asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state the number of Russian troops in the Russian sphere of influence in Persia, and the number of Indian troops in the British sphere?

The answer to the first part of the question is that there are some 13,400 Russian troops in the North of Persia. According to the last Returns there are about 1,300 British Indian troops in the south, of whom 190 are temporarily there in connection with the arms traffic.

Is there any prospect of any Russian troops being withdrawn according to the policy laid down by the right hon. Gentleman in 1911?

The state of affairs is not very settled at present in Persia.

asked whether the scheme imposed upon China by the six-Power financial group comprises the appointment of the groups' nominees to important positions in the revenue, audit, loan, and railway departments of China; what means, if any, are being taken by His Majesty's Government to guard against the appointment to those positions of creatures of any section of the group or of the group's local agents; and whether he has sanctioned the provisional appointment as chief of the new Chinese audit department of one Herr Rump, who, as head of the German railway bureau at Tientsin, was recently implicated in malpractices relating to the purchase of land for the German section of the Tientsin-Pukou Railway, financed and controlled by Germans?

It is understood that the appointments to various Chinese departments under the reorganisation loan will be made in consultation with the representatives of the Powers interested. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative. I am not aware that Herr Rump is not qualified for the post. So far as His Majesty's Government are aware, no appointment has yet been made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the French ministers have objected to this particular man?

That is not a matter for me.

asked whether, seeing that the only trade advantage derived by Great Britain from the six-Power loan to China consists of the discount for brokerage and underwriting, His Majesty's Government will make it a condition of this loan that in the expenditure of the same all contracts and orders for materials which China is unable to supply from her native resources shall be put up to public tender of the respective nationalities in proportion to the amount of the loan subscribed by the respective sections of the group representing the same; that the appointment of all foreign employés in the Chinese service shall be in like proportions and open to public competition; and that the chiefs of the new Chinese departments shall be British so long as British commerce or British financial interest preponderates, in consonance with the treaty condition whereby the inspector-general shall be British?

Provision has already been made for an arrangement of the nature described by the hon. Member with regard to the contracts and orders for materials under the reorganisation loan. The appointments of foreigners in the Chinese services will, it is understood, be made by the Chinese Government in consultation with the representatives of the Powers interested. I am not prepared to make the new condition suggested in the last sentence of the hon. Member's question, which is not practicable.

asked if the right hon. Gentleman will say what was the estimated amount of revenue to be derived by India from opium exported to China during the transitional period of extirpating the opium vice to the end of 1915; whether India has already derived that amount of revenue from opium exported to China since the date of the agreement; if so, on what grounds the British Legation at Peking now withholds its consent to China's prohibition of Indian opium in certain Chinese provinces; and whether any other trade with China under the British flag receives from the British Government the encouragement given to the trade in opium?

No calculation of the revenue likely to accrue from the Anglo-Chinese Opium Agreement during its currency was made by the Indian Government. It would not have been possible to estimate with any accuracy the effect of a progressively diminishing export, and in point of fact revenue considerations were not the basis of the agreement. As regards the third part of the question, His Majesty's Legation has not withheld its consent to the closing of any provinces to Indian opium which can be shown to have fulfilled the provisions of Article 3 of the Agreement of 8th May, 1911. If, in the fourth part of the question, by encouragement of the opium trade, the hon. Member refers to the efforts of His Majesty's Government to induce the Chinese Government to observe their treaty obligations the answer is in the affirmative.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to imply that this Government is bringing pressure to bear on the Chinese Government in order to prevent them carrying out their desire to restrict the opium trade?

No, Sir, the hon. Member must not understand that.

How far are the Chinese carrying out their obligation in this respect?

I must have notice of that question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any of the six-Power loan will be devoted under the pressure of this Government to payment for opium which China does not want?

That supplementary question has been answered in the negative more than once by the Foreign Office.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman can give any further information as to the case of Mr. Moore, who was recently arrested and imprisoned by the Governor of Katanga on a charge of libel; whether Mr. Moore has appealed against the sentence and, if so, with what result; what reports have been obtained as to the conditions of imprisonment and the state of the prisoner's health; and whether His Majesty's Minister at Brussels has yet received a reply to his request for a full inquiry?

