asked the Prime Minister whether the Government still allege that the censorship is administered uniformly and impartially throughout Great Britain and Ireland; and will he explain why the resolutions of the Leeds Conference, freely published in this country, hailing with satisfaction the declaration of foreign policy and the war aims of the Russian Provisional Government, and pledging themselves to work for an agreement with the International Democracies for the re-establishment of a general peace which shall not tend towards either domination by or over any nation, or the seizure of their national possessions, or the violent usurpation of their territories,, and calling upon the Government of Great Britain to place itself in accord with the democracy of Russia by proclaiming its adherence to and determination to carry into immediate effect a charter of liberties establishing complete political rights for all men and women, unrestricted freedom of the Press, freedom of speech, a general amnesty for all political and religious prisoners, full rights of industrial and political association, and the release of labour from all forms of compulsion and restraint, have been prevented by the Censor from appearing in the paper called "New Ireland"?

The resolution in question was, I am told, embodied in an article which was considered to infringe the Defence of the Realm Regulations.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the question of permanent tenancy will arise when those plots under the management of the Vacant Land Cultivation Society or the Dublin Corporation Committee are "wanted for building sites; whether provision will previously be made by the extension of the English Allotments Act to Ireland; and whether he is aware that, unless compulsory and adequate powers are given to local authorities, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to continue city and urban tillage in the same way as it is now carried on?

The question of the permanent tenancy of the plots has not, so far, arisen. I shall keep myself informed of the circumstances, and propose a compulsory measure if I see that such a proposal ought to be made. At present this is not so.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will consider the advisability of recommending the attendants in Dundrum Central Asylum for a substantial war bonus; and if he is aware that almost all the attendants are married men with families existing on from £30 to £40 a year?

The attendants in Dundrum Asylum have already received the war bonus granted on the 9th September, 1916, and will receive the additional war bonus for all classes of Civil servants. Exclusive of such bonuses, their wages range from £30 to £58 a year, with free rations, quarters, and uniform; and, in addition, a number of them receive other allowances.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Irish Depart- ment of Agriculture have consulted the Estates Commissioners with reference to the acquisition of the most suitable for sugar-beet culture of the numerous estates in the bands of the latter for sale under the Land Purchase Acts; what estates have been deemed most suitable for this purpose; whether proceedings are in progress for the acquisition of them; and what financial assistance will be obtained from the Treasury for the founding of sugar factories in Ireland, corresponding to the £125,000 given towards the purchase of an estate for the beet-sugar industry in England?

The answer to the first question is in the negative; questions 2 and 3, therefore, do not arise. As to the fourth inquiry, I can add nothing to the answer I gave the hon. Member on the 17th April.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state the grounds upon which the Local Government Board for Ireland has decided that John M'Lean, Falcarragh, county Donegal, is in receipt of 17s. 6d. a week; and why the grant of additional old age pensions of 2s. 6d. a week sanctioned by the local committee to this man and to his wife has been reduced on appeal to 1s. 6d. and 1s. respectively?

The sum of 17s 6d. a week was made up as follows:

Old age pensions of John M'Lean and his wife. 10s. 0d. a week Assistance from a daughter, who keeps a laundry 7s. 6d. a week. 17s. 6d. a week.

The daughter is assisted by the pensioner's wife in the laundry, and is reported to make good earnings. She also receives monetary help from three brothers in Scotland to keep the couple. The applicants have an acre of ground, and are, as I am informed, living in reasonably comfortable circumstances.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the advertisement, embodying a form of tender, issued on behalf of the Mullingar Asylum Committee, was drawn up and published, not by a subcommittee as alleged, but by Mr. T. W. Delaney, Crown Solicitor for Longford; that it was neither submitted to nor approved by any other member of the asylum committee; that it bears in its terms and in its effects hostility to local traders in ways not cognisable by an auditor nor capable of being submitted to him; whether the Local Government Board will itself consider these features; whether the Board will at the same time consider Mr. Delaney's action, contrary to all his colleagues in refusing to allow a war-protection clause in tenders, resulting in the asylum having to purchase articles at retail prices at a loss exceeding for the year £500; whether, on the Local Government (Ireland) Act coming into operation, Mr. Campbell, then Attorney-General, intimated to Mr. Delaney that, being Crown Solicitor, he could not properly continue membership of any public board or committee thereof; and whether, in view of the friction, irregularities, and loss indicated, Mr. Delaney will be required to withdraw from his position?

