TOTTENHAM CHARITIES.

There is, however, no doubt that the MR. J. HOWARD (Middlesex, removal of No. 5 would greatly add to Tottenham): I beg to ask the hon. the improvement effected at Poets' Member for the Thirsk Division, as a Corner. If my hon. Friend can use his Charity Commissioner, whether the influence with the owner of that housescheme for the administration of the (laughter)-who is, I understand, much Tottenham charities has been sealed; interested in London improvements— and, if not, what is the cause of the ["Hear, hear!"]-to induce him to delay ? meet the Government with the same generosity as that displayed by the owners of the other houses now removed, I will at once approach my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with a view to finding the necessary ways and means to acquire the property and to add it to the open space now existing. [Laughter and cheers.]

MR. GRANT LAWSON (York, N.R., Thirsk): The scheme was sealed on the 28th February 1896. There has been some delay at the Queen's Printers, but notice of the sealing of the scheme will be published to-morrow on the doors of the parish churches of Tottenham and Wood Green, and will be advertised twice in the local newspapers, and copies of the scheme will be deposited to-night at the offices of the Vestry Clerks of Tottenham and Wood Green.

EGYPTAIN ARMY.

*SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether men from the Royal Artillery and other branches of the Service are being invited to join the Egyptian Army?

*MR. BRODRICK: A certain number of non-commissioned officers are allowed to serve in special appointments in the Egyptian Army, and vacancies are filled from a list of eligible volunteers kept at the War Office. When this list runs low, as recently happened, fresh volunteers are called for.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

MR. C. A. WHITMORE (Chelsea): I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works, whether he will consider the advisability of acquiring and then pulling down No. 5, Old Palace Yard, so that its site may be added to the new open space by the Chapter House, and that the view of the south-east end of the Abbey may be further extended ?

MEMBERS' SMOKING ACCOM-
MODATION.

CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.): I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he will consider the advisabilty of converting a portion of the terrace into a winter garden as an alternative to the proposed suggestion of covering in the space enclosed by the cloisters, whereby both the ventilation and the architecture of the House would be prejudicially affected?

MR. AKERS-DOUGLAS: I can only repeat what I have said in answer to previous questions, that the whole matter of providing further smoking-room accommodation is receiving my attention. The suggestion contained in the Question of the hon. Member, as well as the proposal for the covering of the Cloister Court, is one of such magnitude that I should not be prepared to come to a decision hurriedly, or without first ascertaining that the proposal met with general approval. In any case, no such work could be carried out this year.

ROYAL IRISH CONSTABULARY. Mr. VESEY KNOX (Londonderry): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether it WORKS (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS, Kent, is the fact that the number of recruits St. Augustine's): This point was con- who have recently joined the Irish Considered when the late Government de- stabulary is greater than for many years cided upon the clearance which has been past; and, whether, before authorising carried out. It seems to have been this increase of recruiting, he ordered thought that, in view of the great cost, it would not be advisable to acquire any property south of 4, Old Palace Yard.

any special inquiry as to the possibility of reducing the present establishment without danger to the public peace?

*THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR the Chief Secretary to the Lord LieutenIRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, ant of Ireland (1) whether the Lord Leeds Central): The recruits who recently Lieutenant has received a memorial from joined the constabulary were admitted to the fishermen, and also from the other fill the normal vacancies occurring in the residents of Ardmore, county Waterservice, and there has been no increase ford, praying that a grant should be in recruiting, as supposed. Since January, made for the erection of a slip and a 1883, there has been a reduction of 2,440 small breakwater to protect the boats in the authorised strength of the force, engaged in the fishing industry there; and and, compared with January, 1895, the (2) whether, considering the recommenexisting establishment shows a reduction dation was made by the Royal Commisof 121 men. The Executive Government sion in 1887 that it is an admirable are perfectly alive to the importance of site for the construction of a breakwater keeping down the strength of the force and its importance to the herring fishery, consistently with a due regard to public the Lord Lieutenant will decide to interests. accede to the prayer of the petitioners?