According to a telegram from the Acting Vice-Consul at Elizabethville, Mr. Moore was sentenced on January 29th to a fine of 1,000 francs or 40 days imprisonment, and was also fined 6,000 francs for damages with the alternative of five months' imprisonment. Mr. Moore appealed, with the result that both sentences were confirmed. Payment was refused, and Mr. Moore has in default been imprisoned, but I have not yet received any reply to my inquiries as to the conditions of imprisonment or the state of his health. His Majesty's Minister at Brussels has been informed by the Belgian Government that, from a telegram received from the Belgian authorities at Elizabethville, it appears that sentence was passed upon Mr. Moore for having published in the "Livingstone Mail" a statement that Baron Faidherbe would have been imprisoned for misappropriation ("détournement") if he had not been a Baron. A full report of the trial is being sent by mail.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether Mr. Moore was represented by counsel at the trial, and whether he was allowed to call witnesses?

I have not heard that there were any irregularities at the trial. Of course, I am awaiting a full report.

Is it not a fact that the offence for which Mr. Moore was convicted was committed in British territory and not in Belgian territory; that Mr. Moore was arrested in Belgian territory and punished for an offence committed in Rhodesia under the British flag; and will the Government take that into consideration in making their inquiry from the Belgian Government?

What I understand, without having the full report before me, is that he was arrested in Belgian territory and he was sentenced for having published something which the Courts held to be libellous in a newspaper which circulated in Belgian territory.

Have the Government satisfied themselves that the Belgian Government were within their right in trying a man for an offence committed in British territory?

I do not understand it was committed in British territory, because, as far as my information goes, it was in Belgian territory.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the paper of which Mr. Moore was the editor is published at Livingstone, in Rhodesia, in British territory, and therefore Mr. Moore has been convicted for an offence committed in British territory, if it is an offence?

That is a legal point into which I must go when I get full information, but the contention of the Belgian authorities is that the libel was circulated in Belgian territory.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all attempts to communicate with Mr. Moore by his friends have been stopped at the Congo frontier?

I was not aware of that, and if hon. Members have any information of that kind I should be glad if they will supply me with it.

Is he aware that a copy of a telegram was sent to the Foreign Office yesterday—

Hon. Members had better put down any further questions. The Foreign Secretary has said over and over again that he is awaiting a full report.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that it appears from the monthly reports of the Consul-General at Salonica from December, 1905, to March, 1908, dealing with political crime in Macedonia that, exclusive of troops killed by insurgents and insurgents killed by troops, about 1,663 murders were committed by Christians and 474 by Moslems; and whether he can give corresponding figures for the period from April, 1908, until the outbreak of the Balkan War?

The hon. Member can examine the figures in any reports that have been published. I cannot undertake to make an analysis of them, nor can I give further figures from reports not published.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Moslem opinion in India is drawing a contrast between the action of the Foreign Office in former years, when they rightly pressed upon Turkey the necessity of Macedonian reform, and the present reticence, which is being regarded as screening far worse atrocities?

If any inference of that sort has been drawn, I am afraid it must have been stimulated by the misleading nature of questions put in this House. I have explained more than once that all last year I was pressed to publish reports which were presumed to contain accounts of outrages which had taken place in Turkish territory, and for which Turkish authorities were responsible. I declined to publish them last year because the war was in progress between Turkey and Italy. I have applied, and I am applying, to the Consular reports now received with regard to what is happening under the Bulgarian, Greek and Servian authorities exactly the same rule as I have applied to Turkish reports ever since 1908.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Turkish Government whether they have any objection to the fullest publication of all reports on the subject of Macedonia up to the outbreak of the war?

What I am trying to do, in so far as it is in my power, is to bring about peace and a good settlement for the future. There has been nothing about Macedonia for some years past up to the present day which is anything but unpleasant reading, and if I am to rake up the past at this moment, I think it would be most unfortunate from the point of view of Moslems as well as Christians.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland on account of what statement in it was Detective-Inspector Kane's report on the theft of the Crown Jewels in Dublin Castle in 1907 withheld from the Commission subsequently investigating the matter to which that report related; were the Commissioners informed that Mr. Kane had made a report; if not, why was that information concealed from them; what instructions were given to Mr. Kane before he was allowed to appear as a witness; whether there is any precedent for withholding from a body investigating a crime the previously written report of an important witness relating to that crime; and whether the Crown will produce Mr. Kane as a witness in any criminal proceedings against any of the persons implicated in his report?

