EXHIBITION BUILDINGS (SOUTH : KENSINGTON). appear in the Labour Gazette to be published on April 15th. It is not at present proposed to supplement these arrangements by a sub-division of districts. RATHDOWN UNION. SIR HENRY HOWORTH (Salford, S.) I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether a sum of £10,000 was originally put down in the Estimates of the current year for the purpose of continuing the Exhibition buildings at South Kensington, and was struck out by MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, the Treasury; and, if so, on what grounds; W.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary and, whether it is the intention of the to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Government to proceed at an early date whether he is aware that the Guardians with the buildings for which plans have of the Rathdown Union have for a been long prepared, and which are couple of years in hand the sum of £500, urgently needed for the accommodation given to them for the express purpose of and proper exhibition of the valuable building labourers' cottages, and that collections in the Museum? the Medical Officer of the Union has THE SECRETARY TO THE TREA- reported that several cottages were reSURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY, Preston): quired; and whether, seeing that the The proposal to which I assume my hon. Local Government Board nearly a year Friend refers was to submit an estimate ago wrote to the Guardians warning of £10,000, as a first instalment of them that if the cottages were not built £97,000, for providing, not exhibition they would be obliged to exercise their rooms, as he seems to suppose, but rights under the Labourers' Acts and offices, a students' court, and an unpacking yard. This scheme was postponed by the late Government on the ground of want of funds, and by the present Government for the additional reason that the question of offices in connection with the educational side of the Science and Art Department is materially affected by the proposals of the Education Bill which is now before the House. In answer to a further question by Mr. T. LOUGH (Islington, W.), MR. HANBURY said: A broad distinction ought to be drawn between the museum and the educational offices. The proposal that came before us referred principally to the educational offices. LABOUR CORRESPONDENTS (NORTH order them to be built, he will state whether any cottages have yet been built; and, if not, what action have the Local Government Board taken in pursuance of their expressed determination to have cottages built in this Union. MR. GERALD BALFOUR: A sum of £537, representing the share of this Union in the Labourers' Cottages Grant of 1890, is available for the erection of cottages in the Union. The Guardians in November last made a scheme for the erection of cottages, but as the publica. tion of the necessary notices, etc., under the Labourers Acts occupies some considerable time, the Local Government Board have not yet received the application for a Provisional Order confirming the scheme. MR. JAMES O'CONNOR asked whether it was not the fact that the Local Government Board wrote to these Guardians threatening to build the cottages themselves. MR. ᎻᎬᎡᏴᎬᎡᎢ LEWIS (Flint Boroughs): I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he will take MR. GERALD BALFOUR: It is steps to appoint two Labour correspon- perfectly true that they wrote to the dents for North Wales, one for the Guardians. quarrying, and one for the lead-mining districts. EGYPTIAN ARMY. *MR. AKERS-DOUGLAS: Arrangements have already been made with a MR. WILLIAM ALLEN (Newcastlelocal correspondent in North Wales for the supply of information with regard to both the groups of industries mentioned in the Question. The first report will under-Lyme): I beg to ask the Under service, imposed on all the Egyptian | retention of Kassala by the Italian Army, are enlisted by force; and whether forces; and, whether any order has been the negroes lately taken for service in sent to the Officer in charge of the British East Africa are volunteers? Egyptian forces suggesting that any THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR further forward movement should be FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. GEORGE delayed? CURZON, Lancashire, Southport): The MR. CURZON: I must ask the hon. majority of the Soudanese troops in the Member to excuse me from giving him Egyptian Army have enlisted voluntarily; the information he solicits. It is undebut a certain number who were born in sirable, and would, I think, he unpreceEgypt are conscripts, the conscription dented to make any public statement applying to them similarly with other with regard to intended operations natives. The Soudanese lately recruited either by the Italian or Egyptian for police service in British East Africa forces. are volunteers. MR. DALZIEL asked whether the right hon. Gentleman could not answer that part of the Question referring to the importance of the retention of Kassala by the Italian forces? interest, declined to answer. RIFLE RANGES (IRELAND). MR. P. FFRENCH (Wexford, S.): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State MR. CURZON: No, Sir; I am not for War, whether the experience of the going to be tempted to give a reply to a past two years has proved that the Dun-Question which I have already, in the cannon rifle range, county Wexford, public which the Government holds under Cheers.] lease, is well suited for the new or LeeMetford rifle; and, whether the companies of the 2nd Battalion East India Regiment, stationed at Kilkenny and Waterford, will be sent as usual to Duncannon for musketry practice; if not, whether he will take steps to prevent this range remaining unused when the recruits who are now practising there have finished their course? PRESIDENT KRUGER. MR. DALZIEL: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he can state the date on which the complete form of the Colonial Office Dispatch in regard to affairs in the Transvaal was received by President Kruger? THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I presume TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. J. POWELL- that the hon. Member refers to my DisWILLIAMS, Birmingham, S.): The range patch of February 4. I am unable to at Duncannon is safe for the Lee- say on what exact date President Metford rifle; but it is not suitable for Kruger received a copy of that Disall practices, and at certain states of the patch; but it must have been in his tide it cannot be used. Arrangements hands shortly before March 6, when it have been made for the 2nd Battalion was commented upon in the Pretoria East Kent Regiment (which is presumed newspapers. to be the battalion referred to in the Question) to fire this year at Kilworth, where the ample space allows of several battalions carrying out military exercises together. KASSALA. MATABELELAND. SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, what steps have been taken by the Imperial Government for the protection of the lives and property of British subjects in Matabeleland? MR. J. H. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN : The whether the Government have any authorities in Matabeleland have stated reason to believe that it is contemplated that they are strong enough not only to by Italy to evacuate Kassala partially hold out for the present, but to take the or entirely; whether the Government offensive when the whites in the outstill attach supreme importance to the lying districts have been brought in; Mr. William Allen. but that they are not strong enough to that the case was dismissed without put down the insurrection. As soon as costs was supplied by Mr. Farren, who in the serious nature of the rising was making the statement seems to have conknown, Sir Hercules Robinson took fused "costs" with "expenses." Costs, I prompt measures for preparing a relief understand, in a County Court dismiss force to be pushed up from the south. of this kind, follow the order as a matter Colonel Plumer, D.S.O., is accordingly, of course, and not as in Petty Sessions, with the assistance of other officers lent where a special application is necessary. from the regiments at Cape Town and It is absurd to suppose that Mr. Farren Natal, engaged in raising a force of at intended to wilfully mislead in the stateleast 500 men at Mafeking, which will ment originally made by him, and upon start as soon as it is ready, in charge of the information at present before me I additional arms, ammunition, and food, can see no reason for taking the course of which there are ample supplies at suggested in the second paragraph of the Mafeking, and ought to reach Matabele Question. land within three or four weeks. Sir Hercules Robinson has hitherto been of opinion that this force will, in conjunction with the forces already in Matabele- EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL CASES BILL. land, be sufficient to cope with and MR. E. H. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal crush the insurrection; but he has Green, S. W.): I beg to ask Mr. Attorneybeen informed that Her Majesty's General, whether it is intended to Government will sanction any prepara- proceed with the Evidence in Criminal tions which he may consider desirable Cases Bill? for the prompt and effectual suppression THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir of the rising, and that they are pre- RICHARD WEBSTER, Isle of Wight): pared, if he should deem it necessary, Certainly. to reinforce the garrisons at the Cape and Natal. Up to this time Sir Hercules Robinson has discouraged any step of the kind, and has expressed his opinion that local forces will be sufficient for the purpose. ACTION OF MR. FARREN, J.P. (COUNTY GALWAY). MR. D. SHEEHY (Galway, S.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1), whether it has now been brought to his notice that the case against Michael Hennessy was dismissed with costs; if so, will he state from whence he received the former information which misled him; and (2) whether, under the circumstances, he will advise the Lord Chancellor to remove the name of Mr. Farren, the gentleman in question, from the Commission of the Peace for the county of Galway? PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES. MR. HERBERT LEWIS: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he is aware that individual petitioners against Private Bills are not allowed to appear in person before Parliamentary Committees, but are compelled to retain Parliamentary Counsel at heavy cost; and, whether the Government will take steps to confer upon petitioners against Private Bills the rights which are enjoyed by private individuals in all Courts of Justice? THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREA SURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.) I think the hon. Gentleman has put down this Question under a misapprehension. I am informed that there is no reason why persons should not appear themselves instead of by counsel. MR. HERBERT LEWIS: Is it not the fact that there was a recent decision to the contrary? MR. GERALD BALFOUR: This matter has been brought under my notice by a letter received from the hon. Member for East Galway, and on THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREAfurther inquiry it now appears that the SURY: No, Sir; I am informed that case referred to was dismissed with there was no decision contrary to what costs; the statement previously made I have said. MORNING SITTINGS. THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: On Monday I shall move with regard to morning sittings on Tuesdays. MR. HERBERT LEWIS asked whether the Motion would apply to next Tuesday. THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: Yes, Sir. LIQUOR COMMISSION. MR. W. ALLEN asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether he could state the name of the 24th Commissioner of the Royal Commission on the Liquor Traffic. should be as fully represented as I should in other circumstances have desired to see it. If the hon. and learned Member will look at the eight names representing the trade in every part of the United Kingdom, he will see that every effort has been made by the Government to represent the views which they entertain. MR. T. M. HEALY said the hon. member for South Tyrone would be better than Lord de Vesci, because he knew the subject. THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREAsury: Possibly, but Lord de Vesci is not one of those who represents the trade. MR. T. M. HEALY: And he is abso THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREA-lutely ignorant of the subject. SURY: Yes, Sir. The 24th Commissioner will be Lord de Vesci. MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the trade in Ireland pro NEW MEMBER