(Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers Douglas.) The number of persons sentenced to transportation or penal servitude during the years 1849 to 1853 was, on the average for the five years, 2,632 a year, being 14.64 for every 100,000 of the population. The similar average for the years 1898 to 1902 was 844, being 2.61 for every 100,000. As regards the proportions of old offenders it may be stated that in the earlier period the percentage of persons committed for trial who were known to have been previously convicted was 33.74; and that in the later period the percentage of convicted persons received in prison who were known to have been previously convicted was 58.68. But these figures do not admit of comparison. The changes which have taken place in legal procedure and in the form of the statistics, the substitution of short terms of penal servitude for long terms of transportation, and the great improvement made in the means of identification render it impossible to compare the two periods in this respect. Assessment of Working Men's Cottages. MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.): To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in the preparation of the Government measure as to valuation and assessments, consideration will be given to the present difference between the assessment of cottages owned and occupied by working men and the assessment of similar cottages when the rates are compounded; and whether provisions will be made to modify this (Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) If the hon. Member refers to articles on which import duties were imposed by the countries named for the first time during 1903-4, the answer is "none." If the Question relates to the number of articles actually charged with duty, it would be difficult to give the information in a form which is not misleading, owing to the various modes in which articles are grouped together or sub-divided in the different tariffs. For instance, the French tariff contains 654 tariff headings, while the number in the German tariff is 43. Not separately specified. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Commissioner of Police at Belfast. Royal Irish Constabulary—Acting Sergeants. MR. SLOAN: To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the number of acting sergeants holding temporary rank at the Royal Irish Constabulary Depôt, what are their rank and actual charge to the Constabulary Vote yearly; whether they receive the same pay as men holding similar permanent rank; and, will he say what are the duties of these temporary acting sergeants at present, and how many constables of the reserve force and recruits are at present stationed at the depôts. (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) There are seventeen constables holding the temporary rank of acting sergeant now serving at the Depôt. The total amount of pay and allowances charged Head Constable at Leopold St. Barracks, to the Constabulary Vote in respect of Belfast. these men is £1,275 10s. per annum. They receive the same rate of pay as men holding similar permanent rank. They are employed as follows: four as rough riders, one as swimming instructor, one as gymnastic instructor, one as bugler, two as clerks, one as carpenter who also does ordinary duties when firm intention of the Government to available, and seven as drill instructors. effectually protect the aboriginal populaThere are 146 reserve constables (includ- tion, and insuring for them the benefit ing mounted men and members of the of peace and civilisation. band), and thirty recruits now at the Depôt. Militia Training Bounties-Case of MR. HEMPHILL (Tyrone, N.): To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Patrick Kerr, of the MidUlster Militia Artillery, whose applica tion for the usual training bounty last year was refused on the ground of his absence from the training, although such absence was occasioned by his not having received any notice of such training, or having been made aware of the time or place of same; and whether he will take steps to have such bounty paid. (Answered by Mr. Secretary ArnoldForster.) This is a matter entirely for the General Officer Commanding concerned to decide, and I am not prepared to interfere with his discretion. With regard to the serving of notices the Law on the subject is quite clear, and runs as follows: Militia Act, 1882, Sec. xxii. (4). "The publication of any such notice in the prescribed manner in every parish in the county or area to which a corps belongs shall be sufficient notice to every militiaman in that corps to whom the notice applies, notwithstanding that a copy of such notice is not served upon him." Alleged Atrocities in the Congo State. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) The attention of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has been drawn to the article alluded to. The Report of His Majesty's Consul for the Congo will shortly be presented to Parliament. The circular addressed by His Majesty's Government to the Powers in regard to the administration of the Congo State has already been published: other Papers on the subject will be laid at the same time as Mr. Casement's Report. NEW BILLS. MUSICAL COPYRIGHT BILL. "To amend the Law relating to Musical Copyright," presented by Mr. Mount; supported by Mr. Stuart-Wortley Mr. Galloway, and Mr. Malcolm; to be read a second time upon Friday, 26th February, and to be printed. [Bill 1.] TOWN TENANTS (IRELAND) BILL. "For the improvement of the position of Tenants in Towns in Ireland," presented by Mr. MacVeagh; supported by Mr. Field, Captain Donelan, Mr. William McKillop, Mr. Joseph Devlin, Mr. Joyce, Mr. J. P. Farrell, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. John O'Donnell; to be read a second time upon Friday, 4th March, and to be printed. [Bill 2.] LAND VALUES (ASSESSMENT AND "To provide