Inspector Kane's report was a confidential report addressed in the usual course to the heads of the Criminal Investigation Department, Scotland Yard, and was not available therefore for submission to the Commission which investigated the circumstances of the loss of the Crown Jewels. Nor was this at all necessary, as Inspector Kane attended the Commission as a witness, was examined at great length, and gave oral evidence on all the points dealt with in his report. No instructions were given to Inspector Kane before his appearance at the inquiry beyond the direction that he should attend and give evidence. In the event of a criminal prosecution, it will be for the counsel who conduct the prosecution to decide what witnesses should be called to give evidence.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that reports made by possible witnesses are always submitted to a body of, this kind, and can he state any reason why that course was departed from in this particular case?

I cannot add anything to the answer I have given.

May I ask whether it is a fact that there were any Crown Jewels?

asked the nature of the evidence in the Probate Court, Dublin, in the custody of Mr. Norris Goddard, Sessional Crown solicitor, relating to crime committed in Dublin Castle in 1907; why no action has been taken on that evidence; and, in the event of criminal proceedings against any of the persons involved, whether that evidence will be placed at the disposal of the counsel or solicitor in charge of such proceedings?

My right hon. Friend referred this question to Mr. Norris Goddard, Crown Solicitor for Carlow, who states that he has not the slightest idea of what the hon. Member refers to. Mr. Goddard, Crown Solicitor for Carlow, who and never had, in his custody, possession, or procurement, any evidence relating to crime committed in Dublin Castle in 1907, or at any other time.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will inquire into the circumstances connected with the proposed sale of a farm at Bally-more, known as Fordstown, on the Pop-ham estate, near Boyle, in county Roscommon, belonging to Mrs. Eliza Anderson; whether he is aware that this lady has been trying to sell the farm to private purchasers, but has failed to do so owing to the interference of the local blanch of the United Irish League, who demand that it should be sold to the Congested Districts Board and divided amongst the neighbouring tenants; that graves have been dug on the farm and horns blown to intimidate any intending purchaser; that Mrs. Anderson entered into negotiations with the Congested Districts Board, and has been offered a price much below what she would have got from private purchasers but for the intimidation which has been practised; and whether, as under the circumstances Mrs. Anderson can get no purchaser but the Congested Districts Board, he will see that she is not compelled to sell at a less price than she would have obtained if other purchasers had not been driven off?

I am informed that Mrs. Anderson is anxious to sell the farm referred to, but up to the present has been unable to do so. The people of the district are anxious that the Congested Districts Board should buy the farm and divide it amongst adjoining tenants. Some graves were dug on the farm and horns were blown near Mrs. Anderson's house. Mrs. Anderson entered into correspondence with the Congested Districts Board regarding a sale of the farm, but the Board have not yet offered her any sum for acquiring her interest in the lands pending the purchase of the fee simple. The price which the Board would offer Mrs. Anderson for her tenancy interest in the farm would be arrived at on a basis of the value of the land, and would not be affected in any way by the circumstances alluded to in the question.

asked when the sale on the Kirk estate, Castletown, Queen's County, will be completed; whether dissatisfaction exists amongst the purchasing tenants on the property with reference to the allocation of the turbary rights, which it is asserted have been placed in the hands of one occupier to the exclusion of the great body of the tenantry; whether a memorial protesting against such exclusion has been received by the Estates Commissioners; what course they propose to adopt in this case; and will the complaints of the tenants be inquired into and due notice given to all the tenants of the date on which the inspector will visit the property?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The memorial referred to has been received by the Estates Commissioners, and the matter is at present under consideration. The Commissioners hope to be able to make an arrangement by which each tenant will receive a sufficiency of turbary. The purchase money of the estate will be advanced and the holdings vested in the purchasing tenants as soon as practicable.

asked whether the farm of Kilcoake, Thompson estate, Ballybrophy, Queen's County, has been acquired by the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, what steps have been taken to ensure that the claims of small holders in the locality shall get due consideration in the distribution of those lands?

