asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Rebellion Victims Committee appointed a clerk in the Local Government Board to do the official shorthand writing in connection with their investigation; will he say why the services of competent journalist stenographers were not secured, as had been the invariable practice at similar inquiries; whether applications for this work has been received from such journalist stenographers; and, if so, why was one of them not appointed?

The appointment of the official shorthand writer was a matter for the Committee, and there is no reason to interfere with their discretion in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that dis-satisfactionis general amongst the teachers and the general public in Ireland at the inadequacy of the bonus granted to the teachers; that the average salary of a man-assistant teacher in England exceeds the average of a principal or head teacher in Ireland by £14, and the assistant's salary in Scotland is greater than the Irish head teacher's salary by £24 per annum; that 42 per cent. of men principals in Ireland get less than £100 per annum, and 44 per cent. of women principals get less than £80 per annum; that 54 per cent. of men assistants in Ireland get less than £80 per annum, 37 per cent. of women assistants less than £60 per annum. and some 2,500 adult full-time teachers from £24 to £28 per annum; that the onus is thrown upon Irish teachers to make provision out of their salaries for free books, stationery, etc., to the pupils; that the increase in the cost of food alone since July, 1914, according to the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette" for October, 7916, is 68 per cent., and is still growing: that according to the current official estimates the Grant for public education in Ireland, with a population of 4,390,219, is £1,812,704, whilst the Grant for public education in Scotland, with a population of 4,760,904 is £2,544,742; and whether, in view of these facts, he will undertake to urge upon the Treasury a substantial increase in the amount of the bonus proposed to be given to the Irish teachers?

It would take a considerable time to make such an investigation as would enable an accurate comparison to be arrived at between' the incomes from State sources of Irish national school teachers and those of English and Scottish teachers, but inquiries that have been made from time to time indicate that there is no such disparity, as is suggested, in the salaries of teachers in schools of the same size. The figures relating to the incomes of Irish teachers are substantially correct, but the 2,500 adult full-time teachers at salaries of from £24 to £28 per annum to whom the hon. Member refers are junior assistant mistresses who are not trained teachers. Teachers of Irish national schools are not required to provide from their salaries free books, stationery, etc., for their pupils. The amounts of the Grants for "public education" in Ireland and Scotland are as stated in the question, but the Scottish Grant includes large sums voted for purposes which in the case of Ireland are provided for out of other Votes and public moneys. I understand that the average expenditure from public funds on elementary education per unit of attendance is considerably greater in Ireland than Great Britain. The figures being:

		£	s.	d.
England and Wales	…	2	4	0
Scotland	…	2	1	0
Ireland	…	3	8	6

More than half the expenditure on education in Great Britain is met from rates, while less than 10 per cent. in Ireland is covered by local contributions. I cannot hold out any hope of an increase in the amount of the war bonus already sanctioned.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that the Liverpool and Glasgow egg merchants have been complaining very much against the condition in which Irish eggs have been arriving in these cities during the past season; that many of the egg cases are very badly pilfered in transit and that a large percentage of the eggs are broken, which these merchants assert is caused by the handling of the carrying companies; and whether he is prepared to give instructions to the necessary authorities so that greater care may be taken, and thus ensure these merchants against such losses in the future?

Complaints that consignments of Irish eggs were found on delivery to be damaged, and that eggs-were missing from consignments, have been made to the Irish Department of Agriculture by traders at several centres in Great Britain. The Department recognise the importance of the matter in the interests of the egg industry, and are in constant communication with the carrying companies in regard to it. I may also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Limerick on this subject on 23rd instant.

asked the Secretary for War whether he is aware that a number of men, after being released for military service by the railway companies with instructions to report to the recruiting officer on a specified date, are sent back home for varying periods ranging from three days to three weeks, and that they are unable to return to their former work on the railway owing to their places having already been filled, with the result that they are unemployed, and, were it not for the trade union unemployment benefit, their wives, children, and the men themselves would experience difficulty in obtaining food; and whether, therefore, he will arrange for men not to be taken from the railways until the recruiting authorities are ready for them, and, in any case where the men cannot be embodied immediately, for the Government pay and allowances to commence from the date the men wore first ordered to report for military service?

If the hon. Member will furnish me with details, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that county Appeal Tribunals are put to personal expense when holding meetings in country districts, as the-present scale of travelling expenses allowed to such tribunals is insufficient to cover their actual travelling expenses; and whether he will consider the desirability of relieving the gentlemen performing this public duty from any pecuniary loss entailed by such travelling expenses?

