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their despatches by the inclusion of such extracts from the Press.

*MR. LYTTELTON: The newspaper matter in question was not telegraphed. I am not prepared to give any such general direction as is suggested.

Chinese Labour Recruiting at Tientsin.

DR. MACNAMARA: I beg to ask the Colonial Secretary a Question of which I have given private notice-namely, whether Mr. Perry and Mr. J. G. Hamilton were on Saturday last, on behalf of the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association, recruiting labour in Tientsin; whether the Ordinance has yet received the Royal Assent; and whether the right hon. Gentleman will order the recruiting to be stopped until the Ordinance and regulations in their complete operative form are before Parliament.

*MR. LYTTELTON: The hon. Member's Question was only handed in about five minutes ago, and then not in the form in which he now puts it. I am afraid I cannot give a complete answer, but I will answer so far as I can. I shall be greatly obliged if hon. Members interested in South Africa who wish for answers to Questions will be good enough to give me somewhat longer notice, as the telegraph communication with South Africa which is necessitated by Questions has been rendered rather difficult. With regard to the Question now put, I did see a paragraph to that effect in a morning paper, and I think it follows that if those gentlemen are now in China they must have gone there before the Labour Ordinance has been passed. The pledges which I gave on behalf of the Government in this House with regard to the appointment of a person responsible to the Government in China in order fully to explain any contract which Chinamen might enter into in China will be strictly adhered to, and manifestly until that gentleman is appointed no complete contract can possibly be made.

SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN to be (Stirling Burghs): Is this person to be all over China or in some particular place?

*MR. LYTTELTON: He is to be in that place in which it is desirable he should be.

MR. LABOUCHERE: Has any definite settlement of this matter been

come to with the Chinese Government?

*MR. LYTTELTON: No, Sir. I think hon. Members are in possession of certain requisitions made by the Chinese Government. We hold a conference, either to-morrow or the next day, with the Chinese Ambassador on the subject, and all expedition will be given to these matters, and no difficulty is expected.

MR. CROOKS (Woolwich): Who is to interpret to the recruits in China-is it to be an Englishman understanding the Chinese language, or is the position of interpreter to be handed over to a Chinese mandarin ?

*MR. LYTTELTON: The details are not arranged at the present time. I think the hon. Member may rely upon us to secure that sufficient precautions shall be taken to ensure that the contract is fully understood by the men.

MR. JOHN ELLIS: Is it you or Lord Milner?

*MR. LYTTELTON: I am responsible for the pledge I gave to this House.

MR. LOUGH: Will the right hon. Gentleman stop recruiting till he can put these regulations into force?

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL: Are we to understand that the details of this arrangement are left to the discretion of Lord Milner?

*MR. LYTTELTON: No, Sir, you may not understand that.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL: Well, I will understand it.

Payment of South African War Debts. SIR JOHN LENG (Dundee): On behalf of the hon. Member for Hawick Burghs I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction in the new African Colonies owing to the

failure of the authorities to honour the and industrial development of the military receipts for goods and stock country. supplied during the war; and whether he can facilitate the disposal of claims with despatch, or authorise interim pay

ments in cases of severe distress.

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SIR JOHN LENG: On behalf of the hon. Member for Hawick Burghs I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the action of the authorities of the Orange River Colony in reference to the treatment of a claim by A. J. Griessel, Bloemfontein, for the honouring of military receipts granted during the late war and dated in May and November, 1901; and whether, seeing that the authorities at first denied the existence of the receipts, then admitted the same but refused payment on the ground that two sons of the claimant had rejoined the enemy, and finally, on it being explained that the claimant aged thirtyfour had no sons but only a daughter aged four years, promised further consideration, he will state what consideration has been given; and whether, in view of the claimant's circumstances, he can arrange that payment of this claim shall be made.

*MR. LYTTELTON: I have no information with regard to this claim but will nake inquiry.

Transvaal-Taxation of Natives. The MASTER OF ELIBANK (Edinburgh, Midlothian): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Government has considered the possibility of reverting to and amplifying the practice of the late Boer Government of remitting or reducing the hut tax in the Transvaal,in proportion to the amount of work done by the natives during the year, such work being proved on production of certificates from their employers, and thus affording them an inducement, by way of extra remuneration, to further the agricultural

*MR. LYTTELTON: This matter is receiving my attention in connection with the evidence given by Boer witnesses before the Labour Commission.

