had been actually begun; and, whether, MR. T. SEXTON inquired whether seeing that owing to this action, a large the right hon. Gentleman would specially number of heads of families have been consider the needs of Belfast to inspeckept out of employment for upwards of tion by females in view of the large three weeks, and will be unable to take number of women employed in the relief work unless by allowing their small textile industry there? holdings, which now require cultivation, to lie waste for this year, any allowance can be made to the men who have been thus deprived of employment to enable them to crop their holdings?

MR. J. MORLEY: I must ask my hon. Friend to defer this question till to-morrow. Owing to the interruption of telegraphic communication, I have not been able to obtain a Report on it today.

FACTORY INSPECTION IN IRELAND.

MR. T. SEXTON: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has been made aware that the Textile Operative Society of Ireland has declared by Resolution that it is absolutely essential in the interest of the textile workers that at least one female inspector under the Factory Acts should be appointed for Ireland; and, whether the appointment will be made?

MR. ASQUITH said he was well aware of the peculiar position of Belfast. He quite agreed that that city required supervision by female inspectors, and he would take care there was no neglect in that respect.

CAPTAIN DONELAN asked if any of the four ladies had been selected from Ireland.

MR. ASQUITH: One is an Irish lady by birth.

MINING EXPLOSIVES.

any experiments now used in mines shall be carried out by gentlemen not connected with the manufacture of explosives.

MR. JOHN WILSON (Durham, Mid): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has decided to utilise the apparatus for testing westphalite, erected at Messrs. Pearson and Knowles' collieries near Wigan, for testing all other safety explosives used in mines; and, whether he is aware that efficient apparatus has been erected by the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers at a cost of about £500, and which MR. ASQUITH: I have not received has been seen and approved by several the Resolution mentioned in the ques- members of the Royal Commission on tion, but some time ago I received other Explosives from Coal-dust; and, if so, Resolutions to the same effect. There whether he will take steps to secure that are now four female inspectors of factories; they are not assigned to any particular locality, but travel to every part of the United Kingdom where their services are required. Notices are ex- MR. ASQUITH: I have not decided hibited in all factories and workshops in to cause the apparatus erected at Messrs. Ireland where women are employed, Pearson and Knowles' collieries near stating that complaints may be sent to Wigan for testing other safety explosives the female inspectors, and all such in mines to be used for testing westcomplaints are promptly inquired into by phalite; but if there should be need of one of the female inspectors. With it I shall be very willing to accept the the staff and resources which are at loan of suitable apparatus from any present at my disposal, I think that the quarter. I am aware of the apparatus female inspectors are more usefully belonging to the North of England employed in peripatetic visits than if Mining Institute-in fact, some of the they were stationed in particular dis- Inspectors of Coal Mines have been tricts. Special attention has been and is being given by one of them to Irish industries. It is not possible this year, I regret to say, to add to the staff.

MR. W. JOHNSTON asked if one of the ladies had been in the habit of visiting Belfast?

MR. ASQUITH: Yes.

Mr. J. G. Swift Macneill.

assisting at these experiments. Until the passing of a Bill dealing with the use of explosives in dangerous mines it will be premature to institute experiments on different sorts of explosives, but I am fully alive to the necessity of impartiality being secured in any experi ments that may be made.

And I may

Bill.

INDIAN NATIVE TROOPS.

add I hope very shortly to introduce a BALLYMAHON DISPENSARY DISTRICT. MR. D. SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland-(1) is he MR. R. W. HANBURY (Preston): aware that the medical officer of the I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Ballymahon Dispensary District entered War, whether, in view of the Second the National Schools of the said DisReading of the Army Annual Bill trict, and there, during school hours, having been put upon the paper for this vaccinated the children, without either day, he can state whether it is proposed the permission of the managers of the in it to maintain the punishment of schools or the consent of the parents of flogging in the case of Indian Native the children; (2) by what authority, or Troops, although it has been abolished in by whose directions, did he perform this the case of all troops in the British operation, as the Poor Law Guardians of Army, including the black troops of the the union, as also the members of the West India Regiments; and, whether Dispensary Committee, disclaim all rethe intervention of the Secretary of sponsibility in connection with the State for India, as promised in Com- matter; (3) is he aware that, when mittee on this Bill last year, has led to asked for his authority for doing so, the any alteration of the law in that respect. medical officer alleged having received THE UNDER SECRETARY OF directions from the Local Government STATE FOR THE HOME DEPART- Board; and (4) if the medical officer MENT (Mr. GEORGE RUSSELL, North undertook to perform this duty without Beds) The Secretary of State for authority, is he to be paid out of the India has been, and is still, in communi- rates for any number he asserts he has cation with the Government of India on successfully re-vaccinated; and, if so, this subject; but no change can take what check can there be on the account place till a Bill has been passed through furnished by him to the Poor Law Guarthe Legislative Council of India. dians?

