asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Mr. J. T. Davies fulfils all the duties of a first-class clerk in the Welsh Insurance Commission at Cardiff; what emolument he receives; and how often he attends to his duties in Cardiff?

I can add nothing to the full explanation which I gave the hon. Member for Denbigh Boroughs on Monday last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the form issued by the Seamen's National Insurance Society for use by men applying for transfer to that society from other societies, in which form it is stated that under Section 48 of the National Insurance Act, as applicable to the Seamen's National Insurance Society, the applicant for transfer will receive additional benefits and that unless he is a full member of the Seamen's National Insurance Society he can obtain pensions only as a deferred member; whether he can state what are the additional benefits to be received by members of the Seamen's National Insurance Soceity which cannot be given to members of other seamen's approved societies; and whether seamen members of other approved societies are not entitled to a proportion of the sums credited to the Seamen's National Insurance Society for the payment of pensions or superannuation allowances?

I have communicated with the society, and am informed that the additional benefits to which they refer are the benefits other than pensions which they consider can be given under the powers of Section 48 (7) of the National Insurance Act, 1911. That Sub-section, as my hon. Friend will be aware, makes special arrangements for the Seamen's National Insurance Society. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether he is aware that Denis Malone, an insured member of the County Galway Insurance Society, has repeatedly written to the society in respect to sickness benefit due to him, and that he applied more than once since last June for an insurance card; will he explain why the repeated communications of this working man have been left unanswered; and (2) it he is aware that Denis Malone, an insured person in the County Galway Insurance Society, fell sick in June, 1913, was attended by Dr. Keary, the local medical doctor, who furnished a certificate as to his delicate state of health; whether he is aware that the inspector to file society, Mr. Burke, reported Malone in July as being unable to resume work, and that Malone resumed work on the 12th September; and will he explain why no benefit was paid to him after 12th July?

I propose to take Questions 53 and 54 together. My right hon. Friend has made inquiry into this case, and finds that sickness benefit has now been paid to the insured person referred to for the full period of his claim, and that he has been supplied by his approved society with contribution cards.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether any decision has yet been arrived at as to the destination of certain coins of the Tudor period recently found during excavations clue to the re-building of premises in the High Street of Sheffield; whether these coins can be granted to the Sheffield Public Museum as an addition to their exhibits; and whether any rewards to the finders will be granted?

Some of the coins referred to have been retained for the National museums in accordance with established practice. It would be contrary to the regulations governing the disposal of treasure trove to make a free grant of any of the coins, but an offer has been made to sell the remaining coins to the Sheffield City Council; the question of reward is still under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the old age pension has yet been granted to. Edward Masterson, of Nedd, Killeshandra, county Cavan, who made a claim in the Bawnboy pension district; if the pension has been granted will he say when this occurred; and, if not, will he state the reason or reasons for withholding the same?

Edward Masterson appears to have been granted a pension which was discontinued in March, 1910, on a question raised that he had not attained the statutory age. Since then his case has not been before the Local Government Board.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his attention has been drawn to the statement in the Report of the Vice-regal Committee of Inquiry into Irish Primary Education that the problem of transferring the teachers from the classes to the grades in 1900 was roughly solved by assigning each teacher to the new grade corresponding to his average income for the three years before the change, and that the result in many cases was injurious to the status and further prospects of the teacher under the altered regime; and will he now, in view of the Committee's finding, take steps to restore to these teachers their former status?

My attention has been directed to the statement referred to in the first paragraph of the question. With regard to the second paragraph, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to his question on the same subject on 27th February.

asked the Chief Secretary how many test cases were submitted on behalf of the under-graded teachers to prove loss of income by the change of system in 1900; in how many of these did the Commissioners admit that the teachers concerned were suffering loss; was rectification in payment made in each of these cases; and, if not, why was this rectification denied to these teachers; were these cases submitted only as typical cases, and are there, as has been stated in evidence before the Vice-regal Committee of Inquiry, still 300 undergraded teachers who are suffering financially under the new system; and how do the Commissioners of National Education justify their treatment of such teachers in view of their promise in 1900 that no teacher would lose under the new system, and of the fact that the funds provided by Parliament for teachers' salaries are now much greater than before 1900?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on 27th February, to which I have nothing to add.

asked whether the Irish Government have considered the position of the officials of the district schools of Trim and Glynn with regard to pensions after length of service which in other institutions would entitle them to pensions; and, if so, what decision has been arrived at regarding them?

