decision was given of death by mis- whether he is aware that there is ample adventure. Nothing is known of the provision in the existing schools at resignation of the employés of the Eastbourne for infants of five and upCompany; but I shall be glad to receive wards; whether the Department's new any information on the subject from the hon. Member, who presumably would not have described it as a fact had he not possessed the requisite evidence. *SIR CHARLES DILKE: Would the right hon. Gentleman be willing to see one of the officers of the Company who had resigned? MR. CURZON: Yes, that is the information for which I am asking. MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis): Will the right hon. Gentleman say how the death was established, inasmuch as the man was never found or seen? [Laughter.] LEAD POISONING. MR. JOHN WILSON (Falkirk): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will order an Inquiry into the conditions of the enamel industry with a view to dispense with the use of lead, so that the large percentage of deaths through lead poisoning may be averted? statistics of alleged deficiency contemplate provision for infants under five and as young as three; and, whether there is any statutory authority for imposing on the school managers at Eastbourne or anywhere else the heavy burden of providing accommodation in their schools for infants of three years old? SIR JOHN GORST: The facts are as stated in the Question, but no notice directing further accommodation to be provided has yet been issued. The statistics do contemplate provision for infants between three and five years of age. Under Section 5 of Elementary Education Act 1891, public school accommodation without payment of fees must be provided for children over three. ALLEGED TRESPASS (COUNTY MR. D. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, what steps, if any, have been taken to bring SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY: to trial Patrick M'Quaide, of Gola, The hon. Member will, no doubt, re- county Monaghan, who has been under member that the various lead industries arrest since the end of January last for formed the subject of an exhaustive Inquiry by a Departmental Committee three years ago, as a result of which stringent special rules have been established for factories where lead is used in plate enamelling. Considerable difficulty is, however, experienced in getting the workpeople to obey the rules, nor am I satisfied that they might not be amended, I propose, therefore, to have a further Inquiry made. alleged trespass upon his evicted farm; is he aware that M'Quaide has expressed his desire to be tried; and, will steps be taken to bring him to trial or order his release without further delay? THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND: I must refer the hon. Member to my reply in answer to his Question on the 19th March, to which I have nothing to add. EASTBOURNE VOLUNTARY SCHOOLS (EXTENSION COMMITTEE). ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne): I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, with regard to the fact that the Eastbourne Voluntary Schools Extension Committee, after having provided, at the suggestion of the Education Department, more than 1,700 additional school places, at a cost of about £11,000, have again been called upon to make further provision, and this time for infants only; Mr. Curzon. CRUELTY TO CHILDREN. MR. MACALEESE: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has seen the Report of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, wherein it is stated that there were investigated last month 1,965 complaints of neglect, starvation, ill-treatment, and other wrongs upon children, that 1,837 of those complaints were found to be true, and affected the welfare of a large number of children of various ages, and that 18 of the children so affected died; and, will the Government consider the pro- SIR JOHN GORST: The Director of priety of making more stringent the the Art branch of the Museum at South laws in existence for the protection of Kensington is responsible for the staff of helpless children? that branch, for the arrangement of the SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY: collections, and for making purchases or My attention had not previously been recommending objects for purchase. He called to the Report referred to. The is not under the control of the officials Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act who have charge of the Science and Art of 1894, which consolidated and extended schools, but I will make further inquiries previous legislation on the subject, was on the subject. passed after much discussion in Parlia ment, and I have not as yet seen any reason to suppose that it is ineffective for WESTON-SUPER-MARE POST OFFICE. its purpose. No representations to the MR. H. KIMBER (Wandsworth): I effect that the law requires strengthening have been made to the Home Office by magistrates or others concerned in its administration, but, should any such representations be received, they will, of course, be carefully considered by me. DR. ROBERT AMBROSE (Mayo, W.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the resolution passed by the priests of the Deanery of Westport on the 7th instant, requesting the Government to provide compulsory purchase powers for the acquisition of the waste lands in the congested districts of the Westport Union for migratory purposes; and whether he will make provision for such a clause in the coming Land Bill, or see that such powers be given to the Congested beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is now able to account for the extreme length of three and a half years' delay which has elapsed since the site for a new post-office in Weston-super-Mare was acquired at an expense to the State of about £5,000; what is the estimated expense of the building proposed to be erected by the Postmaster General which the Treasury disagree with; what is the amount of saving which the Treasury estimate should be effected by reduction of that