(SCOTLAND) BILL. UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW. Copy presented of Abstract of Accounts In favour: From Argyllshire; to lie of the University of Glasgow for the year upon the Table. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. ending 30th September, 1897 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 205.] ARMY (MILITIA). In favour: From Walsall, Exeter, Copy presented of Further Regulations Worthing, Shrewsbury, Bournemouth, relating to the Militia (Regulations for Hanley, and Huddersfield; to lie upon the Militia, 1898) [by Act]; to lie upon the Table. the Table. TREATY SERIES (No. 7, 1898). sive (in continuation of Parliamentary Copy presented of Agreement between Paper No. 263 of Session 1897)."-Sir the United Kingdom and France respect- Henry Fowler.) ing the Express Delivery of Parcels. Signed at Paris, 13th April, 1898 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table. FLEETS (GREAT BRITAIN AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES). Return presented relative relative thereto [ordered 3rd March; Sir Charles Dilke]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 206.] SELECTION (STANDING COMMITTEES). Mr. Halsey reported from the Committee of Selection, That they had discharged the following Member from the Standing Committee on Law, and Courts of Justice, and Legal Procedure: Mr. Lees Knowles; and had appointed in substitution: Mr. Ascroft. Mr. Halsey further reported from the LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) BILL Committee, That they had added to the (LICENCE DUTIES AND LOCAL GRANTS). Return ordered, "showing, for each of the ten years ended the 31st day of March, 1898: (1) The amounts received by the Exchequer on account of the Licence Duties proposed to be transferred to County Councils under Clause 42 of the Local Government (Ireland) Bill; (2) The amounts of the Grants heretofore made out of the Exchequer in aid of the Rates in Ireland proposed to be discontinued under Clause 42 of the Local Government (Ireland) Bill; and (3) The amounts received on account of the Licence Duties transferred to County Councils in England and Wales under Section 20 of the Local Government Act, 1888." (Mr. Dillon.) LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND), [REMUNERATION]. Committee to consider of authorising the payment, out of moneys to be provided by Parliament, of remuneration to any Commissioner of the Local Government Board for Ireland, who may be appointed under any Act of the present Session for amending the Law relating to Local Government in Ireland (Queen's Recommendation signified), To-morrow. -(Lord Arthur Hill.) Standing Committee on Law, and Courts of Justice, and Legal Procedure the following Fifteen Members, in respect of the Vaccination Bill:-Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Thomas Bayley, Sir Charles Cameron, Mr. Channing, Mr. Chaplin, Sir Charles Dalrymple, Sir Walter Foster, Mr. Hazell, Colonel Long, Mr. T. P. O'Connor, Sir William Priestley, General Russell, Mr. T. W. Russell, Mr. Steadman, and Mr. J. W. Wilson. Reports to lie upon the Table. CIVIL SERVICE (CANDIDATES). Return ordered, "of the total number of candidates who attended the Civil Service Examinations for the year ending the 31st day of December, 1896, also the total number who were successful in the examinations, showing separately the number born in England or Wales, in Scotland, in Ireland, and elsewhere."(Mr. Provand.) QUESTIONS. PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDITURE. Return ordered, "of Net Public Income and Net Public Expenditure under certain specified heads, as represented by Receipts into and Issues out of the Exchequer from 1869-70 to 1897-8, inclu TELEGRAPHIC CHARGE ANOMALIES. MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in counting words in telegrams, "West Derby" is charged 66 as one word, but that an equally important place, "West Kensington" is charged as two words; whether he is aware that by Post Office special order, No. 63 740-94, corn exchange" and "stock exchange" when written as compound words count as one word each, but "coal exchange" and "wool exchange" count as two words each, however written; and whether he will abolish these distinc tions? ACCESS TO THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. SIR JOHN LENG (Dundee): I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he will either directly or in conference with the London County Council and the Westminster Vestry take steps to secure greatly improved access to the Houses of Parliament from the Grosvenor Road by extending the Victoria Tower Gardens to Lambeth Bridge and widening Abingdon and Millbank Streets? THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. A. AKERS-DOUGLAS, Kent, St. Augustine's): In reply to the honourable Gentleman, I have to say that while the Government would look with favour on any scheme for the improved access to the Houses of Parliament from the to admit a south, they are unable THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY, Preston): It is only by inadvertence that West Derby has been allowed to pass as one word, the name having been reported as that of a separate village. The privilege having, however, been given for some time, the Postmaster General does not propose to withdraw it. West Kensington being part of a town is, under the general rule, properly liability, such as is suggested in the charged as two words. The answer to the second paragraph of the honourable Question, where the improvement appears Member's Question is in the affirmative. to them to be one chiefly of a metroBoth corn exchange and stock exchange politan character. are shown as compound words in the dictionary, and appear, therefore, to be recognised as compound words, although the honourable Member has not treated them so in his Question. Coal exchange and wool exchange are not to be found in any dictionary as compound words, and they appear to be usually written as two words, as in the honourable Member's Question. Whenever the usage of the English language sanctions their being treated as compound words the Postmaster General will give instructions for them to be charged for as such in telegrams. MR. HERBERT LEWIS (Flint Boroughs): Did the right honourable Gentleman say West Derby was village? а MR. HANBURY: No; I said it had been inadvertently reported as a separate village. MR. HENNIKER HEATON: I do not want to ask the right honourable Gentleman a conundrum, but will he say why Chester-le-Street is charged as one word and Chester Street as two? MR. HANBURY: One is the name of a separate place and the other is only part of a town. Mr. Henniker Heaton. owing on the 31st March, 1898, by the | this subject. Numerous resolutions, all Egyptian Treasury to the British in identical terms, have reached me to Exchequer; whether interest is being the effect mentioned in the Question; charged on the indebtedness, and, if so, at what rate; whether any arrangement has been made for the repayment of the sum advanced, and, if so, at what date; and whether advances have been made since the 31st March, or are contemplated, and, if so, of what amount or amounts? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH, Bristol, W.): £798,802 was advanced, and was owing on the 31st March. The Egyptian Government agreed to pay 2 per cent. interest, but none has yet been paid. No date was fixed for the repayment of the sum advanced; it was understood that that depended on the condition of the finances of Egypt. Nothing has been advanced since the 31st March. As to the future, I have already stated that I expect to have to make a proposal to the House on the subject. MR. J. E. ELLIS: Can the right honourable Gentleman say about when the proposal will be made? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER : It will not be before Whitsuntide, Sir. WORKSHOP CLUBS AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. but I have no power to interfere. If the action of employers is as stated, some hardship will doubtless be caused in individual cases; but the matter can only be dealt with by legislation, which, even if desirable, would be full of diffi culty, and under these circumstances I must say I am not prepared to make any promise on behalf of the Government. SIR C. CAYZER: Will the right honourable Gentleman give instructions to the inspectors of factories to report to him all cases in which this condition is enforced, in order that there may be a thorough investigation. It greatly concerns the existence and progress of friendly societies. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT: I do not think that this is a matter on which I can properly consult the inspectors, but I quite agree that it is desirable to obtain reliable information on the subject, and I will endeavour to get it. AFFAIRS IN CRETE. MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Commandant at Candia has allowed the Turkish SIR CHARLES CAYZER (Barrow-in-regular troops to advance and occupy Furness): I beg to ask the Secretary of positions hitherto outside the cordon, State for the Home Department whether including the height of Juktuki, which his attention has been drawn to the directly dominates the village of Kuri numerous protests from Foresters, Free Kasteli; whether the Bashi-Bazouks are Gardeners, Hearts of Oak, Rechabites, allowed to pass freely through the and other friendly societies in Barrow-in-Turkish lines; whether recently they cut Furness, and elsewhere throughout the down the olives belonging to a Christian country, against employers of labour village near the British post at Anopolis; compelling workmen, as a condition of whether the servant of an English employment, to join a shop club and traveller was recently seized by the cease their membership of any friendly society to which they may belong; and what steps Her Majesty's Government intend to take in this matter? THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. W. RIDLEY, Lancashire, Blackpool): I have already answered several Questions on VOL. LVII. [FOURTH SERIES.] Turks in Candia, and thrown into a loathsome dungeon; and whether Colonel Chermside, on being appealed to, refused to interfere, saying that he was there to co-operate with the Turks? requested me to answer these Questions MR. T. BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterin his absence. The honourable Member field): Will the noble Lord inquire does not give the source of his informa- whether these statements are correct or tion. not? MR. DILLON: The source of my information is a telegram which appeared in the Manchester Guardian the day before yesterday, which I know to be from a thoroughly reliable source. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA: Of course, if any information is brought to the notice of any public Department it is the duty of the head of that Department to make inquiry. MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.): Is not the action in regard to the extension of the cordon directly in the teeth of the agree ment? MR. SPEAKER: Order, order! The Question on the Paper has been fully answered. The noble Lord has said that he has no information in his possession. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA: Whatever the source the allegations contained in that telegram have not yet been brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Government. An arrangement has recently been made, with the consent of both parties, for the extension of the cordon outside Candia, and for the occupation of the salient points by British troops in advance of the Turkish regulars, the native irregulars or BashiMR. HEDDERWICK (Wick Burghs): Bazouks, as they are called, being with- May I ask whether, as a matter of fact, drawn to Candia. Colonel Chermside Colonel Chermside is there to co-operate has, however, informed the Christians with the Turks? that if this experiment does not succeed he will revert to the former system. MR. DILLON: The noble Lord has answered hardly a single word of the Question. I asked whether the BashiBazouks were allowed to pass freely through the Turkish lines; whether they had cut down the olives of a Christian village; whether the servant of an English traveller had been thrown into a loathsome dungeon; and whether Colonel Chermside refused to interfere, "as he was there to co-operate with the Turks." I will give the name of the English traveller referred to, who is a very distinguished one, privately to the noble Lord. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA: I stated at the commencement of my answer that the allegations contained in the Question of the honourable Member has not yet been brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Government, and that, therefore, I could not answer it; but, of course, if the honourable Member has information which he thinks is authentic, and upon which he relies, and will give it to me, I will communicate with the proper authorities. MR. DILLON: I will give the name of the traveller privately to the noble Lord, and repeat my Question on Monday. Secretary of State for India. MR. SPEAKER: Order, order! The Question on the Paper has been fully answered by the noble Lord. CAHIRCIVEEN FEVER HOSPITAL. MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a resolution signed by the 12 priests of the deanery of Cahirciveen, county Kerry, in which it is asserted that on the 9th May there were seven fever patients in the Cahirciveen Union Hospital from Portmagee parish; and whether he would submit to the investigation of a small independent committee the specific issue raised as to the actual number of fever patients in the Cahirciveen Fever Hospital from Portmagee parish on 9th May, with a view to determine the general accuracy of the information supplied to him by his officials on the subject of the present exceptional distress along the west coast of Ireland? THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. G. W. BALFOUR, Leeds, Central): The Resolution as published is in the following terms "When Mr. Balfour asserts that on the 9th May there were only two fever patients from |