Portmagee in the Cahirciveen Fever Hospital, we beg to assure him that there were seven such patients from Portmagee parish in the Fever Hospital at that date." It is not the fact that I made the assertion attributed to me in this Resolution. What I said on the 9th instant was that the inspector had reported on the 28th April that only two fever cases from Portmagee were in hospital. I am inquiring whether the number of cases had increased to seven on the 9th instant, and whence they came, and see no reason to delegate inquiry into this very simple question of fact to a small independent committee, as suggested by the honourable Member. MEAT SUPPLIES TO BRITISH TROOPS. MR. FIELD: I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the firm which has obtained the contract for the supply of meat to the troops in Great Britain, except those stationed at Aldershot, is connected with the firm of the same name carrying on extensive operations in America; whether he can state what saving will be effected by giving the contract to the importers of foreign meat; and whether he has made inquiries if the troops would prefer native or foreign MR. POWELL WILLIAMS: In all probability a great proportion of this meat is produced in the Colonies. MR. FIELD: Have any inquiries been made of the troops as to whether they were satisfied with and prefer this foreign meat? MR. POWELL WILLIAMS: As I understand it, the troops are contented if the meat is good and they get enough of it. CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.): May I ask whether meat contracts contain any provisions as to penalties for breach of conditions? MR. SPEAKER: Order! That does not arise out of the Question, and notice should be given of it. PROTECTION OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN THE PHILIPPINES. MR. CHARLES MCARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state what measures have been taken by Her Majesty's Government for the protection of British life and property in the Philippine Islands, and especially at Iloilo, where, according to the latest advices, apprehensions were entertained by those concerned in the British mercantile establishments located there, owing to the progress of the insurrection, and the absence of any force for the defence of that place? Indian Currency Committee, authorising them to submit any modifications of the proposals of the Indian Government, or any suggestions of their own, for the establishment of a satisfactory system of currency in India, leave the Committee a free hand to deal with the question of the results that have followed the closing of the Mints, and to recommend, if they think fit, the re-opening of the Mints for the coinage of rupees; and, if not, what are the limitations imposed by the terms of reference on the scope of the Committee's inquiry? THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA: I am glad of this opportunity of removing any possible doubts as to the object with which I appointed this Committee. The Currency Committee is a body of practical men assembled for a practical purpose, and they are empowered to inquire into any matter which they may think relevant to the subject which has been referred to them. If, therefore, they consider an inquiry into the policy of closing the Indian Mints to be relevant to that subject, and if, having regard to the circumstances of the time and the practical possibilities of the case, they desire to make such inquiry and report upon its results, there is nothing in the terms of reference to prevent them from doing so. INDIAN SALT TAX. MR. MACLEAN: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if any fresh arrangements have been made for the suppiv of salt to the tribes on the North west Frontier, the excessive dearness of the Kohat salt, which they cannot do without, having been alleged by the Afridis as one of the chief grievances which led them to take up arms against the British Government? MR. H. LEWIS: Before the noble Lord replies may I ask whether the duty on Kohat salt up to 1883 was not 4 annas; whether it was not then raised to 8 annas, and again raised in 1896 to 2 rupees, or 32 times the natural price of salt? Do the Government contemplate a reduction of the duty? Mr. Maclean. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA: As to the supplementary Question of the honourable Member for the Flint Boroughs, there is no doubt that in the last 15 years there has been a great increase in the duty on Kohat salt to bring it up to the level of the duty on internal salt, but I cannot say off hand what the increase has been. As regards the Question on the Paper, I have to say that so far as I know at present no fresh arrangements have yet been made respecting the duty on Kohat salt; but, as I stated in answer to a question on the 11th February, the subject is engaging the attention of the Indian Government, and I expect to receive a further report on the matter when the trade has been for some time resumed. DISTURBANCES AT BALLINAHINCH. MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the report in the Belfast Irish News of the disorderly proceedings in Ballinahinch, county Down, on the day and night of the 12th