Written Answers
Delvin District Drainage Board
asked the Secretary to the Treasury the annual expenditure necessary for the maintenance of the Delvin River as estimated by the engineer of the Board of Works after its original sinking; what sum was apportioned on what was then the Alexander estate; what was the amount of the last annual levy made by the existing Board; and what part of it was sought to be collected from the new owners who now occupy what was originally the Alexander estate?
The answers to the several questions asked are: (1) No such estimate was made; (2) this part of the question does not therefore arise; (3) £100; (4) approximately £52 18s.
asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state by what authority it was sought in the name of the Garristown and Delvin Drainage District Board to collect maintenance rate from sixty new owners of land on what was once the Alexander estate; how many members were present at the board meeting that struck the rate; what arrears, if any, were due by other owners at that date; whether he will state what was the annual estimate fixed for maintenance by the engineer of the Board of Works after the original sinking of the river was effected; and what is the statutory qualification necessary for membership of the hoard; and whether the Statute provides any penalty for non-qualified members of the Board?
The answers to the several questions asked are as follows: (1) Under the authority of a certificate made by the Commissioners of Public Works under the provisions of the Drainage and Improvement of Land (Ireland) Act, 1892; (2) three; (3) £51 6s. 6d.; (4) no such estimate was made; (5) a member must be the proprietor of not less than 20 acres, or the agent of a proprietor of not less than 100 acres, in the district; (6) any unqualified person acting as a member incurs a penalty not exceeding £50.
asked the Secretary to the Treasury the name of the president of the Garristown and Delvin District Drainage Board; the date of his election; whether the statutory obligation to convene the meeting at which he was elected by notification to the various owners, including an advertisement in a local newspaper, was complied with; how many of the owners of lands contributory to the annual drainage charge were present; whether the new owners, who have become responsible for drainage rate in consequence of the operation of the Land Purchase Acts on the Alexander estate, were afforded an opportunity of electing a representative on the Board; if not, whether the president will take the necessary steps to give them adequate representation before attempting to enforce any drainage charges upon their lands; and whether an inspection of the annual audited balance sheet is available at the Office of Commissioners of Public Works, Dublin?
The answers to the several questions asked are as follows: (1) Lord Langford; (2) 11th September, 1913; (3) the Schedule to the Act 26 and 27 Vic., cap. 88, provides that the Drainage Board shall, at their first meeting, elect a chairman; there is no statutory obligation to advertise the date of the meetings of the Drainage Board or to send notifications thereof to the various owners; (4) three; (5 and 6) the Board are now advised that the new owners are not liable to pay the rate struck on the last assess-men made at a board meeting held on the 27th April, but as soon as they become liable the chairman will give them every facility for obtaining representation on the Drainage Board; (7) no.
Cost Of Poor Law Relief (Ireland)
asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the total annual salaries of the staff of each board of guardians in Ireland at the present rate; the average number of inmates during the last twelve months; the total cost of them; the rate this cost shows per head of the inmates; and the percentage of it spent in the salaries in each union?
I will send the hon. Member a statement giving the information required for the year ended 31st March, 1913, the latest period in respect of which the particulars are available.
Old Age Pensions (Ireland)
asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Elizabeth Dillon, of Islandboy, Abbeyfeale, Kerry, who is eighty-six years of age, has applied for an old age pension on more than one occasion, which has been granted by the Listowel sub-committee; and whether he can say by what means or method of calculation does the pension officer or the Local Government Board estimate that her subsistence is worth £31 10s. per annum?
Elizabeth Dillon's claim for an old age pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal on the ground that in their opinion the value of the benefits and privileges enjoyed by her exceeded £31 10s. a year. She resides and is maintained on a farm of 80 acres, a portion of which is tilled, and which carries twenty-six head of cattle and two horses, in addition to pigs and fowl.
Eggs In Transit From Ireland (Breakages)
asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether he is aware of the complaint of provision dealers in Great Britain of the high percentage of breakages in eggs shipped from Ireland; whether matters have reached such a pass this year that the egg trade of Ireland is seriously imperilled; whether he will state if there are more cases of damaged eggs from breakages in transit of eggs from Ireland than from Russia, Denmark, or Egypt; and whether he will instruct the officers of the Department to approach the railway and shipping companies with a view to causing more careful handling in future?
I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to a similar question of the hon. Member for South Wexford.
Royal Navy
New War Staff
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the cause of the delay in publishing the result of the competition among candidates for the new War Staff by written essays on historical subjects, which were sent in to the examiners on 31st December, 1913; and when the publication of this result may be looked for?
The result will be announced shortly.
Local Taxation (Walsall)
asked the President of the Board of Education if he will give the figures for the borough of Walsall on the same basis as figures are given for other towns on page 31 of the Final Report of the Departmental Committe on Local Taxation?
