asked the Under-Secretary for War whether the intention to give the rank of captain to all lieutenants of the Royal Army Medical Corps applies equally to the Territorial branch of that force; when that intention is to be given effect to; and whether hitherto only a short list of Regulars have been gazetted for the above promotion?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave to the hon. Members for Devonport and for North-East Cork on the 20th and on the 27th April respectively.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether men attached to the Territorial Forces who, through various circumstances, find themselves unable to accept liability to serve abroad, and therefore refuse to sign Army Form E 624, are refused furlough or leave; whether certain men in the 2nd Battalion of the 6th City of London Regiment thus situated have not had leave for six months and have recently been refused furlough; and whether he will give instructions that all men, whether for Foreign or Home service, shall be allowed to visit their homes at reasonable intervals?

Inquiry is being made regarding this. Perhaps my hon. Friend will repeat his question.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether a National Reservist, who signed the form of undertaking for general service in February, 1914, and whose services were taken over by the Admiralty, is not entitled to receive the bounty of £10 provided by the official regulations; and, if so, whether it is proposed to take steps to treat service in the Navy as being covered by the undertaking?

The National Reserve was instituted for military purposes, and I regret that it is not possible to interpret the Regulations in the way suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if drivers (motor transport) in the Army Service Corps are paid only 1s. 5d. a day instead of at the Army rate of 6s. a day, on the ground that they belong to the Territorial and not to the Regular Forces; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of placing the respective remunerations on a more equal basis?

An Army Service Corps (mechanical transport) driver, whether serving in the Regulars or in the Territorial Force, receives pay at rates varying from 1s. 5d. to 1s. 8d. a day. The special rate of 6s. is confined to certain specially qualified motor drivers whom it has been found necessary to enlist into the Regulars for foreign service during the War.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he will state the reason for refusing proficiency pay at the rate of 6d. per diem to non-commissioned officers who are members of the National Reserve and were full sergeants under the old Volunteer system, and who have joined the Army in response to the appeal of the military authorities to act as sergeant instructors and have so acted; will he state why payment for the same service should only be made to men who have formerly served in the Regular Army or the Territorial Force, though no more efficient than members of the old Volunteer companies; have any payments been made to any such ex-Volunteer non-commissioned officer in respect of such services; if so, are any steps being taken to obtain repayment of such moneys, and by what means?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for North Somerset and the hon. Member for Brentford on the 21st and 29th April respectively, copies of which I will send to him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement in the form of a Return showing the total number of steamships of the mercantile marine that have been requisitioned for Government service since the outbreak of War; the tonnage of each ship; the ownership of each ship; in the case of vessels requisitioned for special or temporary service, the number of days in which each ship was engaged in Government service; and the proportion of tonnage which the requisitioned ships of each ownership bears to the total tonnage of ships of that ownership?

I can inform the hon. Member as to the total number of ships taken up since the beginning of the War and the number discharged, with total tonnage. I do not think that it would be in the public interest to give the further detailed information asked for at present. I may say, as regards the last part of the question, that the Committee of Shipowners appointed to advise the Director of Transports devote special attention to securing that the requisitions of the Department shall be equitably distributed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the total amounts and values of morphia manufactured in the United Kingdom in each of the years 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1914; what were the amounts and values exported to China, Japan, and Hong Kong, respectively; and whether any provisions are in operation to secure the limitation of its use to medical or other legitimate purposes?

The following statement shows the quantity and value of morphia and morphia salts exported and re-exported from the United Kingdom to the countries specified in each of the undermentioned years:—

—		Quantity	Value.
		Ozs.	£
To China	1911	15	9
	1912	—	—
	1913	2,270	1,080
	1914	2,329	900
To Japan	1911	58,352	24,071
	1912	125,907*	68,650*
	1913	252,110	118,794
	1914	352,130	143,975
To Hong Kong	1911	17,200	6,347
	1912	—	—
	1913	640	320
	1914	—	—
* Includes 1,600 ozs., valued at £800, of morphia, etc., of foreign or Colonial origin.

NOTE.—The exports and re-exports of morphia and morphia salts were not separately recorded in the trade records of the United Kingdom prior to 1st January, 1911.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the present amount and the use that is being made of the sinking fund created by Mr Goschen when Chancellor of the Exchequer for the purpose of buying out small licensed traders, the special tax for which service of 1s. per gallon on spirits and 1s. per barrel on beer is still being paid?

The hon. Member is mistaken in thinking that any such sinking fund was ever created. The proposals made with this object were abandoned, and the local taxation duties imposed by the Act 53 Vict., c. 8, were allocated as directed in the Act 53 and 54 Vict., c. 60.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the purchase agreements between landlord and tenants on the Colclough estate, South Wexford, were lodged in Court about seven years ago; and if he can say when the sale will be completed?

