asked the Secretary of States for the Colonies whether the' Niger Company receives a proportion of the royalties payable to the Nigerian Government on all the tin mined in Nigeria, and, if so, what proportion; whether it receives a proportion of all rents paid to the Government in respect of all mining leases, rights, and licences in Nigeria, and, if so, in what proportion; and what sum was paid to the Niger Company in 1923 and 1924, respectively, under these headings?

; As the hon. and gallant Member will see, if he will refer to page 4 of C. 9372, half the royalties levied on all minerals exported from Nigeria, which have been won in that part of the Northern Provinces which is bounded on the west by the main stream of the Niger, and on the east by a line from Yola to Zinder, is payable to the Niger Company or its assigns for a period of 99 years from the revocation of the Charter of the Royal Niger Company. The term "royalties" is held to include the fees charged for prospecting licences and mining leases. The sum paid over to the Niger Company in 1922–23 was £18,543, and in the six months ending September, 1923. £20,133. I have not the figures for 1924.

Has the Colonial Office in view the revision of this arrangement, especially in the case of a greatly increased output of minerals in this area?

As this would involve a revocation of the Agreement, I do not see how it would be possible to reopen the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the territory known as Caprivi Zipfel is under the administration of the Colonial Office or the South African Government, or under a mandate from the League of Nations; and what authority exists for the administration of this territory other than by means of Articles 22 and 119 of the Treaty of Versailles?

The Caprivi Zipfel is part of the territory of South-West Africa the mandate for which is exercised by the Union Government. The Governor-General of the Union has by Proclamation issued in virtue of the powers vested in him by the Union Treaty of Peace and South-West Africa Mandate Act, 1919, appointed the High Commissioner for South Africa to be Administrator of the Caprivi Zipfel and delegated to him full authority for that purpose; and the area is at present administered as if it were a portion of the Bechuanaland Protectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the disturbance in Jubaland between the Mohamed Zubeir and the Herti Somalis will interfere with the carrying out of arrangements locally in connection with the handing over of territory to Italy in accordance with the Treaty?

The acting Governor of Kenya has reported that the disturbance in Jubaland is at present confined to a small area remote from the proposed new frontier with Italian Somaliland, and that it should not affect the arrangements for carrying out the cession to Italy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the increase in cane-sugar production on the Waterloo Estates in Trinidad under a system of peasant proprietorship over the previous production under a system of indentured labour?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures published by the Agricultural Society of Trinidad showing the production of canes on the Waterloo Estate and local peasant cultivators for the years 1914 and 1924 respectively, together with corresponding figures for the whole colony. More than half the supply of the Waterloo estate is still from plantation production, and in any case it is inaccurate to describe the labour employed on that estate as all indentured. The total production of canes in Trinidad in 1924 was slightly less than that in 1914.

Would it be right to say that there has been an increase of production since peasant proprietorship was introduced?

No; not the total.

Has there been an increase of production from the peasant proprietors?

Certainly. There has been a very considerable increase in the number of peasant proprietors.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Hull on 19th March.

Would my right hon. Friend explain to the House why the Government feel justified in collecting so many millions from Ulster and not insisting upon the liability of Southern Ireland?

That is a matter for Debate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received details of the delays taking place in the carriage of cotton on the Uganda Railway from the interior to the coast under which cargo is taking six to eight weeks on the journey against two to three weeks in previous years; and whether he has received any Report from the Governor of Kenya in the matter?

I have received representations on the subject and although no report, so far as this year's crop is concerned, has been received yet from the local Governments I hope that the difficulty, which is largely one of labour, may be removed. Complaints of delay recur every year and will do so until the new railway into Uganda is completed, but I understand that much of the time taken to get the cotton to the coast frequently passes before it is delivered to the railway which, to that extent, is not responsible for the delay. There is undoubted congestion at the port of Jinja in Uganda and at Mombasa.

Is it not a fact that there is congestion on the railway itself, apart from any other cause of delay; and is the delay not quite exceptional?

I have no evidence that it is on the railway, but I gather the delivery of trucks has been considerably delayed in the last few weeks. Matters are not serious on the railway; it is the ports that cause the delay.