:

MR. HANBURY asked, whether the hon. Gentleman was able to give the House any information as to the Government of India having arrived at any decision during the last year. The Secretary of State promised him, now a year ago, he would communicate with India.

MR. GEORGE RUSSELL said, he had answered the question in the terms put into his hands. Perhaps the hon. Member would put another question down.

CAB-TRADE GRIEVANCES.

MR. J. MORLEY: The medical officer states that the pupils of two National Schools in his district, and almost all those in a third school, went to the dispensary to be vaccinated. On visiting the last-mentioned school in order to examine the children who had been vaccinated, the medical officer found that some had not been done, and he vaccinated them in the school. Owing to the anxiety of the people at a reported case of small-pox at a place called Gurteen, the doctor called at the school there and arranged to vaccinate the children, but was refused admission by direction of the manager. At the Convent School the children were vaccinated by arrangement with the Reverend Mother; and the manager, who was present, raised no objection. A medical officer has no authority to compel persons to be vaccinated. As regards the fourth paraMR. ASQUITH: I hope shortly to graph, a public vaccinator is entitled to introduce a Bill for the punishment of the be paid for vaccinating all persons who offence popularly known as "bilking," may present himself at his dispensary in accordance with the recommendations for the of the Committee. The other recommendations I propose to deal with by Departmental Orders, the scope and terms of which are now under consideration.

MR. JOHN AIRD (Paddington, N.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will be able to make known his recommendations in reference to the inquiry made by the Departmental Committee about the cabtrade grievances?

VOL. XXXII. [FOURTH SERIES.]

purpose.

PARCELS FOR THE CAPE.

MR. HENNIKER HEATON: I beg to ask the Postmaster General, whether

B

VINCENT

SIR E. GREY could not say.

TROOPSHIPS.

he has observed that the Castle Line COLONEL HOWARD circulates a printed notice, stating that asked if the hon. Gentleman knew how the Company is prohibited from accept- long Mr. Roberts had been Consul at ing for shipment any parcel or package Guatemala ? of which the size, weight, and value are all within the limits allowed under the Parcel Post Regulations, and that all such parcels must pass through the Post; MR. W. ALLAN (Gateshead): I beg whether the prohibition in question came to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty from the Post Office, and whether a how many troopships have been sold similar prohibition has been intimated to during the last two years; and whether other Steamship Companies running it is the intention of the Admiralty to vessels to the Colonies and to foreign dispose of the rest of these vessels? countries; and whether he has advised that such prohibition has a legal character, and is binding upon the shipowners concerned, or that it is void, as being in restraint of trade?

MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON : Three of the Indian troopships have been sold by the Indian Government. One of the Indian troopships was bought by the Admiralty, and may be shortly utilised as a powder hulk. None of the Imperial troopships have been sold, two (Tyne and Wye) are still running. The Himalaya will be fitted as a coal-hulk. The Tamar is shortly proceeding to Hong Kong to be fitted as a receiving The Assistance may be shortly

required as a powder hulk. The Malabar, Indian troopship, is still running.

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. ARNOLD MORLEY, Nottingham, E.): The notice in question relates to an understanding come to between the Post Office and the Castle and Union Companies in 1885 that, on the commencement of the Parcel Post to and from the hulk. Cape, under the contracts of those Companies with the Cape Post Office, they should not carry similar small parcels free of charge. The understanding is not embodied in the contract, and has not the character of a legal prohibition. There is no similar understanding in connection with any of the Imperial contracts for conveyance of Foreign and Colonial parcels.

