asked the Secretary of State for War whether headquarters and divisional staffs have been appointed for the Home Defence Army on mobilisation; to what extent small-arm ammunition and general stores of the Territorial Army have been reduced; whether it is intended to make any further redactions; and whether it is intended to appoint Territorial officers as brigade-majors or whether these appointments in future will be filled up by fully-qualified Regular soldiers with knowledge of staff work?

Officers have been selected for the headquarter units of the Territorial Force on mobilisation, though notifications have not in all cases been issued. There has been no reduction in general stores nor in small-arm ammunition, and no reduction is contemplated. The majority of the brigade-majors are Regular officers, and funds have been provided which will enable the remainder of these appointments to be similarly filled.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a recent pamphlet by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education on the subject of compulsory military service; and whether, in view of the fact that this publication is likely to have an adverse effect upon recruiting, he will take steps to counteract the statements made therein on the subject of Army life and discipline?

I have seen the pamphlet referred to. It does not seem to me to have the tendency which the hon. Member attributes to it.

Has the right hon. Gentleman read the statement on pages 18 and 19 of that pamphlet?

I have read a good deal of the pamphlet, but as I read it it does not seem to have the tendency which the hon. Member attributes to it.

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's unsatisfactory answer on this important subject, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the question on the Adjournment of the House to-morrow night.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to this statement in the pamphlet; and, if so, does he agree with it: "The danger in these days may arise—"

Notice should be given of that question.

asked whether the Field Service Pocket Book of 1913, page. 245, is correct in stating that the range of the French field gun is 9,000 yards; and whether the ranges of Austria, Holland, and Sweden are 6,800, 6,600, and 7,650, respectively

As far as the information in my possession goes the figures quoted represent, approximately, the extreme ranges. The corresponding range of the English field gun is about 9,000 yards.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell me which is the accurate reply—that which he has just read or the reply of the week before last, which is totally different?

Both replies are accurate.

Is there no difference between 6,200, as stated the week before last, and 9,000, as stated now?

If the hon. and gallant Member will look at the questions asked and the answers given he will find that there is no discrepancy.

May I read the previous answer of the right hon. Gentleman?

The hon. Member cannot enter into a debate at Question Time.

asked if is the intention of the Army Council to bring home this year either of the two Cavalry regiments quartered in South Africa; and, if so, which of them?

I would refer the Noble Viscount to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the North Dorset Division on the 6th inst. There is nothing that I can add.

Will the same order be observed in bringing the troops home as obtained when they went, out from this country?

I could not be expected to answer that question without notice.

How does the War Secretary explain the continued existence of British troops in South Africa now?

I have stated that the policy of the Government is to make a progressive diminution in the garrison in South Africa, but I cannot hold out the hope that the garrison will entirely disappear, in view of our special responsibility to the Protectorates and the native races.

Have not the Boers proved during the recent trouble quite able to protect the native races themselves?

I referred to the Protectorates under our control.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Colonel á Court Repington is still connected with the War Office in any capacity; whether Colonel Repington still has the use of a room in the War Office building; and, if so, whether he will explain why Colonel Repington is allowed to do this in view of his position as military correspondent, of the "Times" newspaper?

Colonel Repington is not connected with the War Office in any capacity. His connection with that Department ceased on 31st December, 1912.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this gentleman has been in communication with certain people who have organised forces in Ulster to defy the mandates of the House of Commons, and may I ask whether he will see in future that no person—

That is an argumentative sort of question.

Has this gentleman still a room at the War Office?

No, Sir. As I have said, he ceased to have any connection with the War Office on 31st December,. 1912.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many petrol-driven chassis have been supplied to the Army for transport or aviation purposes, to date; the average cost per chassis; and whether of British or foreign manufacture?

For general transport and aviation purposes 203 petrol-driven chassis have been supplied at an average cost per chassis of between £650 and £700. Twelve of these are of foreign manufacture.

Would it not be advisable, so far as possible, to give this work for the Army to British workmen?

As I have said, out of the 203 petrol-driven chassis, twelve are of foreign manufacture. I do not think it would be wise to entirely limit oneself in this rapidly progressive art to none but what are made in this country. The figures I have given will show that the vast majority of the work in this case has been given to our own manufacturers.

