clause to the same effect as that which | Act in regard to loans to local authorities, has now become law. as promised by him during the debate on the Report stage of the Labourers (Ire MR. MOORE: Yes, but the clause was land) Act on the 23rd July 1906. withdrawn under pressure. Lauragh Teacher's Residence. MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a site for a new teacher's residence at Lauragh, Kenmare, was procured more than two years ago; that all the necessary preliminary steps were taken, but that no residence has as yet been erected; can he explain the cause of the delay; and can he state when the building will be proceeded with. MR. RUNCIMAN: I am informed that the delay in this case is entirely due to local causes; the form for application for the loan was sent to the manager on 20th March, 1905, but application was not made till 7th February, 1907. Irish Board of Works. MR. RUNCIMAN: The matter will be dealt with in the annual Public Works Loans Bill, which, in accordance with custom, will be introduced later in the session. Government Contracts--" Fair Wages" MR. J. RAMSAY MACDONALD: I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the complaints from both employers and workmen regarding the working of the fair wages clause in Government contracts, he would consider the employment of a Committee to discuss and advise how the purpose of the clause can now be better carried out. MR. FENWICK (Northumberland, Wansbeck): I beg also to ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that there is consider various interpretation of the Fair Wages Resolution by the Government Departments concerned; and whether he will appoint a Committee to inquire into the question, and to place the working of the fair wage clause in Government contracts on a more satisfactory basis. MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Os-able diversity in the administration and sory): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been called to the attitude of the Secretary of the Board of Works, Dublin, towards the Catholic officials in that Department; and, if so, whether he will take steps to see that the Commissioners of Public Works look after the appointment and promotion of the staff in future, and not leave it in the hands of the Secretary. MR. RUNCIMAN: I am at a loss to understand the reference in this Question. All appointments in the Board of Works, except those of technical officers, are made as the result of examination by the Civil Service Commissioners, and promotions of the staff are invariably dealt with by the Board itself in communication with the the Treasury. Questions relating to discipline are always reported by the Secretary to the Board, who deal with them direct. As I have already stated, the Board have no knowledge of the religious beliefs of their staff. Public Works Loans in Ireland. MR. HAYDEN: I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to introduce the Bill amending the provisions of the Public Works Loans THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Sir H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN, Stirling Burghs): I have carefully considered this question in consultation with the heads of the Departments concerned. I have come to the conclusion that, in view of various difficulties which have from time to time arisen in the interpretation and working of the Fair Wages Resolution of 1891 as embodied in Government contracts, the question how the purpose of the Resolution can be more effectively attained should form the subject of inquiry. I propose, therefore, to appoint a Departmental Committee to which the question will be referred. Lords and Commons. MR. MACKARNESS: I beg to ask the Prime Minister when he will be in a position to inform the House what steps are contemplated by the Government to readjust the relations between the two Houses of Parliament. SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN: At present the time of the House is fully occupied with the financial business of the year; and until that is disposed of it is impossible to name a time for making any announcement on this subject. Transvaal and the Colonial Conference. MR. FELL (Great Yarmouth): I beg to ask the Prime Minister if he will consider the question of inviting the Government now being formed in the Transvaal to send a representative to the approaching Colonial Conference. the consideration of Bills relating to Law, and Courts of Justice, and Legal Procedure; and Mr. Eugene Wason to act as Chairman of