empowers the Committee to inquire into all the proposals contained in the Bill, and will, therefore, exclude from the purview of the Committee some of the most essential portions of the whole scheme. Under these circumstances, I would ask the permission of the House to amend this Instruction. I am a little doubtful as to the words that I would propose, but if the sense of my words is gathered by the House, and if there is no objection, then it will be very easy to put the idea that I have got into more accurate words. I would suggest that the Instruction should run in this way-

"That it be an Instruction to the Committee that they inquire and report whether the adoption of any or all of the proposals contained in the Bill, either in themselves, or in connection with the acquisition of other railways, would prevent or produce proper competition."

Therefore, the Amendment that I desire to move would be, after the word "Bill," in the second line of the Instruction, to insert the words

Question put

mittee that they do inquire and report whether the adoption of any or all of the proposals contained in the Bill would prevent or prejudice adequate competition in the railway system in the south of Ireland, or in the system of communication between that country and England and Wales."

"That it be an Instruction to the Com

Motion agreed to.

QUESTIONS.

DISCHARGED PRISONERS' AID

SOCIETIES.

MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the new scheme for the organisation of Discharged Prisoners Aid Societies is now in force, and whether there has been any change in the scheme as embodied in the

"Either in themselves or in connection with letter addressed to the Chairman of such the acquisition of other railways.'

*MR. SPEAKER: That would be an extension of the Instruction, and cannot be moved without notice. In any case, it would not be in order, because it would be going into matters altogether beyond the scope of the Bill.

Question put

societies by the Prison Commissioners on the 12th October last?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE

HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. W. RIDLEY, Lancashire, N., Blackpool): The actual order on the subject has not yet been issued, but the new scheme will take effect as from the 1st April, and applications for registration and certificates have already been received from more

made in the scheme as embodied in the Commissioners' letter.

"That the Bill be committed to a Select Com-than 40 societies. No change has been mittee of nine Members, five to be nominated by the House and four by the Committee of Selection. That, subject to the rules, orders, and proceedings of this House, all petitions against the Bill be referred to the Committee, and such of the petitioners as pray to be heard by themselves, their counsel, agents or witnesses, be heard on their petitions against the Bill if they think fit, and counsel heard in support of the said Bill against such petition. That the Committee have power to send for persons, papers, and records. That five be the quorum."

Motion agreed to.

MR. PICKERSGILL: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to page 55 of Mr. Merrick's Report on Discharged Prisoners' Aid Societies, from which it appears that some of these societies pay a prisoner's fare home ut of the gratuity which he has earned; and whether, inasmuch as provision is made by the Prisons Acts for defraying

these expenses out of public moneys, he will take steps to prevent such a disposition of the gratuities earned by prisoners?

rightly charged additional postage. The reason of the rule is that redirection from one district to another involves a practically new dispatch and possibly additional railway charges. Up to the end of May, 1892, parcels were

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT: Yes, Sir; this matter has been under consideration, and redirected free from any part of London steps are being taken in the direction suggested.

REDIRECTION OF PARCELS.

to any other. In 1892, however, the regulations for redirection of all postal packets were reconsidered, and parcels were treated differently from other postal packets on account of the greater facility with which the charge could be collected, and because on them alone the railway charges are calculated for each partiThe Postmaster General

to another.

MR. HENNIKER HEATON: Will the right honourable Gentleman make London one postal delivery so far as parcels are concerned?

MR. J. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he can state the grounds cular packet. on which a parcel on which 10d. had is not at the present time prepared been paid was redirected from the House to modify the existing regulations so as of Commons to Eaton Square free of to admit of parcels being redirected charge, but when redirected from the without charge from one part of London House of Commons to the Grand Hotel, Charing Cross (about one-third of the distance to Eaton Square) was held liable to an additional charge of 101d.; whether, down to 31st May, 1892, when the existing regulations on the subject came into force, parcels, in common with MR. HANBURY: No, I do not see why other postal packets, were redirected that should be done. from one point to another within the metropolis free of charge; and whether he will, having regard to the amount of profit to the Department produced by the present rule, as compared with the inconvenience to the public, restore the old rule, and concede once more the free redirection of parcels within the metropolitan postal district?

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY, Preston): As Eaton Square and the House of Commons are both served from the same parcel delivery office, a parcel under the rule, addressed to one of the places would be redirected without charge to the other. As the Grand Hotel is in the Western Central and the House of Commons in the South Western District, and the two places are served from different offices, a parcel redirected from one of the places to the other would be

LAND ASSESSMENT DEFAULTERS IN

MADRAS.

MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can state the number of defaulters in the Presidency of Madras, in addition to the 56,648 whose lands were sold for non-payment of land assessment in the seven years 1887-94, whose personal property was sold for the same reason in those seven years; whether the Madras land revenue returns for the years 1894-5 and 1895-6 have yet been received at the India Office, and whether they contain this information; and, if so, can he state the number of cultivators whose land or personal property was sold for non-payment of assessment in those two years, and also in the previous seven years; whether he can state the proportion of

land sold for non-payment of assessment, drawn to the case of the Peterhead fishwhich was bought in by Govern- ing boat Try Again, which put into ment, and what was bought by other Buckie Harbour on the 14th instant, persons respectively, and whether the having lost four of her crew who were former amounts to more than 44 per washed overboard; whether there is cent.; and whether he will lay upon the reason to believe that this loss of life Table of the House the last Report might have been prevented if the boat received from the Madras Government relating to land revenue affairs?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing): The number of defaulters, whose personal property was sold for nonpayment of land revenue during the seven years 1887-94, was on the average of those years 7,967 in each year, out of a total number of more than three million holdings under Government besides a very large number under Zemindars. The reports do not specify

had been provided with safety rails; and whether he will consider the desirability of requiring the larger class of fishing boats to be provided with satisfactory safety rails?

