have been delivered to Indian railways | his action on account of the inconvenience by other than British contractors, and which he sustained through being unable in how many cases has the guaranteed delivery date been exceeded. (Answer.) I am unable to say how Merchant Shipping Boys under Reduced SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean): To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state what number of boys is now carried under the Reduced Light Dues Clause of the Merchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act of 1898. (Answer.) 1,523 boys have been enrolled, but it is difficult to estimate the number actually carried at any given moment.-(Board of Trade.) Braunton Lighthouse, Devonshire. MR. SOARES (Devonshire, Barnstaple): To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet decided as to the advisability of connecting Braunton Lighthouse, in North Devon, with the telephone. (Answer.) I communicated the suggestion of the hon. Member to the Postmaster General, but I have not yet received his observations on the matter. -(Board of Trade.) South-Eastern Railway-Penge Station MR. WEIR: To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of Graveley v. the South Eastern Railway Company, in which Judge Addison, at the Southwark County Court, on the 29th April, delivered judgment against the plaintiff, who brought to leave Penge railway station immediately after his arrival by train, in consequence of the door giving egress from the station being kept locked until after the train had left the platform, so that the plaintiff was unable to catch another train by which he had arranged to travel; and will he consider the advisability of taking such steps as may be necessary, by legislation or otherwise, to require railway companies to arrange for the immediate egress from railway stations of passengers arriving by train. (Answer.) I have no information as to the case referred to other than that given in the newspaper cutting which the hon. Member has been good enough to send me. I observe that the county court judge is reported to have expressed the opinion that nothing could be more reasonable than what the railway company had done. The Board of Trade have no power in the matter, and I do not think any need exists for such action as the hon. Member suggests.—(Board of Trade.) Irish Kelp Industry-Rent Charge on Seaweed. MR. DELANY (Queen's Co., Ossory): To ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the recent decision of the Head Land Commission in the cases of Lee v. Nolan and Folan v. Berridge, in which Mr. Justice Meredith held that, under Section 8 of the Act of 1881, the landlord was entitled to rent on seaweed collected for the manufacture of kelp; and whether the Government propose making any alteration in the law to counteract the effect of this decision upon the occupiers of small holdings on the sea coast in Ireland. (Answer.) The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative, and to the second in the negative.-(Irish Office.) Achill Island-Foreshore Rights. DR. AMBROSE (Mayo, W.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the landlord of the Clive estate, in Achill Island, county Mayo, has any claim on the ownership of the foreshore at Annagh, in Achill Island, county Mayo; and, if so, what is that claim, to whom was it granted, and what is the date of the granting of it. (Answer.) Since notice of the Question | into operation as from the 1st April. I was given I have been informed that the am not aware that inconvenience has owner of the Clive estate claims the owner- been caused, such as alleged in the conship of the foreshore at Annagh. I am not cluding part of the Question.-(Irish Office.) aware that the Crown has parted with their rights in the foreshore, but any evidence which the owner of the Clive estate may submit in support of his claim will be considered by the legal advisers of the Board. (Board of Trade.) Irish Intermediate Education Board- MR. WILLIAM MOORE (Antrim, N.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if the programme and rules of the Intermediate Education Board have been heretofore published at Easter in each year; what is the reason for the delay in the publication in the present year of the programme and rules for the examination in 1903; when such publication will be made; and if he can give any assurance that no radical changes will be announced which the present delay will render almost impossible for teachers to adopt. (Answer.) The programme and rules of the Board were published in the month of June during the past three years. The programme and rules for 1903 will be ready for publication in the course of a week or ten days, and I cannot, by anticipation, make any statement as to their effect.-(Irish Office.) Irish Local Government Board Provisional Order Confirmation (No. 3) Act (1901). MR. COGAN (Wicklow, E.