of such correspondence as well as by its that the Local Government Board have surcharge.

(Answered by Lord Stanley.) The surcharges to which the hon. Member refers are in accordance with the published regulations of the halfpenny post. In framing these new regulations, under which the public are allowed to write in orders for goods sent for a halfpenny various particulars, including an indication of the mode of consignment of the goods, such as "per Sutton", it was not found practicable to permit the insertion of manuscript instructions such as send, although this would of course pass if printed. Attention has been recently called to the regulations on these points both in the Post Office Guide and by the exhibition of notices in every post office.

Recommendations of Committee on Aged

Pensioners Bill.

MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.): To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether His Majesty's Government propose to take any steps in pursuance of the Report of the Select Committee on the Aged Pensioners Bill last session either to carry out the general recommendations of the Committee, by initiating a scheme of pensions with the restrictions and machinery suggested in the Report, or else to give effect to the special recommendations of the Committee as to the separation of the aged and infirm poor, now in workhouses, from paupers who are imbecile, and the provision of special treatment in cottage homes, or otherwise.

refused their consent, under Section 60 of The Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, to a sale by the London County Council to the Middlesex County Council of land required for the widening of Lordship Lane, Tottenham; whether consent is withheld in spite of the fact that the Middlesex County Council has compulsory powers of purchase, under their Light Railways Order and because the Board require the sale to be made under the provisions of The Lands Clauses Act, 1845; and will he explain why the County Council of Middlesex should be put to the cost attending the payment into and out of Court involved by procedure under this Act.

(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I am aware of the case referred to and of the powers of the Middlesex County Council under their Light Railways Order. I am, however, advised that the proposed transaction must be carried out under The Lands Clauses Act, 1845, and that no consent on the part of the Local Government Board, under Section 60 of The Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, would obviate the need for complying with the procedure under the Act of 1845.

MR. J. A. PEASE (Essex, Saffron Walden): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentences have been passed on adults under which those sentenced have been directed to receive strokes with the

birch during the last twelve months, and on what occasions.

(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I am afraid that I cannot hold out any expectation that the Government will propose legislation, during the present session, (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akersfor the purpose of giving effect to the Douglas.) The Returns for 1903 have recommendations of the Committee. not yet all been received, and I cannot It is competent for the guardians to therefore answer the Question as regards provide separate accommodation for the the last twelve months. In 1902 the indoor who are aged and infirm, and number of persons above the age poor I readily give attention to any proposals sixteen sentenced to be birched was four. made to me by a board of guardians for Three were cases under The Garrotters this purpose. Act, 1863, and one was a case under The Vagrancy Act, 1824.

Local Government Board and the Widen

ing of Lordship Lane, Tottenham. MR. BIGWOOD (Middlesex, Brentford): To ask the President of the Local

of

Petitions Presented under Clause 3 of the Patents Act.

COLONEL DENNY (Kilmarnock

(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Respecting the first part of the Question, I must refer to my reply to the similar inquiry addressed to me on the 17th instant by the hon. Member for North Cork†. The following are the number of teachers as recognised in the different grades at

present:

(A.) Principals.

Women

and whether it is the intention of the including British Guiana and British Commissioners in future to insist on the Honduras, during the five months same standard of proficiency in all (September to January) since the schools in order to qualify for the pro- Brussels Convention came into force motion of a teacher to a higher grade. have been 11,261 tons, as compared with 7,953 tons in the corresponding period a year earlier. As a matter of fact, therefore, there has been an increase in the exports of sugar to this country since the commencement of the Convention. A comparison of this nature can, however, be of no practical value until after the close of the crop season, which commenced at the beginning of this year; and even then it will be misleading unless allowance is made for the difference in the size of the crops of the years compared, for the effect of the treaty between the United States and Cuba, and also for the conditions affecting the Canadian market. As regards the second part of the Question, I have not, and am not likely, for some time to come, to have any official information showing any definite improvement in the position of the West Indian sugar planter resulting from the Convention. The existence of large surplus stocks of sugar in the home market necessarily retards the natural operation of the abolition of bounties, while the Cuban treaty has placed the British West Indian planter at a great disadvantage in the United States market.

Grade.

Men.

I. (1)

273

216

I. (2)

429

284

II.

1,435

1,017

III.

