asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many auditors and assistant auditors have been appointed under the National Health Insurance Act; and whether it is proposed to make any further appointments?

Forty-two auditors have been appointed, and it is probable that a few more will be appointed from among those whose names have been under the consideration of the Selection Committee. Of the 204 candidates selected for examination for the post of senior auditor eighty are in course of appointment, and it is probable that a few more vacancies will be filled from the list resulting from the examination already held. A competitive examination for junior assistant auditors will be shortly held among candidates already nominated by the Committee of Selection. Probably about 150 appointments will be made from the result of this examination.

asked whether as 95 per cent, of the lace outworkers in Nottingham are married women, the concentration and unemployment resulting from the operation of the National Insurance Act would be far less if the married women were excluded from its benefits than has actually resulted from the inclusion of married and single women; and whether the Government will therefore consider the propriety of allowing both classes to contract out of the Act?

The whole question will be considered in connection with Mr. Pope's report on the result of his inquiry into the formal objection made to the Special Order including married women outworkers within the scope of the National Insurance Act. The Commissioners hope to receive this report at an early date. In the meantime I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject.

also asked whether boys aged from ten to twelve are now employed in London in the place of older boys and of men in order that employers may avoid the insurance tax; and, if so, what steps the Government proposes to take in view of the resulting interference with the education of the young boys in question?

I am not aware of any such cases. Boys of the ages mentioned are of course bound by law to attend school, and both parents and employers are liable to a fine if they are employed instead. Employment of boys under twelve outside school hours is stringently regulated by-laws made by the London County Council under the Employment of Children Act. Under these by-laws no child under eleven may be employed at all; and employment for those between eleven and twelve is only allowed within very limited hours. If the hon. Member will communicate any cases he has in mind to the Local Education Authorities concerned, I have no doubt they will take the necessary action through their school attendance officers to see that the law is observed.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether the National Insurance Commissioners have power to pay rent for an insured person who has been ordered domiciliary treatment for tuberculosis by the county medical officer and who is destitute owing to his inability to earn a living?

No, Sir, I am advised that the Commissioners have no power to authorise payments of insured persons' rent from the funds available for sanatorium benefit under the National Insurance Act. Sickness benefit of 10s. a week (or 7s. 6d. for women) will, however, be payable after the six months' waiting period under the ordinary conditions, to insured persons who are receiving domiciliary treatment in their own homes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated number of persons in the United Kingdom suffering from tuberculosis; whether he can state what number of persons are so suffering in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland respectively; and what proportion of the number so suffering are entitled to sanatorium benefit under the National Insurance Act?

The numbers of persons who died through tuberculosis in 1910 in England and Wales, in Scotland, and in Ireland were 51,317, 8,517, and 10,016 respectively. No figures are available as to the number of persons suffering at the present time, and no estimate could be formed except on the basis of an assumed ratio between deaths and cases, which is necessarily speculative and must vary in the different forms of tuberculosis. The proportion of tuberculous persons who may obtain treatment under the Insurance Act would, if insurance committees extend the benefit to dependants, ultimately exceed 50 per cent; but as only those who have been at work at some time since 15th July can be insured, the present proportion must be, and remain for some lime, very much lower.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) why Bernard Rider, of Aghakeeran, North Longford, has been deprived of his old age pension; is he aware that this man is in a very poor state, much poorer now than when he first got the pension; will the pension officer be directed to again inquire into this case with a view to the restoration of a pension at once; (2) why Terence Reilly, Carrickadorrish, No. 162 on North Longford pen- sion committee list, has been deprived of his pension after enjoying the same for some years; whether he is aware that all the fresh facts obtained by the local committee in this man's case strengthened his claim to the pension; will the same now be restored to him; (3) if he will state the facts which led to James Sexton, of Aughamore. North Longford, No. 152 on the sub-pension committee's list, being deprived of his old age pension; whether he is aware that the local pension committee asked the pension officer to give the facts on which he founded his objection, but that officer declined to do so; and whether he is aware that this man's means have rather declined than increased since he first got his pension; will he direct its immediate restoration to him; and (4) the reasons why Catherine Brady, Aghakeeran, county Longford (No. 491 on pension committee list), Bernard Harnian, Carrickadorrish (No. 654 on pension committee list), Mary Harnian, Carrickadorrish (No. 776 on pension committee list), and Rose Reilly, Aghacordrinan (No. 672 on pension committee list) have all been deprived of their old age pensions; whether the pension officer declined to furnish the local committee with the facts which led him to object to them; whether he is aware that on examination the local committee put them ail back on the register; and will he direct that their cases be specially inquired into before confirming the pension officer's objection?