Would it not be advisable that some of this work should be given to the Army Ordnance factories; they are slack at present?

That is another matter; perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a further question?

Were the twelve bought recently, or are they old stock?

I cannot carry in my head the dates on which all the various 203 petrol-driven chassis were obtained. The policy in this, as in all similar matters, is to obtain warlike material of all sorts in this country whenever we can get it as good as from abroad.

May the House take it that, as a general rule, the right hon. Gentleman always gives the advantage to the home-grown product?

We have given the advantage to the home-grown product, as will be seen by the twelve out of 203. I cannot go further than the statement I have made, that in the purchase of warlike material it is considered advisable, for obvious reasons, to obtain the bulk of that warlike material in this country.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that a suitable applicant, on communicating with the Board of Agriculture with reference to the holding of Off Knowhead, in the county of Banff, was informed that his application would be entertained if he applied for it as a small holding; that he consequently made such an application and the Board refused to entertain it; and whether he will state the reason, if any, the Board gave for such a refusal?

The Board promised the applicant in question to make inquiries if he made application for the holding, and upon his doing so the inquiries showed that the land was not available under the Small Landholders Act. The land had already been given by the estate authorities to a neighbouring small holder as an enlargement.

asked how many applications, under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, have been received by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland from the county of Banff for the enlargement of existing holdings, for the establishment of new holdings, and for loans or Grants for buildings or other improvements; whether the applications have been. considered; and what steps are being taken for their satisfaction?

Fifteen applications for new holdings and eight for enlargements have been received. Most of the applicants have been interviewed, and schemes are in preparation providing for several applicants, but difficulty has been experienced in securing suitable and available land. One application for a loan for buildings from an existing holder is under consideration by the Board of Agriculture.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can induce the Scottish Board of Agriculture to do something to get the Scriberscross land, Bogart, Sutherland, for the extension of small holdings; and whether lie is aware that practically not an acre of land has yet been got for the people of Sutherland under the Small Landholders Act, 1911?

Sciberscross farm has been considered by the Board, and they determined to delay action in it until some compensation cases are settled by arbitration. In reply to the second part of the question, I may say that one scheme for seven holders has been settled by agreement, and two schemes are before the Land Court which should provide for about fifty-six people in the county of Sutherland.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell me where this land is that he speaks of having been got by agreement?

If the hon. Member will give me notice, I shall be-glad to answer a question.

I will put down another question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether complaints have been received by the Fishery Board that on 1st March a trawler operating about two miles off the village of Whitehills, Banffshire, destroyed fourteen cod nets, and on 11th March twenty nets were destroyed by a trawler in the same vicinity; when the fishery cruiser last visited this district; and what steps he proposes to take to protect drift-net fishermen against the depredations of trawlers engaged in illegal fishing?

I am informed that no complaints of damage being done to cod nets near Whitehills on the dates mentioned by my hon. Friend have been received by the Fishery Board. The locality was visited by one cruiser on the 15th inst., and by another on the 16th inst. With a view to preventing damage to cod nets, so far as practicable, the Fishery Board have drawn up a system which provides for the uniform marking or lighting of cod nets when in use, and which has been communicated to foreign Governments in order that their vessels may be aware of the system adopted. The Board have also arranged that special attention shall be given by their cruisers to the cod-net grounds during the present season.

Does the right hon. Gentleman expect the fishermen to cast their nets within the Three-Mile Limit, where no trawlers are supposed to be?

This question arises outside the Three-Mile Limit. It is necessary that the places should be marked, because they arc often deserted all night.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether any representations have been made on behalf of the Scottish Office to Lord Kennedy to lower all rents irrespective of whether the subjects concerned were too low rented or too high rented?

Certainly not. No such representations have been made. The Land Court is an independent tribunal, and it would, of course, be quite improper for me to make even a suggestion of the nature indicated in the question.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that the words in the latter part of my question are quoted directly from the speech of the hon. Member for West Perthshire, who alleges that these instructions were given to Lord Kennedy?

I believe some such statement was made.

Does Lord Kennedy act in his judicial capacity, or is he merely a tool of the Radical party?

