has served for nearly twelve years in the Eastern Department of the Colonial Office, but has not hitherto served in any of the Colonies, except that he carried out a special mission in the Malay Peninsula and Hong-Kong two years ago, very much to my satisfaction.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any consolation to offer those Gentlemen who have spent their lives in the Colonial service, and who now find themselves superseded by an appointment of this sort?

It cannot for a moment be admitted that Mr. Stokes was not in the Colonial service, nor would any member of the Colonial service consider the Colonial Office outside it.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the Commissioner of Works has read the address of Mr. Leonard Hill, as president of the physiological section of the British Association, in which he explains how deadly is uniformly-heated air, how necessary perceptible movement and changes of temperature, how injurious are the effects of a still, close, equable atmosphere; and whether he will take steps to alter the present system of ventilation of the House, so as to bring it more in accord with these sanitary principles?

The ventilation of the Chamber has been the subject of several inquiries by Committees between J902 and 1906. Over £5,000 has been spent in carrying out the recommendations of those Committees and the reports of Dr. Mervyn Gordon. The air in the Chamber is constantly in movement and is changed about six times an hour. A uniform temperature is maintained. The First Commissioner is not of opinion that any alteration in the ventilation system would be desirable.

May I ask if, notwithstanding this expenditure, the ventilation here is not of such a character that a breeze from Bermondsey or a whiff from Walworth would be possible?

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East when it is in tended to erect the statue of Captain Cook; and whether it is intended to erect it on the eastern side of the Admiralty Arch?

It is anticipated that the statue will be erected in the course of next year. The statue will be placed on the west side of the Admiralty Arch.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East whether he is aware that the Royal harbour of Ardglass, county Down, is at present in bad condition, the bed being silted up; that foul berths, caused by the jagged rock bottom alongside the breakwater necessitate steamers loading fish hauling out at ebb tide; that, owing to the increasing importance of the harbour to the fishing industry, further berthing accommodation is urgently required; and whether he will give instructions that a dredger and a rock cutter be sent there to dredge the harbour to its old standard of ten feet of water and to cut away the rocks alongside the quay, and an inspector to report as to the cheapest and most efficient manner in which further berthing accommodation can be secured?

I am informed that the hon. and gallant Member is mistaken in thinking that Ardglass Harbour is in a bad or deteriorated condition, and I am not aware that it is insufficient for the present traffic. The harbour is dredged periodically, and I fear that I do not at present see my way to undertake further works there.

How can the right hon. Gentleman come to such a conclusion? I was there on Monday last, and saw for myself.

I shall be glad to get any information which the hon. Gentleman can give me.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all the fishermen on the spot are complaining very bitterly of the way in which this Royal harbour has been treated by those responsible?

I have not had any representations on the subject, and shall be glad to consider any that are sent in.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make some inquiry into it? This is the third year in which the Government have done nothing.

I shall certainly consider any representations made.

asked whether the pay of the officers serving in the Admiralty yacht "Enchantress" amounts to £3,200 a year; whether the pay of the ship's company is about £6,000 a year; whether the coal and stores cost about £2,000 a year; whether the ship has done more actual sea-time, and officers and men been kept more on board than in other ships of the fleet; and whether the First Lord's official visits could be more easily undertaken by rail, at considerable saving of time to himself and expense to the State?

I am informed that the annual charge for pay of the complement of the "Enchantress" is about £2,900 for officers and £6,900 for the ship's company. The charge for fuel and stores is about £4,000. But all these men are needed for the mobilised war fleet, and could not be reduced in any case. There is, therefore, no additional expense on this head. I do not think that the service of officers and men in the Admiralty yacht is more arduous than elsewhere in the Navy. I have replied on a previous occasion to the hon. Member on the general question of policy involved in the maintenance of an Admiralty yacht, and I have nothing to add at present to my answer.

Does the right hon. entleman not consider that the notation expenses are somewhat large for so small a company?

Will the right hon. Gentleman issue an invitation to the hon. Gentleman?

asked whether the Department's attention has been drawn to a complaint that men were being taken on through the Labour Exchange at Keyham to perform the work of coal porters in the Devonport dockyard, having no experience of that kind of work, thus displacing men having the necessary experience; whether he has made any inquiries into the matter; and can the right hon. Gentleman give the House the result of those inquiries?

