asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the number and description of arms and the quantity of ammunition detained at Irish ports between the 1st December, 1913, and the 31st January, 1914, distinguishing between arms and ammunition designed for sporting and those for military purposes; also stating the number and quantities detained at each port concerned?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 12th instant, to the hon. and gallant Member for East Down.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the accounts of deposit contributors in England and Wales under the National Insurance Act were debited in October last with the cost of medical benefit and administration for the year 1914; if so, what was the total amount thus debited?

The sums payable in respect of deposit contributors for medical and sanatorium benefit and the expenses of administration for the year 1914 were not actually debited in the accounts of contributors in October last, but, under the provisions of Statutory Order 1330 of 1913, where a claim for sickness or maternity benefit was made during the last quarter of 1913, a sum was reserved in the account in order to secure the contributor's right to medical and sanatorium benefit for the year 1914. The sums so reserved amounted to less than £900.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many prosecutions have been instituted for failure to comply with the National Insurance Act in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, respectively?

The figures for which my hon. Friend asks are 294 (including forty-eight cases in which the summonses were withdrawn by leave of the Court on payment by the defendant of arrears of contributions), 72, 349, and 15, respectively.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the position of an outworker in regard to unemployment arrears who works under the unit system in a trader where the unit fixed is 8s. 9d. and the employer pays the whole insurance contribution, namely, 5d.; and, having regard to the fact that many outworkers never get enough work to complete a unit in one week and their cards are therefore bound to have many stamps missing at the end of each quarter, must they, if they wish not to be in arrears; fix the necessary stamps at their own charge or are they under the National Insurance Act, 1913, relieved from paying arrears because such arrears would have been paid by their employers had they had full employment?

In this case arrears would be payable at the rate of 1d. for each contribution in arrear. Under the Act of 1911 the ordinary contribution in this case is 6d., of which 5d. is payable by the employer and 1d. by the State. Under the Act of 1913, the employer's share is excused where the worker pays that part which is payable otherwise than by the employer. The point raised in the latter part of the question will be considered in connection with the Regulations to be made under Section 7 of the Act of 1913.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state, with regard to England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively, for the latest dates for which he has the figures, how many doctors are on the panel, how many chemists have contracted to supply medicine, and what is the average cost of drugs and appliances per insured person?

The approximate numbers of doctors on panels in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, are 16,300, 2,700, and 1,250, including doctors who are on more than one panel. The number of individual chemists who have contracted to supply medicine cannot be given without calling for a special return from all insurance committees in Great Britain. The information asked for in the third part of the question will not be available until a final settlement of accounts has been effected by all insurance committees with the chemists on their panels for the past year.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will ascertain the date when any high official of the National Gallery received a formal or informal offer to the nation of the Panshanger Raphael for a sum of £70,000; if the trustees, or any one of them, of the National Gallery were made aware of the offer; and if any steps, and what, were taken to retain this picture in Great Britain before it was sold for a greater sum to the owner of a gallery near Philadelphia?

An informal offer of the Panshanger Raphael for £70,000 was made to the National Gallery Board through Lord Curzon on 12th September last, and communicated by him to the Director of the Gallery on the following day. The option of purchase extended for six weeks. As many of the trustees as possible were immediately consulted, and it was decided in all the circumstances not to attempt to purchase the picture. This decision, with which all the trustees in formally consulted concurred, was formally and unanimously approved by all the members attending a meeting of the National Gallery Board held on 13th November last.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the trustees of the National Gallery have had an opportunity to consider the question of the more recent restorations, cleanings, and varnishing of many valuable pictures in the National Collection; and whether they are satisfied with what has been done?

Yes, Sir, a detailed report of all repairs and restorations of pictures in the National Gallery is laid before the trustees in the director's report, and no adverse criticism has hitherto been made by any member of the board during the present directorate.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been drawn to the restorations and cleaning of many famous pictures in the National Gallery during the last two years; and if he will ascertain the date when one of Gainsborough's landscapes was last tampered with, the name of the official who ordered the latest work upon it to be carried out, and the name of the person or persons who did it?