2,467

2,135

The inspectors are directed when furnishing reports on schools to take into consideration (a) the locality of the schools; (b) the condition of the school house and premises; (c) the equipment of the schools; (d) the teaching staff; and (e) the social condition, ages, &c., of the pupils, when forming an estimate of the work done in the schools. Subject to these conditions the inspectors are to use the words excellent, very good, good, fair, middling, or bad, to express their opinion on the schools they inspect.

Exports of Sugar from British West

Indies to the United Kingdom. SIR JOHN LENG (Dundee): To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state, in view of the operation of the Sugar Convention, whether the exports of sugar from the British West Indies to the United Kingdom have increased; and whether he has any official information showing that the position of the West Indian sugar growers is improved.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The imports into the United Kingdom of sugar from the British West Indies,

Gold commandeered from British Banks at
Pretoria Compensation to Shareholders.

SIR JAMES HASLETT (Belfast, N.): To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the loss to British shareholders in the four British banks in Pretoria by reason of the commandeering of gold by the then South African Governhe will reconsider his decision in the ment in 1900 to the amount of £255,000,

matter.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) My predecessor considered this question on two separate occasions and decided against the claim of the banks. I have again thoroughly gone into the matter, and, while greatly regretting the loss sustained, have been unable to come to

Repairs to H. M. S. "Buzzard." MR. JOHN BURNS (Battersea): To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he could expedite the repairs to H.M.S. "Buzzard," so as to save members of the Naval Volunteer Reserve the time and trouble of going to the docks to drill.

(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) Instructions have already been given for the completion of the refit of H.M.S. "Buzzard" by an early date, and I am afraid that no further action is possible in this direction without disorganising other very important work in progress in the dockyard.

Re-boilering in the Navy.

MR. RUNCIMAN (Dewsbury): To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will say on what vessels was re-boilering work commenced during the year 1903, and what vessels have the Admiralty decided

to re-boiler in the near or immediate future.

mion"). Two second class cruisers ("Hermes," "Astraea"). Two third class cruisers ("Pelorus," "Psyche "). Three gunboats ("Jason," "Leda," "Circe"). Six destroyers ("Dove," "Leopard," "Spitfire," "Teazer," "Flirt," "Wizard "). Two gunvessels ("Hecla," "Halcyon"). Eight torpedo boats. In addition to the above, several ships were sent to private firms for small repairs during the year.

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE.

2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment. SIR JOHN KENNAWAY (Devonshire, Honiton): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment are to be quartered in huts on Crown Hill, and not in Raglan

(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The Barracks, on their arrival in Devonport. following are the vessels on which re-boilering work was commenced during the year 1903:-Three torpedo gunboats ("Circe," "Leda," and Halcyon"). One special service vessel ("Wildfire"). Fourteen first class torpedo boats. Boilers for subsidiary or instructional services were also fitted in

"Invincible," "Nelson," "Northumberland," "Ariadne" (Old), and "Espiegle" (Old). The re-boilering of the following vessels will be undertaken during the coming financial year:-One special service vessel ("Magnet"). One tug ("Alligator"). Twenty-six first class torpedo boats. Boilers for subsidiary or instructional services will also be fitted in the following ships next financial year :"Hector," "Warrior," "Triumph."

Naval Repairs in Private Dockyards. MR. RUNCIMAN: To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will say what ships have been under repair in private dockyards throughout the year 1903.

(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The following ships were undergoing refit in private

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER, Belfast, W.): In July last my right hon. friend that it would be possible to quarter a the Postmaster-General expressed a hope battalion of the Devonshire Regiment in its own county. An county. An opportunity of giving effect to this intention has now arisen, and the 2nd Battalion Devonshire port. The question of what particular Regiment will be quartered in Devonbarracks shall be assigned to the Battalion is one for the decision of the Field Marshal commanding the 2nd Army Corps.

Drafts for India.

CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state whether soldiers enlisted for three years are now being sent to India in the hope of their re-engaging; and whether, in the event of their not doing so, the cost of their passage home will be made a charge on the British taxpayer; what the cost per head of such men will be to England and India respectively in the event of their not re-engaging; and whether the policy of sending such

men to India has received the sanction what number of Imperial Yeomanry, of the Indian military authorities.