ILLEGAL TRAWLING IN SCOTTISH · north Kerry has been surveyed on the

WATERS.

25-inch scale, and the sheets are now in various stages for drawing and publication. Those which comprise Tarbert and Newtownsandes will be published about the end of September, and will then be available for sale by the agent

in Tralee.

MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty): 1 beg to ask the Lord Advocate, having regard to the fact that 33 per cent. of the persons convicted for illegal trawling in Scottish waters during the years 1896 and 1897 went to prison rather than pay the fines imposed, will he state why the provisions of Section 10, Sub-section 6, MR. FLAVIN: Can the right honourof the Sea Fisheries Regulations (Scot-able Gentleman say why, seeing that land) Act, 1895, were not enforced this portion of Kerry has been surveyed against the owners of the offending for the past 12 months, the maps have vessels? not been printed?

MR. GRAHAM MURRAY: The provisions of the sub-section referred to were not enforced against the owners in the cases mentioned, because the sub-section did not apply to these cases.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE: So far as I know there

has been no delay that could have been avoided. I will inquire if there are any circumstances in the case with which I am not acquainted.

CONGESTED DISTRICTS (SCOTLAND)
ACT.

MR. WEIR: I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he will state when the Congested Districts Board propose to take steps with a view to the acquisition of land for the purposes set forth in the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act of last Session?

MR. GRAHAM MURRAY: The Congested Districts Board are giving the matter their best attention, although as yet no land has actually been acquired.

MAPS OF NORTH KERRY.

MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.): I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can state in what condition of preparation are the 1/2 500 scale maps of North Kerry, and especially those in connection with the districts of Newtownsandes and Tarbert; and whether he can say how soon it is expected the appointed agent in Tralee will have the maps on sale?

DISTRESS IN COUNTY KERRY. MR. FLAVIN: On behalf of the honourable Member for South Kerry I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that an inquest was held on the 27th ultimo, at Killurly West, near Cahirciveen, county Kerry, on the remains of a poor man named Joseph Griffin, at which the sworn evidence of Mary Griffin disclosed the fact that the deceased and his family had no potatoes since December, 1897, with the exception of some received from the union for seed purposes, a portion of which they were compelled to eat, and that the diet of the family for several months past was Indian meal mixed with a little flour wet with water,

also black tea, without any milk, as a Griffin that the money she had earned drink; that it was also sworn by Mary as a hired servant to take her to America had to be spent by her to purchase food so as to prevent the family starving; and that it was sworn at the inquest that several members of the family, including the mother, were unwell and in delicate health for a long time, and that the coroner's jury stated in their verdict that the death of Joseph Griffin was accele THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD or rated by insufficiency of food; and AGRICULTURE (Mr. W. H. LONG, whether he will take steps to prevent Liverpool, West Derby): The whole of a recurrence of such incidents?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR:

I have institution to defective sanitary arrangeread a newspaper report of the proceed-ments; and that, on the other hand, the ings at the inquest referred to in this sanitary expert, Mr. Parry, is of opinion Question, and have instructed the Local that the most probable and immediate Government Board to hold an inquiry on oath, at the earliest possible date, into the circumstances surrounding the death of Griffin.

MR. FLAVIN: Is the right honourable Gentleman aware that the Local Government Board inspector was supplied with this man's name last December as being in immediate want of relief? Is it not the case that no steps were then taken?

[No Reply.]

cause of the epidemic was the imperfect and unsuitable arrangements for water storage, and the want of attention to the cleanliness of the water tanks; who is accountable for the condition of the water tanks; and, will he state what steps have been taken to safeguard the health of the patients, and prevent a recurrence of the state of things discovered by Mr. Parry?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR: The medical staff of the Omagh Lunatic Asylum and the inspectors of lunatic asylums attributed the late outbreak of epidemic disease in the institution to defective sanitary arrangements, including the water supply, to which special attention was drawn in the inspectors' report, and an analysis of the water directed to be obtained. There was no material difference between the medical opinion and that of the sanitary expert, Mr. Parry; although it is true that he dwelt specially on the unsuitable arrangements for the storage of water. and the want of atten

GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY. MR. PICKERSGILL: I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in accordance with his promise given on the 5th April, he has considered the question of instituting an inquiry into the past and present management and work ing of the Gas Light and Coke Company, with a view to putting an end to the sys-tion to the cleanliness of the tanks. The tem whereby gas consumers on the north side of the Thames have to pay 3s. per 1,000 feet as against 2s. 3d. per 1,000 feet on the south side; and whether he is now in a position to make an announcement on the subject?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE, Croydon): The Board of Trade have been carefully considering this question. They have no statutory power to hold an inquiry. If the honourable Member thinks it desirable to move for a Committee of this House, I will see that the proposal receives careful consideration.

OMAGH LUNATIC ASYLUM.

MR. MURNAGHAN (Tyrone, Mid): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the medical staff of the Omagh Lunatic Asylum and the inspectors of lunatic asylums attributed the late serious outbreak of typhoid fever in the

asylum staff, acting under directions of the Resident Medical Superintendent, is responsible for the condition of the tanks. The drainage and all the sanitary appliances have been remodelled on the most approved plans, and alterations have been made in the water tanks which will facilitate their being cleansed.

WESTMINSTER BUILDING FATALITY.

MR. HUBBARD (Lambeth, Brixton): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any first aid was rendered to the wounded on the occasion of the disastrous collapse of a building in Orchard Street, Westminster, on the 21st ultimo, when a number of persons were injured, seven being killed; and, whether any steps can be taken by the Government to develop an efficient ambulance service for London?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT: The men injured by this accident were removed

immediately to Westminster Hospital, of such schools, and on what ground has only 350 yards distant. This was con- the grant been refused; and what is the sidered a better course than attempting number of such schools whose claims to to render first aid in the presence of a grants under the Act are still under congreat and excited crowd. The five most sideration? seriously injured were, I am told, under treatment at the hospital within four minutes of the occurrence of the accident. Eight ambulances, from different police stations, and one horse ambulance arrived promptly on the scene, and of the 100 constables present, 70 were competent to render first aid. I have every reason to think that the police ambulance is thoroughly efficient.

SIR JOHN GORST: The number of unassociated schools which applied for a grant was 66. The grant was refused to 31 schools: 25 on the ground that their refusal to join an association was unreasonable; 6 on the ground that they were not necessitous. There are no claims still under consideration.

FINES ON RENEWALS OF LEASES. MR. BILLSON (Halifax): I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the amount of the fines on renewals of leases upon which income tax has been charged in England during the past five years?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH, Bristol, W.): The information could only be obtained by a return from each surveyor in the United Kingdom, and I do not think that the result would justify this, especially at a time when the surveyors are very busy with the new assessments.

TELEGRAPH WIRES ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY.

MR. J. BIGWOOD (Middlesex, Brentford): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, what right, statutory or otherwise, has he to place, and what is the usual practice of the Post Office authorities in placing, wires for telegraphic purposes across the lands of private individuals without their consent; and within what period the authorities, when called upon to have such wires removed, do so?

MR. HANBURY: Under the 21st section of the Telegraph Act, 1863, the Postmaster General, as successor to the Telegraph Companies, has the right in urban districts to place wires for telegraphic purposes across the lands (with certain specified exceptions) of private EX-individuals, after the consent of the local

SIR J. T. BRUNNER (Cheshire, Northwich): Will the right honourable Gentleman consider the preparation of a return confined to the County of London?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE CHEQUER: I will inquire about that.

authority has been obtained to the placing of poles or wires in the adjoining street. He is under no obligation to remove the wires, though he is under an obligation on the receipt of 14 days' notice to so alter them that they may not interfere with the raising or exten sion of buildings on such lands. Outside urban districts the Postmaster General has no right to place telegraph wires across the lands of private individuals without their consent, except along highways; and the consent, in all cases, specifies the period within which the wires shall be removed in case the consent should be withdrawn.

VACCINATION PROSECUTIONS. Commissioner of the Division protested MR. J. W. LOGAN (Leicester, against this police being imposed; Harborough): I beg to ask the whether the Commissioner was censured President of the Local Government by the Government for making this proBoard if it would be possible for a parent test, and threatened to resign unless the to be prosecuted three times on account censure was withdrawn; whether the of each unvaccinated child between the censure was accordingly withdrawn or ages of 12 months and 14 years should modified; and whether he will lay the the Vaccination Bill now before the correspondence upon the Table of the House become law-namely, first, under House? section 29 of the 30 and 31 Vic., c. 84; secondly, by means of an application for a magisterial order under section 31 of the same Act; and thirdly, for disobedience of that order; and whether he has considered that the fines and costs in those three prosecutions might amount to the sum of £4 6s. 6d. ?

THE SECRETARY

OF STATE FOR

INDIA: The decision to impose for two years a punitive police, costing about Rs. 11,500 per annum, upon the city of Poona was arrived at by the Bombay Government, who are alone responsible for it; and their action was approved by me in Council. I am not in possesTHE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL sion of any information as to the various GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. opinions of such subordinate officers as CHAPLIN, Lincolnshire, Sleaford): If may have been consulted, and I should the Vaccination Bill becomes law, not be prepared to lay on the Table of a parent could only be proceeded the House any correspondence which may against twice for for penalties in re- have taken place between the Governspect of the same child, once under ment of Bombay and its subordinates section 29 of the Act of 1867, and on the subject. once under section 31 of that Act; but before proceedings could be taken for a penalty under section 31 a justice must, after summoning the parent to appear, direct the child to be vaccinated within a certain time. The maximum penalty in each of the two proceedings would be 20s., but a parent might be required to pay costs, and the amount of such costs, I believe, varies in different districts.

MR. LOGAN: Then am I wrongly informed? Would it not be possible for a parent to be prosecuted the third time for disobedience?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD: I understand the answer I have given is complete.

LIGHTHOUSE DUES AND TONNAGE
TAXES.

MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis): I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has had before him and has considered any invitation to Her Majesty's Government to co-operate with the Government of the United States of North America in abolishing all lighthouse dues, tonnage taxes, or other equivalent tax or taxes on, and also all other fees for official service to, the vessels of the two nations employed in the trade between the ports of Great Britain and the United States; what other such dues, taxes, or fees. are levied in Great Britain on United States vessels besides light dues; whether he will consider what steps can be taken SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN with a view to the abolition of light dues (Banffshire): I beg to ask the Secretary as well as of any other such dues, taxes, of State for India whether the Bombay or fees, as indicated in the Act of ConGovernment consulted the local officers gress of 1886, in order to secure for before imposing upon the city of Poona a British vessels a total exemption fron punitive police, costing Rs.230,400; tonnage dues in the United States whether he is aware that both the similar to that now extended there to District Magistrate of Poona and the Dutch vessels; and whether, in view of

POONA PUNITIVE POLICE.

the importance of the matter, he will Department of Government, and are de reconsider the provisions of the Mercan- barred from private practice, were caretile Marine Fund Bill, with a view to its fully considered in 1895, when the effect upon the charges on British Minute of 5th July of that year was shipping in the United States? issued. It is not proposed to alter it.

FEES OF THE LAW OFFICERS OF THE Advocate whether, in view of the fact

MR. HANBURY: The arrangements MR. WEIR: Is the pollution not adunder which the Law Officers receive re-mitted by the Local Government Board muneration for all business done for any for Scotland?