asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Road Board, after making a grant to the Wiltshire County Council of 50 per cent. of the cost of tar-spraying the main roads of the county where they pass through the more populous villages, have recently intimated that no further grant will be made for this purpose, with the result that the whole cost of the process will be thrown upon the county ratepayers; and, if so, whether, seeing that at least two-thirds of the dust nuisance from which the villages suffer is in that county occasioned by pleasure-seeking motorists living outside the county, the Government will undertake that an adequate proportion of the total cost of abating such nuisance shall continue to be defrayed out of the Motor Licence and the Petrol Duties which constitute the Road Board Fund?

The Road Board have not intimated that no further grant will be made for tar-spraying. In January last, having regard to the sums then in course of distribution and to the grants already made and indicated to Wiltshire, amounting in all to £48,000, the Board informed the county council that they were not prepared to give any further assistance to the county for some time. But at a conference between the Board and representatives of the county council on the 25th inst., the Board, having in the meantime decided to make a further general distribution, intimated that certain further applications would be considered with due regard to the funds now available.

asked when the Annual Report of the Road Board will be published?

I hope towards the end of June.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the number of days preventive men in the Customs Department were acting in a superior capacity during the year ending 31st March last; the highest number of days thus acting by a preventive man; and the name of the port?

The particulars asked for by my hon. Friend are not available.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the number of officers of the Customs Department who received commuted overtime allowances consequent upon the amalgamation of that Department with the Excise, the amount of such allowance, the average overtime per officer for the year ending 31st March, 1909, and the average overtime per officer for those officers receiving such allowance for the year ending 31st March last?

The allowances in question were paid from 1st December, 1912, at which date 170 officers, formerly Customs officers, received allowances of £13 per annum and 1,128 of £10 per annum. The numbers of these officers have since been reduced by retirements and other causes, and on 31st ultimo they stood at 141 and 1,091 respectively. The figures asked for as to average overtime earnings are not available, nor would they be properly comparable, inasmuch as (1) the amount of overtime attendance (upon which the pay depends) would be different for 1908–9 and 1913–14, and (2) a considerable number of the officers who receive allowances have been transferred from work which gave them opportunities of earning overtime pay to work which gives them no such opportunities, and other officers without allowances have taken their places on the former work.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the average price, year by year, paid for silver for the Mint during the years 1903 to 1913, inclusive?

The average price paid by the Mint for silver bullion purchased in the London market each year from 1903 to 1913 was as follows:—

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the case of John Cliff, of 11, Hudson Street, Burnley, aged seventy-four, whose pension was stopped from 19th January to 6th March, in consequence of his having been previously for thirteen days in the workhouse infirmary; whether he is aware that frequent applications have been made for the money that is due without result; and whether he will have full inquiries made into the case so that all money due may be paid over without further delay?

I am making inquiries in this matter, and will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the total number of second division clerks now in the Civil Service, and the number who have had less than five years' service?

Exact figures are not available, but the numbers are approximatey 4,300 and 1,580 respectively.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, as the Royal Commission on the Civil Service has now reported, he can state the date when the improvements in the conditions of service of clerks to surveyors of taxes, promised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Debate in the House on 3rd July, 1913, will be effected?

I fear I am unable at present to add anything to the reply which I gave on the 23rd instant to the hon. Member for North Down.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in cases in which a separate return of income is required from a wife, pursuant to Section 11 of the Revenue Act, 1911, the amount of the husband's income is disclosed to the wife; and whether this is contrary to the oath of secrecy?

In the circumstances mentioned the wife is not informed of the amount of the husband's income, and no disclosure is made contrary to the oath of secrecy.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, with reference to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service that an immediate addition be made to the pay of the assistant clerks equivalent to one year's increment on the existing scale in consequence of the economic position of these officers, whether he is prepared to extend similar concessions to those assistant clerks who have been promoted to the second division for exceptional merit and ability; and, if not, whether he is aware that such meritorious clerks will, as a direct result of their promotion, continue to lose financially until the maximum of their present grade is reached, in some cases amounting to over twenty years, and that such a result is directly opposed to the finding of the Royal Commission cited in paragraph 22 of chapter 8, that no man should suffer financial loss on promotion from less to more responsible duties?

The point will not be lost sight of in considering the recommendations of the Royal Commission.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will give the names of persons who have received political pensions of the first or second class under the Political Offices Pension Act, 1869, stating in each case the annual amount of each pension granted, the total amount received up to the present day by each pensioner, and the Prime Minister advising the pensions being granted; and (2) whether he will give the names of all persons who have received first or second class political pensions and have voluntarily given up such pensions during their lifetime?

