asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, upon the stock in question being deposited with the Post Office Savings Bank, in the case of small amounts he can make provision for the interest on 4½ per cent. War Loan Stock acquired through the Bank of England to be credited to a Post Office Savings Bank account in the same manner as the interest on similar stock acquired through the Post Office?

The holder of War Loan Stock can already authorise the Bank of England to pay dividends due to him to the Controller of the Post Office Savings Bank, and it is not necessary for this purpose that the stock itself should be deposited with the Post Office Savings Bank. Arrangements for the transfer of stock from the Bank of England to the Post Office Savings Bank, where this course is desired, are under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the ability and the universally expressed willingness of the present Income Tax collectors to collect the Income Tax about to be assessed upon weekly wage earners, he will, in order to avoid unnecessary and unremunerative public expenditure, dispense with the new machinery of collection and the new body of public officials provided for under Clause 25 of the Finance (No. 3) Bill, 1915?

It is the intention of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to utilise the services of the present collectors for the purpose of the quarterly collection of Income Tax from weekly wage earners in all cases where it is considered that those collectors are able to undertake the additional work involved without prejudice to the punctual and efficient performance of their duties.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has had an application from the workmen employed by the Admiralty at the Crystal Palace for a war bonus equal in amount to that paid by the Admiralty to the workmen at Woolwich; and, if so, whether he proposes to comply with the request?

A temporary war increase, similar to that granted in the case of the Naval Ordnance Department at Woolwich, has been granted to the employés directly employed at the Crystal Palace on behalf of the Admiralty, with effect from 12th September. The increase in question was as follows:—

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether parcels for the British Expeditionary Force which are superscribed c/o Forwarding Officer, Southampton, are charged at the ordinary inland rate for parcels; whether parcels not so superscribed are charged at a higher rate; and whether there is any difference in the time required for delivery between the two methods?

The Military Forwarding Office at Southampton deals only with parcels which are outside the postal limits. No charge is made for their transmission beyond Southampton, but railway charges to that port must be prepaid by the sender. Parcels sent via Southampton would normally occupy a slightly longer time in transit than those sent by parcel post.

asked the Under-Secretary for War (1) what is the reason that the Volunteer Training Corps are not allowed to use service rifles or any rifle adapted for service ammunition; and (2), whether the War Office will allow the Volunteer Training Corps, who are arming themselves, to use service rifles or rifles adapted for service ammunition, seeing that these rifles would be available for the Army in case of emergency and would enable the men to receive better instruction?

Service rifles are not allowed to be purchased by Volunteer Training Corps, as this would interfere with the supply to the troops, employed or to be employed in the field. Rifles of non-service pattern may be purchased, but they should be capable of firing service ammunition.

asked whether it is essential that every man of eligible age, employer or employé alike, who considers himself indispensable to his particular trade or business should be duly attested before being allowed to appeal to the local tribunal to adjudicate upon his case for exemption or deferment to a later class?

The answer is in the affirmative.

also asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is essential that a man who considers himself indispensable to his particular trade or business, shall have enlisted before 4th December before being allowed to make his appeal to the local tribunal to adjudicate upon his case for exemption or deferment to a later class?

With the exception that the latest date is 11th December and not 4th December, the answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, though the law allows an appeal to the Recorder of Dublin against the price fixed for hay in the Dublin market by the military authorities, that provision of the law is nullified by the practice of the military authorities in waiting to buy at their own price till it has been sold by the owner to a private individual?

The answer is in the negative.

also asked whether the price fixed and paid for hay by the military authorities in Dublin is £4 10s. per ton, and the price obtainable for hay of similar quality in the Dublin market is £6 and over; and, if so, whether the price fixed by the military authorities will be maintained?

The prices paid in Ireland are on a sliding scale, increasing each month, and are based on the recommendations of the Representative Committee, as I have already explained in answer to previous questions on this subject. The price of £4 10s., mentioned by my hon. Friend, is the maximum price fixed for November.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) who are the two new or additional agriculturists called in by him to advise as to the prices to be paid for hay by the military authorities in Ireland; and whether, in selecting those additional advisers, he acted with the knowledge or on the advice of any body representing in any degree the Irish farming community?

The following are the names of the Advisory Committee referred to:—Mr. J. R. Campbell, B.Sc., Assistant Secretary in respect of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland; Mr. Hugh T. Barrie, M.P., D.L.; Mr. John Bolger, J.P.; Mr. Alexander J. Crichton, J.P.; Mr. Josiah Cunningham; Colonel Sir Nugent T. Everard, Bart., H.M.L.; Mr. William MacDonald, J.P.; Mr. William R. Ronaldson, J.P.; and Mr. James Willington, J.P. In making their selection, the Department gave due consideration to the securing of adequate representation of the various interests concerned.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what steps have been taken to regularise the enlistment of Lance-Corporal R. H. Price, No. 1 Company, A.S.C., Stanhope Lines, Aldershot, who enlisted as a driver at the commencement of the War, and was attested on 10th August, 1914; is he aware that his papers were found to be missing, that he went for many months without pay, and was subsequently placed in the labourers' camp against his protest, allotted the labourers' number L.S. 17,137, and attached to No. 3 Section of the 22nd Company; and, as full particulars of the case, were sent to the War Office on 13th May and 2nd July, 1915, will he explain the prolonged delays, and will he give instructions for their prompt and satisfactory termination?

I much regret these delays, the cause of which has been the loss of the man's documents. He has now been placed on regular pay, and is about to be transferred definitely to the rating of driver.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can see his way to instruct the Press Censor, in view of their heartening effects upon the enemy and the corresponding prejudice to the efforts of the Allies, to refuse permission to publish all articles, leading articles, letters, reports of speeches, etc., intended for any newspaper, periodical, or other form of publication in which proposals or suggestions for peace on any terms less emphatic than those enunciated by the Prime Minister at the Guildhall last year are advocated or discussed?

The course suggested would not be found practicable; but I feel sure we can rely on the good sense and patriotism of the Press to exercise due circumspection in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that the Treaty of 1863 between Russia, France, and this country of the first part and the National Assembly of Greece of the second part provided under Article X. that the three great Powers would each make a payment of £4,000 per annum as a personal donation to the King of Greece out of moneys due to them by Greece, he will say whether these payments are still being continued, or if the capital moneys owing to the three Powers have been repaid; and, if so, when?

The payments referred to ceased with the death of King George of Greece in 1913. The Greek debt to the three Powers is still in process of discharge.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the total number of subscribers at the Banchory Telephone Exchange, and the number and rates charged in each class of service?

There are fifty-two subscribers connected with the Banchory Telephone Exchange. I will let the hon. Member have a statement as to the rates, which are rather complicated.