The Estates Commissioners have instituted proceedings under the Evicted Tenants Act for the acquisition of the lands of Kilcoake on the Thompson estate, Queen's County, and, if acquired, they will be utilised for the purposes of that Act.

asked whether Mr. Charles Phibbs, J.P., of Doobeg, Bally-mote, county Sligo, has stated, in reply to inquiries recently made by the Congested Districts Board regarding the sale of his untenanted land, that he owns no untenanted land outside his demesne; whether the grazing farm of Crowhill owned by Mr. Phibbs is altogether unconnected with the demesne and surrounded by the holdings of several small farmers whose valuation does not exceed £7; and, if so, whether, seeing that many families were evicted from this Crowhill farm, further steps will be taken by the Board to acquire it for the enlargement of the small holdings surrounding it?

Mr. Phibbs has informed the Congested Districts Board that there are certain tenants on the Doobeg estate adjoining his demesne to whom he declined to sell their holdings at the prices offered by them, and that he had no lands to sell outside his demesne. The Board have no information regarding the farm of Crowhill mentioned in the question.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether we are to understand that Mr. Phibbs distinctly said he had no untenanted land outside his demesne, because I live in the neighbourhood, and I can vouch for the absolute accuracy of all the statements contained in the question?

What I said was that the Congested Districts Board have no information regarding the farm of Crowhill mentioned in the question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept my representation as correct as I live in the neighbourhood

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a hay shed on the farm allotted to Michael Kelly, an evicted tenant, Kildellig, Ballybrophy, Queen's County, on the Hamilton Stubber estate, was forcibly removed by the late owner after the agreements had been signed; whether he is aware that the value of the shed was included in the purchase price which Kelly agreed to pay, and consequently proportionately increased his annuity; and can he say whether the Estates Commissioners propose taking steps to have the shed restored or, failing this, to have Kelly's annuity reduced?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the hay shed referred to was erected by Mr. Hamilton Stubber and removed by him before the Commissioners took over possession of the lands, and was not included in the price of the holding allotted by them to Michael Kelly. The Commissioners sanctioned in Kelly's case the same sum for buildings as in the case of the other persons for whom they provided holdings on the lands acquired on this property. The reply to the concluding portion of the question is in the negative.

asked whether, having regard to the failure of the Land Judge's Court in Ireland to lay before Parliament the annual Returns required by Statute, to the refusal of the Court to supply specific information when asked in Parliament, and to the facts that the sale of land is the Statutory business of the Court, that estates subject to an order of the Court for sale since 1849 are still unsold, and that hardships result, the Government will treat failure to sell in sixty-four years as sufficient proof of incompetence, and transfer the sale of all those estates to the Estates Commissioners?

The Registrar of the Land Judge's Court informs me that par- ticulars of the working of the Court required by Statute are now to be found in the Judicial Statistics published annually by the Registrar-General and presented to Parliament. The Land Judge has never refused any information within his power, but he has pointed out on many occasions that to ascertain accurately the particulars of all the property now in Court would entail an exhaustive and laborious inquiry. Since the appointment of the present judge most drastic means have been adopted for disposing of the estates before the Court, and no property is permitted to remain in Court unless the parties are prepared to proceed to an early sale. There is no power to transfer the sale of these estates to the Estates Commissioners.

Has the Land Judge explained the fact that there are estates in his court which have been for sale since the year 1849?

I am personally aware, because this is a subject, which has been before Parliament very frequently in days gone by, that in late years enormous progress has been made in clearing off these estates.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the fact that there is no Statutory authority for the appointment of receivers and management of estates in the Land Judge's Court in Ireland for indefinite periods or in perpetuity, he will say under what authority such appointments are made; the number of receivers now employed, with their total annual salary; whether the continuance of their employment depends on the estates remaining unsold; by whom and under what power the receivers' qualifications are ascertained, their salaries fixed, and their functions regulated; and whether he will consent to give a Return of the rules now in force, the receivers employed, their previous occupations, dates of appointment, and present salaries?