am

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. A. GRAHAM MURRAY, Buteshire): I in Madras informed by the Fishery Board that the calamity in question was no reference reported to them, but made to the question of safety rails. The Board, however, have repeatedly drawn attention to the extreme

was

desirability of providing such rails. and at the beginning of this year issued a notice to owners and masters of

whether these defaulters were in addition
to the defaulters whose land was sold.
The Madras revenue returns for 1894-95
and 1895-96 have been received; and
they give the numbers of defaulters whose
real property and personal property was
sold for arrears of land revenue. If the
terms "land" and "real property" are
assumed for this purpose to be convertible, I
then the figures are-

Seven Two

years. years. 1887-94 1894-96

deep-sea fishing-boats calling their attention to this important matter.

ROYAL IRISH CONSTABULARY. MR. C. J. ENGLEDEW (Kildare, N.): beg to ask the Chief Secretary

to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will consider the desirability of largely reducing the number of officers in the Royal Irish Constabulary and place either head constables or senior sergeants in charge of the less important districts, now in charge of district inspectors, and thus give the men of the force a better chance of promotion in a reasonable time, and also effect a further considerable saving to the revenue?

THE

THE CHIEF SECRETARY ΤΟ LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, Leeds, Central): I am not prepared to say that the number of officers at present in the Royal Irish Constabulary is in excess of that required for the efficient performance of the duties demanded of them, and it would not, in my opinion, be for the public interest, or for the good of the force, that any change should be made in the existing system of supervision and control. As under a recent Order half, instead of, as formerly, one-fourth, of the promotions to the rank of district inspector are given to head H

constables, any reduction in the number | land whether he can state the gross of officers would adversely affect the interests of the deserving men in the ranks for whose benefit the change was made.

amounts of county cess levied at NEWFOUNDLAND MISSION. the March and July Assizes in the SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean): I beg to ask the years 1895, 1896, and 1897, respecSecretary of State for the Colonies what £1,348,859. The amount for 1897 may tively, were £1,323,312; £1,280,577; is the object of the mission of the New-be subject to some slight revision when foundland delegates to this country? the final returns shall have been

on

these men from the list of water guard tendants who have left the Carlow extra men at the age of 60 was laid Asylum since the 1st January, 1894, but down by Treasury Minute in June, not the cases of servants hired by the 1894; and 60 is a fair limit of age to Resident Medical Superintendent which to retain men whose duties behalf of the governors. The fact, I am require them to row boats among the now informed, is as stated in the second crowded shipping of the Thames in all paragraph. The Return from which the states of tide and weather. I am not figures already quoted were taken was aware that these men were told when furnished by the Resident Medical Superthey were engaged that their services intendent. The inspectors of lunatic would be retained until the age of asylums have called for the information 65; and certainly no one had authority suggested in the fourth paragraph. Tne to tell them so. The other extra men consideration of this further information referred to are, I think, those who cannot affect the decision expressed by entered the body of Customs watchers on me on Friday last-namely, that I had its formation in May, 1896, and who asked the inspectors on the occasion of were allowed-if their services were their next visit to the asylum to inquire required and they were fit for work- and report whether there is any special to remain until 65. But all watchers reason for dissatisfaction on the part of who have been engaged since that date the subordinate staff of the establishhave to retire at 60; and the Commis ment. sioners of Customs were unable to agree to the retention of the water guard extra men after 60, either on water guard or landing duty. The memorialists were so informed.

CARLOW DISTRICT LUNATIC ASYLUM. MR. ENGLEDEW: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the numbers he has mentioned with reference to the servants and attendants employed in the Carlow District Lunatic Asylum include all servants and attendants, male and female, employed in that institution, whether actually hired by the board of guardians or by the resident medical officer on their behalf; whether the names of 30 servants and attendants (28 female and 2 male) have not been included in the Return made to him, whose average service is about ten weeks; whether he will ascertain who was responsible for furnishing him with an incorrect and misleading Return; whether he will get a Return of the names and length of service of the entire staff of the institution on the 2nd of May; and. if, after consideration of this further information, he will have an inquiry made into the causes or reason for so many servants and attendants leaving this institution?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR: The numbers mentioned by me on Friday last included the cases of all officers and at

CONVICTION OF AN OXFORD SOCIAL
DEMOCRAT.

MR. DAVITT (Mayo, S.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a member of the Social Democratic Federation, named Thomas Partridge, has been sentenced to imprisonment for addressing a meeting at Oxford; that similar meetings have been held at the same place in Oxford by members of this body for a considerable time without any interference on the part of the local authorities; and that the disturbance on the occasion which led to Partridge's prosecution was mainly due to the opposition of a dissenting body of youths; whether he is aware that Partridge has been sentenced to a month's imprisonment as a result of this disorder arising out of the opposition to the meeting which he addressed; and that other meetings have been tolerated by the local police in the same place; and whether the Home Secretary will take into consideration the case of Mr. Partridge, and consider the expediency of his release?

MR. W. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that at the City Court of Oxford, on 22nd April last, T. Partridge was summoned for obstruction and fined the maximum, 40s. and costs 16s. 6d.; and that the accused elected to go to gaol