not recommend itself to those interested | satisfactory, rather better in the last in the problem a few years hence. As year or two than for five or six years a matter of fact, there is a a tube railway past. In these circumstances, although authorised from one side of Hyde Park not denying the general urgency of the to the other, but at present it does not question, we may plead the greater seem to be worth the promoters' while urgency of other matters with which we to make it. have to deal.

told that the Act which was passed for land acquisition was not intended to be of very wide application, and was certainly not meant to give power for charitable property to be taken simply at the wish of certain under-officials. But at any rate we think that if this property is taken, the Government might under the same powers by which they take our property, acquire somebody else's for us and make an exchange, as is sometimes done in other cases, so that the girls for whom the building was leased may not be dispossessed. It is not the rupees that the Association want; they want the house, and they cannot get another at Simla. The house is near that part of Simla where the girls are employed, and it is also used as a convalescent home for English girls and women in India. Therefore it seems to us that unless there is a real public need shown the property should not be taken. Since I gave notice of this Question I have received a letter from one of our hospitals for women in India, the writer of which states

"We are much agitated at present because the Government are taking, in the most off. hand way, all the land they want for their hospital accommodation. The other day Colonel made a most easy suggestion that a

man's hostel might be planted on our ground,

and I think it is quite possible that unless something is done this may be carried out in a

short time."

bility of finding another place within their means.

EARL BEAUCHAMP: My Lords, if I were to answer the Question of the noble Lord in detail I should detain your Lordships at an extreme length, because it would be necessary for me to explain the provisions of the law in India relating to the acquisition of property. I hope it will be sufficient if I deal with the particular case which the noble Lord himself has mentioned, and touch rather briefly upon the general law dealing with The main facts the subject as a whole. outlined by the noble Lord are not, I think, in dispute. The house in question is quite close to some of the public offices of the Government of India, and has been rented for a great many years by them There was an opporas an observatory. tunity of buying the land itself in 1903 on behalf of the Government, but as other buildings were being erected on an adjacent site it was not thought necessary. Opportunity was then taken by the organisation in which the noble Lord is interested to buy the house. Subsequently the Government of India became enlarged, and therefore further office accommodation became necessary.. I can assure the noble Lord that there

is no personal reason for the acquisition of this property. The property is required for the extension of the Government offices.

*LORD KINNAIRD: 1 cannot see how this house could have been used as an observatory, as it is at the bottom of a hill.

I mention that to show the danger of giving the authorities power to take the property of private people, not to meet a public demand, but because it is convenient. I hope it is not too late for the Government to ask for more information. I am told the difficulty is that, having EARL BEAUCHAMP: I understand passed this Ordinance, they cannot get out that it was used as a meteorological of it very well, although they admit the office, and I daresay for that purpose hardship. I think the Government might it would be equally efficient at the bottom render valuable help by asking that the of a hill. Again, it is not unlikely that matter should be further considered. there are scientific offices connected The notice of compulsory acquisition was with it for which the site is perfectly given in November, when all the mem- convenient. Your Lordships will see bers of the Committee had left Simla for at once that this is a matter upon which Calcutta. They are still away, but, not- the Government on the spot must be withstanding this fact, the inquiry is to be trusted. It is not really possible, in a held on March 3rd. I venture to think matter of this kind, for the Secretary of your Lordships will agree that, unless a State to intervene or to try to put public need is really shown, it is rather pressure of any sort upon the Viceroy hard that these young women should have or the Government of India. I may their home taken away from them, and say, however, on behalf of the Secretary the Association left without the possi-of State that he has already expressed Lord Kinnaird.

his sympathy with the trustees and his of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in wish to find a modus vivendí if possible. the case of the Petition for the following Communications have been addressed Bill, originating in the Lords, the Standing to Lord Minto, and it is not impossible Orders have not been complied with, that some arrangement will be arrived viz. :-Barnsley, Wombwell, and Wath at, but in a place of the character of Tramways. Simla it is a matter of necessity that the Ordered, That the Report be referred Government should have the first claim to the Select Committee on Standing on the site. The Secretary of State Orders. quite realises that the association may be placed in a position of considerable inconvenience if the compulsory acquisition is proceeded with, and there is very little doubt that the Government of India will give the matter every possible consideration. Upon the general question of acquisition of land, the Government of India will be asked to prepare a document showing the state of the law, but I hope the noble Lord will be satisfied with a copy, and will not think it necessary to have it printed and circulated.

Barry Railway Bill.-" To enable the Barry Railway Company to construct new railways and waterworks; and for other purposes, presented, and read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Pe itions for Private Bills.

to

Rawtenstall Corporation Bill.-" To authorise the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough of Rawtenstall to construct and work tramways and to provide and work omnibuses; confer further powers upon them in relation to their electricity and market undertakings; to authorise them to *LORD KINNAIRD: I shall be quite construct a street work, and to acquire satisfied with that, and I beg to thank lands, and to make further provision the noble Earl for his sympathetic reply. with regard to the health, local governHouse adjourned at a quarter ment, and improvement of the borough before Seven o'clock, to Mon- of Rawtenstall; and for other purposes,' day next, a quarter before presented, and read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time.

