number of deaths which have occurred *MR. BRODRICK: No report on the since my answer to the Question of my subject has been made to the War Office, hon. Friend on the 19th inst. No details and no action in the matter is contemas to particular schools or as to the plated. proportion of deaths amongst vaccinated MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterand unvaccinated persons are as yet ford): Similar incidents have occurred available. I am informed by the Town before, and the War Office have always Council that they have done all that they made inquiries when asked, and have can in the way of hospital isolation and expressed their opinion on the subject. disinfection to check the spread of the *MR. BRODRICK: If there was a disease, but I am advised that the only breach of the Commanding Officer's effective means of controlling the ex- orders, no doubt the Commanding Officer tension is the adoption of a general will inquire into the matter; but it is system of vaccination and revaccination. not a subject for inquiry by the War [Cheers.] I am informed by the guardians Office. that every facility is being afforded by them for vaccination and revaccination, that both operations are being carried out very largely, and that the guardians at their last meeting resolved to enforce the Vaccination Acts, which I understand have been in suspension for the last nine years. [Cheers.]

LICENSING LAWS COMMISSION. MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he is yet in a position to give the names of the Royal Commissioners on the Licensing Laws, and the terms of reference?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASHAMROCK (TROOPS IN IRELAND). SURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kil- E.): I am sorry to say I am not yet in kenny): I beg to ask the Under Secre- a position to give the names of the tary of State for War, whether he is Royal Commissioners. I shall do so at aware that on last St. Patrick's Day the the very earliest opportunity; but cerLieutenant in charge of I Company, tain formalities will have to be gone S. D. Royal Artillery, on detachment through, as well as obtaining the consent duty at Burgemena, Malta, ordered the of all the gentlemen whose names it is Irish soldiers to remove shamrock from proposed to submit, before it can be their caps, notwithstanding that the done. Commanding Officer in Malta had given. MR. J. REDMOND: I understand permission for all Irishmen in his com- that the Government have practically mand to wear shamrock on and off arranged the names of the Gentlemen parade on that day; whether the troops who are to serve. I wish to ask whether in Ireland wore shamrock on St. Patrick's all these Gentlemen have given their Day without any interference with proper discipline; and, whether the action of this officer was in accordance with the Regulations of the Army; and, if not, what action does he propose to take in the matter?

MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.): I wish to ask the hon. Gentleman whether, in the event of his answer to this Question being in the affirmative, he is prepared to allow Protestants to wear the Orange lily on July 12 [Laughter.]

MR. BRODRICK: That is a Question in regard to which my hon. Friend has been informed so often, that he must excuse me if I do not go into the matter again.

MR. W. JOHNSTON: I never had an answer from you.

Mr. Chaplin.

consent, and whether, if some of them have refused to act, he will keep an open mind and receive communications as to who should be put in their places?

In

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: The great majority of the Gentlemen have consented to act. the case of vacancies that may occur in consequence of refusals, I will, of course, consider any representations that may be made.

MR. J. REDMOND: Have there been any refusals as yet?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: I think I have given the hon. Gentleman all the information in my power.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether

he is aware of the fact that Mr. Young, M.P., who is said to be the representative of Irish trade on the Commission, voted in this House in favour of taxing Irish whisky? [Laughter.]

*MR. SPEAKER: Order, order!

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: And that, therefore, he is not acceptable to

the trade?

*MR. SPEAKER: Order, order! The hon. Gentleman ought not to persist in asking an irregular Question when he is called to order.

MATABELELAND DISTURBANCES.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON (Tower Hamlets, Poplar): I wish to ask the Secretary for the Colonies, whether he can give the House any information in regard to the alleged rising in Matabeleland?

COMMISSION ON FINANCIAL

RELATIONS.

MR. JOHN REDMOND asked the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he could inform the House as to the cause of the delay in appointing a Chairman to the Commission on the Financial Relations between Great Britain and Ireland; and, whether the Government saw any objection to allowing, as in some similar cases, the members of the Commission themselves to assemble and elect their own Chairman ? [“ Hear, hear!"]

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH, Bristol, W.): This matter has been under the consideration of the Government, but it was considered inadvisable, for obvious reasons, owing to the position at which the Commission had arrived in its labours, to appoint a fresh Chairman. from outside-[cheers]-as has been done in some other cases. We think the best course is that suggested by the hon. Member, namely, that the Commissioners should meet and elect one of their own number to act as Chairman.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I will read to the House the latest telegram I have received on the subject. It is dated March 26, and is from Sir Hercules Robinson. It says:"Captain Nicholson telegraphs from Buluwayo at One o'clock to-day that messenger arrived this morning from Shangani district and reported seven white men killed, one wounded, and four missing. The murders were committed MR. F. A. CHANNING (Northwith knives. Natives have not many guns. The remaining whites of the district in two amptonshire, E.) asked the First Lord laagers one of 15 men at Shangani and another of the Treasury, whether any decision of 19 men at Stubart's Farm, 20 miles apart. had been come to as to the introduction Natives of district left kraal and held indaba of the Education Bill on Monday, and yesterday at Jingen, 16 miles from Shangani. Napier's force of 50 men marching on Jingen to whether he had considered the great incatch, if possible, a witch doctor who is insti- convenience which would be caused to gator of rising. Eight men from Seluke district Members if the introduction of the Bill at Gwelo and organising defensive measures. were postponed until Tuesday? Buluwayo alarmed last night by false report of native attack. Great confusion, but no likelihood of attack at present."