When will the new railway be completed?

The railway has only just been begun. We hope it will be completed at the end of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to secure the preservation of the old dockyard buildings at English Harbour, Antigua, where Nelson refitted his ships in 1805, and also the tomb of Ralph Payne, Lord Lavington, a former governor of the island?

I regret that funds are not at present available in the colony to preserve the interesting dockyard buildings which were built to suit naval requirements, and I understand that the Admiralty are unable to allocate any sum for the upkeep of an establishment which is no longer required by the Royal Navy. I have no information as to the condition of the tomb of Lord Lavington which appears to be situated on private land.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state why the Government of the Straits Settlements makes an annual allowance to the children, the grandchildren, and the great-grandchildren of the late Sultan Ali; when the arrangement was made; and for how many generations such annual allowance is likely to be payable?

The history of this matter is as follows. In or about the year 1819 certain land was set apart by the East India Company to make a provison for the family of Sultan Hussain who ceded Singapore to the Company and who was the father of Sultan Ali. Many years later that provision was held by the Supreme Court of the Colony to have failed, and the land was held to have become Crown Land. It was decided that a sum roughly equal to the annual value of the land should be divided among Sultan Hussain's family, and effect was given to the decision by the Ordinance No. XIII of 1904, now known as Ordinance No. 187 of the Straits Settlements. The payment provided for amounts to 750 dollars per annum, with further provision for an increase if the net annual revenue from the land should exceed that sum. Payments will no doubt continue to be made at the discretion of the Colonial Government so long as there are persons eligible to receive them under the Ordinance.

Seeing that there are four great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren, and the number is apparently increasing by arithmetical progression, do the Government intend that the same grant shall be distributed to each, or will it be reduced as the families increase?

The total amount available for distribution depends on the revenue from the particular land which has been set apart.

Does the hon. Gentleman take into account the increased cost of living?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if a change in the designation of his Department is under consideration?

The matter is under consideration, but I am not at present in a position to add anything to the reply given by the Prime Minister to the question by the hon. Member for Frome (Captain G. Pete) on 19th February.

Will the Rouse have an opportunity of discussing any change before the change is made?

That question should be addressed to the Prime Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, seeing that powers have been conferred on administrative officers in Tanganyika mandated territory to inflict up to 10 strokes of the whip for the contravention of any order or direction by the official himself, that this matter was discussed at the sitting of the Permanent Mandates Commission held at Geneva, on 1st July last, and that Sir Frederick Lugard characterised these powers as unusual, whether His Majesty's Government is prepared to make it clear that no such whipping should take place without charge and sentence before a competent Court?

The matter discussed by the Permanent Mandates Commission was the Native Authority Ordinance which, among other things, provides that certain punishments, including a maximum of 10 strokes, may be inflicted by a competent Court upon conviction for refusal to obey any regulation, order or direction lawfully made under the Ordinance. The present circumstances of the territory make it inevitable that in some cases the Court can only be that held by the administrative officer in his capacity as magistrate, but he is bound in every such case to follow proper judicial procedure in trying the accused. From my personal knowledge of the character of administrative officers in the territory, I can assure the hon. Member that the powers entrusted to them are not abused.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is satisfied with the arrangements made between his Department and the Board of the British Empire Exhibition with regard to the control of that exhibition?

Yes, Sir. The responsibility for the general administration of the exhibition must, in my opinion, continue to rest with the exhibition authorities, but my Department keeps in close communication with them. As my hon. Friend is doubtless aware, a Financial Controller, who has been approved by the Treasury, has also recently been appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many skilled workers have emigrated abroad each year since the War; and to what industries they belonged?

I am sending the hon. Member a reprint of tables published in the Board of Trade Journal of 28th August, 1924, in which the particulars he desires are given for each of the years 1921 to 1923. Corresponding particulars were not compiled for earlier post-War years, and the particulars for 1924 are not yet completed.

Will these figures be published as a Parliamentary Report?

If hon Gentlemen desire it, I could have that done, but a copy of the figures may be obtained on application to the Board of Trade.

