he will state why Superintendents Narrisey and Dempsey of the Dublin Metropolitan Police are retained on the active list, they being eligible for retirement on pension.

(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) There is no fixed period for the retirement on pension of members of the Dublin Metropolitan Police. They are permitted to remain in the service so long as they discharge their public duty with efficiency and to the satisfaction of their superior officers.

Erection of Technical Schools in Ireland. MR. FIELD: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is prepared to state what the Government intend doing with respect to the provisions of a building fund for the erection of suitable technical schools in Ireland; and whether it is intended to continue the equivalent grant upon the original terms, as understood by the local authorities who levied a rate, to aid in supporting technical schools within their rateable area.

(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) I discussed these matters with the deputation that waited on me in Dublin on the 18th January, and have no further statement to make at present.

Resolutions of Asylum Committees. MR. FIELD: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a copy of resolutions adopted by the Conference of Asylum Committees at a meeting held in Richmond Asylum on the 25th and 26th November last; and, if so, will he state whether he proposes to deal with the points raised.

(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The resolutions propose (1) an increase of the present capitation grant of 4s. per week in respect of the maintenance of each pauper lunatic; (2) an extension of the period for, and alteration of the conditions upon, which loans are made for asylum purposes; (3) the establishment of a central laboratory in connection with asylums; (4) the introduction of a system of boarding-out of persons of unsound

mind; (5) the assimilation of the capita tion grant payable in the case of patients maintained in auxiliary asylums established under Section 76 (1) of the Local Government Act, 1898, to that payable for patients in district asylums. In respect to (1), the amount of the grant in Ireland is the same as that payable in England and Scotland, and a proposal to increase it could only be considered in its application to the United Kingdom as a whole. Legislation would be necessary to give effect to the recommendations at (2), (4), and (5), and I am unable to undertake that such will be introduced during the present session. There are no funds available at present for the establishment of a central laboratory (3).

Marine Works in Connemara.

MR. O'MALLEY (Galway, Connemara): To ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland if he will explain why the Marine Works Act of last year is not put into operation in Connemara; if he will state when the proposed works under the Act for Cleggan, Clifden, and Roundstone, in Connemara, are likely to commence; and whether, in view of the approach of the fishing season in these districts, steps will be taken to execute the proposed works at the earliest day.

(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) With respect to the proposed works at Cleggan and Roundstone the Government has not yet received from the County Council the memorial and resolution prescribed under the Act. Forms for this purpose were communicated to the council early in August last. With regard to Clifden negotiations are still in progress.

Construction of Military Maps. LIEUT.-COLONEL TUFNELL (Essex, S.E.) To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the map made of the country north of Ladysmith on a scale of four miles to an inch in 1896 has been continued southwards as recommended by the Director of Military Intelligence; and whether, in view of the want of funds for the provision of maps for military purposes during the late war, any additional funds are now available to enable the Intelligence Department to perform their duties satisfactorily.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary ArnoldForster.) Arrangements are now in progress for surveying the whole of British territory south of the Zambesi on a scale

suitable for military purposes provided

the co-operation of all the Colonial Governments can be secured. The whole question of increasing facilities for map preparation by the Intelligence Department is now receiving careful consideration.

Construction of Railway Embankment

between Chiromo and Blantyre.

MR. WEIR: To ask the UnderSecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that large quantity of the material used in the construction of the embankment of the railway between Chiromo and Blantyre was taken from the banks of the Shiré river, and that, owing to the nature of the material many miles of the embankment were washed away during the wet season; and, if so, will he state if the construction of the railway is under contract; and if so, at how much per mile.

(Answered by Earl Percy.) I am not aware of the facts alluded to by the hon. Member. The conditions under which the railway in question is being constructed were explained in Africa No. 9 of 1903 (p. 3).

Chinese Government and the Transvaal

Labour Ordinance.

MR. BUCHANAN (Perthshire, E.): To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken by

him to ascertain the views of the Chinese Government the regulations with regard to the proposed introduction of indentured Chinese labour into the Transvaal, which, in the despatch of 16th January, he stated His Majesty's Government considered to be necessary before sanctioning the Ordinance.

(Answered by Earl Percy.) His Majesty's Government are in communication with the Chinese Minister in London on the subject.

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE.

War Office Intelligence Department.
DR. MACNAMARA (Camberwell, N.):

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what recognition, if any, has been accorded to Sir John Ardagh, Major Altham, and the other officers of the Intelligence Division, for the preparation during the years 1896-1899 of memoranda, and the summarisation of these memoranda in the Handbook of Military Notes in June, 1899, of information which, according to the Report of the Royal Commission on the War in South Africa, gave a correct impression of the numerical strength, armament, and plans of the Boers.

system of inspection of the sighting of rifles has been adopted so as to guard against a recurrence of this error.