The Registrar of the Land Judge's Court informs me that the appointment of a receiver must necessarily be for an indefinite period, but no receiver is retained in perpetuity or for a longer period than is necessary. The Land Judge is bound to appoint receivers, not merely in cases where absolute orders have been made in his own Court, but in all cases where the appointment is required by other judges. The number of receivers now employed is 186. They are not paid by salary but by fees on the amounts collected. All the rules in force have been made by the rule making authority under Section 75 of the Judicature Act and presented to Parliament. The receivers are nearly all experienced land agents, and many of them are members of the Surveyors' Institute. My right hon. Friend cannot consent to the granting of the Return referred to in the last paragraph.

Is it correct, as stated in the question, that it is in the interest of these receivers to keep the properties unsold?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if a decision has yet been arrived at with regard to the recoupment of salaries stopped from teachers in Ireland under the maternity rule which has recently been withdrawn; and, if not, when he expects to be able to announce the result of the investigations which were commenced in December last dealing with the claims of teachers in such cases?

The Treasury have, subject to certain necessary limitations, sanctioned a refund to teachers who were in the service before due notice of the Maternity Rule was given of the loss inflicted on them by that rule.

asked if the Treasury arc making provision this year to grant the promised extension of the standard numbers of Irish national school teachers in first grade, so as to allow those who have got paper promotion to be financially promoted?

No provision has been made in the Estimates for 1913–14 for the extension of the standard numbers in the first grade, nor has any such extension been promised. As has already been stated in reply to the question of the hon. Member for Mid-Armagh on this subject on the 26th October, 1911, the Irish Government informed the Commissioners of National Education that they were prepared to recommend to the Treasury a limited expansion of the standard numbers at present. fixed for the first grade on the understanding that no further promotions were made to that grade save on the occurrence of vacancies. The Commissioners, however, declined the offer and no further action has since been taken in the matter.

Is no further action going to be taken?

The real point of the reply to the question is that these teachers cannot be promoted until vacancies take place.

Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary promised that he would bring the matter before the Board and the Treasury, in order to get them to carry out their own rules?

The last paragraph of my answer states that the Commissioners declined the offer, and no further action has been taken in the matter.

If the education authorities in Ireland think a teacher deserves promotion, why is it that the Treasury authorities in this country refuse the salary attached to that promotion?

That question ought to be addressed to the Commissioners.

Through you.

asked whether any arrangement has yet been made by the Commissioners of National Education with regard to the recoupment of those teachers who suffered financial loss owing to the operation of the recently withdrawn Maternity Rule 92 (j) of the Commissioners' Code?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have just given to the question of the hon. Member for South Westmeath on this subject.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether American meat saturated with preservatives is allowed to come into this country without restriction, while in America no preservatives are allowed; and what steps he proposes to take to safeguard the Irish public who, in ignorance of this fact, may purchase this meat?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Foreign Meat Regulations (Ireland) of the 18th November, 1908, and the 1st November, 1909, the general effect of which is to render meat imported from places abroad liable to be examined by the medical officer of health of the district to which such meat has been imported, and, if found diseased, unsound, unwholesome or unfit for human consumption, liable to be destroyed unless it is proved not to be intended for human consumption or its exportation is guaranteed and carried out.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his Department has the carrying out of this Act, and, if so, is this foreign meat inspected to see whether it complies with those regulations?

I do not think my Department has any control over the medical officer of health.

Who has control and inspection of the meat that comes to Ireland from America?

The medical officer of health is under the Local Government Board.

Does any inspection of the meat imported from America as a matter of fact. take place at all?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether his attention has been directed to the alleged statement that His Honour Judge Bodkin, K.C., in his address at Quarter Sessions in Ennis to the Grand Jury, suggested the formation of vigilance committees for the purpose of the punishment of crime and outrage without recourse to any legal proceedings; and whether he proposes to take any action upon this suggestion of the learned judge?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to a question on the same subject asked by the hon. and gallant Member for East Down on the 30th January. That reply has been inaccurately reported in the newspapers so as to make it appear that the learned judge had suggested the establishment of vigilance committees in Clare. He not only did nothing of the kind, but he disclaimed the intention of making any such suggestion. The OFFICIAL REPORT shows that my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary did not attribute the suggestion to the learned judge.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I put down that question for the purpose of clearing the hon. judge of the imputation which was cast upon him by this report?

I have no doubt of the hon. Gentleman's good intentions.

May I ask whether it is a case of one job-hunter defending another?

