THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY, Preston): Telegrams which cannot be delivered are not returned to the senders, but in all cases where the sender has furnished his name and address, a notice explaining the cause of the non-delivery is sent him at once by wire. The telegram sent from Kilkenny on 5th February last to Mr. William Crowley, 67, South Main Street, Cork, could not be delivered, because, I understand, it was stated at the address that Mr. Crowley had left. Mr. McCarthy, the sender, could not be advised of the non-delivery as he had left Kilkenny. TELEGRAPHIC FACILITIES (COUNTY CAVAN). MR. S. YOUNG (Cavan, E.): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as whether complaints have reached him of representing the Postmaster General, the absence of telegraphic communication between Carrickmacross and Shercock, in County Cavan, a distance of six miles; and whether, considering that Shercock is a good business town, having its regular fairs and markets, and is also the residence of the County Coroner, he will inquire as to the desirability of establishing a telegraphic office there in the interests of the public? MR. HANBURY: No recent complaints have reached the Postmaster in 1893 that the telegraphs could not be extended to Shercock except under a guarantee. The Postmaster General will make inquiry to see whether circumstances have changed, and will communicate with the hon. Member. ROYAL IRISH TRANSVAAL NEWSPAPERS (POSTAGE). General. The hon. Member was informed MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that large numbers of newspapers have lately been received in this country from Johannesburg, and that each of them has been surcharged on delivery through CONSTABULARY the rate being raised from 1d. (NEWPORT, COUNTY MAYO). four per ounces to 1d. per two ounces; whether DR. ROBERT AMBROSE (Mayo, representations have been made to the W.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary Government of the Transvaal on the to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, subject, with a view to their assimilation whether he is aware that in the town of of their postage on newspapers sent Newport, County Mayo, which abroad to the British rate; and, whe- a mainly Roman Catholic population, ther he will meanwhile direct that Trans- the officers of the Royal Irish Constabuvaal newspapers shall not be surcharged on delivery? MR. HANBURY: It is the fact that newspapers from the Transvaal have lately been received in this country and surcharged on delivery. They have been so charged because the Post Office of the Transvaal has raised from 1d. per four ounces to 1d. per two ounces, the postage on newspapers posted in that country, not only for the United Kingdom, but for all other countries outside South Africa. No representation has been made to the Transvaal Post Office on the subject, as that Office has acted within its rights in raising the postage, and has duly notified the change in its Postal Guide for January. In these circumstances the Postmaster General has no right to interfere; nor can he direct that the newspapers shall not be surcharged, as the charge is in accordance with the stipulations of the Postal Union Convention. has lary (including the District Inspector, the Head Constable, and two sergeants) are Protestants; and whether it is in accordance with the usage of the Royal Irish Constabulary to select officers who are Protestants for Roman Catholic Districts like Newport? *THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALfour, Leeds Central): The allocation of the officer and men to Newport, as to other stations, was not regulated by their religious persuasions, but by the requirements of the service, and it would be impossible, as well as inexpedient, to create religious tests in the selection of officers for districts which may be considered either mainly Protestant or Catholic. LAND IN WALES (ROYAL MR. J. LLOYD MORGAN (Carmarthen, W.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, amount of county cess paid in Ireland whether, in the cases submitted to him annually, setting forth the amount colby the Royal Commissioners on Land in lected per county and barony, and the Wales of the punishment of witnesses, approximate amount paid by landlords he caused special inquiries to be made in as distinct from tenants; and, if so, the locality where the alleged offences will he state if such a Return can be were committed; and whether he will procured before 12th May? state the number of cases in which such inquiries were made, by whom the inquiries were conducted, and the nature of the inquiries? MR. J. P. FARRELL: Will the right hon. Gentleman give a Return that will show the amount collected in each county? MR. GERALD BALFOUR: The Government have no information respecting the amount of county cess collected in each barony, or the amount of SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY: cess paid by landlords as distinct from I can add little to the information tenants; nor have the Government any which I gave