I am making inquiries in regard to the seven cases mentioned in the lion. Member's four questions, and will inform him of the result in due course.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will see that Micke Coleman, of Graffogue, parish of Ardagh, County Longford, an old man of seventy-five years of age, and having no means of support, receives an old-age pension, as his brother's family are grown up now and his services are no longer required, nor is he any longer able to earn a livelihood?

Micke Coleman's claim for an old age pension was disallowed on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit, lie is living with and is supported by his brother, to whom he assigned his farm in 1909. The brother has also a farm of his own of about eighteen acres. The Local Government Board have no power to reopen consideration of this case.

asked the Chief Secretary the names of the members of the Local Government Board who sit in judgment on appeals from local pension officers against the decision of the local pension committees; whether any transcript is kept of their proceedings; how often they sit; and whether it is competent for a person whose pension is at stake to be represented before them?

The members of the Local Government Board who from time to time decide appeals are the President, the Vice-President, and Mr. Edmund Bourke, and such other persons as may be deputed to act on behalf of the Vice-President under Section 102 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898. The official records relating to the appeals show the rulings and proceedings of the Board. Appeals are dealt with daily. Any person whose right to a pension is questioned can make representations to the Board either in person, in writing, or through a solicitor or otherwise. Such representations are made in a great many instances and receive most careful consideration. Cases in which any reasonable doubt exists are generally investigated locally by one of the inspectors, who reports on the facts for the information of the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary whether it is proposed to continue the present process of striking off old age pensioners in receipt of the old age pension on the appeal of the local pension officer without giving the persons so attacked an opportunity of presenting their case before the appellate tribunal; and whether he will arrange in future to send each of them a notice of the case made against them and get their reply before, in every case, striking them off on the statement: of the pension officer?

It is not, as suggested by the hon. Member, the practice of the Local Government Board to disallow claims for pensions without reference to I the claimant or pensioner as the case may be. In every case, before a decision is given, the person concerned is informed of the objection made to his claim by the pension officer, and is given an opportunity of furnishing such evidence as he considers necessary.

asked whether Catherine Touchstone, of Ballybeg, Kilfinane, county Limerick, applied three years ago for an old age pension; whether evidence as to her being over the required age at that time was given by the local clergy and many other respectable witnesses; on what grounds was her claim refused on that occasion by the Local Government Board; whether she, lodged a claim again last August and had it passed by the local committee and supported by the pension officer, who stated publicly that this woman was, in his opinion, well over seventy years; why, in view of the pension officer's statement and all the other evidence produced, was her claim again rejected; is the Board aware that this applicant is totally blind and unable to do anything; and will the case be reconsidered?

Catherine Touchstone applied for an old age pension in 1909. The only evidence of age submitted by her consisted of unsubstantiated expressions of opinion by the local clergy and others, which could not be considered sufficient proof of her having attained the statutory age. She made a further claim in August last, and the pension officer reported that she appeared to be about seventy years of age. The inspector who investigated her case locally was unable to find any satisfactory evidence that she had reached the statutory age, and the. Local Government Board had therefore no option but to disallow her claim. It is not open to the Board to reconsider her case, but she can apply again.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that indignation exists amongst the members of the old age pension committees of county Longford at the action of the pension officers in dealing with claims passed by these committees; whether in some cases these officers refuse to give the commits tees any reason for their objections to claims passed by the committees; and will he direct that in future these officers attend all meetings of the local pensions committees?

