asked the Under Secretary of State for War whether members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who join the Army for the War forfeit their pay as policemen; and, if so, will he state why these men should be treated differently to Civil servants who, under like circumstances, are allowed their pay in addition to their pay as soldiers?

Members of the Royal Irish Constabulary on joining the Army for the period of the War cease to draw pay as policemen. In the case, however of a married constable his family receives in addition to Army separation allowances a further allowance from the Constabulary Vote of such an amount that these allowances, together with the Army pay of the man concerned, shall equal, but not exceed, his pay as a policeman. The dependants of an unmarried policeman may receive an allowance not exceeding 8s. a week. These terms are similar to those granted to members of the London Metropolitan Police and other police forces.

asked the Under Secretary of State for War whether he will quote the wording of any Regulation stipulating that those who join the Army must-consent to vaccination or revaccination; and will he state where such Regulation is to be found in public documents dealing with Army procedure?

"The enlistment of a man who states on attestation that he is unwilling to be vaccinated will not be proceeded with."

and to paragraph 515 of the Regulations for Army Medical Services, which runs as follows:—

"With the exception of those bearing distinct marks of small pox, all recruits, including the Special Reserve, will be vaccinated on the second day after joining the depot."

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that on the occasion of a deputa- tion which waited on Mr. Chief Secretary Black, of the New South Wales Government, on 22nd June last, a definite charge was made by Stuart Harvey, Australian manager of the firm of Robert Little and Company, that the Chicago firms in their preparation of canned meats for the Army used slaughterhouse sweepings and portions of the animals that were disallowed; and whether he can state who are the medical experts previously mentioned by him and describe the character of the supervision they exercise over this manufacture?

I am not aware of the facts mentioned in the first part of the hon. Member's question. The medical experts referred to in the second part are Dr. J. Spencer Low and Dr. A. R. Little-john, Inspectors of Foods under the Local Government Board, whose services have been lent to the War Department for purposes of inspection. Dr. Littlejohn is at Chicago, and is constantly engaged in visiting the various firms in North America on behalf of the War Department and in examining samples selected by him of their finished products. Dr. Spencer Low has his headquarters at Buenos Ayres, and exercises a similar function in the factories of Argentina and Uruguay. The reports hitherto received from these inspectors indicate that the meat used for canning purposes is satisfactory.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in the standard work on meat inspection compiled by Mr. Billing, of Finsbury, and Mr. Walker, of St. Pancras, it is distinctly specified that, in examining frozen meat, the cloths should be removed from a percentage of the consignment and the outside of the quarter examined for staining, growths, or emaciation and then the inside for evidence of stripping, adhesion, or growths, and that, in the absence of such an examination, there is nothing to depend upon except the Colonial veterinary certificates and the freezing works' grading; if he is satisfied that the latter is to be relied upon to a degree sufficient for Army purposes; and will he consider the advisability of dispensing altogether with the present examination, which dirties the beef without inspecting it?

I would refer the hon. Member to the two written answers which I gave him on this subject on the 11th instant.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of complaints from British sailors interned at Groningen, Holland, that parcels from England are sometimes sixteen and eighteen days in transit, and that the contents of perishable goods are spoilt, and that letters take six to eight days in delivery; and if he can state the reason for the delay in the delivery of letters and parcels?

Parcels are transmitted by post less quickly than letters, but parcels from this country for prisoners of war in Holland are not as a rule as much as sixteen or eighteen days in transit. I am making inquiries whether there is any possibility of reducing the time taken. Food-stuffs of a perishable nature may not be sent to prisoners of war interned abroad. This regulation appears in all the instructions and leaflets on the subject issued by the Post Office, and strict observance of it is very necessary.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the attention of the Board of Works has been called to the unpunctual running of trains on the Burtonport Extension Railway during the past five weeks; whether he is aware that the 10.20 a.m. up train from Burtonport has missed the connection with the 1.15 p.m. train from Letterkenny to Strabane very frequently since the 1st October; that on the 4th instant this train did not leave Burtonport until 12 noon and did not arrive in Londonderry until 6.10 p.m.; that on the 3rd instant the 3.30 p.m. train did not leave Burtonport until 4.25 p.m.; that eight waggons of fresh fish were left behind at Kincasslagh station on that date, the engine being unable to haul them, and that the fish thus missed the market; that on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th instant the train due at Burtonport at 9.40 p.m. did not arrive until the hours of 12.30 a.m., 1.30 a.m., 10.55 p.m., and 11.40 p.m. respectively; and whether any, and, if so, what steps have been taken to secure the proper working of this railway which was constructed by means of grants made from the public funds?

The attention of the Board of Works has been recently called to unpunctual trains on the Burtonport Railway, and urgent representations on the subject have been made to the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Company, who are responsible for the efficient working of the line under agreement with the Treasury and the Board of Works. The several instances of late trains and delay to fish quoted are substantially in accord with the information communicated to the Board. The company have furnished an explanation to the effect that the unpunctual working of trains has been caused by heavy traffic, due to a development of the fishing industry at Burtonport in September, which necessitated the loading up of all ordinary-trains to their full capacity, and in addition the running of special trains; also to defective and insufficient engine power, owing to the inability of the company to obtain the necessary workmen to keep their locomotives in good condition, their mechanical engineers having left their employment to go to munition works and shipyards. As regards the delay to fish, on 3rd instant, the company state that it was only loaded up between 12 and 1 p.m. on day of dispatch; that the 3.30 train from Burtonport was delayed thirty-three minutes to accommodate the traffic, that, owing to defective condition of engine, the fish had to be detached at an intermediate station, but that it was forwarded the following day, viâ, Larne, which was the most expeditious route; also that no complaint from the senders had been received.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what measures are being taken to provide a supply of milk for the workers in agricultural districts?

The Department are unable to add anything to the reply upon this subject given to the hon. Member by the Chief Secretary for Ireland on the 18th instant.