Transvaal Magistracy.

Secretary of State for the Colonies *MR. JOHN ELLIS: I beg to ask the whether he will lay a Return upon the Table, giving the names, ages, salaries, and previous careers and experience of the persons who have been appointed to the position of magistrate in the Transvaal; who is responsible for such appointments, and are any qualifications required from applicants for the post; and, in that case, what are they.

*MR. LYTTELTON: I will obtain the information required from the Governor by whom the appointments are made and will lay it.

*MR. JOHN ELLIS: Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House any idea when the information will be ready?

*MR. LYTTELTON: I am afraid not.

Fiscal Policy-Colonial Preference. beg to ask the Secretary of State for the MR. CHARLES DEVLIN (Galway): I Colonies whether he has communicated to the Colonial Governments the intimaticn that it is now no part of the policy of His Majesty's Government to extend preferential treatment to the Colonies.

*MR. LYTTELTON: No, Sir.

MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory): Have you communicated with the Colonial Governments on the question of Chinese labour?

[No answer was returned.]

Land Grants in East Africa. MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland): I beg to ask the UnderSecretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the names of the persons to whom miles of land has recently been assigned grant of 500 square in East Africa; what consideration the Government has received on account thereof; if Government officials in East

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Africa have made any report on the advisibility of such grants; and, if so, will he lay them upon the Table of the House; will he state also what consideration has been given to native rights, and if suitable reserves will be secured out of this grant for the natives; and if any other similar offers or grants of land are now proposed to be made to syndicates.!!

*THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Earl PERCY, Kensington, S.): A lease of 500 square miles of land, on terms approved by His Majesty's Treasury, is now being arranged with the East Africa Syndicate. The selection of the area was made last year by the local representative of the syndicate in consultation with His Majesty's Commissioner. The lease will be subject to the provisions of the East Africa. Crown Lands Ordinance, 1902, which is in the library of the House, and under which the rights of natives are fully reserved. Negotiations are also in progress for the lease of certain forest lands in the vicinity of the coast to firms interested in the production and working

of timber and rubber.

MR. WHITLEY (Halifax): Do these grants of land carry with them rights of government by the syndicate?

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MR. LOUGH: By what majority was it come to?

*EARL PERCY: I have said the

Government think it would not be in the public interest to lay any further Papers at present.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis) :

*EARL PERCY was understood to reply Is there not a right of appeal in certain in the negative.

Brussels Sugar Comvention. MR. LOUGH: I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the British representatives, at a meeting of the Commission appointed under the Brussels Sugar Convention held during the Parliamentary recess on behalf of the exporters of confectionery and preserves in this country, brought forward the claim that the limitations of the surtax should apply to their manufactures, he will state what decision was arrived at; and whether any Report of .the Proceedings will be laid on the Table of the House.

*EARL PERCY: At the meeting of the Commission in October last the majority of the Commissioners were of opinion

cases, and will the Government consider the propriety of calling a Conference for that purpose ?

*EARL PERCY: The whole question is under negotiation, and the question of appeal has not arisen.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES: But will it be considered?

[No answer was returned.]

MR. LOUGH: I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign. Affairs whether any further negotiations have taken place between the Commission. set up under the Brussels Sugar Convention and the Russian Government with regard to the treatment of sugar made in Russia, by the signatory Powers, and whether the Government can see its way

to cancel the prohibition of the import | rails alone, about £40,000 by its policy of open competition. No contracts have been sent to Germany."

of sugar from Russia into this country.

*EARL PERCY: The answer to both Questions is in the negative.

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The Japanese and Wei-hai-Wei. MR. PLUMMER (Newcastle-on-Tyne): I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a Question of which I have given private notice namely whether his attention has been drawn to the report of the presence of Japanese battleships at Wei-hai-Wei previous to the attack on Port Arthur, and, if so, whether he is in a position to contradict the report.

*EARL PERCY: We have been informed by the Commander-in-Chief in Chinese waters that the Japanese men-of-war on their way to Port Arthur were not even sighted at Wei-hai-Wei, and no Japanese ships of war have visited that port since August, when two vessels went there on a complimentary visit for a few hours.

