asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any agreement has been come to with France in the direction of a Conference on the New Hebrides question; and, if so, will representatives of Australia and New Zealand be invited to take part?

It is hoped that a Conference will meet shortly. The Governments of Australia and New Zealand have not been invited to send representatives, but, as stated in the reply given by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the hon. Member on 4th March, an assurance has been given to those Governments that they shall be informed before any new arrangements are entered into.

Will there be any opportunity for discussion in this House, and will the right hon. Gentleman lay Papers?

I could not give a promise at this stage as to laying Papers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give a day for discussion?

I cannot give a promise at this stage. I do not want in my reply to indicate there will not be discussion, but I cannot give an undertaking.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the Estates Commissioners have considered the question of issuing a final offer, pursuant to Section 43 of the Irish Land Act, 1909, for the lands of Rathillig, on the estate of John Kilkelly, Queen's County?

The Estates Commissioners had a preliminary inspection made some years ago, and informed the owner of their estimated price, but he was not willing to sell at such price. They have now under consideration the question whether they will reopen negotiations with him.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he received a copy of a resolution passed by the Loughrea Rural District Council requesting the Estates Commissioners to purchase 250 acres of land on Mr. F. S. Taylor's estate, at Castle Lambert, near Athenry; is he aware that Mr. Taylor has expressed a willingness to come to terms with the Estates Commissioners for the sale of those lands; is he aware of the state of congestion that exists in the district; and will he represent to the Estates Commissioners the advisability of acting on the suggestion of the Loughrea District Council?

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to. I have nothing to add to the replies given to the hon. Member's previous questions on this subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider, if he has not already considered, the circumstances in connection with the request of the Loughrea District Council in connection with this matter?

I will bring the matter again before the Congested Districts Board.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the estate of Sir William Mahon, situated at Dernamana, New Inn, county Galway, has been sold to the Estates Commissioners for a number of years back; is he aware of the number of small farmers who live in the vicinity of this estate; and, in view of the urgency of enlarging the holdings of these small tenants in order to enable them to live in some decency, will he direct the attention of the Estates Commissioners to the matter, and state when it is proposed to deal with this estate?

The Estates Commissioners acquired the property referred to last year, and hope to be in a position during the present year to allot the untenanted land and turbary acquired for distribution. In alloting these lands the circumstances of small occupiers in the neighbourhood will be considered.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state what steps the Estates Commissioners are now taking, or propose to take, for the enlargement of the holdings of seventeen tenants in the townlands of Kilnagant and Barnaboy, King's County, which holdings are all under 8 statute acres in area and several are under 4 acres; and whether the Commissioners will take any steps to acquire about 150 acres of untenanted land on the adjoining estate of Stobbs for the enlargement of these small holdings, which have been reclaimed from bog and heather by the industry of the tenants occupying them?

The lands referred to are not the subject of proceedings before the Estates Commissioners under the Land Purchase Acts, but they have received a communication from persons in the neighbourhood asking them to acquire them. The Commissioners are not at present in a position to state what action, if any, they may take with a view to the acquisition of the lands in question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether they will take any action?

They have not made up their minds yet. They are considering it.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the cause of delay in completing the sale of the Mahony estate, at Mount Collins, Abbeyfeale, county Limerick; and when the Estates Commissioners will finally deal with it?

The holdings on this estate are intermixed, and the Estate Commissioners propose to carry out a scheme of rearrangement, and to facilitate this they have arranged to acquire some additional land in the neighbourhood. The statutory requirements as to the title to this additional land are being complied with, and the Commissioners hope to be in a position at a comparatively early date to acquire such additional land, and to carry out a scheme of rearrangement.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any and, if so, what steps have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to secure the reinstatement of James Griffin, Knockaneglas, Glenbeigh, in the holding on the Mahony estate at Dooks, from which he was evicted?

