Danger to Public Health by use of Second-sent living in a state of destitution in hand Bottles and Jars. Stafford's Yard, Longford; whether he is aware that this man has served seventeen years, including seven years in the Royal Field Artillery, five years reserve, and again rejoining the Imperial Light Horse in 1901, to take part in the South African War, in the course of which he had charge of a gun from Maitland camp through the Transvaal, Orange River Colony, and Natal; and will he direct that a pension be awarded to this man, who is at present in very poor circumstances. MR. CLYNES (Manchester, N.E.): To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the complaints expressed by bottle manufacturers against the use of second-hand and discarded jars and bottles; and, seeing that such use involves risks to health and is considered by medical men to be incompatible with good sanitary conditions, whether any existing regulations can be applied by his Department or by local authorities to meet the complaints referred to. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The particulars furnished in the Question have not been sufficient to enable the man to be traced. If the hon. Member will be good enough to forward to the War Office full particulars of the case, including the date and cause of the man's, discharge from both the Royal Field Artillery and the Imperial Light Horse, the matter. shall receive full investigation. Colour of Army Clothing. MR. SAMUEL YOUNG (Cavan, E.): To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the adoption of a new colour for Army uniforms is now under consideration; whether, when the present khaki drab mixture was adopted, only one firm of woollen manufacturers, Scottish, was consulted and asked to experiment; and whether, in view of the strides made in facturers, especially in the designing of recent years by Irish woollen manucloths for sporting and kindred purposes they will be granted an opportunity of submitting ideas equally with Scottish and English manufacturers. The reply to the first part of the Question (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) is in the negative. As regards the second part of the Question, the original drab mixture material was made by an English firm and other drab mixture materials now in use have been selected from samples submitted by other English and Scottish firms. As regards the last part of the Question, there is no objection to Irish firms submitting samples of their supplies. Reports on Russo-Japanese War. MR. CHARLES SHAW (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in spite of Great Britain | cate as well as to impose fines throughout having been represented in the Far the district, this request has been carried East during the late war by no fewer into effect by the Rajah; if, when sending than fourteen specially selected officers, this request, the Secretary of State or his only a few pamphlets have as yet been advisers in Singapore or Labuan were issued for the instruction of the British aware of such terms of the concession as Army in the lessons of the Russo-Japan- by direct implication called for the creaese War; and, seeing that, as a conse- tion of a police force by the Rajah; quence of such delay in publication, whether arrangements have been made British officers have been compelled to by the Secretary of State to replace these have recourse to translations of German police by an equally efficient force, acworks on the same subject, whether he quainted with the language of the natives; will take steps to hasten the required if so, whether the replacing police force publications. has arrived in Muara, and has been directed to give assistance to the Rajah in carrying out these judicial duties in the Muara district for which he is, or for some years back has been, responsible under the concession referred to; and whether Rajah Brooke has been advised of such arrangements. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) A very large number of copies of the reports of the officers attached to the Russian and Japanese forces during the recent war have been distributed to officers of the British Army. These documents were all confidential, and the knowledge of their distribution would therefore not reach my hon. friend. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) Sir C. Brooke stated, on 6th November last, that he had given the necessary instructions for the withdrawal of his police from the Muara district, and I have no reason to suppose that these instructions have not been carried out. The Secretary of State and the High Commissioner for Brunei were aware of the terms of the concessions held by Sir C. Brooke, which do not authorise him to maintain a police force in Brunei. The Secretary of State has not been informed that Brunei police have yet been stationed in the Muara districts, but he has no doubt that the High Commissioner and the British Resident have taken all necessary steps to provide for the maintenance of law and order. Sir C. Brooke's local representatives have doubtless been fully informed of the steps which are being taken. Petition of the Bandahara of Brunei. SIR EDWARD SASSOON: To ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a petition, signed by the Bandahara of Brunei, who is Acting Regent during the minority of his nephew, the Sultan, and also by other Brunei chiefs, praying that this decaying Sultanate, SIR EDWARD SASSOON (Hythe): To ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in