asked the Secretary to the Treasury when the Lords Commissioners are going to give their promised decision as to whether the estates of officers who die on active service are to be entitled to exemption from Death Duties under last year's Act, as the retention of the Death Duties paid in the first instance under the certificates is causing great inconvenience and delay in the winding up of estates?

The exemption referred to has already been granted in the great majority of cases. In a few cases, probably not more than ten or fifteen, a question has arisen as to the applicability of the exemption. I am taking legal advice on this question, and there will be no avoidable delay in making the decision known.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many medical officers of the Regular branch of the Royal Navy were serving at the Admiralty for administrative and clerical duties previous to the 7th May?

Seven medical officers on the Active List and three retired officers were serving at the Admiralty previous to 7th May.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in addition to the six consultant physicians and surgeons who are employed at £5,000 a each per annum, Sir Alfred Fripp, K.C.V.O., M.B., F.R.C.S., Dr. Douglas Shields, M.D., Mr. Arthur Edmunds, M.B., F.R.C.S., Mr. Claude Morris, and Mr. Cecil Hughes are also employed; if so, what pay and emoluments; and whether the same rule applies, allowing of private practice in spare time?

Sir Alfred Fripp and Dr. Shields were, for the first few months of the war, employed at a salary of £5,000 a year between them for consultant duties with the hospital ships, but as it was found by experience that their services could not be utilised to the full they were released from their duties on 24th January, 1915, and have since not been employed nor paid by the Admiralty. The duties and remuneration of Mr. Edmunds, Mr. Morris, and Mr. Cecil Hughes have been already stated in the answer which I gave the hon. Member for the Brentford Division on Thursday last. These gentlemen come under the regulations that, apply to all naval medical officers as regards private practice—i.e., this is not forbidden but, as a matter of fact can, as a rule, rarely be exercised by reason of their daily naval work.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. Ritch, an English barrister, of Mombasa, British East Africa, who, with his wife and family, was in November last deported from the Protectorate to this country; whether he is aware that Mr. Ritch was, while professionally engaged in the High Court, Mombasa, suddenly arrested by the Provost-marshal, under the authority of General Aitken, thrown into the local gaol, imprisoned there until the following evening, and a few days later placed, together with his family aboard ship and sent to this country; whether he is aware that no reason or explanation of any kind was then or has since been given to Mr. Ritch for this treatment of him, and that, although the Courts of the Protectorate were running at the time, no charge of any kind was or has since been preferred against him; and whether, having regard to these facts, the Government will take steps to make Mr. Ritch such redress as is possible under the circumstances?

The facts are broadly as stated. Mr. Ritch was deported to this country by order of the military authorities, on depositions made by local Colonial officials to the effect that his presence was prejudicial to the interests of the Colony. Mr. Ritch was informed at the time, but made no appeal to the military authorities, though he had ample time and opportunity for doing so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the demand which there has been among soldiers for copies of the New Testament; whether there is any deficiency either at Home or abroad in the supply of such copies; and, if so, whether the Army Council will cause the deficiency to be made known, and give indications to the public where and what copies can be received for distribution?

Under the King's Regulations each man is entitled to be supplied with a Bible and a Prayer Book at the public expense, and I am not aware that there has been any deficiency in supply. The New Testament is not supplied apart from the whole Bible except in the case of Catholic soldiers, who get the "Catholic Testament." As regards the last part of the question, I understand that the Young Men's Christian Association, the Scripture Gift Mission and other similar bodies are supplying New Testaments, Gospels, etc., and I do not think any appeal to the public is necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the exact object of a brassard when worn on a volunteer uniform?

The brassard is adopted as a means whereby an individual may be distinguished as a member of a recognised Volunteer Corps.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if steps are taken to satisfy the censor of mails that all parcels presumably addressed to prisoners of war in Germany are, in fact, intended for bonâ fide prisoners; and whether all such parcels are opened and examined?

All practicable steps are taken to guard against the danger of parcels ostensibly addressed to prisoners of war in Germany being in fact sent to other persons, and to prevent the enclosure in such parcels of matter which should not leave the country.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether several British lady censors have recently been discharged from the office of the censor of mails; if so, what was the reason for such discharges; and how many British censors are now employed, how many aliens, and the nationalities of the aliens so employed?

