for me to apportion blame, if blame there given of the Question, there has not been be, between the Government of the day sufficient time to obtain the observations and those Scottish Members who have of the Commissioners to enable a reply taken a special interest in elementary to be given to-day. education. ALLEGED HOMICIDE (IRELAND). MR. EDWARD M'HUGH (Armagh, S.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been drawn to the of Belfast, about the or MASSACRES IN ASIA MINOR. MR. T. R. LEUTY (Leeds, E.): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Government has any information as to the imminence of further massacres in Asia Minor; and report of an inquest in which appears a Coroner what additional steps have been taken, complaint made by Mr. since Papers were last issued, for the Finnigan, purpose of obtaining from the Turkish inequality of the Law of England and Government the fulfilment of its Treaty Ireland in regard to persons under arrest on a charge of homicide obligations to reform the administration whether murder; and, of its Asiatic provinces ? accused under arrest in England can claim the right to be present, in charge of prison warders, at any inquest where his conduct may be the subject of investigation, whether such privilege is granted to a prisoner in Ireland, and, if not, will he take steps to have the practice in this matter assimilated in both countries? person OF THE UNDER SECRETARY STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. GEORGE CURZON, Lancashire, Southport): Reports from Her Majesty's Consular Officers in Asia Minor show that in some districts there, is reason to apprehend a renewal of disorder. Her Majesty's Ambassador continues, as heretofore, to bring cases of oppression or misgovernment to the notice of the Turkish Government. LAND PURCHASE (COUNTY an THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND: There has not been sufficient time to make inquiry into the points raised in the hon. Member's Question to enable a reply to be given to-day, but if he will repeat the Question after the Recess the Chief Secretary will be in a position to answer it. DRAINAGE. MR. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether an agreement has been filed in the Land Commission, by which David Walsh, of BLACKROCK AND KINGSTOWN MAIN Feddans, County Waterford, has agreed to purchase a farm at Feddans from Mr. Maquay under the Land Purchase Acts; whether the inspector has yet visited the holding; whether the Land Commission are aware that the terms of purchase of the farm in question have been fixed on condition that the purchaser will, at the same time, accept a conveyance from the landlord of a second holding adjoining which is subject to an annuity under the Land Purchase Acts; and whether the Land Commission Inspector will take all the circumstances into account in making his report to the Land Commission? for MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether any settlement, either conditional on the consent of Parliament or otherwise, has been made in the action of the Attorney General Ireland at the relation of James H. North against the Blackrock and Kingstown Main Drainage Board; if so, what were the terms of the settlement, did they include the payment of any compensation to Mr. North personally, as distinct from his capacity of relator; and whether the Local Government of THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR Ireland have consented to the introIRELAND: This Question has been duction of the Bill of which the Main referred to the Land Commissioners for Drainage Board have given public report, but owing to the short notice notice? LIGHT RAILWAYS (IRELAND). THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND: The case was, with the MR. J. ROCHE (Galway, E.): I beg consent of all the parties, adjourned to to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord enable the Drainage Board to endeavour Lieutenant of Ireland, if his attention to obtain an Act of Parliament to validate the Acts by them, which are alleged to have been ultra vires. Should the Board be unsuccessful in this, the hearing of the case will be resumed, and in any event any settlement arrived at will be brought before the Court. The exact terms of the arrangements come to are not at present known to the Government. The Local Government Board have not received any application for their consent to the introduction of the Bill referred to. CASE OF MICHAEL HENNESSY (COUNTY GALWAY). has been called to a meeting held in Portumna on the 7th instant, with the Rector of Portumna and Woodford, the Rev. E. E. Rush, A.B., T.C.D., in the chair, when a letter was read by the Reverend Chairman from the Most Rev. Patrick Duggan, Roman Catholic Bishop of Clonfert, and resolutions passed unanimously in favour of a projected railway from Loughrea to Portumna and Birr, with a branch to Ennis via Woodford and Scarriff; whether he is aware that similar resolutions have been passed by the Grand Jury of the county Galway at the present Assizes; whether he will procure full details of population in the district through which the projected line and branch will run, as compared with MR. D. SHEEHY (Galway, S.) I beg the district through which the Galway to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord and Clyden Railway has been made; Lieutenant of Ireland, whether it has whether the Government is prepared to now been brought to his notice that the favourably consider a project cordially case against Michael Hennessy was dis- supported by all creeds and classes in missed with costs, if so, will he state the locality; and when will he be in a from whence he received the former position to state what the Government information which misled him; and, will do towards the construction of the whether, under the circumstances, he aforesaid line with branch? will advise the Lord Chancellor to THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR remove the name of Mr. Farren, the IRELAND: Attention has been drawn gentleman in question, from the Commis- to the subject matter of this Question. sion of the Peace for the County of At present the hon. Member can only Galway? be assured that the merits of the suggested lines of railway will be considered in connection with those of other similar proposals. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND: Owing to the short notice which has been received of this Question, and the necessity of making inquiry locally, I must ask the hon. Member to repeat the Question after the Recess. ALIEN IMMIGRATION. MR. E. H. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.): I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether he has any objection to lay upon the Table Dr. Theodore Thomson's Report on the methods adopted at certain ports for dealing with alien immigrants, referred to on page clvii. of the last Annual Report of the Local Government Board? MR. T. W. RUSSELL: There is no objection to the Return being granted, if the hon. Member will move for it. OPIUM TRAFFIC. MR. HENRY J. WILSON (York, W.R., Holmfirth): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, if he can state when the Papers on opium, which were laid upon the Table on the 2nd of March, will be in the hands of Members? THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing): The Papers are in the hands of the printers, and will shortly be laid upon the Table. GREENCASTLE HARBOUR. MR. THOMAS B. CURRAN (Donegal, N.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland when the Board of Works propose to believe that application of a like chacarry out the work of maintenance racter would be made by other bodies. undertaken by them in connection with The application of the British Institute Greencastle Harbour, in accordance with of Public Health was not complied with, the promise of the late Chief Secretary as the Board thought it desirable that a on the 20th May 1895 ? joint board should be formed consisting *MR. HANBURY: I visited this of representatives of various bodies harbour in person last October, and interested in the subject, who should have since then had inquiries made as hold examinations and grant certificates to whether arrangements could not be for the purposes of the section. A Combrought about between the local autho- mittee was appointed in 1894 to draw rity and the Congested Districts Board up a scheme for establishing a joint to make larger and more permanent examination board, and they have framed improvements in this harbour than the a scheme accordingly. The scheme mere work of dredging. I am afraid, adopted contemplates that the examinahowever, that this is impossible. The tion board should be incorporated under Grand Jury are, no doubt, responsible the Companies Act, 1862, and applicafor keeping the harbour properly dredged, tion was accordingly made to the Board but I am informed that at their recent of Trade. The Board are communicating Assizes they ignored the matter alto- with the Board of Trade on the subject. gether. In these circumstances I think the time has probably come for the Treasury to authorise the Board of Works to dredge the harbour at the Grand Jury's expense, as recommended by the Irish Government. SANITARY INSPECTORS. MR. LEES KNOWLES (Salford, W.): On behalf of the hon, Member for Down, E. (Mr. J. A. RENTOUL), I beg to ask the President of the Local Go vernment Board whether the Board have recognised the certificate of the Sanitary Institute as a certificate for a sanitary inspector under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, Section 108 (2) (d); whether any other public health bodies have applied for recognition of their certificates; if so, their names; whether such approval has been given; and, if not, the reasons for refusal; and, whether the Committee appointed by the Local Government Board three years since for drawing up a scheme for establishing one examining Board in England for the examination of sanitary inspectors, did draw up such a scheme; and, if so, when will effect be given to it? LIQUOR TRAFFIC COMMISSION. MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.) I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, if he will now give the names of Members of the Royal Commission on the Liquor Traffic, and state mission? the terms of reference to the Com ask the First Lord of the Treasury, MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: I beg to 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 TREA SURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, I have to say that even now it is not in "To inquire into the operation and administration of the laws relating to the sale of MR. T. W. RUSSELL: The Local intoxicating liquors, and to examine and report Government Board have approved, until on the proposals which may be made for amendthey otherwise direct, of the Sanitary due regard being had ing the aforesaid laws in the public interest, to the rights of Institute as a body to grant certificates individuals." for the purposes of the section referred to in the Question. The British Institute The names of the 23 Commissioners of Public Health applied for a similar which I am at liberty to announce are, approval, and the Board had reason to in alphabetical order-with the exception of the Chairman, who is to be Lord sent all interests and all parts of the Peel, late Speaker of this House-[Cheers] country. ["Hear, hear!"] As to the -as follows:: Question of the hon. Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool, I have to say that the work of the Commission will, no doubt, be strictly confined by the terms of their reference. I conceive, however, that there is nothing in the reference which I have read which will preclude the Commission from making any such inquiries into the systems in operation abroad which will throw light on the system in operation in this country. MR. T. P. O'CONNOR: There is the system of Scandinavia, which is very well worth consideration. MR. P. O'BRIEN: If, as the right hon. Gentleman says, the list is incomplete, I would ask does he intend to take any more names from Ireland? He has only named two representatives of Ireland Dean Dickinson and Mr. Young. Will he increase that number? THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: I have given the House all the information at my disposal, and I have gone far beyond ordinary precedent in being allowed to give the names of an incomplete Commission. [“ Hear, hear!"] MATABELE RISING. MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: As there are only two names given representing Ireland, and as I understand the O'Conor MR. SYDNEY BUXTON (Tower Don has refused to act, I wish to ask Hamlets, Poplar): I beg to ask the the right hon Gentleman whom he Secretary of State for the Colonies, proposes to put in that Gentleman's whether he has any further information place? in regard to affairs in Matabeleland? MR. T. P. O'CONNOR (Liverpool, Scotland): Will the Inquiry be strictly confined to the licensing system of the United Kingdom, or will the Commission have power to inquire into the licensing laws of other countries, notably Canada and the United States? THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: I cannot, on the spur of the moment, extract from the list I have read the number of gentlemen who are Irishmen, but if the hon. Gentleman looks at the list to-morrow he will see that I have endeavoured to fairly repre First Lord of the Treasury. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.): Yes, Sir, we have received two telegrams from Sir H. Robinson, and I am sorry to say that the position of things is not so favourable. The first is dated March 30, and was received at 9.30 p.m. yesterday "Nicholson telegraphs from Buluwayo this morning that Selous engaged Matabele at second stage on Tuli road and was expected in this morning. Matabele massing on Matoppo Hills, and communications with south in danger. One month's supplies in Buluwayo. Gifford brought in 36 men, one woman, one child. Following bodies identified. In Inceza district, Cunning- ORDERS OF THE DAY. EDUCATION BILL. THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir JOHN GORST, Cambridge University), who was received with The second is dated March 31, and was cheers, on rising to ask leave to introreceived at 8.35 this morning :- Following telegram received from Nicholson. Begins:-Buluwayo, March 30, 2.30 p.m. There are plenty of men for local defence, but are short of arms. The country all round out side a radius of 15 miles seems to be in insurrection. A large force reported on Kami river to north-west of here. Selous found Matabele in force in Matoppo Hills near Tuli road, 22 miles south-west the second and third stage. Mules from here have moved up to first stage. A strong patrol, 60 men, has gone to bring in mail in coach from Tuli, due this evening. Mail from here not starting to-morrow morning. Afraid it is big business. A strong force will be required to settle the Matoppo district." MR. E. H. HULSE (Salisbury): Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether Mr. Rhodes has arrived at Buluwayo? MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: Ño, Sir. I cannot answer that question. [Cheers.] MR. J. BRYCE (Aberdeen, Š,): Can the right hon. Gentleman say exactly what available forces there are in the country? duce a Bill to make further provision for education in England and Wales, said: Before, Sir, I describe the Bill which the Government are asking the House to be allowed to introduce, perhaps the House will allow me to mention some of the difficulties in education which the wisdom of Parliament will have to meet There is first the difficulty of Voluntary Schools. Last year the Voluntary Schools educated 2,445,812 children, as against 1,879,218 educated in the Board Schools; or, to put the matter in a more popular form, of every seven children educated by the State, three were educated in Board Schools and four in the Voluntary Schools. ["Hear, hear!"] Whether or not the existence of the Voluntary Schools is an advantage to the State is a matter of controversy. I am one of those who believe that it is an MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I only know what I have seen in the papers. MR. W. ALLEN (Newcastle-under- advantage [cheers]-because they tend Lyme): Can the right hon. Gentleman to infuse independence, originality, and say whether, if troops are required from variety into our national education, and, the Cape to put down the rising, the to some extent, counteract that tendency Chartered Company will be required to to uniformity and rigidness which is the pay for them? [Cries of "Oh !"] usual characteristic of a State system of education. But whatever view may be taken, it is not of great importance for practical Statesmen because the Voluntary Schools are there, and there seems very little prospect of their disappearing within any definite time. ["Hear, hear!"] The Roman Catholics boast -and with truth-that they have never surrendered a single one of their schools to a Board-[Nationalist cheers]-and that those schools which have been discontinued since 1870 have been discontinued in consequence of the fluctuations of population. In 1870, the Church of England had 844,334 children in its schools; in 1895 it had 1,850,545. [Cheers.] The subscriptions, which were, in 1870, £329,846, were, in 1895, £640,406. The little comfort which some people derive from the reflection that, though these subscriptions MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I have no exact information. There is, of course, the Rhodesia Horse. As to the native police, the first reports were to the effect that the whole of them had rebelled and joined the insurgents; and a later report contradicted that, and stated that only small bodies of them had joined the insurgents. But, at the same time, I judge from the telegrams that not much reliance is to be placed on the native police, because large bodies of them have been disarmed. Men are moving up quickly; and I hope the force will now be sufficient. |