I am informed that the draft advertisement, which did not embody a form of tender but contained conditions on which tenders were to be accepted, was discussed in all its details by the asylum committee, and there was nothing in its terms or effects that could be constructed as hostile to local traders. A local firm obtained the contract for the supply of coal. When the contracts for 1917 were under consideration it was observed that the tenders for hardware contained war-protection clauses, and the committee deferred giving these contracts until the traders were approached with the view to inducing them to delete the qualifying clause in the tenders. Representatives of the firms concerned subsequently attended a meeting of the committee, and stated that they could not see their way to enter into contracts without the protecting clauses. After discussion of the matter the tenders were rejected by the committee as informal, and the resident medical superintendent was directed to purchase any articles required at the lowest possible prices. Since then quotations have been invited for any articles required, and the cost of the articles so purchased up to the present has been £97 2s. 3d. If purchased according to the prices quoted in the rejected tenders the cost would have been £100 9s. 8d. As I have already stated the decision of all questions relating to contracts is vested solely in the committee of management. Shortly after his appointment as Crown Solicitor Mr. Delaney raised the question of his continuing to be a member of the county council, of which he had been vice-chairman, and no objection was raised to his co-option.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he has received proposals for early closing of shops from the Dublin and Provincial Retail Newsagents' and Stationers' Association; and if he will say what the Government's intentions on this subject are?

Shops for the sale of newspapers are exempt from the provisions of the Shops Act, 1912, as regards early closing Orders, and shops for the sale of newspapers and periodicals are exempt from the operation of the Act as regards weekly half-holidays. A weekly half-holiday may be established if the local authority is satisfied that the occupiers of two-thirds of the shops of that class approve the proposal.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what arrangements, if any, have been made for the continued use of motor vehicles plying for hire in country districts unprovided with taxicabs and ill-provided with railroads, in order to meet the needs of commercial travellers and others who have to travel on business from place to place?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Arrangements have been made by the Petrol Control Committee for the issue of permits allowing hired motor-cars to be used subject to certain conditions. I am sending the hon. Gentleman a copy of a notice which shows the arrangements in force in Ireland.

asked the Under-,Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the practice of some recruiting stations of taking away from men called up under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917, their previous rejection papers; whether such practice is in accordance with War Office Instructions; and whether he can state the terms of these Instructions?

The practice brought to notice by my hon. Friend is in accordance with that laid down in paragraph 5 of the Instruction of the Army Council No. 642 of 1917, a copy of which has been placed in the library of the House.

asked whether the medical history sheets of men called up under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act who were previously rejected are available for the use of medical officers when such men are called up for examination?

The medical history sheets of men called up under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act who were previously rejected are available for the use of medical officers whenever such men are called up for re-examination.

asked if men who on appeal have been rejected by a special medical board are liable to be called up for re-examination before the ordinary medical board whose carelessness or incompetence has already been demonstrated in the particular case?

Men rejected by a special medical board are legally liable to have issued to them the statutory Order. The practice of this Department is not to require these men to present themselves for re-examination. The cases are provided for under paragraph 9 of the Instruction of the Army Council No. 642 of 1917.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, if he will have immediate inquiry made into the case of Private Henry Cooney, No. 2039333, No. 9 Tent, Racecourse Camp, Scarborough, who enlisted in the Army in June, 1913, and was discharged on the 8th October, 1915, as no longer physically fit, and who, so late at the 26th April, 1917, had his case reviewed by the Ministry of Pensions and was granted a pension of 8s. 3d. a week up to the 8th April, 1918, but who was called up for re-examination four weeks later and passed A1?

I am afraid that I cannot answer this without local inquiry. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if his attention has been called to an action for rent amounting to £3 5s. heard recently in the Bloomsbury County Court against Mrs. Tatfield, a blind widow, who has an elder son in the Army, and whose younger son, the main support of the home, was called up for service, since when she has not received any allowance from the War Office; if he is aware that Mrs. Tatfield sent the summons for rent to the War Office and has applied repeatedly for assistance, but no notice has been taken; and if he will give an explanation of the matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 13th instant to the hon. Member for the Attercliffe Division of Sheffield.

asked whether any and, if so, what instructions have been given either to tribunals or in other quarters as to the position of proprietors of one-man businesses called up already but who would not be liable to be called up under the amended instructions recently announced?