Is it not a fact that the bulk of our expert workmen are going to America and other protected countries?

asked the Prime Minister if any of the Governments that have expressed their adherence to the Geneva Protocol have ratified their representatives' signatures?

So far as His Majesty's Government are aware, no country has yet ratified the Protocol.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Law Officers of the Crown have advised that Article 5 of the Geneva Protocol weakens the reservations of Article 15 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, which were designed to prevent any interference by the League in matters of domestic jurisdiction; if so, whether he will communicate their opinions in writing to this House; and, if not, on the basis of what other advice, if any, did he declare in Geneva that Article 5 of the Protocol had this effect?

The statement of my right hon. Friend at Geneva is to be the subject of debate to-morrow, and perhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to defer till then the discussion of details such as that referred to in his question.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this statement is in direct conflict with the statement the British Legal Adviser made on the 30th December last at Geneva?

That is just one of the details which I would ask the hon. Member to postpone till to-morrow.

asked the Prime Minister if he is prepared to make the 1st May a national holiday?

The answer is in the negative.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the steps suggested in the question would tend to create abroad an atmosphere of good will?

asked the Prime Minister whether, for the purpose of meeting the convenience of Members and saving the time of the House, he is prepared to consider the suggestion of adopting the method pursued in another legislative chamber of accepting written speeches in lieu of the spoken word for subsequent publication in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

I do not think that my hon. Friend's proposal is practicable or would meet the general desire of the House.

Is it right that we should leave this bright idea to America alone, and is it not a fact that we have an excellent precedent in the arrangements that are made for Written Answers; and will the right hon. Gentleman, at any rate, consider it as far as those Members who have failed to catch the eye of Mr. Speaker are concerned?

If there be any general desire in the House, perhaps the hon. Member will communicate through the usual channels.

Would it not then be possible for Members to hand in their speeches, and never attend the House at all?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the Crown Receivership for Wales becomes vacant on 30th September next, and that a person possessing no knowledge of the Welsh language has been already appointed, he will say whether there were no suitable candidates with a knowledge 4 Welsh available; or whether the reason for making an appointment so long in advance was to enable the candidate to make a start in learning the Welsh language?

I have no doubt that suitable candidates for this post with a knowledge of Welsh could have been found. There was, however, no one so qualified on the establishment of the Office of Commissioners of Crown Lands, and if the appointment had been made from outside, not only would it have prevented a well-deserved promotion, but an opportunity would have been lost of effecting an economy in administration expenses by combining the duties of the post with those of the present Crown Receiver for the Isle of Man. The appointment has been made in advance to enable him both to become familiar with his new duties and to perfect his knowledge of the Welsh language before the present Receiver retires.

Could anyone get a grip of the Welsh language in six months?

My hon. Friend will notice that my answer said that the six months was required only to enable him to perfect his knowledge.

Is it proposed to put this gentleman through any kind of examination at the end of six months; and, if he does not know the language by that time, is it proposed to appoint anybody else?

I think the hon. and gallant Gentleman can rest well assured that he will have an ample knowledge of Welsh to enable him to carry out his duties.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that you cannot learn the Welsh alphabet in six months?

If he has not sufficient knowledge of the language at the end of six months, will another appointment be made?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will allow me to wait till after the six months is past.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now in a position to state how long the Committee appointed by him to consider the exportation of horses for butchery purposes will take to prepare its Report?

As the inquiry has only just commenced, I am not yet in a position to say when a Report may be expected, but I should not anticipate that the investigation need be of long duration.

Will the inquiry include the question of horses slaughtered for food in this country, i.e., how far they are slaughtered by the humane killer?

I do not think so, but, as the right hon. Gentleman is aware, I gave the terms of reference last week, and, if my memory serves me correctly, they are concerned only with the export trade in horses.

If it be not too late, will the right hon. Gentleman try to arrange to include the point?

I will certainly consider that, if it be not too late. I will put that point to the Committee.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of ships have been ordered by an English firm of shipowners from German shipbuilders; if so, whether he intends referring the matter to a Committee of the Board of Trade under the safeguarding of industries proposal; and whether he will take steps to stop the importation of foreign-built ships into this country under the same conditions as with other imports which come under the Safeguarding of Industries Act?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, it would be open to the shipbuilding industry to make an application to the Board of Trade in accordance with the terms of the White Paper (Cmd. 2327) if that course were thought expedient. I am not sure that I altogether understand the last part of the question. The importation of the articles scheduled to the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921, is not prohibited, but only made subject to duty. The list could not be extended without legislation.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is a trap laid by the German shipbuilders in order to ascertain the cost of producing ships in this country so that they may obtain their subsidy from the Government; and, secondly, whether he is aware that it enables them to compare the cost of building ships in Germany and in this country, with a view to forcing the wages down in this country and also in Germany?

Is not the loss of this order and other orders attributable to the Dawes Report?

I am not sure that that arises out of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that premises adjoining dwelling-houses at Barnet have been acquired and transformed by a London livestock dealer into an elaborate menagerie from which wild animals frequently escape into neighbouring gardens and houses; whether, seeing that in reply to repre sentations made to the Ministry on the subject by the Barnet Urban District Council and the police authorities last August it was intimated that unless the animals were kept under proper control The licence for their importation might be cancelled, he will say whether he is satisfied that the animals have since been kept under proper control, and, if not, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I am aware of the nature of the premises mentioned. My jurisdiction is limited to the control of imported animals, while undergoing quarantine, to prevent the introduction of disease in accordance with the provisions of the Diseases of Animals Acts. A consignment of llamas were quarantined there in August last, but in the same month the occupier was informed that the premises could not in future be approved for quarantine purposes, and I have therefore no control over any animals which may now be kept there.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make representations to some other Member of the Government in this matter, which all Members of the Government seem to refuse?

I will gladly make representations, but, as my hon. and gallant Friend observes, there is some doubt as to whom they should be made. The fact is, no doubt, that this question is one that was never in contemplation when either Governments, or Departments, or legislation were set up.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he has ascertained how long it would take to clear the Chamber and Galleries of the House of Commons in case of fire or riot if a full House were sitting?

(for the FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS): I can assure the hon. Member that adequate precautions are taken against a possible outbreak of fire in this building. I am informed that the House could probably be cleared in about seven minutes. As regards the question of a riot, it is, perhaps, hardly necessary to consider that contingency.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what progress has been made in the proposed alterations with a view to securing an improvement in the ventilation of the House?

Provision for the equipment of the ventilation of the Chamber is made in the Estimates for 1925–26, and the work will be put in hand during the Autumn recess, if Parliamentary sanction be obtained.

Are steps being taken to have everything ready in the way of Estimates, so that we may not continue this very out-of-date system of having our boots dusted before we breathe the air?

Are such proposals being subjected, first of all, to the members of the Research Council who prepared a most elaborate report on the subject before the War?

All these considerations are being taken into account.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will give the details as to the countries building ships of war, and the types of ships to a total of 324 under construction?

I would refer the hon. Member to Command Paper 2349, Fleets (The British Empire and Foreign Countries). The number of submarines building and built by the United States of America, shown on page 3 of the Paper, should be decreased and increased by three respectively, thereby reducing the total number of vessels building from 352 to 349. I may mention, however, that the 349 are being built by only the seven Powers shown in the Paper. In addition, many of the smaller naval Powers are also building war vessels. The number building in the world is, therefore, somewhat higher than 349, and the British proportion correspondingly less.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, owing to her size, oil consumption, and the crew required, the "Mauretania" is of no use as a naval vessel in war; and whether he will use his influence with the Treasury to have the subsidy expense of £90,000 per annum transferred to the Post Office for the speedy carriage of the mails?

The subsidy is paid under an agreement sanctioned by Parliament which, apart from the conditions governing the surviving ship "Mauretania," containes a number of provisions advantageous to the Naval Service, as my hon. and gallant Friend will see from Command Paper No. 1703 of 1903. The agreement expires in November, 1927, and, in the circumstances, I do not see any sufficient ground for making any alteration for the short remaining period.