instant; whether he can state how many houses were attacked, and how many windows were broken by the stones thrown on the occasion; is he aware that among the houses so assailed was the residence of one of the most popular magistrates of the county; whether he can state under what circumstances and by what parties the attacks were made; if he will make inquiry to ascertain the full particulars of the damage done; and whether he can give the number of arrests made from the disorderly crowd? MR. GERALD BALFOUR: My attention has been directed to the disturbances at Ballinahinch on the 12th inst. It appears that a large mob, accompanied by some bands, assembled to meet two men of the Orange party, who had been convicted, at petty sessions on the 20th April, of drunkenness and disorderly conduct, and sentenced to a month's imprisonment. These two men, on arrival at Ballinahinch at 9 o'clock on the night of the 12th inst., were carried round the town by the mob, who threw stones at the houses of nine residents, all of whom, with one exception, were Roman Catho- MR. GERALD BALFOUR: The charge referred to was made to the Inspector General in March, and was at once inquired into. No investigation on oath was made, or called for, inasmuch as the personal inquiries, conducted by the District Inspector, clearly showed that the charge was preferred in a spirit of vindictiveness, and was without foundation. POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK ACCOUNT. (Dorset, MR. WINGFIELD-DIGBY N.): I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the loss to the country on capital account through the recent depreciation of the Consols held on the Post Office Savings Bank Account; what has been the annual loss to the country during the last three years, as repreMR. DILLON: I should like to ask the sented by the differenec of the income right honourable Gentleman whether he received from the investments in Concan explain to the House why such pro- sols on this account and the 2 per cent. ceedings are allowed to go on at Ballina-paid to depositors; and will he, in order hinch, when peaceable meetings in county to mitigate this loss to the nation at Mayo are dispersed by baton charges? MR. GERALD BALFOUR: I have no information to that effect. large and to equalise the benefit thus OF THE EX- MR. W. REDMOND: Will the right my possession show that on 31st Decemhonourable Gentleman inquire? [No Reply.] ber, 1896, the capital account of the Post Office Savings Bank showed a surplus of £11,900,000. I do not think there has been any recent depreciation which would reduce this. The annual loss to the country in respect of Post CHARGE AGAINST DRUM (MONAGHAN) | Office Savings Banks income account is CONSTABULARY. There represented by the amounts which ParMR. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.): Iliament has been asked to vote. beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. at what time and in what place the inquiry was held into the charge made by a man named Hugh M'Cabe against the constabulary of Drum, county Monaghan; how many witnesses were examined, and was the inquiry conducted on oath; and what was the name of the officer who presided at the inquiry? a surplus of was so voted in 1896 and 1897, £15,493, but in 1895 there was £16,983; so that the three years show a net surplus of £1,490. Under the Act of last year advances are being freely made to local authorities on very reasonable terms, through the Local Loans Fund; and any fresh capital of that Fund required to be raised is being borrowed from the Savings Banks Fund. : VACCINATION ACTS. ing, or for infringement of the regula lighting, he will arrange for the name and address of the owners of the offending trawler to be inserted in the Fishery Board Report as well as the name of the master? MR. BRIGG (York, W.R., Keigh-tions for the lettering, numbering, and ley) I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, as a large number of boards of guardians have been elected on their pledge not to put the compulsory clauses of the Act into operatin, will he extend the time before the new Act comes into force to at least three years, so that there may be an opportunity for electing boards of guardians who will undertake the duties imposed upon them by this Act and the regulations which have been indicated as to come into force at the same time? THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM MURRAY, Buteshire) : The Fishery Board's Report for 1897 is now completed, and has been submitted to the Secretary for Scotland for presentation to Parliament. As regards the publication of the owners' names, the Board are not of opinion that it would be desirable THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL to publish in the annual Report a list GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. CHAPLIN, Lincolnshire, Sleaford): The honourable Member has not specified in his Question what Act he refers to, but I presume he means the Vaccination Act. MR. BRIGG: Yes. THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD: I can only say that the suggestion of the honourable Member is not one I can accept. of the names of owners against whom no