asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) why the yard craftmen employed at Sheerness are paid at a lower rate than men employed on private tugs seeing that both are doing similar work; and can he see his way to place both classes of men on the same basis as regards payment; and (2) whether he is aware that the payment of yard craftmen at Sheerness working 140 hours a week is stokers 4s. 3d. a day and seamen 4s. a day, exclusive of the war bonus; and seeing that the payment of men working on hired tugs is stokers 6s. a day and seamen 5s. a day, will he see that the wages of yard craftmen are raised to these rates?

As the hon. and gallant Member is no doubt aware, the conditions of service in Admiralty Yard Craft were very fully considered by a Committee some little time ago, and, as a result, various improvements in those conditions were announced in the replies to petitions issued in the earlier part of the present year, of which I will send the hon. and gallant Member a copy. I would point out that the rates of pay quoted are only the minimum rates of the respective scales, and, further, that no account is taken of the emergency increase granted in connection with the award of the Committee on production. I assume that the number of hours quoted refers to the number of hours the men are on board their vessels, but not necessarily actually at work, in which case I anticipate that they would compare favourably with those prevailing in the mercantile marine. I do not think that if the conditions of service in dockyard vessels are surveyed as a whole they would compare unfavourably with those existing in the case of private employers, especially when such considerations as permanence of employment, prospect of establishment, and allowances for particular duties are taken into account.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the question refers only to Sheerness and not to yard craftmen as a whole?

Yes. But the yard craftmen at Sheerness come under the general rule, the only exception being as to hours.

further asked whether yard craftmen were entitled to an increase of 3d. a day from the 1st October last; and, if so, why the yard craftmen at Sheerness have only been paid from April?

Probably what the hon. and gallant Member has in mind is the matter dealt with in the answer which I gave to the Member for Plymouth on 29th April, when I stated that the improvements in wages and conditions of employment of yard craftmen set out in the answers to petitions were conditional upon the surrender of special privileges in certain cases. The privileges in question are certain advantages which were enjoyed by some of the yard craftmen in respect of sick leave with pay and medical attendance. No doubt any delay which may have occurred in some cases is owing to the hesitation of some of the men to accept the conditions regarding the surrender of special privileges previously enjoyed by them. Payment of the increased rates has already been made to those men who have accepted the conditions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that small investors are deterred from investing their savings in the new War Loan by reason of the apprehension that they may not be able to realise their Investment before 1945 in any period of financial stress; and whether he is able to offer any reassurance with regard to the position of the small investor in such circumstances?

asked what facilities will be given, through the Post Office or otherwise, for the sale of small amounts of War Loan stock or bonds of small value?

I am glad to have an opportunity of removing misapprehension on this point. War Loan bought through the Post Office or a Trustee Savings bank may be sold at any time through the Post Office or the Savings Bank at the market price of the day on which the transaction takes place.

asked whether arrangements have been or will be made to facilitate the conversion of a sum of less than £100 of Consols into the War Loan?

A subscriber for £100 of the new War Loan has the right to convert £75 Consols or any smaller amount. Arrangements are under consideration whereby subscribers through the Post Office for smaller amounts of new War Loan than £100 will be given rights to convert Consols standing in their names in proportion to the amount of their holdings in the new Loan.

If all the money invested in Consols was converted into War Loan, what loss would it be to the nation?

The hon. Member can hardly expect that sum to be done offhand.

Roughly, would it be £100,000,000?

Oh no! I should say the figure of £100,000,000 is ten or twenty times an exaggerated sum.

I do not think.

Well, I do.

asked how it will be possible for purchasers of scrip vouchers of small amount who are not able to purchase up to £5, or who need to realise the vouchers already purchased before 1st December, 1915, to obtain their money?

Scrip vouchers will be accepted at any time by the Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks as the equivalent of cash for the purpose of deposits. These deposits can then be withdrawn in the usual way.

Will the right hon. Gentleman embody all this valuable information he has given in pamphlets sent to the post offices so as to be accessible to the public?

Yes, I think that is quite an excellent idea. I will communicate with the Postmaster-General on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has made arrangements by means of which officers and men serving at the front may have the opportunity of investing in the new War Loan?

