asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will lay upon the Table of the House the information upon which the Government arrived at the decision that the recognised hours for printing houses employed on Government contracts were to be in future 50?

A full summary of the information will be found on page 24 of the Board of Trade Report on Changes in the Rates of Wages and Hours of Labour for 1911 (Cd. 6171 of 1912). If the Noble Lord desires any further particulars I shall be glad if he will communicate with me.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether, in the event of persons engaged in the jewellery trade arming their assistants with revolvers for the protection of their lives and property against robbers, a rebate of Licence Duty will be allowed in such cases?

I am afraid I cannot adopt the suggestion of the hon. Member, which would, I may mention, involve legislation.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether a panel of persons to act as Referees for hearing appeals in Ireland on duties on land values under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, has been formed; if so, will he give their names and the fees or remuneration fixed by the Treasury for their services; will he state the number of appeals heard, if any; and the number of these cases, if any, in which the valuation appealed against was affirmed by the Referee?

Three Referees were appointed by the Land Values Reference Committee for Ireland under Section 34 of the Finance (1909-10) Act, 1910, on the 19th February, 1912, for one year, on the understanding that the number should be reconsidered at the end of that period in the light of the experience gained as to the amount of work to be done. The names and addresses of the Referees appointed are:—

• Mr. A. McC. Steward, Strand, Londonderry.
• Mr. George Hewson, Dromahaire, county Leitrim.
• Mr. John Lopdell, 91, Pembroke Road, Dublin.

Their remuneration was fixed by the Treasury at the rate of 10 guineas for each appeal heard, subject to a minimum of 100 guineas per annum for each Referee. I understand that up to the present four appeals have been heard. These appeals were against assessments of duty. One appeal failed; in the other three cases slight reductions of the assessments were allowed. I am informed that four further appeals are pending and that other cases are under negotiation.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in valuations in Ireland under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, in the case of land not sold under the Land Purchase Acts, the total values are issued at the same figure as the gross value; if so, under what Section is this done without first ascertaining by means of Form IV. that there are no fixed charges; and under what Section is the onus of showing the total value separately, and hence of ascertaining the fixed charges, if any, beforehand, transferred from the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to the owner?

No provisional valuations have been made in Ireland until after the issue of Form IV., except in a few cases where "occasions" have arisen and the necessary information as to fixed charges and other matters relevant to valuation has been supplied in connection with the particulars delivered under Section 1 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910. The onus of showing the total value separately has not been transferred from the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to the owner.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the reasons why the Board of Customs and Excise recently declined to permit the ss. "Indra," belonging to Messrs. Samuel Samuel and Company, British merchants and shippers, to continue to be registered as a British vessel or to enjoy the protection of the British flag and the British Government?

It is provided by Section 1 in Part I. of the Merchant Shipping Act. 1894, which relates to Registry, that a ship shall not be deemed to be a British ship unless it is owned wholly by persons qualified to be owners of British ships, and the qualification in the case of a body corporate is that it must be established under, and subject to the laws of some part of His Majesty's Dominions, and having its principal place of business in those Dominions. In the case of the "Indra" it was stated in the declaration of ownership, which is one of the papers required to be produced to the Registrar of shipping, that, the company had its principal place of business in Yokohama, and upon this statement the Commissioners of Customs and Excise were unable to recognise the company as being a body corporate qualified to be registered as the owner of a British ship.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any Grant has been made to Scotland in aid of the organisation of agricultural co-operation, in view of the fact that £12,000 has been so advanced to England and Wales; and, if so, will he say what is the amount?

On the recommendation of the Development Commissioners, the Treasury have approved of advances being made to the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society equal to the sum spent by the society from its own funds, up to a maximum amount of £1,000 for last year and £1,000 for the current year.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) the approximate amount and value of butter made in Ireland during 1911; how much of this in amount and value was made in creameries; and can he state the approximate amount and value of butter exported from Ireland in 1911, and the amount and value of this export butter made in creameries?

It is estimated that the total quantity of butter made in Ireland in the year 1911 was approximately 1,247,000 cwts., and that its value was £6,648,000. The quantity of butter exported from Ireland in that year was 688,362 cwts., valued at £3,671,264. No official information is available, nor can an estimate at present be made, as to the total quantity or value of creamery butter made in or exported from Ireland,

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the untenanted land of Kilcoke, estate of Dr. Thompson, Ballybrophy, Queen's County, has been purchased by the Estates Commissioners; and, in that event, can he say how the Commissioners propose to dispose of the farm?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. The lands referred to are the subject of proceedings under the Evicted Tenants Act, and until acquired by the Estates Commissioners they cannot make any allotment of them.

asked whether the farm of Levalley, estate of the trustees of Cowan, Rathdowney, Queen's County, has yet been acquired by the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, whether the claims of the fifteen small holders living on uneconomic farms adjacent to this un- tenanted land, who forwarded a memorial to the Commissioners last August, asking for an enlargement of their holdings, will be acceded to?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on 5th August last, to which I have nothing to add at present.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board has yet acquired the estate of the late Sir Nicholas R. O'Conor, Dundermot, Ballymoe, county Roscommon; if so, whether he will state the extent and situation of the lands to be retained by the trustees; and, if the estate is not purchased, whether negotiations have been entered upon for the sale of the same, and what is the present position of these negotiations?

