asking to be supplied with the formal accusation against Tingle, and on the 20th February renewed his request verbally. On 23rd February it was announced in the Press that Tingle had been tried by a field court-martial the day before, but that the finding and sentence had not been made public. On seeing this announcement, Captain Murray at once went to see the Military Governor-General, and was informed that there was no doubt of Tingle's guilt, but that the sentence passed on him had not yet been confirmed. Captain Murray, understanding that a sentence of death was inevitable, as usual in such cases, asked whether, as Tingle was a British subject, this could not be commuted to banishment or some lighter punishment, but was informed that his crime was too grave for this. On 24th February, Captain Murray received from the Military Governor-General an official communication containing a formal notification of the accusation brought against Tingle, his trial and the sentence passed upon him, and stating that he had been executed that morning at 1.15 a.m. The Report I have received is to the effect that Tingle's guilt was clear; he was duly tried by the Court appointed for such offenders and the sentence passed on him was in accordance with the law at present in force in Russian Poland, which is invariably carried out in such cases. I consider that His Majesty's ConsulGeneral did all that was proper and possible in the circumstances. LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley) asked whether this man was represented by counsel at the trial. SIR EDWARD GREY: I cannot say. The trial was by court-martial. There is no doubt about his guilt, because he was caught in the act. The district is under martial law, and the treatment he received was that which would have been meted out to any one else. LORD BALCARRES: When a British subject is executed for robbing a tram conductor does the British Government make no protest whatever? SIR EDWARD GREY: Yes, Sir. The Consul-General took action immediately, and asked whether, as a British subject, this man's sentence could not be commuted. He was informed that the crime was too grave, and that if it had been committed by a Russian subject sentence would have been carried out in exactly the same way. MR. T. L. CORBETT (Down, N.): Will Papers be laid on the Table? SIR EDWARD GREY: There is no occasion for that. I have given all the information we have. As I have said, crimes of a serious character in the district have been rife, and the district was under martial law. MR. T. L. CORBETT: Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether this man was represented by counsel ? SIR EDWARD GREY: There is no doubt about his guilt, and I think it is quite unnecessary to make any inquiries. Turkish Customs. MR. WEDGWOOD: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, if the British Government give their assent to the increase in the Turkish Customs dues on certain conditions, the British Government will reserve the right of withdrawing its consent at any time if the Porte fails to observe any of these conditions; whether this withdrawal of consent, after the Customs dues have once been raised, will involve the restoration of these dues to their present rate; and, if so, how can this be managed. I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the conditions which His Majesty's Government now insist on before they will sanction the increase in the Turkish Customs Tariff, and what the security will be for the carrying out of these conditions. SIR EDWARD GREY: The matter is still under negotiation with the Turkish Government; when it is settled I propose to lay Papers which will explain all the conditions fully, and any partial statement on one or two points made now is bound to be more or less misleading. MR. WEDGWOOD: Are we to under stand that we shall know these conditions before the arrangement is completed, Majesty's Government and seven British or only afterwards? SIR EDWARD GREY: The conditions will be published after the arrangement is complete. *MR. REES: Do the conditions include any regarding the Bagdad Railway? SIR EDWARD GREY: The question of the Bagdad Railway cannot form part of the conditions of this arrangement, which is drawn up in consultation with the Powers concerned. Moslem Pilgrims to Mecca. DR. RUTHERFORD (Middlesex, Brentford): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the important sanitary and other improvements in the arrangements at Suez for the Moslem pilgrims on their way to and from Mecca, suggested by the director of the Suez Hospital in his Report for 1904-5, page 81, have yet been complied with by the Egyptian Government; and, if not whether steps are being taken to comply with them. SIR EDWARD GREY: I have not seen the Report, but I will inquire about it and as to the progress made with any recommendations contained in it. Soudan Civil Court Judgeship. DR. RUTHERFORD: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will say what forensic experience Mr. George W. Williamson, who was appointed a Judge of Civil Courts in the Soudan in May, 1906, had. SIR EDWARD GREY: I do not know about the appointment in question; if it has been made I have no reason to suppose that the person selected was not qualified for his duties, or that there is any necessity to make an inquiry about it. Suez Canal Regulations. DR. RUTHERFORD: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that, apart from the £34,000,000 of the share capital of the Suez Canal Company owned by His Majesty's Government, there are three British directors representing His directors representing British shipping interests on the Board, as well as in view of the probable adhesion of the Govern ment of the French Republic, in which the bulk of the Company's share capital is owned, His Majesty's Government will endeavour to introduce regulations for the purpose of minimising the danger to the canal, to shipping, and to the lives of passengers from carrying explosives through the canal. SIR EDWARD GREY: I have