The Estates Commissioners have not received any application from James Griffin for reinstatement in a holding on the Mahony estate, county Kerry. An application was received from a Daniel Griffin for reinstatement in a holding of 45 acres in the townland of Dooks on this estate, formerly occupied by him and now in the possession of another tenant, and the Commissioners, after inquiry and consideration, decided not to take any action in the matter.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he is aware that the adoption of the Departmental line from Drogheda to Oranmore has cut away half the local Irish market for the store cattle and other stock of Queen's County and King's County farmers; and if he can say whether there is any likelihood of obviating this disadvantage?

asked the Vice-President whether he can state what arrangements are being made respecting, if any, the movement of live stock and the export of live stock to Great Britain?

I have conferred with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to-day, and am able to announce new arrangements in regard to the transit of Irish cattle:—

I beg to give notice that in order that we may quite understand this question I will raise it on the Adjournment.

Pending the reconstruction of the line alluded to by the right hon. Gentleman may I ask him, has any modification been made in the boundary line in respect of the fair to be held to-morrow at Loughrea?

In answer to the request made by the hon. Gentleman, the boundary line is drawn so as to bring Athenry, Loughrea, and Ballinasloe on the north side.

Will fat cattle be allowed into England at once after two days' quarantine?

Yes.

Are there to be eighteen days' detention on this side and two days on the other side, making twenty days in all?

That period of quarantine has existed for a couple of weeks. Upon the occasion of the last outbreak these arrangements were made—four days' detention at the ports and fourteen days by the local authorities.

Is it not a fact that for forty years no disease of this kind has been known in Limerick or the county of Limerick; will the right hon. Gentleman say why that important port has not been opened before now; and whether in opening county Clare and county Galway Limerick will also be opened?

The hon. Member has stated what is quite correct. There has been no actual disease in the county of Limerick for a very long time, I should say forty years, but the hon. Member must remember that Limerick is in close proximity to Tipperary, and part of Limerick has to be drawn into the scheduled area.

Is there any prospect of the opening of the other Scottish ports?

If things continue as they are in Ireland in regard to the disease itself there will be no difficulty arising with regard to the opening of the whole of the ports. I am happy to say that the disease is showing every sign of abatement.

On what date will Drogheda be free for the export of fat and store cattle?

It will be open for store cattle after Wednesday. I will make an announcement as to fat cattle later on.

asked whether a deputation, introduced by the mayor of Drogheda, waited upon the officers of his Department last week with regard to the opening of their port; whether they were able to state, upon the authority of the local head of the constabulary, that calves alleged to have come from Cork did not come from that county but from the county of Kerry; and whether he will now state definitely if Drogheda, the natural port of exportation for the counties of Meath and Louth, will be opened this week?

I am informed that the calves referred to by the deputation were certain calves from Kerry stopped by the Drogheda police. The animals which were the object of suspicion were not, however, these calves, but others moved from Thurles into the Drogheda neighbourhood. The resumption of shipments of live stock from Drogheda Port is a matter for arrangement with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and I have no hope that shipments from the port will be allowed this week.

I should like to know if the port of Drogheda is to be opened for the export of store cattle, why at the same time it cannot be opened for the export of fat stock?

The port of Drogheda will be opened when the boundary line is changed, and stores will be free to leave on Wednesday.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that forty- eight days have elapsed since that last consignment of calves supposed to be infected with foot-and-mouth disease arrived in the county of Wexford; and whether, seeing that there is no appearance of this disease in any part of the county, nor in any of the surrounding counties, he can say when it is proposed to open the port of Wexford?

It is gratifying that Wexford continues free from foot-and-mouth disease. The restrictions that were imposed on a part of the county in relation to the movements of calves referred to were withdrawn some time since, but in view of the general position as regards the disease in Southern Ireland the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have not yet seen their way to reopen British ports to stock from any port of Ireland below the Drogheda-Oranmore line. While it is hoped that some modification of this embargo may soon be possible, there would, in any case, be doubt whether the port of Wexford could benefit in the matter, as no line of steamers suitable for live stock traffic has been sailing from the port for eighteen months.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is contemplated at present to get a steamer, and is it not a very simple matter to isolate Wexford from the South of Ireland? You have only two bridges, and it is very easily done. Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of opening the port of Wexford?