NICARAGUA.

COLONEL C. E. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Mr. Gosling has been accorded leave of absence from Her Majesty's Legation to the Republic of Central America; and, in such case, who has been charged to represent him in actively prosecuting the claim of the British Government on the Nicaraguan Republic for the treatment of Her Majesty's Vice Consul?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS Sir EDWARD GREY, Northumberland, Berwick): Mr. Gosling has been granted leave of absence and will leave his post in May. Mr. Roberts, Her Majesty's Consul at Guatemala, will take charge during his absence with the rank of Her Majesty's Chargé d'affaires.

Mr. Henniker Heaton.

ARMENIAN PRISONERS.

MR. F. S. STEVENSON (Suffolk, Eye): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of the Armenian prisoners, stated to number nearly 3,000, are expected to be affected by the recent decree relating to ecclesiastics; and whether efforts will be made to prevent the recurrence in their case of such incidents as those which occurred last Autumn, when, after the release of about 700 prisoners had been announced and carried out, a large number of them were immediately re-arrested by order of local officials and confined in Turkish gaols?

*MR. DISRAELI (Cheshire, Altrincham): Before that question is answered I beg to ask whether the release of the ecclesiastics was not the unsolicited action of the Porte, and whether it is not time that such attempts to impute bad faith to a friendly Power should cease?

*SIR EDWARD GREY: Her Majesty's Government have no reason to suppose that the number of Armenians now in prison is so great as that mentioned by the hon. Member. The statement which has recently appeared in the newspapers

in the Official Journal?

was to the effect that between 2,500 | used on the farm in a few places in and 3,000 persons had been imprisoned, France, Germany, Austria, and Italy, but not that number were still under and publish the results in a Return or detention. Her Majesty's Government have no precise information to show how many ecclesiastics will be affected by the Sultan's decision, and this is the answer to the additional question which must be held by Her Majesty's Government to be incompatible with such an intention as is suggested by the latter part of the question.

BUTTER SUBSTITUTES.

MR. W. O'BRIEN (Cork): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has yet come to any conclusion as to the introduction of a Bill this Session for remedying the defects of the existing law for the detection of fraudulent substitutes for butter?

*MR. HERBERT GARDNER: The prices of wheat in Belgium, France, Germany, and the United States, and of live stock and meat in Chicago, Paris, and Brussels, were published in Parliamentary Papers issued last year, copies of which I shall be glad to supply to the hon. Member. We hope also to be able to publish some further information as to abroad in the next number of our Official the prices of agricultural commodities. Journal. I attach great importance to the subject, and I shall be happy to bear the suggestion of the hon. Member in mind, and do everything in my power to extend the information available as to the course of prices abroad.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

MR. J. MORLEY: I am well aware, as my hon. Friend knows, of the great importance of this subject. Since the SIR M. HICKS - BEACH (Bristol, question addressed to me by my hon. W.): I beg to ask the Secretary of State Friend on February 26th, a Select Com-for the Home Department whether mittee has been appointed, in continua- schoolmasters of certified tion of the Committee of last Session, to inquire into the working of the Margarine Act, 1887, and the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875, and any Acts amending the same, and to report whether any, and if so what, amendments of the law relating to adulteration are, in their opinion, desirable. Immediately upon receipt of the Committee's Report the question of amending Legislation shall be carefully considered.

MR. W. O'BRIEN asked whether the right hon. Gentleman did not consider that the course he proposed to adopt meant the loss of another butter season, and that nothing would be done in the

matter for another 12 months.

MR. J. MORLEY: I regret the delay, but my hon. Friend will see the difficulty in the way of proposing Legislation on a subject which the House has already

referred to a Committee.

industrial schools are to be excluded from the benefits of the proposed superannuation scheme for teachers under the Education Department; whether complaint has been made to him by the managers of the Clifton Industrial School that, in consequence of this, they have only obtained two applications for the post of assistant schoolmaster, as compared with 30 or 40 obtained for a similar post in 1891; him from managers of other industrial whether similar complaints have reached schools; and, if so, whether the matter can be reconsidered?