Arrangements have been made by which non-commissioned officers and men serving at the front in France or in the Dardanelles can invest in the new War Loan from the balance of pay standing to their credit, either in the form of scrip vouchers of 5s., 10s., or £1, or in the form of stock certificates of £5 and multiples of £5. A leaflet explaining the method is being distributed to the troops. Whilst the men are at the front the scrip vouchers or stock certificates will be taken care of by the General Post Office. I understand that commissioned officers are investing through the ordinary channels of Army agents or bankers. Arrangements are also being made to enable the men of the fleet to invest in the new War Loan.

asked what is the intention of the Government in regard to the extent to which the Government will accept responsibility for damage caused by enemy air raids?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on this subject yesterday.

asked whether representations have been made by many of the Metropolitan borough councils to the effect that, in view of the risk of damage to public and private buildings, in consequence of the War, which is not covered by ordinary insurance policy, it is desirable that the Government should be requested to consider the question of arranging a system of voluntary State insurance against such risks; and, if so, whether consideration has been given to those representations, and with what result?

asked whether His Majesty's Government are prepared to pay the cost of damage by aircraft to hospitals belonging to the Order of St. John or the British Red Cross Society, or any others in which wounded soldiers are received?

Representations of the nature referred to have been received, and I hope to be able to make a statement very shortly on the establishment of a State scheme of insurance against aircraft damage.

asked the Postmaster-General how many German postmasters and sub-postmasters have up to date been removed from their offices as objects of suspicion; and how many postmasters or sub-postmasters of German origin still remain in the public service?

Two sub-postmasters of German nationality were removed from office shortly after the outbreak of war, in accordance with the general policy laid down by my predecessor—not on account of any definite suspicion against them—and one sub-postmistress who, though herself a natural-born British subject, had lost her British nationality by marrying a German, was, as a measure of precaution, removed from office for the duration of the War. Two sub-postmasters of German birth, but naturalised British subjects, were also relieved of office. There are at present in the Post Office service thirteen sub-postmasters of German birth who have been naturalised as British subjects and twenty-nine sub-postmasters who are themselves natural-born British subjects but whose parents, or one or other of them, were German or Austrian. There are no postmasters or sub-postmasters of German or Austrian nationality in the service.

Have any of these remaining German postmasters or sub-postmasters access to telegrams and other information passing through their post offices?

There are none remaining who are of German nationality. Wherever there is reason to fear that a sub-postmaster of German origin may have access to confidential information he would be removed to another office.

Would not the better plan be to remove all postmasters of enemy alien origin?

That would give rise to a number of very hard cases in the case of persons who have come here in their childhood and perhaps had thirty or forty years' service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the inspector, appointed by him, of Augener, Limited, has made inquiries as to the transfer of 20,000 shares by Mr. Wilhelm Strecker during the War; and whether such transfer was for cash on sale or merely a colourable removal of the shares from the name of the said Strecker?

The Board of Trade are informed by the transferees of the 20,000 shares of Augener, Limited, previously held by Mr. Wilhelm Strecker, that no cash was paid at the time of the transfer, but that promissory notes payable six months after the end of the War were given as security for the purchase money. The present holders of the shares state that the transaction was a genuine purchase, that they hold the shares in their own right and not as nominee for any other person, and that no one has any right to call upon them to retransfer the shares.

Does the right hon. Gentleman himself think that on the very facts he has put before us this is not a colourable transaction?

In this matter I must act under advice, and I am advised that it is not a colourable transaction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on almost all cargoes of frozen beef there is an insurance claim allowed for damage during transit; whether in the cases in which the Government have taken over the whole of one particular mark or brand out of a boat the Government have had the benefit of any insurance claim allowed; whether in cases in which cargoes have been considerably damaged the fact has been notified to the Government and the amount of the insurance allowed ascertained before the purchases were effected; whether he is aware that it is the market custom to sell salvaged beef at less than the market rate; whether the Government have had to pay full contract value for such salvage beef as they have taken delivery of; and whether, in view of the fact that the firm of Perfect and Company are underwriters' representatives on beef insurance, and therefore directly interested in facilitating the acceptance of damaged beef by the Government, he will terminate this arrangement in the public interest?

