asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the amount of money expended on the German dock; is the lock now efficient; and will it take the new battleships now under construction?

The amount of money expended on the ex-German Floating Dock No. 8 to date is £47,800 for upkeep and £221,525 for alterations to enable the dock to accommodate the new battleships. The dock is efficient, and the alterations will he completed before the two battleships are ready for service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the maximum draught at which a damaged modern capital ship could float without capsizing or sinking?

Whether a damaged ship could be saved from sinking or capsizing would depend upon:

1. The extent of the damage.

2. The part of the ship where the damage is sustained.

3. The amount of initial freeboard and stability possessed by the ship and the extent of her subdivision.

4. Whether all openings are closed, or time permits of their being promptly closed after the damage is sustained.

5. The state of the sea and weather at the time.

Many assumptions would have to be made before the maximum draught in question could be investigated, and much time would be required to make the necessary calculations for any particular damage in any one ship.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the proportion of hired men to established men in each of the royal dockyards in the year 1913 and at the present date, respectively?

The percentage of the workmen employed in the Vote 8, Departments of the Royal Docks, borne on the established list at the respective dates are as follow:

Dockyard.	…	1913.	1924.
Portsmouth	…	16	37
Devonport	…	15	35
Chatham	…	16	35
Sheerness	…	18	51
Pembroke Dock	…	22	49
Rosyth	…		56

asked the Secretary of State for War whether military bands are maintained as regards instruments and uniform from public or private funds?

Band uniform is supplied to authorised bands of the Regular Army serving in the United Kingdom and on the Rhine. Drums and fifes are provided at the public expense. Other instruments are provided privately, but a band allowance is granted from public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any amnesty has been granted to those who deserted during the War; and, if not, whether it is his intention to offer an amnesty?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the latter part, I am not prepared to dispense altogether, by a general amnesty, with the right to try and punish men, in serious and special cases, for the grave military offence of desertion. The normal practice, however, has for long been to discharge the deserter without resorting to trial and without withdrawing him from his civil employment. I see no reason to vary this general policy, but I can undertake to consider sympathetically any particular case which does not appear to be covered by it

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state, in regard to the 364 boys under 15, the 989 under 16, the 278 under 17, and the 233 under 18 years of age, who were enlisted for normal engagement in 1921–22, the form in which the consent of the parents to enlistment was signified, how many of such cases at each age the Army Council, in accordance with Section 76 of the Army Act, regarded as special, and directed that the period of service of 12 years should be reckoned from the day on which the recruit attained the age of 18 years; in what form such condition was conveyed to the recruit and the parents; and whether this was done before or after attestation?

The parents' consent to the enlistment of the boys and youths referred to is signified and witnessed on Army Form W. 5110. The Amendment to Section 76 of the Army Act, to which my hon. Friend refers, did not come into effective operation until June, 1923, so that the last part of the question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that many ex-service men have not yet received the service medals to which they are entitled; and for what reason they are withheld?

I am aware that some medals still await issue, not because they are being withheld, but because the men concerned have not informed the authorities of their addresses. Every possible step to bring the matter to notice has, however, been taken.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can report any progress in the negotiations for a direct air service between this country and Prague and what is now holding up the inauguration of this important commercial air service?

I regret to say that the position remains as described in my replies to the hon. and gallant Member on 1st May, and to the hon. Member for Moseley (Mr. Hannon) on 22nd May.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of light cars, ambulances and motor vehicles generally, other than commercial cars and lorries under the control of his Department, both at home and abroad, in all the theatres of war at the date of the Armistice, and the number of such light cars, etc., now in the possession of the Air Ministry?

The particulars are as follow:

Type of vehicle.	Number possessed in November, 1918.	Number now possessed.
Ambulances	297	141
Motor cycles	1,922	225
Motor cycles with sidecars	2,622	399
Touring cars, etc.	1,466	277

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the pension of the invalid daughter of a man who was killed in the War ceased on the daughter attaining the age of 21 years, although such daughter was suffering from paralysis and her state of health had not improved, and although she is incapable of earning her own living; and whether, he proposes to take any steps to remedy this hardship?

