asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Insurance Commissioners can take any, and, if so, what action in the case of the representatives of an approved society making false representations to insured persons with the object either of inducing those persons to join the particular society or of dissuading them from transferring to another approved society; and whether, in the event of such cases being proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, action will be taken?

If it is brought to the knowledge of the Insurance Commissioners that any representatives of an approved society have made false representations of the kind referred to by the hon. Member, immediate investigation will be made. As I stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford on 19th June, I have received assurances from all societies which employ collectors and agents, that if any of their servants are proved to have made such representations in canvassing for members, they will be summarily dismissed.

asked the Lord Advocate if the conditions laid down by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, when the health section of the City of Glasgow Friendly Society becomes approved, have been fulfilled, particularly that condition requiring the management of the parent society to call a meeting of the society to consider the alteration of rules to give effect to the recommendations of Mr. Addison Smith's Report as embodied in the afore-mentioned condition?

The Assistant Registrar for Scotland has recently had meetings, and will soon have further meetings, with representatives of the board of management and their officials, and is engaged drafting and adjusting with them alterations for the purpose of carrying out the conditions laid down.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the work of draining the Owenmore River, in the county Sligo, has been undertaken by the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, can he state the terms or conditions under which the scheme is to be carried out and when the work will be commenced?

The Congested Districts Board have not undertaken the drainage of the Owenmore River, but in anticipation of being able to have the work carried out by a drainage Board they had the necessary plans and estimates made with a view to applying for a loan for the work. An application was made to the Development Commissioners for a grant which they declined, but they agreed that if the Board would have the work carried out they would consider an application for making a loan to be repaid if necessary with interest. As a considerable portion of the area affected by the drainage of the river and its tributaries is in the occupation of land holders, who have agreed to buy their holdings, but have not yet had their holdings vested in them, the Board are of opinion that it will be necessary to postpone final arrangements until the title is transferred from the owners to the occupiers.

asked what steps the Congested Districts Board have taken to acquire the Joyce estate, Breaffy, county Mayo, and with what result?

As the owner of this estate is unwilling to negotiate for a sale, except on a cash basis, the Congested Districts Board have taken no further action in the matter.

asked whether the offer of the Congested Districts Board for the purchase of the Batley estate, in Cushlogart and Rosstuohy, county Mayo, has been accepted by the landlord?

The Congested Districts Board are at present in correspondence with the agent regarding the offer for purchase made by them for this property.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board received about two years ago a memorial from the tenants of Major Browne, Breaghy, county Mayo, requesting the Board 1o take steps to acquire his congested estate; what steps the Board have taken in the matter, and with what result?

asked whether the Congested Districts Board received a memorial from the tenants regarding the purchase of this property. The Board communicated with the owner, but they have not so far received the maps and documents necessary to enable them to have an inspection of the property made with a view to considering whether they would make an offer for it. The Board do not propose to take any steps to acquire this estate compulsorily pending the result of proceedings which have been instituted for the compulsory purchase of certain other estates.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, on the night of Sunday, 28th July, a bomb containing gunpowder enclosed in the box of a cart-axle was exploded outside the residence of Mr. John Horan, caretaker and dairyman on an evicted farm at Derry-gallon, in the Kanturk district, county Cork, and that several windows were broken and other damage done by this explosion; whether several other outrages have been committed in connection with this farm; and whether any person has been brought to justice for these offences?

On the night of the 28th July an explosion took place, as stated, outside the house of John Horan. The fact was reported to the police at Kanturk at five o'clock in the morning by Horan's son, and the district inspector at once proceeded to the scene with all the available men at the station, and dispatched patrols to visit the houses and interrogate the persons whom he suspected as being likely to have committed the outrage. All these persons were visited by the police before they left their beds on the morning of the occurrence. The place where the explosive was placed was such that it could not possibly injure the walls of the dwelling-house, and it was evident that no serious damage was intended. The police have continued to make every possible inquiry, but, so far, without success. There were some previous cases of intimidation in connection with this farm, and in one case three persons were proceeded against by the police, but were acquitted.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the councils of Longford, Granard, Nenagh, and Thurles still refuse to take any steps to secure the enforcement of the provisions of the Shops Act; and what action he proposes to take to provide for the proper administration of the Act in question?

The local authorities named have so far failed to carry out the duties imposed on them by the Shops Act, 1912. Steps are being taken with a view to the institution of legal proceedings to compel local authorities to carry out the duties imposed on them by the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is prepared to advise the cheap sale of old rifles and of ammunition to the men of the National Reserve?

Rifles are issued to county associations for rifle clubs of National Reservists for a number not exceeding 10 per cent, of the registered numbers on the strength of the rifle club, on long loan and free of cost of carriage. Small arm ammunition for practice with these rifles can be obtained at cost price.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is any objection, to the starting of private labour bureaux in various counties for men who have served only in the Army and Navy?

There are at present several organisations, all of them private, intended to help men who have served in the Army or Navy to obtain employment. They all find some difficulty in securing the necessary personal or financial assistance. It would, therefore, appear that any addition to the number of such organisations would only cause overlapping and defeat the object which the hon. and gallant Member has in view.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any special steps are being taken to deal with the prevalence of malaria in Bombay; and, if so, will he state what they are?

