Post between this country and France. Some questions of difficulty have presented themselves, which, however, it is hoped, will be shortly adjusted. In any event, before a Parcel Post Convention can be brought into operation it will have to be submitted to the French Chambers for ratification.

they were agreed in advising that the | Postmaster General is in active commuinterests of India demanded the annexa-nication with the French Postal Admition of that Country; or, if not, who nistration as to the proposed Parcels were the advisers of the late Secretary of State who expressed that opinion? THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir UGHTRED KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH): The orders on the subject to which the hon. Member refers were given by the late Secretary of State under the special powers by which the Secretary of State can deal with certain questions without submitting them to the Council. With regard to any other advisers, I must refer him to the late Secretary of State.

SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL asked if they were to understand that the Council of India had not been consulted by either the late or the present Indian Secretary?

POLLUTION OF THE THAMES-REPORT

OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION.
MR. THOROLD ROGERS asked the

Secretary of State for the Home Depart-
ment, Whether it is the intention of the
Government to take efficient steps to
carry out the recommendations of the
Royal Commission on the Pollution of
the Thames by the outfalls at Barking

Creek and Crossness?

SIR UGHTRED KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH said, he had already answered the Question in regard to the late SeTHE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. cretary of State. As to the present CHILDERS): This question has been reSecretary of State, he reminded the hon.peatedly under the consideration of the Gentleman that the annexation took Metropolitan Board, who have charge of the place before he came into Office. of London. They have not sewerage yet finally reported to me their conclusions; but I will press the Board for an early answer.

ALLOTMENTS AND SMALL HOLDINGS-
THE RETURN.

MR. HENRY TOLLEMACHE asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Whether, considering the importance of the subject, the Government will lay upon the Table of this House the Return on the subject of Allotments and Small Holdings, which has been promised by the Lord President of the Council to the House of Lords?

MR. THOROLD ROGERS asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that 6,000 tons of liquid muck were emptied into the Thames every day at these points?

MR. CHILDERS said, that was a calculation he should be slow to accept the responsibility for; but there was no question that the subject was a serious

one.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY (Mr. HENEAGE), in reply, said, the Re- METROPOLIS turn promised by the Lord President of the Council to the House of Lords would

be laid on the Table of the House of

Commons also.

POST OFFICE

REORGANIZATION OF

THE POLICE.

MR. W. H. SMITH asked the Secre

tary of State for the Home Department, If he will now say in what way he proposes to make the further inquiry into PARCELS POST BE- the organisation of the Police Force of TWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND. the Metropolis, which he states his inMR. HENNIKER HEATON asked tention to undertake; and, whether he the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, will engage that no such steps shall be Is the Postmaster General taking any taken until the House has had opportufurther steps to induce the French Go-nity of expressing an opinion on the vernment to complete the connecting Report of the Committee now in the link for the parcels post between France hands of Members? and England, the system being in operation in the two countries?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CHILDERS): I propose to make my inTHE SECRETARY TO THE TREA-quiry into the organization of the Police SURY (Mr. H. H. FOWLER): The Force by means of a Departmental Com

Sir George Campbell

ARMY CLOTHING FACTORY, PIMLICO.

MR. ALBERT GREY asked the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, Whether it is the case, as stated in The Pall Mall Gazette of February 22nd, that the wages of the work women employed in the Army Clothing Factory at Pimlico have been reduced 25 per cent. in the last year ?

THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF

mittee, over which I shall myself preside. "Oh!" and a laugh.] Yes; I am responsible for the organization, and I am not going to throw the responsibility upon others. I have not finally settled the names of the Committee; but, in all probability, whoever may be the new Chief Commissioner will be one. I also hope to have the assistance of Mr. Pemberton, now Assistant Under Secretary at the Home Office, and long MR. MAGNIAC asked whether it a Member of this House, and of Mr. is the fact, as currently reported, that Pennefather, whose financial experience the women in the factory referred to in police matters will be of great service were working at starvation wages; and to me. Perhaps I may be allowed to whether he will give a Return showing say, when on the point of instituting the number of workers whose wages this inquiry, how much I regret the ab- were respectively below and above 108. sence of the late Chief Commissioner, per week in the week ending FebSir Edmund Henderson, whose length-ruary 12? ened experience and intimate knowledge of the details of police administration ORDNANCE (Mr. WOODALL): I shall would have been invaluable upon such be happy to give the Returns, and to an inquiry. I am afraid I do not quite include in them all the information I understand the words "such steps in The statement referred to in the the second Question. I shall certainly first Question is not accurate. The aveundertake this inquiry without waiting rage wages of the women employed in for any particular debate in this House. the Army Clothing Factory during 1884 To-morrow my hon. Friend the Member amounted to 15s. 8d. a-week of actual for Shoreditch (Mr. James Stuart) has earnings. The average for 1885 was the first place on the Motion for Sup- 158. 8d. The corresponding average ply, and proposes to call attention to for the four weeks ending February 17 this subject. If Notice of a serious last was 178. 1d. Perhaps the numMotion be placed upon the Table, it bers at different rates of wages will will be sufficient time to consider whe- make the comparison more intelligible. ther any facilities would be required In 1884 and 1885 respectively there for its discussion. were employed in all 1,259 and 1,399 women. Of these, 231 and 262 received respectively less than 10s. a-week; 752 and 805 from 10s. to £1 a-week; 254 and 291 from 208. to 30s. a-week; and 22 and 41 respectively over 30s. a-week. I may add that certain Memorials and representations have been addressed to the Secretary of State concerning the general administration of the clothing factory, to which I am giving my own very careful attention.

