(Kirkcaldy | House and Two by the Committee of MR. J. H. DALZIEL Burghs) asked the hon. whether he had taken into bearing of the other Public Health Bill, Ordered, That all Petitions against which was introduced in another place the Bill presented three clear days before That Bill was of considerable bulk, and the meeting of the Committee be redealt with the public health of Scotland, ferred to the Committee; that the and it seemed to him rather curious to Petitioners praying to be heard by themhave two Bills of the same subject selves, their Counsel, or Agents, be dealing with Scotland at the same heard against the Bill, and Counsel heard in support of the Bill. time. out of the Consolidated Fund, of a sum not ex"That it is expedient to authorise the issue, ceeding £300,000, for the purposes of the Telegraph Acts, and to authorise the Treasury On the Question that the Bill be read to borrow such sum by means of terminable a Third time, MR. LOUGH asked the hon. Gentleman in charge of the Bill for a little light upon the subject with which it dealt. MR. T. W. RUSSELL said, he explained the Bill when it was read a Second time. It was simply to remedy a difficulty that had arisen owing to a decision in the High Court which obliged the Local Government Board to appoint an outside arbitrator in the settling of questions of main roads, the practice having been to have an Inquiry by an Inspector of the Board. Some of the settlements made in the old way were questionable in view of the legal decisions, and the Bill also legalised these. Bill read the Third time, and passed. annuities, payable out of moneys to be provided by Parliament for the service of the Post Office, and, if those moneys are insufficient, out of the Consolidated Fund."-(Mr. Hanbury.) Debate arising; and, it being Mid night, the Chairman left the Chair to make his Report to the House. Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Monday next. CONSOLIDATED FUND (No. 2) BILL. Read 2o, and committed for Monday next. MILITARY MANOEUVRES BILL. Committee deferred till Monday next. PUBLIC OFFICES (SITE) BILL. Read a Second time, and committed to a Select Committee of Five Members, Three to be nominated by the PLUMBERS' REGISTRATION BILL. Adjourned Debate on Second Reading [10th April] further adjourned till Friday next. Bill to amend the Law relating to Cabs in London, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Jesse Collings and Secretary Committee report Progress; to sit Sir Matthew White Ridley; presented again upon Wednesday next. and read the First time; to be read a Second time upon Thursday next, and to be printed.[Bill 182.] BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. On the Motion for the Adjournment of the House, and in reply to Mr. Committee report Progress; to sit EDWARD MORTON (Devonport) and Mr. again upon Monday next. LOUGH, THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY said the introduction, by his right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board, of the Rating Bill would be the first Order on Monday. The second Order would be the Telegraph Advances Bill, and the third Order would be the Military Manœuvres Bill. DR. TANNER: Will the Irish Land Bill be taken next week? ["Oh !"] THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREA SURY: No, not next week. [Laughter.] With regard to Friday next, he could not give a definite answer until he was able to consult the general wishes of the House. If the hon. Member would put a Question on Monday or Tuesday, he hoped to be able to answer him. House adjourned at Ten minutes after Speech indicates revision by the Member. An Asterisk (*) at the commencement of a QUESTIONS. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Monday, 20th April 1896. CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS (LONDON). POLICE PENSIONS. SIR JAMES FERGUSSON (Manchester, N.E.): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether Her Majesty's, Return [presented 17th April] to be Government will bring in a Bill to amend printed. [No. 144.] WEST HIGHLAND RAILWAY Section 14 of Act 53 and 54 Vic., ch. 45, whereby it is provided that when a person has served as a Civil Servant within the meaning of the Superannuation Act, 1887, and also in a police force, whether paid out of the police fund or out of money provided by Parliament, he Committee to consider of authorising shall be entitled to reckon his entire the Treasury to guarantee the Interest period of service in both capacities for the on certain Capital of the West Highland purpose of pension, the portion applicable Railway Company, and to pay a sum of to his civil service being payable from money to that Company; and of autho-money provided by Parliament, so as to extend the foregoing advantages to rising the payment, out of moneys to be persons serving in the police who have provided by Parliament, and, if those previously served in Her Majesty's Naval moneys are insufficient, out of the Con- or Military