nothing to add to the reply which I made to the hon. Member on the 22nd of November last; it is obvious that it is to the interest of the Company to take proper precautions and that they are in the best position to judge what precautions are necessary. The Egyptian Assembly. MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been directed to the Resolutions passed by the Egyptian Assembly; and what action the British Government propose to adopt in view of them. SIR EDWARD GREY: I have seen some of the Resolutions in question. No action on the part of His Majesty's Government appears to be called for. Ambassadorial Salaries and Allowances. MR. GOOCH (Bath): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any allowances, apart from the use of a residence, are paid to His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, in addition to his salary of £9,000; if so, what his total salary amounts to; and whether similar allowances are made in the case of Washington. MR. T. L. CORBETT (Down, N.): Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. Gentleman putting the question was Mr. Bryce's Parliamentary Secretary, and that he is actuated by motives of loyalty to a departed chief? *MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Member has no right to impute motives. SIR EDWARD GREY: Certain allowances are assigned both to Paris and to + See (4) Debates, clxv., 1000. Question of the increase in the Turkish customs duties. Washington, but in the latter case they are of smaller amount. The total salary at Paris, including allowances and deducting income-tax, amounts to £10,021 a year; the total at Washington, similarly calculated, will be £9,900. MR. T. L. CORBETT: Is our Ambassador at Washington the only one to whom an increase of salary has lately been granted? SIR EDWARD GREY : Increases have been granted recently, and are from time to time granted when circumstances require it. I would suggest to the hon. Member that there will be ample opportunity for criticism on the Diplomatic Vote when there will be full information before the House. MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.): What a pity that the hon. Member for North Down was not made an Ambassador. Macedonian Financial Reforms. MR. GOOCH: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps the Powers are taking to maintain the view of the Macedonian Financial Commission as against Hilmi Pasha, that the disposal of the recettes spéciales lies within their province, and that the sums nominally devoted to agricultural banks shall be entered on the Budget submitted to them. SIR EDWARD GREY: The members of the Financial Commission are endeavouring to obtain the right to supervise the expenditure in Part II. of the Budget, which part includes the items of revenue mentioned by the hon. Member, and the matter is being referred to the Sublime Porte. As regards the sums levied in the three vilayets for the agricultural banks, an undertaking has been given by the Inspector-General that they would in future be employed exclusively in the three vilayets, and that two-thirds of the net profits of their operations would be devoted to the encouragement of agriculture. Turkish Customs Duties Increase. MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to announce a settlement of the SIR EDWARD GREY: The Answer is in the negative. Merstham Tunnel Assault. MR. FELL (Great Yarmouth): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the recent alleged assault in the Merstham Tunnel, and to the fact that the alleged assailant was allowed to depart on giving his name and address, which afterwards turned out to be false; and whether he will consider the advisability of issuing recommendations, through the chief constables, that in all serious charges the person accused should not be allowed to go until the name and address he may have given have been verified. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE, Leeds, W.): On making inquiry I am informed that the alleged offender in the case mentioned gave a wrong name and address to a railway official at Redhill, but, as doubts were entertained, he was followed by an inspector of the South Eastern Railway to Three Bridges, where his identity was ascertained. The police were not concerned in the matter at that time. Bradford Half-Timers. MR. JOWETT (Bradford, W.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that, notwithstanding the raising of the age at which children can be employed as half timers from eleven to twelve years in January, 1902, the number of halftimers in the city of Bradford has increased from 2,998 in October, 1902, to 5,050 in October, 1906, whilst the total number of children between the ages of twelve and fourteen now in attendance at the Bradford schools is only 10,591; and whether the circumstances of Bradford, in having nearly one-half of the children who are eligible employed at an average rate of wages of 1d. per hour, or thereabouts, are similar to those obtaining in other towns; and, if so, whether he will have inquiries made into the cause thereof, with a view to the introduction of measures at an early date to deal with the question. MR. GLADSTONE: Penal statutes have to be construed strictly, and though the transactions referred to by the hon. Member may sometimes partake of a gambling character, they do not appear to come within the Act, which is aimed at persons loitering in a street "for the purpose of bookmaking or betting or wagering or agreeing to bet or wager or or paying receiving or settling bets." MR. BOTTOMLEY asked whether the right hon. Gentleman did not consider that dealing in options only was wagering under the terms of the section. MR. GLADSTONE: I would suggest that my hon. friend should himself set the law in motion. MR. GLADSTONE: I understand the Street Betting Act against such that the number of half-time scholars has persons. increased at Bradford to the extent indicated in the question. An investigation of the subject of child employment in the Bradford mills was made by the lady