DELAGOA BAY.

MR. HERBERT LEWIS (Flint District) asked the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, whether there was any truth in the statement which had appeared in that day's Birmingham Daily Post to the effect that Delagoa Bay, or territory in its neighbourhood, was to be purchased by agreement from Portugal ? *MR. CURZON: With all respect to the hon. Gentleman, I must adhere to the rule which has always been observed in this House and ask for notice of questions on foreign affairs. ["Hear, hear!"]

VOL. XXXIX. [FOURTH SERIES.]

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY I am afraid that I have not much to add to the general statement in regard to the business on Monday and Tuesday which I gave to the House last night. It is necessary on Monday to get the Third Reading of the Naval Works Bill, which I understood from the right hon. Member for the Montrose Burghs is not a Bill which ought to take much time at that stage. Then we must get the Speaker out of the Chair on the Civil Service Estimates and get the Report of the Vote on Account. Getting the Speaker out of the Chair is an operation which has frequently been done in an hour or two, and sometimes even less. [Opposition cries of "No!"] I find that in 1892 it was agreed to in half a

day a morning sitting.

In 1891, will allow me to make a statement upon when there was no question of a Disso- another matter. His Royal Highness lution, it took one day. In 1894, when the Duke of Cambridge has declined to there was no question of a Dissolution, it allow the proposal for a pension in respect took a fraction of a day. On Thursday, of his services as Commander-in-Chief to March 29, the Speaker was got out of be submitted to the House. ["Hear, the Chair after two Bills had been intro- hear!"] Had this recognition of his duced, and five Votes were afterwards labours-extending over a period of taken. That was under the late Govern- nearly 40 years in one of the highest ment, and I see no reason why the pre- offices of the State-been unanimously sent Government should not receive the offered, it would have been gladly acsame meed from Gentlemen who wish cepted. But the announcement of the to get the Education Bill on Monday. late Secretary of State for War, speaking As far as I can judge the Questions on from the Front Opposition Bench, that the Paper to be discussed before we can he intended to oppose it, made such a get the Speaker out of the Chair, I do result impossible, and His Royal Highnot see anything that need take much ness is not inclined to allow his personal time. If that were the view of the claims-however legitimate-to become House, and if there was an understand the subject of Party controversy. ing that the Speaker is to be got out of [Cheers.] Under those circumstances, the Chair, and that the Report of the the Duke, who held the position of Vote on Account is to be taken without Commander-in-Chief from 1856 to 1895, any unduly-prolonged Debate, I do not retires with precisely the same income see why my right hon. Friend should not from public sources as he would have had introduce the Education Bill on Monday. had he never occupied that office. But, in the absence of that understanding, I can only advise him to defer his statement to a less convenient day, but the only day which the action of the House has put in my power to afford him. [Cheers.]

*SIR CHARLES DILKE asked, what was the reason for insisting on getting the Speaker out of the Chair on the Civil Service Estimates before Easter?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: I did not mean that it was necessary in order to meet the requirements of the law; but it is necessary for the proper conduct of public business that we should make such progress as to be able to begin the Estimates at once on the Thursday after the holidays.

MR. HERBERT LEWIS asked, whether, in the case of a first-class Bill, like the Education Bill, it was not usual to give three or four days to the First Reading, and not the fraction of day?

a

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: I do not think that has been the general rule.

MR. DALZIEL asked whether His Royal Highness continued to receive £12,000 a year, and whether he had not already received £900,000? [Cries of "Order!"]

SIR HENRY CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs): I cannot understand whether the statement which the right hon. Gentleman read was the expression of opinion of Her Majesty's Government or of His Royal Highness, because, until quite recently, I have been of opinion-an opinion based upon the statements made by the right hon. Gentleman himself that Her Majesty's Government took the same view as I did of the question. [Cheers.]

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: I do not know that I need repeat what I have formerly stated to the House. The course which the Government have taken has been perfectly open and aboveboard in this matter, and all the statements which I have made on this subject in the last and in the present Session are before the House. [Cheers.]

DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE.
THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREA-
SURY: If there are no more questions
about public business, perhaps the House
First Lord of the Treasury.

JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE.