The Congested Districts Board are at present in negotiation with the owner for the purchase of the estate referred to.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the particulars of the lands on the Boyd (Boyd v. Neate) estate, county Wexford, were supplied to the Estates Commissioners over eighteen months ago; that since the Chancery Courts gave the necessary permission for a sale of this estate last April nothing has apparently been done since by the Commissioners to complete the purchase; if he will inquire how the matter now stands; and what steps the Commissioners intend to take in this case?

The Estates Commissioners are unable to take any further action as regards the purchase of these lands until formal proceedings for sale under the Land Purchase Acts have been instituted before them.

asked the area of bog and of cultivable land, respectively, purchased by trustees for common use in each rural district in Ireland, under the Land Purchase and Labourers Acts, amount of purchase money, rate of interest, and amount of annuity, showing in each case whether the trustees are the district councillors, or outsiders, or mixed?

The statistics of the Estates Commissioners are not kept by rural districts, and they are not in a position to give the information in the form) asked for.

asked whether the estate of Miss M'Ternan, deceased, comprising the townlands of Tullinacross, Tullinawannia, and Tonaugh, in the parish of Killarga, county Leitrim, has been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board; and, if not, whether the Congested Districts Board will take steps to acquire this estate and relieve congestion in the district?

The estate referred to has not, so far, been offered for sale through the Congested Districts Board, and the Estates Commissioners are unable to identify it as the subject of proceedings for sale before them.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet acquired the Parkes estate, Dunally, county Sligo; and, if not, will he state whether negotiations for the purchase of this estate are in progress?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 21st October to which I have nothing to add at present.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have made an offer for the purchase of the Gore Booth estate, county Sligo; whether the Board have been repeatedly requested to purchase the portion of this estate known as the Seven Cartrons, situate in the parish of Drumcliffe, a strip of land from which a large number of families were evicted, and which is required for the relief of congestion in the district; and what progress, if any, has been made by the Board towards the acquisition of the Seven Cartons?

The Congested Districts Board have agreed to purchase the Bally-muldorry section of Sir J. Gore Booth's estate, and they have issued an offer for the purchase of the Ballymote section, and negotiations are pending. With regard to the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on 28th February last.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet purchased any of the estates in the parish of Castleconner, county Sligo; if not, will he explain the inactivity of the Board in this district; and can he give any assurance that the Board will now take steps to purchase the estates in this district and relieve the acute congestion prevalent there?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 21st ultimo, to which I have nothing to add at present.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made an offer for the purchase of the Fitzgerald estate, Turlough, etc., county Mayo; if so, what were the terms of the offer; have they been accepted by the landlord; and what portion, if any, of the untenanted lands on the estate are not included in the proposed sale?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet made an offer for the purchase of the estate referred to.

asked the Chief Secretary whether all information available with reference to the theft of Crown jewels from Dublin Castle in 1907, a complete list of the persons who had access to the room in which the jewels were kept and of all other persons admitted to the castle by them at that time, and the character and present whereabouts of each of those persons, have been or will now be placed at the disposal of the Director of Public Prosecutions?

All available information has been long since in the hands of the police, who are ready to take advantage of any opportunity of discovering the guilty persons. Until they are detected no question of prosecution can arise.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make inquiries as to whether operations are being made upon horses without the aid of an anæsthetic at the Royal Veterinary College, and, if so, make representations to stop such a practice?

As regards curative operations, I am informed by the Royal Veterinary College that anæsthetics are used for all severe operations in which their employment is not attended with risk to the animal's life. If my hon. Friend is referring to experiments under the Act 39 and 40 Vict., cap. 77, I would point out that operations upon horses for purposes of experiment may only be performed without an anæsthetic after the submission and allowance of two certificates, and that no certificates for operations (beyond inoculations and venesections) without anæsthetics are allowed, either on horses or on other animals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if it is within the jurisdiction of the Colonial Office to exercise certain control over appointments made by the local Government in British Central Africa; and, if appointments made by the local Government in British Central Africa were, in nature, antagonistic to the general policy of His Majesty's Government, would it be his duty to interfere?

The answer to the first question is "Yes"; the second appears to be hypothetical.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will cause definite inquiry to be made whether or not appointments at the most healthy stations in British Central Africa are, for the most part, held by bachelors, and at other stations by married men with families?

