raise further capital; and for other purposes," presented, and read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills.

South Shields Gas Bill. "To confer further powers upon the South Shields Gas Company," presented, and read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills.

South Western and Isle of Wight Junction Railway (Extension of Time) Bill. "To extend the time limited for the compulsory purchase of lands for and completion of the railways and works authorised by the South Western and Isle of Wight Junction Railway Act, 1901; and for other purposes," presented and read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills.

Strabane, Raphoe, and Convoy Railway Bill. "To empower the Strabane, Raphoe, and Convoy Company to construct railways in the Counties of Tyrone and Donegal; to change the name of the Company; and for other purposes," presented, and read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills.

Surrey Commercial Dock Bill. "To authorise the Surrey Commercial Dock Company to raise further capital; and for other purposes," presented, and read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills.

Sutton Gas Bill. "For conferring further powers upon the Sutton Gas Company," presented, and read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills.

Swindon Corporation Bill. "To enable the Corporation of the Borough of Swindon to make new Tramways, and to make further provisions with reference to markets, and for the health, local government, and improvement of the borough; and for other purposes," presented, and read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time.

Thames River Steamboat Service Bill. "To provide, for the acquisition and construction of piers and landing places on the River Thames in the Administrative County of London by the London County Council, and to make provision for a service of vessels for passengers and parcels; and for other purposes, presented, and read the first time; and

Thames Steamboat Trust Bill. “To incorporate trustees for the maintenance of a service of steamboats on the River Thames, to transfer to them the undertaking of the Thames Steamboat Company (1897), Limited, to provide for the transfer to them of certain piers on the River Thames, and for the guarantee by the London County Council of interest on moneys to be borrowed by the trustees; and for other purposes," presented, and read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills.

Thurles Urban District Council Water Bill. "To authorise the Urban District Council of Thurles, in the County of Tipperary, to construct waterworks for the supply of the district; and for other purposes," presented, and read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time.

Tottenham Improvement Bill. “To confer further powers upon the Urban District Council for the District of Tottenham in the County of Middlesex,” presented, and read the first time; and ordered to be read a second time.

Watford and District Tramways (Extension of Time) Bill. "To extend the time for the compulsory purchase of lands, and for the construction of the Tra.nways authorised by The Watford and District Tramways Act, 1901; and for other purposes," presented, and read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills.

Wellington (Somerset) Gas Bill. "For incorporating and conferring powers on the Wellington (Somerset) Gas Company; and for other purposes," presented, and read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills.

Whitby Gas Bill."To confer further powers upon the Whitby Gas Company," presented, and read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills.

Wolverhampton Corporation Bill. "To empower the Corporation of Wolverhampton to construct tramways, and to make further provision in regard to their tramway, electricity, and market undertakings, and the health, local government, and improvement of their borough ; and for other purposes," presented, and read the first time; and ordered to be

(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The issue of the notices in question commenced, both in Scotland and England, on 22nd January, this date being in accordance with the instructions to which the hon. Member refers.

Issue of Transvaal Loan.

MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.): To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer how long the Government have agreed to postpone the issue of the first instalment of the new loan to the Transvaal Government which the late Colonial Secretary said on the 27th July last would be placed on the market probably in January, 1904; and whether the agreements as to underwriting will still hold good.

(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) It is not possible to say when the conditions of the money market will become favourable enough to ensure the successful issue of the loan. The postponement of the issue does not affect the agreement as to underwriting it.

Extinction of Debt.

MR. BUCHANAN (Perthshire, E.): To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take for the paying off of debt during the current year, in view of the fact that the £10,000,000 due from the Transvaal under guarantee has not been paid.

(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) I do not propose to take any step which will interfere with the Sinking Fund arrangements made last session.