As regards the first paragraph of the question I am making inquiries in regard to certain cases specified in other questions which the hon. Member has put down; and I will do the same in regard to any other cases of which he will give me the necessary particulars. Pension officers already have instructions to attend the meetings of the local pension committees, if invited to do so for some special reason, and if such attendance would not interfere unduly with the performance of their ordinary duties.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the loans for the erection of working men's dwellings at Granard has not yet been sanctioned; whether the inquiry took place so long ago as June, 1911; whether some twenty houses, at present in a most dilapidated state, were then condemned as wholly unfit for human occupation; and what steps he intends to take to expedite the completion of this scheme?

The inquiry was held at the time stated, and evidence of the nature referred to was given as to the existing houses. The council were seeking compulsory powers of purchase involving the appointment of an arbitrator, and it was necessary that the statutory requirements relating thereto should be fully complied with, and it was also found necessary to amend the original plans submitted, which gave rise to much delay. A sealed Order is now in preparation approving of the appropriation of one of the sites acquired for another purpose to housing purposes. This Order will be issued very shortly, and the Local Government Board will then be in a position to sanction a loan.

asked how many evicted tenants were reinstated in the county Cork during the quarter ended 30th September, 1912; and how many acres of land were acquired by compulsory and voluntary acquirement by the Estates Commissioners in Cork County during the same period?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that four evicted tenants were reinstated in county Cork during the quarter ended 30th September, 1912. No land in that county was acquired by the Commissioners during that quarter. On the 30th September last proceedings were pending before the Commissioners for the sale to them of over 20,000 acres in county Cork, and they will be dealt with according as the estates on which the lands are situate are reached in order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary what qualifications are held to be necessary to entitle an evicted tenant to the benefits of the Evicted Tenants Acts; how many evicted tenants were entitled to reinstatement; how many have been reinstated up to the present; how many cases remain to be dealt with; and when he anticipates the work of reinstatement will be completed?

As regards the first paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to Section 1 (2) (a) of the Evicted Tenants (Ireland) Act, 1907. The number of evicted tenants entitled to reinstatement is the number approved by the Estates Commissioners in the exercise of the discretion vested in them by Statute. Up to the present 3,169 evicted tenants or their representatives hare been reinstated in their former holdings or provided with new holdings on lands acquired by the Commissioners, and 334 are provisionally noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land as acquired. These cases are being dealt with as rapidly as possible.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that John Costello, who was evicted from his holding at Mayo Abbey, county Mayo, by his landlord, Michael Walsh, made an application under the Evicted Tenants Act, in due time, for reinstatement in his holding or for a new holding; whether all the other conditions qualifying him for relief under the Evicted Tenants Act were complied with; was Walsh informed by inspectors of the Commissioners who investigated his case that his application would be granted; and can he give any reason why the Commissioners have recently decided upon refusing to reinstate this evicted tenant or to give him any relief under the Act?

Costello was nor a tenant, but only a sub-tenant, at the time of his eviction, and the Estates Commissioners cannot interfere with the present occupier of the lands, nor do they intend to provide Costello with a holding elsewhere.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the estate of George John Bowen, townland of Skerge, barony of North-West Innishowen, electoral division of Burt, county Donegal, was sold to the tenants so long ago as the 1st May, 1908, and is not yet vested in the tenants; whether estates sold more recently in the same district are already vested; and whether he will have inquiry made and the vesting completed at an early date?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the vendor to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, purchase agreements signed by the tenants having been lodged with the Estates Commissioners in July, 1906, and it will be dealt with in order of priority on the principal register of direct sales (all cash). The Commissioners cannot identify from the particulars given the other estates referred to, but they may have been dealt with at an earlier date than the Bowen Estate because their owners elected to take payment wholly or partly in stock in accordance with the provision of Section 3 (2) of the Irish Land Act, 1909.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Royal Irish Constabulary are asked to report in every case about persons recommended for appointment to the Commission of the Peace; if so, will he state for how long this practice has prevailed; and whether it is one of their duties which are unpaid?