No; that suggestion is an extremely offensive one. Lord Kennedy is as much an independent judge as any other judge in Scotland, and his rank is that of a judge of the Court of Session.

Is the hon. Member in order in imputing dishonest motives to a judge of the High Court?

Certainly not. I am sorry to say that I am not sufficiently acquainted with the law of Scotland, and the Judiciary, to know exactly in what position Lord Kennedy is. If I had thought that he was in the same position as a puisne judge in this country—

So he is.

I should have stopped the question.

May I point out, Mr. Speaker, that Lord Kennedy's status is by Statute that of a puisne judge of the High Court?

If that is so, then the observation was a most improper one to make. It shows how very undesirable it is to fire off supplementary questions without giving me an opportunity to see them.

I am in the same position as yourself, Mr. Speaker. I am really seeking information. The question was a very curious one, and I wanted information about it. [HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw."]

It is possible to ask for information in a more courteous manner!

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the sheriff of the county of Lanark has issued an order for the closing of 150 houses in West Benhar; whether lie is aware that the owner is threatening to put the order into operation and turn the inmates out; whether he is aware that there is no other accommodation in the district and that the county council have done nothing to provide accommodation for the people who are to he dispossessed; and what action he proposes taking in the matter?

The information which I have received on the subject of my hon. Friend's question is to the following effect:—The sheriff-substitute has found that the houses referred to are unfit for human habitation or use, and has ordered the owner, on or before the 28th May, 1914, to close them until his prohibition is altered or recalled by further order. This order was pronounced after proposals to arrange for the removal of the nuisance by remedial works had failed. The owner of the houses has given notice to the tenants in accordance with the sheriff-substitute's order. Some time ago the local authority held a local inquiry into the housing conditions in the locality which includes Benhar, and they are now formulating a scheme for the erection of houses. The insufficiency of accommodation is, I believe, recognised, and the situation has been receiving and will continue to receive the close attention of the Local Government Board.

Can the right hon. Gentleman prevent the turning out of these people pending the provision of other houses?

The order, of course, has been given, but in view of the fact that houses can hardly be built in time perhaps the order may not be pressed. But the matter is one for the public health authority.

Will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with the local authorities to make sure that they will provide suitable accommodation for any persons turned out of their houses?

Yes; I believe a scheme is in course of preparation with that object. It certainly shall have my sympathy. But, of course, it is a matter for the county council.

asked the Secretary for Scotland (l) whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by the national health county insurance committee of Ayrshire condemning the public health authorities for their inactivity with regard to the administration of the sanitary provisions of the Public Health Acts; and, if so, what action he proposes to take; and (2) whether his attention has been drawn to the housing and sanitary conditions of the Ayrshire mining rows; and, if so, what action he proposes to take to compel the public health authorities concerned to effectively exercise their statutory rights for the removal of such a state of matters?

The attention of the Local Government Board for Scotland has been directed to the resolution mentioned, and they have communicated with each of the Landward local authorities in Ayrshire. These local authorities have all replied that the matter is being considered, and that they have instructed their sanitary officers or public health committee to report fully thereon. In these circumstances, the Board do not propose to take further action until the local authorities concerned have had reasonable opportunity of dealing with the question. The Board will, however, continue to keep the matter under careful observation.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of putting a limit upon the time?

Yes.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, under the award which has been pronounced in the arbitration under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, between the Board of Agriculture for Scotland and the proprietor of the farm of Lindean, the arbiter has found that the return received by the proprietor from the new holdings and from the price of the buildings belonging to him will exceed the return previously received by him from the subjects taken, and that no injury has been caused to the amenity of the mansion house and grounds, and that he has, notwithstanding, awarded £4,600 as compensation to the proprietor in respect of the creation of small holdings on one farm of his estate; and what action the Government propose to take in regard to the award?