The existing Regulations have been drawn up after very careful consideration. If my hon. and gallant Friend is aware of any case of special hardship, consideration will be given to it if particulars are furnished.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether farmers have no remedy where, without any fault on their own part, a substitute provided in lieu of one of their regular farm hands taken for military service gives a week's notice and goes to another agricultural employer; and, if they have no hold over that substitute, have they the right to claim that another substitute be provided by the tribunal?

If a substitute leaves the employment of a farmer, through no fault of the farmer, every effort will be made by the military authorities to replace him as quickly as possible.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Mr. C. H. Norman has been in litigation since October, 1915, with Sir Charles Matthews and Sir William Nott Bower in connection with certain seizures of documents, the property of Mr. Norman, under the Defence of the Realm (Consolidation) Regulatons; whether he is aware that the Committee on Employment of Conscientious Objectors has refused any opportunity to Mr. Norman to take further steps in this litigation, which Mr. Norman has had to conduct himself since his solicitor was arrested at the instance of the public authorities, who are defendants in this and other suits in which Mr. Norman is plaintiff; and whether he will take steps to put an end to these tactics by public authorities who are utilising their powers for the purpose of preventing Mr. Norman exercising his rights as a citizen to obtain the audience, to which he is entitled, of the Courts of Justice?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. As I stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member on the 8th instant, no obstacle will be placed in the way of Mr. Norman's consulting a legal adviser at Warwick or from utilising his spare time in preparing for any legal proceedings he may have pending in the Courts. I cannot, however, accept the proposition that the mere fact that a person subject to the Military Service Acts has initiated legal proceedings, whether against a public authority or a private individual, should entitle him to be released either temporarily or permanently from the obligation to perform military service, or, as in the case of Mr. Norman, work of national importance as an alternative to military service.

asked the Secretary of State for War if all naval and military officers on the retired list before the War, but since re-employed on active service, receive not only full-pay rates and allowances but their pensions also; and, if so, if he can give such total cost during 1915, approximately?

Generally speaking, the retired military officer, when re-employed, is entitled to draw his retired pay, if any, in addition to the pay and allowances of his employment. The total Army retired pay now being issued under these conditions is estimated, roughly, at £700,000 a year. As regards naval officers, perhaps my hon. Friend would address himself to the Admiralty.

asked whether contracts for the manufacture of clothing for the British Army are given to British firms, or whether alien firms in the East End of London and elsewhere are sometimes employed?

Contracts for the manufacture of clothing for the British Army are allocated on tendering in competition amongst all firms on the Contracts Department's list. Every effort is made to confine this list to reputable firms, and inquiry is made into any cases in which it appears that any of the directors are un-naturalised. More elaborate steps are now being taken to deal with any firm whose partners may be of alien origin, so as to make sure that no contractors of enemy origin are employed. As my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, a considerable portion of the tailoring trade in East London and elsewhere is in the hands of firms of Russian-Jewish origin.

asked if one-fourth war bonus was paid instead of one-half to the female clerks employed in the Army Pay Offices, Dublin; and, if so, whether regimental and other paymasters are allowed to reduce the payments of war bonus?

The full bonus is essentially an addition to the wages of those who were in the service of the Department before the War. The amount of bonus to be paid to clerks taken on since the War began is decided by the local authorities according to circumstances.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the standard work for men clerks in the Army Pay Offices at Dublin was 500 accounts and for female clerks 300 accounts; whether within the past year female clerks have been given 500 accounts equally with the men clerks; and if he can state the respective wages weekly for men clerks and female clerks?

The nominal standard of work for the past year has been the same for male and female clerks, as stated. This does not imply that the quantity and kind of work actually performed by men and women are identical. The average wage of male clerks is 39s., covering all time worked; of female clerks, 23s. 6d., with overtime in addition.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will inquire into the case of Gunner William Henry Hogg, No. 1124, 70th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, C Battery, British Expeditionary Force Headquarters Staff, France, who enlisted in August, 1914, and has been in France since July, 1915, and who, prior to enlistment, wished to allot to his mother, Mrs. Amelia Hogg, of 50, West-bourne Street, Liverpool, sixpence a day, but, having regard to the fact that he did not fill up the necessary allotment form within one month after enlistment, his mother has not received any allowance whatever; and whether steps will now be taken to put the matter right so that the allowance can be paid?

Inquiry will be made and my hon. Friend informed of the result in due course.

asked when it is proposed to pay the war bonus to the writers in the Army Ordnance Department at Dublin and Curragh; and if he will say what is causing the delay?

