Income Tax-Relief for Married Couples SIR WILLIAM BULL (Hammersmith): To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will, in his next Finance Bill, carry out the promise made on 10th December, 1906, that he would give consideration to the suggestion that additional relief should be granted to married couples, and especially to married couples with families. upon his ground must show their legal | provided a remedy, increases the gravity right to be there, otherwise he is entitled of the position; (2) during the course of to exclude them. Trespass constitutes in the correspondence the landlord has let the general case a civil wrong and not a the whole of Vatersay and two other criminal act, and the proprietor's remedy islands-in all over 3,000 acres in extent is by civil writ or action of damages." -to one tenant on a lease of nineteen The present Lord Justice Clerk, while years, with a break at ten years. The Lord Advocate, apprised this House of interdict case, which, after much delay, the same principle of administration in has been proceeded with, is still sub judice, Scotland in this form: "That every man and it would be improper for me to make must defend his own property or we must any comment upon it; but I may be turn every person sworn to be a trespasser allowed to express the earnest hope that into a criminal. The law in this free all writs will be served, and these and country (Scotland) says 'No' to that. It the law in every respect obeyed, without says that if a man trespasses on the pro- disturbance, or attempt at, or threat of, perty of another he can only be turned disturbance. As to charges against the out on the operation of a civil court, and Lord-Advocate, I say nothing; most of the owner of property has to suffer any them, it will be seen, arise from pure damage done that may occur during the ignorance. time necessary for that operation, because this is a free country, and because we believe that everybody will submit to the jurisdiction of those courts." This law is elementary, and familiar to all acquainted with Scottish procedure; and it is difficult to understand the state of mind which, by reason of its being followed, has produced the totally baseless charge against the Government of encouraging or sanctioning violation of the law. With reference to the next Question, I have to admit that Lady Gordon Cathcart was informed by the Secretary for Scotland that he had been advised as above; and I deeply regret to have also to admit that she by her agent did bring forward the question of difficulty and expense to herself, and urged the Secretary for Scotland that the Scottish Office should proceed at once and criminally against squatters on her lands, although advised to a contrary effect by the Law Officers of the Crown. This course, which would have been one of the grossest impropriety, was declined. The House, perhaps, will allow me to add that a congestion of poor and landless people on this property, in close proximity to considerable tracts of land alleged to be available for small holdings, not unnaturally produces difficulties. Two recent facts increase those difficulties (1) All private appeals and all the suggestions of public authorities to make land in Vatersay available for small holdings have, as the House will see from the White Paper (30), been refused by Lady Gordon Cathcart, but the rejection by the House of Lords of MR. GEORGE FABER (York): To the Small Holders Bill, which would have ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer The (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) promise referred to was given and fulfilled, in connection with the Budget of last year. The question is one which my right hon. friend will continue to bear in mind, but he cannot say anything on the subject of the forthcoming Budget. Estates of Deceased Persons. COLONEL LOCKWOOD (Essex, Epping): To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the arrangement signed by Mons. Cambon and himself, regarding the estates of deceased persons in France and in England, which has been published in the Journal Office in Paris, has been published in England; and whether the six articles of the arrangement will be officially communicated to Parliament or not. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) Instructions are being given for the publication of the text of the Convention as Parliamentary Paper at an early date. Irish Land Stock. a My what steps he proposes to take in regard price entails upon the poorest people o to financing Irish land purchase, in view this country and upon great of the Report of the Departmental Com-facturing industries, he will make promittee to the effect that further public vision in his next Budget for abolishing issues of Irish Land Stock should not be the sugar tax at an early date. made while the stock stands at its present discount; whether he can state how much of such stock has been purchased by the National Debt Commissioners for the Savings Banks; what is the amount of money temporarily lent by the Commissioners, out of cash balances in their hands, for the purpose of the Land Purchase Fund; and whether the income arising from the land purchased has proved sufficient to pay the dividends on the Land Stock issued and also the interest on the sums borrowed from the Commissioners. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) A statement will be made at an early date. The National Debt Commissioners at present hold £5,912,893 guaranteed 24 per cent. Stock for the Savings Banks funds, and have made temporary advances to the amount of £859,000. The income derived from tenants' purchase annuities has not hitherto been sufficient to pay he dividends on stock issued and the interest on money temporarily borrowed. It has been necessary to draw upon the Guarantee Fund to make good the deficiencies. Irish Land Purchase Finance. MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.): To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state when he will be in a position to announce the conclusions of the Government in reference to Irish land purchase finance; and what opportunity the House will be given of discussing the matter. (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) My right hon. friend is not yet in a position to fix a day, but an opportunity for full discussion will be afforded at an early date. Price of Sugar. MR. HAROLD COX (Preston): To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the wholesale price of sugar has recently risen very greatly, and is now far in excess of any price reached during the last eight years except in the year 1905; and whether, in view of the burden which this high (Answered by Mr. Runciman.) right hon. friend is aware that there has been a considerable increase recently in the market price of sugar, and he will not fail to take all relevant facts into consideration when the Budget is being prepared. He cannot, however, say any thing at this stage with reference to the attitude of the Government to any particular proposal affecting taxation. (Fer Killyliss Evicted Tenant. MR. FETHERSTONHAUGH managh, N.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received any application from John Dickie, evicted in 1884 from his farm in Killyliss, county Fermanagh, for reinstatement under the Evicted Tenants Act; and whether they have taken any steps to reinstate him. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The Estates Commissioners received an application from John Dickie on 28th August last, but have not yet been able to consider the case, having regard to the priority of the numerous similar applications received. The Commissioners will inquire into the case in due course, but are not at present in a position to say at what date. Ballymote Evicted Tenant. MR. O'DOWD (Sligo, S.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received from Mrs. Catherine Heally, of Ballymurray, Ballinacarrow, Ballymote, county Sligo, an ap plication for reinstatement in the holding on the Percival estate from which her late husband was evicted in 1882; whether her case has been investigated by an inspector from the Estates Commissioners' office, and, if so, what stops, if any, are being taken in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The Estates Commissioners have received and investigated the application in question, and have decided to take no action in the matter. The applicant is already in possession of about twenty-five acres of the farm from which her husband was evicted, and the remainder is in occupation of another tenant. Clanricarde Tenancy. MR. JOHN ROCHE: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the planters or new tenants upon the Clanricarde estate are protesting against the delay in compensating them and rein stating the old tenants; whether the delay is due to Lord Clanricarde's appeal against Judge Wylie's decision; and whether the Government will take steps to expedite the hearing of the appeal, as otherwise the land will be useless for agricultural purposes for this year both to the present occupiers and the incoming tenants. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The Estates Commissioners are unable to proceed further in this case until the questions of law involved in it have been disposed of. The matter is pending before the Court of Appeal in Ireland, and every effort will be made to have the case decided as soon as possible. Richmond Constabulary Barracks. MR. LONSDALE: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the auxiliary training depot for the Royal Irish Constabulary at Richmond Barracks is to be discontinued; and, if so whether he will state the reasons for this step and the nature of the arrangements to be made for the accommodation of the recruits in training. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The loan of quarters at Richmond Barracks was obtained in order to provide for the training of constabulary recruits specially enrolled for the purpose of augmenting the force in proclaimed counties, and as such training has now been completed the quarters will shortly be given up to the military authorities. There is sufficient accommodation at the constabulary depot for the training of recruits ordinarily enrolled. Manchester Estate Evicted Tenant. MR. LONSDALE: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the appli cation for the reinstatement of Samuel Rainey, an evicted tenant on the Manchester estate, county Armagh, has been before the Estates Commissioners for five years; whether two inspectors have reported that the case is a suitable one for reinstatement; whether there is any obstacle, except the opinion of the Estates Commissioners that the price asked by the present tenant of the holding is excessive; whether the Estates Commissioners are aware that the present tenant bought the farm at auction with the object of assisting Rainey to regain possession, and is willing to give it up if he is recouped the price he paid, although the farm would fetch considerably more in the market; whether the Estates Commissioners would be warranted in taking the whole or part of the purchase money from the reserve fund, in accordance with Mr. Justice Wylie's judgment of 25th February last in a similar case on the Clanricarde estate; and whether the Estates Commissioners will either restore Rainey to his former holding or provide him with a new holding of equal extent. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) I beg to refer the hon. Member to the Answers given to his Questions on this subject on 10th and 17th July last, to which the Estates Commissioners have practically nothing to add. The Commissioners understand that the reserve fund can be applied to assist in the restoration of evicted tenants, but they must exercise their own discretion as to the amount which can reasonably be expended in effecting the restoration of any particular evicted tenant. Drumkeerin Tenantry. MR. MEEHAN (Queen's County, Leix): To ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware thas the tenants on the estate owned by Mrs. Tate, Miss Rutledge, and Mr. M'Loughry, and situated near Drumkeerin, in the county of Leitrim, had, after lengthened negotiations, agreed to purchase their holdings on terms offered by the agent, but that owing to one of the landlords refusing to accept the terms agreed upon the tenants were proceeded against by civil bill process and put to considerable expense; and whether, under the circumstances, the Estates Commissioners will intervene with the object of preventing further legal expense and Liability for Accidents on Irish Public | in Ireland for accidents occurring to Roads. MR. LARDNER (Monaghan, N.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that according to recent decisions of the Irish Courts county councils are responsible to persons using public roads them through defects in the highway, and that if county councils insure against third-party risks the Local Government Board auditor surcharges the councillors authorising payment of the amount paid as premiums on such insurance; and will he inquire into this matter, the authority for such surcharge, and take such steps as may be necessary to enable county councils in Ireland to obtain the benefit of the protection of third-party in surances. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The Local Government Board have already advised the county councils of counties in which the contract system of road maintenance is in operation to insert a clause in the contractor's bond making him and his sureties responsible for any accident that may occur owing to the defective condition of the roads during the continuance of his contract. Where this is done the question of insuring against third-party risks would appear to be one for the contractor. In counties in which the roads are kept by direct labour the county councils are directly responsible, and it rests with them to consider whether they should protect themselves by insurance. The Local Government Board understand that the county councils are considering the matter, but the premiums to be paid in a large county would be so heavy that Mansfield Estate, East Donegal. MR. C. MACVEIGH (Donegal, E.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a dispute on the Mansfield estate, Killygordon, East Donegal, between George Diver and his landlord as to a part of his holding known as the Wood; whether the matter is now before the Commissioners; if so, will he direct that the inspector to be sent shall inquire into the past rent of this wood and who paid it for the last seventy years, and as to how and why it was taken away from George Diver; and whether, seeing that this wood is now lying waste. will he take some steps to have Diver reinstated in this part of his holding, and compensated for the timber that was cut and carried away before the sale of the estate is completed. some of the councils seem more inclined to take the risk themselves than to pay the annual premiums. No surcharge of the nature referred to in the Question has yet been made. New Belfast University. SIR JOHN RANDLES (Cumberland, Cockermouth): To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, having regard to the fact that the new University in Dublin is to be under Roman Catholic control and with a Roman Catholic atmosphere, and that the new University in Belfast is to be under Presbyterian control with a Presbyterian atmosphere, what provision is proposed for the higher education of the Methodist community in Ireland, numbering about 70,000 persons. (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) My right hon. friend asks me to say that the two new Universities to be created in Ireland will, like the existing one, be entirely open to Methodists, and my right hon. friend has no doubt that students of this denomination will be able to create an atmosphere of their own in any University (Answered by Mr. Cherry.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that field estate are pending before them, and no proceedings for the sale of the Mansthey have no information as to the dispute referred to in the Question. Sheffield Volunteer Artillery. MR. STUART-WORTLEY (Sheffield, Hallam): To ask the Secretary of State for War, whether, as part of the Territorial Army scheme for the West Riding of Yorkshire, a proposal was privately or otherwise made to th officer commanding the Sheffield Volunteer artillery that Sheffield should provide three batteries of field artillery and one battery of horse artillery, with mounted brigade ammunition column; whether that officer's readiness to undertake the provision of such a force was ascertained; whether, in view of the fact that the Sheffield Volunteer artillery have, for many years past, had an establishment of four batteries armed and drilled as field artillery, and that this corps was eulogised by the Secretary of State for War on account of its high state of efficiency, testified to by General ttelton, Colonel May, C.B., C.M.G., and Wing, C.B., it is intended to carry" effect the proposal above describe as communicated and accepted; and, if whether any other, and what, arrang ment is to be made, and for what onel to وتاه |