to be heard by counsel; to lie upon the Table. SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACTS (AMENDMENT) (SCOTLAND) BILL. Petition from Dundee, against; to lie upon the Table. SWEATED INDUSTRIES BILL. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS CIRCULATED WITH THE VOTES. Military Manoeuvres in the New Forest. MR. ASHLEY (Lancashire, Blackpool): To ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state what arrangement he has made with the Court of Verderers Petition from Birmingham, against; to with reference to the proposed military lie upon the Table. manœuvres in the New Forest. lie WOMEN'S ENFRANCHISEMENT BILL. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Petition from Richmond, in favour; to As I have already explained, I convened upon the Table. RETURNS, REPORTS, ETC. EGYPT (No. 1, 1908). Copy presented, of Reports by His Majesty's Agent and Consul-General on the Finances, Administration, and condition of Egypt and the Soudan in 1907 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table. MILITARY PRISONS. Copy presented, of Report on the discipline and management of military prisons in 1907 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table. PAUPERISM (ENGLAND AND WALES) (HALF-YEARLY STATEMENTS) Return presented, relative thereto [ordered 11th March; Dr. Macnamara]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 130.] BRITISH MUSEUM. Return presented, relative thereto [ordered 18th February; Mr. Trevelyan]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 131.] PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDITURE. Account presented, of the Public Income and Expenditure in the year ended 31st March, 1908, together with the Balances in the Exchequer at the commencement and at the termination of the year, and the amounts received into or issued from the Exchequer in respect of Funded and Unfunded Debt created or redeemed in the said year [by Act]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 132.] a conference at the War Office, which was attended by representatives of the Office of Woods and Forests, by the Court of Verderers, and by representatives of the Commons Preservation Society and others. As a result of a very full discussion of this question, a draft agreement with the Verderers has been received from Mr. Birkett, the legal adviser of the Commons Preservation Society, and this is now being considered by my legal advisers. Ex-Soldiers and the Unemployed CAPTAIN FABER (Hampshire, Andover): To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Director of Recruiting has pointed out that the Unemployed Workmen's Act of 1905 acts detrimentally in the case of soldiers sent home from abroad after a lengthened period of service, inasmuch as they cannot possibly have the residential qualification to enable them to obtain any benefits under the Act; and, if so, whether he can see his way to a modification of the Act in that respect. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I am aware of the position of soldiers sent home from abroad as regards the operation of the Act in question. The attention of the Local Government Board has already been drawn to the matter, and I have been in personal consultation with my right hon. friend. Sales of Converted Rifles to Rifle Clubs. CAPTAIN FABER: To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office is converting rifles to the 22 size and selling them indirectly through civilian rifle clubs; and whether he will consider the desirability of preventing such competition with legitimate traders, seeing that the rifle clubs are civilian. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The reply is in the negative. Scarlet Fever at Tidworth Barracks. tary of State for War if he can state how (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Four cases of scarlet fever have occurred at Tidworth. The cases are being treated in the Isolation Hospital, Bulford. George Ravenhill, V.C. MR. C. B. HARMSWORTH (Worcestershire, Droitwich): To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that George Ravenhill, V.C., is at present an inmate of Erdington Workhouse; and whether he can see his way to relieving this soldier of the necessity of availing himself of charitable relief. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) This is the first intimation we have received on this matter. The case is being investigated. Colours for Territorial Battalions. : MR. BENNETT (Oxfordshire, Woodstock) To ask the Secretary of State for War whether regimental colours will be granted to Territorial battalions. Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane) This matter will be settled very shortly. Field Artillery Permanent Staff. CAPTAIN FABER: To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that garrison companies of Auxiliary Forces, Royal Artillery, have, since the 1st of April, become Field Artillery, the permanent staff, such as sergeant-majors, will now receive the same pay as squadron sergeant-majors of Yeomanry; and, if MR. HAROLD COX (Preston): To ask not, whether, looking at the responsible the Secretary to the Treasury whether duties of Field Artillery sergeant-majors he is aware that on page 59 of the Civil in connection with field guns, small stores, harness, and rifles, he can see his way to equalising the pay. Civil Service Estimates. Service Estimates for the present year there is a footnote stating that provision is made in other Estimates for various items for rates or contributions in lieu; and whether he will explain on what pages of the Estimates the items specified occur. 