To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to a speech implying that the boilers of H.M.S. "Dreadnought" were made abroad; whether he will say by what firm and where they were made; whether the order for the boilers was given by the present or the late Government; and whether the payment for the boilers was authorised by the present or the late Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) My attention has already been drawn to the speech to which my hon. friend refers. The boilers of H.M.S. "Dreadnought" were made by Messrs. Vickers, Sons, and Maxim, as principal contractors, assisted by Messrs. Babcock and Wilcox, as sub-contractors, at the works at Barrow and Renfrew respectively. These boilers were made under Admiralty inspection, as is the case with all machinery for His Majesty's ships. All payments on account of these boilers mere made in the financial year 1905–6, the first instalment on 8th November, 1905, and the last on the 14th March, 1906.

To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, whether he can state, for each of the years 1906 and 1907, the total number of days upon which each of the graving-docks at Gibraltar was occupied in docking His Majesty's ships, and the total number of His Majesty's ships docked in each. (Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The total number of days upon which each of the graving docks at Gibraltar was occupied during the years in question is as follows:—

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has received an answer from the London County Council to his inquiry whether the council is willing to assist the proposed Port of London authority by giving its guarantee to the new stock, as recommended by the Royal Commission on the Port of London and proposed in the Bill of the late Government. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Yes, Sir. But though I emphasised the importance of the Board of Trade knowing the attitude and intentions of the London County Council while preparing their Bill, I do not gather from the reply I received that the matter has been discussed by the Council. That reply informed me that the Rivers Committee were unable to recommend the Council to come to any decision until they knew the main lines on which the Government intend to deal with the matter, but that some of their members would be glad to confer with me on the whole subject. I shall of course gladly avail myself of

^* No. 1 Dock was not completed until 12th March, 1906.

† Includes "Assistance" in dock for eight months.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many civil servants in the Transvaal, other than members of the South African Constabulary, and not transferred from service elsewhere, have been retrenched; how many of the retrenched have received compensation; how many have received pensions; how many have received both compensation and pension; and how many have received new appointments from the Colonial Office. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) A Return showing the number of retrenched officials between 1st May and 30th October last is being laid, but the information in the possession of the Colonial Office does not enable me to answer the Question in detail. A number of the trenchments took place under Lord Milner and Lord Selborne before the grant of responsible government. Out of fifty-four retrenched officials who had applied for re-employment up to the middle of January, some fourteen have been offered new appointments by the Colonial Office, and one by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at the instance of this Department.

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many of the South African Constabulary of the Transvaal have been retrenched; and of these how many have received compensation, how many have received pension, how many have received both compensation and pension, and how many have received new appointments from the Colonial Office. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) Reductions in the South African Constabulary have been proceeding for some years, but I cannot give the detailed information asked for.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether the point at which the line referred to in Article II. of the arrangement with Russia regarding Persia leaves the Afghan frontier is determined; and, if so, what is that point. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) I beg to refer the hon. Member to the reply on this subject given to the hon. Member for South Kensington on the 30th ultimo, to the effect that the point referred to is that on the Afghan frontier which is nearest to Gazik.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, at what point the line mentioned in Article II. of the arrangement concerning Persia in the Anglo-Russian Convention, which goes by way of Gazik, Birjand, and Kerman to Bunder Abbas, leaves the Afghanistan frontier. (Answered by Secretary Sir Edward Grey.) I beg to refer the hon. Member to the reply on this subject given to the hon. Member for South Kensington on the 30th ultimo, to the effect that the point referred to is that on the Afghan frontier which is nearest to Gazik.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether anything has been done in regard to the recommendation of Sir Edward Ward's Committee, which reported in February, 1906, that early steps should be taken to obtain fresh legislation to remedy the legitimate grievances of naval and military men in the Civil Service; and whether, if nothing has been done, he will consider the question as soon as possible. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The recommendation to which the hon. Member refers is, presumably, that containing in Sections 43 and 44 of the Committee's Report, that service in the Army and Navy of a satisfactory character which has not earned pension should reckon towards superannuation in the case of men appointed to established position in the Civil Service. The recommendation has been considered, and it has been decided not to propose legislation to give effect to it. The naval and military services have their own conditions for pensions, which are not affected by the fact of subsequent civil employment to which different conditions attach.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state what are the competitive Civil Service examinations for which languages in addition to English are specified in the programmes; and whether Irish and Welsh are included among these additional languages. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) For an Answer to the first part of his Question I must refer the hon. Member to the Stationery Office publication (which I will send to him) entitled "Abstract of Rules and Regulations respecting Examinations for the Home Civil Service, the Army, the Navy, the Civil Service of India." In no case, I understand, is Welsh a subject of examination. Irish is a compulsory subject for the qualifying examination of candidates for the position of Organiser of Irish Language Instruction; but this position has not been filled by competition. It is an optional subject in the examinations of candidates for the situation of Assistant in the Irish Antiquities section of the Dublin Museum of Science and Art, and also for that of Assistant Organiser of Kindergarten Teaching under the National Education Office; but the second of these situations is not filled by competition.

To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the net annual expenditure for the last four known financial years of the English and Irish Agricultural Departments respectively.

To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether any of the counties of England are affected by the American gooseberry mildew; and, if so, will the Board issue a Return showing the counties affected, together with the acreage of gooseberry plantation, and also the acreage which is affected by the disease. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire (Parts of Holland), Norfolk, the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, and Huntingdonshire are at present affected with American gooseberry mildew. We will endeavour to obtain and brig together the information for which my hon., friend asks in the latter part of his Question, and perhaps he will communicate with me on the subject.