The figures are as follows:—
| Walsall County Borough. | |||||
| £ | s. | d. | |||
| Column (2) | … | … | 1 | 1 | |
| Column (3) | … | … | 3 | 15 | 2 |
| Column (4) | … | … | 58,167 | 0 | 0 |
| Column (5) | … | … | 37,927 | 0 | 0 |
| Column (6) | … | … | 22.3 | ||
| Column (7) | … | … | 44,623 | 0 | 0 |
| Column (8) | … | … | 14.9 | ||
Elementary School Teachers (Vaccination)
asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that at a meeting of the Hertfordshire Education Committee on the 30th March a resolution was passed declaring that in future no teacher will be appointed who has not been vaccinated; and whether he will take steps to prevent the decision being given effect to?
I am informed that such a resolution was passed by the education committee, but requires confirmation by the county council. I have no power to prevent the local education authority from exercising its discretion in the matter.
Court Of Session Clerks
asked the Secretary of of State for the Home Department whether he will give Parliamentary time this Session to the promised Bill dealing with the clerks of the Court of Session and with the sheriff clerks depute in Scotland, in view of the facts that the grievances which this Bill is intended to remedy have existed for thirty years, that a Departmental Committee inquired into the subject and reported on it three years ago, and that the matter is non-controversial, being supported on both sides of the House?
I regret that I am not in a position at present to give any undertaking as to the time which will be available for the legislation to which my hon. Friend refers.
Post Office Servants (Holt Committee's Report)
asked what are the minimum and maximum weekly wages of postal employés known as gang-hands, what is the nature of the work performed by these men, and the hours they are required to work; and what improvements in their conditions of service are proposed under the Holt Report?
Gang-hands are men of various grades (labourers, wiremen, etc.) employed on telegraph and telephone construction work. Their hours were 50½ net weekly until 2nd February last, when they were reduced to 48 under the Holt Committee's recommendations. Their pay has hitherto been as follows:—London.Skilled workmen, Class II.—26s., by annual increments of 1s. 6d. to 38s. per week.Skilled workmen, Unestablished.—6¼d. to 7¾d. an hour.Labourers.—6¼d. to 7d. an hour.Provinces.Skilled workmen, Class II.—24s., by annual increments of 1s. 6d. to 36s.Skilled workmen, Unestablished.—5d. to 7d. an hour.Labourers.—5d. to 6d. an hour.Under the Holt recommendations the pay of the three grades is, respectively, 28s. by 1s. 6d. to 38s., 6½d. to 8½d., and 6½d. to 7½d. in London, and 26s. by 1s. 6d. to 36s., 5½d. to 8d., and 5¼d. to 7d. in the provinces. Hitherto the number of established pensionable officers below the rank of inspector has been limited to 50 per cent. of the total number of skilled workmen employed on construction and maintenance work. Under the Holt Committee's recommendations the number will be raised to 50 per cent. of the total adult staff of skilled workmen and labourers combined, and the prospects of the unestablished men are thus improved. The recommendations of the Holt Committee have also resulted in improvements for the construction staff in regard to overtime pay, allowance for walking and travelling time, lodging allowances, and facilities for week-end visits home.
Telephone Service
asked the Postmaster-General the amount of telephone capital expenditure made by the Post Office for new construction during the financial year ended 31st March, 1913, in London, in other telephone areas throughout the United Kingdom, and on the trunk line system, respectively; and the amount of telephone capital expenditure made by the Post Office for new construction from the 31st March, 1913, to the present date, or, failing that, to the end of December, 1913, in London, in other telephone areas throughout the United Kingdom, and on the trunk line system, respectively?
The capital expenditure by the Post Office on new construction, including land and buildings, is as follows:—
| — | Trunk Lines. | Exchanges. | |
| London. | Provinces. | ||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Year ended 31st March, 1913 | 611,041 | 560,924 | 626,079 |
| Nine months ended 31st December | 937,591 | 482,672 | 766,513 |
asked the Postmaster-General whether telephone wires have now been placed underground along the whole length of Selborne Road, Southgate, N.; and, if so, whether he will give directions to have the four poles which were recently erected in that road against the wishes of the inhabitants at once removed?
Underground telegraphs have been provided along Selborne Road, but it will be necessary to have distributing poles at intervals of about 170 yards for carrying wires to subscribers' premises. When the question of the erection of these poles has been settled with the Southgate Urban District Council it will be possible to remove about half the poles now existing.
Telegraph Learners
asked the Postmaster-General whether the extended limitation of the competitive nature of the examinations for learnerships in the Central Telegraph Office during the past few years has been successful, viewed from the standpoint of the disciplinary cases brought against learners before appointment; and whether he will state the percentage of cases against learners in 1913 and 1908?
I will make inquiry, and communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.
Postal Counter Losses
asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that losses take place at the counters in the Eastern Central District of London; whether he is aware that these are due to the conditions and under-staffing in that district; whether he will give the number of males and females actually employed at the counter in the Eastern Central District and the amount of money said to have been lost during the year 1913; and whether he is aware that the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association has repeatedly called attention to the conditions, to which the local officials appear to pay little attention?
I will make inquiry into this matter, and will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.