may seem expedient."

In all cases

which come up for re-consideration, and in all new schemes, the Board's present practice is, generally speaking, to insert provisions requiring the approval of the governing body in all cases where the appointment or dismissal is vested in the head master.

Aberdare National Schools.

SIR WILLIAM ANSON (Oxford University) To ask the President of the Board of Education what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the local education authority will carry out their statutory obligation to maintain and keep efficient the Aberdare Town national schools by paying the salary of the head teacher during the months of September and October, and during the first half of November of the present year, and that the same authority does not establish a different scale of salaries for council and voluntary schools within their area.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) No salary seems to have been in any sense due to the head teacher of the school in question during September. The head teacher only commenced any teaching duties in the school on 1st October. His appointment on that date had not, however, been approved by the local authority, and, therefore, his services in the school during September were not services rendered to the local authority. The appointment of this head teacher was sanctioned by the authority as from 1st November, and the authority are paying the salary of the head teacher as from that date. I do not, therefore, see any ground for intervention on the part of the Board of Education. As regards the concluding paragraph of the Question I must ask the hon. Baronet's attention to the penultimate paragraph of the reply given by me on 26th November last to the hon. Member for Marylebone (East),† to which I can as yet add nothing.

Scotsmen in the Army.

MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAY: To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of

+ See (4) Debates, clxv., 1246-7.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The scheme for hospital accommodation has been approved, and the plans are being pressed forward to enable the work to commence early next year. It is hoped that the service will be completed before the end of 1907, and that a number of the buildings, including wards, will be available within a few months. of the date of commencement of work. The proposed accommodation provides,— 1. A general hospital for 181 officers and men. 2. A families hospital for thirty-one women and children. 3. An infectious hospital.

Medal for Quartermaster Sergeant William Pettigrew, late 52nd and 77th Regiment.

SIR SEYMOUR KING (Hull, Central): To ask the Secretary of State for War

whether he will state on what, if any, principle the award of the meritorious service medal is made in the Army; whether his attention has been called to the case of Quartermaster - sergeant, William Pettigrew, late 52nd and 77th Foot, who served for twenty-one years, 133 days, and was present as a corporal in the 52nd through the whole Siege of Delhi and when General Nicholson fell, has the good conduct medal, and was for six years quartermaster-sergeant of the 77th Regiment, to which he was transferred after the Mutiny and retired in 1871, being now seventy-seven years of age, but has received no medal; whether all officers who fought at Lucknow and Delhi were allowed two extra years to count for pension and the rank and file nothing; why the claims of this veteran have been overlooked for thirtyfive years and subordinated to those of juniors, as for instance of a sergeantmajor in the Worcestershire Regiment, who was born in the year of the Siege of Delhi, and was awarded a medal in 1905 whilst still on the active list; whether any records of claims to decorations or honours among the rank and file are preserved at the War Office; and who is responsibe for bringing them forward for attention in due course.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The principle on which the meritorious service medal and annuity are awarded was explained on the 29th ultimo in answer to a Question put by the hon. Member for South Belfast.† My attention has been drawn to the case of Quartermaster-sergeant Pettigrew. He did not apply to have his name noted till the 1st May last, and there has been no vacancy since that date in his late battalion to which he could have been appointed, even if his claims were considered stronger than those of other candidates. The records of soldiers are

preserved with their regiments while they are serving, afterwards at Chelsea Hospital, and finally at the Public Record Office. The claim to this decoration must be put forward by the man himself and be supported by his commanding officer.

† See Col. 280.

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE.

Native Recruiting in Portuguese East Africa.

MR. MEYSEY-THOMPSON (Staffordshire, Handsworth): On behalf of the hon. Member for Gravesend, I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Lord Selborne has given authority for the publication of the correspondence relating to the applications of groups of mines and associations in the Transvaal for facilities similar to those requested of Portugal by this Government for the Robinson group of mines for recruiting natives in Portuguese East Africa; whether the publication of this correspondence will be made at once; and whether the Portuguese Government decline to give special facilities to any single mine or group of mines on the basis of unequal treatment.

THE UNDER-SECRETARY FOR THE

COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL, Manchester, N.W.): The Secretary of State understands that the Johannesburg Chamber of Mines is publishing the correspondence which it has had with Lord Selborne on the subject. Negotia tions with the Portuguese Government are now proceeding, and it is not desirable to make any statement as to the course which they have followed up to the present; or is the Secretary of State prepared to publish Papers until the negotiations are completed.

MR. MEYSEY THOMPSON: Did Lord Selborne sanction the publication of this correspondence ?

