pension, and that temporary registered | remitted tax, if any, was paid to the writers who first came into the service producer of the imported corn. between the same dates and were afterwards promoted to permanent posts are allowed to reckon all their continuous temporary service for pension, although the regulations with regard to pension under which each of the above classes entered the service were identical, he will, under these circumstances, take steps under Clause 3 of the Superannuation Act of 1887 to allow those who were formerly temporary clerks to reckon in like manner all their continuous service for pension. (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) The rule which has been in force for the last fifteen years is that copyists or writers placed on the permanent establishment are allowed to count one-half of their previous service for pension. It is true that, under a special concession made twenty years ago, writers employed before 19th August, 1871, and afterwards, without interruption of service, transferred to the establishment, are allowed to reckon their whole service for pension; but I see no sufficient ground for extending this concession to other cases than those which it was intended to meet. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The total amount of duty repaid under Section 1, Sub-section 4, of the Finance Act, 1903, to those who held stocks of grain, &c., on which duty had been paid, is £362,342 12s. 7d. The repayments were confined by the terms of the Act to persons proving to the satisfaction of the Customs that they had in their stock or possession on the appointed date grain or articles on which the duty had been paid. This provision obviously could not include any stocks remaining in the possession of the foreign producer at the time. English Whisky sold as Irish or Scotch. MR. KILBRIDE (Kildare, S.): To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that many brewers and blenders who own tied houses supply them with English spirit which they compel their tenants to sell as old Irish and Scotch whisky, he will in the interests of both commercial morality and the public health, cause instructions to be issued with a view to putting an end to these practices. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) There is no evidence before me to support Increase of Salary for Chief Clerks to the allegation made in the Question. Surveyors of Taxes. MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.): To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the increase in the work of chief clerks to surveyors of taxes, it is proposed to increase the present annual increment. (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) The wages of clerks in all grades in the offices of surveyors of taxes were thoroughly revised in 1900, when substantial improvements were made in their rates of pay, and no addition to their increments seems called for. Amount of Corn Duty Repaid Last Year. MR. J. A. PEASE (Essex, Saffron Walden): To ask Mr.Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state what was the total amount of the 1s. per quarter duty on corn repaid by the Treasury last year to those who held stocks of foreign corn in the United Kingdom; and what amount of the Absence of County Court Judges-Payment of Deputies. MR. MARSHALL HALL (Lancashire, Southport): To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that County Court Judges during temporary absence from illness or other cause are compelled to find, and pay out of their own pockets, the deputies who sit for them, whether he will introduce a Bill to relieve them from this burden. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) Any legislation by the Government in relation to the County Courts will be in the hands of the Lord Chancellor, to whom I will communicate the hon. and learned Member's suggestions. Effects of Maritime War on Shipping and SIR JOHN COLOMB (Great Yarmouth): To ask the President of the 2E2 Board of Trade whether he has any of the Board of Trade, in consultation official information showing that the con- with other Government Offices, and that ditions of maritime war have produced all information received which is of imany material alterations in commercial portance to British traders and which can and shipping transactions between the properly be made public will be promptly United Kingdom, British Colonies or communicated to those interested by Possessions abroad, with either Japan or publication or otherwise. Russia; and, if so, can he state generally their main features. SIR JOHN COLOMB: To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether any branch of his Department is charged with the duty of observing and recording any important current changes in commercial and shipping operations of Russia and Japan under the varying conditions of maritime war; and, if so, whether current information so obtained, if of importance to British merchants and shippers, is communicated promptly to the trade and shipping centres of the Empire. Value of British and Irish Exports to SIR FREDERICK MILNER (Nottinghamshire, Bassetlaw): To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that since the de nunciation by Lord Salisbury, in 1897, of the Treaties of 1862 and 1865 with the German Zollverein and Belgium, British goods have been admitted into Canada with & rebate of 25 per cent., which was increased in 1901 to 33 per cent., he will state the total value of exports of British and Irish produce to North American Colonies in 1897, 1898, 1900, and in 1902 after the rebate had been raised to 33 per cent., and in 1903. (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) The