In reply to the first part of the question, I have to inform my hon. Friend that when meat is bought c.i.f. the usual insurances are taken out by the sellers, but that when meat is bought f.o.b. it is not insured on behalf of His Majesty's Government. I understand that claims for damage were not as general as he suggests. With regard to the second part, in all cases in which meat bought c.i.f. has arrived damaged the damaged meat is rejected and returned to the sellers, by whom no claim is then made for its value, and in cases in which the meat was bought f.o.b. any damaged meat is sold on the market for what it will fetch. In view of that practice, the third part of the question does not arise. With regard to the fourth part, I am aware of the custom referred to. The fifth part of the question does not affect meat bought c.i.f., and with regard to meat bought f.o.b the cost is paid to the Australasian Governments, who bought the meat on behalf of His Majesty's Government and inspected it before it was put on board. With regard to the last part of the question, I have to refer my hon. Friend to the Secretary of State for War, by whom Messrs. Perfect and Company are employed, but I am satisfied as to their independence in the work they perform.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether the Government intend to issue War Office badges to all men genuinely engaged on War Office work?

I am considering the whole question of badges in consultation with the Admiralty and Army Council and I propose to make a statement on the subject very shortly.

asked the Minister of Munitions what steps have been taken in Scotland by the Board of Control to make provision for the supply of food and refreshment for the workers engaged in shipyards and munition factories, and to restrict the sale of distilled spirits in the districts where such shipyards and munition factories are situate?

I am informed that the Central Control Board are visiting Scotland this week in order to consider what action it may be desirable to take. I understand that the Board are devoting special attention to the establishment of facilities for the supply of food and refreshments where a need is shown, and generally to measures of positive reform as distinct from merely restrictive action.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the fact that the Board of Control has delimited ten areas in England and none in Scotland is proof of the fact that Scotland is much more sober?

I am afraid my hon. Friend must not draw that conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether His Majesty's Government has under consideration the propriety of equipping one prison as an arms factory to which volunteers from other prisons could be drafted, subject to necessary conditions as to their fitness for the work?

I must refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to him on the 23rd June, and to the explanation I gave him in Debate on that day. Prison labour is already being employed to the best advantage in connection with war supplies.

asked the Home Secretary whether it was the Press Censor who prevented Press comment on the conviction of Messrs. Lyons and Company, for having sold for Army use meat unfit for human food; and, now that the company has abandoned its appeal, whether free comment on the facts of the case will be allowed?

I am informed that no comments on this case have been censored by the Press Bureau. It is the usual and proper practice of the Press in this country to abstain from comment on a case which is sub judice, and, as Messrs. Lyons gave notice of appeal immediately after the conviction, all responsible newspapers would naturally abstain from comment until the appeal was decided.

asked the Attorney-General if, in order to release men jurors during the War, he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation to allow women to act as jurors, as suggested by the deputy-coroner for West Lancashire?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. No such difficulty in finding jurors has arisen as would justify the Government in proposing legislation on what would be a somewhat contentious subject.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many meetings of the Advisory Committee for Scotland dealing with the internment and repatriation of alien enemies have been held; and how many cases have been dealt with, and with what results?

Nine meetings of the Committee have been held. Five hundred and ten cases have been dealt with. Exemption has been refused in fifty-one cases for deportation and in forty-two cases for internment and granted in 299 cases for deportation and 118 cases for internment. It must be borne in mind in the case of Scotland that by the end of October last all the male enemy aliens from seventeen to forty-five years of age had already been interned with few exceptions, so that the Committee has had to deal chiefly with women, children and elderly men.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that owing to the delay in the issue of licences to export several collieries in the Lothians were recently laid idle; and whether he can take any steps to expedite the issue of licences in the future?

Applications for licences for the export of coal are considered by the Coal Exports Committee, and so far as I am aware there is no avoidable delay in the issue of licences. If the hon. Member will send me particulars of the cases to which he refers so that the applications can be traced, I will cause inquiries to be made and communicate with him on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the stipendiary magistrate who presided at the Petty Sessions at Cahirciveen, when the police inspector was allowed to accuse witnesses of having received German gold, was himself an ex-policeman; in view of the purpose and effect of the accusation, whether the inspector has been required to substantiate it; and will he say under what law or rule police inspectors in Ireland are allowed to make accusations of that character which they are unable to substantiate?

The resident magistrate who presided at the Petty Sessions at Cahirciveen on the occasion referred to was formerly a district inspector in the Royal Irish Constabulary. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. As I have already stated, in framing the questions put by him in cross-examination of witnesses for the defence, the district inspector who was in charge of the prosecution was guided by information in his possession, and he was entitled, on the basis of that information, to put such questions to the witnesses as were likely, in his opinion, to throw light on their credibility.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of the question with reference to this officer being called upon to substantiate his charges?

No, Sir. I am not called upon.

I mean the officer referred to in the question. Has he been called upon to substantiate his charge?

No, Sir.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that the correct and normal method of administering justice?