To ask the hon. Member for South' Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been called to the fact that a considerable quantity of Dutch cheese is being put on the English market and labelled in the retail shops as Dutch Cheshire, and that the producers of genuine Cheshire cheese are suffering heavily in consequence; and whether, in view of the provisions of the Act passed to protect the public from the sale of food under false description, the Board of Agriculture will at once take the necessary steps to give to the British farmers and the British public the protection to which they are entitled. (Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) We have for some time past been making inquiry into this matter, but up to the present we have not obtained any definite information that any offence under the Merchandise Marks Acts has been committed. The matter will continue to receive attention, and proceedings will at once be instituted if the necessary evidence of any infringement of the law is forthcoming.

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many cases of cattle and sheep-driving have been reported to the police since 30th June, 1907; in how many cases injury was caused to the animals, stating as far as possible the nature of the injury; and in how many cases the owners, police, or other persons received injuries. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Three hundred and thirty-four cases of cattle - driving have been reported since 30th June, 1907. In twenty-seven cases it was stated that the animals

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what is the value of British imports and the value of exports of British produce in the year 1907, calculated according to the Board of Trade index number on the basis of 1873 values, on the assumption that the average value of articles of our import and export trade have followed the course of general prices, excluding ships from the figures of exports in 1907. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) On the assumption suggested by my hon. friend the figures would be as follows. I take, of course, no responsibility for the correctness of the assumption:—

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the rate of wages paid to skilled and unskilled workers respectively in the Norwegian quarries, from which granite is to be procured for the extension works at Haulbowline, and the number of working hours per day. I beg also to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the specification originally sent to all the Irish firms invited to tender for the lengthening of the dry dock at Haulbowline contained the condition that limestone should be the material used for the principal part of the masonry work; whether all the Irish firms were afforded an opportunity of amending their tenders when permission was subsequently given to substitute Norwegian granite for limestone; if he can state the reasons which influenced the Admiralty to alter the original specification and permit the substitution of Norwegian granite for limestone; and whether he is aware that quantities of Irish limestone were used in the construction of the great docks at Cardiff opened last year by His Majesty the King.

As regards the first Question, the Admiralty have no information on the subject. As regards the second; Irish stone was originally specified for certain parts of the masonry, but, between the time of inviting tenders and the date for their delivery, certain of the firms requested permission to substitute granite for Irish stone. Granite, in the opinion of the Admiralty, being a better material, alternative tender prices were sanctioned, and all firms were treated exactly alike. In every case where alternative prices were quoted granite was considerably lower in price than Irish stone. The Admiralty, with every desire to assist local industry, could not exclude the use of a material which was superior in quality and cheaper in price.

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can state, for each of the years 1906 and 1907, the total number of days upon which each of the graving docks at Gibraltar was occupied in docking His Majesty's ships, and the total number of His Majesty's ships docked in each.

The total number of days upon which each of the graving docks at Gibraltar was occupied during the years in question is as follows—

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how Volunteer corps are to obtain funds to carry on their administration until the County Associations are provided with cash to satisfy their requirements, in the absence of any adequate security for the usual advance from banks.

It is not anticipated that Volunteer corps will experience any difficulty in obtaining advances from banks as usual, when such advances are required. It is well known that it is part of the scheme which Parliament has approved to free the Volunteer corps from their legitimate liabilities before they are transformed into territorial units.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether steps will be taken to consider

^* No. 1 Dock was not completed until 12th March, 1906.

† Includes "Assistance" in dock for eight months.

Cases of disbandment in any branch of the service must necessarily cause retardation of promotion throughout the branch, and it is expedient to consider the interests of the infantry officers as a body rather than those of any particular regiment. Every effort has been made to avoid hardship. The measures which are suggested in the Question are, I fear, impracticable.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the legal expenses incurred by Colonel Cavendish, Major Corkran, and Major Hardy, in the recent court of inquiry held at Chelsea Barracks, were paid for by the public; and, if so, what was the amount so paid, and on whose authority were the payments made.

The legal expenses of these officers are being paid by the public from Army Votes. The payments are made on the authority of the Army Council and with the sanction of the Treasury. The amount was £491 6s.

inquired why this sanction was given by the Army Council, having regard to the fact that Lieutenant Wood was told by the military authorities that expenses would not be charged to public funds.

So far as Lieutenant Wood was concerned, no doubt that was so; but in regard to these officers, Lieutenant Wood brought a charge of something like conspiracy against them, and in a most improper letter charges were set out, against which these officers had to defend themselves, and the Army Council and the Treasury took the view, in which, I think, public opinion will support them, that these officers should not be subjected to the expenses, in view of the fact that the charges were not proved.

Will there be a Supplementary Estimate?

No, I think not.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many guns it is proposed to supply for the use of the Territorial Army during the coming financial year.

It is proposed to supply to the Territorial Forces by the end of the coming financial year 536 15-pounder field guns. These guns will all be mounted upon quick-firing carriages, and are the total number required for the field batteries of the Territorial Force. Fifty-six 4·7 guns are also ready for issue, to arm the fourteen heavy batteries. The issue of howitzers cannot be completed until the rearmament of the regular batteries takes place, but sufficient will be issued to enable training to proceed.