Military Armaments, Stores, etc.Precautions against Deficiencies. DR. MACNAMARA: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can explain why, at the outbreak of the Boer War, there was the deficiency in armaments, reserves of guns, ammunition, stores, and clothing, and in regard to the power of output of material of war in emergency, described in Sir Henry Brackenbury's Minute of 15th December, 1899, and what steps have been taken to render this state of affairs impossible in the future.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER: I am afraid

that it is not possible within the limits of a reply to a Question to give an answer to the first part of this Question, but if the hon. Member will kindly refer to Paragraph 55 of the Report of the Royal Commission he will find considerable information on the subject. As regards the second part of the Question, the provision of the guns, stores, clothing, etc., recommended by the Mowatt Committee is being carried out; and will prac tically be completed by the middle of 1904. To guard against a recurrence of deficiencies of stores it has been decided

that the reserves shall be permanently maintained, and that any guns, ammunition, stores, or clothing withdrawn for service shall be immediately and automatically replaced.

1

Proposed Coaling Station in South Wales.

MR. OSMOND WILLIAMS (Merionethshire): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether His Majesty's of accepting the offer of a port in South Government will consider the advisability Wales as a Government coaling station and store depôt, which port lies within

some nine or ten miles of a number of

collieries upon the Admiralty list, and was offered at a rate which would at which arrangements could be made practically render it self-supporting, and for the storage of 300,000 to 500,000 tons of smokeless South Wales coal, which could be loaded at all times without dislocation of trade in South Wales or the payment of any emergency prices.

MR. PRETYMAN: It is not considered desirable to accept the offer, as no circumstances, in the opinion of the

Admiralty, are likely to arise that would desirable to store a large quantity of render such a course necessary, nor is it

coal in South Wales, as it is of imthe portance that coal shipped for naval service should be fresh wrought.

British Indians and Transvaal Draft Ordinance.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr.BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford): The Government of India has not been consulted as to any clause of the Transvaal Draft Ordinance, nor is its assent necessary; but, subject to the authority of the Secretary of State in Council, it controls the exportation of labourers from India, and its action will of course depend on the state of the law on the subject in the Transvaal, as well as on other considerations. I may add that the clause to which this Question refers is intended to have only a temporary effect, pending the passing of special legislation on the subject of Indian labour.

MR. BUCHANAN: Has the Secretary of State for India given his assent to these clauses in the Transvaal Ordinance ?

MR. BRODRICK: No, Sir, I have given no assent to any ordinance at present. Transvaal Labour Ordinance Transfer of Importers' Rights.

MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the Transvaal Labour Ordinance, if he can explain why the provision requiring the assent of the labourer to any assignment of the importer's rights has been withdrawn; whether the effect of the Ordin ance as amended is that the rights to the services of the labourer may be assigned without his consent; and whether he proposes to ask the approval of Parliament to this part of the proposed legis

lation.

*THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. LYTTELTON, Warwick and Leamington): Under Section 11 of the Ordinance, transfers can only be made with the sanction of the Lieutenant-Governor and under regulations to be made by him, and due notice of transfers is to be given to the Superintendent of Labourers. It appears to me that these provisions enable the LieutenantGovernor to take any steps which circumstances may render necessary in regard to the assent of the labourer to any proposed transfer. I do not propose to ask the approval of Parliament to this colonial legislation. The disallowance of such legislation is vested in the Crown

acting on the advice of the Secretary of State, and if, after the discussion on the general question of the introduction of Asiatic labour, I should feel it my duty to advise His Majesty not to exercise his power of disallowance, Parliament will have the usual opportunities of criticising my action.

MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON asked whether the regulations to be made would contain a provision requiring the assent of the labourer to his being transferred?

*MR. LYTTELTON: I cannot answer that at present.

DR. MACNAMARA: Under the Ordinance as it now stands, is the assent of the labourer necessary for his transfer to d new employer?

*MR. LYTTELTON: I have answered that Question.

MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.): Would it be possible under the Ordinance for the right of transfer of these Asiatic labourers to be put up to public auction?

*MR. SPEAKER: Order, order. The Ordinance cannot be debated on this Question.

Chinese Labour-Regulations for
Recruiting.

MR. BUCHANAN: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the recruiting of labour in China for the Transvaal will be carried on by persons responsible to British authority, and how, and by whom, appointed; and what steps will be taken under British authority to ensure that before the labourers leave China they are made fully aware of the wages they are to be paid and the very special restrictions under which their labour is to be performed.

*MR. LYTTELTON: The hon. Member will see that Clause 6 of the Ordinance (Cd. 1898) provides that no person shall introduce labourers into the Transvaal except under licence from the Lieutenant-Governor, and I am in communication with Lord Milner as to the manner in which he proposes to secure, under the licensing clause and regulations,