PAUPER CHILDREN (IRELAND). Mr. KNOX: I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, whether his attention has been called to a letter from the Very Rev. Canon M'Neece to the Guardians of Magherafelt, in which certain practices relating to the hiring out of pauper children are described; whether he is aware that those practices are illegal under 55 and 56 Vic., c. 42, s. 2, which prohibits the employment of children under 14 except under special circumstances as therein mentioned; and, whether he will instruct the police throughout the north of Ireland to proceed against any person taking children into their employment in contravention of that section.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR: The memorial referred to in the first paraThe second graph has been received. paragraph presumably refers to the Report dated January, 1888, of the Royal Commission on Public Works, which deals with piers and harbours in Ireland, but I have been unable to find in it any recommendation of the nature indicated. I have no information before me beyond the statements contained in the memorial to indicate that the scheme alluded to in the Question has any claim to Government assistance.

the nature of the work on which such

children are employed; and whether it can be described as useful as means to a domestic training?

MR. EDWARD MOON (St. Pancras, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR N.) I beg to ask the President of the IRELAND (Mr. JOHN Local Government Board, if he could ATKINSON, Londonderry): My attention has been state to the House what is the lowest called to the letter of the gentleman age at which half-time children are emreferred to, in which he makes general ployed in the Poor Law schools; what is charges as to the practices mentioned, and gives two specific instances, in each of which, however, the boy alleged to have been hired out was hired out by his mother without the knowledge of the Guardians. The Guardians deny the general charges. The 2nd Section of the Statute referred to in the Question is, by the 15th Section, confined in its operation to municipal boroughs and towns under town commissioners, and is, therefore, inapplicable to Magherafelt, which belongs

to neither class.

FISHING INDUSTRY (WATERFORD).

CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.): On behalf of the hon. Member for Waterford, W. (Mr. J. J. SHEE), I beg to ask

LORD WARKWORTH (Kensington, S.): I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether the half-time children in the Poor Law

schools

are ever employed eight, nine, and ten hours at manual labour; and whether any reports have been received from inspectors as to the capacity of the children to derive any benefit from instruction after so many hours spent at manual labour.

*MR. JOHN GRETTON (Derbyshire, S.): I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, what is the educational standard laid down and

schools?

what is the standard observed with MR. HANBURY: I understand that regard to half-timers in Poor Law there is constant employment on Kingstown Harbour works for masons, not MR. GEOFFREY DRAGE (Derby): for bricklayers. The masonry wall, I beg to ask the President of the Local which is the only wall in course of conGovernment Board, whether any struction on the East Pier, is being Reports have been received by him on built by masons. Skilled artisans are the subject of the children in the Poor employed on all work requiring skilled Law schools being worked as half-timers labour, and they are paid at the various under the statutory age; and, if so, from rates usually paid for similar employment what sources such Reports have come; in the locality.

and, whether he will lay any such Reports upon the Table?

MR. HANBURY: It has been decided to re-open a sub-post office in Jail Street, Ennis. Inquiries are now

being made as to a suitable candidate.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL MILL STREET (ENNIS) POST OFFICE. GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. HENRY MR. WILLIAM REDMOND CHAPLIN, Lincolnshire, Sleaford): I am (Clare E.): I beg to ask the Secretary unable to state the lowest age at which to the Treasury, as representing the half-time children are employed in Poor Postmaster General, whether a sub-postLaw schools, but children under the age office will be established in Mill Street, of 11 should not be exempted from school Ennis. attendance for industrial work; and the attention of the Guardians would be directed to any case in which the Local Government Board were informed that this was done. There is in a large number of workhouses industrial instruction. It is of various kinds, according to the circumstances. Employment of the boys is in industrial work, under a baker, tailor, shoemaker, or carpenter, on gardening, farming, and domestic work; the girls in needlework, domestic and laundry work, cooking, etc. The work is generally to be regarded as useful to the children.

MR. A. J. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside): May I ask the right hon. Gentleman when the Report of the Committee on Metropolitan Poor Law Schools will be laid on the Table of the House? MR. CHAPLIN: I am under the impression that it has quite recently been laid on the Table, and that it is almost printed.