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Order required by Section 25 (2) of the Local Government Board (Ireland) Provisional Order Confirmation (No. 3) Act, 1901, has yet been printed; and, if not, how soon will it be ready for circulation; and whether he is aware that inconvenience has been caused to the secretaries of the County Councils in Ireland by reason of this Order not having been printed and made available prior to the Act coming into operation on the 1st of April last. (Answer.) The Order, as amended, was received at the Stationery Office on the 7th April, and on the 25th April it was published and placed on sale as a Statutory Order. The Order only came Woolwich Arsenal and Dockyard Labourers. LORD CHARLES BERESFORD (Woolwich): To ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the number of unskilled labourers employed in Woolwich Arsenal and Dockyard whose rate of wage is 21s. per week; whether the War Office have received a petition asking that unskilled labour should be paid at the rate of 24s. per week; and, if so, whether any reply has been made to that petition; and, seeing that the market rate for unskilled labour outside the Arsenal is 24s. per week, that the Government contractors employed in the Arsenal pay unskilled labour at this rate, and that the municipal authorities at Woolwich pay unskilled labour at the rate of 26s. per week, and having regard to the rents prevalent in the borough, whether he will take into consideration the question of increasing the wage of unskilled labour employed in the Woolwich Arsenal. late the number of labourers receiving 21s. a week without considerable labour Hong Kong Barracks Buildings. MR. WEIR: To ask the Secretary of State for War if the persons who advised Major General Black to recommend the purchase of the hotel at the Peak, Hong Kong, for barracks at a cost of £39,000 are still consulted by the War Office; and, having regard to the value of the building when purchased, will care be taken that competent valuers are in future consulted under similar circumstances when the purchase of buildings by the War Office is in contemplation. the answers I have already given the hon. (Answer.) I have nothing to add to Member on this subject. (War Office.) Gibraltar-Cuby's Bank-Loss of Regi- The statistics for 1901-1902 are not mental Funds. MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.): To ask yet quite complete.--(War Office.) the Secretary of State for War, with regard to the inquiry promised into the details of the stoppage of payment by Messrs. Cuby's Bank, Gibraltar, with reference to the regimental funds in the hands of that bank, can he now state the result of the inquiry, and who is held responsible for those funds, and what dividend has been paid; whether he is aware that two regimental canteens have lost £800 and £900 respectively, and that one of these canteens requested permission to cease banking at Cuby's, which permission had been refused; have steps been taken to inquire into the action of those senior officers who entrusted such funds to a private bank instead of to a recognised bank; and and who allowed balances in excess of the regulations to Milk-blended Butter. SIR EDWARD STRACHEY (Somersetshire, S.): To ask the President of the immediately after the 15th May, take Board of Agriculture whether he will, such steps as may be necessary to test the value of the standard for butter set up by the Board of Agriculture, so that the uncertainty now existing whether after that date milk-blended butter containing permitted by the standard can still be a higher percentage of moisture than sold may be determined. accumulate. (Answer.) It has not been the practice of the Board to anticipate the action of local authorities for the purpose of testing the effect of statutes, and in view of the full powers of local authorities I do not think that any special necessity for (Answer.) This matter has been fully doing so arises in this case. The considered by the confidential Committee authority given by statute to the Board presided over by General Sir Reginald has been fully exercised in issuing the Gipps, and the necessary disciplinary regulations.--(Board of Agriculture.) action has been taken by the Commanderin-Chief. Deficiencies affecting regimental institutes have, by a very recent Army Order, been brought under the regulations dealing with the responsibility for losses of regimental property. I may point out to the hon. Member that the regulations do not fix a maximum to the bank balances of regimental institutes.-(War Office.) Army Pensions-Statistics. MR. NOLAN (Louth, S.): To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of non-commissioned officers and men retired on pension in the years 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, and 1901 respectively, with the average per head in each grade. Arrangement of Opposed Private Bill Business. will be MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick): To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is intended to amend the present system of private Bill legislation, and whether another arrangement made to enable the discussion of opposed private Bills at a suitable hour; whether he would be disposed to allow a sitting of the House at mid-day for that purpose when required. (Answer.) No proposal to amend the present system of private Bill legislation can be entertained until the Committee shortly to be appointed to investigate the subject has reported. As at present ad(Answer.) I am afraid I cannot under-vised, the proposal to have a sitting in take to give all the details asked for by the the afternoon for the purpose of dealing hon. Member, as their preparation would with opposed private Bills does not seem entail considerable clerical labour. The advisable.—(Treasury.) figures available are as follow: Irish Gold Ornaments. SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Wexford, N.): To ask the First Lord of the Treasury, as the case for the recovery of the Irish gold ornaments is expected to come on soon after Whitsuntide, if he will cause the Royal Irish Academy to be informed of the date of the trial, when it is fixed, in accordance with the undertaking given recently by Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Answer.) The Treasury solicitor, who has the case in hand, will inform the Royal Irish Academy of the date fixed for the trial as soon as he is in a position to do so.