THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Viscount CROSS) said, he wished to say that although there were doubts about the English Bill, the Scottish Bill had been received with so much satisfaction that the Government came to the conclusion that it would be wise to press it through this Session. He had taken the trouble to find out what was the opinion of the vast majority of the Scot tish Members in the other House, and he found that the desire for the Bill was so unanimous that he could not take it upon himself not to accept the Bill as it was; and, looking to the good which might result from this Bill, he would strongly advise their Lordships now to pass it. Motion agreed to; Bill read 2 accord ingly. Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXV. having been dispensed with for the remainder of the Session) Bill read 3, and passed. WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE (No. 2) BILL. (The Lord Denman.) (NO. 236.) SECOND READING. Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read. Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2".'' -The Lord Denman.) THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HALSBURY) said, he must express his surprise that the noble Lord should have made this Motion, seeing that the noble Lord stated to the House, as recorded in Hansard, on the occasion when another Bill on the same subject was brought on, that he did not intend to proceed further with this Bill this Session, but would present it again next Session. It was, besides, distinctly against the Orders of the House a second time to introduce a Bill dealing with the same subject-matter as one already rejected during the same Session. He had looked into this and the earlier Bill, and he had found that they were undoubtedly of the same subject-matter; therefore, without in the least expressing any view either in favour of or against the subject-matter of the Bill, he asked their Lordships to reject it, not on its merits, but on the ground of the irregularity of introducing it a second time in the same Session. On Question? Resolved in the negative. LAND JUDGES COURT, IRELAND. MOTION FOR A PAPER. LORD ARDILAUN, who had on the Paper a Motion calling attention to the present position of the Land Judges' Court, Ireland, said, he feared that he might have to claim their Lordships' patience while he again went closely into this question with additional information and new cases of delays in the business of this Court; but he was glad to be relieved from the necessity of doing so, as the Government had now consented to grant the Return he asked for last month. He was also happy to be able to add that the Government and the Treasury had promised to adopt the suggestion he had urged upon themnamely, that they should at once give additional assistance in the preparation of title in this Court by strengthening the examiners' department. He had, therefore, only to move for the Return which stood in his name as an unopposed Return. The Return in question was intended to show in separate columns the number of petitions filed during the last four years, the number of estates offered for sale each year, those in which the rentals were settled, and those in which receivers were appointed, the total number of receivers at present, and the number appointed each year, the number of accounts not lodged within the limit of time appointed, or where the time had not been extended, the number of six months' settlements of account each year, the number of yearly settlements, the gross annual rental under receivers, the gross amount collected each year, the number of officials attached to the Court and their salaries, and the number and salaries of those in the receivers' department. Moved for Return, as follows:"Number of Petitions filed during last Four Years, divided into number each Year. Number of Estates offered for Sale each Year during past Four Years. "Number of Estates in which the Rentals were settled each Year during past Four Years. "Number of Estates in which Receivers were appointed, divided into in each Year during past Four Years. "Total Number of Receivers now, and Number appointed each Year. "Number of Accounts not lodged within the limit of time appointed, or where time has not been extended, divided in each Year. "Number of Six Months Settlements of Account cach Year. "Number of Yearly Settlements. dismissed, after 30 years' service in the "Gross Annual Rental under Receivers for case of two of them, because the atten each Year. dance of pupils at the school has been diminished, through circumstances over which they could not have had any control; and, will the Government grant these teachers compensation for this summary dismissal? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.): I have to reply to the first parapraph in the affirmative. Since 1872 appointments of these teachers have been made after competitive examination; but no national teacher is recognized either actually or virtually, as a civil servant. They do not come under the Superannuation Act, nor are they examined by the Civil Service Commissioners. It has been the custom not to dismiss teachers unless for some breach of rule, or cause, hitherto, when a teacher's ser The House met at Three of the clock. through becoming unfit for service; beMINUTES.]