inspectors' branch in 1905, the results of which are summarised on pages 315-6 of the last Annual Report of the chief inspector of factories-and it appears from this Report, and from such further inquiries as I have been able to make since my hon. friend put his Question down, that while the age for partial exemption has been raised, as stated, from eleven to twelve, the age for attendance at school has also been raised at Bradford from thirteen to fourteen, and the condition of obtaining total exemption made more difficult-children being required to pass the seventh standard, and not being able now to qualify by attendances alone; that this has resulted in children, who would previously have become full-timers before fourteen, continuing as half-timers; and, in consequence, the number of children employed half time has increased, with a corresponding diminution in the number of children employed full time. appears to be borne out by the fact that the number of examinations by certifying surgeons of children for full time employment has fallen in the Bradford district from 3,752 in 1902 to 754 in 1906. It appears from the last report of the Board of Education that considerable increases in the number of half time scholars have taken place in other towns as well; for example, Sheffield, Burnley, and Black pool. If the explanation which I have given is correct, the change is from more to less severe conditions of employment; but the whole question shall have my careful consideration. Throgmorton Street. This : MR. BOTTOMLEY (Hackney, S.) I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a number of Stock Exchange operators are in the habit of congregating daily in Throgmorton Street for the purpose of indulging in speculation in MR. BOTTOMLEY: May I have the services of the learned Attorney-General and Solicitor-General ? MR. MOORE (Armagh, N.): Is the meaning of the Act? Throgmorton Street a "place'' within MR. GLADSTONE: That is not for me to decide. The Edalji Case. SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when intended to appoint the Committee on the Edalji case; and what will be the constitution of the Committee. MR. GLADSTONE: At present I have nothing to add to the statement which appeared in the Press last Saturday. The names are the right hon. Sir Arthur Wilson, the right hon. J. L. Wharton, and Sir Albert de Rutzen, the Chief Magistrate of the Metropolitan Police Courts. SIR GILBERT PARKER: When are stocks and shares, options, the rise and the sittings likely to commence? fall of Government and other securities, and other transactions of a gambling and waging character; and whether he will MR. GLADSTONE: I believe they take steps to enforce the provisions of have commenced. Workmen's Compensation Case at Sunderland. MR. SUMMERBELL: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the case of a man named George Callan, of Sunderland, who was injured on 31st October, 1905, in the shipyard of Messrs. Blumer and Co., and who was paid, for about a year, 9s. 24d. per week under the Compensation Act; whether he is aware that an application was then made to the County Court Judge by the employers to have the case reviewed with a view to a final settlement, the Judge ultimately reducing the allowance to 6s. per week, awarding costs against the injured man amounting to some £22, and permitting the 6s. per week to be kept off the man till the costs were paid, thus depriving him of any income for some eighteen months, leaving him to provide as best he could for his wife and three children and his wife's mother: and if he is prepared to introduce legislation with a view to preventing costs being awarded on such a large scale in the future, or deducted in the manner indicated. MR. GLADSTONE: My attention had not previously been called to this case, but I have made inquiries of the County Court Judge who tried it. The Judge was unable at such short notice to give me full particulars of the case by referring to the Court records; but he informs me that the case was a long one, with no less than seven medical witnesses; that he came to the conclusion that the man MR. GLADSTONE: I suppose because he was fit only for light work. Prosecution of Croydon Anti- MR. LUPTON: I beg to ask the MR. GLADSTONE: I understand the facts are as stated. The police are bound by law to carry out the orders of the justices, and so long as the law remains as it is, it would not be proper for me, even if I had the power, to intervene for the purpose of preventing its being enforced. MR. LUPTON: Are these prosecutions being instituted in such large numbers merely in order to ruin the local antiVaccination League ? MR. GLADSTONE: I have no information on that subject. Inquiry into International Competition. MR. SHACKLETON (Lancashire, Clitheroe): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether by the Governments of Belgium, France, he is aware of the inquiries undertaken and Austria with regard to the extent to which their Home industries enter into the field of international competition; and whether he can see his way to institute such an official inquiry in this country. had recovered from all direct effects of the accidents, and that his present condition could only be attributed remotely, and in a very slight degree, to the acci dent, if at all; that the man was, and had been for some time, able to do light work; and that, having regard to the circumstances of the case, it would not be just to refuse to allow the employers their costs, or to let the costs be taken into account with the compensation. Ilution at the International Conference on am afraid I cannot make any promise of legislation. MR. SUMMERBELL: If the man had really recovered why was he awarded 68. per week? MR. GLADSTONE: I am aware that this matter formed the subject of a Reso Labour Legislation which was held at Geneva last September, but I have not been approached on the subject. I will inquire through the Foreign Office what steps are being taken by the States mentioned, and when I have obtained the |