Mr. Speaker, is it worth while noticing that. question? Did you hear the accusation? I was accused of being a job-hunter.

asked why, in King's County Catholic district, magistrates of the Protestant denomination are in the proportion of twelve to one Catholic; and why A. H. Howard, J.P., of Strawberry Hill, Cloghan, can adjudicate at the Petty Sessions Courts of Moystown and Ferbane, whilst Catholic and Nationalist magistrates in the same area are strictly confined to one district?

It is not understood what is meant by the expression King's County Catholic district. The Lord Chancellor informs me that there are forty-three Roman Catholics and eighty-three Protestants holding the Commission of the Peace for the King's County. Most of the Roman Catholic magistrates in the Petty Sessions districts referred to are entitled to sit at more than one Petty Sessions.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me how many of the forty-six are dead, and also how many of the forty-three Roman Catholics are Unionists?

I am unable to answer either of those questions.

Then I will ask another question: Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me on whose recommendation Mr. Howard was appointed as a magistrate for the King's County?

I am not able to give an answer.

Then can the right hon. Gentleman tell me how it is that, all the Petty Sessions districts in the Birr Division of the King's County are made the dumping ground of Unionists and carrion crows?

asked whether any complaints have reached the Irish Government regarding the preponderance on the magisterial bench in Ireland of men completely out of sympathy with the views of the great majority of the Irish people; are the people entitled to any direct representation on the magisterial bench; how the views of the people are to be conveyed to the Lord Chancellor; and is there any law, written or otherwise, which entitles the Lord Chancellor to insist upon the maintenance of a bench three-fourths of whom are strongly opposed to the people to whom they interpret the law?

My right hon. Friend is aware that the appointment of magistrates fails to give general satisfaction. The Lord Chancellor informs me that he is very anxious that all classes should be adequately represented. As he has previously stated, the Lord Chancellor is always prepared to consider suitable names submitted to him from any representative source.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Lord Rosse, the Lord Lieutenant of King's County, on accepting the appointment of Lord Lieutenant, promised Lord Aberdeen that he would make no political or popular appointments; he told me that?

asked how many copies of Return No. 396, issued on 16th December, 1912, have been distributed to date?

The Return was ordered by the House on the 16th December, and issued on the 21st January; 569 copies have been distributed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Return deals with magistrates in Ireland, and does he not think something should be done to set the minds of the Irish people at rest, owing to the unfairness of the present distribution of magistrates?

The Return is available for the Irish people whenever they want to see it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that I have personally shown that this Return is inaccurate?

I know nothing about the Return. The answer gives the number that has been distributed.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have yet made a grant to Rose Carroll, an evicted tenant on the Gray estate, county Fermanagh, who was reinstated two years ago, or when they intend to make such a grant for the necessary repairs and improvement of the dwelling-house and to assist Mrs. Carroll in the purchase of stock?

The Estates Commissioners have decided after inquiry not to make any grant in this case.

asked what steps the Estates Commissioners are taking to deal with those cases of evicted tenants in the county of Limerick which they have recognised as genuine; and whether he can fix any date by which they will be settled?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that there are six county Limerick evicted tenants whose applications for reinstatement have been provisionally noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land acquired by the Commissioners and who have not yet been provided with holdings. The Commissioners have been able to make arrangements for the reinstatement at an early date of one of these persons. They are not at present in a position to say when they will be able to provide holdings for the others, but their cases will be dealt with as soon as practicable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there has been great delay in the reinstatement of these evicted tenants and in making some provision for them, and is it not time now, so long since the passing of the Act of 1903, that their cases should be dealt with at once?

I have no doubt there has been delay, but it has been unavoidable delay. The hon. Gentleman must know that the process of reinstating these tenants is very difficult.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been directed to an incident which took place on the 16th January last at the house of Mr. Peter MacFadden, Dublin Street, Monaghan; whether the person who broke into the house and took possession of it, barring the doors and terrorising the only occupants, women and children, was subsequently apprehended by the police and taken into custody; if so, when and by whose authority was he discharged; if he was not convicted, under what circumstances he was taken away by a police officer; and whether it is intended to bring any proceedings against him?