My hon. Friend is correct in stating that the return to the proprietor will be increased, that no injury has been caused to the amenity of the mansion house and grounds, and that the arbiter awarded £4,600 as compensation to the proprietor in respect of the creation of small holdings on one farm of his estate, but subject to the substitution of a smaller sum for £4,600 if the claim for depreciation in the value of the estate should not prove in all respects well founded. The Board of Agriculture. through their counsel have made representations to the arbiter on the subject of this claim, and have asked him to state a special case thereon to the Lord Ordinary.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that this award of £4,600 is made in respect of the depreciation of the owner of this property of his rights—of his right of arbitrary eviction—which is supposed to be the public services of the Act?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware it is nothing of the kind, and that, as a matter of fact, there is only £20 difference in the rental, the depreciation of the property from the point of view of the number of years' purchase is very great?

I think all these questions are questions I should not answer, as the matter is one before the High Courts.

Was anything given for moral and intellectual damage?

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he will endeavour to get the Board of Agriculture (Scotland) to consider the applications for the farm of Achaphris, Shinness, Larig, Sutherland, which have been before that Board for many months?

Negotiations regarding this farm have taken place between the Small Holdings Commissioner and the proprietor and tenant. A scheme for the constitution of new holdings is at present under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether a conjoint scheme of scientific research on fishery problems has been prepared by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Scottish Fishery Board, and the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, and forwarded to the Treasury for submission to the Development Commissioners; and, if so, whether any communication referring to this scheme has been received by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries either from the Development Commissioners or the Treasury; and, in particular, whether the scheme has been referred back for further consideration, either wholly or in part?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. No official communication has been received from the Development Commissioners or the Treasury in reply to the application. I understand, however, that the application is being carefully considered, and that representatives of the Departments concerned will shortly be asked to discuss it with the Commissioners.

May I ask whether the present Commissioners have already made a Grant for the purposes of this Fishery Department?

An interim Grant was made last year. I cannot give the particulars.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture how many approved applicants for small holdings are still waiting for allotments?

The number of approved applicants who on the 31st December last had not received small holdings was 6,271.

May I ask whether it is possible, as suggested in this question, that applicants for small holdings should be provided, not with small holdings, but with allotments?

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture how many acres of land have been provided for applicants under the Small Holdings Act; and how many of such acres are in England and Wales, respectively?

The total quantity of land acquired by county councils and the councils of county boroughs up to the 31st December, 1913, is 182,020 acres, of which 157,104 acres is in England and 24,916 acres in Wales.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will state when the promised modification of the Tuberculosis Order, 1913, will be made, and an incentive thereby provided to farmers and small holders to aid the Board and the local authorities in the elimination of bovine tuberculosis?

The revised Order will be issued as soon as possible, but I am not at present in a position to name a date.

asked the hon. Member for the Doncaster Division, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether he is aware that the Oxford trustees are arranging a scheme whereby the livings of St. Peter-le-Bailey and St. Ebbes, Oxford, should be held in plurality; whether he is aware that the income of each of these livings is upwards of £200, and that the aggregate population of the two parishes is over 1,500; whether he has considered Section 14 of the Pluralities Act, 1885, and Section 8 of the Pluralities Act, 1850, in this connection, and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter; whether he is aware of the opposition of the congregation of St. Peter-le-Bailey to the scheme; whether all the correspondence that has taken place between all the parties concerned may be laid upon the Table of the House; and whether the Simeon trustees have admitted the illegality of a similar scheme affecting the churches of St. Aldate's and Holy Trinity, in Oxford?

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners are cognisant to the proposed arrangements. The income of each of the livings at present exceeds £200, but each is giving up something (the amount not being yet settled) for the endowment of a newly formed district of St. Matthew Grandpont, and after that surrender the income of one, and possibly of both, will not exceed —200; the aggregate population exceeds 1,500. The action of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners is limited to the formation of the new district of St. Matthew Grandpont, and the arrangements necessary for effecting the apportionment of the incomes of the other cures to afford an endowment for the new district, and consequently they have not been concerned to consider in this connection the Sections of the Acts to which the Noble Lord refers. The latter of the two Sections, however, relates only to permanent Unions of Benefices, and the conditions there mentioned do not govern the holdings of livings in plurality. The Commissioners have received representations that there are objections to the proposed arrangements on the part of members of the congregation of St. Peter le Bailey and have considered them, but they are not prepared to refrain from carrying the arrangements into effect so far as action on their part is concerned. The correspondence between all the parties is not in the possession of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and they are therefore not in a position to cause a complete record to be laid on the Table of the House. The Commissioners have no knowledge of the alleged admission by the Simeon Trustees.

