hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well, that, unless under exceptional circumstances, Ministers are practically in the hands of the permanent officials; and they cannot be otherwise in the existing state of things. I would not advocate a change such as occurs in America every four years. That would be one of the greatest evils that could befall an administration; but it is the other extreme. The condition of affairs in this country shows that the Board of Trade is unable to cope with the competition which at present exists. believe it collects statistics as regards Great Britain, but not as regards Ireland, but I maintain that Ireland is entitled to a special Department of the Board of Trade, and that it ought to be the duty of this House and the Board of Trade to develop the industries of Ireland as well as of Great Britain. We are face to face with what might be called a national crisis in this country. We have a great shipping combine," we have imports from every country in the world, and we have a system of so called Free Trade. One of the reasons why Great Britain has not progressed in recent years is that there is no special Department to deal with trade and commerce such as her competitors have. America, Germany, and even Japan have Ministers of Commerce. THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, Leeds, Central): America has no Ministers of Commerce. MR. FIELD: The Americans have a system of collecting statistics, and whether they have a Minister of Commerce or not their methods are superior. They are buying up everything. It is even said that they will buy up London and the Houses of Parliament. I entirely agree with the terms of this Motion, and I trust that the Government will, in their own interests and in the interest of the commerce of this country, consider the necessity of appointing a Minister of Commerce. *(11.48.) MR. HOULT (Cheshire, Wirral): I do not know whether the time Ten has arrived when the appointment of a Minister of Commerce should be considered to be within the region of practical politics, but I do know that the exigencies and requirements of trade and commerce require more attention than they are in the habit of receiving. I am rather inclined to fancy that if we had a man with the necessary business knowledge and capacity appointed to some position in the Government to watch over the trade interests of this country, it would be a distinct advantage. I think that such a man at the present time would view with some alarm the deIt is well known that the French Governcrease in the number of our sailing ships. ment gives very considerable bounties to French sailing ships, and it is quite impossible for English sailing ships to compete with French sailing ships, and, in the course of time, our English sailing ships may be wiped off the seas. years ago the tonnage of English sailing ships was 2,400,000 tons; today it is only 1,500,000 tons. That must necessarily be a matter of very serious consideration because our sailing ships are really the nurseries for the sailors of our mercantile marine. I think that such a man would regard seriously the statement we have often heard from the hon. Member for the Chelmsford Division that in his district there are thousands of acres of derelict land suitable for wheat-growing, perhaps the best wheat-growing land in the world. I think that a business man would conclude that there is something wrong in our system which permits that agricultural land to be derelict, while at the same time we are purchasing wheat produced in other countries at a cost ranging from 27s. to 35s. a quarter. Then, I am rather inclined to fancy that a business man would regard the sale of two lines of steamers engaged in the Far East coasting trade to foreigners as being a matter which required some serious consideration and attention, because those ships are not sold because they are old or because their owners wanted to part with them, but because foreigners wished to buy them and can make them pay when Englishmen cannot. That must, of necessity, be a A merce have hitherto received. on very serious matter in connection with lines and hold their own. I hope that the maritime affairs of this country. the outcome of this proposal may be business man, representing com- that more attention will be given to the and industry, would regard trade interests of the country than they the importation of steel plates from America, which we have hitherto produced entirely ourselves, for the a matter purposes of shipbuilding as MR. BANBURY (Camberwell, Peckof very great importance, and he would be rather puzzled to account for it, ham): The hon. Gentleman who has America being a protected country in just sat down has enunciated some very I think that a Minister startling doctrines. He has informed every sense. of Commerce would view with very us that if we had a business man as considerable alarm the fact that our Minister of Commerce he would see in imports are gradually increasing at a Essex the best wheat-growing land in greater rate than our exports, and that last year our imports exceeded our exports the world, and immediately wheat would by the enormous sum of £183,000,000, grow there. That is a very excellent and that in the previous year the excess sentiment, but I do not see how even was £178,000,000. Perhaps he might be the most excellent Minister of Commerce able to show that, some way or another, could make wheat grow unless the price this balance of trade is not a loss to this were raised, and I do not think any country. Many of us take the view that it is a very considerable loss to the Government would remain long in eountry, and that we are living in a office that proposed a duty of 15s. or fools' paradise. Then, I am inclined to 20s. wheat. Without that, no think that if we had had such a Minister of Commerce