Cases of this nature do not come within the scope of the Royal Warrant, but I am considering whether any arrangements can otherwise be made to meet the position.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that a large number of dependants' pensions have been altered recently on the ground that their former assessment for the dependence was erroneous; that in no case yet have the investigations referred to been known to bring about an increase of pension; that the use of the term erroneous has caused uncertainty and misgiving amongst pensioners who never know when their pension will be reduced owing to the discovery of some former error by the Ministry; and whether he will consider the issue of instructions forbidding any further reductions on the ground of erroneous assessment?

It is not the case that, as a result of the investigation which was conducted during the past financial year into the assessment for pre-War dependence pension, there are no instances in which pension was increased. Wherever increase was, on the facts, found to be justifiable, it was given. I am bound by my financial responsibility as Minister to correct definite errors of fact when they are brought to my notice, but I am glad to be able to inform the hon. Member that the systematic re-investigation of pensions of the class referred to was finally brought to a close by the 31st March last.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether Lieutenant G. A. Elliott, late of the Egyptian Labour Corps, who contracted pulmonary tuberculosis as the result of services outside Egypt during the War, can be granted an appeal to an officers' appeal tribunal, in view of the fact that no medical or pensions board has, up to the present, considered the question of pulmonary tuberculosis, for which he received no medical treatment during his period of military service?

The right of appeal is not a matter within my discretion, but is the statutory right of any officer who has a claim under a Warrant administered by me subject to the conditions of Section 8 of the War Pensions Act, 1919. The sole question in this case is whether the officer referred to has a claim, in view of the definition of "Officer" under Article 30 of the Warrant. This question is now being considered and a decision will be arrived at as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Richard A. Tuson, of 2, Havelock Road, Tottenham, was discharged on 27th April, 1916, on account of chronic rheumatism aggravated by service and received a pension for five years, which was then stopped by a decision of the tribunal that the disability had passed away; that Tuson has been recently certified by a number of doctors to be still suffering from chronic rheumatism and unfit for work; and whether, under the recent announcement of the extension of arrangements to secure the reconsideration of certain cases rejected by the tribunal, Tuson's case can now be reopened?

This man, who served for 58 days, received pension for rheumatism for some 70 weeks from April, 1917. When he was boarded in 1918 no disablement from rheumatism was found, and as the medical boards which examined him in 1919 and 1921 reported in the same terms, the Ministry held that aggravation by service had passed away. That decision was subsequently confirmed by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. From the medical reports on the case, the man would appear to be suffering, not from rheumatism but from a quite different disability, which, however, the Ministry are unable to regard as being connected with his service. The man has a right of appeal to the tribunal against the latter decision, and it is still open to him to take advantage of it up to the 23rd October next.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will investigate the circumstances attending the stoppage of disablement allowance to Mr. George Hanton, of 56, West Ham Lane, Stratford, and permit a fresh appeal, if possible, as the man is still suffering badly from the effects of his war service?

I am having inquiries made into the facts of this case, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been directed to cases of hardship in the assessment of pensions owing to the unsatisfactory definition of the term disability; and whether an inquiry can be set up to provide a definition of disability which shall at once be more elastic and humane?

I am not clear as to the precise difficulty the hon. Member has in mind. The only official definitions of the terms "disability" or "disablement" are those contained in the Final Awards Regulations, which were approved after prolonged consideration by the Statutory Advisory Committee of the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether a gratuity due to a soldier killed in the War, when paid E o a parent who receives a dependant's pension, is regarded as part of that dependant's pension paid in advance?