the Standing Committee for the consideration of Bills relating to Trade (including Agriculture and Fishing), Shipping, and Manufactures. Mr. STUART WORTLEY further reported from the Chairman's Panel; That they had agreed to the following resolution, That any Member of the Chairman's Panel be and he is thereby the Chairman's Panel to take his place in empowered to ask any other Member of case of necessity. Reports to lie upon the Table. SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN: SELECTION (STANDING COMMITTEES). Everyone will appreciate the difficulties in the way of a visit to this country by the Prime Minister of the Transvaal at this juncture when his responsibilites are so great, but a cordial invitation to take part in the Conference has been sent to him. Sir WILLIAM BRAMPTON GURDON reported from the Committee of Selection; That they had discharged the following Members from the Standing Committee on Law, and Courts of Justice, and Legal Procedure, in respect of the Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister Bill: Mr. Tomkinson, Mr. Barker, and Mr. Laurence Hardy; and had appointed in substitution: Mr. Cathcart Wason, Mr. Smeaton, and Mr. Carlile. Report to lie upon the Table. second time upon Tuesday, 9th April, and to be printed. [Bill 88.] RAILWAY TICKETS BILL. "To prevent a Time Limit being set upon the use of Passenger Tickets," presented by Mr. Morton; supported by Mr. Rowlands, Mr. Ernest Lamb, Mr. Weir; Mr. John Deans Hope, Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, and Sir Howard Vincent; to be read a second time upon Monday next, and to be printed. 89.] [Bill LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS BILL. To establish Limited Partnerships," presented by Sir William Holland; supported by Mr. Cave, Mr. Holden, Mr. Isaacs, and Mr. Shackleton; to be read a second time upon Friday, 15th March, and to be printed. [Bill 91.] BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE (SUPPLY, Motion made, and Question put, "That the proceedings in Committee or on Report of Supply, or upon the introduction of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Bill, if under consideration at Eleven o'clock this night, be not interrupted under the Standing Order (Sittings of the House)."-(Sir H. PUBLIC LIBRARIES BILL. "To amend the Acts relating to Public Libraries," presented by Mr. Tennant; supported by Sir Alfred Thomas, Mr. Isaacs, Mr. Mackarness, Mr. Morrell, Mr. Shackleton, Mr. Middlemore, Sir William Holland, Mr. T. P. O'Connor, Sir Charles Schwann, and Mr. Harmood- Campbell-Bannerman.) Banner; to be read a second time upon Monday next, and to be printed. [Bill 90.] 83. The House divided:-Ayes, 248; Noes, (Division List No. 34.) AYES. Burns, Rt. Hon. John Causton, Rt. Hn. Richard Knight Coats, Sir T.Glen (Renfrew, W.) Faber, G. H. (Boston) Fiennes, Hon. Eustace Flynn, James Christopher Gladstone, Rt. Hn. Herbert Jn. Gurdon, Sir W. Brampton Haldane, Rt. Hon. Richard B. Harcourt, Rt. Hon. Lewis Hemmerde, Edward George Holland, Sir William Henry Hudson, Walter Hyde, Clarendon Jacoby, Sir James Alfred Jardine, Sir J. Jenkins, J. Jones, Leif (Appleby) Jowett, F. W. Joyce, Michael Lamb, Edmund G. (Leominster) Lea, Hugh Cecil (St. Pancras, E.) Lloyd-George, Rt. Hon. David Lyell, Charles Henry Macdonald, J. R. (Leicester) M'Laren, Sir C. B. (Leicester) M'Laren, H. D. (Stafford, W.) Manfield, Harry (Northants) Markham, Arthur Basil Marks, G. Croydon(Launceston Marnham, F. J. Massie, J. Meagher, Michael Menzies, Walter Molteno, Percy Alport Mond, A. Money, L. G. Chiozza Bridgeman, W. Clive Craig, Chas. Curtis (Antrim, S.) Mooney, J. J. Morgan, G. Hay (Cornwall) Morgan, J. Lloyd (Carmarthen) Morrell, Philip Morton, Alpheus Cleophas Murray, James Newnes F. (Notts, Bassetlaw) Nicholls, George Nicholson, Chas. N. (Doncast'r) Nolan, Joseph Norton, Capt. Cecil William O'Kelly, James (Roscommon, N. Pearce, Robert (Staffs. Leek) Rea, Russell (Gloucester) Redmond, John E. (Waterford) Renton, Major Leslie Rutherford, V. H. (Brentford) NOES. Samuel, Herbert L. (Cleveland) Sears, J. E. Seaverns, J. H. Seely, Major J. B. Shaw, Rt. Hon. T. (Hawick B.) Sinclair, Rt. Hon. John Smeaton, Donald Mackenzie Soames, Arthur Wellesley Stanley, Hn. A. Lyulph (Chesh.. Stewart, Halley (Greenock) Torrance, Sir A. M. Trevelyan, Charles Philips Waldron, Laurence Ambrose Yoxall, James Henry TELLERS FOR THE AYES-Mr. Whiteley and Mr. J. A. Pease. Craig, Capt. James (Down, E.) Liddell, Henry Finch, Rt. Hon. George H. Hervey, F.W.F.