It appears that some temporary difficulty has been experienced at Devonport of the kind referred to by the hon. Member. A solution of the difficulty has, however, been arrived at by the entry on the dockyard books of such numbers of men, well trained in this class of work, as can be permanently employed; and, with regard to the remainder, i.e., for casual requirements, arrangements have been made with the officials of the local Labour Exchange which should ensure the supply of experienced men only for the future.

asked if, in February, 1911, volunteer crews were called for to take three submarines to Hong Kong and for service in those waters for a period of two years, and if, since these crews volunteered, an order has been issued that all submarine ratings on passage home in ships should have their pay stopped during passage, a matter of some ten weeks; and, if so, can any reason be given why these crews should be penalised?

The special allowances granted in consideration of the risk and discomfort and possible danger to health on account of service in submarines are not paid during the time the men are on passage to foreign stations in other ships, but they receive their ordinary pay and allowances. This rule, I may add, does not represent, as appears to be suggested in the question, any departure from our general practice, nor has any special order been issued by the Admiralty in this case.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government adheres to its expressed intention to retain the hon. Member for Leicester as a Member for the Indian Public Services Commission?

The answer is in the affirmative.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Indian Services which are chiefly concerned regard this as a peculiarly unjustifiable and provocative appointment?

asked whether, in arranging the programme of business for the Autumn Session, he will endeavour to allot as early a day as possible for the further consideration of the Criminal Law Amendment Bill?

In arranging the course of business we shall not forget the strong claims of this measure to early consideration.

asked when the right hon. Gentleman proposes to give facilities for the discussion of the Notices of Motions relating to the appointment of additional judges standing in the names of the Attorney-General and the hon. Member for Brentford?

I cannot name a date at present, but we quite recognise the urgency of the matter.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is his intention to introduce a Bill for the reform of the House of Lords during the present Session; and, if so, whether he can state the date of the introduction of such a Bill?

The answer is in the negative.

May I ask whether the Prime Minister considers that it is consistent with his pledge of honour, the fulfilment of which brooked no delay, that important measures should be smuggled through Parliament until this pledged reform is carried?

asked the Prime Minister if he can now state whether the Government intend to give any facilities for the passing of what remains of the Housing of the Working Classes Bill?

I must refer the hon. Baronet to the answer which I gave to the Noble Lord the Member for the Newton Division on 27th June last. What I said then applies equally to the present part of the Session.

May I ask whether answering by reference is not as inconvenient as legislation by reference; and can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what he did say on that occasion?

His answer to me on the occasion referred to was quite unsatisfactory.

on 27th June was:—

"I have conferred with my right hon. Friend, who is desirous that the Housing of the Working Classes Bill should pass into law this Session. If it appears likely that the Bill, subject to the Amendments promised by my right hon. Friend in Committee, will be accepted in its present form, I will see whether it is possible to give time for its further stages, but I cannot at present give any definite pledge."—[OFFICIAL, REPORT, 27th June, 1912, col. 488, Vol. XL.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see if further facilities can be given; and will he also take steps to see that the Bill is not opposed by Members on his own side?

Will the right hon. Gentleman make his consent to pass this Bill dependent on there being no Amendments proposed to it or urged by right hon. Gentlemen opposite?

I can give no such undertaking.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now state the names of the Committee recently appointed to inquire into and report on the conditions under which land is at present owned and used in this country; whether he can give the exact terms of reference; and whether the scope of their inquiry is to extend to Ireland?

With regard to the first part of the question, I can add nothing to the reply which I gave to the hon. Baronet the Member for Ayr Burghs on 10th July last. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Are we, then, to regard this Committee as simply a week-end house party of philanthropists?

asked the Prime Minister if the Land Tax Committee which met at Gaddesby Hall, Leicester, recently is the one which was formed with his sanction; if so, whether he will take steps with a view to the Committee conducting its deliberations in a manner more calculated to inspire confidence in its findings; whether, in regard to the collection of materials and in other ways, the Committee is acting in entire independence of any Government Department and without any official assistance; and, if so, what guarantee exists as to the reliability of the Committee's conclusions?

I understand that certain members of the Committee enjoyed the hospitality of one of their colleagues on the occasion referred to, but that no meeting of the Committee took place. As regards the last two branches of the question, I have nothing to add to the replies which I gave on 8th July last.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman considers it advisable that important questions should be gone into at the house of a private Member of his own party; and also may I ask whether any expenses that have to be borne are paid from the National Exchequer?

I have already said that no expense of any sort or kind is to be borne by the public funds.

Has this Committee met yet?

May I ask whether the hospitality indicated was done on equal style to the recent hospitality at Grosvenor House?