Are the 15-pounders of the new quick-firing type?

said that they were converted 15-pounder guns.

asked as to the modern quick-firing guns, were any of them to be supplied to the Territorial Force.

No, the 18-pounder guns are being reserved for the Regular Forces, and are heavier than the field guns supplied to the Territorial Force.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made with the conversion of 15-pounder field guns for the use of the Territorial Army; what is the cost per battery of such conversion; whether the limbers and wagons are being simultaneously converted so as to enable them to carry fixed ammunition; and tow many wagons per battery it is proposed to allot.

The conversion of the 15-pounder field guns is proceeding rapidly. The first batch of 150 guns are at present undergoing conversion and some will be ready for issue immediately. The rest will follow. The cost will be about £1,200 per battery. The ammunition for the guns will not be fixed ammunition, i.e. ammunition in which the shell and cartridge are in one piece, and therefore the necessity for converting the limbers and wagons simultaneously will not arise. The number of wagons to be allotted per battery is still under consideration.

inquired what was the range of the converted guns as compared with the new quick-firing guns for the Regular Forces.

said he had stated once or twice, and he stated again, that the mere distance the shells travelled was about the same, but the lighter projectile had a less effective range than the heavier one, the resistance of the air operating more rapidly, and consequently there was a difference of 1,000 yards in the effective range, the shrapnel bullets giving a higher degree of momentum.

asked if the Army Council had advised the arming of the Territorial Force with a less efficient weapon as compared with that issued to the Regular Army.

said the General Staff were of opinion that it was a useful efficient weapon for the work the Territorial Army would have to do.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a telegram was sent to the agent of the Liberal candidate for the Ashburton division of Devon, dated from the War Office, 9th January, 5.24 p.m., and signed Geake, giving official figures of the numbers of men employed at Woolwich Arsenal; whether Mr. Geake is an official of the War Office, and, if so, what status he holds; and whether instructions will be given so as to prevent in future the interference of a public Department on behalf of candidates for election to this House.

I very much regret that there should have been any misunderstanding about this question, and I am anxious to make it clear that the War Office, so far as it gives information which is available for the public, does so apart from all question as to whether it is applied for by gentlemen connected with one side of the House or the other. I think I shall be able to show that if there has been any misunderstanding, it has been a very small one. The telegram was not official. Mr. Geake is not an official of the War Office, but someone telegraphed to him, asking him to obtain the information, and he came down to the War Office to inquire. I was in Scotland at the time, but he saw my private secretary, who referred him, in the ordinary course, to the department in which the information could be obtained. He despatched the telegram from the postal room at the War Office, the charge being prepaid. I understand that at the time the clerk in charge had not got the exact figures, so Mr. Geake drew up the telegram in his own name, he prepaid the sixpence, and left it to be sent, when the figures had been obtained, and it was sent by the official. Un fortunately he took the not unnatural course of sending the telegram through the telegraph office in the same building, instead of sending somebody outside with it to the public office. A slip was made in allowing the telegram to go through this channel, and instructions have been given that this must not be done in future. I might repeat that the information given to him was in no way confidential and was available to any inquirer, and I may again say that so long as things are carried on as they have been for some time at the War Office, information will be available to anybody who is able to put a legitimate inquiry asking for it.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if the promised annual economy of £1,600,000 in the administration of the Territorial Force compared to the superseded Auxiliary Forces is likely to be realised.

I have difficulty in following the comparison made by the hon. and gallant Member. The figure of £1,600,000 is presumably obtained by comparing the estimate of the cost of the Territorial Force shown in Cd. 3296 of last session presented in January, 1907, with the cost of the Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteers as there shown. The hon. and gallant Member is doubtless aware that the Militia will not now join the Territorial Force. This comparison consequently no longer holds.

Do I understand that there will be no economy whatever in the cost of the Territorial Force?

No, certainly not. On the contrary, as the hon. Member knows, if the Territorial Force is to be made thoroughly efficient, it will cost more. We are trying to make a real force of it and to provide real machinery, and that means expenditure.

Will the right hon. Gentleman refer to the many speeches he made in this House in which he spoke of the greatly reduced expenditure?

I have always said that the Territorial Force, if it is to be a reality, meant more in actual cost, and I have put Estimates before Parliament which I think will be found to confirm that.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India what steps the Government have taken to give effect to the unanimous vote of the House of Commons on 30th May, 1906, that the Indo-Chinese opium trade is morally indefensible, and requesting His Majesty's Government to take such steps as may be necessary for bringing it to a speedy close.

On the 29th July last in reply to a Question in this House I explained the proposals which His Majesty's Government had communicated to the Chinese Government for carrying out, in cooperation with that Government, the policy of restriction. I am glad to say that the Chinese Government have accepted with expressions of gratitude our scheme for a progressive reduction of the export of opium from India. Papers on the subject will be laid by my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the course of a few days.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the present prescribed conditions agreed to by the French Government in relation to adult and child labour, male and female, in the New Hebrides.

The instructions of the French Government to the French High Commissioner on the subject of native labour in the New Hebrides are contained in the third enclosure to M. Geoffray's note of 29th August last, which appears in the Parliamentary Paper being published to-day.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the number of British Indians in the Transvaal who had submitted themselves for registration under the Asiatic Law Amendment (Registration) Act up to 31st December, 1907.

I would refer the hon. Member to page 61 of Cd. 3887 showing that 409 applications to register had been received up to 11th November. No later figures have been received.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the number of British Indians who are known to have entered the Transvaal without a permit, or with permits alleged to be false, during the years 1906 and 1907.