MR. ASQUITH: The scheme referred to by the right hon. Baronet has merely been recommended by a Departmental Committee, and will require Legislation to carry it into effect. The position of teachers in industrial schools did not fall within the scope of the inquiry. I have received a representation on this subject from the Committee of the Clifton Industrial School, but not from any other CAPTAIN BETHELL (York, E.R., managers. The position of schoolmasters Holderness): I beg to ask the President in industrial schools will be fully conof the Board of Agriculture whether he sidered by a Committee, which I propose will take steps to ascertain through the to appoint immediately, to inquire into Foreign Office the prices of the leading the management of industrial articles of farm produce and of articles reformatory schools.

FOREIGN FARM PRODUCE.

and

BRITISH CONSUL IN SAMOA.

MR. J. F. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid): I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Mr. Cusack-Smith, British Consul in Samoa, is now en route for England; when Mr. Cusack - Smith may be expected to arrive; and whether his resumption of duty as British Consul in Samoa is contemplated?

SIR EDWARD GREY: Mr. CusackSmith is in England, being entitled to a leave of absence of some months. A competent officer has been sent from Fiji to replace him.

AFFAIRS IN SAMOA.

exercising the Roman Catholic religion. A considerable number of European Catholics reside in the Marshall Islands, who know the Samoan language, and in whose services Mataafa could take part. Roman Catholic priests from the Caroline Islands also visit the Marshall Islands, and a German Roman Catholic teacher was expected shortly, and it would be his special duty to take charge of Mataafa's spiritual welfare. German Governor at Jaluit, Marshall Islands, reported, a few months ago, that Mataafa has a service for his Samoans, besides Sunday celebrations, early every morning and evening, in the small Catholic Church which has been acquired from the Catholic Mission.

MANCHESTER POSTMEN.

The

MR. C. E. SCHWANN (Manchester, E.): I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he will inquire why the Postmaster of Manchester is unable to reply to a respectful Memorial addressed to

reference to certain grievances which they allege to exist; and whether he will state whether he can now see his way to provide that postmen's duties shall be eight hours within a maximum of 12 hours?

MR. HOGAN: I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the correctness or otherwise of the late Robert Louis Stevenson's allegations that Captain Bickford promised Mataafa safety and the protection of the British flag, and that this promise was violated by the transfer of Mataafa him by the postmen of that city with from the Katoomba to a German war vessel, which bore him away to exile in the Marshall Islands; whether the British, German, and American Consuls were unanimous in their decision to deport Mataafa to the Marshall Islands; whether Mataafa is permitted to receive MR. ARNOLD MORLEY: The postletters from friends and sympathisers, master of Manchester reports that he and what is the nature of the strict has received the Memorial referred to control exercised over his communica- and that it is still under consideration, tions with the outer world; and whether and will be replied to as soon as sufficient he can give any detailed information time has been given for the examination with respect to the full facilities that are of and decision upon the ten distinct applisaid to be allowed Mataafa for the cations which it contained. As regards exercise of his religion? the limitation of postmen's attendances SIR EDWARD GREY: Mataafa to a period of 12 hours, I may state that surrendered to the three Treaty Powers this is now the general rule of the under a promise that his life should be Service, wherever it can be effected safe. This promise has been kept, and without actual waste of force or undue there is no need to inquire whether it expense. In some instances, however, was given to him by Captain Bickford the men have themselves preferred an personally or not. The three Consuls arrangement which gave them a longer acted together under instructions from interval of rest between their duties, their respective Governments. The although extending them over a longer control over Mataafa is exercised by period. At Manchester, it is hoped, the German authorities, to whom he has under a revision which is now in probeen entrusted, and by whom he is being gress, to bring a large number of addihumanely and considerately treated. In tional duties within the covering period February, 1894, the German Govern- of 12 hours; and it will be arranged ment stated that they did not entertain that in each duty which is still exany fears that Mataafa would not be cluded there shall be a long interval for sufficiently provided with means for rest.