I put that case to the Board to-day, and they are not in favour of it. That would require a perfectly new line to be drawn.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state what arrangements are being made respecting the importation of Irish live stock into Great Britain?

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that a crisis in the cattle trade like the present inflicts losses on Irish farmers, and that recurring restrictions must render them unable to pay their annuities; and will he consider the advisability of coming to some arrangement with the Vice-President of the Irish Department, with a view to allow freedom of trade in live stock between Great Britain and Ireland from unrestricted areas?

I cannot usefully add anything to the statement already made by my right hon. Friend the Vice-President of the Irish Department.

I beg to give notice that I shall raise the question on the Adjournment in order to get further information.

I beg to ask a question, of which I have given private notice: Can the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) say whether he has seen the statement in the Press that there has been a fresh outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the county Kilkenny, and whether he is in a position to confirm or contradict it?

All I can say is this: I read the announcement in the "Times." I have had a telegram from the chief veterinary inspector since that—just before the House opened—and he says there is no fresh outbreak.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the evidence of Mr. Park before the Dominions Commission to the effect that there were 5,000 unlicensed emigration agents, who monopolised the sale of emigrants' passage tickets and gave highly coloured descriptions of the Dominions, especially as to there being employment for unskilled labour; and whether he could take any steps to prevent fraudulent representations being made by unlicensed agents in the future?

I have seen the evidence in question. The Dominions Royal Commission, in their second Interim Report, postponed their recommendations pending further study of the subject and the introduction of any further safeguards must await their final Report. I may, however, point out that fraudulent representations by emigration agents are punishable under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts, under which, in a recent case, a prosecution was successfully instituted by the Board of Trade.

Is that the only case that has been successfully instituted?

It is the only recent case.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman can state the approximate present population of the British East African Protectorate, specifying the numbers of official and non-official white settlers, respectively, as well as the number of Indian settlers and of the native population?

The latest information I have dates from 1911. There were 3,175 European inhabitants, of whom 428 were described as settlers, planters, farmers, and gardeners. The number of officials on the 31st of December of that year was 619. The total number of Asiatics was 11,886, of whom 6,282 were adult males. The total population is estimated at about 2,765,000.

asked whether steps are being taken in British Guiana to secure a loan from the British Government for the building of a railway to develop the hinterland; whether, in connection therewith, the Governor or any of the elected representatives have been, or are, suggesting that in order to increase the security of the British Government the Colony ought to surrender its elective system; and, if so, what is the attitude of the Colonial Office?

I have received certain proposals from the Governor of British Guiana for the construction of a railway into the interior. These proposals are at present under consideration, and I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure me that there has been no suggestion in regard to giving up the elective system?

I would sooner not give any assurance as to what has been suggested until I am able to deal with the whole matter.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that he will not give way to any suggestion of that kind?

The whole matter is under consideration, and I could not give any assurances now.

Is it not a fact that the consideration of this question has been going on for over two years?

Quite recently new suggestions have been made.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many of the seven non-provided schools in Birkenhead, which were warned in 1910, have had plans approved for alterations; how many have carried out improvements to the satisfaction of the Board; and how many, if any, have ceased to be recognised as efficient Grant-receiving schools?

In two of the five schools referred to the alterations have been completed; in two more I am informed that the alterations will be proceeded with as soon as possible, and I expect that they will be carried out during the present year; at a fifth the Board have required amended plans, which are about to be submitted. The two remaining schools will be discontinued as soon as two new council schools, for which plans have been conditionally approved, have been erected.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it has taken over five years to carry out the orders of his Department, and is he satisfied with that sort of thing?

