(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) of the last ten years in Ireland and The respective amounts of issues and England (including Wales) were as payments of postal orders during each follows: Decentralisation of the Post Office MR. FIELD: To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether, in view of the fact that the decentralisation of the War Office, with branches in Dublin, Aldershot, and other places, has led to greater administrative convenience and economy than when all the War Office accounts of the United Kingdom were kept at one central institution in London, he will explain in what way the decentralisation of the Post Office Savings Bank, with a branch in Dublin for Irish depositors, would lead to lesser administrative convenience and economy. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) As regards the advantages of centralising the business of the Post Office Savings Bank in London, I must refer the hon. Member to the replies which were given to him on the 30th June † and the 14th ultimo. As regards the general question of decentralisation, the circumstances of the War Office and the Savings Bank are not the same, but much of the other work + See (4) Debates, cxxiv., 927. of the Post Office might well be decentralised if Members of this House did not so frequently insist upon the personal intervention of the Postmaster-General in matters of detail. British Cemetery at Corfu. MAJOR SEELY (Isle of Wight): To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further information as to the proposed acquisition by the local authorities of Corfu of the old British naval and military burying ground. (Answered by Lord Cranborne.) The Report has been received, and will be in the hands of Members to-morrow. New Russo-German Commercial Treaty-Trusts and Syndicates. MR. DAVID MORGAN (Essex, Wal (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The Question whether a later despatch of letters from Rhosneigr can be afforded is now under consideration. India-Berars Surplus Revenue. thamstow): To ask the Under-Secretary shire, W.): To ask the Secretary of MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbigh of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give the particulars of the paragraph in the new Russo-German commercial treaty, relating to cartels, trusts, and syndicates, which the Russian Finance Minister has arranged shall be included in the commercial treaty. (Answered by Lord Cranborne.) His Majesty's Government are in possession of no information as to the commercial negotiations now proceeding between the Russian and German Governments. Post Office and Wireless Telegraphy. MR. HARMSWORTH: To ask the Postmaster-General whether, before coneluding an agreement with the Marconi Company for wireless telegraphy, any, and, if so, what, inquiry was made into the merits of other systems of wireless telegraphy; and, if so, will he state what reports were made as to their efficiency and economy; and whether any facilities were given to competitors with Marconi. (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) I have not yet concluded any agreement with the Marconi Company, but I may perhaps say with reference to the hon. Member's Question, that other systems of wireless telegraphy have been under trial or examination by the Post Office, and reports made upon them. It would not, however, be desirable that such reports should be disclosed. Postal Facilities at Rhosneigr. MR. ELLIS GRIFFITH (Anglesey): To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that the last collection of letters at Rhosneigr takes place as early as 5.10 p.m.; and whether, in view of the fact that the mail train does not pass Tycroes station until 8.20, he will make arrangements to extend the time for posting letters. State for India whether his attention has been drawn to alleged errors in the calculations upon which the annual sum of twenty-five lakhs, as representing the surplus revenue of the Berars, is paid to His Highness the Nizam of Hyderabad under the agreement of December, 1902, and to the fact that, according to the Berars Administration Report of 1901-2, the surplus revenue of this district is estimated at over fifty lakhs; and, if so, whether he will refer these accounts for revision to an independent arbitrator; and whether the joint reports of Colonel Fordyce and Mr. Brunyate (made in 1900) will be presented to Parliament, together with the essential portions of the correspondence and State papers referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Despatch of the Secretary of State for India, dated the 28th of March 1878, dealing with this subject. (Answered by Secretary Lord George Hamilton.) I am not aware of any errors in the calculations connected with the fixing of the perpetual rent of twentyfive lakhs to be paid to the Nizam under the agreement of the 5th November, 1902, relating to the Assigned Districts. The Administration Report of the Districts for 1901-2 shows a surplus of thirty-one lakhs, as against a deficit in the previous year, the improvement being caused by the cessation of drought and the collection of arrears of land revenue. I see no reason to refer these accounts to an independent arbitrator, or to lay on the Table the Reports mentioned by the hon. Member and the Papers referred to in the Despatch of the 28th March, 1878. Charges on Indian Revenue for Military Works. MR. HERBERT SAMUEL (Yorkshire, Cleveland): To ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state what were the annual average net charges on the the corresponding figures for the year Indian Revenues for the Army for Mili- 1902-3, and the Estimates for 1903-4. tary Works, and for Special Defence Works, in the periods 1863-1872, 18731882, 1883-1892, and 1893-1902, with (Answered by Secretary Lord George Hamilton.) # Receipts under this head not shown separately in the Accounts for this decade. Charge on Indian Revenue for Delhi Durbar. MR. BUCHANAN (Perthshire, E.): To ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state what has been the total charge on the revenues of India, imperial and provincial, for the Delhi Durbar. (Answered by Secretary Lord George Hamilton.) Information on the subject has already been laid before Parliament in paragraphs 138 to 140 of the Financial Statement for 1903--4, and on page 14 of Command Paper 1644 (Account of the Durbar held at Delhi). I have no later figures. Increase of British Troops in India. MR. BUCHANAN: To ask the Secretary of State for India whether any request has been