There have been no amended instructions recently issued in respect of proprietors of one-man businesses. A recent decision by the Central Tribunal that a particular case fell within the principles which that tribunal announced in September last as those which they considered applicable in dealing with one-man businesses has been widely misrepresented as if it had involved the promulgation of a new principle. The decision of last September was circulated to tribunals as a guide on the 30th September. In these circumstances it is not proposed to take any exceptional action with regard to proprietors of one-man businesses who have already been called up for Military Service, their cases having presumably been decided by the tribunals concerned in accordance with the principles established nine months ago and recently reaffirmed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private John Rogan, No. 5835, 4th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, who enlisted some months ago will not be sixteen years of age until the 18th August next, as proved by the certificate of his baptism; and whether, as his mother has claimed him, he will see that John Rogan is discharged from the Army?

I have called for a report in this matter, and will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that conscientious objectors confined to Marne Barracks, Blackdown, have not been allowed exercise for forty-four days and are told that if the want exercise they must do military duties; and whether this action is directed by the authorities?

I have called for a report on the matters suggested, and will let my hon. Friend know the result later.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the reason for the increasing practice of military commanders in persistently refusing to bring conscientious objectors to court-martial for refusing to obey military orders, and instead sentencing them repeatedly to short terms of detention; and, as this is in violation of instructions will he see that the practice is stopped?

I am not aware that there is an increasing practice of the nature suggested by the hon. Member. Representations have recently been made to the War Office, however, that the provisions of Section 46 of the Army Act have not been complied with, and immediate investigation has been made into this complaint. I would remind the hon. Member of the provisions of Rule of Procedure 7, which is a safeguard given to a soldier where a commanding officer neglects to give him the option of trial by court- martial, but the hon. Member may rest assured that, apart from this provision, the practice which he mentions is one which under no circumstances will be overlooked, whether it refers to a conscientious objector or to a soldier who may have incurred punishment on grounds other than those arising out of conscientious objection.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War whether men who are allowed gardening leave whilst on such leave are deprived of pay and allowance, including wife's separation allowance, during the period for which leave is granted?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on 11th June to the hon. Member for York.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what foreign countries enjoyed for their subjects exemption from military service in Belgium in virtue of the wording of the most-favoured-nation Clauses of their Treaties with Belgium; and whether, in concluding any convention for mutual liability to military service with a foreign country, due regard will be observed to the complications which may arise in connection with Treaties containing most-favoured-nation Clauses?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply returned to him by Sir Edward Grey on 27th June, 1916. I will send the hon. Member a list of the countries in question if he wishes. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative, but I do not anticipate any complications.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War when the Report of the Committee which has considered and reported on the question of promotion in regard to the General Reserve of Officers, the Special Reserve of Officers, and of the Territorial Force will be laid upon the Table?

The recommendations of the Committee are being sympathetically considered, and as soon as final decisions have been reached in regard to them the Report will be presented to both Houses together with a Note of the decisions. I trust that this will be done very shortly.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the War Office has accepted the services of a number of American doctors for treatment of British wounded soldiers, the Department will allow American doctors in this country, who hold similar qualifications and are duly qualified to practise in the United States, to attend wounded soldiers here in cases where the patients may so desire?

We only propose to accept the services of American doctors sent to us by the responsible authorities in the United States.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War if he can make a statement on the effect of the pursuit of the raiders in the recent air attack on London; and whether an adequate number of aeroplanes exist in this country for the purpose of defence?

One pilot reports that he attacked and drove down an enemy machine while over the sea The machine was out of control, but the clouds below prevented our pilot from seeing whether the machine fell into the sea or not. There is no corroborative evidence. As to the second part of the question, I am afraid that I can add nothing to the statement made on this subject on the Adjournment on Thursday last.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War whether, on the occasion of the recent raid, one of the leading hospitals had to request the services of an entire Army medical board; and whether arrangements exist for ensuring prompt and adequate surgical aid in all cases?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Arrangements are made by the police for securing the services of doctors and ambulances and making other provision for rendering first aid. I understand that on Wednesday last, owing to the short time which elapsed between the receipt of warning by the police and the occurrence of the raid, medical aid was urgently required, and the services of the members of an Army medical board were requisitioned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Captain Grievson, who was removed from his battalion within five days of making an adverse report upon the health of the battalion, when he reported that 150 men were unfit to go into training; whether other medical officers have also been removed from the same battalion since for making similar reports; what action has been taken in the matter; and whether any inquiry will be held?

Captain Grievson was sent home from France and admitted to hospital suffering from severe nervous symptoms due to overstrain from prolonged service in the field. The War office has no information as to the matters suggested by my hon. Friend, but the above facts may explain them.

asked whether a meeting organised in Manchester on Saturday, 9th June, to celebrate the dawn of freedom in Russia and the attainment of civil liberty in that country, was raided by the military and the police; and, if so, for what reason this action was taken?