The information on this subject in the possession of His Majesty's Government is included in the Blue-book, Cd. 3887, pages 14–21. In a speech of the Colonial Secretary of the Transvaal at Pretoria on 4th January, it is stated that during the last five years there have been 1,500 prosecutions of Indians for the offences mentioned by the hon. Member.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when non-official members will be appointed to the Council of the Governor of Nyassaland.

The unofficial members of the Legislative Council of Nyassaland will be appointed on the return of the Governor, who leaves England about the middle of February.

I regret I did not catch the Answer. Do I understand the appointments will not be made till the return of the Governor?

Yes.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a zone two miles wide along the Northern Nigerian Railway has been declared State property; and, if so, whether it is intended to alienate this land permanently or on temporary leases at periodically revised rents.

The attention of the High Commissioner was called some time ago to the importance of securing to the State the enhanced value of the land through which the railway will pass. He has not yet reported what has actually been done, but he is now on his way to England, and will be consulted on his arrival. Steps have been taken to safeguard public interests in this matter.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the alienation of 1,231,157 acres of public land in the Federated Malay States up to the end of the year 1906; whether land so alienated is put up to public auction or sold privately; if put up to public auction what notice is given of such sale, and is a reasonable reserve price put upon the land; and will he consider the advisability of stopping the permanent alienation of public land and minerals.

The hon. Member's figures are correct. There has been great demand for land for the purpose of planting rubber. Land may be alienated with or without auction, but mining land is almost invariably put up to auction. In such cases a reserve price is fixed by the Resident. I do not know what notice is given of a sale by auction, but the Residents may be trusted to see that sufficient notice is given to secure the necessary competition. Agricultural land is not, as a rule, sold by auction but is granted in return for the payment of a premium, which is fixed according to the class of land, and for an annual quit rent which may be periodically revised at intervals of thirty years. Mining land is granted on lease for a term of years and not in perpetuity. For further details I would refer the hon. Member to the land and mining enactments of the Federated Malay States, which will be found in the Library of this House. The Secretary of State sees no reason at present for altering a system which is understood to work well and has attracted much-needed capital to the Federated Malay States.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government has information with regard to any negotiations between the Governments of Madagascar and the Transvaal for the provision of Malagasy labour for the Transvaal mines; and whether he will lay Papers on the subject.

The Transvaal Government has inquired of the Secretary of State whether the French Government would be prepared to sanction the recruitment of native labour in Madagascar, and in reply the Transvaal Government is being invited to give particulars as to the proposed terms of recruitment.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he can inform the House if action has been taken, or is about to be taken, in Natal on the unanimous recommendations of the Native Affairs Commission contained in the Report laid before Parliament, and in particular with regard to the abolition of compulsory labour, the desirability of open inquiry or trial where deprivation of rights may be intended, adequate means for acquainting natives with contemplated legislation, the improvement of police methods and avoidance of unnecessary arrest and handcuffing of kraal-heads, compensation to native missions, and reconsideration of the action of the Native Trust in dismantling places of worship.

I cannot give precise information, but ministers have stated that they intend to carry out certain administrative recommendations of the Commission, and that they in part have done so. They have also given an assurance to the Parliament of the Colony that they will introduce legislation to implement as far as is possible the proposals of the Commission, but they state that they cannot deal with the Report as applying to the whole Colony pending a settlement of the matters averred to be a cause of unrest in Zulu-land.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, how many British civil servants have been reduced since the grant of responsible Government to the Transvaal; and whether, having regard to the public assurances given by Sir A. Lawley and Sir R. Solomon, any and what steps have been taken by His Majesty's Government to secure to them any consideration for their loss of employment.

The right hon. Gentleman's Question is not quite clear in its terms. He speaks of British Civil Servants, of which there were only three, and suitable employment has been found for them. If he means Transvaal Civil Servants of British birth, I fear I cannot answer the Question, as I cannot distinguish them in that way. The Civil Service was notoriously overstaffed, and many retrenchments have taken place on the authority of a Royal Commission, both in the period of Crown Colony Government and under Responsible Government. I would desire to say that the Secretary of State is anxious to find places here and in the Colonies for well qualified men, and that some have already been provided for.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, in 1899, Major McInerney, being then a barrister in active practice in Melbourne, left his professional duties to serve as an officer in the Victorian contingent in the Boer War, and was seriously wounded in that service; that he was afterwards appointed chief magistrate of the Court of Pretoria under martial law, resident magistrate of Krugersdorp under the civil administration, on the terms, as-promised by Sir Richard Solomon, that pension rights would be attached to the office; that he was seconded to act as chairman of the Central Judicial Commission, and charged with the heavy and responsible duty of inquiring into and adjudicating upon the claims for compensation for war damage and on military receipts, and after completion of that task resumed his office as resident magistrate; that he was retired from the service of the Transvaal Government in September, 1907, without pension; and whether, in view of the recorded testimony to the value of Ids. services by Lord Milner and Lord Selborne, and to the pledges made by the representatives of the King in the Transvaal, His Majesty's Government have taken any, and what, steps to secure the fulfilment of those pledges in respect of Major McInerney's eight years of strenuous and able service to the Crown.