The Lord Chancellor informs me that when deemed necessary, inquiries of a confidential nature are made in respect of candidates for the magistracy. It is not considered desirable to state the various sources from which information is obtained.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the attention of the Congested Districts Board has been called to the want of a fishery pier at Gerhies, Bantry, county Cork; whether some of the inspectors of the Fishery Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction have recognised that want; and, seeing that the lives and property of 100 fisher men are in daily peril, whether he will cause steps to be taken to have a pier erected at Gerhies?

The attention of the Congested Districts Board has been called to the alleged want of landing accommodation at Gerhies, near Bantry, and the application has been referred for report to an inspection committee of the Board.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, if the Government of Ireland Bill becomes Law, the Irish Parliament will have power to pass a law respecting a licence to carry a gun to kill game; and, if so, whether the present £3 licence to kill game, which covers the whole of the United Kingdom, would then include Ireland?

The Irish Parliament will have power to increase the duty on the Excise Licence to kill game in Ireland, and, if they do so, the person killing game in Ireland must pay the extra, duty under the Irish law, which has force, in addition to the United Kingdom law, under Clauses 15 and 38 of the Bill.

asked the Postmaster-General why the whole or any of the first forty second-class engineers should not be advanced to the position of assistant engineers provided that the men are recognised as efficient and possess a clean record; is he aware that dissatisfaction prevails amongst these men owing to the fact that they have not received the promotion to which they believe themselves entitled; and will he endeavour to remove its cause?

As I have already announced, I have found myself able to advance forty-four additional second-class engineers to the new class of assistant engineers. The officers selected are the senior men who can be regarded as reaching the necessary standard of efficiency. The standard of efficiency required in the case of assistant engineers is considerably higher than that which was required in the case of second-class engineers and the number of posts smaller, and it was never contemplated that the whole body of second-class engineers would be advanced to the new class.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when he hopes to send the cruiser squadron to Queenstown Harbour?

It is intended to begin giving effect to these changes before the end of the year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state whether any additional cruisers, not "Invincibles," or auxiliary vessels are to be sent to the Mediterranean?

I have nothing at present to add to the public statement on this subject which was issued last September.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the seaworthiness of His Majesty's ship "Torch" was questioned by the captain of that ship when she was commissioned at Sydney; and, if so, what reply was made to his representations?

No information to this effect has been received except in a statement left at the Admiralty by the late commanding officer of the "Torch" in June last. A copy of the statement was sent to the Commander-in-Chief for report on the 30th July, and he has telegraphed that his reply is on its way, and will reach the Admiralty at the end of this month.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has received any official information to the effect that the new Austrian shipbuilding programme to replace their obsolete "Monarch" division of battleships is to consist of three battleships of the largest type, each to be armed with ten 13.4-inch guns?

There is no official information, but according to Austrian Press reports the Austro-Hungarian Minister of Marine, in a speech delivered to the Delegations, said that as other countries had adopted guns of larger calibre than 12-inch, Austria-Hungary would follow suit, and that this would necessitate an increased displacement in any future battleships.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the amount allotted in the Estimates to new construction in each year from 1906–7 to 1911–12, inclusive, and the amount actually spent; and whether he anticipates being able to spend the total amount taken for new construction this year both in the ordinary and the supplemental Estimates?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to Parliamentary Paper No. 300 of this year. It is too early in the financial year to give a definite reply to the latter part of the question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the standard of present superiority of the British Fleet in large armoured ships of the "Dreadnought" type and of pre-"Dreadnought" battleships combined is in the ratio of two to one to the similar ships of the next strongest naval Power; whether such standard depends largely upon our superiority in pre-"Dreadnought" battleships; and, if so, whether, as the said pre-"Dreadnought" ships become obsolete, it is the intention of the Admiralty to replace them by larger ships of the "Dreadnought" type in such ratio as to keep up the above standard of two to one?