I do not think that you can say it has taken five years. These schools are being watched from time to time, and certain recommendations may have been made extending over five years, but I could not say that without verifying the facts.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, having regard to the recent running down by a motor of a cyclist who was killed at Lee, he will now make an order that all motors should show the car number by transparent light, and thus make certain that no such vehicle could escape without identification in the future?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my predecessor in reply to a similar suggestion on the 25th October, 1912.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he received a petition from the Private Secretary to His Majesty the King that was sent to His Majesty by Mr. C. J. A. Robinson, of 27, Argyle Road, Custom House, in the borough of West Ham, dated 24th March, in connection with the West Ham Guardians' outdoor and indoor relief under the provisions of the Acts 43 Elizabeth, c. 2, and 59 George III., c. 12; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As stated by my predecessor in July, 1910, the enactments referred to have for many years been regarded as obsolete, and I am not prepared to call upon boards of guardians to put them into force now.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the nature of a case where at a Board of Trade inquiry into a shipping casualty the Board of Trade would feel warranted in not opposing applications for costs or for a fixed sum towards costs by captains or officers made parties to such cases but exonerated from blame; whether the case of the master of the "Scotsdyke" has been brought to his notice where, though the questions put by the Board of Trade to the Court might have involved the suspension of his certificate and though the Court exonerated him from blame, the solicitor to the Board of Trade, at Glasgow, opposed the application made for the costs of the master, and this was upheld by the Court; and whether the Board of Trade have issued instructions to their legal representatives in the different seaports that they shall oppose similar applications for costs in all cases?

As the hon. Member was informed on 23rd March, I am afraid that it is not possible to give an undertaking that could be universally applicable in these cases. The case of the "Scots-dyke," however, appears to have been one in which the Board of Trade might properly have refrained from opposing an application for payment of a sum for costs. I regret that, by an oversight, the solicitor who represented the Board in this case was not instructed in this sense, and in the circumstances, while I cannot say what attitude the Court would have taken up if the matter had been left, without comment, to its discretion, the Board are prepared to consider an application from the master for payment of a sum towards his legal costs.

asked what is the heading under which, in the Board of Trade Returns, asbestos-cement tiles come; and what was the value of asbestos-cement tiles imported last year?

Asbestos-cement tiles are included in the Official Trade Returns under the heading "Goods not enumerated or described in the Import List, manufactured wholly or in part." The value of asbestos-cement tiles imported in 1913 cannot be stated, but the value of the imports of asbestos manufactures of all kinds was £251,533.

Is there no way of finding out what quantity of asbestos-cement tiles are imported?

I am afraid not, under the Customs regulations; but it appears to be quite a small amount.

asked what was the value of the exports Of the United States to the United Kingdom, exclusive of re-exported articles, in 1912 and 1913, respectively?

The value of the total exports from the United States to the United Kingdom in the calendar year 1912 amounted to about 126½ millions sterling, and, in 1913, to about 123 millions sterling. The value of the re-exports included in these figures cannot yet be separately stated, but, in the fiscal year 1911–1912, it was a little over £1,000,000.

asked if there has been any increase in value of the exports of the United Kingdom to the United States in the year 1913 owing to the new American tariff; and, if so, what is the amount of that increase?

The new United States tariff came into force on the 4th October, 1913. During the last quarter of last year the declared value of the exports of the United Kingdom produce from this country to the United States showed an increase of £254,000 as compared with the corresponding quarter of 1912. It is not possible to say how much of this increase is to be ascribed to the operation of the new tariff.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman to answer the question on the Paper, and to say what was the value of the exports for the years 1912–13?

The question is No. 33, and it asks if there has been any increase in the value of the exports of the United Kingdom to the United States in 1913 owing to the new American tariff. I stated that in the last quarter there was an increase of £254,000. I do not understand what is omitted.