I am not aware of any delay, but inquiry is being made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received a report as to the suitability of the buildings, machinery, and water-power at Dromahair, county Leitrim, now available for munition making; and whether the hon. Member for the Loughborough Division of Leicestershire will be asked to report on the matter before the buildings are disposed of?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of Munitions to a similar question put by him on 9th March, when it was stated that inquiries conducted by the Ministry's representatives in Ireland showed that there was no machinery available at Dromahair of a nature suitable for the manufacture of munitions. Further inquiries that have recently been made show that the position is unchanged. In the absence of suitable machinery it is not proposed to utilise the buildings referred to in the question.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of an increase of Sunday trading since the issue of the Early Closing Order; and, if so, whether steps are being taken to counteract this tendency?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for Western Carmarthenshire on the 8th instant.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the War Office arranged, through the Colonial Office, that the New Zealand Dominion Government should commandeer 15,000 tons of New Zealand cheese at a price which showed a saving of £250,000 against what it would have cost if they had bought in the open market; if he is aware that the War Office again, during July of this year, opened negotiations with the Dominion Government, who in turn approached the National Dairy Association of New Zealand, Limited, with the suggestion that the factories should sell the entire season's make of cheese to the Government; if he is aware that the Premier of New Zealand conducted the negotiations for the War Office; if he is aware that the New Zealand Dairy Association offered to sell all their cheese at 8¾d. per pound f.o.b. ocean steamer or or 91s. per cwt. l.i.f. London, but the Government refused the offer made; if he is aware that immediately this happened the English merchants commenced buying in New Zealand at 9¼d. per pound, and the price rapidly rose to 9½d., and more rapidly to 10d. and then 10½d; if he is aware that to-day New Zealand cheese is quoted at 120s., which means in round figures a loss of £1,000,000 on the total of 45,000 of New Zealand cheeses; and if he can state the reasons why the Government refused to purchase the cheese at the price of 8¾d. per pound askd by the New Zealand Dairy Association?

The figures given by the hon. Member with regard to last year's purchases are substantially correct. The price of 8¾d. offered by the New Zealand producers for the coming season's crop was so much in excess of last year's prices that the War Office did not feel justified in accepting it without further negotiation. A counter offer was therefore made. Negotiations are still in progress, and, pending their completion, it is impossible to say what, if any, loss may have been incurred by the non-acceptance of the original offer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the prohibition of the importation of wheat flour is contemplated with a view of increasing the supply of offals which will be diminished by the new regulations affecting the milling of wheat; whether there is sufficient milling capacity here to deal with the increase of milling required if the import of such flour is prohibited; whether the costs of freight and charges would be affected by such prohibition; and, if so, what would be the effect on such costs?

The general question of the treatment of imported wheat flour under the recent Milling Order is at present under consideration. I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, now that maximum prices for milk have been fixed in the United Kingdom, he will state the comparative prices of milk in London and Berlin respectively?

There is nothing in the Order limiting the increase in the price of milk in Great Britain to restrict the quantity of milk which can be freely purchased. I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on the 9th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider the desirability, before Germany recommences to dump on the British market under the name of vinegar a mixture of dilute acetic acid and colouring matter, of introducing legislation to prevent this artificial vinegar from being henceforth sold as vinegar, to the detriment of British manufacturers of genuine vinegar, produced from malted and unmalted grain?

Yes. Sir.

asked whether two masons, William and Michael O'Connell, on lodging a claim for unemployment benefit at the local Exchange, Fermoy, on 23rd October and 3rd November, were told to go to Gretna, Scotland, to work as navvies; and, if so, why men who served their time to a trade in Ireland are refused benefit unless they consent to work as labourers in Scotland?

I am informed that both claims were made on 23rd October. No local employment was available and the men had been out of work for ten days when they were offered employment at Gretna as navvies. The rate of wages at Gretna was higher than that which they had earned at their trade in Ireland, and the work would have continued for a considerable time. In these circumstances it appeared to the insurance officer that, in accordance with the umpire's decision in similar cases, the work in question could suitably be offered to them. The workmen are, however, entitled to appeal to a Court of Referees against the refusal of benefit, and they lodged an appeal accordingly on 24th November. The matter is, therefore, at present sub judice.