A war gratuity forming part of a deceased soldier's estate, and paid over by the War Office to the soldier's parent, is not taken into account by my Department in connection with any award of pension to the parent that may be found admissible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he wilt state the scale of pensions payable to widows of naval officers who died during the War, and whether these widows are receiving an increase of pension irrespective of whether their husbands were on active service or already retired; and whether he will state the comparative scale of pensions for the widows of officers who have died since 1920, and if there is any difference between the scales paid he will place all widows upon the higher scale, whether their husbands died before the War or after?

The scales of pensions payable, subject to the conditions laid down in the Regulations, to the widows of naval officers who died during the War, whose deaths were neither attributable to service during the War nor due to disease aggravated by such service, were as follows:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is possible to restore the allowance to married officers in India, having regard to the very large extra expense that married officers are put to for their wives and families in India?

Special attention is being paid to the position of married officers in connection with the revision of Indian military rates of pay, which is now under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether His Majesty's Government has adopted, or intends to adopt, the recommendations contained in the recent Report of the Royal Commission on the Indian Civil Service?

The recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Superior Civil Services are being considered by the Government of India in consultation with Local Governments. The Government of India, with the approval of my Noble Friend, have announced in the Indian Legislature their opinion that whatever measures of relief recommended by the Commission may be finally sanctioned, should have effect, as recommended by the Commission, from 1st April, 1924. For the rest, I am unable to say what action will be taken by His Majesty's Government on the recommendations, as they are not yet in possession of the views of the Government of India upon them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he can give the note circulation and reserves of gold. silver, securities, and bills of exchange against the notes for the 22nd of May, 1924, and the same date for 1923 in India?

The statistics required are given in the Table below:

	22nd May, 1924.	22nd May, 1923.
	Lakhs of rupees.	Lakhs of rupees.
Reserves against note issue:
Gold in India	2,232	2,432
Silver in India	7,629	8,325
Government of India securities	5,753	5,753
British Government securities	1,400	585
Bills of exchange	800	—
Gross note circulation	17,814	17,095

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the variations of the Indian bank rate during the last 12 months?

The changes in the Indian bank rate during the last 12 months have been as follow:

1923.
			Per cent.
31st May	…	…	6
7th June	…	…	5
28th June	…	…	4
15th November	…	…	5
29th June	…	…	6
20th December	…	…	7
1924.
3rd January	…	…	8
14th February	…	…	9
10th April	…	…	8
29th May	…	…	7

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to make a statement with regard to the agreement which has been reached between the Governments of China and Russia?

I cannot as yet add anything to the information which has already appeared in the Press.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make any statement as to the discussions now in progress at Constantinople on the subject of the Turkey-Iraq frontier?

I am not in a position to add anything at present to the reply given to the hon. Member for Tottenham South (Mr. Alden) and the hon. and gallant Member for the Bilston Division of Wolverhampton (Lieut. - Colonel Howard-Bury) on the 2nd of June.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can give particulars of the amount of additional school accommodation which would be required in England and Wales in the event of the school-leaving age being raised to 15 years?

I am afraid that any estimate would be extremely hypothetical, and have little practical value unless it were based on a detailed survey of the school accommodation already available in each area, and of the extent to which the surplus accommodation, which is very unevenly distributed, could provide places for additional children between 14 and 15.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will encourage local education authorities to exercise their powers under Section 86 of the Education Act, 1921, both directly and by aiding juvenile organisations in their areas, so that children who stay at school instead of seeking immediate employment may enjoy special opportunities of social and physical training?

I think that local juvenile organisations may well exercise a most beneficial influence in the direction suggested, and I shall be very glad to see them strengthened by close cooperation with and financial assistance from local education authorities. I think everybody would desire that in present circumstances as many children as possible should stay on at school, and local education authorities have in some areas been fairly successful in persuading them to do so. But where they are not prepared to take the step of raising the school age, and are unable to secure voluntary full-time attendance at school after the age of 14, I think they may well consider the possibility of establishing special evening classes for unemployed children, and providing for them, either directly or indirectly, the advantages contemplated by the Section, which, I think, might by a little ingenuity be made highly attractive. The expenditure incurred by local education authorities under approved arrangements would rank for the calculation of grant, and I shall welcome proposals for this purpose.

asked the Prime Minister whether, as the Anglo-Russian Conference has now been deliberating for upwards of eight weeks, it is possible to give some indication of any progress that has been made and as to the principles directing the British representatives in the negotiations; and when it is expected, approximately, the Conference will conclude its work?