I understand that proceedings have been instituted for the sale of the estate referred to under the Irish Land Act, 1903, by the owner direct to the tenants, and that purchase agreements, at prices agreed upon, were lodged with the Estates Commissioners in 1908. Having regard to the position of the estate on the principal register of direct sales (all cash) and the claim of other estates in priority thereon, the Commissioners are, however, unable at present to state when this estate will be reached in its order to be dealt with by them.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received a petition on 16th February, 1914, signed by 3,044 subscribers to the Constabulary Force Fund, which is a large majority of the members interested in the fund, praying to have the fund wound up; what action the Government intend taking to give effect to the prayer in this petition; when he proposes making his promised statement in the House of Commons as to the future of the fund now that he is in possession of the actuary's report; whether there is any case on record where a majority of shareholders failed to have their company dissolved on petition showing sufficient cause; whether the £150,000 given by the Government as a Grant, per Treasury minute of 20th February, 1891, to make the fund solvent, has been invested separately and apart from the moneys of the subscribers and the interest on the said £150,000 added to the principal, making it now £154,000; and whether no portion of this sum or the interest thereon has ever been employed in the payment of claims of subscribers or in any other way discharging the liabilities of the fund?

I have received the petition referred to, but as I have frequently stated, both before and since the presentation to Parliament of the Actuary's Report on the Assets and Liabilities of the Constabulary Force Fund, the Government have no intention of diverting the fund from its original purpose, and it is accordingly being wound up by the natural process of paying claims on it as they accrue. The suggestion made in the fourth part of the question is incorrectly founded, inasmuch as the payments of members are not investments made in the expectation of the eventual return of their capital with interest, but contributions intended to secure benefits to their families in the event of such families being left widowed or orphaned. These benefits are out of all proportion to the contributions, and it is obvious that they can only be paid on such a scale if the principle of insurance, under which they were established, is maintained, namely, that in any case where the contingency against which the insurance is effected does not arise the premiums are not refunded. The Grant of £150,000, which was represented at the 31st December, 1912, by Stock then valued at £212,942, and a cash balance of £1,789 13s. 8d. was provided on the express understanding, set out in the Treasury Minute referred to in the question, that any part thereof not required for the purpose of discharging the liabilities of the fund should eventually revert to the Exchequer, and a distinction has thus necessarily been maintained between it and the other asset. The annual income of the fund, derived from contributions, together with the securities which stood to its credit prior to the provision of the Parliamentary Grant, have so far proved adequate to meet the calls upon it; but the Actuary's Report leaves no doubt that a substantial portion of the Grant will require to be spent before the prospective liabilities have been discharged in full.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he will see that some compensation is paid to five tenants of bog on the Longford estate bog at Lisduff for the loss they sustain in giving up their turf banks and turbary for this year in order to provide a rifle range for the 5th Service Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles?

The Longford Rifle Range was not taken into use until the middle of December, and firing ceased in the middle of April. It is understood that all turbary operations are carried out in the summer it does not yet appear that any appreciable loss has been sustained by the tenants referred to. The matter will, however, be fully considered in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he can explain why the contract for the works now being executed at Bere Island, Bantry Bay, was not given to the local contractor, who was prepared to accept lower prices than were given to the present contractor; whether the local contractor had in the past erected several fortifications and other works on Bere Island and given satisfaction in all his contracts with the Government; and whether he was prepared to enter into an agreement as to quality of the works now being executed and time for the completion under a penalty?

If the hon. Member will kindly furnish me with the name of the local contractor referred to I will have inquiry made.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether he received any, and how many, petitions praying for a reconsideration of the case of Emily Morse, convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment in the second division by the Brentford Petty Sessions in July, 1913, on a charge preferred by or on behalf of the guardians of the Brentford union; when were such petitions received and what steps were taken to deal with them, and with what result; whether any statement was called for by the Home Office from the guardians and received, and what means, if any, were taken to test the information so furnished; is he aware that material particulars were withheld from the magistrates and also from the statement to the Home Office as to the non-identification by witnesses of Mrs. Morse; and will he cause a fresh and full inquiry to be held into all the circumstances; also (2) whether his attention has been called to the case of Emily Morse, who was in July, 1913, sentenced to and who served three months' imprisonment in the second division at the instance of the guardians of the Brentford union for an alleged offence of deserting two children, which offence it has been now clearly proved she did not commit; and if he is prepared to advise that a free pardon be granted to Mrs. Morse and ample monetary compensation made to her for the wrongful imprisonment and other indignities so suffered?