MR. CHURCHILL: Lord Selborne has given his permission to the Chamber of Mines to publish the correspondence they have had with him. Therefore the publication of the correspondence is a proper action for the Chamber of Mines fact in any way renders it necessary for to take. But I do not agree that that His Majesty's Government to publish be convenient, and at such moments as Blue-books except at such periods as may they may be desired to give information to the House of Commons.

MR. MEYSEY-THOMPSON: May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he will publish the correspondence as soon as possible?

MR. CHURCHILL: I am not at all convinced that the correspondence is of sufficient importance to figure in a Government Blue-book.

Liverpool Telegraphists' Holidays. MR. WILLIAM RUTHERFORD (Liverpool, West Derby): I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether, as a result of negotiations between the Department and the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association some years ago, a compromise was arranged upon the holiday question; whether, on condition that the staff took a portion of their annual leave, with compensation days for Bank Holidays, in the winter months, the staff were promised that the remainder of their holidays should be granted between the months of March and October (inclusive); whether a guarantee was given to the staff at Liverpool that the bulk of the holidays should be evenly distributed over these eight months; if so, whether this arrangement is to be broken by reducing the number on leave between June and September (inclusive); and whether he will inquire into the circumstances in view of the conditions of the compromise.

THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON, Tower Hamlets, Poplar): In 1897 the telegraph staff at Liverpool accepted the arrangement, which was subsequently adopted in other places, that the greater portion of the annual leave might be taken in the eight better months of the year, the remaining portion being taken between November and February. There was no promise or arrangement that the annual leave should be distributed equally over the eight months. In consequence of the great pressure of telegraph work from the 15th of June to the 15th of September and the excessive overtime that would otherwise have resulted, an even distribution is not practicable, but as little change as possible has been made.

Irish Potato Crop Failure. MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the LordLieutenant of Ireland whether he is now

in a position to make a full statement as to the result of inquiries conducted by the Irish Government into the extent of the failure of the potato crop in Ireland this year; whether, in some districts, the potatoes will be exhausted before the 1st of January, and there will be no seed fit to be planted; whether the Irish Government propose to take any special steps to deal with the situation and, if they do, what measures they have in contemplation; whether any special investigation has been made as to the causes of the failure, and the possibility of taking effective measures against failure of the potat crop in future years; and whether the Irish Government propose to publish any special Report on this subject.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BRYCE, Aberdeen): The result of the inquiries made by the Irish Government into the failure of the potato crop in Ireland may be summed up as follows-omitting counties in which the failure has not been serious and will not create any special demand for relief. I regret to say that in the counties of Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Leitrim, Rosscommon, Galway, Clare, Kerry, and the West Riding of Cork, there has been a failure in the potato crop which, varying from place to place, is, except as presently to be stated, approximately two-thirds, and in some favoured places, three-fourths of an average crop. The quality of the potatoes is much below the average, but the proportion of small potatoes is relatively large, and that of blackened or diseased potatoes relatively small, as compared with other "blight" years. In certain areas, especially in parts of Mayo and Galway, the crop is below half the average, and in a considerable part of the Union of Belmullet it has been almost a total failure. On the other hand, the harvest of other crops has been a good one, and the season, except as regards potatoes, has been favourable for farmers. Live-stock are in good demand at high prices, and the fishing has in most places been good. The Department of Agriculture, after a special investigation, have arrived at the conclusion that the causes of failure, apart from the bad weather which was favourable to blight, are chiefly to be found in a neglect of spraying or of spraying in the best manner, and in faulty methods of

cultivation. Except possibly in the Belmullet Union it is believed that the potatoes will not be exhausted till much later than January, and happily the crop no longer forms the sole food supply of the Western peasantry. The Govern

the

ment have under consideration question of the sufficiency of the seed supply for next season's planting, and at a suitable time will make a further statement. The Irish Government are unwilling to contemplate exceptional procedure for the relief of distress, since experience has shown that demoralising results follow special measures which are not absolutely necessary to save life, and they consider that the Local Government Act lays down a procedure which should be adhered to. The union is primarily responsible; and the county council, who have the best means of knowing the circumstances of the different unions within the county, have it in their power to supplement the efforts of those unions which cannot, without aid, extend the necessary relief to the inhabitants of their area. If a county council declines to put the Act into force the Government must suppose that in the opinion of the council the circum stances of the unions in the county do not call for special procedure.

to their rates.

