{COMMONS} what steps have been taken to test the merits of each particular application. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have taken proceedings for the compulsory acquisition under the Evicted Tenants Act of certain lands in County Kerry, but no reinstatements have yet been made under the Act in that county; 938 applications have been received from the county, 209 evicted tenants have been reinstated on estates sold by landlords to tenants direct, and 38 evicted tenants have been reinstated by the Commissioners on estates purchased by them. The applications of evicted tenants are fully inquired into by inspectors, whose reports are considered by the Commissioners together with all other available information. Evicted Tenants-Case of Mrs. Alice Nagle. MR. WILLIAM ABRAHAM (Cork County, N.E.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state whether the Estates Commissioners have given further consideration to the claim of Mrs. Alice Nagle for reinstatement in her former holding at Ballinabollisk, on the Leader estate, county Cork; and whether, seeing that the present occupier of the farm only entered into possession of it in 1902, and that the sale and purchase of the estate, as a whole, is now being proceeded with, the Commissioners will consider the desirability of taking steps to ascertain the terms upon which the present occupier would be willing to give up possession of the farm to Mrs. Alice Nagle. (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have decided that Mrs. Alice Nagle is a fit person to be provided with a holding if one can be found for her, and they have referred the case to their inspector with the object of providing a holding if possible. Garrison Churches in India-Exclusive use claimed by Church of England. MR. DUNDAS WHITE : To ask the Secretary of of State for India if he can say what is the number of the garrison churches in India, built wholly or in part with public moneys, of which the Church of England claims the legal right to the exclusive use, basing that claim on the fact of consecration alone; where these churches are situated; and what, as regards each of them, were the approximate dates of the buildings, the consecration, and the assertion of the claim to such exclusive use. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) I regret that I have not the material to enable me to answer this Question in detail, but I am making further inquiry. Meanwhile I venture to refer my hon. friend to the Memorandum laid before Parliament before Easter. Generally it may be said that all military stations (except possibly some recently established) have a garrison church; that et all old-established stations this church was consecrated many years ago, and that the act of consecration at the request or with the permission of the Government of India, and the contract implied thereby, is the basis of the claim of the Bishop to control the use of the edifice for religious purposes. Confidential Reports in the Post Office. MR. W. T. WILSON (Lancashire, Westhoughton): To ask the PostmasterGeneral if his attention has been called to the practice of secret reporting in the case of an officer of irreproachable character of the Eastern Central section of the General Post Office for an alleged offence which be emphatically denies, in which no explanation was asked for of the alleged misconduct until nearly a month after it is said to have occurred; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the circumstances of the case, and, in view of the abuses which such delay is likely to give rise to, will he give instructions for all officers who have serious charges made against them to have a copy of such charges supplied to them at the time they are alleged to be committed, that they may at once have an opportunity of tendering an explanation. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The facts of the case to which I understand the hon. Member to refer have been more than once brought to my notice, and I am satisfied that no injustice was done to the officer in question. It is the usual practice to ask for an explanation of misconduct without delay; but cases may from time to time arise in which an interval occurs between the time of the commission of an offence and the request for a written explanation. Sanitary Arrangements in Tenement MR. HORNIMAN (Chelsea): To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that many houses built for the occupation of one family only are constantly let in tenements without any provision being made for proper sanitary accommodation for the same or an adequate water supply; whether he is aware that in many cases the only sanitary accommodation for four or more families is situated on the ground floor, sometimes in the back yard, and water can only be procured from one tap in the basement or on the ground floor; and whether he proposes to take any action by legislation or other wise to deal with this state of things. crete, with a resultant large economy and no loss in efficiency, he proposes to persist in requiring from local authorities a shorter term for the repayment of loans for buildings in reinforced concrete than for buildings in the old-fashioned method. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) As I have stated before, I am advised that it is doubtful whether ferro-concrete is a suitable material for permanent structural works under all conditions, and that there is need for caution in dealing with it. Examples have been brought under my notice of the failure of works constructed of this material. There has not been sufficient experience in connection with this matter to enable me to arrive at a definite conclusion with regard to the economy and efficiency of buildings constructed with ferro-concrete, and I am still not satisfied that the periods allowed for the repayment of loans for work so constructed can properly be extended. and Staff. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am Military and Naval Prisons--Prisoners aware that as regards houses originally built for the occupation of one family, but subsequently let in tenements, evils of the kind mentioned in the Question are apt to arise. The existing law confers on local authorities considerable powers for dealing with such cases, as, e.g., outside London the power of making bye-laws under Section 90 of the Public Health Act, 1875, as to houses let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one family, and in London the power given by Section 37 of The Public Health (London) Act, 1891, as to sanitary accommodation, and the provision in Section 78 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1907, as to the supply of water to tenement houses. I will, however, cause the suggestion for further legislation on the subject to be noted. Reinforced Concrete Structures and SIR J. BRUNNER (Cheshire, Northwich) To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether in view of the fact that several Government Departments have adopted the method of building in reinforced con MR. BELLAIRS: To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, from Answers to Questions circulated on 21st August, 1907, it appears that, on an occasion in 1906-7 there was only one prisoner in the military prison at Hong Kong with an establishment of four to look after him, and five prisoners in the naval prison with an establishment of eight to look after them, and at the Cape of Good Hope the numbers were, on occasion, establishments of eleven and five to look after twenty-one and no prisoners respectively; and whether, while making every allowance for the larger number of prisoners that may be under punishment at other times, the Treasury will ascertain if there is ample accommodation in the military prisons for naval prisoners, having regard as well to past precedent in these matters. To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that there are separate naval and military prisons at Hong Kong, and again at Simon's Bay and Wynburg, which are within easy communication of each other; and whether steps can be taken to induce the Admiralty and War Office to cut | probability that in the case of the county down expenses by maintaining a single of Hereford this final payment will be establishment at each place. somewhat larger than the corresponding payment made on account of the year 1906-7. (Answered by Mr. Hobhouse.) With regard to Hong Kong, the revision of the naval prison arrangements at that place is already under consideration. We are not prepared to abolish the naval prison at Simon's Bay, as the present system is necessary to meet the requirements of the service. CAPTAIN CLIVE (Herefordshire, Ross): To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state why the Exchequer contribution to the County Council of Herefordshire during the last financial year was less by £2,150 than in the year ending the 31st March, 1907. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) My right hon. friend has asked me to reply to this Question. At the time when arrangements were being made by the Local Government Board for the pay ment to the councils of counties and county boroughs of the instalment which was distributed last month, on account of the financial year, 1907-8, out of the sums payable into the Local Taxation Account, as the equivalent of the proceeds of the local taxation licence duties and the estate duty grant, it was found that the amount available for distribution was appreciably less than the amount available at the corresponding period of the previous year. In the circumstances, the councils were generally paid the same sums that they received in March, 1906, on account of the financial year, 1905-6. In the case of Herefordshire, however, the produce of the local taxation licence duties during the eleven months ended February, 1908, was about £460 less than in the corresponding period of 1905-6, and therefore, in that case, the sum paid was rather less than in March, 1906. In the result the payment made to the county council in March, 1908, was £2,150 less than in March, 1907. A final payment remains to be made to the councils on the same account in respect of the year 1907-8; and the latest returns as to the proceeds QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. Naval Engine Room Artificers. MR. SUMMERBELL (Sunderland) : I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty how many candidates from outside sources have been examined for the rating of fourth-class engine-room artificer since 1st April, 1907, and what percentage passed into His Majesty's service. THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. MCKENNA, Monmouth, N.): 252 candidates have been examined from outside sources; and about 56 per cent. passed into the service. H.M.S. "Indus" Mechanicians. MR. SUMMERBELL: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what rearrangement of the mechanician establishment on H.M.S. “Indus" has taken place since 1st January, 1908; what circumstances entailed the alteration; and will it facilitate means for obtaining the cost of training. MR. MCKENNA: No rearrangement has taken place since the 1st January, 1908. The change to which the Hon. Member probably refers had to do with the workshops in "Indus I.", which ship, though forming part of the "Indus" establishment, is in no way connected with the mechanician part of it. MR. BOWERMAN: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the maximum period of service allotted for engine-room artificers and chief petty officers, respectively, in submarine service; are any exceptions made to the rule; and if so, for what reason. MR. MCKENNA As a rule, cotinuous service in submarines is not to exceed five years. A few exceptions have been allowed, e.g., where the men were required for special experimental and instructional work. The maximum total service is eight years. VOL. CLXXXVII. [FOURTH SERIES.] Pensioners on Home Service Ships. MR. BOWERMAN: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state to what extent it is proposed to substitute pensioners for active service ratings in Home-service ships; do these men receive full pay and pension whilst serving; and is the engagement for a period of five years only. MR. MCKENNA: Pensioners are employed in certain stationary home establishments, such as barracks and training establishments. The extent to which this system will be authorised cannot be stated, as it depends on the varying requirements of the establishments, but it is practically limited by the duties which can be more economically and suitably carried out by pensioners than by active service ratings. They receive a weekly wage according to the nature of the work on which they are employed, in addition to their pensions. There is no period of engagement. MR. MCKENNA: That is one of the that there is any ground for supposing points under consideration. Inquiry into Personnel and Training of in the Royal Navy. I MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis): beg to ask the First of Lord the Admiralty whether he is aware that over 220 Members of Parliament have presented a memorial in favour of an inquiry into the scope and effects of the changes made 1903. and subsequently in the organisation and training of the personnel of the Royal Navy, which has been the subject of adverse representations from many distinguished naval officers; and whether he will make a statement in reference to this matter on Vote 5 of the Navy Estimates. MR. MCKENNA: I understand that the memorial was presented to the late Prime Minister. From inquiry, I learn that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman did not think it desirable that any action should be taken on the memorial. The present Board of Admiralty have no intention of departing from the policy approved by successive Boards since 1903. Torpedo Boats in the Hamble River. MR. ASHLEY (Lancashire, Blackpool): I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is proposed to moora number of torpedo boats in Hamble River, and so practically close this river to other shipping; whether he is aware that this river is the only safe and convenient harbour for small vessels in the Solent which is accessible at all states of the tide, and is used by a large number of yachts and other vessels; that a large proportion of the residents in Hamble, Swanwick, and Bursledon gain their livelihood owing to the presence of these vessels and that a grave loss would be inflicted on the neighbourhood should these ships be compelled to go elsewhere; and whether he will give a favourable consideration to the petition which is being forwarded to him from the places. affected by this proposal. MR. MCKENNA: It is not proposed so to moor torpedo craft in Hamble River as to prevent that river being used by other small craft, and it is not believed that loss will be inflicted on the residents in the locality. The intended arrangement is a temporary one during the construction of the dock at Portsmouth. Any particular representation from the places affected will receive careful consideration. MR. ASHLEY: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in this river there is practically no room for other ships when torpedo-boats are there? MR. MCKENNA : I am not aware of it. I will inquire. MR. ARTHUR LEE (Hampshire, Fareham): Will the right hon. Gentleman defer taking any definite steps until he has seen the extensively-signed petition from the district? MR. MCKENNA: I cannot undertake to do that. Naval Cordite Reserves. MR. BELLAIRS: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the official assurance that the reserves of cordite for each class of gun is at least as great as it was on 1st January, 1907, excludes from consideration all cordite which is suspected of containing mercuric chloride; and whether it is proposed to reissue any of the cordite now at the depots which contains mercuric chloride. MR. MCKENNA: The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. Cordite containing mercuric chloride will probably be used for practice pur poses. MR. MYER (Lambeth, N.): In view of the difficulty of obtaining unadulterated cordite will the Admiralty and the Wa Office take steps to manufacture thei: own ? MR. MCKENNA : That is a larg Question, of which I should like notice. MR. BELLAIRS: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether is aware that, on 25th February, Lo Rayleigh's Committee of War Offic Home Office, and independent experts explosives unanimously recommended t |