I have been advised that the officers of these district schools do not come under the Union Officers (Ireland) Superannuation Act, 1865, and accordingly the boards of guardians would have no power to grant pensions to them. Legislation would be necessary to confer the necessary powers on the guardians, and if I am satisfied that they desire such extension of their powers, I shall consider the question in connection with any Bill dealing with Irish local government or Poor Law administration.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether any steps are at present in contemplation to restrict further the length of net permitted to be used in drift-net fishing for salmon; and whether, in view of the importance of this fishery to numerous families of poor fishermen in the West of Ireland, he will promise that before any further restriction is made there shall be ample notice and full inquiry?

In districts where the Department have fixed the length of drift nets for salmon by by-laws they have no present intention of making any alterations.

asked whether the Return of Local Contributions (Ireland), of which notice appears on the Order Paper, will be granted?

I will offer no objection to the granting of this Return, but its preparation will take a considerable time, as the necessary information has to be obtained from the local authorities.

asked whether the Return of Land Purchase Inspectors (Ireland), of which notice appears on the Order Paper, will be granted?

asked whether the Return of the Irish Land Commission, of which notice appears on the Order Paper, will be granted?

I am unable to consent to the granting of these Returns. The information asked for in the first six headings, with regard to all the officers of the different classes mentioned who are at present employed by the Irish Land Commission, will be found in Parliamentary Returns, 32 and 33 of 1912. The information required under heading No. 7 is not available, and as regards headings Nos. 8, 9, and 10, I would refer the hon. Member to the Annual Estimates and Appropriation Accounts, which contain the required information.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the tenants of the Winn Estate, situated near Dungloe, county Donegal, approached the landlord two years ago with a view to the purchase of the estate by the Congested Districts Board, and also approached that Board in the matter; whether he is aware that the landlord is now prosecuting the tenants for arrears of rent; and whether the Congested Districts Board are taking any steps in the matter of purchase?

The Congested Districts Board made an offer for the purchase of the estate of W. H. Winn, county Donegal, in March, 1912, which was not accepted. The Board have no power to interfere in the collection of rent by the owner.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give a list of those Infantry regiments of which His Majesty the King is colonel-in-chief?

The Noble Lord will find the information which he requires by reference to page 1 of the index to the monthly Army List.

asked whether the petition on behalf of the viewers em- ployed in the Royal Army Clothing Department, Pimlico, which was presented to the Visiting Committee of the Army Council in July of last year, has yet been considered; and, if so, what is the result of such consideration?

The matter is still under consideration.

asked if there are. no Cavalry barracks available in the United Kingdom suitable for the two Cavalry regiments at present in South Africa in case it were decided that they should return to this country?

The hon. Gentleman may rest assured that the provision of suitable barrack accommodation for these regiments will be arranged if and when any decision to bring them home may be taken.

asked what was the number of members of the Territorial Force who trained in camp in 1912 and 1913; the average period of training of each man in these two years; the percentage of men who trained six days or less in each of the two years named; the total expenditure in the Territorial Force in 1912 and 1913; and the original estimated annual expenditure for the full establishment of 312,000 men?

The total number of officers and men trained was in 1912, 229,675, and in 1913, 219,944, and the average number of days in camp for each individual in the two years respectively was 12.9 and 13.2. I cannot give the percentage of individuals who trained six days or less, but the percentage trained for less than eight days was .2 per cent, in each year. The estimated expenditure for 1912–13 is £3,214,000, and for 1913–14, £3,282,000. The original estimated annual expenditure for the full establishment was £3,514,408.

asked the Secretary for War whether he will consent to circulate the Report of the consultative committee on employment of soldiers discharged or transferred to the Reserve as a Parliamentary Paper?

My right hon. Friend has referred this Report to the Committee now sitting under Sir N. Nathan, as to which a statement will be found in the Memorandum relating to Army Estimates, 1914–15.

asked the Secretary for War if he will give the establishment and strength of the Regular Army on the 1st January, 1914?

The establishment was 243,765, and the strength 234,586.

also asked (1) the regimental establishment and strength of the Regular Army serving at home on the 1st January, 1914; (2) what was the number of recruits who joined the Regular Army, exclusive of re-enlisted men and those for Colonial Corps, who failed to reach the standards but were accepted, and the percentage enlisted under standard for the years ending 30th September, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, and 1913, respectively; (3) the percentage of rejections, respectively, of recruits offering themselves for enlistment in the Regular Army for the years 1st October, 1907, to 30th September, 1908, 1st October, 1908, to 30th September, 1909, 1st October, 1909, to 30th September, 1910, 1st October, 1910, to 30th September, 1911, 1st October, 1911, to 30th September, 1912, 1st October, 1912, to 30th September, 1913; (4) the number of non-commissioned officers and men on the regimental strength of the several arms serving at home under twenty years of age on 1st January, 1914; (5) the number of troops embarked for India and the Colonies during the years ending 30th September, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, and 1913; and (6) the number of troops embarked for India and the Colonies during the present trooping season, and the number still under orders to proceed abroad?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies which I gave to identical questions on 16th February.

asked the Secretary for War whether the present Territorial Army answers to the requirements of the sufficiently trained professional Army, the presence of which the First Sea Lord stated was in these islands at all times quite as necessary as the other arm of the Service to keep anybody from coming anywhere near the shores of this island Kingdom?