accordance with a letter which the Secretary of State for the Colonies addressed to His Highness the Rajah of Sarawak in October last, requesting that the police in the employment of the Rajah should be withdrawn on the 1st of January last from the colliery | nɔw an enclave in Sarawak territory, district of Muara, where the Rajah holds in perpetuity a concession of certain rights from the Government of Brunei, under which he is empowered to adjudi should be relieved from the newly imposed rule which the people of Brunei do not desire, and to which they are unaccustomed, and expressing a reiterated wish to be placed under the rule of Sarawak, has been received by the High Commissioner for the Straits Settlements; and, if so, what reply was sent to such petition. (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) No petition has been received by the Secretary of State on this subject. I would refer the hon. Member to a statement which I made in this House on 6th December last and in which I pointed out that the Bandahara is only one of two joint Regents, and that there is no reason to suppose that any considerable proportion of the people of Brunei desires absorption into Sarawak. Payment of Claims by British Subjects against the Turkish Government. SIR SEYMOUR KING (Hull, Central) To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, having regard to the increase of income the Turkish Government will receive owing to the 3 per cent. increase in the customs duties, he will instruct the British Ambassador to press for the immediate payment of the admitted claims of British subjects against the Turkish Government, amounting to about £200,000. (Answered by Sir Edward Grey.) The entire additional revenue to be derived from the increase of the Turkish customs duties from 8 per cent. to 11 per cent. has already been earmarked for the service of the Macedonian Budget, and there is no reason to suppose that any part of the increment will be available for other purposes after the requirements of the Budget have been met. The claims in question will, of course, continue to receive attention. (Fer Stamp duty on Irish Land Sales. MR. FETHERSTONHAUGH managh, N.): To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether he is aware that, on transfers of registered land in Ireland, stamp duty is assessed not only on the purchase money payable by the purchaser to the registered vendor but also on the amount of the advance by the Land Commission originally for the purchase of the holding from the landlord; is he aware that such a heavy stamp duty operates + See (4) Debates, clxvi., 1556-7. very injuriously on the free sale of land; and will the Treasury sanction enaction of stamp duty only on the real consideration on sale. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) If the hon. Member will refer to the Answer given by my predecessor on the 28th March 1906 to the hon. Member for West Waterford; he will find it is stated that stamp duty is properly charged by reference to Section 57 of The Stamp Act, 1891, not only on the money consideration paid by the transferee, but also on the outstanding portion of any advance made to the purchasing tenant. This provision of the law is not peculiar to Ireland, but is of general application, and affects any property conveyed to any person subject to the payment of any either the law or the settled practice in money. There is no ground for changing such cases. My right hon. friend reaffirmed this reply on several subsequent occasions, and I have nothing to add to it. Examination for Male Learners in Dublin. MR. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.): To ask the Postmaster General, whether it is intended to hold an examination for male learners in Dublin in April next; and, if so, how many vacancies will be reserved for limited section. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) A competition will be held in April next for filling eight male learnerships in Dublin. Four of these vacancies will be reserved for limited competition among persons already in the service. Motor Cars Licences and Accidents. MR. FETHERSTONHAUGH: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the number of registered motor cars in England and Wales in 1906; what number of drivers' licences was issued in 1906; how many persons, not being drivers in or passengers on the motor cars, were in 1906 killed by motor cars; and how many of those killed were killed by public motor vehicles. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I am informed that the Local Government Board have no statistics as to the number See (4) Debates, cliv., 1288. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) My hon. friend is under a misapprehension in supposing that there has been any change of policy on my part in this. matter. I have no reason to doubt that the local authorities are aware of the view expressed in the letter referred to in the Question, and it does not seem to me necessary to circulate it amongst of registered motor cars and licensed circulated amongst local authorities so drivers later than those given in the as to advise them of he change in the Report of the Royal Commission, on policy of his Department in this matter. page 629 of Volume II., from which it appears that on the 30th September 1905 there were in England and Wales 65,705 registered motor vehicles and 84,741 drivers' licences in force. The Registrar-General informs me that the number of deaths in England and Wales registered as caused by motor cars in 1906 cannot be stated until the causes of all the deaths have been tabulated, a process which will not be completed for several them. months. The weekly Returns furnished by London registrars show 328 deaths in London in 1906 caused by vehicles in the streets, of which sixty-eight were caused by motor vehicles. Metropolitan Police Pensions. MR. J. F. MASON (Windsor): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the position of members of the Metropolitan Police force, as affected by The Police (Superannuation) Act, and Section 32 of The Police Act, 1890, is materially different from that of other police constables; and, if so, in what respects. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) As the Metropolitan Police is a force formed and administered under special Acts of Parliament, the provisions of Section 32 of The Police Act, 1890, were necessary to adapt the Act to the circumstances of that force; but the position of members of the Metropolitan Police is not materially different from that of the members of the other police forces to which the Act of 1890 applies. The hon. Member is aware that by the Acts of 1890 and 1906 certain matters are left to the discretion of the police authority, and in those respects there may of course be some differences of administration in the many different forces. Local Government Board Circular to West Local Authorities and Upkeep of Main (Yorkshire, VISCOUNT HELMSLEY N.R., Thirsk): To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the fact that it is not the duty of any local authority to undertake the cleaning and upkeep of main land drains and dykes, he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation with the object of putting these duties. under some local authority. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) This matter appears to be connected with the powers and duties of Commissioners of Sewers and Land Drainage Boards, and I understand that the Royal Commission on Erosion of the Coasts have before them the circumstances of these bodies where they exercise powers on or near to the sea coast. I could not promise legislation without previous communication with my noble friend the President of the Board of Agriculture, and at present it does not appear to me that the time would be opportune for proposing legislation. Protests against Dogs Act Orders in Salop. MR. GEORGE ROBERTS (Norwich): 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 resolutions passed by the urban district council of Newport, the parish council of Shin fal, the urban council of Wem, and the urban council of Wellington, protesting against the recent Order under the Dogs Act by which dogs are not allowed to be out of doors between sunset and sunrise unless under the control of their owners School Teachers' Official Correspondence Allowance for Postage. MR. LLOYD MORGAN (Carmarthenshire, W.) To ask the President of the Board of Education whether it is customary to allow teachers in elementary schools the cost of postage in replying to official communications from education committees; and whether the Board of Education have issued or intend to issue any instructions in the matter. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) I have no precise information with regard to the first part of the Question, but I should presume the Answer to be in the affirmative. The Answer to the second paragraph is in the negative. a National Council of Education for Wales, or whether the new Welsh Education Department is considered to be in substitution of the promised National Council. (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The Answer to the first paragraph is in the negative. It is hoped that many of the purposes which such a council might have been expected to serve may be effectively secured by the new Welsh Department of the Board of Education. MR. D. A. THOMAS: To ask the President of the Board of Education whether the new Welsh Education Department will involve any additional what is the estimated total amount. charge on the Exchequer; and, if so, (Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The total additional cost to the Exchequer for the year 1907-8 is estimated at £2,050. The Comptroller and Auditor-General and MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis): Toask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the duty of the Comptroller and Auditor-General under Acts 29 and 30 Vict., 1866, to draw the attention of Parliament, in the Appropriation Accounts, to any failure to spend money for the specific purpose for which it was voted, he will explain why the Navy Appropriation Accounts 1905-6, do not draw attention to the fact that an armoured cruiser was dropped from the programme in the same month as the money was voted, July 1905, and to failures to carry out repairs in ships, such as the "Hannibal," for which sums were set down in the Navy Estimates. (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) The Comptroller and Auditor-General is not an officer of my Department, and I cannot undertake to answer Questions relating to the manner in which he disWelsh Education Department. charges his statutory duties, for which MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil): he is directly responsible to Parliament To ask the President of the Board of through the Public Accounts Committee. Education if it is his intention to intro- I may, however, point out that the duce at an early date a Bill to establish Dockyard Expense Accounts, 1905-6, |