Several lady censors, British and foreign, have recently been discharged as being either incompetent or unsuitable for the work of censorship. The following are the details asked for in the last part of the question:—

British	…	…	…	480
Allies:
Belgian	…	…	53
Russian	…	…	7
French	…	…	4
			—	64
Total, British and Allies				544

Neutrals:
Danish	…	12
Dutch	…	8
Norwegian	…	6
Portuguese	…	3
Swedish	…	3
Swiss	…	2
Italian	…	1
Spanish	…	1
Moroccan	…	1
Total, Neutrals	…	—	37
Grand total	…	…	581

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that the seamen and firemen employed by contractors whose vessels are chartered by the War Department, engaged on examination service, are in receipt of £2 10s. per week with uniform, whereas the men employed upon War Department vessels are only in receipt of 27s. per week without uniform; whether he is aware that no holiday was given to the men employed in War Department vessels as in other Departments, or no time or pay in lieu; whether he is aware that, from the 1st to the 30th April, 1915, men in the War Department vessels worked a large number of hours per week with a maximum of overtime pay of 6s. per week; whether he is aware that, with few exceptions, no increase of pay has been given to the crews of War Department vessels for the past thirteen years; and whether, in view of the discontent now existing amongst the crews of War Department vessels, he is prepared to submit their case to the arbitrator appointed on the Committee of Production?

Although I do not accept all the figures in the Noble Lord's question as correct, the suggestion that some additional payment is called for in the case of the crews of the War Department vessels now engaged on examination work deserves consideration, and I will see that it receives it without delay.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state or furnish a Return of the salary and emolument attached to each of the several of directors of Departments of the War Office?

The present emoluments of directors of Departments in the War Office are as follow:—

	Annual Salary.
Directly under the Secretary of State.	£
Director-General of Military Aeronautics	1,500
(The Director-General is at present serving as General Officer Commanding Royal Flying Corps wilth the British Army in the Field).
Department of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff.
Director of Military Operations	1,500*
Director of Staff Duties	1,500
Director of Home Defence	1,500
Director of Military Training	1,500
Director of Special Intelligence (Sub-Director of Military Operations)	1,000*
Department of the Adjutant-General.
Director of Organisation	1,200*
Director of Recruiting	1,200*
Director of Personal Services	1,200*
Director of Prisoners of War	1,200*
Director-General of Army Medical Services	2,000*

	Annual Salary.
Department of the Quartermaster-General.	£
Director of Movements	1,000
Director of Remounts	1,200
Director of Supplies and Transport	1,200
Director of Quartering	1,200
Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores	1,200*
Director-General, Army Veterinary Service	1,200
Department of the Master-General of the Ordnance.
Director of Artillery	1,500
Director of Fortifications and Works	1,500
Director of Barrack Construction	1,500
Department of the Civil Member.
Director-General of the Territorial Force	1,500
Department of the Finance Member.
Director of Army Accounts	1,200
Director of Financial Services	1,200
Director of Contracts	1,200
* Present holder is a retired pay officer, and receives retired pay in addition to pay as a Director.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether the Governments of any and, if so, which of the self-governing Dominions have introduced measures into the Colonial Legislature extending the Colonial Parliamentary franchise to all men who during the present War have served or shall serve in the Colonial naval or military forces?

A New Zealand Act provides that every member of any Expeditionary Force sent from New Zealand to serve in the present War shall be entitled to vote at the next General Election. A Canadian Act provides that every male British subject of twenty-one years of age and upwards serving in the military forces of Canada in the present War who within six months before enlistment had been resident in an electoral district in Canada for thirty days shall be entitled to vote. A Queensland Act has been passed to enable a voter serving with the Forces abroad to nominate a person to exercise his right of voting on his behalf.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state how many alien enemies, male and female, respectively, above the age of forty-five have been registered in this country; how many are still in this country; how many are interned; and how many have applied to leave this country?