The point raised by the hon. Member cannot be dealt with satis- factorily by way of question and answer, and perhaps he will await the statement my right hon. Friend will make in introducing the Army Estimates.

asked the Secretary for War what number of men at present serving in the Special Reserve and Territorial Forces, respectively, have gone through the regular course of musketry at full ranges with the service rifle; and what is the number who have not completed the course?

In the Special Reserve (including the Irish Horse and King Edward's Horse) 48,869 went through the full course of musketry in 1912, and 1,377 did not complete the course. I have not later figures. The corresponding figures for the Territorial Force for the year 1912–13 are 164,711 and 17,400.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether he can now give the amount that has been spent by local authorities in opposition to various Bills for the construction of a Northern Junction Railway?

Inquiry is being made of the numerous local authorities who have opposed these Bills during the last seven years, but the information has not yet been furnished. I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Education what was the number of males and females, respectively, paying into the Teachers' Superannuation Fund during the year ending 31st March. 1913; what was the total amount paid in by males and females, respectively; and what was the total amount standing to their respective accounts on 31st March, 1913?

In answer to the first question, the number is not recorded; in answer to the second question, the amounts were:—Men, £120,410 11s. 5d.; women, £153,045 11s. 10d. In answer to the third question, the sums paid in are not placed to the account of the persons who make the payments, but are carried to a general fund, the accounts of which are published annually. The accounts for the year 1912–13 will be found on page 321 of the Civil Services and Revenue Departments Appropriation Accounts.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the additional Grants for education, promised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer this year, are included in the Education Estimates?

There is no provision in the Estimates for 1914–15 for the additional Grants contemplated by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions Commissioners of Assize have been appointed in each of the last five years?

Commissioners of Assize were appointed on three occasions in 1909, twice in 1912, three times in 1913.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to give information with regard to the recent reported fighting between two native tribes within our frontier in East Africa?

The Governor of the East Africa Protectorate informs me that the officer in charge of the Northern Frontier district reported last December that there had been raiding and counter-raiding between the Rendile and Boran, but gave no particulars. Further inquiry is being made, but, in view of the remoteness and uncivilised nature of the country, it is probable that a considerable time must elapse before details come to hand.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what are the reasons which have led the Government of the United Provinces to authorise certain municipalities to impose what is virtually an Income Tax, and for what reasons this power has been restricted to certain minor municipalities; and whether the Secretary of State for India has sanctioned the principle that income should be taxed both for Imperial and local expenditure?

The system of an octroi on imported commodities which formerly prevailed in municipalities in the United Provinces was reported against by a Committee appointed in 1909 by the local Government. Accordingly, octroi dues have been replaced in the smaller towns by a direct tax assessed on the circumstances of property of householders. The basis of its assessment differs from that of the general Income Tax, and the Secretary of State does not consider that it is open to the objection implied in the question. The tax is not well suited to large towns, and in them other measures of fiscal reform are contemplated.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what was the cost of his Department to the nation during the past financial year; and whether he can give the amount of compensation paid for live stock slaughtered under the Board's orders?

During the last complete financial year (1912–13) the net expenditure of the Board on all services was £708,064, and the net compensation paid for animals slaughtered under the Diseases of Animals Acts was£85,577.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to report the result of the recent investigations into the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle at the Birkenhead lairages?

A draft Report of the proceedings at the recent inquiry at Birkenhead has been submitted to the Irish Department for their consideration. When their reply has been received the Report will be laid on the Table of the House without delay.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many local authorities have during the past three years added measles to the list of notifiable diseases, under the Infectious Diseases (Notification) Act; and how many have since received permission to revoke the Orders?

Since the 1st January, 1911, twenty local authorities, with the Local Government Board's approval, have made Orders extending the application of the Infectious Disease (Notification) Act to measles. One of these authorities subsequently obtained the Board's approval to the revocation of the Order.

asked the President of the Local Government Board when the proposed Bill for dealing with the question of sewage and trade effluents will be introduced?

In view of the expected issue of the final Report of the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal the question of introducing this Bill is for the present postponed.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can see his way to bringing the scale of allowance of sub-postmasters for the accommodation and local working of telephone exchanges and call-boxes to the same level as those which were allowed by the Post Office before taking over the National Telephone Company?