KINGSTOWN HARBOUR. MR. W. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether there are any regular brick and stone layers employed by the Board of Works at Kingstown Harbour; are the walls on the East Pier being built by stonecutters; and, will he order that regular tradesmen be employed, and that the scale of wages usually paid by employers be paid to them by the Board of Works?

MR. W. REDMOND: Do I understand you to say that there is not to be a new post office, but that the old one is to be re-opened.

MR. HANBURY: Yes, Sir.

PARISH RATES (COMBS, SUFFOLK). MR.MALCOLM (Suffolk, Stowmarket): I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, if he is aware that, in the parish of Combs, Suffolk, the poor rates formerly averaged 2s. 6d. in the pound, whereas since 1894 they have risen to 3s. 8d. in the pound; and this, together with a Highway Rate of 1s. 8d. and a Parish Council Rate of 3d., makes in all a total rate of 5s. 7d. in the pound; whether he is further aware that during the first year of the Parish Council there were no ratepayers on the Council, and that on the new Council only one councillor pays rates; and whether he can take steps to protect the ratepayers from such large expenditure.

MR. CHAPLIN: I have communicated with the Overseers of the Parish of Combs and with the Guardians of the Stow Union on the subject of the Question of my hon. Friend. The Overseers state that the total rates levied in 1895 amounted to 5s. 7d. in the pound, but they are unable to verify the statement in the Question as to the average poor rate formerly, as the years on which

MR. PAULTON (Durham, Bishop Auckland): May I ask whether, in the opinion of the War Office, it is impossible to distinguish between foreign and home grown meat?

the average is based are not given. those conditions of the contract, and The rates for 1895, I am informed, whether they have ever been enforced? include a School Board rate of 1s. 2d. MR. POWELL-WILLIAMS: There in the pound, and it is stated that there is no penalty; but if the contract was has been a gradual increase in the rates broken it would be terminated at once. during the last three years, which has been partly caused by a considerable reduction in the assessment of agricultural land, and that there has been an increase in the out-relief of the Union. I am informed that during the first year of the Parish Council none of the Members were directly assessed to the Poor Rate, but that the only direct ratepayer who was nominated at the recent election was elected. I cannot render any assistance as suggested in the Question. The Members of the Local Authorities are elected by the Parochial electors.

ARMY MEAT SUPPLY.

MR. POWELL-WILLIAMS: I may say, in relation to dead meat, if it is in a good condition, no one can tell whether it is produced here or abroad.

LEENAN HEAD DEFENCE WORKS (LOUGH SWILLY.)

MR.THOMAS B. CURRAN (Donegal, N.): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War when the proposed defence works at Leenan Head, Lough Swilly, will be begun; have the proCAPTAIN DONELAN: I beg to ask posed works been contracted for; if so, the Under Secretary of State for War, who is the contractor; what is the whether he is aware that at some of the amount of the contract; if provision will Military stations in Ireland the troops be inserted in the contract that the are largely rationed on foreign meat; materials for the construction of the whether the contracts entered into with works will, as far as possible, be obtained victuallers in Ireland contain any con- in the surrounding districts, so as to ditions limiting the proportion of foreign give much needed employment to the meat; and, whether these conditions people in this congested district; and if equally apply to all Irish garrisons? the terms of the Resolution with regard THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. J. POWELLWILLIAMS, Birmingham, S.): I have already more than once stated that a certain proportion of foreign meat is supplied at a few stations in Ireland, but not in excess of the proportion laid down MR. POWELL-WILLIAMS: The in the contracts, which are the same for contract for the works at Leenan Head all stations both in Ireland and in Great has recently been made with Messrs. Britain. I may repeat that the Ques-McCrea and McFarland, and the works tion of the supply of meat to the troops is engaging the attention of the Secretary of State.