-PUBLIC BILLS-First Reading-vices became unnecessary in a particular Glebe Lands [391]. Committee Report - Considered as amended Third Reading Appellate Jurisdiction * [234] Coroners [378]; Local Authorities (Expenses) [361], and passed. Third Reading-Pluralities Act Amendment [303]; Consolidated Fund (Appropriation), and passed. Withdrawn-Supreme Court of Judicature (Ireland) Amendment * [325]. QUESTIONS. model school owing to the diminution in the attendance of pupils the Commissioners were able to provide for such teachers by transferring them to other model schools. As regarded Bailieborough Model School, it appears that the attendance had fallen off to such an extent as barely to warrant the recognition of two departments and two teachers. The Commissioners have, therefore, been constrained by their Rules to give notice to the teachers whose services are no NATIONAL EDUCATION (IRELAND) longer required. They have been in TEACHERS OF MODEL SCHOOLS. formed, however, that should vacancies occur in other model schools the Commissioners will be glad to consider their claims for re-employment. The services of these teachers are to be dispensed with solely because of the great diminution of the attendance. One of them has had nearly 30 years' service distributed over four or five different schools. The Government cannot undertake to adopt the suggestion contained in the last paragraph of the Question. MR. LEA (Londonderry, S.) asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the teachers of the model schools in Ireland are appointed and dismissed by the Commissioners of National Education; whether the appointments of these teachers are made after competitive examinations; and whether they are thus virtually civil servants; whether it has been the custom hitherto not to dismiss these teachers, unless when they have committed some breach of rule, or have become unfit for service; whether the CommisRIVER RAILWAY IN MANITOBA. sioners have dismissed five of the female SIR HENRY TYLER (Great Yarteachers of the Bailieborough Model mouth) asked the Secretary of State for School, in County Cavan, after giving the Colonies, What is the latest informathem three months' notice; whether tion he has received in regard to the these teachers have been guilty of any construction of the Red River Railway dereliction of duty, or have they been in Manitoba, and the action of the DOMINION OF CANADA - THE RED Dominion thereto ? Government in relation THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead): I have received a confidential despatch from the Marquess of Lansdowne, which recapitulates more fully the facts stated in the telegram which I read to the House on the 29th of August. The case on either side was debated with great ability in the Dominion House of Commons, and will be found in Vol. 19 of the Canadian Hansard. I gather that the Provincial Government has, in spite of the disallowance of the Act, commenced the construction of the line, and that the grading of the road is now in progress. Injunctions have been applied for by several parties to prevent the passage of the new line through lands belonging to them. It will be seen that the matters are sub judice, and it would, therefore, not be proper for me, even if I could do so, to offer an opinion It is hoped that all parties will abide by the final decision of the Court. on the case. WAR OFFICE-THE ROYAL HOSPITAL, CHELSEA-MALE NURSES. BOARD OF TRADE (MARINE DEPART- MR. MACLURE (Lancashire, S.E., Stretford) asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether, seeing that 50 vessels and 300 lives were lost in the Bristol Channel during the storms of last autumn and winter, and that a Swansea firm has offered to supply the necessary coal gratis, the Admiralty are now prepared to undertake, before stormy weather again sets in, to station a powerful steam tug off the Mumbles Head, with the view of affording help to vessels in distress during the winter season, provided the wages of the seamen were guaranteed by the Local Authorities? THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth): I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar Question addressed by him on Friday last to the First Lord of the Admiralty, who stated that the Admiralty have no vessel at their disposal for the purpose. As regards the Board of Trade, I would SIR HENRY TYLER (Great Yar- further refer the hon. Member to a mouth) asked the Secretary of State for reply which I gave to a Question asked War, Whether it is the case in Naval by him on the 22nd of February, and to Hospitals that Army pensioners are em- the statement which I then made, to the ployed as male nurses, and whether effect that there are plenty of steam there is any objection to the employ-tugs in the district the masters of which ment at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, of do not, as a rule, refuse to render salvage pensioners of the Royal Marines or the service when practicable. Royal Navy when fitted for that em ployment; and, whether, as would appear from a letter of the Lieutenant Governor of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, dated 6th September, 1887, it is absolutely the rule that Naval or Royal Marine pensioners are not eligible for employment in that Hospital?. THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle): Chelsea Hospital differs altogether in character from the Naval Hospitals. The latter are merely for the treatment of the sick; whereas Chelsea is a home for aged soldiers. The Rule is that employment in it shall be limited to Army pensioners, whose numbers are very large. I do not think the Rule could be altered without great inconvenience. NORTH SEA FISHERIES - OUTRAGES ON BRITISH FISHING VESSELS BY BELGIAN TRAWLERS-THE "TRIO." SIR HENRY TYLER (Great Yarmouth) asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, What steps have been taken in regard to the case of the Trio, of Lowestoft, whose nets were destoyed on the 8th instant by the Ostend Trawler O. 199; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will see that justice is done, both by the punishment of the offenders, who appear to have rejoiced in the mischief which they wilfully perpetrated, and also in taking care that adequate pecuniary compensation is afforded to the outraged parties? THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth): tion? THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth): The goods referred to by the hon. and gallant Member are prohibited to be imported, and there, consequently, can be no record of their importation. The Board of Trade have received the provided for with a view to publicadepositions of the master and crew of the Trio, and the facts therein mentioned do not, in all their details, agree with the statements contained in the hon. Member's Question. The hon. Member can see the Papers at the Board of Trade, if he would like to do SO. The Board of Trade will request the Foreign Office to call the attention of the Belgian Government to the case, and they have no reason to anticipate that justice will not be done. I have only seen the newspaper account of the matter to which the hon. Gentleman