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether there has not been a decrease in the actual amount exported to America during 1913?

The question I have answered is 33. Is the hon. Member referring to that?

asked what fund the balance of £6,251 19s. 1d., unpaid money orders issued to seamen, as shown on White Paper No. 106, will be allocated to; what further claims have been made on that fund since 31st March; and what is the amount of the present balance?

Of the sum of £6,251 19s. 1d., being the balance as at 31st March, 1913, of unpaid money orders issued to seamen, the sum of £6,126 2s. 10d. has been paid since, leaving a sum of £125 16s. 3d. still to be claimed.

asked what fund will benefit by the balance of £16,346 15s. 8d., unclaimed wages and effects of deceased seamen, as shown on White Paper No. 82; and what claims have been made since 31st March, and the amount at which the balance at present stands?

In accordance with the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 and 1898, moneys arising from the unclaimed property of seamen are paid into the Exchequer for the purposes of the mercantile marine services. Of the balance of £16,346 15s. 8d. remaining unclaimed on 31st March, 1913, £3,469 15s. 8d. was paid to claimants down to 31st March, 1914, and £2,050 1s. 2d., the sum still unclaimed in respect of the year 1907–8, has been paid into the Exchequer (Class II., Vote 9). The present balance is £10,826 18s. 10d.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what proportion of the charge of sinking the Delvin River was fixed on the Alexander estate in the original award made by the Commissioners of Public Works (Ireland)?

The cost of sinking the river was part of the total cost of the formation of the district, and the proportion of this total charge fixed on the Alexander estate is 528913.

asked upon what date the existing Garristown and Delvin Drainage Board was elected; what notice of the election was given to owners of land who are qualified electors; whether the notice required by Statute was inserted in a local newspaper; and, if so, what was the name of the newspaper and the date of its publication?

I understand that the last election took place on the 11th September, 1913, and that notice of the election was sent to members of the previous board, though not advertised in any newspaper.

Were the obligations of the Statute complied with?

I understand that no notice was put in the local newspapers, but the actions of the board are by the Statute quite valid.

asked whether 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, in the case of the Garristown and Delvin Drainage District Board is merely a document indicating that the assessment for maintenance made by the Drainage Board is fairly apportioned between the different owners of the affected lands; whether the Commissioners have any power to say that the gross amount levied is fair or equitable or whether they have any power to release the drainage board from the complete responsibility for the raising and expenditure of the maintenance rate vested in them by Statute; and whether, having regard to the statement made by the Commissioners that the amount was collectable by virtue of the authority of their certificate and its misleading effect in the public mind, they will modify the statement in that respect?

Where, owing to sales or other causes, land originally forming one lot in a drainage award is divided amongst two or more owners, a certificate of apportionment by the Commissioners of Public Works is required in order to apportion the maintenance rate between the several divisions of the land, and the certificate is the authority for the Drainage Board to collect the maintenance rate in these proportions. The Commissioners of Public Works have no power to say that the gross amount levied is fair or equitable, nor any power to release the Drainage Board from the complete responsibility vested in them by Statute for the raising and expenditure of the maintenance rate. The statement made by the Commissioners that the apportioned amounts were collectable by virtue of the authority of their certificate does not appear to require modification.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether questions relating to the Public Trustee should be addressed to him?

No, Sir.

asked for what reason the pensionable overtime allowances, as recommended in the Report of the Committee on the Amalgamation of the Customs and Excise Departments, paragraph 236, have been withheld from officers of Excise origin who by virtue of the Excise Transfer Order, 1909, were appointed to the Customs and Excise service on the 1st of April, 1909, and were not excluded from the recommendations of the Committee which provided that these allowances will not be necessary in the case of officers appointed to the service after the 1st of April, 1909?

