House is that an hon. Member cannot move more than one Instruction on a Bill, and, no other hon. Member having given notice of this Instruction, and it being incompetent for the hon. Member to move it, the Instruction can only be moved by another hon. Member giving notice of it. NEW RIVER COMPANY BILL. QUESTIONS. EXCESS RAILWAY FARES. MR. W. HAZELL (Leicester): I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the system under which some railway companies charge passengers for excess distance fares; is MR. J. BIGWOOD (Middlesex, Brent- he aware that some companies charge ford) moved : "That it be an Instruction to the Committee to consider whether it is desirable to insert any special provisions with a view to preserving for the use of the public the same quantity of open space as is defined and appropriated for such use by the Muswell Hill Act, 1866; and, if so, to insert such special provisions in the Bill." He said that the Bill would confer further powers on the company. Among other objects, it was intended to enlarge the reservoir in the parish of Wood Green, and for this object it was proposed to take a certain number of acres of the Alexandra Park estate. It was only the difference between the sum already paid and the fare for the through journey, while other companies insist upon the full separate fare from the station to which the passenger is booked on to the end of his journey; and that this method of counting it as two separate contracts with the passenger often leads to a higher charge than the cost of a through ticket for the entire journey; and, if this system of charging endeavour so to amend them as to preis in harmony with the bye-laws, will he vent the charge being in any case higher than the through fare? THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD it is the OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE, Croy- with the view of maintaining this open space for the benefit of the public that he had placed this instruction on the Paper. sengers travel beyond stations to which The neighbourhood was growing very they are booked to charge the local fare largely, and open spaces were more and for the portion of the journey not more required for public recreation. The covered by the ticket; where the cominhabitants of the locality looked to the bined fares, however, are greater than House as the ultimate custodian of their rights, and it was the only opportunity they had of preventing from time to time those pieces of land and the rights and privileges attached to them from being frittered away. He trusted that the directors of the company would endeavour to meet his suggestions in the most honourable manner; but their difficulty had been to find out what to do. This accounted for the different forms in which his Instruction had appeared on the Paper. It was difficult. to frame an Instruction that would be acceptable to all parties, but he thought that this Instruction as it now stood would not meet with any opposition. Instruction agreed to. the cost of a through ticket and an reasonable explanation, some companies application is made accompanied by a refund the difference between the higher and lower amounts. I do not think the terms of the bye-law unreasonable, but there appears to be a want of uniformity in the practice. The question of amending the bye-laws is a grave one and cannot be dealt with in regard to this bye-law only. CURRENT CORRESPONDENCE AND LITERATURE (POSTAL RATES). MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canthe Treasury, as representing the Postterbury): I beg to ask the Secretary to master General, whether his attention has been called to a case in which the receiver of a postcard from Wigan sent it on in an open envelope, Learing a halfpenny DISTRICT COUNCIL ELECTION (DROYLSDEN,. stamp, to his agent at a neighbouring | town, where a fine was imposed on the ground that the envelope contained a MR. C. E. SCHWANN (Manchester, communication of the nature of a letter; | N.): On behalf of the hon. Member for and whether, as postage had been duly the Prestwich Division of Lancashire paid on the postcard and also on the (Mr. F. CAWLEY): I beg to ask the envelope, and as the postcard was a President of the Local Government communication to Mr. Greenall and not Board, whether, in view of the fact to his agent, the Postmaster General that at the recent District Council will treat it as book post matter, and Election a large number of voters remit the fine? were prevented from voting at Droylsden, although in the booth before the time for closing the poll, the Government will propose such an alteration in the law that voters in the booth at the time for closing the poll may have papers given to them and so be enabled THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY, Preston): The Postmaster General's attention has been given to the case referred to. The question is a nice one. Letters which have already passed through the Post and, having discharged their original to exercise their franchise? purpose, have become old and spent, are THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL allowed to be sent a second time at the Book Post rate as literature. But where the letter is, to the second person, as to the first, a current business communication, it is liable to letter postage. The communication sent on by Mr. Greenall to his agent was held to be still current correspondence and not literature, and the Postmaster General is not, therefore, prepared to remit the surcharge. case is not affected by the communication having been written originally on a Post Card. Post Cards enclosed in envelopes are naturally treated as letters, even on their first transmission. The GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. T. W. RUSSELL, Tyrone, S.): I have made inquiry of the Returning Officer and am informed by him that although there were persons outside one of the polling booths at eight o'clock prepared to vote, every person who had a ballot paper given to him within the booth until eight o'clock was allowed to place it in the ballot box. The suggestion of the hon. Member will be considered by me before any new regulations are issued by the Local Government Board as to elections, but I cannot hold out any expectation that in respect of these elections a course different from that adopted in the case of Parliamentary, Municipal, and County Council Elections can be prescribed as regards