Sudbury (Ontario) Nickel Mines. MR. NORMAN (Wolverhampton, S.): To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to communications which have been received at the Colonial Office from Canadian official authorities regarding the future control of the nickel mines in the Sudbury District of Ontario; and, if so, will he say whether any replies, and if so, what, have been made to such communications; and whether His

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The communications to which the hon. Member refers were duly forwarded to the Admiralty, and the inquiry should be addressed to the representative of that Department.

Amount of Unfunded Debt.

MR. BUCHANAN : To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present amount of the unfunded debt, specifying the amount of Treasury Bills and Exchequer Bonds outstanding, the rate of interest and period for which these securities have been renewed.

(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) There are £21,000,000 Exchequer Bonds outstanding, bearing 3 per cent. interest, of which £7,000,000 fall due next August, and the remainder in December, 1905.

There are £21,133,000 Treasury Bills outstanding, of which £16,633,000 are twelve months' Bills bearing interest that varies. £4,000,000 are six months' Bills bearing from £3 4s. 4d. to £3 15s. 10d. per cent.; interest that varies from £3 4s. 2d. to. £3 15s. 10d. per cent., and £500,000 are three months Bills bearing interest at clusive of any Ways and Means Advances £4 2s. 3d. per cent. These Bills are exraised by Treasury Bills, which are necessarily paid off before the end of the financial year.

Release of Mrs. Maybrick.

MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Mrs. Maybrick has been released from penal servitude; and, if so, on what conditions.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary AkersDouglas.) Mrs. Maybrick has been granted a licence under the Penal Servitude Acts, and is at present in a home, which she will be allowed to leave towards the end of the summer. In accordance with the wishes of the authorities of the home, and with Mrs. May brick's own earnest desire, which is, I think, entitled to consideration, I do not propose to make public further details as to time or place.

Copy presented, of Rule for Holyrood Park in connection with the Regulations prescribed by the Parks Regulation Act, 1872 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table. BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES (SCOTLAND).

Copy presented, of forty-seventh Detailed Annual Report of the RegistrarGeneral of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in Scotland (Abstracts of 1901) [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.

PAPERS LAID UPON THE TABLE BY

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE: 1. Bank of England. Accounts of Exchequer Bills and other Government Securities purchased, and of the amount of Balances of Sums issued for the Payment of Dividends, &c., for the year ending the 5th January, 1904 [by Act]; to be printed. [No. 30.]

2. Building Societies. Copy of Ninth Annual Report by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies of the Proceedings of the Registrars under the Building Societies Acts, &c., [by Act]; to be printed. [No. 31.]

(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The issue of the notices in question commenced, both in Scotland and England, on 22nd January, this date being in accordance with the instructions to which the hon. Member refers.

Issue of Transvaal Loan.

MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.): To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer how long the Government have agreed to postpone the issue of the first instalment of the new loan to the Transvaal Government which the late Colonial Secretary said on the 27th July last would be placed on the market probably in January, 1904; and whether the agreements as to underwriting will still hold good.

(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) It is not possible to say when the conditions of the money market will become favourable enough to ensure the successful issue of the loan. The postponement of the issue does not affect the agreement as to underwriting it.

Extinction of Debt.

MR. BUCHANAN (Perthshire, E.): To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take for the paying off of debt during the current year, in view of the fact that the £10,000,000 due from the Transvaal under guarantee has not been paid.

(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) I do not propose to take any step which will interfere with the Sinking Fund arrangements made last session.

Sudbury (Ontario) Nickel Mines. MR. NORMAN (Wolverhampton, S.): To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to communications which have been received at the Colonial Office from Canadian official authorities regarding the future control of the nickel mines in the Sudbury District of Ontario; and, if so, will he say whether any replies, and if so, what, have been made to such communications; and whether whether His

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The communications to which the hon. Member refers were duly forwarded to the Admiralty, and the inquiry should be addressed to the representative of that Department.

Mr.

Amount of Unfunded Debt. MR. BUCHANAN : To ask Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present amount of the unfunded debt, specifying the amount of Treasury Bills and Exchequer Bonds outstanding, the rate of interest and period for which these securities have been renewed.