Yes, Sir, a list of all repairs and restorations during the last two years has been submitted to His Majesty's Treasury. No. 310, "Landscape, Sunset," by Gainsborough—the only Gainsborough treated within the last two years—was relined, cleaned, and varnished in June, 1913. This work was done by order of the director, the only officer authorised to give such an order, and was executed entirely to the director's satisfaction. I see some inconvenience in giving the name of the person who actually did the work.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the keepers and heads of departments were consulted as to the special requirements of the respective collections under their charge before the plans for the present additions to the British Museum were passed; whether these plans were examined and passed by the trustees or the Office of Works in consultation with the different keepers as suitable and adequate; and, if so, whether any changes in plans have had to be carried out since the building was virtually finished?

There has been constant communication between the trustees, the Office of Works, the architect, and the officers concerned, both as to the general plans for the building and as to the design and arrangement of the fittings to suit the requirements of the several departments. No material alterations have been made in the plans since their approval by the trustees, but the addition of better access to one of the public galleries is Contemplated.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the amount of the funds which the Road Board now has in hand; and how much of that fund has been hypothecated or earmarked for specific definite objects which are in course of being carried out?

The total funds in the hands of the Road Board on 31st January, 1914, amounted to £2,833,747 14s. 7d. The aggregate amount granted and earmarked, or definitely indicated to highway authorities in excess of actual payments to 31st January, 1914, was £906,859 for Loans and £2,380,132 for Grants. The objects for which these Loans and Grants have been indicated are in course of execution or preparation by the highway authorities concerned, with the exception of the proposed Brentford loop road, for the construction of which powers are being sought by the County Council of Middlesex by a Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the number of officials now employed in the Land Valuation Department, and their annual salaries?

The numbers of officials employed in the Valuation Office on 31st January, 1914, and the sums of their salaries were:— Numbers. Salaries. Permanent … 315 … £131,216 7 0 Temporary … 4,326 … £412,941 4 0 Total 4,641 Total £544,157 11 0

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the Greenock surveyor of taxes has issued his threatening notice about non-payment of Income Tax, Schedule A, to the effect that costs will be added in seven days from the 11th instant; if so, will he say how many other districts in the United Kingdom are so threatened, and how long it will be in the normal course before the London surveyors will issue such threatening notices; and will he see, in view of the repeated promises in past years by his Department, that equal treatment in this respect is meted out to all citizens in the United Kingdom?

The issue of final notices at Greenock commenced on the same date as last year, the 11th instant. The date of issue in London must depend on the size and character of the collections concerned, but the period when resort is had to actual distraint falls within approximately the same limits in London, and in England generally, as in Scotland. On the general subject of the hon. Member's question, I can only refer him to answers given in this House last year on the 22nd April and the 5th May.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether anyone has been arrested in connection with the driving of cattle and horses on the 18th December last near Portarlington, in King's County; whether a number of horses belonging to the military authorities at Curragh were grazing on an evicted farm, and were all driven off by night; and whether the military authorities have removed their horses and ceased to use the farm as the result of this intimidation?

The police inform me that on the night of the 15th December last forty horses belonging to the military authorities at the Curragh were driven off a grazing farm near Portarlington, but the horses were all recovered uninjured next morning. The military authorities have since removed the horses and ceased to use the farm. No person has been arrested in connection with this offence.

asked the Chief Secretary whether anyone has been arrested or made amenable for the outrage committed in the county of Sligo on 25th August last, when a valuable heifer belonging to a Mrs. Graham, near to the town of Sligo, was mutilated and killed on a grazing farm, and the rest of the cattle on the farm driven off?

The answer is in the negative.

asked whether anyone has been arrested in respect of the series of cattle drives which took place on the night of 31st October last in the county Galway, when the gates of several farms were opened and the cattle driven out to wander on the public roads; and, if so, with what result?

The police authorities inform me that on the night of the 31st October last a police patrol found the gates of a number of fields left open and several head of cattle and sheep wandering on the public road quite close to the fields in which they had been grazing. There was no evidence that the cattle were driven, and the police believe it to be the work of some irresponsible youths.