The information asked for is not available, and could not be obtained without an expenditure of time and labour which I do not feel justified in asking the police and other officials concerned to undertake.

asked the estimated cost of the services rendered by the Post Office to the Naval and Military and Foreign Office Departments in the conveyance of mails, telegraphic work, etc., in connection with the present War?

The total expenditure by the Post Office directly attributable to the War up to the 31st March last is about £1,000,000, including the cost of substitutes for men serving with the Colours, but owing to the pressure of work in present circumstances no records have been kept which would enable an analysis of the expenditure to be made for the purpose of furnishing the detailed information asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can report any progress for a further exchange of wounded and sick prisoners of war who are unfit for any further service?

A further list of German officers and men falling within the category of those incapacitated for further military duties was sent to the United States Ambassador on 29th March last for transmission to the German Government, with the request that His Majesty's Government might be furnished at an early date with the corresponding list of British wounded whom the German Government might find similarly incapacitated. As no reply has yet been received, Mr. Page is being requested to draw the urgent attention of the German Government to this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the dates of the Treasury Minutes relating to the distribution of Parliamentary Grants in lieu of rates on Crown property; whether such Minutes have been published; if so, where they are obtainable; and, if not published for sale, will he supply the terms of all such Minutes, and the forms or other documents which have to be filled in by local officials applying for such Grants?

The Minutes regulating the practice in this matter date from 1874 and 1896. Neither Minute has been officially published, nor do I now think it desirable that they should be. The fullest information is invariably given to all local authorities in whose district Crown occupation of premises takes place on their first applying for Grants, and the proper forms of application are supplied to them, but to no other persons.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will consider the advisability of making the rule symmetrical by allowing persons, if they feel so disposed, to make their Income Tax returns direct to the special commissioners under Schedule E, as is the case with the other Schedules, when there are obvious objections to the Income Tax returns being made locally?

The option of electing to be assessed by the Special Commissioners is confined to profits chargeable under Schedule D. Special considerations apply to this Schedule, and as I cannot see why there should be valid objection to making a return under Schedule E locally I fear I cannot undertake to propose the suggested alteration of the law.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, on the Blennerhassett estate, Annagarry, Killorglin, there is a considerable area of bog which the landlords are willing to sell to the Estates Commissioners; and will he say if the Estates Commissioners are willing to purchase it?

The proceedings under the Land Purchase Acts in regard to this estate have been for sale direct by the owner to the tenants, and more than half the bog has already been allotted to tenants who purchased under the Act of 1903, the allotments being consolidated with the holdings when the lands were being vested in the purchasers. The Estates Commissioners do not propose to purchase the residue of the bog, but arrangements for the sale thereof, under the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1889, and the Purchase of Land (Ireland) (No. 2) Act, 1901, to the tenants who have already had their holdings vested in them under Acts prior to that of 1903, are under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how much money was deducted from the grants in aid to the Limerick County Council to meet the failures of land purchase annuitants during the years from 1903 to the year ending 31st March, 1915, giving each year separately; also the amount of such failures afterwards collected; and whether the same was put to the credit of the county council each year, to be given separately?

The net amounts added to and deducted from the share of Limerick County in the Estate or Death Duty Grant for each of the years from 1903 to 1915 inclusive in respect of arrears of payments of land purchase annuities under the Irish Land Acts are as follows:

Year.		Net Additions.			Net Deductions.
		£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
1903	…	—			378	5	8
1904	…	—			185	10	6
1905	…	—			317	8	0
1906	…	—			844	13	10
1907	…	—			524	2	1
1908	…	—			790	17	2
1909	…	—			1,083	11	7
1910	…	312	9	3	—
1911	…	—			634	15	10
1912	…	—			55	13	8
1913	…	—			1,479	11	5
1914	…	545	0	7	—
1915	…	—			1,186	19	8
		Total net deductions			6,623	19	7

When arrears are subsequently recovered from the defaulters the amounts are forthwith credited to the county in connection with succeeding payments on account of the grants.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the attention of the Secretary of State has been drawn to the recent case of Kanhai Ram v. Durga Prasad (13 A. L. J., page 279); and whether, in view of its effect on the Tenancy Act, 1901, any legislative action is contemplated?