The question of the remuneration of scale-payment sub-postmasters for telephone work was dealt with by the Select Committee on Post Office Servants. I hope to make an announcement to the staff on the subject shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the danger run by farmers and their employés in carrying milk churns across the rails at Marple Station; that numerous complaints have been made by local farmers and the local association, and by the urban district council; and if he will cause an inspection to be made by Board of Trade officials, both with regard to the danger to human life and the delay which the present arrangements cause to milk traffic?

I have asked the Great Central and Midland Joint Committee for their observations in this matter, and I will communicate with the hon. Member upon receipt of their reply.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, with reference to recent prosecutions, he can state what substitutes have been used by Messrs. Showell's Brewery Company in the brewing of beer during the last twelve months?

It would be contrary to the established practice and to public policy to disclose particulars of the materials used by individual brewers in the manufacture of their beer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of Chinese who were engaged on British foreign-going ships in the United Kingdom during 1912 and 1913, distinguishing the ratings of the men and the ports of engagement?

The following table gives the information desired, so far as it is available:—

Number of engagements of Chinese seamen on British foreign-going ships at ports of the United Kingdom during 1912 and 1913—

I regret that I am unable to state the ratings in which these seamen were engaged to serve.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of seamen who were engaged on British foreign-going ships in the United Kingdom during 1912 and 1913, and the number who failed to join; the number of continuous discharge books submitted under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, for suspension; and the actual number suspended, distinguishing the ratings of the seaman and ports of engagement?

Information respecting the ratings of seamen who failed to join their vessels is not available. Although the number of seamen failing to join is higher in 1913 than in 1912, the percentage of seamen engaged who failed to join is approximately the same, namely, 2.68 in 1913, and 2.63 in 1912.

The following statement shows the number of seamen engaged on British foreign-going ships in the United Kingdom during the years 1912 and 1913, the number who failed to join their vessels, the number of cases submitted by Superintendents of Mercantile Marine Offices to the Board of Trade for consideration, under Section 65 (2) Merchant Shipping. Act, 1906, and the number of discharge books suspended, distinguishing separately the numbers for each port:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can furnish a return showing the number of deaths which occurred among Asiatics serving on British ships, under both European and Lascar agreements, in each of the years from 1909 to 1913, inclusive, from the following causes, suicides, sup- posed suicide, missing, heat-stroke, heart failure, consumption, and beri-beri?

The following table gives the information desired:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the London and North Western Railway Company are charging for the carriage of milk from Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, to London not only a 4 per cent. increase on the old freight rate but a fractional overcharge; if he will communicate with the London and North Western Railway Company on the subject; if he is aware of the restraint of trade caused by this and similar charges; and what measures he proposes to deal with the situation created by the passage of the Railway Act of 1913?

The railway companies brought into force on the 1st March a revised scale of milk rates with the view of meeting certain cases in which the increase was disproportionately large owing to the method of counting a fraction of a penny as a penny. My hon. Friend is aware that any trader or responsible body of traders can call on the railway companies to

justify any of the recent increases of rates before the Railway and Canal Commission under the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1894. I believe that several applications have been already filed, and I fear that the

Board of Trade cannot usefully intervene in the matter at present.

asked the Postmaster-General when the present temporary arrangements for the mail service between Malta and the United Kingdom are to be discontinued and a permanent mail service organised; and whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists at the present time owing to the irregularity of postal communication?

The arrangements for the conveyance of mails between Malta and Sicily (which is part of the regular route for mails between Great Britain and Malta) are under the control of the Government of Malta. I understand that hitherto considerable difficulty has been experienced in arranging a suitable contract for the service, but that fresh negotiations are now in progress which will, it is hoped, restore the service to a satisfactory footing.

asked what is the gross register tonnage of the mercantile marine belonging, respectively, to owners in Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the United States, and Columbia; and whether, in the event of an International Prize Court being established, it would be proposed for the voting power to be ac-

Separate figures for Colombia are not stated in "Lloyd's Register," but, accord-to the Repértoire Général of the Bureau Veritas, the tonnage of Colombian mer-

cording to tonnage or, if not, what method would be adopted?

The following statement shows the tonnage of steamers of 100 tons gross and upwards, and of sailing vessels of 100 tons net and upwards, belonging to each of the undermentioned countries, as recorded in "Lloyd's Register" for 1913–14, so far as the particulars are available:—

cantile vessels in 1911 was as follows: Steamers, 881 tons gross; sailing vessels, 1,608 tons net; total, 2,489 tons.