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been called to an address delivered by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Killaloe in the cathedral at Ennis, county Clare, in the month of December last, in which he said, referring to a murder which had lately taken place, that the constant outrages in Clare were due to the demoralisation, the fear, and humiliation which the unscrupulous moonlighter had spread through the community; whether any special steps have been taken in Clare or elsewhere to relieve the community from the reign of terror thus described; and whether the Members of Parliament for county Clare have been approached to use their influence with their constituents to prevent the repetition of these outrages and to relieve unoffending inhabitants of the terror of intimidation?

I have seen a newspaper report of the address referred to. There is a large extra force of police in the county, and special measures have been and are being, taken for the protection of life and property, and the prevention of outrages. I have not approached the Members for the County.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he would state the date on which the Pope dissolved the Royal College of St. Patrick, Maynooth, which was founded by Royal Charter, and endowed by both the Parliaments of Ireland and the United Kingdom, and established in its stead the Pontifical College of St. Patrick, in the same place and in the enjoyment of the endowments granted to the Royal foundation, and conferring upon it the right to grant degrees; and if he would state whether the Government recognises the right of the Pope of Rome to revoke or revise Royal Charters, constitute colleges in Ireland, or confer degree-granting authority?

I am not aware that Maynooth College was founded by Royal Charter as stated in the question. The College was founded by an Act of the Irish Parliament in 1795, and was incorporated by an Act passed in 1845. In 1899 the Trustees were invested by the Holy See with authority to confer degrees in philosophy, theology, and canon law, but I am not aware that the College was at any time dissolved by the Pope and a Pontifical College established in its stead.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, although the possibility of reaching commissioned rank is now open to the great majority of the classes of men in His Majesty's Navy, it is impossible for skilled artisans of the blacksmith, cooper, plumber, and painter classes to rise above the rating of petty officer, or to attain a higher rate of pay than 3s. 10d. or 4s. a day; and whether he will endeavour to open the higher grades to these classes, and to bring their pay more into line with that ruling ashore and in other branches of the Navy?

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the Noble Lord the Member for Portsmouth on the 2nd of June last.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the date by which it was originally anticipated that the ships to be contributed by Canada for the Navy would be available for service; what would have been the total number of battleships and cruisers at that time if the Canadian Parliament had agreed to the proposed arrangements; what will be the probable number of such ships available at the date in question; and if, in view of his statements as to the importance of these vessels for Imperial purposes, he will state what steps will be taken to remedy the shortage or the reasons which now make it unnecessary to replace the Canadian ships?

I do not propose to anticipate the full statement which it will be my duty to make to the House when the Estimates are presented.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been called to the statement by the Secretary of State for the Navy in the Budget Committee of the German Reichstag, on the 4th February, to the effect that no positive proposals had yet been made to Germany by Great Britain for a reduction in naval construction, but that if such proposals were made they would assuredly be examined in a spirit of goodwill; and if he will state what was the nature of the suggestions made to Germany in this matter, in what form they were conveyed, and when?

This subject is not suited for discussion by question and answer. It will be dealt with either by me or by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs as fully as the public interest allows during the Debates on Naval Estimates.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many dirigible airships the Government now has; how many are under construction by the Government and how many by contractors; and if he anticipates that any of these dirigibles will be capable of accompanying the fleets and manœuvring with them this next summer?

There are fifteen dirigible airships built, building, or or- dered at the present time for the Naval Wing. The majority will be ready for service with the fleets when required during the next year. I should prefer not to be more precise.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men are-employed in the Royal dockyards at home on new construction work as apart from repair work?

The average number is at present 13,000, but men are not entered specifically for either class of work, and are employed on one or the other as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the present strength, non-commissioned officers and rank and file, of the Regular Army in the British Isles; and the number of boys under twenty years of age now serving in the ranks?

The strength of non-commissioned officers and men on 1st January was 115,623, and there were 28,075 rank and file under twenty years of age. No figures are available showing the ages of trumpeters, drummers, and buglers.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that warrant and non-commissioned officers of the Royal Garrison Artillery, Royal Engineers, Army Service Corps, and Army Pay Department are granted furlough from Sierra Leone so that they can go direct to their homes from port of arrival, while officers of the Army Ordnance Department in like case have to go first from the port of arrival to report themselves at Woolwich, which in many cases involves much unnecessary travelling; and will he consider the desirability of removing this difference of treatment?