With regard to the first part of this question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the Noble Lord the Member for South Battersea (Viscount Curzon) on the 19th of May. With regard to the second part, the principles directing the British representatives are, I think, clearly indicated by the official reports of the proceedings which have been periodically furnished to the Press. With regard to the third part, it is manifestly impossible for me at the present juncture to suggest a date by which the work of the Conference is likely to be concluded.

asked the right hon. Member for Tiverton, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what are the exact functions, objects, and aims of the new Imperial Institute for Forestry at Oxford; and what is the estimated expense of the establishment of the institute and of its subsequent upkeep?

The functions, objects and aims of the new Imperial Forestry Institute will be to provide postgraduate training for selected probationers, special courses for senior officers in the various forest services and, where required, the taining of specialists in the methods of forestry research. The estimated expense of the establishment of the institute and of its subsequent upkeep during the first five years is £5,000 per annum.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Departmental Committee on the Nursing Service in Mental Hospitals has yet reported; and, if so, whether the Report will be published?

The Report is nearing completion, and will be published as early as practicable.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many aged persons under the care of asylums boards and boards of guardians are certified as lunatics when suffering only from senile decay; whether his attention has been directed to the unnecessary stigma cast on the descendants of such persons by such certification; and whether inquiry may be made with a view to preventing persons of very advanced years being certified and treated as lunatics?

It is true that many persons whose mental breakdown is attributable to senile decay have been certified under the Lunacy Acts only in this way can their detention be legalised. It has been the policy of the Board of Control, however, not to press for the certification of such cases. No doubt the subject will be considered by the proposed Royal Commission.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether anything is being done in the way of local housing accommodation for the benefit of the large staff of his Department at the issue office at Acton?

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, that under the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919, 323 houses have already been built and completed at Acton and a larger number in the Borough of Hammersmith. The allotment of these houses rests with the local authorities, and I am afraid that the claims of the members of my staff can only be considered on the same basis as other applicants.

asked the Home Secretary whether there exist any regulations under the Police Acts which restrict the right of police officers to belong to any friendly or benefit society?

No, Sir. Members of police forces are not debarred by service regulations from joining friendly or benefit societies as such

asked the Home Secretary if it is his intention to raise the age of examination of young persons for factory employment from 16 to 18 in order to link up the inspections under the Factory Act with that of the school medical services and other public health services?

I have decided, after consultation with the Ministry of Health, to include in the Factories Bill the recommendation in favour of raising the age which has been made by the Departmental Committee presided over by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office. The hon. Member will find the provision in Clause 91 of the Bill.

asked the Home Secretary whether, since the establishment of the South of Ireland as a Free State, it is still necessary for publishers to continue sending one free copy of each book published to Trinity College, Dublin; under what section of the law this practice is authorised; and whether there is any precedent for such a course in the case of any Dominion Government within the British Empire?

Section 15 of the Copyright Act, 1911, provides, in effect, that publishers in this country shall deliver to Trinity College,' Dublin, upon demand, a copy of each book published. As regards the last part of the question. a comparison with other Dominions is misleading, inasmuch as, in the case of the Irish Free State, a reciprocal Statutory obligation rests at present upon Free State publishers to send a copy of each book published to four or five public libraries in Great Britain.

asked the Home Secretary for what reason he has refused the application of the Incorporated Association for Promoting the General Welfare of the Blind to use the prefix "Royal"?