(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) There are £21,000,000 Exchequer Bonds outstanding, bearing 3 per cent. interest, of which £7,000,000 fall due next August, and the remainder in December, 1905.

There are £21,133,000 Treasury Bills outstanding, of which £16,633,000 are twelve months' Bills bearing interest that varies from £3 4s. 4d. to £3 15s. 10d. per cent. ; interest that varies from £3 4s. 2d. to £4,000,000 are six months' Bills bearing £3 15s. 10d. per cent., and £500,000 are three months Bills bearing interest at £4 2s. 3d. per cent. These Bills are exclusive of any Ways and Means Advances raised by Treasury Bills, which are necessarily paid off before the end of the financial year.

Release of Mrs. Maybrick.

MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Mrs. Maybrick has been released from penal servitude; and, if so, on what conditions.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary AkersDouglas.) Mrs. Maybrick has been granted a licence under the Penal Servitude Acts, and is at present in a home, which she will be allowed to leave towards the end of the summer. In accordance with the wishes of the authorities of the home, and with Mrs. May brick's own earnest desire, which is, I think, entitled to consideration, I do not propose to make public further details as to time or place.

Magistrates and Passive Resisters.

:

MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.) To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that in a number of instances benches of magistrates have directed that persons summoned for refusal to pay that portion of the rates which is applied to denominational schools should be placed in the prisoner's dock; and whether he will issue a circular or otherwise represent to magistrates that this course is illegal and should be discontinued.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers Douglas.) My attention has not been drawn to any case such as the hon. Member indicates. It is certainly not a usual practice to put persons summoned for non-payment of rates in the dock, and except in very special circumstances I do not think it would be right to do so. But no question of law is involved, nor have I any authority to issue instructions to magistrates in the matter.

Beer Poisoning-Standard of Purity. SIR CUTHBERT QUILTER (Suffolk, Sudbury): To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the confirmation by the Royal Commission on Arsenical Poisoning of the opinions expressed in the Minority Report of the Beer Materials Committee issued five years ago, prior to the outbreak of the beer poisoning epidemic, that legislation or other provision was necessary to prevent the use of deleterious substances in the manufacture of beer, and that a court of reference, as recommended by the Committee on the adulteration of food products (a recommendation since endorsed also by the Food Preservatives Committee), should be established for fixing standards of purity for the purposes of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts; and, if so, will he say what action it is proposed to take to give effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission, more especially as regards the protection of the public against the use of injurious ingredients in beer, and the fixing of a standard of purity.

(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I had, before the issue of the Report of the

Royal Commission on Arsenical Poisoning, had under consideration the expediency of promoting legislation with a view to the constitution of a court of reference for the decision of certain scientific questions in relation to food of the kind referred to in the Question, and I had been in communication with the Board of Trade and the Board of Agriculture on the subject. I am continuing to give attention to the matter, but having regard to the large and important recommendations of the Arsenical Commission, I think it will be necessary that a conference should be held of representatives of the Government Departments concerned before a decision as to the course to be adopted can be arrived at.

Employment in the United Kingdom
and Ireland.

LORD GEORGE HAMILTON (Middlesex, Ealing): To ask the President of the Local Government Board if, with the object of testing the assertions recently made that employment, in the aggregate, has fallen off in the United Kingdom and Ireland, he would have a Return made from the census tables of 1881, 1891, and 1901, giving, under a few general heads, the total number employed, including all in Government or municipal service, together with the total population of each period, and the percentage the employed bear to the population of each period.

(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Census Returns do not give the numbers of the population that are employed or unemployed at the date of each census, but only show the occupation usually followed by each individual when employed. I regret, therefore, that it is not in my power to cause the Return desired by my noble friend to be compiled.

Causes and Effects of Tariff Wars on the Continent.

LORD GEORGE HAMILTON: To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will lay upon the Table of the House the information recently received from His Majesty's Representatives and the Consular service abroad, relating to the causes and effects of the tariff wars between France and Italy,