for the separate Assessment and Rating of Land Values," presented by Mr. Trevelyan; supported by Mr. Bell, Mr. Charles Douglas, Mr. William Jones, Mr. Lloyd-George, Mr. McCrae, Dr. Macnamara, Sir Albert Rollit, and Mr. Whitley; to be read a second time upon Friday, 11th March, and to be printed. [Bill 3.] MR. J. A. PEASE: To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the facts related by Mr. A. E. Scrivener, in the West African Mail of 8th January, recording atrocities committed upon natives in the Congo State; whether the British Consul, who has recently returned from the interior, has reported to the Government; if so, to what effect; and what steps the Government have already undertaken, or are intending to take, to enforce the carrying out of the declaration made by the 69 Brussels Act in 1890, intimating the solidation (Scotland) Act, 1845, and to RAILWAYS (PRIVATE SIDINGS) BILL. "To explain and amend Section 76 of the Railways Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, the Railways of and Section Clauses Con amend the Railway and Canal Traffic | LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. Acts, 1854 to 1888," presented by Sir John Brunner; supported by Mr. Channing, Mr. Alexander Cross, Sir Joseph Dimsdale, Mr. Field, Sir Alfred Hickman, Mr. Kerr, Mr. Charles McArthur, Mr. Stroyan, Sir William Tomlinson, and Mr. Ure; to be read a second time upon Friday, 18th March, and to be printed. [Bill 4.] "To amend the Local Government (Ireland) Acts," presented by Mr. Field; supported by Mr. J. P. Farrell, Mr. Clancy, Mr Patrick Aloysius McHugh, Mr. John O'Donnell, Mr. Reddy, Mr. Roche, and Mr. Kilbride; to be read a second time upon Friday, 29th April, and to be printed. [Bill 9.] REGISTRATION OF CLUBS (IRELAND) "To provide for the Registration of Clubs in Ireland, and for other purposes connected therewith," presented by Mr. O'Neill; supported by Sir Thomas Esmonde, Mr. John Gordon, Mr. Hugh Law, Mr. McGovern, Mr. T. W. Russell, Dr. Thompson, and Mr. Wolff; to be read a second time upon Friday, 6th May, and to be printed. [Bill 10.] MERCHANT SHIPPING (LIGHTHOUSES) "To amend the Law with regard to Lighthouses and to abolish Light Dues,' presented by Mr. Plummer; supported by Mr. Charles McArthur, Mr. Evelyn Cecil, Colonel Denny, Sir Francis Evans, Mr. Field, Sir John Leng, Mr. T. P. MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S O'Connor, Mr. Renwick, Sir Albert Rollit, Sir Robert Ropner, and Mr. Charles Wilson; to be read a second time upon Friday, 13th May, and to be printed. [Bill 11.] MINES (EIGHT HOURS) BILL. "To limit the hours of underground workers in Mines to Eight Hours per day from bank to bank," presented by Mr. Osmond Williams; supported by Sir Charles Dilke, Sir Walter Foster, Mr. Jacoby, Sir Albert Rollit, Mr. William Abraham (Rhondda), Mr. Norman, Mr. Thomas Bayley, Mr. William Jones, Mr. Eugene Wason, Mr. Hatch, and Mr. Nussey; to be read a second time upon Friday, 26th February, and to be printed. [Bill 12.] HALL-MARKING OF FOREIGN PLATE "To amend the Law with respect to the Hall-Marking of Foreign Plate," presented by Mr. Samuel Roberts; supported by Mr. Stuart Wortley, Sir Benjamin | Johnstone, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Moon, Sir Stone, Sir Joseph Dimsdale, Mr. Remnant, Charles Dalrymple, and Sir John Doringand Mr. Norman; to be read a second ton; to be read a second time upon time upon Friday, 18th March, and to be Monday, 25th April, and to be printed. printed. [Bill 13.] [Bill 18.] LEASEHOLDS ENFRANCHISEMENT BILL. "For the Enfranchisement of Leaseholds," presented by General Laurie; supported by Mr. Spear, Mr. Cohen, Sir George Fardell, and Mr. Louis Sinclair; to be read a second time upon Friday, 4th March, and to be printed. [Bill 14.] MINISTRY OF COMMERCE BILL. "To establish a bureau for a Minister of Commerce," presented by Mr. Louis Sinclair; supported by Sir Albert Rollit, Sir William Holland, Sir John Brunner, Sir Howard Vincent, Sir Ernest Flower, Sir Fortescue Flannery, and Sir Joseph Lawrence; to be read a second time upon Friday, 3rd June, and to be printed. [Bill 15.] TUBERCULOSIS (ANIMALS) COM- "To provide for the payment of compensation to the owners of carcases of animals condemned after slaughter and destroyed by order of a magistrate on account of Tuberculosis," presented by Mr. Price; supported by Sir Albert Rollit, Mr. Tomkinson, Mr. McArthur, Mr. Field, Mr. Batty Langley, and Mr. Ernest Gray; to be read a second time upon Friday, 15th April, and to be printed. [Bill 16.] AGED PENSIONERS BILL. "To provide Pensions for the Aged Deserving Poor," presented by Mr. Remnant; supported by Mr. Goulding, Mr. Lloyd-George, Mr. John Hutton; Mr. Griffith-Boscawen, Mr. Claude Hay, Colonel Kemp, Mr. Maconochie, Mr. Forde Ridley, and Mr. Groves; to be read a second time upon Friday, 6th May, and to be printed. [Bill 17.] RE-VACCINATION BILL. "To provide for the Re-vaccination of Children after the age of twelve," presented by Sir John Tuke; supported by Sir Michael Foster, Mr. Haldane, Dr. Farquharson, Captain Jessel, Mr. Malcolm, Mr. T. P. O'Connor, Mr. Heywood PRIVATE LEGISLATION PROCEDURE (WALES) BILL. "To provide for improving and extending the Procedure for obtaining Parliamentary Powers by way of Provisional Orders in matters relating to Wales," presented by Mr. VaughanDavies; supported by Mr. Brynmor Jones, Mr. Herbert Roberts, Mr. Osmond Williams, Sir Alfred Thomas, and Mr. Kenyon; to be read a second time upon Friday, 25th March, and to be printed. [Bill 19.] CHURCH DISCIPLINE BILL. To amend the Church Discipline Act, 1840, and the Public Worship Regulation Act, 1874," presented by Sir John Willox; supported by Mr. Charles McArthur, Mr. Austin Taylor, Mr. Mellor, Sir Albert Rollit, Mr. David MacIver, Mr. Brand, and Mr. W. W. Rutherford; to be read a second time upon Friday, 10th June, and to be printed. [Bill 20.] |