voting after the time fixed for the closing of the poll. VERMINOUS PERSONS. EDUCATION BILL (SPECIAL GRANT). *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean): I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, whether he sees his way to a modification of the 4s. special grant proposal so far as it concerns poor *MR. HAZELL: I beg to ask the School Board districts, inasmuch as the President of the Local Government special grant proposed by him will in Board whether his attention has been some cases produce less than the existing called to the fact that a large and growpoor districts section of the Act of 1870, ing number of persons, estimated at upon which he desires to improve? from 50,000 to 60,009 in London THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE alone, sleep in refuges and similar places, COUNCIL (Sir JOHN GORST, Cambridge University): The Committee of Council will consider any proposed modification of the special aid grant, but they are unaware of any case in which the grant to School Boards will be less than that under Section 97 of the Act of 1870. *SIR C. DILKE: There is a case in Dean Forest. I will send the figures to the right hon. Gentleman. Mr. Henniker Heaton. and become infested with vermin, and that the same conditions prevail in some of the larger provincial cities; whether this verminous state hinders even deserving persons in their endeavours to get employment, and spreads the evil among the general population when they go to the parks and to other places of public resort; and whether he can recommend the Sanitary Authorities and the Poor Law Authorities, to permit, as far as they find practicable, all verminous persons who may apply to them, to be cleansed by the aid of the apparatus which these authorities already possess, such cleansing to be without charge and without the applicants being in any way treated as paupers ? great devastation caused by storms and other natural causes to the sea walls along the southern coast, especially in Romney Marsh, during recent years; whether he is aware that nearly the whole cost of keeping up these sea walls falls upon the agricultural land in certain areas of comparatively limited MR. T. W. RUSSELL: As regards extent; whether he is aware that tracts the casual wards, it is the usual practice of the richest land in the Kingdom are to provide for the bathing of the inmates being driven out of cultivation by the and also the cleansing of their clothes incidence of this exceptional burden; where necessary. With regard to those and whether he can see his way to include in the Agricultural Land Rating Bill a provision to extend relief to this particular case? persons who sleep in refuges, it appears to me that it would not be unreasonable to expect that those who supply the refuges should also provide the means of freeing the clothes from vermin where required. With regard to the general question as to the Sanitary Authorities and the Poor Law Authorities providing means, such as those suggested, for cleansing without charge, and in the case of persons who are not paupers, at present it appears to me that there would be considerable difficulty in carrying out such an arrangement. The subject is, however, receiving my con sideration. MR. T. W. RUSSELL: I cannot hold out any expectation that this is a matter which can be dealt with by the Agricultural Rates Bill. TELEGRAPH CLERKS (SCOTLAND). SIR JOHN LENG (Dundee): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, with regard to the circular which has been posted in several provincial post offices in England, inviting applications from telegraph clerks to perform temporary duty at offices in the north of Scotland on an allowance of 3s. per day, will he explain why a departure has been made from the usual practice of obtaining these relief clerks from offices in Scotland, who have hitherto been paid 5s. a day for this duty? MR. HANBURY: I understand that some of the surveyors of the Post Office have issued a notice, which has been posted in several provincial offices, and in regard to the latter part of the Question I beg to say that it is not the usual practice, either in Scotland, or elsewhere in the United Kingdom, at offices where there is a pressure of work in consequence of the influx of visitors, to provide temporary assistance exclusively by means of established officers. Nor is there any regulation to pay such an officer when sent a subsistence allowance of as much as 5s. a day. The rate varies from 2s to 5s. a day, according to the nature of the town to which he is sent, and to the length of his stay. In many cases, however, both in Scotland and elsewhere, the necessary relief has been afforded, not by the employment of established officers, but by sending unestablished persons, viz.: assistants, | ARMY AND AUXILIARY FORCES who receive, when thus employed, con(UNIFORM AND ACCOUTREMENTS. siderably less than the established officers. MR. HUBERT DUNCOMBE (CumAssistants are largely employed on this berland, Egremont): I beg to ask the duty, and experience has proved that Under Secretary of State for War, who they are glad to go for the terms offered. is responsible for the frequent and expenIn the northern district of Scotland sive changes in uniform and accoutrewhere there are but very few large ments in the Army and Auxiliary Forces; towns some inconvenience was experi- whether any of the pecuniary profit, in enced last year by the withdrawal of the shape of commission or otherwise. assistants from their own offices to other consequent on these changes, is shared offices where pressure was felt; and, by anyone except the officers' tailors: consequently, an alteration of practice and whether he will consider the justice was arranged for. As an experiment, and advisability of making in future a the plan is being tried of inviting appli- pecuniary grant to officers of all arms as cations to act as relief-clerks from compensation for changes they are comestablished officers who, though fit for pelled to make through no fault of their work, are regarded by the Post Office own? medical officers as likely to benefit by *THE UNDER SECRETARY change of air. To such officers a sub- STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK, sistence allowance has been offered at Surrey, Guildford): Any changes in the rate of one guinea a week in addi- officers' uniforms and accoutrements, tion to their wages throughout the