asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the monopoly granted to the Hong Kong and Shanghai group for financial transactions with China, the Government will undertake that all British merchants and manufacturers shall have an equal opportunity of tendering for all Chinese Imperial Government or provincial Government contracts, and that the said financial group will be excluded, seeing that they are a monopoly, from making any condition in regard to the commercial side of the business which must be left free to all.

The exclusive support given by His Majesty's Government to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank is in respect of finance only, and industrial contracts will be subject, as in the past, to open tender.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the bulk of the money loaned comes from either Great Britain or France, but the bulk of the commercial advantages pass to other countries, who appear in the first instance—

That does not arise out of the question on the Paper.

asked whether the Paredes Report, referred to in the Putumayo Blue Book, was transmitted to the Foreign Department of the United States by the Peruvian Government with any conditions of secrecy attached thereto?

The covering Note transmitting the Paredes Report to His Majesty's Minister at Lima referred to it as a secret Report. Doubtless the same terms were used in communicating it to the United States Minister.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the dispatch from Mr. Knox to Mr. Mitchell-Innes of 24th May, 1912, saying that the Government had taken great interest in the Report and so on, there is no indication whatever that that Report was granted to them on any conditions of secrecy?

I think that is very likely true, but it is also probably true that the Report was communicated in the same way to the two Governments.

Is the hon. Gentleman also aware that the United States took immediate action and that we took none?

We had taken a great deal of action before.

Ts the hon. Gentleman aware that during last year 2,000,000 pounds of rubber were exported from Iquitos after the exposure had been made?

Yes, I am aware of that.

asked what is the present state of affairs in Constantinople; and what measures are being taken by the Powers to preserve order?

In answer to the first question, I would refer to the answer I gave to the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition on the 5th instant, which describes the situation as we still believe it to be. In answer to the second question, the Powers have dispatched warships to Constantinople for the protection of their nationals, and chartered merchant ships for their accommodation, should such measures prove necessary; and, up to noon to-day ten warships, apart from the four stationnaires, had actually arrived, including His Majesty's ship "Weymouth" and His Majesty's ship "Hampshire." I may add that His Majesty's ship "Prometheus" is at Beyrout and His Majesty's ship "Barham" at Alexandretta. Some of His Majesty's ships are at Smyrna and Salonica, and other ships are within reach of Constantinople at Besika Bay should the Ambassador require their assistance.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, in view of the overcrowded condition of the Venetian rooms in the National Gallery and the necessity of finding suitable space for the newly bequeathed Layard collection of Venetian pictures, it is proposed to further enlarge the Gallery; and, if so, whether he is prepared to receive representations on the subject before any action is decided upon?

The First Commissioner is quite ready to receive representations on the question of enlarging the National Gallery. A request for increased accommodation cannot, however, be considered until it has been put forward by the trustees.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is in a position to make any statement as to the group of statuary which it is proposed to place upon the Admiralty arch?

The proposal to place statuary upon the roof of the Admiralty Arch has been abandoned.

asked what applications have been received by the Development Commissioners to date from Ireland; how many Grants have been made; the aggregate amount of these Grants; and whether any applications have not as yet been dealt with?

The hon. Member will find in the appendices to the first and second Reports of the Development Commissioners the details of twenty-seven applications received from Ireland by the Development Commissioners up to 31st March, 1912. Nine applications have been received since that date. The Commissioners have recommended advances to the aggregate amount of £150,360 in respect of nine applications. Seventeen applications have been refused. Nine applications are still under consideration; one has been withdrawn.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the total sum allocated to Ireland under the Road Board scheme; the amount allocated to each county or local authority; the amounts actually paid to date; will he state the basis on which Ireland's proportion is calculated; whether the original scheme of allocations amongst local authorities in Ireland propounded by the Road Board has been altered in any respect; and, if so, what?