estimate; and what is now being done to make progress? MR. HANBURY: The erection of the building has hitherto had to be postponed in favour of more pressing cases. The estimate referred to was £7,000 for the building and £600 for fittings and furniture. This was greatly in excess of the original estimate. The question of its reduction is now under consideration between the Postmaster General and the Treasury. Arrangements are being made temporarily to rent and fit up an THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR adjoining shop, which will provide a IRELAND: Attention has been drawn to the Resolution referred to, but I can give no undertaking of the nature suggested in the second paragraph to intro Districts Board? duce the Measure. good parcel and sorting office as well as storerooms and retiring rooms for the clerks and postmen, in lieu of the present temporary sorting office on the other side of the street. against the permanent exclusion of the missionaries, but merely to persons. Canadian cattle on the ground of the implicated in seditious movements, and existence of pleuro-pneumonia in Canada, that the missionaries would not be in and express in the strongest possible any way molested so long as they conmanner their belief that pleuro-pneumonia formed to the laws of the country. The has not existed in the past and does not United States Chargé d'Affaires, who at the present time exist in Canada; and, also made representations on the subject, if, in view of this strong expression of was informed that the Iradé had been Canadian opinion, Her Majesty's Govern- repealed. ment could see their way to postpone legislation on the subject until further experiment has decided the point at issue? OF *MR. F. A. CHANNING asked whether it was not the case that Mr. Knapp, one of the missionaries, had been expelled from Bitlis ? MR. CURZON: It may be, but I have no information on the subject. SOUTH AFRICA. MR. GRANT LAWSON (York, N.R., Thirsk) asked whether it was not a fact that the Board of Agriculture had received a very large number of resolutions urging the vital importance of this Bill to the agricultural community in MR. GEORGE WYNDHAM (Dover): Great Britain and Ireland, and praying I beg to ask the Secretary of State for that no exception should be admitted? the Colonies, whether Her Majesty's *THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD Ministers will be in a position to lay any AGRICULTURE (Mr. WALTER further Papers upon South Africa upon LONG, Liverpool, West Derby): I have the Table of the House within the near received the resolution to which the hon. future, in order to put an end to the Member refers, but, while deeply regret-period of suspense which has given rise ting that upon any question we should to so many conflicting rumours? find ourselves unable to accede to the THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR wishes of the Dominion Government, THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, we feel that it is not possible for consistently with the interests of agriculturists at home, to adopt the suggestion which the hon. Member is good enough to make. We have received a large number of resolutions and representations in the sense indicated by my hon. Friend. "Hear, hear!"] us, MISSIONARIES IN ASIATIC TURKEY. MR. F. S. STEVENSON (Suffolk, Eye): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he has any information with regard to the Iradé, recently signed by the Sultan, but not hitherto promulgated, the effect of which would be to bring about the expulsion of Christian missionaries from Asiatic Turkey, and to interfere with the administration of relief? MR. CURZON: Her Majesty's Vice Consul at Mush telegraphed on the 27th ultimo that the local authorities in virtue of an Imperial Iradé had required all missionaries to leave Asia Minor at once via Alexandretta. In reply to representations made by Sir Philip Currie, His Excellency was informed that the terms of the Iradé did not specifically refer to Mr. R. J. Price. Birmingham, W.): I cannot say at present when further Papers on South Africa can be produced, but they will be laid as soon as the interests of the public service will permit. In the meantime great caution should be exercised with regard to rumours on South African affairs, which are frequently set afloat with interested motives. [Cheers.] MR. J. M. PAULTON (Durham, Bishop Auckland): In view of the state of affairs in South Africa, may I ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will put down the Colonial Vote for an early day? *MR. SPEAKER: That does not arise out of this Question. NORFOLK ISLAND. MR. J. F. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he has received information of a public meeting of the residents of Norfolk Island, at which protests were made against the proposed placing of the Island under the direct authority of the Government of New South Wales; and (2) whether, in view of the large amount of hostility the proposal has evoked, he will consider and suggest some compromise which, received any reply to his last Dispatch while securing the desired reforms of to President Kruger, and, if not, whether civil and judicial administration, will he had telegraphed inquiring as to the preserve the essential features of the President's delay in sending his reply? system of local self-government the community has enjoyed for the past 40 years? MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I must refer the hon. Member to the answer given by me to the hon. Member for the Ecclesall Division of Sheffield on Thursday, the 9th instant, to which I have nothing to add. MATABELE RISING. MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN said, I have heard indirectly that a protest of this nature has been made, but I have no detailed information on the subject. As the hon. Member has already been informed, the future Government of Norfolk Island is at present the subject of communications with New South (Sheffield, Ecclesall): I wish to ask the Wales and with New Zealand, and I am not as yet in