The report submitted by Dr. Bentley, the officer appointed by the Bombay Government to investigate the causes of malaria in Bombay, has been accepted by the Bombay Municipal Corporation, and effect will be given by it to the measures proposed by him for exterminating the malarial mosquito. To this end the health establishment of the city will be strengthened and powers taken by amendment of the Municipal Act to deal with private wells in the interior of houses and with other like breeding grounds of the mosquito.

asked the Postmaster-General why the telephone, promised at King's Somborne, in Hampshire, in February last, has never been put in; whether there is any chance of its being done; and, if so, when?

I cannot ascertain that any promise was given in February last to install a telephone system at King's Somborne. Application was made some time ago for the provision of rural party lines, and a canvass was made accordingly, but there has been considerable difficulty in securing the necessary number of subscribers. Sufficient support has at length been obtained, and the service will be provided as soon as I have funds at my disposal for the purpose. I may explain that, in consequence of the gratifying response to the revised terms recently offered for rural party lines, the funds granted by the Treasury for the experimental provision of such lines have been exhausted, but I am communicating with the Treasury with the view of obtaining a further Grant.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the grade of auxiliary postmen has been abolished at the Eastern District Post Office; and, if such changes are necessary, will he say why they have not been delayed until the inquiry by the Select Committee now sitting on Post Office organisation has been completed and the Report made?

I should be only too glad to abolish the grade of auxiliary postmen, not only in the Eastern District of London, but all over the country, if such a course were possible. All that I have been able to do in that direction in connection with a revision of the outdoor force employed at the Eastern District Office is to absorb some of the part-time unestablished duties into full-time appointments for established postmen. It is the recognised policy to employ as many full-time established officers as the incidence of the work will allow, and this policy, which finds favour with the organisations representing the staff, has been explained to the Select Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that on the 31st May, 1897, the Secretary to the Treasury informed the House of Commons that ho had contracted with the London and Northwestern Railway Company to accelerate the Irish night mail trains by half an hour, and to pay an additional subsidy of £5,150 for this service; that the London and Northwestern Railway Company are not now giving this acceleration; that the down night mail train is invariably late, on several occasions recently over half an hour; that the cause of this lateness is that the London and Northwestern Railway Company, for economical reasons, have taken off their Greenore express service, which was established in the year 1874, and are utilising the down night Irish mail train for the Greenore passengers, and thus causing the delay; has this arrangement been made with his approval; and, if not, does he intend to allow it to be continued and the London and Northwestern Railway Company to receive a contract payment the terms of which they are not carrying out?

I am aware of the circumstances, and I have already caused urgent representations to be made to the railway company as regards the late running of the train. I trust that this will result in a more punctual service. The train from Euston which connected with the Greenore service was not under Post Office control.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is proposed to offer a reduction of £200 in the rental of all twelve-hour newspaper wires, in consideration of the proprietors employing their own staff; whether this decision is in accordance with Clause 16 of the Act of Transfer, 1868; and whether, in view of a distinct promise given by his predecessor to a Trade Union Congress deputation that a Fair-wage Clause should be inserted in all future contracts, he will make provision for such a clause to be inserted in all contracts of this character?

The answer is in the negative. I am not proposing to vary the terms under which the Postmaster-General is empowered under the Act of 1868 to let to newspaper proprietors the special use of a public wire for twelve hours per diem, when it is not required for the public service, at an inclusive charge of £500 per annum. The provision of wires for private use, however, whether of proprietors of newspaper or others, at rates based on the mileage of the circuit is quite outside Clause 16 of the Post Office Act of 1868. The mileage rates do not cover the supply of staff. With regard to a Fair-wages Clause, I beg to refer the lion. Member to my predecessor's reply to his question of 20th February, 1908. The promise made by my predecessor to the deputation from the Trades Union Congress in 1909 related only to a large scheme of newspaper wires which subsequently fell through.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that he has stated that he had been able to come to a decision regarding the granting of the new scales of pay to a considerable number of engineers who were left on their old scales at the reorganisation of the enginering dpartment on 1st July, 1911, he will state what prevents particulars of the decision being communicated to the officers affected; and whether, having regard to the delay which has taken place in making an announcement, and in view of his statement that no examination for outside candidates would be held pending the reviewing of the cases of those officers not granted the new scales of pay, he proposes to postpone the examination for outside candidates for the position of assistant engineer announced in the public Press?

A decision regarding the grant of the new scales of pay has now been communicated to each of the officers on the higher classes. As regards the second class engineers, a general announcement has been made that forty-four members of the class hitherto left on their old scale of pay will be advanced to the assistant engineers class as from the 1st July. 1911, and the names of the individuals selected will be published very shortly. It is not proposed to postpone the examination for assistant engineerships.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture the acreage under hops in foreign countries and in England, respectively, during the current year?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to a similar question addressed to me by the hon. Member for the Rye Division on Wednesday last.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Scott r. Jack, reported in the volume of "Scots Law Times," page 151, in which a prosecution under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act failed, because it was shown that the milk, though under standard, was in the same condition as when taken from the cow; and whether he is prepared to make any amendment of the law as it applies in Scotland?

My attention has been drawn to that decision, but I am not prepared to give a pledge on the subject. The whole question of milk supply regulation is under consideration at the present time.