The total sum allocated by the Road Board to Ireland out of the income of the Road Improvement Fund up to the 31st March, 1912, was £203,528. As stated in the first annual Report of the Board, this amount is based on the ratio of the population to Ireland to that of the other parts of the United Kingdom. I will circulate with the Votes a table showing the amounts granted to the several counties, which are based on the consideration of the applications and circumstances relating to each county. The only scheme propounded by the Board to local authorities in Ireland was a general scheme for dealing with a large mileage of Irish roads, suggested by the chairman for the consideration of Irish county authorities at a meeting held in Dublin on 7th March, 1911, of which a Report is printed in Appendix 15 to the Board's first annual Report. The Board have no knowledge as to whether the Irish County Councils have taken or intend to take any steps to consider the scheme suggested.—[See Written Answers this date.]

How much of the sum allocated has been paid over?

The hon. Gentleman must give me notice.

asked whether the coins now being issued from the Royal Mint are tested by the sclerescope for hardness and durability; and whether the coinage of the present period may be expected to preserve all the marks of impression longer than previous issues?

It would not be possible to test each individual coin of a large issue, but the results obtained by laboratory experiments with a sclerescope are used as a guide in manufacture. The answer to the second part of the hon. Member's question depends upon the particular designs chosen for comparison, but I understand that, speaking generally, the durability of the present coinage is as great as that of former coinages.

asked whether it has been proposed to destroy or sell as waste paper consideralbe numbers of memoirs published by the Geological Survey for which there has been no demand for some years; whether, before consenting to this, the Treasury will consider whether they might be advantageously distributed amongst public libraries or offered at reduced prices to local scientific associations; and whether, in view of the difficulty experienced in handling these memoirs, the Treasury is considering some more popular method of publishing valuable records than those which it has hitherto adopted?

I am not aware of the proposal outlined in the hon. Member's question, but I shall be glad to make inquiries into the matter.

Will steps be taken to distribute these presentations in future among the various public libraries?

I will note the suggestion.

asked whether the Treasury has yet considered the recommendations as to printing, binding, and publishing Public Records made on page 30 of the Report of the Royal Commission on Public Records; and whether, as a consequence, the public may hope that future volumes will be cheaper and be printed in sufficiently large editions to prevent their prices being forced up owing to their scarcity?

No decision has yet been reached in this matter.

asked what is the number of surveyors of Customs and Excise in the Port of London on 28th October, 1912; how many of these have been approved and appointed as inspectors of tea under Section 30 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875; and how many were employed upon this duty on that date?

The number of surveyors in the Port of London on 28th October, 1912, was thirty-six, and the number approved and appointed as inspectors of tea was seventeen. Some ten of these surveyors were employed on the date in question in districts where the duty of inspecting tea ordinarily occurs, but I cannot say whether all of them actually had occasion to inspect tea on that date.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the practice amongst all recognised fair employers of labour to permit of personal representations being made by their employés before altering their conditions of remuneration, he will consider the advisability of receiving a deputation from the tea inspectors in the Customs Department in order to enable them to state their case against the abolition of their special remuneration for special duties imposed under Section 30 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875?

I do not think any useful purpose would be served by receiving a deputation on this subject.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that only inspectors of tea specially appointed under Section 30 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875, and approved by the Treasury, can perform the duty of tea inspection; whether it is proposed to continue appointing such inspectors in the future; and whether, seeing that these special duties have hitherto carried a salary of £30 per annum, he will explain why these expert duties are to be imposed without specific remuneration; and whether it is the custom to abolish long-standing allowances in such a manner?

I am aware that inspectors of tea are appointed as such under Section 30 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875. Such appointments will continue to be made as a matter of course. As to the reason for abolishing the old extra allowances of £30, I must refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 28th ultimo.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the acknowledged increase in the cost of living since 1896, he will review the salary scale of assistant clerks, bearing in mind the fact that the purchasing power of money has depreciated by 12 to 15 per cent., approximately, since 1896; whether, in view of the opinions which have been expressed before the Royal Commission on the Civil Service by the heads of many Government Departments, including the Treasury, that the line of demarcation between the duties of assistant clerks and second division clerks ceases now to exist in many instances and is very faint in the majority of cases, he is satisfied that the proportion between the salary scale of assistant clerks, namely, £45 to £150, and that of second division clerks, namely, £70 to £300, is commensurate with that between the duties actually discharged by these two bodies of clerks; and whether he will consider whether Clause 44 of the Order in Council, 10th January, 1910, requires some reconsideration and amendment?