1. 400 {30 APRIL 1908} Postal Employees and the Territorial Force. MR. GRETTON (Rutland): To ask the Postmaster General, if he will allow their wages to employees in the Post Office in the Territorial Forces during the period such employees may have to attend military schools of instruction, as the rate of pay at such schools is now reduced from 4s. per diem to 2s., out of which messing has to be paid, and, in the case of employees on the salaried staff, their salaries are not stopped. (Answered by Mr. Sydney Burton.) Price of Sugar. MR. HAROLD COX: To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he can state what is the wholesale price of standard sugar now and at the corresponding dates in the previous ten years. (Answered by Mr. Kearley.) I have been asked by my right hon. friend to reply to this Question. The following statement gives the price quoted for "German 88 per cent. beet sugar (f.o.b.), refiners' terms (floating cargoes off coast for the United Kingdom)," on or about The the 23rd April in each of the undermentioned years :— rule is that members of the Territorial Forces employed in the Post Office attending military schools of instruction are granted special leave without pay, provided no expense or inconvenience to the Post Office is involved and from the Year. Quoted price for "German 88 per cent. beet sugar (f.o.b.), refiners' terms, off coast for United Kingdom. Per. cwt. 9s. 51. to 98. 6d. Post Office Point of view there appears to be no reason for altering this rule. It applies to all classes of Post Office 1898 1899 1900 10s. 63d. 1901 8s. 9d. (nominal) servants. Inspectors of Explosives and MR. EVELYN CECIL: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is aware that Captain Lloyd, till very lately one of His Majesty's inspectors of explosives, has accepted a seat on the board of Messrs. Curtis and Harvey; and whether, having regard to the opportunities which an inspector of explosives has of obtaining the most intimate confidential knowledge of the methods and plant of rival manufac turers of explosives, he will take steps, by agreement or otherwise, to make it a condition that inspectors of explosives who are appointed in the future shall not accept such engagements, at least within a reasonable time after they have left His Majesty's service. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) It is the fact that Captain Lloyd has accepted a directorship in Messrs. Curtis and Harvey's. The suggestion mentioned in the last paragraph of the Question has been put before me by the leading manufacturers of explosives. It appears to be reasonable, and I propose to adopt it in future appointments, including the appointment just made to fill the vacancy caused by Captain Lloyd's retirement. 11s. 9d. to 11s. 9. Note. The above particulars have been compiled from Messrs. Czarnikow's "Weekly Price Current." QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE. Admiralty Dredgers in Egypt. MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis): I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the total period during which the two dredgers belonging to the Admiralty were placed at the disposal of the Egyptian Government for the improvement of the port of Alexandria. without any payment by the Egyptian Government for their services, reckoning from the date of the vessels leaving off their usual work to prepare to proceed on this service for a Government which contributes in no way to the relief of the burdens borne by the taxpayers of this country. THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. MCKENNA, Monmouth, N.): The periods respectively were: Two 1 i years, five months, one week; two years, five months. Cordite containing Mercuric Chloride. MR. ASHLEY (Lancashire, Blackpool): I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state how much cordite containing mercuric chloride is now on board His Majesty's ships. MR. MCKENNA: So far as is known, there is no such cordite on board His Majesty's ships; but this could not be ascertained definitely without a chemical analysis of all the lots of cordite now on board ship. No useful purpose could be served by such an investigation. MR. ASHLEY: Will the right hon. Gentleman say, if this cordite is not to be used on board His Majesty's ships, to what use is it to be put? MR. MCKENNA: So far as I have ascertained, there is no such cordite at present on board His Majesty's ships. It certainly will not be used if it is not there. MR. ASHLEY: What do you propose to do with the cordite on shore? MR. MCKENNA: I am not aware that there is any considerable quantity of such cordite on shore. I doubt if there is any, in fact. MR. BELLAIRS: Will the right hon. Gentleman settle the matter by telling us the quantity of cordite on shore with mercuric chloride in it? I understand there is a very large quantity. MR. MCKENNA: I think the hon. Gentleman is mistaken on that point. I do not think there is any considerable quantity on shore; but I will inquire. MR. BOWLES (Lambeth, Norwood) asked whether, so far as the cordite actually on board His Majesty's ships was concerned, samples of each lot had been tested and found not to contain mercuric chloride. MR. MCKENNA: That is so. So far as I have ascertained, there is no such cordite on board any ships at the present time. I may add, however, that if there Naval