Am I to gather that this does not collie within the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners?

This question does not come within our jurisdiction.

Does it come under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury?

That is so.

Could not the question be dealt with so as to save the parishioners from other legal expenses?

I think application should be made direct to the Archbishop's secretary.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the outdoor and the indoor staff of the postal employés at Gloucester have recently been raised to Class 2 B; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that at Worcester, a city of about equal population, and where the cost of living is the same, the employés do similar work, he will raise the Worcester office to the same class?

Gloucester was raised to Class 2 B as from the 1st January, 1913, because the number of units of post office work then reached 950. The number of units at Worcester, according to the latest available returns, is 528, and a higher classification is not warranted according to the standard of classification in force. The classification is not based on population and the cost of living; but, primarily, on the amount of work modified in accordance with the cost of living.

Is not the work done by the officials in either case practically the same?

I scarcely think that can be so, inasmuch as units of work in one place are close upon double the number of units in the other, and the amount of work is arranged by units. Unit is an arbitrary measure taken in order to measure the amount of work done in each office.

If the number of units increase does it not naturally follow that the number of employés are increased to meet that work?

It also means the work is more complex.

May I ask if the Government has any intention of reconsidering the basis of classification of the units system which is now in existence?

I should like to have notice of that.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman, in view of the very grave dissatisfaction amongst the employés both in regard to classification and employment, to use his endeavours with the Prime Minister to give a day for the discussion of the grievances of those deserving employés?

I will ask my right hon. Friend to consider that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state what number of the 56 persons sentenced to death in Northern Nigeria during 1911 were tried before the chief justice; what were the tribunals at which the others were sentenced; and how many of them were defended by counsel?

The answer to the first and last questions is none. Of the fifty-six persons sentenced to death in Northern Nigeria in 1911, forty were tried before provincial Courts and sixteen before native Courts. No death sentence was carried out until confirmed by the Governor, who in practice consulted the Chief Justice or Attorney-General.

Does my right hon. Friend consider that these prisoners get as fair a trial there as here?

Oh, I think so.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the number of workmen employed on the maintenance staff of the Office of Works has been greatly reduced during the last three months; and, if so, will he state by what number it has been reduced?

The number has been reduced by 200.

Will there be a reduction in the number of supervisors?

I cannot say that.

asked whether any automatic telephone exchanges have been worked by his Department, if so, will he state where and for how long; whether he is now in a position to state the result of the experiments; and whether it is proposed to increase the number of automatic exchanges?

In May and July, 1913, experimental exchanges equipped with automatic telephone plant of the Strowger type were opened at Epsom and at the General Post Office, London. These experiments have proved fairly successful; and in order that types of equipment manufactured by other companies may be tried and the practical and financial results of replacing manual by automatic equipment may be more fully investigated, automatic exchanges varying in size from 65 to 6,800 lines are to be installed in the following places:—Accrington, Chepstow, Darlington, Dudley, Grimsby, Leeds, Newport, Paisley, Portsmouth, and Stockport.

Has the Postmaster-General considered the advisability of utilising these automatic exchanges for small installations in Ireland?

We must first see what results we get from the places in which they are about to be tried.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what officials or staff are employed under the Road Board in Ireland for advisory or inspection purposes; will he give the names of these officials; and, if any of these officials are in the employment of Irish Departments or local authorities, will he state on what terms and conditions the Road Board have obtained their assistance?

At the present time two engineering inspectors on the staff of the Road Board, namely, Messrs. J. P. J. Butler and R. W. Butler, are employed in Ireland for advisory and inspection purposes. In addition, Mr. P. C. Cowan, chief engineering inspector of the Local Government Board for Ireland, is a member of the Advisory Engineering Committee of the Road Board, the constitution and duties of which were set forth in the Board's First Annual Report. He receives no payment for his services as a member of that committee.

Is Mr. Cowan the only member of the Local Government Board staff employed on the Road Board staff in Ireland?

Yes. There was an Advisory Engineering Committee appointed last year, and Mr. Cowan is a member of it.