I do not think I can anticipate the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that the North Camberwell Radical Club, of 352, St. James's Road, Old Kent Road, held on the 26th ultimo a boxing gala on their premises, at which two well-known professional boxers were advertised to appear; that in consequence of this and similar proceedings complaints have been received by the police from residents in the neighbourhood; and will he say what action he intends to take in the matter?

My attention has not been drawn to this, and the Commissioner of Police informs me that nothing is known to the police of the boxing gala referred to, or of any similar proceedings; and they have received no complaints on the subject.

Is it legal for any club to have a boxing gala if it wants?

That question should be addressed to the Law Officers of the Crown.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the variety concert entertainments which are advertised to take place on Sunday mornings and evenings on the premises of Liberal and Progressive clubs in London and district; whether he is aware that, in the issue of the 26th ultimo of a journal known as "Club Life," the Walthamstow Liberal Club advertised that it had made an entire change of brewers and was providing for Sunday afternoon a star dramatic turn entitled "A Snug Little Kingdom," and that on the same date the Hackney Liberal Club advertised a continuation of their light ning variety programmes for Sunday morning and evening, and the Central Finsbury Radical Club a continuous Sunday variety entertainment; whether such clubs are fully licensed for dancing and music on Sundays and week-days; and, if so, will he say what is the annual cost of such licence?

I understand that concerts and entertainments take place in many working men's clubs in the metropolis on Sundays, admission being restricted to members and their friends. This is the case at the three clubs named, and, in these circumstances, the clubs are, I am advised, not required to take out the licences applicable to places kept for public dancing and music and other public entertainments of the like kind.

Can these entertainments go on all night or is an hour fixed when they have to stop?

I should have to have notice of any question of that kind.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any communication from the local Free Church Council on the subject?

I must have notice of that question.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the fact that the hon. Gentleman who puts the question took part in a Primrose League gathering in his constituency, and that his speech was sandwiched in between a tightrope performance and a comic song?

asked the Home Secretary whether, having regard to the loss of life at the recent fire at Messrs. John Barker and Company, of Kensington, he will consider the expediency of providing by enactment that automatic fire alarms should be installed in all large business houses where a considerable staff is employed?

I have communicated with the London County Council, who are the fire authority for London, and am informed that, according to the most recent particulars in their possession, automatic fire alarms have been installed in some 200 premises in London, but that, although a considerable number of calls from these alarms have been received by the fire brigade, in only one case was an outbreak of fire found to have occurred. Under powers obtained in 1908, the council in authorising the erection of large buildings for the use of trade or manufacture require the provision of fire appliances including automatic sprinklers and of direct telephonic communication with the nearest station, but so far have not required the use of automatic fire alarms. On the facts before me, I am not prepared to recom- mend legislation in the direction suggested. The point of supreme importance in large business houses is that there should be adequate means of escape from all parts.

Having regard to the fact that this affects the community as a whole, will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether he can appoint a small Committee, say one official of the Home Office, one of the county council, and a fire brigade expert, to inquire into the whole subject?

I will consider the point suggested by the Noble Lord.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Croydon County Council have constituted their whole body of fifty-six members as their Lunacy Visiting Committee; and whether this procedure is in accordance with the advice and opinion of the Lunacy Commissioners?

The Croydon Borough Council have proposed to constitute their whole body of fifty-six members as their Lunacy Visiting Committee, entirely contrary to the advice and opinion of the Lunacy Commissioners, and a case is being submitted to the Law Officers of the Crown as to whether the proposed action of the council would be legal under the Lunacy Acts.

asked the Home Secretary whether Mr. Denman, on the 28th ultimo, at the Marlborough Street Police Court, committed to the Sessions a youth of sixteen, charged with improper conduct, as an incorrigible rogue and vagabond, expressing, with an oath, the hope that the Sessional magistrates would order him to be flogged; whether it is the view of the Home Office that such a punishment is calculated to instil into the boy's mind ideas of purity and virtue; and what is the minimum age at which a boy may become incorrigible within the meaning of the legal term?