refers. BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS-FOREIGN TISH TRADE MARKS. CAPTAIN COLOMB (Tower Hamlets, Bow, &c.) asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether any record is kept of the quantities and values of foreign manufactured goods imported into the United Kingdom for home consumption or trans-shipment, and which, though manufactured abroad, bear the names or trade marks of British manufacturing establishments at home; if so, whether this information will in future be included in the Board of Trade Returns; and, if not, whether the collection of such information will be THE METROPOLITAN POLICE-AL LEGED "BLACKMAILING." asked the Secretary of State for the GENERAL FRASER (Lambeth, N.) Home Department, What has been the result of the inquiry into the allega tions made regarding "blackmailing" by the Metropolitan Police; and, whether there is the slightest foundation for the allegations? THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.): Inquiries have been made, and are still informed by the Commissioners of Police proceeding, into these allegations. I am that they have failed to obtain as show whether there is any foundation yet any information or any evidence to for the allegations referred to. LABOURERS (IRELAND) ACT, THE TARBERT DIVISION. DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid) asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that Captain Leslie, of Tarbert, succeeded in preventing the promotion of several schemes for the erection of labourers' cottages, under the Labourers (Ireland) Act, in the Tarbert Division, by his undertaking to erect whatever cottages might be required; whether it is a fact that no cottage has ever since been built; whether the Guardian for the said Division, who was responsible for accepting the said compromise, is a paid servant of Captain Leslie, and holds the position of Guardian through the proxy votes given by Captain Leslie and his friends; whether the labourers in the said Division are, as a consequence, compelled to inhabit huts condemned by the Sanitary Authorities in March, 1882; and, whether any steps will be taken by the Executive Government in Ireland to remedy the present state of affairs in the Division referred to? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.), in reply, said, that as the Question had been put down on the Paper without Notice, and as it would require local inquiries to be made, he could not answer it. DR. TANNER: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I handed in the Question on Friday last? MR. A. J. BALFOUR: I was not aware of the fact. DR. TANNER: May I ask when it will be answered? MR. A. J. BALFOUR: Of course, it will be answered as soon as the information arrives from Ireland. DR. TANNER: To-morrow? [No reply.] POST OFFICE (TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT)-RURAL TELEGRAPH EXTENSION-GUARANTEES. MAJOR BANES (West Ham, S.) (for Mr. ROUND) (Essex, N.E., Harwich) asked the Postmaster General, Whether the guarantee now demanded in the case of rural telegraph extensions is required to cover any further expenses than those stated by the Prime Minister on 4th August; and, whether, in view of the hopes held out by the late Mr. Fawcett in 1881, in answer to a Question in this House, he will consider whether more favourable terms cannot be granted to such guarantors than those which at present exist? THE POSTMASTERGENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University): In reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that I am not aware of any addition that I can make to the explanation which was given by the Prime Minister of the principle on which guarantees for telegraph extensions are now fixed. As to what was stated by Mr. Fawcett in 1881, I find that certain modifications were made in the following year; the principal one being that, whereas formerly guarantors had been required to deposit in advance the amount of the guarantee, they were in subsequent cases merely required to make good the deficiency at the end of each year. As regards the guarantee required in those cases where the office is found to be not self-supporting on the expiration of the first term of seven years, the amount of the sinking fund for the first cost is omitted. PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT, 1885-THE WARRINGTON LIBRARY AND MUSEUM COMMITTEE. MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton) asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether, under the "Public Libraries Act, 1885," the Warrington Library and Museum Committee are justified in requiring and receiving subscriptions from persons borrowing books from the Warrington Free Library, which Library is supported from the rates; and, whether the Library Committee are legally justified in according privileges to subscribers in respect of the loan of books from the Free Library, which privileges. are not accorded to ratepayers who do not pay special subscriptions? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight): Libraries Act of 1855 for making any There is no authority under the Public distinction between persons who subscribe and persons who do not. In my opinion the Act does not contemplate the loan of books out of the Library; and I think it doubtful whether such loan is legal. Assuming, however, that under Section 21 Rules could be made permitting the loan of books, it would, in mittee to require a reasonable deposit to my opinion, be competent for the Com ensure their safe return. MR. THEOBALD (Essex, Romford) asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he is aware of the fact that the hon. Member for East Cork (Mr. W. O'Brien) when under arrest on a charge of having made inflammatory speeches, addressed a speech to the crowd assembled in front of the Imperial Hotel; whether such a thing is legal; and, if not, if he will give orders that a similar proceeding be not again allowed? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.): The facts stated in the Question are true. The incident arose from a mistake of the officer in charge, who supposed that the hon. Member for East Cork would not abuse the liberty the officer allowed him. In my opinion, the proceeding was highly improper. |