considered necessary in the interests of period of their stay. This allowance is the Service are made on the responsiregarded as sufficient. COLLECTION OF RATES (KILKENNY CITY). MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny) I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether it has come to his knowledge that large numbers of people, principally belonging to the working classes, have been for years deprived of the franchise by reason of the non-collection of rates from property owners in the Parliamentary borough of Kilkenny; and, whether he will take steps to prevent the disfranchisement of the people in future, either by the failure of the Poor Law authorities to collect the rates, or of property owners to pay them when demanded? THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR. Leeds, Central): It appears to be the fact that a certain number of persons have been affected in the manner stated by the non-payment of rates. The Local Government Board exercise no jurisdiction over Boards of Guardians in their capacity as Overseers under the Franchise Acts, but the Clerk of the Union states he will take all necessary steps in the preparation of the register for the coming year so as to insure that all persons duly qualified to vote will be placed on the register. Mr. Hanbury. bility of the Secretary of State. As in almost all cases they are in the direction of simplicity and economy, and as, whenever practicable, time is allowed for the previous pattern to wear out, no one should be the gainer, but the officer himself. GIBRALTAR. *MR. CHARLES BILL (Staffordshire, Leek): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the post of Captain of the Port at Gibraltar was, during the year 1895, merged in the office of the Colonial Treasurer, who has no special knowledge of Naval matters; whether the Chamber of Commerce at Gibraltar has protested against the amalgamation of these two offices in the hands of a civilian; and whether, at a time when large harbour works are being constructed at Gibraltar, he will consider the desirability, especially in the interest of the mercantile community, of providing that the Colonial Officer who has to discharge the duties of Captain of the Port should be a Naval Officer with some experience connected with the Navy and Mercantile Marine? | THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.): The answer to the hon. Member's first and second Questions is in the affirmative. I have at present no means of finding other employment for the Treasurer, but the matter will be borne in mind. PORTLAND PRISON. THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. G. J. GoSCHEN, St. George's, Hanover Square): No, Sir; no single firm has received an order for five torpedo destroyers. The Government have already placed contracts for the number of torpedo boat destroyers inserted in the Estimates, so that no further orders can be contemplated now. MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, by rule or custom, the star class of convicts in Portland Prison were exempted from menial work AMERICAN LIFE ASSURANCE in connection with the workshops; when COMPANIES (INCOME TAX). was that rule or custom altered and MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterthe star class put to such work; on ford): On behalf of the hon. Member what date was John Daly and the other for Dublin, College Green (Mr. J. L. treason felony prisoners first put to such CAREW), I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of menial work in connection with the the Exchequer upon what ground a disworkshops where they have been em- crimination is made against American ployed; and whether John Daly is still life assurance companies of high standing obliged to do this menial work? in respect of remission of Income Tax life premiums paid to any companies doing business in Great Britain and Ireland in accordance with the regulations of the Board of Trade? THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR on income applied in support of life THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir policies; and, whether he will provide MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY, Lancashire, for the remission of Income Tax on all Blackpool): No such custom or practice as the hon. Member suggests has been in existence of late years. Further information which I have called for as to the date when the present rule came into force has not yet reached me, but I will communicate it to the hon. Member when it arrives. The object of this rule, by which Daly and the other men in his workshop are required to perform certain sanitary work in connection with the workshop, is that, being star class men, they should not come into contact with prisoners who have not reached that class. The work must not be confounded with the work of the gang employed in cleaning the prison. Daly and the other treason felony prisoners have been employed in the manner described, on their turn coming round, for about two or three years; he is still required to perform the work. *THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH, Bristol, W.): The discrimination is based on the provisions of the Act 16 and 17 Vict., cap. 91, as interpreted by the Court of Appeal in the case of "Colquhoun v. Heddon" (Law Reports, 25 Q.B.D., 129), and I am not at present disposed to propose an alteration in the law. The difference of treatment does not rest on merely technical grounds. Persons who insure in British companies are advantaged by rebate of Income Tax on their premiums, but the companies themselves pay Income Tax on their investments. Foreign companies who hold investments abroad are advantaged by having no Income Tax to pay on their investments, and there is, therefore, no claim for remission of the tax on the premiums paid. TORPEDO BOAT DESTROYERS. MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty ROYAL CANAL HARBOUR (LONGFORD . whether the Government has given an MR. J. P. FARRELL (Cavan, W.): order to a Clyde firm for the building I beg to ask the President of the Board of five torpedo boat destroyers; and of Trade, whether any, and, if so, what whether it is the intention of the Gov- steps have been taken by him to ascerernment to place any orders in Ireland tain the facts as to the dangerous conwith the Passage, Derry, or Belfast ship- dition of the Royal Canal Harbour at builders? Longford, in consequence of the want of |