The Return, House of Commons, 362 of 1904, will give my hon. Friend all the particulars for which he asks up to 31st March, 1904, except the name of the Prime Minister who advised the Grant. This information can, however, be readily ascertained from the dates. I shall be happy to grant a fresh Return in the same form, bringing the information down to 31st March, 1914, if my hon. Friend will move for it.

asked what was the amount received under the Estate Duties due to the increased values of all estates passed for probate since 1910?

There are no statistics available of the kind asked for as far as personal property is concerned, but with regard to real property I may say that, in the five financial years ended the 31st March last, the values of real property have been increased by £18,883,700 over the values returned by the accounting parties. The additional Death Duties which have been, or will be, received by reason of such increase amount to £1,682,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that in Durham and Northumberland there are 500 homes for aged miners, with rent, coals, and gas free, provided by the weekly payments of working miners and gifts from the colliery proprietors; is he aware that the old age pension officers are deducting the weekly value of house rent, coals, and gas from these aged people's pensions; and will he put an immediate stop to those deductions by Order or introduce legislation for this purpose, in order to prevent this movement from being crushed?

I have no knowledge of the particular cases referred to, but I may remind the hon. Member that rent, coals and gas provided free of charge constitute a benefit or privilege enjoyed by the recipients, and must, as such, under Section 2 (1) (d) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911, be taken into account as part of the means of the recipients for the purpose of determining the amount of pension, if any, to which they are entitled.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is considering the claims put forward by the representatives of workmen's institutes in Wales to the effect that, inasmuch as such places are not intended to make profits and are often worked at a loss, and as they are intended to provide for the recreation and social amusement of the people, they should be exempt from taxes, as are places of religious worship; and whether he will endeavour to deal with the matter in the forthcoming Budget?

I can add nothing to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend's colleague in the representation of Merthyr Tydvil on the 20th January, 1913.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether since the expiry of the Income Tax on the 5th of April last any sums have been deducted in respect of Income Tax from interest or dividends due on or after the 6th of April; whether any such sums have been paid into the Exchequer; if so, what sums have been so deducted and in respect of what amount of dividends; and, in the case of foreigners domiciled abroad, what steps will be taken to recover from them any further Income Tax imposed by any Act or leviable by any Resolution passed this Session increasing the rate of that tax?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative, but as the sums deducted have only in part been paid into the Exchequer, it is not possible to give their amounts or to say in respect of what amount of dividends deduction has been made. In the event contemplated by the fourth part of the question, the cases referred to would be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Revenue Act, 1911.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, in view of the delay in introducing the Budget, the bonding accommodation for dry goods in Birmingham has been found insufficient to meet the needs of importers of those goods who are thus forced either to import the goods direct and pay the duty in advance or to keep them on the boats on which they are brought to the city; that in the latter case they have to pay demurrage charges to the canal company for keeping the boats idle, while the men they employ are also prevented from working and are unable to draw wages they would otherwise earn; and whether, under these circumstances, he will take steps to see that sufficient and suitable bonding accommodation for such goods is provided?

I have no reason to think that the existing bonding accommodation in Birmingham is insufficient for normal trade requirements. If this is shown to be the case, a specific application for permanent approval of additional accommodation addressed to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise will be carefully considered by them, but I am not prepared to grant any temporary increases of accommodation, such as those referred to in the question, at Budget time.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that the tenants on the estate of Christopher James Hennessy and Olive Mary Hennessy, minors, situate in part at Kilgalvan, in the parishes of Knockaderry and Clonveagh, in the county of Limerick, were, by order of the Lord Chancellor in the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice in Ireland, ordered to pay the hanging gale of rent running on the estate for generations; can he say why this hanging gale has been demanded contrary to the custom of the estate; is he aware that the tenants are anxious to purchase their holdings on fair terms under the Land Purchase Acts, but they do not know with whom to negotiate terms; and whether he can give any information that may lead to the purchase by them of their holdings?

I am informed by the Lord Chancellor that upon the death of Mrs. Hennessy last year a Receiver was appointed over un undivided moiety of the property to which the minor Olive Hennessy had succeeded, and in accordance with the practice of the Court of Chancery a side bar order in the usual form requiring the tenants to pay the Receiver "Rents and arrears of rent due and owing by them respectively out of their respective holdings" was made and served on the tenants. In March, 1914, several of the tenants not having paid the rent due March, 1913, the Receiver applied to them for payment of the rent due 29th September, 1913. One tenant paid the rent due to that date. All the other tenants owe the gale due on that date. In Mrs. Hennessy's lifetime some of the tenants expressed a wish to purchase their holdings, but she did not entertain the proposal. Any application for sale addressed to the Receiver or the Registrar of the Court will be duly considered.

asked the Chief Secretary when the Congested Districts Board intend dividing the Towerhill grass lands, on the estate of Colonel Blake, county Mayo, among the congested landholders of the district; and when they intend distributing the available turbary among these landholders?