The attention of the Secretary of State has not been drawn to this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the advisability of now giving effect to the statements made on behalf of the Foreign Office to the effect that if there was any reason to suppose that the negotiations between China and Japan could not be settled by diplomatic methods, and if there was a prospect of developments which might impair the independence and integrity of China, no doubt consultations would take place as to what was fair to Japan and as to how that could be secured without impairing the independence of China?

An agreement has now happily been reached between China and Japan in regard to the negotiations referred to.

asked the Home Secretary why the procedure with regard to the declarations of alienance under the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act has not yet been settled although the Act was passed in August last?

The procedre with regard to declarations of alienage under the Act referred to which came into force on the 1st January last was duly settled in Regulations signed by me on 30th December, 1914, and published as Statutory Rules and Orders on 5th January last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now able to give the information promised with reference to purchases of sugar by the Sugar Commission?

Sugar purchases up to 13th March, 1915, were made as follows:—

Raw Sugar—1914 Crop.
Date.		Country of Origin.			Quantity.	Price.	Conditions.
1914.					Tons.
August to 7th	…	Cuba	…	…	31,000	3¼c.	c. and f. New York.
						3¼c.	f.o.b.
August to 8th	…	Cuba	…	…	13,600	3½c.	c. and f. New York.
						3½c.	f.o.b.
August to 8th	…	Cuba	…	…	7,400	14/9	f.o.b.
August to 8th	…	Java	…	…	20,000	12/6	f.o.b.
August to 10th	…	Java	…	…	20,000	14/-	f.o.b.
August to 10th	…	Cuba	…	…	5,000	20/-	c.i.f. bought afloat.
August to 11th	…	Java	…	…	20,000	15/-	f.o.b.
August to 12th	…	Java	…	…	7,500	16/-	c. and f.
August to 12th	…	Antigua	…	…	320	20/-	f.l.
August to 12th	…	Domingo, etc.	…	…	3,489	19/-	In bond.
August to 12th	…	Beet	…	…	4,355	18/6- (88°)	In bond.
August to 13th	…	Java	…	…	10,000	16/-	f.o.b.
August to 13th	…	Java	…	…	18,500	15/-	f.o.b.
August to 13th	…	Java	…	…	6,000	16/-	f.o.b.
August to 14th	…	Java	…	…	30,000	17/-	f.o.b.
August to 14th	…	Java	…	…	1,000	18/-	c.i.f.
August to 14th	…	Java	…	…	4,000	16/6	f.o.b.
August to 15th	…	Java	…	…	3,000	16/6	f.o.b.
August to 17th	…	Java	…	…	10,000	16/6	f.o.b.
August to 17th	…	Java	…	…	2,000	16/6	f.o.b.
August to 17th	…	Peru	…	…	6,800	19/3	c.i.f.
August to 18th	…	Java	…	…	1,500	18/-	c.i.f.
August to 19th	…	Java	…	…	6,000	17/-	f.o.b.
August to 19th	…	Java	…	…	30,000	17/16	f.o.b.
August to 19th	…	Java	…	…	2,000	17/-	f.o.b.
August to 19th	…	Java	…	…	15,000	17/6	f.o.b.
August to 20th	…	Java	…	…	500	19/-	c.i.f.
August to 20th	…	Java	…	…	500	19/16	c.i.f.
August to 20th	…	Java	…	…	1,000	17/3	f.o.b.
August to 20th	…	Java	…	…	20,000	17/9	f.o.b.
August to 20th	…	Peru	…	…	2,470	19/-	c.i.f.
August to 20th	…	Peru	…	…	127	15/-	c.i.f.
August to 20th	…	Demerara	…	…	25,000	18/6	c. and
August to 21st	…	Dcmerara	…	…	10,000	17/-	f.o.b.
August to 21st	…	Peru	…	…	1,500	20/-	f.l.
August to 21st	…	Java	…	…	14,000	17/9	f.o.b.
August to 21st	…	Java	…	…	2,000	17/3	f.o.b.
August to 21st	…	Denmark	…	…	2,000	19/- (88°)	c.i.f.
August to 21st	…	Trinidad	…	…	3,000	17/-	f.o.b.
August to 24th	…	Java	…	…	2,500	17/6	f.o.b.
August to 24th	…	Java	…	…	20,000	17/6	f.o.b.
August to 24th	…	Java	…	…	6,000	17/6	f.o.b.
August to 24th	…	Java	…	…	5,000	17/6	f.o.b.
August to 24th	…	Peru	…	…	500	20/-	f.l.
August to 25th	…	Java	…	…	1,000	20/6	c.i.f.
August to 25th	…	Demerara	…	…	20,000	17/-	f.o.b.
August to 26th	…	Demerara	…	…	1,500	17/-	f.o.b.
August to 26th	…	Java	…	…	1,000	18/8¼	c.i.f.
August to 26th	…	Java	…	…	500	18/2¼	c.i.f.
August to 26th	…	Java	…	…	7,000	17/6	f.o.b.
August to 26th	…	Java	…	…	6,000	17/6	f.o.b.
August to 26th	…	Java	…	…	1,000	17/6	f.o.b.
August 27th	…	Peru	…	…	1,300	19/6	c.i.f.
August 27th	…	Peru	…	…	850	16/- (89°)	c.i.f.
August 28th	…	Peru	…	…	400	20/-	c.i.f.
September 2nd	…	Denmark	…	…	2,000	18/6 (88°)	c.i.f.
September 2nd	…	Denmark	…	…	130	17/6 (88°)	c.i.f.
September 2nd	…	Java	…	…	6,000	19/6	c.i.f.
September 2nd	…	Mozambique	…	…	260	19/6	c.i.f.
September 2nd	…	Java	…	…	1,500	17/6	f.o.b.