The hon. Member has sent me a newspaper report of the occurrence referred to in the question, but it appears on inquiry that the account of the matter is greatly exaggerated. Mrs. MacFadden has made a statement to the police, from which it appears that on the evening in question a strange man entered her house, the door being open. He did not bar the door or say or do anything to frighten her or her children. She called the constable on duty, and the man went quietly with him to the police barrack. It was then found that he was a constable from another part of the county who was proceeding on leave owing to the serious illness of his father. He was not arrested or detained, as he had committed no offence, but certain disciplinary charges are pending against him, and will be investigated by the county inspector on his return to duty.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the twenty-three members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians who were sentenced to a term of imprisonment for attacking a Sunday school excursion, consisting of women teachers and young children, at Castledawson, have been released by the Lord Lieutenant before the expiration of their sentences; if so, on what grounds; whether such action is to constitute a precedent for members of the order in future; and are they to be permitted to break the law and then be released if found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment?

I must ask the hon. and gallant Member to postpone that question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why he is empowered to answer some questions, but when he comes to the really important ones he cannot answer them?

The only reason is that the answer had not arrived from Dublin to-day when I left the Irish Office.

In view of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to give notice that I will call the attention of the House to this matter, on the Motion for the Adjournment, in the hope that I will get from him some excuse for the action that has been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total area, in square miles, of the Sierra Leone Dependency, and the total area, in square miles, over which the privileges applied for by Messrs. Lever Brothers, Limited, and associated firms will extend?

The answer to the first question is 31,624 square miles and to the second 311 square miles.

asked the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware of the unrest amongst the natives in the Londiani district, British East Africa; whether he has any official information as to a recent Masai raid on Lumbwa, when many cattle were stolen and some of the Moran in charge murdered; and, having regard to the alarm amongst the European settlers in the district, will he take steps to provide protection against these raids?

I am aware that rumours of unrest in the district in question have been current in the Protectorate, but the matter has been grossly exaggerated, and I understand from the Governor that there is no ground for anxiety. The particular report to which reference is made appears to have been based on the fact that the action of a small party of police in seizing some strayed cattle belonging to the Sotik was disputed by a section of that tribe. Neither Masai nor Lumbwa were involved and no lives were lost.

Is it a fact that there is a less number of available troops in that district to deal in insurrection than was formerly the case?

I cannot tell, without notice, the precise distribution of troops in the district at this moment, but I will make inquiry if the hon. Gentleman wishes it.

asked if the proposal to present a battleship originated with the Sultan of Perak or if the suggestion was made by a British official and conveyed to the Sultan of Perak and, through the same channel, to the three other Sultans of the Federated Malay States; and if a repetition of this offer by other protected States will be pleasing to the Government?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the dispatch from the High Commissioner for the Malay States published in the Press on the 18th of December last, which gives a full account of the origin of the proposal. I do not think that it Would be fitting or discreet that I should answer the second part of the question.

asked the rules and practice regarding freedom of officials to receive extra pay from public funds and to carry on private practice for pay, in addition to official salary, as applied to the Law Officers of the Crown and to all barristers receiving a salary from public funds?

The Law Officers of the Crown are not Civil servants, and are, therefore, not subject to Civil Service rules. In England and Ireland they receive fees for contentious business in addition to their salaries. Barristers who are Civil servants do not receive additional pay beyond their salaries except occasionally (as in the case of other Civil servants) for other Government work not covered by their salaries, nor are they allowed to carry on private practice.

Are there any rules applying to the Law Officers of the Crown in this respect?

I am not aware that any rules have been issued. I will make inquiries on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister when the Advisory Committees will be appointed for Glamorgan and Cardiff; and the reason for delaying the appointments?

The Advisory Committee for Glamorgan was appointed some months ago, but is in suspense, as it was found desirable to make some additions to render it more thoroughly representative. It will be finally settled within a very short time. The committee for Cardiff was appointed some time ago.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the committee for Cardiff was appointed?

asked (1) whether, in view of the scheme of agricultural reform foreshadowed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, His Majesty's Government intend to postpone dealing with the question of educational reform; and (2) whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to propose to Parliament any scheme of agricultural reform in regard to wages and housing which shall extend to Ireland?

asked whether the scheme of educational reform, promised by the Lord Chancellor, will have precedence over the scheme for land reform promised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as the measure of primary importance to be introduced into Parliament next Session or vice versâ?

asked whether the promise given to hon. Members representing constituencies containing barracks and permanent camps, that soldiers stationed therein would enjoy the franchise benefits proposed to be conferred upon residents by the Franchise and Registration Bill recently withdrawn, will hold good in respect of the Franchise Bill to be introduced in this House next Session?