London County Council-Contracts with Foreign Firms.

SIR THOMAS DEWAR: I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number and value of contracts for rails and railway material placed by the London County Council with foreign makers during the last five years, and what percentage of these contracts were secured by German firms.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, Leeds, Central): Particulars of this nature do not, in the ordinary course, come to the knowledge of the Board of Trade. I have, however, been supplied with a statement on behalf of the London County Council, which I will read to the House. "The total value of all contracts let by the London County Council for tramway works is about £2,000,000, of that amount £150,000, or 7 per cent., represents foreign work. The Council began by restricting the tenders for this work to British firms, but owing to the limited number of tenders and the high prices, it then adopted open competition, and, as the result, all materials are now being obtained in this country and at much lower prices. Altogether the Council estimates that it has saved, in

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THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Lord STANLEY, Lancashire, Westhoughton): Representations have been made to me expressing dissatisfaction with the prospect of the introduction of a system of cash on delivery; and I have received others in support of such an arrangement. I have the question under consideration, and am collecting evidence as to the working of the system in the countries in which it is already established and its probable effect if instituted in the United Kingdom. I have as yet come to no decision on the scheme; and I do not propose to sanction its introduction unless, and until, I am satisfied that such a course would be for the benefit of the community in general.

MR. BAYLEY: Will the noble Lord take the opinion of the House before he sanctions the experiment?

LORD STANLEY: I certainly shall not introduce the system before the Estimates are introduced.

Railway Rates on Agricultural Produce.

CAPTAIN BAGOT (Westmoreland, Kendal): I beg to ask the hon. Member for North Huntingdonshire, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether any arrangements have now been arrived at between the Board and the railway companies whereby consignors of agricultural produce within the United Kingdom, either individually or in combination, may be enabled to secure for themselves better terms and facilities for the carriage of their goods.

MR. AILWYN FELLOWES (Huntingdonshire, Ramsey): The conference

between my noble friend and the general managers of the railway companies, of which the hon. Member is already aware, was followed up by a circular letter in which the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries asked for the companies' observations upon certain suggestions and difficulties which had presented themselves. The reply to this letter has only recently been received, and my noble friend proposes that this correspondence shall shortly be presented to both Houses of Parliament. Several companies already offer facilities for the aggregation of consignments of farm produce whereby lower rates may be obtained by the consignors of the individual lots included, and it is to be hoped that the ventilation of the subject result ing from the friendly discussion between the Board and the companies may lead to an extension of these facilities.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL: Will the noble Lord communicate with his colleagues in the Cabinet who are railway directors?

[No answer was returned.]

Income-tax Collection in Scotland. MR. EUGENE WASON (Clackmannan and Kinross): On behalf of the hon. Member for East Edinburgh, I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that notices have been issued in Scotland demanding payment of income-tax within seven days, failing which the amount will be recovered by a sheriff's officer, with costs; and whether he will say if similar notices have been issued all over England, and whether recovery will be made by warrant on the expiry of the seven days in England with costs.

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But, whether in England or in Scotland, action on the notice would not be taken in the case of a person who can show reasonable cause for further delay, and who can promise payment at a fixed date within the next few weeks. There must, however, be some excuse for nonpayment which the collecting authorities can properly accept, and in the absence thereof recovery would be made, with costs, on expiry of the seven days notice, both in England and in Scotland.

Whisky Adulteration.

MR. KILBRIDE (Kildare, S.): I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will appoint a Committee of analytical experts to fix a legal standard in the case of whisky, such as is done in other articles of consumption, in order to protect the public against spurious substitutions.

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Grants to Welsh Colleges. MR. GEORGE KENYON (Denbigh Boroughs): I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will include the three Welsh Colleges, which are hindered in their work by lack of funds, in the list of University Colleges to receive increased grants during the current year; and on what principle these grants will be allocated.

MR. VICTOR CAVENDISH : The grants to the Welsh Colleges have been based on a different principle from that applicable to the English Colleges and on a more liberal scale. I will consider the matter further; but at present I think that it will not be possible to increase the Welsh grants.

West Clare Railway Works.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether

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