The reply to the first part of the question is m the negative. With regard to the remainder of the question, I have nothing to add to the full statement I made to the House on the 18th March last.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to a report of the Italian Minister of Marine to the Italian Parliament to the effect that the life of the British wire-wound big gun is far shorter than the life of the built-up big guns of the Austrian and German navies; and whether he is prepared to make any statement to the House as to the durability of our wire-wound big guns?

The report has been received. I am advised that it would not be in the public interest to make any statement on this matter. The information given in the report as to the probable life of British guns is quite inaccurate. No ground for dissatisfaction or anxiety exists.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, during the late manœuvres, any retired officers were called upon to serve in the Fleet, either by order or voluntarily; whether any of them presented bills for payment of uniform; if so, how many; and, if so, whether the Admiralty declined to pay for their uniforms, stating that these officers were only called upon for manœuvres and not for war or an emergency?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Some of these officers having availed themselves of the exceptional terms of retirement offered in 1909 were under an obligation to place their services at the disposal of the Admiralty if called upon to do so. These officers were reminded of their obligation. No officers have presented bills for payment of expenses of uniform, but five have claimed payment of an outfit allowance and their applications are at present under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the duties which Sir Philip Watts, lately chief constructor, is now performing at the Admiralty; what are the terms of his present engagement; and how is he remunerated for his services?

Sir Philip Watts, as announced on 30th July, has been retained temporarily on retirement in the capacity of adviser on naval construction to the Board. His duties consist of advising on questions arising in connection with designs of ships building or projected on his plans for which he will remain responsible, and on such other matters as may be referred to him. During such time as he is acting in this capacity he receives a retaining fee of £1,000 a year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the fact that Osborne College is still unprovided with a swimming bath, that the cadets there are not allowed to bathe on the beach, and that no steps are taken to teach them swimming; and whether, in view of the fact that the cadets are being trained for the Navy, he will take immediate steps to provide them with facilities for learning to swim?

The Board of Admiralty are fully alive to the desirability of providing the cadets at Osborne College with adequate facilities for practising swimming, and the question of proceeding with the construction of a swimming bath is at present engaging their attention.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will make it compulsory for warrant officer clerks to retire at the age of forty-five years, as is done in the case of the regimental warrant officer, provided that they have then qualified for 4s. per diem pension, or as soon after as they are eligible for that rate of pension, a period of six months' notice being given to all warrant officer clerks immediately affected who would be compulsorily retired under such decision?

The warrant officer clerk is permitted to serve on to a later age than the regimental warrant officer, as his work is not considered to require the bodily activity necessary in the case of a combatant soldier. I am not at present aware of any good reasons for the change suggested in the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether, in the event of a formal inquiry being held to inquire into questions connected with Artillery clerks, he will allow a small number of Artillery clerks, representing each grade of those whose prospects of promotion are involved, to give personal evidence of their views at such inquiry; (2) whether he is aware of the stagnation in promotion existing in the Artillery clerks' section, Royal Artillery, due chiefly to the fact that since 1909 warrant officer clerks have not been treated as eligible for promotion to district officer and the fact that warrant officer clerks are permitted to serve to the age of fifty years, whereas the age for compulsory retirement of the regimental warrant officer is forty-five years; whether at the time that the present warrant officer clerks adopted a clerical career, for which a higher standard of education was demanded than was required from the duty soldier, warrant officer clerks were promoted to district officer in their turn according to their seniority on a general roll of the warrant officers of the Royal Artillery; whether they now find that, notwithstanding that in several cases they possess educational and professional qualifications not attained to by any regimental warrant officer, they are being superseded by their juniors at regimental duty; whether this blocks the prospects of warrant officer clerks and stops the flow of promotion through the junior ranks of the section; and (3) whether, when further selections for the position of district officer are being made, he will inquire for and accept as decisive the opinion, to be based on personal knowledge, of the general officer under whom the warrant officer clerk is immediately serving as to the latter's individual suitability for promotion to district officer, instead of holding warrant officer clerks as a class ineligible for this position under a general ruling, or, failing this, whether he will cause to be instituted a competitive professional examination for the position of district officer, open to all warrant officers of the Royal Artillery, including clerks, and award such commissions in accordance with the comparative merits shown by the candidates at such examination?

