ページの画像
PDF
ePub

is aware that a charge of 10s. is demanded from subscribers to the Post Office Telephone or from the general public for a copy of the Provincial Directory of the Trunk Lines; and, if so, will he state whether this charge is that sanctioned by the Department in their arrangements with the National Telephone Company, and whether, in the interest of the Revenue and of the subscribers to the Post Office Telephones, an early reduction of such charge can be made; and whether, seeing that the use of the communication under the halfpenny postal rate of an order wanted, is allowed, he will arrange that the word "send" may be placed in the same category.

Increased Postal Facilities at Raheen,

Mountrath, Queen's County.

MR. DELANY (Queen's (Queen's County, Ossory): To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is in a position to state what is the result of his promised inquiries with respect to the application of the inhabitants of Raheen, Mountrath, Queen's County, for increased postal facilities.

(Answered by Lord Stanley.) The inquiries in regard to the application of the inhabitants of Raheen, Mountrath, Queen's County, for increased postal facilities are not yet complete, but I hope soon to be able to communicate

the result to the hon. Member.

Postmastership of Moynalty, County
Meath.

county Meath, has, through ill-health, resigned his position, and that his wife, who is in every respect eligible owing to her long training and tenancy of the house where the post office has been established, is a candidate; and, if so, whether he will, in view of the feeling in the district, give her application hist consideration.

(Answered by Lord Stanley.) The charge of 10s. for the complete directory of subscribers to the National Telephone MR. JOHN O'DONNELL (Mayo, S.): Company is the price fixed by the com- To ask the Postmaster-General whether it pany for the general supply of such is a fact that the postmaster of Moynalty, directory; and the Postmaster - General has no power to call upon them to supply copies for the use of Post Office subscribers or the public at a cheaper rate. As regards the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I can assure him that the question of allowing such written instructions as "send" as "send" in orders for goods by the halfpenny post has been very carefully considered, but I do not see my way to admitting any manuscript additions in such documents beyond those provided for when the privileges of the halfpenny post were recently extended.

[blocks in formation]

(Answered by Lord Stanley.) The hon. Member has apparently been misinformed. The late sub-postmaster of Moynalty was reported for serious irregularities, and his office was declared vacant last month. been instructed to report on eligible The Surveyor has candidates for the office, and the application of the wife of the late sub-postmaster will be considered with those of other

candidates.

Government Grant to School at

Broughton Gifford, Wiltshire. MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSE (Bristol. E.): To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether any grant was made by the Education Department. about the year 1856, towards the building of the school at Broughton Gifford, Wiltshire.

(Answered by Sir William Anson.) A building grant of £90 13s. 4d. was paid

in 1853.

Crossing from Westminster Abbey to Houses of Parliament.

Mr. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.): To ask the hon. Member for the Chorley Division, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been called to the condition of the crossing from Westminster Abbey to the public entrance to the House of Commons; and, if so, whether he will take steps to have a crossing laid down which can be kept clean for the use of pedestrians and Members entering the House.

(Answered by Lord Balcarres.) There is a granite-pitched crossing at the point mentioned. In wet weather, the traffic from the macadam on either side necessitates constant attention to this crossing in order to keep it clean. It is now very frequently swept, but during wet weather steps will be taken to have it swept more frequently than usual.

Royal Naval Reserve.

MR. THORNTON (Clapham): To ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the possibility of so enlarging the Royal Naval Reserve as to include those officers who, although not at present occupied on the sea, nevertheless possess valuable experience.

(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) Under the Royal Naval Reserves Act, 1859, power was obtained to enter 30,000 men "by voluntary entry from among seafaring men and others who may be deemed suitable for the services in which such volunteers may be employed," and it is under this authority that arrangements have been made to enter stokers and engine-room artificers in the Reserve who are not seafaring men. The Naval Forces Act of 1903 abolished the limit of 30,000 imposed by the first-named Act, and the Admiralty have now authority, subject to the voting of the Supply by Parliament, to enter in the Royal Naval Reserves such number of men of the

various classes as may be required for His Majesty's Navy.

Appointment of Nurses from Dublin Children's Hospital to Workhouse Infirmaries.

MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieu

[blocks in formation]

Irish Agricultural Department.

MR. MACVEAGH: To ask the Chief

Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can say what is the meaning of the word personal as applied in the printed Estimates to the salaries of certain officers of the Irish Agricultural Department; whether he can furnish particulars of the names and official titles of all officers of the Department who are in the possession of personal salaries, showing in each case the number of years served towards pension, and indicating, in any case where these officers' salaries are in excess of those included in the original Estimates approved by the Treasury for their respective posts, the amount of such excess, and explaining the circumstances under which the original Estimate has been exceeded.

(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The term personal salary means that the salary of the office, and that on the occurrence specified is personal to the present holder of a vacancy the amount will be recongidered. The officers of the Department in receipt of such salaries, with their length of service, are-Mr. Cantrell, Chief Clerk, 36 years; Mr. Porter, Agricultural Inspector, 16 years; Mr. Green, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, 14 years; Mr. Barrett, Professor of Physics, 30 years; Mr. Hartley, Professor of Chemistry, 25 The amounts of the several years. salaries, and the normal scales attached to the post held by each of the officers in question, are given in the printed Estimates for 1903-4. It is not possible to

explain within the limits of an answer to a Question the circumstances in which the personal salaries were respectively given.

Railway Service at Ballinrobe. MR. JOHN O'DONNELL: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the last train out of Ballinrobe leaves that town at 2 o'clock p.m. and the last trains into it arrives at 4.30 p.m.; and, if so, whether he will take steps to have the train service so arranged as to enable passengers to catch the night mail to Dublin without the loss of time and money which they have heretofore sustained, and to have a connection with the 4.40 p.m. train from Broadstone as at present exists on the lines leading to Westport and Ballina.