The estate referred to was not vested in the Congested Districts Board until the 24th March, 1914. The rearrangement of the properly prior to resale to the tenants will be undertaken as soon as practicable.

asked the Chief Secretary when the Congested Districts Board intend to distribute among the congested landholders of the district Kilgreena grass farm, on the Owen and Browne estate, county Mayo; and when the Board hope to be able to provide the small landholders with turbary?

The Owens and Browne estate is not yet vested in the Congested Districts Board. Until the estate is vested the Board cannot undertake the rearrangement or enlargement of holdings or the allocation of turbary.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Mr. John Duncan, of Turlough, county Mayo, has yet carried out his promise to lodge with the Congested Districts Board the necessary maps and papers relating to his congested estate with a view to a sale?

The maps and documents in connection with this estate have not yet been lodged with the Congested Districts Board.

asked whether the sale of the estate of the Marquess of Sligo, county Mayo, to the Congested Districts Board has yet been completed; what reservations of land, fishery, and shooting rights have been agreed to, or when the Board hope to be able to complete the sale?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that the sale of the estate referred to has not yet been completed, and the reservations have not yet been finally agreed upon.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet issued an offer to Mr. D. G. Fitzgerald, Turlough, county Mayo, for his estate; and, if not, can he explain the cause of the delay which has caused so much dissatisfaction amongst the tenants of the estate during the past year?

The offer of the Congested Districts Board for the purchase of the estate referred to was issued on the 27th January last, and a revised offer was issued on the 20th instant.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have on their list of applications from evicted tenants for farms the name of Bridget M'Kelvey, of Carrick, Castlefin, county Donegal, an evicted tenant on the Delap estate; if so, will they consider her application as soon as there is any untenanted land in the neighbourhood for distribution; and, if she is not on the list of applicants, will they include her name thereon?

The Estates Commissioners have received an application from Mrs. Bridget MeKelvey for reinstatement in a holding on the Delap estate, county Donegal, formerly occupied by her, and now in the possession of her step-son. The Commissioners are not prepared to take any action in the matter of her application.

asked the Chief Secretary if any attempt has been made to trace the authors of the outrages recently reported to the Galway police in connection with attacks on the residence of Stephen Ruan, Carnmore, and Thomas Fox, near Lough George; and if any arrests have yet been made in connection therewith?

The police authorities inform me that on 27th ultimo the house of Stephen Ruan was fired into. Every possible effort has been made by the police, but so far it has not been possible to secure sufficient evidence to justify an arrest. It was rumoured at the same time that the house of Thomas Fox had also been fired into, but no confirmation of the report has been forthcoming.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, in the case of men whose cattle have been destroyed by order of the Department of Agriculture, any account has been taken of or any compensation given for the fodder, hay, roots, potatoes, etc., which are left and cannot be disposed of or used?

The reply to this question is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister whether the War Office has had any information from the British commander of the troops at Scutari relating to aggressive military movements of the Montenegrin troops upon the Albanian frontier?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that three members of the Advisory Committee at present investigatng educational subjects for the Board of Education are visiting schools of art in the Birmingham district to collect information; if these three gentlemen have the official sanction of the Board; if they have been appointed to do this work by the Board in order to make an official Report; and what is the nature of their mission?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. No official sanction is required provided that the school authorities are willing to give these gentlemen facilities to see the work of the schools. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative. I understand that the object of their visits is to study certain points for the information of the Standing Committee of Advice for Education in Art.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will now publish the names of the Welsh Commissioners to be appointed under the Established Church (Wales) Bill; and what their estimated salaries and expenses will be?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The names of the Commissioners will be announced on the Third Beading of the Bill in the House of Commons. Two only of the Commissioners will be paid; and they will be paid such salaries as the Treasury may direct in accordance with Clause 10 of the Bill. It would be impossible to make any definite estimate what their expenses will be.

also asked the Home Secretary how many ancient unclosed churchyards there are in Wales and Monmouthshire; how many will be transferred to existing local burial authorities; how many to borough or county borough councils; how many to parish councils; and how many to the chairmen of parish meetings and the overseers of the poor, under Clause 8 of the Established Church (Wales) Bill?

I have no information at my disposal to enable me to answer this question.

next asked how much of the ancient endowments of the ecclesiastical corporations of the Church in Wales in Monmouthshire will be allocated to the university colleges of Wales; how much to the library at Aberystwith; and how much to the county councils?