The facts are I believe generally as stated in the Question, though I cannot agree that any promise of pension was made to Major McInerney which in the absence of a general pension law could confer any special rights upon him; nor is there anything which materially differentiates his case from that of many other public officers in the Transvaal who were retrenched at the time when the right hon. Member was himself holding the seal of office as Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Secretary of State fully appreciated the value of the services which Major McInerney rendered in South Africa and was glad recently to have an opportunity of recognising those services by submitting his name to His Majesty for an honour, but he is not prepared to press his claims on the Transvaal Government.

Is this a typical case of the reductions which have taken place?

I am advised there are no circumstances differentiating this case from those of other persons with respect to the claim for pensions.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any information as to the prospects o£ the immediate, release of Sir Harry Maclean from captivity in Morocco.

We have just received a telegram from our representative at Tangier stating that Raisuli has informed him that he will bring in Kaid Maclean this evening.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether any representations whatever have been made to the Belgian Government with regard to the proposed annexation of the Congo Free State; and, if so, whether he can inform the House as to the attitude taken up by His Majesty's Government.

The Belgian Parliament having not yet decided what terms as regards the Congo Free State shall be submitted as to the transfer of the State, the time has not yet come, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, for any formal representations as to the conditions which they consider should prevail in the Congo State after the transfer has been made. Both the Belgian and the Congolese Governments are, however, well aware of the views held by His Majesty's Government upon this point.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he is aware that, in accordance with the Chinese opium edict, all opium dens in the Native city of Shanghai, to the number of 700, have been closed, and that no steps have been taken to close 1,600 opium dens in the international settlement which is under the control of the Shanghai Municipal Council; and whether His Majesty's Government will adopt measures to ensure that the anti-opium campaign in China is not discouraged and thwarted by the reluctance of the municipal council to co-operate with the Chinese authorities.

The facts as regards the closing of the opium saloons in the Native city at Shanghai and their retention in the International Settlement are as stated in the Question. The Municipal Council are responsible to the ratepayers of the Settlement, and are not under the control of His Majesty's Government. The Council have decided not to issue any further licenses, but it is understood that they do not consider they would be justified in doing more pending reference to the ratepayers at their annual meeting, which takes place in March next. His Majesty's Government will use all the influence in their power to ensure that bona fide efforts on the part of the Chinese authorities to diminish the opium habit in China are not thwarted but encouraged.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Indian troops have been despatched into Persian territory for the purpose of protecting a petroleum concession granted to a British subject; whether this step has been taken with the consent of the Persian Government and with that of the Turkish and Russian Governments, parties to the frontier Treaty between Turkey and Persia; whether it is intended to reinforce the Indian troops in question; and whether the expenses of their despatch into Persian territory will be defrayed by Persia, by the Government of India, by this country, or by the British concessionaire.

The consular escort at Ahwaz has been temporarily reinforced by twenty men and two officers. This step has been rendered necessary by the disturbed state of the district, and the possible danger in consequence to the consular staff and the British employees of the Oil Syndicate. It is not a matter which affects the frontier Treaty referred to or the Governments who are parties to it. No objection has been raised by the Persian Government or any one else to a step which was taken solely to protect British persons and property. There is no intention of reinforcing the troops in question. The expenses of their despatch into Persian territory are being shared by British and Indian funds.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give an estimate of the amount of damage caused to British property at Casablanca and other towns in Morocco.

My right hon. friend has not sufficient information to enable him to give even an approximate estimate of the damage done at Casablanca. It would in any case be undesirable to do so, as it will be the duty of the International Commission which is to meet at that port to assess the amount of the damage. As far as my right hon. friend is aware no damage has recently been caused to British property at any other town in Morocco.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if there are any outstanding cases with regard to compensation for damage or loss incurred by British ships during the Russo-Japanese War.

My right hon. friend regrets to state that most of these cases are still outstanding. Though His Majesty's Government have repeatedly called attention to the case of the "Knight Commander," and pressed for a reply to their proposal that the matter should be referred to arbitration, no answer has—down to the present time—been received from the Russian Government. His Majesty's Government are also awaiting replies to communications they have addressed to the Imperial Government in regard to the case of the "Calchas," and the claims arising in connection with the detention of the Peninsular and Oriental Steamer "Malacca" in the Red Sea. The cases of the "Hipsang," "St. Kilda," "Ikhona," and "Oldhamia" are still pending in various stages, before the Russian Prize Courts.

Do I understand our Government is pressing for compensation or damages in the case of the "Malacca"?

No Sir. What our Government has done is to put forward the claims which have been made in respect of the detention of the "Malacca" in the Red Sea.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether it is the Government's intention to re-introduce an Irish Council Bill this session.

No, Sir.

I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he intends to propose the promised Amendment to the Standing Orders dealing with anticipatory Motions.

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government propose to carry out the recommendations of the Committee appointed last session to consider the subject of blocking Notices of Motions given in this House.

The Amendments to the Standing Orders will be placed on the Paper immediately, and they can be moved at any time that we can be assured that they can pass as unopposed Resolutions.

Are hon. Members to be left entirely at the mercy of the proposed Amendments being made without opposition in the House?

The Prime Minister said—and, I think, I said—we were prepared only to move these Amendments if they obtained general consent.

Cannot the Government give some help to private Members who ballot a Motion in the hope of getting debate on the subject?

Hon. Members can take that course if they like.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that the Government will not move the Resolutions unless they are absolutely unopposed?

