victualling yards reserves of provisions sufficient to feed every man of the Fleet, every man in the Reserves, the whole of the Coastguards, the whole of the Naval Reserves, and the whole of the Victualling Establishment, with the result that provisions accumulated until they became positively ancient. According to the Report of the Committee of two years ago, the Admiralty had in stock beef thirty years old. *MR. PRETYMAN reminded the hon. Member that that referred to the condition of affairs two or three years ago. MR. KEARLEY was glad to understand from the interruption that that state of things had been altered. Such a system was wasteful in the extreme; it entailed bad food, and it was altogether out of date. If the Navy was able to maintain its command of the sea-and that was the sole object of all this expenditure-none of the contingencies against which this reserve of food was directed would arise. Undoubtedly some reserve ought to be kept, but to lay in supplies for ten times the number of men who had to consume them was an ancient custom which ought to be abolished. *MR. PRETYMAN said that this question, which had been raised by the hon. Member on several previous occasions, had been carefully considered by the Admiralty. The description of two years ago could not be applied to the state of affairs to-day. It had been decided to cease the manufacture of oatmeal, salt, suet, and flour, but not of biscuits. The hon. Member was mistaken in supposing that the cost of manufacturing biscuits in the yards was greater than the cost at which they could be obtained from private manufacturers. The actual cost in the victualling yards, including direct and indirect charges, but excluding any charge for buildings, was 11s. 8d. MR. KEARLEY said the cost was 16s. 1d. according to the Admiralty's own victualling accounts. *MR. PRETYMAN said that according to the figures worked out, the cost was Mr. Kearley. 11s. 8d. at against 13s. 10d., the price for which a similar article could be obtained from private traders. These biscuits were not a trade article in general use, but they would be very necessary in time of war, and the introduction and possible development of bread-making plant in the new ships would not enable them to be dispensed with. The taunt that the Admiralty had the victualling of the Fleet in time of war on the brain was really the greatest compliment that could be paid to the Board, because the whole purpose of the Department and of the Fleet was preparation for war, and if the Admiralty laid their plans without reference to what would happen when the word "mobilise "flashed over the wires, they would be failing in their primary duty. Subject to that governing factor the criticisms of the hon. Member were deserving of, and had received, the careful attention of the Department, with the result that the manufacture of the three articles he had mentioned had been discontinued, and arrangements had been made by which private manufacturers undertook to keep in the trade a certain quantity of various provisions so that the Admiralty, while reducing their own stock, were still able to have at their disposal a quantity of meat which would be available in the event of the outbreak of war. Under the revised scale the preserved meat stocks would be turned over on an average in from two and a half to three years, and efforts were being made to reduce the period still further. The same remark applied to other kinds of stores. In regard to canteens, perhaps the men would derive some advantage in regard to the cost if the Admiralty supplied them with the various articles they required, but the men claimed the right to spend their own money exactly as they liked, and for the Admiralty to provide a general store under these circumstances would be going beyond what any Government ought to undertake. Although no doubt the criticism of the hon. Member opposite as to the high prices charged and the mismanagement of certain canteens was justified, still he thought he had drawn. from them a very much too wide deduction. There were many canteens which were admirably managed, and he thought the Committee would agree with him annually to such large increases, and that he might see his way next year to present them with that unusual thing, namely, a decrease in the Estimates. the *MR. PRETYMAN said the first when he said that the general spirit of Englishmen was that they preferred to mismanage their own affairs rather than have them well managed for them by other people. The men liked to spend their own money in their own way. What the Admiralty could do was, as far as possible, cause in the general increase in to supervise the management of those the Estimates canteens under a commissioned officer of the ship, and regulations had been issued drawing attention to this point, and directing that the canteen should be most thoroughly supervised and regulated in this way. While allowing the men to spend their own money as they liked, he thought this provision would minimise the evils which had been complained of. MR. WHITLEY drew attention to the continued increase in the Vote itself. The Vote showed an increase of £135,000, and this came on the top of an increase of £260,000 last year, so that in two years this Vote had increased by £400,000, or more than 20 per cent. There were several extraordinary increases, about which he should like some explanation. The cost of rations to Royal Marines on shore had increased 150 per cent., and there was an increase of 100 per cent. on