received from the Government of India in the course of the past year for an increase of the perman ent British force in India. (Answered by Secretary Lord George Hamilton.) In reply to this Question I can only say that the question of the adequacy of the present strength of the British force in India has been and still is under consideration of myself and of the Government of India. Workmens Compensation Act. MR. CHARLES CAYZER (Barrowin-Furness): To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to accidents to workmen in or near buildings of less than 30 feet in height for which, under the Employers Liability Act, they or their families are not entitled to compensation in case of injury or death, and to the fact that at Leeds lately a working painter fell 28 feet 6 inches and was killed, and his family received no compensation because the building was high; and, if so, whether he can see his way to introduce legislation to amend the Act. not 30 feet (Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) My has asked me to right hon. friend the hon. Member intends to refer answer this Question. I presume that to The Workmens Compensation Act, 1897, as there is no 30 feet limit with reference to the provisions of the Employers Liability Act. I am aware that under this limit, as fixed by the former Act in regard to accidents in the course of building operations, cases such as that mentioned in the Question must occur; and it has been stated more than once by myself and my predecessors that this is a point which must receive attention in connection with the Amendment of the Act which the Government have under consideration. Safety of Hansom Cabs. MR. CHARLES CAYZER: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment, whether his attention has been directed to an accident on Sunday, 26th July, to a hansom cab in Piccadilly, when the driver and a lady on the footpath were killed and another person was injured ; and, if so, can he state the cause of the accident, and whether the position of the driver enabled him to have control over the horse; and whether he can now state the result of the experiments which the Commissioner of Police has been making with the view of securing the safety of passengers in cabs. Lead Poisoning Rules-Final Award. SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester shire, Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is in a position to state when the final award in respect of the lead poisoning rules will be published. Douglas.) As the right hon Baronet is (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers Douglas.) The circumstances of this accident were investigated by by the coroner's jury, who found a verdict of "Accidental death, owing to the horse in the cab having taken fright from a cause unknown." The driver is reported to have been in his proper position, and to have done his best to check the horse, which was, however, beyond control. As Suggested Amendment of Poor Relief regards the last part of the Question, I do not think I can add anything to the Answer which I gave the hon. Member on the 28th July.† Remuneration of Witnesses in Criminal Cases. MR. LAWRENCE (Liverpool, Abercromby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the Report of the Departmental Committee on the remunera tion of witnesses in criminal cases; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any steps to carry out its suggestions at an early date. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers Douglas.) The Report of this Committee is now under my consideration, and I hope to be able shortly to make an Order, under 14 and 15 Vic., c. 55, s. 5, giving effect to the principal recommendations of the Committee. + See (4) Debates, cxxvi., 540. Act. LORD EDMUND TALBOT (Sussex, Chichester): To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will consider the advisability of amending the Poor Relief Act, 13 and 14 Vic, c. 101, s. 4, by an alteration of the words, "in or near the union," to remove doubt as the children are, can receive the declarato whether justices near the place where tion referred to, and thus remove the doubt now existing as to whether these words may be taken as directory and not mandatory. (Answered by Mr Walter Long.) I am advised that the provision referred to may be regarded as directory and not mandatory, though of course the question is not one,which I am empowered to decide. I could not promise to introduce legislation to remove any doubt on the subject, but the point shall receive my consideration. Victoria and Albert Museum-Exhibition Irish National School Teachers' Pensions. of Collections. MR. SAMUEL YOUNG (Cavan, E.): To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state what is the maximum number of years' service required from a second class male teacher to entitle him to full pension, and what is the amount of said pension per annum; and what is the provision made for such a teacher in case of retirement through ill-health before full service is rendered. class male teacher of a national school (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) A second who elected to pay premiums in Class A must give forty years' service after the age of twenty-one to entitle him to the maximum pension of his class, £46 a year. In the event of retirement through ill-health before full service is rendered he might, if between the ages of thirtyfive and fifty-five, receive a disablement grant under the terms of Pension Rule 10. If fifty-five years of age or upwards he could claim a voluntary pension, the amount of which would depend on his age and service at the time of his retirement. Report of Commission on Dysentery. University): To ask the Secretary of SIR MICHAEL FOSTER (London State for War whether the Commission appointed in South Africa to inquire into the causation and prevention of dysentery in armies in the field have made their Report; and, if so, whether he is willing to lay it upon the Table. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The Report was circulated to Members on the 8th instant. Porthcawl Rifle Range. MR. FULLER (Wiltshire, Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware, with regard to the proposed abandonment of the proposed new rifle range at Porthcawl, that the Urban District Council has expended a sum of £1,000 upon an alteration of the local drainage outlet, made necessary for the sake of the proposed new range; and whether, under the circumstances, he is prepared to refund to the Urban District Council the amount of their outlay. |