a position to make any definite statement on the subject. GRAND JURIES (IRELAND). MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether Irish Grand Juries are legally bound to advertise for tenders for the various contracts for the departments of the public service which they control, and which are paid for out of the public funds; whether he is aware that the Grand Jury of the county of Kilkenny recently gave a printing contract for a term of seven years without having invited tenders by advertisement in the local press, and at a cost of several hundred pounds to the rates more than the work would be done for if left open to competition; and whether he proposes to take any and what action in the matter? THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND: There is some doubt owing to a decision delivered many years ago whether Grand Juries are bound to advertise for tenders for printing. They are undoubtedly bound to do so in the case of all other contracts. The Government have no power to take action in the matter, but it is open to any ratepayer to appear before the Judge of Assize or the Auditor of the Local Government Board and take exception to the action of the Grand Jury in the matter. PRESIDENT KRUGER. MR. W. J. GALLOWAY (Manchester, S.W.) asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he had SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT right hon. Gentleman whether in view of the important Colonial and Imperial interests now at stake in South Africa, Her Majesty's Government will decide at once to reinforce the Imperial troops there? Sir MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: Hercules Robinson has offered, after consultation with the General Officer commanding the troops at the Cape, and after hearing from Messrs. Rhodes and Duncan and Lord Grey, to send up at once to the disturbed districts 300 cavalry and 200 mounted infantry from Natal in addition to the Volunteers and police already arranged for. He will also raise a force of 250 Basutos to aid in quelling the insurrection. I am considering with the War Office what steps will be necessary to replace any troops which may be ordered into the interior. [Cheers.] MR. DALZIEL asked whether this country or the British South Africa Company would be asked to pay the expenditure involved. shall take none of the larger controver- in moving this Resolution. It will be suffisial Measures to-morrow-no stages of cient if I remind the House that in 1895 the bigger Bills. If we do not get Tuesdays were taken by the Government through the Committee stage of the for the whole of the Session from a very Military Manoeuvres Bill to-night I shall early date. In fact all the Tuesdays put it down as the first order to-morrow. were taken except two, and Friday mornThen Ways and Means will have to be ings were taken from March 1 until taken, and we shall put down the Ber-Easter, and from April 29 to the end of riew School Bill, the Public Offices (Site) the Session. My only doubt is whether Bill, and other Bills of that kind. As to I ought not to ask the House to give me Friday, I think that, as the Irish also the Wednesdays before WhitsunMembers are now over here for the tide, because no private Member's Bill introduction of the Land Law (Ireland) brought forward on a Wednesday Bill, it would be convenient to bring between Easter and Whitsuntide has the forward the Irish Estimates on that day. MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.) asked when the question of the Christian Brothers' Schools would be brought on. THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: I think it was understood that the question should be brought on some night after 12 o'clock, and I believe it will be brought on in a few days. slightest chance of becoming law, and because a precedent for that course was set by right hon. Gentlemen opposite in 1893, when they found it necessary to take Wednesdays at a very early date. But I shall not ask the House to make that sacrifice at this time, if sacrifice it be. When, however, the Second Reading of a large Government Measure is brought in on a Monday, and that it appears unlikely that the Debate will be concluded before Wednesday I may have to ask the House for that particular day. In the meantime, I only ask the House to grant the Government such privilege as it has never refused to grant to other MR. CURZON thought that the Governments, and to permit us without request was a very reasonable one. lengthened Debate to transact Government business on Tuesday mornings. EGYPT. CAPTAIN BETHELL (York, E.R., Holderness) asked that a map of Egypt might be put in the Tea Room for the use of Members. NEW MEMBERS SWORN. James Laurance Carew, Esquire, Borough of Dublin (College Green Division). James Roche, Esquire, commonly called the Honourable James Roche, County of Kerry (East Kerry Division). MR. H. LABOUCHERE (Northampton): Will the right hon. Gentle- MR. DALZIEL wished to say a word man include the Soudan in Egypt? or two as to the circumstances under [Laughter.] which this Motion was brought forward. When the House adjourned for the Easter Recess they were told that the first business on the Paper for that evening would be the Irish Land Bill. Members had come up from the country expecting that that business would be the first order, but if the Debate on this Motion lasted but three quarters of the time that similar Debates lasted when the Opposition was led by the present Leader of the House, there was no chance that the Land Bill would be reached before a very late hour. Hitherto, it had been customary to give some kind of notice of Motions such as this. [Mr. BALFOUR: "I did give notice."] The right hon. Gentleman no doubt gave notice on Friday that he was going to introduce a Motion relating to Tuesdays that afternoon, but as hon. Members were not made acquainted with the terms of the Motion it was impossible for them to prepare Amendments. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE (MORNING SITTINGS ON TUESDAYS.) "That, unless the House otherwise order, the |