The allowances in question were recommended by the Committee specifically for certain Customs classes in view of the diminution of their average overtime earnings resulting from the change from the old to the new system of overtime pay. There was no system of overtime pay in force in the old Excise service.

asked the Prime Minister whether, with a view to ensuring the absence of a political atmosphere in the Navy and Army, he will advocate that Ministers holding the positions of First Lord of the Admiralty and of Secretary of State for War should abstain from making partisan speeches during their tenure of office?

I hardly think this is a practicable suggestion.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the proposal if he is exempted during his tenure of office?

I do not mind being exempted at all.

Are we to take it that it is only impracticable in view of the personal constitution of the present holders of these offices?

No, Sir, on more general considerations.

asked the Prime Minister if it is still the intention of the Government to pass the Plural Voting Bill during the lifetime of this Parliament?

The Government hope to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state the date of the promised day for the discussion of the Holt Report and questions affecting the postal service?

I will endeavour to arrange that an occasion on which the Report can be discussed shall occur at an early date.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state, for the convenience of the House, when the Whitsuntide Recess will begin and how long it will last?

I fear it is early yet for me to be able to make a statement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can see his way to arrange for a Conference of Empire representatives at Vancouver to discuss the policy of Imperial naval defence in the Pacific?

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies will shortly be laying Papers on the subject of an Imperial Defence Conference. I am further informed that in present circumstances it will not be possible to hold such a Conference in Vancouver.

asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of the deficit on the working of the Pacific cable for the year ending 31st March, 1913, was paid by the United Kingdom; what was the actual amount of the deficit; and whether he can give the same information for the year ending 31st March, 1914?

The answer to the first part of the question is five-eighteenths; and to the second, £32,269 17s. 5d. The information for the year ending 31st March, 1914, is not yet available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to a statement by Senator Pearce, of Australia, that there is an omission in the official records of the last Imperial Conference with reference to the resolution in connection with the laying of a State-owned Atlantic cable, and that the words "near future" mentioned in the resolution on that subject were in reality limited by a declaration of the British Postmaster-General that that was to be construed as a period of twelve months; and, secondly, that it was the intention of the conference that the subsidiary conference mentioned in the resolution should consider the methods to be adopted in laying the cable, and not the question of the advisability of laying it; that it was only upon these two distinct understandings that Senator Pearce withdrew his original resolution; and, if these are the facts, will he say why no subsidiary conference has been called in view of the repeated requests for such action by the Australian and New Zealand Governments?

I observe from the Press that Senator Pearce is said to have made a statement such as that referred to by the hon. Member. I am informed that there was no omission of the kind suggested from the official records of the last Imperial Conference referring to the resolution respecting the laying of a State-owned cable. The interpretation of the words "near future" used in the resolution will be found on page 357 of the Minutes of Proceedings of the conference. The question of calling a subsidiary conference on the subject is at present being discussed with the Commonwealth Government.

Does the right hon. Gentleman hold any different views from his predecessor as to the importance of laying down a British-owned Atlantic cable?

I do not think that quite arises out of the question on the Paper. I will consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that, England being an infected and barred country, Scottish breeders who send their cattle into England to be tested cannot get them exported; and whether, in view of the fact that, so far as Scotland is concerned, the new testing station at Pirbright is in these circumstances useless, he will reconsider the proposal to establish a testing station for Scotland?

My right hon. Friend is aware that at present the testing station at Pirbright is of no advantage to Scottish breeders who wish to export stock to those countries, particularly Argentina, which are prohibiting the importation of animals from England in consequence of the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease. But he hopes that the embargo will have been removed, in a much shorter time than would be required for the provision of a testing station in Scotland. Meanwhile the Pirbright station is on trial, and, moreover, in view of the difference of opinion which exists among Scottish breeders on this subject, he does not see his way, at present, to apply for a Grant from the Development Fund for a station in Scotland.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ascertain whether that difference of opinion still exists among Scottish breeders, and whether the objection which has been previously manifested towards this proposal still exists?

My right hon. Friend will be glad to make inquiries and to receive information on the subject.