Certainly. He had information before him which, in his opinion, justified him in putting the question.

He had none.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of persons banished from Ireland and from particular parts of Ireland, respectively, on political grounds since the War began, and the number of each of those classes against whom an order of exclusion is now in force; and, the persons so punished not having been tried for or accused of any offence, whether he will grant a Return of them with particulars of charge and evidence in each case?

Up to the present time fifteen persons have been served with orders under Article 14 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations prohibiting them from residing in or entering certain specified areas within Ireland itself. With regard to the last three parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on the 29th ultimo. One person on whom an order was served has since been tried for offences under the Defence of the Realm Regulations.

Would any harm accrue if all these orders were rescinded?

The hon. Member has a somewhat crude notion of the administration of justice.

Would it not conduce to better administration, if these men are so formidable, so to conduct his administration as to have them on his side and not against him?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of hanging them?

I will consider it and reject it.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will furnish a Return of the number of emigrants from Ireland per month during the last six months and a comparison with similar Return for the period under 1914?

The number of emigrants, natives of Ireland, who left Irish ports during the first six months of this year was 4,061 as against 12,909 in the corresponding period of last year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the position of saddlers employed in His Majesty's dockyards; whether he is aware that while smiths, carpenters, wheel- wrights, and labourers were all advanced on the 21st October, 1914, no advance was made in the case of the saddlers, whose wages still remain at 28s., exclusive of the War bonus; whether he can say on what ground the exception was made; and will he consider the amendment of the rates in the case of the saddlers so as to remove the present inequality?

There is no class of workmen rated as saddlers in His Majesty's dockyards. If, as I assume, the hon. Member refers to leather hose makers, I can only say, as I indicated in the reply which I gave to him on 10th March, that the case of this class was fully considered prior to the issue of the replies to petitions at the beginning of the present year. As I pointed out, until 1908 these men were classified as skilled labourers. In that year it was approved to put them in a separate class on the then maximum rate for skilled labourers, namely, 28s. a week, for hired men. Later, special rates up to 30s. were approved, and in 1912 the maximum special rate was made 31s. As the hon. Member indicates in his question, they have since received the emergency increase granted in connection with the award of the Committee on Production, and it is not contemplated to make any further advance.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to imply that these men should be satisfied with a change in name and position that carries with it no rise in pay?

I mentioned the rises in the skilled labour case because the leather hose maker follows it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether paragraph 4 of the regulations on visits of relations to sick and wounded officers and men issued to the Press on 29th May, which lays down that only one relative in the case of each parent will be allowed to enter the zone of the armies would prevent a father and mother from both visiting a dangerously-wounded son at a hospital in Boulogne and elsewhere; and, if so, if he will take steps to have this regulation withdrawn or modified?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It has been found possible hitherto to allow a limited number of persons to visit France for this purpose, and if it were to be made the rule that two persons might go in the case of each patient it might become necessary to restrict the number of cases in which visits are allowed. But this question is now under review.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, seeing the experience of the present War has shown that the number of field guns and howitzers of each division of the original Expeditionary Force was insufficient, he will say why the number of field guns and howitzers have been reduced in every division of the New Armies raised by the Secretary of State for War; whether the reason is due to the lack of ammunition and not of guns; and whether the Secretary of State for War will defer sending the new divisions to the Front until the number of guns in each brigade is brought up to at least the number provided for the original Expeditionary Force?

Any alteration which has taken place in the organisation of the Artillery has not been due either to lack of ammunition or of guns, but has been adopted with a view to improving the fire control of the battery commander. It is highly inexpedient to discuss the details of the armament or organisation of our forces in the field, and still more inexpedient to say anything which would disclose the dates upon which new divisions are likely to be sent to the front.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have not stated in the question how many guns have been reduced in each division? Is it not a fact that the reduced number of guns, provided that ammunition is available, will not be able to fire the same amount as the increased number?

Stated in the manner in which my hon. Friend has stated it, the proposition is incontestable. But I would remind the House that this question as regards-four-gun or six-gun batteries is a very old one and has been a controversy raging between military authorities long before the outbreak of this War. It is not true to suppose if you reduce the batteries from six guns to four guns that to that extent you reduce the number of shots fired or the efficiency of the batteries.

The right hon. Gentleman has himself given the information to the enemy now.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether hay is being commandeered in South Gloucestershire at £3 10s. a ton; whether he is aware that this sum is thought in the district to be less than the cost of production; and what remedy a farmer has if he thinks the price offered for commandeered hay is less than he can obtain elsewhere?