cases where the Act is made operative the circumstances will be carefully watched by the Government, and if necessity for Government help is apparent the Government will not hesitate to follow the procedure of 1905, and will give substantial assistance to those unions which are unable to bear any appreciable addition The Government desire also to see public works of permanent utility, which in any case they desire to execute, deeming them to be desirable on their own merits apart from any question of distress, begun at the earliest possible moment in several of the coastal districts where distress is most to be apprehended. For most of these funds are available under the Marine Works Act, and as to some a decision has not yet been finally reached, though it is hoped this may very soon be done. The general question of preventing the recurrence of scarcity in the Western districts has engaged the earnest attention of the Government, and a general scheme has been prepared by the Department of Agriculture. The funds at their disposal for this

the

purpose, however, require to be supplemented if this scheme is to be carried out in its entirety. At present amount available each year for agricultural work in the congested districts amounts to £7,000, and it seems doubtful whether an increased allocation of funds for this purpose from the Department's endowment can be looked for at present. The Government are, however fully sensible of the importance of carrying out measures which will avert the recurrence of distress in the districts which usually suffer from it, and they are considering whether such a Report as is referred to in the latter portion of the Question can be prepared. My hope is that scientific inquiry may do much to improve the agricultural methods in use in Ireland, and may perhaps succeed in getting rid of the potato blight altogether.

MR. DILLON asked whether the defective spraying was not due to the neglect of the Board of Agriculture since they took over that part of the work of the Congested Districts Board, and whether the right hon. Gentleman would consider the desirability of preventing the Department from paying away any portion of the scanty funds to private associations such as the Agricultural Organisation Society, when admittedly they had not funds enough to carry out

most essential works in the West of Ireland.

MR. BRYCE said he had no reason whatever to think that the neglect of spraying was the fault of the Board of Agriculture, which had, in fact, issued the directions for spraying. The reason not been more why spraying had resorted to was partly that the people were disheartened by the wet weather, and partly because the previous season was so good that they had no apprehension of the danger of neglecting to spray. The question of the Agricultural Organisation Society's subsidy was being looked into. He hoped it would be possible

from time to time to make statements

with reference to public works to be

undertaken.

MR. VINCENT KENNEDY (Cavan, W.) complained that the inspector visiting one district in Cavan simply called at one or two houses along the roadside in

order to ascertain the amount of distress that really existed.

MR. BRYCE said he believed the inspectors had done. their best to ascertain the amount of distress and to deal with it. If, however, the hon. Member had any details he could give him he would cause inquiry to be made into them.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.) Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Vice-President of the Agricultural Department is a gentleman who has the profound distrust of the Irish Party?

Corrib Salmon Fishery.

MR. GWYNN (Galway): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the owner of the Corrib salmon fishery at Galway has for some time past been discharging loads of stone into the river at points chosen so as to concentrate the current in a few deep passes and thereby facilitate netting operations; and that the consequent quickening of the current prevents fishing boats from reaching the landing quay at low tide, and thereby injures their access market; and, if so, whether the Irish Government will take steps to prevent further interference with the natural course of the river and to remove the obstructions which have been created.

to

MR. BRYCE: The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction have been informed by the Clerk of the Galway Board of Conservators that he is not aware of any action taken by the owners of the Corrib salmon fishery or by any other person which is calculated to alter the current of the river, or in any way to hinder fishing boats from reach ing the landing quay at low tide or otherwise. The clerk states that he has interviewed several of the leading fishermen on the subject, none of whom are aware of any change of current which would affect landing. I may add that in cases in which there is any obstruction to navigation, the matter is not one for the Irish Government to deal with, but falls, I believe, within the province of my right hon. friend the President of the Board of Trade.

MR. GWYNN: Will the right hon. Gentleman further inquire into this matter?

MR. BRYCE: If the hon. Member will see me I will give him privately some information on this matter.

Irish School Building Grants.

MR. DILLON: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is proposed to take

any portion of the sum to be voted for school building grants in Ireland out of the Development Grant.

MR. BRYCE: I beg to refer the hon. Member to the Ireland Development Grant Estimate for the current year, from which it will be seen that a sum of £15,000 has been voted for national school buildings. It is explained in the note to Sub-head C that this amount is £70,000 from the Ireland Development the first instalment of the grant of Grant towards the cost of rebuilding necessitous national schools, and this sum National Education buildings made by is supplementary to the provision for the ordinary Estimates. for the current year, under Class I., latter, a vote of £20,000 has been taken Vote 14, Public Works and Buildings.

As to the

MR. BRYCE said that happened in the days of his last predecessor but one. He was doing his best to apply the grant to the most useful purposes.

MR. DILLON: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the peculiar circumstances of the case and the intense interest which has for a long time existed in Ireland on the question of school building grants, he will consent to lay upon the Table the Report of the Committee which sat on this subject in 1902, and the correspondence which has passed between the Treasury, the Irish Government, and the Commissioners for National Education for Ireland, on the subject of school building grants from 1900 to the present date.