I am inquiring into this matter, and will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the postal censor now assumes power to confiscate matter passing through the post which may be disagreeable to particular members of the Government; whether this includes Parliamentary matter; whether the postal censor is answerable to him or to the War Cabinet irrespective of him; and, if he has entire charge, will he explain the non-delivery of a letter-packet containing exclusively Parliamentary matter, of which particulars have been furnished to him?

I am afraid that I have not been able to trace the particulars which the hon. Gentleman says he has furnished me. If he will kindly repeat them to me, I will have the matter looked into and give him an answer.

asked whether the new regulations for field punishment No. 1 have been laid upon the Table of the House?

No, Sir; it was not considered necessary to lay the new instructions, which merely standardised a system already permissible by the rules for field punishment made under Section 44 of the Army Act.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that a number of soldiers are complaining from time to time about their pay account showing a balance against them; if he is aware that the soldiers have no possible chance of contesting the account; and how is it possible for the soldiers to get such grievances rectified?

Complaints of this nature are received from time to time. In the ordinary course a soldier having a grievance about his pay would bring the matter to the notice of his pay sergeant, and if he was not satisfied could then complain to his company commander. If still not satisfied, the Army Act (Section 43) and the King's Regulations (paragraph 439) prescribe the method of bringing such complaints to the notice of higher authority.

asked the Home Secretary whether a gentleman named Julius J. Runge was naturalised on 5th January, 1899; and, if so, what was the nationality of the gentleman so naturalised, who were the guarantors for his naturalisation, what is his age, where is he living, and in what employment is he engaged, if any?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second that he was of Spanish nationality. As regards the remainder of the question, I am not in possession of any recent information on the last two points, and it is not the practice to disclose the other information asked for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the horse census has yet been completed; and whether he can state the number of horses, including yearlings, returned as employed for racing and pleasure purposes, respectively?

The census of horses is not yet complete for the whole Kingdom, but a summary of the returns for Great Britain has been made. This shows that on 21st April about 70,000 horses of three years old and over were classified as "carriage and trap horses," about 39,000 as "riding horses and hunters over 15 hands," and about 371,000 were classified as "ponies and cobs under 15 hands." The younger horses were not classified in the same manner, so that chose kept for pleasure purposes cannot be distinguished. A few horses in the first two classes named and the majority of those in the third class were kept for trade or business purposes. The form of inquiry sent out did not provide for the separation of horses used for racing from other thoroughbred horses. The total number of horses of all ages and classes shown in the returns for Great Britain was about 2,100,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to obtain crews for canal boats; and whether partially disabled soldiers can be or are being trained for this purpose?

The Canal Control Committee, in addition to taking steps to retain men already engaged in working canal boats, are endeavouring, with the help of the Port and Transit Executive Committee and the Employment Exchanges and by any other means, to obtain more men to man the boats. It is doubtful whether partially disabled soldiers, unless they were previously employed on canal boats, could usefully be used as crews of such boats, but the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion has been brought to the notice of the Committee.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether the "Kew Bulletin" has been suspended, and, if so, by whose authority; whether his Department is responsible; in view of the importance of this publication, and of the information from other countries received in exchange for it, will he reconsider the decision; in the alternative, whether he can state what is the annual cost of issuing the "Bulletin"; and whether, if this is subscribed from private resources, he will continue it as an official publication?

The "Kew Bulletin" was suspended by the Stationery Office in consultation with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. The whole matter is, however, at present under reconsideration, and I hope that it will be found possible to arrange for the continuation of the publication.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the arrangements proposed by the Board of Works in connection with the working of the Letterkenny Railway on the expiry of the present working agreement; and have such or any arrangements been embodied in an agreement or a proposed agreement with the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Company?

The future arrangements for working the Letterkenny Railway are still under negotiation, and no statement can at present be made about them.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it is contemplated to bring about a reduction of the officials of the Irish prisons service by dispensing with the services of warders with less than, twenty years' service; if so, is he aware of the hardships such a course would involve upon the married warders with large and young families and, seeing that these men have now given the best years of their life to the prison service in the interests of the State and have looked forward to drawing their full pension, will he take-immediate steps to prevent any such treatment being inflicted on Irish prison warders, especially on married warders; and will he state, if these men's services are not to be dispensed with, in what manner this proposed reduction of staff is to take place and when, and what officers are likely to be affected thereby?

There is no proposal to retire warders under twenty years' service, but it has been proposed to make use temporarily of the services of such number of warders as are not at present required for prison work on such other public employment as can be found for them.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the amount of the loan to the Aran Isles Co-operative Fishing Society, which that society is credited with having repaid, comprises a cheque for £114 18s. 11d.?