Unless they are substantially unopposed.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of the Chief Constable of Liverpool, given in Cd. 3813, that the action of the Liverpool Licensing Bench in discountenancing the presence of children in public houses is responsible for the fact that the children observed to be taken into public houses in Liverpool amounted to only 1·25 per public house per hour against 9·12 in London; and whether the same method of checking this evil can be recommended by the Home Office to other licensing benches.

The Secretary of State does not find that the Chief-Constable of Liverpool committed himself to so definite a statement as my hon. friend attributes to him; but there can be no doubt that the views of a licensing authority on the question of the admission of women and children into public houses must have a strong influence on the license-holders within their district. The Secretary of State has no power to advise licensing authorities in this matter; but he is sure that they must all be fully alive to a question which is so much in the public mind at the moment, and which will be dealt with in coming legislation.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department it his attention has been called to the fact that, under new regulations framed by the Commissioner of Police, members of the Metropolitan Police force have to perform point duty for eight consecutive hours on Sunday, without an interval for rest or refreshment; and will he arrange that an interval of at least half an hour for these purposes be allowed them.

The alteration in the hours of duty which my hon. friend mentions affects a limited of stations and was made by the Commissioner for the convenience of the men. The Commissioner may be trusted to so arrange that the constables referred to have proper opportunities for taking necessary refreshment.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that certain ladies recently imprisoned for making political demonstrations have been placed in the second division in Holloway Prison, and are being treated as ordinary criminals; whether this is contrary to the accepted practice of treating political offenders as first-class misdemeanants; and whether he can arrange that they should be treated in the same way as ladies imprisoned for similar demonstrations in 1906.

My hon. friend is mistaken in thinking that these ladies are being treated as ordinary criminals. The second division of prisoners was established for the purpose of separating from ordinary prisoners of the third-class persons of previously good character convicted of minor offences. Whether a prisoner should be placed in the first, second or third class is a matter in the discretion of the magistrate. The ladies referred to in the hon. Member's Question have committed offences against the ordinary law, and the Secretary of State sees no reason to interfere with the magistrate's decision that they should be treated in the second division.

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the total number of licences for the sale of intoxicating liquor which have been extinguished under the provisions of the Act of 1904; and whether he will give the average annual net reduction in the number of on-licences, for a period of ten years before the Act of 1904 came into operation, and the average annual net reduction in the number of the same class of licences which has been subsequently effected under that Act.

The hon. Member will find the information he desires in the Annual Volumes of Licensing Statistics. The compilation of the volume for 1907 is not yet complete, but the Secretary of State can give the following figures as approximately correct. In the three years 1905–6–7, the renewal of about 3,332 on-licences was refused subject to compensation under the Act of 1904, but a certain number of these await the payment which will actually extinguish them. The total number paid for and extinguished before 31st December last, is about 2,669, showing an average annual reduction of 889 licences under the Act of 1904. In addition, there was an annual average reduction without compensation of 418 licences—due to various causes. After deducting the average number of new licences granted (fifty-five) the net average annual reduction for the three years is about 1,250, as compared with an average of 386 for the period of ten years before the Act of 1904 came into operation.

Does not this represent a reduction of one and a half licences for each licensing district in England and Wales?

Will the hon. Member please give notice of that Question?

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is ret in a position to state when the Report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the lighthouse administration of the United Kingdom will be laid upon the Table of the House.

I am informed that the Royal Commission have made their Report, which has been submitted to the King. It will, no doubt, be laid on the Table in the course of a few days.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has received an answer from the London County Council to his inquiry, whether the Council is willing to assist the proposed Port of London authority by giving its guarantee to the new stock, as recommended by the Royal Commission on the Port of London, and proposed in the Bill of the late Government.

Yes, Sir. But though I emphasised the importance of the Board of Trade's knowing the attitude and intentions of the London County Council while preparing their Bill, I do not gather from the reply I received that the matter has been discussed by the Council. That reply informed me that the Rivers Committee were unable to recommend the Council to come to any decision, until they knew the main lines on which the Government intend to deal with the matter, but that some of their members would be glad to confer with me on the whole subject. I shall, of course, gladly avail myself of this offer, and I am already in personal touch with the Chairman of the Council, and of the Rivers Committee. I am, however, quite without any official information as to the views of the Council as a whole.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if the Board allows corporations and other local authorities to vary subsequently the conditions on which loans have been raised in the public market by such authorities; and, if so, under what Act.

The Local Government Board would not sanction any arrangement that would have the effect of varying the conditions on which a loan had been raised by a local authority unless the variation was made with the consent of the lender.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he can state the number of men at present on relief works in connection with distress committees in different parts of the country, and the total amount granted out of the funds at his disposal; whether he can also state the number of men engaged upon relief works at the Alexandra Palace, together with the amount granted up to the present date; and whether he entertains any hope of being able to make further grants for this work in the near future; and, if so, upon what conditions.

The latest information at my disposal shows that in the week ended 25th January there were 4,075 persons for whom employment was provided by distress committees outside London upon work which was undertaken by the distress committees or to the cost of which they were contributing. The number for whom employment was provided by the Central (Unemployed) Body for London on Friday last was 1,724. The amount which up to the present time I have advanced out of the Parliamentary grant is £62,747. This is of course exclusive of any payments made in Scotland and Ireland by the Local Government Boards for those countries. There were 175 men employed by the Central Body at work in the grounds of the Alexandra Palace on Friday, and the number was to be increased to 200 to-day, whilst to-morrow thirty men will be set to work on the building. The payments out of the grant in respect of work at the palace amount to £8,403. I do not contemplate making any further payments for this purpose.