The grant of permission to use the title "Royal" is a prerogative of the Crown. I do not think I can properly give particulars of the reasons for the advice which I tender to the Crown in the case of a particular application for this honour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the expenditure of public money on advertising national war savings certificates is accounted for in detail to the Treasury; whether certificates of such detailed expenditure are received by the Comptroller and Auditor-General; and whether he will reconsider the necessity of spending many thousands of pounds annually on calling attention to the existence of national war savings certificates?

The total annual expenditure on advertising National Savings Certificates is approved by the Treasury, and detailed accounts are rendered in the ordinary course, and are subject to the scrutiny of the Comptroller and Auditor-General. This expenditure is under constant review, and I do not think the present rate of expenditure disproportionate to the results achieved.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, in view of the hardship caused to inventors by the delays in settling claims, he will arrange that a second division of the Royal Commission for Awards to Inventors be set up in order to clear up the arrears?

A second division of the Royal Commission already exists. As stated in my reply of the 29th May, there are at present no cases ready for hearing which are considered suitable for it, but any further cases which the chairman considers suitable will be transferred to it in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would have been the approximate annual cost to the Treasury if provisions similar to those of Section 14 of the Finance Act, 1910, as extended by the Death Duties (Killed in War) Act. 1914, had been in operation for officers and men killed on duty during the 10 years preceding the outbreak of the Great War in 1914; and what would have been the approximate extra average annual costs if Section 46 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1915, if Section 44 of the Finance Act, 1918, and if Section 31 of the Finance Act, 1919, respectively, had been in operation?

I regret that the information asked for by the hon. and gallant Member is unobtainable.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Increase of Pensions Act, 1920, is to be amended in respect of the Section with regard to means; and, if so, to what extent?

The proposals of the Government are contained in the revised Financial Resolution of which notice has been given and which is to be discussed to-clay. It is not proposed to amend the statutory condition in regard to the means of the pensioner.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the last Inland Revenue Report for the year ended 31st March, 1922, was not published until October, 1923, 19 months after the end of the financial year; when the Inland Revenue Report for the year ended 31st March, 1923, will be issued if there is any reason for the very long delay in publishing these Reports; and if he will take steps to ensure that the Inland Revenue Reports in the future are published at a reasonable interval after the end of each financial year?

The preparation of the animal Report of the, Commissioners of Inland Revenue involves a large amount of statistical work, which, during the past few years has been constantly interrupted by special statistical investigations of Inland Revenue data for ad hoc purposes, such as the evidence laid before the Select Committee on a Betting Duty, financial relations with Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State, etc. For these reasons the 65th Report was not published until October, 1923, and the publication of the 66th Report will probably be delayed until August next. Early publication is always aimed at, and it is hoped substantially to reduce the interval in future years.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise for the year ending 3Ist March, 1923, was not published until the 20th February, 1924; if he is aware that the Trade and Navigation Return, issued by the Board of Trade, is a longer and more complicated compilation, and is issued by the Board of Trade about a fortnight after the end of the period to which each issue refers; if there is any reason for the long delay in publishing the Customs and Excise Report; and if he will take steps to have the Report completed and published at a date soon after the close of each financial year?

:: I am unable to accept the suggested comparison between the Monthly Accounts of Trade and Navigation and the Annual Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise. The one is a publication by the Board of Trade of figures assembled by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise from import and export entries, whilst the other is a review of the progress of the Customs and Excise Revenue and of the other activities of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise during the financial year. Efforts are made to secure publication of the Annual Report at as early a date as possible after the close of the financial year, but in normal circumstances this cannot be earlier than the autumn. The delay in the publication of the Report for the year ended 31st March, 1923, arose from the fact that various financial adjustments were necessary at its close as a consequence of the creation of the Irish Free State.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the introduction of the postal-cheque system in connection with the Post Office Savings Banks?