I have inquired into this case, and have received from the magistrate a report, in which he says: "Having only too often of late been obliged to descant upon the appalling increase in this neighbourhood in crimes of this shocking character, I took this opportunity of pointing out how inadequate at present are the powers of the magistrates to suppress them; and I did (not with an oath as suggested, but with fervent and heartfelt emphasis) express the hope that the Sessions would inflict corporal punishment for second offences, stating it to be my firm conviction, founded on many years' experience at this Court, that the power to inflict and in proper cases the infliction of that form of punishment for this class of crime has become a great necessity in the public interest." In view of the evidence given in this case, I am not surprised that he should express himself strongly. The Vagrancy Act does not fix any age limit for the conviction of an offender as an incorrigible rogue.

Is it, or is it not, an oath to say, "I wish to God they would flog him"?

May I ask whether the use of the knout would not be more appropriate than the use of the "cat"?

No, Sir.

asked if the Home Secretary, for the information of Members of the House, will have exhibited in the Library or the Tea Room the instrument and the frame by which flogging is administered to prisoners?

I do not think any useful purpose would be served by such an exhibition.

Is it not possible to have photographs or pictures of the various forms of torture employed in other countries so that hon. Members may make their selection?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he does not think that the Members of the House should have the opportunity of seeing the instrument of flogging before they give a vote?

May I ask whether it is not the duty of hon. Members to visit the places and see the details for themselves?

If my hon. Friend, or any hon. Member, is anxious to see the instrument I shall be very happy to show him specimens at the Home Office. I may say to my hon. Friend that the birch in use is the ordinary kind in use, and very familiar to schoolboys.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that drivers of motor vehicles not infrequently make excessive use of warning instruments; and whether the terms of reference to the Committee which he is about to appoint will include an investigation into this subject?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In regard to the second part it will be open to the Committee to consider the matter so far as it bears on the occurrence of accidents.

asked if the reference to the Committee on London Motor Omnibus Traffic will include the question of the damage done to the road surface and to property adjoining the routes used by the omnibuses?

The answer is in the negative.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a widespread feeling amongst local authorities owing to the way the rates are increased by damage to the road surface and will not the reference include the possibility of that matter being considered?

This question may be considered later. The hon. Member presses me to lose no time in putting a stop to accidents, and therefore we propose, first of all, to address ourselves to the question of accidents.

Will the Inquiry not also include the damage to shopkeepers and others caused by the fixing of routes?

That may be a question for later discussion, but at the present time we have to dispose of the question of accidents.

Will the Committee have power to consider the routes in relation to accidents?

That will obviously depend upon the routes taken so far as liability to accident is concerned.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he does not consider it well to discourage these questions by refusing to make answers while the question is sub judice before a Committee of this House?

The Committee has not yet been appointed. As soon as it has been appointed I will bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman has said.

asked how many persons have been killed in the London police area, including the City, since 1st January last by motor omnibuses belonging to the London General Omnibus Company?

For the Metropolitan Police district and the City combined the figures are 125, from the 1st January to the end of October.

Has not any director of this company been held responsible in any way for these 125 deaths in ten months?

Is not that very nearly a man every other day? Surely it is surprising.

It must be a question of law as to liability.

Will the right hon. Gentleman refer to the Law Officers of the Crown the fact that 125 deaths have occurred in the case of this one trust or company alone, and also the evidence given at the inquests that the terms on which the men are paid is an inducement to them to drive furiously?

I do not think those questions are relevant to the matter. Besides, the mere fact that the trust is so very largo to some extent explains the number of accidents.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult the Law Officers?

On a point of Order. May I ask, Sir, whether the questions that are now being answered by the Home Secretary are not prejudging the matter, which is referred to a Committee of this House?

As long as the Home Secretary confines himself to a statement of facts, I do not see how that can be so.

asked how many persons have been killed in the London police area, including the City, since the 1st January last by each of the following classes of vehicles: Motor omnibuses, taxi- cabs, all other classes of motor vehicles, mechanically propelled trams, and horse-drawn vehicles, respectively?

For the period from 1st January to the end of October the figures are as follows:—

Mechanically propelled trams	23
Motor omnibuses	143
Taxi-cabs	29
Other motor vehicles	109
Horse-drawn vehicles	124

asked how many persons were killed in London by other than motor-drawn vehicles, e.g., horse-drawn vehicles and non-motor bicycles and tricycles, in London in October; and whether the Home Department compares the mortality arising in both cases?