This matter presents some difficulty, but will be further considered with a view to arranging for the men in question to proceed direct to their homes, if possible.

asked the President of the Board of Education what was the total sum in salary for the whole period of apprenticeship received by a pupil teacher commencing in the year 1898 in an average town where large pupil teacher schools existed; and the total sum that a student will now receive under the new bursar scheme?

As regards the first part of the question, I can only refer the hon. Member to the information contained in the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Pupil Teacher System, dated 12th January, 1898 [C. 8761]. As regards the second part, the Board do not determine the rate of the maintenance allowance which local education authorities may give to bursars, and I am unable to say what the average rate is likely to be.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if members of the police force are permitted to hold meetings for the consideration of their conditions of employment and to make representations to the proper authorities without having to obtain special permission for each such meeting; and, if not, will he consider the desirability of issuing an order granting such permission?

In the Metropolitan Police force the rule that meetings of the police cannot be held without the Commissioner's authority has long been in force, and is well understood. Having regard to the conditions of the Metropolitan Police service, I think the rule must be maintained. Outside the Metropolis, the matter is in the discretion of the local police authority; and I cannot either require or advise them to adopt the course suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the lack of a hospital or nursing home for members of the Metropolitan Police force suffering from ordinary ailments where they can receive proper treatment and attention for which no suitable provision is made at police stations or section houses at present; and is the question of better provision when on the sick list under consideration?

A central police hospital or nursing home for the Metropolitan Police would not be as satisfactory as the existing arrangement under which members of the force who need hospital treatment are admitted to a hospital near to their homes, where they can be visited conveniently and without much expense by their families and friends. When the illness does not require hospital treatment, the men are attended at their own homes by the divisional surgeons. Suitable sick rooms are provided for single men at police stations and section houses, where they are treated by the divisional surgeons, unless hospital treatment is necessary. The single men form only one-fourth of the force, and the proportion of sickness among them is very small.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a memorial from the National Canine Defence League, signed by 5,480 persons, protesting against the appointment of Sir John Bose Bradford, who has himself conducted experiments on living dogs, as a member of the advisory body under the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1876; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action thereon?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; to the second, in the negative. I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made on this matter in the course of a debate in this House on the 18th March last.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give the number of non-commissioned officers and rank and file who have left this country in drafts for units abroad during the present trooping-season; and the number of those who are now under orders for foreign service?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the answer I gave to a question put by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Canterbury yesterday.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he will state how many judicial sentences for whipping were passed in India, province by province, during the years 1911 and 1912?

Burma—1911, 2,158; 1912, 2,205. United Provinces—1911, 2,992; 1912, 2,662. Punjab—1911, 1,135; 1912, 1,149. North-West Frontier Pro- vince—1911, 81; 1912, 120. Bombay—1911, 859; 1912, 901. Central Provinces—1911, 518; 1912, 529. Madras—1911, 618; 1912, 684. Bengal—1911, 816;* 1912, 689.† Eastern Bengal and Assam—1911, 223; 1912, —; Bihar and Orissa, 1911, —; 1912, 256; Assam, 1911, —; 1912, 126.

* Including Bihar and Orissa, but not Eastern Bengal.

† Including Eastern Bengal.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that a company called the General Accident Insurance Corporation of Perth, which does business largely with farmers in Scotland, is in the habit of issuing policies to them with a clause stipulating for arbitration in the event of a claim against the company; that such arbitration is protracted till it amounts to a virtual refusal of payment of the just debts of the company, the farmers being precluded from recourse to the ordinary Law Courts to assert their rights; and, if so, whether he will introduce legislation this Session to prevent insurance companies avoiding payment of claims by the insertion in their contracts of arbitration clauses, in view of the fact that such clauses deprive the insured of their rights to appeal to the Law Courts of the land?

Assuming the facts to be as stated in the first part of my hon. Friend's question, I am not aware of any complaints as to delay in the arbitration proceedings referred to, and I am, therefore, unable to see any necessity for the, proposed legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the American editor of a newspaper called "Azatamart," published in Constantinople, has been tried by court-martial and sentenced to four months' imprisonment and to a fine of £80 (Turkish) for having printed translations of articles published in this country on the conditions prevailing in the Armenian provinces; whether he is aware that the original articles were written by an English clergyman who recently made a tour of the country and whose knowledge was gained on the spot; and whether His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople has been instructed to take any action in the matter?