This question has often been considered, and it has always been held that there is no considerable scope for a postal-cheque system in this country, especially in view of the wide extent of the banking system and the general use of bank cheques and postal orders for remittance purposes. I see no reason for coming to a different conclusion.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Post Office undertakes cable or wireless telegraphic communication with Russia or the Baltic States; whether the Post Office has been at any time prevented from undertaking such communication because of prior agreements with private companies; and what was the nature of such agreements?

The Post Office owns the cables between this country and Norway, and a cable between this country and Russia. It also provides telegraphic communication via Germany with the Eastern Baltic States; and carries on a limited wireless service with certain of these States. The Danish Great Northern Telegraph Company was formerly entitled to carry all telegrams for Denmark, Sweden and Northern Russia handed to the Post Office by the senders without any indication of route, subject to its route being as efficient as any other, but these preferential rights expired last year.

asked the Postmaster-General the number and owners of cables between Great Britain and France; and whether, in view of the necessity for and efficiency of co-operative working between cable and wireless communications, he will cancel the provisional wireless licences granted to the Marconi Company in order that the Post Office shall undertake all necessary services?

There are 17 telegraph and telephone cables in use connecting Great Britain with France, 14 of which are jointly owned by the British and French Governments. The remaining three are telegraph cables owned by trans-Atlantic cable companies, the use of which, is restricted to the transmission of traffic to and from America and places beyond. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the recommendation on the subject in the Donald Committee's report, which is still under the consideration of the Government.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he aware that many of the bridges which cross canals are wholly inadequate to bear the heavy traffic carried on public roads; and whether he will take steps to see that adequate bridges are provided?

I am aware of the existence of a large number of weak canal bridges, many of which are on important roads. Special grants have been made from the Road Fund with a view to encouraging local authorities to undertake the reconstruction of a number of such bridges, in conjunction with the statutory authorities responsible for their maintenance.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can make any statement regarding the proposed new road from Glasgow to Inverness via Fort William?

I am having a special investigation made of the roads in the County of Inverness, and until this is completed I am unable to decide which works of reconstruction are the most desirable and urgent.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is prepared to take any remedial action and, if so, of what nature, on reliable testimony laid before him, as to the inadequate and dangerous platform accommodation provided by railway companies?

As I explained to the hon. Member in reply to the question on this subject which he asked on the 13th May, I have no power to require railway companies to alter the platforms on lines which have already been officially sanctioned for passenger traffic. The Railways Act of 1921, however, gives to public bodies affected the right to apply to the Railway and Canal Commission for Orders requiring railway companies to provide improvements of existing works.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that five young Masai, after being confined in prison in Kenya Colony for the whole year without trial, were too ill to walk into the Court and had to be carried or supported into the dock, and that they were all discharged; and what action does he propose to take in the matter?

I have no official information about this matter, but I am at once instituting inquiries, and I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will make inquiry into the action of the licensing bench in refusing the licence to the Millerston Inn, Millerston, North Lanark, although no complaint was made against the management of the public-house?

I have no power to interfere with the discretion of a Licensing Court in the matter of granting or refusing certificates, and in these circumstances I do not think that an inquiry by me would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Labour what the unemployed figures for the towns of Oldbury, Cradley, Halesowen and Stourbridge were on 31st March, 192.3; and what the figures for those towns were on 31st March, 1924?

Statistics of the numbers registered as unemployed at Halesowen cannot be separately distinguished; for the other Employment Exchanges they are as follow:

		26th March, 1923.	31st March, 1924.
Oldbury	…	2,110	1,718
Cradley	…	4,801	4,383
Stourbridge	…	1,776	1,904

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the low wages paid by Messrs. J. Lyons and Company, Limited, at the British Empire Exhibition, and the profits made by this firm, he will take immediate and drastic action to limit the catering profits at the British Empire Exhibition?

As I have already informed my hon. Friend on more than one occasion, my Department has no information regarding the wages paid by Messrs. J. Lyons and Company, Limited at the British Empire Exhibition. In any case, I have no power to limit the profits which they may make at the exhibition.