Armaments. MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.): I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether 13.5 guns are now under construction for naval purposes; and whether it is intended to increase the size of guns on vessels of the "Dreadnought" class. MR. MCKENNA: I hope the hon. Member will accept my assurance that it is not in the public interest to answer this Question. Mica Boiler Covering Company, Limited. MR. HUDSON (Newcastle-on-Tyne): I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been called to a police court judgment for workmen's wages, and distress warrants which have been issued against the Mica Boiler Covering Company, Limited; whether this company are contractors or sub-contractors for the work they are doing on H.M.S. "Invincible," now lying at the Elswick Shipyard, Newcastle-on-Tyne; and whether it is the intention of the Admiralty to strike this firm off their list, or what other action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter. MR. MCKENNA: There is no trace of any report to this effect having reached the Admiralty. The Company is on the Admiralty list, and consequently the main contractors, Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., are in order in is being done through the machinery employing them as sub-contractors. This sub-contractors, Messrs. Humphreys, Tennant and Co. I will see that the matter to which the hon. Member refers is at once inquired into. Gentleman inquire if a winding-up order MR. HUDSON: Will the right hon. has recently been made against this company? will be inquired into. MR. MCKENNA. The whole matter Protection of Canadian Fisheries. MR. HAROLD COX (Preston): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether any of His Majesty's ships are now employed in the defence of Canadian fisheries; and, if so, whether 1385 payment for the services rendered by such jurisdiction outside the limits. those ships. MR. MCKENNA: The Canadian Government protect their own fisheries, and His Majesty's ships are not employed on this service. MR. HAROLD COX: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that quite recently a battleship was employed on this duty? MR. MCKENNA: I can only speak of what takes place at the present moment. MR. HAROLD COX: When did the change take place? MR. MCKENNA: I must ask for notice. It was some years ago, I think. Navigation of the Solent. MR. FELL (Great Yarmouth): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if the Admiralty regulate the navigation by merchant ships of the waters adjacent to the dockyards at Portsmouth, including the approaches to it through the Solent and Spithead. MR. MCKENNA: Yes, within the limits of the dockyard port. Spithead is within those limits, and that part of the Solent, eastward of a line joining Old Castle Point and Hill Head Point. MR. FELL asked whether, having regard to the frequent serious accidents in the Solent the Admiralty would consider the advisability of extending their jurisdiction west as far as the Needles. MR. MCKENNA: The hon. Gentleman is now opening up a very large question to which I could not venture to give an answer off-hand. of the dockyard port of Portsmouth. The Trinity House, however, who have pilotage jurisdiction there, have given instructions to pilots to navigate vessels at a moderate speed when near Cowes and Yarmouth in order to avoid damage to the shores by the wash created by large vessels. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that there are special articles in the Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea issued in pursuance of the Merchant Shipping Act, prescribing special sound signals and moderation of speed in fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms. War Office Storehouse Clerks. MR. CHIOZZA MONEY (Paddington, N.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if there are about 100 storehouse clerks in the employ of the War Office a maximum, after six years of service, of whose pay ranges from 24s. per week to only 26s. per week; and whether, in view of the cost of sustaining in respectability and efficiency a clerk and his family in the neighbourhood of London, he can see his way to raise considerably the maximum pay of these men. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE, Haddington): The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. These storehouse clerks are not clerks in the sense in which the word is used in civil life, but are men who perform only simple routine clerical work in the storehouses, and in addition assist the storeholder or foreman in store duties. Their position is more analogous to that of a warehouseman. It is not proposed to raise their scale of pay. is not proposed to raise their scale of pay. MR. CROOKS (Woolwich): Is it not the fact men have already been appointed MR. FELL: I beg to ask the Secre- to similar positions at a commencing salary of 26s. per week? tary to the Board of Trade if any harbour or port authorities have jurisdiction over the navigation of the waters of the Solent and Spithead, and can make any regulations with regard to speed or other precautions to be observed by ships in fogs or snow or thick weather. MR. HALDANE asked for notice. Indian Army Officers. MR. SMEATON (Stirlingshire): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that officers of the Indian Army now form part of the Imperial forces of the Crown, and are eligible for employment on the general staff of the Army, either at home or |