QUESTIONS.

OF

*THE UNDER SECRETARY STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford): It is not known to what report of Captain Callaghan the hon. Member refers, but a certain amount of defence has been afforded to MR. J. BRIGG (York, W.R., the mine field at Gourock. We are not Keighley) I beg to ask the Under in a position to make any declaration at Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, present as to providing armaments for whether, in view of the frequent state- the Cumbraes.

FOREIGN TRADE COMPETITION.

ments made in the Reports on Trade and Commerce that, in foreign countries, British textiles and iron wares are being superseded by the manufactures of Germany, France, and Belgium, he will, in his instructions to the Consuls, impress upon them the desirability of their giving increased attention to these facts, and of their forwarding more frequently for the use of Chambers of Commerce samples or descriptions and prices of articles which are believed to be taking the place of the products of this country?

CONGO FREE STATE.

*SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester Forest of Dean): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he is aware that maps have been published by Captain Lugard and others showing the existence of Belgian posts in the territory leased by Great Britain to the Congo State, and abandoned by that State in consequence of the objections of France; whether, when THE UNDER SECRETARY OF orders were given in 1894 by Captain STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Paul Le Marinel, one of the Inspectors GEORGE CURZON, Lancashire, Southport): of the Congo State, to withdraw the The instructions already issued to Her Ma- three Belgian officers who were in this jesty's Consular Representatives abroad leased territory in the direction of the contain very specific directions concerning Bahr-el-Ghazel, the most distant post the competition of foreign trades and commanded by a lieutenant, being the forwarding of samples. In accor- 150 miles north of the Upper Welle, the dance therewith samples have been re- march southward lasted from December ceived from a large number of places, 1894 until April 1895; whether inforand have been communicated to the mation can be given to the House as to Chambers of Commerce. Inasmuch, how- the present condition of the large ever, as the matter is one of considerable Egypto-Turkish territory thus abanimportance, I propose to issue a reminder doned by the Congo State; and, with to the Consuls of their duties in this respect.

MR. BRIGG asked if it would be possible to supply Chambers of Commerce with copies of the instructions.

MR. CURZON said he would be happy to communicate a copy of the instructions to the hon. Gentleman if he desired it.

reference to the other leased territory not the subject of French remonstrance, whether Her Majesty's Government continue to regard the lease as binding, and Duffileh and Wadelai as posts properly to be occupied by the Congo State?

MR. CURZON: The map published in Captain Lugard's work illustrates the expedition of Captain von Kerkhoven, CLYDE DEFENCES. who was killed in 1893. The posts MR. A. WYLIE (Dumbartonshire): I marked, all of which were south of beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Lado, are understood to have been War, if it is the intention of the Govern- evacuated for purely local reasons when ment to complete the military defences the expedition retired. Her Majesty's of the Clyde at an early date, by carrying Government have, however, no informaout the recommendations of the Com- tion on the subject which is not availmittee of 1888 in regard to the arma- able to the public. Our information is ments at the Cumbraes, and by protec- that there were no posts occupied by ting the mine field at Gourock, as re- Congo State Forces within the British ported on by Captain Callaghan last sphere in the direction of the Bahr-elyear? Ghazel. No information has been

No promotion of the kind has been made
since the date of the Minute. In con-
nection with this I may say that there
is reason to think that the passage in
question has given rise to somewhat
exaggerated expectations on the part of
the Outdoor Department of the Customs.
From the nature of the case it is not
possible that the promotion of a Surveyor
to a Collectorship can be a matter of
frequent, still less of regular, occurrence.
The initial salary of a Surveyor is £350
per annum, from which it results that
there are not more than 30 Collector-
ships that would tempt a Surveyor, even
in his first year as Surveyor. As he
advances in emolument (and a glance at
the Estimates will show what good pro-
diminishes. But these 30 Collectorships
spects he has) the number, of course,
constitute the places to which the

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREA-
SURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY, Preston): Collectors and Superintendents below
Owing principally to the difficulty of the £350 class, some 60 in number, have
procuring sufficient apparatus, it has to look for promotion. Many of these
been found necessary to proceed gradu- men have made considerable sacrifice of
ally with the transfer of the working of immediate emoluments in order to enter
the Trunk Telephone Lines from the that line of service, and, looking to all
The the circumstances, there is no question
National Telephone Company.
arrangements will first be completed in that, personal qualifications apart, an
that part of the country which lies Officer already in the Collectors' line has
south of the Thames, and the transfer a stronger claim on the higher Collector-
will take effect there on the 4th of next ships than an Officer of the Outdoor
month. The District comprising Mans- Department. On these facts it is clear
field is receiving attention, and it is that the promotion of a Surveyor cannot
hoped that it will be possible to effect be a frequent occurrence, and must be
the transfer there at an early date.

COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS.
MR. ERNEST GRAY (West Ham,
N.): I beg to ask the Secretary to the
Treasury, whether any appointment has

do to the position of Collector Collector.