item K. Item M had also increased by £52,900. He understood that the increase in item G was due to the continuation of the improved feeding of the sailors which was sanctioned last year. He was sure they would all be in favour of that, and he did not desire to criticise it, but he should like to know whether this year's Estimate included the whole cost of the new arrangement in regard to the feeding of sailors. There was another important question in regard to payments for provisions not taken up, and he could not understand the continual increase in that item. There was a sum of £1,315,000 for provisions, and the next item was a sum of over £500,000 for provisions not taken up. He could not help thinking that there was something in this system which left an opening for a considerable reduction in expenditure. Why there should be such a large increase in the amount for seamen's clothing, soap, and tobacco he could not understand, because the cost of those articles had not He hoped the hon. Member gone up. would be able to give them some assurance that they were not to look forward As to savings the was the increase in number of men by 3,000. There was in every case a particular reason for the special increase. The increase in the provisions for Marines was due to the decision that Marines on shore. were to receive a free ration which they had not hitherto had. men could take money instead of the rations, but he wished to point out that the money taken up as savings was an exact equivalent of the cost of the rations, and it did not affect the total, and there was no direct extra cost at all due to that system. He agreed that this system made it difficult to judge the stock they would require, but the system had existed for 100 years and it was one to which the men attached enormous value. Consequently the Admiralty did not see any reason why they should make a change. With regard to the increase in the cost of clothes this was due to the increase made in the Reserve. MR. WHITLEY asked if it was open to a sailor to say that he would not take any dinner, but take the money instead. What we required in our sailors was health and strength. He could not agree with the hon. Gentleman that the present system was one which was desirable from the point of view of the taxpayer, whatever it might be from the point of view of the sailor. It seemed to him that it wouldin many ways lead to extravagance. There was, in this matter, an opening for a considerable amount of reform in the interest not only of the sailors but also of those who had to find the money. He asked the hon. Gentleman to consider whether it was not possible to make a change in the system which would remove the present temptation to extravagance. Vote agreed to. 5. £293,000, Medical Establishments and Services. 6. £15,500, Martial Law, etc. of the House. Motion made, and Question proposed, | MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON asked "That a sum, not exceeding £154,000, be when the Licensing Bill would be brought granted to His Majesty, to defray the in. Expense of Educational Services, which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1905." Motion, by leave, withdrawn. 7. £72,600, Scientific Services. 8. £404,500, Royal Naval Reserves. 9. £444,000, Miscellaneous Effective Services. SIR A. ACLAND-HOOD said it would be preferable to defer any statement as to the Licensing Bill until to-morrow. *SIR CHARLES DILKE expressed the hope that the Army Annual Bill would not be taken after eleven o'clock. SIR A. ACLAND-HOOD said there was no desire to take it at an inconvenient 10. £796,200, Half-Pay, Reserved, and hour. Whether the discussion was taken Retired Pay. Motion made, and Question proposed, "That a sum, not exeeeding £1,208,800, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the Expenses of Naval and Marine Pensions, Gratuities, and Compassionate Allowances, which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1905." Motion, by leave, withdrawn. on the Second Reading or on the Committee stage of the Bill, it would be taken at a time to suit the convenience of the House. SIR A. ACLAND-HOOD said it would 11. £353,300, Civil Pensions and be possible to make arrangements to take Gratuities. the discussion at a convenient hour. Resolutions to be reported To-morrow; Committee to sit again To-morrow. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. PARLIAMENTARY THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY (Sir A. (ACLAND-HOOD, Somersetshire, Wellington), in moving the MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON asked the Secretary of State for India whether he could now give the terms of the Motion to be proposed to-morrow with regard to the Tibet mission. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR adjournment INDIA (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, GuildResolution he would move ford,) said that the terms of the followswere as of the House, said that the business for to-morrow would be-first, the moving by the Secretary for India of the Resolution relating to the Tibet political mission; next the Army Annual Bill; and third, the Penal Servitude Bill. On Thursday the Army Estimates would be taken. The War Office Vote in Committee of Supply, in deference to the general desire of the House, would not be taken; but Votes 9 and 10 and other Votes would be proceeded with. Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."