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the fact that certain county councils have interpreted the Small Holdings Act, 1907, and the Acts incorporated in it, in such a manner that the capital sum expended on the purchase of land must not exceed an amount the interest of which can be met by a penny rate, notwithstanding that the land purchased is let for a rent equal to, or greater than, the interest on the capital expended, the rates, taxes, and expenses of management; and if he will consider it advisable to issue a fresh circular to county councils giving instruction on this subject.

My attention has been called to this matter. The Law Officers of the Crown advised in 1893 that, in considering whether the limit prescribed by Sub-section (2) of Section 18 of the Small Holdings Act, 1892, was likely to be exceeded, a county council might have regard to any receipts which might reasonably be expected to come into account during the year and to be available in reduction of the expenses incurred under the Act, and it is now made clear by Section 8 of the Act of last session that this view of the law is correct. I will consider the suggestion that a circular should be issued on the subject.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if he will state how the £100,000 included in the Appropriation Bill of 1907 for the purpose of building elementary schools has been allocated; and what rules or considerations have governed the allocation of the grants.

At the same time may I ask the President of the Board of Education what steps have been taken towards the allotment of the giant of £100,000 for school building; whether it is proposed to make any grants in Wales; and, if so, in what parishes.

I beg also to ask the President of the Board of Education if he will give a list of the townships in which new elementary schools are to be erected with the assistance of the grant of £100,000 sanctioned in the Appropriation Act of 1907.

The distribution of these grants is governed by regulations laid before Parliament last session. A considerable number of applications, both from England and Wales, have been received, but until the preliminary inquiries have been completed I am not in a position to state the cases in which a grant will be made. A statement will, however, be presented to the House as soon as the outstanding applications have all been decided.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the intention to hold a public inquiry in each case before a grant is made?

Oh, no.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean departmental inquiries?

Departmental inquiries.

When does he think a statement will probably be made?

Probably it will be ready some time next month, but not, I think, until then.

No statement will be made until the money has been allocated?

The money will be allocated in accordance with the regulations. When the money has been allocated a statement will be made. It could not be made until the money has been allocated.

Would it not be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to make a statement before the end of next month as to the sums the Department had already determined to allocate?

No, I will make a complete statement as soon as the money has been allocated.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the evidence of public feeling having been aroused in consequence of the protests of certain members of the Manchester City Council, the parent, and others in March last, against the stripping and birching of a boy at the Manchester Grammar School, he will issue an order prohibiting the stripping of boys without consent of the parents, for the purpose of inflicting corporal punishment, in all schools receiving grants from public funds derived from taxation.

The Board of Education require to be satisfied that a school receiving grants from public funds is properly conducted, and might insist on the alteration of a system of discipline of which they disapproved. But I do not think the case to which the hon. Member refers is one in which the Board should interfere with the discretion of the Governing Body and the headmaster, and it does not appear to me expedient to lay down a general rule on the subject.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the attention of the Board of Agriculture has been called to the fact that circulars have been issued by some county and parish councils inviting applications for small holdings and allotments under the limited provisions of the Act of 1892, which require the purchase of the land by the small holder, and ignoring the provisions for leasing land under the Act of 1907; and whether, in view of the discouraging effect which this may have on many would-be applicants, the Board will take steps to advise the councils to advertise the whole of the opportunities available under the new Act of 1907.

Our attention has been directed to one instance in which circulars have been issued by a parish council which is open to the objection to which my hon. friend refers, and we are in communication with the county council respecting it. So far as our information goes the case is an exceptional one, but if others come under our notice we shall be glad to give effect to the suggestion of my hon. friend.

I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dutch skim-milk cheese is being imported into and sold in this country under the name of Dutch Cheshire cheese; and whether he can take any steps to prevent the buying public being imposed on by such a description.

We have for some time past been making inquiry into this matter, but up to the present we have not obtained any definite information that any offence under the Merchandise Marks Acts has been committed. The matter will continue to receive attention, and proceedings will at once be instituted if the necessary evidence of any infringement of the law is forthcoming.

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General, whether, in view of the facts disclosed in the recent Druce perjury prosecution, he will consider the advisability of devising such means as will in the future prevent the use of the name of the, Crown in criminal courts for private ends as distinguished from the vindication of public justice.

I think it is highly undesirable we should take away from private persons the right to apply for criminal process. To do so would involve a complete change in our system and would throw great additional expense on the taxpayer. It seems to me desirable that all criminal proceedings, being, as they are, in respect of alleged offences against the State, should be in the name of the Crown. With regard to preventing the abuse of this criminal procedure, reliance is placed by us upon the vigilance of the magistrates and on the penalties attached to malicious prosecution and perjury. I should be glad to consider any further means my hon. friend may suggest having the same end in view.

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General how many cases of robbery and attempted robbery of His Majesty's mails in Ireland were reported to the police during the past thirteen months; how many arrests were made; and in how many cases were the perpetrators convicted.

My right hon. friend has asked me to answer this Seven such cases have been reported during the past thirteen months. In none of these were any arrests made or I prosecutions instituted.

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture for Ireland, how long the advertisements of the Department have been inserted in the Ulster Guardian; and what amount has been paid or is owing to this paper to 31st December, 1907, for such advertisements

The date is August 3rd, 1907; the amount, £12 11s. 6d.

Has the hon. Gentleman any financial interest direct or indirect in the paper?