Who decides as to the Grants?

I do not know that they actually advise.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman has seen the report of the Notts and Derbyshire deputation of twelve Unionist and twelve Liberal working men, after a tour just concluded in Ireland, to the effect that they are of opinion that the people of Ulster are determined to resist the domination of an Irish Parliament, that they are unanimously of opinion that if the Government of Ireland Bill as now framed is forced on the people of Ulster there will undoubtedly be civil war, and that they unanimously agree that this subject of national importance should be submitted to the country by Referendum; and whether the Government will give effect to this request?

I have not seen the report referred to. The general question of a Referendum is not one with which I can deal in answer to a question.

asked whether, having regard to the amount of support extended from various quarters of the House to proposals that common ground of agreement should be found for the settlement of the-Ulster difficulty, the Government will now take into serious consideration the suggestion put forward in the Amendment moved in last Thursday's Debate by the hon. Member for North Aberdeen?

I can only say that I am as anxious as my hon. Friend to give the fullest consideration to any proposals which seem likely to afford a common ground of agreement.

asked whether, in order to avoid the growing scandal of officials of the Civil Service and officers of the Army and the Navy leaving the service of the Crown to take up posts. in public companies and private firms which have large contractural relations with the branches of His Majesty's. service with which such officers were previously connected, he will consider the advisability of making it known that in future no contracts will be placed with any company or firm which employs officers or officials of the Government who have quite recently left the Government service?

The question is one which is of difficulty and requires-serious consideration. I am afraid the remedy proposed by the hon. Member might in some cases deprive the Government of the power of entering into contracts beneficial to the public service.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Commissioners of Inland Revenue claim that Income Tax is payable on a casual profit made in the purchase or sale of stocks or shares by a person who is not a broker, even when limited to one transaction, but that, on the other hand, if a loss is made it is held to be a loss of capital, which cannot be set off against another transaction in which a profit resulted?

An isolated transaction of the nature indicated by the hon. Member, unconnected with the ordinary avocation of the person effecting it, does not come within the provisions of the Income Tax Acts for purposes either of assessment or of allowance.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Commissioners have been demanding statements showing the profits made during the last three years, and have they any authority for making that statement?

The question refers only to isolated transactions. If the hon. Member thinks that any principle has been contravened and will favour me with the particulars, I will make inquiries.

asked from whom the sum of £1,030,000 was borrowed on temporary loans by the National Debt Commissioners in the year ended 31st March, 1913, in respect of the Local Loans Fund, and at what rate of interest?

The sum referred to was borrowed from the National Debt Commissioners under the provisions of Section 13 (5) of the National Debt and Local Loans Act, 1887. The rate of interest paid was3½par cent.

asked at what price the issue of Local Loans Stock, producing £1,305,937 10s. in the year ended 31st March, 1913, was made; and whether it went to the public or how otherwise it was dealt with?

The sum referred to was raised by the issue of £1,500,000 Local Loans Stock on 13th January, 1913, at the average price of that day, namely, 87 1–16. The whole of the stock was taken up by the National Debt Commissioners.

asked if the hon. Gentleman will ascertain the reason why one of the principal galleries of the new building of the British Museum is partly fitted with cases of oak and partly with cases of mahogany; if he will ascertain why all the cases in the same gallery have not been constructed of the same species of wood; whether, at that point in the gallery where the oak ends and the mahogany begins, the oak has been partially veneered with mahogany or the mahogany partially veneered with oak; whether this mixture of the two woods at this point was shown in the original drawings; whether any extra work upon this woodwork has been added since the first drawings were approved; and, if so, if he will state the extra cost, if any?

In the students' room all the fittings are mahogany, in the remainder of the gallery they arc entirely of oak. The fittings are not all new, and it has been necessary to make the new cases to match the old. No veneer has been used, except to complete work which was originally veneered. No material alteration has been made since the original drawings of the fittings were made.

asked whether the hon. Gentleman's attention has been called to the vibration now so noticeable in the Asiatic gallery of the British Museum; whether he is aware that in certain central cases valuable objects exposed for exhibition can be seen to shake and move; and whether any part of the machinery required for lighting, heating, or ventilating the new buildings has been fixed underneath this gallery without clue consideration having been given to the dangers to which the objects exposed above might be subjected by almost incessant vibration?