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, whether his attention has been called to the fact that although discharged soldiers and sailors by virtue of a new Regulation are not to be deprived of medical and sanatorium benefit on account of arrears, no money is paid into the Central Medical Benefit Fund to remunerate the doctors for treating such insured persons in arrears or for providing drugs and appliances; and whether he will give an assurance that the fund will be proportionately increased, so that the doctors will receive payment in respect of discharged soldiers and sailors in arrears?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. Due allowance for the effect of this Regulation in the first and any subsequent year in which it is operative will be made in the calculation determining the amount payable for medical benefit.

asked whether three cargo steamers of 8,800 tons each are building at Vancouver and two of 7,000 tons each building at Montreal for Norwegian account; if so, whether it is in the national interest for British-Colonial yards to contract to build ships for neutrals When it is so difficult for British shipowners to get deliveries from British shipyards; and what action, if any, the Board of Trade have taken during the War to secure the use of Colonial shipyards for British purposes, and at what date those steps were taken?

His Majesty's Government fully realise the importance of utilising Colonial shipyards to the best advantage in the natonal interest, and have been and are now in communication with the Canadian Government on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a memorial from the inhabitants of the town of Drumshambo and district asking for the restoration of the mid-day outgoing and afternoon incoming mails in that town; and whether, having regard to the inconvenience and disadvantage caused to the professional and business people of that locality, and that there is practically no saving effected by the change, he will grant the usual collections and deliveries?

Similar restrictions of postal facilities have been carried out at other places of not less importance than Drumshambo, in pursuance of a general policy of economy. Although the saving in any particular case may not be large, the aggregate saving effected is very substantial; and, while I regret the necessity for curtailing postal facilities, I can find no grounds for treating Drumshambo exceptionally.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the quantities of barley, maize, rice, sugar, and molasses used in the manufacture of beer and potable spirits, respectively, in the years 1913, 1914, 1915, and the quantities estimated for 1916?

No information is available as to the quantity of barley, except in the form of malt, used in the manufacture of beer and spirits; neither can the quantity of materials used in making potable spirits only be given. The following tables give the information required as nearly as the official records allow. Figures for the calendar year cannot be given:

QUANTITIES of materials used in the manufacture of Beer in the United Kingdom in the years ended 30th September, 1913, 1914, 1915, and 1916—
Year ended 30th Sept.		Malt.	Unmalted Corn.	Rice, Rice Grits, Flaked Rice, Maize Grits, Flaked Maize, and other similar preparations.	Sugar, including its equivalent of Syrups Glucose, and Saccharum.
		Bushels.	Bushels.	Cwts.	Cwts.
1913	…	52,287,637	91,068	1,611,357	3,279,814
1914	…	52,525,634	92,385	1,566,506	3,279,710
1915	…	44,354,066	80,242	1,236,406	2,678,522
1916	…	41,605,365	77,776	1,343,930	2,399,936

QUANTITIES of materials used in Distilleries in the United Kingdom in the years ended 30th September, 1913, 1914, 1915, and 1916—
Year ended 30th Sept.		Malt.	Unmalted Grain.	Rice.	Sugar.	Molasses.
		Quarters.	Quarters.	Cwts.	Cwts.	Cwts.
1913	…	1,053,608	1,198,730	3,780	—	1,204,223
1914	…	1,116,003	1,213,342	36,660	—	1,315,070
1915	…	968,480	1,212,130	13,261	1,300	975,360
1916	…	1,103,958	1,414,435	7,640	34	822,301

asked the Postmaster-General whether the agreement between the Marconi Company and the Telefunken Company of 6th March, 1913, covering the world, was examined and approved by the Board of Trade; and whether he is satisfied that the arrangements effected by this agreement do not enable the Germans to obtain important information which otherwise they would be without?

I understand that the agreement referred to was neither examined by nor approved by the Board of Trade. As soon as the company became acquainted with the questions on this subject asked by hon. Members on the 15th instant they offered to let me see the agreement. I find on examination that, as the company had stated, the agreement solely regulates rival interests, and does not enable the Germans to acquire information which they could not otherwise obtain.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will issue as a Parliamentary Paper the Memorandum on the reclamation of land by Mr. A. D. Hall, F.R.S., whichappears in the Appendix to the Final Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Soldiers and Sailors on the Land (Cd. 8,277, 19th June, 1916)?

As the Memorandum referred to is already printed in a Command Paper which costs only 4d., I do not think it necessary to have it reprinted for issue as a Parliamentary Paper. It can, of course, be reprinted by any person interested, and it is already in the public libraries.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken during the War in Allied countries, and particularly in France and Russia, to restrict the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors; what are the restrictive laws at present in force; and what have been their social and economic effect?