A Committee has been appointed to consider the question of stagnation of promotion in the Artillery clerk section and will no doubt take any evidence it may require. Prior to 1909 warrant officer clerks were promoted to district officer in their turn on the general roll of warrant officers of the Royal Artillery if recommended by their general officer commanding for such promotion. It was, however, decided that it was undesirable to promote those warrant officers who lacked the professional qualifications acquired by experience with troops which are necessary for district officers, and since 1909 warrant officers who have not had sufficient service with troops have not been selected for promotion. There is no intention of reversing this decision or of instituting a competitive professional examination for such promotion.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many horses are required on mobilisation to complete to war strength a Field Artillery Brigade on the higher establishment, and how many to complete a brigade on the lower establishment?

The peace establishments are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to reduce or abolish the lower foundation of the Military Knights of Windsor; and, if so, will he state, the reason for the reduction?

I am not at present in a position to make any statement on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider the advisability of having Section 78, c. 50, of 5 and 6 Will. IV., strictly enforced, or at any rate the proviso in the said Section compelling wagons, carts, or other carriages, or horses, mules, or other beasts of burden to keep on the left or near side of the road for the purpose of allowing the free and uninterrupted passage of persons, carts, carriages, etc.?

The police are instructed to enforce, and do as a rule successfully enforce, the Section in question, though it is necessarily subject to certain exceptions due to the presence of tramcars on single lines, of waiting vehicles at the side of the road, and other causes. The London County Council have now under consideration a by-law requiring slow-moving vehicles in the principal streets to keep close to the kerb on the left, and if this by-law is adopted, it will, I hope, be of some assistance in this matter.

asked the Home Secretary if he is now able to state the decision of the Law Officers of the Crown on the question submitted to them on 5th August, which related to the grounds on which the Home Office refuses its consent to the decision of the standing joint committee of the Durham County Council to pay Police-constable J. Welsh, after ten years and eleven months' service in the force, a pension according to Scale B of the Police Act, 1890?

I am unable at present to state the decision arrived at, but if my hon. Friend will postpone his question for ten days or a fortnight I hope that I shall then be in a position to reply.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is yet in a position to announce the result of the recent consideration of the question of the establishment of a mint, or mints, in India for the unrestricted coinage of gold?

A dispatch was sent to the Government of India by the mail of 18th October. It would not be in accordance with usage to make public its contents until they have had time to consider ii. The Secretary of State will ascertain from them whether they are willing that a statement should be made shortly.

asked whether the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation has admitted any other parties to the British group of the six-Power group; and whether any British houses, other than the Eastern Bank, approached His Majesty's Government or the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation for admission to the British group?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Applications by other British houses for admission to the British group have been received by His Majesty's Government, and an answer has in each case been returned to them similar to that given to the Eastern Bank and published in the correspondence recently laid before Parliament. I am not in a position to say who may or may not have approached the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs if any of the recommendations of the Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the constitution of the Consular Service in 1903 have been given effect to; and, if so, will he indicate the main changes that have taken place?

The answer to the first part of the question of the hon. Member is in the affirmative; the limit of age for admission to the General Consular Service has been placed at twenty-two to twenty-seven, and all members of the salaried service are required to serve as Vice-Consul in order to qualify for promotion to the rank of Consul. A system of competitive examination has been introduced. Any natural born British subject who produces satisfactory recommendation as to character can appear before a Board of Selection appointed by the Secretary of State to recommend candidates for permission to compete in the examination. The posts have been divided into grades as suggested by the Committee, and the salaries in each grade have been equalised as far as possible.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further information to give respecting British subjects imprisoned in the Conga State?