to the hon. Member when means at its disposal of obtaining such he raised the question of the intimida- information. Even were it otherwise, tion of witnesses who gave evidence I fear the value of the Return would before the Welsh Land Commission on not be commensurate with the labour the Vote on Account. Three cases were involved in its preparation. brought to my notice by the Commissioners, and the Treasury Solicitor, to whom I referred them, was of opinion that on the evidence before him proceedings could not be taken with any chance MR. GERALD BALFOUR: There is of success. In one case, however, as I already a Return showing the amount in informed the House, further inquiry each county, but not the amount to each seemed to me to be desirable with a view individual. to see whether further evidence might be forthcoming which would justify proceedings, and inquiry was accordingly made on the spot, at my request, by the Treasury Solicitor's Agent. In the result I was advised both by the Treasury Solicitor and by the AttorneyGeneral, to whom the Agent's Report was referred for consideration, that the evidence did not furnish sufficient ground for a prosecution. MR. LLOYD MORGAN asked whether the inquiries which were made on the spot were made by someone who resided at or near the place, or who was instructed by the Home Office or the Treasury? MR. W. REES DAVIES (Pembroke shire) asked who was the Agent of the Treasury Solicitor ? SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY said the Agent was a solicitor sent down by the Treasury Solicitors and the Crown to make inquiry into the allegations. COUNTY CESS (IRELAND). The Government have no means at their disposal in regard to the latter. POOR LAW OFFICERS' SUPER ANNUATION BILL. MR. J. P. FARRELL: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is proposed to apply the provisions of the Poor Law Officers' Superannuation Bill, if passed, to Ireland; and, in case of such application, will he take care that the proposed superannuation allowances are not made chargeable on the local rates, which at present are pressing as a sufficiently heavy burden on the Irish people? MR. GERALD BALFOUR: The Bill in question is not a Government Measure. The Irish Government does not object to the principle of the Bill, and its application to Ireland will not, I understand, be opposed by hon. Members opposite. So far as superannuation allowances under the Bill are not covered by the contributions of the officers, I presume there would be a charge, as heretofore, on local rates. MR. J. P. FARRELL: On the Third Reading of the Bill I shall beg to move its rejection. BELFAST WORKHOUSE the new arrangements for the transmission of newspaper mails from America to Great Britain, Ireland, and the Continent? MR. YOUNG: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been MR. HANBURY: A reply has just called to the death of an old woman been received from the Postmasternamed Mary Moore in the workhouse at General of the United States, who Belfast, on the 15th instant; whether explains that the transmission of newshe is aware that the friends of deceased, papers for the United Kingdom without on making application for a certificate of special superscription will not, as sup death, were informed that such certifi- posed, be restricted to the packets of the cate would be given to them on the 21st American Line, but that all newspapers instant; and whether, considering that for this country that are not specially such delay in obtaining certificates in addressed for other steamers will be case of death of poor people causes great despatched by American packet every inconvenience where they are depending Wednesday and by Cunard packet every for funds to bury them on what is Saturday. coming to them out of burial societies, he will now consider the desirability of having one central registry established in the city of Belfast? CYCLING ACCIDENTS (LONDON). MR. J. F. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has any objection to supplementing the Return he presented to the House on Thursday with another showing the number of fatal and serious accidents to members of the general public caused by cyclists in the streets of London during the first quarter of the present year; whether any special arrangements have been made by the police authorities to cope with the growing evil MR. GERALD BALFOUR: I am informed by the Registrar General that the person who made application to have the registry effected in this case was not a properly qualified informant, and her information could not, therefore, be accepted. This person was told that a certificate would be granted on the 21st instant, when the necessary information to enable the completion of the registration would be supplied by the master of the workhouse. The delay in the case was entirely due to the fact that the and danger of reckless riding by cyclists; person who attended to register the and, whether he has any reason to predeath was not a properly qualified in-sume that a considerable number of formant, and, therefore, it