Date.		Country of Origin.			Quantity.	Price.	Conditions.
1914.					Tons.
September 3rd	…	Denmark	…	…	2,100	18/6 (88°)	c.i.f.
September 3rd	…	Denmark	…	…	150	17/6 (88°)	c.i.f.
September 3rd	…	Java	…	…	200	20/-	c.i.f.
September 3rd	…	Denmark	…	…	1,100	19/- (88°)	c.i.f.
September 3rd	…	Fiji	…	…	6,500	19/6	c.i.f.
September 4th	…	Peru	…	…	500	20/-	c.i.f.
September 4th	…	Peru	…	…	300	15/- (89°)	c.i.f.
September 7th	…	Mozambique	…	…	205	19/6	c.i.f.
September 7th	…	Java	…	…	350	20/-	c.i.f.
September 9th	…	Denmark	…	…	500	19/6 (88°)	c.i.f.
September 9th	…	Java	…	…	250	20/-	c.i.f.
September 10th	…	Denmark	…	…	200	17/- (75°)	c.i.f.
October 3rd	…	Brazil	…	…	1,000	17/6	c.i.f.
October 10th	…	Brazil	…	…	500	17/6	c.i.f.
October 10th	…	Cuba	…	…	2,900	3.77 c.	f.o.b.
October 23rd	…	Denmark	…	…	2,100	14/- (88°)	c.i.f.