I am unable to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on the 13th of this month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the need of a beacon light near the entrance to the Brora Harbour, Sutherland; and whether he will bring the matter to the notice of the Commission of Northern Lighthouses?

The Board of Trade have not received any representations in regard to this matter since 1907, when the hon. Member forwarded to the Department a petition from fishermen urging the need of a beacon. On that occasion, as the hon. Member was informed, the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses stated that as the spot did not lie in the track of passing trade, they did not feel justified in marking it at the expense of the General Lighthouse Fund, to which fishermen do not contribute, at all events until more generally needed works had been undertaken. I am communicating with the Commissioners to ascertain their present views.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists in the Port of London owing to the forfeiture of one week's wages by the Port of London Authority consequent upon the recent dock strike, and that complaints have been made of the fact that some of those wages are stated to be owing for piece work; whether any correspondence has been received by the Board of Trade on this subject or has taken place between the Hoard of Trade and the Port of London Authority; and, if so, whether he will say what steps he proposes to take in order to secure a satisfactory settlement of this matter?

As the President of the Board of Trade stated in reply to the hon. Member for West Ham on the 1st July last, the Port of London Authority have informed the Board that their permanent and registered men were employed under conditions requiring a week's notice of termination of employment on either side. The Authority stated that the men in question left their work without giving any notice, and consequently committed a breach of contract for which they were answerable in damages. I have communicated a copy of my hon. Friend's question to the Port Authority, who have replied that they have nothing to add to their previous statement on the subject. It is not a matter in which the Board of Trade are able to interfere.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state, in connection with the scheme for training boys as sailors initiated by the Board of Trade in 1899, the number of boys enrolled each year; the average length of service of each boy; the number who deserted each year; the number who failed to join each year; the amount paid each year to the shipowners on whose ships the boys were employed; what training was given to the boys, and how it was tested; what, finally, became of each boy, and how many of them are still employed at sea; and how long the scheme was in operation, and whether it is now abandoned, and why?

The number of boys enrolled in each financial year during which the scheme was in operation is shown below. The total amount paid to shipowners under the scheme was just over £21,000. The scheme was in operation from 1st April, 1899, to 31st March, 1905, and the reasons for its being allowed to lapse are shown in paragraphs 7 to 11 of the Report of the "Boy Seamen" Com- mittee of 1907 (Cd. 3722). I am unable to give the other pariculars desired by my hon. Friend—

Financial Year			No. of Boys Enrolled.
1899–1900	…	…	302
1900–1901	…	…	454
1901–1902	…	…	691
1902–1903	…	…	783
1903–1904	…	…	1,065
1904–1905	…	…	1,121

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of Import Duties levied on cotton yarns and piece goods entering Greece, Bulgaria, Roumania, Servia, Montenegro, and Turkey, respectively, from the United Kingdom?

A duty of 11 per cent. ad valorem is levied on cotton yarns and piece goods on importation into Turkey and one of 10 per cent, ad valorem on importation into Montenegro. The duties leviable in the other countries named vary according to the class of goods. The rates are set out in detail in the Foreign Import Duties Return, a now issue of which is now in the press. I am sending to the hon. Member an advance extract from the forthcoming Return.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether it is now possible to import pigs into this country from Ireland, and to have them slaughtered in Birmingham instead of as heretofore at Birkenhead?

Yes, Sir, it is now possible for pigs to be moved inland with a licence for slaughter from the authorised landing places after the expiration of the prescribed period of detention, which is at present fourteen days. It will be reduced to four days as from the 27th instant, and I propose a week later further to reduce the period to twelve hours, if no material change in the position in Ireland occurs.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that under the provisions of the Shops Act shopkeepers who have arranged to have the weekly half-holiday on Thursday are unable to change this in special circumstances to any day excepting Saturday, which is often a most inconvenient day, and in many districts the day on which most trade is done; whether he is aware that when term day in Scotland falls on the half-holiday it causes great inconvenience to both shopkeepers and their clients; and whether it can be arranged to so interpret the Act that where it is for the general convenience of the residenters in the district the half-holiday, in special cases, may be changed to another more suitable day, which is not Saturday?

Where the local authority are asked to fix the day of the weekly half-holiday, they may, in terms of Section 4 (2) of the Shops Act, provide that in any specified week or weeks the half-holiday may be observed on some other day than the day fixed as the regular day. Such a provision would be in addition to the ordinary provision for substituting Saturday for the day fixed in the Order. Where no Order has been made by the local authority, the occupier of the shop may change the day which he has selected as the day for the half-holiday, subject to the restriction that such changes of day must not be made more than once in any period of three months.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether any representations have been made by his Department to the Treasury as to the necessity of a new canal in the locus of the present Crinan Canal, in Argyllshire; and, if so, what was the effect, if any, of such representations?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part, therefore, does not arise.