I have received unofficial information of the nature stated in the first two sentences. The authorship of the articles has no bearing on the matter, Which concerns the application to Turkish subjects of Turkish laws, and I cannot, therefore, instruct His Majesty's Ambassador to take any official action. I am assuming that the word "American" in the second line of the question is a misprint for "Armenian."

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received a communication from the guardians of the poor of the parish of St. Mary, Islington, regretting that recent legislation has made the vaccination law practically inoperative, and expressing a hope that the Government will appoint a Committee to inquire into the carrying out of the Clauses of the Act of 1906 relating to conscientious objections; will he say whether it is proposed to take any, and, if so, what, action in the matter; or is he satisfied that the progress of vaccination throughout the country may now be discouraged?

I have received the communication referred to, but, as at present advised, I do not think it necessary to appoint the Committee suggested.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he could state the number of exemptions from vaccination in each of the three years before the Statutory declaration took the place of an appearance before a magistrate for a certificate; and the number of exemptions in each year subsequently?

The figures are as follows:—1905, 43,341; 1906, 52,391; 1907, 57,675; 1908, 162,799;* 1909, 190,689; 1910, 230,947; 1911, 248,483; 1912, 275,929. The figures for 1913 have not yet been received. * The Vaccination Act, 1907, substituting a Statutory declaration for a certificate, signed by justices, of conscientious objection, came into operation on 1st January, 1908.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will give a list of all Orders or Regulations that he has issued under the Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907?

List of Regulations issued under the Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907:—The Public Health (Foreign Meat) Regulations, 1908. The Public Health (Unsound Food: First Series), Regulations, 1908. The Public Health (Foreign Meat) Amending Regulations, 1909. The Public Health (Milk and Cream) Regulations, 1912.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to a statement made by Mr. Justice Channell, in his charge to the grand jury at the Nottingham Assizes on Saturday last, when he stated that he could not help suspecting that the workhouse system was more deterrent than it ought to be, and that the workhouses ought not to be worse than prisons; that there must be something wrong in the relative treatment of the two; that he constantly noticed at assizes that a lot of offences are committed for the sole purpose of getting into prison; and whether he intends taking any action in the matter?

I have seen a report of the statement referred to, from which I gather that the learned judge was alluding to vagrants, not to ordinary workhouse inmates. The question of the treatment of vagrants is now receiving consideration.

asked what progress has been made in the question of prohibiting the use of dazzling head-lights on motor cars in well-lighted streets where there is no necessity for them?

I am considering the results of a number of experiments which have been made. I am not, however, in a position to make a compulsory regulation on the subject at the present time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, on the question of safety of life at sea, consideration has been given to the necessity of providing that men shipped as able seamen are experienced; whether he is aware that it is a common practice to employ inexperienced youths on important duties; on board ship, thereby running unnecessary risk; and whether he will consider the advisability of setting up a standard of experience and ability for men shipped as able seamen.

The question of manning was considered by the recent International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea, and Article 15 of the Convention lays down that foreign-going passenger steamers must be sufficiently and efficiently manned from the point of view of safety of life at sea. The Convention also lays down that passenger steamships within its scopes must carry qualified men sufficient in number, according to a prescribed scale, to man and handle all the lifeboats and life-rafts carried. These members of the crew must possess a Government certificate of efficiency, and the question of the standard to be required from candidates, for such certificates is now under consideration of the Board of Trade. As regards the remainder of my hon. Friend's question, I shall be prepared to consider any specific cases which he may bring to my notice in which unnecessary risk is; incurred by the employment of inexperienced youths on important duties on board ship.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the manager of the Canning Town Labour Exchange is using this Exchange as a strike-breaking agency, by sending builders' labourers to Mr. J. Carmichael's works, Silvertown, E., who is one of the London master builders that locked out all his employés because they would not sign an agreement to work with non-union men under a penalty fine of 20s., and that to be deducted from their-weekly wage; that the green cards given out by the manager to the men were dated 3rd February, Order No. 28, and were signed by Frank S. Deatal, manager; and if he intends stopping this method of assisting the employers?