(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The facts appear to be as stated. No specific representations on the subject have been made to the new Department; if made they will

be considered.

Ballinrobe and Claremorris Railway Guarantee.

MR. JOHN O'DONNELL: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the ratepayers of the barony of Kilmaine, in the county Mayo, are taxed annually at a rate of from 3d. to 6d. in the £; that when this line of railway was being built the Midland Great Western Railway Company, who are now working the line, gave evidence to show that when it would be in working order it would cost the ratepayers nothing; that the share holders are guaranteed 5 per cent. on £71,640; and that the railway company are entitled to half gross receipts, and to work the line on the other half; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that the traffic has increased within the past few years, he will take steps to remove the payment of the guarantee from these people.

(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The railway referred to is presumably the Ballinrobe and Claremorris Railway. It is worked by the Midland Great Western Railway Company for 50 per

cent. of the gross receipts. In addition to that working charge there are general charges, directors' and auditors' fees, etc., amounting to about £240 per annum. The surplus revenue to meet the dividend of 5 per cent. on the guaranteed share capital of £71,640 (equal to £3,582 per annum) in the year to 31st October, 1902, was £1,242 13s. 10d., which was a slight improvement on preceding years. This left the sum of £2,339 6s. 2d. to be paid by the guaranteeing area, namely, the barony of Kilmain, and the parish of Ballyovey, in the barony of Carra. Onehalf of that amount (£1,169 13s. ld.) was recouped to the guaranteeing area by the Treasury under The Tramways and Public Companies Act, 1883. The net or residual charge would represent 51d. in the £ on the valuation of the area charged. namely, £55,435. As the traffic improves (and there has been an improvement since 1893, when the surplus revenue was £730 and the net charge against the guaranteeing area £1,426) relief is afforded to the ratepayers. The guarantee is imposed by statute and cannot be removed without legislation.

Warders in Tullamore Prison. MR. MACVEAGH: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the intern warders of Tullamore Prison have to sleep in a damp room without fire or heating pipes; that the dampness has been caused by the stoppage of rain-water on the roof; that these warders are locked up in this room at 10 o'clock each night until rollcall the next morning without any means of communication with the governor or chief warder in case of emergency; that the same warders are compelled to sleep in a room in the invalid ward when they are off duty, both before and after night duty, thereby depriving them of the comfort of the beds they had to procure at their own expense when joining the service; that the officer on night duty has to perform nine hours' duty, viz., from 9.45 p.m. till 6.45 a.m. on the following morning, having during that time to mark tell-tale clock every fifteen minutes and fire two furnaces during that period without any relief or the means of preparing food; and, if so, whether he

will make inquiries into these matters with a view to having them remedied.

(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) I am making inquiry into the several matters making inquiry into the several matters alleged in the Question.

Promotion of Irish Assistant Teachers to Principalships.

MR. SHEEHAN (Cork County, Mid): To ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the rules of the National Board of Education ordain that assistant teachers of long and efficient service are entitled to special consideration on their appointment to principalships, and in last May an assistant of nine years' good service was appointed principal of Berrings National School, Roll No. 4,186, Circuit 20, Section 3, and is still receiving the same salary as formerly; and if so, will he state why the rules of the Education Board are not complied with in the case of this teacher.

The

(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) rules provide that the cases of assistants highly classed under the rules hitherto in force, but not receiving full class salary, may be specially considered on their promotion to principalships. The principal of Berrings Male National School was appointed on 1st May, 1903; he had been previously an assistant. He was not "highly classed" under the rules hitherto "highly classed" under the rules hitherto in force, ranking only in second class, and his case was not specially considered on his promotion to the principalship of Berrings National School. The Commissioners, however, made an Order in June, 1903, to the effect that assistants appointed to principalships after the 1st April, 1903, may have their cases considered after one year's service as principal upon a favourable report from inspector, and the teacher in question will be eligible to receive the benefit of this Order.

Army Enlistments-False Teeth and
Varicose Veins.

MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.): To ask the Secretary of State for War whether a person wearing false teeth and suffering

from varicose veins is eligible for enlistment in the Army.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary ArnollForster.) This is purely a medical question and a matter of degree, depending

on the number of sound teeth and the extent of the varicose veins.

Army Pensions-Case of Private Michael Sharkey.

MR. J. P. FARRELL: To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Private Michael Sharkey, late of the 41st Regiment, who went through the Crimean War and was disabled by a wound in the left hand, being discharged on a pension of only 10d. a day; whether he is aware that, in consequence of absence in America, this pension was stopped from 1st October, 1863, to October, 1869; and, if so, whether, as he is now one of the few Crimean veterans surviving, this man's pension will be increased and some portion of the deferred pension granted to him by way of annuity.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary ArnoldForster.) The hon. Member has apparently not been fully informed of the facts connected with this case. This man went to the United States of America without permission in 1863, and his Article 1214 of the Pay Warrant for the pension was consequently forfeited under period from the 1st October, 1863, to the 30th September, 1868. On appeal he was however, granted arrears from the 4th January, 1867, but further arrears were refused as he had been in prison for "grand larceny" from the 4th October, 1864, to the 3rd January, 1867, and he could not satisfactorily account for his absence for the period preceding his imprisonment. In July, 1902, in consideration of his having been wounded in the Crimea, he was awarded a special pension of 1s. 6d. a day. This pension, which he is now drawing, cannot be further increased.

[ocr errors]

Cost of Foreign Armies.

MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSE: To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state what is the cost of the armies of France, Germany, Russia, and the United

[blocks in formation]
« 前へ次へ »