None whatever.

Has the hon. Gentleman ever seen a list of shareholders in the paper which includes his wife's name?

I adhere to my Answer.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the disturbed state of the district of Gort, county Galway; whether he will state the number of outrages reported from this district during the past twelve months, specifying the number of cases of firing at and wounding the person, firing into dwelling houses, and incendiary fires, respectively; whether during the last three months the outrages have been more numerous than at any previous period; and whether he will explain why no adequate measures have been taken to deal with this disorder.

The number of serious offences reported as having occurred in the constabulary district or Gort during the twelve months ending 31st January, 1908, is forty-one, which includes two cases of firing at and wounding, fourteen cases of firing into dwellings, and five cases of incendiary fire. Of the forty-one cases, ten occurred in the three months last past, eighteen in the preceding three months, and six and seven respectively in the two earlier periods of three months. The normal police force of the district consists of thirty-eight men. In August last an extra force of eleven men was sent to the district, and during the past month the force has been further strengthened by the addition of forty-four men.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that the agent on this property in the course of the last few weeks was fined for assaulting a tenant in the rent office, and that on the evening of 22nd January the same agent fired several shots at the people, to their fear and terror? Are these outrages included in the list?

I hope they are.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a report of the shooting of Mr. Patrick Ryan, a national school teacher, at Dooms, East Clare, on 23rd January; whether he has any information as to the reason for the outrage: and whether any arrests have been made.

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. It would be contrary to practice to state the opinion, if any. of the police as to the motive for an offence. The police have not yet succeeded in obtaining evidence which would justify them in making an arrest.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether it has been reported to him that at Summerhill, Wicklow, on the night of 25th January, two officers I of the constabulary were shot while standing beneath a street lamp; and whether any persons have been arrested.

The facts are as stated in the Question. Five persons have been arrested and are now on remand.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on Sunday night, 26th January, shots were fired outside the house of Mr. Cooney, a farmer at Carrowbane, near Gort, with an intimidatory purpose; whether this farmer has been previously molested, and on what grounds; and whether any action has been taken in reference to the matter.

The facts are as stated in the first part of the Question. In the month of December last part of a boundary fence on Mr. Cooney's farm was injured. The police have made full inquiries in the matter, but so far have not succeeded in bringing the offender to justice.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a report of a shooting outrage at the house of a farmer, named Macnamara, at Dromindoora, East Clare; and whether the police have taken any action in the matter.

The police have reported that John Macnamara's house was fired into on the 1st and again on the 6th January, the circumstances on each occasion tending to show that intimidation and not personal injury was intended. The police have taken all possible steps to discover the offenders but without success.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he has received particulars of an attack with firearms upon men engaged in felling trees on Lord Gough's property, near Gort, on 9th January; and whether any of the assailants were arrested.

I have received a report of the offence referred to, which was committed on 8th January. Two men were injured by pellets of shot. The offenders were disguised and the injured persons were unable to identify any of them. No arrests have been made.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the nature of the outrage committed on 8th January, at the residence of Mrs. Cooper-Chad-wick, at Ballinard, Tipperary; whether this lady has been under police protection and, if so, for what reason; and whether the persons who committed this outrage have been discovered.

On the evening of 7th January an explosion took place outside Mrs. Cooper-Chadwick's house. It was found that a wheel-box containing powder had been placed at some yards distance from the house and exploded. The distance at which the explosion took place was such that the building was not materially injured. Mrs. Cooper-Chadwick had recently evicted a tenant. At the time of the outrage she was receiving protection by police patrols, and she has since been afforded closer protection. The offenders have not been discovered.

Is it not the fact that at the time of the committal of this outrage friendly negotiations were proceeding for the sale of this estate, and have not the tenants and the local bodies condemned it as the work of the outrage-monger?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a report that the house of Mr. William Young, D.C., at Scariff, was fired into on the night of 6th January; whether anything is known as to the cause of the outrage; and whether any arrests have been made.

Mr. Young's house was fired into on the night of 6th January. No motive for the offence can be assigned by the police. No arrests have been made.

Can the right hon. Gentleman or his law-advisers not devise some means or take some steps whereby some person or persons who must be responsible for those outrages may be brought to justice?

Take Mr. Craig into consultation.

Send for Lord Ashtown.

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Richard Stackpoole, of Edenvale, Ennis, evicted John Haugh, his wife, and eight young children at Farrihy, two weeks ago; whether he will use his influence with the Estates Com-missioners to take action in this case by serving Mr. Stackpoole with notice that; they may be able to reinstate this family.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that, having regard to the recent date of the eviction, the case referred to in the Question is not one to which the compulsory powers of the Evicted Tenants Act of last session could be applied. Purchase agreements in respect of the estate referred to have, however, been lodged with the Commissioners, and they will inquire into the matter of the eviction when the estate comes to be dealt with in due course.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is a fact, that at the recent quarter sessions at Kilrush—the capital of West Clare—the County Court Judge was presented with white gloves, and that he complimented the Grand Jury on the peaceable state of the division of this county, and whether harsh evictions like Haugh's may bring disturbances in the divisions?

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the representations which have been addressed to him, he will endeavour to have Ireland included in the proposed Licensing Bill.

Having regard to the differences which exist between the licensing laws of Ireland and those of England, it is not intended to include Ireland in the proposed Licensing Bill of this session. I hope, however, that licensing legislation in respect of Ireland will not be long delayed.