Notice should be given of any further questions.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before introducing any further legislation affecting the land, he is prepared to set up a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole question of the land system of this country, including the burdens, national and local, borne by the land as compared with other forms of capital or property, the cost of conveyance, and the causes of rural depopulation?

As at present advised, I am not prepared to accede to this suggestion.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state when it is intended to proceed with the Committee stage of the Franchise and Registration Bill?

I am not at present prepared to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a speech made by the Paymaster-General, Lord Stracie, at Sherborne, last month, in which he advocated the adoption in England of the system of State Grants towards housing schemes which has been established in Ireland under the Labourers' Acts; whether Lord Stracie was speaking on behalf of the Government, and if State aid for housing is now the policy of the Government; and, if so, whether he will explain why the Government opposed similar proposals which were made in the Housing Bill earlier in the Session?

My attention has not been drawn otherwise than by this question to the speech referred to. I will communicate with Lord Stracie on the subject.

Will the Prime Minister answer the second part of my question, namely, whether State aid for housing is now the policy of the Government?

I have nothing to add to the answer I have already given.

asked the Prime Minister when the present Session of Parliament will end; and whether, in view of the uncertain life of this Parliament, precedence will be given to legislation required to give effect to pledges given by the Government from time to time, including the Amendment of the National Insurance Act, Home Rule all round, land reform, and the Railway Rates Bill?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Government will do all in their power to give effect to any pledges which they have given.

Would the right hon. Gentleman also agree, following the advice and suggestion of the First Lord of the Admiralty, that there should be the question of Home Rule for different parts of England?

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the first part of the question on the Paper?

Yes, I have already done so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give further time for the consideration of the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the administration and organisation of the Marine Department of the Board of Trade and to enable the will of the people, as reflected by their chosen representatives, to be ascertained by a Division of the House?

I am afraid I cannot give further time for the discussion of this matter.

May I ask if the Government, in coming to this decision, has been directed to the knowledge that the "Titanic" was wrongly constructed?

asked the Prime Minister whether he intends at an early date to move an Amendment to the Standing Orders of this House that Answers to Questions shall not be printed with the Votes, but only published in the OFFICIAL REPORT, so as to effect the saving of £1,000 a Session recommended by the Select Committee on Publications and Debates Reports?

If representations reach me through the usual channels that such an Amendment would be acceptable in all quarters of the House, I will endeavour to give effect to the general desire.

asked the Prime Minister, whether the proposals recently outlined by the First Lord of the Admiralty, for ten or twelve separate Parliaments in the United Kingdom, were made with, or have since received, his approval, and whether the Cabinet considered the alterations which such proposals would necessarily involve in the Government of Ireland Bill before deciding upon their Closure Resolution?

As has already been pointed out, my right hon. Friend specifically stated that he was speaking his own thoughts on the question, and, further, that he was only speaking in a "tentative and speculative" manner. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the question as to whether on a matter of such importance as that he agrees with the tentative thoughts of his colleague?

If the hon. Gentleman wants to know my views on the matter I would refer him to the speech I made on the introduction of the Bill.

As the right hon. Gentleman apparently differs so entirely from the First Lord of the Admiralty has he asked for or received his resignation?

The hon. Member must draw his own conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any figures are available showing the annual amount of fees received by clergy men of the Church in Wales for performing baptisms, churchings, marriages, and funerals, and also the amount received by them as Easter offerings; and whether these fees or offerings will be affected by the Established Church (Wales) Bill?

There are no figures available showing the annual amounts of fees received by clergymen of the Church in Wales for performing churchings, marriages, and funerals. There are no fees for baptisms. The total amounts received on an average for three years in Easter offerings by the clergy of each of the four Welsh dioceses are given in the Official Year Book of the Church of England. Taking the three years before 1911, it amounted to £3,206 for the four dioceses. The fees for churchings and marriages and the offerings will not in any way be affected by the Bill. Neither will the fees for burials be affected during the existing incumbency.

asked whether, in view of the fact that the Local Government Board, having chosen to abate or pay short the usual equivalent of the 4d. rate from the Local Taxation Account in respect of London, Middlesex, or other districts, the said account having become, as regards the districts in question, in sufficient to meet all the various claims upon it, though quite sufficient to meet the full police claim, by what authority, statutory, legal, or other, were police war rants issued on certain local authorities of the Metropolitan Police area for sums in excess of what would have been required of them if partiality had not been shown to London, Middlesex, Croydon, or other authorities by a bating or paying short into the Police Fund the sums due from the Local Taxation Accounts in respect of these latter authorities?