After payment of the expenses of the Commissioners and subject to all existing interests and charges, one-fourth of the balance of the non-parochial property—the total income from which in 1906 was £26,700—will be paid to each of the university colleges of Wales and one-eighth to the National Library. All other income-producing property alienated under the Bill will be transferred to the county or county borough councils, and in 1906 the income from this property amounted to £130,638. This property will be held by the county councils subject to all existing interests and charges

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he will inform the House how many Indians are indentured annually in Dutch Guiana; under which law they are indentured; and what provision is made for their return to India at the termination of the indenture?

The number varies from year to year: in 1912 it was 1,204. The conditions of indenture and repatriation are laid down by the Convention of 1872, which the hon. Member will find in Parliamentary Paper, C 473, of that year. At the end of five years' indenture every Indian who was not less than ten years old at the time of leaving India is entitled to a return passage at the expense of the Netherlands Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India where the 4,669 Indians indentured in Dutch Guiana are located; and if he will inform the House who, on behalf of the British Government, is responsible for seeing that the indentures are property carried out?

They are settled on various estates and plantations to which they are allotted by the Netherlands-Colonial authorities, but may not be employed in the Gold or Balata regions. His Majesty's Consul at Paramairbo is responsible for watching over their interests, and reports constantly to the Foreign Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that at the recent elections in Rhodesia the anti-Charter candidates polled 2,131 votes against 2,917 votes polled by the Charter candidates and yet have not a single representative in the council, he will take any steps to secure the representation of the views of a minority which is 42 per cent. of the electorate?

I am informed by the Resident Commissioner that of 9,502 voters on the roll the pro-Charter candidates polled 3,324 votes, or 35 per cent., and the anti-Charter candidates 1,733 votes, or 18 per cent. The constitution of the Legislative Council has recently been altered, and I am not prepared to consider further changes without experience of its working.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which of the Dominions and Colonies were approached, subsequently to the Paris Conference in October, 1912, with a view to the adoption of the recommendations made by the British delegates for the establishment of time signals at wireless stations in such Dominions and Colonies; and whether any, and, if so, what replies were received from them in relation thereto.

The Dominions and Colonies concerned were approached a year ago with a view to their adopting the recommendations made by the British delegates for the establishmnnt of time signals at their wireless stations. Three of the Governments concerned (Canada, New Zealand and Hong Kong) have agreed in principle to the proposal. No final decision has yet been notified by the other three Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will inform the House how many nations have already ratified the Conventions at The Hague in connection with which the Second Peace Conference (Conventions) Bill has been introduced into this House; whether he will state how the expenses incurred by parties summoned to the international tribunal will be reimbursed; and what machinery will be set in motion to compel the attendance of such parties should they show reluctance to respond to the orders of the Court?

As I promised the hon. Member this afternoon, I give him the list of countries for which he asks:—Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes.—Ratified by Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Denmark, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hayti, Japan, Luxemburg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Salvador, Siam, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has received complaints from any person or persons at Lough Rynn, county Leitrim, that there is constant misfeasance or negligence in the delivery of letters at Lough Rynn in sending on letters for Lough Rynn to Mohill and having them returned thence and delivered twenty-four hours late, and in sending letters legibly addressed to Lough Rynn to Lough Glynn, in county Roscommon; and will he admonish the local afficials responsible for conduct which appears to be intentional and vexatious when it is so often repeated?

A complaint of the kind referred to is now under investigation. I will acquaint the hon. Member with the result in due course.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in reviewing the case of H. J. Pateman, at present residing at 13, Queen's Road, Church End, Finchley, an auxiliary postman of sixteen years' service, who was recently dismissed from the Post Office service owing to physical incapacity for duty, without compensation, the Post Office being advised that the disease which incapacitated Pateman was not caused by a severe fall on some iron steps which he sustained when on duty some years ago, he will take into consideration the facts that Dr. W. R. Orr, of Clydesdale, East Finchley, has certified that Pateman is now suffering from rheumatoid arthritis in the right hip-joint as the result of an injury to the joint at that time, that the injury which makes Pateman unfit for further service in the Post Office also prevents him from obtaining other employment, and that he has a delicate wife and three young children to support; and, in view of the different medical opinions as to the origin of the injury, will he inquire whether this is a case to which he could extend assistance?

The medical history of the case has been very fully considered, and I regret that, in view of the opinion of my medical advisers, I should not feel justified in accepting the opinion that the disease which necessitated Mr. Pateman's retirement is due to the fall in 1906. I am about to make Mr. Pateman a small grant I from the fund at my disposal for the relief of officers in necessitous circumstances, and the question of a further small grant will be reviewed in six months' time, or earlier, if necessary.