asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether his attention has again been called to the danger to life and property consequent on the exposed condition of Newcastle Harbour, county Down; whether he is aware that during the present winter, although the weather was not exceptionally severe, some of the fishing boats have sustained damage, thus showing the necessity for safe anchorage and improved facilities for carrying on the fishing industry; and, seeing that the fishing fleet has been increased in recent years and is capable of greater expansion, whether he will take steps to carry out the necessary improvements suggested by the urban council and the fishermen?

The Department regret that the state of their funds precludes them from offering at the present time a contribution towards the cost of carrying out improvements in Newcastle Harbour.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board have yet received from the Reverend Canon Livingstone and the Hon. Mrs. Livingstone maps and papers relating to their estates in Islandeady parish, county Mayo, with a view to sales; and, if so, when approximately the Board's offers will be made and the sales completed?

The Congested Districts Board have decided to make offers for the purchase of the estates of Canon R. J. Livingstone, and the Hon. Mrs. M. J. Livingstone, county Mayo, and they will be issued as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the provisions of the recent Act of the Manitoba Legislature prohibiting the sale of offensive weapons except under certain strict conditions; and if he will consider the advisability of proposing a similar law for the United Kingdom?

The Act makes it an offence punishable by a fine of from twenty-five to two hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than six months:—(1) To expose for sale, offer for sale or sell any "bowie-knife, dirk, dagger, stiletto, metal knuckles, skull cracker, or slung shot." (2) To sell a revolver, pistol, or air gun, to any person "other than one holding a certificate issued under Section 118 of the Criminal Code (which exempts the holder from the restrictions of the law as to carrying pistols), or one, being over eighteen years of age, who produces to and leaves with the vendor a permit in writing, signed by the chief of provincial police, or a chief constable of a city or town, allowing him to purchase a revolver, pistol, or air gun."(3) To sell a revolver, pistol, or air gun under the above provisions, without keeping a record of the date of the sale, name of maker, serial number of such revolver, pistol, or air gun, and the name, address and occupation of the purchaser. (4) To sell or expose or offer for sale any revolver or pistol which does not bear a serial number and the maker's name. The Act also gives power to the Courts to confiscate weapons sold contrary to the Act, and to the police to search persons believed to be illegally carrying weapons. With regard to the last part of my hon. Friend's question, I have already informed the House that the Government hope to be able to introduce a Bill dealing with this subject next Session.

asked the Home Secretary how many mills in Lancashire are fitted with automatic locking covers over the cylinders of carding engines; how many are not so fitted; and if he can state the number of accidents to persons in employment caused by cylinders in the years 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, and 1912, respectively?

Automatic locking covers have been fitted on the cylinders of carding engines in 797 Lancashire mills. The carding machines in sixty mills were not so fitted at the date of last inspection, but it is probable that in many of these the work is now completed. The following are the accidents caused by carding engine cylinders in the North Western Division during the last six years:—

1907	…	…	…	…	…	48
1908	…	…	…	…	…	45
1909	…	…	…	…	…	40
1910	…	…	…	…	…	23
1911	…	…	…	…	…	17
1912	…	…	…	…	…	19

asked the Home Secretary the number of cotton mills in Lancashire which have been completely fitted with the apparatus for taking away dust from the breathing level of workers employed on carding engines; and the number in the districts of Oldham, Rochdale. Ashton- under-Lyne, Stalybridge, Blackburn, and Bolton, separately, which are not so fitted?

Dust extractors have been fitted to the carding engines in 718 Lancashire mills. In the towns named the number of mills not so fitted is as follows:—

Oldham	…	…	38
Rochdale	…	…	3
Ashton-under-Lyne	…	…	13
Stalybridge	…	…	2
Blackburn	…	…	2
Bolton	…	…	20

These are the figures for the dates of last inspection. It is probable that in some the work has since been completed. During the past year legal proceedings were instituted against seven firms for failing to provide dust extractors.

asked the Home Secretary what was the amount of expenditure for the last financial year for administration and for inspection, respectively, of reformatory and industrial schools in England and in Wales?

The whole cost of the schools, excluding Home Office inspection, for the year ended 31st December, 1911, was £609,011, of which £193,376 was provided from moneys voted by Parliament. The cost of inspection for the year ended 31st March, 1911, was £10,162. England and Wales cannot be separated, and Scotland is included in the figure of the cost of inspection, as the same staff inspects schools in Scotland and in England and Wales.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has been able to estimate the yearly cost that will be incurred should his proposal to pay out of money to be provided by Parliament, in respect of expenses incurred by any officer in the performance of his duties in relation to registration of electors, of a sum of 3d. per elector, be included in the Franchise and Registration Bill?

I cannot make any accurate estimate, as the number of additional electors which may be added to the register is unknown. The effect of reducing the printing, by the abolition of two columns in the register, can only be ascertained by experience; and the varying conditions in different constituencies make any accurate forecast of the amount of work required to be done by the officers impossible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is intended to erect a new Government House at Freetown, Sierra Leone, at a cost to the Colony of £32,000; if so, whether it is to be situated five miles from Freetown and is to accommodate three Europeans only, the Governor, his wife, and a maid; whether, in addition to the present Government House, the Government has a bungalow in the hill country; and whether he has decided to sanction the outlay on a residence which will be superfluous to future Governors of the Colony?

In pursuance of the policy of housing European officials, whenever possible, at the Hill Station, which is connected with Freetown by a railway six miles in length, it is proposed to replace the existing Government House in Freetown, which is an old building in bad condition, and the bungalow at Hill Station by a Government House at Hill Station for the Governor and his family and servants, together with the necessary accommodation for visitors. The probable cost of building a house suitable for the climate of Sierra Leone and of laying out the grounds approximates to the sum mentioned; but final sanction to the scheme has been deferred until specifications and detailed estimates have been prepared and considered. It will be necessary for future Governors to use the new residence, as no other will be available for them.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the underground telegraph cable connecting Newcastle with London and the Midlands is now complete and in working order; and, if so, what is the reason for the delay in the transmission of telegrams from London to Tyneside which occurred during the storm of the 11th, 12th, and 13th instant?

The answer is in the affirmative, but, as I said in answer to a question yesterday, while the provision of an underground cable may prevent the complete telegraphic isolation of any town with which it is connected, it is little safeguard against delay. The speed of transmission with an underground conductor is slow as compared with the speed of an aerial conductor, and when the work proper to aerial wires which are broken down is thrown upon the underground conductors they become congested with traffic.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether workmen's halls and institutes, not run for profit and maintained by the subscriptions of working men, are liable for the payment of rates; and, if so, whether he will take steps to secure exemption for such philanthropic institutions from the assessments for local rates, which are now such a burden upon their voluntary sources of income?

Workmen's halls and institutes are not exempt from rates, and I am afraid I cannot promise to introduce legislation for the purpose of exempting them.