Raw Sugar—1915 Crop

…

…

…

…

…

…

364,350 tons

White Sugar.—1914 Crop.
August 11th	…	Java	…	…	500	20/-	c.i.f.
August 13th	…	Java	…	…	30,000	17/6	f.o.b.
August 13th	…	Java	…	…	6,000	17/6	f.o.b.
August 13th	…	Java	…	…	3,500	17/6	f.o.b.
August 13th	…	Mauritius	…	…	900	20/6	c.i.f.
August 14th	…	Penang	…	…	300	20/-	c.i.f.
August 14th	…	Java	…	…	200	20/-	c.i.f.
August 14th	…	Java	…	…	20,000	18/6	f.o.b.
August 15th	…	Java	…	…	3,000	18/-	f.o.b.
August 17th	…	Java	…	…	10,000	18/-	f.o.b.
August 18th	…	Mauritius	…	…	2,900	18/-	f.o.b.
August 19th	…	Mauritius	…	…	500	21/-	c.i.f.
August 19th	…	Java	…	…	5,000	19/-	f.o.b.
August 19th	…	Java	…	…	20,000	19/-	f.o.b.
August 19th	…	Java	…	…	4,000	18/6	f.o.b.
August 19th	…	Java	…	…	12,000	18/6	f.o.b.
August 19th	…	Mauritius	…	…	2,000	21/-	c.i.f.
August 20th	…	Mauritius	…	…	6,500	20/9	c.i.f.
August 20th	…	Java	…	…	8,000	19/3	f.o.b.
August 20th	…	Java	…	…	3,000	18/9	f.o.b.
August 21st	…	Java	…	…	7,000	19/3	f.o.b.
August 21st	…	Java	…	…	6,000	19/3	f.o.b.
August 24th	…	Java	…	…	5,000	19/-	f.o.b.
August 24th	…	Java	…	…	20,000	19/-	f.o.b.
August 24th	…	Java	…	…	6,000	19/-	f.o.b.
August 24th	…	Java	…	…	10,000	19/-	f.o.b.
August 25th	…	Java	…	…	6,000	19/-	f.o.b.
August 25th	…	Mauritius	…	…	100,000	17/9	f.o.b.
August 25th	…	Mauritius	…	…	23,000	17/9	f.o.b.
August 26th	…	Java	…	…	1,000	18/6	f.o.b.
August 26th	…	Java	…	…	7,000	19/-	f.o.b.
August 26th	…	Java	…	…	6,000	18/6	f.o.b.
August 26th	…	Java	…	…	2,000	19/-	f.o.b.
August 27th	…	Mauritius	…	…	10,500	17/9	f.o.b.
September 2nd	…	Java	…	…	2,500	19/-	f.o.b.
September 5th	…	America	…	…	9,000	6·03 c.	f.o.b.
					1,500
September 9th	…	Mauritius	…	…	29,000	17/9	f.o.b.
October 2nd	…	America	…	…	750	5·00 c.	f.o.b.
		Holland cubes	…	…	20,050	Various

White Sugar—1915 Crop

…

…

…

…

…

…

50,000 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any information as to the progress of the liquidation of the National Penny Bank and the prospects of further repayments to the depositors?

A repayment of 5s. in the pound was made to the depositors of the National Penny Bank, Limited, last November. The realisation of the assets is proceeding satisfactorily, and I hope that a further repayment of 5s. in the pound may be made next month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, since the export of balm from this country was prohibited, any permits have been given for shipments from Liverpool to Denmark and Sweden; and, if so, what exceptional circumstances have arisen to warrant the issue of such permits?

I assume that the hon. Member's question has reference to "yeast, brewers' dried," the export of which is prohibited to all destinations. I am informed that no licences have been issued for shipments from Liverpool to Denmark and Sweden.

asked the Postmaster-General the aggregate number of hours overtime worked by London sorters from 4th August to 31st December, 1914, exclusive of the Christmas pressure, and from 1st January, 1915, to the present date, exclusive of the new year pressure, and for the corresponding periods of 1913 and 1914, exclusive of the Christmas and New Year periods?

The collection of the information asked for would involve much labour and research, and could not be undertaken without imposing additional work on a staff which is already heavily burdened. Doubtless in the circumstances the hon. Member will not wish to press the question.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he has yet filled up the post of clerk to the justices of the peace of Lanarkshire; if so, who has been appointed; on what terms has he been appointed; and is he a whole-time official, precluded from practising as a solicitor and from taking part in trade, either as a director or otherwise?

The post has been filled up by the appointment of Mr. J. T. T. Brown, Writer, Glasgow. The terms on which the appointment has been made are that Mr. Brown shall receive a salary of £1,000 per annum in lieu of all fees payable to the clerk of the peace by the county council of Lanarkshire, and shall also be entitled to such fees as may be payable to the clerk of the peace from sources other than the county council. Out of this income he will have to find such sums as are required for the remuneration of any deputes he may find it necessary to employ. It is a condition of the appointment of the new clerk of the peace that he shall give his whole time to the duties of his office and that he shall abstain from engaging either by himself or by his partner in any other business.