As regards France, copies of two decrees, the first prohibiting the sale or circulation of absinthe and the second prohibiting the opening of new establishments for the sale of spirits, were received from His Majesty's Ambassador in Paris early in 1915 and placed in the Library of the House. As regards Russia a White Paper (Cd. 7,738) containing a report from His Majesty's Ambassador at Petrograd respecting the prohibition of the sale of spirits and vodka in Russia has been laid before Parliament. As regards the social and economic effects of these measures His Majesty's Government have learnt that the general prohibition of the sale of spirits and wines has greatly stimulated the growth of national savings in Russia, the Savings Bank Deposits having increased from £207.3 millions on 1st July, 1914, to £243.45 millions on 14th April, 1915. No later information is available. The general effect of the prohibition upon the population is understood to have been excellent, but the revenue has, of course, suffered severely. No regulations restricting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors have, so far as I am aware, been issued in any other Allied country.

asked what steps are being taken by the Government to freely inform all classes in the United Kingdom and the Empire of the nature and extent of the deportations of Belgian workpeople and others to Germany?

Much information on this subject has been published in the Press, and His Majesty's Government will continue to make available to the Press all the information which reaches them. If any other person desires to obtain this information for lectures or any other similar purpose, the Foreign Office is ready at any time to respond to such inquiries.

asked the Attorney-General whether the information concerning the Ochta explosion having been published by two London newspapers on 13th and 15th September, 1015, formed the subject of investigation and report by the Director of Public Prosecutions; if so, whether it was held by the Public Prosecutor and by the Law Officers of the Crown that an offence-had been committed against Regulation No. 18, Defence of the Realm Consolidated Orders; and whether any communications passed between the office and the publisher of these papers on this subject?

The information asked for in the first part of the question was supplied by the then Home Secretary in an answer given on 20th September, 1915. I am unable to understand the last part of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Margaret Lea, of Manorhamilton, was awarded an old age pension by the Manorhamilton sub-committee on the 31st of January, 1916, but on appeal by the pension officer it was disallowed on the ground that her age could not be found in the Census returns; and whether, having regard to the fact that she is an old infirm woman and apparently well over seventy-five years of age, and has no means of living, an inspector would interview her with a view of giving an opinion on her age and granting her the pension?

Margaret Lea's claim to an old age pension was disallowed on the ground that there was no satisfactory evidence that she had reached seventy years of age. An exhaustive search of the records of the parish in which she claimed to have been living in 1851 was made on behalf of the Local Government Board in the Census for that year, but no trace of her family could be found. There was not sufficient evidence of the time and place of her carriage to enable a search to be made for her age at that time. No fresh claim has, however, come before the Board, and they have therefore no grounds for making further inquiry as suggested.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Joseph Doherty, Crow Street, Gort, applied for an old age pension before the Gort sub-pension committee at their meeting on the 4th July last, his claim being objected to by the pension officer on the grounds that there was no evidence of his age and no trace forthcoming from the Census records of 1841, or 1851; whether be is aware that the committee on investigation of his claim requested the Local Government Board to send down an inspector to interview him before deciding an appeal that may be raised; and, if so, on what evidence the Local Government Board decided against him on the 10th August following, before complying with the request of the local pension committee?

The facts are as stated in the question The claim was disallowed on the ground that there was no satisfactory evidence that the claimant had attained the age of seventy. The onus of proof rests upon the claimant. The Local Government Board are unable to send an inspector in every case. In this case there was no evidence to indicate that an inspection was likely to be of use.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is now in a position to state what steps the Inter-mediate Board took to ascertain the views of educational bodies in Ireland before their proposals as to the testing of students in experimental science were laid upon the Table of the House?

The Board did not think it necessary to consult outside educational bodies. Among the members of the Board are some of the leading educational authorities in Ireland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the Report upon the resignations of members of the staff of the Leeds Training College has yet been considered; and what is the result?

The Board have forwarded a copy of the Report to the governing body and requested them to give their careful consideration to its recommendations.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the death rates of children at each year of age from one to five for the years 1910 to 1915, in continuation of Table X., given on Page 142 of the Report of the medical officer on Infant and Child Mortality (Supplement to the thirty-ninth Annual Report), Cd. 5,263?

I am sending the table of figures to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing amongst passengers travelling on the Great Northern Railway, Ireland, at the lack of accommodation; whether he is aware that second-class passengers especially can never find adequate sitting room and are forced to remain standing over long distances; whether, although the fares on this railway have been increased, the accommodation has been decreased; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this state of things?

The Board of Trade have no Statutory powers in this matter, but I am in communication with the railway company on the subject and will communicate their answer to my hon. Friend when it is received.