MR. BURDETT-COUTTS: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, on the Motion which he has mentioned as coming on to-morrow, we shall have the opportunity of discussing the Report of the Special Committee, and the conduct of the right hon. Gentleman himself in this matter?

MR. CHILDERS: The only answer I can give is that the hon. Gentleman, if he wishes to discuss either the Report or my conduct, will be able to do so on the Motion of the hon. Member for Shoreditch.

MR. LABOUCHERE: Is there any objection to placing Sir Edmund Henderson on the Committee?

MR. CHILDERS: It would hardly be right that a gentleman who has just retired or is just retiring from the Public Service should be asked to sit on the Committee; but means will be found, no doubt, of obtaining the advantage of Colonel Henderson's experience.

can.

THE LONDON WATER COMPANIES.

MR. ROBSON asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If it is the intention of the Government to introduce, at an early date, a Bill dealing with the acquisition of the London Water Companies, so long looked forward to by the people of London?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CHILDERS): I am fully alive to the great importance of this question; but I think the question of the acquisition of the

London Water Companies' property can- | The names of the Australasian Colonies not be dissociated from the larger ques- that have declined to join the Postal tion of the government of London, as to Union; is he aware that French mail which I hope to be able to make a state- steamers convey ten centime or one ment in a few weeks. penny postal cards from France viâ Australia to New Caledonia; and, whether he will take steps to introduce penny postal cards between England and Australia in the interests of poor emigrants and their friends?

TRAMWAYS AND PUBLIC COMPANIES (IRELAND) ACT-THE WEST CLARE

RAILWAY COMPANY.

MR. COX asked the Financial Secre

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREA

tralian Colonies were all represented at held at Lisbon last year; and after conthe Postal Union Congress which was held at Lisbon last year; and after considering the conditions on which they all declined to join for the present. It could be admitted into the Union they is true, as the hon. Member states, that postcards can be forwarded from France to New Caledonia for a postage of 10 mission of the Australian Colonies into centimes, or 1d. each. Pending adthe Postal Union, it has not been considered desirable to extend the postcard system from this country to Australia. No such arrangement could take place Colonies concerned; and, looking at the without the previous concurrence of the reduction of postage which would be involved by the introduction of 1d. postcards, it is by no means certain that they would acquiesce in any such arrange

tary to the Treasury, Whether the Trea-SURY (Mr. H. H. FOWLER): The Aussury, in the month of June last, intimated their willingness to aid undertakings under the Tramways (Ireland) Act by loans to be made through the Irish Board of Works, and the West Clare Railway Company applied in the same month for a loan on the security of shares having dividends guaranteed in perpetuity by the county of Clare; has the granting of this loan been de layed by the Board of Works down to the present time, although the adequacy of the proposed security is not questioned; has the result of this delay been that the works of the Railway had been partially suspended about two months ago, by which several hundred men were thrown out of employment; whether representations have reached the Government that great distress exists in the district; and, whether they will cause the Board of Works to hasten the completion of this loan, and enable the works to be resumed, which will give large and immediate employment where PUBLIC MEETINGS-SPEECH OF LORD it is now so badly wanted?

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. H. H. FOWLER) said, that serious legal difficulties had arisen in the way of granting to the West Clare Railway Company the loan for which they applied on the security offered by them. The Board of Public Works had had every desire to facilitate in every way in their power the advance of the loan, in order that the works might not be stopped, and that the railway might be completed and opened for traffic. Their Surveyor was now on the spot, and it was hoped that in the course of a few days his Report would be received, and such arrangements made as would enable the works, a portion of which only were suspended, to be resumed.

THE POSTAL UNION-AUSTRALIA. MR. HENNIKER HEATON asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. Childers

ment.

RANDOLPH CHURCHILL AT

BELFAST.

MR. NEWNES asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to language used in the north of Ireland, on Monday last, by a Member of this House, the late Secretary of State for India, to the following effect :

:

"In the north the great privileges you possess are worth defending, are worth demonstrating for, and, by Heaven, it may be they are worth fighting for. I do not myself fear that so impress upon you to keep the organisation in heavy a trial could be put upon you, but I perfect readiness;"

and, whether he intends to prosecute the author of these words under the same Act which has been put in force with regard to the London Socialists?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CHILDERS): From no want of respect to the hon. Member who made the speech, but simply from want of time on my

part, I have not properly read that speech | Ironmongers' Company, and other Lonso as to appreciate the whole of it. But the speech itself to which the hon. Member refers, and the language to which he objects, was not delivered in England; and, therefore, it is no part of my duty to consider its character in the aspect suggested by the Question.

When Her Majesty's Government are | able to propose to the House their Local Government Bill they will consider what steps they can properly take in the direction of the Motion which was carried on the occasion referred to.