(Sir A. Acland-Hood.) Speech indicates revision by the Member. An Asterisk (*) at the commencement of a HOUSE OF COMMONS. Wednesday, 13th April, 1904. The House met at Two of the Clock. MR. SPEAKER'S INDISPOSITION. The House being met, the Clerk at the Table informed the House of the unavoidable absence of Mr. SPEAKER, owing to indisposition; Whereupon Mr. JAMES WILLIAM LOWTHER, the Chairman of Ways and Means, proceeded to the Table, and, after Prayers, took the Chair as Deputy-Speaker, pursuant to the Standing Order. UNOPPOSED PRIVATE BILL BUSINESS. London and North Western Railway Bill. As amended, to be considered to morrow. Midland Railway Bill. As amended, considered; to be read the third time. Local Government Provisional Orders (No. 2). Bill to confirm certain Provisional Orders of the Local Government Board relating to Brixham, Coventry, Liverpool, Ripon, and Southwark, and the Bromley and Beckenham Joint Board relating to the Stourbridge Union," presented, and read the first time; to be referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, and to be printed. [Bill 150.7 Amersham, Beaconsfield, and District Water Bill. Reported, with Amendments; Report to lie upon the Table. PRIVATE BILLS (GROUP F). THE CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND MEANS informed the House that the Committee on Group F of Private Bills not being appointed to meet until Thursday, 14th April, the parties opposing the Thames River Steamboat Service Bill had appeared before him and proved that the evidence of Colonel R. T. H. Law, Royal Engineers, and Captain R. Owen, Mercantile Marine, was essential to their case, and that their attendance could not be procured without the intervention of the House. Ordered, That Colonel R. T. H. Law and Captain R. Owen do attend the Committee on Group F of Private Bills on Thursday, 14th April, at half-past Eleven of the clock. Wolverhampton Corporation Bill. Reported, with Amendments, from the Police and Sanitary Committee; Report Hospital District, ordered to be brought to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. in by Mr. Grant Lawson and Mr. Walter Long. Local Government Provisional Order (Poor Law). Bill to confirm a Provisional Order of the Local Government Board relating to the Stourbridge Union, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Grant Lawson and Mr. Walter Long. Local Government Provisional Orders (No. 2) Bill. "To confirm certain Provisional Orders of the Local Government Board relating to Brixham, Coventry, Liverpool, Ripon, and Southwark, and the Bromley and Beckenham Joint Hospital District," presented, and read the first time; to be referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, and to be printed. [Bill 149.] Local Government Provisional Order (Poor Law) Bill. "To confirm a Provisional Order of the Local Government VOL. CXXXIII. [FOURTH SERIES.] LAND VALUES (ASSESSMENT AND Petition from Aberdare, in favour; to lie upon the Table. RETURNS, REPORTS, ETC. ALIENS. Return presented, relative thereto [Address 15th March; Mr. Cochrane]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 124.] POLLING DISTRICTS (COUNTY OF Copy presented, of Order made by the LICENCES (RENEWAL). Petitions against alterations of Law: from Faringdon; Chelsea; Baillieston; Pontypool; Barton-upon-Irwell; Weston; Eccles (three); Crumlin; Wandsworth; | Darwen; Worsley; Northampton; Leyton; Radstock; Battersea; Bolton; County Council of the County Palatine of Kinross; Aspull; Penzance; Dollar; Denholme; Cowbridge; Cardiff; Brithdir (three); Barmouth; Hatherleigh; Buckie; and Grays; to lie upon the Table. MERCHANDISE MARKS BILL. Petition from Birmingham, in favour; to lie upon the Table. POLLING ARRANGEMENTS (PARLIAMENTARY BOROUGHS) BILL. Petition from Wandsworth, in favour; to lie upon the Table. POLLING DISTRICTS (COUNTY Petition from Wandsworth, in favour; to lie upon the Table. RATING OF MACHINERY BILL. Lancaster, altering certain Polling Dis- POLLING DISTRICTS (COUNTY OF Copy presented, of Order made by the BRITISH COTTON CULTIVATION. Copy presented, of Report to the Board of Trade on Cotton Cultivation in the British Empire and in Egypt, by Professor Wyndham Dunstan, F.R.S., Director of the Imperial Institute at South Kensington [by Command]; to Petition from Wandsworth, against; to lie upon the Table. lie upon the Table. RE-VACCINATION BILL. Petition from Wandsworth, in favour; to lie upon the Table. SALE OF BUTTER BILL. Petitions against: from Waltham Cross; Stamford; Romford; Woolwich; and Plumstead; to lie upon the Table. TRADES UNIONS AND TRADE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS CIRCULATED WITH THE VOTES. Medical Attendance on Paupers in the MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland): To ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will say what system, if any, is adopted by parish councils in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to Petition from Birmingham, against; to acquaint the medical officers of the sicklie upon the Table. TRADES UNIONS AND TRADE DISPUTES (No. 2) BILL. ness of paupers, more especially those situated at a considerable distance from his residence; are the rules as to medical relief of the poor strictly adhered to by Petition from Birmingham, against; to parish councils in remote parishes in the lie upon the Table. VACCINATION BILL. Highlands and Islands of Scotland, or are these local bodies permitted by the Local Government Board to place limita Petition from Wandsworth, against; to tions on them to suit the convenience of lie upon the Table. the general public, and, if so, will the |