SWORN. Richard M'Ghee, esquire, for the tested against the names representing County of Louth (South Louth Division). their trade on the Commission, and whether, therefore, he would either replace some of the present names or add other names. THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: It would be impossible to add other members without destroying the balance of the Commission, or so greatly increasing its numbers as to make it an unworkable body. Nor is it possible to change the names of gentlemen who have agreed to serve, and who have been appointed by the Crown. MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.) pointed out that the decision in " "Sharp v. Wakefield" did not apply to Ireland, and that the licensing law was entirely different from that of England, and asked whether the Government would not appoint someone on the Commission who would fairly represent the views of the licensing interest in Ireland, and who would be acquainted with the state of the existing law as distinct from the law in England. MR. W. ALLEN said he wished to ask how it was that the one line of steamship companies which employed almost exclusively Lascar seamen got the whole patronage of the THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREA- Post Office in the matter of over-sea mail SURY I have endeavoured as far as I contracts. There were other lines with can to meet the views of all sections of equally good ships and equally capable opinion. It must be remembered that of carrying the mails satisfactorily and the Commission consists of 24 persons. who did not employ Lascar seamen, who Of those only eight can represent the were not so efficient as British seamen. trade in England, Scotland, and Ireland, He contended that the important mails a trade of divers branches carried on in to India and Australia should be carried divers localities. It is quite impossible on boats which were manned by the that every branch in every locality best sailors that could be got, and the 1. He Government could easily put in a clause some time ago with regard to those subin their contracts requiring that the jects. He did not think that they would mails should be carried only in vessels be met by the old argument that the inmanned by English seamen. The "Fair terests of the consumer and the taxWages Resolution required that a fair payer should be solely considered. rate of wages should be paid by those hoped it would be acknowledged that the who secured Government contracts, but duty of the Government was first of all these Lascar seamen were employed at a to protect the interests of British subrate of wages which English seamen jects, and not the supposed interest of would not for a moment accept. He the taxpayer, at the expense of the hoped the Government would give the larger interests of the Empire as a whole. Committee some satisfactory assurance He trusted that the Government would on the point and that the P. and O. give an assurance that the spirit of the would not always have a monopoly of the Fair Wages Resolution would be enmails. He was told that the P. and O. forced in respect of shipping contracts were almost entirely dependent for their and the employment of persons who were dividends on the subsidies they got from not British subjects. Was it the case the Post Office for carrying the mails. that payments were made to shipping The Government were in a specially companies other than those which sailed advantageous position for dealing with under the British flag? If the conthis matter, because they had a director tracts were knocked down to the lowest of the P. and O. among themselves. bidder, and foreign steamship companies MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, were to obtain the money of the British Thanet) said that as far as he could taxpayer, he should look upon the policy gather, it was not the case to any extent as most mischievous. The Government that the P. and O. employed foreigners should, therefore, take care that in the in the sense in which he understood the disposal of Government contracts the term. He would not call Lascars, who interests of British labour and truly were fellow subjects and natives of British interests were jealously safeHer Majesty's dominions, foreigners. guarded. Το lay down any such doctrine MR. A. GRIFFITH - BOSCAWEN would be to develop the Little (Kent, Tunbridge) said, that the hon. England theory to an enormous extent. Member for Battersea had raised a very The point he wished to impress on the important question, and he thought it Committee was that the Government was a matter on which Conservatives were asked to prevent the employment ought to support him. He had travelled of British subjects. ["No, no!"] on steamship lines on which English MR. JOHN BURNS (Battersea): It labour alone was employed, and by those, would save time if I point out that the like the P. and O., which employed a difference between the right hon. Gentle- great deal of Lascar labour. [Mr. J. man and myself is not so large as his LOWTHER : "British subjects"] No, speech would indicate. I did not ask not all of them. At all events a great for the total exclusion of Lascars and deal too many Lascars were employed, coolies who were subjects of the British and it was little short of a scandal, when Empire. What I protested against was they were deploring the disappearance the proportionately large number of Las- of British sailors all over the world, that cars and coolies employed on British as much encouragement as possible steamers which received subsidies from should not be given to their employment, the Post Office. at least in those steamship lines which MR. JAMES LOWTHER said, that received heavy Government subsidies. if the hon. Member confined his sugges- It had always appeared to him to be tion to the limited extent of the non- wrong that the P. and O. Company employment of persons who were not should have a large preponderance of subjects of the Queen, he was with him. contracts, and at the same time should But he should not be prepared to draw be allowed, notwithstanding the proa distinction between one British subject tests of the colonies and other parts of and another in a matter of this kind. the Empire, to employ a vast amount of He thought that a much healthier public foreign coloured labour on their ships. opinion prevailed now than was the case They ought not to exclude the labour of |