could cause wheat Minister of Commerce when the Sugar to be grown in Essex at a profit. Then Bounties came into existence, they would the hon. Gentleman said that a subsidy never have been allowed. There is no should be given to sailing ships. Are doubt that the position of our trade we to be taxed to save the sailing ship is on an entirely different footing to industry? The hon. Member for the St. what it was in years gone by. What Patrick Division took a different view was suitable twenty or thirty years ago of the functions of a Minister of is no longer applicable. Our trade Commerce. According to him, his first is attacked not only by bounties duty would be to reduce rates on railbut by combines" as well, and ways, and, therefore, the Minister of for the Govern- Commerce would be in this curious be necessary may ment of this country to take in the position-that while, on the one hand, future a different view with respect to he would be safeguarding the pecuniary trade interests. It may be necessary interests of certain gentlemen interested for the Government, as the custodians of in shipping, he would, on the other hand, the trade interests of the country, when be taking away money from the vast they see the possibility of a trade or number of people who own shares in. industry being ruined by unfair means-I railway companies. do not fear fair and honest competitionto take steps to help that trade or industry through that unfair competition. I have the greatest faith in my countrymen. adjourned. I believe they have the same grit, energy, and determination; they work from early morning until late at night, and they can compete with foreigners on fair Mr. Hoult. it " It being midnight, the debate stood House adjourned at ten minutes. after Twelve o'clock. PETITIONS. BOROUGH FUNDS ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. RATING OF MACHINERY BILL. Petition from Droylsden, against; to lie upon the Table. Petition from Bethnal Green, in favour; SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS ON to lie upon the Table. Petitions in favour; From Brown Edge; and Little Hulton; to lie upon the Table. LIQUOR TRAFFIC LOCAL VETO SUNDAY BILL. REFORMATORY AND INDUSTRIAL Copy presented, of Forty-fifth Report of his Majesty's Inspector of Reformatory and Industrial Schools for 1901. Part I. List of Schools and Detailed Reports [by Command]; to lie upon the Table. EDUCATION (SCOTLAND). Copy presented, of Report of the Petition from Dundee, in favour; to Committee of Council on Education in lie upon the Table. Scotland, with Appendix, 1901-2 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table. CENSUS OF ENGLAND AND WALES. Copy presented, of Census of England and Wales, 1901 (County of York) [by Command]; to lie upon the Table. ARMY (MEDICAL DEPARTMENT). Copy presented, of Report for the year 1900 [by Command]; to lie upon PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS AMENDMENT the Table. Petition from Keighley, in favour; to lie upon the Table. Paper laid upon the Table by the Clerk of the House. TEMPORARY LAWS. Register of Temporary Laws for the Third Session, Twenty-seventh Parliament, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, pursuant to Report of the Select Committee on Expiring Laws in Session 1866; to be printed. [No. 175.] QUESTIONS & ANSWERS CIRCULATED WITH THE VOTES. delay on the part of the Local Government Board in intimating whether he will be allowed to have consulting practice; and whether he can state when the decision of the Department will be communicated to the authorities in Caithness. (Answer.) On the 12th March the Local Government Board were informed that the County Council of Caithness had appointed a county medical officer, with permission to engage in consulting practice. The Local Government Board did not interfere with the appointment nor hinder the new officer entering on his duties. It was necessary, however, to consider whether the grant in aid of the to the County Council in respect of this cost of medical officers should be payable the Vice-President of the Committee of appointment. The rule is that where the Council on Education whether, in the medical officer engages in consulting forthcoming Order in Council regarding practice the grant is not given unless the teachers' registration, the restriction ex- Secretary for Scotland is satisfied that cluding primary teachers possessing there are exceptional circumstances justiacademical and other educational distinc-fying this arrangement. The necessity tion necessary to qualify for admission to Column B, until they have worked for twelve months in a school other than elementary, will be removed. Teachers' Registration. MR. THORNTON (Clapham): To ask of considering these circumstances in this Council have now been informed that the case caused some delay, but the County grant will not be given.-(Scottish Office.) India-Civil Service-Pensions. State for India, having regard to the MR. WEIR: To ask the Secretary of fact that the pension of a member of the Civil Service has been held in this House to be deferred pay, will he explain why Kanty Chandra Mookerjee, late Extra Assistant Commissioner, Assam, on being dismissed from the Government Service of India in February, 1889, was deprived of the pension which up to that date he had earned in the form of deferred pay during eighteen years service. (Answer.) I am not aware of any expression of the opinion of this House to the effect stated in the Question; but the rule of the Service in India, as in this country, is that a pension, whether it be regarded as deferred pay or not, may not be granted to an officer removed from the service of Government for misconduct.-(India Office.) Indian Railways-Contracts for COLONEL DENNY (Kilmarnock Burghs): To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will state how many engines |