§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the Postmaster General has received a memorial from the National Sub-Postmasters' Federation, praying that Jubilee Day, the 22nd instant, might be allowed to be observed as Sunday for office duties by the sub-postmasters, numbering 19,000, in the employ of the Post Office, who will otherwise be deprived of what is a general holiday; and whether, if the requirements of the public service cannot afford this, another day as holiday will be allowed to the sub-postmasters in lieu thereof?
THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBITRY,) PrestonIt would be contrary to the interests of the public to allow the Sub-Post Offices throughout the country to be closed for the whole or nearly the whole of the day on the 22nd instant, and the Postmaster General is unable to do more than treat the day as a Bank Holiday, which will admit of Sub-Post Offices which are not Telegraph Offices being closed at noon. He regrets he cannot undertake to give a holiday on another day.
§ MR. J. W. MACLURE (Lancashire, Stretford)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether a refreshment bar is being, or will be, constructed under the stage erected for Her Majesty's Jubilee in the Speaker's Green; and whether it is true that no wines or spirits can be sold therein, in consequence of this House not having or holding any licence?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER or WORKS (Mr. A. AKERS-DOUGLAS, Kent,) St. Augustine'sIn answer to the hon. Member's Question, I have to state that a refreshment bar has been erected. ["Hear, hear!"] With regard to the class of entertainment provided, I must refer the hon. Member to the Kitchen Committee.
§ In reply to Mr. PATRICK O'BRIEN,
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLASsaid that no further arrangements could be made for the attendants at the House to facilitate their witnessing the Jubilee State Procession. Every possible arrangement had been made to provide for the permanent staff, and he understood from them that they were very well satisfied.
§ SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether steps can be taken to enable officers and men of the Royal Naval Reserve to muster in uniform and be present on board some of Her Majesty's ships at the approaching Jubilee Naval Review?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareI do not exactly know what the hon. Member means by the Royal Naval Reserve mustering on board the ships. Forty-one Royal Naval Reserve officers, 676 first and second class Royal Naval Reserve men, and 136 firemen will be on board Her Majesty's ships at the Naval Review, and will be taking duty in uniform in their proper place side by side with the Royal Navy.
§ SIR JOHN COLOMB (Great Yarmouth)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will arrange to have placed on board the vessels taking the Colonial forces round the Fleet on Wednesday next, a sufficient supply of Parliamentary Return (Seagoing War Ships, &c.), No. 460, Session 2, I895, showing the value of seaborne commerce, mercantile marine, annual 425 revenue, and Naval expenditure on seagoing force of the United Kingdom, the Colonies, and Foreign countries respectively, with a view to affording the officers and men information respecting the Naval responsibilities of the Empire and the cost of their discharge, and to enable them to compare the action of their own Colonies with that of the Mother Country and of Foreign countries in providing for defence of maritime interests?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYNo, Sir; I cannot accept the ingenious suggestion of my honourable and gallant Friend. The viewing of a great outdoor display and the visiting of the ships is not an appropriate moment for the study of complicated comparative statistics.
§ *MR. BURDETT-COUTTS (Westminster)asked whether it was still too late to arrange that the colonial troops might see the British Fleet at the same time and under the same circumstances that the rest of England would see it? [Cheers.]
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYsaid he was sorry to find that rumours had been circulated to the effect that the absence of arrangement by which the colonial troops now in England might witness the Review on the 96th was due to financial considerations. ["Hear, hear!"] That was not the case, and it was a great pity that attempts should be made to spoil the grace of the reception by such insinuations. ["Hear, hear!"] The difficulties were not those of finance, they were difficulties of arrangements. The responsibilities of the authorities at Portsmouth with the enormous number of ships there and visiting ships expected were immense; the railway accommodation was absorbed, there were to be 40 special trains on one of the lines, and jetty accommodation was entirely taken up. The difficulties in the way of providing for the colonial troops were most serious. This morning, however, the Admiralty had received an offer of a ship and a special train, which had been provided for other purposes. The gentleman who had secured this ship and train had offered these to the Admiralty—[cheers]—of course, on the usual terms. [Laughter and ironical cheers.] Of course it was perfectly right and reasonable this should be so. [Ironical 426 cheers.] The Admiralty, the Treasury, and, he was sure, the House of Commons, would be prepared to defray the cost. [Cheers.] Having received this offer, he had placed himself in communication with the officers commanding the colonial troops and the Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, whose responsibilities must not be increased up to a point that would endanger a breakdown in the arrangements; that was laid down as an absolute proposition. Tie had telegraphed to him informing him of the strong desire existing that provision should be made, and, the train and ship being available, there remained the difficulty of finding room for the ship in waters almost as full of traffic as the streets of the metropolis. He was in communication with the officer commanding, and he hoped that difficulties might be overcome. From the first there had been the greatest desire in the Departments to do full justice to our guests, and he ventured to think that indications of this desire had already been given. He hoped that with the offer placing the train and ship at the disposal of the Admiralty the suggestion in the Question might be met. ["Hear, hear!"]
§ MR. CUMMING MACDONA (Southwark, Rotherhithe)inquired if colonial Members of Parliament were to receive invitations?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYsaid special arrangements had been made for colonial Premiers and 150 colonial guests. Inquiries on this point should be addressed to the Colonial Office; the Admiralty could only do what was possible in providing ships.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)asked whether, in the event of difficulties arising as to trains or jetties, the right hon. Gentleman would consider the possibility of embarking their colonial visitors on Friday, and taking them round by sea?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYsaid this had been considered. He had been in communication with the officer commanding, who thought there would be great difficulty in making the arrangement, but it would be considered.
§ MR. J. M. MACLEAN (Cardiff)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the British Volunteers in India, constituting an Imperial force of nearly 30,000 men, were invited to send 427 representatives to England to take part in the procession of 22nd June; and, if not, will he explain on what grounds?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY or STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. CURZON,) Lancashire, Southport, on behalf of LORD GEORGE HAMILTON: The Question as to what representatives of the forces in India should be sent home to take part in the procession of the 22nd June was fully considered in communication with the Viceroy of India, and it was decided to follow the precedent of 1887, increasing the number of officers of the Native Cavalry, and adding representatives of the Imperial Service troops from the Native States. Neither the Native Infantry nor Volunteers arc represented on the present occasion.