No hay has been, requisitioned from farmers in Gloucestershire, but in one case nearly 8 tons on railway trucks were requisitioned from a dealer. The price offered by the district purchasing officer for this consignment of hay was 77s. 6d. per ton on rail. Purchases are usually made by voluntary arrangements at a price fixed by the local purchasing committee. If the farmer objects to this price his hay can be requisitioned and the price fixed under the provisions of the Army Act by the County Court judge. In view of the disinclination of farmers to use this method, two appeal committees, one for the North and the other for the South of England, have been set up. An agriculturist, a hay merchant, and a senior purchasing officer serve on these committees. There still remains the remedy in the County Court.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that similar cases have arisen in Nottinghamshire, where farmers have had to supply hay at a distance of 4½ miles from their farms at 70s. a ton when the market price is £5?

The hon. Gentleman ought to give notice of that question. The hon. Member cannot know all about these places.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that further increased dislocation has resulted in the coal trade owing to his delay in making any definite statement on the question of whether the Government intends to fix maxima prices in the coal trade, and that the London public are not buying coal, in the hope that prices will be regulated; whether he has any information that, unless stocks of coal are laid down through the summer months in London, a coal famine will result if hard weather or fog prevails next winter; whether the stocks at the depots are small owing to the merchants not knowing the intention of the Government; and whether he will accept the recommendation made to him by a number of private Members of this House and forthwith fix maxima prices?

Returns furnished by London coal merchants show that at the end of May the amount of coal at London depots was greater than a year ago. Particulars for the end of June are not yet available. With reference to the remainder of the question, I hope to be in a position to make a statement to the House very shortly. Matters of great importance to the coal trade and consumers have had to be dealt with by the Government during the past few weeks, which have unavoidably delayed the steps in contemplation for dealing with prices.

Will there be any attempt whatever made to make these people disgorge their unholy profits?

On that subject I must refer my hon. Friend to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

This is a matter for the right hon. Gentleman. The Board of Trade are responsible for the whole mix-up.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the terms on which the lease of the Shameen, at Canton, is held by the British Government, or indicate in what form this document is accessible to the public?

The lease of the Shameen, at Canton, was granted to His Majesty's Government in 1861, to be held in perpetuity by them for such uses and purposes as they should see fit, in consideration of the payment of a yearly rental. The Chinese Government resigned all rights, title and claims to the said lot of land so long as the rent was duly paid. As regards the second part of the hon. Member's question, I regret to be unable to refer him to any publication giving the terms of the lease in question, but the gist of it is as quoted above. I shall be happy to show him a copy of the lease if he cares to see it.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has received news of the breaking of the monsoon from India; and whether, in that event, he will state the nature of his reports?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give the monsoon prospects of India and state how the late wheat crop compares with that of the last few years?

The monsoon has broken throughout India somewhat later than the normal, and is not yet fully established in North-West India. There are no special circumstances that give rise to apprehension, but the hon. Member knows that prediction in such a matter is hazardous. The weekly report of the Government of India is communicated to the papers as received. The total wheat crop for this year is estimated at 10,269,000 tons, compared with 8,358,000 tons for 1913–14, 9,715,000 for 1912–13, and 9,924,500 for 1911–12.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the annual report of the acting medical officer to the Newport (Mon.) port sanitary authority to the effect that the proportion of vessels visiting Newport having sanitary defects during 1914 was higher than in any previous year; that forecastles in new ships are curtailed in size in order to provide extra large hatches for loading and unloading; and that, as the forecastles are too small for all the sailors and firemen, the forepeaks have been used for crew spaces, although the lighting and ventilation of these do not conform with Board of Trade requirements; and will he state what he proposes to do to carry out the rules and regulations of the Department in the cases complained of?

The Board of Trade have not yet received a copy of this report, but when a copy reaches the Department the statements made in the report will be carefully examined. I may, however, point out that the Board of Trade requirements for the crew spaces of vessels were revised and made more stringent in February, 1914, and I feel confident that the Board of Trade surveyors have not passed the crew spaces of any ships unless they have complied with those requirements and the statutory regulations.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Department has in any case in this country, at the instance of a landlord, insisted on the use as a sub-post office of a cottage condemned by the local sanitary authority, when a good house suitably situated was offered for the purpose?

I am not aware of any case of the kind in Great Britain or Ireland.