Two petitions were received from Emily Morse on the 13th August and 20th September, 1913, and representations on behalf of the prisoner were also received from the Salvation Army. All the statements made were carefully investigated, but in view of the evidence given at the trial no circumstances were disclosed which could justify interference with the sentence of the Court. A statement furnished to the Home Office by the clerk to the Brentford guardians was considered at the same time. As a result of the recent proceedings before the Middlesex Quarter Sessions, I have decided to advise His Majesty to grant a free pardon to Mrs. Morse in respect of her conviction at Brentford Petty Sessions in 1913, and I will communicate with the Treasury on the question of granting her a sum in compensation for the imprisonment which she is shown to have unjustly suffered. The matters referred to in the latter part of the first question will be the subject of further investigation, and I cannot at present make any statement with regard to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the importance to all engineering development work in Middle China, he will endeavour to secure reasonable freedom of opportunity for all nations in regard to the exploitation of the iron and coal deposits in this region; and whether he is aware that British interests recently planned the erection of rolling-stock works on the Yangtse, but found their prospects materially affected by the proposed Japanese monopoly in the sphere where the shops were planned?

The hon. Member may rest assured that every endeavour will be made to secure the freedom of opportunity to which he refers in the first part of the question. The answer to the second part is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state within what limits the total emoluments paid to British Consuls-General vary, and give the names and Consulates-General of those whose present emoluments amount to less than £1,000 a year?

Four Consuls-General receive salaries of £1,200 per annum; sixteen Consuls-General have £1,000 per annum; seven Consuls-General have £900 per annum. The names and posts of the latter are: Mr. G. Fraser, Baltimore; Mr. E. MacDonell, Lorenzo Marques; Mr. S. Churchill, Naples; Mr. W. Powell, Philadelphia; Mr. L. Jerome, Quito. Mr. T. Hunt, New Orleans, is actually drawing pay at the rate of £1,100 per annum, but on a vacancy occurring the pay of the post will be reduced to £900. There are also four Consuls-General who received the title before the latest reorganisation of the service; they are employed at posts which are, or will be in future, only Consulates. These are: Mr. Chapman. Turin; Mr. Churchill, Havre; Captain Wallis, Dakar; Mr. Spence, Tripoli. In the Far Eastern Consular Service salaries vary from £900 with house to £1,200 with house, and in the Levant from £900 with house to £1,200. No account is taken in this answer of local allowances, which are only given to meet the extra cost of living at particular places and are not pensionable.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any men unfit for naval or military service, having applied for employment as night telephonists in the London telephone service since the 1st April, have been advised that there are no vacancies; and, if so, whether he will state the number of applicants who have, been so advised since the date specified?

Nineteen men have been so advised; if suitable in respect of health and character, they can be given employment in other departments of the Post Office where male labour is more urgently required.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a notice which has been posted up in the Nuneaton Labour Exchange stating that colliers are wanted for a large new colliery near Doncaster which requires experienced coal facemen, good conditions, work, and wages 8s. 6d. per day, and that a representative of the colliery will attend on Wednesday from 9 to 11 to answer any questions that may be required; and whether, in view of the shortage of working miners in the Warwickshire coal-field owing to such a large number, some 20 per cent., joining His Majesty's Forces, and of the functions of the Labour Exchanges to find work for the unemployed, he will take steps to prevent these Exchanges being used to induce, minors working full time at equally good wages and conditions to leave their own district to go to new untried coal-fields, and also to give facilities for such inducements by allowing and permitting colliery representatives to use the Exchange rooms for Such purposes?

The notice referred to was exhibited at the Nuneaton Exchange in pursuance of the ordinary work of the Labour Exchanges. It is part of this work to secure that vacancies notified by employers which cannot be filled locally should be communicated to other districts and brought to the notice of workpeople there who may desire to apply for them. I am, however, considering whether the special circumstances of the coal-mining industry at the present time call for any modification of the usual practice, and in the meantime I have directed the withdrawal of the notice referred to.

asked the hon. Member for the Saffron Walden Division, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he is aware that a roadway is being constructed in Richmond Park to enable a private resident living on the Portsmouth road, the back of whose property abuts on the park, to drive a motor car or other vehicle from a gate opening from this private property into the park 150 yards across the park grass into one of the park roads; and if this roadway is being made with his sanction?

No roadway is being constructed in Richmond Park as suggested; by my hon. Friend. Some cart ruts in a track leading across the grass to an entrance for which a licence was granted many years ago have been filled in with brick rubbish and rolled. The licence is personal to the present holder.