in no way affects the question of the establishment of a central office, as to which I have already replied to a Question put by the hon. Member. MR. M. MCCARTAN (Down, S.) asked, whether as a matter of fact there had not been a delay of nearly a week? MR. GERALD BALFOUR said, that apparently there had been, as the death took place on the 15th instant and the certificate was promised for the 21st. check and cycling accidents during the past three months have not come under the official cognisance of the police ? *SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY : The Return which the police have prepared for me shows that the number of serious accidents caused by cyclists during the first quarter of this year was ten, and the number of slight accidents not requiring treatment, or at any rate detention, at a hospital, 174. In no case had the accident a fatal result. No special arrangements have been made by the police, but they use to the full the special powers which they possess under the Metropolitan Police Act, Section 54 MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: I beg to of that Act providing that every person ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as who shall ride or drive furiously, or so as representing the Postmaster General, to endanger the life or limb of any whether he is yet in a position to inform person, or to the common danger of the the House of the result of his communi- passengers in any thoroughfare, shall be cations with the postal authorities of the liable to a penalty, and may be taken United States of America concerning into custody without warrant by any AMERICAN NEWSPAPER MAILS. constable who sees the offence com- laid before the House in Commercial mitted. So far as serious accidents are No. 5 of that year. The initiative in concerned, the figures I have given may be taken as accurate; it is unlikely that any such accidents have occurred without coming to the notice of the police. ask calling the attention of the German Government to the practices mentioned in Mr. Rodd's Report would appear to rest with the Egyptian rather than with the British Government. TRADE MARKS IN EGYPT. FALSE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS. MR. C. B. STUART - WORTLEY MR. STUART-WORTLEY : I beg to (Sheffield, Hallam): I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, the Under Secretary of State for whether, in view of the statements on Foreign Affairs, whether he has page 28 of Mr. Rennell Rodd's recent observed in Mr. Rennell Rodd's Report [C. 7920 12] as to the forgery of recent Report on British Commercial trade marks and the use of false trade Relations with Egypt [C. 7920 12] the descriptions in the sale of goods by Ausstatement at page 28, that Egypt is the trian, Italian, and Belgian traders in happy hunting ground for that form of Egyptian markets, and the great injury commercial brigandage which consists in thereby done to the reputation of British the forgery of trade marks and the use products and the legitimate interests of of false trade descriptions in the sale of British traders, he will use his best goods; that Sheffield cutlery comes here efforts to bring about an early reas(to Egypt) from Austria, English pale sembling of the Conference of the Interale from Germany and Belgium, national Union for the Protection of hosiery with English trade marks is Industrial Property and the Repression offered by German travellers, English of False Trade Descriptions; whether whisky labels of known brands are made Italy and Belgium are members of that in the country by enterprising Levan- Union; whether Austria has as yet been tines and affixed to the worst class of persuaded to accede to the Union; and, spirits, while English patent medicines whether the Egyptian Government has closed with forged British Government ever acceded or been invited to accede labels are imported from Italy; whether to the Union; if not, whether he will Her Majesty's Government will use their endeavour to cause Austria and Egypt influence to persuade the Egyptian so to accede, with a view to their being Government to make illegal and proceed represented at the earliest Conference against the fraudulent practices described that may be assembled on Industrial in Mr. Rodd's Report; whether the Ger- Property and the Repression of False man Government has recently adopted Trade Descriptions? stringent legislation against the forgery THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD of trade marks and the use of false trade OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE, descriptions; and, whether the attention Croydon): The initiative in convening of the German Government will be called the next Conference lies with the to Mr. Rodd's Report, so far as it relates to fraudulent trading by German subjects, with a view to enforcing as far as may be practicable the recent German legislation in their case? MR. CURZON: Yes, Sir, I have seen Belgian Government, assisted by the Central Office of the Union at Berne. I am not prepared to urge