forces? solidated Fund, of such sums as may be necessary for those purposes (Queen's Recommendation signified), To-morrow. -(Mr. Hanbury). PUBLIC OFFICES (SITE) [EXPENSES]. Committee to consider of authorising the payment, out of moneys to be provided by Parliament, of any expenses incurred by the Commissioners of Works under the provisions of any Act of the present Session for the acquisition of a Site for Public Offices in Westminster and for purposes connected therewith (Queen's Recommendation signified), Tomorrow. (Mr. Hanbury.) BURIALS BILL. Second Reading deferred from Tomorrow till Wednesday 29th April. VOL. XXXIX. [FOURTH SERIES.] THE SECRETARY TO THE TREA SURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY, Preston): The Amendment of the Act of 1890, relating as it does entirely to Police, is a matter rather for the Home Office than for the Treasury. The conditions of combatant and Civil Service are, of course, so different that a scheme for pension on combined service would be difficult to devise even if it were considered desirable. It must be remem bered, too, that Army and Navy pensioners employed in Civil Service continue to draw their pensions while so employed without deduction, which is not the case with civilians. The number of civilians who now avail themselves of the privilege conferred by the Act of 1890 is, I am informed, very small. It is very doubtful how far it is wise to further break down the rule which limits the payment of Imperial funds towards pensions for Imperial services and not local services such as those of the police, and if soldiers and civilians were to be put on a precisely similar footing in that respect, it would probably destroy the special privileges which I have already mentioned of the most deserving of all soldiers-the pensioners. 3 K COCOA BUTTER. SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he has yet been able to come to a decision as to the importation of foreign-made cocoa butter free of duty, although containing cocoa as its principal ingredient, which, if imported to be manufactured in this country, has to pay a heavy Customs duty, and placing the manufacturers thereof in consequence at a considerable disadvantage in competition with their foreign rivals ? MR. HANBURY: This matter, though a small one in itself, involves a legal question which is now being considered. I cannot say how long it will take to decide it, but as soon as a decision is arrived at I will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend. WESTPHALIAN COAL. SIR HOWARD VINCENT: I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that arrangements are being made to bring considerable and increasing quantities of Westphalian coal to London, in flat-bottomed boats loading far up the Rhine, at an inclusive land and water freight of about 6s. a ton, owing to the nominal rates charged by the German State Railway for the development in England of German industry; and if he will cause this new source of practically subsidised foreign competition to be car fully watched, that the British coal-mining industry may take such steps as are possible to meet it? THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE, Croydon) I have no special information on this subject, but I shall be happy to make inquiries through Her Majesty's Consul at düsseldorf. PATENT AGENTS. SIR JOHN LENG (Dundee): I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, if, when the present Patents Act came into force, the full address of every applicant for a patent was published in the Patent Office Journal along with the title of the invention; at whose instance and on what grounds the addresses of the inventors in many cases are now withheld and those of patent agents substituted; whether the substitution of the agents' addresses for that of the real applicant has been found to preclude inventors opposing applications made by persons to whom they have communicated their ideas, but whom they cannot trace in the address of a patent agent; and, whether he will direct that the applications for patents shall be restored to their original form in the Patent Office Journal, and the real address given of the applicant? MR.RITCHIE: Yes, Sir; the full address of every applicant for a patent was published in the Illustrated Official Journal for about seven months of the year 1884. The practice of advertising the address of the agent instead of that of the applicant in the above journal was adopted in August of that year upon the suggestion of the Institute of Patent Agents, and with the sanction of the Board of Trade. The object was to protect the applicant, who had already authorised an agent to act on his behalf, from being flooded with the touting circulars of other agents. No means exist of ascertaining whether any, and, if so, how many inventors have been precluded from opposing applications under present procedure. There is no reason to think that there have been many such cases. Every application is, for the purposes of opposition, open to public inspection for two months from the date of the advertisement of the acceptance of the complete specification in the Illustrated Official Journal, and during this period the real address of any applicant can be ascertained from the original documents. I do not propose to alter the present practice. REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND MR. S. YOUNG (Cavan, E.