Eleven o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Thursday, 28th February, 1907.

The House met at a quarter before
Three of the Clock.

PRIVATE BILL BUSINESS.

South Eastern and London, Chatham and Dover Railways Bill.-" To extend the time for the compulsory purchase of lands and for the completion of works for the South Eastern and London Chatham and Dover Railways; and to authorise the raising of additional capital by the South Eastern Railway Company; and for other purposes," presented,

PRIVATE BILLS (STANDING ORDER 62 and read the first time; and referred

COMPLIED WITH).

to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills.

PETITIONS.

Mr. SPEAKER laid upon the Table Report from one of the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in the case of the following Bills, referred on the First Reading thereof, Standing EDUCATION (PROVISION Order No. 62 has been complied with, viz.:-Gas Companies (Removal of SulMitcham and phur Restrictions) Bill;

Wimbledon District Gas Bill.

Ordered, That the Bills be read a second time.

PRIVATE BILL

(STANDING

PLIED WITH).

PETITIONS [LORDS]
ORDERS NOT COM-

(SCOTLAND) BILL.

OF MEALS)

Petition from Edinburgh, against;

to lie upon the Table.

RETURNS, REPORTS, ETC.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1888.

Copy presented of Orders made by the

Mr. SPEAKER laid upon the Table various County and County Borough Report from one of the Examiners' Councils in England and Wales under

Section 57 of the Act, as confirmed by the whose Oaths of Allegiance have, between Local Government Board [by Act]; to the 1st day of January, 1906, and the lie upon the Table.

the sheriff for breach of interdict, and last visited the instrument room of the fined 10s. or four days, with 21s. expenses. Threadneedle Street telegraph office for The fine of 10s. was paid. In autumn, the purpose of reporting upon the ventila1905, it was found that Macdonald had tion; whether he can state the nature again occupied the house, and he was of that Report; and whether, in view of tried for breach of interdict on 4th July, the repeated complaints made by the 1906, and fined £5 or thirty days, with staff, some steps may be taken to investi£3 6s. expenses. After ten days Mac- gate the matter, with a view to remedying donald was released on payment of the £5. the defects. He was ejected from the house, and went to reside with his family in a barn or a croft in the same district. On 17th January, 1907, he was again found in occupation of the house, and also he was assisting another man to erect a house in contravention of the Act. He was served 23rd with complaint for breach on January. About a week later he removed himself to the house he had formerly occupied. On 21st February he appeared before the sheriff in answer to the citation

served 23rd January, but as the solicitor in charge of the case failed to prove that Macdonald himself was in the house, and had omitted to include Macdonald's family in the indictment, the case fell through, but Macdonald received a serious warning from the sheriff. It is not the case that Macdonald was evicted during the winter, nor that he was away from the district.

Tempo Postal Facilities.

MR. FETHERSTONHAUGH (Fermanagh, N.): To ask the PostmasterGeneral if arrangements could be made to enable letters to be posted on the mail car running between Enniskillen and to Tempo, county Fermanagh, or authorise the mail car driver to accept letters en route for posting at Enniskillen or Tempo is he aware that there are very few post offices along this route and that delivery of letters to the mail car as it passes would be a very great convenience; and, if he cannot see his way to have an open bag on the car, would he authorise the driver, if willing, to accept letters for posting.

(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) I have called for a Report on this subject, and will acquaint the hon. Member with the result.

Threadneedle Street Telegraph Office. MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston): To ask the Postmaster-General whether he can state the date on which an official of the medical department

(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The office was last medically inspected in the summer of 1906. Steps were taken to improve the ventilation of the instrument room, and it was reported that the result is satisfactory. A complaint which has recently been received with regard to the heating referred also to the ventilation, and I have called for a further Report.

Overtime by Threadneedle Street
Telegraphists.

MR. CREMER: To ask the Postmaster-General whether telegraphists at the Threadneedle Street office are compelled to perform overtime on account of clerical work, while the Department rewards them with time off in lieu; whether the rule of the Post Office is that overtime is rewarded at the rate of a rate and a quarter paid in cash; whether he is aware that, in August, 1906, a number of the staff petitioned the authorities asking to be awarded the usual compensation; and whether an answer can now be given to their appeal.

(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The general rule is, and has been, that the amount of work expected from an officer, without overtime, is forty-eight hours a week, or forty-five hours allowing for meal relief; and, inasmuch as none of the officers concerned appear to have worked that amount, I should not be justified in paying for overtime. An answer to this effect has been conveyed to the memorialists. Where overtime is performed the officer in question has the option of accepting pay or time off.

Exports to the Philippine Islands.

MR. R. DUNCAN (Lanarkshire, Govan): To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the values of our exports from the United Kingdom to the Philippine Islands separately for the last ten years.

(Answered by Mr. Kearley.) The following statement gives the information asked for by the hon. Member: