Member still has any doubt about the matter I shall be happy to produce both documents for his inspection. MR. MOORE asked whether the right hon. Gentleman had not already stated that District Inspector Preston had destroyed his unsigned draft. MR. CHERRY: I do not think I made any such statement. I said he had destroyed some papers. MR. MOORE: Did not the right hon. Gentleman say the paper he had destroyed was the unsigned draft of the 11th September. MR. CHERRY. Certainly not. MR. CHARLES CRAIG: At what time will it be convenient to the right hon. Gentleman for me to inspect the letter? MR. CHERRY: Now, or at any time during to-day or to-morrow. tenant of Ireland whether the vesting orders to the tenant purchasers of the Maconchy estate in North Longford have yet been issued. MR. BIRRELL: Yes, Sir, with the exception of a few cases in which advances have not yet been sanctioned. Cost of Teaching Irish in National : MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what E.) I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to fees for the teaching of Irish in national was the amount of the expenditure on schools set aside by the Commissioners of National Education in their Estimate for the year 1907-8, and what was the amount set aside under the same head in their Estimate for 1908–9. MR. BIRRELL: The amounts provided by the Commissioners of National Education for the payment of fees for instruction in Irish are: In the Estimates MR. CHARLES CRAIG: To-day at ten for 1907-8, £5,000; and in the Estimates minutes past four? MR. CHERRY: Certainly. Land Sales in County Longford. MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will give a Return showing the order of priority in which applications for sales of estates to tenants in county Longford now stand; how many applications have been altogether received; and in how many cases inspection has been ordered. MR. BIRRELL: The Estates Commissioners have received applications for the sale of eighty-seven estates in county Long ford, and inspections have been made in the case of forty-four of these estates. The Estates Commissioners are not prepared to give a Return showing the order of priority of application in the different cases. If it were given in the case of one county it could not be withheld in others, and as there are nearly 4,000 estates in all, the preparation of Returns would involve an immense amount of labour for which there would be no commensurate result. Maconchy Estate, North Longford. MR. J. P. FARRELL: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieu for 1908-9, £14,400. Marlborough Street Training College. MR. WILLIAM REDMOND: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord. Lieutenant in Ireland what was the total number of King's scholars who were trained in the National Board's Training College, Marlborough Street, and the six training colleges under private management from 1900 to 1906 such King's scholars who obtained certifiinclusive; and what was the total number cates of competency to teach Irish. MR. BIRRELL: The Commissioners of National Education inform me that during the seven years 1900 to 1906 inclusive, the total number of King's scholars in attendance at the training colleges was 4,432, of whom 3,794 com pleted their training during that period. The number of King's scholars who obtained certificates of competency to teach Irish during the period in question was 321. Maintenance of Lunatics in Ireland. MR. CHARLES CRAIG: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether in view of the feeling which exists in Ireland that many of the inmates of lunatic asylums in Ireland are, either state when the Report of the Belfast out of their own property or that Health Commission will be issued. of near relatives, able to pay the whole or part of their maintenance and are not in fact pauper lunatics in the ordinary sense of the word, he will grant the Return relating to Lunatic Asylums (Ireland) standing on to-day's Paper in the name of the hon. Member for South Antrim. [The Return was as follows:-Lunatic Asylums (Ireland), Return showing, with reference to the inmates of Lunatic Asylums in Ireland which are supported out of public funds, (1) the names and age of each inmate; (2) the date of his or her admission; (3) his or her occupation or station in life at the time of admission; (4) what property the inmate or his or her relatives contribute to his or her support; (5) whether the inmate is proper subject for a pauper asylum; (6) what steps have been taken in each case to ascertain what property the inmate is possessed of; and (7) what steps have been taken in each case to recoup the asylum for the support of the inmate.] a MR. BIRRELL: It would be quite impracticable to give the Return asked for. There are some 20,000 pauper lunatics in public asylums in Ireland, and with the exception of the capitation grant of 4s. from the local taxation account, the cost of maintenance falls on the local authorities. The duty of obtaining payment for maintenance, where possible, from the property of the lunatic or his relatives devolves upon the lunatic asylum committees, and I am informed that as a rule these committees are energetic in enforcing payment when they can legally do so. The inspectors of lunatic asylums are not aware of any general feeling that many of the inmates of lunatic asylums are able to pay for their maintenance, or have relatives who can do so. In any event it would not be practicable to set out in the form of a Return the steps taken by the committees in 20,000 separate cases to ascertain what property the lunatic may have. Belfast Health Commission. MR. J. DEVLIN (Belfast, W.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord MR. BIRRELL: I am informed that through unforeseen causes the Commissioners have not yet been able to complete their Report. They expect, however, to do so in the course of the present week. Land Dispute in County Cavan. MR. VINCENT KENNEDY: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland, if he will state whether sheriff an some eight tenants on the Crookenden and Casey estate, County Cavan, were visited by the sheriff on the 12th March, and at what hour; had the escort, and what was its composition; what did the sheriff realise ; any charge fall on the ratepayers for this expedition; and will he represent to the Estates Commissioners the urgency of having this sale put through if the tenants are not to be made paupers on the eve of the sale taking place. will referred to, in which purchase agreements MR. BIRRELL: In the eight cases have been lodged, the tenants had failed to pay the interest due on their purchase money, and proceedings were therefore taken by the Land Commission for the recovery of the interest. On 12th March, at 7 a.m., the sheriff, protected by a force of fifty police, visited the holdings in order to execute the decrees, but failed to make any seizure because the tenants had removed their cattle. The police belonged to the county force, and no charge, therefore, can be made against the local authorities. I am informed that out of 437 tenants who have lodged purchase agreements only sixteen, including the eight in question, have failed to pay the interest due 1st May last. The Estates Commissioners are considering the question of purchasing the estate themselves. Ireland and the Hobhouse Report. MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.): I beg to ask the Postmaster-General how much of the £750,000 of the increased Postal Estimates will go to the Irish service ; will the wages in Dundalk Post Office under the new postal scheme be reduced 1s. a week for new entrants and its postmen placed in Class 5, the same as neighbouring villages where rent and living MR. GOULDING: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Motion to which he refers deals chiefly with raising revenue, and does not raise unemployment? rank in Class 4; are the existing postmen in Dundalk seventeen years without an increase of pay; and upon what ground are they not to share in the benefits granted to men in similar positions. MR. ASQUITH: Are they not related one to the other? Easter Vacation. MR. REES: I beg to ask the Prime Minister if he can give the House any information regarding the date and duration of the Easter holidays. MR. SYDNEY BUXTON: I presume that my hon. friend, in giving the figure £750,000, is referring to the cost of 1908-9 of the Stanley revision as well as the increases due to the acceptance of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee. The figure s substantially correct, but the total increase in the Post Office Estimates for 1908-9 is £947,000. The increase can- MR. ASQUITH: From Wednesday not readily be allocated between the night, 15th April, till Monday 27th three countries. But the Irish share April. would be rather more than the normal proportion of Post Office expenditure, inasmuch as so many of the smaller Irish towns are being raised as regards the postmen's pay. The classification of both Newry and Dundalk is in suspense. Their final classification will, as recommended by the Committee, depend partly on the volume of work and partly on the cost of living. MR. MOORE: Has not Lurgan been treated in the same way as Dundalk, and if Dundalk is raised will Lurgan be treated in the same way? MR. SYDNEY BUXTON: I do not know much about Lurgan. Both places are in suspense. I will bear in mind what the hon. Member says. Fiscal Question. MR. GOULDING (Worcester): I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether in view of the desire among all sections of the House to discuss the fiscal question, and the necessity for full and authoritative information as to the causes and extent of unemployment, he will see his way to allot a day for the consideration of the subject. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. ASQUITH, Fife, E.): In view of the great pressure of business and the large number of Bills that have been introduced, I regret that it is impossible to give a day. At the same time, I may point out that the notice of Motion which has been put down for to-morrow evening seems to afford a convenient opportunity for raising the first part of the question. Port of London Bill. VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH: I beg to ask the Prime Minister if he will state on what date the Port of London Bill will be introduced. MR. ASQUITH: I hope on Thursday. CASTLEREAGH: Will the whole day be devoted to it? MR. ASQUITH: No. It will be brought in under the Ten Minutes rule. VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH asked whether it was fitting that so important a Bill, involving £25,000,000, should be introduced under this rule. MR. ASQUITH: There will be very ample opportunity to consider the Bil and discuss it on Second Reading. On-Licences. MR. SAMUEL ROBERTS (Sheffield, Ecclesall): I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there are in existence a number of onlicences, the full monopoly value of which has been paid by their owners in accordance with Section 4 of The Licensing Act, 1904; and whether it is intended under the provisions of the Licensing Bill now before Parliament that these licences shall, after fourteen years, be subject to extinction without compensation as if they were licences for which no monopoly value had been paid. MR. ASQUITH: I am aware that there are in existence on-licences, in respect of which the persons to which the persons to whom the licence was granted have paid "monopoly value," under Section 4 of the Licensing Act of 1904. Under that Act the holders of these licences are not entitled to compensation on the extinction of their licences; and the Bill makes no difference in this respect. MR. SAMUEL ROBERTS: Will the right hon. Gentleman make some provision in Committee to deal with cases of this kind? MR. ASQUITH: The Bill does not alter the law in any way in regard to this. MR. SAMUEL ROBERTS: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many large sums have been paid in such cases-in one as much as £3,000? MR. ASQUITH: Arrangements are made for exempting as far as possible borrowers' interest paid to friendly societies. The case of friendly societies is not analogous to that of building societies, which enjoy no statutory exemption from income-tax, and the arrangement made with the latter class of societies would not therefore be applicable to the former. Housing Bill. MR. MACKARNESS (Berkshire, Newbury) asked if, in view of the few hours available on Wednesday for the debate on the Housing and Town Planning Bill, the Government would give one addiimportant measure. tional day for the discussion of this very MR. ASQUITH: If the debate is not concluded on Wednesday it will probably be resumed on the following Monday MR. ASQUITH: I am well aware of week, but I hope that only a part of the sitting on that day will be required to finish it. that. MR. LEIF JONES (Westmoreland, Appleby): Is it not the case that the longest period for which licences are granted under this Act is seven years, and does not that dispose of the claim to a vested interest? NEW MEMBER SWORN. WILLIAM JOHN MACGEAGH MACGAW, esquire, for the county of Down (West Down Division). BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE (GOVERN- Motion made, and Question put," 84. AYES. The House divided; Ayes, 294; Noes, (Division List, No. 58.) Balfour, Robert (Lanark) Barlow, Sir John E. (Somerset) Barry, E. (Cork, S.) Bellairs, Carlyon Belloc, Hilaire Joseph Peter R. Bethell,Sir J.H.(Essex, Romf'rd Barry, Redmond J.(Tyrone, N.) Bethell, T. R. (Essex, Maldon) Asquith, Rt.Hn. Herbert Henry Beale, W. P. Astbury, John Meir Atherley-Jones, L. Beauchamp, E. Beaumont, Hon. Hubert Birrell, Rt. Hon. Augustine Black, Arthur W. Boland, John Boulton, A. C. F. Causton, Rt. Hn. Richard Knight Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston S. Clancy, John Joseph Cleland, J. W. Clough, William Cobbold, Felix Thornley Corbett,C H(Sussex, E. Grinst'd Gurdon, Rt Hn.SirW. Brampton | Morgan, J. Lloyd (Carmarthen) Harcourt, Rt. Hon. Lewis Herbert, T. Arnold (Wycombe) Illingworth, Percy H. Jones, Leif (Appleby) King, Alfred John (Knutsford) Lamb, Edmund G. (Leominster Lever, A. Levy(Essex, Harwich M'Kean, John M Micking, Major G. Marks, G. Croydon (Launceston) Masterman, C. F. G. Meehan, Francis E.(Leitrim, N.) Morgan, G. Hay (Cornwall) Morse, L. L. Muldoon, John Murphy, John (Kerry, East) Napier, T. B. Nicholls, George Nicholson, Charles N.(Doncastr Norton, Capt. Cecil William O'Kelly, Conor (Mayo, N.) Pearce, Robert (Staffs, Leek) Power, Patrick Joseph Redmond, John E. (Waterford) Roberts, John H. (Denbighs.) Robson, Sir William Snowdon Rutherford, V. H. (Brentford) Seely, Colonel Shackleton, David James Sinclair, Rt. Hon. John Smeaton, Donald Mackenzie |