-(Treasury.) MR. BRODRICK: I have no information on this matter. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.): As this Question should properly have been addressed to me, I may say, perhaps, that I have seen a newspaper account of the proceedings referred to. The matter is one which (2.15.) QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. primarily concerns the Cape Government, : MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottinghamshire, Rushcliffe) I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to what occurred in the Supreme Court of Cape Colony on 12th April, when two convictions of the resident magistrate of Clanwilliam were held to be illegal and quashed; and especially whether he is aware that the Chief Justice declared, with the concurrence of his colleagues, that the present system under which magistrates have to administer Martial Law regulations is unfair to the magistrates and fatal to the due administration of justice, and that therefore the additional duties so imposed upon the magistrates are inconsistent with the due performance of their duties as administrators of the ordinary law of the Colony, and ought, if possible, to be avoided; and, whether he will take steps to put an end to a system thus condemned by Chief Justice de Villiers and his colleagues. and I have not as yet been informed of their views on the subject. MR. JOHN ELLIS: The right hon. Gentleman will understand that I put the Question to the Secretary for War because it deals with martial authority, which is presumably directed by Lord Kitchener. Will further inquiry be made? MR. BRODRICK: No. Representations must come from the Cape Government in the ordinary course. Vryburg Military Hospital. SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derbyshire, Ilkeston): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has any information as to the insanitary and crowded state of the Military hospital at Vryburg at the end of April, and the absence of tents for the use of the sick, for whom there was insufficient accommodation in the hospital. MR. BRODRICK: I have no information of the condition of Vryburg Hospital later than the 4th April. Will the hon. Member kindly supply me with the information on which his Question is based. Richmond Park-Volunteer Drills. MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSE (Bristol, E.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can obtain a reconsideration of the decision not to permit a more extended use of Richmond Park under proper regulations for the training of Metropolitan Volunteers. MR. BRODRICK: As I have already explained to the House, the field training of the volunteers must be mainly carried out in camps. My right hon. friend the first Commissioner has already expressed his willingness to consider the extension of the area now used for volunteer drills, and is in communication with the Ranger on the subject. Fuze Time Rings. CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the character of the nuts at present in use for fixing the time ring on fuzes which require the use of tools or spanners to fix them, and seeing that the explosion of shells is either hastened or delayed by the nuts allowing the time ring to shift, whether he will consider the advisability of adopting a lock nut which can be fixed by hand and thus insure greater certainty and increased speed. MR. BRODRICK: The question of improved fuzes is under consideration. Post Office Volunteers on Active Service, CAPTAIN NORTON: I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, seeing that it is inconvenient to relieve the Post Office Volunteers who have served continuously in South Africa since the outbreak of the war, and that they are, moreover, deprived of their holidays falling due while on active service, and are only entitled to a few week's leave prior to being called upon to resume duty in the Department, he will consider the advisability of granting them, by way of compensation, an extended holiday upon their return home at the close of the war. which gives to similar pensioners in the Fleet Reserve the non-continuous service pay of their ratings; and whether he is aware that at present a differentiation in pay is being made, although both bodies. do precisely similar work. THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER, Belfast, W.): The shipwright pensioners entered in the Dockyard Reserve in November, 1899, are entitled to the benefit of the Admiralty Order of 30th October, 1899, referred to. The only instances in which lower rates of pay are given are a few remaining cases of unskilled ratings of the carpenter class entered with lower qualifications under the old regulations in force before 1899. These men are understood to be employed on work of a less skilled character, and in every case in which such men have been reported to be efficient and qualified workmen actually employed on skilled labour in common with other allowed the higher rate of pay. pensioned shipwrights, they have been. H.M.S. "Medusa." MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will give the names of the cruisers of the "Medusa" class that have their forced draught fan engines and fans. fitted to and above the protective deck, as is being done in the "Medusa " at present at Jarrow. MR. WILLIAM ALLAN How can the hon. Gentleman reconcile that statement with the one he made to me on a previous occasion? MR. KEARLEY (Devonport): I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether the shipwright pensioners entered in the Dockyard Reserve in November, 1899, are entitled to the benefit of the *MR. SPEAKER: Order, order! That Admiralty Order of 30th October, 1899, is a matter of argument. |