The Acting Vice-Consul at Elisabethville states that one British subject was imprisoned from 22nd May to 19th June last, when he was released on bail. He has now been sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, but is at present at liberty pending the result of an appeal. Another British subject was imprisoned before being sentenced as there was some reason to expect his flight from the country. This man has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the numbers of the inhabitants of Scutari, Uskub, and Ardianople, distinguishing the numbers of the chief races and faiths in each case?

The information required by the hon. Member is to be found in the page of the Annuaire Oriental, published in Constantinople. The figures contained in the 1912 edition of this work are:—Adrianople, total population 83,008, of which there are, 40,437 Turks, 23,342 Greeks and Bulgarians, 15,416 Jews, 3,290 Armenians, and 500 Catholics.Scutari, total population 45,000. No classification of inhabitants according to to their nationality is given.Uskub, total population 70,000, of which there are 33,000 Turks, 10,000 Bulgarians, Servians and Greeks, 3,000 Jews, 1,200 foreigners.I cannot vouch for the accuracy of these statistics, nor, at such a moment, are detailed statistics likely to be available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the scales of pay, table-money, and other allowances, including particulars as to uniform, victualling, and superannuation, for masters, first and second mates, and first and second engineers, respectively, and also for boatswains, carpenters, stewards, cooks, seamen, and firemen, respectively, on vessels in the service of the Commisioners of Northern Lighthouses; and if he can say in general terms how these scales compare with the corresponding scales on vessels in the service of

The scales of pay and other allowances for officers and crews on vessels in the service of the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses are practically the same as the corresponding scales on vessels in the service of the Trinity House and the Commissioners of Irish Lights. They are as follows:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade the result of his inquiry regarding the charge of 31s. 3d. made for the carriage of the body and chassis of a motor side-car from Birmingham to Kenmare; and whether a refund has been made to the consignee?

It has been ascertained that, through a clerical error, an overcharge of 19s. 3d. was made in this instance. The railway company concerned express their regret for the mistake, and have arranged for the amount overcharged to be refunded.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can supply any information as to the ownership of the ss. "Bodo" in respect to whether she is a genuinely British ship and flying the British flag; and whether this steamer left Brunswick, Georgia, on or about 19th September last, flying the British flag, with her captain, officers, and crew wholly foreigners?

A provisional certificate of British ownership was granted to the ss. "Bodo" by the British Vice-Consul at Brunswick, Georgia, on 6th September. It appears from the declaration of ownership that the vessel is owned by a company incorporated at Nassau, Bahamas. I understand that for the voyage commencing 20th September two firemen were of British nationality.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, as the result of I he reduction in the number of surveyors' districts, or for any other reason, it is proposed to ear-mark several of the large postmasterships for assistant surveyors; if so, whether he has considered the effect of this proposal upon the prospects of postmasters, seeing that nineteen of the twenty-six offices carrying salaries of £625 and over are now filled by officers who were originally on the survey staff or attached to headquarters; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

It is not proposed to ear-mark any postmasterships for assistant surveyors.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been drawn to the circumstances under which William Henry Corkhill, an auxiliary postman in Douglas, Isle of Man, has been sentenced to six months' hard labour for stealing two postal orders, valued at 20s. and 14s. 6d., respectively, and two penny stamps; whether, seeing that Corkhill was paid at the rate of 15s. 9d. per week and had great difficulty in supporting himself thereon, he can recommend a reduction of the sentence; and whether he will consider the possibility of removing temptation of this kind by the payment of a living wage to both regular and auxiliary postmen in the Isle of Man?