MR. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N.) called the attention of the Speaker to a mistake in the Journals of the House. In the

report of one of the Divisions on the LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANIES (PAY

Naval Works Bill last evening it was MENT INTO COURT) BILL [H.L.]. stated that the Chairman asked the Read 1o; to be read 2o upon WedNoes to stand up in their places, and in nesday 15th April.-[Bill 160.] the list of the Gentlemen who so stood up appeared his name. As a matter of fact, he was not present in the House at the time.

*MR. SPEAKER: If the hon. Member mentions at the proper office that a mistake has been made, it will be corrected.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.) asked, whether it was not the rule, where the Chairman of Committees or the Speaker asked the Ayes or the Noes to stand up in their places, that the names of the Gentlemen standing should be officially taken by one of the Clerks at the Table, or by the official Tellers ? *MR. SPEAKER: I am not expressing any opinion on anything which has been done by the Chairman of Committees, who, I have no doubt, acted, as he always does, with perfect propriety, but, as I understand it, all that the rule really requires is that the Speaker or Chairman acting under that rule should have the names of the Gentlemen who stood up taken down; it does not prescribe any method.

MR. W. REDMOND said that he was finding no fault with the Chairman of Committees, but he wished to know how the names ought to be taken down.

*MR. SPEAKER: It is not a common practice to enforce the rule, but it has been done on one occasion certainly by myself, and then two of the Division Lists were brought in from the Lobby, and while hon. Gentlemen were standing in their places their names were ticked off, and from that the Division List was afterwards prepared.

MR. FLYNN was continuing the question, when

*MR. SPEAKER said, I cannot listen to anything in the nature of an appeal in reference to what took place in Committee.

MOTIONS.

SIR HENRY CAMPBELL one; the ingredients were only held BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs) com- together by being mechanically mixed. plained of the inconvenience to which Cellulose was, so to speak, a form of Members had been exposed by reason of

the fact that, contrary to the established sponge, and interstices filled with nitropractice, no information appeared in glycerine. A certain degree of pressure the Parliamentary Papers circulated would always cause the vaseline and that morning as to the Votes that were nitro-glycerine to exude. A powder conto be taken, and consequently Members taining so much nitro-glycerine was, he had come down without the slightest submitted, not a proper powder for the preparation. British Army. The German powder was *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF nearly all guncotton; the Danish, the STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK, best of all, is the same; the French had no Surrey, Guildford) stated that last night nitro-glycerine. The Russians objected the Votes which it was proposed to to nitro-glycerine, and the Americans take were handed in at the Clerk's were trying to get along without it. table, but unfortunately they did not Accidents had already happened in Italy appear on the blue paper but only on the owing to the large quantity of nitrowhite paper. He greatly regretted if glycerine in their early experimental any hon. Member was put to incon- powders. The Financial Secretary to venience, and if there was any Vote which the right hon. Gentleman regarded as contentious he would at once have it postponed.

SIR HENRY CAMPBELL BANNERMAN said, it was not so much a question of whether a Vote was contentious or not, as that there might be some diligent Members who had accumulated a number of valuable criticisms and notes, and that other Members might not have thought it necessary to make any like provision.

the War Office told him that the assimilation was perfect. He was not sure that that answer should not be modified. He maintained that if cordite was stored and then exposed to the air, a certain portion of nitro-glycerine would be evaporated. An experiment, it was reported, was tried by an English officer, who wiped with a handkerchief the interior of a large cartridge-case that had been loaded for a long time and placed in a warm place, and he was able to detonate that handkerchief. Was this a nonMR. J. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid), fouling powder, and did it keep the as a question of order, asked whether it rifle fairly clean? Was it easy of manuwas competent for the Government to facture, or could it be manufactured only proceed with Votes notice of which ap-in one place? Of course, large sums had peared only upon the white paper and to be spent, and the Government dreaded not upon the blue? He rather thought a change; but he submitted that unless that the point had already been decided the Government were convinced that that it was not competent to proceed with Votes under such circumstances. *THE CHAIRMAN said that, if the hon. Member had called his attention specially to the particular decision he would have been prepared for it. But the decision, he believed, only amounted to this, that Estimates could not be taken unless effective Supply was put down. Now, effective Supply was put down in the present instance.

cordite holds its own at the present time, under the varied conditions of climate under which British troops used it, they should at once commence experiments with other smokeless powders with the view of having a reserve of some other powder besides cordite. They should not hesitate to sweep away the plant of manufacture of the old cordite powder, and get the best cordite they could. This powder could only be manufactured COLONEL LOCKWOOD (Essex, Ep- at Waltham Abbey and Messrs. Kynoch's ping) desired to raise the point whether at Arklow. Was the whole process of cordite powder was the best smokeless manufacture carried on at Messrs. powder in existence? Now, the British Kynoch's, or only up to a certain point; Government cordite consisted of 58 per and was the ammunition sent over in a cent. of nitro-glycerine, 37 per cent. trinitro cellulose, and 5 per cent. of vaseline. This compound was not a chemical

certain state to Birmingham to be finished there? The present Government turned out the late Government on