conviction has been obtained. MR. WEIR: I only ask for the publication of the names of the owners of the offending trawlers. Why this tendency to shield the rich trawler and not the poorer one? MR. GRAHAM MURRAY: I think the honourable Member's Question tends in He wishes us to the contrary direction. publish the names of the owners where convictions are obtained against the masters? MR. WEIR: And the owner? MR. GRAHAM MURRAY: The Ques CHINESE CORRESPONDENCE. MR. JOSEPH WALTON (Yorkshire, Barnsley): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs tion does not say so. whether the correspondence between Her Majesty's Government and the Chinese and French Governments in regard to British interests in Southern China will be presented to the House before the Whitsuntide recess? THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (for Mr. CURZON): I am informed that communications with the Chinese Government are still proceeding on the subject, and I am not, therefore, in a position to state whether any Papers will be laid. CONVICTIONS FOR ILLEGAL MR. HEDDERWICK: Is not master usually one of the owners? the MR. GRAHAM MURRAY: Where a conviction has been obtained the name is given. I do not think it fair to insinuate, as honourable Members are doing, that in all cases of illegal trawling there is collusion between master and owner. ESTATE DUTY. MR. GIBSON BOWLES (King's Lynn): I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that for a period of nearly a year after the 2nd MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty): August, 1894, when the Finance Act came I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether, into operation, the Inland Revenue auin the case of convictions for illegal trawl-thorities neither exacted nor claimed Estate Duty on settled property in which for such requirements; and whether that the deceased's life interest had been Committee has considered the importance transferred to the reversioner more than of placing at the disposal of our admirals 12 months prior to death; whether he on the China and other distant stations can state the date upon which the duty in war a force of Marines for operations was first claimed and exacted in such on shore irrespective of those forming cases; and whether, since the doubt as to part complement of Her Majesty s ships ; the legality of such a claim was first and, if not, whether, having regard to raised in 1896, the persons from whom the teachings of history, and to the exduty has in such cases been exacted have perience afforded at Alexandria in 1882, been informed by the Department of In- and now by war operations at Manila, of land Revenue that if the contention of the military requirements necessary to the Crown failed any over-payment would supplement the exercise of naval power, be refunded? he can give an assurance that this imperial requirement will receive the most careful consideration of that Committee? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: A claim for Estate Duty was first made in cases such as that mentioned by the honourable Member in July, 1895, on the advice of the Law Officers. In certain cases the parties have paid the duty on condition that if within a given time the point at issue should be finally decided against the Crown, any duty overpaid would be Government. refunded. THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.): I assure my honourable and gallant Friend that all the problems he has suggested in his Question, and any others that may arise, will receive the most careful consideration of Her Majesty's PRIME MINISTER. MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead) I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government will consider the advisability of bringing in a Bill to enable the Prime Minister to speak in both Houses of Parliament? THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREA THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: I have already answered that Question; I have told my honour- SURY: I think there is a great deal in able Friend I do not intend to answer theory to be said in favour of the plan hypothetical questions on details of suggested by the honourable Gentleman, the duties. WEI-HAI-WEI. but it is so absolutely alien to the Parliamentary traditions and practice of this country that I certainly shall not make myself responsible for any such proposal. ARMY RESERVE BILL. SIP JOHN COLOMB (Great Yarmouth) I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the efficient working of the Army system SIR JAMES FERGUSSON (Manchesbeing dependent upon equality of the ter, N.E.): I beg to ask the First Lord of number of battalions at home and abroad, the Treasury whether it is intended to prothe nature and composition of any armed ceed with the Army Reserve Bill; and, force which may be required for service if not, whether Her Majesty's Govern at Wei-hai-Wei has been, or will be, re- ment will take steps to bring a certain ferred to the Defence Committee of the number of corps to a strength prepared Cabinet to decide whether the Army or for occasional emergencies, so that when the Marine Forces would best provide a brigade or a division is required for |