I am aware of the case to which the hon. Member refers. Corkhill was engaged for about six hours a day during the holiday season, and he was paid at the usual rate for the work performed. He received extra pay for any additional work, and I understand that he received, on an average, from the Post Office a little over a pound a week. He is an unmarried man, and was living with his relatives. I have no power to interfere with the judgment of the Court; and I cannot admit that the man was underpaid for his Post Office work or was exposed to any particular temptation.

asked the Postmaster-General the average wage paid to telephonists in Glasgow other than those transferred from the National Telephone Company who have seven or more than seven years' service; the average wage paid to telephonists in Glasgow other than those transferred from the National Telephone Company who have five but not more than seven years' service; and the average wage paid to telephonists in Glasgow other than those transferred from the National Telephone Company who have three and a half but not more than five years' service?

The average pay of the telephonists employed within the Glasgow town area (other than those transferred from the National Telephone Company) is estimated at 25s. 1d. a week for the officers included in the first group, 21s. 10d. a week for the second group, and 19s. 5d. a week for the third group.

asked the Postmaster-General the average wage paid by the Department to telephonists in Glasgow who were transferred from the National Telephone Company, and who have seven years or more combined National Telephone Company and General Post Office service; the average wage paid by the Department to telephonists in Glasgow who were transferred from the National Telephone Company, and who have five years but not more than seven years combined National Telephone Company and General Post Office service; and the average wage paid by the Department to telephonists in Glasgow who were transferred from the National Telephone Company, and who have three and a half years but not more than five years combined National Telephone Company and General Post Office service?

The average pay of the telephonists in Glasgow transferred from the National Telephone Company included in the first and second groups referred to in the hon. Member's question is 19s. a week; the average for the third group is estimated at 18s. 4d. a week.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there are ex-policemen with pensions, amounting in some cases to 22s. per week, employed in his service as night operators in the telephone department, for which a commencing wage of only £1 a week is paid; and whether, having regard to the fact that such appointments must exclude some men who are not in receipt of other income from employment as night operators and also depress the wages of those night operators who are solely dependent on their earnings, he will give preference, at a living wage, to those who require work for their own maintenance and the maintenance of their families, if they have any?

It has been the practice of the Post Office to select for employment as night operators in London ex-soldiers and ex-sailors where such persons are available, but no preference is given to pensioners. I am informed that there are no pensioned policemen employd as night operators in London. The majority of night operators in the provinces were engaged by the National Telephone Company, and have entered the Post Office service by transfer. I am not in a position to say upon what principle they were selected. The question of the pay of night operators will no doubt come before the Select Committee which is now inquiring into the wages of Post Office servants.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture the cause of the delay in granting permission to forward livestock from Dublin to Birkenhead and Glasgow which occurred on last Friday and Saturday?

Perhaps the hon. Member will supply me with particulars of the cases to which he refers, so far as Birkenhead is concerned. As regards Glasgow, I believe that some little delay arose owing to the fact that the stock coming forward was in excess of the accommodation available there.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that only three outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred in the counties of Fermanagh, Kildare, and Westmeath during the month of October, and that all the rest of Ireland has been declared free from disease; whether he is aware that about half a million of animals have been imported into Great Britain without any sympton of disease; and whether, under those circumstances, he will favourably consider the resumption of normal transit conditions, pius inspection, from the uninfected areas of Ireland to various markets and places in Great Britain.

I am aware that during the past month no outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in Ireland outside the three counties mentioned by the hon. Member, but in my judgment it cannot as yet be safely assumed that the rest of the country is free from disease, and I know of no declaration which has been issued to that effect. I am however watching the position very closely, with a view to the modification of our existing requirements at the earliest possible moment consistent with safety. The fact that no case of the disease has been discovered in the large number of animals which have been imported either for slaughter or detention is certainly a factor in the matter which must be borne in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the fact that the education authority has ordered improvements in the Church school, to cost about £120, in the parish of Bromham, Wilts, one-half of the land in which parish is the property of the Crown; whether he has refused to make any contribution, as landlord, towards the expense of the improvement of the schools; and, if so, whether there is any reason for exceptional treatment in this case, or whether it is a settled policy I of his Department to give no assistance to I Church schools and throw the whole onus I of their maintenance upon private owners of property?

I am aware of the facts, but I am not able to authorise payments of money from Crown funds to be spent on schools not under complete public control.