My right hon. Friend cannot at present make any statement as to the business of next or future Sessions.

May I ask whether the speech made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the National Liberal Club was made with the knowledge and assent of the Prime Minister?

From what I know of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I think he is perfectly incapable of making any statement of which his chief would disapprove.

Is there any truth in the report that the land scheme proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been "torpedoed" by the Prime Minister?

Speaking on behalf of my right hon. Friend, I do not think the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed any land scheme.

With reference to the answer as it applies to Question 54, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there will be bitter disappointment among soldiers who expected to get votes, unless this promise is carried out?

asked the Prime Minister if he will give the figures on which he based the estimate in his speech at Leven that with the grant of old age pensions outdoor pauperism has been concurrently reduced by no less than 94 per cent.?

My right hon. Friend was referring in his speech, as I think is clear from the context, to the effect of old age pensions on outdoor pauperism amongst the aged in England and Wales. As compared with 1906, the number of outdoor paupers over seventy in 1912 showed a decrease, as he stated, of 94 per cent. The actual figures are 168,096 in 1906, and 9,530 in 1912.

Does the right. hon. Gentleman suggest that the words used by the Prime Minister, which are quoted in my question, referred only to old age outdoor pauperism?

Certainly. I cannot see what other purpose he could have had in making the reference to old age pensions.

asked whether, as a matter of convenience, the Supplementary Estimates of the Board of Agriculture and of the Irish Department of Agriculture, consequent upon the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth-disease, can be taken in this House at the same time and a single discussion founded upon them?

This has been arranged through the usual channels, and the Votes mentioned are the first upon the Order Paper for discussion this evening.

asked whether, in view of the terms of Section 1 (2) (d) and Section 2 (1) (a) of the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898, a certificated teacher who transfers from Scotland to England is entitled to superannuation allowance from the English Board of Education if his recorded service in England is less than half his total service as a certificated teacher in Scotland and England?

In such a case recorded service in Scotland prior to the 1st April, 1912, the date on which the Scotch Teachers' Superannuation Scheme came into operation, is reckonable; but in view of the provisions of Section 14 (6) of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, it would not appear to be possible to have regard to service in Scotland after that date for any purposes under the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Acts.

Is the answer to my question in the negative?

I think the hon. and gallant Gentleman, if he will do so, had better look at it and think it. out. It is a qualified negative.

asked whether any further steps are being taken by the Road Board to create the new west road which was estimated to cost £1,750,000; and, if so, what steps are being takn to secure that the cost shall be borne by those who benefit. in the rise of their land values?

The Road Board have not yet received from the highway authorities concerned any intimation of their intention to proceed with the scheme for a new western approach road towards the cost of which the Board intimated their willingness to contribute. No further steps have therefore been taken.

Will legislation be necessary before this scheme can be carried out?

Speaking without advice, I think some kind of legislation will be necessary.

Have the Road Board made any stipulation whatever with the local rating authorities as to any contribution from the land values of the district, which will be increased by the making of the roads?

The hon. Member must give notice of that.

asked when the Report of the Royal Commission on University Education in London will be ready for publication?

The Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. I understand that the Royal Commission have nearly completed their final Report, and that it is likely to be published shortly.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say approximately when it will be published?

I regret I am not able to do that.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Varley, of Temple View Road, Leeds East, who, having let a room in the house occupied by her to the Labour party for committee purposes during the recent municipal election, has been evicted by the landlord, the reason for eviction being stated in the presence of other persons who are prepared to give evidence on oath; and whether, having regard to the circumstances of this case, the fact that Mrs. Varley is seventy-four years of age, and the hardship generally of such cases, he will agree to inaugurate legislation dealing with the subject?

The Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. I will, if my hon. Friend wishes it, make such inquiry as may be possible regarding the facts of the case referred to; but he must remember that there may be many cases of hardship that cannot be remedied by any alteration of the law.

I should like him to make inquiries in this case, anyhow.