No trace can be found of the receipt of a cheque for £114 18s. 11d. on either side of the account in respect of the loan made to the Aran Isles Co-operative Fishing Society. If particulars are given, I will make further inquiry.

asked what are the qualifications for benefiting by the Preston educational endowment; to what is the fact due that about £1,000 a year is being spent on the education of thirty pupils; and, if any existing qualification debars intelligent pupils, whether such qualification will be dispensed with?

In accordance with schemes under the Educational Endowment (Ireland) Act, 1885, the income of the Preston endowment is divisible between the Meath Diocesan Board of Education, the Abbeyleix Local School Authority, and the Governors of King's Hospital, Oxmantown, Dublin. The amount so divided last year was £874 14s. 9d., and a number of pupils on the rolls of the three schools sharing in the endowment—Preston School, Navan; Preston School, Abbeyleix; and King's Hospital, Oxmantown, was 115. In addition to maintaining the Preston School, Navan, out of their portion of the endowment, the Meath Diocesan Board of Education have adopted a scheme for granting, if and whenever they shall think it expedient, free and assisted scholarships to the Protestant children of Navan and of the diocese of Meath in intermediate or other schools approved of by that Board. Scholarships under this scheme have already been granted. So far as the Commissioners of Education in Ireland are aware the only qualification for benefiting by the endowment are (1) attending any of the schools sharing in the endowment, or (2) winning one of the scholarships of the Meath Diocesan Board of Education.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that, after a searching inquiry held by Mr. T. P. O'Connor, chief inspector, the Commissioners of National Education decided that the Reverend John Gailey's action in dismissing Mr. John Hadden from the principalship of Ballysillan national school was unwarranted; that in the legal action of Hadden v . Gailey, tried at the recent Assizes at Belfast, the jury found that Mr. Gailey's letter to the Commissioners was defamatory; that a successor to Mr. Hadden was appointed, but that the Commissioners refused to appoint or recognise him, and that that decision has lately been rescinded; if he is aware that Mr. Hadden is now unable to secure employment; and, as he has been unjustly dismissed, will the Commissioners of National Education secure an appointment for him?

The facts are as stated. The Commissioners have no information as to whether Mr. Hadden is unable to secure employment, but they cannot undertake to secure employment for him.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that in the legal action of M'Mordie v . Edgar, tried in Dublin in June, 1916, it was decided that a libel on a teacher written by the manager to the Commissioners of National Education was not privileged, and that in the case of Hadden v . Gailey, tried at the late Belfast assizes, Lord Chief Justice Campbell decided that such a libel is privileged; and, as both managers and teachers of Irish national schools are deeply interested in knowing which decision is legal, will he take the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown as to whether the manager of a national school has the right to libel a teacher to the Board with impunity?

In the action M'Mordie v . Edgar, the learned judge rules that the occasion of the libel was privileged, but the jury found there was malice and judgment was given for the plaintiff. In Hadden v . Gailey, the Lord Chief Justice likewise held that the occasion was privileged, but the jury found there was no-express malice and judgment was given for the defendant.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in May, 1914, the postmaster of Abbeyleix, Queen's County, asked for a transfer to-another office, owing to having contracted a bad attack of rheumatism there, that he furnished two medical certificates, one from the official medical officer and another from an independent doctor, recommending a change owing to the dampness of the locality, that he appealed to the Postmaster-General, who promised that the question of transfer would be considered if he applied for a suitable office; whether anything has been done in the matter; and, if not, whether he will now transfer this officer to a more healthy-place, seeing that he is still a martyr to this disease?

The Sub-Postmaster's applications for appointment to other vacant offices have been duly considered, but in view of the claims of other applicants it has not yet been possible to arrange a suitable transfer for him. Any further applications which he may make will receive full consideration, but I regret that I cannot give a definite promise of immediate transfer.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can give the average record of temperature for December, January, and February, 1917, in the bed-sitting rooms of the female staff of the principal Scottish prisons; can he say whether fires were not allowed, although complaints were made; whether the system of heating has already been condemned at one particular prison by a medical gentleman; and whether he is in a position to give an assurance that the female staff may be more sympathetically treated in this matter in the future?

There are no bed-sitting rooms for female officers in Scottish prisons. Bedroom temperatures are not taken. Fires are allowed in bedrooms on occasions when the governor and medical officer think it necessary. I am not aware that the heating system in any prison has been condemned by a medical gentleman. As regards the last part of the question, I have no reason to suppose that the female staff of Scottish prisons are subjected to unsympathetic treatment in these and other matters.