(BurySEdm'ds. Hornby, Sir William Henry Lockwood, Rt. Hn. Lt.-Col. A.R. Parker, Sir Gilbert (Gravesend) | Powell, Sir Francis Sharp Stanley, Hn. Arthur (Ormskirk) Williams, Col. R. (Dorset, W.) | Younger, George. Wilson, A.Stanley (York, E.R) Talbot, Lord E. (Chichester) BILL. *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE, Haddington): Last week we had a debate in this House on certain plans outlined on behalf of the Government for the reorganisation of the King's forces. To-day it is my duty to propose to the House a Bill to create the machinery for giving effect to those plans, and I do not think that the work of explanation will take me any great time. The Bill consists of thirty-eight clauses, and it aims at creating machinery for fulfilling four purposes. The first of these is to constitute military committees of county Associations, whose main function will be the organisation and administration within their counties of the Territorial or Home Forces raised under the Bill. The second purpose will be to obtain the authority of Parliament to the constitution of what is really the new force, in which others are merged, called the Terri torial or Home Force, which will gradually absorb and replace the existing Militia, Yeomanry, and Volunteers. The third purpose is the adaptation of the provisions of the Reserve Forces Act as to training and periods of service to the requirements of the special contingent-that is, the men who undertake to serve when wanted with the Regulars, but who are for the most of their time in civilian occupations. Then there is a fourth purpose. Under our organisation there is the Army which keeps the home or feeding battalions on a peace establishment in time of peace, and into that are poured on mobilisation the Regular Reserves. In order to bring these home battalions to war strength it is necessary to have a general mobilisation in order to call out these Reserves. It has, therefore, always been necessary to keep a small force which can be mobilised immediately without a general mobilisation, which has been called the striking force. I agree with my hon. friend the Member for Salford that that is not a very happy term; it is rather in the nature of a police force of the Empire which we can send on short notice, and its essential qualification is that it should be perfectly equipped and should be small. That force has been for some time in a TELLERS FOR THE NOES-Sir Alexander Acland Hood and Mr. Forster. unsatisfactory condition. The machinery by which it is put into operation is called the A Reserve, which consists of a certain number of the Reserve who come out without waiting for the general mobilisation because they are under special engagement to do so. We propose slightly to enlarge the ambit of the Reserve from which these men can be got-we are short of them at the present time-and also to make use of the new Special Contingent to get certain We do notmen for that purpose. propose to raise the number at present. All we wish to do is to have the power, within certain limits, the definition of which I will give. The reason is this. The General Staff is at present working out the constitution of that force, and until they say what it should be, and how large it should be, it is impossible for us to say how many men we need for it. The number will not be large in any event, not larger, I think, really than Parliament has authorised at the present time. But owing to certain conditions contained in the statute we cannot get our full number at present. Therefore, for the improvement of this urgency force there are certain changes which we propose in our legislative machinery, and to effect these is the fourth purpose of the Bill. I will tell the House how the Bill has been worked out. In the first place, having the general conception, the plan, I consulted a body of which a good deal was heard at the time, the Committee presided over by Lord Esher, which consisted of a certain number of very distinguished commanding officers, representatives of county councils-people familiar with municipal life-and representatives of the Auxiliary Forces. That body sat last year and devoted a great deal of work to reviewing the ground and getting materials together. It gave me these materials in an informal shape; no Report was ever laid on the Table of the House-indeed it was never intended that the Committee should ever give anything more than what I may call personal advice, to enable my advisers and myself to consider how the Bill should be shaped. The work done, |