that a meeting should take place before the Belgian Government have made the necessary preparations and suggested a date. Italy Her and Belgium are original members of the Union, but Austria has not yet acceded, and it is doubtful whether representations could usefully be made to her to do so. There have been found to be difficulties in the way of Egypt becoming a party to the Union. It is open to countries which have not become members to be represented at the conferences by official delegates, who, however, have no power of voting. the passage in question. Majesty's Government and the Egyptian Government have considered the changes in the law that may be required to deal with such cases; and negotiations are proceeding with other Powers with a view to arriving at an agreement. We have no knowledge of any more recent changes in German legislation of the character referred to in paragraph 3 than the law of May 12th 1894, which was Sir Matthew White Ridley. LICENSER OF PLAYS state of things, which tends to discourage the investment of capital in the Colonies, and consequently to retard their develop whether Her Majesty's Government will embrace the earliest opportunity of correcting the anomaly? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH, Bristol, W.) I have received the Memorial to which the hon. Member refers, and am considering it; but I must not be understood as assenting to the views expressed in the second and third paragraphs of his Question. MR. HOGAN: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department and restrict their trade; and (4) ment, whether the Licenser of Plays has refused to license a drama entitled "Joseph of Canaan," written by the Rev. George Walters and Mr. George Rignold; whether he is aware that this drama was played for several weeks in Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, and the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, and that no objection was raised by either the press or the public; is he aware that a religious drama, "The Sign of the Cross," has been licensed and performed for over 100 nights in a London theatre; and could he state to the House what is the principle that determines the action of the Licenser of Plays in connection with dramas based on religious motives or incidents? NEEDLEWORK EXAMINATIONS. MR. JOHN WILSON (Lanark, Govan): I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, whether, seeing that the payments to school managers in respect of fourthyear pupil teachers depend upon the results of the examination of female candidates in needlework, as provided by the Syllabus of Examination for Admis sion to Training Colleges, Art. 92 (6), Code, the Scotch Scotch Education SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY: I am informed by the Examiner of Plays that the Lord Chamberlain has refused to license for representation the play to which the hon. Member refers, and that it was rejected in accordance with the unvarying practice, which is to Department will agree either to abolish refuse to license any play avowedly the examination in needlework prescribed adapted from Scripture. I understand for these candidates at the annual that this reason would not apply to "The Sign of the Cross." I have no knowledge as to the reception of either play. INCOME TAX. inspection of their respective schools, or make the two examinations in needlework CHAR! ES identical, and provide that, where fourthyear female pupil teachers are examined in needlework in their respective schools, the marks obtained should, as in reading, recitation, and teaching, be put to their MR. HOGAN: I beg to ask Mr. credit in the admission examination? THE LORD Chancellor of the Exchequer, (1) whether ADVOCATE (Sir he has received a Memorial from the PEARSON, Edinburgh and St. Council of the Royal Colonial Institute Andrew's Universities): I understand inviting the attention of Her Majesty's that the arrangements with respect to Government to the hardship result- examinations in sewing are not such as ing from the operation of the In- are indicated in the hon. Member's Quescome Tax in the Mother Country tion, and that they would not permit of in conjunction with Acts recently passed the adoption of the plan which he sug by some of the self-governing colonies gests. But the matter is so much one of imposing an Income Tax ; (2) whether he detail that it would perhaps be more is aware that British subjects resident convenient that the nature of the in the Australasian Colonies are not difficulty felt, and any suggestion for required to pay a double tax in respect its removal should, in the first instance of any income derived from the United at least, be matter of correspondence Kingdom, whereas those resident in the with the Department. United Kingdom are required to pay a double tax in respect of any income derived from any of the Australasian Colonies; (3) whether he is aware that LABOURERS' COTTAGES MR. C. MURNAGHAN (Tyrone, great dissatisfaction has arisen from this Mid): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary |