Proposed Works in the Upper Mersey. SIR J. BRUNNER (Cheshire, Northwich): To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date did the Commissioners for the Conservancy of the River Mersey give their consent to the works named in the Notice in the Gazette of the 22nd January; whether the traders interested in, and the riparian owners on, the Upper Mersey were informed of the intention to execute the works named before consent was given; and whether, before giving consent the Commissioners took steps to assure themselves that the works would inflict no injury upon such traders and owners, and, if so, what steps. (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The consent of the Mersey Conservancy Commissioners has not yet been given from the Government of India as to the to the works referred to by the hon. desirability of allowing officers on comMember, which are proposed to be under- bined leave in this country to draw taken by the Mersey Docks and Harbour their privilege leave pay at the Home Board to prevent the present navigable Treasury; and, if so, what decision channel between Liverpool and the sea has been come to. becoming more difficult for navigation. No objections to the proposed works have been received by the Conservancy from the traders of the Upper Mersey or others interested in the navigation of the river, and they do not anticipate that any injury will result from the works. Local Printing of Factory Forms. MR. HILLS (Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Home Office insist on Form No. 13 (Notice of Accidents) being printed in London and Edinburgh, and refuse to allow it to be printed locally in the mining districts, whereby expense and inconvenience is caused to those districts and loss to the printers therein. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) Under the Notice of Accidents Act of last session, notices of accidents in mines have now to be sent on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State. This form has been printed officially by the Stationery Office, and is supplied at a low rate by the sale agents for official publications in London and the provinces. The reason why permission has not been granted to local printers to reprint the form is that great inconvenience has been caused in the past by local reprints of official forms; forms, for example, continuing to be issued and used after they had been amended or superseded by other forms. I am not aware that any inconvenience is caused by the new arrangement, supplies of the official forms can be ordered from the sale agents either directly or through any local bookseller, and I may take the opportunity of saying that steps have been taken to meet the wishes of owners desiring to have the forms supplied in duplicate in book form. Drawing of Privilege Pay at Home Treasury by Indian Officials on Combined Leave. SIR SEYMOUR KING (Hall, Central): To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has yet received a reply (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The Government of India have recommended that officers on combined leave under the civil leave rules shall have the option of drawing their privilege pay at the Home Treasury. I have decided to adopt this recommendation. Administration of Law and Justice in sions. MR. GINNELL: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state, in respect of the current or latest year for which Parliament has made financial provision, the number of persons of all grades in receipt of salaries, pensions, and expenses respectively, in respect of the administration of law and justice in Ireland, with the aggregate amounts of their salaries, pensions, and expenses; and the number of persons of all grades in all the other departments of the civil public service of Ireland, with the aggregate amounts of their salaries, pensions, and expenses respectively, provided by Parliament. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I beg to refer the hon. Member to the Annual Estimates and Appropriation Accounts, in which he will find a great deal of the information asked for. The particulars could not, in any case, be condensed within the limits of an Answer, and to prepare a Return on the subject would be a very lengthy task, involving much labour and considerable expense. I do not think I should be justified in consenting to give such a Return. Irish Rural Councils benefiting under MR. GINNELL: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant if Ireland will he grant, if moved for, a Return of the rural district councils in Ireland, showing the amount by which each council has benefited under Section 18 of the Labourers Act, 1906, the amount which it is entitled to borrow after that benefit under Section 17 of the Labourers Act, 1883, and the amount by which that limit may be exceeded under Section 12 of the Labourers Act, 1906. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The calculations as to the shares of the several districts in the residue of the Exchequer contribution, in accordance with Section 18 of the Act of 1906, are at present being made, and the amounts will be made known in due course. Parliamentary Return, No. 194, of last session, as to labourers cottages, gives, in column 6, the amount required to be raised annually in each rural district for the repayment of loans sanctioned, and in Column 7 the amount which could be raised annually by the maximum rate of 1s. in the £, allowed by Section 17 of the Act of 1883. This latter amount would, under Section 12 of the Act of 1906, be increased by one-fourth in any case in which the rating limit may be extended to 1s. 3d. in the pound. I think these particulars will be sufficient for the hon. Member's purpose. The staffs of the district councils and the Local Government Board are at present very severely taxed in connection with the new schemes for labourers cottages which are being prepared, and the preparation of lengthy Returns at this juncture would proportionately delay the operations of the new Act. of cases, during the year ending the 31st December, 1906, in which schemes in connection with marine works in Ireland, approved by the local authorities and the Board of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, Ireland, have been hampered. and delayed by legal difficulties arising out of the limit placed by Law on the amount that can be raised by county councils in respect of new works. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I am aware of but two cases that come within the terms of this Question, viz.: the cases of Kinvara, county Galway, and Ballaghaline, county Clare, both of which have been the subject of recent Questions in Parliament. MR. MOONEY: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the number of schemes in connection with the construction and improvement of marine works in Ireland for which applications for grants were made to the Board of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, Ireland, for the period since the last-issued Report of that body to the 31st December, 1906; and can he give the names of such places, the number of such schemes sanctioned, the number completed, the number started but not completed, with reasons for delay in the last instance. a (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) It is difficult to give categorical replies to the Questions as put, but the following will probably afford the desired information. by the Department of Agriculture during About eighteen applications were received of them was promised. One of these the period named. Assistance in seven was to contribute to the cost of supporting light at Glandore Harbour. The Department contributed. Two related to dredging at Courtown and Balbriggan Harbours. The Department carried out. the work at both places, but further dredging will be done when opportunity offers. In one (Portaferry) the Department lodged their contribution with the county authorities, who have charge of the work. One (Port Ballintoy) awaits the making of arrangements by a local committee for a conference with the Department's officer. In one (Wreckport) a winch or other such engine has to Surplus on Army Clothing attributable to Reduction of Strength of the Army. MR. COURTHOPE (Sussex, Rye): To ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office what proportion of the surplus of £165,900, on supplies and clothing, voted during 1906-7, is attributable to reductions effected in the strength of the Regular forces. be provided, and the Department are Frances Brady an application for reintaking steps to procure a suitable one. statement, and have referred the case In one (Port Ushet) the Department to an inspector for investigation, but were in a position to promise a contribu- have not yet received his Report. In tion only very recently. In three cases the meantime the Commissioners are (Seafield, Newtown Creek, and Cushenden) not aware of the facts alleged in the local co-operation has not been forth- Question. coming up to the present time. In one (Sandycove) the local authority was requested to state the amount of its contribution, but has not done so up to the present. In one (Loughshinny) the Department had already given financial assistance, and the application was for further aid which the Department were not in a position to give. Another application was to clear mud from areas at Arthurstown, Duncannon, and Ballyhack. The vessel owned by the Department, is, however, a sand dredger, and is not suitable for the work. In four cases (Barna, Boatstrand, Ballinagoul, and Blind Harbour) the fact that practically all the Department's funds which are Loans to Volunteer Corps for Drill Halls, applicable to works of the kind were hypothecated prevented co-operation with the local authorities. In one of them, however (Barna), inspection was promised, and this will take place as soon as possible. In one case (Fethard) the local authority requested that an officer of the Department should confer with them as to what had best be done in the interests of the local fishermen, and the matter is in process of arrangement. Irish Evicted Tenants-Case of Fanny MR. SAMUEL YOUNG (Cavan, E.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Estates Commissioners has been called to the case of Fanny Brady, Cumming estate, Kilmore townland, Ballyjamesduff, who was evicted in 1882; whether they are aware that thirty-six of the forty-six acres of her holding have been let by the trustees to three grabbers; whether the Estates Commissioners will use their influence with the trustees to have her restored to the holding on the same terms as the grabbers, or at least to such part of it as is still derelict; and, if not, whether steps will be taken to provide for her elsewhere. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have received from (Answered by Mr. Buchanan.) Approximately £130,000. and Rifle Ranges. MR. COURTHOPE: To ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will lay upon the Table the details composing the sum of £439,000 required for loans to Volunteer corps, for drill halls and rifle ranges. ask the MR. COURTHOPE: Tɔ Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will issue a Statement showing what mortgages on Volunteer property are to be taken over by the War Office. (Answered by Mr. Buchanan.) £439,000 is the sum required to take over 233 mortgages on Volunteer property, now held by the Public Works Loan Commissioners under the Military Lands Act. This sum includes £13,000 interest due 21st March. The interest on the various mortgages is at the rate of from 2 to 4 per cent. As was stated by my right hon. friend on Monday, only the mortgagee is changed, and the mortgagee will now be the War Office. The War Office will have no more powers than the Public Works Commissioners. I do not think any useful purpose would be served by the presentation of a detailed list of the 233 mortgages in question, but I shall be happy to let the hon. Member see the list if he wishes it. Method of Slaughtering Cattle for British only one cavalry officer in special extra regimental employment. As regards Troops in Egypt. MR. managh, N.): To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the method of slaughtering cattle for the use of the British troops in Egypt is a cruel one, causing much unnecessary torture to the animals slaughtered, particularly to larger animals such as cows and oxen; whether the slaughtering is done by contractors for the meat supply or their servants, or by persons directly in British employment; and will he call for a Report on the subject from the General Officer Commanding in Egypt, and take any steps necessary to secure more humane methods. FETHERSTONHAUGH (Fer- extra-regimental employment generally, it is regarded on the one hand as an Imperial duty to supply officers for such British possessions as require their services, and on the other as a very valuable addition to the military education of the officers concerned. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) A Report on the subject has already been received. The General Officer Commanding in Egypt has made very careful inquiries into the matter, and reports that all cattle at Cairo and Alexandria for the use of the British troops are slaughtered at the Government abattoirs, and under the supervision of the Egyptian Government officials, by the servants of the contractors. They are slaughtered in accordance with Mahomedan law, which alone prevails in Egypt. Unconscious ness is instantaneous, and death ensues in a few seconds. The system of inspection is most careful, and every effort is made to ensure the avoidance of cruelty. Army Officers engaged on Extra Regimental Employment. SIR D. BRYNMOR JONES (Swansea District): To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of officers in the Regular Army engaged in special extra-regimental employment; whether, seeing that there is a shortage of officers in that Army, he will consider the expediency of recalling some or all such officers; and whether he can state the grounds on which the extra-regimental employment of officers is justified or permitted. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Thirty officers are now engaged on special extra-regimental employment, as shown on page 68 of the Monthly Army List. The cavalry is the only arm of the service at present short of officers, and there is Appointments in South Wales-Alleged Preference to Men from North Wales. MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil) : To ask the Prime Minister, if his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction felt in South Wales at the practice of Ministers of filling important appointments with North Wales men only, the population of North Wales being less than one-fourth that of Wales and Monmouthshire; whether it is the case that, since the present administration was formed, no one of the six important Welsh offices carrying salaries of from £800 to £1,500 per annum that have fallen to the patronage of members of the Government has been filled from South Wales; and can he allay the dissatisfaction by an assurance that the appointments have not been influenced by local preferences, but are due solely to the fact that South Wales men of equal merit to those selected were not available at the time when the appointments were made. (Answered by Sir H. CampbellBannerman.) I have no knowledge of this matter except what can be gathered from my hon. friend's Question. I have not heard of the existence of dissatisfaction in South Wales, nor am I able to say from what part of Wales the posts referred to by my hon. friend were filled. QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. H.M.S."Dreadnought." MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty why the battleship "Dreadnought" has not been tested at the Lagos manœuvres, under Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson; and whether he can state when the Admiralty proposes to test her capacity to manœuvre with battleships fitted with reciprocating engines, such as the ships constituting the Channel Fleet. |