CAPTAIN DONELAN: Can you say what are the relative proportions of foreign and home grown meat at present supplied?

to the payment of fair wages in Government contracts has been complied with, with respect to the contracts for extending the forts at Inch Island, Nedds Point, Dunree Head, and the new forts at Leenan Head?

should commence very shortly. It is not usual to divulge the amount of a contract. No provision has been made as to the employment of local materials ; but the bulk of the construction will be in concrete, which will certainly be made from the stone of the district. The terms of the Resolution as to fair wages have been inserted in the contracts referred to.

BLACKROCK AND KINGSTOWN MAIN

MR. POWELL - WILLIAMS: No, Sir; it is impossible to answer that Question, because you cannot distinguish between what is home grown and what is foreign; but the contractor is obliged to supply in certain proportions fresh and frozen meat. MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, CAPTAIN DONELAN : Can you say W.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary what penalties attach to the breaking of to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, (1) Mr. Chaplin.

DRAINAGE BOARD.

whether the Local Government Board of Judge, who committed him for contempt, Ireland have a representative on the or take any steps as suggested in the Blackrock and Kingstown Main Drainage question. The man's discharge from Board; (2) if they have, was he informed by the Main Drainage Board of their determination to deviate from the lines laid down in the Act of Parliament under which the Main Drainage Board was constituted; (3) did he communicate the information to the Local Government Board of Ireland; and (4) whether the Local Government Board gave their sanction in this case to the violation of the Act of Parliament?

prison lies very much in his own hands, and if he instructs a solicitor to appear before the Judge and express regret for his action, and also promises not to repeat the offence, the Judge, there is little doubt, would, as in other similar cases, be inclined to favourably entertain an application for his discharge from prison.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR: That has been fully considered, and there is no doubt that in this case it is necessary.

MR. JOHN MORLEY (Montrose Burghs) I would ask the right hon. MR. GERALD BALFOUR: The Gentleman whether it is considered that Act of 1893 constituting this Drainage the appointment of another Judge is Board, gave the Local Government absolutely necessary. The Irish Bench Board power to nominate a member of is well manned? the Drainage Board, though the member so nominated is independent and cannot be regarded as a representative of the Local Government Board. This gentleman acted in accord with the other members of the Drainage Board in sanctioning deviations which were made on the advice of counsel. The reply to the second and third paragraphs is in the negative.

JUDICIAL BENCH (IRELAND.) MR. D. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, (1) if the statement is true that Mr. John Ross, Q.C., has been or is about to be appointed to the Judicial Bench in Ireland; and (2) will Mr. Ross take over from the hands of Judge Boyd such land court business as that Judge has been performing for Mr. Justice Monroe; and, if so, will steps be taken to bring to trial Patrick M'Quaide, of Gola, County Monaghan, who has been for almost two months confined in Dundalk Gaol without being arraigned, the man's alleged offence being a simple trespass upon his evicted farm?

POSTAL ORDERS.

MR. HENNIKER HEATON: I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether postal orders issued in the United Kingdom are payable in Constantinople, Malta, and Gibraltar, but not in Australia, Canada, or other great colonies; whether postal orders issued in India, the Straits Settlements, and Newfoundland

are payable in this country, while postal orders issued in this country are not payable in India, the Straits Settlements, Newfoundland, Canada, South Africa, or India; and whether, in pursuance of an intimation previously given, he will consider the advisability of establishing a uniform exchange of postal orders between the Mother Country and her Colonies and dependencies ?

MR. HANBURY: The position was fully explained in answer to a Question asked by the hon. Member on the 21st of July, 1893, and as lately as the 27th of last month he was informed that the subject was engaging the Postmaster General's attention.

PIREUS LARISSA RAILWAY.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR: It is a fact that Mr. Ross has been appointed to be Judge of the High Court of Justice in Ireland in the room of Mr. Monroe, who has resigned. I am not in a position to reply to the first part of the second paragraph; but as regards MR. A. HELDER (Whitehaven): I the man M'Quaide, I have already ex-beg to ask the Secretary of State for plained to the hon. Member that the Foreign Affairs, whether his attention Executive Government cannot interfere has been called to the claim of the with the jurisdiction of the Receiver English contractors for the Piræus