I have inquired into this-case, and find that the manager of the Canning Town Labour Exchange carefully warned any applicants for employment at the firm mentioned of the existence of a dispute, although, as a matter of fact, the trade union concerned had neglected to-file a notice of the dispute at the Exchange in accordance with the statutory regula- tions under the Labour Exchanges Act. The regulations were therefore fully complied with by the manager. Whether, in the light of experience the present regulations bearing on this subject need any, and, if BO, what amendment, is a question of some difficulty on which I am proposing to consult the Advisory Committees for Labour Exchanges, which, as my hon. Friend is aware, represent in equal proportions employers and workmen. As my hon. Friend is aware, these Regulations were framed after careful and prolonged consultation with the representatives of employers and workmen, and were also confirmed by Parliament. He will therefore agree with me that any change ought only to be made after equally careful consideration of its effects, bearing in mind the essential condition that the Labour Exchanges should be striclty neutral in matters of dispute between employers and workmen.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received complaints to the effect that various railway companies are charging increased rates for the carriage of milk to the extent of from 4 to 16 per cent. over the rates in force prior to the passing of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1912–13; and, if so, whether he has made any representations to the railway companies concerned?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for the Wilton Division.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is proposed to continue to issue the Returns on Railway Companies (Staff and Wages) in the unsatisfactory form in which No. 116, of 1913, and No. 293, of 1914, were issued, or whether he can see his way to prepare these Returns in future in such a form that the information may be used by Members without laborious rearrangement?

The Railway Companies (Accounts and Returns) Act, 1911, came into force on the 1st January, 1913, and consequently the Staff and Wages Returns for 1913, and future years, will be issued in a more complete and greatly simplified form.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will give the total export of cotton yarn and twist (in lbs.) from the United Kingdom in the years 1890 and 1913; (2) if he will state the total yardage of cotton piece goods exports of all kinds for the years 1890 and 1913 from this country to Belgium, France, Portugal, Azores and Madeira, Italy, Greece, Philippine Islands and Guam, Japan, United States, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Straits Settlements?

The following statements will furnish the hon. Member with the information he desires, together with some additional information respecting exports in intermediate years, and to other destinations.

Statement showing the quantity of cotton yarn and cotton sewing thread of United Kingdom manufacture, exported from the United Kingdom to all destinations in each of the years 1890 to 1913:— Year. Cotton Yarn. Cotton Thread for Sewing. Lbs. Lbs. 1890 … … 258,290,800 18,075,000 1891 … … 245,258,700 18,070,600 1892 … … 233,224,400 16,169,300 1893 … … 206,546,300 17,244,500 1894 … … 236,121,000 17,099,300 1895 … … 251,989,000 23,800,300 1896 … … 246,432,500 25,853,600 1897 … … 252,546,500 26,414,700 1898 … … 246,663,200 27,137,000 1899 … … 213,125,000 30,705,500 1900 … … 158,272,900 34,695,400 1901 … … 169,658,000 31,058,400 1902 … … 166,360,900 32,383,100 1903 … … 150,708,100 34,326,500 1904 … … 163,901,400 24,332,700 1905 … … 205,100,500 23,430,700 1906 … … 207,378,700 26,542,200 1907 … … 241,076,700 31,726,700 1908 … … 214,762,200 27,810,900 1909 … … 215,223,400 29,724,300 1910 … … 191,629,100 24,397,800 1911 … … 223,834,400 23,032,200 1912 … … 243,850,400 22,556,900 1913* … … 210,175,500 20,738,200 * Provisional figures.

Statement showing the quantity of cotton piece goods of United Kingdom manufacture exported from the United Kingdom to each of the under-mentioned countries, and to all other destinations, in each of the years 1890 and 1913:— Country to which Exported. In 1890. In 1913.* A. Exports to destinations specified in the question— Yards. Yards. Belgium §58,001,500 31,158,000 France §30,666,300 12,762,100 Portugal, Azores and Madeira 54,575,300 29,446,900 Italy 55,940,200 10,246,700 Greece 34,009,500 31,896,600 Philippine Islands and Guam †46,217,300 16,899,200 Japan 63,309,400 50,199,900 United States 58,811,800 44,415,000 Venezuela 40,924,300 34,780,700 Peru 34,431,500 28,789,100 Brazil 212,640,500 96,537,500 Chile 61,851,600 61,740,100 Mexico 39,788,700 22,883,900 Straits Settlements 151,204,000 ‡131,791,500 Total to destinations specified in the question 942,371,900 603,547,200 B. Total to all destinations other than those specified in the question 4,182,594,100 6,472,011,200 C. Total to all destinations 5,124,966,000 7,075,558,400 * Provisional figures. † Philippine Islands and Ladrone Islands. ‡ Including Federated Malay States and Labuan. § These figures include exports to Switzerland via Belgian and French ports, which were not separately recorded in 1890. In 1913 the exports to Switzerland amounted to 79,953,100 yards.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received from the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce representations as to the inconvenience which has been caused to Scottish traders by the withdrawal of the regular Saturday afternoon mail from Glasgow to the United States consequent on the Cunard steamer no longer calling at Queenstown on Sunday mornings, and urging the establishment of a direct mail service between Glasgow and the United States; whether he has considered these representations; and whether he has given any reply to the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce?

I have received such a representation from the Glasgow Cham- ber of Commerce. As indicated in my answer yesterday to the hon. Member for East Cork, the Cunard Packets will continue to call at Queenstown for the final outward American mails until the 28th of this month, when the "Lusitania" will sail from Liverpool to New York direct. Meanwhile, I am considering the possibility of a mail from Glasgow on Saturdays by the Anchor Line, as suggested by the Chamber of Commerce.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will abolish the present charge of 5s. which is made to British steamers arriving off the British coast for advising them of weather conditions by wireless, in view of the fact that these messages are transmitted free from Canada to outward-bound vessels and the installation of wireless apparatus is compulsory on British passenger vessels?

I would point out that the Imperial Parliament, unlike the Canadian Legislature, has not yet made the installation of wireless apparatus compulsory on any ships. The question whether the charge referred to should be maintained if and when Parliament adopts that course will be considered in due time.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a petition, signed by all the business people in the neighbourhood, was presented to the Dundee postmaster about four months ago for a sub-office to be opened in the Over-gate, Dundee; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view of complying with the prayer of the petition?

A petition of the nature stated was presented to the postmaster of Dundee in June last; but the suggested site is on every side within easy distance of other post-offices, of which three, including the Dundee head office, are within a radius of from 335 to 400 yards, and two within a radius of 600 yards. A sixth office is less than 600 yards distant. In these circumstances, the provision of an additional office is not warranted.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has re- ceived complaints of the inequitable distribution of Departmental advertisements; whether he is aware that such advertisements are frequently inserted in newspapers having only a limited circulation in the districts to which they apply, to the exclusion of more important local organs; and that the statutory notices so advertised are thereby deprived of the publicity provided for in the Standing Orders; and whether, in the distribution of such advertisements, special favour is accorded to newspapers which happen to be supporters of the Government of the day?

Complaints respecting the distribution to local newspapers of advertisements relating to extensions of telegraphs are occasionally received, but I see no reason to doubt that my local officers exercise proper care and judgment in the selection of the newspapers most suitable for these statutory notices. The Telegraph Acts only require that the notices shall be inserted in one local paper, and it is often difficult to avoid causing dissatisfaction to the proprietors of other local newspapers. The inquiries I am making in connection with a particular case to which the hon. Member has drawn my attention by letter are not yet completed, and I will communicate with him at an early date.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware-that the members of the special events staff at Bristol are required to travel to race meetings, etc., by excursion trains; and whether, having regard to the many undesirable features connected with this, means of travelling and to the objections of the staff concerned, he will provide means of travelling in future by the ordinary passenger trains?

It is not unusual to require the staff to travel by special trains run in connection with race meetings. For the Newbury Race Meeting the railway company provided an excursion train from Bristol, arriving at Newbury at the time at which the services of the Bristol staff were required, and that staff was accordingly instructed to take advantage of the special train service. I do-not think reasonable objection can be taken to this arrangement; and I cannot undertake to issue instructions that special train services are not to be taken advantage of in future.