The attention of the First Commissioner has been called to the vibration and steps are being taken to remedy this defect. The machinery which causes the vibration is not directly under any of the galleries.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been drawn, among others in the Asiatic Gallery, to one particular case in which some valuable mosaic work has been already damaged by the jewelled pieces being shaken out of their original settings?

The First Commissioner regrets to learn that some mosaic work in the American room has been slightly damaged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has seen the appeal to the Board of Trade, signed by over 10,000 captains and officers of the merchant service and presented by the Imperial Merchant Service Guild, protesting against the methods of conducting the Board of Trade sight tests on the ground that they are neither practical nor just and inflict, hardships on British certificated captains and officers; whether an appeal is also made to him to abolish the present tests in favour of tests of a more practical nature; and whether, providing it is justified by the tests which lie has ordered to take place at Shoeburyness, he will then introduce practical tests in place of those existing?

I am aware of the appeal referred to, but I cannot admit that the allegations are well founded. I think that the last part of the question had better be postponed until after the demonstration at Shoeburyness.

asked whether, in respect to sight tests imposed upon pilots serving under the Mersey Pilotage Authority, the pin-head lights in their lantern tests are not used regularly through not being considered to be practical; whether, as regards the reading of printed letters of a certain size at a distance of sixteen feet, the two bottom lines of smaller print which are included in the Board of Trade test are left out of account by the Mersey Pilotage Authority as being an unnecessarily severe test in forth vision; and, if so, whether the views of such an authority will be taken into consideration with the object of modifying the severity of the present Board of Trade tests, and substituting tests more in accord with practical seafaring conditions?

I cannot say how far the statements in the question correctly represent the practice, pursued by the Mersey Pilotage Authority. In any case I do not think that the Board of Trade can properly be guided by that practice.

asked (1) whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware of the statement which has been signed by thirty-one of the leading ophthalmologists of this country to the effect that the Board of Trade sight tests as applied to candidates for masters' and mates' certificates are not satisfactory for the reasons that the wool test for colour-blindness is not an efficient test, that any lantern used for testing colour-blindness should have means for regulating the luminosity of the lights shown, and that the types used in the form-vision tests should be printed on a smooth flat surface, preferably white porcelain, and not on a roll of canvas which has to be held down by the examiner; and, if so, whether any steps have been taken in making the tests more in consonance with the opinions of these experts; and (2) whether he is aware of the resolution adopted, with one dissentient only, by the ophthalmological section of the last conference of the British Medical Association at Brighton, to the effect that the sight tests of the Board of Trade are not satisfactory, and that an inquiry is urgently needed in the interests of the mercantile marine and the nation; whether he is aware of a similar resolution unanimously adopted a few weeks later by the ophthalmological section of the International Medical Congress; and wheher he has taken, or intends to take, any steps in respect to these resolutions?

In reply to the two questions put by the hon. and gallant Member, which I will answer together, I would refer him to the answer given him on 6th August last. I may mention, however, that the sheets of letters used in the form-vision test are now backed with stiff cardboard, so as to prevent them from curling up at the edges or bottom.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware of the fact that, at the inquiry at Dunedin, New Zealand, which concluded on 13th October last, into the loss of the steamer "Tyrone," the Court allowed the costs of the legal defence of the second officer on the ground that he had in no way contributed to the disaster; and, if so, whether he will now adopt a similar principle where recommendations are made by Courts investigating shipping casualties in the United Kingdom that the whole or part of the costs of this kind should be defrayed by the Board of Trade?

I have received a copy of the report of the inquiry held at Dunedin into the loss of the steamship "Tyrone," but this report contains no reference to the question of costs, and I have no information to show whether or not the legal costs of the second officer were allowed by the Court. I am aware, however, that such costs are sometimes allowed by the New Zealand Courts of Inquiry, and also that such Courts frequently order persons found in default to pay part of the costs of the inquiry. I doubt, therefore, if masters and officers would appreciate the adoption of the New Zealand practice. As regards the last part of the hon. Member's question, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave him yesterday.