The figures for the Metropolitan Police district are:—

By carts and vans	…	…	10
By omnibuses	…	…	1
By broughams	…	…	1
By cycles	…	…	1

The cycle accident which resulted in a person being killed occurred in September, but the death took place in October. The comparative mortality arising from different classes of vehicles is published every year in an appendix to the Report of the Commissioner of Police, and a Return has been issued annually since 1908 from the Home Office showing fatal and non-fatal accidents caused by different classes of motor and horse-drawn vehicles.

Has not the motor omnibus service proved of great utility?

That is a matter of argument.

asked the Home Secretary if the lack of any systematic arrangements for providing refreshment for the men of the Metropolitan Police force called away from their own districts for long hours of duty at State functions, special emergencies, and strikes has been the subject of representations; and if he has any information showing that the omission to inaugurate an efficient system of commissariat in charge of a permanent department, and the grounds advanced for not taking steps to prevent the possibility of a recurrence of recent regrettable conditions, are regarded favourably by the police themselves?

The Commissioner of Metropolitan Police informs me that he has received no representations on the subject referred to except such as are implied in questions which have recently been put in this House. He is not aware of the recent regrettable conditions to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Home Secretary if he can say how many days were spent by the Metropolitan Police recruiting staff in Scotland when fifty-eight recruits were obtained; how the recruiting staff is constituted and what is the weekly cost in salaries; did the £150 expended in obtaining fifty-eight recruits include the railway fares of the recruits to London or do recruits pay their own fares; and, as the fifty-eight recruits from Scotland cost £2 10s. per recruit, exclusive of pay of permanent recruiting staff, on what calculation has the sum of 5s. per recruit offered to police pensioners for recruiting been based?

Sixteen days were occupied. The recruiting staff consisted of a medical officer, three members of the permanent staff and a constable, and the aggregate weekly salary (exclusive of the medical officer's fees) would be about £24. This expenditure, however, would have been incurred whether a recruiting party had been sent to Scotland or not. Railway fares are not paid for recruits. It is hoped that the fee of 5s. per recruit to pensioners will prove sufficient inducement to the latter to act as recruiting agents.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that in a Division taken in this House on 1st November last, on an Amendment to Clause 2 of the Criminal Law Amendment Bill, the effect of which Amendment was to authorise a Court before which a male person is convicted of an offence under Section 2 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885, to order such person to be flogged for a first offence under such Section, being Division No. 288 of this Session, three Members of this House who had intended to vote against such Amendment voted in the No Lobby by mistake; and whether, in view of the fact that there was actually a majority in this House against such Amendment, the Government will take steps to restore the Clause to its original form?

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask whether he is also aware that a large number of Members on this side of the House who were in favour of the Amendment left the House through a misunderstanding before the Division was called, and that, but for that fact, the majority in favour of the Amendment would have been very much greater than it was?

As to the question of the hon. Member for the Fareham Division (Mr. Lee), I cannot say. In reply to my hon. Friend (Mr. Greenwood), the Division List is the only official record of Members' votes. This particular Division was left to the unfettered judgment of the House, and I am afraid it is now impossible to go back upon the decision then taken.

May I ask whether, under the old system of taking Divisions in such a case as this, Members who went to the Clerk at the Table and stated the circumstances would not have had the matter rectified in the Division list?

That question should be addressed to the Speaker.

May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether, under the old system in such a case as this, Members who went to the Table as soon as they found they had voted in the wrong Lobby could not have had the Division list rectified?

Under the old system any hon. Member who said that he had not heard the Question put, could invite the Question to be put to him, and thereupon he was entitled to give his vote "Aye" or "No," but under the recent system it is not necessary that hon. Members should hear the Question put. We cannot now go back on the vote which was given on 1st November. I would also point out that hon. Members have six minutes during which they can make themselves acquainted with the Question that has been put.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether this was not a very small majority on which to make such a tremendous change?

There is a similar question on that matter which will come up later.

May I ask whether there is any possibility of a Member who votes in a Lobby he did not intend to vote in immediately getting his vote corrected?

There is no means now. Hon. Members must be careful.

Is there not an opportunity for putting this right in the House of Lords?