time that has elapsed since the beginning of the war is too short to enable me to make any general statement as to its (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) The effect on British commercial and shipping 25 per cent. rebate given by the Dominion transactions. In reply, however, to this of Canada began on 1st August, 1898, and the following Question of the hon. and the 33 per cent. rebate on 1st July, Member I may assure him that the 1900. I give below the particulars position is being carefully watched by required for each year since 1897, the Commercial and Marine Departments inclusive. Education (Scotland) Bill-Date of Introduction. SIR JOHN LENG (Dundee): To ask the Lord Advocate whether the Education (Scotland) Bill will be introduced before Easter. (Answered by Mr. A. Graham Murray.) In the absence of my right hon. friend the Leader of the House I am unable to give any undertaking as to the course of business. The Bill, however, will he introduced on the first available opportunity. Mayor of Londonderry-Residential MR. O'DOHERTY (Donegal, N.): To ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that the present occupant of the Londonderry Mayoralty has no residential habitation within the city of Londonderry as required by the Charter of Charles II.; and whether, in view of the fact that penalties attach to the holding of the office under such circumstances, he will say what steps, if any, the Government purpose taking in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Atkinson.) I am not aware of the provision of the Charter to which the Question refers. The present mayor is a local government elector of the city of Londonderry, and even if the Charter mentioned contains a clause such as is suggested, there is strong ground for contending that it is impliedly repealed by the Municipal Corporations Act of 1840 and the Local Government Act of 1898, and the Orders adapted thereunder. In these circumstances it is not a case for Government interference. Any person aggrieved can take proceedings in the King's Bench Division to determine the question. Purchase of O'Grady Estate. MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state if any negotiations for the purchase of the O'Grady Estate, consisting of the townlands of Cam and Garrycam, have yet been entered into with the Estate Commissioners; and, if so, will he direct that no time be lost in giving effect to the sale. (Answered by by Mr. Mr. Wyndham.) No application has been made to the Commissioners in respect of the sale of this property. Flooding of the River Riffey, County MR. J. P. FARRELL: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, in consequence of insufficient sinking, the River Riffey, which flows through the townlands of Clonwhelan and Cam, in county Longford, constantly floods these townlands in time of rain; whether he is aware that, on 11th September in last year, two men were drowned in consequence of the floods caused by this river; and will he direct the attention of the Board of Works to the immediate necessity of providing funds for the proper sinking and embanking of this river. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) I am informed that two men were drowned on the date mentioned in the flood on the public road near Clonwhelan. The townlands referred to are not comprised in a drainage district, and in the absence of a properly constituted drainage board the Board of Works have no power to advance money for the purposes of arterial drainage. I am making further inquiry, however, with a view to ascertain to what causes the floods complained of are due. Marine Works at Cape Clear. To ask the Chief Secretary to the LordMR. GILHOOLY (Cork County, W.): Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state when the proposed works (under the Marine Act) at Cape Clear will be commenced; and whether, in view of the present condition of the harbour, he will have them expedited. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Tenders are about to be invited for these works. If a satisfactory tender be received and the weather be favourable they will be undertaken forthwith. Sale of Irish Society's Estates. MR. O'DOHERTY: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the evidence submitted to the Select Committee of this House on Land Acts (Ireland) in Session 1894, and of the pending sale to the agricultural tenants, the Government will consider the advisability of reappointing the Committee in order to provide that the capital realised by the sale of the estates will be held in trust for the people of Londonderry and district, and not taken away to London as happened in the case of the sale by the Grocers and other London companies to their Irish tenantry. The (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) hon. Member has sent me a newspaper report, from which it appears that the Irish Society proposes to sell its estates under the Act of last year. The purchase money must be applied in the first place in repaying the large loans which have been made to the Society by the Board of Works and raised on debentures issued under Parliamentary authority for public improvements in Derry and Coleraine, and in discharging other charges on the Society's estates. Any surplus that may remain will be expended by the Society, as in the past, for the benefit of Londonderry and Coleraine, and adjoining districts. Cost of Extra Police in Castlebar and Wexford. DR. AMBROSE (Mayo, W.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a sum of £920 has been levied on the districts of Castlebar and Wexford for extra police; and whether, consider ing the condition of those districts and the difficulty experienced by the inhabitants in meeting their liabilities, he will see that this sum is refunded. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) There is no power to refund any portion of the charge levied pursuant to statutory authority in respect of the cost of employment of extra forces of police. Increased Barrack Accommodation at Bermuda. SIR FREDERICK MILNER: To ask regard to the fact that in Bermuda the permanent barracks are not sufficient to accommodate the troops there, and that both officers and men have to live in bell tents, whether he would provide them with more convenient and suitable tents; and whether, seeing that three-fifths of the married men on the strength at Bermuda have to leave their families behind, contrary to the terms of engagement, he will consider the advisability of removing this cause of dissatisfaction. (Answered by Mr. Secretary ArnoldForster.) The point raised concerning the nature of the tents provided for the officers and men will be referred to the General Officer Commanding for his consideration. Practically the whole of the accommodation at the station is under reconstruction at the present time, and additional married quarters are being provided as fast as possible under the Military Works Loan. In the meantime the families who are separated from the troops are drawing separation allowance. It must be pointed out that the provision of quarters for families on the married strength does not form part of the terms of engagement. QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. South African Military Railways. *MR. J. S. AINSWORTH (Argyll): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state on what terms the Imperial Military Railways of South Africa have been transferred to the civil Governments of the Transvaal and Orange River States; what claim these Governments have as against the expenditure of £900,000 by the British Government on those railways, and what the claim of £1,250,000 by the British Government against the civil Governments of these States represents; and why the Imperial Military Railways were transferred to the civil Goverments before these claims were investigated and settled. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR) Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER, Belfast, W.): As the railways in the Orange Free State and Transvaal were conquered they were At the termination of the war they were handed over to the civil Governments of those Colonies without payment. The claim of £1,250,000 (which includes the sum of £900,000 referred to) represents approximately the amount expended out of Army funds on the construction of new lines, and the provision of additional rolling stock which was admitted to be beneficial to the new Colonies on taking over the railways, and so recoverable from them. The Colonies have admitted the correctness of the above claim, but preferred a counter-claim for the deterioration to the lines and rolling stock, while in military use, on the ground that very large expenditure would have to be incurred from colonial revenues to make this good. This counter-claim would, though not expressed in figures, in the opinion of the civil Government, extinguish the War Office claim. His Majesty's Government have declined to admit this counter-claim on the ground that these railways, which were held and maintained by the Army, did not become an asset of the Colonies until handed over by the military authorities on the termination of hostilities. It was obviously necessary to hand over the lines at the termination of the war to the civil Administration, subject so the reservation of the claim in question. *MR. J. S. AINSWORTH:"Are we to understand that in addition to the £900,000 and £1,250,000 a further claim has been made by the local Governments against the Imperial Government? MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER: There is a counter-claim by the civil Government. *MR. J. S. AINSWORTH: For how much? MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER: Practically the same amount as our claim against them. It is in respect of the deterioration of the line. *MP. J. S. AINSWORTH asked how so on these claims would be settled. Transvaal Labour Ordinance→→ MR. BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterfield): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any provision has been made in the regula tions attached to the Chinese Labour Ordinance of the Transvaal for limiting the number of hours in each day, and the number of days in each week, during which indentured labourers may be required to work underground; and, if so, whether he will state that limit; also whether he has arranged that one day in seven shall be given them as a day of rest corresponding to our Sunday. *MR. LYTTELTON: I am not in a position to make a definite statement at present as to the number. This is one of the matters which is being provided for in the regulations which are under consideration. I may, however, inform the hon. Member that in the mines ten hours shifts are the general rule. Practically no work is done in the mines from 5 a.m. on Sundays till 7 a.m. on Monday as the result of the Sunday Labour Law. MR. BAYLEY: Will the right hon. Gentleman put the existing law into force with regard to the Chinese who are imported. *MR. LYTTELTON: The existing law will apply. MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis): The right hon. Gentleman has stated that MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER said he could the regulations are under consideration. not tell. The matter was out of the hands of the War Office. Are the House to understand that they See page 831 |