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether he is aware of the strong complaints made by the trades unions and artisans of Belfast of the inadequate accommodation afforded to the citizens by the present arrangements of registry offices for the registration of births, marriages, and deaths in Belfast, which are at present open in each district for only one hour each day; and, (2) whether the Local Government Board will take into consideration the desirability of abolishing the six districts endangering the health of the inmates of now in existence, and of establishing one the institution. Nor is it deemed adviscentral registry office which shall be kept able to vest in the medical officer the open from 10 to 4 daily? discretionary power suggested. FOR THE CHIEF SECRETARY IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, Leeds, Central): The Registrar General has received a communication from the Trades and Labour Council of Belfast to the effect stated in the first paragraph. The arrangements for registration in Belfast would appear, so far as I can judge, to compare not unfavourably with those in force in Dublin, and the Registrar General points out that the establishment of one central office, as suggested, would be productive of great inconvenience, as working men would, in many cases, be obliged to travel considerable distances to reach the central office, and would lose part of their wages in attending during the hours named. If, however, it is shown that in any particular district the attendance at present given by the local officer is inadequate, the Registrar General will be prepared to direct that additional facilities be afforded. WORKHOUSE INFIRMARIES COWES HARBOUR (SHIPPING DUES). SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale): I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Corporation of Newport (Isle of Wight) levy tolls upon shipping in Cowes Harbour north of the Folly public-house; and, if so, could he state what has been the total amount so levied during the last five years; what the total amount expended by the said Corporation over the same period on Cowes Harbour; and what has become of the balance, if any; and under what authority were these tolls levied ? MR. RITCHIE: I am informed by the Corporation that they have the right to levy harbour and anchorage dues in Cowes harbour, north of the Folly public-house under ancient charters. The total receipts of the Corporation from the harbour for the last five years appear from their letter to be £467 16s., of which the Corporation has expended £371 17s. 9d. in payment of Harbour MR. YOUNG: I beg to ask the Chief Master's salary, removal of ashes, repairs Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of to buoys, etc. It is stated that the Ireland, whether he is aware that the balance is not more than sufficient to rule which compels all sick persons, meet the obligations of the Corporation whether pay patients or not, entering in respect of the harbour. the infirmary of a workhouse to wear union clothes, prevents large numbers what authority? from availing themselves of those MR. RITCHIE : hospitals, thereby causing much suffering charters, as I informed the hon. Gentleand the spread of infectious diseases, especially in rural districts; and, whether he will take steps to rescind this rule, and leave it discretionary with the medical officers to permit patients to use their own clothes when considered by them sanitary? SIR G. BADEN-POWELL: Under man. Under ancient MAHARAJA OF JHALAWAR. Mr. M. BHOWNAGGREE (Bethnal Green, N.E.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will MR. GERALD BALFOUR: The furnish any information to this House rule referred to, which also applies in with regard to the recent deposition of the England and Scotland, requires that the Maharaja of Jhalawar, and place upon clothing of patients suffering from in- the Table Correspondence from the Govfectious and other diseases shall be taken ernment of India in that connection? from them on admission to the work- THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR house infirmary, and cleansed and dis- INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON, infected. I am not aware that the Middlesex, Ealing): I have already operation of this rule has the effect announced the decision of the Indian ascribed to it in the Question, and the Government upon this question, and if Local Government Board are of opinion my hon. Friend will move for the Correthat it could not be rescinded without spondence, I shall be glad to give it. |